NEWS

In honor of National Volunteer Appreciation Week, Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) and Olean General Hospital (OGH), Kaleida Health facilities, are highlighting the meaningful contributions of their volunteers and encouraging more community members to join their volunteer teams.

In 2024, OGH was supported by 40 dedicated volunteers who donated approximately 1,600 hours of their time, while BRMC’s 41 volunteers contributed an impressive 4,005 hours.

Both hospitals offer a variety of volunteer opportunities that allow individuals to make a difference in the lives of patients, families and hospital staff. Positions are available in areas such as the emergency department, gift shop, nutrition, office support, meals on wheels and more.

The Community Education Center’s Leadership Elk and Cameron program’s (LEC) monthly session focused on economic development, environment & tourism in April. The day started at Domtar in Johnsonburg with a tour of the facility. Participants learned about the history of the mill and its importance to the global economy and local conservation efforts.  After Domtar, they traveled to St. Marys to tour Straub Brewery and hear about how the Brewery benefits many local businesses and is a main tourist destination for visitors to the region. The participants then enjoyed lunch in the Straub Taproom which was sponsored by Domtar.  After lunch they headed to the Recycling Center where Bekki Titchner provided the group with some statistics about recycling.  The recycling center tour was during open hours so the participants got to see first-hand all the hard work that the volunteers do. One participant stated, “I never knew how much went into recycling and how it really is its own business.”

APRIL 26TH IS NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION TAKE BACK DAY

District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that the medication drop boxes located throughout McKean County continue to be used by residents every day of the year but, National Prescription Take Back Day is a good reminder we have them. Each quarter, the District Attorney’s Office provides a community report on the use of the boxes across the county.  The County Detectives collect the unused medication that has been deposited and members of the Attorney General’s Office dispose of them. 

The weight of the drugs collected from January 8, 2025 to April 1, 2025 (1st qtr. of 2025) at the various boxes were: Bradford City’s box located inside the police department: 31 lbs. Bradford Twp’s box located in the municipal building:  5 lbs. Sheriff’s Dept’s box located inside the jail: 18 lbs. Kane Borough’s box located in the municipal building: 14.5 lbs. PSP Lewis Run’s box located at the Lewis Run barracks: 10 lb. TOTAL:  78.5 lbs. was collected Prescription “Take Back” days that are held on various days in different communities are a great opportunity to get rid of unused medication. 

We are fortunate here to have these boxes available every day at the above locations thanks to the generous donation of the boxes by the Pennsylvania District Attorneys’ Association and PA American Water Company.  Please look in your cabinets for any unused medication and take it to the nearest box to keep it out of the hands of anyone other than the person to whom it was prescribed. If you suspect illegal drug activity, please contact the McKean County Drug Task Force at the District Attorney’s Office at (814) 887-3312 or submit a tip to McKeanDA.org.

Saturday April 26 and Sunday April 27, 2025

9 AM to 4 PM, both days

$8.00/Adult, $5.00/Youth (ages 4 to 11)

Join us this April for our annual Spring Show. Antique vendors will be on hand selling a variety of items like furniture, glassware, coins, books, clothing, and collectibles. A selection of historic trades, including the museum’s birch still, will be demonstrated. See the Eastern Loggers model railroad display in operation. PALMA members Jan and John Halter will present a cooking demonstration and tasting featuring wild leeks from 11am-1pm both Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday (April 26) only, visitors will be able to watch the museum’s re-created 19th century steam-powered circular sawmill in operation.

Access to all museum exhibits and attractions is included in the price of admission to the show. Food and drink will be available on-site for purchase. No ATM on site so plan your visit accordingly. Antique vendors interested in participating can call (814)435-2652 to reserve a space for the event. Come for the fun and, perhaps, leave with a new treasured heirloom and a better understanding of the lumber and forest history of Pennsylvania.

Coudersport Rotary President Andrea Streich presents $500 to Kroy Bates, Coudersport Elementary School 6th Grade President for the 6th Grade students’ May trip to Washington D.C. fund.

This donation goes towards making travel to our nation’s capital possible for the whole class of 6th grade students.

(Pictured: Student Kroy Bates and Coudersport Rotary President Andrea Streich)

BRADFORD – State Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) will hold his satellite office hours on Thursday, May 1, at the following locations:

·       Emporium Borough Office – 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

·       Port Allegany Borough Office – 11 a.m. to noon.

Services available include assisting constituents with state-related issues or concerns, assistance with driver license and vehicle registration applications, and help in filling out applications for various state programs, such as the senior citizen Property Tax/Rent Rebate and PACE prescription drug assistance programs.

People who cannot make the satellite sessions may contact Causer’s offices in Bradford at 78 Main St., first floor, telephone 814-362-4400; or Coudersport, 107 S. Main St., Room 1, telephone 814-274-9769; or Kane, 54 Fraley St., Suite 2, telephone 814-837-0880. Information is also available at www.RepCauser.com or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/RepCauser.

Motorists are advised that a bridge replacement project continues on Route 6 in Richmond Township, Tioga County. The bridge, which carries Route 6 over a tributary to North Elk Run, is located approximately 2.8 miles east of Route 660 in Charleston Township and approximately 2.5 miles west of Route 15 in Mansfield.

Traffic Switch

On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, motorists traveling on Route 6 will be switched to the temporary bridge while the contractor continues work on the bridge replacement. Motorist should expect a single lane condition controlled with temporary traffic signals through the fall 2025.

Road Closure

Saturday April 26 and Sunday April 27, 2025

9 AM to 4 PM, both days

$8.00/Adult, $5.00/Youth (ages 4 to 11)

Join us this April for our annual Spring Show. Antique vendors will be on hand selling a variety of items like furniture, glassware, coins, books, clothing, and collectibles. A selection of historic trades, including the museum’s birch still, will be demonstrated. See the Eastern Loggers model railroad display in operation. PALMA members Jan and John Halter will present a cooking demonstration and tasting featuring wild leeks from 11am-1pm both Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday (April 26) only, visitors will be able to watch the museum’s re-created 19th century steam-powered circular sawmill in operation.

Access to all museum exhibits and attractions is included in the price of admission to the show. Food and drink will be available on-site for purchase. No ATM on site so plan your visit accordingly. Antique vendors interested in participating can call (814)435-2652 to reserve a space for the event. Come for the fun and, perhaps, leave with a new treasured heirloom and a better understanding of the lumber and forest history of Pennsylvania.

COUDERSPORT BOROUGH WATER AUTHORITY CUSTOMERS – SPRING FLUSHING OF HYDRANTS – The spring flushing of hydrants will begin on Monday, April 28, 2025 and continue the entire week. Flushing will be done between the hours of 7am and 3 pm.

Flushing can cause water discoloration of the water supply, so please check your water before using. If your water is discolored let the cold water run until it clears up. Do not use your hot water as this may put sediment into your hot water tank.

Thank you for your patience during flushing.

Several student leaders at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford were recognized during the Blue and Gold Gala Sunday for their co-curricular contributions to the campus and the local community.

“We not only celebrated individual achievements,” said Dr. Michael Davila, vice president and dean of student affairs, “but also the values and vision that make this campus community so special – values that come alive through student service, leadership, and willingness to say yes to opportunities.”

Several students and student groups were recognized, and others were awarded scholarships for the 2025-26 year for their service to the campus and the community. Additionally, seven students received individual awards.

Kristen Ellenberger, a business management major from Ridgway, received the Spirit of Service Award for her work as founder of Panthers4Paws, which raises awareness of and funds for the McKean County SPCA, where Ellenberger also volunteers her time.

Since 2021, the Allegany County Democratic Committee has cleaned up a section of State Rt. 21 in Almond, NY as part of the NYS Department of Transportation’s “Adopt-a-Highway” program. 

This year’s spring clean-up took place on Tuesday, April 22nd – Earth Day.   Volunteers collected numerous bags of trash, giving the roadway a much-improved appearance.  This project is just one of the many ways local Democrats “Serve our Community.” 

ACDC’s designated section incudes State Rt. 21 in Almond and the section of Karr Valley Rd. that leads to/from the expressway entrance.  It was specifically requested by the Committee because of its importance as a gateway to our county. This stretch of highway is heavily used by I-86 travelers on their way to the Alfred campuses or to recreational opportunities elsewhere in the area.  Volunteers from the Democratic Committee clean this section twice a year. 

On a beautiful spring day, Coudersport Rotary Club celebrated Earth Day on April 23, 2025,by cleaning trash from the roadsides of Route 6 near Coudersport. (Pictured left to right: Rotarians Penny Thomas and Lynne Ruffner, Cody Shirey and Kim Ruffner, Rotarians Andrea Streich, Deb Rinehart, Michael Rigas, Micki Brown, and Brad Rinehart, not pictured Rotarian Sharon Fitzgerald)

Mt. Jewett, Pa.:  Women’s Introduction to Wingshooting is a two-weekend program offered by the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) to help women learn the fundamentals of shotgun shooting and hunting game birds of Pennsylvania.  This popular program is hosted by the Mt. Jewett Sportsmen’s Club on July 19-20 and August 23-24.  Women’s Introduction to Wingshooting is a course for women, taught by women.  On both Saturdays, the course starts at noon and ends at 4:00 p.m.  On both Sundays, the course starts at 10:00 a.m. and ends at 2:00 p.m.

Register by contacting bjmf989@gmail.com.   Attendance is required for both weekends to graduate from the program.  Free lodging is available, if needed, but is limited.  In addition, local motels and campgrounds offer lodging.

A hunt will be offered to the graduates on Sunday, September 7, at a nearby sportsmen’s club.

Date: May 4^th, 2025

Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Meeting Location: Ole Bull State Park

The Pennsylvania DCNR Bureau of Forestry is offering a FREE public tour within the Susquehannock State Forest. Join Bureau of Forestry staff and partners as we take you on a guided driving tour with stops highlighting the agencies work in the region. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about forest health and management, forest stewardship, wildlife habitat management and recreational opportunities on State Forest. This tour is being offered at NO cost to participants. Lunch and transportation will be provided. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. To register call the Susquehannock State Forest at 814-274-3600 or email fd15@pa.gov.