Galeton weather for November was fairly normal. Daytime highs were mainly in the 40s and morning lows were in the 20’s . However, it did hit 60 on the 6th and it dropped into the teens from the 19th through the 24th. We reported 6 foggy mornings.
Tomorrow is the beginning of meteorological winter. The lawnmower may officially be put away until spring unless of course you would like to have them set outside to look at as a reminder that mowing season will be just around the corner. Now is the season when snow shovels should be brought out and a snow blower or blade installed on the tractor. Just a reminder.
Now to get back to the details of the November report. The average high temperature is 45 degrees and the average low is 28 degrees. The average rainfall total is 3.07″ This year we received 4.69″ and last year we recorded 1.63″ Snowfall. This year we received 4.3″ last year 5.2″ We had 2 days with 1″ or more snow on the ground with the greatest depth of 3″ on the 16th. We had 5 days with at least a trace of snow on the ground.
(ANNIN TOWNSHIP, McKean County): On November 30, 2022, Agents with the Pennsylvania Game Commission filed a criminal complaint against a Massachusetts man for several game law violations. He was remanded to the McKean County Jail after being unable to post bail.
Joseph R. SPADER, III, address listed as Wilmington, Massachusetts, is accused of several counts of Unlawful Killing or Taking of Big Game (3 counts Felony 3; 3 counts Misdemeanor 1; 3 counts Misdemeanor and 1 count Summary) as well as other summary game law violations.
SPADER is accused of committing the crimes between October 5 and November 29 in Annin Township.
The Game Commission received information from a resident in Port Allegany of SPADER killing multiple antlered white-tailed deer between October 5 and November 29. The resident reported SPADER then brought the untagged deer to a residence in Port Allegany. The resident advised that SPADER told him he shot one of the deer out the window of his vehicle.
SPADER is also accused of obtaining a second hunting license that he was not entitled to, shooting on or across highways, unlawful devices and methods, unlawful acts concerning licenses, and unlawful use of lights while hunting.
SPADER was arraigned before on-call Magisterial District Judge Dominic Cercone who set bail at $30,000. The defendant was remanded to the McKean County Jail.
Kathleen S. “Kathie” CURRIER, 74, of Ellisburg, PA, died Monday, November 28, 2022 in Jones Memorial Hospital, Wellsville, NY.
Born August 19, 1948, in Cuba, NY, she was the daughter of Laddie A. and Marjorie R. Childs Parry. On February 15, 1974, in Obi, NY, she married Larry G. Currier, who predeceased her on May 23, 2011.
A 1967 graduate of Portville Central School, she earned her nursing degree from St. Francis School of Nursing in 1970. She was employed by Charles Cole Memorial Hospital in Coudersport for many years.
Kathie was a devoted Bills fan and enjoyed reading mysteries. She was a member of Ellisburg Union Wesleyan Church. Kathie loved spending time with her family.
Surviving are: two sons, Shawn Currier of Wellsville and Perry (Julie) Currier of Coudersport; a daughter, Sheena (Brandon)Yuhas of Phoenix, AZ; three grandchildren, Searah Anne Shutt, Phillip Currier, and Monique Currier; two brothers, Rick (Wendy) Parry of Obi, NY and Dale (Kay) Parry of Aiken; nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents and husband.
Friends may call at Ellisburg Union Wesleyan Church on Friday, December 2, 2022 from 10:00 – 11:00 AM, with Funeral Services following at 11:00 AM. Rev. Roy Ward will officiate. Burial will be in Andrews Settlement Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Genesee Volunteer Ambulance, P.O. Box 9, Genesee, PA 16923.
Arrangements are under the direction of Olney-Foust Funeral Homes & Crematory, Ulysses, PA. Online condolences may be expressed at www.olneyfoust.com.
At 5:40 PM on Wednesday, Highland Township Fire Dept & Kane Ambulance have been dispatched to Route 66 near Lamont Road for a vehicle that struck a tree in the roadway and is now in the ditch. Unknown injuries.
After extensive searching, nothing was found. Units returned to station.
Shirley June Wiles, 95, formerly of South Kendall Avenue, Bradford, PA passed away Friday, November 25, 2022, at the Bradford Ecumenical Home.
Born November 21, 1927, in Bradford, she was a daughter of the late Leonard and Elsie ( Middlebrough) Schuetrum.
She was a 1946 graduate of Otto Township School.
On December 14, 1946, in Rixford, she married Jack E. Wiles who preceded her in death on June 6, 2011. June worked at Corning Glass during WWII. She also worked at Gray’s Drug Store and McCrory’s 5 &10. Shirley attended the Sawyer Evangelical Church.
She enjoyed gardening, canning, completing jigsaw puzzles, and was known for her extensive doll collection.
Surviving is one son, Paul F. Wiles, of Highspire, four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, two brothers, Robert Schuetrum, of Bradford, and Leonard Schuetrum, of San Diego, CA, and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jack of 64 years, one son, Gerald A. Wiles, two daughters, Marcia Darlene Howard, Cheryl L. Schaefer and one sister, Betty Marie Holsinger one brother, Edwin Schuetrum.
A Memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family. Burial will be in McKean Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions if desired may be made to the SPCA, or a charity of the donor’s choice. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc. Online condolences may be made at www.hollenbeckcahill.com
BRADFORD, Pa (November 23, 2022)– Beacon Light Behavioral Health System, an affiliate of Journey Health System, recently purchased the vacant 4,500 square-foot building, formerly housed by Bright Beginnings, at 17 Derrick Road in the Foster Brook Plaza at Bradford, Pennsylvania. Renovations will begin soon to prepare for relocating Beacon Light’s Custer City Private School there, next year. Classes at Custer City will resume until then.
“This move was the result of a recommendation that came out of a master facility plan that the agency engaged an independent architectural firm to complete,” said Journey Health System’s President and CEO Guy Signor. “The Custer City School building met our needs for the past 30 years, however the costs in utilities, distance from our main campus and upkeep were not ideal for our staff and students. This new location is newly constructed and offers better efficiency and accessibility. Our plan is to eventually sell the Custer City property, but until then the baseball field will remain open to the local leagues.”
In addition to constructing special education classrooms for high school students under the age of 21, the preliminary site plan includes: an Autistic support room, calming rooms, cyber-school, the Like Skills program, staff offices and more. The new site for the proposed name, “Beacon Light Academy”, is one-story for easy handicap-accessibility, offers free parking, more energy efficient space, overhead cost savings and is conveniently located near the main Beacon Light campus.
“The new location of our school will not only be beneficial for scaling business for the future but it will improve the learning environment for students, said Jennifer Gesing, MSEd, Beacon Light Behavioral Health System’s Executive Director. “This move is an example of our mission to ensure equity and excellence for all students.”
An additional office building at 58 Derrick Road was also purchased to relocate Beacon Light’s community-based staff from the school building. The 2,686 square-foot space will house the Intensive Behavioral Health Services and the Family Based Mental Health programs. These moves will bring the programs in close proximity to the main campus located at 800 East Main Street.
More information about the transfer of these programs and the Custer City Private School will be announced in the future.
Beacon Light Behavioral Health System was founded in the early 1900’s to provide services to children abandoned or orphaned by the early oil and lumber industries. Throughout its history, the agency has provided quality care to young people. As the needs of local society changed, Beacon Light Behavioral Health System evolved into a private, not-for-profit, social service agency providing quality, professional behavioral health and education services. Beacon Light Behavioral Health System’s continuum of care includes multiple programs of varying intensity that span across northcentral Pennsylvania. Regardless of the location and type of service accessed, qualified mental health treatment professionals provide individualized treatment planning and care.
For information about Beacon Light Behavioral Health System’s services, visit www.beacon-light.org.
OLEAN – Kathleen J. “Grammie” McGonnell, 71, passed away on Saturday (Nov. 26, 2022) at Olean General Hospital, surrounded by her loving family.
Born on March 15, 1951, she was the daughter of Clifford and Dorothy Taft Blakeslee. On May 25, 2002, at their family home, she married James McGonnell.
Kathleen was a 1969 graduate of Olean High School, then went on to attend the former Olean Business Institute and receive her certification in accounting. Kathleen retired as a civilian procurement specialist for the U.S. Navy.
She was a member of the Eagles Club Auxiliary, Portville American Legion Auxiliary and the Hinsdale American Legion Auxiliary.
Kathleen loved to do crypto-puzzles and mahjong. She was an avid sport fan, loved the Yankees and recently became a Buffalo Bills fan. Most of all she enjoyed watching her grandchildren play sports.
Surviving including her husband, is a daughter, Bridget (Michael) Retchless of Olean; two stepsons, James McGonnell II of Alden and Kurtis McGonnell of Salamanca; two sisters, Patricia (Phil) Smith of Olean and Sherry (Bill) Connor of Olean; two grandchildren, Sarah (Steve) Gerhard and Justin (Hannah Wilber) Retchless; three step-grandchildren, Marissa McGonnell, Grayson McGonnell and Kullan McGonnell; a special great-grandson, Colt John Gerhard; and many nieces and nephews with whom she was very close.
Preceding her in death, including her parents, was a brother, Amos Blakeslee; and a sister, Beverly Talbott Smith.
There will be no services at this time.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial contributions be made to The Seeing Eye, a charity for the blind.
Dennis J. Confer, 66, of Bradford, PA passed away on Monday, November 28, 2022 at the Bradford Manor.
He was born on August 13, 1956 in Bradford, the son of Shirley Weaver Confer of Bradford and the late William Confer.
He was a 1974 graduate of the Bradford Area High School.
After High School he was employed by Futures Rehabilitation Center, Inc. for several years prior to working for the Bradford Department of Motor Vehicles until he retired due to disability.
He attended the Sawyer Evangelical Church. He enjoyed playing video games on his laptop computer and watching wrestling on television and while at the Bradford Manor he enjoyed playing Bingo and painting.
In addition to his mother, he is also survived by one sister, Linda (Richard) Kliment of Bushnell, FL; two nieces, Tracy (Mike Ketchner) Piller of Olean, NY and Krista (Jay) Whitlow of Derrick City and five great nieces and nephews, Hunter Ackley, Jordan Piller and Morgan, Mallory and Jake Whitlow.
Private funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family.
Burial will be in McKean Memorial Park, Lafayette.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Mascho Funeral Home, Inc.
Memorial contributions in his memory can be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children—Erie Development and Donor Relations Department, 1645 West 8th Street, Erie, PA 16505 or the McKean County Special Olympics, P.O. Box 101, Bradford, PA 16701.
William Joseph (Bill) Walaski, 78, passed away on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2022, in Dallas, Texas.
Bill was born November 28, 1943, to Joseph M. and Gladys Davey Walaski in Coudersport, Pennsylvania. He was raised in a family of devote Catholics with two brothers and three sisters.
Growing up in Coudersport, he played basketball at Coudersport Area High School, worked various jobs including delivering newspapers and bagging peas at a local pea vinery, enjoyed watching wrestling and shooting pool with his friends. His small-town roots cultivated a strong work ethic and a deep love and respect for his family.
He joined the Army during the Vietnam War and was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas where he met and married his wife, Soledad. He had a strong affection for El Paso where he raised his family and worked as a Transportation Supervisor with the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads. Eventually retiring, he moved to Rockwall, Texas to be closer to his children and grandchildren.
Bill was charming, funny, and generous. He enjoyed long conversations with family and friends and was genuinely interested in listening. He assigned people clever nicknames, liked to tell stories, and never rushed a conversation. He listened to country music, played Yahtzee, watched football, NASCAR and the news, drank too much coffee and recycled anything he could get his hands on. He spoke his own language and did things his own way. Above all else, he was committed to providing for his family.
Whether he was Billy, Dad, Pops, Grandpa, Brother Bill or Uncle Bill, he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Bill is survived by his wife of 56 years, Soledad M. Walaski, his son James Robert Walaski (Michelle) of McLendon-Chisholm, and daughter Rebecca Walaski Sabin (James Troy) of Lucas, TX; grandchildren Korie Lynn Walaski, Evan Sabin, and Ryan Sabin; siblings Delores Taylor, Jean Grom (Don), and Gary Walaski (Sue) and many nieces and nephews
He was preceded in death by his beloved mother and father, siblings James T. Walaski and Nancy W. Chitester.
Visitation will be held from 4 PM to 8 PM with a Rosary at 7:00 PM, Tuesday, December 6th at Rest Haven Funeral Home, 3701 Rowlett Road, Rowlett, TX 75088. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 1305 Demascus Rd., Rockwall, TX 75087.
Interment will take place on Monday, December 12th at 9:30 AM at Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Corpus Christi Monastery, 451 Mockingbird Lane, El Paso, TX 79907.
Joel T. BLASS, 68, of Santa Barbara, CA, died Monday, November 7, 2022 in his home.
Born May 22, 1954, in West Reading, PA, he was the son of Lowell R. and Emilie Verone Holtzman Blass.
Joel loved riding the electric bike he built every single day. Most often, he went to the beach to read his books. He also loved building and working with computers, spending most all his working years in information technology. All his life he enjoyed being outside in beautiful environments.
Surviving are: a brother, Jeffery Blass of Parksville, MO; a sister, Betsy Haley of Dover, NH; cousins; a niece; and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother David J. Blass; and his step-mother, Elaine J. Blass.
A graveside service will be held in Yochum Hill Cemetery, Carter Camp, PA on a later date.
Arrangements are under the direction of Olney-Foust Funeral Homes & Crematory, Ulysses, PA. Online condolences may be expressed at www.olneyfoust.com.
