Stress is a natural part of life, but when it becomes chronic, it can take a serious toll on mental health. While short-term stress can help us stay alert and motivated, prolonged stress can lead to anxiety, depression, and even burnout. April is Stress Awareness Month, a great time to recognize how stress affects overall well-being and what you can do to manage it.

How Chronic Stress Affects Mental Health

When stress becomes a daily occurrence, it impacts more than just mood — it can affect the brain and body in ways we don’t always recognize. One of the most common effects is heightened anxiety and irritability. The body’s prolonged “fight or flight” response makes even small stressors feel overwhelming, causing people to react more strongly than usual. Over time, this can lead to emotional exhaustion.

Chronic stress also disrupts sleep. Many people find themselves lying awake at night with racing thoughts, unable to relax. Elevated stress hormones, such as cortisol, interfere with the body’s ability to wind down, leading to restless nights and daytime fatigue. Additionally, stress can contribute to depression by depleting the brain’s natural supply of feel-good chemicals, making it harder to feel motivated or engaged in daily life.

Another often-overlooked consequence is the impact on memory and concentration. High stress levels can interfere with focus, making it difficult to complete tasks or remember important details. This mental fog can make everyday responsibilities feel overwhelming, further increasing stress and frustration.

Signs That Stress May Be Impacting You

When the Allegany County Democratic Committee hosts its monthly “Coffee with Democrats” on Saturday, April 12^th in Belmont, they’ll be collecting non-perishable food and personal care items to be donated to the Food Pantry at ACCORD’s ACCESS Center, 84 Schuyler St in Belmont. This is one small way county Democrats “serve our community.”

The event runs from 9:30 am – 11:30 am at Belmont American Legion Post 808, 29 Schuyler St.  and is open to all registered Democrats and friends of the committee. Coffee and light snacks will be served. Sign up here to attend.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) McKean County Maintenance Division announced it will close a portion of the westbound lane of Route 770 (Warren Road) heading toward Warren on Thursday, April 10. PennDOT is closing the lane due to a slide condition starting approximately half a mile west of Shep Run Road and continuing westbound for a quarter mile.

PennDOT will place temporary traffic signals at each end of the slide to direct traffic around the area via the eastbound lane. It expects the lane to be closed indefinitely while a project to correct the condition is designed and bid. PennDOT does not have a timetable for when repairs will begin but will issue updates as more information becomes available.

The average number of vehicles that travel this portion of Route 770 per day is 1,336. PennDOT anticipates minimal traffic impacts but encourages drivers to allow extra time for their commute.

SHINGLEHOUSE, PA.  Mr. Erich Zaun, Principal, has announced that the following students, grades six through twelve, have been named to the Honor Roll for the third nine-week grading period at the Oswayo Valley Jr./Sr. High School.  Students named to the High Honor Roll have maintained an average of 93% or above; while those on the Honor Roll have averaged 87% or above.

HIGH HONOR ROLL

GRADE 12: Maddison Austin, Charlotte Austin-Keech, Aubree Baldwin, Addison Bechelli, Emily Brown, James Burks, Haylie Dowell, Layken Enty, Jadyn Fleischman, Landon Flurschutz, Lauren Hedges, Sophia Komenda, MaKenna Manning, Shayden Mesler, Chloe Metcalf, Rylee Thompson, Brooke Voorhees, Eva West

GRADE 11: Jude Colbey, Lucas Dickerson, Luke Karr, Ridge Mesler, Trevor Miller, Soi Sang Nguyen, Rachel Rathbun, Mia Shaffer

GRADE 10: Ella Bee, Elizabeth Freeman, Sage McCleaft, Aubrey Resig, Dana Williams, Jenna Wylie

GRADE 9: Evalyn Abdo, Amberdale Burks, Jessica Pitts, Ella Resig, Ainsley Tabacheck, Bowen Taylor, Reese Thompson

GRADE 8: Lane West

GRADE 7: Landon Austin, Mackenna Evingham, Tucker Fredenburg

GRADE 6: Emmett Campbell, Emrick Furman, Ayce Geiger

HONOR ROLL

GRADE 12:  Brianna Clarke, Owen Mitchell, Aidan Resig, Danielle Williams

GRADE 11: Owen Bryant, KayLynn George, Colin Murray, Lachlan Tabacheck

GRADE 10: Travis Coriaty, Payton Danforth, Faith Herzog, Britany Louser

GRADE 9: Callie Bachand, Colden Bryant, Kaitlynn Costello, Olivia Fetzer, Makiah Jandrew, Alessia Norton, Michael Oharold, Rhylie Stannard, Leelynn Welch, Layla Willow

GRADE 8: Olivia Metcalf, Camdyn Shaffer

GRADE 7: Jonathan Aumiller, Mason Babcock, Conor Clarke, Miriam Hoffman, Maddeline Kiendl, Savanah Shreckengost

GRADE 6: Hailey Payne, Bentley Sisson, Joseph Welch

Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford) is inviting area students and aspiring business leaders to his first ever Future Entrepreneur Summit on Thursday, May 1, from 9-11:30 a.m. at the Penn Wells Hotel.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, and we want to make sure we are providing the support necessary to help new businesses grow and prepare the next generation of small business leaders in our communities,” Owlett said. “This is a great opportunity to learn from one another as we grow together.”

The summit will feature a panel of experts, including Jordyn Smith, co-owner of Smith and Co.; Dustin Butler, owner of Butler Hill Beef Farm; Sarah Callahan, owner of Flower Girl Florist; and Jason Gehman, CEO of Prism Health.

Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. next Saturday, April 19, Meet Mythical Meats at From My Shelf Books & Gifts at 7 East Avenue in Wellsboro. At this free tasty event, sample an array of Mythical Meats’ hot sauces and scrumptious meat sticks.

Mythical Meats is a company based in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania that is redefining the jerky experience with its premium, exotic meat sticks inspired by characters from the immersive world of Dungeons & Dragons. 

From Bard (duck) to Wizard (yak), Paladin (camel) to Rogue (alligator), Mythical Meats blends bold flavor with creative storytelling to bring an unforgettable snacking experience to adventurous foodies and fantasy fans alike.

On April 9, at 12:22 pm Port Allegany Ambulance was dispatched to Main St. for seizures.

At 1643 City Fire, EMS, and Police were alerted of an MVA into a structure with a natural gas leak. Once on scene it was reported there were no injuries and there was an active natural gas line damaged inside the garage. A booster line was pulled and rescue tools were utilized to secured the garage door from snapping off the cables. The gas was secured and removal of the vehicles began, to assess the damage of the structure. City Fire with the help of Donovan’s Towing removed all the vehicles and the garage door. An assessment of the structure was performed and confirmed there was only the one gas line involved. City fire assisted with cleanup.

Captain 1-30(Tehle) had command.

At approximately 12:18 AM on April 7th, 2025, City of Bradford Police responded to Hamlin Bank and Trust following a reported alarm activation at the ATM. Upon arrival, officers discovered evidence of tampering and determined that the ATM had been accessed.

Simultaneously, officers received information regarding a suspicious vehicle parked in a private driveway on Hawthorne Avenue, near Hamlin Bank. Officers promptly responded to the scene and made contact with the vehicle’s occupants, one male and one female.

Subsequent investigation revealed compelling evidence linking the individuals on Hawthorne Avenue to the attempted theft at the ATM. While no money was successfully stolen, the incident clearly constituted an attempted theft. The investigation into this matter remains active and ongoing.

The individuals apprehended on Hawthorne Avenue were identified as citizens of Venezuela, with addresses traced to Bronx, NY, and Chicago, IL. It was determined that both individuals were not legal citizens of the United States. In collaboration with federal partners including the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Border Patrol, City officers transferred custody of the suspects to the appropriate federal agencies.

The City of Bradford Police Department urges anyone with information pertaining to this investigation to contact us at 814-887-4911. Any information provided will be handled with confidentiality and is crucial to furthering our ongoing efforts in this case.

The City of Bradford Police Department is committed to serving and protecting the residents of Bradford with integrity and professionalism. We work tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of our community through proactive policing and collaborative partnerships with all Local, State and Federal Agencies, residents, and stakeholders.