Motorists are advised that no work will be performed for two weeks on the installation of a Truck Rollover Warning System at the Route 15 / Interstate 180 / Route 220 interchange in the City of Williamsport, Lycoming County.

The week of Monday, August 18, 2025, the contractor, Bruce and Merrilees, will continue pausing all work on the installation of the Truck Rollover Warning System between Foy Avenue / High Street interchange (Exit 137) and Route 15 / Interstate 180 / Route 220 interchange. Motorists can expect no lane restrictions between August 18, 2025, and August 24, 2025.

Reminder folks…we will be in Dubois, St. Marys and Emporium areas on Sunday. If you need a backpack or backpacks, please stop down and see up. If you can’t make it, please send a friend or family member. We will only be in the area one time and for a limited time. Please see the schedule below.

Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) and Olean General Hospital (OGH), Kaleida Health facilities, will be host August community blood drives in partnership with ConnectLife, the region’s only community blood bank.

OGH will host its blood drive on Wednesday, August 20, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The drive will take place on the ConnectLife Bus, located at the Mildred Milliman Outpatient Surgery Center, directly across from the hospital. Anyone who would like to schedule an appointment can visit www.connectlifegiveblood.org and use sponsor code 000485, or call (716) 529-4270.

The BRMC blood drive is scheduled for Thursday, August 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the hospital’s main lobby. To schedule an appointment, visit www.connectlifegiveblood.org and use sponsor code 000468, or contact Kim Murphey at (814) 362-8298.

A single pint of donated blood can save up to three lives in our local community! Throughout August, all donors will receive a free Buffalo Bills t-shirt and one donor will win a pair tickets to the Buffalo Bills home opener on Sunday, September 7 in the all-inclusive M&T Club at Highmark Stadium.

In addition, ConnectLife launched a new Suite Seats for Life Savers promotion. From August through December 31, donors who give the qualifying number of times will be entered to win a suite for themselves and 16 guests at Highmark Stadium for the final regular season game of the year. To qualify, donors must make either two whole blood donations and one double red cell donation or four platelet donations during the promotion period.

The OGH blood drive held on June 18 helped save 78 local lives and the BRMC blood drive held on June 19 helped to save 48 local lives!

ConnectLife is dedicated to serving Western New York as the only community blood bank, ensuring that every drop of blood donated stays local. The organization provides approximately 70% of the region’s blood supply, supporting essential local hospitals including Bradford Regional Medical Center, Brooks-TLC Health Network, ECMC, Oishei Children’s Hospital, Buffalo General Hospital, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, Eastern Niagara Hospital and Olean General Hospital.

The Allegany American Legion Riders Post 892 presented Olean General Hospital (OGH), a Kaleida Health facility, with a generous donation to the hospital’s emergency room and obstetrics departments on July 31.

This annual act of generosity stems from the legion riders’ 7th Annual Teddy Bear Dice Run, held this year on June 7. More than 50 riders from across the region participated in the event. Participants were encouraged to bring a new stuffed animal of their choice to donate to OGH to comfort pediatric patients. The event took in more than 70 stuffed animals which will be distributed to children receiving care in the emergency department.

District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that the Smethport man who reports he is a pastor who tried to withdraw his plea agreement for possessing child pornography by claiming that he was investigating child pornography for law enforcement has been sentenced to state prison by a judge during a sentencing hearing at the courthouse last week.

Daniel Walter MERRICK was charged by Trooper Robert Whyel of the Computer Crimes Division of the Pennsylvania State Police with possessing hundreds of images and videos of child pornography after an internet provider reported such images were uploaded by MERRICK.  MERRICK pled guilty to possessing 698 images/videos of prepubescent children with 499 of those also depicting indecent contact.  At a sentencing hearing in May, MERRICK, who reports he is a pastor, told the Judge that he only possessed the pornography as part of an investigation he had undertaken for law enforcement into Ukrainian and Russian children who are victims of child pornography.  The sentencing was rescheduled to last week to allow for a full hearing to present evidence of any such investigation. 

At the hearing, no further evidence regarding the alleged law enforcement agency MERRICK claimed to have reported the pornography to was provided.  On behalf of the Commonwealth, District Attorney Vettenburg-Shaffer presented the testimony of Trooper Robert Whyel who testified that, when he and a Corporal interviewed MERRICK, MERRICK told them that he and his wife had not been intimate in years, that he began to search for pornography including anime pornography, and he had developed a curiosity in child pornography.  Trooper Whyel told the Court that MERRICK told them that he had searched for child pornography for 2 months and that he would seek help from a therapist for his addiction. Trooper Whyel said that MERRICK told him that he never touched a child and that it was only a fantasy. 

The Court imposed a sentence of 46 months to 92 months in state prison and 3 years of consecutive probation. MERRICK was ordered to submit a DNA sample and resister as a sex offender as well as other conditions.  He is not eligible for any early parole program.  He had credit of 1 day served.  MERRICK was remanded to the McKean County Jail immediately after the sentence. 

If you suspect child abuse, please report it to Childline at 800-932-0313 and to police by calling 911.

McKean County’s Vietnam veterans will be honored this weekend as a state-owned bridge in Hamlin Township is dedicated in their honor, said Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter).

A state law, Act 59 of 2019, named the bridge on Kushequa Avenue (State Route 3009) over the Kinzua Creek in Hamlin Township the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge.

The public is invited and encouraged to join in the dedication, which will be held at 11 a.m.  Saturday, Aug. 16, at the bridge, which is located near Kushequa Union Church.

“It is important we remember the men and women who fought in Vietnam, not just for our country but for the cause of democracy around the world,” Causer said. “They all served with honor, and far too many gave their lives for us. We are blessed by their service and sacrifice.”

The idea to name this bridge originated with the late John Moffett Sr., who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, doing two tours of duty in Vietnam, and earning two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. He also started the Bob Swanson Marine Corps League in Mount Jewett.

Moffett’s son, John Moffett Jr., as well as his long-time friend, Don Wenner, are expected to speak at the event, along with Causer, Sen. Cris Dush (R-25) and McKean County Veterans Affairs Director Alvin Loveless. Frank Sirianni, chaplain for King David Post 1132 in Kane, will offer the invocation and prayer, while the American Legion Post 547 Color Guard in Mount Jewett will present the colors. Hamlin Township Supervisors Jim Trussell, Wally Howard and Jim Myers are also expected to attend.

The Port Allegany High School Alumni Dinner and Dance will be held Saturday, September 27, 2025 at the Port Allegany VMI (Veterans Memorial, Inc.) located on Route 155 in Port Allegany.  Social hour will begin at 5:00 p.m. with dinner to follow at 6 p.m. 

Following the dinner, a brief business meeting will be held followed by the class roll call, election of new officers, and reports from 2024 Alumni.  The event will also feature a Chinese Auction, door prizes and music by DJ Erik Lloyd.  Cost is $30 per person and reservations are due by September 20. Reservations should be sent to Phil Smith, 382 Wildwood Drive, Port Allegany, PA 16743.  Checks are payable to P. A. Alumni.  Makayla Alcorn, Alumni Vice-President, is pictured with one of the reservation forms that can be found in various locations around town including Shop n Save, The Little Red Diner and the Daily Bread.  

Ten-Year-Old Hero Helps Save Mother Trapped in ATV Accident in Bradford City Bradford, PA — On 08-07-2025, a quick-thinking Ten-year-old boy became the hero of the day after his mother was injured in a remote wooded area near Constitution Ave in Bradford City.

At approximately 3:15pm, emergency services were alerted to a woman trapped beneath an ATV that had rolled over during an accident in the woods. The incident occurred in an area with no cell phone coverage, preventing any immediate calls to 911.

Recognizing the urgency, the woman’s ten-year-old son bravely left her side, navigated through the wooded terrain, and made his way to a nearby home he was familiar with to summon help. Bradford City Fire Department and Bradford City Police Department responded to the scene, assisted by the Bradford Township Police Department, which deployed its off-road utility vehicle to reach the location.

First responders worked together to safely lift the ATV, extricate the victim, and provide necessary medical attention. The victim was transported to BRMC for further evaluation and treatment.  The Bradford City Fire Department, Bradford City Police Department, and Bradford Township Police Department commend the bravery of this young child and the cooperation of all responding agencies.

The Port Allegany High School Gator Marching Band ended their week-long band camp with a photo shoot held at the school.  The band participated in the Swedish Festival Parade on Saturday and the McKean County Fair Parade in Smethport on Monday.  They will end the week participating in a parade at Kennywood. 

New York defeated the PA team 56-0 on Saturday night at Parkway Field in Bradford.  The win has evened the score with NY now having 26 wins, along with PA’s 26 wins.  

Pennsylvania and New York Cheerleaders are pictured as they completed their half-time routine during the Big 30 Charity Classic.