The final Ministerium Advent luncheon for this year will be held at noon tomorrow at St. Eulalia’s Roman Catholic Church fellowship hall promptly at noon on Wednesday, December 18. All are invited, a free will offering will be collected to support the work of the ministerium throughout the year in the community
Barbara Claire: Loving Wife Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, and Friend
Barbara Claire, 88, formerly of 69 Plum Street, Bolivar, passed away Sunday, December 15, 2024 at Wellsville Manor Care Center after a lengthy illness.
Born on March 9, 1936, at home in Allentown, she was a daughter of Ronald O. and Hilda M. Meyers Adams. She was married to Lou Claire who predeceased her on July 22, 1997.
Barb was a proud graduate of Allentown Union School Class of 1953. When her children were young, she worked at ACME Electric and then was the Co-owner and Office Manager of Allegany Printing Company in Bolivar with her husband until her retirement.
Deborah L. Cole, 72, formerly of Bolivar Drive, Bradford, passed away, Friday December 13, 2024, at the Bradford Ecumenical Home.
Born March 11, 1952, in Bradford, she was a daughter of the late Charles Lee Cole and Peggy Ann Kramer.
She was a 1970 graduate from Bradford High School and attended Edinboro University.
Deb worked for Charles Day Interior Designer for a short time before being employed by W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery. She retired from KOA Speer Electronics, Inc. in 2016 after 29 years.
Deb was an avid knitter and was a member of the knitting group at St. Francis.
Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center’s Homeland Security program is proud to announce Meloney Benson as the SHCTC’s “Student of the Week” for the week of December 16th. Meloney is a 10th grade student at Otto Eldred School District and a first year student here at CTC.
Meloney is very musically talented. She plays the trumpet and clarinet in her personal time at home. Meloney plays alto saxophone & clarinet in the high school band, as well as percussion & alto saxophone in the marching band. She is a member of the track & field team. Meloney also participates in the IU9 reading camp. While here at CTC, Meloney is active in her class and has completed OSHA 10 and Stop the Bleed certifications. She is an active member of the Eldred Borough Fire Department.
Thank you to the organizers and riders who participated in the 2024 Ride Into Christmas Parade in Smethport. The group donated money to the K9 Unit of the McKean County Detective Bureau at the DA’s Office. The K9s work with law enforcement with their specialty – with K9s trained to find drugs, explosives or missing people. Thank you! Your donation is greatly appreciated! Pictured is K9 Izzy with some of the participants.
District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that, after a two day jury trial at the McKean County Courthouse, Tammy ROBERTSON, was convicted of the reckless shooting of a Kane man, resulting in his paralysis. Police were dispatched to report of an accidental shooting at a residence in Kane on March 3, 2022.
The victim had been shot and was being flown to an out of area hospital for treatment. ROBERTSON reported that the gun accidentally discharged after she racked the slide prior to putting the gun away. She told police she had been drinking all day, the gun had been on her kitchen table for several days and was loaded. She decided to rack the slide so there was a bullet in the chamber before she put the gun in her safe out of the reach of a minor child who resided at the residence. She told police the gun accidentally discharged when she racked the slide. A firearms’ expert with the Pennsylvania State Police testified to the amount of pressure required for the gun to fire and the sequence of steps that must occur prior to the gun firing – all that disproved accidental discharge.
ROBERTSON was charged and convicted of Recklessly Endangering Another Person and a Kane Borough ordinance of discharging a firearm in the borough. The Commonwealth sought – and the jury found- an enhancement related to the use of a deadly weapon during the crime. Officer William Nichols of the Kane Borough Police Department investigated the case. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Coppolo prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth. Sentencing was scheduled for January 30th.
Clayton A. Shobert, 95, of Ridgway, passed away on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at Penn Highland Elk after a brief illness.
He was born on September 11, 1929, in Hallton, a son of the late Arthur and Majorie Wallace Shobert.
On August 24, 1963, he married the late Patricia Tramack, who preceded in death on February 23, 2011.
Paul R. Plants “beloved husband, father, grandfather, and servant of the Lord”
Paul R. Plants went to be with Jesus Christ his Savior surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, December 15, 2024 at the age of 87 after a short illness.
He was born on September 28, 1937 in Kane, PA to Ruben and Grace Tanner Plants. On July 19, 1958, Paul married the former Eloise Babcock and for 67 years they worked to build a family, run a farm, and start a business.
Paul enlisted in the Army in 1958 where he was stationed in Fort Benning, GA and was recognized for several accomplishments during his active duty.
When he returned to Champlin Hollow after serving in the Army, he and Eloise bought the farm owned by his parents and began six decades of raising kids and cattle. Also at this time, Paul returned to his job at Acme Electric in Allegany, NY, where he would work second shift for the next 27 years. The last several years at Acme he served as plant manager.
Coudersport, Pa., December 16, 2024 – With the new year approaching, many of us strive to set resolutions to improve our family’s health. UPMC is committed to addressing pediatric obesity through innovative prevention and treatment programs that promote healthy lifestyles for children and their families. Our multifaceted approach combines education, personalized family-centered care, and collaboration with specialists to support children, youth, and families on their journey to better health.
“At UPMC Cole, we are dedicated to helping children build healthy habits for life. Through our evidence-based programs and partnerships, we provide families with the tools and resources they need to lead healthy and active lives,” said Mary Ann Rigas, M.D., UPMC Pediatrics. “Our pediatric providers participate in quality improvement education programs through the American Academy of Pediatrics, ensuring they stay up to date on the latest in pediatric obesity and treatment.”
Charles E. “J.R.” BACH, Jr., 82, of Galeton, PA, died Friday, December 13, 2024 in Sena-Kean Manor, Smethport.
Born April 12, 1942, in Johnstown, he was the son of Charles E. and Clara May Burkhart Bach. On October 22, 1988, in the First United Presbyterian Church, Coudersport, he married Joy Conable, who survives. A 1960 graduate of Johnstown Central High School, he served honorably with the U.S. Army from 1960 – 1964. He attended Robert Morris Junior College and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from the University of Iowa, where he played on the football team.
He was employed by the PA Fish Commission, Potter County Children and Youth, and was the Vice President of Human Service Providers in Mansfield. J.R. served on the Potter County Board of Commissioners, Galeton Area School Board, and Cole Hospital Authority. He was a member of the Galeton and Ulysses Masonic Lodges and the American Legion.
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners’ Wildlife Management Committee will hold a virtual meeting on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 1 p.m. to discuss and recommend proposals for the 2025-26 hunting and trapping seasons.
The Wildlife Management Committee was formed this fall, with the purpose of reviewing and recommending proposals to be included on the agenda for the board meeting that will take place in January 2025.
The committee is comprised of Commissioners Dennis Fredericks, Scott Foradora, Kristen Koppenhafer, Allen DiMarco and Bob Schwalm.
The committee is slated to discuss a number of proposals, including expanding “Ag Tag” seasons and making the application process easier; creating a general unit antlerless deer license that could be used in multiple Wildlife Management Units; removing the requirement for mentored youth under 7 years old to receive big-game tags by transfer; limiting the number of elk licenses that can be drawn by nonresidents annually; establishing an early archery season for antlerless deer; allowing fall turkey hunters to use single projectile muzzleloading firearms; allowing any muzzleloading firearm to be used on properties enrolled in the Deer Management Assistance Program during the flintlock deer season; and raising the number of antlerless licenses that an individual can be in possession of in Wildlife Management Units 5C and 5D.
A proposal that is approved by the committee will be included on the agenda for the commissioners’ January 2025 meeting, at which 2025-26 hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits will be preliminarily approved.
The Dec. 19 virtual meeting will be livestreamed on the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s YouTube channel, which can be accessed through www.pgc.pa.gov. Those unable to watch on Dec. 19 will be able to view thereafter.
The full Board of Commissioners is scheduled to meet Jan. 24 and 25 at the Game Commission’s headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. The agenda for that meeting will be posted online prior to the meeting.
Edward Lewis Colvin
Edward L. Colvin, 87, passed away Monday, December 9, 2024, in Lancaster, PA. Born in Corning, NY he was the son of the late Frederick and Ruth (Simpson) Colvin.
He was a graduate of Addison High School. Ed worked for Ingersoll Rand for a time, worked as a logger, and later a well driller. He was most known for the time he spent managing a lab rabbit farm. After raising his family in Potter and Tioga counties, he moved to Branson, MO for his retirement years where he enjoyed fishing daily at Table Rock Lake.
Ed was an avid hunter, fisherman and Ginseng digger.
This past weekend Famous Wabbits, a Potter County 4-H Club, participated in the Quiz Bowl that took place in McKean County.
The Jr Livestock team consisted of Natalie Brewer, Addison Brewer, Kaydence Barber, and Lila Bowles. This team was the division winning team.
The Jr Rabbit team consisted of Kaydence Barber, Brooklynn Larson, Addison Brewer, and Natalie Brewer. This team was also awarded as the division winner.
The Jr Dairy team consisted of Brooklynn Larson, Emily Koester, Alyssa Koester, and Natalie Brewer they were also the Jr division winners.
Standings for The 2nd Annual Regional Quiz Bowl Competition hosted by McKean County!
Senior Division Livestock
1st place – Huntington County
2nd place – McKean County
Junior Division Livestock
1st place – Potter County
2nd place – Huntington County
Senior Division Rabbit
1st place – Washington County
Junior Division Rabbit
1st place – Potter County
Senior Division Dairy
1st place – McKean County
Junior Division Dairy
1st place – Potter County
Great job everyone!
More Pictures Below
Shirley J. Culp, 81, of Galeton, PA, passed away on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at UPMC Cole, Coudersport, PA.
She was a Valentine baby being born on February 14, 1943 in Renovo, PA. She was a daughter of the late Russell McKinley and John and Martha (Bowers) Miller. She was a 1962 graduate of Renovo High School. On October 15, 1966, she married Kenneth Culp, who preceded her in death on August 16, 2018. Shirley worked at Smith of Galeton Gloves before retiring. She enjoyed gardening, riding four wheelers, loved hummingbirds and Christmas was her favorite time of year.
The Lies We Tell
By
Pastor B.J. Knefley
We tell lies, or do we? If you say that you’ve never told a lie, then you are fooling yourself and others. We all have lied. Some overtly and others covertly, but we all have done it. Sometimes it’s a straightforward out-and-out lie while others are with deception and sleight-of-hand trickery. With our words, body language, and other methods we convince people that what they think we have done we have not. We are as innocent as a babe or a dove and wouldn’t hurt anyone with such behavior. Honestly!
Someone once asked me why they lied after having been caught in a lie. They knew better; they knew they were wrong even before the words were out of their mouth, so why did they do it? Many have found themselves in that place, so why do we lie when we know better? The simple answer is that we’re trying to protect our image. Our image of ourselves is already low, and we lie to cover that up. Because we see ourselves as having low value, we struggle with self-esteem and self-worth. Lying is a way of covering up and painting a picture that is more acceptable, easier to look at, or grasp. No one wants to look like a failure, a nobody, or worthless, so we lie.
We lie to cover the truth. Again, it’s to cover up the true picture with one that is fake. We are often very good at it because we’ve practiced it for most of our lives. Sadly, for some, it has become second nature. As the saying goes, if you want to tell how you know certain people are lying you just have to see their lips moving. I have seen people utterly broken with grief and embarrassment after having been caught in a lie. Confession and repentance follow for a time, only to have the same lying behavior return.
Some have learned to lie because the truth that they must live with is so horrendous and tragic that they create a false self. I’ve often described this as the wearing of a mask. Their behavior is motivated by fear, guilt, shame, and other emotions that keep us a prisoner. In the end, I believe that the only thing that will set us free is the truth. Embarking on that path will take courage. Think about it.
Penn College women go to 3-0 on court in UE
During a week when fall semester finals wrapped up, the Pennsylvania College of Technology women’s basketball team was the only one to see action as it stayed unbeaten in United East Conference play.
This week, women’s basketball and wrestling are on the docket.
Women’s Basketball
In a game played on Saturday after being postponed on Friday, the Wildcats downed winless Penn State Berks on the road 64-38 as Gigi Parlante of Williamsport earned a double-double — her fourth in a row and her seventh of the season — with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Penn College outscored its opponent 45-14 in the two middle periods and led in points in the paint 38-18.
UE standings through Sunday: Penn College 3-0, Bryn Athyn 3-0, Penn State Abington 3-0, St. Elizabeth University 3-0, St. Mary’s (Md.) 3-0, Valley Forge 2-1, Wilson College 2-1, Penn State Harrisburg 2-2, Lancaster Bible College 2-2, Notre Dame (Md.) University 2-2, Gallaudet University 1-2, Keystone College 1-2, Cedar Crest College 1-3, Penn State Berks 0-3, Penn State Brandywine 0-3, Rosemont College 0-3, Cairn University 0-4.
