McKean County

Director of Security

McKean County is seeking qualified and highly motivated applicants for a full-time Director of Security located in Smethport, Pennsylvania.

The Director of Security will coordinate and implement initiatives regarding security and safety for all departments of the Court.  The candidate will provide technical and security related assistance/advice to other non-judicial offices in the courthouse upon request of the County Commissioners.  This position is responsible for the safety and security of all staff and public visitors in the courthouse.

Responsibilities:

• Perform a daily security sweep of the courthouse building and grounds prior to and at the close of business.
• Maintain order within the courthouse; settle disturbances as required.
• Develop and institute procedures and plans relating to security and safety.
• Assign hearing and/or meeting areas within the courthouse according to the daily schedule.
• Maintain a visible security presence within the building.
• Direct traffic (attorneys, litigants, witnesses, etc.) for hearings and meetings.
• Provide leadership to the Courthouse Security Committee on related meeting agendas, programs and policies.
• Provide effective supervision, coaching, mentoring and appraising of job performance to assigned subordinates.
• Accurately maintain required reports, files, records and certifications related to the position or courthouse security.
• Provide input into department annual budget.
• Create, issue, and monitor key fob access for all employees of the courthouse.
• Appear for events or assure other security staff appears for functions and proceedings held at the courthouse/court facilities on non-county/court hours.
• Appear at courthouse/court facilities to address emergency situations/events.
• Assign duties/hours to other Security Officers, full and part-time, as required for court/courthouse and court facility operations and functions.
• Assist with such other duties as may be assigned for the successful operation of the courthouse.

Special Requirements:

• Capable of meeting physical demands related to the use of restraint and self-defense and ability to handle potentially violent confrontations.
• Firearms and Taser Qualifications (May obtain training/certification after hire at discretion and under terms set by the court).
• Communication skills necessary to diffuse dangerous and/or threatening situations.
• Ability to complete annual firearms certification.
• Ability to use tact, yet decisiveness.

Qualified candidates should apply by sending a McKean County job application and resume to Patricia Brown, Court Administrator, 500 West Main Street, Smethport, PA 16749, or via email to pabrown@mckeancountypa.gov.  McKean County is an equal opportunity employer, M/F/D/V.
 

A moment of silence was observed at the F. W. Gunzburger County Office Building on Friday, memorializing U.S. Army Specialist Mike Franklin, who lost his life in the Global War on Terrorism 20 years ago, on March 7, 2005. A banner hangs on the wall next to the Main Street entrance. It was originally hung in downtown Harrisburg, through a partnership of a local civic organization and the American Gold Star Mothers. The banner was donated to the county by SPC Franklin’s parents, Tina and Bill Franklin, when they moved to Arizona.

The Coudersport soldier lost his life when an improvised explosive device detonated near his screening area in Ramadi, Iraq. SPC Franklin, who was a month shy of his 23rd birthday, was not scheduled to be on duty during that shift on 5. But he unselfishly agreed to stand in to help a friend. The checkpoint he was patrolling was established to trap guerrilla fighters through a dusk-to-dawn curfew. Similar operations were taking place in other towns in western Iraq, which were seeing heavy guerrilla fighting. A car had stalled and couldn’t be restarted. Just as Franklin and another soldier were about to begin searching the vehicle, the bomb was detonated by a remote-control device.

After her son’s death, Tina Franklin became involved with the work of Gold Star Mothers, an organization of those who have lost a son or daughter in battle. She has made multiple trips to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., to visit injured service members. Tina and Bill Franklin suggest that those wishing to honor military personnel who have fallen in war consider service to others through community organizations, churches or government agencies.

The Port Allegany Gator Baseball team invites you to join them Saturday, March 15 from 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the Port Allegany Moose Lodge for a Pancake Breakfast.  The event, sponsored by the PAHS Baseball Boosters, will feature a breakfast of pancakes, sausage, bacon, milk, coffee and juice; a basket raffle, 50/50 raffle  and a door prize.  Pictured as they practice flipping pancakes are several team members (from left to right) Joshua Lawrence, Tyler Fillhart, Derek Smith, Nick Wilfong, Jake Causer, Kellen Veilleux, Az Luk, Chase Boyd, Levi Howard and Tyler Carinci.  

This year’s final Property Tax/Rent Rebate Clinic hosted by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) will be held Thursday, March 13, at the Emporium Senior Center, 105 E. Fourth St., Emporium.

Assistance will be available from 10 a.m. to noon. Appointments are preferred and may be made by calling 814-486-3707. The service is free.

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program benefits eligible residents 65 years and older; widows and widowers 50 years and older; and people with disabilities 18 years and older. This year’s income limit is $46,520 for both homeowners and renters; be sure to exclude 50% of Social Security or railroad retirement income. The maximum rebate is $1,000.

To file for the rebate, residents must have the following documentation to allow claims to be processed:

• Renters will need a 2024 PA Rent Certificate, completed by their landlord, or statement from HUD office; 2024 proof of income, such as Social Security/Disability Form 1099, employment W-2, Pension/Retirement Form 1099 and Interest/Dividends Form 1099; and a driver’s license or photo identification. Some may also need to bring a death certificate.
• Homeowners will need proof of 2024 paid property taxes to their county, municipality and school district; 2024 proof of income, such as Social Security/Disability Form 1099, employment W-2, Pension/Retirement Form 1099 and Interest/Dividends Form 1099; and a driver’s license or photo identification. Some may also need to bring a death certificate, life lease or deed.

Applicants who wish to receive their rebates through direct deposit should bring a check for account information. If not, paper checks will be mailed. Disbursements should begin after July 1.

Assistance is also available at Causer’s offices in Bradford (78 Main St., 814-362-4400), Coudersport (279 Route 6 West, Office 2, 814-274-9769) or Kane (54 Fraley St., 814-837-0880). Residents may also apply online at mypath.pa.gov.

A Friend of God

By

Pastor B.J. Knefley

In James 2:23, it is stated that “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was called a friend of God. What does it mean to be a “friend of God”? If you’re unfamiliar, it comes from Isaiah 41:8, “But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my chosen one, descended from Abraham, my friend.” God called Abraham a friend, not the other way around. So, how does one get this position?

Let’s start with a definition of friendship. A friendship is based on trust, respect, support, and care. A friendship is often more potent than the bond of family. Friends usually share common interests, values, experiences, and goals. In the case of Abraham, he trusted God, which was demonstrated in various ways. Perhaps the most significant is in the story of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Abraham showed his willingness to follow God’s request right up until the moment that God provided a ram for the sacrifice. Would this describe our relationship with God, or would we be like Eve, who questioned the validity of what God had said?

This whole idea of being a friend of God also presents another idea. If I am a friend of God, is God a friend of mine? In life, we all know that sometimes friendships are one-sided. The level of trust, support, and respect is different. Some might even question whether there is an actual friendship in place. If we have entered a faith relationship with Jesus, wouldn’t that mean we have also entered into a friendship with Him? But have we? Isn’t that friendship also related to the trust of the other? If we trust, wouldn’t it seem that we would also follow just as Abraham did with God the Father? Sadly, we question and resist. We bulk at His direction and even rebel. Even the Apostle Paul struggled. He states, “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?” (Romans 7:24-25) The answer to this question is Jesus Christ. So, the question of friendship is that Jesus is our friend and constantly draws us into a deeper friendship with Him. Submitting to that is our problem. Think about it.

The 3Ds will play a variety of folk, jazz, Celtic, old-time and Americana songs during their concert for the Golden Afternoons program at 1 p.m. next Tuesday, March 11 in the lobby at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro.

The concert is free. Anyone who is 55 years of age or older is welcome to attend. Free cookies and coffee or tea will be provided.

The 3Ds include David Milano on guitar; David Driskell on clarinet, flute, whistle and musical saw; Daria Lin-Guelig on hammered dulcimer and concertina; and Anne Acker on upright bass. 

Their genre-blending experiment has given each member of the group an opportunity to stretch their musical legs, and resulted in a unique ensemble   with an uncommonly engaging and diverse musical repertoire. 

The United East Conference distributed postseason awards this past week, and four Pennsylvania College of Technology basketball players were among the recipients. Three other Wildcats also picked up UE weekly honors.

Men’s Basketball

For the second consecutive season, seniors Livingston Cross of Union, New Jersey, and Gavin Barrett of Roselle, New Jersey, were awarded UE first-team honors on Wednesday. Barrett became the first Wildcat in the NCAA era to earn three all-conference selections, and the Barrett-Cross duo are the first back-to-back first-team selections since Penn College became a member of the NCAA in 2014. 

Barrett led the conference and was third nationally, with 179 assists, and he was fourth, averaging 6.4 assists per game. He was one of three Division III players to record a triple-double this season. Barrett had six 20-point games and scored a career-high 33 points against Alfred State on Dec. 3. He finished his career with 1,608 points, tops in the NCAA era and third on the all-time list behind Greg Solyak’s 1,629 and Leroy Joiner’s 1,620.

Barrett and Joiner are the only three-time first-team all-conference recipients in program history. 

Cross led the nation with 23 double-doubles and was the lone conference player to average a double-double (22.3 points, 13.2 rebounds). He led the league and finished in the top-five nationally in rebounds per game and defensive rebounds per game (9.14).

Cross ended the season with a team-high 623 points and 369 rebounds to set new program single-season records in both categories. He closed out his career after joining the team nine games into the 2022-23 season with 1,315 points, second in the NCAA era and fifth all-time, and his seven 30-point games are the most in the men’s program history. He also set a new career rebounding record with 711.