On May 19th Johnsonburg Fire Department was dispatched to 315 High School Rd. for an automated fire alarm

[Bellefonte, PA] Each year the Centre County District Attorney’s Office receives nominations
from the public, law enforcement and government agencies of individuals to be recognized for
their exceptional work in law enforcement, above and beyond the call of duty. The nominees
represent a snapshot of the work that police do in our community every day. The nominees for
2025 are as follows:

Trooper Jonathan Hodges – Pennsylvania State Police

Trooper Jonathan Hodges of PSP’s Rockview Barracks transitioned into the criminal
investigations unit and quickly established himself as a dependable investigator on some of the
agency’s most complex and demanding cases. He is known for a steady work ethic and a
collaborative approach that strengthens coordination across units and agencies. Trooper Hodges
is particularly noted for his ability to engage with victims and witnesses in a way that builds trust
and supports accurate, thorough reporting of facts. His follow-through and attention to detail
have proven essential in moving difficult investigations forward. Across all assignments, he
consistently demonstrates professionalism, sound judgment, and respect for those involved,
reflecting the standards expected of the award.

Detective Lisa Larkin – Bellefonte Police Department

Detective Lisa Larkin of Bellefonte is relatively new to her department, but has already made a
remarkable impact on the community through her investigative skills and dedication. She is
recognized for her ability to elevate those around her and her capacity to remain deliberate and
composed in unpredictable or high-pressure situations. Her work reflects a consistent balance of
fairness and determination, ensuring that each investigation is handled thoroughly and without
bias. Perhaps most significantly, she treats every individual she encounters with unwavering
dignity, compassion, and respect. Detective Larkin’s work on challenging and sensitive cases
routinely leads to productive outcomes grounded in thorough investigation, careful attention to
detail, and a deep understanding of the human consequences in each case.

Humane Society Officer Mark Rusnak

Humane Society Officer Mark Rusnak has demonstrated exceptional professionalism,
compassion, and dedication in the protection and welfare of animals within our community. As
the first individual to hold this position while also serving as a County Sheriff, Officer Rusnak
has taken on this additional responsibility with remarkable commitment and leadership. Through
tireless investigative work, strong community engagement, and an unwavering commitment to
humane treatment, Officer Rusnak has consistently gone above and beyond in carrying out the
mission of animal protection and public safety. He approaches every case with integrity and
empathy, earning the respect of colleagues, partner agencies, and the public alike.

Sergeant Elijah Vardzel – Patton Township Police Department

Sergeant Vardzel is nominated for his dedication and drive to ensure that projects affecting all of
Centre County, not just Patton Township, exist and are implemented. Sgt. Vardzel is part of the
Centre County Crash Reconstruction Team and has ensured that the team has proper training,
equipment and personnel to provide crash reconstruction services to local police agencies
throughout Centre County. He has also been instrumental in the beginning of the Centre County
Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce. This taskforce will coordinate with the Delaware
County District Attorney’s Office, which receives tips from the federal government of child
pornography being transmitted to computers in Centre County. Although just beginning, this
taskforce will again ensure that local police agencies have information, support and tools to be
notified of these internet tips and subsequently investigate and prosecute those crimes.

On May 19th Shinglehouse Ambulance was dispatched to Powerhouse Rd. for a cardiac emergency

Wednesday 20 & Thursday 21  @ 9 pm, we will flush the water lines

Water may appear cloudy. Please let the cold water run for a few minutes; it will clear up.

Thank you for your understanding and patience.

Roulette Township 

Sealed bids are being received by the Roulette Township, Potter County, PA at PO Box 253,
Roulette, PA 16746-0253 or 80 Railroad Ave., Roulette, PA until 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 11th  ,

2026 for each line item of the following:
More or less of the following aggregates:

1B – 200 Tons
PA2A – 300 Tons
AS2 Anti-skid – 400 Tons

All bids must be submitted on a State Bid Form provided by the Roulette Township and include
delivered price to the township building. To request a bid form, contact the township secretary
at (814) 544-7549, roulettwp@gmail.com, or at 80 Railroad Ave., Roulette, PA 16746. Office
hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All materials must be state approved. All deliveries will be at
the discretion of the Board of Supervisors.

Sealed bids should be marked “aggregate” and will be opened at the June 11th 2026, monthly meeting. The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m., at 80 Railroad Ave., Roulette, PA. The Board of Supervisors reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

OLEAN, NY – Olean General Hospital (OGH), a Kaleida Health facility, celebrated the completion of the third cohort of the OGH nurse residency program. The year-long program celebrated the graduation of 21 nurses at a pinning ceremony held at the end of April.

The nurses that graduated from the residency program included Larissa Bailey, RN, Cailey Barnett, RN, Nicole Bennett, RN, Samantha Clarke, RN, Grace Derr, RN, Moriah Dick, RN, Nathan Douglas, RN, Brianna Fields, RN, Julia Grandinetti, RN, Abigail Hill, RN, Derek Hittle, RN, Sydney Kellogg, RN, Mindy Music, RN, Terra Nolan, RN, Morgan Putt, RN, Marcy Pomeyie, RN, Samantha Proctor, RN, Karsen Rees, RN, Rosemary Rodgers, RN, Nathaniel Vos, RN and Tonie Westlake, RN.

            OGH launched the first nurse residency program 2023. This third cohort of 21 nurses started the residency program after being onboarded as a graduate nurse in 2025. The one-year program was created in effort to improve retention of nurses, create a sense of community through mentorship and develop a connection to resources throughout the organization, as well as support the new nurses to continue to be life-long learners as they prepare to earn their bachelor’s degree. The program provides the graduate nurses with monthly hands-on training in addition to each participant having to develop an evidence-based research project specific to a unit, department or hospital wide at OGH.

            Prior to the pinning ceremony each group were able to present their evidence-based projects. There were ten evidence-based projects that was presented on various subjects relevant to OGH procedures and patient experiences.

“We are incredibly proud of our nurse residency graduates for their dedication and growth over the past year. Their hard work and resilience have been inspiring, and we’re confident they will continue to make a lasting impact in patient care,” said Jennifer Ruggles, MSN, RN, chief nursing officer, OGH. “We are also proud to provide ongoing educational and clinical advancement opportunities that help our team members feel confident and supported in their roles. The future is bright, and we’re excited to see all they will accomplish.”

In 2025, OGH hired a record-number of 28 graduate nurses who started the program last summer. Nurse retention also saw a record high in 2025 with 85.8%.  OGH continues to recruit nurses and graduate nurses to meet the goal of displacing high-cost agency staff throughout the organization and keep the heart of healthcare local.

“We’re committed to recruiting talented nurses who want to live, work and make a real difference in our community. By nurturing a supportive environment, we empower our nurses to thrive while delivering exceptional care to our patients.”

Caption: 2026 Nurse Residency graduate cohort pose together at the pinning ceremony in April at OGH.

On May 16th Coudersport Ambulance was dispatched to Apache Trail In Sweden Twp. for altered mental status

On May 18th Bradford Twp. and Bradford City Fire and Ambulance were dispatched 1104 S. Avenue. for an E-bike accident with possible injuries Mercy Flight is on standby. UPDATE Bradford Twp. has been recalled

USDA is Now Accepting Applications for Rural Businesses and Community Development Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 18, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that it is making $27.7 million in grants available through the Rural Business Development Grant Program (RBDG). This program provides funding for business and community initiatives that promote economic growth and job creation.

Eligible applicants can include rural cooperatives, state government agencies, towns, and communities, nonprofit corporations and institutions of higher learning, and federally recognized Tribes. Individuals and for-profit businesses or organizations are not eligible to apply.

Applications will compete in two separate categories:

• Business opportunity grants: May be used for business support centers, technology-based economic development, leadership and entrepreneur training, feasibility studies, business plans, long-term strategic planning, and other eligible activities.
• Business enterprise grants: May be used for training and technical assistance, project planning, business counseling, market research, feasibility studies, and product or service improvements, buying or developing land, easements, or rights of way, including access streets and parking areas, constructing or renovating buildings, and buying machinery and equipment, capitalizing revolving loan funds, and supporting rural business incubators and community economic development and other eligible activities.

Electronic applications must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. local time through Grants.gov on the due date. The Rural Business Development Grant Program has two different closing dates:

1. June 15, 2026, only applies to Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) applications.
2. June 30, 2026, applies to the remainder of the applicants. For more information on how to apply please visit on gov or contact your local USDA Rural Development office.

On May 18th Big Elm Fire Department and Mansfield Ambulance were dispatched to Rt. 549 near Jenkins Rd. for a motor vehicle accident car over the embankment unknown injuries and no entrapment

November 6, 1959 — May 13, 2026

Wayne G. Pichler, 66, of Sheeley Road, Kersey, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.He was born on November 6, 1959 in St. Marys, PA, a son of the late Edward and Margaret Hannibal Pichler.

Wayne was a lifelong resident of the area and was a graduate of St. Marys Area High School and worked at Quala Die for many years. Wayne greatly enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed archery and spending time at camp. He found some of his greatest comfort and companionship in the company of his beloved cat.  He cherished the time spent with his son racing dirt bikes, traveling from track to track, and working side by side in the garage fixing bikes long into the evening.  Those moments together brought him some of his greatest joy and created memories that will forever be treasured.

He is survived by one brother; Steven Pichler and his wife Debbie of Kersey and by numerous nieces and nephews, including; Raeane Feidler, Corey Pichler, Jerime Pichler, and Eric Pichler. He is also survived by his longtime friend; Nicole Foster. In addition to his parents, Wayne was preceded in death by his son; Kyle Pichler on January 14, 2020, and a brother, Michael “Mick” Pichler.

 Funeral and graveside services will be held privately with the family. 

Memorial Contributions may be made to a local animal shelter. 

Krise Family Funeral Home, 339 Main Street, Kersey, PA 15846 is handling the arrangements and online condolences may be offered to the family at www.krisefamilyfuneralhomes.com

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Wayne G. Pichler, please visit our flower store.

On May 18th Shinglehouse Fire Department was dispatched to 1739 Butter Creek Rd. for a gas leak.

On May 18th Eldred Twp. Fire Department was dispatched to Rt. 446 for traffic control for a disabled vehicle

By: Tony Bixby, MBA, NRP, CCEMT-P, FP-C
Chief, Susquehanna Regional EMS
Director, Prehospital Services, UPMC in North Central Pa.
Director, East Central Region, and Board Member, National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT)

Each year, National EMS Week (May 17–23) gives us the opportunity to pause and say something that can never be said enough: thank you.

Across our region, emergency medical services have long been rooted in the community. For generations, neighbors have answered the call for neighbors—volunteers leaving family dinners, paid clinicians coming off long shifts, dispatchers guiding care from behind the scenes, and support staff keeping ambulances rolling. This is the proud tradition of community‑based EMS, and it remains alive today.

When someone dials 911, they’re not thinking about titles, staffing models, or uniforms. They’re thinking about one thing: help. And every day, across our rural towns and boroughs, EMS teams make sure that help is on the way.

The landscape of EMS has changed over time. Volunteer numbers have declined, funding support is inconsistent, federal and state reimbursement for services is poor, training and clinical expectations have increased, and the calls themselves have grown more complex and broader in scope. These shifts reflect the realities of modern life, not a lack of caring or commitment. Even as fewer people are volunteering as they once did, the heart of service that built EMS in this region continues to shine through.

What stands out most is how EMS has adapted. Volunteers, paid professionals, and health care partners work side by side, sharing responsibility and supporting one another, so coverage is available day and night. Mutual aid agreements, cross‑training, and regional cooperation help ensure communities remain protected, especially in rural areas where distances are longer, and resources are often stretched.

EMS Week reminds us that emergency care doesn’t happen in isolation. It is sustained by an entire network of people: EMTs and paramedics, volunteer responders, dispatchers, educators, mechanics, administrators, hospital teams, community leaders, and families who support those who answer the call. Together, they form a safety net that communities depend on every day.

Join me in celebrating the individuals who carry forward the legacy of EMS in our region. We honor the history that shaped it, the dedication that sustains it, and the teamwork that ensures its future.

To everyone who plays a role in emergency medical services: thank you for showing up, for stepping up, and for making sure that when our neighbors need help most, they are never alone.

When the call goes out, help is on the way because of you.

On May 18th Bradford City Fire Department was dispatched to 37 Williams St. for an automated fire alarm. UPDATE allnunits recalled

On May 18th Port Allegany Fire and Ambulance were dispatched to 716 N. Main St. for a two vehicle head on accident with entrapment and possible injuries

The Black Forest Conservation Association will be hosting a Women’s Handgun Safety Course from June 8th to 11th, 2026 at 6pm on the clubhouse grounds at 189 Back Road, Coudersport. This event is open to the public. No prior experience is required, and participants do not need to own a handgun. The cost is $100 per person, which includes ammunition and targets.

Interested individuals are encouraged to contact Stephanie Gerhart at (814)598-0720 for further information or to register. Limited spots are available!

Shirley A. HOOVER, 68, of Galeton, PA, formerly of Somers Point, NJ, died Friday, May 15, 2026 in UPMC Cole.  Born August 27, 1957, in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of John S. and Alice J. Scaletti Stiver.  On August 29, 1990, in Ocean City, NJ, she married Mark A. Hoover, who survives.  

A 1975 graduate of Mainland Regional High School in Linwood, NJ, she served honorably with the U.S. Air Force in 1975.  She was employed as a custodian and cafeteria worker in public schools.  Shirley also worked as a slot machine technician.  She was a member of American Legion Post #352 in Somers Point and AMVETS Post #911.  

Surviving beside her husband, Mark, are: a granddaughter, Alder Hoover; five siblings, Jean Arking, Mark Stiver, Katherine Stiver, Dorothea Cawley, and Walt “Chip” Chipley, III; nieces and nephews.  In addition to her parents, John Alice Stiver, she was predeceased by a son, Andrew J. Hoover; her stepfather, Walt Chipley, Jr.; and a brother, John “Jack” Stiver.  

Services will be private.  Memorials may be made to Galeton Public Library, 5 Park Lane, Galeton, PA 16922.  Arrangements are under the direction of Olney-Foust Funeral Homes & Crematory, Ulysses, PA.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.olneyfoust.com.

On May 17th Port Allegany Ambulance was dispatched to N. Main St. for a person ill

Last week in review: Three teams competing in national events. What could be better?

SOFTBALL: Seeded third in the four-team Division III Mount Union Region in Alliance, Ohio, first-year coach Amber Savage’s squad earned the program’s first win ever in an NCAA tournament and finished third.

GOLF: The Wildcats of coach Rob Lytle finished 39^th of 43 teams at the NCAA Division III Men’s Championship at the Mission Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida.

ARCHERY: Two archers finished sixth for coach Dustin Bartron’s team in the USA Archery Collegiate Target Nationals at East Lansing, Michigan.