The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners met today in Harrisburg, hearing public comment and conducting official business. The commissioners gave preliminary approval to the 2025-26 hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits, which are outlined in a separate news release. Other highlights from today’s meeting follow.

ELK LICENSE APPLICATION PROCESS COULD CHANGE

A number of changes meant to update and improve Pennsylvania’s elk license application system could be coming, if measures given preliminary approval by the Board of Commissioners get final approval in April.

First, the Game Commission is proposing to require hunters to first buy a hunting license before applying for an elk tag. Current regulations allow anyone to submit an elk license application, but only require applicants to buy a license if drawn.

Emporium, PA — Roses are red, violets are blue… your perfect book match is waiting for you! This Valentine’s season, skip the clichés and let the Barbara Moscato Brown Memorial Library play Cupid with our “Blind Date with a Book” event, running from January 31 to February 28, 2025.

How does it work? Easy as falling head over heels:

Officers have located two loose goldendoodles running near the Zippo plant on Congress Street. If you are the owner of these animals or know the owner, please contact us at 814-887-4911 Original Facebook post HERE

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to the 2025-26 hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits.

The preliminary seasons and bag limits are nearly identical to those in place for 2024-25.  One modification proposed for the 2025-26 seasons is:

• For snowshoe hares, a season limit of three hares per hunter is proposed. Presently, a hunter reaching the one-hare daily limit could harvest as many as six hares in a season. This reduction in maximum possible harvest per hunter would protect against overharvest in isolated segments of the hare population.  

The public may offer comments on all proposed 2025-26 seasons and bag limits, as well as other board actions, between now and the board’s April meeting, when 2025-26 seasons and bag limits will be finalized, and antlerless deer license allocations will be presented.

The board is scheduled to meet April 11 and 12 at the Game Commission’s Harrisburg headquarters.

PROPOSED 2025-26 HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS

Between 1/22-1/23 Wellsboro fire department responded to three separate structural fires.

The first request was for additional manpower to assist firefighters in Osceola. Crews responded with the rescue and assisted with suppression efforts and extensive overhaul.

The second coming while crews were cleaning up from the first fire. Tanker 1-5 with manpower as well as Chief 1 (McCarthy) and Chief 1-60 (Hastings). Responded and assisted with suppression and rural water supply to Mainesburg for the report of a garage fire. Crews worked aggressively with mutual aid companies to ensure that the fire was contained.

The third request for assistance came just after 1 o clock in the morning on 1/23. Department 1 responding with an engine and tanker to the report of a house fire with possible entrapment in Mainesburg. Engine crews worked with many other local departments to bring the fire under control. The tanker again provided rural water supply for support of suppression efforts.

We offer our sincerest condolences to the Big Elm Volunteer Fire Department following the Line of Duty death of rescue captain Roger Lathrop. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all as well as all of your families during this difficult time.

We would like to thank all of our crews who have battled extremely cold temperatures and some pretty stubborn fires. Your dedication has not been unnoticed.

Rest assured we are ready for the next one!

1 house pride!

Belmont, NY —The Allegany County Democratic Committee (ACDC), in partnership with the Allegany County Area Substance Abuse (ACASA), recently concluded a successful collection drive to benefit unhoused individuals in Allegany County. A carload of new warm winter clothing, toiletries, and shelf-stable snacks was delivered to ACASA to support those in need during the harsh winter months.

“This drive highlights not only the challenges faced by unhoused individuals in Allegany County but also the compassionate hearts of our community,” said Jackie Wilson, ACDC Secretary and drive coordinator. “We serve our community by bringing awareness to the need for emergency shelters and dedicated facilities for homeless youth and families, and by advocating for increased funding to support ACASA’s critical work.”

Sen. Cris Dush (R-25) and Rep. Martin Causer (R-67) today announced more than $19 million in low-interest loans for two infrastructure projects in McKean County.

The Bradford City Water Authority will receive a $4.1 million loan to support replacing all existing water meters with new meters capable of remote data transmission. The change is expected to save the authority approximately $150,000 in operational costs each year.

Pennsylvania American Water Company will receive a $15.2 million loan to address issues at the Kinzua Road wastewater treatment plant. Most of the equipment at the plant, which was built in the 1990s, is at the end of its useful life, resulting in effluent exceedance levels at the plant.

“Both of these low-interest loans are proactive initiatives to ensure the safety and overall quality of McKean County’s water supply,” said Dush. “I’m grateful that PENNVEST exists to cost-effectively finance these types of projects across the Commonwealth. I’m even more grateful that local taxpayers and those living on fixed incomes will not have to bear the enormous price tag of these critical water monitoring and wastewater treatment upgrades.”

City firefighters were dispatched to Tops today at 1608 for a grease fire in the kitchen/ deli section of the grocery store. The fire started in the deep fryers and spread to the adjoining area. Firefighters used multiple fire extinguishers in addition to the Ansul system. A 200 ft hand line was deployed as a precaution. Shift 3 was ordered in to handle any additional calls. DC-1(Kloss) had command.

Bradford, PA/Olean, NY – The Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) and Olean General Hospital (OGH), Kaleida Health facilities, oncology practices at the Barry Street Health Center and BRMC, have received re-certification by the QOPI® Certification Program, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Association for Clinical Oncology (the Association) and an affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (the Society). The QOPI® Certification Program builds on the Society’s Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®), providing a three-year certification for outpatient hematology-oncology practices that meet nationally recognized standards for quality cancer care.

How many times do we encounter hearing impaired people and wish that we could communicate with them? As we age, we gradually lose some of our hearing. Sign language can help. Also, mothers of pre-lingual children can use sign language as a tool with their little ones. Here is your opportunity to learn basic sign language that could help you communicate with someone you care about.

The course will cover beginning sign language, including the alphabet, conversational phrases, and a variety of commonly used signs. The instructor will customize the curriculum based on how participants plan to use sign language. Basic facts essential to the correct use of the language will also be addressed. A dedicated student could learn as many as 800 signs, understand signing/interpreting rules, basic deaf culture, and medical situations that cause deafness and loss of hearing.

Basic Sign Language, taught by Sheri Greene, is scheduled for Mondays, February 24 – March 31, 2025, from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Education Council’s office at 5 Water Street, Coudersport. The cost for this 6-week course is $160/person. Registration is required; the deadline is Tuesday, February 18^th.  To register, visit www.pottercountyedcouncil.org or call (814) 274-4877.

BRADFORD, Pa. — The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford next week will hold its annual Student, Faculty & Staff Recital, which showcases the creativity and passion of several members of the campus community.

The recital, which is free and open to the public, will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, in Bromeley Family Theater in Blaisdell Hall. The hour will feature several different kinds of performances, from musical mashups to poetry.

January 23, 2025

Harrisburg, PA – Winter weather is here, and navigating the unique hazards of snow squalls is crucial for drivers to ensure their safety and the safety of others on the road. Thanks to a new partnership, drivers could soon get more relevant information to help them stay safe on the roads.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike), the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) are teaming up with the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to prioritize roadway safety and further study how snow squalls affect driving.

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today voted to suspend and investigate a proposed rate increase by Pike County Light & Power (PCL&P) for natural gas distribution service in portions of Pike County.

The Commission voted 5-0 to investigate PCL&P’s proposal to increase its annual operating revenues for natural gas distribution service by approximately $905,900 (35.8%).  Under the proposal, the average bill for a residential customer using 80 Ccf per month would increase from $135.78 to $196.08 per month (44.4%).