Settlement includes $325,000 civil penalty, safety enhancements, and funding for methane detectors

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved a settlement with Peoples Natural Gas Company LLC (Peoples) related to a July 26, 2021, natural gas explosion in Tyrone Borough, Blair County, that resulted in one fatality, multiple injuries, and significant property damage.

The settlement, approved by a vote of 5-0, resolves an investigation and formal complaint filed by the PUC’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (I&E), which averred that gaps in the company’s emergency response and related procedures contributed to unsafe conditions.

FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Beef and Pork Products Produced Without the Benefit of Inspection | Food Safety and Inspection Servicehttps://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-beef-and-pork-products-produced-without-benefit

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for various raw beef and pork products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection and may bear a false mark of inspection. Food produced without inspection may contain undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria, or other contaminants that put consumer health and safety at risk. FSIS is continuing to investigate and may add additional products to this alert as more information is obtained.

The Chautauqua County Health Department has issued a boil water order for all Village of Fredonia water customers, including those that live outside of the village in the Town of Pomfret effective Friday March 27th. A disruption at the water treatment plant led to water with elevated levels of turbidity entering the distribution system; this water could contain harmful microbes. The water entering the water treatment plant from the Fredonia Reservoir has high levels of turbidity which cannot be adequately treated at the water treatment plant.  Boiling the water kills bacteria and other microbes that may be present. All Fredonia water customers must boil water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth and making coffee until further notice. Water must be brought to a rolling boil for one minute then cooled prior to use. For more information, residents should call the Village of Fredonia at 716-679-2307 and Chautauqua County Health Department permitted facilities can call the Health Department directly at 716-753-4481. 

With only 5 days left until the start of the drawings for the 12 Days of Cash, and 152 spots left to sell, without extending sales again which I refuse to do, our only option is to put the remaining spots in the Backpack’s name. As in many other drawings held by other organizations, they mention that unsold chances would belong to the organization which I honestly didn’t think I would need to do but guess what….here we are.

So with that being said, anyone who would like their money back and have your chances refunded please let me know. You can send a PM or feel free to give me a call at (814) 544-5802. I will gladly send your money back the same way you sent it. Any requests that come in after this post will be added to the list with no problem and Backpack’s name removed from those spots, but any that are unsold when the drawings start will belong to the Backpack program. If requests come in after the drawings start those too will be added and Backpack’s name removed from those spots.

This post leads right back to previous posts…apparently we are not supposed to do big raffles. Others are raffling off cars, trucks, 4 wheelers, etc. and closing them out within hours or at the least a couple of weeks. If we tried to do even a 4 wheeler we would probably have to sell tickets for a year before we were even close to having enough to pay for whatever it was we were raffling let alone make money.

So, we will get through this one and just keep our future drawings to l@ttery tick@ts and smaller items because they seem to go best, and try not to do a gazillion of them lol.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (March 25) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) reminds anglers that Mentored Youth Trout Day will happen on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.  This is a statewide event open to youth anglers ages 15 and under and their licensed adult mentors on hundreds of waters in all 67 counties.

“This is a special day where our youngest anglers have a chance to have fun and learn fishing skills they can carry with them for a lifetime,” said John Mahn, Jr., PFBC Board President and District 2 Commissioner. 

The purpose of Mentored Youth Trout Day, created in 2013, is to provide an opportunity for young anglers to have fun while learning fishing skills a week before the large crowds arrive for the busy Statewide Opening Day of Trout Season on April 4, 2026. 

Pennsylvania’s statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day happens this Saturday, March 28^th, and young anglers will have plenty of chances to reel in a trophy trout.  The Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) was busy with more trout stocking, as seen here on Upper Little Swatara Creek in Schuylkill County.  On Mentored Youth Trout Day, anglers ages 15 under can catch and keep up to two trout.  To participate, the kids will need to have either a free Mentored Youth Fishing Permit or a Voluntary Youth Fishing License, which costs $2.97 and benefits youth fishing programs.  Kids also need to be accompanied by a licensed adult angler.  Adults can fish while helping the youth anglers, but they are not allowed to keep any trout.  The PFBC reminds everyone to check the tout stocking schedule online to make sure the water you plan to visit will be stocked before this weekend.  The regular statewide Opening Day of Trout Season, for everyone, is Saturday, April 4^th.

If you plan to fish from a boat, please wear a life jacket.  Pennsylvania’s annual cold weather life jacket requirement remains in effect from November 1^st through April 30^th.  Anyone aboard a bot less than 16 feet, including all canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards, is required to wear a life jacket during this time.  Children ages 12 and under should always wear a life jacket while boating.

Link to Trout Stocking Schedule:  https://fbweb.pa.gov/TroutStocking

The Potter County Education Council serving Potter and McKean Counties has three openings for part-time Career and Vocational Mentor-Aides to serve within the following school districts: Galeton Area School District, Oswayo Valley School District and Smethport Area School District.

These part-time positions are available beginning the 2026-2027 school year (approximately 25 hours per week).   It is anticipated that this will be a recurring position each school year (approximately 40 weeks each year). A job description may be reviewed at the Education Council Office at 5 Water Street in Coudersport, PA (814-274-4877) or by visiting our website www.pottercountyedcouncil.org.

• Minimum high school diploma. Associate or bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Appropriate work experience with older children (Grades 3-12).
• Knowledge or work experience in business or industry.
• Experience with Microsoft Office applications desired.
• Must have a valid Pennsylvania Driver’s License and safe driving history.

Interested applicants should send the following to the Potter County Education Council at 5 Water Street, PO Box 5, Coudersport, PA 16915 or via email to Dr. Michele Moore  mmoore@pcedcouncil.org:

• Resumé with cover letter
• Three current (less than one-year old) letters of professional reference
• Appropriate clearances including PA Act 151 Child Abuse Clearance, PA Act 34 Criminal Record Check, a current PA FBI Clearance (Education Versions)
• A negative TB test result

The cover letter should be addressed to Dr. Michele Moore, Executive Director. You may be asked to complete an employment application upon review of your initial application materials. E.O.E.

This week, STORE WIDE 60% off!!

Bonus deal: All cards $1.50 on Thursday!!

Our hours will be:

Monday: 11-4

Tuesday: 11-6

Wednesday: 1-6 

Thursday: 11-6 

Friday: 11-6

Saturday: 10-4

PAID FOR BY: Potter County Democratic Committee

Pennsylvanians concerned that they have encountered a scam text or email regarding their driving or vehicle records are encouraged to contact PennDOT by calling 717-412-5300 or sending an emailto PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike) are warning about text phishing scams currently targeting Pennsylvanians that threaten the suspension of driving and vehicle registration privileges for not paying a fine or toll violation. PennDOT does not send text messages to customers for any reason and uses traditional mail sent via the U.S. Postal Service to communicate with Pennsylvanians.

“If you receive a text message notice from a sender claiming to be from PennDOT who is threatening to suspend your license or registration privilege, do not click on any links and just delete the message,” said PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services Deputy Secretary Kara Templeton. “These messages are not from PennDOT.”

Simple Food Safety Steps for Spring Holiday Meals

Spring holidays bring families and friends together for Easter ham, Passover brisket, and Mother’s Day egg-based brunch dishes. As consumers across America prepare these traditional meals for large gatherings, following basic food safety practices can help reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) met with members of Otto-Eldred’s FFA program at the state Capitol this week for FFA’s State Legislative Leadership Conference. The group had a great conversation about agriculture, health care and other issues facing rural communities. Pictured, from left, are Ryon Stone, Leah Burrows, Gabby Long, Ellie Bennett, Causer, Brooklynn Pearce, Emma Button, Danica Austin, and Brandon Witmer, agricultural science teacher and FFA advisor.

On March 26th Blossburg Fire Department was dispatched to 29 Riverside Park for a structure fire smoke in the building

On March 26th Tioga Twp. Fire Department was dispatched to 31 Limerick Lane for wires down on a vehicle with one person inside

BRADFORD, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will celebrate its inaugural season of NCAA Division III women’s lacrosse with a home game honoring the sport’s Indigenous roots this Saturday.

                Special activities at the 4 p.m. game include a halftime performance by IndigiRoots dancers from the Allegany Territory of the Seneca Nation of Indians and information and T-shirt sales to raise money and awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women. The Panthers will be facing off against the Alfred (N.Y.) University Saxons on Rathburn Family Field at the Kessel Athletic Complex.

What would people do if God suddenly appeared? Now I’m not talking about a sudden appearance in the sky but rather an appearance in an individual’s life — a very personal encounter with God himself. What would that look like? How would you even recognize that it was God? Would this encounter change you? Do you think your life would be any different? 

There are many examples of God appearing in people’s lives throughout the Scriptures. One example is found in the life of Paul (Acts 9). If you’re familiar with the story, you’ll know that Paul had been traveling from town to town, arresting Christians. He was also one of the witnesses at the stoning of Stephen (Acts 8:1). On one of these missions to arrest Christians, Paul was on his way to Damascus when he encountered Jesus Christ. This encounter caused him to fall to the ground, become blinded, and suddenly become very submissive to the presence of God. This encounter changed his life. The direction he was once headed in was immediately redirected. Instead of hunting down Christians, he now became one of them. Having met Christ, he became a believer. The story of his life is well documented in the many New Testament books attributed to him. 

I’m unsure how many have truly encountered God. Maybe we can recall a time when He felt very real, but for the most part, our lives haven’t experienced that. What do you think He desires? Do you believe He wants a deeper relationship with you? Personally, I do believe that. Every encounter with God transforms us. We are told we are created in His image, but sin has damaged that image. Still, it seems that the closer we draw to Him, the more we become like Him. I believe this happens because we recognize our sinful nature and go through a process of repentance. Each time we see ourselves in His light, we are cleansed by it. I challenge each of you to seek His presence and see what happens. Think about it.