Just before 1700 hours Tuesday, our crew was alerted to assist Cuba on the 2nd alarm assignment. Chief 501, Engine 2, and Tanker 7 responded with full crews and assisted on scene with suppression and overhaul operations. Multiple agencies made quick work of the fire but unfortunately the home was a total loss. Our thoughts are with the family.
The Potter County Education Council, Tri-Co Connections, the Potter County Human Services Area Agency on Aging, and our local school districts are continuing to team up to implement a county-wide program called Seniors 2 Seniors. This program teaches basic computer skills, digital literacy, and cybersecurity to senior citizens so that they have the skills and knowledge to utilize the many benefits of high-speed Internet. As a part of this program, local high school students volunteer to provide on-site support to each of the adults who participate in the course.
The Seniors 2 Seniors technology course is being offered at the Ulysses Senior Center on Wednesdays, March 6 – April 10, 2024, from 12:45 – 2:15 p.m. This course will also be offered in Galeton on Wednesdays, April 17 – May 22, 2024. The registration deadline for the Ulysses course is Wednesday, February 28th. Register yourself, a parent, or grandparent by calling (814) 274-4877 or by stopping by the Potter County Education Council office at 5 Water Street in Coudersport.
Harold G. “Stub” McCUTCHEON, 82, of Westfield, PA, died Wednesday, January 17, 2024 in his home.
Friends may call at Olney-Foust Funeral Homes & Crematory, Ulysses, PA on Monday, January 22, 2024 from 12:00 – 2:00 PM, with Funeral Services following at 2:00 PM. Rev. Timothy H. Miller will officiate. Burial will be in Whites Corners Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org. Online condolences may be expressed at www.olneyfoust.com.
Ruby Royston Bishop Riley Sample, affectionately known as “Roy”, of Smethport, passed away Monday, January 15th, 2024 at Lakeview Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.
She was born on October 31, 1926 in Basingstoke, England, the daughter of Gerald J M Riley and Ruby Bishop Riley. She met the love of her life, Lt. Col. James C Sample when he was stationed in England. Jimmy returned home to PA and waited on Ruby to join him. They married on February 13, 1947.
Ruby was a military wife, traveled all over the United Stated and Europe, and finally settled back in Smethport. She was employed as an accountant with HG German Seed Co. of Smethport. She loved to play bridge with her friends and in her day was an avid golfer. Don’t ask her if she wanted a spot of tea. Her answer would have shown on her face….. absolutely not!
Karen S. Hyde-Kelley, 59, of Port Allegany, PA passed away Tuesday (January 16, 2024) at UPMC-Williamsport.
She was born November 28, 1964 in Wilkinsburg, PA, the daughter of John and Viola (Zettle) Hyde.
On July 28, 2003, in Smethport, she married Alan Kelley, who survives.
Karen was a graduate of Wilkinsburg Schools and attended University of Pittsburgh, Bradford, receiving her degree as a registered nurse.
She worked at UPMC-Cole in Coudersport as an RN. She then worked in sales at home on Etsy and eBay.
Karen enjoyed being outdoors and spending time “outback” at her home, camping and walks as well as spending time with her dog, “Waldo” and her bird, “Maclead” .
Brandon J. Shepker, of Coudersport Pennsylvania, and a former resident of Bucktown Pennsylvania, passed away on Sunday, January 7, 2024 at 39 years of age.
He was born on July 20, 1984, in Montgomery County. He was the son of Diane M. Shepker (nee Lynch) of Pennsylvania and James R. Shepker of North Carolina.
Brandon was an extremely diligent and hard worker from a young age. He was very mechanically inclined and could fix just about anything. This paired with his strong sense of entrepreneurship drove him in the direction of owning his own landscaping business from his mid-teens into early adulthood in the Bucktown area.
As a student of Owen J. Roberts High School graduating class of 2002. Brandon was also involved in the DECA program and won many awards using the business platform he used for his landscaping business.
Brandon’s love for the mountains led him to Potter County, Pa where he then established himself and began a new business venture. Brandon was the owner and operator of Baker Creek Enterprises, LLC located in Coudersport, Pa. Baker Creek Enterprises, LLC was a full-service auto repair shop that also serviced many local municipalities in the area. Additionally, Brandon’s business provided a 24-hour towing service, PA State Inspections and welding services. All of these skills that Brandon obtained and used throughout his life were all self-taught.
David Wade Garland, 48, of Shinglehouse, PA passed away on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, in Buffalo General Hospital, Buffalo, NY.
Born on Thursday, July 17, 1975 in Olean, NY, he was a son of Donald Wade and Jacqueline D. “Jacqui” Jones Garland.
David was a graduate of Bolivar High School in Bolivar, NY. He attended and graduated from Finger Lakes Community College. He next attended The Ranger School in Wanakena for two years. David completed his Bachelor’s degree in Forestry at the State University of NY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
David worked in construction in Bolivar, Shinglehouse, and Geneva, NY. He was a talented roofer. After graduating from The Ranger School and SUNY College of ESF, David was an expert timber value specialist. After completing his college degrees, he worked for LandVest Forestry in Vermont, Western Massachusetts, and Eastern New York State. Sadly David suffered a massive heart attack ending his career as a forester.
Terry L. Bryant, age 68, of Wellsboro, PA, died suddenly on Friday, January 5, 2024.
He was born on February 12, 1955 in Wellsboro, PA a son of the late Harold W. and Eloise M. (Hoyt) Bryant and was married to Sheila L. (Locey) Bryant.
Terry was the owner and broker of Penn Oak Realty, Inc. of Wellsboro, PA and was former Penn. Dot county manager. Terry was a founding member, life member and the current Chairman of the Board for Keystone Elk Country Alliance (KECA), past board member and life member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, member and Past Master of Tioga Lodge # 373 F & AM, member of the Wellsboro Lions Club, GROW, Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce, and a former Boy Scout leader for 20 years.
Ira “Tiny” L. Shirley, of 256 High Street, Bradford left this world on January 15, 2024.
Tiny was born at home in Sugar Grove, on October 8, 1960, the youngest son of the late Herman and Florence Shirley. He attended Jamestown, NY schools before moving to Bradford where he married Debra (McCracken) Shirley on March 17, 1992.
He was an avid outdoorsman, he could always be found on the banks of Willow Bay, looking for that monster buck, fishing for a giant pike or on a Bigfoot hunt with his grandson Jamel Jr. He’d never refuse an invitation to go night fishing and would most likely beat you there.
Barbara F. Latcovich, 99, of Ridgway, died on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at Snyder Memorial Health Care after a brief illness.
She was born on July 31, 1924, in Highland Twp., a daughter of the late Victor and Mary Benic Latcovich.
Barb lived in Ridgway most of her life and a lifelong member of St. Leo Church. She volunteered for many years as a money counter at the church and was a self-employed beautician for over 50 years. Barb enjoyed dancing to polka music, reading true crime books, and playing cards. She was a proud member of the Women’s Cursillo #151. Barb always loved to be around her family, giving hugs to each of them every time she left.
Melvin Joseph “Joe” Swanson, a lifelong resident of Portville, NY passed away Monday, January 15, 2024, at his residence from natural causes at the age of 68.
Born December 29, 1955, in Olean, he was the son of Melvin and Pearl Swanson. Joe was formerly married to Pamela R. Martin Zielinski.
He graduated from Portville Central School in 1975 and served in the Army from 1975 to 1979. He was previously employed by Hysol and Cooper Power Industries. In his later years, Joe enjoyed woodworking, fishing, riding his bike, watching his grandchildren play sports and tinkering in the woodshop.
Thomas Langan, MD, MBA, RPVI, vascular surgery, presents at the community relations breakfast at the Bradford Club on January 10.
BRADFORD, PA – Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC), a member campus of Upper Allegheny Health System (UAHS), held a community relations breakfast on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. Jill Owens, MD, president, UAHS, gave an organizational update and introduced Thomas Langan, MD, MBA, RPVI, vascular surgeon, who provided an overview of his services.
Dr. Langan presented the various diseases that he specializes in treating at BRMC as well as at Olean General Hospital. He specializes in the treatment of carotid artery disease, occlusive peripheral arterial disease, aortic aneurysmal disease, venous disease, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolisms (PE).
Procedures he will be conducting include carotid endarterectomy, transcarotid artery revascularization, endovascular aneurysm repair, thoracic endovascular aortic repair, peripheral vascular bypass surgery, endovascular angioplasty and stenting, phlebectomy, sclerotherapy, endovenous ablation, suction and mechanical thrombectomy, and embolectomy.
Dr. Langan earned his medical degree from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo, NY. Once credentialed in Pennsylvania, Dr. Langan will be seeing patients at BRMC.
Caption: Thomas Langan, MD, MBA, RPVI, vascular surgery, presents at the community relations breakfast at the Bradford Club on January 10.
ServSafe is a certification program developed by the Restaurant Association Education Foundation. The course meets certification requirements for individuals who are responsible for the safe handling of food in restaurants, schools, elder care facilities, lodges, bed and breakfasts, community centers, and other food concessions (organizations or businesses that sell or prepare food on a regular basis).
This course, taught by Rick Kralj, Penn State Educator, is scheduled for Wednesdays, February 14 and 21, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Extension office in the Gunzburger Building, 1 North Main Street, Coudersport, PA. The cost is $165/person. The registration deadline is Friday, February 9th. To register, call 877-345-0691 or go to https://extension.psu.edu/servsafe .
David Wade Garland, 48, of Shinglehouse, passed away on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, in Buffalo General Hospital, Buffalo, NY.
To pay respects to David and his family, calling hours will be held from 4pm to 7pm on Friday at the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, 118 South Union Street, Shinglehouse, PA and from 10am to 11am on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at the Portville Baptist Church, Temple Street, Portville, NY, where funeral services will follow at 11am in the church, with the Rev. Mark Beckwith, pastor, officiating.
A complete obituary will follow.
David’s family has entrusted his care to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse, PA.
To express condolences, light a candle or share a fond memory of David, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com or the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home Facebook page.
