Clearfield, PA – As winter storm Elliott moves through the region, PennDOT is gradually restoring some speed limits. PennDOT urges motorists to avoid unnecessary travel.
The speed limit has returned to normal on Interstate 99 in its entirety.
Reduced speed of 45 mph remains in place on:
Interstate 80 from exit 42/Emlenton in Clarion County to exit 212 in Union County
U.S. Route 322/22 from I-99 in Centre County through Juniata County
On roadways with speed restrictions, commercial vehicles not affected by restrictions on these or other roadways must move to the right lane.
I would like to extend the warmest holiday wishes to you and your family. May you have a wonderful and safe season that is full of peace and cheer.
Please note my local offices will be closed on Friday, Dec. 23, and Monday, Dec. 26, for Christmas. They will close early on Friday, Dec. 30, and be closed on Monday, Jan. 2, for New Year’s. The Kane office also will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 3.
Also, PennDOT Driver License Centers will be closed Saturday, Dec. 24, and Monday, Dec. 26, for Christmas; and Saturday, Dec. 31, and Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, for New Year’s Day. Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website, www.dmv.pa.gov.
We Need Your Help to Improve Broadband Service in PA
The lack of adequate broadband service in many parts of the Commonwealth continues to create difficulties for many residents, businesses, health care providers and others. In order to address this challenging problem, accurate data is needed regarding where internet connectivity is lacking so we can maximize federal dollars received to address the problem.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released updated broadband maps in late November. You may view the maps and search for individual location service data here.
Penn State Extension has been working to coordinate data to verify and, where necessary, challenge the accuracy of these maps. You may view their mapping data here.
However, to make sure we have the most accurate data, your help is needed to help assess the accuracy of the maps. If you are experiencing broadband issues, please take a moment to check the data and provide your input if needed. The information will be used to determine where federal funding is used for projects to improve broadband services.
Initial challenges to the FCC data are due by Jan. 13. Individual resident challenges may be filed simply by viewing a location on the map and clicking the “Availability Challenge” button on the right side of the screen and following the subsequent steps.
Outreach Hours Set for Jan. 5
To help ensure access to state government information and services, I will host monthly outreach office hours at the following locations on Thursday, Jan. 5:
• Emporium Borough Office – 9-10 a.m. • Port Allegany Borough Office – 11 a.m. to noon. Services available include assistance with any state-related issues or concerns, driver license and vehicle registration applications, and applications for various state programs, such as the senior citizen Property Tax/Rent Rebate and PACE/PACENET prescription drug assistance programs.
Veterans Services Available
Area veterans are invited to contact my office to schedule appointments to talk with a representative from the American Legion to ensure they are getting the services and support they need.
Due to changes initiated by the American Legion, appointments in the Bradford and Kane offices will be conducted virtually via a tablet.
Appointments are required for meetings with the Legion representative, whether they are in person, by phone or by tablet. The schedule for January is as follows:
• Coudersport office: Thursday, Jan. 5, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Coudersport office is located at 107 S. Main St. Please call 814-274-9769 to schedule an appointment. • Bradford office: Wednesday, Jan. 11, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Bradford office is located at 78 Main St., first floor. Please call 814-362-4400 to schedule an appointment. • Kane office: Wednesday, Jan. 25, from 9 a.m. to noon. The Kane office is located at 54 Fraley St., Suite 2. Please call 814-837-0880 to schedule an appointment. Appointments are also available in Kane this Wednesday, Dec. 28. Call to schedule. Assistance is available with issues such as compensation, education, pension, health care and death benefits. Veterans need not be a member of the American Legion to participate.
New Legislative Session Begins Tuesday, Jan. 3
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives will formally begin the 2023-24 Legislative Session on Tuesday, Jan. 3, with members taking the oath of office. The ceremony is set to begin at noon.
We will also elect a speaker of the House for the new session. Live streaming of the entire ceremony will be available here.
Celebrate Agriculture at 107th Pennsylvania Farm Show
The Pennsylvania Farm Show – the country’s largest indoor agricultural exposition under one roof – kicks off Saturday, Jan. 7, in Harrisburg. The show will run through Saturday, Jan. 14.
This year’s theme is “Rooted in Progress.” The show will feature hundreds of competitions and exhibits, as well as animals and products related to the state’s robust agriculture industry. The annual showcase is a family-friendly event with lots to see and do; and don’t forget to stop by the famous food court for a taste of some of Pennsylvania cuisine.
Admission to the show is free, but parking is $15 per vehicle. Shuttle service is provided.
Victoria L. “Vicki” Setzer, 56, a lifelong resident of Coudersport, PA passed away with her loving family by her side on Sunday, December 18, 2022, in UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, Pittsburgh.
Born on Monday, February 14, 1966, in Coudersport, she was a daughter of Harry V. Jr. and Inez M. Shaw Setzer.
Vicki was a graduate of Coudersport High School. She enjoyed going to Bingo and doing crossword puzzles and word searches. Her greatest love was her family.
Surviving are two sons, Brandon L. (Amanda) Grabbitt of Port Allegany and Derek J. (McKenna) Grabbitt of Coudersport; her son’s father and her good friend, Norman W. Grabbitt of Wellsville, N.Y.; eight siblings, Louise M. Setzer of Coudersport, Terry W. Setzer, Ronnie B. (Vicki) Setzer, James R. (Vera Mae) Setzer, and Roxy F. Setzer, all of Austin, Jerry L. (Jane) Setzer of Connecticut, Janet L. Setzer and Carol L. (William) Krog, both of Coudersport; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews, including Kaleb Jones, her grandnephew with whom she had a special bond.
In addition to her parents, Vicki was predeceased by two brothers, Duane W. Setzer and Donald H. Setzer; two nephews, Nathan Setzer and Chad Setzer.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Vicki’s Life at 2pm on Sunday, January 8, 2023, in the Coudersport Volunteer Fire Department Hall, 171 Port Allegany Road, Coudersport.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Vicki’s family has entrusted her care and cremation arrangements to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse.
To express condolences, light a candle or share a fond memory of Vicki, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com or the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home Facebook page.
Clearfield, PA – Due to dropping temperatures and high winds associated with winter storm Elliott, PennDOT continues to update temporary speed reductions on roadways in the region.
PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 mph on the following highways:
Interstate 99 in its entirety
Interstate 80 from exit 42/Emlenton in Clarion County to exit 212 in Union County
U.S. Route 322/22 from I-99 in Centre County through Juniata County
On roadways with speed restrictions, commercial vehicles not affected by restrictions on these or other roadways must move to the right lane.
Description: Environmental Health & Safety violation issued on 12/14/2022 to CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA LLC in Auburn Twp, Susquehanna county. 78a85(a)5 – CASING AND CEMENTING – CEMENT STANDARDS – The operator failed to prevent gas flow in the annulus. In areas of known shallow gas producing zones, gas block additives and low fluid loss slurries shall be used.
Description: Environmental Health & Safety violation issued on 12/14/2022 to CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA LLC in Auburn Twp, Susquehanna county. 78a86 – CASING AND CEMENTING – DEFECTIVE CASING OR CEMENTING – Operator failed to report defect in a well that has defective, insufficient or improperly cemented casing to the Department within 24 hours of discovery. Operator failed to correct defect or failed to submit a plan to correct the defect for approval by the Department within 30 days.
Description: Environmental Health & Safety violation issued on 12/14/2022 to CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA LLC in Auburn Twp, Susquehanna county. 78a86 – CASING AND CEMENTING – DEFECTIVE CASING OR CEMENTING – Operator failed to report defect in a well that has defective, insufficient or improperly cemented casing to the Department within 24 hours of discovery. Operator failed to correct defect or failed to submit a plan to correct the defect for approval by the Department within 30 days.
National Weather Service State College PA 412 AM EST Fri Dec 23 2022 …WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 2 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON… …WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EST SATURDAY…
* WHAT…For the Wind Chill Warning, dangerously cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 30 below zero. For the Winter Weather Advisory, snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph.
* WHERE…Potter and Tioga Counties.
* WHEN…For the Wind Chill Warning, from 10 AM this morning to 7 PM EST Saturday. For the Winter Weather Advisory, from 7 AM this morning to 2 PM EST this afternoon.
* IMPACTS…Plan on snow and ice covered roads. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous travel conditions will primarily impact the latter half of the morning commute. Strong winds could cause tree damage. The cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The snow combined with the increasing wind, sharply falling temperatures and initially wet roads may lead to a flash freeze and extremely dangerous travel conditions.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Avoid going outside during the coldest parts of the day. Dress in layers and cover exposed skin. Wear a hat and gloves. Frostbite and hypothermia can occur within minutes if precautions are not taken.
Review winter weather safety and preparedness information at weather.gov/winter.
The latest forecast information can be found on the NWS State College Facebook page and Twitter @NWSStateCollege, or on the web at weather.gov/ctp.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission remind motorists to adjust speeds based on driving conditions as winter weather impacts will include snow covered roads and limited visibility.
Call 5 1 1 or visit www.511pa.com for the latest travel, roadway and traffic conditions.
To report snow or ice, post to the NWS State College Facebook page, use Twitter @NWSStateCollege, or visit weather.gov/ctp.
As I write this Christmas is just around the corner. COVID disrupted many over the past couple of years. It’s changed how we do things. But it’s still Christmas and for those that do show up at my house we will celebrate around a big meal full of laughter and joy.
Christmas is most often viewed as a joyous time. A time for family and friends to gather together. But for some it’s not joyous. In fact, I would venture a guess that all of us can look back and remember a Christmas or two that were not joyous. For some, Christmas has a new normal, one that they hadn’t anticipated or even considered would be their new experience. I like the saying that says, “Life happens while we’re making other plans”. It’s true isn’t it? Just in my own circle of friends and family there are some who are experiencing their first Christmas without their loved one. Another is in a place that they would have never predicted a year ago. A young mother is saying goodbye to her husband who heads back out to the oilfields to work on Christmas morning.
I don’t know how often we think about it, but Christmas is about Christ. I wonder how often we think about him beyond the holiday season? I read of a Pastor who said that we need to take Christ out of the manger and bring him into the rest of our lives each and every day. Why? Simply because the manger is only one side of the coin, the other side has a cross. And although we may not like it, life too has a cross. Sometimes it’s hard. We don’t get everything we want. Jesus said that he had come to give life, (John 10:10). Yet in the giving of life to us, it had a cost.
I don’t know what this new year will bring and neither do you. But what I do know is that I can choose to live like Jesus lived and I can love like Jesus loved. I may not do it perfectly, but I can try and when I fail, and I will, I can get back up and start again. The manger is about new beginnings. The year is full of hope, embrace it, it is yours to grasp, but it is a choice. Think about it.
Elk County- Employees from Graftech USA, LLC presented a generous donation to the St. Marys Area United Way. GrafTech is a global graphite electrode leader delivering highly engineered services, customer-first solutions, and essential products. GrafTech is backed by and exceptional history, 130 years and counting. The St. Marys facility is located on 800 Theresia Street.
Accepting the check on behalf of the St Marys Area United Way was Doug Gaffey, President; Jason Gabler, Corporate Campaign Chair; Doug Bauer, Payroll Committee Chair; Jim Ryan, Board Member; and Becky Piccolo, Board Member. GrafTech’s corporate donation of $5,000 will support the St. Marys Area United Way 2022 campaign. The United Way’s 2022 campaign goal is $170,000. Funding raised in 2022 will be available for eligible organizations to seek grant funding for 2023. In order to be eligible for funding from the St. Marys Area United Way, an agency must: have a current 501(c)(3) status, provide services to citizens living within the St. Marys Area School District, provide services to meet health and human welfare needs, and be registered with the PA State Bureau of Charitable Solicitation or be exempt from registration. The St. Marys Area United Way encourages any organization interested in seeking grant funding to inquire by calling 814.781.6000 to receive an application. The 2022 grant application deadline will be December 15, 2022, with grant awards announced in 2023.
As a result of the 2021 campaign, the St. Marys Area United Way provided grant awards to Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, Boys & Girls Club of St. Marys, Boys Scouts-Bucktail Council, CAPSEA, Catholic Charities, City of St. Marys Parks and Recreation, Dickinson Center, Fox Township Sportsmen Youth Program, Girl Scouts of Western PA, Guardian Angel Center, Life & Independence for Today, St. Marys Area School District, St. Marys Interparish Rooted Youth Ministry, St. Marys Library and the Veteran’s Memorial-Eternal Flame located on the Diamond downtown St. Marys.
The St. Marys Area United Way has served the citizens of the City of St. Marys and surrounding counties since 1925. The St. Marys Area United Way relies on the contributions from companies and local individuals. Those donations support the financial needs of non-profit agencies that serve the health and human welfare needs of our community. If you would like to become one of these individual or corporate donors, please call 781.6000 or mail your check to the St. Marys Area United Way, 44 So. St. Marys Street, St. Marys, PA 15857.
WHAT…Snow and strong winds expected. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph will result in areas of blowing snow. A rapid switch from rain to snow with sharply falling temperatures into the teens will result in a flash freeze Friday.
WHERE…Allegany county.
WHEN…From 10 AM Friday to 7 PM EST Sunday.
IMPACTS…Plan on very difficult travel conditions. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches resulting in some power outages. Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 25 below zero can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.
INSTRUCTIONS: Periods of snow will result in snow covered roads and limited visibilities. Slow down and use caution while driving. Submit snow reports through our website or social media.
At 5:54 PM on Thursday, Galeton Fire Dept. has been dispatched to 613 South Brookland Road for tractor-trailer accident with wires down. Responders on scene report no injuries. Telephone line down. One lane is passable.
Louella M. Moyer, 94, of 117 Lovers Lane, Kersey, PA passed away Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at the Elk Haven Nursing Home, after a lengthy illness.
She was born May 18, 1928, in Dagus Mines, daughter of the late Swan Swanson and Zona Fox Swanson Fredrickson. Louella was a lifelong resident of the area, a graduate of Kersey High School, Class of 1946, and a graduate of the DuBois Business College with a degree in Accounting. She was an employee of the former Andrew Kaul Memorial Hospital where she retired in 1991.
On September 28, 1946 in the First Lutheran Church in Ridgway, Louella married Jesse B. Moyer, who preceded her in death in 1986.
She is survived by her daughters: Janna Pollino and her husband Ray and Jocelyn Breindel and her husband Donald, both of Kersey; three sons: Gary R. Moyer and his wife Shar Lou; Jesse R. Moyer and his wife Patricia; and Jason S. Moyer, all of Kersey; 15 grandchildren: Matthew Moyer (Crystal), Eric Moyer, Jesse Moyer (Maria), Susan Oskorus, Michele Daly, Chet Moyer, Amanda Moyer (Ragavan), Jacqueline Moyer, Caitlyn Moyer, Cory Breindel (Ninna), Brandon Breindel (Tori), Carissa Breindel (Robert), Emily Rindosh (Gabriel), Olivia Pollino and Zachary Pollino; two step-grandchildren: Andrew Meyer and LuAnn Meyer; twelve great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband and parents, Louella was preceded in death by her brother, Swan Swanson, Jr. She was the last member of her immediate family.
Louella was a committed member of the Maria Lutheran Church where she held various positions and volunteered her time. She was a member of the choir, council, cemetery committee, social ministry, LCW, and treasurer. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and was on the planning committee for the Fox Twp. Board of Supervisors. She loved her community where she would volunteer her time for Meals on Wheels at the Fox Twp. Senior Center, the Guardian Angel Center, and as a Cub Scout Den Mother. She enjoyed gardening, camping, traveling, and reading. There was nothing more important to her than spending time with her loving family especially her grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held in the Maria Lutheran Church on Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow in the Maria Lutheran Cemetery.
Visitation will be held in the Lynch-Radkowski Funeral Home on Monday, December 26, 2022 from 2:00 until 4:00 PM and again from 6:00 until 8:00 PM.
Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Maria Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 136, Dagus Mines, PA 15831 or to the Guardian Angel Center, 364 Main Street, Kersey, PA 15846.
At 4:35 PM on Thursday, Liberty & Blossburg dispatched to Rt. 15 Northbound near the rock quarry. Vehicle crash into median. Operator self-extricated denying injuries.
At 4:13 PM on Thursday, Coudersport Fire & EMS have been dispatched to the area of 993 Rt. 6 West for a vehicle that hit the guiderail & went into the ditch. Unknown if injuries. Report one occupant self-extricated denying injuries. Use caution if driving in the area.