Please be advised that Allegany County DPW will have daily road closures of County Road #36 as follows: 1) between Dow Road and Hopkins Road intersections on September 25, and 2) between Washburn Road and Hopkins Road intersections on September 27, for the purpose of replacing culvert pipes.
The road will only be closed during working hours (7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) and will be opened back up for use at night and on weekends. There will not be an on-site detour and motorists are urged to seek alternate routes.
Despite the rain seven Barbecue competitors spent Saturday cooking for judges and food enthusiasts. Coming out on top was Mort’s Meat Mafia from Potter County who took home the Emporium Food Market Mystery Meat competition. The crews smoked two mystery meats; beef tongue and alligator. The items and prize donated by Emporium Food Market.
Cameron County Chamber of Commerce hosted the Sinnemahone Gravel Race Saturday. More than 80 riders took to the gravel roads in Elk State Forest. Participants came from Oklahoma, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Riders had their choice of a 14 mile course, 26 or 55 miles.
The first place male finisher in the 14 mile course Christopher McCracken from Curwensville with a finishing time of :52:29. The first place female in the race was Melissa McCracken from Warren, PA. She finished in :57:15.
The first place male finisher in the 26 mile course was Cory Hanlon from Pittsburgh who finished in 1:43:24. The first place female was Vanessa Johnson from Slippery Rock. Johnson finished in 2:21:05.
Defending his first place finish from 2021 and 2022 and shaving nearly 10 minutes from his time was Curtis Smith from DuBois. He rode the course in 2:57:33. The top female finisher was Emily Flagg from Pittsford NY. She finished the race in 4:24:06.
The final leg of the triple crown is Saturday October 21. Registration is open till October 20. Contact the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce office for information.
Congratulations to everyone at Futures Rehabilitation Center on the official dedication of the new Blaisdell Center last week! I was happy to join in the ribbon cutting ceremony and tour the new building. This new facility will improve the lives of people with disabilities in our community. Thank you to everyone who supported this important project!
Shapiro’s Automatic Voter Registration Plan Should Require Legislation
In another administrative overstep, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced this week he plans to implement an automatic voter registration system in the Commonwealth. Such a policy change should be created through legislation, not executive guidance.
While I certainly support more people registering and exercising their right to vote, there are a few factors to consider before implementing an automatic registration system.
First and foremost, the upcoming election is likely to be hotly contested, and unilateral actions such as this will further threaten voter confidence in the security and results of our elections.
There are questions about how such a system would work practically in terms of voter eligibility. With legislative proposals that would provide driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, who are not eligible to vote, and the ability to vote taken away from those who commit serious crimes, we need to know how the system would be able to meet those challenges.
It is also disappointing and more than a little ironic that the governor wants to automatically register people to vote when they obtain a state-issued identification, but won’t support requiring people to show that identification when they vote.
The governor needs to take a step back and allow the people’s representatives to work through these challenges and develop a system that ensures the integrity of our elections.
You’re Invited to the Potter County Senior Citizens Expo
Please join us on Friday, Oct. 13, for the Potter County Senior Citizens Expo!
Open to senior citizens and their family members and caregivers, the event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Roulette Fire Hall, 12 River St., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The event is free to attend, and lunch will be provided. State, county and local exhibitors will be on hand to distribute information and answer questions about a variety of issues. Health screenings will also be offered, and door prize drawings will be held at 12:30 p.m.
This is the final expo of the year so you don’t want to miss it!
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the expo, my offices in Bradford and Coudersport will be closed all day on Friday, Oct. 13. The office in Kane will remain open and may be reached by calling 814-837-0880.
Is Your License Plate Unreadable? We’ll Help You Replace It!
If you are dealing with an unreadable license plate on your vehicle, please join us on Thursday, Oct. 26, for an event to help you get that plate replaced at NO CHARGE.
The event will be from 4-7 p.m. at the Lewis Run Volunteer Fire Department, 46 Main St., Lewis Run.
State law requires PennDOT to replace license plates that are deemed illegible at no cost to the vehicle owner. A plate is considered illegible when one or more numbers or letters cannot be recognized from 50 feet away, typically due to blistering, peeling, discoloration, loss of reflectivity or other damage.
The McKean County Sheriff’s Office will be on hand to view driver’s plates, and if the plates are deemed illegible, paperwork to start the replacement process will be completed. Those who plan to attend should bring their vehicle with the affected plate attached, along with their unexpired PA driver’s license and current vehicle registration card.
Registration is requested and may be completed online at www.RepCauser.com/Events or by calling the Bradford office at 814-362-4400.
Public Input Requested for Broadband Expansion Program
The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) is asking for public input about its Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program.
In August, the authority unanimously approved a multi-year plan key to securing more than $1 billion in federal resources to expand broadband access to hundreds of thousands of locations across the Commonwealth.
The plan, known as “Connecting the Commonwealth,” aims to bring affordable broadband access to unserved and underserved areas of Pennsylvania through measures such as expanding infrastructure across the Commonwealth, partnering with community-based institutions to provide digital literacy training, and strengthening existing affordability programs. Review the draft document here.
Time for Transformational Change in Education Funding
The Basic Education Funding Commission has completed its first week of hearings to gather input about how to best fund education in the Commonwealth.
It is clear there are no easy solutions to the challenges we face with our current system of public education, but it is equally clear we have a tremendous opportunity to provide transformational change for our students and our schools.
It is important to provide accountability and flexibility in funding, as we recognize no two school districts are alike. However, there are certain standards that must be universal to ensure each and every student has the opportunity to succeed. Student achievement must be the focus as the hearings continue.
For more information about upcoming hearings, to watch video of prior hearings or to submit comments to the commission, visit www.basiceducationfundingcommission.com.
House Archives Internship Opportunity
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives Internship Program is currently accepting applications for the spring 2024 semester.
The 13-week internship is based at the Pennsylvania State Capitol and focuses on teaching archival processes and procedures. Interns also learn techniques for preparing and installing museum displays while working on rotating exhibits in the Capitol Complex. The internship has full- and part-time opportunities and is in-person only. Interns are compensated at a rate of $12 per hour.
At the time of the internship, students must be attending a college or university in Pennsylvania OR be a resident of Pennsylvania; be a second-semester junior, senior or graduate student; and have a GPA of at least 3.0.
For more information or to fill out the application, click here. Applications are due by Wednesday, Nov. 1.
Raising Cancer Awareness
Among many designations, the month of September is recognized as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month.
It is an important reminder for all Pennsylvanians, regardless of age, to be aware of changes in their health that may indicate the development of cancer or other illness or disease. The American Cancer Society offers valuable resources to help people educate themselves on cancer risks and symptoms at www.cancer.org. Of course, you are encouraged to consult with a doctor for a specific diagnosis.
At 1:52 PM on Sunday, Friendship & Cuba Fire Depts. & EMS have been called to a house fire at 3 Maple Avenue in Friendship. Responder reports smoke showing from all eaves on 2-story home.
Description: Environmental Health & Safety violation issued on 9/14/2023 to CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA LLC in Meshoppen Township, Wyoming county. 78a81(a)3 – CASING AND CEMENTING – GENERAL PROVISIONS – Operator conducted casing and cementing activities that failed to prevent pollution or diminution of fresh groundwater.
On September 24 at 1:11 am. Middlebury Fire and Ambulance were dispatched to a one-vehicle rollover crash with heavy entrapment near 602 Norris Brooke Rd. Wellsboro has also been dispatched
On September 23 at 11:28 Otto Fire and Bradford Ambulance were dispatched to a one-vehicle rollover crash with confinement on Summit Rd. and Looker Mountain Trail in Otto Twp.
Kathleen L. Frost, age 77, of Elkland, PA passed away on Friday, September 22, 2023 at her home.
Born July 15, 1946 in Corning, NY, she was the daughter of the late George and Elouise (Smith) Shannon, Sr.
Kathleen graduated from Bradford High School and attended Corning Community College. She enjoyed square dancing in her younger years, gardening, bird watching, cake decorating and scratch-off tickets. She was a supporter of the Parkhurst Presbyterian Church in Elkland.
Barbara Jane (Sherman) Potter, age 84, of Elkland, PA entered into eternal rest on Sunday, September 17, 2023 at her home surrounded by family.
Born June 26, 1939 to James Erwin Sherman and Blanche VanZile, she was the 9th of 13 children and a life-long resident of Elkland, living her entire life in the very home where she was born.
Barbara was a wonderful soul inside and out, putting the care of everyone else first. She served as Tax Collector for the borough of Elkland for many years and was well known to all.
At 2:00 PM on Saturday, Fire & EMS are on the scene of a 3-vehicle crash on Rt. 16 in front of the Dollar General in Machias, NY. Use caution if driving that way.
Description: Environmental Health & Safety violation issued on 9/18/2023 to NUCOMER ENERGY LLC in Hickory Township, Forest county. 78a64(a) – SECONDARY CONTAINMENT AROUND OIL AND CONDENSATE TANKS – Owner or operator failed to construct and maintain a dike or other method of secondary containment for a tank or tanks with a combined capacity of at least 1,320 gallons to contain oil or condensate produced from a well which satisfies requirements under 40 CFR Part 112.
Description: Environmental Health & Safety violation issued on 9/18/2023 to XTO ENERGY INC in Chapman Township, Clinton county. 78a73(b) – GENERAL PROVISION FOR WELL CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION – Operator failed to prevent gas, oil, brine, completion and servicing fluids, and any other fluids or materials from below the casing seat from entering fresh groundwater, and prevent pollution or diminution of fresh groundwater.
On June 17, 2023 at 12:07 p.m., Troopers out of SP Machias responded to a head-on collision on Freedom Road in the town of Freedom.
The investigation determined that a 2006 Dodge Ram traveling westbound on Freedom Road crossed the center line and struck an oncoming 2005 Ford Focus traveling eastbound.
The operator of the Ford, Dahlia J. Klink, 24 of Freedom, NY and a 4-year-old passenger were taken by Mercy Flight for serious injuries. The other two passengers in the Ford, Havanah S. Lopez, 17 of Java, NY and Molly Kibler, 6 of Freedom, NY were deceased at the scene.
The operator of the Dodge, Evan R. Klink, 21, of Freedom, NY was treated for injuries and then transported to SP Warsaw for an evaluation and the passenger of the Dodge, Cameron Klink, 19, of Freedom, NY was transported by Mercy Flight with serious injuries.
On June 18, 2023, Dahlia J. Klink, 24, of Freedom, NY succumbed to her injuries while at Erie County Medical Center.
UPDATE- On September 21, 2023, Evan R. Klink, 21 of Freedom, NY was arrested for Murder 2nd degree-3 counts, Aggravated Vehicular Homicide- 1 count, Vehicular Manslaughter 1st degree- 1 count, Vehicular Assault 1st degree-1 count, Reckless Driving, Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs and other vehicle traffic tickets.
The New York State Police and the Cattaraugus District Attorney’s Office working in collaboration, effectively made the indictment and arrest on the charges of Evan Klink.
The operators of both vehicles involved were brother and sister.
NYSP Collision Reconstruction Unit, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Cattaraugus County District Attorney’s Office and Arcade Fire Department assisted in this investigation.
