Attention All Knitters! Have you ever wanted to knit a classic Fisherman’s sweater, but were intimidated by the amount of cable involved? The answer is to design and knit your own Gansey sweater!
Kathleen England, of Glenfiddich Wool, will teach you how to design and create your own Gansey sweater in this class. If you can knit and purl, you can make a Gansey! Kathleen England is a sheep farmer, business owner, and world-class knitter. She has demonstrated her knitting (and spinning) skills at numerous schools, universities, and community events. She has taught knitting classes for all different levels of knitters and has competed at the PA Farm Show and numerous knitting competitions. Kathleen’s knitting designs have been featured several times in the Love of Knitting magazine, including two bridal gowns!
The first class is scheduled for Wednesday, October 26th from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at the Potter County Education Council’s Coudersport office. The class will also meet once in November and once in December. To ensure a quality finished product, your yarn must be purchased from the instructor at the first class. Two different, reasonably priced yarns will be available for purchase.
You will need to bring with you two sets of circular knitting needles, Size 8 and Size 10. The cost of this three-part class is $30 (plus the cost of yarn). Time is short and space is limited, so register today at www.pottercountyedcouncil.org or call (814) 274-4877.
Plenty of stocked pheasants throughout the fall and winter seasons await bird hunters.
With birds exploding from cover, roosters cackling and fast-paced hunts that require focus, Pennsylvania’s ring-necked pheasant season always packs excitement.
And this year, it packs more birds, too.
Except for within the Central Susquehanna and Franklin County Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas, male and female pheasants are legal to harvest statewide. Although protecting hens is an important aspect of wild pheasant management, survival of propagated pheasants is too low to support sustainable populations, even without hunting mortality. While the Game Commission raise and releases pheasants at a ratio of around three males for every one female, the harvest of all pheasants is lawful and encouraged.
The statewide pheasant season opens Saturday, Oct. 22, and the Game Commission will be stocking about 235,000 pheasants – an increase from about 221,000 in the 2021-22 license year, said Ian Gregg, chief of the Game Commission’s Wildlife Operations Division.
“The majority of this year’s increase will be allocated to the late small game season, including the two after-Christmas releases, which proved extremely popular when initiated last year,” Gregg said.
All adult hunters and some senior hunters who pursue pheasants are required to purchase a pheasant permit in addition to a general hunting license. The permit costs $26.97 and must be signed and carried while hunting pheasants. Senior lifetime resident license holders who acquired their licenses prior to May 13, 2017 are exempt from needing a pheasant permit. Junior hunters and mentored permit holders under 17 need a free permit.
Although pheasant permit proceeds are not earmarked specifically for the propagation program, and do not completely offset the costs of raising and stocking pheasants, they are important in ensuring the financial sustainability of the program. Permit revenue for the 2021-22 license year exceeded $1.4 million.
“The popularity of pheasant hunting in Pennsylvania is reflected by the number of permits issued for adult and junior hunters, both showing increasing trends since 2018,” Gregg said.
“With contributions from many members of the Game Commission team, the goals of increased pheasant production and additional releases in the agency’s 2020-23 strategic plan have been achieved,” said Gregg. “As a result, the stage is set for pheasant hunters across the Commonwealth to experience a memorable season.”
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is on the general Pennsylvania landscape, so hunters are advised to practice precautions.
If hunters properly handle the wild birds they harvest, they not only protect themselves, but help reduce the risk that this extremely contagious disease spreads to other birds.
Bird hunters should:
· Harvest only healthy-looking wild birds.
· Wear gloves when handling any wild birds.
· Wash hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer immediately after handling wild birds.
· Dress harvested wild birds in the field.
· Change clothing as needed, especially if visibly soiled or if any wild birds came in contact with clothing.
· Change clothing, including footwear, before coming in contact with any pet birds or domestic poultry.
· Wash all equipment, tools, and work surfaces with soap and water, then disinfect with a 10% household bleach solution. Allow to air dry or rinse after 10 minutes of contact time.
HPAI can infect humans, though just one human HPAI case has been reported in the United States during this outbreak.
Any sick or dead domestic birds should be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at 717-772-2852. Sick or dead wild birds should be reported to the Game Commission at 1-833-PGC-WILD or online using the Wildlife Health Survey tool at www.pgcapps.pa.gov/WHS.
Because pheasant hunting in Pennsylvania relies on the release of propagated birds, hunters are wise to focus their efforts on the time periods and locations where the Game Commission stocks birds. To increase awareness of where and when pheasants will be stocked, the agency publishes an allocation table and interactive stocking locations map at www.pgc.pa.gov.
Click on “Hunt & Trap” on the upper banner, then “Hunting,” then “Small Game,” then “Ring-necked Pheasant,” then “Stockings.” A table displays the number of pheasants to be released in each Game Commission region.
Click on a region to see the number of male and female pheasants planned for stocking in each county for each release, as well as the range of dates for each release, and a listing of each property to be stocked.
Click on the interactive map of pheasant stocking locations to see the more than 200 properties that planned to be stocked. Click on an individual pheasant icon to see the property name, the number of releases, and number of birds released last year to get an idea of large versus small release areas. Users can also zoom in to see pink highlighted areas representing areas of best pheasant hunting habitat where birds are most likely to be found.
The Game Commission will announce significant changes to stocking information via the agency’s Twitter feed, which can also be found on the “Hunting” tab of the website for those who don’t have Twitter accounts. The agency will make every effort to provide timely updates, but like anything with hunting, we cannot guarantee pheasants will be found in specific areas at specific times.
The pheasant season runs from Oct. 22-Nov. 25, including Sundays Nov. 13 and Nov. 20; Dec. 12-23, and then Dec. 26-Feb. 27. The limit is two birds daily with six in possession.
Learn to Hunt
For those new to hunting pheasants, the Game Commission has created an online resource that provides the information needed to be successful. The “Learn to Hunt: Pheasants” webinar is available on the Game Commission’s Learn to Hunt webpage http://bit.ly/pgclearntohunt and YouTube channel.
The three Gale Hose ambulances are now equipped with state-of-the-art Stryker Expandable POWER Pro XT patient gurneys (ambulance patient stretchers) with a load capacity of 870 pounds. Each unit allows the attendant to easily and safely transport the patient to and from the ambulance by using the controls to operate the electric hydraulic loader unit which eliminates manual lifting of the patient and gurney.
Each unit cost $20,000 bringing the total of the Gale Foundation grant to $60,000. Gale Hose grant writers Linda Beacker and Nikki Shadle along with Doug Parsell who did the research on the unit, were instrumental in making this grant happen. In photo flanking one of the units are (l-r) Nikki Shadle EMT, DJ Wolz Asst. Ambulance Chief and Paramedic, Ken Wingo Ambulance Chief and EMT, Mark Smith EMT, along with Henry Lush and Debbie Long – Board members of the Gale Foundation. Photo by Andy Lychalk, Jr.
Montoursville, PA – Motorists are advised that a pipe replacement project is set to begin tomorrow on Route 4027 (Cummings Creek Road) in Farmington Township, Tioga County.
On Tuesday, October 18, Cummings Creek Road will be closed between the intersections with Route 249 and Route 4024 (Elkhorn Road) while the contractor, Jefferson Paving, replaces deteriorating pipes. A detour using Route 249, Route 287, and Elkhorn Road will be in place during daylight hours.
On Wednesday, October 19, work will continue on the project. Motorists can expect alternating lane restrictions with flagging for the remainder of the project, which is expected to be completed in November 2022.
Motorists should be alert, slow down, and expect delays in travel.
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today after a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force that drought watch has been lifted for 16 counties and remains for 20 counties. Residents in those counties are asked to continue their voluntary water conservation.
“While significant recent rainfall has helped, groundwater and some public water supply levels remain lower than normal ranges in some counties,” said DEP Acting Secretary Ramez Ziadeh. “We ask Pennsylvanians in these and adjacent counties to continue to use water wisely and follow simple water conservation tips to ease the demand for water.”
The following counties remain on drought watch: Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Dauphin, Juniata, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, and Union counties.
Drought watch has been lifted for Berks, Bradford, Bucks, Delaware, Lackawanna, Lehigh, McKean, Monroe, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, and Wyoming counties.
For a map of drought declarations that’s updated daily, see the DEP drought web page.
Residents on drought watch are asked to reduce their individual water use by 5% to 10%, or a reduction of three to six gallons of water per day.
Varying localized conditions may lead water suppliers or municipalities to ask residents for more stringent conservation actions. See the list of public water suppliers that have requested or mandated water conservation in their communities.
Montoursville, PA – Motorists are advised that a crack sealing project is set to being this week along several state routes in Lycoming and Tioga Counties.
Starting on Thursday, October 20, the contractor, Kriger Construction, will begin performing crack sealing along the following roadways:
Route 2014 (Fourth Street) between Antlers Club Lane and Bowman Field
Route 2014 (Third Street) between the Golden Strip and Lycoming Mall Road
Route 2016 (High Street) between Lycoming Creek Road and Hepburn Street
Route 2023 (Market Street) between the Market Street bridge and Grampian
Boulevard.
Tioga County
Route 14 between Roaring Branch and Canton
Route 15 between Liberty and Sebring exits
Route 15 between Canoe Camp and the New York state line
Route 287 between Oregon Hill Road and Antrim
Work will be performed during daylight and overnight hours, weather permitting. Motorists can expect a moving operation with lane restrictions on four lane roadways or single lane conditions with flagging on two lane roadways.
Motorists should be alert, slow down, watch for lane changes, and drive with caution through the work zone.
Kriger Construction, is the primary contractor for this $772,600 crack sealing project. Work on this project is expected to be completed by early December of 2022.
Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.
CONEVILLE, Pa.—-Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of life for John G. Parker, 76, of Coneville, at 11am on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at God’s Country Ministries, 1237 East Second Street, Coudersport, with Pastor Daniel Brehm, officiating.
CONEVILLE, Pa.—-Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of life for John G. Parker, 76, of Coneville, at 11am on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at God’s Country Ministries, 1237 East Second Street, Coudersport, with Pastor Daniel Brehm, officiating.
John’s family has entrusted his care and cremation arrangements to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse.
Ronald Lee Jordan Jr., 54, of Clay St. in Kane, passed away Friday (Oct. 14) at the home of his mother. He was born on Nov. 14, 1967, in Warren, PA, the son of Colette Luciann Jordan-Duffy and the late Ronald Lee Jordan Sr.
Ron was of the Catholic faith and was baptized at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Warren. He had worked at Bush Industries in Falconer, NY.
He is survived by his mother, two sons, Corey Jordan of Sugar Grove and Christopher Jordan of Clarendon; one daughter, Angeleigh “Peazy” Jordan of Warren; three brothers, Dan, Patrick and Donald Jordan; a sister Jacqueline Jordan; three grandsons, Rowan Jordan, Hunter Miley and Tanner Myers; two granddaughters, Skylar Jordan-Myers and Westlyn Jordan; five nephews, Sean, Mitchell, Scott and Jacob Jordan and Wilam Wisner; two nieces, Ashley and Hannah Jordan and his stepfather, Richard Duffy.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his grandfather, Harry Jordan, his grandmother, Jane Onufer, his step grandfather, Michael Onufer, and his great-grandparents from France, Fernand and Bernadette Rausche.
Friends are invited to attend a memorial Mass, which will take place on Friday (Oct. 28) at 10;00 a.m. at St. Callistus Catholic church, with the Rev. William O’Brien as celebrant.
Memorial donations may be made to the Kane Community Center, 46 N. Fraley St., Kane, PA 16735.
Lancaster, PA –Department of Health Acting Secretary and Pennsylvania Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson today joined public health officials from Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health to encourage residents to get their flu shot and COVID-19 vaccination boosters as we enter the 2022-2023 flu season.
“This flu season has the potential to be severe, so we are encouraging Pennsylvanians to get their flu shot and COVID-19 booster together to keep our communities safe,” said Dr. Johnson. “Influenza is serious and can be deadly, which is why it is important that Pennsylvanians receive their flu vaccine. The flu shot is the best way to protect yourself against influenza, but I also encourage people to take other preventive measures to protect themselves from the spread of influenza. This is also an opportunity to continue the work of mitigating COVID-19 by receiving the new COVID-19 vaccine.”
This year, both the flu shot and nasal spray are available and recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older to protect against the flu. The flu vaccine can often diminish the severity of symptoms a person might experience should they come down with the flu. The updated COVID-19 bivalent boosters are also available to provide protection against the original virus strain as well as the Omicron variant (and its subvariants BA.4 and BA.5).
“The flu shot and COVID-19 bivalent booster are both available by visiting your doctor’s office, pharmacy, grocery store, local walk-in clinic or state health center by appointment,” said Dr. Johnson. The vaccination process is quick, easy and helps protect yourself and anyone you may encounter this flu season, which is just beginning. We recommend getting vaccinated before the end of October.”
Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness, caused by the influenza virus. It attacks the nose, throat, and lungs and may include the following symptoms:
fever cough shortness of breath diarrhea chills repeated shaking with chills muscle pain headache sore throat new loss of taste or smell
Since the flu and COVID-19 are comparable, it may be hard to tell the difference between the viruses based on symptoms alone, and so testing is needed to help confirm a diagnosis. It takes about two weeks for the antibodies from the vaccine to develop protection against infection. This small but powerful action will protect your family, friends and frontline health care workers who will be caring for sick people with respiratory illnesses this fall and winter.
Both vaccines reduce the risk of illness, hospitalization and death, and it is important to get both vaccines to protect yourself against both viruses. The CDC reported that it is safe to get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time.
In addition to getting vaccinated, Pennsylvanians are encouraged to practice preventive healthy habits like using your elbow to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, frequently washing your hands during flu season, and remembering to disinfect commonly touched objects, such as doorknobs, light switches, countertops, cell phones, and computers.
If you do become sick with the flu, it is important to stay home and rest. If you are at risk for developing serious complications from the flu, or feel extremely ill, you should see a medical professional immediately.
Additional information on how to stay healthy and prevent the flu and COVID-19 can be found on the Department of Health’s website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
At 3:39 PM on Sunday, Hamilton Fire & Mt. Jewett ambulance have been dispatched to Kinzua Bridge State Park for a land rescue of a person down on the trail.
If you need to contact Kevin Dusenbury, Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home or in his capacity as Coroner, please call our cell 716-378-5090. The Frontier phone lines are down in Shinglehouse. Thank you.
At 7:50 PM on Saturday, Kane Fire & EMS have been dispatched to the area of 5892 Route 66 for a one vehicle crash with possible entrapment. One patient is out of the vehicle unresponsive. Highland Fire dispatched to close Rt. 66.
At 10:21 AM on Saturday, Smethport Fire dept. has been dispatched to Route 446 for a one vehicle crash. No one is reported in or around the vehicle. Smethport RECALLED.
