Think About It
You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me!
by
Pastor B.J. Knefley
Sound familiar? How many times have you uttered those words? If you’re like most of us you’ve said them before, and you’ll probably say them again.
Often, we’ve said that phrase in desperation to an event or situation that we’re suddenly facing and wasn’t planned. You know the scenario, a flat tire, a sudden break down of an appliance or your vehicle. Perhaps even a news report that catches you completely off guard. Whatever the case it usually is something we were not expecting, and it takes us by surprise. For some it’s followed up with “Now what?” or “What’s next?” Times like these we feel like we’re never going to get a break. But it’s life, isn’t it?
We get surprised by life. Things that we didn’t see coming suddenly appear. Our best developed plans can’t foresee that untimely event. It is why I often say that life happens while we’re making other plans. But in the end, it’s not what happens to us but rather what we do with what happens to us. When we allow the events of life to control us, we give our control away. Although it’s true that we often can’t control what happens, we can control our responses. When we see ourselves as the victim, we become powerless, but it’s always a choice.
Have you ever wondered if God has ever used that expression? Do you think He has looked down at your life and shook his head and uttered, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Yeah, probably not. I have though wondered if he’s laughed at my shenanigans. I’m really good at taking one step forward and two steps back. Finding that I’m on my second or third trip around the same mountain seems to happen much too much.
Perhaps we’re looking at the problem or situation from the wrong position. Maybe what has taken place is there to teach us something, something that we wouldn’t have learned otherwise. Perhaps it’s happened for me rather than to me. Think about it
Buckthorn Bustin’ – Part 2
Johnsonburg, Pa.: There’s a saying we just learned about buckthorn: “It consumes all the nutrients and space, and doesn’t contribute to habitat”. The thirty plus attendees at Part 2 of the Buckthorn Workshop in Johnsonburg, sponsored by the Allegheny Forest Health Collaborative (AFHC), left the workshop with that saying burned into their brain.
The AFHC started day 2 of their workshop by reiterating the biology of buckthorn and a few other highly invasive plant species, and different herbicide methods that can potentially manage these plant pests in our woods. The attendees then traveled to the Rolfe Beagle Club to view the different herbicide work done a month earlier at the club. Lots of dead leaves to look at, but as instructor Art Gover stressed, “Managing buckthorn is a double treatment process. The first treatment gets a majority of the buckthorn if done properly, but you have to come back the next growing season and treat the new shoots coming in. Double treatment is a strategy you need to incorporate into your buckthorn management”.
Roadway Improvement Project Continues on Route 414 and Blockhouse Road in Liberty Borough, Tioga County
Motorists are advised that a two-year roadway improvement project continues on Water Street (Route 414), Blockhouse Road (Route 2005), and Williamson Road (Route 2007) in Liberty Borough and Liberty Township, Tioga County.
The week of Monday, August 5, 2024, the contractor, Glenn O. Hawbaker, will be performing drainage work on Williamson Trail Road (Route 2007) between Blockhouse Road and Mase Road (T-800). Motorists can expect single lane conditions with flagging.
Construction Project Continues in Mansfield Borough, Tioga County
Motorists are advised a two-year construction project continues on Route 6 and Main Street (Route 2005) in Tioga County.
The Week of Monday, August 5
The contractor will continue rehabilitation work on the bridge that carries Route 6 over the Tioga River. Work includes repair of the sub-structure, deck repairs, and epoxy overlay.
Long-Term Detour
Route 6 will remain closed to westbound traffic at the intersection of Main Street.
- Route 6 westbound traffic will use South Main Street and Route 15.
- Route 6 eastbound traffic will be maintained through the work zone.
Sizerville State Park Environmental Education Programs for the weekend of August 10th
Program Title: Awesome Amphibians
Date: Saturday, August 10th
Time: 3:00 – 4:30 PM
Location: Environmental Learning Center
Description: Do you know all the different types of amphibians that PA has to offer? Come out to this program and find out information on frogs, salamanders, toads, and newts. Short talk followed by exploring the park to try and find some of these cool critters!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shirleyan C. McINROY, 78, of Galeton, PA
Shirleyan C. McINROY, 78, of Galeton, PA, died Saturday, August 3, 2024 in her home.
A complete obituary will be announced by Olney-Foust Funeral Homes & Crematory, Ulysses, PA.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.olneyfoust.com.
Robert Joseph Zelko, 94, West Clarksville, NY
Robert Joseph Zelko
West Clarksville- Robert Joseph Zelko, a longtime resident of West Clarksville, entered into eternal life on August 1, 2024 to be with his loving wife.
Born in Glassmere, PA., on July 31, 1930, he was the son of the late Peter and Francis Wesoloski Zelko. On October 10, 1964, in Olean, he married the love of his life, Annette Zelko.
Mr. Zelko graduated from Portville Central School in 1949. He served in the US Army in the United States, as well as in Germany. Bob grew up around dairy farming. He had been employed by Ed Hartnick, grinding feed for area farmers. He also worked at Valley Farms Dairy in Olean before going to work at Friendship Dairies, Inc., where he retired from 1992. He was also a life member of the West Clarksville Fire Department.
City of Olean, NY Police Department Makes Arrest in Hit & Run of 15 Year Old Female on July 27th
Olean Patrol Officers responded to Buffalo Street near E. Fall St. for a report of a hit and run involving a pedestrian on July 27th at 9:17 p.m. . Patrol Officers located a 15 year old female that had been struck by a vehicle and appeared to have serious injuries. Olean City Fire responded and transported the victim to Olean General and she was later taken via Mercy Flight to a Buffalo hospital. Witnesses were located at the scene who saw the victim get hit and also assisted the victim until the ambulance arrived.
Interviews with witnesses and video obtained led to a description of the suspects vehicle which was later located by a Olean Police officer at a Vehicle collision shop . Yesterday at approximately 4:40 p.m. the driver of the hit an run vehicle, 42 year old Kevin Carll of 5089 Cooper Hill Rd. Hinsdale was arrested by the Criminal investigation unit and charged with:
Assault 2nd. degree ( D Felony )
Tampering with physical evidence ( E Felony )
Reckless endangerment 1st degree ( E Felony )
Leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death or serious injury ( E Felony )
Carll was arraigned in Olean City Court and held on bail.
The victim fortunately has been released from the Hospital and is recovering at home. The Cattaraugus County sheriff’s accident reconstruction team assisted at the scene.
Registration Now Open for NPRC’s Fall 2024 Semester
Summer is in full swing, but Fall is around the corner! Do your future plans include postsecondary education? Northern PA Regional College (NPRC) brings affordable education to you. Their Fall 2024 semester begins Wednesday, August 14th. Courses being offered include Introduction to Psychology, Music Appreciation, Introduction to Early Childhood Education, Accounting I, Business Technology, Business and Professional Communication, and many more. These courses are part of five associate degrees: Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Liberal Studies, and Social Sciences. If you are not interested in pursuing an associate degree at this time, NPRC’s team will help you select courses or training that meets whatever goal you would like to achieve.
Michael K. Johnson, 64, of 509 W. 6th Street, Jamestown, NY
Jamestown- Michael Kevin Johnson “Loving Brother & Uncle”
Michael K. Johnson of 509 W. 6th Street, passed away on Thursday, July 25, 2024 at UPMC in Jamestown.
Michael was born October 28, 1959 in Olean and was the son of Phillip Edward and Barbara Louise Brenan Johnson Edwards.
Michael served in the US Airforce from March 2, 1978 to February 5, 1984. He worked for Fitzpatrick Security, formerly a part time Olean Police Department Dispatcher, bus driver and part of the Little Valley Volunteer Fire Department. Michael was an ordained minister. He taught HAM radio classes, was an advanced EMT at BOCES where he also taught classes. Michael was a former Eagle Scout.
..FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING…
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Flood Watch
National Weather Service State College PA
1214 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024
…FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING…
* WHAT…Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.
* WHERE…A portion of central Pennsylvania, including the following
areas, Adams, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Clearfield, Columbia,
Cumberland, Dauphin, Elk, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata,
Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Montour, Northern Centre, Northern
Clinton, Northern Lycoming, Northumberland, Perry, Potter,
Schuylkill, Snyder, Southern Centre, Southern Clinton, Southern
Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga, Union and York.
* WHEN…Until 10 PM EDT this evening.
* IMPACTS…Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers,
creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…
– National Weather Service Meteorologists are forecasting heavy
rainfall over the burn scar, which may lead to flash flooding
and debris flows.
– http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.
Retired State Trooper’s Dream Home Turns Into Nightmare After Fracking Waste Pipeline Bursts
The Seneca Resources Company, LLC reported to DEP that at 4:00 p.m. on July 3, 2022 a plastic pipeline ruptured and spilled an estimated 18,000 gallons of shale gas drilling wastewater in Shippen Township, Cameron County.
On the morning of July 4th, about a mile away and downhill from the spill, John and Paige Rosenberger knew nothing about the spill, all they knew was their well pump wasn’t working.
John is a retired State Trooper who was on the force for 25 years. He hunted in Cameron County with his father when he was young and really liked the area.
He and his wife Paige bought their home and 46 acres and moved in after he retired in May of 2018 and became part of the community.
John serves as president of the local Rotary Club.
“We knew this was our forever home, the home and property you work your entire life for and we truly loved living here,” John said.
July 5
On July 5, they called their plumber in Emporium and he came and pulled the pump out of the 220 foot deep well; he said it had bad wiring. By 4:30 that evening they had a new pump and wiring installed.
Harold L. Hagman, 97, formerly of Kane, PA
Harold L. Hagman, 97, formerly of Kane, PA died Friday, August 2, 2024 at Paramount Senior Living in McMurray, PA.
He was born February 3, 1927 in Clermont, the son of Fred and Anna Anderson Hagman.
On November 21, 1952, he married Phyllis Smith, who preceded him in death in 2017.
Mr. Hagman retired from National Fuel Gas Company in 1989, after more than 40 years of employment. He served in the United States Army and was stationed with the 88th Division in northern Italy late in World War II. He was a member of Wilcox Lodge 571, F & AM.
