Bradford City Firefighters

  · ***WORKING FIRE***

At 0200 Thursday morning, City Firefighters were dispatched to a South Avenue home for a working structure fire. The fire started on an outside portion of the large 2.5 story house and extended into the 2nd division and eventually into the attic before first due units arrived on scene. A second alarm was dispatched bringing in off duty firefighters and BTVFD(RIT). Access to the attic was blocked due to the stairs being burned out. Interior crews nocked down as much fire as they could and then backed out at which time a defensive stance was taken and Tower 1 was placed in operation extinguishing the fire. Firefighters cleared the scene at 0730 in the morning. Captain 1-10(Scrivo) had South Ave command.

Photos courtesy of J. Bradish

Paid For By The Candidate

For the first time in three years since the 2020 pandemic, two of the Hamilton-Gibson Children and Youth Choirs are going on a performance tour.

Fifteen choir members and seven adults, including five parents, will be boarding the bus at Whitneyville this Friday, May 12 and heading to Pittsburgh.

Singing will be the Children’s Concert Choir for fifth through eighth graders and the Youth Choir for ninth through twelfth graders, both directed by Thomas Putnam.

Second Generation Choir Member and Mom are Going on Trip

Among those going on the trip are Brianna, a fifth grader who just joined the choir this year, and her mom Kate O’Shea Bowers, a chaperone.

Raised in Wellsboro, Kate is the daughter of Brian and Sharon O’Shea. She joined the Hamilton-Gibson Children’s Choir in 1996, the year it was founded. She was 10 and in the fourth grade.

“I sang with the choirs through 2001 when I was in eighth grade and when I was 15 returned for the choirs’ performance tour to Prague, Czech Republic,” she said. “I also went on the performance tours to Canada and Washington, D.C. Thomas Putnam was the director.” 

Asked about her fondest memories of going on tour and performing at concerts as an HG choir member, Kate said, “The friends I made during my time in the choir. We came from all over Tioga County, and spanned several different grades and age ranges. We formed lifelong friendships through these shared experiences.” 

In response to a question about why she had decided to be a chaperone, she said, “I have 5 children. I felt this would be a great way for Brianna and I to spend time together. And I enjoy watching her and her best friend perform together. This is Brianna’s first performance tour. She is nervous but very excited.”

The Annual Service Awards Banquet of the Port Allegany School District was held recently at the Port Allegany VMI.  The event was catered by Eddie’s On Main.  The banquet recognized reitrees Vicky Brown with 34 years of service; Keith Koehler, also 34; Sharon Rosenswie, 23; Lisa VanGorden, 18; and Joyce Stehle with 13 years of service.  Others recognized were Marsha Ernst, Diane Finn, Tamara Johnson and Sam Kysor with 5 years of service; Toncha Barber and Justin Osani with 10 years; Barbara Bockoras, Jennifer Funk, Cassandra Howard, Vicky Kio and Terri Woodruff with 15 years of service; Justin Bienskowski and Nancy Osani with 20 years; Wallace Finn with 30 years and Frank Roller with 35 years of service. 

My name is Kevin Siska and I am a Republican candidate for Potter County Sheriff.  I have been in various facets of law enforcement for 28 years. I worked in a maximum security, state prison in Alaska. Later, while employed by the Juneau Police Dept. in Juneau, AK, I held positions as a Sergeant in Patrol, Investigations, and Administration. I served as a supervisor in Patrol and Investigations.

I am currently a Deputy with the Potter County Sheriff’s Department and have been employed in that capacity for seven years. 

I am the only candidate with law enforcement experience.  Along with that experience, I have the knowledge and training to make the transition to Sheriff seamless.  While working for the Juneau Police Department we took great pride in working well with other agencies and being responsive to the area residents.  I was taught to treat people fairly and with respect. I have always lived by those standards and will continue to do so as your sheriff.

I am currently a Certified Deputy with the Pennsylvania Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff Education and Training Board. From the time I am sworn in as Sheriff, I will be able to not only tend to the administrative duties of the Sheriff but be able to assist with all the other duties handled by the deputies.  When in a department that has only four full time sworn positions at full staffing levels, being able to assist with daily duties is beneficial.  Currently the Department is operating with only 2 full time and 1 part time positions filled.  It then becomes a necessity not a luxury for the Sheriff to be able to assist with daily tasks.

If elected, I look forward to continuing my service to the residents of Potter County as the new Sheriff.  I have the necessary qualifications and experience to perform all the duties of Sheriff immediately upon taking office. It will be my privilege and honor to continue to serve the people of Potter County as the new Sheriff.    

Please remember to vote for Kevin M. Siska on May 16^th. As a Republican candidate, I am asking those who are Democrats and do not have a Democratic candidate on the ballot to please examine my qualifications and write me in on the Democratic Ballot.  Thank you for all your continuing support.  Remember to vote on Tuesday, May 16^th!

Paid For By The Candidate

Check out all the new recliners in stock.

We are your one stop shop for fishing supplies.

Get your fishing license here.. Starting June 26..you can purchase your hunting license and doe tag here.

We are a Pete Rickard and Protektor Model dealer.

Shooting tables in stock, leather rests and pouches

Stop by to check out all the great items in Grammy’s Shack…pick out a bulb from our bulb Christmas tree…colors for all year long.

Always great prices on appliances., Furniture, doors, flooring, carpets, and so much more.

We have a little bit of everything… weather for your home, camp, VRBO, we have what you need to furnish and decorate…

Get some of “Abe’s” famous maple syrup.

No one beats our prices.. period!

Save money and make the drive to Galeton!

Can Birdie and it’s a service for elderly and disabled people that takes the trash out to the curb on trash day and brings the can back after collection.

My service areas are Bradford, Smethport, Eldred, Port Allegany and their surrounding communities.

Endorsed by Kathy S. Schroeder, Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts Experience Matters

Thank you to all of those who signed my petition and have taken the time to speak with me, it means the absolute world to me.  I will be listed as 2 on the ballot but hope to be number 1 in your hearts.  It has been an honor and privilege to serve as your Deputy Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts over the past five years.   

During my years of service, I have had the opportunity to be trained on the job by our current Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts, Kathy Schroeder.  It takes years to learn the complex systems used in our office for civil, criminal and orphans’ court filings.  I know the systems, duties and responsibilities of the Prothonotary/Clerk of Court inside and out.

 I am very well versed in criminal and civil procedure, which is an absolute must for this position.  I also have a heart for public service and a deep love for this community.  The most important job we have is serving the public.  

 Over the years I have had the opportunity to get to know a lot of you personally and professionally.  I want to continue to serve the citizens of Potter County, without any disruption in service.  There will be no growing pains or learning curves, as I currently assist our Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts on a daily basis.

 I am running on the Republican ticket, but I would welcome and encourage democratic write-in votes.  I look forward to being your next Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts and would appreciate your support and vote in the upcoming primary election.  Vote experience, honesty and dedication.  Vote for Ashley Gledhill.

Paid For By The Candidate

Potter County Commissioner Nancy J. Grupp has announced her intentions to run for re-election on the Republican ballot in the May 16 Primary Election.

During her first term in office she served as the chair of the Board of Commissioners, County Salary Board, and County Retirement Board. She has served in an unpaid capacity as Potter County Director of Emergency Services, saving the county thousands of dollars each year and is a member of the county’s Aging Advisory Board.

During her tenure, Commissioner Grupp has also spearheaded improvements in county operations, including technology upgrades and updates to personnel and human resources policies. She was also chosen by her peers to chair the executive board of the regional community and economic development agency, North Central Regional Planning and Development Commission.

Some of the current board’s accomplishments under her leadership have included:

— Creating programs during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to support small businesses along with fire and ambulance services and other non-profits that were negatively impacted during the shutdown.

— Facilitating COVID relief grants to those significantly impacted in the hospitality industry, many of which would not have survived without those funds.

— Adoption of a countywide Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) ordinance, making available county tax breaks for businesses building or expanding operations to create jobs and support economic development.

— Improving services for Potter County veterans by expanding the Veterans Affairs Director position to full-time, giving military veterans much-needed assistance in accessing the benefits and services to which they are entitled.

— Supporting a collaborative effort to bring cost-free transportation to veterans who require rides to medical appointments.

— Repurposing federal grant revenue totaling more than $500,000 to support infrastructure projects in Genesee, Galeton and Ulysses to date.

Fiscal responsibility has been a high priority for the board under Commissioner Grupp’s leadership. While improving services in multiple ways, the board has not raised real estate taxes, which she considers a major accomplishment. Grupp is a lifelong resident of Potter County, has 30 years of experience working in the finance industry, and has served as a township auditor and secretary/treasurer, as well as president for the Potter County Township Officials Association.

She and her husband, Lynn, live in Coudersport.

Commissioner Grupp states, “Rather than engaging in extreme politics, if re- elected I pledge to continue to bring common sense leadership to Potter County. Thank you for your support.”

Paid For By The Candidate

ELECT FOR POTTER COUNTY SHERIFF

My name is Angela Milford, and I am a Republican candidate running for the position of Potter County Sheriff. I was born and raised and have worked in this area my entire life. I have worked for Potter County government for approx. 29 years in the jail. I was a Corrections Officer and was moved up into management of Deputy Warden and now Warden for approx. 14 years of that. I work very closely with the Sheriff’s Department and am very familiar with their role. I am being endorsed by the current Sheriff, Glenn Drake. He has expressed to me his desire and intention, should I be elected, to stay on with the department in a part-time capacity, which will assist me in my transition into this new job. The role of Sheriff has many different aspects with much of it being administrative and delegating other functions to deputies. I do some parts of the administrative tasks already in assistance to their department such as coordinating transports, going on transport, taking care of extradition requirements and many other tasks. I am confident I will be able to jump into this position and take it on. I do understand and know there will be training that I need to attend and look forward to learning. I believe I am the best candidate for this position as I am motivated by a desire to help people. I am firm but I am also fair. I hope you will vote for me as your next Sheriff. I would appreciate my democratic friends to write me in also. Thank you.
Paid for by the candidate.