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NEWS
Honoring Class of 2020 in Smethport
Fran De Lancey photo This sign at the McKean County Post #2497 Veterans of Foreign Wars on East Water Street in Smethport is one of various types at business and residences throughout the school district that honor the Class of 2020 whose academic year, sports and social events were cut short due to COVID-19. Most of the signs recognize the Smethport senior class, while others congratulate the seniors of the county’s five high schools.
What COVID-19 testing looks like in McKean County By RUTH BOGDAN
Availability of COVID-19 testing was one of the metrics that allowed McKean County to enter the green phase late last month. But many people still had questions about what that means for local residents. Dr. William Mills, chief medical officer at Upper Allegheny Health System, provided some details on what testing looks like at Bradford Regional Medical Center. At BRMC, staff can draw blood for antibody testing, which tests to see if someone previously had COVID-19. In contrast, the nasal swab test — or antigen test — looks for the actual virus and is “used to diagnose active COVID-19 infection,” said Mills. He said the nasal tests are still a challenge to Pennsylvania counties including McKean that “do not have a mechanism to obtain the samples. There are no ‘drive through’ ondemand testing sites in Bradford,” Mills said. While nasal tests are not available to everyone, BRMC does obtain them on patients who are in the hospital or who are being evaluated in the emergency department. However, Mills noted it can take two to seven days to receive the results of nasal tests. “Officially, according to the PA (Department of Health) website, those who qualify are those referred by a physician for the test,” he said. That group includes patients with symptoms, healthcare workers and exposed people, according to Mills. He added, “The antigen (nasal swab) testing at BRMC is only
for ED and inpatients, as well as those scheduled for elective surgery.” While Mills didn’t have statistics for how much testing is being done at BRMC, he estimated that staff at BRMC collect roughly 20 to 30 nasal swab tests a week. Those tests are sent to Quest Laboratories in Pittsburgh for processing. As for antibody tests, Mills said anyone with an order from their doctor or healthcare provider can have an antibody test. “BRMC collects the blood for the antibody test, but at present the test is run on a lab instrument located in Olean (N.Y.),” he explained. “We have been trying to obtain an antibody test that tests for both the IgM and IgG antibodies. When these arrive we will be able to test for both of these at BRMC also. IgM shows up 5 days after infection and IgG about 14 days after, which is why these are not the ‘gold standard’ for diagnosing active infection.” Antibody testing for people with a provider’s order can be done at the following UAHS testing locations: BRMC Outpatient Laboratory, Smethport Family Practice, Olean General Hospital (OGH) Main Laboratory, OGH Laboratory West-End, Laboratory Service Center in Olean, Salamanca (N.Y.) Health Center, Patient Service Centers in Franklinville, N.Y., and Cuba, N.Y., and Delevan (N.Y.) Health and Dental Center. Patients can stop during normal business hours, and no appointment is necessary.
O-E graduates 43 during virtual ceremony By BARB CLOSE Friday, March 13, 2020, may be forever a date that most senior students in Pennsylvania will never forget. The day that COVID-19 caused what many thought to be a temporary closure of schools, but instead was the end of normalcy to a typical student school year. A few weeks after, OttoEldred was up and running with online instruction and making sure all their student needs were met. Preparing to bring the Class of 2020 to graduation day was a collaboration of senior Zoom meetings with the school administration and advisors. The Class of 2020 shared their wishes and ideas on how they would like their senior year of high school to end. The week leading up to graduation, graduates came to the school in 15-minute increments to put on their cap and gowns as a masked and social distanced photographer took pictures of their big moment. Although it wasn’t how they envisioned graduating, each graduate was able to take that walk down the aisle in the auditorium and finally get up on stage to have their moment in the spotlight with their diplomas. Family members were able to take part in their moment watching outside via live stream. One by one each member of the class had a turn, and as they exited the doors to outside, they were greeted with cheers from their advisors and family. On Friday at 7 p.m., the virtual ceremony began with pictures of graduates as they took their walk down aisle with “Fanfare and Processional” playing. The National Anthem was sung by senior Hannah Raineri and signed by Raine Ramsey. Mantle holders Mackenzie Wilcox (Academic), Emilie Reitler (Practical Arts), and Abigail Bennett (Career and Technical) gave speeches on their journey to obtaining their mantles. In tradition, the mantles
Barb Close photo Otto-Eldred Class of 2020 senior Jenna Coscia walks across an empty stage with her diploma and waves excitedly to her family who watch via live video feed outside the high school.
are passed from student to student. This year’s junior mantle holders, Emmalee Sheeler (Academic) and Dylan Doherty (Career and Technical), were announced during virtual ceremony. Emilie Reitler will be the final Practical Arts Mantle holder. This year’s virtual guest speaker was Class of 2005 alumnus and current music teacher at Coney Island Prep Middle School, Kevin Shields. Shields talked about how this was not the sendoff the graduates were envisioning but explained the disappointment of missing a live graduation would pass quickly. Shields said he didn’t remember walking down the aisle on his own graduation night or who the speakers were, but what he did remember were all the memories he made at OttoEldred from the time he walked into high school his seventh-grade year. Shields recounted many memories such as pounding on mats in the gymnasium during basketball games, spending countless hours in the music department, exploring the clock tower and spending time enjoying the company of his closest friends. “Don’t be bummed your graduation ceremony is virtual, because your lifelong memories have already been made,” said Shields. Shields then recounted that when he asked for a description of the class,
he was told by Principal Harley Ramsey that they were Unique, Caring and Unafraid, and their class motto to describe them would be “It’s ok to be me.” Shields commented, “The fact that your teachers and administrators recognize your fearless and unapologetic characteristics tells me that this class has the driving backbone to accomplish whatever you set your minds to.” Shields talked about his journey with his career. He learned it was ok to take chances, experience new things and put yourself out there. Those challenges and chances took him from a small town in Pennsylvania to New York City. “I have never once regretted the decision I made to try something new and take a chance, remarked Shields. “It is young people like you that inspire teachers like me. Your courage, your determination, your fearlessness, are what teachers love to see in young people about to take your next step.” Ramsey gave his ninth and final speech at OttoEldred. Historically, Ramsey has always found one word that would capture the culture and personality of the senior class to focus his speech on. For the Class of 2020, that word is “bold.” Ramsey gave this definition of bold: “The ability to take risks, confidence, courageous. As I reflect on the Class of 2020 that is
what I see.” Ramsey talked about the tragic loss of a classmate, Olivia Douglas, in 2013, and together they came together to create a scholarship in her memory. He reminisced about other “bold” memories of the class and said, “I applaud you for being bold and courageous, attacking each new challenge. I applaud you for not allowing yourself to be victims. You took what life threw at you, pivoted and hit it out of the park.” The following students earned diplomas: Gage Aldrich, Keith App, Raymond Batt, Abigail Bennett, Kylee Brown, Joshua Cerklefskie, Madison Coffman, Jenna Coscia, Kala Cousins, Eric Crum, Madison Dalton, Shelby Darrin, Kayla Dubetsky, Owen Flexman, Kayla Furman, Bryce Gold, Brandon Goodling, Dylan Hamilton, Ashton Hollamby, Calvin Isaacs, Ezelea Isaacs, Meghan James, Haley Kennedy, Brett Kreamer, Cameron Magee, Issiah Mathewson, Catherine McQuitty, Matthew Murphy, Cole Palmer, Mikayla Post, Hannah Raineri, Raine Ramsey, Emilie Reitler, Jadelyn Spinney, Cody Sparks, Colt Stewart, Bailley Taggart, Sebastian VanCamp, Katelyn Waid, David Wheaton, Mackenzie Wilcox, Cody Yohe, and Maytel York.