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Austin • Coudersport • Crosby • Eldred • Gifford • Kane • Lewis Run • Mt. Jewett • Otto Eldred • Port Allegany Ridgway • Roulette • Smethport • Turtlepoint
Pa. state game lands grow by nearly 1,000 acres HARRISBURG (TNS) — Nearly a thousand acres of land across Pennsylvania will be added to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s system of state game lands through acquisitions approved recently by the Board of Game Commissioners. The commission acquired another oneninth interest in the 39.76-acre Lola Woodring estate property adjoining State Game Lands 311 in Benezette Township, Elk
County. This interest was purchased at auction in September 2021 for $24,963, which was donated by the Keystone Elk Country Alliance. The commission now owns five-ninths interest in the property. The largest purchase is a 288-acre tract in North Bethlehem and West Bethlehem townships, Washington County. This land adjoins State Game Lands 297. It is subject to a life estate reserved by
Springflow Realty LLC for the life of Richard Beinhauer and will not become game lands until the life estate ends or is terminated. The land is being donated, but as part of the agreement the commission will maintain the lodge on the property in its current condition. A 278-acre tract adjoining State Game Lands 91 in Bear Creek Township, Luzerne County, was offered by Natural Lands for $42,000. Natural Lands
can acquire the property through partnership grants provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Open Space Institute. Two tracts totaling 192 acres adjacent to State Game Lands 223 in Greene and Whiteley townships, Greene County, was offered to the commission by Greylock Pipeline LLC in exchange for a right of way for a natural-gas pipeline. Natural Lands is
‘Bending the Arc’ will be held April 22 at St. Bona ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. — A showing of “Bending the Arc,” the award-winning documentary about how three young people began a movement that would change global health forever, will be held at 6 p.m. April 22, in Rigas Family Theater at St. Bonaventure University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The event, free and open to the public, is sponsored by the School of Health Professions at St. Bonaventure and by BonaResponds, the university’s student-powered volunteer relief agency that
travels far and wide to help those in need. Doors to the theater open at 5:30 p.m. “Bending the Arc” tells the story of how Dr. Paul Farmer and other young activists started a public health revolution by treating patients in the developing world who had been abandoned by the health establishment. They managed to bring together the resources to build real health clinics in areas that had been ignored by everyone else — where patients were as likely to arrive by donkey as by ambulance — and stocked them with the same
medical supplies that could be found in places like Harvard Medical School. Their legacy is Partners in Health, a global organization that ensures quality health care to vulnerable communities. They have 12 clinics around the world, including those in Haiti, Kazakhstan, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone. It’s an inspirational story and one that students interested in health care or in service more broadly may find particularly moving, said Dr. Scott Medler, an associate professor in the School of Health Professions’ physician
assistant studies program. “‘Bending the Arc’ is an example of how vulnerable populations can be served with respect for human dignity,” said Medler. “The values exemplified by Dr. Farmer and his colleagues are those that we at St. Bonaventure aspire to embody: a community of compassion, wisdom, and integrity. By watching this documentary in the company of like-minded people, we hope to generate thoughtful reflection and discussion about serving our own community.”
Regional artists needed for HOTA project Bradford Creative and Performing Arts Center is looking for skilled and experienced artists for this year’s Heart of the Arts project (HOTA). “We are excited for the second year of this community event, celebrating the beauty of the Twin Tiers region through the talented work of our skilled and experienced regional artists,” said Darren Litz, executive director for BCPAC. The project will, once again, display creative works of visual artists at area businesses around McKean County for art enthusiasts to enjoy all summer long. A puzzle map
will guide visitors on a tour through the streets before auctioning the pieces off at the Fall Music & Art Festival in Bradford on Sept. 10th. Artists will receive 50% of the proceeds, with the remainder benefiting the BCPAC Arts Scholarship Fund, to support future artists wishing to pursue a vocation in the arts. “HOTA was created to inspire and encourage regional artists, by giving them an opportunity to network and support one another as they each transform, illuminate, educate, encourage, inspire and motivate us with their
incredible gift of the creative arts”, said Litz. “We took some of the suggestions from last year’s project to make this an even better event and changed up the dimensions of the wooden board for them to create their art.” Before displaying the artwork throughout the county, a special reception will be held to celebrate the artists and give them an opportunity to meet each other and share their works. “We are incredibly grateful for last year’s artists who helped us raise over $7,000 to support this project, and we are hoping
to include more artists this year to reach our $10,000 goal,” said Litz. “This is a great opportunity for artists to share their intimate perspective of the world with their creative artwork. Art is something that is truly at the heart of our visual and creative artists, and certainly makes our world just a little brighter in the Twin Tiers,” Litz said. Registration is now open, and the new art boards will be available beginning April 15th. For information on how artists can register for this event, go to bcpac.com or contact the BCPAC office at 814-362-2522.
offering to donate a 158acre parcel adjacent to State Game Lands 145 in South Londonderry and West Cornwall townships, Lebanon County, and Rapho Township, Lancaster County. Natural Lands can acquire the property through partnership grants provided by DCNR and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A 54-acre tract adjacent to State Game Lands 281 in Miller Township, Perry
County, was offered by the estate of Pauline Ayers for $260,000 to be paid with remaining escrow funds from a prior land exchange on State Game Lands 176 with Penn State University. It will require approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. And a 4.59-acre tract within State Game Lands 87 in Bell Township, Clearfield County, is being donated by Diversified Production LLC.
Bradford woman convicted of threatening CYS staff BY MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER SMETHPORT — Following a two-day jury trial in McKean County Court, Bradford woman Crystal Dawn Knell has been convicted of assaulting two employees of Children and Youth Services. Knell, 40, was arrested in July of 2020 for threatening two employees of CYS. According to the criminal complaint, Bradford City Police had been dispatched to her Moorehouse Place residence to assist CYS workers, who had a court order to remove children from the home. When an officer arrived, he learned that when the caseworkers were at the residence, Knell became “distraught and combative” and grabbed a caseworker, shoving her backward. Knell then grabbed a large kitchen knife and “began waving it at the caseworkers before charging at them and holding the knife up to the neck of one of the caseworkers,” the complaint stated. She was convicted of two counts of aggravated assault by physical menace; two counts of simple assault by menace; two
counts of terroristic threats; and harassment. She was found not guilty on a charge of interfering with the custody of a committed person. District Attorney Stephanie VettenburgShaffer said, “The legislature has created a specific crime to punish violence committed against public servants. Public servants who fall in this category include employees of Children and Youth Services, police, firefighters, medical personnel and teachers.” She continued, “The penalty imposed against those convicted of such crimes will serve as punishment for those who commit the crime and will act as a deterrent for others. It will also serve as another tool to protect those who are willing to serve the public in, often, very dangerous circumstances — for which we are very grateful.” The case was investigated by Officer Anthony Lama of the City of Bradford Police. Shaffer prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth. The defendant will be sentenced by the Judge on May 6, 2022, at 9:30 am.
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APRIL 5, 2022
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School board OKs equipment, bus purchases; praise given to senior BY MANDY COLOSIMO The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS The Kmart in Avenel, N.J., is scheduled to close later this month, which will leave only three stores in the United States.
Once a retail giant, Kmart nears extinction AVENEL, N.J. — The familiar sights and sounds are still there: the scuffed and faded floor tiles, the relentless beige-on-beige color scheme, the toddlers’ clothes and refrigerators and pretty much everything in between. There’s even a canned recording that begins, “Attention, Kmart shoppers” — except it’s to remind folks about COVID-19 precautions, not to alert them to a flash sale over in ladies’ lingerie like days of old. Many of the shelves are bare, though, at the Kmart in Avenel, N.J., picked over by bargain hunters as the store prepares to close its doors for good April 16. Once it shutters, the number of Kmarts in the U.S. — once well over 2,000 — will be down to three in the continental U.S. and a handful of stores elsewhere, according to multiple reports, in a retail world now dominated by Walmart, Target and Amazon. The demise of the the store in the middle-class suburb, 15 miles south of New York City, is the tale of the death of the discount department store writ small. “You’re always thinking about it because stores are closing all over, but it’s still sad,” said cashier Michelle Yavorsky, who said she has worked at the Avenel store for 2½ years. “I’ll miss the place. A lot of people shopped here.” In its heyday, Kmart sold product lines endorsed by celebrities Martha Stewart and Jaclyn Smith, sponsored NASCAR auto races and was mentioned in movies including “Rain Man” and “Beetlejuice.” It was name-dropped in songs by artists from Eminem to the Beastie Boys to Hall
& Oates; in 2003, Eminem bought a 29-room, suburban Detroit mansion once owned by former Kmart chairman Chuck Conaway. BLUE LIGHT SPECIALS The chain cemented a place in American culture with its Blue Light Specials, a flashing blue orb affixed to a pole that would beckon shoppers to a flash sale in progress. Part of its success was due to its early adoption of layaway programs, which allowed customers who lacked credit to reserve items and pay for them in installments. For a time, Kmart had a little bit of everything: You could shop for your kids’ back-to-school supplies, get your car tuned up and grab a meal without leaving the premises. “Kmart was part of America,” said Michael Lisicky, a Baltimore-based author who has written several books on U.S. retail history. “Everybody went to Kmart, whether you liked it or not. They had everything. You had toys. You had sporting goods. You had candy. You had stationery. It was something for everybody. This was almost as much of a social visit as it was a shopping visit. You could spend hours here. And these just dotted the American landscape over the years.” Kmart’s decline has been slow but steady, brought about by years of falling sales, changes in shopping habits and the looming shadow of Walmart, which coincidentally began its life within months of Kmart’s founding in 1962. Struggling to compete with Walmart’s low prices and Target’s trendier offerings, Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early 2002 — becoming the
largest U.S. retailer to take that step — and announced it would close more than 250 stores. A few years later, hedge fund executive Edward Lampert combined Sears and Kmart and pledged to return them to their former greatness, but the recession and the rising dominance of Amazon contributed in derailing those goals. Sears filed for Chapter 11 in 2018 and currently has a handful of stores left in the U.S. where it once had thousands. ONLY 3 LEFT Kmarts continue to operate in Westwood, New Jersey; Bridgehampton on New York’s Long Island, and Miami. It didn’t have to end this way, according to Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia University in New York and former CEO of Sears Canada. Trying to compete with Walmart on price was a foolish strategy, he said, and Lampert was criticized for not having a retail background and appearing more interested in stripping off the assets of the two chains for their cash value. “It’s a study in greed, avarice and incompetence,” Cohen said. “Sears should have never gone away; Kmart was in worse shape, but not fatally so. And now they’re both gone. “Retailers fall by the wayside sometimes because they’re selling things people don’t want to buy,” he continued. “In the case of Kmart, everything they used to sell, people are buying but they’re buying it from Walmart and Target.” Transformco, which owns Kmart and Sears, did not respond to an email seeking comment and a phone number listed for the
company was not taking messages. Nationwide, some former Kmarts remain vacant while others have been replaced by other big-box stores, fitness centers, self-storage facilities, even churches. One former site in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is now a popular dine-in movie theater. AIR OF RESIGNATION Employees at the Kmart in Avenel found out last month that the store would close. Unlike 20 years ago, when news of impending Kmart closures around the country prompted an outpouring of support from loyal shoppers and a Detroit radio station even mounted a campaign to try and save a local store, the closing of the Avenel location was met mostly with an air of resignation. “It’s maybe a little nostalgic because I’ve lived my whole life in this area, but it’s just another retail store closing,” said Jim Schaber, a resident of nearby Iselin who said his brother worked in the shoe department at Kmart for years. “It’s just another sign of people doing online shopping and not going out to the retail stores.” The closing packed a little more of an emotional punch for Mike Jerdonek, a truck driver who recalled shopping at Kmart in Brooklyn and Queens in his younger days. “It’s like history passing right in front of our eyes,” he said as he sat in his car outside the Avenel store. “When I was younger I didn’t have any money, so it was a good place to shop because the prices were cheap. And to see it gone right now, it’s kind of sad.”
PennDOT launches webpage for Winslow Hill Project CLEARFIELD — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has launched a webpage for the Winslow Hill Road project in Elk County and is encouraging the public to check the site for regular updates. Work on the project is expected to start on Monday, April 18. Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA. com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day. 511PA provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to
more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices. The project includes roadway widening and reconstruction over a 5.4 mile section of Winslow Hill Road (T-520) in Benezette Township. The work zone stretches from the bottom of Winslow Hill to the top of the hill past the PA State Game Lands Elk Viewing Center near Dewey Road. Other work includes improvements of roadway shoulders to enhance pedestrian movements and emergency vehicle
accommodation, replacement of an existing metal pipe culvert, as well as drainage and guide rail updates. Later this spring/summer, a three-day detour will be implemented utilizing State Route 555 and Winslow Hill Road. The only work to be done under the detour is the installation of an elliptical culvert pipe. Once the pipe is installed, all other operations will be performed with a daylight, single-lane traffic pattern controlled by flaggers. Once complete in mid-August, PennDOT expects that the project will
enhance safety for local residents as well as visitors. This $2.8 million project was made possible by state Multimodal Transportation funds. The contractor for this job is Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. of State College. Subscribe to PennDOT news in Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Juniata, McKean, Mifflin and Potter counties at w w w. p e n n d o t . g o v / District2. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www. projects.penndot.gov.
Senators urge PA communities to clean up litter HARRISBURG – Sen. Mario Scavello, R-40, and Rep. Rosemary Brown, R-189, held a Capitol news conference on Monday to urge Pennsylvania communities to adopt campaigns to clean up the litter that is so costly to local communities and the environment. More than 90% of Pennsylvanians surveyed say that litter is a problem in Pennsylvania and 93%
strongly agree or agree that litter reduces property values. In addition, 87% strongly agree or agree that litter negatively impacts tourism and business. The Pocono Mountains is one of the most popular tourist areas in the commonwealth, and the lawmakers point to the successful “Pick Up the Poconos” program as a model for others to follow. Pick up
the Poconos was the model for the annual Pick Up Pennsylvania initiative by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, which each spring offers volunteers technical assistance, cleanup supplies and trash disposal. In 2021, 76,399 volunteers collected more than 3.8 million pounds of trash and planted 106,322 trees, flowers and shrubs. “We need to continue
to build on our efforts to address the litter problem and recruit residents, volunteers, businesses, state agencies and specific programs like ‘Pick up the Poconos’ to be as effective as possible, which is why we are doing this event. We want all these entities to say, ‘What can I do to be on the team?’” Brown said.
Manufacturing is a hot topic in the Bradford Area School District right now and at Monday’s school board meeting, two agenda items were approved in this area. An overnight field trip for the Fretz Middle School students who won the “What’s so cool about manufacturing?” contest received the go ahead from the Board last night. These students will be on their way to Harrisburg to compete in the state championship May 17-18. Katy Pude, BASD superintendent, congratulated Katie Green and her middle school students on winning both the videography and viewers’ choice competitions. Also approved at the meeting was the purchase of a Duramax CNC Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) to be used in the new student-run BAHS Manufacturing program. This equipment will be purchased through Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology LLC, provider of the products and academic program. The equipment cost of $51,439.97 will be paid with funds from the Manufacturing Grant and Rural Low-Income Schools Grant. Bradford Area High School student Maddie Emerson, a senior, presented a new club she and retiring teacher Karen McCartney started in response to the fallout of the pandemic and the struggles students and staff are facing. Be Kind To Your Mind began as a way “to bring back the joyful spirit” of school, said Emerson. She approached McCartney about the need she saw and began surveying the staff, then the students. The club has had a major impact on both since its inception. McCartney said, “It has brought together groups that don’t usually get together, different peer groups are getting together to support each other.” Emerson, McCartney and the club need something from the community, though. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. They are asking for pictures and selfies with encouraging quotes to be sent in. The club will hold a final event and share the positive messages. Submissions can be sent to 22memerson@ bradfordareaschools.org by April 29. Several board members addressed Emerson directly with praise for starting this much-needed club, and Paul Ridley, vice president of the Board, issued a challenge to staff, “do not let this club disband.” Seniors and parents take note of coming changes to the award recognition night. It was noted at last night’s meeting there are plans in the works to shorten the sometimes four hour long award ceremony, while still recognizing the significance behind each award, so that all students, parents, and others see what scholarships their child has received. “We are extremely fortunate to have multiple scholarships made available by our community and alumni for our students to go on to postsecondary institutions,” said
Pude, but also acknowledged that the length of the ceremony “needs to be shortened because there are so many scholarships.” Many COVID restrictions had already been relaxed but had not yet been formally approved by the Board. It was approved that any COVID-19 restrictions still in the policy are to be relaxed to allow for school visitation and student field trips. Judy Bodamer, recommended approval of the general operating budget for 2022-2023. For Bradford the amount is $80,654, an increase of $2,284 over last year, a 2.9 percent increase. The resolution was approved. Additionally, two bids for school buses were approved and another was rejected, in line with recommendations. The first, a 72-passenger, propane fueled bus for $113,368. Another propane fueled bus, this one a 48-passenger, for $114,588. Both propane fueled buses, which will be awarded to Wolfington Body Company, Inc. were approved. A nine-passenger, single rear wheel, gasoline bus was rejected, as recommended, as the bids came in higher than expected and would not be a good choice at this time. One other piece of equipment was approved for purchase at the meeting. Funding from the Supplemental Equipment Grant will help offset the $34,355.86 cost for the high school to purchase a Hunter WA684-CM Alignment Machine from Mohawks Lifts LLC, under PA Contract # 4400024053. A s s i s t a n t Superintendent, Sam Johnson, recommended and received approval for the Collective Bargaining Agreement, as presented, with an effective date of July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026. Shane Oschman, president of the board, thanked him for all the work that was done to get this completed, and Johnson thanked all the teachers for what they do everyday. Approval to renew the agreement with Cole Memorial Hospital for the provision of an athletic trainer for the 2022-23 school year, or the first day of fall practices through June 30, 2023, at the rate of $31.60 per hour; an increase of $0.80 per hour was reached. The Board approved the resignation, due to retirement, with regrets and appreciation of Karen McCartney, English teacher at BAHS for 11 years of service to students and the district, effective June 2. The Board also accepted the resignation of the varsity girls’ track and field coach, Brooke McGriff, effective March 30. The Board approved, on the condition of pending employment paperwork and pre-employment drug testing, the hiring of Lisa Godding for the position of substitute coordinator/ caller at the rate of $65 per day, effective August 24, 2022, in accordance with Board policy. The next meeting will be held Monday, May 9, at 7 p.m., at Floyd C. Fretz Middle School, Large Instruction Room.
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APRIL 5, 2022
GOP’s energy promises face limits in Pa. governor’s race
HARRISBURG — Republican Bill McSwain pledges to be a pro-energy governor by “turning on the spigot of natural gas.” Another hopeful, Dave White, says he wants Pennsylvania “to be the energy capital of the world.” A third candidate, Lou Barletta, says having a glut of natural gas in the ground without a pipeline is “like being in college and having a keg of beer without a tap.” In Pennsylvania, the No. 2 natural gas producer after Texas, the importance of the industry is emerging as a top issue among Republican contenders for governor before the state’s May 17 primary. The issue has taken on new urgency in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has revived the debate over how to enhance domestic energy production and spurred a pledge from President Joe Biden to increase liquefied natural gas exports to Europe to undercut Russia’s leverage there. Despite promises by the Republican candidates, however, there are constraints on what they could do in office. While governors have influence over state agencies and lawmaking, they have limited ability to grant what the industry really wants, like building interstate pipelines and big processing facilities. That’s because other states and federal policy are involved. “They don’t control those things,” said David Masur, executive director of PennEnvironment, a Philadelphia-based environmental group. “Their power, if elected, stops at the border of Pennsylvania. And if other states have aggressive climate-change agendas, clean-energy agendas, the marketplace makes clean energy competitive, if not cheaper, than fossil fuels.” P E N N S Y LVA N I A’ S LIMITS Industry leaders describe drilling in Pennsylvania as strong and access to gas as plentiful, with established pipeline rights of way and thousands of wells waiting to be drilled into
the nation’s most prolific gas reservoir, the Marcellus Shale. But for examples of Pennsylvania’s limits, look no farther than its borders. Democratic governors in neighboring New York and New Jersey have effectively blocked the construction of major interstate pipelines — the Constitution and the PennEast pipelines — carrying gas from Pennsylvania to big metropolitan areas and, possibly, yet-to-be-built facilities to liquefy and export liquefied natural gas, or LNG. The states seem unlikely to change that position anytime soon. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who won reelection last year, “remains committed” to his promise to reach 100% clean energy in the state and an 80% reduction in planetwarming greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, his office said. Interstate pipelines and LNG facilities also require federal approval and face opposition from environmental groups, which say natural gas mustn’t be a long-term energy solution because it emits the potent greenhouse gas methane. The industry and its Republican allies contend that natural gas can make the U.S. more energy independent and counter Russia’s influence, while being planet-friendlier than higher-carbon oil and coal. Toby Rice, president and CEO of Pittsburghbased gas exploration firm EQT Corp., projects that it would take 6,500 miles (over 10,400 km) of pipeline and $250 billion in LNG infrastructure in the U.S. to serve the U.S. and Europe and substantially cut coal use worldwide by 2030. Still, scientists are increasingly alarmed at the growing amount of natural gas infrastructure and say it will threaten efforts to slash carbon emissions to necessary goals. SHAPIRO TALKS BALANCE The presumed Democratic nominee for governor, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro, talks of balancing natural gas with expanding renewable
energy. Shapiro ran for attorney general vowing to hold the gas industry accountable. He challenged the move by President Donald Trump’s administration to allow LNG to be shipped by rail, criminally charged several companies and issued a grand jury report on the need to toughen industry regulations. During his campaign for governor, he has taken a middle-of-the-road stance — partly a nod to influential labor unions whose workers build power plants, pipelines and refineries. He says it’s a “false choice” to have to pick between “environmental justice and the dignity of work and energy opportunity.” The current governor, Democrat Tom Wolf, has what environmental activists and the industry see as a mixed bag. Wolf, who is constitutionally termlimited, is aiming to make Pennsylvania the first major fossil-fuel state to impose a carbon pricing plan, although his regulatory effort is currently held up in court. At the same time, he pursued higher taxes on natural gas production, but missed meaningful opportunities to combat greenhouse gases, environmental advocates say. He also stepped up for the industry: His administration issued permits for major gas-fired power plants, pipelines and refineries, and Wolf himself signed off on tax breaks to lure natural gas synthesis plants. Now, interest in building big, natural gasfueled projects is surging, and a new governor could take office in 2023 with opportunities to land some. Fulfilling Biden’s promises to surge natural gas exports to Europe could mean expanding existing pipelines across Pennsylvania and building new LNG terminals, possibly along the Delaware River near Philadelphia. “We think that there is an opportunity for Pennsylvania to become a major LNG exporter,” Rice
said. INDUSTRY OPTIMISM Beyond LNG, industry boosters are optimistic about landing a gas-fed hydrogen fuel plant — funded by Biden’s infrastructure law — in southwestern Pennsylvania, plus the construction of refineries across Pennsylvania’s rural gas fields to make fertilizer, chemical products and fuels. Meanwhile, a proposal for an LNG facility in northeastern Pennsylvania that had envisioned transporting its product by rail to a Philadelphiaarea export terminal is on hold — and Biden’s administration is moving to suspend the Trump-era LNG-by-rail rule. While a governor might not single-handedly give the gas industry what it wants, he or she could be helpful, industry advocates say. Barletta, White, McSwain and others in the nine-person GOP primary field for governor talk about stripping down unnecessary regulations or speeding up permitting times. That might help lure a big project, as would slashing Pennsylvania’s corporate tax rate, said Gene Barr, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. Being a vocal advocate could help too, like lobbying a fellow governor in a neighboring state to permit a pipeline, Barr said. In recent days, Pennsylvania’s Republicancontrolled Legislature took up a pro-industry package of measures, including a resolution urging the governors of New York and New Jersey to allow the construction of gas pipelines from Pennsylvania. During that debate, Democratic state Rep. Greg Vitali said the idea that a legislative resolution would sway those governors is “fanciful.” “They’re going to make their own decisions with regard to which pipelines they accept,” Vitali said, “and which pipelines they reject.”
Property sales, police needs discussed by Bradford City Council BY DANIELLA GRIESBAUM At Tuesday’s meeting of the Bradford City Council motions were approved and denied for the sale of properties from the McKean County Tax Repository and subdivisions were discussed after Mayor James McDonald addressed residents in the audience. “I would like to remind citizens to exercise caution while out and about, and driving. The weather is warming so there will be more traffic out, as well as motorcycles,” cautioned McDonald. “Please be careful, especially with the construction downtown at the square, and at the Elm Street bridge — there is just a lot of activity on our roads right now — please just be extra cautious.” Preliminary and final approval were granted for the subdivision of properties on South Center Street and Brookline Court for the proposed land development project known to the council as “South Center & Brookline Court Preservation Project.” It
was noted that the Bradford Planning Commission met and approved this subdivision on Monday, April 4. The sale of four properties from the McKean County Tax Claim Repository were approved. One of the four properties, 38 Jefferson Street, was purchased by the City of Bradford. “The property would be purchased on behalf of the Neighborhood Partnership Program, and immediately demolished,” reported City Administrator Chris Lucco. The other properties approved for sale were located at 59 South Ave., 19 Miller Street and N. Bennett Street. However, the council voted to deny the sale of 74 Maplewood Ave., 402 South Ave. and 32 Summer Street from the McKean County Tax Claim Repository. The council voted, unanimously, to accept and approve a bid from TV Services in the amount of $4,454.54 for the emergency demolition of 119 West Corydon Street. The house will be demolished in order
to eliminate current safety concerns, and the leftover debris will be transported to the McKean County Landfill, according to the city Code Enforcement Officer. In other business, a motion was approved, unanimously, to approve the payment of $4,191.40 to Verkada for the purchase of an outdoor camera and a ten-year Camera License for the Bradford City Police Department. In addition, the council authorized the purchase agreement between the city of Bradford and DuBois for the purchase of a 2017 Ford Explorer Police vehicle in the amount of $15,000. The council also authorized the advertisement of
new hire testing for patrol officers for the Bradford City Police Department, per a request from Chief Mike Ward. McDonald noted the Bradford Police Department handled 667 calls in the month of March. Prior to the Bradford City Council meeting on Tuesday night a meeting was held to review the annual Pension Performance review of the city’s pensions, which revealed that while performance is up overall, the year-to-date performance is down. The next meeting of the Bradford City Council will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26.
Photo by Gettysburg Fire Department via Facebook A member of the Gettysburg Fire Department climbs a ladder to help free a U.S. Army paratrooper from a tree Tuesday.
Paratroopers rescued after getting stuck in trees in Pa. HARRISBURG (TNS) — Six U.S. soldiers practicing jumps from a Chinook helicopter near Gettysburg National Military Park Tuesday spent some time stuck in the tree tops after branches snagged their parachutes, officials said. Four of the paratroopers from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, were able to jump or fall out of the tree on their own, according to Gettysburg Deputy Fire Chief Scott McGonigal. Gettysburg firefighters helped the other two soldiers escape using a smaller Haverfield Aviation helicopter. The airdrop training was held at Browns Ranch, McGonigal said. Gettysburg firefighters on the scene in case their assistance was needed during the potentially dangerous jumps. Park rangers from the Gettysburg battlefields, local police and the Emmitsburg Fire Department later joined in with the rescue when the soldiers ran into trouble. McGonigal said the elevation and heavy woods prevented firefighters from getting to the soldiers on foot or with fire department apparatus. So they called Brandon Jackson of Haverfield Aviation, who has helicopters significantly smaller than Chinooks that
help the soldiers while not getting tangled up in the tree line. The Haverfield helicopter lifted the paratroopers straight out of the trees and dropped them safely onto the ground, Jackson said. Jackson said Haverfield frequently works with military veterans, and “when we get the call, we’re compelled to assist.” Wind does not seem to have played a major role in the ordeal. The National Weather Service said winds were shifting directions late Tuesday afternoon, but only moving about 5–10 mph. The Gettysburg Fire Department shared photos and video of the rescue on Facebook. The 82nd Airborne Division commented on their post saying: “We got some training, you got some training! Thank you for being there! We are happy that no injuries occurred.” McGonigal said military training sessions are not common in Gettysburg. He estimated it could take a year or two — or more — for another session to take place in the area. Officials from the U.S. Army were not immediately available for comment. ©2022 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit pennlive.com. Distributed by
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APRIL19, 2022
Era to soon begin pulling delivery boxes
North Country National Scenic Trail improvements The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service announced Thursday that District Ranger Rich Hatfield signed the decision memo to approve the implementation of select improvements to the North Country National Scenic Trail in the Allegheny National Recreation Area. The Allegheny National Forest Chapter of the North Country Trail Association in conjunction with Allegheny National Forest Recreation Staff proposed the improvements to address visitor safety and resource concerns with existing stream crossings. The selected improvements include constructing bridges over Tracy Run and Johnnycake Run, a trail reroute to an existing stepping-stone ford across the North Branch of Tracy Run, and reroutes to portions of the trail to accommodate the bridges and reduce erosion. If a more suitable location for the proposed three-sided shelter can be identified, it may be approved in a future decision memo. “I greatly appreciate the work of the Allegheny National Forest Chapter of the North Country Trail Association to plan these improvements with the Forest Service. The North Country National Scenic
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Trail is an incredible asset for our area and draws in visitors from around the county. These improvements will both protect natural resources and address visitor safety concerns,” said Hatfield. During the public scoping for this project, concerns were raised about wilderness values in the project area. The concerns were considered and addressed by noting that the project area is neither a potential wilderness area nor a wilderness study area. The Tracy Ridge area was Congressionally designated as part of the Allegheny National Recreation Area and the trail improvements are in line with the Congressional intent for management of the area. To review the documents associated with the North Country National Scenic Trail Improvements Project please visit the Allegheny National Forest website at https:// w w w. f s . u s d a . g o v / project/?project=61560 For additional information, please contact Rich Hatfield, Bradford District Ranger, Allegheny National Forest, 29 Forest Service Drive, Bradford, Pennsylvania, 16701, by phone (814) 363-6000 or email richard.hatfield@ usda.gov.
The Bradford Era will soon begin to remove home delivery boxes from subscribers’ yards as the weather continues to improve. The Era, which has contracted with the U.S. Postal Service to deliver its daily editions, had held off on pulling the boxes to limit
the disturbance of soft, wet front yards in the early spring. Subscribers may also remove and dispose of the boxes and posts themselves. Anyone who wishes to drop a box and post off at The Era (43 Main St.) may do so — the box and post will be recycled.
Wide range of courses from NPRC coming up COUDERSPORT — Industrial machining, nursing, and photography courses will be held in Coudersport from Northern Pennsylvania Region College. Diversify your skills in industrial machining with courses from NPRC. The need for trained employees in industrial maintenance continues to grow for regional industries as the adoption of automated manufacturing machinery
progresses. Employers seeking training for incumbent workers in Cameron, Elk, McKean and Potter Counties may be eligible for financial assistance up to 75 percent of the course fees through Workforce Solutions of North Central Pennsylvania. NPRC will be happy to assist through this process. Contact workforce development or North Central for more details.
Sled dogs at Kinzua Bridge State Park MOUNT JEWETT — In the Spirit of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, The Sled Dogs of Smokey Hill announce its “I Kid A Rod 2022” to be held at Kinzua Bridge State Park on April 23 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The “I Kid A Rod” is a program developed by The Sled Dogs of Smokey Hill to teach young people about the art of mushing and to promote outdoor recreation. Youngsters will learn about the Iditarod Race and the “Serum Run” in Alaska in the 1920s that only sled dogs could deliver desperately needed medicine through the snow and harsh terrain. The kids will also learn how to harness a dog to a sled and have a friendly competition in
teams where they are pulling the sled from one place to another (using eggs as the serum) to see who will be the fastest team with the most eggs still intact. Children will also get to see the dogs pulling “dry-land” carts and how important it is to be part of a team. This is a free event and open to the first 25 kids whose parents call the park to register. The park number is (814) 778-5467, extension 106. Parents must accompany their children to this event. For more information, contact Kinzua Bridge State Park Visitor Center and Park Office at (814) 778-5467 or e-mail us at kinzuabridgesp@pa.gov .
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