15 2022
community
NOVEMBER
p o t t e r m c k e a n
county
Austin • Coudersport • Crosby • Eldred • Kane • Lewis Run • Mt. Jewett Port Allegany • Roulette • Smethport • Turtlepoint
Era photo by Daniella Langianese Police Chief Mike Ward rakes debris into a pile while other volunteers and city workers gathered additional litter to place in a pile for easier disposal into the vehicles which hauled the trash away from the Elm Street site.
Community rallies Wednesday to clear debris from homeless camps BY DANIELLA LANGIANESE
A l t h o u g h Wednesday began with a bit of a chill in the air, many area residents showed up in their work gear and clothing ready to get to work volunteering their time to pick up debris and left-over construction materials from area homeless encampments. Area volunteers pitched in with the City of Bradford Police Department and the Pennsylvania Department of Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n (PennDOT) to clear litter wreckage left in
wooded areas around the Bradford area — specifically the previous homeless encampment off Elm Street. However, according to Police Chief Mike Ward, there were five additional sites which were tended to Wednesday by volunteers and city workers alike. Ward, Parks Director Chip Comilla and a supervisor from PennDOT organized the cleanup efforts. Besides employees from Bradford’s Department of Public Works (DPW), interim Mayor Tom Riel there
were approximately 20 community members, as well as local business owners who aided in the cleanup efforts, said Ward. “Today is a testament to civilians who cared enough to volunteer their time to clear a mess they were not responsible for making,” explained Ward. “The work was completed more quickly than I had expected. The group of individuals helping made fast work of clearing five different sites which contained an extreme amount of debris.
“Each of the five sites is now clean and more importantly safe — they have all been restored to their natural state,” concluded Ward. According to Ward, PennDOT Supervisor Scott Majot who helped organize these efforts between the City of Bradford and PennDOT. Major was also able to provide two PennDOT employees and two very useful pieces of machinery which helped to clear the debris. A d d i t i o n a l personnel who aided in this project were
PennDOT, partners stress dangers of aggressive driving
CLEARFIELD — The Pennsylvania Department of Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n (PennDOT), Ferguson Township Police Department and Highway Safety Network held a media event today near the intersection of Blue Course Drive and West College Avenue where they stressed that aggressive driving behaviors are significant contributing factors to crashes and fatalities on our roadways. They explained that police conduct high visibility enforcement details each year to curb these behaviors and reduce the number of crashes on Pennsylvania roadways. “It’s about stopping crashes and saving lives,” said Ryan Hendrick, Ferguson Township Police Sergeant. “Slowing down and increasing
your following distance not only keeps you from being pulled over, but it also significantly reduces your chances of being injured or killed in a crash.” In addition to aggressive driving behaviors such as speeding and tailgating, Hendrick said law enforcement have been cracking down on violations of the state’s Move Over Law during the current wave of aggressive driving enforcement. The wave started Monday, October 24, and continues through Sunday, November 13. Hendrick explained the state’s Move Over law requires drivers approaching an emergency response area who are unable to safely merge into a lane farther away from the response area that they must “pass the emergency
response area at a speed of no more than 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit and reasonable for safely passing.” He explained an emergency response area is where an emergency vehicle has its lights flashing, or where road crews or emergency responders have lighted flares, posted signs, or try to warn travelers. Hendrick noted that changes enacted to the law in 2021 included the creation of a new point system that imposes two points for failure to merge into the lane not next to the emergency response area. Changes also set fines at $500 for first-time offenders, $1,000 for a second offense, and $2,000 for a third or subsequent offense. Third or subsequent offenses also require a 90-day license suspension.
Josh Woods, Community Traffic Safety Project Coordinator with the Highway Safety Network, reminded drivers that the school bus stopping law requires them to stop at least 10 feet away from buses with their red lights flashing and stop arm extended. Motorists meeting or overtaking a stopped bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped must stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety. If a physical barrier such as a grassy median, guide rail or concrete median separates oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping.
six employees of Bradford’s DPW, who supplied trucks and hand tools; two members of local church organizations; residents Dan and Danielle Brinksy, as well as Bradford Police Officer Seth Shephard. “There were so many different factions of the Bradford community who showed up to lend a hand,” said Ward. The morning was not without its challenges though. Ward reported while cleaning abandoned homeless
encampments around the Bradford area one camp was found occupied by one adult female and her dog. “The individual and her pet were removed from the site before it was cleaned,” reported Ward. “Staff from Bradford’s YWCA were alerted and the female is now receiving services rendered by the organization.” Moving forward Ward said the police department will be stay vigilant to the issue and address future issues as they arise.
Stops signs to be added to Constitution Avenue As the fall and winter weather conditions approach, the City of Bradford is placing Stop signs in the area of Constitution Avenue and Spring Street, as this portion of the roadway is going to be narrowed to one travel lane. In May, the City of Bradford identified a significant erosion problem on the North side of Constitution Avenue where the Bolivar Run Creek has been eroding the embankment and undermining small portion of the roadway. The city immediately hired an engineering firm which has significant experience in road and waterway project to develop a plan to take remedial actions. An emergency permit was requested
from the Department of Environmental Protection and was ultimately issued. Due to the length of time it has taken from identification of the hazard to being able to start the project, the city and the engineering firm have determined that with the likelihood of increased water flow in the creek that further failure is likely imminent and will pose a risk to persons and property if the road is not partially closed until the quotes are received and work can begin. City Council will vote at tonight’s meeting as to whether or not to move forward with obtaining quotes in hopes to have the work completed in the next 30-60 days.