25 2022
community
OCTOBER
p o t t e r m c k e a n
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Austin • Coudersport • Crosby • Eldred • Kane • Lewis Run • Mt. Jewett Port Allegany • Roulette • Smethport • Turtlepoint
Photo by Pennsylvania Game Commission It’s not easy to visually determine the age of a whitetail deer in Pennsylvania.
How old is that deer outside the window?
PITTSBURGH (TNS) — The rut is approaching fast. At the height of mating season, whitetail deer will be hormonally addled, acting strangely and oblivious to even the most extreme dangers. Knowing a deer’s age can explain some of its actions and help to predict future behaviors. Wildlife watchers can estimate the age of familiar backyard browsers using the long-established observational tools relied upon by hunters. “Aging” a deer on the hoof can be an important part of the hunt. Establishing personal harvest parameters before leaving home is routine among many experienced hunters. It’s a conservation thing. Deciding to pass on deer that haven’t reached reproductive age means allowing a 1 1/2-year-old buck to grow into a healthy 3 1/2-year-old, 8-point that has left its mark on the gene pool. Or it could mean choosing to cull an aging doe that will no longer
reproduce but is consuming valuable nutrition in sparse woodlands. The buck outside your window cannot be accurately aged by counting points. Production of antlers has more to do with nutrition than age or genetics. Antlers are not horns, which are permanently attached to the skulls of cattle. Antlers develop from the fastest-growing tissue known to science — densely packed blood vessels that advance as much as 1 inch per day in the spring. The vessels close, die and harden. Dead tissue on the outside of antlers, “velvet,” is scraped off. The buck usually continues scraping or polishing his hardened antlers, using them in head-to-head battles for breeding rights. Antlers are generally shed after the rut in late winter. In old bucks or in deep woods and other places where browse is minimal, less nourishment reaches the tissue, impeding growth and creating
smaller antlers with fewer points. In robust, fertile, year-round deer smorgasbords like suburban housing plans, high-quality nourishment results in advanced antler growth. Physical cues are more useful in gauging a deer’s age. Biologists with access to tranquilized deer examine wear of the premolars and molars of the lower jaw. As deer grow older enamel wears off the teeth, and the age can be more accurately determined by differences in the amount of wear. Hunters and wildlife watchers can’t examine teeth. But they can estimate the age of antlered and antlerless deer by considering the shape and proportionality of body parts live or through webcam images. Here are some signs to look for: 5 months-1 1/2 years By autumn, most of the current year’s fawns have lost their spots, but they’re still very small — larger than a big dog but clearly thin, still
slightly awkward and never more than a few leaps away from their mother. On average, does each drop 1 1/2 fawns per year. Twins are common when food is ample, and triplets can be born in browse-filled suburbs. Behavior also offers hints to an animal’s age. Spindly-legged deer with no visible antlers playing when they should be eating near a watchful doe were probably born in the current year. At 1 1/2 , they are still smaller than mom. Yearlings have skinny necks, d i s p ro p o r t i o n a t e l y long legs and thin, lean bodies with hind quarters that are larger than the front end. Males will have spikes or forked antlers. I m a g e DescriptionThis 2 1/2 -year-old buck has a thin neck, small shoulders and a back end that seems bigger than his front end. (Wikipedia) 2 1/2 years A buck could have a six- to eight-point rack, a fit body and be sexually active during the rut. On closer
examination, however, the antlers will seldom be wider than the ears and may appear on the thin side. Despite a muscular build, the necks of males and females remain thinner than the brisket. The belly is flat, but the back end still appears bigger than the front end. 3 1/2 years Full antlers for bucks and in both sexes, a thick, full neck that appears to stop at a big, broad chest. Look for a firm, flat belly and no dip or sway of the back. In the third year, the front finally seems larger and more developed than the hind quarters. Adult deer have learned a thing or two. Behaviorally they’re more cautious, creeping through grape thickets, hesitating, cocking their heads with ears up and alert. In the rut, however, they still could spring out of the brush and run headlong into a tractor-trailer. 4 1/2 years A buck of this age has developed about 90% of his antler potential, although that depends
on habitat availability. Beneath the head, the necks of fully mature bucks and does are large and full from the chin to the barrel chest as it curves into the belly. There’s a bit of paunch to that belly and the middle of the back seems to droop a bit from carrying all that weight. 5 1/2 years and older In their fifth year, males and females look sort of top heavy with d i s p ro p o r t i o n a t e l y shorter legs. A thick neck meets front shoulders covered with a muscular hump. Below a swayed back hangs a sagging belly. Bucks of this age may have spectacular racks, but on the far side of 5 1/2 years teeth may become too worn to efficiently browse. Disease may also contribute to less intake of nutrition and less robust antlers. The only time antler shape directly correlates to age is when thin, spindly spikes emerge from the head of a big, full-bodied buck. Don’t say old, he’s just past his prime.
Low voltage, power issues Gift of Memory in Bradford Township Program accepting gift donations for children in need BY DANIELLA LANGIANESE
SHINGLEHOUSE — Kevin Dusenbury’s Gift of Memory Program, which benefits Potter County’s Christmas House, is currently in its 22nd year. Through Dusenbury’s business, Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home in Shinglehouse, local residents can contribute presents in memory of their deceased loved ones to the organization, which distributes gifts to over 1,200 Potter County
children and elderly during the holidays. Again this year, the Christmas House has requested that this program begin accepting donations early so that their organization will have distribution to the recipients as early as possible. Therefore donations will be collected until Friday, November 18. In purchasing gifts this year, the Christmas House asks for donations of items for girls ages 9 to 12, as well as
for teenagers. They also request items for boys from 2 to 12 years of age and also for teenage boys. In the past 21 years, gifts too numerous to count were collected at the funeral home and presented to the Christmas House for distribution to needy families. Those wishing to make donations of new, unwrapped toys or gifts can call Dusenbury at (814) 697-6570.
Wide spread “brown outs” or moments of low voltage were e x p e r i e n c e d throughout Bradford Township on Thursday, from the west end of Bradford to Lewis Run, customers experienced “a few moments of voltage dimming,” according to PENELEC spokesperson, Todd Meyers. Earlier in the afternoon, then again around 3:20 p.m. the lights noticeably went on and off, or dimmed, a few times in The Era offices. Reportedly, the episodes of low voltage extended from issues with a non-electrical line running between a substation in the west end of Bradford to the
substation in Lewis Run, reported Meyers. “This morning, around 10 a.m., there was a momentary type of blip that customers in Bradford and surrounding areas would have experienced,” said Meyers. “So that had us looking immediately for what may have caused it. Turns out, a line that runs just south of Bradford from the Lewis Run substation to the substation on the west end was down. “The wire was a non-conducting line, a neutral wire to help with lightning protection. The line was fixed and the conductor reset. However, when the line was re-energized they noticed a problem was still there — some
customers may have noticed low voltage issues with electrical services, which lasted about 15 seconds, or so,” explained Meyers. Crews from PENELEC returned to the line, which they repaired earlier, and walked the line from the substation in Lewis Run towards the substation in the west end of Bradford. While walking the line the workmen found a tree which had fallen, and was resting on the line. “The crews are currently out working to remove the tree,” Meyers reported to The Era at approximately 4:40 p.m. No further low voltage issues were noted later in the evening.
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OCTOBER 25, 2022
Dozens of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette workers cross picket line PITTSBURGH (TNS) — Dozens of journalists, photographers and editors have crossed the picket line to continue working at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. N e w s r o o m workers, represented by the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, launched a strike at noon Tuesday in protest of what they consider unfair labor practices by the company. This comes after Post-Gazette employees belonging to unions representing p r o d u c t i o n , distribution and advertising workers went on strike earlier this month. Already, about 30 people have crossed the picket line, according to union officials and a group of workers who are not striking. ”It was a very narrow vote” to go on strike, said Alex McCann, secretary of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh. McCann said the vote for newsroom workers to strike was tallied at 38 to 36. The Guild had said Tuesday that the union represented 101 newsroom employees, though dozens of employees have resigned from the Guild and stayed
on the job. An exact number was not immediately available Wednesday. A group that said it represented a large portion of the PostGazette employees still working said the Guild “commenced a strike with fewer than 40% of its members voting in favor of the move.” ”This vote was taken under the pressure of the Communications Workers of America, which threatened to unilaterally impose a strike on the local and remove its leadership if the vote did not conform to its wishes,” the group said in a statement. T h e Communications Workers of America is the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh’s parent union. As for workers leaving the union and not participating in the strike, McCann said he was confident that “as time goes by, they will join in our fight.” Even with the numbers it has now, McCann said, union leaders are confident that they have enough support for contract negotiations. McCann said the union has also seen strong support from other labor leaders and guilds throughout the country. ”We are very
Bradford YMCA partners with OV to open Early Learning Center
optimistic that the community will continue to step up for us,” McCann said. The CWA is providing strike benefits of $300 a week for workers on the picket line, McCann said. That could ultimately increase to $400 a week, he said. McCann said union leaders are in the process of setting up a system where people could donate to support striking workers. They also are planning to launch a strike publication, which he said would feature stories about the striking workers and possibly expand to include general journalism as well. The group of workers still on the job said in its statement that it hopes the local Guild prevails, but they won’t be joining in on the picket line. The group said many of its workers had supported members of other striking unions by withholding their bylines during a byline strike. The group argued that the CWA “has imposed a strike against the local’s wishes,” and suggested that some people who voted in favor of the strike only did so “to retain local leadership in the face of CWA threats.”
SHINGLEHOUSE — Families in the Shinglehouse area will soon have a new child care option for infants, toddlers, and preschool age children. The Bradford YMCA has collaborated with the Oswayo Valley School District to make a fully licensed early learning center a reality. “We realized at Oswayo Valley School District that there was a need for a child care center in our school district for the working families,” stated Oswayo Valley Superintendent, Jed Hamberger. “We don’t have any state approved childcare providers in our district, so we saw this as an opportunity to give back to our community. We were lucky enough to have the space to be able to pursue a project like this and were even awarded a grant from the Norton Trust Foundation for a community improvement project. “This shortly became a consortiumbased project with Potter County Human Services and the YMCA of the Twin Tiers becoming contributors to the project,” the superintendent continued. “We originally had other providers that we considered but they were not able to provide the type of services like the YMCA of the Twin Tiers could provide.” Hamberger said, “This project benefits the community on multiple fronts not only providing child care but also giving BY MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER were images of on a nightstand our early childhood students at the Seneca A Bradford man p r e p u b e s c e n t inside his bedroom. Highlands Career with Fenstermaker told and Technical Center who pleaded guilty children
Bradford man to serve prison time for child pornography
to having more than 3,900 images of child pornography was sentenced Thursday in McKean County Court to serve time in state prison. G r e g o r y Fenstermaker, 56, of Barbour Street, was sentenced to 6.5 to 13 years in the custody of the state Department of Corrections, and to serve an additional three years of probation. Fenstermaker had pleaded guilty to eight counts involving a total of 3,975 images of child pornography — 693 images were post-pubescent children, eight were images of postpubescent children with indecent contact depicted, 1,710 images were prepubescent children, 237 were prepubescent children with indecent contact depicted, 384 were post-pubescent children, 733 were post-pubescent children, 110 counts
indecent contact depicted, and 100 images were postpubescent children. According to the criminal complaint, Fenstermaker was arraigned in November and released on unsecured bail for a case where he was charged with the following: 100 counts of child pornography, third-degree felonies; 100 counts of disseminating photos of child sex acts, thirddegree felonies; one count of criminal use of a communication facility, firstdegree felony; 100 counts of child pornography, seconddegree felonies; and 100 counts of disseminating photos of child sex acts, second-degree felonies. On Feb. 9, while Fenstermaker was out on bail, police served a search warrant on his residence. There were two cellphones
police it had been his mother’s phone, but she passed away in January. Police found at least 50 images of “nudism involving prepubescent and pubescent children” on the phone, most of which had been saved after the date of his mother’s death, the criminal complaint stated. Inside the nightstand where the phones were, police found three Kodak pictures of a nude female child, the complaint stated. Fenstermaker was interviewed and “admitted to still being interested in children sexually,” the complaint stated.
meets their childcare and early learning needs.” Oswayo School Board Member, R. Kayle Perkins added, “This is a great opportunity for our community and I hope families take advantage of it. The convenience of this educational model is one my own family experienced and truly believe it set our daughter up for school success.” “Early Learning Centers are critical to our communities,” noted Kira Schine, Associate Child Care Director at the Bradford YMCA, “whether it is due to families having to work or to offer early learning experiences for children enrolled. There will be financial assistance through the YMCA of the Twin Tiers and state subsidies for families that qualify. We are here to help families make sure that their children can be enrolled in such a great new opportunity. I look forward to helping this program grow.” The tentative opening date for the center is Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023. Once the Early Learning Center meets all requirements and is fully licensed, enrollment for children will be opened to the community. Updates will be announced through news media and at t w i n t i e r s y m c a . o rg . For more information, or to inquire about employment, contact Kira Schine, Associate Child Care Director of the Bradford YMCA. She can be reached at 814-368-1610, ext. 250 or by email at KiraS@ TwinTiersYMCA.org.
Causer to offer veterans services at local offices
Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, is again offering area veterans the opportunity to work with a representative from the American Legion to ensure they get the services and support they need. Due to changes initiated by the American Legion, appointments in the Bradford and Kane offices will be conducted virtually via a tablet. Appointments are required for meetings with the Legion
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a local internship opportunity. This also gives us the opportunity to provide students with an education from a very early age and we are excited to see the long term impacts of starting to educate our students at such an early age.” The program will take place on-site at the Oswayo Valley Elementary School. YMCA Early Learning Center classrooms are built with the philosophy of meeting the developmental needs of each child. The teachers and staff are committed to nurturing individual differences and the growth of the whole child physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively. The center will serve children ages 6 weeks to 4 years old. The program will run Monday through Friday with care available from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wraparound care will be available for children enrolled in the Oswayo Valley Pre-K Counts Program. “The YMCA of the Twin Tiers takes great pride in supporting the building blocks for early learning, as well as the physical, social and emotional development of the little people in our communities,” explained Jeff Townsend, CEO of the YMCA of the Twin Tiers. “We feel strongly that all children should have the same opportunities to grow and develop to reach their full potential. To that end, this new Early Learning Center will be a beacon for families and children in the community to ensure the YMCA
Certified/Insured
they are in person, by phone or by tablet. The schedule for November is as follows: Coudersport office, located at 107 S. Main St., will hold appointments on Thursday, Nov. 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., call (814) 2749769 to schedule an appointment. Bradford office, located at 78 Main St., first floor, will hold appointments on Wednesday, Nov. 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., call (814)
appointment. Kane office, located at 54 Fraley St., Suite 2, will hold appointments on Wednesday, Nov. 30, from 9 a.m. to noon, call (814) 8370880 to schedule an appointment. Assistance is available with issues such as compensation, education, pension, health care and death benefits. Veterans need not be a member of the American Legion to participate.
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OCTOBER 25, 2022
Pysadee charged in Bradford overdose death Charges relating to the overdose death of a Bradford woman last year have been added to the criminal case against Rochester, N.Y., man Brady Pysadee. Pysadee, 26, of 35 Virginia Ave., was arraigned Sept. 29 on charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, a felony, and possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor. On Monday, McKean County District Attorney Stephanie Ve t t e n b u rg - S h a ff e r added additional charges — drug delivery resulting in death, a first-degree felony; involuntary manslaughter, a firstdegree misdemeanor; recklessly endangering another person, a firstdegree misdemeanor; and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, a felony. According to the criminal complaint, Pysadee had sold cocaine to Mercedes Simonds, who overdosed and died June 17, 2021, from a mix of cocaine and fentanyl, the complaint stated. At 6:01 a.m. June 17, 2021, Bradford City Police responded to 420 East Main St., rear apartment, for an overdose victim — Simonds — in cardiac arrest. When police arrived on scene, a male was performing CPR on Simonds on the living room floor. City of Bradford ambulance arrived on scene and medics took over CPR before transporting Simonds to Bradford Regional Medical Center, where
she was pronounced dead, according to the criminal complaint. The male told police that Simonds “did a line with some Brady kid” on the 16th, and that she believed it was heroin. He told police that he and Simonds went to a few bars, and she had left to meet with Brady Pysadee. When she returned, she was sweating heavily. She had a drink of water, and then she kept falling asleep. He said she went to the bathroom and threw up several times, told him she was tired and wanted to go back to his apartment to sleep, the complaint stated. The male said he checked on her several times throughout the night. In the early morning hours, he heard her in obvious distress, called 911 and started CPR, according to the complaint. When medics were working on Simonds, one approached an officer and gave him a baggie containing white powder residue, stating it was “located in the victim’s bra,” the complaint read. Police had Simonds’ cell phone, and were able to observe messages between her and Pysadee about buying drugs. After the first encounter, there was a message from her to Pysadee stating, “Yo that sh-t was good” and to save her some. He said he would, that he was sorry he couldn’t let her try more, and “that it was not a huge amount to get her ‘super zooted.’” He told Simonds that he was getting “super good reviews on it since he got back to town,” the complaint stated.
The two arranged a drug buy on Welch Avenue, of which police obtained surveillance footage. Police spoke to the husband of Simonds, who said Pysadee had wanted her to sell cocaine for him, and he knew the two had been in contact in the past on Snapchat, the complaint alleged. A police officer called Pysadee, who said he had been in town on the 16th and was in contact with Simonds in regard to her wanting some cocaine. He said he went to her residence, bringing cocaine with him, and had her try some. Pysadee said Simonds told him she had a male lined up who she was going to sell the cocaine to. He told police that he had pulled up on Welch Avenue, Simonds got in his vehicle, then went back to her friend’s vehicle to get the money and then returned to his vehicle. However, he said he did not provide her with any cocaine, the complaint stated. The baggie found on Simonds was tested and identified as .16 grams of cocaine. Police obtained the autopsy report and it showed cocaine and fentanyl in Simonds’ blood, the complaint alleged. Pysadee was arraigned Sept. 29 before District Judge Dom Cercone on the drug charges, and is free on $10,000 monetary bail. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. today before Cercone. He is represented by Olean, N.Y., attorney Jay Carr.
convicted of causing near fatal injuries to an 18-month-old child in 2021 will serve time in state prison. Tyler Prescott, 30, of Pearl Street, was sentenced Thursday in McKean County Court to 20 to 40 months in the custody of the state Department of Corrections on charges of a g g r a v a t e d assault, recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of children. According to the criminal complaint, the charges are the result of an investigation into injuries suffered by an 18-month-old child. The injuries included a basal skull fracture, fractured right ulna and bruising around the head and neck of the child. The injuries were deemed near fatal by medical staff at Oishei Children’s
stated. Prescott was watching the child while the mother was at work on March 3, 2021. When the mother returned from work around 5 p.m., Prescott said the child was napping. The mother said it was unusual for the child to be sleeping late in the day, but didn’t check on her until about 7 p.m. At that time, she found the child’s head to be swollen, both eyes swollen shut and several bruises around her head and neck, the complaint stated. The mother attempted to find someone to watch her other children so she could take the toddler to the hospital, but Prescott said he would leave her children by themselves if she was gone too long, so she waited until the next day to seek treatment, the complaint stated.
insisting the child needed medical treatment, but Prescott took all the phones in the house and would not let anyone call for help. He refused to let the woman leave the room she was in as well, the complaint indicated. The next day, Prescott and the mother took the child to Bradford Regional Medical Center. A Bradford City Police officer was called to the hospital and spoke to the mother and Prescott. He claimed the child had fallen off the couch a few days before and grew progressively worse through the week, the complaint alleged. However, the medical staff at Children’s Hospital said it was impossible for the injuries to have been caused in such a manner, according to the complaint.
BY MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER
Bradford City not anticipating budget increase BY DANIELLA LANGIANESE
Although product prices are on the rise and gas prices have skyrocketed the City of Bradford is not anticipating a budget increase in 2023. “I don’t expect any major changes,” said City Administrator Chris Lucco. “Everything is mostly holding its own and I don’t expect any major increases. Revenues have exceeded my expectations and property taxes are trending where they should be. Looking into revenues to cover expenses, I anticipate no huge increase.” Lucco outlined the city’s overall budget at a work session with council members Tuesday evening. However, he noted there are still unknowns discussing finalized budgets before the close of the fiscal year and he doesn’t know what the final budget will look like yet. He indicated that he does not believe city officials will be scrambling to balance the budget this year, reminding council members that just four years prior the budget was almost $4.8 million, and based off the way numbers have been trending the closing budget for 2022 would be exceedingly less, at approximately $4.4 million. Department heads gave highlights from 2022 and for their projected 2023 budgets at the meeting, which lasted just under two hours. First to speak, Shane Oschman, executive director for the Bradford Office of Economic and Community D e v e l o p m e n t (OECD), explained how the office had no anticipated big changes or expenses. He explained the OECD’s budget increased salaries due to the hiring of an BY MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER Hospital in Buffalo, Later that night, administration staff A Bradford man N.Y., the complaint the mother was still member, however two
Bradford man sent to state prison for assaulting child
other employees left. Chief Mike Ward started his report on the police department by explaining how the department has been busying training new officers, while also expressing his disappointment at the loss of three current officers; one who will retire sometime next year, a second who will be leaving to rejoin the U.S. Armed Forces and a third whose National Guard unit is soon to deploy. “Staffing is paramount,” Ward explained of his budget request for a greater amount in salaries to pay to hire new officers. He also requested the City pay for a replacement radio, as part of the department’s responsibility of participation in the installation of the new radio system being installed county wide. “Now this new radio — it will not be picked up over scanners, is that correct,” inquired Councilman Tom Riel. “The new system is a state-of-the-art highband, digital improvement, as I understand,” responded Ward. “To my understanding, the answer to your question is yes, the new system will be encrypted. We will now however be able to speak to other state agencies over the radio, which we have never had the capability of with the current system.” The only other largely increased budget items on Ward’s report concerned fuel prices, due to the rise in gasoline prices. The city electrician, Dan Tyger told the council his major concern was the cost to replace and repair issues with the light poles. Lucco also interjected that Tyger’s maintenance truck was getting very unreliable and will need to be replaced soon, to which Tyger responded, “that can wait ‘til next year
though.” Following the theme of the meeting, under Health Department spending, Health Director Mike Cleveland said “there were no significant changes.” The only significant expenses experienced this year were the emergency demolitions of the McCourt Label building and a home on Corydon Street. Chip Comilla, director of public works and parks, spoke about the rising fuel costs, especially because of the need for diesel. Another increase, out of his control, is the projected seven percent tipping fee increase to take refuse to the dump at $24,650. Comilla also confirmed during the meeting that the final inspection for the Elm Street Bridge project will take place on Friday, and he “believes it will be open to traffic soon.” For the parks department, there is a projected increase due to a 30-40 percent increase in the cost of chlorine. Beyond the pool chemicals, the other expenses include liquid fuels and half the cost of a new brush-hog machine the department would be purchasing in conjunction with the OECD. Fire Department Chief Eric Taylor said for the budget year of 2022 he really only had three items for discussion. The first and most apparent was the price of fuel, secondly the cost of the fire department’s participation in the new radio for McKean County project and lastly an increase in salaries due to overtime and necessary temporary summer help. On the ambulance side, Taylor requested additional funds to have preventative m a i n t e n a n c e performed on equipment.
Pa. corrections staffers to soon begin wearing body cameras HARRISBURG (TNS) — Body cameras will soon begin to be worn by state corrections department employees who work outside state prisons and community corrections centers to halt contraband from entering those secured facilities. A $90,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, along with matching funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, will be used to buy 45 cameras and associated accessories, video storage and training, according to the state department. The purchase is pending with plans to begin having staff wear the cameras in the first quarter of next year. The cameras will be worn by criminal investigators, K-9 parole agents and K-9
sergeants assigned to the department’s Bureau of Investigations and Intelligence who work outside its secured facilities to prevent the introduction of drugs and other contraband from entering the facilities. “Adding body cameras to the enforcement arm of the DOC is one way to build trust and legitimacy among the public we serve,” said Acting Corrections Secretary George Little. “The technology also provides another tool to assist in the documentation of evidence, interactions, and conditions as investigators work to keep dangerous drugs out of our facilities.” A department spokeswoman said the body cameras will capture the interactions investigators have
with visitors and staff while on state property specifically the parking lots. Spokeswoman Maria Bivens said employees assigned a body camera are trained and licensed to carry and use a lethal weapon on the job and empowered to conduct vehicle searches and engage suspects in field interviews and make arrests. “The benefits of body cameras for them is the same as body cameras for a police department: to improve transparency and accountability, assist in the documentation of evidence and suspected statements, and serve as a training aid,” Bivens said. Many local police departments already have equipped their police officers with body cameras or were looking into them at last check.
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OCTOBER 25, 2022
Peanuts specials won’t air on TV in 2022. Here’s why HARRISBURG (TNS) — “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” isn’t airing on TV this year, and it’s for the second time since the holiday special premiered 56 years ago. The Halloween special premiered on Oct. 27, 1966, nearly a year after “A Charlie Brown Christmas” premiered on Dec. 9, 1965, on CBS. “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” premiered in 1973. After airing on CBS for decades, the specials
made a network switch to ABC in 2000 and 2001. In 2018, AppleTV+ bought all of the rights to the Peanut specials. In 2020, the specials became exclusively available on the platform, NPR reported. While PBS was allowed to show the holiday specials in 2021, this year that’s no longer the case. Fans will have to download AppleTV+ to watch “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” along with the other holiday specials.
Nevertheless, AppleTV+ confirmed in a press release that the platform will provide non-subscribers with windows to watch the specials for free. “Costumes, candy, this classic special — some things just scream Halloween. Join the Peanuts gang for a timeless adventure as Charlie Brown preps for a party, Snoopy sets his sights on the Red Baron and Linus patiently awaits a pumpkin patch miracle.”
Photo by Dave Carlson, KVFD Firefighters from multiple stations tackled a three alarm fire on Monday at Johnson’s Sawmill in Wetmore Township.
Johnson’s Sawmill near James City lost to fire Monday BY MANDY COLOSIMO
KANE — At 2:46 p.m. on Monday, the Kane Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire at Johnson’s Sawmill located at 88 Sawmill Road off Route 66 toward James City in Wetmore Township. The call stated heavy smoke showing. According to Assistant Chief Mike Detsch of the Kane Volunteer Fire Department, “it was an older sawmill and was fully involved when we arrived.” A third alarm sent additional fire companies from McKean and Elk counties. Detsch said,
“because of the time of day, I called a third alarm for manpower almost as soon as I got on scene.” Crews from Mount Jewett, Hamlin Township, Wilcox, Johnsonburg, St. Marys, and Ludlow volunteer fire departments also assisted at the scene. The Elk County Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) was also on hand. On standby for Kane was the Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department out of Warren County. Route 66 was closed due to water hoses across the highway. “Traffic was detoured to (U.S.) Route 6,” said Detsch.
Highland Township Volunteer Fire Department provided traffic control during the event. According to Detsch, the fire was knocked back just before 4 p.m. However, a massive clean-up effort and care of hotspots ensued. The sawmill was completely destroyed. The cause of the fire is not yet known and Detsch stated that the fire marshal will be on scene today. There were no injuries to property owners or first-responders. Crews from various stations did not return to quarters until after 7 p.m.
Drought watch remains for 20 counties HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced after a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force that drought watch has been lifted for 16 counties and remains for 20 counties. Residents in those counties, including Cameron and Potter, are asked to continue their voluntary water conservation. “While significant recent rainfall has helped, groundwater and some public water supply levels remain lower than normal ranges in some counties,” said DEP Acting Secretary Ramez Ziadeh. “We ask Pennsylvanians in these and adjacent counties to continue to use water wisely and
follow simple water conservation tips to ease the demand for water.” The following counties remain on drought watch: Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Dauphin, Juniata, Lebanon, Luzerne, L y c o m i n g , Mifflin, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, and Union counties. Drought watch has been lifted for Berks, Bradford, Bucks, Delaware, Lackawanna, Lehigh, McKean, Monroe, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. Residents on drought watch are asked to reduce their
individual water use by 5% to 10%, or a reduction of three to six gallons of water per day. Varying localized conditions may lead water suppliers or municipalities to ask residents for more stringent conservation actions. There are many ways to conserve water at home, including running water only when necessary; running the dishwasher and washing machine less often; watering gardens in the cooler evening or morning hours; watering lawns only when necessary; checking for and repairing household leaks; and replacing older appliances with higher efficiency models.
Pa. poison control center warns of spike in severe mushroom poisonings
PHILADELPHIA (TNS) — A subculture of foragers is scouring a growing host of social media groups, hashtags and phone apps to find and identify mushrooms not only to eat, but for a psychedelic experience. And that comes with real risk, warns the regional Poison Control Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, which handles calls from half of Pennsylvania. The center is warning that it has seen 11 poisonings from people eating wild mushrooms in the past 30 days. While the overall number of such cases rises and falls periodically, a recent spate of severe cases has been alarming, said Robb Bassett, associate medical director of the center. ”What really caught our attention was the severity and toxicity of the patients suffering from it,” Bassett said. The center reports that seven cases required hospitalizations over that period, including three patients who were admitted to intensive care. One needed a liver transplant. Bassett cites possible reasons for a sudden spike in severe poisonings: • Social media can lure people to think they can identify wild edible mushrooms on their own. People will cross states to forage and return home to eat the fungi and even serve them to their families. • Some immigrants who successfully foraged in their countries of origin can mistake species that look similar. • It is also “not rare”
to see people poisoned who were in search of the hallucinatory properties of some mushrooms, Bassett said. Some have been hospitalized for psychotic episodes and organ failure. A study by a branch of the National Institutes of Health reported in a paper last year that younger people were searching for mushrooms in the genus Amanita muscaria, which can be poisonous but also includes species that deliver psychedelic effects. The paper discussed a patient who fell into a coma after accidental Amanita muscaria poisoning. Bassett urges people to forgo foraging because poisonous wild mushrooms often look the same as cultivated mushrooms bought at a supermarket. He noted that it is not clear whether a sudden spike in more severe poisonings is widespread because cases the center handles are self-reported and do not represent an objective study. ”There are a lot of mushrooms that are nontoxic,” he added, “but even in the ones that are toxic, the range of symptoms they cause can be really variable, from changes in blood pressure to altered mental states, to seizures or the most consequential — organ failure and, in the most extreme cases, fatality.” In previous years, he said, many of the cases seen by the center involved people eating mushrooms not associated with severe illness. Milder symptoms can include
gastrointestinal issues such as cramps, vomiting and diarrhea. ”But in this last month, we’ve had a lot of people who’ve suffered evidence of liver damage,” Bassett continued. “That is unusual for us. So the concern and the real public health message is don’t let your guard down. Picking mushrooms and foraging for mushrooms can be dangerous, and it’s easy to underestimate your ability to distinguish poisonous mushrooms from edible ones.” He added: “The safest way to make sure your mushrooms are nontoxic is to buy them in a retail store.” The poison control center advises: • Symptoms from eating poisonous mushrooms may not appear for hours to days. • Cooking wild mushrooms does not make them safe to eat. • Differences in soil and climate can make mushrooms that are highly toxic here look very similar to those safe to eat in other parts of the world. • If you decide to eat a wild mushroom, take a picture of it beforehand, including shots of the top and bottom of the cap, stem, and base. Those pictures can help medical staff identify the mushroom if you need medical care. In the western half of Pennsylvania, if you or someone else may be experiencing a poisonrelated emergency, call UPMC’s Poison Center’s 24-Hour Emergency line at (800) 222-1222.
COVID cases remain low in region BY MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER
The number of cases of COVID-19 in the region remains low, but the coronavirus is stubbornly hanging on. McKean County had three new cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, for a cumulative total of 9,304 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. In one week’s time, from Oct. 11 to 18, there were 42 new cases. In a month’s time, there were 144 new cases. Year to date, there have been 2,946 new cases. There have been a total of 159 deaths. As for vaccines, 57.3% of county residents have at least
one vaccine dose, while 47.5% are fully vaccinated. There were two new cases in Elk County as of Tuesday, for a total of 8,163. In a week’s time, from Oct. 11 to 18, there were 36 new cases. In a month’s time, there were 152 new cases. Year to date, there have been 2,778 new cases. There have been a total of 111 deaths. As for vaccines, 62.3% of county residents had at least one vaccine dose while 56.6% were fully vaccinated. In Potter County, there were four new cases as of Tuesday, for a total of 3,673. In a week’s time, from Oct. 11 to 18, there were 24 new cases. In a month’s time, there
were 101 new cases. Year to date, there have been 1,083 new cases. There have been a total of 97 deaths. As for vaccines, 45.8% of county residents had at least one vaccine dose, while 38.7% are fully vaccinated. There were no new cases in Cameron County, with 955 cumulative. In a week’s time, from Oct. 11 to 18, there was one new case. In a month’s time, there were 27 new cases. So far this year, there have been 305 new cases. There have been a total of 21 deaths. As for vaccines, 60.6% of county residents had at least one dose of the vaccine, while 55.7% are fully vaccinated.