NOVEMBER
16 2021
Run game, defense key Port Allegany; Smethport tops Curwensville
Photo by Jeff Uveino (Above)Port Allegany running back Blaine Moses (16) takes a handoff from quarterback Drew Evens (12) as offensive lineman Corbin Hamilton (72) blocks. Moses ran for 97 yards during Port’s 14-12 win over Keystone in Friday’s District 9 Class A football quarterfinal.
Photo by Barb Davis Smethport’s Noah Lent (9) avoids a Curwensville defender during the Hubbers’ District 9 Class A quarterfinal victory over the Golden Tide.
Port Allegany used a formula fans have witnessed repeatedly this season. A pair of dangerous running backs, a savvy quarterback and a linemen group that seemingly gets better each week fueled the Gators’ first playoff win since 2012. However, Nov. 5’s 14-12 victory over No. 4 Keystone required a last-second defensive stop to send the No. 5 Gators to the District 9 Class A semifinals (played Nov. 12). M e a n w h i l e , Smethport’s offense would not be denied on the way to a 46-27 playoff win over Curwensville. In Port Allegany’s contest, through 46 minutes, it had looked similar to Port wins in recent weeks — run the ball with Blaine Moses and Noah Archer, win the field possession battle and play stout defense from front to back. Port’s eight-minute fourth quarter drive deflated Keystone’s home crowd and, as the Gators chiseled away time and field position, appeared to be slowly icing the game. After getting the ball back, however, the Panthers then drove 80 yards in a minute’s worth of clock time to suddenly bring themselves within a two-point conversion of tying the score. Keystone elected to drop back quarterback Bret Wingard on the ensuing two-point conversion play in an attempt to tie the game. As he rolled to his right, he flicked a pass in the direction of Zander McHenry that was broken
up by Port’s AJ Wiley. The Gators then recovered an onside kick, sealing a bruising victory that they led from start to finish. “We told them that Wingard likes to run,” Port coach Justin Bienkowski said. “He’s a great athlete, and we just told our defensive ends to stay home and don’t bite down on the inside. We just played good team defense.” For a fourth straight week, Port started the game with a touchdown drive. Moses and Archer made quick work of the Panther defense, the former using his power and the latter using his speed. Drew Evens capped the drive with a touchdown run on a quarterback keeper, scrambling to his left after seeing there were no receivers open on a play action pass attempt. The Panthers answered almost instantly, as Wingard hit McHenry on a deep TD pass. From there, however, Port’s defense gave the Panthers fits until their final drive. The Gator defensive front stymied any attempts Keystone made at running the ball, while Moses made sure to clean up any leftover plays at the line of scrimmage from the linebacker position. “We’re going to hang our hats on our guys up front and our big boy (Moses) in the backfield,” Bienkowski said. “There’s no secret about it.” Keystone was forced to
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Wilcox named Chief Juvenile Probation Officer of the Year SMETHPORT — McKean County Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, Teresa Wilcox, was named the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer of the Year by the Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges Commission during the virtually held 2021 Juvenile Justice Annual Conference. The Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges Commission is composed of juvenile court judges from across the Commonwealth. The awards committee receives numerous nominations annually in several categories, including the Chief Position. They choose from these nominations the candidate that, through their past work experience and community involvement, best demonstrates dedication to improvement of the juvenile justice system and the productive supervision of the juveniles in it. Wilcox has worked for the McKean County Juvenile Probation Office for 22 years. She began her career as a school-based juvenile probation officer before serving as a placement specialist. She became McKean County’s Chief Juvenile Probation Officer in 2005. Regarding the granting of this distinguished award to Chief Wilcox, McKean County Judge Christopher
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substantial amounts of money. Such projects don’t often require considerable effort or even sizable financial investments, which can make homeowners skeptical as to just how much they can save after completing the project.
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Photo provided Teresa Wilcox was recognized as the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer of the Year by the Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges Commission during the 2021 Juvenile Justice Annual Conference.
Hauser said, “I have the pleasure of working with Teresa and her staff as this county’s juvenile court judge. She is most deserving of this award. It is important to note that Teresa received this award from her peers. There is no greater honor than that which one receives from friends and colleagues.” Wilcox has successfully implemented the Victim
Community Awareness Curriculum in the department and over the years has obtained multiple grants to provide necessary resources to McKean County. She received the Linda K.M. Ludgate Criminal Justice Advisory Board Excellence in Leadership Award in 2017 and is a 2019 graduate of Leadership McKean.
Over the last several years, and under Chief Wilcox’s leadership, the McKean County Juvenile Probation Office has implemented the Juvenile Justice System Enhancement Strategy (JJSES). JJSES seeks to reduce harm by applying the best-known research to the principles and goals of
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“Let Us Fix Your Leaky Chimneys”
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Port A. & Smethport continued from 1 resort to its passing game, which was held in check aside from the two scoring drives. Evens scored Port’s second touchdown, as well. On the final play of the first half, he kept the ball himself on a 4th and Goal from the 1-yard line, weaving through a pair of Panther defenders for the score. Perhaps Port’s best defense of the night came via time of possession. Keystone only had the ball twice in the first half, and after repeated punts in the second half, Port’s eight-minute drive limited the comeback ability of a team that hung 36 points on the Gators in a Week 2 win. In the end, Port possessed the ball for over 30 minutes, while Keystone had it for just under 18 minutes. “We won on field position,” Bienkowski said. “We’re 4-0 in the last four weeks because of field position and taking care of the ball. We just did what we normally do.” The last time the teams met, a 36-30 Panther win, Keystone’s opportunistic defense got the best of Port’s young offense. On Friday, however, ball control, timely play calling and control of the line of scrimmage trounced the Panther defense. “Very rarely in life do you get a chance to right a wrong that we had two months ago on our field,” Bienkowski said. “We found a way tonight to get it done. Two months ago, maybe they complete
Probation Officer continued from 1 Balanced and Restorative Justice. She has also taken an active role with the Pennsylvania Council of Chief Juvenile Probation Officers (PCCJPO) to advance the use of the JJSES statewide. Judge John Pavlock said, “Chief Wilcox has always had an open mind to improving juvenile operations, and has put in the hard work needed to get that done. We appreciate what she has done for McKean County. She should be very proud and honored to receive this award, which is statewide
that two-point conversion. Tonight, we knocked it down.” Port’s offensive line, composed entirely of underclassmen, has shown District 9 each week what it can do. Bienkowski complimented his young line, as well as line coach Brian Neal, who has helped transform the group into one of Class A’s toughest five-man walls. Archer, perhaps the fastest player on the field, finished with 97 rushing yards on 16 attempts. Moses added 96 yards on 32 carries while Evens rushed for 10 yards and the two scores. Miska Young recorded five tackles for the Gators, including 4.5 tackles for a loss, while Archer had a team-high six tackles and Moses added 4.5 tackles and a sack. Wingard completed 8-of-16 passes for 130 yards and two scores, but Port held the Panthers to just 34 rushing yards on 17 attempts. Smethport Curwensville
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Smethport got off to a fast start, scoring twice and taking a 12-0 lead. Noah Lent and Ryan Mason were finding lanes in the ground game and Lent took a great shot to Brandon Higley for a 25-yard touchdown. Curwensville had trouble in the passing game early; Smethport’s defensive line blitzed with impunity. But as the first quarter came to a close, the Golden Tide offense found its footing and scored. Both offenses traded shots from there, as Smethport answered with an eight-play drive capped off by a Mason 27-yard touchdown run. Curwensville came right back with a touchdown
recognition of her great work regarding juvenile justice and operations.” Although McKean County is a smaller rural county, Chief Wilcox, her office and staff’s efforts regarding this new strategy have fundamentally changed and improved the efforts of juvenile probation to effectively supervise juveniles, hold them accountable to their victims and make positive change in their lives to reduce recidivism. Wilcox has made sure that the needs and voice of rural counties is heard at the state level. She is the former President and current Vice President of the Pennsylvania Council of Chief Juvenile Probation Officers. She is the Chair of the Membership Committee, Co-Chair of the
of their own in just three plays — capped by a 54yard touchdown catch and run. Curwensville then scored again, but couldn’t protect its 20-18 lead. Lent had a beautiful throw over the middle to Alex Ognen for 25 yards and then, two plays later, threw up a 50/50 ball for Ognen, who out-jumped the defensive back covering him, kept his feet in bounds and turned around to run into the endzone as Smethport took a 24-20 lead into halftime. Smethport started the second half with the ball. The offense was slow until Ryan Pelchy ripped off a 40-yard run to the two yard line. Mason finished the job the next play, as Smethport took a 30-20 lead. Both teams traded possessions after that. The Golden Tide scored to make it 30-27, but that was as close as they would get. The Hubbers rattled off 16 unanswered points to take a 46-27 lead and win the game. “I can’t say enough about the front five,” said Smethport offensive coordinator Joel Lent. “They came out and performed phenomenally in the second half. We just committed to running the ball, we thought we were gonna run and make the clock our friend.” Head coach Adam Jack agreed. “Like coach Lent said at half time, we talked about making sure we kept the ball out of their offense’s hands basically,” Jack added. “Very proud of them for the performance, especially in the second half.” Smethport faced Union/A-C Valley in the D-9 semifinals.
Stage 4 JJSES Leadership Team, Chair of the North Central Regional Probation Planning Committee, past Chair of the Victim Services Committee, past Chair of the Recognition Committee and a contributing member to many other PCCJPO committees. She was also appointed to serve as the PCCJPO representative on the PA Restitution Task Force in 2012 and assisted in the organization of the statewide Rural Summits for JJSES implementation. Wilcox resides with her husband, Corey, and their children: Mackenzie, Corrine and Colby. Wilcox enjoys the outdoors, crafting and supporting her children in school sports, academics and gymnastic competitions.
Kane school board results finalized KANE — Results are in for the Kane Area School Board. The four, 4-year terms were won by John Ball, John Lorenzo IV, Amber Hancharick and Linda Anderson. For the four-year term, John Ball, who cross-filed, received 984 votes in McKean County and 105 in Elk County for 1,089 total; Republican John Lorenzo IV received 949 in McKean County and 137 in Elk County for 1,086 total; Amber Hancharick, who cross-filed, received 950 votes for McKean County and 75 in Elk County for 1,025 total; Linda Anderson, who crossfiled, received 912 votes in McKean County and 104 in Elk County for a total of 1,016 votes and Democrat Claire Ann Buckley received 746 votes in McKean County and 74 votes in Elk County for a total of 820. Write-in Wendy Oakes received 474 votes. There were 80 scattered votes.
The top vote-getter for the two-year term was Linda Anderson as well. She will be able to decide which of the two seats she will hold. For the two-year term, Linda Anderson, who cross-filed, received 996 votes in McKean County and 121 in Elk County for a total of 1,117 votes, while Susan Aul, who also cross-filed, received 1,001 votes in McKean County and 93 in Elk County for a total of 1,094. Write-ins included Wendy Oakes, who received 108 votes and Fred John Lorenzo IV, who received 32 votes. T h e re were 27 scattered write-in votes as well. • Wood • Coal • Pellet • Corn • Fireplaces • Boilers • Furnaces • Liners • Hearth Products • Stove & Chimney Pipe • Custom Log Homes • Log Siding • Rough Cut Lumber • Firewood • Wood Pellets
Food pantry slated at Otto Township Firehall DUKE CENTER — A mobile food pantry sponsored by the Duke Center United Methodist Church and Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwestern Pa. in Erie will be held at the Otto Township Firehall on Nov. 24. Participants must arrive at their assigned time and cannot get out of their vehicles. The items will be placed in their cars. Participants must be McKean County residents and fall within financial guidelines to be eligible. Total household income and combined incomes of all household members must not exceed the guidelines.
Total household income should be calculated before calling to preregister. Only one preregistration per house, apartment or dwelling will be accepted. Preregistration can only be done by calling 814-966-3922 or 814-966-3921 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15. There is a high volume of calls during these hours so patience is necessary. Messages left on the church’s answering machine will be returned. There will be one box of food per household. There is no cost to participate, and food will be distributed Nov. 24.
Thompson, Keller voted against $1.2T infrastructure bill BY JIM ECKSTROM Thirteen Republicans in the U.S. House helped provide the margin to get the Democrats’ $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill passed late Nov. 5 — Reps. Glenn Thompson and Fred Keller weren’t among them. Thompson, of Centre County, voted against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act because Democrats have linked it to a spending bill that is “full of budget gimmicks and will cost American taxpayers trillions of dollars.” Thompson said “there was an opportunity to come together and draft a bipartisan, bicameral bill to address America’s aging infrastructure,” but Democrats will continue to pursue greater social spending. “To add insult to injury, the bill fails to adequately address one of the most critical infrastructure needs, broadband connectivity,” Thompson said. “This is completely unacceptable and further reflects how out of touch (House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.) is with the concerns of everyday American families.” Keller, the Snyder County Republican whose congressional district includes Potter County, said he voted no on “Speaker Pelosi’s infrastructure bill”
because it piles debt on future generations more than it does to fix roads, bridges and critical infrastructure. “Less than half of this bill goes towards traditional infrastructure,” Keller said. “Worse, it paves the way for Washington Democrats’ reconciliation package that includes socialist priorities like a natural gas tax, mass amnesty for illegal aliens, Green New Deal mandates and 87,000 new IRS agents to spy on your bank accounts.” He noted that the vote happened “in the cover of darkness while the American people were sleeping. Big government spending is out of control.” U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, the Republican from Corning, N.Y., whose district includes Cattaraugus and Allegany counties, voted in favor of the bill. Reed will not seek re-election in 2022 because of a sexual harassment scandal that came to light in March. U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, of Bucks County, was the only Republican from Pennsylvania to vote for the bill. Six progressive Democrats also voted against the bill, unhappy that many of their demands for social spending have
been pared from President Joe Biden’s and the Democrats’ overall agenda. The bill would have failed had not the 13 Republicans voted yes. Pennsylvania’s Democratic U.S. senator, Bob Casey, hailed passage of the bill in the House after the U.S. Senate had already approved the infrastructure package. “The Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act is the single-largest investment in our Nation’s infrastructure in generations,” Casey said in a series of tweets. “Pennsylvania alone will see $11.3 billion for roads, $1.6 billion for bridges, $2.8 billion for public transit and more. “Like President Biden, I believe taking decisive action on climate change will create millions of good-paying jobs, restore the health of our communities and cement the United States’ global leadership in clean energy technology,” Casey continued. “That starts with the passage of the BuildBackBetter Act so we can spur new energy technologies while boosting the competitiveness of existing industries like steel, cement and aluminum. It puts us on the path to a prosperous, net-zero future.”
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DIY Projects continued from 1 But the scale of a project may have little to do with how much homeowners will save. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy notes that a relatively effortless task like turning back a thermostat between 7° and 10° F for eight hours per day can save homeowners as much as $83 per year. A more labor-intensive task like planting shade trees saves homeowners an average of between $35 and $119 per year. When looking for ways to conserve energy around the house and save money, homeowners need not necessarily commit to expensive projects. The DOE notes that the following are some energy-saving projects and details what homeowners can expect to save after completing
them. While each individ- an ultra-thin layer of metal ual project may not result that improves the winin jaw-dropping savings, dow’s insulation ability. How much can I save? Homeowners who install low-e windows can save between 12 and 33 percent on their annual heating and cooling costs. Project: Seal uncontrolled air leaks. What is it? Air leaks let cool air in during winter and warm air in during summer. Caulking, sealing and weather stripping all cracks and large openings can cut back on air leaks that are costing you money. The DOE recommends hiring a contractor to seal any leaks on heating and cooling ducts. How much can I save?
Homeowners who seal uncontrolled air leaks can save between 10 and 20 percent on their annual heating and cooling bills. Project: Plant shade trees. What is it? If you plant a deciduous tree between six and eight feel tall near your home, it will begin to shade your windows within a year of being planted. Depending on the species of the tree and the home, the shade tree will begin shading the roof within five to 10 years. The DOE notes that shading is the most cost-effective way to reduce air conditioning costs. How much can I save? Properly planted shade trees can reduce air
homeowners who follow many of these recommendations may end up saving more than $1,000 per year. Project: Install exterior low-e storm windows. What is it? Low-e windows reflect infrared heat back into a home. Such windows are coated with
conditioning costs by anywhere from 15 to 50 percent. Project: Insulate the water heater tank What is it? New water tanks are likely already insulated. But homeowners with older hot water tanks can insulate their tanks with a water heater insulating blanket kit. How much can I save?
Insulating a water heater tank can save homeowners as much as 16 percent on their annual water heating bills. Even the smallest DIY projects can produce big savings. More information about energy-saving home improvement projects can be found at www.energy. gov.
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4 factors to consider to maintain winter safety Many changes are to be expected as fall gives way to winter. Temperatures drop for much of the country, and depending on where one lives, snow, wind and ice are to be expected. As beautiful as snow-covered landscapes can be, winter presents unique hazards, notably slippery roads and surfaces. Chilly temperatures also can put people at risk if they spend prolonged periods outdoors unprotected. According to the insurance company Carsurance, more than 156,000 crashes occur annually due to icy roads. Roughly 17 percent of all vehicle crashes happen in winter conditions. Winter hazards are not exclusive to driving, however. That means winter safety involves a consideration of a host of factors. 1. Changing visibility While slippery surfaces may contribute to some accidents, visibility can quickly change with winter weather. Blowing snow can contribute to whiteout conditions. In addition, fog can be hazardous to drivers, aviators and mariners and contributes to thousands of travel accidents every year, advises the National Weather Service. It’s important to slow down, leave plenty of distance, use your low-beam headlights, and recognize when it may be safest to pull over, such as when visibility is significantly compromised. a snowblower are common in cold temperatures could are not acclimated to physwintertime activities. Yet put people at risk of heart ical activity. Always warm 2. Snow removal Shoveling snow or using strenuous levels of activity attack, particularly if they up prior to shoveling snow
to prepare the body for exercise. Go slowly and take frequent breaks. Avoid twisting and tossing snow over your shoulder, which can contribute to back injuries. 3. Carbon monoxide poisoning Winter weather means turning up the heat or doing more indoor cooking. Carbon monoxide is produced through the burning of fuel in various forms, including stoves, engines, gas ranges, portable generators, and grills. The National Safety Council says carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can go undetected as it builds up in enclosed spaces. Never warm up the car inside of a contained garage. Do not use portable flameless chemical heaters indoors, and have furnaces, water heaters and other fuel-burning appliances checked and serviced by a qualified technician annually. Be sure that carbon monoxide alarms are on every floor of the home, and take it seriously if the alarm goes off.
4. Black ice Black ice is a common winter foe. Black ice forms when temperatures rise above freezing during the day, melting any snow on the ground and causing surfaces to become wet. If the temperature drops once more while the ground is wet, a thin, transparent sheet of ice can form. Black ice also may occur if moisture in the air condenses and forms dew or fog, and then the temperature drops below freezing, says the National Weather Service. Black ice gets its name because it looks black on asphalt roads. However, it also can form on sidewalks and overpasses, or spots shaded by trees or other objects. Slowing down and exercising extreme caution are essential. Winter is a beautiful season. But it can be just as hazardous as it is awe-inspiring. Taking steps to stay safe in unpredictable conditions is a necessity each winter. safe in unpredictable conditions is a necessity each winter.