Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

MOUNT JEWETT – Paving work began yesterday on Route 146 between Marvindale and Clermont in McKean County. The work zone stretches for about five miles in Hamlin and Sergeant Townships. Through Nov. 13, crews will perform a paving operation to place 4.5 inches of asphalt on Route 146 in this area. Flaggers will be in the roadway to control an alternating traffic pattern during daylight hours. Drivers need to remain alert for flaggers, sudden stops, and short travel delays. Each day, when work is complete, this section of Route 146 will re-open to two-way traffic. In addition to the paving operation, shoulder backup, guide rail removal/ replacement, and line painting will occur. All work is weather and schedule dependent and may also take place during the weekends. Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. of State College is the contractor for this $1.1 million roadway improvement, which is being funded by Seneca Resources. PennDOT reminds drivers to obey posted speed limits and use caution throug...

WARREN – This coming November, Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Forest/McKean) will host a ceremony honoring the men and women of the United States military who served in the U.S armed forces from 1990 (the time of the Persian Gulf War which ushered in the era of modern warfare) through the present (including the ongoing War Against Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan). To ensure as many veterans as possible receive recognition, Rapp is asking all local military veterans who served in any of these conflicts, their friends or their family members from the 65th Legislative District to contact her Warren office. “Beginning with World War II, over the past several years we have done an excellent job recognizing the heroic sacrifices of our veterans who served in each of the 20th century’s major military conflicts,” said Rapp, who serves on the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee. “My objective in hosting this event is to complete this ever-expanding circle of hono...

A major sewer expansion project in McKean County that will eliminate on-going contamination problems and allow for future economic development in the area around the intersection of Routes 6 and 219 was awarded $4.8 million in state funding today (July 18), according to state Senator Joe Scarnati. The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) approved a $2,383,827 grant and a $2,424,173 low-interest loan for Hamlin Township, according to Senator Scarnati. The township plans to apply the state funding toward its Lantz Corners Comprehensive Sewer Project which includes the installation of 40,800 feet of sanitary sewer lines, 98 manholes, four pumping stations and 17 grinder pumps to serve customers in the area around Lantz Corners (intersection of Routes 6 and 219) and Campbelltown. “I am pleased PENNVEST is supporting this project that will address serious environmental problems and provide the necessary infrastructure improvements to allow businesses in Lantz Corners ...

The Pennsylvania Game Commission today entered into an oil/gas production land exchange agreement with Endless Mountain Energy that includes a tract of land in McKean County. Under the agreement, Endless Mountain Energy will be given limited access to game commission-owned oil and gas under a 1,930-acre portion of state game lands in Tioga County. In exchange for that, Endless Mountain will convey a 585-acre tract of land in Hamlin Township, known as the Kane Tract, which is valued at $700 per acre. The five-year agreement will result in a total bonus payment of $6,755,000, of which $409,346 will be credited toward the conveyance to the Game Commission of the Kane Tract, and $6,345,654 will be deposited into the Game Fund or an interest-bearing escrow account to be used for the future purchase of wildlife habitats and lands acceptable to the Commission. All royalties will be directly deposited into the Game Fund. Oil and gas development will be regulated by the Commonwealth’s oil/gas r...

Charges are pending against the person who set a Hamlin Township building on fire Friday afternoon. In a fax sent to WESB and The HERO, State Police Fire Marshal Greg Agosti says he and the state Department of Environmental Protection conducted an investigation into the fire at 61 Old Bradford Road at 3:15 p.m. on Friday. “A known actor” ignited the remains of the building, owned by 55-year-old Courtney Ahlberg of Kane, with the intent of disposing of it. A passing motorist and neighbors reported the fire. Mount Jewett, Hamlin Township and Smethport fire departments responded. No one was hurt, but a nearby building also owned by Ahlberg had minor heat damage. Agosti says the investigation is continuing and charges are pending. He and DEP are also reminding people that the Solid Waste Management Act of Pennsylvania (Act 97) states that burning of any solid waste without a permit from DEP constitutes unlawful conduct. DEP does not give permits for burning waste, other than in incinerator...