Monday’s high, 65; overnight low 37
TUE-MOSTLY SUNNY, HIGH 77
TUE NIGHT-CLEAR, LOW 49
WED-CLOUDS BUILD BUT MOSTLY SUNNY, HIGH 80
WED NIGHT-CLOUDS CONTINUE TO BUILD, LOW 52
THU-SCATTERED CLOLUDS, HIGH 80
THU NIGHT-SHOWERS POSSIBLE, LOW 58
BFB Headlines (Tuesday May 18, 2021)Today is Primary Election Day in Pennsylania….Emporium man arrested for assaulting woman….Coudersport troopers arrest Greenville man for DUI and investigate ID theft victimizing Oswayo resident…Owlett is proposing bill to force PennDot to return services to rural counties…..9.7 million Pennsylvanians vaccinated…..Next on-air report after 12:06 pm today on www.blackforestbroadcasting.com https://soundcloud.com/user-159792485/black-forest-broadcasting-podcast-may-18-2021
Today is primary election day in Pennsylvania. Polls are open until 8:00 pm. Republicans and Democrats will be choosing their nominees for Supreme Court judge of the superior court …Judge of commonwealth court; County District Attorney; County coroner; township supervisors; auditor Tax Collector; School Directors. Many candidates have cross-filed and will be on both ballots; many are unopposed and some local and county offices have no candidates at all. Voters of both parties and non-partisan voters will be deciding three proposed constitutional amendments and one statewide referendum. Two of the proposed amendments have been inspired by Governor Wolf’s continuation after one year, of a disaster declaration. The third calls for prohibition against denial or abridgement of equality of rights because of race or ethnicity. The referendum asks voters are they in favor of expanding the use of indebtedness for volunteer fire companies, ambulance services and rescue squads. All registered voters in Clara Township Potter County will be deciding if home rule can established for the municipality. There are 139 registered voters in Clara Township.
More information about today’s primary can be found on the department of state website dos.pa.gov
In other news, State police at Emporium have arrested 36 year old Brandon Catalone of that town for assault. Troopers allege when they investigated a domestic violence incident on May 6 on Sunny Lane Road in Shippen Township they found Catalone had hit a 28 year old woman several times causing injury to her neck and face. They also claim drugs and drug paraphernalia were found in the home. Catalone was arraigned on all charges. Bail was set at $7500. Straight.
Coudersport based state police arrested at 27 yar old Greenville, PA man for DUI after stopping him on Route 155 in Keating Township early in the morning of April 10. Troopers claim the suspect, whose name was not released, was found to be driving h is 2006 Ford under the influence.
An ID theft victimizing a 31 year old Oswayo man is being investigated by troopers at the Coudersport barracks. The crime took place between March 1 and this past Sunday but no further details were released.
A scattering of rubbish incident was also investigated by state police at Coudersport. Someone left behind trash at a campsite at the Austin Campbround along Ropute 872 in Keating Township this past weekend.
Motorists are advised that a reclamation project is set to begin this week on Route 1026 (East Lawrence Road) in Lawrence Township, Tioga County.
On Friday, May 21 through Tuesday, May 25, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) maintenance crew will be working on East Lawrence Road between Route 287 and Cross Road. Motorists can expect single lane conditions with flagging where work is being performed.
Motorists should be alert, expect travel delays, watch for lane changes, slow down, and drive with caution. Work on this project is weather permitting.
Work on this project will be in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and state Department of Health guidance as well as a project-specific COVID-19 safety plan, which will include protocols for social distancing, use of face coverings, personal and job-site cleaning protocols, management of entries to the jobsite, and relevant training.
Frustrated by PennDOT’s ongoing failure to commit to restoring the full array of driver and vehicle services to rural communities like the ones he represents, Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter) will soon introduce legislation forcing the agency into action.
“For more than a year, folks in my area who needed to take a driver license test have had to travel as much as an hour and a half to do so because local testing services were suspended due to COVID-19,” Owlett said. “It’s crazy that we still can’t take a test locally, and even more crazy that PennDOT will not even commit to a date for resuming their ‘travel services’ across rural PA.”
Owlett explained there are 20 communities across rural Pennsylvania that are served by PennDOT staff who travel to the locations once or twice a week to offer certain types of services, such as driving tests. While the centers have been open for driver license photos, many services remain unavailable to rural residents without the inconvenience of traveling a long distance.
“No one should have to take a half or full day off work just to take a driver test,” Owlett said. “Government agencies should be all about customer service and convenience. I recently authored legislation, now awaiting action in the Senate, to force the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs to better meet the needs of its consumers, and now PennDOT has forced me to do the same with them.”
“I’m tired of rural Pennsylvanians being dismissed by this administration. PennDOT should show some respect to our rural residents and get the centers back up and running fully immediately,” he added.
The proposed Rural Access to PennDOT Services Act would require PennDOT to reopen the sites to the operational level that these sites were at prior to the pandemic within two weeks of enactment.
Travel sites are located in the following communities: Bedford, Bedford County; Belle Vernon, Fayette County; Berwick, Columbia County; Clarion, Clarion County; Coudersport, Potter County; Elizabethville, Dauphin County; Honesdale, Wayne County; Huntingdon, Huntingdon County; Indiana, Indiana County; Lehighton, Carbon County; Milford, Pike County; Montrose, Susquehanna County; Seneca, Venango County; Shamokin, Northumberland County; St. Mary’s, Elk County; Tunkhannock, Wyoming County; Warren, Warren County; Waynesburg, Greene County; Wellsboro, Tioga County; and West Kittanning, Armstrong County.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., May 17, there were 872 additional positive cases of COVID-19, in addition to 1,111 new cases reported Sunday, May 16, for a two-day total of 1,983 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,187,115.
There are 1,499 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that number, 330 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19.
The percentage of COVID-19 cases in 0-to-49-year-olds is rising as indicated by the COVID-19 age distribution of COVID-19 cases from January 2021 to present in May 2021:
The trend in the 14-day moving average number of hospitalized patients per day is coming down, after peaking at 2,661 patients which is slightly below what it was at the height of the spring 2020 peak of 2,751 patients on May 3, 2020.
Statewide percent positivity for the week of May 7 – May 13 stood at 5.3% down from the previous week.
According to the CDC, as of Monday morning, May 17, Pennsylvania has administered first doses of vaccine to 54.6% of its entire population, and the state ranks 9th among all 50 states for first doses administered by percentage of population.
According to the CDC, as of Monday morning, May 17, 48.8% of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older are fully vaccinated.
According to the CDC, as of Monday morning, May 17, Pennsylvania ranks 5th among all 50 states for total doses administered.
Vaccine providers have administered 9,723,128 total vaccine doses as of Monday, May 17.
4,204,233 people are fully vaccinated; with a seven-day moving average of more than 60,000 people per day receiving vaccinations.
1,664,115 people are partially vaccinated, meaning they have received one dose of a two-dose vaccine.
5,868,348 people have received at least their first dose.
This week, a total of 10,154,160 doses will have been allocated through May 22:
Fully vaccinated people may choose not to wear a mask indoors or outdoors unless the business or organization requires it, following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
There are 158,925 individuals who have a positive viral antigen test and are considered probable cases and 638 individuals who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure.
There are 4,519,018 individuals who have tested negative to date.
In licensed nursing and personal care homes, there are 71,429 resident cases of COVID-19, and 15,105 cases among employees, for a total of 86,534 at 1,590 distinct facilities in all 67 counties
Approximately 28,302 of the total cases are among health care workers.
All Pennsylvanians age 12 and older are eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine. Use Vaccine Finder to find a COVID-19 vaccine provider near you.
A commonwealth COVID-19 vaccination guide explains the current process for getting one. Pennsylvanians with questions about the vaccination process can call the Department of Health hotline at 1-877-724-3258.
Vaccine provider map to find a COVID-19 vaccine provider near you.
ELDRED, Pa.—Jessie J. Schoonover, 72, a longtime resident of Eldred, passed away on Friday, May 14, 2021, in The Pavilion at Bradford Regional Medical Center, Bradford, after a long illness.
Born on Tuesday, March 1, 1949 in Olean, N.Y., she was a daughter of Orville G. and Ava Sherwood Ford. On May 29, 2004, in Eldred, she married LeRoy F. “Skip” Schoonover, who survives.
Jessie was a graduate of Oswayo Valley High School in Shinglehouse. She was employed by Case/Ka-bar Cutlery in Olean.
She was a member of Bell Run Union Church in Shinglehouse. Jessie was a loving and caring mother. She enjoyed crafting and loved to garden. Her greatest love was her family.
Surviving besides her husband are ten children, Tina L. (Kevin) Commino of Cattaraugus, N.Y., Tammy L. (Dave) Sizer of Chino Valley, Arizona, Terry L. (Hilary) Commino of Rixford, Carol L. (Francis) Miller of Bradford, Sandy L. Schoonover of Olean, N.Y., Sabrina L. (Brian) Picard of Prescott Valley, Arizona, Douglas F. (Christine) Schoonover of Duke Center, Rose A. Schoonover of Duke Center, Ronald E. Schoonover of Eldred, and David A. (Carol) Schoonover of Rixford; many grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; a brother, Ken A. (Teresa) Ford of Shinglehouse; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Jessie was predeceased by four brothers and three sisters.
Family and friends may call from 9am to 11am on Saturday, May 22, 2021, at the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, 118 South Union Street, Shinglehouse, where funeral services will follow at 11am with the Rev. Jim Cannistraci, pastor of the United Methodist Church of Eldred, officiating. Burial will be in Bell Run Cemetery, Shinglehouse.
COVID-19 restrictions will be followed with properly worn facial coverings.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Patient Activity Fund at The Pavilion at Bradford Regional Medical Center, 200 Pleasant Street, Bradford, PA 16701.
Jessie’s family has entrusted her care to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse.
To express condolences or share a fond memory of Jessie, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com or the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home Facebook page.
CERES. Pa.—Jean Gross, 84, of Ceres, passed away in her home on Monday, May 17, 2021, after a short illness.
Born on Saturday, September 12, 1936, in Olean, N.Y., she was a daughter of Robert B. and Lucy Turner Howard. On March 11, 1958, in Coudersport, Pa., she married Herbert H. “Herb” Gross, who passed away on September 21, 2003.
Jean was a graduate of Shinglehouse High School, Class of 1954. A hard worker, Jean held many jobs through the years, her most important one being a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister.
Jean was a member of Bell Run Union Church in Shinglehouse and was also a member of the Shinglehouse American Legion Post 530 Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed mowing her lawn, tending to her flower beds, and feeding the birds.
Surviving are four children, Linda D. (Duane) Smith of Cuba, N.Y., Rex E. (Sharon) Gross of Friendship, N.Y., Chris E. Gross of Ceres, and Tina M. (Larry) Posey of Bellview, Florida; nine grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; two brothers, Jack (Nickki) Howard and Bill (Mindy) Howard, both of Shinglehouse; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition her parents and husband, Jean was predeceased by five brothers and a sister.
A celebration of Jean’s life will be held from 2pm to 4pm on Friday, May 21, 2021,at her home, 236 Route 44, Shinglehouse. At 4pm her nephew, Pastor Robert “Bob” Howard of Olean, will officiate a memorial service honoring Jean’s life.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jean’s name may be made to any organization supporting veterans.
Jean’s family has entrusted her care and cremation arrangements to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse.
To express condolences or share a fond memory of Jean, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com or the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home Fac