Tuesday’s high, 80; Overnight low, 41
WED-SUNNY, HIGH 77
WED NIGHT-CLEAR, LOW 49
THU-SUNNY, HIGH 75
THU NIGHT-CLEAR, LOW 66
FRI-INCREASING CLOUDS, HIGH 76
FRI NIGHT-SHOWERS POSSIBLE, LOW 60
An Austin man has been arrested for endangering the welfare of children…Theft of motor vehicle investigated in McKean in McKean County…..Catalytic convertors stolen in two counties….Bradford jail inmate accused of damaging fence at lock-up….DEP announces grants to reduce non-point source water pollution….
An Austin man has been arrested for Endangering the welfare of children. State police at Coudersport allege 29 year old Richard Earle failed to obtain proper dental care for a two children ages 5 & 6 over a period of one year from November 12, 2020 and this past February 22.Troopers were tipped off by Potter County Children and Youth Services.
The theft of a motor vehicle in Ceres Township between 10 pm Sunday and 11:30 am Monday is being investigated by state police at Lewis Run. The 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac was stolen from the victim’s driveway on Kings Run Road.
A theft at Booster Garage on Route 155 in Liberty Township, McKean County is being probed by state police at Lewis Run. Thieves stole two catalytic converters off of a Ford F-150 owned by Michael Greene last Friday morning. Anyone with information is asked to call state police at 814-368-9230.
State police at Lewis Run arrested 81 year old John Myers of Smethport for dog law violations. Troopers did not release details by say a 66 Smethport woman is the victim.
Troopers failed to release the name of a McKean County Jail inmate who is accused of institutional vandalism. A 19 year old Bradford resident is suspected of damaging a fence at the lock up on May 2.
DUI charges are being filed against two Bradford residents.A 51 year old Bradford man was 
pulled over for various traffic violations on East Main Street in Bradford early Sunday morning. The suspect’s name was not released by authorities who say he was driving his 2015 Toyota Rav 4 under the influence of alcohol. A 60 year old man was arrested after troopers stopped his 2002 Cadillac Deville just before midnight Saturday on Route 6 in Wetmore Township.
The theft of a catalytic converter in Tioga County is being probed by state police at Mansfield. The equipment is valued at $250 and was taken between April 30 and last Friday from a residence on Aumick Road in Sullivan Township and belongs to an 86 year old Mansfield resident.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently announced that $17.9 million in Growing Greener Plus and Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management grant funds is available to organizations and governments to reduce nonpoint source pollution in their local streams, rivers, and lakes.According to the draft 2022 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Report 27,873 miles of streams and rivers statewide are impaired for one or more of four uses: drinking water, aquatic life, fish consumption, and recreation. Approximately 97 percent of the impairment is from nonpoint source pollution, that is, water pollution that comes from multiple sources rather than a single specific discharge point.
Nonpoint source pollutants include nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment from agricultural and urban and suburban land use, as well as iron, aluminum, and acidity from energy resource extraction and acid mine drainage. DEP Growing Greener Plus and Section 319 grants fund projects that reduce these pollutants or address emerging challenges.
Nonprofits, incorporated watershed associations, local governments, municipal authorities, county planning commissions, county conservation districts, councils of government, and educational institutions may apply for funding.
Preference is given to projects in environmental justice areas; in municipalities complying with Pa. Code Title 12, Chapter 113, and the Floodplain Management Act; and in counties with a DEP-approved Stormwater Management Act (Act 167) plan.
DEP Growing Greener Plus has an anticipated $13 million in grant funds available. Priorities include:
- Recommendations in Pennsylvania Climate Action Plan 2021 for best management practices, such as no-till farming, streambank forest buffers, and green infrastructure, that reduce stormwater runoff, enable stormwater filtration into the soil, and assist in future flood prevention;
- A new “Watershed Renaissance” initiative to spur complete implementation of existing watershed plans on small catchment areas in Centre, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Snyder, and Union counties that are identified as agriculturally impaired in the draft 2022 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Report.
Currently unspent federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 would be targeted to accelerate farmers’ efforts to protect soil and water resources, increase farmland preservation, protect open space, improve maintenance of state parks, clean up abandoned mines, restore watersheds, increase trails and parks, help communities address land use, and provide new and upgraded water and sewer systems.
Since 1999, the DEP Growing Greener Plus program has supported more than 2,600 water quality improvement projects by organizations and governments statewide with over $372 million in grants.
The program is funded by the state Environmental Stewardship Fund and Acid Mine Drainage Set-Aside Program and the federal Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act. Growing Greener III would add $180 million to DEP Growing Greener Plus.
The DEP Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management program has approximately $4.9 million in grant funding available. Funding supports 39 watershed implementation plans for impaired watersheds around the state and development of new watershed implementation plans for other impaired watersheds in environmental justice areas.
Since 1999, the Section 319 program has provided more than $69 million to support over 400 projects in dozens of counties. The program is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, through Section 319(h) of the federal Water Pollution Control Act.
Applications for both Growing Greener Plus and Section 319 grants must be submitted online through the Commonwealth’s Electronic Single Application website. The application deadline for both programs is 5:00 PM Friday, June 24, 2022.
Instructions may be found at Growing Greener Plus and Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Grants. Information on all DEP funding programs may be found at the DEP Grants website.
Dorothy E. Lentz, 90, of Austin, died Saturday, May 7, 2022 at Cole Place at UPMC Cole, Coudersport.
Dorothy was born on June 30, 1931, in Watsontown, the daughter of the late William and Eva (Zarr) Marshal. On October 30, 1950 she married Carlton E. “Gene” Lentz and they celebrated 47 years of marriage, until his passing in 1998.
Dorothy worked for Emporium Specialties Co., Inc. and later for the Sweden Valley Manor. She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, Christmas and the Hallmark Channel. She loved her grandchildren and spending time with family.
Dorothy is survived sons, Carlton “Gene” (Carol) Lentz, Jr. of Austin; Alan (Wanda) Lentz of Roulette; Diane (Don) Munsell and Gloria (Tom) Hurd both of Austin; grandchildren; Tammy, Mike, Alan Jr., Stacie, Cody, Bill, Brian, Angela, Tommy Jr., Christopher, Rebecca, and Andrianna, and 12 great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and husband, Dorothy was preceded by brothers; Paul Fisher, Dawson Fox, Bill Marshal, and sisters; Holly Budman, Isabel Ellis, Ruth Bennett, Charlotte Erb, and Dolores Lentz.
Family and friends are welcome to pay their respects Wednesday, May 11, 2022 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at the Thomas E. Fickinger Funeral Home, 210 North East St., Coudersport, and the funeral service will follow at 12:00 pm with Rev. Todd Lamer, officiating. A private burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, Austin.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dorothy E. Lentz, please visit our floral store.
Albert L. “Butch” GERHART, 72, of Coudersport, PA, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 7, 2022, at UPMC Williamsport. Born January 3, 1950, in Sellersville, he was the son of Paul and Emma “Ruth” Buehrle Gerhart. After working with several construction companies, he started BG Construction in 1980. Butch was a member of Loyal Order of the Moose #826 in Port Allegany, Austin Costello Sportsmen’s Club, and a social member of VFW Post #7810 in Austin, VFW Post #5859 in Jersey Shore, and American Legion Post #258 in Port Allegany. He enjoyed hunting, golfing, playing pool, playing cards, and going to his camp in Haneyville. He especially enjoyed watching his grandsons play school sports. Surviving are: his companion, Cathy Flook; three children, Atisha (Brian) Hopkins of Rome, Tara (Chad) Clouser of Coudersport, and Scott Gerhart of Norfolk, VA; four grandsons, Brady Hopkins, Daylan Hopkins, Nicholas Clouser, and Ryan Clouser; ten siblings, Robert (Peggy) Gerhart of Quakertown, Jeffrey (Judy) Gerhart of Coopersburg, James (Laura) Gerhart of Coudersport, Russell (Barb) Hess of East Greenville, Nancy Trumbauer of Fort Myers, FL, Alice (Bill) Hobbs of Ocala, FL, Pamela (Ronald) Andrus of Gaines, Melody (Dennis) Moses of Port Allegany, Deborah (Kevin) Cline of Coudersport, and Christine “Tina” (Robert) Rees of Roulette; sister-in-law, Margaret “Peggy” Gerhart; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a grandson, Karson Hopkins; a brother, Michael Gerhart; and brothers-in-law, Jesse Trumbauer and Michael Sames. A memorial gathering will be held on a later date. Memorials may be made to Make-A-Wish in memory of his grandson, Karson Hopkins, at www.wish.org or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Olney-Foust Funeral Homes & Crematory, Ulysses, PA. Online condolences may be expressed at www.olneyfoust.com.