by Bruce Whitman Bruno Carnovale attended Monday night’s meeting of Emporium Borough Council. No big deal, he’s been doing that for half a century. The difference this time was that Bruno was there as a citizen, not as mayor or as a council member. Carnovale left public service at the end of December […]
The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum in Potter County will host Snowmobility Weekend this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Lumber Museum staff will host a number of special events and movie showings, and open additional opportunities for winter outdoor recreation. If snow conditions allow, a five-mile snowmobile route will be created from Thompson Road, south […]
The Sinnemahoning Sportsmen’s Association is gearing up for its 13th annual Coyote Hunt the weekend of Feb. 16-18. The event is open to coyotes taken anywhere in Pennsylvania taken by hunting, trapping and the use of dogs. All participants must be members of SSA and must be registered by 11:59 p.m., February 15. […]
by Bruce Whitman Cameron County Echo With no fanfare or hoopla, Dollar General opened its new store in Emporium this past Sunday. Word of mouth and curiosity were enough to attract a large turnout of customers at the Sizervile Rd. facility. For much of the day Sunday the parking lot was full and […]
by Bruce Whitman Two Cameron County emergency organizations are teaming up to provide training in work place violence and mass shootings in February. The Cameron County Emergency Management Agency and Local Emergency Planning Committee will sponsor the two-hour seminar Wednesday, Feb. 21, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Emporium Fire Hall. The […]
by Bruce Whitman Two Cameron County emergency organizations are teaming up to provide training in work place violence and mass shootings in February. The Cameron County Emergency Management Agency and Local Emergency Planning Committee will sponsor the two-hour seminar Wednesday, Feb. 21, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Emporium Fire Hall. The […]
by Bruce Whitman Three Cameron County emergency response organizations are in line to receive grants from the state. Rep. Martin Causer announced the grants last week.The grants which will be awarded in three counties, with the overall package amounting to $410,000. “Our emergency response organizations continue to struggle financially. These grants are sure […]
Free tax counseling and preparation for Pennsylvania taxpayers with low and moderate income, with emphasis for those 60 and older, is available from AARP Tax Aide in Cameron, Elk, McKean and Potter counties. This service runs from February 5, 2018 through April 6, 2018. Qualified preparers will be offering help with personal […]
by Amanda Jones During a regional visit, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro met with law enforcement officials in Emporium to discuss efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. Cameron County residents can count themselves lucky; the area has not suffered as many hardships from the opioid crisis as neighboring counties and other communities across […]
by Bruce Whitman Cameron County Commissioners conducted routine business during a scheduled meeting last Thursday. Commissioner Lori Reed was appointed the county’s Fair Housing Officer and in a related matter, approval was given for the county’s Fair Housing resolution. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was adopted between the county and Northern Tier Community […]
by Bruce Whitman Emporium employers will soon begin collecting the borough’s increased local services tax (LST). The tax is levied on people who work in the borough and earn more than $12,000 in annual paychecks. For the past 10 years the Emporium LST rate was $25. Borough council moved to increase the […]
by Bruce Whitman Representatives from state government, officials from five counties and several hundred good friends all showed up Friday at the Emporium Borough Fire hall to honor Bruno Carnovale. Bruno just recently ended a public service spanning 51 years, stepping down as Emporium’s mayor Dec. 31, 2017. The gathering was officially known […]
by Amanda Jones Two defendants turned down plea agreements and will proceed to trial following return day proceedings held at the Cameron County Courthouse last Tuesday. Norman Francis Pettit, age 22, of Emporium, will proceed to trial on a litany of charges including rape, indecent deviate sexual intercourse (IDSI) with a person less […]
by Amanda Jones A former police officer will remain in jail beyond his minimum sentence after his parole was denied during a hearing held Tuesday at the Cameron County Courthouse. Francis Paul Johnson, age 53, of Weedville, who formerly served as an officer with the Emporium Borough Police Department had his request for […]
by Bruce Whitman For the most part, Cameron County escaped major consequences from weekend flooding in the Northcentral Region. “We pretty much dodged a bullet,” said Cameron County Emergency Management Agency director Kevin Johnson. Neighboring counties, including Potter, McKean and Elk were not as lucky. “It was close for a time,” continued Johnson. […]
by Amanda Jones An appeal decision has been overturned by the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, and now blood evidence can be presented by the prosecution in a driving-under-the-influence (DUI) case begun in late 2014. The Commonwealth filed an appeal for a decision affecting the case of the Commonwealth vs. Kaitlyn N. Wolfel, age […]
by Amanda Jones The Cameron County School District (CCSD) will be looking to fill several positions for sports programs and support positions following resignations from five individuals. The resignations of Head Football Coach Scott Burnside and Head Softball Coach Ralph McKimm, Jr. were both accepted, effective immediately, during Thursday night’s school board meeting. […]
by Amanda Jones A grant of more than $30,000 has been awarded to the Cameron County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) to be used in a façade improvement program in the Emporium Borough. State Representative Martin Causer (R-Turltepoint) announced last week that a grant of $31,150 is being awarded through the Keystone Communities program. […]
by Bruce Whitman A large turnout is expected Friday (Jan. 19 )at the Emporium Firehall to honor long time public servant, Bruno Carnovale. Bruno spent more than half a century in public service before retiring as Emporium’s mayor, Dec. 31, 2017. Mayor Justin Zimmer has proclaimed the date as “Bruno Carnovale Day.” Bruno’s […]
by Amanda Jones Echo News Editor Organizers of the Pinktober and Baskets of Hope fundraiser at the Cameron County Courthouse announced that this year’s activities raised an unprecedented amount of money and garnered more support to keep the project up and running. Prothonotary Mary Grace Olay announced that Pinktober activities raised just over […]
Cameron County Commissioners and county officials are working with municipal tax collectors to ready for a collection agency to step in to collect delinquent per capita and occupational taxes. Notices will be sent to residents with currently delinquent taxes prior to the accounts being sent to collection to give them time to pay […]
Pennsylvania’s annual Elk Hunting Season was held last week, with hunters harvesting many of the animals permitted through the lottery license system. Lucky hunters are chosen through a lottery system during an annual festival held at the Elk Country Visitors Center in Benezette. Each tag is assigned to a management area, and a […]
Last week, President Donald Trump declared the United States’ opioid crisis a public health emergency, and the Pennsylvania legislature is taking steps to address the problem in the state, as well. Senate Bill 936 would require the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry to adopt an evidence-based drug formulary for the Pennsylvania Workers’ […]
Local races are set for the General Election to be held across the Commonwealth on Tuesday, November 7. Several local races are uncontested. In the county-wide race, Republican Mary Grace Olay is running unopposed for the Prothonotary position, which she has held for several terms. Current Sheriff Allen H. Neyman is running unopposed […]
The George B. Stevenson Dam at Sinnemahoning State Park was rededicated on Monday following a multi-million-dollar rehabilitation project completed this year. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) employees and a number of state officials marked the restoration and rededication of the dam on Monday morning at the boat launch area in […]
by Amanda Jones Echo News Editor Cameron County’s most anticipated business will open its doors to host a photography exhibit featuring the work of a well-known Emporium resident. A photography exhibit will be hosted at the Hygrade Inn featuring photographs taken by George Kempher, a late Emporium resident known for his photos that […]
The unemployment rate for September is down slightly from the previous month for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, dropping to 4.8%. This month’s unemployment rate dropped by one-tenth of a percentage point, with employers across the state adding about 10,300 non-farm jobs throughout the month. Total new hires were listed at 26,580. Initial unemployment […]
by Amanda Jones Echo News Editor The Sinnemahone Ultra Marathon Trail Run will be held this Saturday, October 21, on the scenic trails and backroads of Cameron County. This year’s event is slated to be the biggest yet, with more runners signed up from out-of-the-area than local participants. The race actually includes three different […]
The Cameron County School District (CCSD) Board of Directors discussed a decision not to pursue funding for a new scoreboard for the high school football field during their regular meeting held Thursday night. The old scoreboard is still in use, but has several problems, including electrical issues, broken siren, and discontinuation of the light […]
A fight has begun in the state legislature that could significantly impact tourism revenue and quality-of-life for residents living in northcentral Pennsylvania. Late last month, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced that its board had voted to reduce spending by $2 million in fiscal year 2018-19, unless the legislature approves an […]
by Amanda Jones Echo News Editor Taxing bodies in Cameron County will receive an influx of funds going forward due to successful lobbying for increased payments-in-lieu-of taxes (PILT) paid on some state-held lands within their borders. Municipalities, boroughs, school districts and counties across Pennsylvania will now receive $6.00 per acre for lands administered by the […]
Tickets are currently on sale at the Cameron County Courthouse for the annual Baskets of Hope raffle to raise money for local residents currently seeking treatment for cancer. Prothonotary Mary Grace Olay reported on fundraising efforts during a county commissioners meeting held Thursday morning. This year’s raffle includes 14 “baskets,” though the effort brings […]
Sinnemahoning State Park will host the annual First Fork Festival this Saturday, October 14, featuring local authors, artists and artisans, along with lots of good food and fun, family-friendly activities. This marks the fifth year the festival has been held in front of the backdrop of full autumnal splendor in the First Fork Valley, […]
Cameron County High School’s representative for this year’s Flaming Foliage Festival is Tess Dubler, the daughter of Julie and the late Gary Dubler. The Festival will be held this weekend, October 13, 14, and 15, in Renovo. Tess has participated in Envirothon for four years, mock trial for one year, and yearbook staff for […]
by Amanda Jones Echo News Editor Community Development Director Cliff Clark held the second hearing for the 2017 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program prior to the commissioners’ regular meeting. CDBG funds are federally-allocated to the state, and administered by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Cameron County’s 2017 allotment will […]
Hometown Mentors has released the names of this year’s entrants into the Hometown Hall of Fame Cameron County Sports Edition, with an induction ceremony to be held on Saturday in the Cameron County High School Auditorium. Twenty individuals have been named to the Sports Hall of Fame since its inaugural year. This year’s […]
by Amanda Jones Echo News Editor The 27th Annual Autumn Festival at Sizerville State Park will be held from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. this Saturday, October 7. The historic festival celebrates pioneer crafts, skills and foods, with local artisans set to demonstrate their skills and offering some of their creations for sale. […]
Borough officials continue to deal with blighted properties, abandoned cars and other issues in downtown Emporium. Correspondence was received from the county assessment office concerning the former Marsiglio home located at 129 East Fifth Street. The house, which suffered damage from a fire several years ago, is now available through the county repository. […]
Cameron County and the surrounding areas are readying to see an influx of tourists as autumn approaches. The Pennsylvania Wilds region attracts fall tourists interested in hunting opportunities, viewing the Pennsylvania Elk herd during the rutting season, and leaf-peeping. Pennsylvania is one of just a few areas in the world where full autumn […]
Cameron County’s unemployment rate was down in August, coming in at a seasonally-adjusted 6.7%, with approximately 100 individuals unemployed. This is nearly a full percentage-point drop from just two months ago; June’s rate was 7.5% for Cameron County, the highest in the state. The lowest rate was 3.4% in Chester County. Only 28 […]
by Amanda Jones Echo News Editor Last week, Governor Tom Wolf (D-PA) had a whirlwind tour of northern Pennsylvania, and visited manufacturing facilities in Emporium as part of his trip. Wolf and his wife, Pennsylvania’s First Lady Frances Wolf, made a number of stops across the region, including at Cole Memorial in Coudersport, […]
Cameron County Commissioners reported on the details of a special meeting held several days ago during their regular meeting held on Thursday in Emporium. The special meeting was held on Tuesday, scheduled to set raises for elected officials for the next term. Commissioners approved raises of 2% per year for the next four […]
The business owners of Fuel On and representatives of the Cameron County Ambulance Service met on September 22, 2017 to discuss the two recent incidents discussed on social media as well as published reports by local media organizations. It was decided at this meeting that a joint statement would be issued to address […]
Three cases were continued during Return Day proceedings held at the Cameron County Courthouse last Tuesday. Proceedings in the case of Elijah Jacob Conser, age 22, formerly of Punxsutawney, could not be held due to a transportation order allowing him to leave the State Correctional Facility in Waynesburg not being processed in time. […]
by Amanda Jones, Echo News Editor The Class of 1968 recently met to begin planning their 50th Class Reunion, and decided that they wanted to do something to give back to the community and honor a man whom they looked up to throughout their lives. The reunion’s planning committee chose to purchase a […]
Hundreds of people flocked to downtown Emporium for this year’s All Fired Up and Kickin’ Ash BBQ Competition held this past Saturday. Teams from across the state came to town to compete in several different categories, with winners taking home a grill-themed trophy for their efforts. The event has grown from previous years, […]
by Amanda Jones Echo News Editor Competitors and food enthusiasts are readying for the annual All Fired Up and Kickin’ Ash BBQ Competition, scheduled for this coming weekend. This year’s event has been expanded to include two days of fun and grilling, with entertainment, a bonfire, and adult beverages available on Friday evening […]
Social media is abuzz in the Emporium area following allegations lodged against the owners of the Fuel On convenience store on Emporium’s West End. Owner Karen Singh stated that she believes much of the issue stems from miscommunication. Recently, an individual posted on social media that the owners told Cameron County Ambulance Service […]
The Cameron County School District Board of Directors voted to accept the contract recently negotiated with the Cameron County Educators’ Association. The district had initially rejected the recommendations stemming from fact-finding by a third-party arbiter, but after the terms were accepted by the teachers’ group and published online, district representatives met again to […]
A preliminary hearing was held on Thursday in the case of an Emporium man accused of rape of a minor and related charges. Norman Francis Pettit, II, age 22, faced a total of 12 felony and 12 misdemeanor counts stemming from an incident alleged to have occurred in an apartment on Fourth Street […]
by Amanda Jones Echo News Editor An Emporium resident has written a book chronicling her battle with oral cancer in an effort to remove the stigmatism behind the disease and help other people going through the same issues. Christine Dickinson, a lifelong resident of Emporium, is now a five-year survivor of Stage IV oral […]
Last month, Governor Tom Wolf (D-PA) announced a move to decrease the amount of time elementary and junior high students spend taking standardized tests in public schools across the state. The Pennsylvania System for School Assessment (PSSA) Exams have long drawn criticism from a number of groups, from educators to parents and even students […]
by Amanda Jones Echo News Editor An Emporium woman and one of the Cameron County Echo’s longest subscribers celebrated a century on this earth on September 1. Catherine Burke Wiest, currently of Essex, Vermont, was born September 1, 1917, to Cameron County residents Patrick Henry Burke and Catherine Elizabeth “Kate” Bair, a school teacher […]
The fifth annual St. Mark Festival will be held next weekend, Friday, September 15, and Saturday, September 16, on the grounds of St. Mark Catholic Church on Fourth Street in Emporium. Festivities will kick off Friday evening with a Spaghetti Dinner at O’Connell Hall from 4 to 7 p.m. The dinner will feature home-made […]
by Amanda Echo News Editor On Tuesday, an area man was sentenced to decades in jail following his admission of guilt in a murder case involving an Emporium woman. Michael Fuller Courtney, age 35, entered a guilty plea to one count of murder in the third degree, and was sentenced to serve between 18 […]
Two defendants were resentenced on old charges due to violations of their probation terms during Return Day proceedings held Tuesday at the Cameron County Courthouse. Norman Francis Pettit, age 22, of Emporium, will serve out the remainder of the twelve month maximum he was sentenced to serve due to a previous probation violation in […]
by Amanda Jones, Echo News Editor A former apartment building located at 36 West Fourth Street in the Borough of Emporium is finally being demolished, with work to raze the structure beginning Monday. For the past several months, the three-story, gray structure has been wrapped with insulating house wrap as it stood vacant on […]
The Cameron County unemployment rate is up slightly from the previous month, coming in at 7.5% for the month of June. New data on unemployment numbers and job creation across the Commonwealth have been released by the Pennsylvania Center for Workforce Information and Analysis. For the same period, the unemployment rate for Pennsylvania was […]
by Amanda Jones Echo News Editor The Cameron County School District (CCSD) Board of Directors voted to accept the results of a fact-finding report issued on the disputed teachers’ contract. Results of the fact-finding were released as of last Monday, and board members initially rejected the findings. The Cameron County Education Association (CCEA) accepted […]
More information has been released pertaining to the search by law enforcement officers of a building where it was suspected drug use was occurring. Earlier this month, police obtained a search warrant for a gray outbuilding in the 500 block of South Mountain Road. Caretakers for the property, which is used by adjoining residents […]
A plea hearing will be held on Tuesday for a local man accused of murdering an Emporium woman in her apartment last October. Michael Fuller Courtney, age 35, whose current address is listed in Smethport, faces charges of first-degree murder, third-degree murder and aggravated assault stemming from the murder of Deborah Gerlach, age 45. […]
by Amanda Jones Echo News Editor Cameron County Commissioners heard a presentation from Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Kevin Johnson in an effort to continue highlighting department heads and the operations they oversee within the county. Johnson stated that the county has not had any emergencies to respond to in a while, but EMA […]
Areas of the Kinzua Dam have been closed to the general public due to “ongoing law enforcement issues,” though officials have not yet released a more specific reason. Last week, it was announced by the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), which oversees operations at the dam, that the dam parking lot, pedestrian access area, […]
by Amanda Jones Echo News Editor Cameron County School District (CCSD) teachers will have to work a little longer before a contract dispute is settled, after the district rejected recommendations from a fact-finding report released on Tuesday. As of July 1, CCSD teachers have been working without a contract for two years. Negotiations began […]
Pennsylvania State Police have charged an Emporium man with rape and a number of other counts following an investigation launched in April. Norman Francis Pettit, II, age 22, has been charged with 12 felony counts, including rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse (IDSI), and aggravated indecent assault of a person under the age of 16, […]
Charges are pending against several individuals following the execution of a search warrant at a structure on South Mountain Road. Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Troopers applied for and were granted a search warrant on August 5 pertaining to a gray colored outbuilding used as storage by residents living in an adjoining structure in the […]
by Amanda Jones Echo News Editor Board members discussed the possibility of allowing local business and industry to officially sponsor home football games during Thursday night’s meeting of the Cameron County School District’s Board of Directors. Board Secretary Carl Mitchell stated that the idea was posed during a recent meeting of the Cameron County […]
Mark your calendars for the Fifth Annual St. Mark Festival being planned for mid-September at St. Mark Catholic Church in Emporium. The two-day festival will kick off at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 15, with a spaghetti dinner at O’Connell Hall from 4-7 p.m. On Saturday, September 16, festivities will run from 11 a.m. […]
by Amanda Jones Echo News Editor A new business has opened in Rich Valley, operated by two local individuals with experience in the industry. Rich Valley Burners, LLC, creates custom signs, license plates, decorative items, and other types of products using a CNC Plasma Cutter, a machine typically used by larger companies to make items […]
by Amanda Jones Echo News Editor Construction of the West Creek Rail Trail is complete, and hikers, bikers, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers can now trek the entire 18.9 miles connecting the Borough of Emporium to the City of St. Marys. A ceremony to commemorate the completion of the trail will be held at […]