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VIRAL Published 1 hour ago 2 men claim 'Bigfoot' sighting in Ohio, video goes viral By James Rogers | Fox News Fox News Flash top headlines for Feb. 12 Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Is Bigfoot "hanging out" in the Buckeye state? Two men claim to have spotted the legendary creature in Salt Fork State Park in Eastern Ohio and a video of their purported “sighting” has gone viral. “My friend and I got permission to fly our drones at Salt Fork State Park in Ohio,” one of the men writes, in a post accompanying the video. “While we were there we heard many strange noises and we believe we may have found the Ohio Grassman/Bigfoot/Sasquatch.” Ohio Grassman is a local nickname for Bigfoot. SASQUATCH WATCH: BIGFOOT 'SIGHTINGS' OVER THE YEARS The video, which shows something wandering upright on two feet among the trees, has racked up more than 260,000 views since it was posted to YouTube on Feb. 2. The footage has prompted plenty of skepticism from commenters on YouTube. “I once thought I saw a unicorn while I was driving on I-77 one evening,” quipped one commenter on YouTube. “I was gonna stop and get a close up look but it disappeared on me.” 'BIGFOOT' REPORTEDLY SIGHTED IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, PICTURES GO VIRAL “This is the funniest video I have seen in a while,” added another commenter. “Thank you guys for some much needed comic relief and some good ol' fashioned harmless entertainment.” A bright yellow street sign saying, Bigfoot Crossing. File photo (JLFCapture/iStock) “Take a gun next time and shoot it or a tranquilizer dart, then we can see what it really is, good job guys on trying to keep the tradition alive, however, I really don't think anyone thinks u [sic] actually have ‘Bigfoot’ or ‘Grassman’ on video,” wrote another commenter. There have been other alleged sightings of Bigfoot in Salt Fork State Park, according to the Daily Jeffersonian. One area of the park is even called ‘Bigfoot Ridge.’ SASQUATCH WATCH: BIGFOOT 'SIGHTINGS' OVER THE YEARS Purported Bigfoot sightings in other parts of the U.S. have also gone viral. In 2017, the creature and some companions (one of whom was attempting to abscond with a pig) were allegedly spotted near a lake in Northern California. SEE VIDEO ; https://www.foxnews.com/tech/bigfoot-sighting-ohio-video-goes-viral

Colonial-era building discovered in Pennsylvania town during demolition by WNEP Staff Friday, February 7th 2020 AA Colonial-era building discovered in Pennsylvania town during demolition (CNN Newsource)<br> WASHINGTONVILLE, Pa. (WNEP) — On a nondescript street corner in Washingtonville, Pennsylvania sits a building that is much, much older than it looks. It's a centuries-old log cabin hidden under layers of more modern construction and siding. A local official estimates that it dates back to the 1700s. The discovery came about as a result of the town cracking down on blighted properties. The building was a former bar and had been condemned. A contractor was tearing it down when he uncovered the hidden piece of history. "He said it's very much salvageable and he couldn't believe it himself, what we uncovered here, and said it's very much worth saving,” said Frank Dombroski. Local officials want to preserve the cabin and move it to a different location. They say it will have to be carefully taken down by hand and put back together somewhere else. For now, it will stay in its current location. SEE VIDEO ; https://wjactv.com/news/local/colonial-era-building-discovered-in-pennsylvania-town-during-demolition-02-07-2020

You are here: Home » News Local News PA Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau: History of Hallton February 2, 2020 12:30 am· Author: exploreJefferson When the town of Hallton was first settled around 1810 by Amos Davis, it was known as Spring Creek. By the 1820s, Job Paine and James Watterson built a sawmill in the area where it became a rally point for rafts men during the rafting era of lumbering along the Clarion River. (Story courtesy of Rob Keith) In the 1880s, James K. Gardner and John G. Hall formed the Hall, Gardner & Co and constructed a sawmill. It was then that the town became known as Hallton. The Clarion River Railway was completed to Hallton in 1891, and the Tionesta Valley Railway that came down Spring Creek from Sheffield also served Hallton. Hall would die in 1889 and William H. Hyde (Joseph S. Hyde’s son) would join the venture. In 1905 Frank Clawson would construct a wood chemical plant up Spring Creek from Hallton on the west bank of the creek. The Hall, Gardner & Co sawmill would close in 1909, but it would take until 1948 for the Clawson Chemical Company plant to close, which also forced the abandonment of the Clarion River Railway. Like many small towns along the Clarion River, once the lumber industry moved on, so did the citizens and industries in the town. The history of the town is captured in the photos and the stories told by the people that lived and worked there. For more information on the history of and current activities available in the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors, go to VisitPAGO.com.

In Edition of Courier Express July 10, 1970 --- Article on front page -- B.F. Goodrich Annual Payroll Over $800,000

Brandan Gillogly 2 hrs ago We’ve seen the 2020 Stingray in the flesh on several occasions, in traditional targa and hardtop convertible guise, but now we know who will get the honor of owning VIN 001. © Brandan Gillogly Vin #1 Corvette sale At Barrett-Jackson’s 2020 Scottsdale sale today, the first production 2020 Corvette Stingray came up on the auction block, where it commanded a whopping $3M. Rick Hendrick, NASCAR team owner and prolific Chevrolet muscle car and Corvette collector, stepped up with the big purchase, the proceeds of which will all go to charity. Hendrick had previously bought the first-production 2019 Corvette ZR1 for $925,000. The C7 ZR1 is still the most powerful Corvette ever to leave the factory, at least until the upper performance variants of the C8 are, inevitably, revealed. A Z51-spec model in Torch Red with a black interior, red seatbelts, and magnetic ride control, it’s equipped with the Stingray’s 6.2-liter, dry-sump, 495-horsepower LT2 V-8. Given that production of the Stingray hasn’t officially begun, this is a stand-in, the actual first Stingray will be nearly identical, albeit with black paint. © Provided by Hagerty C8 driving After starting at $100,000, bidding quickly shot up to $1M, bringing cheers from the standing-room-only crowd in Arizona. An quick, but intense back-and-forth bidding war ensued before the hammer fell on the final $3M price. All proceeds of this sale will benefit the Detroit Children's Fund, which supports Detroit-area public schools. After toying with the idea for decades on research vehicles dating back to the ‘60s, Chevrolet has finally delivered on Zora Arkus-Duntov’s dream of a production mid-engine Corvette. In comparison, the final production front-engine Corvette, a 2019 Z06 with a seven-speed manual, sold for $2.7 million last summer at Barrett-Jackson’s Northeast Auction in Connecticut. It too was for charity, and until today, was the highest price ever paid for a new Corvette. If you’d like to see how this sale stacks up against non-charity auction, then you’re gonna want to read this. Hendrick’s new set of wheels isn’t quite the most expensive Corvette ever sold outright—but it’s certainly close. © Provided by Hagerty Rick Hendrick buys Vin 001 Corvette C8 SEE PICTURES ; http://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/enthusiasts/first-production-2020-corvette-stingray-sells-for-dollar3-million/ar-BBZ678j?li=BBnbfcL&ocid=HPCDHP

In the 60's B.F.Goodrich was there , made golf balls. Later on Believe it was Ideal from Sykesville made hunting clothes. When Goodrich was there after Friday night football game would walk over to get a ride home with my mother when she got off a 11 PM.

Study: Spotted lanternfly costing Pennsylvania $50M annually by Associated Press Friday, January 17th 2020 AA Spotted Lanternfly (WJAC). A large, colorful pest from Asia is costing the Pennsylvania economy about $50 million and eliminating nearly 500 jobs each year. That's according to a Penn State study released Thursday. The study represents researchers' first attempt to quantify the destruction caused by the It was first detected in the U.S. in 2014, in Pennsylvania's Berks County. It's since overrun the state's southeastern corner and spread into nearby states including New Jersey, Delaware and Virginia. Penn State economists estimated the financial impact on industries most susceptible to spotted lanternfly, including nurseries, vineyards, Christmas tree growers and hardwood producers. https://wjactv.com/news/local/study-spotted-lanternfly-costing-pennsylvania-50m-annually

Barrett-Jackson Car Auction from Scottsdale , AZ. -- Jan. 11 - 19 ----- SEE DETAILS ---- https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Home/Scottsdale-2020/d114c99a-0e71-46b2-8cde-20a53c127270

Possible paranormal sighting captured on Pennsylvania resident's home security camera by CBS21 News Wednesday, December 11th 2019 AA Possible paranormal sighting captured on Pennsylvania resident's home security camera (Credit: Kristie Andrews) MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) A Pennsylvania resident in Lansdale, Montgomery County captured a mysterious floating orb on their home security camera. The homeowner, Kristie Andrews, told CBS 21 News that they are not usually superstitious, but believe the mysterious object is an angel. "With all the bad things going on in the world, this can give many people peace of mind around the holidays that their love ones are still around,” Andrews. What do you think is in the video? SEE VIDEO ; https://wjactv.com/news/offbeat/possible-paranormal-sighting-captured-on-pennsylvania-residents-home-security-camera

Brookville Picture Book Published By Former Borough Manager December 8, 2019 12:59 am· Author: Jill McDermott BROOKVILLE, Pa. (EYT)- If you’ve ever wondered what the city of Brookville looked like in 1860, there’s a new book out to let you know just that. “The Way We Were: Brookville, Pennsylvania Through the Camera’s Lens” is the product of years of work by David L. Taylor. He’s a Brookville native who previously oversaw the city’s Main Street program and served as Brookville’s Borough Manager. The book includes 280 pages of pictures ranging from 1860 to the 1950’s. “I wanted to avoid contemporary pictures,” Taylor notes. “I wanted these to just be historic views.” Taylor has also provided a little bit of history about those pictures many of which come from his family’s collection. They first came to the area in 1832. Other pictures are postcards and old pictures he began collecting about 30 years ago. It was a Facebook comment that prompted him to compile the book. Taylor regularly posts to the group, “Brookville Pennsylvania Photo Project.” (found here. ) In February, Jason Geer posted the thought that Taylor should create a coffee table book of his pictures. The post got nearly 100 comments and has now become a reality. Taylor believes most of the pictures have never been published before. In addition to his personal pictures, he found some online and got permission to use them in his book and others came from Jefferson County History Center. He says he doesn’t really have a favorite picture but is really fond of one scene and the story behind it. It’s a swinging bridge that used to span the creek by Memorial Park in Brookville. After Taylor posted the picture online, he was contacted by a woman who told him that her father had built that bridge in 1918. The bridge was built for employees of the Pittsburg and Shawmut Railroad. Many of its employees lived in the town and had a long route to get to the site. (PHOTO contributed by David Taylor) The company contributed some money and supplies and a suspension bridge was built where a previous bridge was frequently underwater. The new bridge lasted until the late 1950s. Taylor says he has had people share with him memories of riding over the bridge on bicycles or running across it to make it swing. Some remember being terrified of the bridge because it would swing when they crossed it. Taylor says there was really no theme or topic he had in mind when selecting pictures for the book. “The order of the pictures is totally random,” he says. “They’re not alphabetized, they’re not really chronological. The only two that are in there that make any sense chronologically are page one and page two.” Page one is an 1890s view of Port Barnett, so-called because it was settled by Joseph Barnett in the 1790s, leading to the creation of Jefferson County. The picture shows Barnett’s hotel which Taylor believes was built in 1810. It also includes a lumber mill and grist mill owned by James Humphrey, a Barnett relative. On page two of Taylor’s book, you’ll find the Jefferson County Courthouse. Other than that, he says the pictures are random, although there is a table of contents to help if you’re looking for something specific. You can get a copy of Taylor’s book Saturday, December 14, at a book signing to be held at the Jefferson County History Center at 172 Main Street in Brookville. You can also email Taylor at tta.david@gmail.com for an order form. Taylor says he’s amazed not only by the number of people who are interested in his book, but also how many young people are excited about it. It’s something he found out while grocery shopping. While he was checking out, the cashier asked Taylor if he was the man writing the book about Brookville. “This young man was high school age,” Taylor recounts. “He said I’m really enjoying your posts. To get the younger generation to be interested in this kind of stuff is what gives it life.”

After Decade Long Search, All 3,150 Photos of Fallen Vietnam Heroes Have Been Located December 6, 2019 12:21 am· Author: Lexis Twentier ANNVILLE, Pa. – All 3,150 photos of Pennsylvania’s American heroes who died in the Vietnam War have been found and are now posted on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s (VVMF) virtual Wall of Faces for everyone to honor around the world. (PICTURED: Robert Paul Pape, Air Force, Punxsutawney, Pa.) The final elusive photo recently added was that of U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Matthew Harris Jr. of Philadelphia. “It is incredibly gratifying to know that all 3,150 Pennsylvanians who died in Vietnam are now represented on the virtual Wall Of Faces where they can be honored by anyone, from anywhere around the world,” said Governor Tom Wolf. “We owe a debt of gratitude to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs who led this effort, along with everyone they partnered with over the past four years, for tenaciously searching until the last photo was found. Completing this project demonstrates just how much pride Pennsylvania has in all of those who have served our great nation, and that no one will ever be forgotten.” For the past four years the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) has partnered with the VVMF in Washington, D.C., to find a photo of every Pennsylvanian whose name appears on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall – commonly referred to as The Wall. The VVMF has been posting the photos on a virtual Wall of Faces in order to put a face and a story to every name to help preserve their legacies. “This was a great and incredibly important project that helps show the families and friends of the Pennsylvanians lost in Vietnam that their loved ones will not be forgotten,” said Maj. Gen. Anthony Carrelli, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the DMVA. “We owe a huge thanks to all of the volunteers from around the country who have been instrumental in locating these photos and spreading the word about the Wall of Faces effort. “I’d also like to give a few deserved shout-outs to the Pennsylvania media outlets who featured this program, the Public History Program students at Stevenson University in Maryland, members of the Pennsylvania Civil Air Patrol, and Vietnam veteran John Thomstatter and his team of researchers, who helped get us to the finish line.” As an official partner in the Department of Defense’s Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, completing the Wall of Faces project is one way the DMVA is showing its support of the service, sacrifice and legacy of Vietnam veterans. Since the VVMF launched the photo campaign in October 2009, the VVMF has located photos for more than 57,900 of the names inscribed on the memorial. To date, 44 states, two U.S. territories and the District of Columbia have found every photo for their fallen. To view the virtual Wall of Faces, which includes all 3,150 Pennsylvanians, go to www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces. https://www.explorejeffersonpa.com/all-3150-photos-of-pennsylvania-american-heroes/

Remembering JFK - The Assassination Took Place 56 Years Ago Today ------- SEE ARTICLE AND VIDEOS ; https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/remembering-jfk-assassination

Pennsylvania Memorial Home Receives Historical Marker October 15, 2019 9:46 am· Author: Aly Delp BROOKVILLE, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Memorial Home was honored with a new historical marker on Friday, October, 11, 2019. (Pictured: From left: Representative Cris Dush, WRC Board Chair Cindy Russel, County Commissioner Jack Matson, Local Historian Carole Briggs, Jefferson County History Center Director Ken Burkett, Brookville Mayor Richard Beck, and JCHS Board President Tracy Zents.) The marker rests on the corner of Euclid Ave. and 2nd St. in Brookville. Established in 1890, the Pennsylvania Memorial Home was open to Civil War veterans and their families, widows and orphans. It was WRC Senior Services’ first community, and it was the first veterans’ home in Pennsylvania and one of the first nationwide that was so inclusive, serving as a model to others across the country. Local Woman’s Relief Corps member Kate Scott worked with social reformer Annie Wittenmyer to establish this facility and to urge Pennsylvania legislators to provide funding. Today, the building that once housed the Pennsylvania Memorial home is now used as the Brookville Borough Building. The historical marker was installed on the corner of Euclid Avenue and 2nd Street in Brookville. On the afternoon of October 11, WRC Senior Services and the Jefferson County Historical Society jointly hosted a Historical Marker Dedication Ceremony and Reception. WRC Senior Services’ Danielle Corrigan-Gabler (at left) and Tyler Vasbinder (at right) remove the ceremonial hood to unveil the Pennsylvania Memorial Home’s new historical marker from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. At the dedication ceremony, the marker was recognized by Tracy Zents, Board President of Jefferson County Historical Society; Ken Burkett, Executive Director of the Jefferson County History Center, and member of PHMC’s historical marker committee; Carole Briggs, the local historian who submitted the proposal to PHMC, and Cindy Russell, Board Chair of WRC Senior Services. Carole Briggs, in her remarks during the dedication ceremony, regaled the history of the Pennsylvania Memorial Home and the women who made it possible. “Civil War veteran and newspaperman John McMurray wrote several years before Kate Scott died, ‘No women in Pennsylvania are doing a nobler work than these Corps women.’ Kate M. Scott and Annie Wittenmyer were two of them,” Briggs said. “We are most pleased this afternoon to formally recognize the Pennsylvania Memorial Home with a Pennsylvania State Historical Marker.” To conclude the ceremony, as the marker was unveiled, Cindy Russell, Chairwoman of WRC Senior Services’ Board of Directors, said “it is a proud day for WRC. The marker is a visible and lasting tribute to our history and legacy.” https://www.explorejeffersonpa.com/pennsylvania-memorial-home-receives-historical-marker/

PSU gets $7.3 million grant for spotted lanternfly research News by: David Kaplan Posted: Oct 8, 2019 / 12:04 AM EDT / Updated: Oct 8, 2019 / 12:04 AM EDT UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (WTAJ) — Spotted lantern flies have been destroying fruit trees and vineyards in the Philadelphia area. It’s spread to 14 PA counties and biologists are worried the insects are moving west. With over 100 acres of fruit, Jason Coopey, Co-Owner of Way Fruit Farm, says he’s concerned about the threat of spotted lantern flies affecting his business. Coopey grows grapes and apples, the spotted lantern fly’s favorite treats. The closest spotted lanternflies may have been seen in Harrisburg , but coppey says there’s still reason to be alert. “These things have wings and anything with wings travel very quickly,” Jason Coopey, Co-Owner for Way Fruit Farm, said. “The Emerald Ash Borer is a prime example of of what happened with these latest invasive species. There’s not an Ash tree alive right now, on this farm. You know all of them have died from the Emerald ash borer.” Wednesday, Penn State announced they’re receiving a $7.3 million dollar federal grant for spotted lanternfly research. Julie Urban, an Entomologist at Penn State says, right now the university and seven other schools in the Northeast are learning more about the insect and ways to stop them, like unleashing the bug’s predator, a wasp from it’s native habitat in China. “We want to make sure that is we release a foreign insect here, it’s not going to hurt our native insects,” Urban, said. She says the insect loves urban areas and certain trees, like red maples. That’s two things State College has going against it. Coopey says he expects spotted lanternflies to be in Central PA soon, but says this grant and research will help us prepare. “I do like the fact that they are getting proactive on this and that’s allowing for us to not be behind whenever it does occur,” Coopey, said. Professor Urban says they expect the federal grant money to kick in any day now. SEE VIDEO ; https://www.wearecentralpa.com/news/psu-gets-7-3-million-grant-for-spotted-lanternfly-research/

Rare insect never seen in the United States intercepted at the border by WOAI Staff Thursday, October 3rd 2019 AA Rare insect never seen in the United States intercepted at the border (Courtesy: CBP Hidalgo) PHARR, Texas (WOAI) -- A rare pest that has never been seen in the United States was intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry. CBP agriculture specialists inspected a commercial shipment of prickly pear pads arriving from Mexico and found the insect, that was not immediately identified. The insect was submitted for identification to a U.S. Department of Agriculture entomology laboratory and the initial identification was later confirmed by a national specialist as Dysschema mariamne. “Our CBP agriculture specialists are to be commended for their tenacity and attention to detail which resulted in the discovery of a first in the nation pest,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry. “By intercepting these exotic pests, our agriculture specialists help protect American agriculture and contribute to the nation’s economic security by denying entry to invasive species not known to exist in the U.S.” According to USDA entomologists, this pest has never been found at any of the nation’s ports of entry. CBP refused entry to the shipment and returned it back to Mexico. https://wjactv.com/news/offbeat/rare-insect-never-seen-in-the-united-states-intercepted-at-the-border

World Rabies Day: A Local Look at a Worldwide Issue September 28, 2019 12:50 am· Author: Aly Delp JEFFERSON CO., Pa. (EYT) – September 28 is World Rabies Day, a global health observance initiated in 2007 to raise awareness about rabies and enhance prevention and control efforts worldwide. Rabies is a virus of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) that can affect any mammal, including humans, and it continues to be widespread throughout Pennsylvania. It remains a major public health concern because it can be transmitted to humans by the bite of infected animals and is nearly 100% fatal without post-exposure treatment. Dr. Kim Williams, of Clarion Animal Hospital, told ExploreJeffersonPA.com, “The prevalence of rabies is high in Pennsylvania.” “So far this year in Clarion County there have been two documented cases of rabies, both in raccoons.” Although there are no reported cases in Jefferson County, there have been six cases reported in Armstrong County (five raccoons and one groundhog) and one in Clearfield County (a bat). Statistics also indicate that Indiana, Elk, and Forest Counties have not had any reported cases in 2019. According to the Department of Agriculture, between 350 and 500 animals in Pennsylvania are annually confirmed in a laboratory to have rabies. The most common mammals to be affected in Pennsylvania are raccoons, bats, skunks, and cats. Statistics for 2019 show that as of the end of August, there have been 283 total reported cases in Pennsylvania, including 144 raccoons, 39 cats, 37 bats, 22 foxes, 20 skunks, eight groundhogs, three bobcats, three cattle, three horses, two dogs, one deer, and one weasel. “I think it’s important for people to realize that rabies is in our area, and by vaccinating our pets, we’re creating a shield between rabies in wild animals and ourselves,” Dr. Williams said. “People ask, “if my cat stays indoors, why do I have to get it vaccinated?’ I don’t know if you’ve ever had a bat in your house, but I have, and that can be exposure for your cat that you wouldn’t realize, or even for yourself. The current recommendation is, if you have a bat in your house, you should contact the Health Department because they’re considering that possible exposure.” Due to the ongoing concern of rabies in the state, by Pennsylvania state law, dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies within four weeks after they are 12 weeks of age and must maintain a current rabies immunity as prescribed by rabies vaccine manufacturers. “A lot of people don’t realize that if you don’t have your pet vaccinated, you can be fined,” Dr. Williams noted. “The second thing is, if your pet isn’t vaccinated and they bite someone, all dog bites are reportable to the Health Department, and they’ll investigate it. If your dog isn’t vaccinated against rabies, they’ll advise the person to have that animal quarantined. Just keeping vaccinations current prevents that whole confusion.” Although rabies is preventable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 59,000 people die from the disease around the world each year. Beyond the importance of vaccination, it is also good to know what to watch for and when to seek treatment. Common signs of the type of rabies known as furious rabies in animals include aggression, loss of fear, daytime activity from a nocturnal species, attraction to noise and human activity, excessive vocalization, dilated pupils, difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, restlessness, drooling, and biting at objects or other animals. Common signs of the type of rabies known as paralytic or dumb rabies in animals include decreased activity, poor coordination, hind limb weakness, and acting “dull.” Animals with paralytic rabies may also droop their lower jaws, drool, be unable to swallow, and become paralyzed before dying. According to the Department of Agriculture, it’s important to note that not all animals with rabies show all of the signs and symptoms and most neurological or behavioral abnormalities could potentially be due to rabies. In the case of human exposure, such as a bite or a scratch from a rabid animal, or an incident of saliva or neural tissue from a rabid animal coming into contact with an open wound or mucus membranes like the eyes, nose or mouth, immediate treatment is key. Any bite or scratch should be immediate washed with soap and water. When a person has been bitten by a mammal that is not suspected of having rabies, the animal should be observed for a period during which it is prevented from exposing other people or animals. The Department of Health must be notified by the medical professional and will provide advice on how to proceed. If the animal does not show signs of rabies by the end of the observation period, then it is very unlikely to have had rabies in its saliva on the day it bit the person and will be released from observation. If the animal shows signs of rabies or dies before the observation period is over, it should be submitted for rabies testing. In some situations, such as when the mammal is a wild animal, euthanasia may be preferential to a period of observation. In the case of an animal that is not available for observation or testing, it is recommended that the individual exposed seek immediate medical attention. The human rabies vaccine consists of a series of four shots beginning immediately, then continuing three, seven, and fourteen days after exposure. The vaccine is considered highly effective if given before any symptoms develop. Symptoms of rabies in humans include irritability, fatigue, headache, fever, and pain or itching at the exposure site. However, if left untreated, symptoms progress to paralysis, spasms of the throat muscles, seizures, delirium, and eventually death. While treatment is always recommended, even after symptoms have begun, once rabies reaches a later stage in humans, treatment is rarely successful, making preventative vaccination of animals and treatment following even a potential exposure all the more vital. https://www.explorejeffersonpa.com/world-rabies-day-a-local-look-at-a-worldwide-issue/#more-242801

SEE VIDEOS FOR ABOVE POST ; https://www.wtae.com/article/lanternflies-causing-big-bug-problem-for-some-in-pennsylvania/29237481

'Gross': Lanternflies causing big bug problem for some The spotted lanternfly will fly in your face, land on your shirt and crawl on the back of your neck - and the state says the bugs threaten $18 billion worth of agriculture in Pennsylvania. Share Updated: 10:00 AM EDT Sep 26, 2019 MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press 'Gross': Lanternflies causing big bug problem for some The spotted lanternfly will fly in your face, land on your shirt and crawl on the back of your neck - and the state says the bugs threaten $18 billion worth of agriculture in Pennsylvania. Share Video Player is loading. Play Video This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text ColorWhite Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta CyanTransparencyOpaque Semi-Transparent Background ColorBlack White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta CyanTransparencyOpaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window ColorBlack White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta CyanTransparencyTransparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default valuesDone Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Share KUTZTOWN, Pa. (AP) — In the Great Spotted Lanternfly War, Pennsylvania's citizen-soldiers are fighting back with fly swatters and vacuums, dish soap and sticky tape. They're stomping and spraying and zapping and bragging about their kills on social media. "DESTROY THEM," a propaganda poster urges. "Die, die, die, spotted lanternfly," a balladeer sings. And still the invaders come, hordes of them, relentless and seemingly inexhaustible. The lanternflies' rampage has been slowed but not stoppe Swarms of lanternflies in Pa.: See them in the video player above. The insect -- a large, colorful planthopper native to southeast Asia -- has emerged as a serious pest since the federal government confirmed its arrival in southeastern Pennsylvania five years ago. It sucks the sap from valuable trees and vines, weakening them. It rains its clear, sticky, sugary waste -- euphemistically called "honeydew" -- onto pools and decks, driving exasperated homeowners indoors when they're not too busy killing the fluttering buggers. Lanternflies aren't shy, either. They will fly in your face, land on your shirt and crawl on the back of your neck. More worrisome, the state agriculture department says the lanternflies threaten $18 billion worth of Pennsylvania agriculture, including tree fruit, timber, hops and especially grapes. And the bug has expanded its range into New Jersey, Delaware and Virginia, alarming officials in those states and beyond as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is involved in containment and suppression efforts. Video Player is loading. Play Mute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded: 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently playing liveLIVE Remaining Time -0:00 Playback Rate 1x Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off, selected Captions captions settings, opens captions settings dialog captions off, selected Audio Track Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text ColorWhite Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta CyanTransparencyOpaque Semi-Transparent Background ColorBlack White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta CyanTransparencyOpaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window ColorBlack White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta CyanTransparencyTransparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default valuesDone Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Though researchers are looking for ways to eradicate the red-winged interloper, "controlling them on a population level is almost impossible at this point," said Heather Leach, an entomologist who does lanternfly outreach at Penn State Extension. Lori Beatrice can relate. Battalions of bugs have been swarming her back deck in Phoenixville, about 30 miles from Philadelphia. She and her husband have killed thousands, but "we're outnumbered," Beatrice said. "It's just gross. It's disgusting. It's like waking up in a nightmare." The yearslong infestation poses an existential threat to grapes that supply Pennsylvania's $4.8 billion wine industry. Dean Scott, who grows grapes for local wineries around Kutztown, has been spraying insecticide on his vines in an effort to keep the bugs at bay. It works for a few days, but they inevitably return. The carnage is evident in the blackened trunks of diseased grapes vines, and in the thousands of dead insects that litter the vineyard. One of Scott's fellow growers left the business after losing 40 acres of vines. "It's depressing," said Scott, whose vineyard produces 12 tons to 15 tons of grapes each year, and who is counting on it to help support him in retirement. "My fear is that if this continues, we're going to lose the battle here in Pennsylvania." Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Mute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded: 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently playing liveLIVE Remaining Time -0:00 Playback Rate 1x Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off, selected Captions captions settings, opens captions settings dialog captions off, selected Audio Track Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text ColorWhite Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta CyanTransparencyOpaque Semi-Transparent Background ColorBlack White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta CyanTransparencyOpaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window ColorBlack White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta CyanTransparencyTransparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default valuesDone Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Scientists from Penn State University, Cornell University and elsewhere are trying to prevent that from happening. They're testing chemical and biological methods of control, including native fungi implicated in a lanternfly die-off in Berks County. Government contractors, meanwhile, are removing tree of heaven -- an invasive tree that is the lanternflies' preferred host -- from public property. The states with the heaviest infestations have established quarantines meant to limit the bugs' spread. And now, with females beginning to lay their eggs, Pennsylvania is encouraging its citizen militia to scrape the mud-like egg masses from trees, cars, lawn furniture, outdoor equipment and other surfaces. "We're heading into the season where everyday people can have the greatest impact on what happens next year," said Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Shannon Powers. "Every egg mass you scrape gets rid of 30 to 60 insects that might hatch out next season." In some quarters, the situation has become darkly comic. Philadelphia police asked residents to stop calling 911 to report lanternfly sightings, tweeting that while the insects are a nuisance, they're not, strictly speaking, a matter for law enforcement. "And on that note, we, for one, would like to welcome our new insect overlords," the department quipped. The public address announcer for Allentown's minor-league baseball team is working on a mock movie trailer in the old-timey style of Ken Burns' documentary "The Civil War," casting himself as a sepia-toned Army commander and the lanternflies as combatants. Another fake preview reimagines the insect invasion as a flesh-crawling horror film , its tagline: "How many did you kill today?" Someone else developed a gross-out app called "Squish" on which users track and map their lanternfly kills and post photos of the crumpled carcasses. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Mute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded: 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently playing liveLIVE Remaining Time -0:00 Playback Rate 1x Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off, selected Captions captions settings, opens captions settings dialog captions off, selected Audio Track Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text ColorWhite Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta CyanTransparencyOpaque Semi-Transparent Background ColorBlack White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta CyanTransparencyOpaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window ColorBlack White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta CyanTransparencyTransparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default valuesDone Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement If most Pennsylvanians in the Great Spotted Lanternfly War are regular Army, Jim Wood is Special Forces. To deal with the swarms of lanternflies that have been attacking his trees, Wood turned a wet/dry vac into an effective killing machine. He attached a piece of plastic bottle to the business end of a long wand, allowing him to capture that many more insects with each pass. The insects, in turn, get sucked into a nylon stocking. Wood goes on patrol at least once a day, estimating he's killed nearly 40,000 this year. But even this super-soldier can get discouraged by the sheer size of the enemy force. "There are some days I just wanted to quit," he said. SEE VIDEOES;

Investigation underway after second death within 3 years at Elk County landfill by Chelsea Johnson Wednesday, September 18th 2019 AA Greentree Landfill (WJAC) FOX TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WJAC) — Authorities say one man is dead after an accident at an Elk County landfill. Elk County Coroner Michelle Muccio pronounced 56-year-old Gary Haupt of Penfield dead at Greentree landfill Tuesday evening. Since then, OSHA has confirmed to 6 News that a compliance officer is investigating the incident and a Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection investigator was expected to arrive at the landfill Wednesday afternoon. Muccio said Haupt was trapped between the back of a tractor-trailer and a tipping device Tuesday afternoon. Muccio said he was pronounced dead shortly after 5:30 p.m. This is the second death at Greentree landfill in two years. In 2017, William Pierce, a Clearfield County man was killed in a landslide while working there. Months later, the "Root Cause" report filed after Pierce's death said waste streams within the Greentree landfill, among other factors, contributed to the deadly incident. The DEP approved that report -- and Advanced Disposal agreed to pay a civil penalty of $600,000. According to Advanced Disposal’s website, Greentree landfill received its permit in 1986 and handles 3,000 tons of trash a day. 6 News asked the DEP for a list of violations since Greentree Landfill has been in operation. There were six in total. In the case of William Pierce, the DEP reported that there were significant cracks and settling in the active disposal area since mid-January 2017, which were not reported until days before Pierce’s death. Following that incident, there were four more violations in 2017 reported by the DEP that included another significant crack in the landslide violation reported in April of that year. The most recent violation was in April of 2018, where the DEP reported that Advanced Disposal failed to meet intermediate cover requirements in the landfill. Advanced Disposal released a statement Wednesday, saying: "It is with profound sadness that we announce that one of our team members has perished as a result of an incident that occurred at the Greentree Landfill. We are conducting an investigation and will be cooperating with all agencies that are required to investigate the incident.” In the meantime, Advanced Disposal said Greentree Landfill is operational as the investigation continues. SEE VIDEO REPORT ; https://wjactv.com/news/local/investigation-underway-after-second-death-within-3-years-at-elk-county-landfill

One person killed in Elk County landfill accident by Nate Temple Tuesday, September 17th 2019 AA Elk County Coroner Michelle Muccio announced one person died today from an accident Tuesday at the Greentree Landfill in Fox Township, Elk County. ELK COUNTY, Pa. (WJAC) — Elk County Coroner Michelle Muccio announced one person died today from an accident Tuesday at the Greentree Landfill in Fox Township, Elk County. Muccio said a 56-year-old man was trapped between the back of a tractor trailer and a tipping device just after 3:00 p.m. She said the man was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:36 p.m. Muccio said the cause of death is blunt force crush injuries to the lower abdomen. The manner of death was ruled accidental. The victim's identity is being withheld pending notification of family. This is the second death at Greentree Landfill since 2017. Stick with 6 News as we continue to follow this developing story.

Agriculture Department Invites Pennsylvania Students to Help Fight Spotted Lanternfly September 4, 2019 12:21 am· Author: Joanne Bauer HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture on Tuesday invited first- through eighth-grade students to help spread the message about the threat of the invasive Spotted Lanternfly by entering the 2019 calendar contest. (PICTURED: Spotted Lanternfly adult. Photo courtesy Dalton Ludwick.) “When children talk, people listen,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “Last year, more than 800 kids helped us tell the story of what this insect is, how it hurts us, and what you can do to help keep it from spreading. Pennsylvania kids are great storytellers, and we need their help again.” The 2018 Spotted Lanternfly Calendar Contest generated more than 800 entries from students across the state. Participating students learn in their classrooms about the threat posed by this invasive insect. Their messages and illustrations help Pennsylvanians identify Spotted Lanternflies, and encourage discussion among their families and neighbors about how they can join in the fight to stop its spread. The contest is open to all first- through eighth-grade Pennsylvania students, and entries must include: One fact about Spotted Lanternfly; Artwork created by the student; 11” X 17” poster, horizontally oriented; Original artwork, no copies will be accepted; and A complete contest submission form attached or emailed with the poster. The competition will run through October 31, 2019. Entries will be judged in four divisions: first and second grade; third and fourth grade; fifth and sixth grade; seventh and eighth grade. The top three winning entries per grade will be featured in a calendar, and the grand prize winner will appear on the cover. The winners will receive a prize package and will be recognized during the 2020 Pennsylvania Farm Show. Contestants can enter by sending their artwork to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Communications Office, Room 210, 2301 N. Cameron Street Harrisburg, PA 17110 or email entries to ra-agslfcalendars@pa.gov. All submissions must be postmarked or emailed by October 31, 2019. For more information about Spotted Lanternfly, visit www.agriculture.pa.gov/spottedlanternfly. Click here for a complete list of rules. https://www.explorejeffersonpa.com/agriculture-department-invites-pennsylvania-students-to-help-fight-spotted-lanternfly/

Pennsylvania Great Outdoors: Jefferson County Courthouse History for 150th Birthday (Part 3) August 22, 2019 9:51 am· Author: Aly Delp Pennsylvania Great Outdoors submitted the following blog on the history of the Jefferson County Courthouse. Part Three of a three-part series of articles on the history of the Jefferson County Courthouse Written by Dave Taylor. Interior Photos provided by Dave Taylor. Cover photo by Kyle Yates. This is the third and final article focused upon the history of the Jefferson County Court House, a landmark that celebrates its sesquicentennial this year. The combined three articles will be published in the Jeffersonian Journal, published by the Jefferson County Historical Society. The first two articles chronicled the life of the Court House from its 1869 construction to the 1902 erection of a drinking fountain in front of the Court House on Brookville’s Main Street. This third piece deals with the 1927 remodeling and addition to the 1869 building and follows its general history to the present. For the first half-century of its long life, the Court House underwent little physical change. The rectangular footprint remained the same, with the building accessed by a straight-run stair centered on the façade. A cast iron fence surrounded the building on three sides, also enclosing the 1832 brick jail that stood immediately west of the Court House. Flanking the stairway were two groups of cannon balls, likely remnants from the Civil War. They survived into the early years of the twentieth century but likely fell victim to the scrap metal drives of World War One. The Jefferson County Court House has hosted a wide variety of events over the decades. In the early years, several public hangings were held on the lawn between the Court House and the Jail. Those grisly events notwithstanding, one of the most unique events occurred in 1922 when a steeplejack climbed to the top of the cupola of the bell tower. The Jeffersonian Democrat reported: P. J. O’Brien, a traveling steeplejack of everywhere in general and nowhere in particular, breezed into Brookville last Friday and just about supper time entertained a big crowd by climbing to the top of the Court House cupola without entering the building. O’Brian had himself lashed into a strait jacket and hoisted by the heels to the cornice of the Court House. Hanging head downward, he rid himself of the jacket and then climbed up over the cupola. A hat was passed for his benefit. The Courtroom itself has always been located on the second floor and has served as the venue for numerous public meetings and events. In addition to shenanigans such as O’Brien’s daring–foolhardy?–1922 ascent and formal court activities, political rallies were held here, civic groups such as the W. C. T. U. met here, and the occasional musical program was given here, although the newspaper did complain about the acoustics! In later, more recent years, nonprofit groups have held events in both the Large and Small Courtroom including plays, historical meetings, and presentations by speakers. By the 1920s, the County’s needs were outgrowing its 50-year-old seat of justice. Expanded office space was needed for the various County row officers; this name dates from the 1860s when officers such as the Prothonotary, Register and Recorder, Treasurer, etc. had their offices side-by-side in a row on the first floor of the Court House. As early as 1922, plans were being developed for improvements to the building. Under the heading ELABORATE PLANS FOR ALTERING COURT HOUSE, the Democrat reported: Plans for completely remodeling the Court House and Jail at Main and Pickering Streets are on exhibition at the County Commissioners’ Office, having been drawn by the Emmett E. Bailey Company, of Oil City. ‘ Originally, the idea was to make such additions to the rear of the Court House, along Cherry Alley, as would provide additional space for court purposes and probably a fireproof vault or two for records which now are in constant peril of destruction. This idea has grown until, according to the Bailey plans, nothing will be left of the present buildings except the shell of the Court House. The Jail would be razed and the Sheriff’s Office, with detention cells, would be in an L running across the back of the lot on Cherry Alley toward the American Hotel. The fence about the Court House plot would disappear. The basement would be converted into office space and would house a public comfort station for women, County Superintendent’s Office, Farm Bureau, and fireproof vaults. Other fireproof vaults would be on other floors. The basement would be entered on the Main Street level. The present first floor of the Court House would be taken up principally by the Prothonotary’s, Commissioners’ and Treasurer’s Offices. Space for the minor offices, like the Jury Commissioners and County Auditors, would be provided. A large and small court room would be provided on the second floor, with rooms for jurors of both sexes, etc. on the second and third floors as convenient. A private judge’s chamber would be provided, and the Law Library would have ample room. A drafting room for the county surveyor would be on top floor. Specifications for the proposed work have not been drawn in detail. It is estimated that the cost would be not less than $100,000. An interesting sidelight to this discussion is that the leadership of Methodist Church, fearing that the Court House expansion might back up completely to their building, to protect themselves purchased the lot just north of Cherry Alley and demolished an existing old house that occupied that lot. On February 28, 1929. The Brookville Amercian reported, with the headline RAZE OLD HOME TO BEAUTIFY SPOT: “Another of Brookville’s landmarks is to go. The building on the old Blood property on N. Pickering Street, between the Court House and the Methodist Church, is to be torn down and the landscape plotted. This property belongs to the church, having been purchased by the trustees ten years ago when it was mentioned as a probable site for a jail building. Considerable agitation was aroused at the time over the possibility of the jail being built up against the church, and the trustees bought it to assure that no objectionable building would be placed there. It will not only add greatly to the beauty of the church building, but it was also set off the Court House to great advantages.” As early as 1923 the County Commissioners advertised for bids for the project. At that time no registered architect lived in Jefferson County, and Emmett Bailey of Oil City was chosen to design the project. He was a regionally-prominent practitioner who had designed the new Brookville Hospital in 1919. Heated discussions ensued over the next years until bids were finally opened in February, 1927. Brookville contractor Ray H. Richards was the low bidder at $267,000. A motion was offered that the Commissioners turn the issue over to a grand jury, but that motion died for the lack of a second. Another motion was offered and passed 2-1, with Commissioner Perry Wingert dissenting. The proposed Court House project was not without its other detractors. Letters to the Editor decried the renovation of a 50-year-old building and at least one legal attempt sought to halt the process. In March 1927, an injunction was filed that was heard by Venango County Judge W. M. Parker. Judge Parker denied the injunction and the project went on. The 1927-1928 project resulted in the area around the Court House to be excavated, allowing for larger windows to penetrate the foundation and to allow natural light into the renovated basement. The main entrance remained centered on the façade, but a forward-projecting granite entryway replaced the 1867 straight-run stair, incorporating a grand staircase of two opposing circular runs of granite, wrought iron railings and a series of wrought iron lights posts with acorn-top globes. In 1927, just as all County activities had been disrupted with the 1866-1869 construction of the Court House, the Commissioners were faced with a space dilemma. They leased the 1915 Brookville Park Auditorium, located on part of the Fairgrounds, a building later known as the “White Elephant.” The offices and the Court moved into the building which was renovated and the stage was remodeled to serve as a courtroom. The Jeffersonian Democrat of May 12, 1927 reported: Jefferson County offices will soon be doing business in the Brookville Park Building. Work of moving was started several days ago and the next few days will see all the Court House offices located in their temporary home where they will remain until the reconstruction of the present Court House is completed. The Judge’s chambers, law library and court room fixtures were the first to be moved; yesterday the moving of the Commissioners’ office was completed, and the removing of the other offices will be carried thru as rapidly as possible. The arrangement of the offices in the Park Building will be similar to their arrangement in the Court House. Immediately inside the entrance, the office of Judge Darr will be found on the right and directly opposite will be the office of C. A. Anderson, County Superintendent of Schools. Passing thru the lobby and into the main auditorium, the offices of the Register and Recorder and County Commissioners will be found on the right side of the building and those of the Prothonotary and County Treasurer will be located on the left. Space for the Sheriff and Jefferson County Farm Bureau will also be provided. The stage of the Park Building has been arranged as a court room, with the Judge’s bench, jury box, and chairs for attorneys and witnesses. There will be very little, if any, room for spectators, [but] it is thought the space will be ample for necessary requirements. The first session of court in the temporary quarters will be naturalization court, which will be held early in June. The Court House itself was not the only building impacted by the reconstruction project. The adjacent Jail and Sheriff’s Residence was older yet, having been built in 1832. Architect Bailey examined the 90-year-old building and pronounced it unsafe. On May 12, 1927, it was reported: The Jefferson County jail building on Monday of this week was condemned as unsafe for occupancy and will be vacated within the next thirty days, it was stated at the sheriff’s office this week. An inspection of the jail building was made on Monday by Emmett E. Bailey, of Oil City, architect in charge of the Court House reconstruction, at the request of the County Commissioners, and Mr. Bailey pronounced the building unsafe. The part of the building occupied by the cells is in fair condition, but in the portion used by the sheriff and his family the wall have begun to crack and crumble. Sheriff C. F. Evans recently purchased the property of Eugene Smith, on Walnut street, and will move his family there as soon as it is vacated by Mr. Smith. The Sheriff’s office and the Jefferson County Farm Bureau, which is also in the Jail building, will be located in the Park Building with the other county offices. County Commissioners are endeavoring to make arrangements with Clarion County authorities for the housing of Jefferson prisoners in the Clarion jail, and it is thought that such an arrangement will be affected. No plans have been made as yet for the tearing down of the jail building, but it will probably be removed within the next few months. The new jail will be located in the wing being added to the Court House. Heated discussion was also held regarding the Architect’s fee of 4% of the construction fee and of the payment of a $4,000 invoice from Bailey. Coincidences? The injunction seeking to halt the project was denied by the Venango County Judge and the Architect was from Oil City, Venango County. Architect Bailey pronounced the Jail and Sheriff’s Residence unsafe when he had already designed new cells in the new wing and the Sheriff had bought a house elsewhere in town. We’ll never know, but in any case the project went on. By August of 1928 the renovation was complete and the various office moved back into their rehabilitated home. The Jeffersonian Democrat of August 23 commented: “Work of moving the county offices the BrookvilIe Park Building into the remodeled Court House has practically been completed, and county business is again functioning practically as usual. interior of the remodeled building is strikingly handsome and sufficient space is provided to care for county’s needs for years to come. After the landscaping of the courtyard is completed and grass can begin to grow, the appearance of the outside will not be so barren.” At the same time Brookville’s C. S. Ferguson, a landscape gardener, was awarded the contract for the landscaping of the lawn. The lights on the new grand staircase caught the eye of the Editor of the Democrat: Have you ever noticed what a difference it makes at night when the lights at the front of the county Court House are lit? All the difference in the world. I, transforms the appearance of the Court House block as nothing else could. An otherwise dark section of Main street is illuminated, and the appearance of the whole street is greatly improved. Before the Court House was remodeled a single arc light hung at the entrance which was seldom lighted, usually when there were night gatherings in the Court House and occasionally at other times. Even this single light, when burning, helped to chase away the gloom. Just because the building is a public one is no reason why it should be enshrouded in darkness from sundown to sunup. Public buildings should be illuminated as much, if not more than private ones. While we do not favor any needless expenditure of county funds, we believe that the most prominent building in the county should be properly lighted for a few hours each evening. Not necessarily all night, but until 10 or 11 o’clock. The proportion cost of the electricity used would be small and the total cost per year would be a negligible amount in county expenditures. As a matter of civic pride and out of respect to our seat of justice, let’s have the Court House properly lighted up every evening. The long-held rivalry between Brookville, the County seat, and Punxsutawney, the largest Jefferson County town reared its ugly head at one point. The Editor of the Democrat noted in August 1928 “To the editor of the Punxsutawney Spirit, the new County Court House is a thing of beauty on the inside. The outside of the structure, in his estimation, could be any one of several things, but he mentions only its likeness to a box factory. And he can’t get over the thought that the taxpayers were flambozzled into getting under a load of $400,000 for its construction. This is all right for the editor to say that. He has said this much several times. It won’t be long now till he wears out in his crusade against the improvement and then it is likely to be something else.” A Soldiers’ Memorial, built of brownstone was designed and erected in 1920 by contractor John H. Carr on Pickering Street. In 1928 Carr relocated it to the Court House lawn near the former site of the Jail and Sheriff’s Residence. Many decades later it was replaced by a modern Veterans’ Memorial and only the ball finial of the historic monument remains. Over the many decades since the 1927-1928 addition and remodeling of the Court House, relatively few structural changes have taken place to the historic building. A remarkably architecturally sensitive elevator addition was constructed in the angle of the L-shaped building, from designs by Brookville architect William L Snyder, Jr. In later years, a major rehabilitation of the entire building took place under the watchful eye of Clerk-of-the-Works John Hegburg. This massive project replaced the roof, updated all the mechanicals, and repaired portions of the exterior that had deteriorated. Much like the 1927 project, this rehabilitation had its detractors who suggested that a new building should be built elsewhere. Fortunately for all Jefferson Countians, those minority opinions failed to prevail, and the Jefferson County Court House of 1869 and 1927—and now of 2019–remains a cultural landmark that celebrates jurisprudence in the County and is an architectural paperweight within downtown Brookville and the National Register-listed Brookville Historic District. For more information on events happening in the PA Great Outdoors, go to VisitPAGO.com/events. https://www.explorejeffersonpa.com/pennsylvania-great-outdoors-jefferson-county-courthouse-history-for-150th-birthday-part-3/#more-239341

Spotted lanternfly continues to concern state officials by WJAC Staff Monday, August 19th 2019 AA Spotted Lanternfly (WJAC) CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WJAC) — The state secretary of agriculture said the department has spent billions of dollars trying to prevent crop devastation by the spotted lanternfly. Agriculture experts said the insect can eat its way through a wide range of crops. They said the spotted lanternfly hops from crop to crop easily and can latch onto vehicles and cargo. Some of the control measures have included putting the southeastern part of the state under quarantine. But researchers are now looking at ways to find or develop a biological prevention measure to stop the population growth of the spotted lanternfly. For the moment, the state Department of Agriculture has set up a separate spotted lanternfly hotline to help track the insect's travels. The insect has also damaged crops in neighboring states, including New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. SEE VIDEO REPORT ; https://wjactv.com/news/local/spotted-lanternfly-continues-to-concern-state-officials

Jefferson County Courthouse at 150: Getting a Facelift August 6, 2019 9:00 am· Author: Andrew Bundy BROOKVILLE, Pa. (EYT) – The Jefferson County Courthouse may be approaching 150 years old, but some work has been done to make sure that it looks as fresh as it did in 1869. (Photos by Judy Buzard Schwab.) This year, the entire structure was pressure washed. Then, old paint was scraped away to make way for new paint. The whites and reds have been repainted. The structure from the top of the bell tower to the foundation will soon sparkle like it was brand new. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Jefferson County Commissioner Herb Bullers said. “We did this project now because we were concerned that ignoring it would damage the building.” M & A Coating of Washington, Pa., did the work on the courthouse. Bullers said the structure, for as old as it is, is in very good shape. They did find some concerning areas with the gutters and the roof, so the project includes taking care of those problems. “The last time we worked on the building was about 10 years ago,” Bullers said. “We’re keeping it up, which is why it’s in good shape.” The building as dedicated in September of 1869, replacing a single-story building brick structure that had occupied the space in the 1830s. The west wing was added in 1927, made to look like it was part of the original “Italianate” structure. An event is planned for its 150th anniversary this September. This is the latest article in a multi-part series celebrating the Jefferson County Courthouse’s 150th anniversary. Check back later for additional articles.

Jefferson County Courthouse at 150: A View From The Clock Tower August 4, 2019 12:00 pm· Author: Andrew Bundy BROOKVILLE, Pa. (EYT) – The Jefferson County Courthouse has one feature that is both incredibly obvious yet somewhat mysterious. The clock tower, rising above Main Street Brookville, is a clear piece of the landmark. Drawings and images of the courthouse, some dated 1878, show the tower overlooking the building through its many revisions over the years. However, seeing inside the tower is an honor that many residents have yet to enjoy. The clock tower, photographed from Main Street. The scaffolding for the paint touch-ups is visible. Jefferson County Commissioner John “Jack” Matson has acted as a tour guide for the courthouse on several occasions. The bell tower, without a guide, is somewhere people visiting the courthouse do not get to see. Matson has guided people there, however. He leads them up a narrow staircase to the balcony over the courtroom. There, in that balcony, is another, narrower door and and even narrower staircase. To get to the ladder that leads up to the top of the tower, a visitor has to crawl under support beams and step over gaps in the structure as old as the building itself. Once there, however, it is clear that Jefferson County residents have wanted to ensure future generations see that they made the climb. The walls interior to the tower are decorated with names and dates. “People write their names on the walls,” Matson said. “We have chalk there, in case someone wants to mark that they came up here.” Matson pointed out that the oldest signature he found has “1885” written under it. While others may be older, in Matson’s searches, that year is the earliest he has found. “It’s pretty amazing that people from this area have been putting their names on these walls for almost the whole 150 years it’s been here,” Matson said. The names fill almost every section of wall both around the bell house and on the bell house itself. Later names have been written in chalk, but there are different media present as people who visited the courthouse, presumably under positive circumstances, marked their passage. Matson has his signature on the wall, as do other Brookville leaders. The clock’s gears are encased in a house that is, in turn, encased in the tower. The extra protection keeps nature from damaging the assembly. The age of the tower, Matson said, means that very few people can maintain the equipment there. The ladder to the top of the tower is nestled in a corner overlooking the face of the clock. In anticipation of the 150th anniversary, the tower is currently being painted and repaired. “A long time ago, we ignored maintenance on the building,” Matson said. “It cost us a lot of money to correct that. Now, we’re trying to keep up with it.” The balcony over the courtroom, for instance, needs a little plaster work. When workers came to work on the tower many years ago, the original builders had a sort of skirt around it. No one knew why. It turned out, Matson said, that the skirt kept water from coming down the tower and into the courthouse. Without that structure, some of the ceiling in the balcony has crumbled. But that is something that can be corrected, and the cosmetic work being down on the tower, while making it difficult to get a great view of the town at the moment, will make sure the clock tower stays in perfect operation. Crawling up into the tower is not something Matson likes to do. When there, the wind whips hard and fast. The sound of Brookville seems distant, muted somewhat by the wind. During the construction work, a painter on a scaffold is more than helpful when someone wishes to see downtown. He helps navigate the scaffolding, telling where to put a foot or where to grab on for a handhold. He said that he usually paints big water towers, so painting this tower is not all that unnerving. However, looking down, anyone else might soon discover a new fear of heights, made worse by the tight space of the tower with the scaffolding closing in. Matson talked to courthouse employees while giving a personal tour. Some employees said that they had not been up in the tower even though they have worked in the courthouse for years. Even though the tower is there, rising above Brookville, and has seen 150 years of Brookville history pass beneath it, the idea that there is a life inside that tower seems foreign to those whose names are not on the walls. Matson sees the tower as another element of the courthouse that is too important to lose. Instead of a nondescript flat building outside of town like other courthouses – like some residents had proposed when the courthouse needed those expensive renovations – Brookville has preserved a piece of history. “I think it’s the most beautiful building in the county,” Matson said. “People come from all over to see it.” A view of Brookville from the Courthouse bell tower. This is the latest article in a multi-part series celebrating the Jefferson County Courthouse’s 150th anniversary. Check back later for additional articles. https://www.explorejeffersonpa.com/jefferson-county-courthouse-at-150-a-view-from-the-clock-tower/