Carlton W. Holmes, US Navy

Carlton W. Holmes, 87, formerly of Port Allegany, PA, passed away Thursday, August 13, 2015. Born March 9, 1928 in Port Allegany, PA, he was the son of Carl and Jennie Johnson Holmes. On December 30, 1954, he married Oral Jean Hardes who preceded him in death on May 2, 1987.

Carlton was a member of Liberty Lodge No. 505 F.&A.M. of Port Allegany, PA and the Coudersport Consistory of Coudersport, PA.

He served aboard United States Coast Guard ships on the Great Lakes prior to returning to Port Allegany for his senior year of high school. Upon graduating from Port Allegany High School, he enlisted in the United States Navy, completing aviation electrician school and flight training. In 1948, he was honorably discharged.

A resident of Port Allegany for more than 70 years, he worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad as a telegraph operator and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation as a materials inspector. In his earlier days, he owned a lawnmower repair shop and a Christmas tree farm.

One of his great hobbies was growing trees in addition to traveling around the United States. Carlton was also accomplished at woodworking.

Carlton is survived by one daughter, Kasia Holmes Painter, one son-in-law, Martin Painter, and one grandchild, Marsia Painter, all of Port Allegany. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents and a sister.

In accordance with Carlton's wishes, services will be private. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Port Allegany.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes, Inc. of Port Allegany, PA.

Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

Online condolence may be made at, www.hartle-tarboxfuneralhomes.com

Monkey Island

Monkey Island Vacation Bible School was held last month  at the Alliance Church.  Pictured are a couple of pirates - Karen Harmon and her granddaughter, Coral Tronetti who was celebrating her 7th birthday at Monkey Island.  Coral is the daughter of Jason and Stacey Tronetti.  Also pictured are some of the over 100 children who attended the annual VBS as they enjoyed the music portion of the evening in the sanctuary of the church.  Pam Fischer Photo

Gator Varsity Football Schedule

Regular Season Games

Sept 4 - @ Curwensville  7:00pm (L 55-22)

Sept 11 - Elk County Catholic 7:00pm (L 38-0)

 Sept 18 - Moniteau 7:00pm

Sept 25 - @ Kane 7:00pm

Oct  3 - Cameron County (Homecoming) 2:30pm

Oct 9 - Coudersport 7:00pm

Oct 16 @ Otto-Eldred 7:00pm

Oct 23 @ Smethport 7:00pm

Oct 30 Sheffield 7:00pm 

*Home games will be heard on WHKS, 94.9FM and online at www.network1sports.com*

Donald A. McNeil, PAHS Class of '53

Donald A. McNeil, 79, of Long Hollow Rd., passed away Friday (July 31, 2015) in the Olean General Hospital, after a brief illness.
     

Born on October 11, 1935, in Olean, NY, he was a son of Clair F. and Hazel G. Plummer McNeil.  On January 23, 1971, in Port Allegany, he married Phyllis E. Abel.
     

He was a longtime resident of the area and a graduate of the Port Allegany High School, Class of 1953.
     

Don started his career at Backus Co., Smethport, after graduation working on a government secret project for the first satellite system ever launched.  Afterwards he worked for Pierce Glass Co. (now Ardagh Glass) Port Allegany for 24 years, as a mouldmaker, before transferring to the company’s Lincoln, IL facility for 8 years.  Thereafter he was employed as a mouldmaker for Owens-Illinois Glass in Brockway, PA, retiring in 2001.
     

Mr. McNeil was a past member and steward of the American Flint Glass Workers International Union, past president of the Pierce Glass Credit Union, member of F. & A.M. Liberty Lodge 505, Port Allegany, Coudersport Consistory, Canoe Fish & Game Club, and the National Rifle Association.  He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and an enthusiast for American history and Civil War historian.  He enjoyed his beloved Labrador, Luci.
     

Surviving in addition to his wife, Phyllis, are two sons, Kim (Christeena) McNeil of Eldred, Timothy (Dawn) McNeil of Turtlepoint; a daughter, Amy (Joe) Shelley of Port Allegany; a stepdaughter, Robin (Joe) Formoso of Cincinnati, OH; a stepson, Whitey (Sally) Brundage of Port Allegany; 12 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; a sister, Edna May Taylor of Port Allegany; and a brother, Ronald McNeil of Turtlepoint; and several nieces and nephews.
     

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Robert McNeil.
     

Friends will be received from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesday Aug. 4, 2015) in the Switzer Funeral Home, Port Allegany, where a funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. with Rev. H.D, Youngblood, Jr. officiating.  Burial will be in Annin Creek Cemetery, Turtlepoint.
     

Memorials can be made to the Chestnut Street Baptist Church or Port Area Ambulance Service.

Christopher S. “Chris” Bolles, Veteran

Christopher S. “Chris” Bolles, 28, passed away on Tuesday (Aug. 18, 2015) in Port Allegany.

Born on Sept. 25, 1986, in Coudersport, he was a son of Clarence and Pamela Larkin Bolles.

He was a 2005 graduate of Port Allegany High School. Chris later joined the U.S. Army and had served in Iraq during the Iraq War, with the 2002 Calvary Regiment in the infantry. Afterward, he was employed by the Mercer Drilling Co. in Mansfield and later for the Patterson UTI Co. as a derrick hand.

Chris loved gaming, including video and computers, and building, programming and repairing computers, being outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and rock climbing. Chris was proud to be a veteran and was also proud of his high school track record. He was very athletic and a competition weightlifter. He was a great father and loyal friend.

Surviving are his mother, Pamela Gillen of Jamestown, N.Y.; his father, Clarence and his wife, Deborah Carr-Bolles, of Bradford; he is also survived by Ashley Bridenbaker, with whom he resided, and their daughter, Lila Aurora Bolles and Ashley’s children, Starlet and Corbin James; four brothers, Tony (Johnie) Cochran of Hopewell, Va., William Gillen of Eldred, Curtis (Passion) Stiles of Gary, Ind., and Matthew Bacza of Sweden Valley; two sisters, Sierra Gillen and Mary-Elizabeth Gillen, both of Jamestown; and two half-brothers, Clarence Bolles of St. Marys and Matthew Bolles of Colonial Heights, Va.

Friends may call at a memorial visitation from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Frame Funeral Home, Eldred. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Chris Stavish officiating. Burial will follow at the Fairmount Cemetery, Farmers Valley, with full military honors being presented by the Port Allegany Memorial Honor Guard.

Online condolences may be made at framefuneralhome.com.

Causer Votes in Favor of Overrides to Fund Human Services

HARRISBURG – Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) today voted in support of overriding the governor’s veto of several line items in the state budget to ensure necessary programs and services may continue for the people who need them.

However, the efforts failed along party lines.

“It’s been more than two months since the General Assembly adopted its budget and the governor vetoed it in its entirety,” Causer said. “Today, human service programs are really struggling, being forced to borrow money or possibly even shut down. This is not fair to the people who rely on these services.

“Voting to override the governor’s veto of certain line items in the budget bill – many of them line items that either matched or exceeded what the governor asked for – offered what I felt was the best opportunity to fund these agencies and ensure the continued availability of services. I am disappointed that those efforts failed.”

Veto overrides require a two-thirds majority to pass.

Causer said progress on budget negotiations has been slow over the last two months, with the governor continuing to push his $33.8 billion spending plan that requires nearly $5 billion in new taxes this year and more than $12 billion over the next two years.

“I’ve heard from many people who are frustrated that a compromise hasn’t been reached, but many of them also tell me they do not support the significant broad-based tax increases the governor’s proposal requires,” Causer said. “People cannot afford a 20 percent increase in their income taxes, and they can’t afford a 10 percent increase on sales taxes that will apply to hundreds of additional items, including things like day care, diapers, nursing home care and more.”

Causer said he remains committed to a responsible budget like the one adopted by the General Assembly in June, which provided record funding for public education and support for public safety and human services without increasing taxes.

Eugene E. Blood, Truck Driver

Eugene E. Blood, 88, of Sartwell Creek Rd., passed away Saturday (Aug. 22, 2015) in Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh.
    

Born May 16, 1927, in Middletown, OH, he was a son of Edwin E. and Grace L. Lindsey Blood.  On June 5, 1949, in Emporium, PA, he married Elaine J. Herbstritt, who died Aug, 28, 2014. They were married 65 years.
    

Eugene was a truck driver employed by the Northway Trucking Co. of Port Allegany for many years, before his retirement.
    

Mr. Blood was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Port Allegany.
    

Surviving are a son, Mitchel E. (Karolyn) Blood of Port Allegany; a daughter, Neena J. Pendergraf of Haw River, NC; 8 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Louise (Gene) Thoren of Raleigh, NC, Lucille (Robert) Bryant of Horseheads, NY; and several nieces and nephews.
    

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Elaine; a son, Eric E. Blood; two brothers, Charles and Wales Blood; and two sisters, Dorcas Hessie and Jessie Coleman.
      

Friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 3 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 13, 2015) in the Bradford Kingdom Hall.
    

Memorials can be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
    

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Switzer Funeral Home, Port Allegany.

Pitt-Bradford to offer mountain biking class

BRADFORD, PA – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Division of Continuing Education and Regional Development will offer a class in “Mountain Biking for Fun and Fitness” later this month.

The two-part class will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21 and 28. The first class will take place in the Fifth Floor Ballroom of the Seneca Building at 2 Main St. in Bradford, where Pete Dzirkalis, owner of Just Riding Along bike store in Bradford, will teach participants about the different types of mountain bikes and how to get the most out of them. Dzirkalis will also explain how to negotiate different types of obstacles on the trail and safety precautions.

The second session will be a beginning-to-intermediate trail ride, which will require a helmet and bike.

Cost is $29. For more information or to register, contact Continuing Education at 814-362-5078 or contined@pitt.edu.