Local medical facilities and pharmacies now have available the most recent booster shots for COVID-19 coronavirus protection. Buchanan Brothers Pharmacy in Coudersport announced the vaccine’s availability with this street sign. COVID cases continue to be diagnosed in Potter County, but getting true numbers on the extent of the spread is virtually impossible. Official records from the Pa. Dept. of Health show that another 57 people tested positive over the past two weeks. However, DOH points out that the numbers only reflect those who have been tested at medical facilities or pharmacies. Results of at-home test kits, which are the preferred option for many, are not included.
Overall there have been 3,558 cases and 94 COVID-related deaths documented in Potter County as of Sept. 19. Testing is available at local pharmacies and at UPMC Cole. At-home test kits can be ordered online at covidtests.gov or by calling 1-800-232-0233.
While public health officials continually emphasize that vaccination is the most effective defense against COVID, Potter County’s vaccination rate for those age 6 and older still stands at 50 percent, with 1,211 people receiving only an initial dose and 6,294 receiving one of more booster shots. Just 21 more shots were administered over the past two weeks countywide. Pennsylvania’s statewide vaccination rate is 87.5 percent; just under 70 percent have been fully vaccinated. Nationally, the vaccination rate is 80 percent.
UPMC Cole offers the vaccine to eligible individuals at its outpatient offices. Buchanan Brothers Pharmacy in Coudersport administers the vaccine by appointment; call 814-274-8660. Rite Aid pharmacies continue to book appointments. To access the online reservation form, click here. A detailed summary on vaccines from the respected Johns Hopkins Medicine is available here.
Military veterans from Cameron, McKean and Potter counties are invited to a conference to advise them of benefits and services to which they might be entitled, and to provide information on money management and avoiding veteran-focused scams. The free session will be held from 10 am to 1 pm on Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Port Allegany VFW/American Legion on Rt. 155 just south of the borough. Lunch will be provided. It’s a project of the Pennsylvania Military Finance Alliance. To register or learn more, call 717-783-4247.
Alliance members include the Pa. Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs, Pa. Office of Attorney General, Pa. Dept. of Banking and Securities, American Legion, Better Business Bureau, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Pa. Housing Finance Agency.
Commissioners Nancy Grupp, Paul Heimel and Barry Hayman have once again called on the Maryland Air National Guard to hold a public meeting in Potter County on its plan to conduct frequent low-level military aircraft training flights over a wide swath of northcentral Pennsylvania.
The request comes in response to reports that the ANG will soon issue the results of its own study claiming the flights will have no significant impact on the quality of life, tourism or other measurements. A long list of public officials and organizations – including three congressmen and a U.S. senator – have called on the ANG to be more forthcoming. They are also asking that the organization prepare a more detailed Environmental Impact Study. Potter County would be the best site for a public meeting due to its central location and the fact that nearly the entire county lies in the training zone, the commissioners said.
Maryland ANG seeks authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration to train A-10 “Warthog” pilots for up to 170 days a year, no longer than four hours per day as low as 100 feet from the ground across parts of six counties. An initial environmental assessment conducted by the ANG, which determined that the flights pose “no significant impact” on local citizens or the environment, is available at public libraries in Coudersport and Galeton.
Military aircraft have trained in the region for many years, but at a higher altitude. Pa. Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources, which manages state forests and parks, has been studying the potential impacts for more than a year. DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said the flights could “drastically change the character of this region,” with the sound negatively affecting tourism, wildlife and outdoor recreation. DCNR has called on the Maryland ANG to maintain its current flight protocols and operations, or to consider alternative locations.
(This image from Senior Master Sergeant Jim Foard from the Maryland Air National Guard shows two A-10 Warthog jets on a training mission. If the ANG has its way, pilots could train at low altitudes above most of Potter County and parts of Cameron, McKean, Tioga, Clinton and Elk counties for as many as 170 days a year.)
Students from several area high schools converged on the Coudersport Consistory auditorium on Wednesday for a motivational program titled “Teen Truth.” Speaker Brandon McCall shared his insights and advice on issues that today’s youths are facing. Several students joined him in stage as part of his presentation emphasizing empathy, communication, building a positive culture in the school and at home, and life skills. McCall touched on the lasting impact that bullying can have on its victims and the sources of counseling and other help available to young people. To provide context, he testified about how he used personal grit and positive energy to overcome obstacles when he was a teen. Potter County Human Services sponsored the conference.
Potter County Commissioners Nancy Grupp, Barry Hayman and Paul Heimel detailed a trio of Operational Improvement Initiatives that are in the works during today’s business meeting. Details are as follows:
The commissioners, with the concurrence of the Potter County Jail Board, have contracted with the Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool (PCoRP) to conduct a comprehensive risk management review of the county jail. Its purpose is to study operations, facilities, policies and procedures to pinpoint areas that could be improved or updated; and to identify any issues which might increase the risk of litigation or other adverse outcomes at the jail. An expert in the field of county corrections, the laws that govern corrections, and recent court rulings that might affect jail operations has completed that review and her report is expected soon.
Also through PCoRP, the county is beginning an assessment of personnel policies and human resources (HR) policies at the jail, as well as other county offices and departments. Chief Clerk Jessica Giebel has been methodically reviewing county personnel policies in order to recommend updates or other changes to the commissioners. PCoRP consultants will assess the broader spectrum of issues. As with the risk management review of the jail, this assessment is also provided to the county at no charge, as a benefit of its PCoRP membership.
The commissioners are researching a third Operational Improvement Initiative. Pa. Dept. of Community and Economic Development offers a Strategic Management Planning Program to local and county governments. Its goal is to create short- and long-term financial plans and to review management practices. State funding would cover much of the cost, but there would be a county match. Potter County has not signed up for this type of service since 2009, and much as changed over the past 13 years. This remains in the discussion stages, but the commissioners believe it would be of great value in budgeting, financial planning and other areas of county operations.
COVID-19 coronavirus cases continue to be diagnosed in Potter County, but getting true numbers on the extent of the spread is virtually impossible. Official records from the Pa. Dept. of Health show that another 95 people tested positive and there was one more COVID-related death over the past four weeks. However, DOH points out that the numbers only reflect those who have been tested at medical facilities or pharmacies. Results of at-home test kits, which are the preferred option for many, are not included. Overall there have been 3,501 cases and 94 COVID-related deaths in Potter County as of Aug. 28. Testing is available at local pharmacies and at UPMC Cole. At-home test kits can be ordered online at covidtests.gov or by calling 1-800-232-0233.
While public health officials continually emphasize that vaccination is the most effective defense against COVID, Potter County’s vaccination rate for those age 6 and older still stands below 50 percent, with 1,210 people receiving only an initial dose and 6,274 receiving one of more booster shots. Just 19 more shots were administered over the past four weeks. Pennsylvania’s statewide vaccination rate is 87.5 percent; just under 70 percent have been fully vaccinated. Nationally, the vaccination rate of 80 percent. That leaves nearly 70 million people unprotected.
UPMC Cole offers the vaccine to eligible individuals at its outpatient offices. Buchanan Brothers Pharmacy in Coudersport administers the vaccine by appointment; call 814-274-8660. Rite Aid pharmacies continue to book appointments. To access the online reservation form, click here. A detailed summary on vaccines from the respected Johns Hopkins Medicine is available here.