A second full-time position has been established in the Potter County Department of Veterans Services. On Thursday, Commissioners Nancy Grupp, Robert Rossman and Paul Heimel approved the hiring of Rene Kicklighter to fill the new Veterans Services Officer post, at the recommendation of Veterans Affairs Director Mike Pepper.
A military veteran herself, Kicklighter be participating in training from the Pa. State Assn. of Directors of Veterans Affairs to become certified to assist vets and their dependents with claims for health care and other benefits earned through their service. She will also assist with outreach and other activities. The commissioners have assigned the county maintenance team, under the direction of Joe Kurtz, to renovate the former VA Medical Clinic at the Mapleview property off Rt. 872 in east Coudersport to accommodate expanded office accommodations for the Department of Veterans Services.
A Potter County official has been recognized with one of nine 2024 “Champions of the Pennsylvania Wilds” awards. Will Hunt, director of planning, community development and GIS services, is this year’s Pennsylvania Wilds Member of the Year. The honor recognizes his work in supporting the outdoor recreation economy and nature tourism in northwestern Pennsylvania.
In announcing the award, the judges described him as “an advocate of outdoor recreation and preservation of the character of the Pennsylvania Wilds.” Among his achievements are an ATV Task Force bringing together regional partners and stakeholders to ensure a thoughtful balance of outdoor recreation with the landscape; a land use ordinance to incorporate regional design standards, ensuring the preservation of area dark skies and natural beauty; and leadership of the Pennsylvania Wilds Planning Team, which brings together county governments and other economic development and conservation partners to work on regional planning related to outdoor recreation development.
Members of the Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) God’s Country Chapter attended Thursday’s meeting of the Potter County Board of Commissioners to draw attention to the designation of May as Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month. For its part, ABATE promotes safe driving techniques and equipment maintenance. The proclamation calls on drivers to be aware of motorcycles on the streets and highways. The commissioners pointed out that the ranks of motorcyclists have been growing in recent years, making it more important than ever for drivers to be aware of their presence and share the road. They also noted that the hobby has had a positive economic impact in Potter County, which is an increasingly popular destination for riders.