Potter County Today

Michael Pepper and Rene Kicklighter were honored for their rapid and conscientious response in the wake of severe flooding that struck northeastern Potter County last August. Brian Natali (left, Pa. Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs) and Alvin Loveless (Pa. Assn. of County Veterans Services Directors) presented them with the Pennsylvania Veterans Service Award.

Hundreds of people sprang into action last August after the remnants of Hurricane Debbie caused severe flooding in the Harrison Valley and Westfield region. Among those answering the call to duty were veterans service officers in Potter and Tioga counties. Last week, representatives from two veterans organizations honored these five public servants by presenting them with the coveted Pennsylvania Veterans Service Award. Potter County Director of Veterans Affairs Michael Pepper and his assistant Rene Kicklighter, now retired, received their medals during Thursday’s meeting of the county commissioners. Both are military veterans themselves.

“Michael and Rene worked feverishly for weeks to help veterans who were affected to get the money they needed to help with their recovery from storm damage,” said Brian Natali, a director with the Pa. Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs. Natali said DMVA provides $1,600 grants for veterans in need of temporary emergency system. Through the work of Pepper and Kicklighter, as well as their Tioga County counterparts Tim Cleveland, Jodi Stevens and Rhianon Forrest, approximately 60 vets were able to receive the money quickly. They traveled to the flood-stricken communities to work directly with the victims and submit their claims for expedited processing. The grants were unrestricted, so they could immediately be used for everything from food and emergency housing to household goods and transportation.