The Progress News - Year in Review - Part 3
• East Brady prepares for its annual Riverfest Street Fair. Last year most of the activity was held at the All Stars Parking lot.
• Central Electric Cooperative in Parker celebrates its 85th year. Central Electric took time to reflect on the people and its history over the past 85 years. Because big investor-owned power companies believed they couldn’t generate enough profit, so they bypassed rural areas. On July 12, 1937, CEC’s five founders met at their attorney’s office in Kittanning and signed the official incorporation notice for CEC – originally called Central Pennsylvania Rural Electric Cooperative Company, changed to Central Electric Cooperative in 1938. And this began CEC’s journey to provide electricity to our rural areas.
• A new mural was painted last summer by some ACV students, staff and community members along the river in Parker.
• The A-C Valley Minor League Kid-Pitch Team won the championship game over the #1 seeded team in South Division, New Bethlehem. It was a hard fought game, but ACV managed to come out with the victory.
• Legislation co-sponsored by Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-21) to stop the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) from imposing new tolls on existing bridges with a Public-Private Transportation Partnership (P3) has been signed into law. The new law requires transparency.
• A new book “RIVER BOOTS – A Fish Warden’s Tales of Pennsylvania
Fish and Game Law Enforcement,” was written and published by Robert Lynn “Bob” Steiner. Bob Steiner has been a published author and photographer for 50 years, winning awards on a state and national level. He and his wife, Linda, were outdoors and travel writers. Their book is on display and for sale at the Emlenton Truck Plaza, just off I-80 at exit 42.
• John “Jack” Ritchey of Emlenton was selected as the Grand Marshal during the annual Emlenton Fireman’s Parade for the Emlenton Summer Festival.
• The “In Transit” cover band performed at the annual RiverStone Center for the Arts, for the membership picnic at the RiverStone Estate in Foxburg.
• Jason Beckwith, of Butler, spent a few days at the Boys & Girls Club Along the Allegheny, listening and talking to members of the Club. In recognition of the struggles of our youth through the pandemic, Jason took time to explain to members of the Club of the importance of knowing your self-worth and provided a lecture series on a variety of topics affecting our youth today.
• Knights of Columbus in Action. The Live Center, A Better Choice, in Franklin, received assistance in a regional effort by seven local chapters of Knights of Columbus, along with other non-profit groups and local businesses, when they all jumped in to help remodel rooms for the Life Center to expand their services for those in need. The Live Center says, “We are for babies. We are for men and women. We are for the childless. We are for our community. WE ARE for LIFE”!
• The National Night Out event was held on August 2nd from 6 pm–9 pm, at the Keystone Elementary
School in Knox. The Knox Borough Police Department hosted the event along with the Keystone C.A.T.S. This event is a great opportunity for your children to meet local first responders. Come check it out and have a great time.
• A celebration of its 175th anniversary for the two-room school in West Freedom was held on August 20th during Perry Township’s Community Days, sponsored by the Perry Township Historical Society.
• A new era has begun in Emlenton with the opening of the area’s first splash park. The splash park was officially opened on Friday, July 29, 2022 and is located on Prospect Street in Emlenton.
• The BHS Clarion Hospital Foundation awarded two new scholarships to area students who are pursuing their education through the nursing program at Penn West Clarion. These scholarships were made possible
through the generous donation of Donald and Norma “Toots” Stroup, who left a lasting legacy through a bequest directed to the Clarion Hospital on behalf of Penn West Clarion’s nursing program. Mia Gourley and Darcie Maul were selected by the scholarship committee to be the 2022 recipients.
• The newest in a series of history books through post cards and photographs collection, A Knox/Edenburg Collection was published just in time for the annual Horsethief Celebration in Knox. This collection has over 450 historical photographs, post cards advertisements and more from the Knox and Edenburg Area. The book is still available a several local retail outlets.
• St. Petersburg Borough celebrated its sesquicentennial (150 years) on August 20th. (1872-2022). The contents of a time capsule buried in 1972 was on display in the Boro Building gym as part of the celebration.
• On Thursday, August 11, 2022, Joe Rapp, of Foxburg, captured first place honors at Nemacolin with an overall score of 131 in the “Drive, Chip and Putt” competition. Rapp competed in the 14-15 yr. old division. The top honor qualified him for Regional at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, NY.
• Larry Lewis was named the Knox Citizen of the Year. Every year a non-profit group within the Knox area is asked to select a citizen of the year for the Knox Horsethief Days. Larry was honored during the Horsethief Days Celebration held on Aug. 16 through the 20th.
• Ted Marron claimed the 2022 FCC Club Championship title with a wire to wire victory.
• Brent and Bernadette Francisco celebrated 50 years of Marriage on August 19th. Francisco married the former M. Bernadette O’Donnell on August 19,1972 at Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church in Chicora, PA.
• Foxburg Country Club Jr. Club Championship was held on Aug. 14th. Joe Rapp fired a 79 to win back to
back Junior Championships at Foxburg Country Club. Tied for second at 86 were Dane Wenner and Chloe Fritch.
• KRD Counseling and Wellness Center Celebrates with an Open House. An open house was held on Thursday afternoon, August 18, 2022 at the KRD Counseling and Wellness Center. The center is located
in Clarion at 162 S. 2nd Avenue, Suite D at the Applewood Center. The counseling center recently opened on July 1, 2022, by three qualified and experienced individuals; Kari Overheim, Rebecca Coull, and Derek Oberlander. KRD Counseling and Wellness Center, will provide quality counseling services tailored to each clients specific needs. Each therapist has their own private counseling office which promotes serenity and peace. We also have a children’s therapy room. They take clients age 5 and up. The KRD phone number is: 814-900-4510. 0149.
• “Super Book Sundays” comes to the Parker Firehall. The Mike Tremba family provided a new program at the Parker Firehall on the 2nd and 4th Sunday from Sept. thru December. Super Book was a way for the Tremba’s to provide a caring place for children to have fun, play games, and learn about Jesus’ love for them. The sessions were a welcome addition to area for children.
• The East Brady Area Development Corporation and the Brady’s Bend Historical Society worked together to replace the sign at St. Stephen’s Historic Church in Brady’s Bend.
• Fred and Martha “Patsy” Callihan celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a Mass at Mater Dolorosa in Chicora on Aug. 21, 2022. They were married on August 18, 1962, at St. Eusebius in East Brady, Pa. They also celebrated with family at a dinner of thanksgiving at the Allegheny Grille in Foxburg, Pa.
• David and Linda (Murphy) King of Snowhill recently celebrated their 50th wedding Anniversary. Linda and David were married on September 9, 1972, by Father Richard McGuire at St. Eusebius Catholic Church in East Brady, where they remain active members.
• Foxburg-based Allegheny River Trail in Clarion County, Inc. (ARTinCC), was awarded $426,700 towards construction of the first mile of the bike trail north of Foxburg heading to Emlenton. The remaining 20% of the Grant application request of $533,000 will be supplied by cash pledges and labor and materials commitments by numerous local citizens and businesses.
• Welcome to our neighborhood . . . In the spring of 2022, Sugarcreek Elementary School art teacher Chelsea Grubbs, conceived of a project to teach young children the value of neighbors and neighborhoods. Using art and teamwork these students, Kindergarten - 6th grade, created 3-D relief sculptures featuring homes, churches, and businesses in their community of East Brady. Their project was displayed through October in the Artist Windows on Kelly’s Way.
• The ladies of Knox Civic Club were the recipient of a grant provided by The McElhattan Foundation. The $100,000 contribution will be used to improve the safety and security of Knox Community Park, affectionately known by locals as “Peanut Park”. The park is owned and maintained by the Knox Civic Club.
• After 63 years, Tom Jackson retires. Tom owned and operated the Jackson Barber Shop in Parker. Tom closed with a “thank you” to all of his loyal patrons through the years.
• Stewarts Celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. On September 30, 1972, Pamela Faye Whitmore and Timothy Milo Stewart, were united in Holy Matrimony at the Callensburg United Methodist Church. September, 30, 2022 marked their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Today the couple lives on Terwilliger Road, Parker, PA.
• It was a busy year, part IV next week.
• Part IV will be published in the next issue of The Progress News. Stay tuned!