Beautiful Barnett Township - Forest County PA

October 7, 2009

This may be "the weekend" to view the Fall color. We have had strong winds last night and today and little of the color has fallen to the ground indicating that the leaves are still tight and may hold well for next weekend as well. If the weather is sunny this weekend I would recommend that leef peepers visit then. The many local autum fests have been held in the last several weeks so those crowds should not be a factor. Local apple sellers have a good mix of apples and pumpkins and corn stalk decorations are also available at this time.

Archery season started this last saturday but I have not heard any reports so I cannot tell you if the season is off to a good start or not. Of course with the opening of hunting season the weather turned wet and windy which seems to be an annual occurrence. For the fishermen, I went to Erie last thursday and the streams were much lower than I expected but there were fishable numbers of steelhead and some browns in the tribs.

 

September 27, 2009

Well Fall is here and the summer tourists have departed. There is a bit of Fall color developing but, at this time, I think prime time leaf color is probably two weeks off. I will post updates on the color so that you can time your visit at the best time for this area.

On September 17th The Derrick, which is our daily newspaper from Oil City, ran a front page banner article on the fact that Forest County had been named, in an article by Robert Powell on MarketWatch.com., as one of the top 15 counties to retire to in the U.S. The article noted retirees want pretty scenery, recreational and cultural opportunities and resonable housing costs. Hello, Forest County. We were the only PA county named with one WV county also making the list. The balance of the list consisted of Southeastern and Western locations. To see the original article go to MarketWatch.com, type Robert Powell in the search bar and then scroll down to "15 Top Rural Areas to Retire". This confirms the choice of residents who have retired here and should encourage those who are considering coming to the area as a place to retire or to at least  spend their" time up north "before retreating to the sunny south during the Winter months.

The fellows got quiite a bit of road maintenance done during this past dry spell. A brief inspection of Maple Creek road, our northern most TWP road revealed that quite a bit of work needed done prior to winter if this road was to survive in serviceable condition until Spring so it was moved up on the priority list. It is possibly our least travelled road but does serve as a route from one side of the township to the other for residents going to work. Some of our roads received minimal work this year due to the wet Summer but all are considered serviceable. If you note any conditions you feel need attention please don't hesitate to inform us.

September 1, 2009

Back Street Bridge Replacement

The crossing over Cherry Run on Back Street was completed yesterday. It is now open for travel after a twenty three month closure. Enjoy the direct route from SR 899 to Cherry Run Road and Blue Ridge Road but please maintain a safe speed. Also, the street is currently a "dirt and gravel" street so fast speed during dry periods will create a dust problem for the residents. The street is scheduled for "tarring and chipping" in next summer's road maintenance program.

August 19,2009

Back Street Bridge Replacement

We began working on the Back Street crossing project on Monday morning. Bob was able to work us in then and handled the removal of the old bridge abutments, which were too heavy for our equipment, and the placement of the two pipes into the proper placement in the stream bed. We worked on back filling aound the pipes yesterday and today two of Bob's drivers delivered stone for the new road bed. Butch and Dan worked the stone bedding into the proper configuration and tomorrow should complete the final grading. The necessary guard rail will then be installed . We hope to have the road open again by the end of next week. I will post when it is open.

August 13, 2009

Back Street Bridge Replacement

The pipes for the Back Street bridge replacement arrived yesterday. Our PA One Call permit will clear tomorrow and digging can proceed after that. We do have to fill sand bags, which have been purchased, so that we can install the large pipe, which is eight feet wide and seventy one inches high, without creating a mud and silt condition in the stream. If we can arrange for Bob Silvis to help us for a day this coming week the major portion of the installation will be completed then. We will still have to install a guard rail, hopefully the following week. At any rate the street should be open in the next several weeks.

Road Work

Road work has progressed slowly this year due to the rainy summer. It is almost impossible to work a road surface and clean the ditches when they are full of muck. Now the crew will be working on the bridge so there will be another delay. One bright spot, Ken is getting the berms mowed back to improve vision around curves and it also gives the traveler a bit more of a warning when wildlife is crossing the road.

Offiice

Our old fax machine died and if you have called the office and tried to leave a message found that it was impossible to do so. This problem should be fixed today or tomorrow. We're sorry for the inconvenience.

 

July 22, 2009

Sewage Permit Fee Increase

Sewage permit fees are increasing significantly on August 1, 2009. If you are planning to add a structure to a vacant piece of property in the next three years it would be advisable to obtain your permit application before August 1, 2009. The Clarion County Sewage Association, which performs our sewage enforcement, may be contacted at 814 226-4732 for information on requirements and fees.

Bridge Replacement Material

The material to install the Back Street bridge replacement has been ordered.

 

July 17, 2009

Sorry for the extended period without an update. I experienced a problem with my editing capability.

Township Field Survey

 We are still conducting a field survey of development (building) and sewage systems throughout the township. If you receive a letter of violation, i.e. un-registered sheds, decks, etc, structures or old cars, campers, accumulated scrap and debris that needs removed or a sewage law violation such as having a well and a privey on the same property which is not allowed by State law, don't feel that you are being singled out. We are finding violations every twelve minutes we are in the field. It has been a long time since a thorough survey has been conducted but it is necessary at this point as local governments are being scrutinized to see that they are carrying out their responsibilities and property maintenance and sewage regulation enforcement are the responsibility of the Township. A County employee is also currently in our township updating property improvements for the Tax Assessors Office and she is having no problem finding development that is not reflected on the tax records. If there is any question in your mind that you may be in violation please read the "Required Permit " page on this site or contact one of the Supervisors or the Township Office for guidance. One common misconception by new land buyers is that the existing privey meets requirements because it  is "grandfathered". when in fact, when a property changes hands the privey must be brought up to current code requirements. A ground pit privey is no longer allowed. Priveys must be mounted on an approved cement tank. Another misconception is that a self contained camper, an RV, a truck cap or fifth wheeler with a built in tank can be brought to the property for an extended period of time with no sewage permit when in fact you are in violation after day fourteen.

Back Street Bridge

I received a call from our Engineering Firm that we have finally received approval from DEP on the Back Street bridge replacement. We now have to get prices on the material and construction will begin shortly. It's been a long wait and we appologize but government moves slowly.

Road Work Schedule

Please refer to the Road Work page for a tentative schedule

General Information

Although we are currently experiencing an extended period of lack of rain the river has had good levels of water and the canoers, kayakers and tubers have had no problem enjoying the river this year. River activity has been fairly high . The new river signs that we installed in late April are appreciated as I have heard many  river travelers point out the sign information to their friends as they passed the signs.

Fishing has remained good in both the river and local stocked streams. I had a guest last week and we had no problem locating both trout and bass to enjoy during our outings. The river has had good hatches for the fly fishermen to match and enjoy their sport.

The young eagles have left the nest and can been seen perched in trees along the river not too far distant from the nest. I have not seen an osprey on a regular basis but do see or hear them on occasion.

Both the deer and the turkey  appear to have had good breeding success as I have been seeing a good number of fawns and young turkey lately. I have also seen quite a few Spike buck but as of now have not seen any "shooters". All in all I feel that it will be another good hunting season. I haven't been in the woods to check the acorn situation but my gut feeling is that, with the late frosts this Spring, they will be spotty at best.

May 26, 2009

Memorial Day weekend has passed and it was enjoyed by as large of a turnout as I can remember in recent years. The river activity was high but I must say I noticed no roudiness and everyone relaxed and had a pleasant trip down the river as water levels were more than adequate and no walking was required.

The pair of  local bald eagles has again raised two young this year although they have not yet left the nest (to my knowledge). I noticed one of the adults make a pass at a fish in front of my place this evening but it came up empty. I found a pile of carp scales on the river bank last week when I mowed so they are having some luck catching the big fish.

Spring turkey season was a success but the birds did little talking this spring although the did respond to calling. On an average morning,  when I was working outside, I would hear several shots. The deer are starting to grow their new antlers and I have seen several different buck so far. We did have two nights last week when the temperature went as low as 26 degrees so this may be another year with little mast. It's been quite a while since we have had an abundant acorn crop.

The geese and local ducks now have young and can be seen on a daily basis cruising up and down the river and today a pair of geese had their young up on the road looking at the green yard grasses. They can become pests if left to eat in the yards.

Trout season has progressed through the first month and there has been no shortage of fish. The caddis hatch wasn't as heavy this year but stone flies are abundant and the minnow population appears to be higher than normal. The bass have also been active and everyone has enjoyed fighing this good fighting fish.

I did have a complaint of ATV's running on one of the township roads and issued a warning. Please remember that all of the township roads are closed to ATV's. Violaters will be fined. We want everyone to enjoy  their visit to our area but the only approved ATV area is on the National Forest trails. Contact information for National Forest permits is listed on the Home Page.

One of the residents was cleaning out an un-used cottage on his property last week and came across a carton marked explosives. The correct authorities were notified and a bomb squad was dispatched from Hershey. They performed a controled discharge away from any structures but it still rattled dishes in neighborhood homes. Lucky that the resident knew what to do about the discovery or someone could have been seriously hurt or killed.

There has been a rash of road sign thefts. If you notice anyone taking a sign please try to get the license number of their vehicle and report it to us. Sign replacement is an expensive and un-necessary waste of tax money.

The permit request for replacing the Back Street bridge has been forwarded to DEP and we are confident we will receive approval to perform the work. It could take four to six weeks to receive approval but we hope to complete the work shortly after that. Last year there were three bridges scheduled for work. The Clarington river bridge work has been completed. Now the Back Street bridge work is nearing approval. The bridge on River Road at Toms Run was the third bridge scheduled for work but I have not heard if is still on the work schedule. That is a Penn DOT bridge and with the current budget crunch that work may have been postponed.

 

April 7, 2009

At last weeks April meeting of the Board of Township Supervisors we accepted a bid for a new (used) dump truck. Delivery was taken yesterday, April 6th, and we now have a full compliment of reliable trucks to accomplish the upcoming Summer road maintenance program. The Spring road survey has been completed and, with the exception of Maple Creek Road which is currently closed for repair, the township roads came through the winter in much better condition than has been experienced in the past. Our updated repair methods appear to be paying off with road repairs holding up much longer.

We have also signed a contract with The Eads Group, our appointed Engineering firm, to proceed with the design and permitting process for replacement of the Back Street Cherry Run crossing. The bridge that was removed from service will be replaced with a two culvert structure that meets DEP requirements and which will have a better than one hundred year life expectancy. As soon as the permit is obtained  and material bid out, work will be scheduled with expected completion prior to this coming winter.

Receipt of 911 addresses from the County is expected very shortly. If you are near ordering anything with your address on it such as checks it may be a good idea to wait a week or two if you can. The placement of street signs will probably not happen until next year as purchase of the signs will be done through a grant which will probably take in excess of six months to obtain. The Forest County COG applied for grant money to replace all the Township and Borough traffic signs in the County in September and , although the grant was obtained, we have yet to receive any funds.

A marked increase in traffic in the township has been seen in the last several weeks as campers are coming up to get camps opened up for the coming fishing season and Summer. It is believed that this should be another good season for the local merchants as the economy may dictate that people remain closer to home for their summer vacation. This is certainly not a negative thing as we feel the area has much to offer and getting closer to nature and the area wildlife, as in animals - not night clubs, is beneficial to both mind and body. A week end or week of relaxing in the "forest" can make the everyday hubub of city life more bearable.

The eagles are back on their nest, the turkey vultures have returned and the migrating geese and ducks are taking a brief respite on the river from their journey north , all of which declare that Spring is here. I hope everyone has a great Summer when they visit our "Beautiful Barnett Township" this year.

Remember our metal item trash day is scheduled for April 25th. It's a great time to get rid of those old bed springs, worn out appliances, fencing, lawn mowers, etc. If you have any questions give me a call at 814  927-8795 and I will do my best to help you.

March 10, 2009

General information

Yesterday the Clarion River was at it's highest level of the year and river road was closed at Cooksburg for the majority of the day as the water was over Toms Run bridge. To my knowledge no homes or cabins along the river in the township received any damage but some shore erosian may have occured. This is the first time that the ground surface has been devoid of snow since Thanksgiving and I'm sure the forest creatures are thankfull to be able to gain access what little food there is. I have two deer with broken legs, one a front leg from a gunshot wound and one with a broken rear leg that I believe was from a car collision. Surprisingly both of them made it through the winter and periods of deep snow and ice. There is no lack of coyotes in the area and I thought the deer would have been easy prey.The turkey flocks seem to have come through the winter in good shape and it should be another good to excelent Spring hunting season.

I am still working with the Eads Group, our appointed engineering firm, and DEP to re-open the Back Street Cherry Run crossing. I thought I had found a source of funding through the Federal Governments Stimulus Package but as usual there are "hidden hooks" with the funds and our bridge was not long enough to quallify. It appears that the majority of the $2.8 million dollars that the State will be passing to the County will have to be passed back to the State to improve State Roads. In addition to that, our Liquid Fuel Reimbursement from the State is being reduced 10% due to the fact that there was less gas bought  by motorists last year when gas prices got up to the $4.00 level. The township relies on these funds for road maintenance.

Due to Easter falling on April 12th the Monthly Supervisors Meeting will be held on the first Thurday of the maonth and our annual Spring Scrap collection day is scheduled for 9:00 AM to 1:00PM on  APRIL 25, 2009. Please mark your calenders and make an effort to bring all of your scrap metal items to the Townhip Building on that day. We are again being forced to discontinue the practice of leaving the scrap dumpster outside for our residents and campers convenience because of abuse. It is currently about 1/3 full of garbage placed there by individuals who I assume couldn't read the large sign that says Metal Items Only. It's a shame that good things are always ruined by a few slobs.

We are currenty going through the Spring mud season and the surface of our roads is soft and will remain that way until the ground frost has thawed and water can penetrate the ground. Please limit any heavy hauling to a bare minumum to avoing tearing up and rutting during this time. The supervisors will be  conducting our annual spring road tour shortly to determine those sections of road needing more than normal work. If you feel that a section of road you travel should receive consideration please contact us.We do our best to assure that available funds are spent to the best advantage of our residents and land owners.

We are again in a position where one of our trucks requires repairs that cost more than is realistic. We are advertising for bids on a new (used) one and hope to have a reliable one on board by the time we begin our Summer road maintenance. This purchase will deplete our equipment fund but the balance of our equipment is believed to be in good condition and we hope to accumulate more equipment funds before another purchase is required.

January 8, 2009

General Information

At our January 5, 2009 re-organization meeting Rick Knutson was elected Chairman and Todd Boyer was elected Vice Chairman. I am entering the last year of my current term as a Supervisor and do not intend to run for another term. Bob Rigg was appointed as the Municipal Permit (Building Permit) Enforcement Officer. At this time we would like to remind you that, in accordance with our Building Ordinance, any development, ie addition, deck, porch, shed, etc., that increases the value of your property requires either a building permit for residences or municipal permit for assessory buildings and recreational cottages and camps. Failure to acquire necessary permits will result in fines being levied by the Local Magistrate. If you have recently made an addition to your property without first getting the necessary permit please contact us. There will be a complete inspection of the township this Spring at which time violations will be found and legal action will be taken.

The roads have pretty well "firmed up" for the winter and maintenance consists of plowing, anti skid application and removal of downed trees and branches. If you encounter an obstacle on one of our roads that requires our action please don't hesitate to notify us.

Progress is being made on the replacement of the Back Street bridge  and I am currently working with our Engineering firm to prepare drawings after which I will approach DEP for a permit . Permitting is a lengthly process but I hope to have approval for the work by mid summer. The work will be completed shortly after we receive the permit.

Census

A new census is scheduled to be completed in 2010. Census workers are needed and workers will be re-imbursed at a rate of $11.00 an hour and .58 cents per mile. A meeting is scheduled for !:00 PM January 12, 2009 at the Forestry Office on SR 66 north of Marienville. If you are interested please call 1 866-861-2010 to schedule your attendance at the meeting.

Hunting

The recent hunting season proved to be a challenge. Good success was had by many hunters although the deer appeared to go nocturnal and have yet to return to daylight movement. I am currently feeding several buck although only one has retained his rack.As stated on an earlier post, there is little mast out there this year and local feeding programs are definitely helping the animals.

November 17, 2008

There has not been much activity of interest since my last post but, in the interest of continuity, I will try to make this informative and a good read. The Fall color is gone and this morning there is a light coating of snow on the ground with predictions of more to come. The Township budget has been put together and will be discussed and adopted at the December meeting on December the 4th. It appears that a millage increase in the amount of two mills will take place. This increase is necessary due to rising costs which include but are not limited to  fuel increases, a requirement to replace all of our road signs, installation of  911 street / road signs, the Back Street bridge replacement which will require a loan, and a reduction in funding from the State. We strive to make every tax dollar return it's full value to you in Township services and I feel that eveyone will agree that our roads and their  maintenance programs have greatly improved over the last several years.

For the hunters - It looks like the upcoming deer season should be a good one. I have heard of two 8 point and one 9 point bucks being taken and reports of more shootable bucks being seen. One note though, I have hunted, small game and turkey, in an approximate 5 mile diameter circle from my home, and have yet to find any amount of acorns. With the price of shelled corn hitting $12.00 a hundred pounds this Summer, I said that I would not be feeding the wildlife this winter. I'm afraid that they are going to need help so I'll have to cut somewhere else. If you find similiar conditions in your hunting areas, please consider winter feeding programs. Remember though, you can do more damage than good if you start feeding and don't follow through for the entire Winter. Right now the deer are eating the leaves that have fallen on my yard, something I've never seen them do before. The bear population is good although finding a food source may be the key to hunting success. They come though our area on a 7 - 10 day  cycle raiding the bird feeders and garbage cans but that certainly doesn't guarantee that they will be here sometime during the three day season. In fact, with the cold weather and lack of a mast crop, they may den early. Good luck and I hope you enjoy the hunting seasons this year.

Gas drilling activity has increased in the State and you may be approached by someone asking  to lease the gas rights on your property. Please do some research before you sign anything to make sure you are getting a fair price.

October 9, 2008

This may be the weekend to view the Fall colors although, with the current weather forecast, next weekend could be better. The color is not quite at peak and no storms or rain is currently predicted for the coming week so foliage loss should be minimal this coming week. Which ever you choose, it is a great time to visit the  mountains. Apple vendors have made their annual trip to New York and have a good selection of both cooking and eating apples. If you are considering purchasing a bushel of apples be prepared to spend between $17.00 and $20.00 but the crop appears to be very nice this year with good color and size. Pumkins also are readily available for your Fall display or pies and that crop also appears to be a good one although I do not know the current price range.

Hunters can expect a great turkey season as flocks are being seen everywhere. The birds appear to have had both early and late hatchings as the size of the young birds runs from just over grouse size to almost fully grown birds. If you encounter a flock of young birds with just one older hen please shoot one of the younger birds so that the older bird is left to help the remainder of the young ones make it through the winter. Bear are another game animal that appears to be in greater abundance this year. Bear are frequently sighted and constantly make a pest of themselves by trashing bird feeders and getting in garbage cans. Again, they run in size from fifty -sixty pounds to over four hundred. Grouse appear to be on the rebound but squirrel are still spotty. The acorn crop is also spotty and may be the key to finding a good squirrel population. We had a bumper crop of wild cherry and there are still enough of them on the ground to attract wildlife. Now to the deer. Deer are here but not in the numbers we enjoyed in the past. No great numbers of buck are being seen but they will probably appear in greater numbers once the breeding season approaches and they become more active. Archery season is almost a week old but I have heard of no kills. Fishing on the river should be heatig up as the bass feed prior to winter. The water is in the "how low can it go" stage and rain is needed to raise it to more fishable levels.

On a more serious note, with the cost of fuel and road material escalading, we will almost definetly need to raise millage for this coming year. No one likes an increase in taxes less than the Township Supervisors but  it is our duty to provide necessary services to our land owners and residents and to do that we must have adequate funding. We have just begun working on budget figures for the coming year and will do our best to hold the increase to a minimum.

September 15 2008

ALERT

Last night the remainder of hurricane Ike came through the township. This morning our roads were impassable or near impassable and many areas are without electricity and phones. If you have a seasonal home or camp in the area it would be advisable to visit it or contact someone who can visit it for you. Several camps have been observered with severe roof damage and  the owners have been notified but many of the camps that are not visible from the road may have received damage. Needless to say - -if roof damage has occured the building contents will be exposed to water damage. Roofs should be repaired post haste. Again, please check your structure !

August 24, 2008

Bridge Work

Well, the work on the Clarington bridge on SR 899 has been completed. It involved removing about 2" of deck surface and capping with a new material. Very little inconvenience was involved. Status of the other two bridges has not changed although I have been advised by DEP that a permit will be required to replace the steel structure and the deck on the back street bridge. We have received the necessary paperwork for the permit but until we get a design with an engineer's signature we can go no further.

Rambling's

The annual community picnic was not held due to the lack of response from people wishing to attend. Although this event was not held, other activities have used the municipal building for gatherings this summer. Remember, the building and the picnic pavilion are available for gatherings for a nominal fee of $40.00.

Although I have not talked to the local business owners, I believe this was a good tourist season along the river. Much activity was noted and a lot of the rental cabins were rented for weekly periods rather than just week ends. I think that the high fuel prices kept people here rather than traveling to far away vacation spots. The weather was very co-operative and up until this last two weeks, the water level in the river made for easy floating activity. Fishing has dropped off a little due the the water temperature although several weeks ago I landed a channel cat that weighed better than 11 pounds. And yes, he/she is back in the river wating to give someone else a good fight.

I would like to remind people that the animals come to the river for water and that extra caution should be used when driving river road and belltown road during the early morning hours and evening and night time periods. Several deer have been killed on the road near my home with the latest being a fawn this last tuesday.

Oscar has retired from the road crew and Butch is wanting to cut back on his own hours so we are currently looking for a roadmaster trainee. The job involves eguipment maintennance, road work and snow plowing and yes there is paperwork.  If you are interested or know someone that may be please contact us at  814 752-6231. Once trained, the position will be road master and the salary is above average for this area.

I hope everyone has had an enjoyable summer . This coming weekend , Labor Day, is traditionaly summers last hurrah but we still have the beautiful Fall color to look forward to and of course that first snow fall.

Although I have not scouted in the woods, the oak trees near here that I have looked at do not have many acorns. I hope other areas have a better mast crop as the animals will have another hard winter and the local feeding program is going to suffer as shelled corn is currently $12.00 a hundred pounds. That is up 50% since last year.Turkey seem to be in good supply and it should be a fair to good deer season. We all realize that the deer population is down from what is was 5 or 10 years ago but there are still deer out there if you HUNT.

July 21, 2008

Bridge Work

Work began today on the Clarington bridge on SR 899. When I originally talked with the contractor's representative he said that work was expected to take about 2 - 3 weeks so I expect it to take at least that length of time. The bridge will be open to one lane of traffic so there will be no detour.

As of now the other two bridges have seen no repair activity.

Picnic

A reminder that you are requested to contact us, either at 814 752-6231 or 814 927-8795, to let us know if you will be attending the picnic scheduled for August 9th from 1:00PM to 5:00PM. If you get the answerong machine please leave your name and number and the number of people who will be coming with you. Again, if response is low the picnic will not be held. We ask that you contact us by August 2, 2008. If the picnic is canceled we will contact you no later than August 4, 2008.

July 5, 2008

BRIDGE WORK

Well, it's July 5th and none of the three bridges have seen any work. Swank, the Clarion River Bridge contractor has moved some equipment in but must have felt that the work could not be completed prior to July 4th so delayed starting. I feel they will commence work shortly after this weekend. The replacement of  Tom's Run bridge on River Road has not started. That work will be performed by PennDOT. Back Street bridge work has not begun but some progress has been made. A contractor is to visit the site and give us some idea of the cost and specifications for a new bridge. I have found a source for a loan at 2 1/2% over a period of up to 10 years. After specs are formed and the work is advertised for bid the only hold up will  be obtaining permits from DEP and the Pa. Fish Commission prior to starting the actual work. That may take up to six months so a realistic opening date is probably Spring of 2009. Sorry folks but going through goverment channels is a lengthly process.

PICNIC

A tentative date of August 9, 2008 has been set for this years community picnic. This date is the week after the annual "River Rats" get together at the township building and is a week before the annual picnic at the Greenwood Methodist Church.

Due to the low turn out at last years picnic we are requesting that you call, Email or stop by the township bulding prior to August 3, 2008 to let us know of your intention to attend. If interest is low the picnic will not be held. Again, we feel this is one of the annual functions in the area that lets you gather with your neighbors and enjoy a day together like "country folk" have done in the past. Both residents and campers are encouraged to attend. As usual, the township will provide hot dogs, corn on the cob and soft drinks and coffee. Attendees are encouraged to bring a side dish to share but this is not a requirement as there is always more food than we can eat. When you contact us to let us know of your intent to attend please leave a contact phone number or Email address so that we may contact you if the picnic is cancled.

GENERAL INFORMATION UP- DATE

The wildlife and fish population appear to be healthy. Although I have not seen any young turkey I know they are out there as we had a good population of adult birds going into the breeding season and weather conditions during the nesting period were good. We have been seeing a good number of fawns and I have now seen some buck sporting nice racks. Two new eagles have joined the local population as both eaglets survived this year. Several neighbors reported seeing two adult river otter with a family of three young ones. The bass population in the river appears to be more than adequate and surface feeding early in the morning and late in the evening is observed on a daily basis. Trout have worked out of the feeder streams into the river and provide an enjoyable fight on light spinning equipment or fly rods.

We had hoped to have signs along the river to inform the canoers of the distance and travel time to the points ahead as they progressed downstream this year. but it is another government project that takes two steps forward and one step back. It will now probably be the summer of 2009 before this can be accomplished.

Casual visitors to this site are encouraged to visit the area this year rather than travel to more distant destinations. If you enjoy nature at all this is a perfest place to rest and enjoy a week away from the hustle and bustle of city life. There are always accomodations available along with many outdoor activity's  to while away the time. For more information on the area visit one of the many Cook Forest Web Sites.

 

June 7, 2008

I met with Swank representatives yesterday and learned that work on the Clarington bridge will probably begin during the week of June 16th and is scheduled to  be completed by July 4th . Work will involve milling concrete from the bridge surface and placing a new concrete "cap" on it. The bridge will be open to single lane traffic during this period and traffic lights will be installed temporarily at each end of the bridge. This will present a short period of inconvenience but nothing like that experienced during the replacement of the old bridge - there will be no detour involved. Please use caution during this period as there is always that one individual that will "run" this type of temporary stop light because they are in a hurry.

June 2, 2008

A TALE OF THREE BRIDGES

Three of the bridges in/serving the township are currently in other than "normal" status. They are:

1. Back Street bridge in Clarington is closed. No real progress has been made on its replacement/repair and re-opening is not expected in the near future.

2. The Clarion River Bridge on SR 899 at Clarington is scheduled to be repaired/worked on for a period of two weeks sometime this month. I spoke with the contractor last week and they requested space at the township building to park some of their equipment. No mention of the need to close the bridge during the work was mentioned so, at this time, I expect at least single lane traffic will be maintained.

3. The bridge on River Road which crosses Toms Run is scheduled to be replaced by PennDOT. A culvert type crossing is to be installed. Although this is a small stream crossing I expect the road will be closed for a period of time. I will post the exact date of closing when we are notified.

Beaver Problem

The beaver problem on Blue Ridge Road has been, at least for the time being, resolved. The Game Commission agreed to try to trap and move the beaver for us - whether they had any success is unknown. Butch's son did some research on beaver and found out that a "triangle" type barrier at culverts usually confused beavers and that they would not try to block them. Butch and Oscar constructed such an apparatus and installed it. Since that time there has been no road flooding.

River Eagles

The pair of local eagles have been successful in nesting this year and there are currently two eaglets (?) in the nest. They will be a welcome addition to the population and sightings will be enjoyed by all.

Bear

We currently have a mother bear and two cubs and a, believed to be, male bear making regular visits to the neighborhood. Neighbors have learned to take in their bird and humming bird feeders at night to prevent dammage to them. Bears can become pests but they are also a thrill to see.

Deer

Fawns are now being seen frequenty  and a good number of adult deer can be seen in the early morning and evening. I have only seen one deer with any rack growth however I fed 10 different buck this past winter so there should be a good crop of buck this coming Fall. We appear to have had a good polination period on the oak trees and minute acorns are hanging on the trees in good numbers. Lets hope no desease or insect damage is experienced this year.

Fishing

Trout are still not too numerous in the river but the stocked streams still have good populations of trout. The Clarion caddis hatch wasn't as heavy this year as it was in the last several years and only light surface feeding activity was observed. I haven't done any bass fishing this year but early in the trout season the bass I caught while pursuing trout were all legal size ranging up to about 16". All streams are currently low and clear and light line and tippets are required..

May 16, 2008

The beaver are still raising havoc on Blue Ridge road at the cherry run culvert area. Butch and Oscar are spending several hours each morning opening up the culverts that the beaver dam each night. I don't know if the game commission has set any traps yet but if they have they have not caught and moved all of the beaver that are causing us a problem. It's a "slow news week" when I lead off with beaver news.

The Back Street bridge has been closed with appropriate signs being posted and several loads of stone have been placed to block each end of the bridge - no you can't go around the signs and cross the bridge. We hope this is not too much of an inconvenience to anyone  and we will strive to open it again as soon as possible. Some thought has been given to replacing the bridge with a culvert but that would require DEP and Fish Commission permits. The last time I had to get permits from DEP and the Fish Commission, when we replaced the Cherry Run culvert on Blue Ridge road, it took six months just to get the permits.

Of interest to the fly fishermen, the Caddis hatch is in progress on the Clarion however little surface feeding activity has been noted. The river still doesn't have too many trout in it although the current high water conditions in the feeder streams that are stocked with trout may soon result in more trout being in the river.

Despite having a good turkey population, I have not heard many shots in my immediate area nor have I heard of anyone getting a gobbler. The eagles appear to have young in the nest as I have noted them taking fish back to the nest. The river geese do not appear to have young yet but they should be hatching shortly. The local squirrels have had their first young and appear to be getting ready to breed again. With luck we should have a good mast crop this year as it appears that we may have experienced the last killing frost of the season. Although I have seen quite a few deer in my travels I have not yet seen any deer sprouting new racks. I would think that they should be visible by now. The bear that was plaging the neighborhood appears to have moved on as no new damage has been noted for several weeks. Humming bird feeders have been up for better that a week and the only one visiting them so far are the humming birds. The hollow does have several owls that announce their presence each night and a few hawks that take one of our small birds on occasion.

The next two week ends will be busy ones as this one is AA week end and next week is Memorial Day week end which is the traditional kick off of the summer season. With the price of gasoline being so high we may have more vacationing families this year but fewer  repeat week end visitors which would require a trip back and forth each week. At any rate I hope that all the residents and visitors have a great summer. If you need assistance that you feel the township could/should supply don't hesitate to contact us.

May 12, 2008

Little or no interest was shown in a community yard sale so that activity has been canclled.

The Clarion River bridge at Clarington has still not seen any repair activity so, at this time, I believe we will get through the summer with an open bridge. However , we have been advised by our insurance underwriter that the bridge on Back Street should be closed. This bridge had been posted with a 3 ton limit last year as we knew it needed work. We will be closing it this week and, until we can get pricing for a new bridge and funding for it, it will remain closed. I anticipate that it will be at least six months until it will be re-opened. In the mean time residents and campers should come into Clarington on Belltown Road, also know as Maple Street, and turn left on Main Street for access to Blue Ridge and Cherry Run Roads.

The beaver have returned to the Cherry Run area on Blue Ridge Road and Butch informed me this morning that the road was covered with water. He had breached the dam several times last week to keep the road open until I could contact the Game Commission and request assistance. The game Commission Officer informed me on Saturday that he would attempt to live trap the beaver this week and release them on the river. Lets hope that he is successful and that they remain on the river where they will not be a hazard.

The Spring/Summer road maintenance program is about to begin. Butch and Oscar will be starting at the bottom of the hill on Blue Ridge road in Clarington and working to the junction of Blue Ridge road and State Route 899. Work should be starting this week, weather permitting, so please use caution while this work is in progress.

April 8, 2008

I received a go ahead from our insurance carrier today for the Memorial Day week end community yard sale. If there is enough interest we will hold the yard sale at the township building/grounds on both Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day week end. There will be a minimal charge of $5.00 total for both days for a space. In addition you may rent a table from the township for $5.00 (until they are all spoken for) or you may bring your own if you so desire. Please call me at 814  927-8795 to let me know if you are interested. You do not have to be a resident or land owner to participate. I will try to let everyone know if there is enough interest no later than two weeks before Memorial Day.

Residents are reminded that the township imposes a 1/2 % earned income tax on our residents. It does not matter whether you work within the township or outside the township boundaries - you owe the tax. If you are not sure of how or where to pay/send the tax please call Brenda Vincent, our Tax Collector , at  814  755-4373  for guidance. Earned income includes wages, profit realized from a business and income from the sale of crops, stone, gravel, timber, property,etc.

April 6, 2008

We had another successful "Clean up Day" yesterday. Many metal items that had lain behind camps/residences or were destined to that fate were picked up, brought in and disposed of properly. Both dumpsters were again filled and the entire community bennifited.

The Board of Supervisors April meeting immediately followed the cleanup session at 1:00 PM and it was nice to see some new faces at the meeting. Bob Snyder, our new County Commissioner attended the meeting and gave us a short rundown on response designations for different areas of the township by the fire companies that serve our community. He also said that 911 addresses had been received from the Postal Department for one municipality, Harmony Township, and had been told that the others would be following soon. He was not sure how quickly "soon" would occur but was hopeful.

Immediately after the meeting Butch and the three supervisors conducted our annual spring road tour. Several problems were spotted and remedial action was determined.  A plan was formed for our Spring and Summer road maintenance program. Now Butch will have to return to various sites and measure them to determine actual costs of completing proposed work and then we will have to sit down and try to fit them all into the budget. Priorities were given to each site and, if all desired work cannot be accomplished -as is often the case, the high priority items will be the ones earmarked for this years program.

Dust control is again of major concern and we will be attempting to address this problem to the satisfaction of our residents and land owners.

April 4, 2008

Butch managed to make repairs to Maple Creek Road yesterday and re-opened it to traffic in time for trout season. One culvert still needs replaced and that work will be done at a later time. Generally a culvert can be replaced in a days time so an extended period of closure should not be necessary.

All streams, including the river, are running high and would be very difficult to fish at this time. We do have a full week before the season opens and, if we don't receive too much rain this coming week , water levels should be down to fishable if not ideal levels.

March 30,2008

Just a reminder that our Spring Cleanup Day is April 5, 2008 - this coming Saturday. Personnel will be on hand at the Township Building  from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM to help you un-load your metal items and to put them in the dumpsters. As in the past, there is a charge of $10.00 for each item containing refrigerant (Freon). The April meeting of the Board of Supervisors will begin at 1:00PM and you are encouraged to attend and voice your needs or desires.

Another theft, this time an ATV type trailer which was chained to a tree, ocured last week. We hope this was an isolated incident but continued caution may be warranted.

March 26,2008

Good news 

The State Police report that they have caught the individuals responsible for the rash of break ins and thefts that ocured last summer and fall. I don't know the particulars but lets hope it's a long time before we experience this problem again.

We have been searching for a loader for the stock pile yard so that we can discontinue the need to run back with the back hoe to load the truck (s) while working on the roads. Butch and I investigated the PennDot Spring Surplus Sale offerings to no avail. We then looked at several items offered on Ebay and at a local equipment dealer. Finally we found a John Deere 444 Loader at another township that was within our price range and that had had regular maintenance. At a special meeting on Monday March 24, 2008 the board of supervisors voted to purchase that machine. It is to be delivered this saturday. This addition to our equipment lineup will result in a more efficient road maintenance operation and a neater stock pile yard.

We are considering a Memorial Day Weekend Community Yard Sale at the township building. I still have to get an OK from our insurance carrier before progressing with the plan but I have called them and they are to get back to me. There will be a $5.00 charge per space and township tables can be rented for an additional $5.00. Of course you would be welcome to bring you own table. Please give it some thought and I will post a request that you let us know of your interest as soon as I get the insurance company OK.

Bad News

We are entering the "Mud Season" and problems may develop on our roads. The roads have held up extremely well this winter especially in those areas that we have worked and applied underlayment. A few perrenial soft spots that have not yet received that type of work will be rearing their ugly heads shortly and we will do our best to keep them bearable until we get though this season. If you spot any problems that you feel should be brought to our attention don't hesitate to call us at 752-6231 and we will do our best to respond.

Maple Creek Road has several very bad spots on it and, being that it is a "No Winter Maintenance" road, road closed signs have been posted. Several times the signs have been thrown to the side and individuals have tried to use it. PLEASE refrain from using that road until we have taken care of the problems.

The bears have begun coming out of hibernation. There is little natural food for them at this time of year and bird feeders, suet balls and garbage cans are all a favorite target right now. We have had a bear in 6 times in the last nine or ten days and all of the neighborhood feeders have been destroyed.

Good & Bad News

Fishing season and Tourist season is about to begin. The majority of fishermen and  tourists are welcomed with opened arms but there are a few that we would prefer didn't come back every year. Please remember that the businesses that provide us with our needs year round depend on this influx of seasonal business to survive. The camp and seasonal home owners also pay the majority of the township real estate taxes. Please welcome your seasonal neighbors and for the few that do disregard common sense and courtesy - give us a call and we may be able to help you if a township ordinance is being violated.

February 17, 2008

Sorry for the extended period of no up date activity. Partly a computer problem and partly a hibernation :-) problem. I saw a robin in the back yard yesterday so I guess I better get my act together and bring interested individuals up to date on the status of the township.

The Board of Supervisors remained the same after the November election and we thank you for the vote of confidence. We will continue to see that your tax dollars are spent in the best interest of all residents/land owners and also will continue to seek grant funding for projects that are eligible for state funding assistance.

The Back Street re-build project was completed in late Fall although the bridge work has not been done. The street re-build was funded through a 50/50 grant. The bridge work did not qualify for grant assistance. This work is scheduled for late Spring/ early Summer. We sold our portable bridge that had been removed from the Bear Pen area on Maple Creek and the proceeds from that sale have been earmarked for the Back Street bridge repair.

Our township roads have held up well this winter with the exception of Maple Creek Road. This road is a "No Winter Maintenance" road but still receives some light use. There are currently two problem areas on the road and "Road Closed" signs have been posted. Butch and I checked it this past Friday and did not feel we could get through the one area with our plow truck and turned around rather than risk getting stuck. A short review of Blue Ridge road and the North Spur revealed no serious problems. We have had to order additional anti-skid material this year due to the weather and, if winter weather persists much longer, we will have to purchase additional salt.

The rumored problem with the Clarington bridge on RT 899 has proven to be just that, a rumor, or a very low priority problem as nothing has been done to the bridge since the contractor removed the engineering trailer from the township property in August. There was a single vehicle accident on the bridge this past week due to ice. Of course the driver received a citation for driving "too fast for conditions". This appears to be a standard citation for a single vehicle accident. 

The 911 addressing program is still not finalized although the Township and the County completed our portion of the work as scheduled last year. The apparent hold up is the approval of the project by the Post Office Department in Erie. I believe Warren County and Forest County each submitted their plans last year and of course Warren County, being the larger and more populated County was given preference in review and approval.

This past hunting season proved to be less successful for most hunters than those in the past. The deer herd is definitely down from 8-10 years ago but I really feel that the biggest reason hunters are not seeing deer is that , with the extended archery season, the early muzzle loader season and the youth and senior citizen season, the deer have pretty much become nocturnal by the time the general deer season rolls around after Thanksgiving. I, and my neighbors, feed the deer all Winter and there have been a good number of deer, both buck and doe, coming to the feed all Winter. Turkey are not showing up on a regular basis like last Winter but I feel they have found a food source somewhere else.

The river has not frozen up solid this year and  this late in the season I doubt that it will. There are a minimum of three eagles working the river in the township and activity seems to have picked up in the last two or three weeks. Several high pines along the river have been getting some attention from the eagles and there is a possibility that a second nesting site may be being considered. Everyone still enjoys seeing these great birds. Trout stocking will begin this coming month. I hope that the fisherman have a good season this Spring and Summer.

The Clarion River Corridor Study which was conducted last year and the meetings which many of you attended have resulted in a partnership being formed by the affected governments. It is felt that we will have a better chance of being given Grant money if we apply as a  partnership. As of now nothing has been accomplished that guarentes anything for our Township or County. A meeting had been scheduled last week but it was canceled due to the weather. It is to be re-scheduled this coming week.

October 19, 2007

This weekend will be "The Weekend" if you want to visit to see the best of the Fall color. Color has developed to just about peak and the weather is predicted to be sunny and bright. If we get rain this coming week it will peel off much of the color and it will be a short opportunity to enjoy the season.

Early muzzle loader season has proven interesting. My son took a coyote last Saturday and I shot one on Monday. There must be a better population of them around than we realize. Archers and muzzle loader hunters are seeing a good number of does and young bucks but legal bucks are not coming too easily. Of course in a couple of weeks, when the bucks start chasing doe, sightings will pick up. Squirrel are not too numerous and I have only seen one or two per outing. A neighbor was out after grouse the other day but I have not spoken with him since so I don't know if he had many flushes or not. I have seen no beach nuts. Acorns are spotty and some areas where there were acorns have already been picked clean. Turkey are numerous and, if you are a Fall turkey hunter, it should be an excellent year. 

There has been no further word on the bridge. Let's hope that, if there is a problem, it is minor and can be rectified without closing the bridge to traffic.

 

October 12, 2007

Fall color has improved over the week but it may be one of those years when "peak color" is very subtle. I drove over to DuBois yesterday on Inter State 80 and there appears to be more color in that region. The "early" varities are bare, the "mid season" varieties are mixed and the" late" varieties look like they did in July. If you can make several trips, come up any time. If it's a one shot trip I still feel that next week will probably be the best time to visit.

Well, the private industry job that Butch accepted did not pan out to be what he expected so he is again  on the Township team. Oscar and he will be finishing up Back Street this coming week and then begin the annual keep the ditches clean game with Mother Nature. Then we will be into the plow the roads season and catch up with equipment maintenance and repair that has accumulated through the busy Summer season. Again, don't hesitate to let us know of any road problems.

October 1, 2007

Sorry for the extended period with no updates - -It was a computer thing. We're still having difficulty corresponding between this computer and the one in the Township office but I will add information when I can until we get it straightened out.

There apparently is a problem with the new bridge but the Township has not received any official notice from Penndot. Rumors have it that all concrete or just the top layer of concrete has not curred to required specifications and it  may require closing the bridge for another period of time. Again - - these are rumors. If/When we receive an official notice I will pass it along.

Archery season started on Saturday but I heard no shooting  :-) . We appear to have some acorns and a bumper crop of black cherries for the animals and birds this year. It is too early to tell about the beachnuts but black walnuts and hickory nuts appear to be in fair abundance. Some bucks have been seen with the occasional "wall hanger" being spotted but of course no one remembers the exact whereabouts of the big ones. Bear are being seen somewhere in the township almost on a nightly basis and bird feeders are being torn down constantly.  Mixed flocks of young and old turkeys are numerous and it appears that there was good success during the nesting season.  Squirrels have not returned to the high numbers we had before the cyclic acorn crops we are now experiencing but there is still a huntable amount for a pot pie or two. All in all it should be a good but possibly not a great year. Hunters, if you have a waterfowl stamp, please don't hesitate to shoot a few of the mergansers on the Clarion River to help save our minnow base and small bass. Large flocks are being seen lining up and eating everything in their path.  

Butch, our Roadmaster, has accepted a better position in private industry and last Thursday was his last day. We will miss him as he was a very dedicated individual and I'm sure our residents will agree that our roads improved over the period of his tenure. We will do our best to replace him with an individual with like capabilities. The "Back Street" project is just about finished, with the exception of the bridge,  and funding for that portion will be sought this Winter.  We will be operating with minimum help for a while but don't hesitate to notify us of any road problem that needs addressed and we will do our best to respond.

Building activity has picked up recently and a few properties have been sold. Don't forget that building/municipal and sewage permits are required before any development.and yes, that includes sheds, decks, pavilions, etc. Our Municipal Permit Ordinance requires a permit for any construction that increases the value of the property.New DEP rules on septic system maintenance  are anticipated and we may be facing a requirement to have our systems, including those at  camps, pumped at least every three years. Again, if something definite is passed, no pun intended, I will post it on this site.

I hope you have all enjoyed the Summer here in "Beautiful Barnett Township" and we wish you success in the upcoming hunting season. The leaves are just now beginning to show some color and I would think that color should be at  it's peak in about two weeks. I know a lot of you enjoy visiting the area and viewing the Fall color so I will try to keep you up-dated on the peak color time. A trip down the Clarion during peak color is an experience that once enjoyed will becon you back each Fall. We do need some rain to raise water levels to a satisfactory height.

 

August 18, 2007

As noted on the visitor page, we have had a few break ins and theft of items left outside at residences/camps. It has been quite a few years since we have experienced this problem and hope it will be of short duration . Please exercise additional caution for a while and report any suspicious activities to the township or by dialing 911.

The Community picnic was held on the 11th of August and all that attended had a good time. Attendance was down quite a bit this year and I hope it was because it was a particularly busy Summer and not because interest has waned  Community events are important in a rural community such as ours.

I attended another Clarioron  River Corridor meeting on the 15th of August. Some progress is being made but, as with all State Government projects, things seem to drag. We are still hoping to implement some improvements to the area by next Summer. The priority project currently on the agenda is the placement of directional signs on the roads and signage on the river informing travelers of their location and how much further it is , both in miles and travel time, to their destination.  I had hoped to have a public phone installed at the top of the river bank in Clarington but have been informed that it would not be an item that could be funded with a grant in this program. I will look in other grant programs to see if funding is available.

We had house guests this past week and I was reminded how lucky we are to live in this area. The one individual had never visited the area before and was still raving at the end of the week about the natural beauty of the region. After one lives here for awhile we tend to forget just how blessed we are.

July 21, 2007

Millcreek Township brought the mower back to us this week. This mower is a shared purchase and we both use it. Mowing will now begin on our township roads so please use caution when passing the mowing operation.

We have also received notice that our grant request for assistance on the Back Street rehab project had been approved. The Forest County Conservation District has alloted up to $14,000.00 in" Dirt and Gravel" road funds to this project. This grant will enable us to do a thorough job on the street that should last for an extended period of time. No funding has been located for the Back Street bridge but we are continuing to explore various approaches for the bridge work. The bridge has been posted with a three ton temporary weight limit due to it's current condition but not all heavy vehicles are observing the limit and a dangerous situation does exist. Material needed for the street work will be advertised for bid and work will begin shortly.

We have begun to apply brine to our roads. Although not all roads have been treated, those that have show a marked improvement in dust control. Please bear with us while we continue our efforts to get all areas of roads near homes and camps treated.

A reminder that the Community Day Picnic is scheduled for August 11th. Please plan to attend and enjoy an old fashioned picnic with your neighbors and other township residents/campers. A phone call (752-6231) or visit to the township building to let us know you are comming whould be appreciated to enable us to purchase the right ammount of hot dogs, corn and  soft.drinks.

Although we are experiencing lower than normal summer water levels on the Clarion River there is a deffinite increase in river activity. Fishermen are enjoying their sport early in the morning and late in the evening when there is  little cannoe/kayak traffic and relinquish the water to other sports during the heat of the day. River etiquite appears to be improving and litter is not as apparent as it once was.

The Clarion River Corridor study continues and two meetings with State,County and Municipal officials are scheduled for August. Here again grant money will be the source of project(s) funding. Although it is late in the Summer to realistically expect to receive funding that whould enable action this year, we are definitely shooting for several projects next year. I believe this extended period of meetings will finally amount to more than a study resulting in recommendations and nothing more.I will continue to post up-dates on this subject especially for those residents and land owners that cared enough to attend the public meetings this Spring.

July 9, 2007

Please check the Road Work Schedule page for an update on the spreading of brine for dust control

At our July meeting it was decided to advertise for bids on the red Ford truck and the temporary bridge removed from Bear Run Road. If you are interested in either of them or know someone who could be interested in them please call Mary at the Township Office (814  927-8795) for bidding information.

Although no burning ban has been declared I think it goes without saying that any burning at this time should be closely monitored and if at all possible delayed until we have had some significant rainfall. The forest is quite dry and the river is at a low level not seen in the last several years.

June 26, 2007

With the hot dry days of summer setting in we have received some complaints of road dust. To reduce this problem we have been working with National Fuel and the Department of Environmental Protection  (DEP) to arrange for application of brine on our roads. Other Forest County Townships have been using this dust control method with some success and we will begin an application program as soon as arrangements can be completed. Sorry for the delay but anything requiring outside government approval and permitting does take time.

The bridge has been opened for a month now and I am sure everyone will agree it's an improvement over the old bridge which involved a game of " dodge the potholes" whenever you drove across the river. Final inspections and testing is still not complete and the engineering trailer is still located on the township building grounds.

Meetings on the Clarion River Corridor Study are ongoing with the next one scheduled in August. Currently an agreement for inter-governmental co-operation and project funding application is being finaliized and it is hoped that each affected government will be able to discuss the agreement and vote on participation at our monthly township meetings prior to the August group meeting. The Grant Application period has been  re-opened  due to this study being given priority status in Harrisburg. Let's hope that the series of meetings and resultant reports and recomendations will result in positive action for the communities along the river.

Several maintenance complaints about neighboring properties have been filed by residents and these have been turned over to our Solicitor for proper action. We have been critisized  on the "Sign in  Page" of this Web Site for not helping one of the residents involved in one of these complaints but the truth is the property deteriorated to it's current condition because we thought we were helping that resident in the past by not insisting that the property be maintained in the manner required by our ordinance. The property was not only in violation of our township ordinance but also state law. We are trying to clean up nuisance properties that are in violation of the law and which present a hazard. If you are aware of such a property and would like us to initiate action to see that it is cleaned up please send us a short signed note.

The first bear sighting of the summer happened yesterday when one came down through my neighbors yard and crossed  the road to the river. He/she was a stranger as when it saw the river it didn't know what to do next. Eventually a car came along and it ran back up into the woods. There is a good crop of fawns being sighted and the bucks are sprouting their racks. I don't know if it will be as good a buck year as last year was because last year was the best one in a long time. We had a great number of turkey through the winter and they were here through the nesting season. The weather was favorable for the young to survive but, partially due to the thick vegetation, I have yet to see a young bird. Trout fishing in the Clarion has been rather slow this year but the bass have taken up the slack and the anglers are having fun pursuing them. The river is currently at the Summer low level and canoeists are doing their share of walking. If you are planing a trip down the river wear high tennis shoes to protect your ankles.  

June 9, 2007

There hasn't been much to report since the bridge re-opened. Summer activity on the river has picked up tremendously and our visitors are again enjoying a canoe or kayak trip down the river. Mother wood ducks are busy keeping their young out of traffic and the geese announce to the world that tresspassers are in their territory. I haven't viewed the eagles nest lately but do see mature eagles flying up and down the river on a daily basis. If you are a visitor and wish to view an eagle a tip would be to listen for the crows. When they begin complaining and the noise keeps getting louder -look for the eagles. Although the crows will rob any other birds nest they don't think the eagles have a right to fish in their neighborhood.

A date has been picked for the annual community picnic. This year it will be held on August 11th which is the second Saturday of the month. Please mark your calendars and try to attend this community event. We always have a good time and of course there is always more food than we can eat. It is a good opportunity  to visit with your neighbors whom you rarely have time to see or to meet "new neighbors" that have recently moved to the area or who have bought a a seasonal cottage or camp. We do ask that you call  814  752-6231, or stop in at the Township building to let us know that you are coming so that the proper amount of hot dogs, corn and soft drinks can be purchased. Those who attend are encouraged to bring a side dish or a desert to share but it is not a requirement. Check this site in July and early August for more information. 

May 24, 2007

Ladies and Gentlemen - -START YOUR ENGINES  !

The bridge is OPEN .  Once again the community has a direct link to SR 36 via SR 899. Residents traveling to work each day no longer have the additional cost of the detour or the extra commuting time. Our recreational land owners can approach from the south without the dread of an additional 20 - 30 minutes of travel  before they get to their special place and forget the everyday grind. Come on up folks and have a great Memorial Day weekend.

May 21, 2007

NO VIRGINIA THERE IS NO SANTA CLAUSE !  

The inspection by PennDot was conducted as scheduled between 10:00 and 12:00 AM today . A discrepancy was noted  with the outcome being that it will be at least Thursday, the original contract deadline, before the bridge is open to traffic. The bridge surface is finished and lines were painted at 3:30 PM today so it is a wait and see situation at this point. Lets hope that the opening will be before the Memorial Day weekend. Again, check this site for the latest information.

May 20, 2007

The final bridge inspection is currently scheduled for 10:00 AM tomorrow, Monday May 21, 2007. The bridge was cleaned on Saturday and no more delays are anticipated. If the inspection goes as expected the bridge will be open to traffic sometime tomorrow. Again, I will post the bridge opening as soon as it happens.

May 16, 2007

I spoke with the bridge foreman at about 9:00AM this morning and he said they are "shooting"  for Monday the 21st as the opening date. The reason for the delay from the 17th is to allow more cure time for the recently poured curbs. He said that they will flex with the deck from traffic and, without some additional cure time, there is a chance that they will crack.

Don't plan on using this route on Monday as I'm sure there will be an opening ceremony and it is hard to say what time of day that will be scheduled. Again, I will immediately post that the bridge is open when it happens.

May 16, 2007

I visited the bridge site this morning and the place is a blur of activity. All of Swank's trailers, sheds and large equipment have been removed from the site. A sub-contractor is busy installing new guard rail on the approaches. Swank personnel were installing guard rail on the south side of the bridge. I believe they are trying to make the 17th opening date but both the 17th and the 24th were still being mentioned by the workers . I did not get a chance to talk to the foreman or an on site engineer so I can give you no positive date. If/when I get something definite, I will post it immediately.

May 12, 2007

More Bridge Skuttlebutt

SCUTTLE - -The curbs have been poured and the metal posts for the railing have been installed on the north side of the bridge. That leaves the posts on the south side and the railing on both sides to finish. BUTT - - A second hand source said that he had been told by one of the officials that the opening to traffic date had been pushed back to the 24th. Here we go again. I guess at this point all we can do is wait and see. As soon as I have something definite I will post it on the web site.

May 10, 2007

The bridge workers left for home yesterday by driving across the bridge.  

As far as I know the opening date to general traffic is still May 17th. It appears that all that is left to do before opening the bridge is to pour a curb, which already has the forms and iron work in place, bolt on the steel railing sections which are on site and apply some blacktop on the approach. So - - -- FIVE DAYS AND COUNTING !

Although there are a lot of turkey out there hunters are not having that much success. At least not in my area where I have only heard one shot to date. I believe the problem is that the gobblers are still with hens which makes for difficult calling.

Our local pair of Bald Eagles have been busy at their nest for about a month now and I have noticed that recently she seems to be sitting on a branch beside the nest more than actually in the nest. I'm not an expert but it may be a sign that the egg(s) have hatched. At any rate I've been told that it is very rare for more than one fledgling to survive.

The fruit trees are in full blossom and the oak trees are beginning to show some green. Lets hope that we don't have a late frost this year and that the wildlife have a good mast crop to carry them through the winter. Our neighborhood fed more than 3 tons of shelled corn over last winter as we had again experienced a failed mast crop. We had at least 27 deer and 135 turkey wintering in the area and they needed help. Yesterday we saw the first baby squirrels come out of the den tree - 2 grays and a black. The birds are still gathering nesting material and the humming birds have returned. I guess it's safe to say that Spring is here.

May 8, 2007

Bridge opening  8 days and counting.  The opening of the bridge to traffic is still firm  - May 17, 2007.

May 6,2007

They have removed the apparatus that applies concrete to the bridge deck  so, unofficialy, the deck of the bridge is complete. I have not checked the Jefferson County end of the bridge but our end is higher than the existing road and a ramp must be planned to access the bridge. There have been rumors that the bridge opening has been delayed until July the fourth or even Labor day . I didn't speak with them this past week but I believe the May 17th date is still firm.

At our Forest County Association of Township Officers Convention this past week the County Commissioners advised us that 911 addresses should be approved and assigned by late Summer. If you have a rural delivery mail box it might be a good idea to limit the number of checks, stationary etc. you have printed at this time. Also remember that your credit cards and drivers licenses will need up-dating when the system goes into effect. Of course, if you use a Post Office Box, your mailing address will remain the same but in addition to that you will have a 911 address.

Remember Primary Election day is May 15th. There are quite a few State, County and Township offices to be filled this year so please vote.

Bridge up-date - April 26, 2007

I spoke with the PennDOT On Site Engineer this morning and he advised me that there were two more "concrete pours" left to do on the deck portion of the bridge. The scheduled "open to traffic " date has slipped from May 10 to May 17, 2007. Completion of the project is still expected on the original date of May 27, 2007. Lets hope that the weather co-operates and concrete pouring can be accomplished on the scheduled days.

April 25, 2007

I stopped at the "Engineering Trailer" yesterday to get a status report on the bridge but there was no one there. Possibly every one was at the work site as they have been pouring concrete every day now that the weather has been co-operating. We are down to 16 days until the scheduled opening date. One thing for sure, the gas stations are going to notice a drop in sales when we are able to once again  go from point "A" to point "B" without having to first go to points "C", "D", or "E". It's been a long session of detour travel for local residents who have to go to work on a daily basis. There are still travelers from out of the area ending up in Clarington on a daily basis asking the same question " How do I get to Brookville".  

April 18, 2007

The weather has been anything but kind to Butch and Oscar when it comes to road work. We were almost to the point where serious work could be started and then we hit this cold - wet spell and now we're back on hold. They did manage to do some repair work at the 899 ramp on Blue Ridge and used the roller for the first time. I'm sure anyone that travels that section noticed the improvement. Right now it's back to road clearing and pot hole patching. We've had a few calls on pot holes and the fellows try to get to them as quickly as possible.

Bridge work has been hampered a bit by the weather but most days find a large crew of workers on the bridge and I feel certain that, with three full weeks of work between now and the scheduled opening, the deadline will be met.

Trout season opened last Saturday and traffic on the roads was almost at an opening of deer season level. I hope the majority of fishermen found some trout and enjoyed their stay. It wasn't the worst opening day conditions I've seen but it was far from the best.

April 10, 2007

Our Clean Up Day on Saturday  was hampered a bit by the snow and cold but a large amount of scrap metal was brought in by our residents. The next Clean Up Day will be in the Fall and the date will be posted on the News Letter and on this Web Site.

I received a call yesterday concerning the upcoming 2010 Census. There will be a van in our area the next week or two mapping our roads. If you see a van with several antennas moving slowly down the road it is nothing to be alarmed about.

April 1, 2007

Sorry ! For some reason the site lost all current event postings prior to yesterday.

Don''t forget that next Saturday, April; 7, 2007 is clean up day. Dumpsters will be available at the Township Building from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM. Metal items only please ! There is no charge except for appliances containing refrigerant (Freon) for which there is a charge of $10.00 per item.

The Township Board of Supervisors April meeting will be held at the township building  beginning at 1:00 PM on the 7th and your attendance and participation would be appreciated.

The roads have begun to dry out enough for surface work and Butch and Oscar have started to patch pot holes and do some surface touch up with our new grader blade. So far the results have been impressive. We still need several sites in the township to dispose of ditch cleaning material. Anyone having an area that could use some "fill dirt" please let us know. The Township phone number is 752-6231.

The Township Supervisors and Roadmaster conducted our annual Spring road tour yesterday morning. The roads are in better shape than in previous years and the areas that received intensive work and application of DSA last Summer held up extremely well. Last year Blue Ridge road was the "main project". This year it is planned to do a major repair on Back Street. I have applied for grant money through the Dirt and Gravel program for the project but as of now have not received any feed back. Receipt of grant funding will enable us to perform the job at a much better level than if we have to finance the work through  available township money.

March 31, 2007

Bridge update 

Yesterday, March 30th, the first concrete was poured on the bridge deck. They were working on it today even though it is Saturday and that may indicate that they are trying to make up for some lost time. Anyway, concrete pouring has begun and the approach of the re-opening has entered the final stages. HURRAH !