Relatives are candidates in McKean County Fair’s two royalty contests

July 31, 2008

The Bradford Era — by Fran De Lancey

It will be a first for the McKean County Fair next week when relatives are candidates in the fair’s two royalty contests.

Marklyn Simms, Miss Smethport, is one of the five candidates from the county’s high schools who will vie for the title of Miss McKean County Fair 2008 during the contest Aug. 11. Her grandmother, Greer Barr, has been chosen queen of the Smethport Senior Center and will compete in the Senior King and Queen Contest on Aug. 14 during the traditional Senior Citizens’ Day program. Read more >>

Filed Under News

Winning pageant titles seems to run in this family

July 31, 2008

Olean Times Herald — by Kate Day Sager

A couple of queen titles in Smethport have been snatched up by one family in the community and they’re feeling quite royal about it all.

This spring, Marklyn Simms, was named Ms. Smethport Area High School and will represent her high school as a queen contestant for the McKean County Fair Queen title. Then, her grandmother, Greer Barr, was elected to serve as the Smethport Senior Center Fair Queen 2008 representative.

Marklyn admitted that it was “a little weird” that she and her grandmother will participate in the same grand parade and queen coronation on Aug. 11 at the fair. Read more >>

Filed Under News

Update on Heritage Council Activities

July 30, 2008

Les Jordan of the Heritage Council sat down with Rose Bishop of WQRM radio to provide a brief history of the organization and an update on some of its activities. Among the topics discussed are the Mansion District Walking Tour, Smethport Creative Arts League, Potato Creek Trail Association, the Goose Chaser Trail and Hamlin Lake Park.

Les Jordan also provided some news about the planned Artisans’ Trail Show which will coincide with the Wheel Around the Hub bicycle race on September 20th, which is put on by the Smethport Lions Club. The Country Porch is sponsoring the Artisans Trail Show, which will feature sidewalk displays by local artists.

Filed Under News

Community Reforestation Plan Underway

July 8, 2008

The ShadeTree Commission is in the first phase of a multi-phase reforestation project. The first phase involves the removal of diseased, dying and hazardous trees from Borough property and along streets. Most of these are Sugar Maple trees, eleven of which were so big that an outside firm had to be called in to safely remove them.

In this radio interview with WQRM’s Rose Bishop, Jovanna Porter discusses the ShadeTree Commission, its programs, and the current reforestation effort. She explains the criteria used in selecting various trees for removal, noting that no healthy trees are being taken down. Read more

Filed Under News

Local Radio Station Has Smethport Covered

July 7, 2008

The host of local radio station WQRM, Rose Bishop, has been in the business for 16 years. From her second floor office on 211 W. Main Street, she interviews guests, reports local news, sells advertising, and manages the station’s daily broadcast schedule. She is also active in various community organizations.

Rose works with a small staff, including engineer Bobby Schauer and Megan Simms, who is at the helm in the morning slot with your local news, sports and events happening in the area. Sports and games are handled by Dave Ezzolo, William Lord, Scott McQuire, Cody Taylor and Damien Kreckel. Read more

Filed Under Residents

Smethport Enters New Domain

July 1, 2008

The Bradford Era — by Fran De Lancey

Smethport enters new domain Smethport, the first Route 6 Heritage Community, is now actively promoted on a multi-media Web site.

Linda and Nathan Muller, who have Internet and Web site experience, have developed the unique site, smethportpa.org.

“My first big Web site was for Pat Buchanan when he was a presidential candidate in 1995. From there on, I just continued creating Web sites for conservative candidates and issues and developing my skills at the same time,” Linda Muller said.

Nathan Muller’s experience dates back to pre-Internet days when he was a student at San Diego State University in the 1970s.

“At that time, what was to become the Internet was simply a bunch of isolated regional networks. After they were linked, they became the Internet.”

While he has created corporate Web sites, Nathan Muller said that those projects didn’t always allow him to be really creative because the clients dictated what they wanted done.

“With the Smethport Web site, though, we can pretty much indulge ourselves creatively and put together a package that is multi-media in nature,” he noted. Read more>>

Nathan and Linda Muller, developers of the Smethport website, are interviewed by Rose Bishop of WQRM-FM. They discuss some of the new features they are working on that will become available soon to serve Borough residents.

Filed Under Borough