Pictured (l-r) are: front row – Lisa Smith, advisor, Madison Sickler, Catherine Ruppert, Caleigh Tyler, Faythe Caines, Rose Warner, Whitney Tyler; back row – Jonathan Teribury, Jake Werle, Jack Waldenberger, Zack Groover, Griffin Arnold, Dawson Smales, Joseph Swart, Rierdan Reyan, Caleb Ely.

The Future Business Leaders of America Region 27 competition was held on Tuesday, December 20th, at Keystone College. Fifteen students from the SCCTC attended the event.  Madison Sickler placed first in Accounting 1 and Rose Warner placed second in Accounting 1. Catherine Ruppert placed fourth in Agribusiness.

These three ladies will go on to compete at the PA State Competition. In addition, Madison Sickler was elected Region 27 Vice-president.  She will represent the region during the current school year until next year's competition.  She plans to run for a state officer position in Hershey this April at the state competition.

The Susquehanna County Forest Land Owners Association (SCFLOA) welcomed a new Board of Director member to their 12 member board. Mr. William Maitland, of Lenoxville, was recently elected to the SCFLOA Board of Directors.

Mr. Maitland owns 2 areas of forest land; one a 13 acres tract of older forest and large trees; the other is 55 acres of mixed growth forest land in the Lenoxville area of Lenox Twp. He has owned this land for 7+ years. Bill said that the things he enjoys the most about improving his woodland is “working to eradicate invasive plants such as honeysuckle, multi-flora rose and barberry. I also am trying to get a better forest growing.”

Pictured (l-r) are; front row- Bob Wagner, Vice President Dustin Walker, President Rob Alfred, Doug Gunn; back row – Scribe John Reynolds, Treasurer Doug Sheldon, Bill Bayne, Bill Maitland (red jacket), Jim Kessler, Ryan Brown Bureau of Forestry Service Forester.

SCFLOA President Rob Alfred noted that, “Bill's experience in managing his land and woods will be a great asset to our board meetings and to our members. His knowledge of forest lands and how they can be improved has not only helped him, but those around his home. Welcome to our team.” 

Mr. Alfred also noted, “… information about SCFLOA can be found at: blog/information can be found at https://scfloa.wordpress.com/ or you can keep up to date by liking us Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Susquehanna-County-Forest-Landowners-Association), Twitter @SCFLOA_2016, and Linked-In (SCFLOA Montrose)”.

EDITORS NOTE:  Original article composed by the PFSC, local information added by Bob Wagner Secretary for the Susquehanna County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs. 570-278-9363.

The PFSC is and has been providing leadership and advocacy for the enhancement of our fish and wildlife resources with a constant presence on Capitol Hill (Harrisburg, Pa.) on behalf of sportsmen and sportswomen.

The PFSC is the only statewide organization with full-time “boots on the ground” in the halls of the Pennsylvania State Capitol, representing our hunting, fishing, trapping and 2nd Amendment interests. Other special/statewide interest groups engage in similar issues, but only when their specific issues are threatened. There are several worthy national organizations whose mission is dedicated to protecting and advancing hunting, fishing, trapping and the Second Amendment rights on the national level.

Outdoor pursuits have shaped, molded and defined generations. Despite all of the modern conveniences surrounding us, we still yearn for the outdoors, to connect with nature and to fit within it all. If sportsmen and sportswomen who engage in hunting, fishing and trapping activities are to remain relevant in modern society, then we must be involved at a higher level and we must do more. Expecting that the status quo is good enough is nothing but a recipe for extinction. We have an obligation, one that PFSC has been fulfilling for over 84 years, to protect and advance our outdoor heritage for future generations! Hunting, fishing, trapping and the outdoor pursuits we all cherish play an important role in our lives. Time spent immersed in nature with family and friends has special meaning, something that is impossible to quantify. Stories shared around the campfire or at hunting camp are forever burnt in our memories. Preparing wild game pulled from the freezer brings memories of past experiences, reconnecting us to the outdoors.

Today many are pushing a different agenda. Anti-hunting groups raise millions of dollars by pandering to well-meaning people who open their wallets, thinking they are helping orphaned pets and animal shelters. Yet much of those dollars go to groups like HSUS, The Humane Society of the United States the largest organization threatening our outdoor heritage. Less than 1% of their $100 million-plus annual budget goes to animal shelters or animal care. The majority of their budget goes towards salaries and expenses of staff across the country who carry out their anti-animal use missions attacking hunting, fishing, trapping, farming and many other aspects of our outdoor heritage. They are pressuring politicians to put their ideology into practice. They fragment us into small groups who cannot withstand the financial and political punches they throw at us.

It’s a constant up-hill battle. Our enemies are well funded, using emotion and politics to sway support. We MUST maintain a constant vigilance, and we need you to stand with us to help us have the resources we need to fight these battles.

The PFSC has a full time sportsmen’s lobbyist representing our interest at the Capitol. This is a costly, but absolutely necessary endeavor. Increasing our membership will help ensure the continuation of the promotion and protection of our Outdoor Heritage and 2nd  Amendment Rights for today, tomorrow, and future generations yet to come! Like it or not, we live in a day and age where everything is political, especially our outdoor heritage. You can help to sustain the PFSC by renewing your membership or joining for the first time and by promoting the Federation to other like - minded groups and individual’s.

The Federation is fighting for your rights on all fronts – the political battles in the Pennsylvania legislature and in Congress, the educational battle for the hearts and minds of conservationists, sportsmen and sportswomen, the protection of our environment and nature resources, and the promotion and protection of our outdoor heritage and our 2nd  Amendment Rights!

In Northeastern Pennsylvania you can join one of the County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs in Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Pike, Monroe, and Wyoming counties. You can contact the following people: Bob Banks for the Lackawanna County Federation at bbanks34@msn.com; Bill Leonard for the Monroe County Federation at bdleonard@verizon.net; Chuck Lombaerde for the Pike County Federation at brody243@optpnline.net; John Ord for the Susquehanna County Federation at scfederation@gmail.com; and Dennis Mingus for the Wyoming County Federation at dlm47@epix.net; If your county does not have a County Federation you can join as an individual by contacting the PFSC at pfsc@pfsc.org or 2426 North 2nd St Harrisburg, PA 17110. Phone 717-232-3480.

Conservation Pledge
I give my pledge as an American to save and faithfully defend from waste the natural resources of my country – its soil, air, minerals, forests, water and wildlife.

Luther

This handsome, lovable, Rottweiler has surprisingly been at True Friends for over 3 months with very little interest  in him at all.  We believe this is because Luther like many dogs in shelters, does not show well in his “ space" when potential adoptees walk through the kennels.  Often dogs can be protective of their kennels and come off as being “mean” when it is really very far from the truth.  When adopting, please don’t overlook these types of dogs and ask a staff member or volunteer about them.  They might be the perfect dog for you and one that may very well need your help the most.

Luther for example, once out of his space, is actually a very gentle soul who loves to give hugs and walks like a complete gentleman on a leash.  He is 5 years old, neutered, housebroken, and even tested very well with cats.  Luther has not had any easy life and can also be protective of his food.  Because of this he shouldn’t be in a home with small children and if you have other dogs we suggest a meet and greet.

A very special thank you to our friends with Sentry Alarms and Endless Mountains B2B business group for their generous donations.  The cold Winter months are very challenging  financially for our shelter.  Expenses go up and fundraising can be challenging. Every dollar is greatly needed and very much appreciated.

Fun Fact:  While they may appear intimidating at first, Rottweilers are known by their owners to be fiercly loving, loyal, affectionate, protective, and even playful.  At True Friends we now have two resident Rotti’s including Luther and Ace.  If this is your favorite breed or one you may have always wanted, stop by to meet these handsome boys today.

Below is the list of names drawn to serve as Petit and Traverse jurors for February to appear in the Court of Common Pleas, Susquehanna County Courthouse (large Courtroom), Montrose, PA, on the 13h day of February 2017,at nine o’clock a.m. (9:00 a.m.):

Auburn Township; Joan Lamberton, Robert Long, Zachary Mowry, Mikeal Noldy.

Bridgewater Township; Cynthial Parkhurst, Robert Truman.

Brooklyn Township; Christopher Drake, Jack Sterling, Ann Wall.

Choconut Township; William Tennant.

Clifford Township; Anne Geiger, Dean Scott.

Dimock Towhship; Kevin Visavati, Mark Wood.

Gibson Township; Scott Styverson.

Great Bend Borough; Roxane Smith Davis.

Great Bend Township; Kristy Bleck, Edward Fassett II, J. Thomas Hinton, Mark Maroney.

Hallstead Borough; Anthony Devincentis, Jennifer Frantz, Joanne Swaha Frink.

Harford Township; Armand Moretti, Susan Sadlon, Robert M. Whitney.

Harmony Township; Brian Decker.

Hop Bottom Borough; Robert Kinney, Shawna Norton.

Jackson Township; Lorrie Detwiler.

Lathrop Township; Dominick Fornicola, Frank Schutz, David Shevchuk.

Lenox Township; Brenda Marshalek, Freida Wasnowic.

Liberty Township; Doreen Armitage.

Little Meadows Borough; Marie Bicknell

Montrose Borough 1st Ward; James McArthur.

New Milford Township; Chad Benedict, Shari Girton, Ronald Perry Sr.

Oakland Borough; Dana Mallery.

Oakland Township; Philip Baldwin, Constance Barnes.

Rush Township; Graciela Bandala, Diana Burridge, Deanna Fassett, Cynthia Ferguson, Elmer Richie, Andres Romero, Brenda Vullo.

Silver Lake Township; Linda Dillenbeck, Ruben Everitt, Kathy Ormsby.

Springville Township; Patricia Clark, Danielle Yale.

Susquehanna Borough 1st Ward; Theresa Felter, Joni Miller.

Susquehanna Borough 2nd Ward; Lee Wolf.

Thompson Borough; Marion Wisnewski.

Thompson Township; Amy Collins.