A group of kids at the orienteering station run by the Pennsylvania Game Commission - Wildlife Conservation Officer Ben Rebuck.

Participants on the pond at the canoe/kayak station.

Each year, for the past 7 years, the 10 organizations that make up the Susquehanna County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs (SCFSC) hold a Youth Field Day (YFD). These field days have been held on the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s National Hunting and Fishing Day, on the 4th Saturday in September. National Hunting and Fishing Day brings together sportsmen and women to commemorate the rich tradition of fishing and hunting with national, state, regional and local organizations hosting fishing and hunting related events.

Steve Radicchi of the New Milford rifle and Pistol Club and Aaron Herbert assisting Josh Bourassa at the shotgun/clay bird station.

Two happy boys with Jack Sorber, President of the Wilson F. Moore Memorial Chapter of the NWTF at the PANWTF Inflatable BB gun Turkey target shoot.

The 2017 YFD was held at the Canawacta Rod and Gun facility in northern Susquehanna County. This is the second year that the Canawacta group has opened up their grounds to host the SCFSC youth field day. The club owns a mountain top area with a ¾ acre pond, a pistol range, a rifle range, two trap fields, 100 acres of forest and wildlife areas, and an updated clubhouse. These facilities make it an ideal area for the field day.

This year’s youth field day was attended by 50 youth and their parents. The youth took part in canoeing/kayaking, orienteering, shotgun safety talk and shooting at clay birds, 22 pistol/rifle safety and target shooting, BB gun shooting at turkey paper targets and a talk on the wild turkey and the National Wild Turkey Federation history in Pennsylvania. This year the instructors at the various stations were: Shotgun station-Lou Mebus, John Ord, Steve Radicchi and Aaron Herbert; 22 Pistol/ rifle station-Greg Stewart, Fred Pittack and Lou Schreiner; Canoe/Kayak-Stan Rockwell; Orienteering-PGC Officers Rebuck and Raub; NWTF BB Gun turkey shoot – Jack Sorber, Michele Cuevas. Inside the clubhouse: Registration-Mike DePaola, Ed Smith, Delores Goodger and Bob Wagner; Kitchen-Stan Wojochowski, Ed Smith, Mike DePaola and friends.

Greg Stewart of the Canawacta Rod and Gun instruction one of the youth at the 22 rifle station

William Calwell of New Milford was the Winner of the YFD first prize a Savage Stevens 301 20ga in a random drawing.

This 10 clubs and organizations that make up the local Federation are: Canawacta Rod and Gun, Silver Lake Rod and Gun Club, Hallstead/Great Bend Rod and Gun Club, New Milford Rifle and Pistol, Rush/Middletown Sportsmen’s Assoc., Susquehanna County Snowmobilers Association, Blue Ridge Sportsmen’s Club, Pa. Trappers Association – District 9, Wilson F. Moore Memorial chapter of the National Wild Turkey Foundation and the Susquehanna Branch of the Quality Deer Management Association. The Youth Field Day is attended by Wildlife Conservation Officers from the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Waterways Conservation Officers from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Every meeting of the Susquehanna County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs begins with the 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.”

The Mountain View Garden Club recently presented Diane Bidwell from Creekside Grove in Lenoxville with their annual Hometown Pride Award.

Pictured (L-R) are: Helen Tinsley, Mt. View Garden Club Chairperson, with recipient Diane Bidwell

Jim and Jan Kessler, owners of Kessler’s Tree Farm will host an early fall woods walk on October 7th in conjunction with the Susquehanna County Forest Land Owners Association and the Pennsylvania Tree Farm Program. The Kessler’s Tree Farm, with 44 acres of woodlands and a Christmas tree operation, is located near Milk Can Corners in Franklin Township Susquehanna County.

The Fall Woods Walk, open to everyone, will feature land and forest stewardship via a sustainable forest, clean waters, healthy wildlife habitat, beautiful fall colors, 10 acres of Christmas trees, soils information and more. The walks will be rated easy on the difficulty scale, please wear appropriate footwear. The Woods Walk program starts at 930am please arrive earlier to help ease the parking situation. Lunch will be available for a fee. The local 4H club will be making/serving/selling the lunch items.

This photo was taken from the Kessler Christmass tree operation, looking past the trees to a mountain side to the north. (Photo supplied by J. Kessler)

The Pennsylvania Forestry Association’s Tree Farm Committee awarded the 2017 Pennsylvania Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year to Jim and Jan Kessler. The Kessler’s have owned this property since the late 1970’s. Mr. Kessler noted that, "I have always told our kids that money grows on trees. Our job is to work to get it out ---- sustainably. We sell Christmas trees, maple syrup, firewood and timber. Our woods is in much better shape now, than it was 40 years ago!”

The term “tree farming” was first used in the 1940s to introduce the public to sustainable forestry terminology they could easily understand. By linking the term “farming” with trees, foresters could communicate the concept of sustainable production of forest products over time. Tree farming implies commitment to the land and was the philosophical opposite of the “cut-out and get-out” philosophy of the early 20th century.

In Pennsylvania, the Tree Farm program is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. Decisions concerning the management of the program are made by the Pennsylvania Tree Farm Committee. The committee is made up of representatives from forest industry, the Bureau of Forestry, consulting foresters, tree farmers, Penn State Cooperative Extension, and Penn State School of Forest Resources. The committee currently meets four times a year. Their primary responsibility is to promote Tree Farming and sustainable forestry as well as coordinate the Tree Farm inspection process each year. The state is divided into six areas with each area being represented by an area chairman. It is the area chairman’s responsibility to coordinate training sessions for inspecting foresters and to oversee the Tree Farm inspection procedures in their respective areas.

The Pennsylvania Tree Farm program targets the more than 500,000 private forest landowners in the State. The program encourages them to do an effective job of growing trees as a crop just like corn or oats. Tree Farms are varied in nature and contain many different habitats for wildlife and stages of forest growth, from seedlings to mature timber. Tree Farms are working examples of applied forestry. They are privately-owned managed forests producing continuous crops of trees while providing wildlife habitat, clean water, and outdoor recreation.

Kessler's Tree Farm address is 742 SR 1018, Hallstead, PA 18822. The Tree Farm is located on Franklin Hill Road (SR 1018) between New Milford, on State Route (SR) 11, and Franklin Forks, on SR 29. Watch for signs.  To get to the Kessler Tree Farm using GPS the coordinates are: 41 54 1.92 North, 75 47 18.79 West.

Following is the list of names drawn to serve as Petit and Traverse jurors for October to appear in the Court of Common Pleas, Susquehanna County Courthouse (large courtroom), Montrose, PA, on the 10th day of October, 2017 at nine o'clock a.m. (9:00 a.m.)

73 BALDWIN, ELIZABETH L                                    LITTLE MEADOWS BORO
44 BARLOW, DUSTIN                                             BROOKLYN TWP
49 BARNETT, SANDRA LEE                                   DIMOCK TWP
6 BECK, JOHN J                                                     CHOCONUT TWP
27 BECKER, MATTHEW                                         LENOX TWP
76 BENNETT, RICHARD W                                     LITTLE MEADOWS BORO
90 BENSON, RACHAEL E                                       LANESBORO BORO
69 BLENCO, DANIEL                                             THOMPSON TWP
66 BROOKS JR, JOHN W                                       SPRINGVILLE TWP
5 CANTONE, THOMAS                                           BRIDGEWATER TWP
42 CARPENETTI, RONALD D                                 LATHROP TWP
8 CHAFFEE, RUTH K                                             SUSQUEHANNA
58 CLAPPER, DEBORAH A                                     HALLSTEAD BORO
71 CLINTON, GREGORY                                        NEW MILFORD BORO
1 CONNER JR, GEORGE W                                   BROOKLYN TWP
82 CONROY, JEFFREY HAWK                                NEW MILFORD TWP
21 CYZESKI JR, FRANK J                                       FOREST CITY BORO
47 DANIELS JR, ROBERT H                                   CLIFFORD TWP
98 DEPUE, WANDA JUNE                                       GREAT BEND BORO
55 GEORGE, KIMBERLY E                                     HARFORD TWP
97 GOLDEN, CHERYL R                                         HARMONY TWP
52 GOW, CHRISTINE R                                          SUSQUEHANNA BORO
36 HAYNES JR, ROGER C                                      NEW MILFORD TWP
24 HITCHCOCK, SUSAN CARRIE                           DIMOCK TWP
86 HRIN, DIANNE R                                                 FRIENDSVILLE BORO
80 JENKINS, TAMMY SUE                                       BROOKLYN TWP
17 KELLEY, AMBER M                                             JESSUP TWP
43 LAING, PATRICIA PIPER                                    THOMPSON BORO
59 LEWIS JR, SHANE                                             BRIDGEWATER TWP
33 LIPKO, ARLENE M                                             FOREST CITY BORO
100 MALLERY, DARLENE RAE                                OAKLAND BORO
19 MOAT, ARTHUR W                                             GREAT BEND BORO
92 MORGAN, KELLY NICOLE                                 HOP BOTTOM BORO
94 NEWHART, SHANNON C                                    AUBURN TWP
32 NOBLE, RYAN L                                                   SPRINGVILLE TWP
25 NORTON, ROBERT S                                          HOP BOTTOM BORO
62 OLIVER, DENNIS                                             SPRINGVILLE TWP
84 ONYON, ERICSTEVEN                                       NEW MILFORD TWP
45 ORD, AUDREY KAY                                             BROOKLYN TWP
78 OWENS, MARIE B                                              HERRICK TWP
53 POTTER, MARCIA CLIFT                                    SUSQUEHANNA BORO
23 POTTER, MATTHEW                                          HOP BOTTOM BORO
81 REDDING, MICHAEL L                                        SILVER LAKE TWP
11 ROBINSON, PATSY B                                          SPRINGVILLE TWP
74 ROSENKRANS, JOSHUA EARL                        BRIDGEWATER TWP
54 ROSS, PAULA RENEE                                        MONTROSE BORO
79 ROWE, ANDREW                                             BRIDGEWATER TWP
  4 SCHELL, CHRISTINE L                                     GREAT BEND TWP
88 SCHOONOVER, JAMES C                                 HALLSTEAD
103 SHARER II, ROGER JAMES                            SUSQUEHANNA BORO
63 SKIBA JR, CHARLES R                                     GREAT BEND TWP
41 SMITH, AMBER NICOLE                                   NEW MILFORD BORO
38 SMITH, TILGHMAN G                                        SILVER LAKE TWP
56 SPOLAR, ROCKY                                            MONTROSE
83 STEELE, MATTHEW A                                       MONTROSE
40 STONE, DESIREE LYNN                                   HALLSTEAD
95 STONE, EDWARD                                          THOMPSON BORO
48 SWITZER, JIMMY LEE                                      DIMOCK
75 TARGI, MARIA T                                             AUBURN TWP
67 TEEL, ALISON TERESA                                   DIMOCK TWP
28 THURLBORN, SANDRA                                   MONTROSE
35 TRIBLE JR, BRIAN DALE                                 MONTROSE
16 WARNER, MICHAEL A                                      FRANKLIN TWP
87 WARREN, AMANDA J                                        NEW MILFORD TWP
22 WARRING, MELISSA                                          ARARAT TWP
65 WELLS, DAVID F                                                AUBURN TWP
61 ZURN, VICKIE CAROLE                                    GREAT BEND TWP

The Susquehanna County Conservation District is offering an opportunity for Susquehanna County farmers to save money and soil this fall. For the first 600 acres of cover crop planted with the District’s no-till rental rate this fall, there will be a charge of only $4.00 per acre. A minimum delivery fee of $100 applies if you plant less than 6 acres. This is a discount of $13.00 per acre over regular seeder rental rates.

Fall cover crops may include cereal grains such as rye, oats, wheat, barley or triticale. Other cover crops that can be used include clovers, tillage radishes, vetch and other broad leafs. A “cocktail” mix of several species can be planted and have multiple benefits.

Call Wayne at 570-575-9978 to schedule delivery to your farm.

I am Gail George, from Liberty Carpet, Proudly serving as this year’s campaign chair; United Way of Susquehanna County has begun its annual campaign efforts. I am asking you to join me in supporting their work of Helping Children Do Well offering children and their families residing in Susquehanna County programs that provide an upward trajectory toward a better life. Over the past several years, UWSC has undergone a transformation focusing on community impact work and shifting resources toward investing in health and human service agencies and initiatives that focus specifically on Academic Readiness, Mentorship, Childhood Wellness, Family Development and Stability.

In addition, UWSC continues to fund Safety Net services that assist families who are facing an immediate threat to their safety and well-being.  This work would not be possible without your continued support and that of the community and many volunteers who compassionately serve.

Your generosity also helps fund the following programs: Dolly Parton Imagination Library; Real Men Read- Early Learning MENtor Program; PA Pre-K Counts Literacy Kits; Little Free Library; Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program; FamilyWize Prescription Discount Drug Card; Family Holiday Portrait Day; 2-1-1 Helpline.

Hundreds of county residents were connected via 2-1-1 to agencies that provided assistance for such serious matters as abuse, hunger, neglect, homelessness, suicide prevention and mental health emergencies.

With your generous support, we know we are making a positive, lifelong difference in the lives of children and their families. I ask the community to get behind this important work and invite area business leaders to support United Way of Susquehanna County by offering your employees the option to give through payroll deduction. If you would like to learn more please contact Kim Merithew at 570-465-3868, as she can assist in helping design easy to manage campaign activities that suit your employees and business needs.

The Susquehanna County Commissioners announce the Courthouse will be closed on Monday, October 9, 217 in observance of Columbus Day. All court related offices will be available.

Bench Warrants

The Susquehanna County DOMESTIC RELATIONS Section has outstanding BENCH WARRANT’S for the following individuals as of 8:57a.m. on September 29, 2017: Ryan A. Aukema, Amanda C. Bedell, Tonya S. Birchard, Tina Dolan, Nathasha Everett, Jonathan Fathi, Shawn P. Fiorentino, Vincent Gordon, John J. Haney, Carol Hollister, Tara M. Humphry, Jean M. Larson, Todd J. Layton, Charlie J. Legere, Bradley W. Megivern, Peggy J. Mills, Ralph J. Minnick, Nick Petersen, Marcus E. Spickerman, Tyrone M. Taylor, Justin S. Thompson, Renee A. Valentine, Charles Vanwinkle, Jr., Jeffrey Warner, William R. Wayman, Jr., Roderick R. Williams. Please contact the Domestic Relations Section at 570-278-4600 ext. 4050 with any information on the location of these individuals.

Deeds

Daniel A. Arnold (by sheriff aka) Daniel Arnold (by sheriff) and Kyla M. Daly (by sheriff) to US Bank Association Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency for $4,435.11 in Montrose.
Brian Carter (by sheriff) to JP Morgan Chase Bank for $3,734.89 in New Milford Borough.
Herman R. Appleman (trust by trustee) and Sandra F. Appleman (trust by trustee) to Herman R. Appleman (trust) and Sandra F. Appleman (trust) for $1.00 in Harford Township.
Herman R. Appleman (trust by trustee) and Sandra F. Appleman (trust by trustee) to Herman R. Appleman (trust) and Sandra F. Appleman (trust) for $1.00 in Harford Township.
Herman R. Appleman (trust by trustee) and Sandra F. Appleman (trust by trustee) to Herman R. Appleman (trust) and Sandra F. Appleman (trust) for $1.00 in Harford Township.
Herman R. Appleman (trust by trustee) and Sandra F. Appleman (trust by trustee) to Herman R. Appleman (trust) and Sandra F. Appleman (trust) for $1.00 in Harford Township.
Herman R. Appleman (trust by trustee) and Sandra F. Appleman (trust by trustee) to Herman R. Appleman (trust) and Sandra F. Appleman (trust) for $1.00 in Harford Township.
Linda R. Ernst (trust by trustee) to John A. Ernst (trust) for $1.00 in Gibson Township.
John C. Ross and Amanda J. Ross to John C. Ross and Amanda J. Ross for $1.00 in Jackson Township.
Homer C. Ross Family Limited Partnership to Homer C. Ross Family Limited Partnership for $1.00 in Jackson Township.
Amos P. Hollister to Danielle F. Zahora for $120,000.00 in Montrose.
Douglas G. Kilmer (aka) Douglas Kilmer to Douglas G. Kilmer for $1.00 in Clifford Township.
Douglas G. Kilmer (aka) Douglas Kilmer to Douglas G. Kilmer for $1.00 in Clifford Township.
Clara M. Davis to Kenneth R. Davis for $1.00 in Middletown Township.
Cindy L. MacDonald to James Degrazia III for $1.00 in Ararat Township.
Gerald Franceski and Kathlee Franceski to Jerry and Kathy Franceski Living Trust for $1.00 in Uniondale Borough.
Gerald B. Franceski and Kathleen Franceski to Jerry and Kathy Franceski Living Trust for $1.00 in Uniondale Borough.
KCJ Properties LLC to Jacy S. Martel and Misa R. Martel for $100,800.00 in New Milford Borough.
Dawn Ziegler and John Ziegler to Dawn Ziegler and John Ziegler for $1.00 in Harford Township.
Jospeh Jerome Marshall (estate aka) Joseph J. Marshall (estate) to Dale Howell Enterprises Inc for $67,000.00 in Susquehanna 2W.
Esther M. Rittenhouse to Jon M. Rittenhouse for $1.00 in Bridgewater Township.
Gregory Scott NEPA to Elizabeth Loughridge and Eric Walworth for $127,500.00 in Liberty Township.
Patricia J. Reo to Keith Rotsaert for $40,000.00 in Herrick Township.
Frederick L. Scherr, Elleen J. Scherr, Alan H. Darienzo and Susan B. Darienzo to Ashley B. Onyon and Eric S. Onyon for $165,000.00 in Harford Township.
Robert M. Weida to Dale J. Weida to Robert M. Weida and Dale J. Weida for $1.00 in Harford Township.
Nancy R. Wiker, Robert Wiker, Sue Kipar and Paul Kipar to Keenan J. Small for $145,000.00 in Bridgewater Township.
Mark G. Holbrook and Rhonda S. Holbrook to Joshua L. Holbrook and Justina K. Holbrook for $1.00 in New Milford Township.
Alton B. Wilber to Eric G. Wilber and Joann C. Wilber for $50,000.00 in Liberty Township.
Patricia M. Weibel to Aleshia Napolitano and Neal Juraska for $92,000.00 in Harmony Township.
Martin L. Darrow and Barbara J. Darrow to Martin L. Darrow for $1.00 in Great Bend Township.
Xiu Ping Chen and Tong Chao Zhang to Xia Juan Wang and Zeng Di Huang for $135,000.00 in Forest City.
Barbara Ann Skahan to Joseph F. Skahan IV for $1.00 in New Milford Township.
Terry M. Ridall and Robin Agnes Ridall to Michael L. Ridall for $1.00 in Auburn Township.
Corrective Deed: Kevin M. Millard and Sandra M. Millard to Kevin M. Millard for $1.00 in Jessup Township.
Wayne P. Martin and Donna L. Martin to Wayne P. Martin and Donna L. Martin for $1.00 in Rush Township.
Oil, Gas and Mineral Deed: Wayne P. Martin and Donna L. Martin to Wayne P. Martin and Donna L. Martin for $1.00 in Rush Township.
Jason Skarbez and Mary Hubal to Mary Hubal for $1.00 in Thompson Borough.
Loretta W. Soller to Karen A. Wagner for $1.00 in Great Bend Borough.
Richard Peterka and Anthony J. Wilcox and Pauline Wilcox for $172,000.00 in Clifford Township.
Alan R. Christianson to Katherine Edwards for $74,200.00 in Lanesboro Borough.
Hector Manuel Uribe Moran and Betsabe Bencomo to Brainard Explosives LLC for $1.00 in Gibson Township.
Robert Keyes and Gay Keyes to Jeffrey T. Keyes for $1.00 in Susquehanna 2W.
Richard D. Stillwell and Carol Stillwell to Lexi Pileggi and Robyn Pileggi for $21,500.00 in Clifford Township.
Paul Borick Jr. and Dawn Borick to Kyle Stark and Alysa Borick for $93,200.00 in Forest City.
Anna Boehmer, Ralph P. Boehmer (by trustee), Stacy A. Boehmer (by trustee) and Racquel P. Boehmer (by trustee) to Donald Cunningham for $17,500.00 in Middletown Township.
Loandepot.com LLC to United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs for $1.00 in Hallstead Borough.
Wells Fargo Bank to Shane Kingsbury for $23,000.00 in Forest City 2W.
Barbara Pompey (aka) Barbara L. Pompey to James M. Pompey for $1.00 in Springville Township.
Jason Ross, Rachel H. Ross (aka) Rachel Ross to Richard Wademen for $2,415.35 in Thompson Borough.
David W. Fisher and Mary J. Fisher to Wrighters Lake Association Inc for $42.00 in Thompson Township.
Wrighters Lake Assoication Ladies Auxiliary to Wrighters Lake Association Inc for $1.00 in Thompson Township.
Salvatore Marino (aka) Sam Marino and Jill Marino to James P. Keating and Tiffany E. Keating for $5,000.00 in Clifford Township.
David J. Hanf and Linda L. Hanf to Bruce W. Butler for $63,000.00 in Forest City 2W.
Scott A. Brace to Frank Schutz and Christina Decker Schutz for $25,000.00 in Hop Bottom Borough.
Mineral Deed: Ruth Elaine Guild Rought (estate) to Renee D. Deaton and Sean P. Deaton for $1.00 in Harford Township.
Mineral Deed: Ruth Elaine Guild Rought (estate) to Renee D. Deaton and Sean P. Deaton for $1.00 in Harford Township.
Fairdale Community United Methodist Church (fka) Fairdale Methodist Church (fka) Methodist E. Church of Bridgewater (fka) Bridgewater Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church to Eric C. Fish for $45,000.00 in Jessup Township.
Roger L. Palmer and Jeremy T. Palmer to Joseph P. Conboy and Carolyn S. Conboy for $150,000.00 in Forest Lake Township.
Keith N. Meagley to Elsie Kilmer for $1.00 in Harmony Township.
Annette Beiber (aka) Annette Bieber to Beverly Conrad for $1.00 in Choconut Township.
Frank Lutkiewicz, Helen K. Lutkiewicz and Gerald M. Torka to Gregory A. Lutkiewicz and Aiyana D. Lutkiewicz for $1.00 in Franklin Township.
Gerald P. Peck and Kenda L. Peck to James Martin Peck and Joan Margaret Peck for $1.00 in Apolacon Township.
Vincet A. Schmid to James Collum and Faith Collum for $220,000.00 in Herrick Township.
Mineral Royalty and Overriding Royalty Conveyance: Freestar Energy Group LLC to Klamath Oil and Gas LLC for $10.00 in Liberty Township.
Mineral Royalty and Overriding Royalty Conveyance: Klamath Oil and Gas LLC to WX Land Service LLC for $10.00 in Liberty Township.
Mineral Royalty and Overriding Royalty Conveyance: Freestar Energy Group LLC to Klamath Oil and Gas LLC for $10.00 in Thompson Township.
Mineral Royalty and Overriding Royalty Conveyance: Klamath Oil and Gas LLC to WX Land Services LLC for $10.00 in Thompson Township.
Robert Aiken, Patricia Aiken (aka) Patricia O. Aiken to Stephen T. Groover and Terri L. Groover for $160,000.00 in Bridgewater Township.
Corrective: Dale Howell Enterprises Inc. to Mark Alles and Lorraine S. Alles for $1.00 in Springville Township.
Tyler C. Kelly and Tanya L. Kelly to Michael A. Spencer and Elizabeth A. Turcotte for $112,500.00 in Montrose.
Eugene A. Fraser and Patricia Fraser to Andrew J. Hawley and Nicole M. Hawley for $7,500.00 in Forest Lake Township.
Robert L. Hawley and Corrine R. Hawley to Andrew J. Hawley and Nicole M. Hawley for $1.00 in Forest Lake Township.
Peter Chiappini (estate) to Lisa Devaney and Robert W. Devaney for $69,100.00 in Herrick Township.
Robert S. Genevich and Norma Genevich to Robert S. Genevich (trust) and Norma Genevich (trust) in Clifford Township.
Daniel J. Zaleski and Nicole L. Zaleski to A2Z Properties LLC for $92,624.79 in Montrose.
Robert Aiken and Patricia Aiken (aka) Patricia O. Aiken to A2Z Properties LLC for $38,000.00 in Montrose.
Oil, Gas and Mineral: Freestar Energy Group LLC to Macondo Fund III LTD and CJS Royalty LLC for $10.00 in Lathrop Township.
Corrective: Andrew E. King (estate) to King Family Trust for $1.00 in Little Meadows Borough.
Patricia Aiken and Robert Aiken to Beardsley Properties LLC for $300,000.00 in Montrose.
Charles Suchocki to Charles Suchocki and Charles Suchocki Jr. for $1.00 in Liberty Township.
Teck Percision LLC to Hallstead Fire Engine and Hose Company No 1 for $130,000.00 in Hallstead Borough.
Dorilynn Elsky (NBM) Dorilynn Furch and Timothy Furch to Hawley Family Farms LLC for $415,000.00 in Choconut Township.
Jeannette Apostle (aka) Jeannette Apostale, Lee Apostle (aka) Lee Apostle to Robert E. Aiken and Patricia O. Aiken for $245,000.00 in Jessup Township.
Phillip Hodges to FC Main LLC for $25,000.00 in Forest City.
Gail E. Rafferty to Shannon G. Rafferty for $1.00 in Jessup Township.
Domenica Mastroguilio to Shane Christian and Kristy Christian for $189,000.00 in Thompson Township.
Daniel L. Jass and Rebekah N. Crisafulli and Daniel L. Jass for $1.00 in Herrick Township.

If you’re a veteran, reservist or active duty service member, it’s important to know that there are special benefits you may be eligible for when buying a home.

“Veterans and service members have earned the opportunity to become homeowners, and it’s crucial that they are well-informed about the benefits and options available to them,” says Greg Murray, military mortgage program manager at Wells Fargo, who is also a U.S. Navy veteran.

Specialized loan officers can help military customers make the most of earned benefits.

To help, Murray has identified the top four things to know when buying a home.

• There are special financial education resources designed for military personnel and veterans. Take advantage of these free online resources so you can be a savvier home shopper. For example, Wells Fargo’s Hands on Banking for Military, which offers courses on topics like banking basics and smart spending, also contains a comprehensive guide on home-buying.

• Before assuming you won’t qualify for a loan, talk to a lender. Be sure to tell the lender that you have served or are currently serving in the military. They can inform you about the options available to you, such as a Veteran’s Administration (VA) loan. A VA loan is a home loan guaranteed by the federal government, designed to help those who’ve served in the military obtain homeownership. They can sometimes be obtained with zero down payment. Gifts or grants can be used to help cover down payment and closing costs, subject to program requirements, and no mortgage insurance is required.

• A large portion of qualified buyers aren’t taking advantage of the low-to-no-down-payment mortgage options available through VA loans. Indeed, more than 21 million veterans and service members live in the U.S., however, over the past five years, a mere 6 percent of them bought a home using a VA home loan, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. This may be due to the common myth that active duty service members, National Guard members and reservists are not eligible for VA loans (in fact, they may be eligible).

Many also are unaware that unmarried, surviving spouses of veterans who died as a result of service or service-related causes are also eligible.

• Individual banks, not the Department of Veterans Affairs, offer VA loans, allowing you to work with a lender who understands your needs and makes you feel comfortable.

“A specialized team member who understands unique military needs, such as a Wells Fargo Military Lending Specialist, can help you make the most of the home loan benefits you’ve earned,” says Murray.

Developing a relationship with this lender is also a good idea, as you may later choose to refinance through the VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL) program.

To learn more, visit wellsfargo.com/military.

If homeownership seems daunting, remember that taking advantage of VA benefits can make it more financially and logistically viable. (StatePoint)