Home → Columnists ( May 27, 2026 )
Montrose – Beach manufacturing company plant was the scene of a fire early Sunday morning, discovered by a group of young people returning from a dance. It originated in the forge room and warehouse, both wood structures. A concrete and steel main building prevented spread of flames. New concrete buildings will be built. ALSO Miss Gladys Williams will be manager of Greenwood’s Maytag Store, which will be opened in the Cruser block, South Main Street. Miss Williams has had an extensive business experience and has the ability and qualities requisite for the position.
Brooklyn – Commencement exercises will be held on Friday evening, May 28th. There are eight members of the graduating class, as follows: Anna Collins, Ruth Nash, Dena Roberts, Dorothy Tiffany, Blanch Rettberg, Emery Jones, James Griswold, Thomas West.
Susquehanna – A large delegation of officials of the Erie and other railroads are expected here this week to look over conditions regarding the shops. A large part of the other buildings have been torn down and there are changes in connection with the local shops and the work, without doubt. Anything that means steady work for the employees will be very welcome.
Dimock – Sneak thieves are again busy in this place. About 200 chickens were stolen from E. H. LaRue, one night last week, and a quantity of canned fruit was taken from the home of Charles Roberts, the same night.
Great Bend – Concrete is being poured on the new state road from Hickory Grove to Great Bend. It is expected that the road will be ready for use by July 4th.
Williams Pond – A barn, silo, granary and milk house, on the Anthony Burgess farm near here, were destroyed by fire of unknown origin. Destroyed in the barn was farm machinery and a cow and calf were burned to death. The fire was only partly insured, but Mr. Burgess plans to rebuild.
East Rush – Undertaker F. A. Bedell, and Dr. H. M. Fry, returned on Friday from a 600-mile automobile trip to Piqua, OH. On the return trip they drove back a Meteor limousine hearse, which Mr. Bedell will use in connection with his business. It is a fine motor vehicle and one of the most elaborate in use in this part of the state.
Franklin Forks – Decoration Day will be observed as usual. A delegation will leave the Forks at 9:00am to decorate the graves of the old soldiers at Brookdale and Lawsville, returning to the Forks at 11:00 or 12:00. Rev. Nankivell, of Lake Como, will deliver the Memorial address at 2:00pm.
Birchardville – Last Thursday a Union Ladies’Aid was held in the Hall. The men united in digging the trench to convey water from a spring on Mr. Edward Burr’s property to the parsonage. Much work was accomplished and a grand dinner was served by the ladies. When the work is complete the parsonage will be one of the best equipped in the country, as a complete bathroom is to be installed.
South Auburn – A very pleasant social event was a reception given in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Robert LaFrance, who recently commenced housekeeping on the farm where Robert spent his boyhood days.
Forest City – The meeting of the borough council, with all of the city’s solons in attendance, was a clearance house for local troubles. Among those were the necessity of a sewer for the north end of town; the offensive odor that comes from a manhole on South Main Street; the discussion of the cow question, Michael Kott thought they should not be allowed to run at large at night; also some merchants protested against peddlers being allowed to invade Forest City and compete with the local business men who have rents and taxes to pay.
Uniondale – It is said that the Grist Mill is for sale and there is much speculation as to who will be the buyers. The mill is probably the largest in the county. It was remodeled and enlarged by H. H. Hubbard some 20 years ago, after its purchase by him from the late Edwin Corey. After Mr. Hubbard’s death it was run by the Spencer’s of Thompson, and later Sherwood and Lowery had a thriving business there, selling to the Mathews Milling Co., which recently went into bankruptcy. The mill is run with water power much of the year.
News Brief: The Musical Observer, published in New York City, has the following comment and photograph on a local musical organization: “Taylor’s Band, of Montrose, PA, is a band of professional standing, composed of amateur members. They play a high type of band music and have won an enviable reputation in their section of the state.” There are not many bands in the country composed of such young musicians who have such unquestioned talent. It is a real honor to be thus recognized by such a prominent publication. [This band was organized by Maurice Taylor, and made up of his brothers and other boys in Montrose. It was the basis for starting a band at Montrose High School, I believe the year was 1927. Maurice Taylor went on to write “Easy Steps to the Band” and “Easy Steps to the Orchestra,” still used in schools throughout the United States. It was a progressive course for teaching full band, including all instruments.]
Honor Roll of Revolutionary War Soldiers in Susquehanna County: CAPT. JEREMIAH SPENCER. Native of New Hampshire in which state he enlisted in the war of the Revolution. Came from Renessaler Co., NY, to Springville Township in 1801. Made first learning in township. Wife was Tirzah, sister of Judge Ashley, and they had sons, Daniel and Francis B., and five daughters. He died in 1825, aged 75 years, and was buried in the cemetery near Lynn, for which he gave the ground. His son, Francis, born Jan, 2, 1781, in Clairmount, NH, married Naomi, daughter of Gideon Lyman.
MASONIC. Notice is hereby given, that the EVENING STAR LODGE NO. 206 will be established and constituted at the house of Philo Bostwick, in Middletown, Susquehanna County, on the 27th of May inst., at 10 o’clock in the forenoon. The brethren are invited to attend.
YOUNG BUCEPHALUS WILL stand for mares the ensuing season as follows: On Tuesday the 16th inst. at the stable of Edward Packer, Esq. in Brooklyn; Wednesday the 17th at Samuel Woodward’s in Springville; Thursday the 18th at John Buckingham’s in Montrose and return through New Milford to the stable of the subscriber on Friday. This route will be performed every other week throughout the season. TERMS – Two dollars the single leap, three the season and five to insure. HOSEA TIFFANY, JR. Harford, May 12, 1826
In October 2024, Keith Gaither was living with his wife in a Motel 6 in York County. Gaither experienced a problem with another long-term Motel 6 resident, Kacy Bitner. As a result, Gaither was complaining about Bitner to another neighbor during which he made threats to kill her, her family and her dog. Bitner overheard the threats and attempted to record them. Gaither reacted by confronting Bitner, pushing her up against a railing and throwing punches at her. A third party intervened to stop any further assaultive conduct.
Gaither was charged with two counts of summary harassment in connection with his threatening and assaultive behavior toward Bitner. After a judge trial, Gaither was convicted of both counts, and the trial judge ordered him to pay a $150 fine on each, totaling $300. Gaither filed an appeal contending that the trial judge failed to conduct a hearing to determine whether Gaither could afford a $300 fine prior to imposing it. Gaither contended that he lacked the financial resources to pay $300, as evidenced by his living arrangements in a local motel rather than an apartment or home.
The Superior Court noted that the Sentencing Code provides a variety of potential punishment options for a sentencing judge, which includes such things as confinement, probation, a fine, or simply a finding of guilt with no further punishment. While it is common for a sentence to include incarceration or probation together with a fine, it is also permittable for a sentencing judge to simply impose a fine, which is what the sentence judge did in Gaither’s case when the two $150 fines were imposed.
Because the summary harassment statute provides for a fine of up to $300, and there was no mandatory financial fine that the sentencing judge was required to impose, the imposition of the fine was discretionary, i.e., the sentence judge was not mandated to impose any fine whatsoever. In this regard, a total fine of $300 seems a rather modest penalty given that nature of the threats made by Gaither coupled with his subsequent assaultive behavior, especially where the sentencing judge could have ordered Gaither to serve up to 90 days in jail for each summary count, i.e., a total of 180 days. When considered in that light, the $300 fine sounds rather lenient. Still, the Superior Court noted that a sentencing judge may only impose a discretionary fine on a convicted defendant where the defendant “is or will be able to pay the fine.”
Perhaps Gaither does not have the current ability to pay $300, but most people would contend that he “will be able to pay the fine” at some point in the future, i.e., it is not a terribly onerous financial burden. But the Superior Court noted that the record must have evidence establishing the ability to pay, whether it be present or future. In this case, the trial judge simply ordered Gaither to pay the fine, $150 on each summary conviction, without any hearing to determine Gaither’s financial situation or future ability to earn monies to pay the fine. Reluctantly, the Superior Court concluded that “there is a complete absence of evidence of [Gaither’s] ability to pay and the sentence is therefore illegal.”
What happens now? The Superior Court sent the case back to the sentencing court to conduct a new hearing to determine if Gaither had the ability to pay $300. In making this determination, the Superior Court observed that an implication existed that Gaither had such an ability because he “had been represented by private counsel at trial.” This implied ability to pay, however, was insufficient, and the sentencing judge was instructed to conduct a hearing on Gaither’s financial ability to pay. If the hearing determined that Gaither had the ability to pay, then the $300 fine would be legal. If he lacked the ability to pay (immediately or in the future), then no fine could be imposed.
It is important to note that the “ability to pay argument” may only be used as to discretionary fines, but it does not apply to the court costs which must always be imposed regardless of a defendant’s ability to pay. Moreover, if the fine is mandatory, then the court has no discretion and must impose the fine. The best example of mandatory fines are traffic tickets where the statute simply provides that a specific fine must be imposed – together with the associated costs. So, if you get a speeding ticket, you cannot use the “ability to pay argument” to avoid the fines or the court costs. You just have to pay the ticket somehow and sometime.
Good day dear hearts, I love you. Pentecost celebrates the Spirit who empowers us to live beyond ourselves and Memorial Day honors those who gave themselves for others. Together, they invite us to remember, to give thanks and to live lives worthy of both the freedoms we enjoy and the Spirit who guides us. Pentecost is the moment the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples (Acts 2), transforming fearful followers into courageous witnesses. It is the birthday of the Church, the moment God empowered ordinary people to live extraordinary lives. Memorial Day is the moment our nation pauses to honor those who laid down their lives so others can live in freedom. The bridge between them is sacrifice that leads to life. Pentecost, God giving His Spirit so His people can live with courage, conviction, and compassion. Memorial Day, remembering those who gave their lives so others could flourish. Both call us to gratitude. Both call us to responsibility. Both call us to live in a way that honors the gift we’ve been given.
We have two days to honor in one weekend. We have tongues of fire and the rushing wind of the Holy Spirit on Sunday and red poppies and the American flag on Monday. Pentecost; the Spirit who empowers. Read Acts chapter two and you will find the disciples were gathered, uncertain, waiting and then God breathed courage into them. The Spirit empowered them to step into the world with purpose. Memorial Day is the cost of Freedom. That cost is the loss of someone’s son or daughter, husband or wife, dear hearts of our community. All of them stepped forward, not knowing they would be the price, but willing to be the price if need be. Their courage made possible the freedom we enjoy. Pentecost shows us divine sacrifice of Christ giving His life, God’s Spirit giving us power. Memorial Day shows us human sacrifice, lives laid down for others. Both remind us that freedom is never free and purpose is never accidental.
What do Pentecost and Memorial Day mean for us today? Before Jesus left us, He promised God the Father would send a counselor, His Spirit to dwell in us and guide us and comfort us until Jesus returns. The Holy Spirit gave freedom and courage to those believers to spread the Good News of Jesus. To the extent they sacrificed their lives for Christ and contributed to billions of believers and will live eternally with God.
From the beginning of our nation until today, 250 years later, millions of American men and women gave their lives so that we may be here doing what we can do today. The freedom to speak our minds, to vote for our leaders, to be able to write a column on the ways of God every week. We must always remember and be grateful for those people who sacrificed themselves for us. Nathan Hale, a great patriot of our country said these words while having a rope around his neck, “I regret that I have only one life to give to my country.”
As we move from Pentecost Sunday into Memorial Day Monday, may we remember the gifts we’ve been given by the Spirit who empowers us and the heroes who protected us and may we live in a way that honors both. This year, Pentecost and Memorial Day stand shoulder to shoulder, one reminding us of the Spirit who empowers us to live with courage, and the other reminding us of those who showed courage unto death. Pentecost tells us that God breathes life into His people so they can serve the world. Memorial Day tells us that some have given their lives so that others may live in freedom. Together, they whisper the same truth: the greatest gifts we receive are the ones someone else paid for. God Bless.
Dear Lord, we give you thanks for your holy Spirit and His power. Let your Spirit continue to guide us and the leaders of our town. We ask a blessing on the many families whose loved ones sacrificed their lives so we can continue with freedom in our lives. Bless our community. Amen.
We are grateful to all those who attended and participated in Biker Sunday. Three kiddos from Susky won bikes from our free raffle. Pastor Vince, 570-853-3988.