Home → Columnists ( August 19, 2026 )
Woman Jailed; Refused to Pay Taxes. Tax Collector W. L. Bailey, of Franklin Township, brought (name withheld) to Montrose and she was placed in the county jail for refusing to pay her taxes. Her husband, also refused to pay them for her. As a collector is bound under the law to collect the taxes where the party is able to pay them, which appeared likely in this instance, his only recourse was to commit her to jail. Her taxes amounted to $2.10 and the justice’s costs for hearing was $2, making a total of $4.10 to secure her release. Franklin’s tax collector has had two other women who refused to pay their taxes but after a hearing in each case, their husbands had come to the rescue by paying taxes and costs. This is the first instance known in the county where a woman has gone to jail because of refusing to pay. A number of similar instances have come up in various parts of the state, but after remaining in jail a few hours, or a few days, the husbands have come along and paid the taxes and thus released their wives. On Saturday afternoon her son came to Montrose and paid the taxes and costs and she was released. [This most likely refers to the women’s poll tax repeal movement, a movement in the US, predominantly led by women, that attempted to secure the abolition of poll taxes as a prerequisite for voting. The movement began shortly after the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which granted suffrage to women. It started in the South.]
Montrose – The last of the summer series of gatherings on the Montrose Bible Conference grounds opened after a most successful season. Noted speakers will be present and the public is welcome to attend. Hope is that Torrey Lodge will be completed next year in order to increase accommodations.
[Dimock??] Contractor Arthur S. Wall had a portion of his forefinger on his left hand cut off and the other fingers lacerated while using a circular saw in his mill. It was a singular thing that this was the last job of sawing which he planned to do in the mill, as he is removing the machinery and will convert it into a dwelling which his son-in-law, Leon Swackhamer and family, will occupy. Mr. Wall, for 26 years, had worked around a saw mill and never had an accident.
Dimock – Despite the threatening weather Sunday morning, a large crowd attended the 51st annual camp meeting at the Dimock Camp Grounds. The day proved to be an ideal one, as the clouds broke away and a great deal of interest was manifested in the inspirational sermons given by several ministers. ALSO Ernie Benninger has secured the contract for building the new gymnasium on the school building. He has just completed the fine addition on the south side of the boarding house of Mr. Cope.
Hallstead – Clarence Buchanan, who escaped from custody last week, is still at large. His alleged accomplice, Grace Shyrick, of Stevens Point, was given a hearing and held under $500 bail for appearance before the grand jury. State troopers believe that these two, with “Dutch” Buchanan, who made his escape near Sunbury several weeks ago, are implicated in a number of robberies in the vicinity of Windsor and this county. The Hand store was robbed of about $1300 worth of goods.
Harford – O. F. Maynard, who is secretary of the Harford Agricultural Society, informed this newspaper that a balloon ascension and parachute drop was to be one of the features on the two big days of the fair, this year.
North Jackson – Lightning destroyed the barn on the Tracy Potter farm. The family saved most of the farming tools, but the season’s hay crop was burned with the structure. The Susquehanna Chemical Co. made the five-mile run to the farm in record time and assisted the family in saving the horse barn, which was nearby. There was partial insurance on the burned barn.
St. Joseph – Thomas O’Donnell, aged 82 years, a lifelong and highly esteemed resident of St. Joseph, died at the home of Mrs. Coleman, in Middletown Center, Aug. 13, 1926. His death was due to the infirmities of his advanced age. With the exception of a short time spent in New York City, with his sons, all of whom are policemen in the metropolis, he lived at St. Joseph. His survivors are John, Frank and Joseph O’Donnell.
Fiddle Lake – Several from here attended the KKK picnic at Cottrell pond on Saturday.
South Gibson – There will be an open air patriotic meeting held on the baseball grounds on the evening of August 18. Good speakers will be in attendance and the Thompson Band, of which R. Scott Manzer is the leader, will furnish music.
The Good Old Days: Women didn’t play bridge, poker, gamble, powder and paint, they didn’t smoke, go without woolen underwear, tango, toddle, or dance the Charleston. Men wore whiskers and boots, chewed tobacco, spit on sidewalks and cussed. Beer was 5 cents a glass and lunch was free. A coal stove in the parlor, a kerosene hanging lamp in the sitting room, the family horse and phaeton [sporty open carriage] in the stable, represented the height of wealth and luxury. Folks lived to be a good old age and every year walked miles to visit their neighbors.
News Brief: The Ford Motor Co. has announced that it has orders for 100 airplanes, with a market value of approximately $3,700,000. The first ten are being produced in the present factory and the balance will be made in a new factory, which is to be completed this week.
Honor Roll of Revolutionary Soldiers of Susquehanna County: SIMEON WYLIE – Pensioner. Rank of private and sergeant. Placed on Pension rolls, Nov. 26, 1819. Annual allowance, $96. Served in New York Continental lines. He entered the service in the spring of 1776, at the age of 15, was soon taken from the ranks as waiter to General Benedict Arnold, and served as such until the time of Arnold’s arrest. He was the principal witness to prove the identity of Major Andre [a British spy]. After this he was made sergeant and was in the Battle of White Plains and Long Island and in the North campaign and the Battle of Bennington. He married, in 1791, a daughter of Rev. Daniel Buck. She died in 1835. He died suddenly while on a visit to one of his sons in New York State, Sept. 14, 1836, aged 78 years.
NOTICE. PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given to all persons interested in the estate of Jordon Lockwood, late of Lawsville Township, deceased, that the administrators on said estate have filed, in the Register’s office at Montrose, for the county of Susquehanna, their accounts upon the administration of said estate, and the same will be presented to the orphans court of said county for confirmation and allowance; at an orphans court to be held at Montrose, in and for said county, on the first Monday of September next. ASA DIMOCK, Jr. Reg’r.
A. HARTSHORN, would inform his friends and customers that he has just received from NY, a fresh supply of DRUGS, PAINTS & MEDICINES, which he will sell on the most reasonable terms. Montrose, June 21.
Paolo and Olivia had one child together and, when they separated, Olivia had primary physical custody of the child and Paolo had periods of partial custody pursuant to a court-approved custody agreement. In January 2024, Paolo filed a petition seeking to modify the existing custody order to provide Paolo with shared physical custody, i.e., equal time with the child. Olivia opposed the petition.
The trial court in Blair County referred the case to a hearing officer (an attorney appointed by the court) to conduct an evidentiary hearing and make a recommendation for a custody award. At the hearing, Olivia contended that the child was fearful of Paolo and his paternal family because of allegedly abusive conduct. Paolo, however, contended that no such abuse occurred, that the child was always happy to see him, and that shared physical custody would be in the child’s best interest. The hearing officer agreed and recommended that the parties have shared physical custody of the child.
Olivia filed exceptions to the hearing officer’s recommendation and objected to the hearing officer making any change in the existing custody order that would provide Paolo with shared physical custody. Olivia noted that the procedural rules only allowed a hearing officer to consider cases involving partial physical custody issues – not primary physical custody issues. The trial court disagreed, denied Olivia’s exceptions, and approved the hearing officer’s recommendation so that the new custody order provided the parties with shared physical custody. Olivia appealed.
On appeal, Olivia again noted that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has dictated that any cases involving a request for primary physical custody must be heard by a trial judge – not a hearing officer – and that hearing officers can only hear cases involving partial physical custody requests. The Superior Court observed that the custody statute defined the term “partial physical custody” as “the right to assume physical custody of the child for less than a majority of the time” while “primary physical custody” was defined as “the right to assume physical custody of the child for the majority of the time.” As to “shared physical custody,” the custody statute defined it as “the right of more than one individual to assume physical custody of the child, each having significant periods of custodial time with the child.” So shared physical custody does not require equal time – only significant time. The statute is vague as to when partial physical custody becomes “significant time” to trigger a finding of shared physical custody. The precise amount of partial custody necessary to trigger a “shared physical custody” finding did not have to be determined in this case because the trial court literally provided the parties with equal time.
Paolo argued that the hearing officer was able to hear and make a recommendation on this case because there was no award of primary physical custody; rather, the hearing officer only recommended shared physical custody. The Superior Court rejected this argument, and explained: “Here, [Paolo’s] petition sought to modify the custody order of May 23, 2022, which had awarded [Paolo] partial custody, to an equal shared physical custody schedule. While equal shared or 50/50 custody is distinct from primary custody, the consequence of granting [Paolo’s] request was [Olivia’s] loss of her primary physical custody rights, as established in the May 23, 2022 custody order. . . . [W]e conclude that [Paolo’s] custody action here ‘related to primary physical custody’ because granting it would divest [Olivia] of her established right to primary physical custody of child.” As a result, the Superior Court reversed the trial court’s custody order and sent the case back to the trial court to conduct an evidentiary hearing before a trial judge – not a hearing officer.
What happens now? The case goes back to the judge who approved the hearing officer’s recommendation, the judge gets to conduct an evidentiary hearing that mirrors the evidence and testimony presented to the hearing officer, and the judge will decide what happens – not the hearing officer. What are the prospects that the trial judge – after approving the hearing officer’s recommendation based upon the same evidence – will come to a different conclusion? Olivia won this procedural battle, but Polymarket will likely not give her good odds on winning the war.
This case has been pending since Paolo filed his modification petition January 2024, i.e., for more than 2 ½ years – and it is still not resolved. The rules are crafted in a way to assure prompt resolution of custody matters – but the appellate cases are filled with long, drawn out custody battles that seemingly never end. When a procedural mistake is made by a trial court, it simply adds fuel to the delay fire. In Susquehanna County, we do not use hearing officers to hear any custody matters – so we do not run into this kind of procedural trap.
Good day dear hearts, I love you. The Christian life is often described as a journey, but Scripture gives us an even more vivid picture, a race. Not a sprint, not a casual jog, but a purposeful, disciplined, forward-moving race that requires endurance, focus and the willingness to lay aside anything that slows us down. Hebrews 12:1-3 calls believers to run “with perseverance the race marked out for us,” fixing our eyes on Jesus. It is a passage written for people who have drifted, grown weary, or lost momentum. In other words, it is written for all of us. Life has a way of pulling us off track. Responsibilities pile up. Disappointments drain our energy. Temptations distract our attention. Even good things, work, family, hobbies, service can become consuming enough that our spiritual footing slips without us noticing. Getting off track rarely happens at a dramatic moment; it happens gradually, quietly, almost imperceptibly. But getting back on track begins with a deliberate choice.
Hebrews 12:1 begins with a challenge, “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” The writer distinguishes between hindrances and sins. Hindrances are not necessarily sinful; they are simply weights habits, patterns, distractions, or priorities that slow our spiritual progress. Sin, on the other hand, entangles us like vines around our feet. Getting back on track requires honest evaluation. What has become a weight in your life? What habits drain your spiritual strength? What attitudes have taken root? What sin has quietly wrapped itself around your heart? Scripture does not call us to shame, but to clarity. The race cannot be run well while carrying burdens never meant to be carried.
The heart of Hebrews 12:1-3 is the phrase “fixing our eyes on Jesus.” The Greek word implies a firm, unwavering gaze turning away from everything else so that Christ becomes the central point of focus. When we drift spiritually, our eyes have almost always drifted first. Jesus is described as the “author and finisher” of our faith. He started the work in us, and He is committed to completing it. He ran His own race with endurance, facing the cross, despising its shame, and now sits at the right hand of God. When we look at Him, His example, His strength, His faithfulness, we find the courage to take the next step.
Ephesians 4:11-12 reminds us that God has not left us to run alone. He has given the church pastors, teachers, evangelists and leaders to equip the saints for the work of it is a community effort. The church is meant to be a place where believers are strengthened, taught, encouraged, corrected and supported. When we drift, isolation often follows. But Scripture calls us back into fellowship, back into accountability, back into shared worship and shared mission. God uses people, ordinary, faithful people to help us regain our footing.
John 10:10 provides the motivation behind the entire journey, “I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” Getting back on track is not about guilt, pressure, or religious performance. It is about returning to the abundant life Jesus offers marked by peace, purpose, joy and spiritual vitality. The enemy seeks to steal, kill and destroy. His strategy is often subtle with distraction, discouragement, division, temptation, or exhaustion. But Jesus offers restoration. He offers renewal. He offers a fresh start. The abundant life is not found in perfection, but in direction moving toward Christ day by day.
Getting back on track is both spiritual and practical. Here are several steps that help realign the heart. Return to Scripture. Not out of obligation, but out of hunger. Even a few verses a day begin to re-center the soul. Rebuild prayer rhythms. Honest, simple conversation with God restores intimacy. Reconnect with the church. Worship, teaching and fellowship strengthen what has weakened. Seek accountability. A trusted friend or mentor helps keep your steps steady. Identify and release hindrances. Name what has weighed you down and surrender it to Christ. Refocus on purpose. God has a race marked out for you, rediscovering it brings renewed energy.
The beauty of Hebrews 12:1-3 is its invitation. No matter how far off track you feel, the race is still before you. The finish line has not moved. Jesus has not abandoned you. The church still stands ready to help. The abundant life is still available. Getting back on track is not about running faster, it is about running again. One step. One prayer. One moment of obedience. One renewed focus on Jesus. And as you run, you will find that He is not only the goal but the strength that carries you forward. God Bless.
Dear Lord, we thank you for the privilege of living in your nature. We thank you for this beautiful summer and we ask for your protection from the intense storms. We are coming to the end of this summer and our kiddos are getting ready for school. Bless them and their families. Amen.