The Daily Press
SMASD support staff honored with Golden Key Award
ST. MARYS – Members of the St. Marys Area School District’s support staff were honored with the Golden Key Award during the district’s Community Impact Awards. St. Marys Area School District Assistant Superintendent Chrissy Kuhar presented the award to...
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Elementary Art Show highlights students’ work
ST. MARYS – Over 100 students in third through fth grade at St. Marys Catholic Elementary School had their artwork featured in the St. Marys Catholic Elementary Art Show, which was held at Gallery 29 in downtown St. Marys on Thursday evening. St....
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Community partners celebrated through Stronger Together Education Award
ST. MARYS – The St. Marys Area School District’s second annual Community Impact Awards celebrated individuals and entities from throughout the community that have a positive impact on the St. Marys Area School District. The second award presented...
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SMASD Music Departments hold A Spring Choral Celebration
Photo by Becky Polaski St. Marys Area High School Choir member Jacob Pociask is shown performing “The Music of the Night” from “Phantom of the Opera” during A Spring Choral Celebration on Wednesday evening. By Becky Polaski Staff Writer ST. MARYS –...
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SMASD Board hears about Dutch Sports Performance during short workshop meeting
ST. MARYS – The St. Marys Area School District’s Board of Directors held a brief workshop meeting on Tuesday evening, with the bulk of the time being taken up by a presentation by Mike Kunes on the Dutch Sports Performance program he wants the district...
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All-state honors a worthy accolade for ECC junior Chase Simbeck
ST. MARYS – The Elk County Catholic Crusaders ended their 2025-2026 campaign in the PIAA Class 1A Western Final with a loss to District 7 champion The Neighborhood Academy. A big part of ECC’s 27-3 run was junior Chase Simbeck, and he was recently...
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SMA dance team adds another banner to collection
ST. MARYS – The sound of sirens and honking horns lled the area around 6:30 p.m. Sunday evening as members of St. Marys Area’s dance team, drumline, and color guard were welcomed home with a parade from area emergency responders to celebrate the dance...
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Diabetic senior cat seeking new home
ST. MARYS – While Bootsie, a 12-year-old tortoiseshell cat, has not been at the Elk County Humane Society as long as some of the other animals that currently call the shelter home, she has special health needs that make her harder to place than her...
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St. Marys Area team wins 23rd Annual Elk County Envirothon
BENEZETTE – Over 50 high school students from throughout the county descended upon the Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette on Wednesday for the 23rd Annual Elk County Envirothon. Students from three out of the four area high schools made up the 11...
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SMA drumline making use of “The Do Over Button”
ST. MARYS – “The Do Over Button” is the name of the St. Marys Area drumline’s 2026 routine, and it has made for a fun and creative concept for members of the team to consider. “It is based on the idea that we all have times that we wish we could go...
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SMA color guard living in a Barbie world
ST. MARYS – The St. Marys Area color guard is living in a Barbie world this season with their “Hi Barbie” routine. “My inspiration came from a song called ‘Barbie World,’” said St. Marys Area color guard director Autumn Brouse. “I rst heard this song...
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SMA Dance Team Red ready to ‘Drop the Puck’
ST. MARYS – St. Marys Area Dance Team Red is ready to “Drop the Puck” at the 54th TIA Atlantic Coast Championships in Wildwood, NJ later this week with speci c goals on their to-do list. “We are aiming to break a score of 90 and defend our title as...
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ECCHS inducts 11 students into National Honor Society
ST. MARYS – Elk County Catholic High School recently inducted 11 students into the National Honor Society during a ceremony celebrating scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Students are evaluated through an application process that includes...
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DDCC Wins Big At Starquest
DDCC, the competitive company of April School of Dance in St. Mary’s attended their third regional of season 15, StarQuest, in Buffalo April 10-12. Twenty ve dancers raging from ages 6 to 18 from St. Mary’s, Ridgway, Wilcox, and Kane comprise the...
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Annual cleanup helps beautify downtown St. Marys on Earth Day
ST. MARYS – The St. Marys Heritage Preservation Group held its annual Downtown Cleanup on Wednesday morning, with individuals from throughout the community joining in to help make the event another success. Volunteers gathered in the municipal parking...
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St. Marys Police Chief K. Michael Shaffer announces officer promotions at City Council meeting
ST.MARYS-St. Marys Police Chief K.Michael Shaffer announced several of cer promotions at Monday night’s city council meeting. Chief Shaffer the goal of the police department is to be a force of positive growth in the community, making it a place...
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Fishing Derby draws young anglers to Benzinger Park
ST. MARYS – The City of St. Marys Parks and Recreation Department held its 3rd Annual Fishing Derby at Benzinger Park on Sunday morning. While temperatures dropped into the 30s and 40s for the event, the sh were biting and numerous youngsters were on...
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SMAHS holds annual participatory budgeting election
Staff Writer ST. MARYS – St. Marys Area High School’s Student Government held their annual participatory budgeting election on Friday, with Elk County Director of Elections and Voter Registration Kimberly Frey once again on hand to assist with the...
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SMAHS hosts FFA CDE Competition
ST. MARYS – St. Marys Area High School hosted the area FFA CDE Competition on Thursday, with FFA students from St. Marys Area, Brockway, and Redbank Valley competing in a variety of events. St. Marys Area FFA Advisor Gage McCabe explained that it was...
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Community volunteers help clean up Jackson Road
Over twenty participants helped clean up Jackson Road and a portion of West Creek Road in St. Marys on April 11. The group was represented by students from both St. Marys Area Schools and Elk County Catholic Schools, parents, friends of Jackson Road,...
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SMAHS students hear about Thumbs Down to Bullying endeavor
ST. MARYS – Freshmen and sophomores at St. Marys Area High School heard about the Thumbs Down to Bullying initiative on Tuesday morning during a presentation by local author and artist John Schlimm, the Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron...
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St. Marys Servicemen’s Detail holds annual banquet
ST. MARYS – The St. Marys Servicemen’s Detail held their annual banquet on Sunday evening at Dream View in St. Marys. St. Marys Servicement’s Detail Honorary President Thomas Jesberger acted as the master of ceremonies for the evening and noted that...
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SMAMS eighth graders learn about career opportunities
ST. MARYS – Eighth graders at St. Marys Area Middle School learned about potential career opportunities in their areas of interest during the school’s annual career day event on Thursday afternoon. St. Marys Area Middle School guidance counselor Molly...
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Straub Brewery’s Trout Tagging Program still going strong
ST. MARYS – With shing season underway, as anglers take to area waterways, they once again have the opportunity to reel in more than just a nice sh. Straub Brewery’s Trout Tagging Program has returned for another year, giving anglers age 21 or older a...
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$1.50 St. Marys Area’s production of “Bye Bye Birdie” was well attended
Photo by Becky Polaski Photo by Becky Polaski
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SMCES students take community Walking with Jesus
ST. MARYS – In the leadup to Easter, students in third through fth grade at St. Marys Catholic Elementary School invited the community to Queen of the World Church for a presentation of Walking with Jesus, an event that consisted of Stations of the...
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Former Spirit reporter takes over as editor in Ridgway and St. Marys
ST. MARYS — The Punxsutawney Spirit bided farewell to their Brookville reporter, Justin Felgar, last week as he has accepted the position as the managing editor of the Ridgway Record and St. Mary’s Daily Press and began work there this week. The...
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Workforce Solutions of North Central Pennsylvania and St. Marys Chamber of Commerce hold ribbon cutting for Mobile Pa Careerlink
ST. MARYS - Workforce Solutions for North Central Pennsylvania and the St. Marys Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting today for the Mobile Pa Careerlink Unit on Wednesday at the Red Fern in St. Marys. Pam Streich, Executive Director for...
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Mini THON exceeds $30,000 fundraising goal
ST. MARYS – The results are in, and St. Marys Area Middle School students surpassed their $30,000 fundraising goal at Tuesday’s Mini THON, raising a total of $36,635.45 for Four Diamonds to support the ght against pediatric cancer. St. Marys Area...
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Inaugural Community Night Kick-Off draws a crowd to St. Marys Area Middle School
ST. MARYS – The inaugural Community Night Kick-Off for St. Marys Area Middle School’s Mini THON was well attended on Monday evening, drawing in a sizable crowd of community members to see more about what Mini THON is all about. St. Marys Area Middle...
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PGC details plans for elk management in Benezette area
BENEZETTE – State Representative Mike Armanini hosted a public meeting related to the elk population in the Benezette area on Thursday evening in the Clemens Outdoor Classroom at the Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette. The meeting drew well over a...
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Mini-THON Community Kick-Off happening Monday at SMAMS
ST. MARYS – While Mini-THON has taken place at St. Marys Area Middle School for several years to support the ght against childhood cancer, a new event will be held in conjunction with this year’s fundraiser. On Monday, March 30, St. Marys Area Middle...
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‘Bye Bye Birdie’ opens tonight at SMAHS
ST. MARYS – The cast and crew of St. Marys Area High School’s spring musical, “Bye Bye Birdie,” are set to transport audiences back to the late 1950s during a series of performances that open tonight and will continue through Saturday in the St. Marys...
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‘Thumbs Down to Bullying’ tour kicks off
ST. MARYS – Tuesday morning was the kickoff of the “Thumbs Down to Bullying” tour, which is the latest collaborative effort between students in St. Marys Area High School’s Dutch Manufacturing Program, local artist and author John Schlimm, and the...
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Elk County native Kara Dornisch raises awareness of bleeding disorders at commissioners meeting
RIDGWAY - At the March 19 meeting of the Elk County Commissioners, Elk County native Kara Dornisch, executive director of the Western PA Bleeding Disorders Foundation (WPBDF), joined the meeting via Zoom. She explained that March is dedicated to...
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Penultimate session of Lunch with the Lord held Thursday
ST. MARYS – The penultimate session of Lunch with the Lord was held on Thursday afternoon at Sacred Heart Parish Center with Fr. Ignatius Camello, O.S.B., parochial vicar at Sacred Heart and St. Mary’s Partnered Parishes of St. Marys, as the guest...
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City of St. Marys Parks and Recreation Department unveils 2026 Activity Guide
ST. MARYS – The City of St. Marys Parks and Recreation Department unveiled its 2026 Activity Guide earlier this week, with the document making its debut on Tuesday to inform community members about all that is planned between April and August. “The...
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Councilman Schneider pleased with the progress made by the pool committee
ST. MARYS - At the March 16, 2026 meeting of the City Council of St. Marys, Councilman Shane Schneider reported that the pool committee held their second meeting on March 3. He said, “I am pleased to report that the meeting went well. We had a special...
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Community donations help Kentucky teens shine on prom night
ST. MARYS — Later this week, Laura Kuntz will deliver a collection of donated prom dresses to underprivileged teenagers in Beattyville, Kentucky, as part of her ongoing charity project in the Appalachian region. Anyone looking to pass along a favorite...
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Local teams assist area groups through Pass With Purpose
ST. MARYS – Ahead of the start of the 2025-2026 high school winter sports season, Lynch-Radkowski Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. announced a new endeavor called Pass With Purpose, pledging to donate $1 for each assist made during regular...
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Fr. Ananias Buccicone addresses largest Lunch with the Lord crowd yet about joy during Lent
ST. MARYS – Lunch with the Lord returned for its fourth week on Thursday with its biggest crowd yet as community members packed the Sacred Heart Parish Center to hear from former pastor Fr. Ananias Buccicone, O.S.B., who was the guest speaker. Over...
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SMASD board asked to support efforts to reestablish EMT program at high school
ST. MARYS – Tyler Bender, founder of Bender Safety & Training Corporation, addressed the St. Marys Area School District’s Board of Directors during their monthly meeting on Monday evening regarding reestablishing an EMT program at St. Marys Area High...
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First Solo Singing Day held at SMAHS
ST. MARYS – On the nal Friday in February, the rst Solo Singing Day was held at St. Marys Area High School! It was a great day of singing, fellowship, activities, judging feedback, performances, and inspiration to carry everyone through the school...
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Fifth graders at Fox Township Elementary School bring famous people to life in their Wax Museum
KERSEY - On Mar. 5th, the halls of Fox Township Elementary School were busy as parents, grandparents and friends came to see fth graders portraying such famous gures as Anne Frank, President John F. Kennedy, Marie Antoinette, Malala Yousafzai,...
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Lunch with the Lord attendance tops 200
ST. MARYS – Lunch with the Lord drew its biggest crowd yet on Thursday as the Sacred Heart Social Committee set spots for 230 people in the Sacred Heart Parish Center for this week’s meal and talk by guest speaker Fr. Justin Pino, pastor of St. Leo...
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SMASD board considering 1.55 mill tax increase for 26-27 budget
ST. MARYS – The St. Marys Area School District’s Board of Directors heard their rst presentation on the 2026-2027 budget during their workshop meeting on Tuesday evening and gave indication that they would be willing to increase taxes 1.55 mills as...
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ECC Industrial Technology students visit SGL Carbon
Elk County Catholic High School Industrial Technology students recently toured SGL Carbon, gaining valuable insight into how the electrical and mechanical maintenance skills they are developing in class translate directly into real-world industry...
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Elk County Community Fund awards $18,000 in grants
The Elk County Community Fund has been awarding grants to enhance projects and programs in our community since the Elk County Community Foundation’s rst granting year 25 years ago. During its latest granting cycle, the Elk County Community Fund awarded...
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SMAHS highlights opportunities for students during Scheduling Information Night
ST. MARYS – St. Marys Area High School held a Scheduling Information Night on Thursday evening geared toward current eighth graders, but other students and their families were able to attend as well. In addition to learning about the requirements that...
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Tonight is opening night for the Footlighters production of “Arsenic and Old Lace”
ST. MARYS - Now celebrating their 70th year of community theater, the Footlighters of Elk County will open their anniversary year with their production of “Arsenic and Old Lace” tonight, Feb. 26, with additional performances Feb. 27, 28 and March 5, 6,...
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SMCES kindergarteners hold Hop-A-Thon
The St. Marys a school-wide pep Catholic Elementary rally — and it was School kindergarten Pajama Day — classes making the celebration recently held their even more annual Hop-AThon fun as the entire to benefit school cheered the Muscular Dystrophy...
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Tom Lavella inspires, raises funds for P.I.T. Foundation with world record attempt
ST. MARYS – Tom Lavella attempted to break the world record for most ring muscleups in eight hours on Saturday at Physical Industry Training in St. Marys, inspiring others and raising funds for his organization, the P.I.T. Foundation, in the...
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Office of PA Treasurer: $3.9 million in unclaimed property due Elk County residents, non-profits, businesses
RIDGWAY - At the Feb. 19 meeting of the Elk County Commissioners, Steve Shope, regional program relationship manager from the of ce of State Treasurer Stacy Garrity shared that there is more than $5 billion in unclaimed property sitting in the state...
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City Council to cooperate with Elk Co. Riders ATV Club to determine feasibility of a downtown St. Marys route
ST. MARYS-Cheryl Ruffner, treasurer and director of the Elk County ATV On/ Off Road Recreation Club, addressed the Feb. 16 meeting of the St. Marys City Council about possibly extending the Trail of Dreams ATV network to include downtown St....
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New altar presented to Silver Creek Terrace
ST. MARYS, PA – A treasured altar once belonging to the St. Joseph Benedictine Nuns has found a new purpose in an unexpected but tting home: the chapel space of Silver Creek Terrace in St. Marys. The wooden altar, adorned with intricate carvings, the...
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SMCES students celebrate Mardi Gras
On Tuesday, St. Marys Catholic Elementary School students celebrated Mardi Gras in the sweetest way! The cafeteria was transformed with festive decorations in the traditional purple, green and gold, making it feel just like a little slice of New...
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Students’ talents were on display at SMAHS
ST. MARYS – The 2026 St. Marys Area High School Talent Show took place on Friday afternoon, with nearly a dozen acts vying for prizes by putting their talents on display. According to Michael Kosh, dual enrollment social studies teacher at St. Marys...
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Lunch with the Lord returning during Lent
ST. MARYS – Following a successful program last year, Lunch with the Lord will be returning at Sacred Heart Parish Center this year during Lent. Kathy Reuscher, receptionist for Sacred Heart Parish and St. Mary’s Parish, described last year’s Lunch...
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Bids approved for SMAMS elevator project
ST. MARYS – Members of the St. Marys Area School District’s Board of Directors gave their approval to bids related to the planned elevator project at St. Marys Area Middle School during their meeting earlier this week. Fred L. Burns, Inc. of...
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SMASD’s superintendent search moving along
ST. MARYS – Members of the St. Marys Area School District’s Board of Directors received an update on the search for the district’s next superintendent from Dr. Edward J. Albert, Executive Director of Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools,...
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Popular annual St. Marys Rotary Auction raises funds that benefit the entire community
ST. MARYS-The annual St. Marys Rotary Auction has been one of the club’s main fund raisers for 60 years, and Bob Roberts has been involved in helping to organize it for nearly 40 of those years. He recalled that the auction began as a radio event, with...
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Reaching 100 wins was a memorable milestone for SMA wrestler Jayce Walter
St. Marys Area High School senior Jayce Walter reached the 100-win milestone as a member of the Flying Dutchmen wrestling team with a pin in the third round of the Mountaineer Duals at Philipsburg-Osceola High School last month, securing his place in...
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EMA renewal contracts aim to improve emergency communication and enhance the county’s disaster preparedness
RIDGWAY - At their meeting on Feb. 5, 2026, the commissioners approved several contract renewals for the Elk County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) as duciary for the Northern Tier Consortium (NRC) which is comprised of ten counties. The rst was for...
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Commissioners pass ordinance supporting updated 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan
RIDGWAY - At their meeting on Feb. 5, 2026, the Elk County Commissioners approved the 2024 Elk County Municipal Solid Waste Management Plan. Chair Fritz Lecker noted that, “Under Act 101, the county is required to prepare a Solid Waste Management...
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SMA’s Molly Hanslovan reaches 1,000-point milestone
ST. MARYS – St. Marys Area Lady Dutch senior Molly Hanslovan scored the 1,000th point of her varsity career on Tuesday evening during a 47-40 come-from-behind victory over the Brookville Lady Raiders. Hanslovan is a fouryear member of the Lady Dutch...
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FFA, ag program continue to grow at SMAHS
The Pennsylvania FFA held its 9th MidWinter Convention last month during the Pennsylvania Farm Show, and among the orders of business was welcoming St. Marys Area High School as the state’s newest chapter. For St. Marys Area School District...
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City of St. Marys EMA provides Carter Kits and Bleeding Control Kits to police and fire department representatives
ST. MARYS - City of St. Marys Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Greg Gebauer recently provided Bleeding Control Kits to the police department and Crystal Fire Department Fire Chiefs and Rescue Captains. They are being placed in police vehicles...
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SMCES unveils collaborative art project
ST. MARYS – At the conclusion of last week’s system-wide Mass at Queen of the World Church to celebrate Catholic Schools Week, St. Marys Catholic Elementary School unveiled a collaborative art project created with the talents of the school’s students,...
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Mass offered a time for reflection on Catholic Schools Week
ST. MARYS – The Elk County Catholic School System held a systemwide Mass at Queen of the World Church earlier this week during its Catholic Schools Week celebration. All of the priests from Elk and Cameron Counties con-celebrated the Mass, with Fr....
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America250 PA’s Elk County coordinator Fritz Lecker gives update at Kick-Off Event
RIDGWAY - Elk County Commissioner Fritz Lecker, speaking at the America250 PA Kick-Off event in Elk County on Tuesday at the Elk County Historical Society, stated that her goal as a commissioner is to leave the county in better condition than she found...
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America250 PA’s Kick-Off event recognizes Elk County’s contributions; lists upcoming celebrations and events
RIDGWAY - Executive Director of America250 PA Cassandra Coleman welcomed local residents along with county, and state of cials to the Elk County Historical Society on Center Street in Ridgway on Tuesday evening. She began her remarks by recognizing...
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SMAHS calling on community to help find props for upcoming musical
ST. MARYS – St. Marys Area High School is set to perform the musical “Bye Bye Birde” this spring and is in need of at least 30 rotary dial phones to serve as props for the production. In order to nd enough phones for props for the show, the St. Marys...
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