After all these years, I’m not sure if y’all still need the disclaimer, but just in case, here we go… Things on this page are about to get really gay. So, pull out your rainbow flags and buckle up. But as I’ve mentioned in years prior, if you intend to send me hate, tell me
READ MOREThe world is a mess. It was a mess yesterday, it’s a mess today, and it will be a mess tomorrow. If anyone tells you differently, they’re selling something. The world has been a mess ever since pride in the human heart decided it didn’t need God. That primal error has resulted in an unending
READ MOREThe ominous sky opened up just moments before the Lycoming County Veterans Council was set to begin its annual Memorial Day Service at Williamsport’s West Fourth Street Veterans Memorial Park. Undaunted, the large crowd that had gathered remained in place with umbrellas and rain gear at the ready. They were there to honor and pay
READ MOREWith just over a week left until Dad’s Big Day rolls around, here are some suggestions that might bring a smile to his face on “His Day.” For most outdoor enthusiasts, there are so many gadgets and so much gear available, no matter what the specific sport or activity they enjoy. For a father or
READ MOREI’m sure many of you have experienced the same emotions I have since first learning about the shooting at Robb Elementary school in Texas. As I am writing this, I am in just flat-out angry mode. These are our children; we are the United States of America, and we must find a way to protect
READ MORE“Get ready to die!” Those chilling words echoed through an elementary school classroom in Texas. And die they did. After several agonizing minutes, 21 individuals were dead. No, not dead — slaughtered. As if the situation wasn’t horrific enough, 19 of those individuals killed last Tuesday were children averaging around the age of 10 years
READ MOREThere are times that even the best of writers are at a loss for words. The incredible tragedy that took place at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, which took the lives of nineteen children and two adult teachers, is simply unfathomable to comprehend. What causes an individual to not only want to take
READ MOREYou can go to your local outdoor store and come up with numerous gift ideas for Dad on His Day. You can go online and find hundreds of great gift ideas to make His Day a little brighter. And, you can browse through the many catalogs you or he receives in the mail to come
READ MOREAre your kids getting enough time outside? A survey commissioned by the makers of Claritin® of 5,000 American parents of children aged 5-13 found that 81% agreed their children are excited to be outside — yet 55% are worried their kids aren’t spending enough time outside. Getting outside isn’t just good for your kids’ mental
READ MOREFor South Williamsport softball player Gianna Godfrey, it was one of those ah-ha moments. Approaching the Mountaineers’ practice field on a sunny afternoon, the senior outfielder was greeted by five large poster photos newly adorning the backstop fence. One of those photos was of Godfrey. A bystander also noticed the photo and complimented her on
READ MORESleep may become a bit restless as the one-day Youth Hunt for Spring Gobblers will occur this coming Saturday, April 23rd. With the regular statewide Spring Gobbler season opening up on the following Saturday, the 30th, there are a couple of steps to prepare for opening day. First, if you have not already done so,
READ MOREThis year, in just over a week, the one-day Youth Hunt for spring gobblers will be held on Saturday, April 23rd. It is a day that many young hunters, as well as their adult mentors, have been looking forward to for months. It is held one week prior to the opening of the regular statewide
READ MORESpring has definitely sprung across the West Branch Valley, and with late March and April showers come May flowers. I especially enjoy the increased hours of daylight and knowing those long days of summer are just around the corner. As you’re reading this, many of our local baseball teams have already thrown their first pitch
READ MORECalendars throughout the area denoted nothing special about March 18. However, at one anxious building on Penn Street in Williamsport, that third Friday in March was indeed a red-letter day. At about the same time, St. John Neumann Regional Academy graduate Kevin Anderson was taking the floor with his Delaware Blue Hens against Villanova in
READ MOREI was on my way home one morning last week from sipping some coffee with friends at a nearby McDonald’s when I glanced over at a still snow-covered field, and much to my surprise, I spotted two gobblers. I was even more impressed when I saw how long their beards were-definitely trophy birds. That sighting
READ MOREPiper Minier’s shot bounced tantalizingly on the rim two or three times before it dropped through the netting as a large South Williamsport rooting contingent let out a roar of approval. In what has been a miraculous season for the Lady Mountaineers basketball team, it seemed a moment when good fortunes would once again shine
READ MOREWhether you are a hunter or a target shooter, or both, you are keenly aware of just how valuable ammunition is these days. Not only is it usually as scarce as hen’s teeth, but when you find it, it is as expensive as all get out. But, I am not actually referring to ammo for
READ MOREI suspect that most of us never thought of Pennsylvania as being a state where you could rack up a fairly high-scoring big game animal, especially when it comes to elk, but we may have to rethink that a bit. I’m certainly not a trophy hunter by any means, but years ago, I went off
READ MORERecently revealed statistics verified that 2021 was another banner year when it came to firearms sales, and 2022 is headed for another year of robust sales. Personal protection handguns have been and will continue to be a majority of that business. In fact, there were over 5 million firearms purchased by new gun owners throughout
READ MOREI recently attended a “Gun Law Seminar” held at the Old Lycoming Township Volunteer Fire Co. that was scheduled to run from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The meeting was organized and presented by our two area Pennsylvania State Representatives, Jeff Wheeland of the 83rd Legislative District and Joe Hamm of the 84th Legislative District. Jeff
READ MOREEighty years ago, in 1941, three weeks before Christmas, the United States was “suddenly and deliberately attacked” in a sneak attack by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor, plunging us into an unwanted war. What was supposed to be another routine Christmas holiday season was changed utterly by this. People in the Williamsport area and then
READ MOREAs a new basketball season is quickly upon us, I’ve been reflecting on the coaches I was privileged to have in my basketball career, who had — and some who continue to have — a tremendous impact on my life. One never knows who may enter a young boy’s life and either change his direction
READ MOREFor baseball fans, the World Series is the highlight of their favorite pastime. Football fans anxiously watch their teams work their way toward the playoffs and the big day for football fans – the Super Bowl. For those whose greatest sporting challenge is hunting mature whitetail bucks, the wait is almost over. The time is
READ MORETwo weeks ago, I wrote an article about Williamsport native Treyson Potts. The University of Minnesota stud running back had been tearing it up. This all came to an abrupt end. Potts suffered an undisclosed injury serious enough to keep him hospitalized for six days. The details were very hush-hush, and Coach PJ Fleck talked
READ MOREThe statewide archery antlered and antlerless deer season began on October 2. As the season progresses and nears that “magical” time of the rut, bowhunters will be spending an increasing amount of time in the woods. While hunting from the ground or in a ground blind can be successful, most would agree that a tree
READ MOREIf something can be routine and record-breaking at the same time, Pennsylvania’s archery deer season is it. It’s routine in its consistency. Pennsylvania held its first statewide archery season in 1951; this year’s hunt is the 71st in a row since. It stretches across seven weeks, includes a Sunday and gives hunters the chance to
READ MOREIn just a few days, Saturday, October 2 to be exact, The Archery Antlered and Antlerless Deer Season open statewide. Bowhunters across the state will enter the Pennsylvania woods in search of a whitetail deer that will produce some very tasty meals for family and friends. From the time we head out for a day
READ MOREHunting is big business in North America. In 2017, more than 15 million people hunted in the United States. The National Shooting Sports Foundation reports that sportsmen and women contribute nearly $9.4 million to the economy every day. Millions of hunters take to forests and fields every year. Seasoned hunters and novices alike can benefit
READ MOREAny new endeavor can sometimes be intimidating and always involves a learning curve of some sort, but in the case of taking up the sport of bowhunting, the rewards are endless and the process of becoming proficient can be a pleasant experience as well. Developing your ability to consistently place an arrow where you want
READ MORETraumatic accidents and injuries are unfortunately an everyday occurrence. Many people often associate trauma with major events such as car accidents, gunshot wounds, and burns, however, traumatic injuries can also be from something as simple as a fall in your home. While no one plans to be involved with such events, it is vital to
READ MOREI have always been around hunting and shooting sports. I grew up around a shooting preserve, aiding my uncle Raymond P. Sones in the feeding and care of pheasants, chucker partridge, and bobwhite quail. For my family, hunting and conservation go hand in hand. My dad always taught me to pick my shot and not
READ MOREDAY TWO: “The Good, the Bad and the REALLY, REALLY Ugly” It was mid-afternoon on the second day when Travis, our guide, and Walker and I saddled up and headed east on the trail to our evening hunting blinds. Travis in the lead, followed by the pack mule, then Walker, then me. We had only
READ MOREThis year, the Pennsylvania one-day Youth Spring Gobbler season will be held on Saturday, April 24, 2021. The limit is one bird and it must be bearded, which means it could be a young Jake with a short beard, an old Tom with a long beard or even a bearded hen is legal (please note,
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