The Express

Good Day and Happy Birthday to Andy Coakley, of Marsh Creek! Happy Birthday to twins, Caleb and Logan Shuss, of Howard; and to Jerry Peters, of Lock Haven! Word of the Day Gnomic -- adj. -- something cryptically said or written in a few words. Quote of the Day "Minds are like parachutes. They only function when they are open." -- James Dewar TOPS TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is looking for interested participants and guest speakers.

Jim Newton Itasca, Ill. Dolly Parton will be missed for many reasons, but don't forget her guitar playing skills. A 1979 YouTube clip shows her effortlessly playing an acoustic guitar wearing acrylic nails on her right (picking) hand. I've been playing guitar for decades and can't do it with natural nails. Dolly and Glen Campbell were such complete performers that people overlooked their guitar playing. It's heartening to see so many non-country music artists like John Mayer paying tribute to Parton.

MILL HALL -- Millbrook Playhouse's board of directors, volunteers, former cast members and its Youth Ensemble pulled out all of the stops for its first-ever Ovation Gala this weekend. The event, which also served as a fundraiser for the beloved barn theatre, showcased many of Millbrook's alumni and shined a spotlight on those who have made its 63 years possible. The event kicked off on Saturday night on the Poorman Courtyard with a pre-show and cocktail hour.

Walking off the field at Don Malinak Stadium on Friday night, there was a sense of satisfaction mixed in with Central Mountain's disappointment. Though the Wildcats once again fell to rival Mifflin County to kick off the season, there was a stark contrast between the night's defeat and the previous three. Between 2023 and 2025, the Huskies won the matchup by a combined score of 124-12. And this past Friday, Central Mountain landed inches short of making it a one-score game with time to spare.

LAURA TARANTELLA/THE EXPRESS Though previously thought to be closing, the Sunoco gas station located along Bellefonte Avenue near its intersection with Second Avenue in Lock Haven remains open. Reports initially circulated as crews were seen removing 7-Eleven branding from various parts of the building while briefly closed. However, the gas station reopened by Saturday, with customers still utilizing its services throughout the week.

FLEMINGTON -- Flemington Borough Council is taking a more personal approach to ordinance enforcement following a new proposal during last Thursday's meeting, hoping that a conversation at resident's doors can solve problems before they escalate into costly citations and court proceedings, amongst other business.

BELLEFONTE – Mother Nature made her official arrival Monday night as thunder and lightning storms rolled through Bellefonte, delaying the home opener for the Bellefonte boys soccer team as they hosted Philipsburg-Osceola. After an hour delay, it would be the Red Raiders that would rumble through the Mounties defense en route to a 10-1 victory. The Red Raiders outshot the Mounties 21-7. They also led on corner opportunities by a 6-1 advantage. "I think the rain delay helped us.

As Pennsylvania braces for stricter Medicaid rules to go into effect, one health system wants to help patients keep their insurance coverage. Guthrie, a nonprofit with facilities in Pennsylvania and New York, is expanding its volunteer program to help patients who may need to meet the new 80-hour monthly community engagement requirement, which can be fulfilled through school, work, training, or volunteering.

CENTRE HALL -- The 2026 Centre County Grange Fair came to an end on Saturday evening, with the move-out process for campers and vendors beginning immediately and continuing over the course of a few days. "It's a long week," says Doyle Henrie, of Nescopek, referring to the 9-day long fair. Doyle, along with his wife, Sherry, operate "The Spice Man" tables in Building 12 and just completed their sixth year at the Grange Fair.

As public sentiment sours on automatic license plate readers -- particularly cameras operated by Flock Safety -- state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are introducing legislation to curtail their use across the commonwealth. A trio of bills introduced recently range from an outright ban on fixed cameras to stiffened penalties for unauthorized data access. The cameras, known as ALPRs for short, capture images of passing vehicles and upload them to a database police can search.