2023
JANUARY-1st-53 degrees.3rd-Torrential rain. West Bethlehem Township meeting.
9th-1st snowfall of 2023. Marianna Borough special meeting. 12th-Marianna Borough posts on social media that they are seeking a part-time secretary/treasurer. 12th/13th-Marianna West Beth Joint Sewage Authority rep and engineer give a pitch for LSA funding to correct sewage issues. Marianna borough chairman, councilman, and engineer give a pitch for LSA funding to address water line valve issues. Source. Source.17TH-Article in Observer-Reporter-for fundraiser for longtime Marianna fire chief, Dwane Kint, who battles cancer. Fundraiser for Kint HERE.
18th-Marianna Borough meeting postponed.
22nd-38 degrees. No significant snowfall this year yet. Mostly rain.
23rd-Snow-about 1". Gas in area $3.79 a gallon. Rain in evening.
26th-Marianna Borough meeting. New secretary hired in Marianna borough, Andrea Slack Craig.27th-Snow-about 1". LSA committee recommends 45 projects for $8 million in grants. Marianna borough was selected for $150,000 for their proposed water valve and hydrant replacement project. Marianna and West Beth Joint Sewage Authority were not selected for their proposed sewage project.29th-Spaghetti dinner at Marianna Firehall for long-time Marianna fire-fighter of 44 years, Dwane Kint. Local dog and cat named Riley and Baby, who live on Oak Spring road with their family, are featured on the cover of the Fix' Ur Cat & Angel Ridge Animal Rescue "Lucky Ones" 2023 calendar.
FEBRUARY-3rd-Daytime temperature approx. 25 degrees, night-time temp-7 degrees.
8th-50 degrees.
10th-Eda Niverth,99, passed away. Eda was a major force in establishing Marianna Library, where she remained the librarian for 30 years. Source. She was the West Beth Tax Collector for 20+ years.
Her obituary states that "Eda's front door was always open with plenty of candy and cookies readily available." Dry and windy conditions-elevated risk of wildfire spread.
15TH-Marianna Borough meeting postponed.
23rd-Fish Fry at Marianna VFC. 23-71 degrees. Marianna Borough meeting.
MARCH-3rd-Torrential rain, and strong winds into the 4th. Coltsfoot blooming.7th-Special meeting at Beth-Center School. Discussion about closing the middle school.14th-West Bethlehem Township meeting. 14th-No Injuries in House Fire. Fire on Fulton Street.15th-Marianna Borough meeting.15th-Beth-Center considers closing middle school.18th-Goody Goodwin speaks at the Marianna Community Public Library about coal mining in Marianna. A crowd of about 18 attend the event.21st-Company Houses by WQED Pittsburgh features Marianna in "Tuesday Time Machine" video, with Rick Sebak. 31st-Invasive Forsythia blooming. Daffodils blooming for over a week, as well as early wildflowers like Dead Nettle and Buttercups. Artist Lisa Scherer of West Bethlehem township finishes up a series of Marianna Borough house paintings.
MARCH-22nd-Company house in Marianna Borough on 526 4th street, sells for approx. $21,200.
MARCH-23rd-Mining agency encourages more, better stakeholder engagement for coal-impacted communities article is published on Appalachia Voices-Front Porch Blog. Marianna borough meeting HERE.
APRIL-1st-Extreme wind, even some hail. 58 degrees then drop to low 40's. Torrential rain in the early morning hours.5th-85 degrees. Bees have been out over a week now. Not many wildflowers blooming yet, however.6th-Marianna Borough clean-up with Range Resources, WCCD, TMCWA, W&J. 9th-59 degrees. Sunny.11th-West Beth Township meeting. 13th-Local gas rising from about $3.45 a gallon to $3.85, within a few days. Election a month away. 82 and sunny. Dry, with no rain in almost two weeks.19th-Marianna Borough meeting postponed. 21st-A sweet family dog named "Sassy", who was a Belgium Tervernun passed away. She is buried just off Grable Road. 22nd-Earth Day!!!West Bethlehem Township clean-up. About 15 volunteers showed up. Master Gardener Betty Robison speaks at Marianna Community Library about "How to help your garden thrive". Rainy day. Later in the day a yellow-cast over everything. 22nd-Beth-Center students take first in state financial challenge. 24th-2nd frost since the warm weather. 26th-Marianna Borough meeting. According to reports, April 2023 was the Earth's 4th hottest April since global record-keeping began in 1850.
APRIL-21st-National to Neighbors-Catalyzing Opportunities for Coal-Impacted Communities is published; A report by Appalachia Voices, Coalfield Development, Rural Action, Downstream Strategies.
MAY 1st-West Bethlehem to host regatta. 2nd-3rd day of all-day rain. 44 degrees. 9th-72 and partly sunny. rain in morning. 13th-West Bethlehem Township Community Float Day on Ten Mile Creek. 113 paddlers participated. An after party at the township park included two bands, a bounce house, dunk tank, food, and educational booths. Rain day. 16th-Election. 72 degrees.17th-Marianna Borough meeting postponed. 19th-Washington County awards largest contract thus far for broadband expansion. "Comcast was contracted for $9.09 million to install 126 miles of fiber in portions of North Bethlehem, West Bethlehem, Somerset and West Pike Run townships, and Beallsville and Deemston boroughs." 60 degrees.22nd-What's blooming today? Dame's Rocket, better known as Wild phlox to some of us, buttercup, appendaged waterleaf, and common fleabane, and several others. 77 degrees.24th-Washington County Conservation District, with the help of Range Resources and Marianna borough, cleaned up garbage and illegal dumping on Horne Valley Road and Oak Spring Road, including a tributary into Ten Mile Creek. Marianna Borough meeting.26th-Last day of school at Beth-center. 28th-Article by author Mary Kay Zuravleff is published on the Daily Beast American news website. Zuravleff is an award-winning author of "American Ending", inspired by both her grandmothers and her coal-mining grandfathers, who for a time lived in Marianna in the early part of the 20th century.29th-Memorial Day service at Steele Lillie Post 744 American Legion.31st-May went down as the driest May on record (there have been 18 other dry May's in total on record).
JUNE-1st-12 days without rain. There is only a very small chance of rain in the next 7 days. 87 degrees.3rd-Had some thunder and a spit of rain, although a downpour occurred in other areas of Marianna but it was quick. The ground is not wet on most roads, that's how little rain there was. It is difficult to even get a shovel in the soil. 88 degrees.6th-The DEP declares code orange air quality day for Washington County, and other counties, due to Canadian wildfire smoke (164 wildfires burn across the province). Mixed with fine particles from factories the smoke becomes elevated, apparently. The book "American Ending" by award-winning author, Mary Kay Zuravleff, is released.7th-Hazy Marianna from wildfires in Canada. 6 hours from Marianna in New York they are seeing the worst pollution in the nation due to the fires. Still no rain in Marianna, but Friday there is a 40% chance.10th-80 degrees. Crunchy underfoot in spots from thirsty dead grass. Still no real rain, aside from 15 seconds of a quick rain in certain areas of Marianna, while some areas seen about a minute or more of a heavier rain. Neither was enough to penetrate down to trees roots, and not even enough to help out a tomato plant.11th-12th-A little bit of rain enough to help out a garden a few days, but not enough to help trees.14th & 15th-Hard rain. 14th-Marianna Borough meeting. 16th-Madeleine (Mickoloff) Smalley, 94, died. Madeleine was a lifelong resident of Marianna. According to her obituary, she was proud of her Russian Orthodox heritage and the St. Nicholas Old Believers Church. Her parents were John Mickoloff and Irene (McDonsky) Mickoloff.18th-Father's day. 80 degrees. Brome grasses have already gone to their feathery stage, which should not occur until August, according to a local farmer. 21st-Longest day of the year. Summer.76 degrees.22nd-Residents received the Marianna Community Public Library newsletter.23rd-House on Third street in Marianna Borough demolished.24th-Ten Mile Creek temperature-70.34 degrees.27-West Bethlehem Township preparing to have Fischer Hollow Road widened, repaired, and asphalt overlaid. 28th-Code red quality action day-Haze and smoke over Marianna from Canadian wildfires, as well as in other parts of the state and country. The air has a slight burnt smell to it. 29th-The air quality is listed as "very unhealthy" according to several news reports. Kayak Launch Feasibility Study completed for-Ten Mile Creek/West Bethlehem Township, prepared by Downstream Strategies.
JULY-5th-88 degrees. 9th-After a few days of very hot and dry weather, Marianna sees rain and 77 degrees. 11th-West Bethlehem Township meeting. 12th-Marianna Borough meeting.15th-88 degrees. July was a very hot month.17th-Hazy. Poor air quality due to Canada fires.20th-84 degrees. Next week in the upper 80's. 23rd-A hard rain during the night.26th-89 degrees.
JULY-28th-Article in Observer Reporter: Ignorance of unique Russian Orthodox sect fosters book on Marianna.
JULY-31st-State police investigating a 3rd burglary at an West Bethlehem Township unoccupied home. Source.
AUGUST-6th-Marianna VFC and West Bethlehem Township Softball Tournament held at the West Bethlehem Township Park. Also West Bethlehem Township Community Day. LPGA professional Rachel Rohanna offers free clinic at Marianna VFC, for children and adults.
AUGUST-8th-Township meeting (agenda here).
AUGUST-9th-Marianna Borough meeting postponed.
AUGUST-16th-Marianna Borough meeting postponed.
AUGUST-18th-Public notice in the Observer-Reporter for a rescheduled Marianna Borough meeting set for August 23rd.
AUGUST-19th-Tornado warning for Marianna and Amwell area.
AUGUST-22nd-Legal notice in the Observer-Reporter reads: Notice text Marianna Borough is seeking quotes for a used track loader not to exceed $40,000 No more than 2750 hours, Minimum 70 horse power, operating capacity minimum 3000lbs.
AUGUST-23rd-Marianna Borough meeting postponed. Washington County Farm Bureau's annual meeting was held at a cattle farm in West Bethlehem Township, with one of the topics being solar energy. 24th-Dwane Kint died. Dwane served with Marianna Volunteer Fire Company for over 45 years. The hot day melted into evening with a cotton-candy color sky. Beth-Center 1st day of school. 25th-In the early morning hours, lightning and heavy rain brought fallen trees and debris into the roadway.30th-Marianna Borough meeting. Rare Super Blue Moon. 29th-Marianna Borough receives $37,000 to prepare a trail study to explore the feasibility of an ATV trail system in Marianna Borough, Washington County-Source-Pennwatch.
AUGUST-30th-Marianna Borough public meeting at 7 p.m. Andrea Slack is removed as borough secretary.
AUGUST-29th-
SEPTEMBER-1ST-79 degrees. The coming week it will be in the 90's several days.
SEPTEMBER-4TH-Labor Day. 87 degrees. 94% humidity.
SEPTEMBER-6th-Former Marianna secretary, tax collector pleads guilty to mail fraud.
SEPTEMBER-12-West Bethlehem Township meeting. Marianna Borough applications due by this day for new secretary position.
SEPTEMBER-13th-Marianna Borough meeting postponed. The office is closed the remainder of the week.
SEPTEMBER-14th-Article "Pa buffer bill stalls as fracking pad neighbors suffer" is published from Public Source. The article mentioned Marianna Borough resident Kimberly Laskowsky documents pages of her deteriorating health that she started chronicling after EQT's Gahagan well was built 850 feet away in West Bethlehem Township.
SEPTEMBER-17th-North Ten Mile Baptist Church celebrates 250th anniversary.
SEPTEMBER-20th-Posted online: The tentatively re-scheduled Marianna Borough meeting for this day is postponed until next week.
SEPTEMBER-21st-Marianna borough and Bentleyville Borough co-host the Tri-county borough meeting.
SEPTEMBER-21st-Marianna borough and Bentleyville Borough co-host the Tri-county borough meeting.
SEPTEMBER-23rd-Summer ended at 2:50 a.m and autumn began. 67 degrees. Rain and cloudy day.
SEPTEMBER-27th-Marianna Borough meeting. New secretary Nicole Boyer is hired. Article "Pa Fails to Buffer Homes from Fracking" by Quinn Glabicki, is published online at Belt Magazine, a partner of PublicSource where the story was originally published. Marianna residents are interviewed in the article and talk about their experience with fracking and gas wells.
OCTOBER-3rd-81 degrees. Spotted Lanternfly spotted on Highland Ridge Road.
OCTOBER-4th-OP-ED: Bridging the gap: A vision for recreation in Marianna and beyond, by Lisa Scherer, is published in the Observer Reporter. A meet and greet with county-wide candidates is held at the Marianna Volunteer Fire Company at 7 p.m.-friends and neighbors and all political affiliations invited.
OCTOBER-6th- 3200 foot walking trail in old mine yard in Marianna Borough completed.
Company house in Marianna Borough on 519 4th street sells for approx. $300.
OCTOBER-10th- The township hiking trail sign on Ten Mile road that was stolen is replaced with a new one.
OCTOBER-11th-Marianna Borough meeting postponed.
OCTOBER-14th-Saturday. 63 degrees. 48 at night. Thundershowers-we needed it.
OCTOBER-18th-Marianna Community Public Library welcomes author Mary Kay Zuravleff, for talk of her novel "American Ending". Marianna Borough meeting. Marianna Borough meeting rescheduled from the 11th.
OCTOBER-21st-Saturday. West Beth township community day and softball tournament. 56 degrees. Light rain. Live music, good food, raffles, A visit from Smokey the Bear.
OCTOBER-26th-Irene Mickoloff, 85, died. She was a member of the St. Nicholas Old Believer's Russian Orthodox Church where she served as treasurer for any years. Source.
OCTOBER-26th-Irene Mickoloff, 85, died. She was a member of the St. Nicholas Old Believer's Russian Orthodox Church where she served as treasurer for any years. Source.
NOVEMBER-1st-Early morning first snow.42 degrees. Water bills in Marianna Borough increased. Residents now pay $55 for water (up to 2000 gallons) and $25 for garbage.
NOVEMBER-8th-Marianna Borough meeting postponed.
NOVEMBER-14th-West Bethlehem Township meeting.
NOVEMBER-15th-Marianna Borough meeting cancelled. 64 degrees. It's been a dry month so far.
NOVEMBER-20th-Marianna Borough meeting. The resignation of councilman Gerry Kerr is accepted.
DECEMBER-1st-51 degrees. Rain.
DECEMBER-3rd-Vesta Mine Supply and Vesta 88 River House announce on social media that they will be distributing a choice of turkey or ham and a bag of potatoes, on December 19th, to those in need in the community.
DECEMBER-5th-Light snow.
DECEMBER-8th-Starlink satellite over Marianna around 6 p.m. 61 degrees.Beautiful starry night.
DECEMBER-9th-Marianna Borough trail dedication ceremony.
DECEMBER-12th-Township meeting.
DECEMBER-13th-Marianna Borough meeting. Appoints James Cowan to the seat of councilman Gerry Kerr's.
DECEMBER-14th-Company house in Marianna Borough on 80 Beeson Avenue sold for $75,000.
DECEMBER-15th-Company House in Marianna Borough on 606 6th Street sold for approx. $65,000.
DECEMBER-19th-Vesta Mine Supply and Vesta 88 River house food distribution held at Vesta 88 River House in Fredericktown and Vesta Mine Supply parking lot by Marianna Dam.
DECEMBER-20th- Marianna Borough meeting.
DECEMBER-29th-Marianna Borough meeting notice advertised in the Observer Reporter:
Marianna Borough will hold a Special Meeting for general purposes at the borough building on Saturday December, 30 2023 at 12:00 p.m. The reorganization meeting will be held on January 2, 2024 @ 7:00 p.m.
DECEMBER-30th-Marianna Borough Special Meeting-Approve 2024 preliminary budget.
NOTES
~Marianna Borough Council consists of:
Anita Kadlecick-Mayor
Jeremy Berardinelli-President
Scott Jones-Vice President
Councilman-Gerald Kerr -replaced by James Cowan in December
Councilman-Mikkeal Carrillo
Councilwoman-Penny Spohn
Borough Staff:
Jeremy Berardinelli-Public Works/Road Maintenance
Road Maintenance-Scott Jones
Hired or Appointed Positions:
*Borough secretary Renee Minsky- she is replaced by Andrea Slack Craig in January. Andrea no longer secretary as of August 30th. New secretary, Nichole Boyer hired September 27th.
Steven Toprani-Solicitor
David Dillon-Emergency Management Coordinator
(The above list is taken from the Marianna Borough website on 1/12/2023.)
~West Beth Township Board consists of:
Tom Donahoo-Chairman Supervisor
Lars Lange-VP Chairman Supervisor
Dave Garland-Supervisor
Township Secretary-Betsy Benning
Solicitor-Eric Betzner.
In December the Washington County Community Foundation awards 175,000 to libraries, one being Marianna Public Library who received $5,000 to increase programming for older patrons. The Flu, Covid, and RSV on rise in Washington County during the holiday. Sapling trees from the 10 Million Tree project, coordinated by the WCCD, WCWA, and TMCWA were planted on the new Marianna Borough trail; several oak trees were planted by volunteers and borough.
The Marianna Borough water rate increased for residents by $15, leaving the rate at $55 per month now. That’s apparently a $31,500 increase from 2020.
Marianna Community Public Library fundraiser calendars. All images inside have to do with "Working at Marianna Mine".
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New sign
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Birch tree in West Beth township in May 2023. Read the history of tree carving HERE.
View from Highland
Haze and smoke over Marianna from Canadian fires 6-28-2023.
Spotted Lanternfly on Highland Ridge Road-October 3rd, 2023
LOCAL
Commissioners-Larry Maggi, Diana Irey Vaughn, Nick Sherman
State Rep-Bud Cook
Senator- Camera Bartolotta
Governor-Josh Shapiro
Attorney General-Michelle A. Henry
~Homemade explosive found at Washington County transmission facility.
~State Representative Bud Cook speaking about possible money missing in the amount of 10 million in LSA money HERE.
~February 5th-Local gas $3.79.
~Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey announces she will not run for re-election.
~Controller subpoenas Register of Wills for documents to complete audit.
~Governor Josh Shapiro removed a requirement of a four-year college degree for 92% of all state government jobs.
~Pennsylvania Protects 32 Farms, 3,047 Acres In 21 Counties From Future Development. Washington County not on the list.
~In Dimock, a Pennsylvania Town Riven by Fracking, Concerns About Ties Between a Judge and a Gas Driller. (Dimock is about 5 hours from Marianna).
~In-fighting amongst local county republican politicians.
~3-18th-2023 (Bloggers note)Talk of the times locally are that our future leans toward a global banking crisis, after two big banks (not in this area) fail. See under "Nationwide". Time will tell.
~Record number of teachers leaving jobs at historic rate. Source.
~New rates for postage First-class Mail Forever stamps go from 63 to 66 cents.
~Tornado touched down on August 17th in South Franklin Township, Washington County.
~September 14th-The Elrama Generating Station smokestack was imploded. It is the 3rd demolition over the past year to dismantle the coal-fired power plant.
~The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report finds that September 2023 was the hottest in the agency's 174-year global climate record.
~December 13th the DEP meeting held at Deemston Borough in regard to a permit application for a noncoal underground mine.
The Washington County Prison Board is comprised of:
Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughan
Commissioner Larry Maggi
Commissioner Nick Sherman
Controller April Sloane
Sheriff Anthony Andronas
President Judge John DiSalle
Row Officers:
Clerk of Courts- Brenda Davis
Prothonotary-Laura Hough
Register of Wills-James Roman
NATIONWIDE
~January 1st-40 years since the official birthday of the internet in 1983. However, the internet was not available to the public until April 30th, 1993. Ever since it has altered the past quarter-century.
~Sociogenic Illness by Rhyd Wildermuth.
~House struggles to find a speaker.
~Special counsel named to investigate Biden classified documents.
~Tyre Nichols died three days after a confrontation with police during a traffic stop. Source.
~Shooting massacre at a ballroom in California.
~Ohio-controlled chemical release-train derailment-site. Story.
~Turkey-Serie Earthquake.
~Unfortunately, it is hard to keep up with all the mass shootings in the United States. I will occasionally list them when I can, but to understand the depth of how bad it is, you might want visit a Gun Violence Archive to find out more.
~Paris raises retirement age from 62 to 64. Protests ensue.
~Failure of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.
~March-School shooting in Nashville, Tennessee.
~Ex President Donald Trump Indicted.
~Tennessee House expels two black democrats over gun protest.
~Louisville bank shooting. 5 killed including the shooter.
~Florida bans abortions after 6 weeks of pregnancy.
~Air national guardsman arrested-suspected of being behind intelligence leaks.
~Coronation of King Charles.
~May 18th-Native Species Day in Pennsylvania.
~Georgia's peach crop wiped out across much of state due to record warm temperatures.
~Pennsylvania leads the nation in Lyme disease.
~Trump indicted a 2nd time.
~The world has the hottest June on record, and record low Antarctic sea ice extent, according to a new report.
~Third Trump Indictment.
~Maui wildfire.
~Riverfront brawl in Alabama.
~Trump surrenders at Fulton County jail in George election case. Fulton county jail releases his mugshot on 8-24-2023.
~NASA clocks July 2023 as the hottest month on record ever since 1880.According to NASA data, the five hottest Julys since 1880 have all happened in the past five years.
~Kevin McCarthy ousted as House Speaker.
~Israel-Hamas war.
~Deadly mass shooting in Maine.
