Pennsylvania Mixed Bag: Pa. Senior Angler Wins Lake Ontario Tourney

North Rose, N.Y. — Melvin “Jimmy” Adams, of Herndon, Pa., hauled in a 29-pound, 14 ounce king salmon on July 20 to win the $16,000 Grand Prize in the Summer Lake Ontario Counties Trout and Salmon Derby.

The veteran angler, who is 88 years old, was fishing with his son Jimmy Jr., also of Herndon, Pa., Ralph Tschopp, of Lykens Township, Pa., and the captain/mate duo of Capt. Mike Grager and Reece Senske of Get Hooked Sportfishing,

Fishing out of Grager’s 34-foot Sea Ray named “Get Hooked,” they were working in 125 feet of water just east of Point Breeze when the big fish hit a magnum wire diver that was rigged with an e-chip flasher, a white bait head and A-Tom-Mik cut bait run clean.

“We knew it was a good fish right away, so we put the boat in neutral and let Jimmy do his thing,” Grager said.

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Golden-year milestone for Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands Trail

Phil Fitch Memorial Chukar Challenge Sept. 19 at Rolfe Beagle Club

Johnsonburg, Pa. — In memory of Phil Fitch, a consummate bird dog man, the Rolfe Beagle Club will host the fifth annual Phil Fitch Memorial Chukar Challenge from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19. Only 24 registrants will be accepted.

This year’s Phil Fitch Memorial Chukar Challenge will be special as the club will also be celebrating its 80th year as a dog training club.

All dog handlers wanting to register their dog(s) or have questions, should contact Ron Guidas at ronguidas@gmail.com. Dog handlers can register directly at the Rolfe Beagle Club, 1016 Long Level Road, Johnsonburg, PA 15845.

Bridge Replacement, Detour on Forest Road 154

Warren, Pa. — Visitors to the Allegheny National Forest should be aware of a closure on Forest Road 154 (Farnsworth Road) in Mead Township, Warren County, as crews work to replace a bridge across the Farnsworth Branch of Tionesta Creek.

This work is expected to last about six weeks, potentially through mid-October.

Forest Road 154 will be closed just south of its intersection with Forest Road 252 to allow crews to work safely. A detour will be in place, rerouting traffic from the main intersection in Clarendon, at U.S. Route 6 and Railroad Street, to 1.5 miles southeast to the intersection of U.S. Route 6 and Cherry Grove Road.

David Raulfs Named Officer of the Year

Harrisburg — The Northeast Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association Officer of the Year Award recently was presented to the Fish & Boat Commission’s Waterways Conservation Officer David Raulfs.

According to the association, in 2025, Officer Raulfs – whose district includes Wyoming and southwestern Susquehanna counties in the Northeast Region – conducted exemplary law enforcement efforts, including the investigation of a significant pollution event on Roaring Brook, Lackawanna County.

Raulfs’ “above-and-beyond efforts“ in this investigation outside of his home district led to a significant settlement, which will result in improved stream quality and fish habitat.

Additionally, Raulfs became a firearms instructor for the commission, participated in a pilot program for law enforcement e-bikes, presented a high number of outreach and education programs to local anglers and boaters, and conducted trout stocking operations on 38 stocked trout waters.

Homicide Charges Dropped in 2025 Drowning of Young Woman Near Presque Isle

Erie, Pa. — Homicide and manslaughter charges were dismissed against 22-year-old Derek Bold, of Irwin, during his preliminary hearing here Aug. 10.

Bold appeared before Magisterial District Judge Laurie Mikelski for that hearing, where she dismissed felony homicide by vehicle while under the influence, along with misdemeanors of homicide by watercraft and involuntary manslaughter.

Other misdemeanor and summary charges, including corruption of minors, person unable to operate a watercraft safely due to alcohol and furnishing alcohol to a minor were held for court.

Bold was charged in March for his alleged role in the drowning of 17-year-old Madison Gallagher, of North Huntington, near Kelso Beach, Erie in 2025. The two allegedly launched a kayak with no paddles or flotation devices before it capsized, resulting in Gallagher’s death. Bold’s case now heads to the Court of Common Pleas.

DCNR Names New Assistant District Forester for the Weiser State Forest

Harrisburg — The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources recently announced the appointment of Jake Novitsky as the assistant district forester for Weiser State Forest, which spans Dauphin, Carbon, Columbia, Lebanon, Montour, Northumberland, and Schuylkill counties.

Novitsky, who had previously served as the fire forester for Weiser State Forest, was a recent recipient of a Governor’s Award for Excellence for his contributions in an investigation to catch a serial arsonist. He has also supported federal fire investigations and is a crew leader in Pennsylvania’s wildland firefighting efforts.

A Coaldale, Schuylkill County, native, Novitsky holds an associate degree in wildlife technology and a bachelor’s degree in forest management, both from Penn State. He began his career with DCNR as a forest technician in Delaware State Forest and later served as the district’s recreation forester, prior to taking on his previous role as the fire forester for Weiser.