Legacy of lures and lake days from a bygone angler
Thad Bukowski recalls a decades old fishing outing at Cement Dam where a stranger lent a red headed wobbler, bass lure lore, and the lure evolution from handmade sticks to modern crankbaits. He details favorite baits like the Bass Oreno, Jitterbug, Doo Dad, Vamps, Spooks, Flatfish, and Yo Zuri shad type lures, plus changes in tackle and industry consolidations. He notes pollution concerns near a Crane Company plant, river and park cleanups, and a statewide push to report litter via a PA Forest toll free line. The column blends personal memory with fishing culture and conservation notes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bay of Cement Dam
Cascade Park
Big Run Creek
Crane Company
New Castle
Ellwood City
Toonerville
Cement Dam
Erie Bay
Rice Lake
Canada
French Creek
Pymatuning
State of
Washington
Yakima Bait Company
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
PA Clean Ways
Pennsylvania
State Park and Forest
Paforest
U.S. Department of Interior
Fish and Wildlife Service
USA
Heat turns grim as Pittsburgh Marathon runners struggle
Jeff Wiley and his nephew Kevin Ritzert fought brutal heat in the Pittsburgh Marathon. Wiley finished in 4 07 after cramping and dehydration, with Ritzert slowing to 3 30 pace early and later succumbing to heat at mile 23. Both trained, drank water and Gatorade, and ate pasta, but could not avoid danger.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jeff Wiley
Kevin Ritzert
Ellwood City
Ritzert
Penn State
Wiley
Common Ground
Bluebird program set for Moraine State Park event
A 6 p.m. program on bluebird population growth and conservation is planned for May 27 at Pavilion 7, McDanel's Launch, Moraine State Park. The park invites Youth Environmental Learning Series applications for four age groups plus a leadership track, with in-person and home school participation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
McDanel
Moraine State Park
State Park
David Parquette
State.pa
River Otter License Plate Debuts in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation with the Wild Resources Conservation Fund unveiled a new river otter themed license plate. Proceeds support research and education on native flora and fauna. Plates available at PennDOT service centers in multiple counties and online, with a 35 dollar fee.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
The
Wild Resources Conservation Fund
Special Fund
Commonwealth
Penndot
Harrisburg
Pennsylvania
State
Heat seize 3-2 lead with late 3s over Knicks in Game 5
Pat Riley voiced fatigue with the rivalry before Miami beat New York 87-81 to lead 3-2 in the series. PJ Brown hailed the emotional win as the Heat push for a return to Madison Square Garden for Game 6, while the Knicks face a win-or-go-home Friday.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
MIAMI
Miami Heat
Pat Riley
New York Knicks
Madison Square Garden
Heat
PJ. Brown
Knicks
Patrick Ewing
New York
Latrell Sprewell
Heat win late rally to take 3-1 lead over Knicks
In a tight playoff clash the Heat erased a 68-68 tie with a 19–point burst in the final 5:41. Alonzo Mourning led Miami with 18 points while Patrick Ewing had 16 and 11 for New York. Miami outrebounded 42–32 as hard-pressed Knicks defense faltered late.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
Miami
Heat
Riley
Allan Houston
Alonzo Mourning
Dan Majerle
Knicks
Jeff van Gundy
van Gundy
Ewing
Mourning
van Rosy
Hardaway
Ierbe
Larry Johnson
Houston
Sprewell
Also Mentioned on This Page
Yo-Zuri Company
Florida
Cadillac
Department
John C. Oliver
Department of Conservation
Pradeo
Fort Smith
Ark
Lake Erie
Lawrence County
Wilmington
Neshannock Creek
Jerry Zona
Clean Ways
Hobel Brothers Salvage
State Department of Environmental Protection
Northwest Sanitary
Butler County
Iona
Yakima Company
Thad Bukowski
the News
Pittsburgh
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Mary Alice Meli
Kathy Shoaf
Bluebird
Dauphin County
Rockview
Pleasant Gap
Centre County
Snydersville
Monroe County
Huntingdon Valley
Montgomery County
Jamal Mashburn
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!