JOHN LANE: Readers of RTS are going to miss contributions made
by John A. Lane, a former Bradford resident, who died last week at
his residence in Maryland at the age of 92.

John submitted items for this column — including one, not long
ago, about a woman in Canada who was killed after being attacked by
a coyote — but seldom wanted to see his name published. He was just
one of those private people.

We knew John from his many years working for The Era. He was an
advertising representative before retiring.

Even though he was 92, his son tells us John was active pretty
much until the end. That doesn’t surprise us. He was always working
on a story or column on one of his favorite subjects — such as the
coyotes. He also had an abiding interest in politics and was quite
an expert on Bradford history.

More than that, though, John was a very smart man … and just as
kind. He was a gentleman, too, and will be missed. Our condolences
to his family.

KEVIN FOX: Bev Sweetapple writes about the death on March 26 of
Kevin Fox who had been a sergeant in Bradford Special Police. She
tells us he “should be recognized for his excellent performance 
with the Bradford Special Police for the past ten years. He was
always there when needed regardless of the weather or his
health.”

“His attitude and honor was obvious in his appearance as he
performed his duties. His job was his top priority and he did it
well. He was a very special person and was respected by everybody.
His spirit will live forever in the hearts of the lives he
touched,” Bev writes.

B-R-R-RADFORD: In June of 1977 or 1978, Jim Belardia of Bradford
was at summer training for the National Guard. While there, he
heard on the radio that Bradford was the cold spot in the nation.
The temperatures was 23 degrees or so, Jim recalls. That year,
everybody had to buy new flowers for the cemetery since they were
killed by the cold.

We pass this along as a warning. Our warm days — unbelievably
and unseasonably warm days — have been welcome but don’t be lulled
into thinking the cold days are over. It’s only snowed once on the
peepers and fishing season is still coming.