STEVE HODGES: This community sure lost a friend — and a fan —
with the death a week ago of Steve Hodges, a long-time Bradfordian,
at the age of 94.

Steve was about as enthusiastic about all things Bradford as any
individual we can remember.

Unfailingly, he’d return from his summer home on the lake and
tell us how much he missed reading The Era every day and how the
papers in that vicinity paled in comparison to our coverage. While
we were a little skeptical of Steve’s praise, it always seemed to
come at a time when we could use the encouragement.

Steve was also a big fan of the University of Pittsburgh at
Bradford, never failing to sings its praises and remark on the huge
beneficial impact it had made on this community and this region. He
was right, of course.

Our deep condolences to his family. 

We’ll miss his “You do a great job,” rare words in the newspaper
business. And Bradford will certainly miss his positive
attitude.

ELIOT NESS: Lynn Skinner of Potter Brook phoned last week to
tell us she had worked for Eliot Ness during his stay in
Coudersport until the time of his death. During that period of
time, she tells us, he was working with Oscar Fraley on a book,
“The Untouchables,” about his crime-busting team that took down Al
Capone.

Meanwhile, she reports that Mr. Ness was a very nice man. Paul
Heimel’s book, “Eliot Ness: The Real Story,” was a good account of
his life but she said there’s “lots more to be told.”

BIG CAT: M.E. Kunst writes: “East of Bradford, Pa., in East
Smithfield, Pa., my husband and I watched a mountain lion cross the
road in front of our vehicle as we drove along a country road,
Saturday, June 12, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. We have been as close as 20
feet to a bobcat and we can tell you what we saw was not a bobcat.
This animal was much larger, walked like a big cat and sported a
gold/tan fur, solid color. Its head was much larger than a bobcat,
however, it did not have a long tail. It had a bobbed tail.
Everyone we talk to has been skeptical, but we stand our ground on
this one. We know what we saw. We are relieved to see this
article.”