In Mill Hall a Perfect Day for Trout, Sausage and Politicians

MILL HALL— As it has for the past 53 years, the Mill Hall Fire Hall served as the perfect kickoff spot for the new trout season. Saturday morning saw fishermen up and down adjacent Fishing Creek and inside hundreds of local residents enjoyed the fire company’s annual pancake and sausage breakfast.

Part of the opening day tradition is the appearance of political candidates. The recently enacted change in Pennsylvania’s congressional configuration saw some new faces. Among them were Doug McLinko, a Bradford County commissioner, and incumbent congressman Tom Marino from Lycoming County. McLinko is challenging Marino in the May Republican primary for their party’s nomination in the new 12th congressional district which now includes Clinton County. McLinko, (on the right in above photo) was escorted through the crowd by Clinton County Commissioner Jeff Snyder (above, left).

For the firemen who staged the breakfast, the routine was the same as it has been for better than half a century: Friday night a veteran group of Mill Hall Fire Company volunteers spent its time conducting the company’s weekly bingo event and did the initial legwork for the Saturday breakfast. Chief Bill Strunk said they then went home, grabbed a couple hours sleep and returned well before sun-up to greet the first customers at 6 a.m.

The event is one of the company’s biggest fundraisers and several hundred breakfasts are served each year.