A huge loss to the community

Dear Editor,

Tioga County has recently lost one of its most knowledgeable people of what our government has and is doing and that person is Joan Battey. I can only speak of her in my viewpoint as many of you knew her longer.

Through a Town Supervisor’s recommendation, I got to meet Joan approximately three years ago and bonded with her immediately. She was excited that I volunteered to inform Tioga County of Sustainable Development and how our property rights are being affected. We had many discussions on this and her input and nudging was an enormous help for me, for our county.

Most of us wouldn’t even fathom of having the contacts that she had throughout the United States including retired General’s, and many people in Washington D.C. The depth of her knowledge was phenomenal and she would gladly share it with those of the same mind set. She dedicated herself on keeping up with what the government was doing behind our backs since the 1950’s. She had read all she could get her hands on including the original Common Core book dated 1952 that only certain government people were to have (Joan had a way of obtaining things).

Many of you may have known her with her work and articles in the Tioga County Courier. You would remember Joan and her husband Fred if you met them. Wherever they patronized, they were remembered. We lost a respected, good citizen of Tioga. The books she wanted me to have will give me the “push” to continue.

Merry Christmas in heaven. You will be dearly missed Joan, my friend, my mentor.

Sincerely,

Sandy Gumble

Apalachin, N.Y.