Public housing for the elderly in Bradford County to become smoke-free

SAYRE - In a controversial move, the Bradford County Housing Authority plans to make its apartment buildings for the elderly and disabled in Bradford County smoke-free, effective July 1, 2010.

The new policy, which would affect the occupants of 400 apartments in those buildings, was discussed at a public hearing Wednesday on new policies and capital improvement projects that are planned at the housing authority during the coming year.

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Whereabouts of Dushore man still unknown

State police are still searching for the whereabouts of a Dushore man who has been missing since mid-January.

State police in Laporte confirmed Tuesday that they are still looking for Jeffrey Kobbe, 36, who was last seen in the Dushore area.

Kobbe's father, Durwood Kobbe of New Albany, reported Wednesday that when last seen in Dushore, his son was wearing a backpack. He said that Jeffrey Kobbe had informed others that he intended to go hiking in the "Haystacks" of Loyalsock Creek in Sullivan County. Durwood Kobbe said state police checked the area, but found nothing to indicate the whereabouts of his son.

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Ennis, Dibble resign from Monroe Borough Council

Two members of the Monroe Borough Council recently resigned; one because he is dissatisfied with the direction that the council is moving in, and the other because he is moving out of town.

Republican Tim Ennis, who has served on the council since 2006, said he resigned earlier this month because he felt the council was blocking him from accomplishing things that needed to be done for the community.

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DEP discusses spill

A diesel fuel spill that occurred this week at a Talisman gas well pad location on Fallbrook Road in Armenia Township impacted a wetlands and Fall Brook, according to Dan Spadoni, spokesman with the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Talisman also has agreed to sample a private drinking water well located about 500 feet from the boundary of the spill, he said. Spadoni said the company will report the results to DEP.

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Valley Joint Sewer Authority lowers expectations on pension plan

The Valley Joint Sewer Authority voted at its regular meeting Wednesday to lower the anticipated return on the Authority Pension Plan from 7 percent to 5.5 percent for the next two years.

According to information provided by Colleen Deer, a representative from Mockenhaupt Benefits Group, the interest rate assumption is the long-term expected rate of return on the fund. Dr. Pat Musto, chairman of the Valley Joint Sewer Authority, explained that the interest rate assumption for the pension plan the past two years has been considerably less than anticipated, due to economic downturn. As a result, Musto said, the board felt it should take a more conservative financial stand by lowering the interest rate assumption to 5.5 percent for the next two years, in the hopes the pension plan would be able to make up the losses it previously had to absorb.

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Carman seeks to prevent suicides with program

TROY - Bradford County Coroner Tom Carman said an initiative known as the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program has worked in other areas, and now he's hoping to bring it to Bradford County.

Currently, the coroner's office, located in Troy, is working on getting the program into the school system. He said it would target students in middle school "on up."

Earlier this year, Carman expressed concerns over increasing suicide deaths in Bradford County.

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Canton studies burn barrel use

CANTON - Canton Borough Council is looking at the possibility of a ban on burn barrels.

During its last meeting, council talked about the issue. Council president Ken Robertson said council may consider banning them seasonally, from around the end of April to the end of October.

Now, council is seeking comments.

"The topic of (a) burn barrel ban was discussed and seasonally was mentioned, but not definitely decided on," Amy Seeley, borough administrator, said. "Council would ask that people would forward comments to the borough office regarding their position as to the ban so that council can make an informed decision."

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