Home → County Living ( March 18, 2026 )
Sens. Lisa Baker (R-20), Rosemary Brown (R-40) and Reps. Jonathan Fritz (R-Susquehanna/Wayne) and Jeff Olsommer (R-Wayne/Pike) announced that fire and emergency medical services (EMS) companies in their legislative areas have been awarded over $1 million through the Pennsylvania Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program.
“These grants represent a direct investment in the dedicated first responders who answer the call when Pennsylvanians need help most,” the legislators said. “By working together, we are helping local fire companies and EMS agencies access the tools and funding they need to keep our communities safe and prepared.”
The local grants in Susquehanna County are as follows: Barnes-Kasson Hospital EMS, $15,000; Clifford Township Volunteer Fire Company (EMS), $15,000; Clifford Township Volunteer Fire Company, $14,075; Columbia Hose Company No. 1 (EMS), $15,000; Columbia Hose Company No. 1, $13,251; Elk Lake Volunteer Fire Company, $12,426; Forest City Area Emergency Services (EMS), $15,000; Forest City Area Emergency Services, $24,633; Forest Lake Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, $12,220; Great Bend Hallstead Volunteer Ambulance Inc., $15,000; Great Bend Hose Company No. 1 Inc., $13,251; Hallstead Fire and Engine Hose Company No. 1, $13,457; Harford Volunteer Fire Company, $15,000; Harford Volunteer Fire Company, $14,488.
Also included were: Little Meadows Volunteer Fire Company Little Meadows Rescue Squad (EMS), $15,000; Little Meadows Volunteer Fire Company Little Meadows Rescue Squad, $12,014; Montrose Minute Men Inc., $15,000; Rush Volunteer Fire Department Inc.,$12,426; Silver Lake Volunteer Fire Company Inc. (EMS), $15,000; Silver Lake Volunteer Fire Company Inc., $12,014; Springville Volunteer Fire Company, $13,457; Susquehanna Fire Department Inc. (EMS), $15,000; Susquehanna Fire Department Inc., $13,869; Thompson Hose Company Inc. (EMS), $15,000; Thompson Hose Company Inc., $13,663; Union Dale Volunteer Fire Company, $12,839; United Fire Company, $12,839.
The funding comes from an ongoing grant program created by the Legislature and administered by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and Office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFC). All funding comes from the proceeds from slot machine gaming, not General Fund tax revenue.
Projects eligible for funding include construction or renovation of a fire or ambulance company facility, purchase or repair of equipment, training, recruitment and retention, public education about fire prevention, and reduction of existing debt. All companies that apply and meet requirements outlined by OSFC receive funding. Companies must file a grant agreement with OSFC.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) invested nearly $460.8 million to help municipalities across the Commonwealth maintain their roads and bridges. These investments, which are funded by state gas tax revenues, help municipalities pay for critical maintenance like snow removal and road repaving.
“Each of the Commonwealth’s 2,500 municipalities has their own unique needs and challenges,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Governor Shapiro’s commitment to keeping Pennsylvania’s roads and bridges safe and accessible is showing up where we need it most: in our communities where local officials can direct the funding for transportation needs.”
Susquehanna County received the following:
Code Municipality Miles Net Allocation
201 Apolacon 13.67 $50,468.59
202 Ararat 16.35 $ 60,708.16
203 Auburn 72.81 $259,294.54
204 Bridgewater 46.39 $192,359.09
205 Brooklyn 18.00 $70,460.07
206 Choconut 16.84 $64,904.36
207 Clifford 24.16 $113,011.89
208 Dimock 33.78 $127,819.36
209 Forest Lake 38.08 $139,300.49
210 Franklin 25.36 $94,383.79
211 Gibson 26.26 $100,381.15
212 Great Bend 24.36 $106,747.47
213 Harford 43.16 $157,731.07
214 Harmony 20.08 $72,047.40
215 Herrick 23.89 $87,589.00
216 Jackson 32.98 $118,716.37
217 Jessup 31.51 $107,155.37
218 Lathrop 20.06 $76,555.90
219 Lenox 36.85 $144,102.78
220 Liberty 29.99 $114,183.25
221 Middletown 26.25 $87,450.90
222 New Milford 56.74 $209,848.38
223 Oakland 6.53 $29,149.16
224 Rush 45.36 $162,494.66
225 Silver Lake 29.56 $119,619.20
226 Springville 41.35 $155,822.05
227 Thompson 15.94 $57,808.48
401 Forest City 7.97 $56,562.35
402 Friendsville 1.99 $8,037.67
403 Great Bend 3.37 $21,690.32
404 Hallstead 4.20 $33,988.18
405 Hop Bottom 1.51 $10,251.39
406 Lanesboro 2.73 $17,572.39
407 Little Meadows 3.26 $14,576.59
408 Montrose 7.77 $47,252.48
409 New Milford 3.52 $25,439.15
410 Oakland 3.95 $22,377.41
411 Susquehanna Depot 8.29 $50,214.02
412 Thompson 1.31 $8,613.49
413 Union Dale 3.00 $13,317.30
County Totals: 869.18 $3,410,005.67
Since taking office in 2023, Governor Shapiro has delivered on his commitment to put Pennsylvanians first and strengthen our businesses by investing nearly $1.87 billion in liquid fuels funds directly into our local communities to improve the Commonwealth’s roads and bridges. In that time, under the Shapiro Administration, 19,525 miles of roadway have been improved and work has advanced on 1,757 state and local bridges. That represents the second most bridges repaired of any state in the entire country.
“Townships and local governments continue to maintain two-thirds of Pennsylvania’s road miles, and reliable liquid fuels funding remains essential to keeping those roads safe and well-maintained,” said PSATS Executive Director David Sanko. “As the transportation landscape rapidly evolves, with electric vehicles, alternative fuels, and new technologies reshaping how we travel, the traditional revenue streams that support local infrastructure are not keeping pace. We appreciate PennDOT’s ongoing partnership and the General Assembly’s willingness to explore sustainable, long-term funding solutions. Together, we can ensure that Pennsylvania’s local roads remain strong and ready for the future.”
The formula used to allocate funding is based on population and miles of locally owned roads. To be eligible, a roadway must be formally adopted as a public street by the municipality, meet certain dimension requirements, and be able to safely accommodate vehicles driving at least 15 miles per hour.
The Commonwealth is home to nearly 121,000 miles of public roads. There are 2,500 municipalities that manage 78,000 miles of roadway and more than 6,600 bridges.
“The Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs commends the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for recognizing borough governments as important partners of the statewide transportation network. These liquid fuels allocations are an essential funding component for preserving this vast network of locally maintained roads, which are so vital to the continued economic viability of this Commonwealth,” said PSAB Executive Director Chris Cap. “Borough communities across Pennsylvania will continue to maintain our portion of the local transportation network and we highly value our exceptional partnership with PennDOT.”
Travelers can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,200 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.
Subscribe to local PennDOT news or statewide PennDOT news on the department’s website.
Find PennDOT news on X, Facebook and Instagram.
Sen. Michele Brooks (R-50) celebrated the signing of federal legislation by President Donald Trump that aligns with her long-standing advocacy for restoring whole and 2% milk options in schools across Pennsylvania and the nation.
The federal measure, part of the sweeping One Big Beautiful Bill Act, includes provisions that amend outdated federal dietary guidelines and school nutrition standards, paving the way for states to reintroduce whole milk in school cafeterias. This action mirrors Senate Resolution 119, championed by Brooks and adopted by the Pennsylvania Senate in June, which urged Congress and federal agencies to revise milk standards to reflect current nutritional science and consumer choice.
“This is a victory for our dairy farmers, our children and common sense,” said Brooks. “For too long, federal regulations have limited access to nutritious, locally produced whole milk in our schools. I’m proud that Pennsylvania helped lead the charge to make this change, and I’m grateful to see Washington, DC finally listening.”
Brooks also sponsored Senate Bill 463, which would authorize the sale of Pennsylvania-produced whole milk in Pennsylvania schools, reinforcing the state’s commitment to supporting its dairy industry and improving student nutrition.
The adoption of Senate Resolution 119 earlier this year was met with bipartisan support and widespread praise from agricultural stakeholders, nutrition advocates and school administrators. Brooks emphasized the importance of empowering parents and schools with the ability to choose milk options that reflect both nutritional value and local economic priorities.
“Our dairy farmers produce some of the highest-quality milk in the country,” Brooks said. “This legislation not only restores fairness and choice in our schools – it also strengthens our agricultural economy and supports the health of our children. I also want to thank our local Farm Bureaus for being true champions of this effort, as well”
With President Trump’s signature, Brooks reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring Pennsylvania is ready to implement these changes swiftly.
A change to Pennsylvania law taking effect on January 23, 2026, will end a decades-old practice that directed the estates of Pennsylvanians who die without family or a will entirely to the state.
Act 50 of 2025 updates Pennsylvania’s Intestate Succession law to ensure that when no heirs can be identified, a decedent’s estate is placed into an endowed community fund at the community foundation serving the county where the individual lived. These endowed funds provide permanent, charitable support to local nonprofits and community needs.
The law is the result of a collaborative initiative led by the Registers of Wills & Clerks of Orphans’ Court Association of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Community Foundations Association, and passed with unanimous, bipartisan support in the General Assembly. Governor Josh Shapiro signed Act 50 into law on November 24, 2025.
“For too long, Pennsylvania effectively imposed a 100% tax on residents who died without family or a will,” said Bryan Tate, York County Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans’ Court and President of the Registers of Wills & Clerks of Orphans’ Court Association of Pennsylvania. “Act 50 ensures that a person’s life savings can now be remembered and celebrated by benefiting the community they called home, forever.”
Prior to Act 50, Title 20, Section 2103 of the Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code required that when no family survived a decedent, the estate passed directly to the Commonwealth to be used in the state’s annual budget. Act 50 amends the law to add endowed community funds as the final successor before assets would pass to the Commonwealth.
“This is a truly historic moment,” said Ralph Serpe, President and CEO of the Adams County Community Foundation and a leader of the Pennsylvania Community Foundation Association’s PA Intestate Legislation Action Team. “Pennsylvania is now the only state in the nation to ensure that intestate assets are kept local, endowed, and charitable through community foundations.”
Under the updated law, if a Pennsylvanian dies without a will or their will cannot be located, assets pass in the following order: Decedent’s children; Decedent’s parents; Decedent’s siblings, and their children; Decedent’s grandparents; Decedent’s aunts, uncles, and their children; An endowed community fund at the community foundation serving the decedent’s county; The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, if no endowed community fund exists.
According to the Pennsylvania Community Foundations Association, every county in Pennsylvania is served by a community foundation with an endowed community fund or by a regional foundation that provides county-specific endowed funds.
“This reform ensures that dollars once lost to the state budget will now support local nonprofits and community services,” said Judge Torren Ecker, former state representative and sponsor of the original legislation modernizing intestate succession. “Those assets will remain in the communities where these individuals lived.”
Act 50 was enacted as part of House Bill 1176, which combined three legislative proposals related to the Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code. The bill passed unanimously in both the House and Senate before being signed into law.
For more information about Act 50 of 2025, visit the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s official website.
Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23), chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, is calling on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to change a proposal from PJM Interconnection that he says unfairly shifts energy costs onto Pennsylvania families and businesses.
In a letter released recently, Yaw urged federal regulators to reform PJM’s plan to extend a region-wide “price collar,” a temporary cap on capacity prices in the electricity market. Yaw said while he supports short-term protections to prevent price spikes, the current proposal spreads costs evenly across all states, even when some states’ policies are driving higher demand and forcing power plant closures.
“Pennsylvania’s diverse energy mix powers our state and exports reliable electricity to our neighbors,” Yaw said. “We support temporary protections for consumers, but states that retire plants and drive-up demand must pay their fair share, not shift those costs onto Pennsylvania ratepayers.”
Pennsylvania is a major energy producer, with a mix of natural gas, nuclear and coal generation that not only powers the state but also exports electricity to neighboring states. Yaw argues that states choosing policies that reduce reliable generation or encourage large new energy users such as data centers should be responsible for the added strain they place on the grid.
Before the price cap, electricity prices in high-demand states like Maryland and Virginia reflected local supply and demand conditions. That system signaled where new investment was needed. Yaw said extending a flat, region-wide cap without changes would mask those price signals and require energy-producing states like Pennsylvania to absorb higher costs created elsewhere.
Instead, Yaw suggests a hybrid approach by keeping a base price cap to protect consumers in areas without grid constraints, while allowing higher charges in states where policy decisions have led to tighter supply and higher demand. That structure, he says, would hold states accountable without increasing prices for responsible energy producers and Pennsylvania consumers.
For more state-related news and information, constituents can visit Yaw’s website at www.SenatorGeneYaw.com or follow him on Facebook and X @SenatorGeneYaw.
The Susquehanna County DOMESTIC RELATIONS Section has outstanding BENCH WARRANTS for the following individuals as of 8:30am on March 13, 2026. Lloyd Baker, Richard R. Forba, Patrick E. Leblanc, Charles M. Lynady III, Paul Newhart III, Andrea Noble, Christopher M. Stephens. Please contact the Domestic Relations Section at 570-278-4600 ext. 4050 with any information on the location of these individuals.
Corrective: Stoltzfus, Omar (AKA) and Stoltzfus, Omar and Stoltzfus, Naomi to Stoltzfus, Omar and Stoltzfus, Naomi for $1.00 in Dimock Township.
Corey, Orson E and Corey, Orson A to Corey, Orson E for $1.00, one location in Clifford Township, one in Herrick Township and one in Uniondale Borough.
Stone, Bethany R and Moser, Jessica to Stone, Bethany R for $1.00 in Great Bend Township.
Brizzolara, Jacob to Brizzolara, Jacob and Brizzolara, Melissa for $1.00 in Hallstead Borough.
Momary, Michael D and Momary, Stephanie to Ventura Properties LLC and Kodak View LLC for $60,000.00 in New Milford Borough.
Cerracchio, Laura Diane (Estate AKA) and Cerracchio, Laura D (Estate) to Zukowski, Zackary N and Zukowski, Joshua A and Zukowski, Cristian J for $97,000.00 in Middletown Township.
DeRose, Darin (AKA) and DeRose, Darrin to Ruley, Benjamin Gene and Ruley, Carey Margaret for $1.00 in Liberty Township.
Griffis, Sandra L and Griffis, Larry A to Agree Shelf ES PA LLC for $2,615,000.00, one location in Bridgewater Township and one in Montrose.
Hallstead Great Bend Rod and Gun Club (AKA) and Hallstead Great Bend Rod and Gun Association to Thomas, Thomas R (Trust) and Thomas, Lisa A (Trust) for $1.00 in Great Bend Township.
Thomas, Lisa A (Trust) and Thomas, Thomas R (Trust) to Hallstead Great Bend Rod & Gun Association for $10,000.00 in Great Bend Township.
Schermerhorn, Suzanne M (Estate AKA) and Schermerhorn, Suzanne (Estate) to Miller, Brandi and Miller, Jason and Schermerhorn, Scott B and Kennedy, Cindy Ann for $1.00 in Harford Township.
Schermerhorn, Suzanne M (Estate AKA) and Schermerhorn, Suzanne (Estate) to Schermerhorn, Troy for $1.00 in Harford Township.
Dougherty, Lea M to Squid Holdings LLC for $59,000.00 in Great Bend Borough.
Squid Holdings LLC to Vanteger, Brent for $35,000.00 in Thompson Township.
Putt, Lloyd E (Estate) to Novotka, Michael and Novotka, Margaret for $300,000.00 in Bridgewater Township.
Potter, Korynn A (AKA) and Bennedum, Korynn A to Sicignano, John Cosmo Jr and Sicignano, Pearl for $252,000.00 in Silver Lake Township.
Acre Alliance LLC to Flaherty, Patrick M and Flaherty, James T and Flaherty, Shaun P for $1.00 in Choconut Township.
Warner, Jesse (AKA) and Warner, Jesse Earl and Warner, Judith (AKA) and Warner, Judith Sparks to Bremer Hof Owners Inc for $1.00 in Herrick Township.
Rafferty, Edward W (Estate AKA) and Rafferty, Edward (Estate) to Antalosky, Jake E and Antalosky, Brianna J for $35,000.00 in Apolacon Township.
Catanzaro, Anthony Domenico to Catanzaro, Anthony Domenico and Perry-Catanzaro, Amy (AKA) and Catanzaro, Amy Perry for $1.00 in Liberty Township.
Stalker, Christopher L to Kot, Dominik for $290,000.00 in Clifford Township.
Valada, Maribeth Lewis (AKA) and Lewis, Maribeth and Lewis, Addison Martin and Lewis, Austin Michael to Beamer, Bruce B Jr and Beamer, Sandra J for $85,000.00 in Silver Lake Township.
Darling, Teresa Katherine to Randall, Karen E for $30,000.00 in Forest Lake Township.
Vasquez, Enrique Eduardo and Bermeo, Maria Angelica Jimenez (AKA) and Jimenez Bermeo, Maria Angelica to Vasquez, Enrique Eduardo and Bermeo, Maria Angelica Jimenez (AKA) and Jimenez Bermeo, Maria Angelica for $1.00 in Franklin Township.
Bishop, Sheila D to Burke, Gerald E and Burke, Gail M for $1.00 in Auburn Township.
Seeley, Catherine M (Trust By Trustee) to Evansky, Maureen for $1.00, three locations in Rush Township.
Choza LLC to JJIM LLC for $110,000.00 in Forest City.
Spry, Joel to Hester, Joseph M for $10,000.00 in Silver Lake Township.
Mongelli, Christina to Mongelli, Carol for $1.00 in Great Bend Borough.
No 52 Unit No 37: Acheson, Karen D to Bremer Hof Owners Inc for $100.00 in Herrick Township.
Swift, William John and Swift, Diana to Swift, William John and Swift, Diana for $1.00, two locations in Lenox Township.
Ventura Properties LLC and Kodak View LLC to Places Properties LLC for $110,000.00 in New Milford Borough.
Butler, Lynn C to Butler, John H for $1.00 in Lathrop Township.
Curcio, Lisa D to Curcio, Lisa D (Trust) for $1.00 in Clifford Township.
Plenary Appalachia LP (AKA) and Plenary Appellachia LP to Good Soil Land LLC for $7,500.00 in Susquehanna.
VanDeGriek, Karen to KMV Rentals LLC for $1.00 in Montrose 2W.
Brooks, Ronald A to Brooks, Ivan William for $1.00 in Rush Township.
Following are December, 2025 sentences as handed down by Susquehanna County Court.
Francisco Vasquez, 28, of Windsor, NY to 6 months of probation, the first 5 days of which shall be served on home confinement, pay a $300 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $25 EMS fee, pay $150 PA Department of Transportation Trust Fund fee, pay $100 Act 198 fee, obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation, complete the Alcohol Highway Safe Driving School Program, not to utilize alcohol or controlled substances while on supervision, not to enter any establishment whose primary purpose is the sale of alcohol, submit to random drug and alcohol screenings, complete a CRN evaluation, abide by the standard terms and conditions of supervision for Driving Under the Influence on October 20, 2024 in Jessup Township.
Zachary Dean Swire, 34, of Oneonta, NY to 5 years of probation, to run concurrent with Wyoming County's sentence, pay a $500 fine, pay cot of prosecution, $50 Criminal Justice Enforcement Act fee, submit a DNA sample for Fleeing or Attempting to Elude the Police on November 25, 2024 in Choconut Township.
Brock Tyler Freer, 48, of Forestport, NY to 2 days to 6 months incarceration, with credit for time served, pay a $300 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $100 Act 198 fee for Driving While Under the Influence on March 21, 2021 in New Milford Borough.
Tyler Christopher Fiske, 53, of Hallstead, PA to 24 months of probation, the first 60 days of which shall be served on home confinement, pay a $100 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee, pay restitution to the Victim in this case, continue with drug and alcohol treatment, not to utilize alcohol or controlled substances while on supervision, not to enter any establishment whose primary purpose is the sale of alcohol, submit to random drug and alcohol screenings, not to possess any firearms while on supervision, submit a DNA sample, abide by the standard terms and conditions of supervision for Receiving Stolen Property on March 6, 2025 in Hallstead Borough. Mr. was also ordered to pay a $100 fine, the cost of prosecution and pay the $100 Act 198 fee for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia on April 3, 2025 in Hallstead Borough.
Robert William Staff, 56, of Springville, PA to 24 months of probation, to run concurrent with any sentence currently being served, pay a $100 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee, obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation, not to utilize alcohol or controlled substances while on supervision, not to enter any establishment whose primary purpose is the sale of alcohol, submit to random drug and alcohol screenings, abide by the standard terms and conditions of supervision for Tampering with Physical Evidence on August 11, 2025 in Springville Township.
The following were accepted into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition Program: Storm A Visage.