The Gettysburg Borough Planning Commission has set Oct. 18 as a tentative date for a town hall meeting to discuss a major rezoning it is considering. The meeting will be held in the Charlie Sterner building at the Gettysburg rec park. The new zoning plan will replace the current plan, which dates from 2008 and …
Superintendent Christopher Bigger gave the Littlestown residents a parting gift at Monday’s board meeting, predicting a 1 to 1.5 percent tax rate in the next three to five years. “We feel really good about that,” he said. The Littlestown Area School District taxes have averaged 2.25 percent over the past four years, in part to …
The Carroll Valley Borough Council once again grappled with zoning ordinances about constructing chicken coops and selling lots. Adam and Katlyn Colson approached the borough council in July and asked permission to keep the chicken coop they built in the front of their house because there is no room in the backyard as the ordinance …
With billions of dollars available from federal and state funds for broadband improvement in rural areas, a recent presentation at the Commissioners’ meeting indicates the Adams County Broadband Task Force has the data, expertise, and enthusiasm to move forward to the next stage of securing broadband for unserved and underserved residents. “I want to thank …
It was a morning for proclamations at Wednesday’s Adams County Commissioners meeting as the commissioners gave tribute to the Adams County Library System, Hispanic Heritage Month, Heritage Festival Day, Suicide Prevention Month, and Hunger Action Month. Laura Goss, Executive Director of the Adams County Library, and Erica Duffy, Development Director, asked Adams County residents to …
Littlestown Area School District Superintendent Chris Bigger spoke with emotion about how hard it will be to leave the community he has served for eight years. “It’s really hard, harder than I thought,” Bigger said. “But it was a calling to try to help more students.” He was referring to his new post as Superintendent …
Community members gathered in support Thursday Aug. 31 as they participated in the fifth annual Overdose Awareness walk to remember loved ones lost and those who still mourn. Sponsored by the Coalition for Overdose Awareness and Recovery, the group gathered at the Adams County Courthouse and proceeded to the Gettysburg Rec Park, where several speakers …
Although its name has changed, the goals of the Adams County Coalition for Overdose Awareness and Recovery have not. Formerly the Overdose Awareness Task Force, the coalition’s goal is to increase naloxone availability to save lives, reduce the stigma of addiction, and bring hope to those who suffer from addiction and those close to them. …
After five years of discussion and deliberation, the Littlestown Area School Board unanimously approved a $53.5 million project combining the middle and high schools to form a Grade 6 through 12 complex. Construction is planned to start in September and finish at the end of 2025. The design increases the size of the current high …
Two current and one former Adams County Children and Youth Services (ACCYS) employees were charged yesterday with felony counts of endangering the welfare of a child. The indictments came after a three-year investigation into the death of a 15-month-old girl on May 31, 2020. The child’s mother was charged with the death of her daughter …
More than $15,000 worth of wood, paint, fire retardant, and elbow grease will be applied to Sachs Covered Bridge in early August, thanks to the Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania. Theodore Burr (1771-1822) was an inventor who created the arch truss bridge design, familiarly known today as the Burr truss. The National Society …
The Adam’s County Farmers Market, held Saturday mornings at the Gettysburg rec park, is much more than parsley, peaches, and posies. On a recent visit, one could find all types of fresh produce and fruit, of course, plus offerings of fresh flowers, crafts, meats, honey, and mushrooms. There was also jewelry, games, a live band, …
The Gettysburg Zoning Hearing Board approved a height ordinance and three variances sought by developer Tim Harrison at Wednesday’s continuation of a meeting that began in June. The approvals will allow 501 Richardson Acquisition LLC to move one step forward in creating a seven-story 186-unit apartment building, including retail space and a restaurant. Located between …
Adams County Commissioners approved an agreement to sell an unused portion of Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens to WellSpan Properties, Inc. at Wednesday’s meeting. Commissioner Randy Phiel said he was happy to see the end to “the tragedy and angst this issue has caused our community for the past ten years. The County will use the …
Local residents were given the podium yesterday as the Borough Zoning Hearing Board met to consider three variances on the proposed multi-use, three-building restaurant, apartment building, and retail space on Carlisle and North Stratton Streets. The proposed development, consisting of an 8,000-square-foot retail area, a restaurant, and a 186-unit apartment building, is a 501 Richardson …
After months of debate and discussion, Carroll Valley passed Ordinance 3-23 regarding trailers at Tuesday’s borough council meeting. Nicknamed the “trailer ordinance,” at issue was the number of trailers that could be parked on a lot and the definition of trailered vehicles versus self-powered recreational vehicles. Section 201 covers the parking and storage of recreational …
The Governor of Utah, Republican Spencer Cox, received a standing ovation Saturday when he announced a new initiative to more than 700 delegates and speakers nationwide at the Braver Angels convention held at Gettysburg College last week. “I want to thank you for your blood and toil, your labor and sacrifice to try and teach …
Adams County Director of Tax Services Daryl Crum told the commissioners on Wednesday that the total county-wide assessed property value is close to $10 billion. Crum said the county tax base includes 45,131 taxable parcels, of which about 72 percent are homes ( properties with dwellings having less than four units and located on less …
Gettysburg has just been recognized as the “most welcoming city in the United States” by Booking.com, the third-largest travel website in the world. The honor was announced at Thursday’s Adams County Council of Government (ACCOG) meeting. “This is the result of over 240 million traveler reviews on Booking.com that led to naming Gettysburg at the …
At Tuesday’s meeting, some Carroll Valley Borough council members expressed concerns that residents didn’t get preferential treatment regarding purchasing lots being sold by the borough. “This whole thing is crazy for the people of Carroll Valley,” said council member Kari Buterbaugh. “I’ve been waiting for borough lots which I was told would not come up …
The Adams County Commissioners held a public hearing prior to their regular meeting yesterday regarding the 2023 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. Applications are available for funds that may be used to benefit a variety of activities, including water and sewer systems, streets, housing rehabilitation, emergency housing assistance, recreation and community facilities, new public …
The Littlestown Area School District Board of Directors finalized the agenda for their June 19 meeting, including seeking approval of the proposed 2023-2024 school year budget. The proposed budget includes revenues of $37,997,336 and expenditures of $39,168,514, which would pull $1,171,178 from the fund balance. The budget includes a 2.75% local tax increase, with 2.2% …
PA Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding and his wife, Nina, were among the barn art patrons who perused the collection of fine art pieces and photographs of barns, past and present, at the 15th annual Historic Gettysburg Adams County show and sale that opened with a reception at the Gettysburg G.A.R. Hall Friday. Fifty artists …
The Adams County Commissioners learned at Wednesday’s meeting that Sach’s Covered Bridge will receive a coat of paint and some fire retardant free of charge. The Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania will perform the work. The Society is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of covered bridges in Pennsylvania. Society president Robert Kuether …
Bethany Shifflett and Aydan Fitzgerald met in middle school and have been best friends since. Now the two are going their separate ways – Shifflett will stay in the area while Aydan will travel to the next state south. But the Littlestown Area High School seniors said they were not worried about staying in touch, …
Nearly one million dollars in agriculture and youth grants were awarded recently, making Jesse Brant and the Littlestown Area School District very happy. Last fall, he applied for a grant from the PA Department of Agriculture to purchase a new tractor for the Littlestown FFA. The group received a matching grant of $25,000. The other …
After months of debate, the Carroll Valley Borough Council is still undecided about the issue of how many trailers can be parked on private properties in the borough. An amendment presented at Tuesday’s meeting was rejected and sent back for further tweaking. It would have permitted storage of three trailered vehicles per lot with a …
By Judith Cameron Seniura Commissioners highlighted the challenges met by the Adams County Adult Correctional Center (ACACC) staff at Wednesday’s meeting, beginning with a proclamation to announce Corrections Office Week May 7-13. “I am honored to be here to remind them there are a thousand small successes they are responsible for every day,” said Katy …
When Terry Scholle was riding a young mare one day in 2002, he never expected to be airlifted to York Hospital from Mt. Joy. But after an accident with a loose saddle, Scholle fell onto the hard earth and broke seven bones. He doesn’t remember the helicopter ride but is thankful there was one. Now, …
State Representative Torren Ecker, who was arrested in an alcohol-related crash in the county on April 20, visited the Adams County Council of Governments monthly meeting on Wednesday morning. Addressing what he called “the elephant in the room,” Ecker told the gathered municipal and school district representatives that he apologized for his actions. “I am …
We have much wisdom to gain by learning to understand other people’s cultures and permitting ourselves to accept that there is more than one version of reality. — Louis Menand, Pulitzer Prize-winning author. The YWCA Gettysburg and Adams County Library System provided human books for checkout during National Library Week, April 24 to 29, allowing participants …
Some confusion over the wording of a motion to accept a recent resignation from the Littlestown Area School District Board of Directors resulted in procedural scrambling at Monday’s board meeting to allow enough time for a replacement. A motion was made, seconded, and approved to accept the resignation of board member Nicki Kenny “retroactive” to …
Changes to a zoning ordinance passed at a recent Carroll Valley Borough council meeting will make it easier for residents to use their homes as short-term rentals. “Now you don’t have to apply to the zoning committee for a special exception. You just need to get a permit through the zoning office,” explained David Hazlett, …
A proclamation from the Adams County’s Commissioners office proclaimed April as child abuse prevention month and paid tribute to Adams County Children Youth Services (CYS) for their work toward that end. The proclamation highlights the dedicated staff who continually protect children against the pain that plagues many victims of abuse and neglect, frequently at the …
More than 250 people attended the opening of the 26th annual Adams County Land Conservancy Art Auction Friday. On display were 127 artworks that had been donated by local artists and collectors. The collection includes watercolors and oil paintings, etchings, wooden bowls, textiles, jewelry, ceramics, photographs, silkscreen, and more. All of the work is for …
Littlestown Area School District has proposed a 2.75 percent tax increase as part of the 2023-2024 budget. Of the increase, 2.2 percent of the tax increase will fund the new building project, and .55 percent will be used for operational expenses. “We’ve done it with minimal tax raises overall,” Superintendent Bigger said, referring to the …
The Littlestown Area School District Board of DIrectors is looking to fill a temporary board position created by the sudden resignation of Nicki Kenny on March 24. Elected in 2020, Kenny had served only two years out of her four-year term. The board hopes to find a temporary replacement who will fill the vacancy until …
After a month-long debate, Littlestown Area School District’s Board of Directors approved using McGraw Hill’s Reveal Math program for elementary students at their meeting on Monday, with three members voting “no.” Board member Nicki Kenny said she believed more research was needed regarding the success rate of Reveal Math before a decision was made. “I …
The threat of cyber-attacks loomed large at Thursday’s meeting of the Adams County Council of Governments (ACCOG). “A municipality is an enticing target,” said ACCOG member Ron Harris, who presented information to educate municipal leaders about the many online scams that threaten cybersecurity and outlined best practices that leaders can use to prevent those threats. …
Five million dollars from the Adams Response & Recovery Fund (ARRF) was awarded to 14 projects impacting economic development and public safety priorities at Wednesday’s Adams County Commissioners meeting. Top awards included one million dollars to the East Berlin Area Joint Authority to support regional economic development, $500,000 to Adams County Technical Institute for land …
After two months of discussion at planning commission meetings, Carroll Valley Borough may be near a resolution to what has become known as the “trailer ordinance.” “I hope to prepare an ordinance draft for the next meeting,” borough manager Dave Hazlett told the Carroll Valley council. At issue is how many non-motored vehicles may be …
Wednesday was a day to appreciate preserving Adams County’s rural landscape as the commissioners approved the purchase of new land for preservation and honored two conservation agencies at their meeting. The commissioners approved a proposal from Ellen Dayhoff, AG Land Conservation Board Program administrator, to purchase five agricultural conservation easements in Conewago and Union Townships. The …
An archway of purple and black balloons created a solemn memorial for victims of opioid overdose deaths as part of National Black Balloon Day Monday afternoon in Gettysburg’s Lincoln Square. About 50 visitors stopped by, and 25 Naloxone kits and spray applications were distributed to help prevent some of those deaths. Naloxone, a prescription drug …
It’s a sobering thought. According to the Adam’s County Coroner’s Office, 119 people have lost their lives in the county to opioid overdoses since 2015. Lisa Lindsey, data prevention specialist with the Center for Youth and Community Development, told the commissioners on Wednesday morning that the number of deaths in Adams County from overdoses in …
Critical Race Theory (CRT) raised its controversial head at the Monday meeting of the Littlestown Area School District (LASD) Board of Supervisors. At issue is the “Reveal Math” program from textbook publisher McGraw Hill, a proposed elementary math curriculum that includes social-emotional learning (SEL) goals. According to the McGraw Hill website, Reveal Math is designed …
The week of Feb. 4 to 11 was proclaimed Court Reporting and Caption Week 2023 by the Adams County Commissioners at its Wednesday meeting. “Court reporting is essential to the health of the judicial system,” said Commissioner James Martin. “I wish there was some way to see how many miles of text these ladies put …
The purchase of a new ballot sorting machine, at a cost of more than $200,000, was approved by the Adams County Board of Commissioners at today’s meeting. “We were given a lump sum by the state to help with the purchase and have utilized that,” said commissioner Randy Phiel. The Agilis Falcon ballot sorting machine …
The Adams County Council of Governments (ACCOG), which includes representatives from boroughs, townships, and school districts around the county who work together to identify, discuss, and study regional issues and opportunities, has elected new officers. Mount Joy Township Supervisor Terry Scholle was elected president and Carroll Valley Mayor Ron Harris was elected vice president. Patricia …
As local townships struggle to find candidates to fill their open tax collection positions, collecting taxes seems to be unappealing as paying them. The problem became more acute last week as the Adams County Board of Commissioners accepted the resignation of tax collectors from Hamiltonban Township and Bendersville Borough . “Small municipalities are having a …
With a looming January deficit of nearly $22,000 for cafeteria lunches, Littlestown Area School District (LASD) Superintendent Chris Bigger reminded parents to bring their accounts current. “We have a lot of people who have account balances in the $50 range,” he said about the more than 500 delinquent accounts. This number accounts for nearly half …
The Adams County Commissioners have approved a program that will provide Adams County Adult Correctional Center referred inmates with online Alcohol Highway Safety School classes. Twelve hours in length, the cost to the County for the classes is $175 per student per month. The classes will be funded by Probation’s 2022-2023 Intermediate Punishment Treatment Program …
There were multiple moments of applause and a standing ovation on Wednesday morning as the Adams County Commissioners bid farewell to Chief Public Defender Kristin Rice, who is retiring after serving for the past 19 years. “I want to say the last 19 years have been a joy. I’ve felt so supported by my attorneys …
School calendars were the topic of conversation at yesterday’s Littlestown Area School District (LASD) Board meeting. Calendar changes are needed to facilitate the upcoming renovation of the middle and high schools, but the district is also looking at potential long-term modifications. The board voted to adopt a one-year 2023-24 calendar in which the school year …
The Adams County Commissioners have approved a $46,000 quote from Priority Dispatch Corporation that could improve how 911 calls are processed and ensure that the proper response is given to each emergency. Warren Bladen, Director of Adams County Emergency Management Systems, described the three types of responses to emergency calls – fire, police, and medical …
Adams County Economic Development Specialist Harlan Lawson asked for help to distribute a survey that will help accurately pinpoint which areas of the county are unserved or underserved by the internet. “We are trying to fill the gap that exists in internet availability, especially outside of our boroughs,” he told members of the Adams County …
The Adams County commissioners said they projected no tax increases for the 2023 fiscal year. “No tax increase and not cutting services” are solid positives for the budget, said Commissioner Randy Phiel. The county said it had received $10 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding that will be dispersed in several ways …
The Adams County Commissioners approved the submission of more than $320,000 for the 2022 Community Development Block Grant, awarding funding to Biglerville Borough and Hoffman Homes, as well as covering the county’s administrative fees, at its meeting yesterday. The $100,000 awarded to Biglerville Borough is the second grant in a multi-year project that will replace …
Adams County’s Technology Department Chief Phillip Walter told members of the Adams County Council of Governments (ACCOG) on Wednesday that his department will play a vital role in securing the vote during the upcoming election on Nov. 8. “We train pollsters, teach them how to use software, scanners, and other devices, and what to do …
A feasibility study that may result in a future PA Agricultural Discovery Center in Straban Township was approved by the Adams County Board of Commissioners at its meeting yesterday. As part of the hotel tax fund, $150,000 will be used to hire a yet-as-unknown consultant who will determine the suitability of several county sites for …
The national statistics are sobering. One in 4 women and 1 in 10 men experience sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime. Many victims experience concern for their safety, PTSD symptoms, physical injury, and the need to be counseled by by victim services. Showing support for victims of violence, …
Adams County Treasurer Chris Redding addressed community leaders at the Sep. 22 Adams County Council of Governments (ACCOG) meeting, saying the county’s healthy A2+ rating for financial status reflects a joint effort of community sectors working together in a complex office with many moving parts. Redding said the treasurer’s office works with the 34 township …
Adams County has been given a Covid relief shot in the arm with a $5 million dollar grant that Commissioner Marty Qually called the “most significant grant program in the county’s history.” The Board of Commissioners approved guidelines for applications for the funds at its monthly yesterday. Before submitting projects for consideration, potential applicants can …
The Adams County Commissioners addressed a serious problem for county residents today as they proclaimed September 2022 as Suicide Prevention Month. Healthy Adams County Executive Director Kathy Gaskin said that in the past the focus had been on youth, but that there now was a greater need for focus on middle-aged males, who are …
David James, Esq. Was honored for 45 years of service to the children of Adams County as Guardian Ad Litem at the meeting of the Adams County Board of Commissioners yesterday. Commenting briefly to thank the Board, James said he missed working with kids, but would gladly exchange his formal suit for golf shirts and …
