Northern York County Regional Police to participate in Drug Take Back

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Rebecca LeFever

Photo made available by DEA

Northern York County Regional Police  and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  Bring your medications for disposal between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to the Giant Food Store at 2130 Palomino Road in Dover Township.  The service is free and anonymous.

According to a news release, “Last April, Americans turned in 376,593 pounds—188 tons—of prescription drugs at nearly 5,400 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3,000 state and local law enforcement partners. Continue reading →

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Why a quarry in Hellam Township looks reddish in the spring

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Teresa Boeckel

Why has a quarry in Hellam Township turned reddish?

That’s what Janett Wilson recently wondered on the York Daily Record/Sunday News Facebook page. She wrote that it has been that way for about two weeks.

“I don’t think I’ve seen it this color EVER … maybe I wasn’t paying attention?” she wrote.

The color comes from an algae bloom that happens every year, said Jeffrey Hines, president and chief executive officer of the York Water Company.

As the water temperature warms up, it will fade away and become clear, he said.

“It’s a natural occurrence,” Hines said.

The color varies from year to year, he said. But it’s in the range of normal.

York Water Company does not use water from the quarry for the water supply, Hines added.

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What will record bee die-offs mean for York County farmers?

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Hannah Sawyer

Across the U.S., beekeepers are opening their hives to find dead and missing bees — again.  And in even greater numbers than before. Scientists have reported the highest number of bee die-offs ever this winter, surpassing 2006 when the new and deadly disease dubbed Colony Collapse Disorder caused bees to mysteriously disappear from hives everywhere.

“Reports of it being a bad year for honey bees appear to be true,” Mark O’Neill, media relations director for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau said in an email. The New York Times reported that many beekeepers lost between 50 and 70 percent of their hives.
Continue reading →

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Help keep the Rail Trail beautiful in York

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Rebecca LeFever

The Rail Trail in York offers a park-like feel in the middle of the busy city. DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS — FILE PHOTO

Friday’s warmer temperatures sent my fiance and I to the streets to get a little fresh air. As York residents, I like to take advantage of the easy walking that can come from living downtown. After exploring some downtown businesses, we left the busy streets and headed to the Rail Trail.

I’ve often appreciated the Rail Trail for the little bit of green it brings to the city. A few strides down the concrete path and you might feel that between the trees you’ve escaped the busy city. At least that’s what I like most about it. It feels like a park.  Continue reading →

Posted in Pet peeves, Quality of life, Travel | 2 Comments

PennDOT: Highway crashes down statewide, fatalities increase slightly

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Teresa Boeckel

There were fewer crashes on highways across the state last year.

The number of fatalities increased slightly; however, highways deaths in 2012 are the third lowest on record, according to a news release from the state Department of Transportation.

Here’s a look at some numbers:

  • 1,310 people killed in crashes on state roads in 2012. That’s 24 more than in 2011.
  • 124,062 crashes reported on state roads in 2012. That’s a decrease from 125,322 in 2011.
  • 44 teens (16 and 17 year olds) killed in crashes last year. That’s 22 fewer than in 2011.
  • 1,096 crashes reported in which drivers were using phones. That’s down from 1,152 in 2011.
  • 377 fatalities involved a drinking driver. That’s down from 391 in 2011.
  • 57 fatalities involved distracted drivers. That’s a decrease from 59 in 2011.
  • 137 fatalities involved hitting a guiderail. That’s 25 less than the year before.
  • 21 fatalities involved running a red light. That’s down from 33 in 2011.
Some categories saw increases in traffic deaths:
  • 276 drivers ages 65 and older were killed in crashes last year. That’s up from 244 in 2011.
  • 168 pedestrians were killed in 2012. That’s up from 149 the previous year.
  • 210 motorcycle fatalities were reported last year. That’s up from 199 in 2011.
State officials say changes in the law, such as increased driving safety requirements for young drivers and the texting while driving ban, helped to reduce fatalities.
What do you think?  What should be done to help decrease highway deaths even more? 

 


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Remembering Three Mile Island: Nuclear power sites in region still concern some

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Hannah Sawyer

The power plant that was the site of the U.S.’ worst nuclear accident, Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station, is still operating, quietly producing energy for about 800,000 homes on a island in the Susquehanna River.

More than 30 years after the partial meltdown of one of the sites reactors, residents are returning to the area, and according to census data, population numbers are up, a sure sign that the accident is fading from public consciousness.
Continue reading →

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Maryland commuters: Interstate 83 to be closed briefly overnight next week

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Teresa Boeckel

Maryland commuters: You might be stuck in traffic on Interstate 83 next week for roadwork.

Starting Tuesday night, all lanes of I-83 will be closed briefly overnight in the area of the Exit 31 in Baltimore County. Crews will be setting steel for the Middletown Road bridge, the Maryland State Highway Administration says.

Here is the schedule for April 2, 3, and 4:

8 p.m. to 5 a.m.: Close the left lane of southbound I-83

9 p.m. to 5 a.m.: Close the left lane of northbound I-83

Midnight to 5 a.m.: Close all  lanes of traffic in both directions for 15-minute periods each night

The Maryland State Highway Administration and Maryland State Police will stop all traffic on I-83 for up to 15 minutes to allow large cranes to move safely within the work zone and crews to secure the bridge beams, the news release states.

Drivers looking for an alternative route can use Maryland 45, also known as York Road.

 

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It’s pothole season — again

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Teresa Boeckel

This is a specially designed pothole filling truck. This photo was taken a few years ago on Interstate 83. Oil and fine gravel are mixed in layers by an operator behind the wheel to fill in a pothole. (Daily Record/Sunday News — Paul Kuehnel)

Those little — or big — craters in the road are starting to pop up everywhere now that spring has arrived.

If you see one, you can report to the state Department of Transportation by calling 1-800-FIX ROAD.

And if you do call, be as specific as you can. Callers are expected to report the county, municipality, street name and route number, which can be found on small black-and-white signs posted along the road, according to PennDOT. A description of landmarks in the area would be helpful, too, for crews looking for the pothole.

Once notified about the problem, PennDOT will work expeditiously to fix it when weather permits, the news release states.

Don’t forget, you can also report pothole problems on SeeClickFix, too.

If you want to learn more about how potholes form and are repaired, check out PennDOT’s “Evolution of a Pothole.”

Have you reported potholes to PennDOT this spring? Where have you seen these big craters?

 

 

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Wrightsville Police Chief Ron Hege at the helm for nearly six months

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Rebecca LeFever

Wrightsville’s Mayor Neil Habecker released a statement about the borough’s newest police chief — Ron Hege. Hege was sworn in during the Oct. 1, 2012 borough meeting and has since been looking for ways to update how the department works, Habecker said.

Here’s what Habecker wrote:

Chief Hege took the helm of the Wrightsville Borough Police Department in October of 2012.  Chief Hege was referred to Wrightsville by several area law enforcement professionals following the departure of Chief Wayne Pearson in the summer of 2012.

Chief Hege recently retired from the Baltimore City Police Department after 21 years of exemplary service to the city. Chief Hege had worked briefly as a patrol officer in West York Borough prior to taking the Chief’s position in Wrightsville.

In the past six months, Chief Hege has been reviewing and updating departmental policies, procedures and equipment. Wrightsville Borough currently employs a Chief of Police and four Patrol Officers. I am happy to report that our Chief of Police and Officers are working very well together.

Borough Council and I are extremely pleased with the progress that Chief Hege has made since his arrival in October.

 

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Route 616 residents might be able to place rocks on their property to prevent crashes into their homes

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Teresa Boeckel

Harry and Shirley Wildasin on the front porch of their home on Seven Valleys Road in York New Salem. The couple’s home was hit by a vehicle in July. They were displaced for four months while their home was repaired. DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS – KATE PENN

Last month, we had written a story about how some residents along Route 616 were concerned about three recent crashes in their neighborhood.

Two of the vehicles had crashed into houses, and a third narrowly missed a home.

The residents had mentioned that they thought about putting big rocks — or boulders — in front of their properties to prevent vehicles from striking their homes. However, they were advised against doing so.

A spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation said a property owner could be held liable if someone is injured by hitting the rocks.

However, after the story ran, another spokesman questioned whether that advice is correct. He suggested calling someone in the insurance industry. Continue reading →

Posted in Crashes, Roads | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments