Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
The Herald will update this list frequently, as items arrive
This is a list of closings, cancelations and updates for the Morrisons Cove, Claysburg and Williamsburg areas. The Herald will update this list as we receive information. Please check back frequently.
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Pennsylvania announces the extension of expiration for LTC
The Blair County Sheriff's Office announced April 1 that the Wolf Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police will be granting extensions to license-to-carry firearms permits. Permits that expired on March 19, 2020, or later have been extended to May 30, 2020, and the state will re-examine the possibility of an additional extension as that date gets closer.
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2020 SEEDLING SALES, PROGRAMS CANCELED
Those who placed orders will receive refunds.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission announced today its Howard Nursery will not distribute seedlings as a result of mandatory closings and delays caused by COVID-19.
The nursery annually has provided over a million seedlings to Hunter Access Program cooperators, who allow public hunting on their properties, the Seedlings for Schools program and public sales.
No seedling beds yet had been opened. All seedlings will remain in beds until next spring for 2021 distribution.
“It is disappointing our seedlings can’t be distributed this year, but we look forward to the 2021 seedling season,” said Brian Stone, nursery manager. “We expect to have a greater variety and higher quantities of seedlings – some in larger sizes.”
The nursery had already received public orders. So, over the next few weeks, nursery staff will contact those who ordered to provide refunds, which will be provided in the order in which they were received.
Seedlings for Schools orders also will be alerted through email in the same order requests were received.
The nursery is closed currently. No one is available to answer phone calls. If you call, leave a message and someone will contact you. Please be patient for refunds.
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State Police Releases Non-Life-Sustaining Businesses Enforcement Totals
The Pennsylvania State Police released data on actions taken yesterday, March 30, against non-life-sustaining businesses that failed to comply with Governor Tom Wolf’s order closing their physical locations. Enforcement began on Monday, March 23, 2020. On Monday, March 30, troopers in Troop G – which includes Blair and Bedford counties – gave three warning, bringing the total to 14. Overall, troopers throughout the state gave 11 warnings on March 30, pushing the total to 107.
The Bedford County Historical Society is postponing it’s annual banquet and “Historians of the Year” recognition dinner that was planned for April 25 until further notice. The society is also closed until further notice from the Governor Wolfe.
C-K Postpones Kindergarten Registration
The Claysburg-Kimmel School District has postponed its kindergarten registration that was scheduled for Thursday and Friday, April 2-3. The district will notify parents of a reschedule date as soon as possible.
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 693 New Positives Bring Statewide Total to 4,087
The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., March 30, that there are 693 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 4,087 in 59 counties.
Blair County has reported six positive cases.
The department also reported 11 new deaths among positive cases, bringing the statewide total to 49.
From the Bedford County Chamber of Commerce
As many of you are aware, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocated $350 billion to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. Known as the “Paycheck Protection Program,” the initiative provides 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses who maintain their payroll during this emergency. Importantly, these loans may be forgiven if borrowers maintain their payrolls during the crisis or restore their payrolls afterward.
I am very pleased to provide you with a document prepared by the US Chamber that will help you navigate the application process.
Go HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE DOCUMENT:
I am also recommending an article from Forbes that helps to explain the bill and its benefits for small businesses:
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Are you a small business involved in agriculture?
Check out these resources from the PA Department of Agriculture.
https://pasafarming.org/covid19/
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State Police Releases Non-Life-Sustaining Businesses Enforcement Totals
The Pennsylvania State Police released data on actions taken from Friday, March 27 through Sunday, March 29 against non-life-sustaining businesses that failed to comply with Governor Tom Wolf’s order closing their physical locations. Enforcement began on Monday, March 23, 2020. From Friday, March 27, through Sunday, March 29, troopers in Troop G – which includes Blair and Bedford counties – gave three warning, bringing the total to 11. Overall, troopers throughout the state gave 18 warnings from Friday through Sunday, pushing the total to 96.
IRC Recycling Facilities Closing as of midnight 03/16/2020
The IRC will be following directives from Gov. Tom Wolf and closing its facilities to the public starting Tuesday, March 17, until further notice. As of March 30, many municipalities will still be doing annual spring cleanups in the coming weeks, but the public will not be able to access the Buckhorn or Duncansville facilities for yard waste drop off or purchasing mulch, compost and topsoil. In addition, commercial contractors will not have access to the Duncansville facility during this period for any purchases. Curbside recycling will still be occurring with local waste providers, so please continue to prepare your recyclables for pickup weekly.
For more information on your local municipalities spring cleanups, please visit http://ircenvironment.org/collection-recycling/residential/yard-waste-collection.
If you have questions, please call (814) 942-7472 or email [email protected]. You may also visit http://www.ircenvironment.org for more info on the collections or recycling.
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Additional resources for small businesses
The Bedford County Chamber of Commerce has provided the latest information from our legislators and the US Chamber regarding financial assistance for small businesses and non-profit organizations passed overnight by the US Senate and expected to be considered by the House tomorrow.
Additional resources expected to soon be available through the U.S. Senate legislation (CARES Act). These benefits are in addition to the previously announced resources (FAMILY FIRST Act). The legislation is specifically designed to streamline the application process and get relief (funds) to small businesses as soon as possible. (The goal is a 24-hour turn-around on many loan decisions.)
Some details that may be of interest to you:
• A loan/grant will soon be available for businesses that continue to employ staff, including a $10,000 loan that will be forgiven if it is used for up to 8 weeks of payroll. (Payroll Protection part of the legislation_
• If you have credit from other sources, you ARE still eligible to apply for these disaster loans.
• Payments on previous disaster loans will be deferred for 6 months.
• Community banks and credit unions will be utilized by the federal government and CAN take inquiries regarding small business loans.
• Interest rates will be 3.7 percent for small businesses and 2.7 percent for non-profits.
• Disaster loan first payment may be deferred for up to a year.
• Small businesses may apply for the previously announced loans and the newly announced loans, provided that the funding is used for different purposes (such as payroll and short-term debt.)
• Some non-profits are eligible (such as food banks, faith-based organizations, day cares) and additional non-profit categories may be added in the future.
• To expedite the process, collateral is not real-estate based and businesses do not have to supply a first-year tax return (though you will have to sign a form releasing tax information).
You can access the US Chamber's at https://www.uschamber.com/
You an apply for economic disaster assistance at SBA.gov/disaster
This information update is courtesy of the Bedford County Chamber of Commerce, which has a website at http://www.bedfordcountychamber.com/
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The annual Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by the Women's Civic Club and the Lion’s Club in Williamsburg has been cancelled for this year.
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April 7 meeting of the Central PA Civil War Round Table is cancelled. The group hopes to meet on May 5 at the PA Military Museum auditorium for Don Ernsberger's presentation on "Second Corps's Attack on the Mule Shoe."
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Blair County Courthouse Closed to the Public
The Blair County Board of Commissioners on Friday, March 20, voted unanimously to close the courthouse to the Public in an effort to minimize the COVID-19 exposure to the employees carrying out the essential functions of the Courthouse operations.
For more information, visit blairco.org.
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Blair County Sheriff’s Office: Extended hours for LTC Application process
March 26,2020
We recognize the difficulties of scheduling an appointment to process applications.To accommodate our citizens who have been unable to schedule an appointment during the daylight hours, we now offer evening hours from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, in addition to the regular daylight hours. The application process remains by appointment only.
Please make your appointment by calling (814) 693-3100. We will do our absolute best to schedule you as soon as possible. Again, we are taking the health and safety of our community into consideration. We appreciate the cooperation and understanding as we make updates and changes, during these COVID 19 conditions.
James E. Ott, Sheriff / Christopher S. Tatar, Chief Deputy / 423 Allegheny Street, Suite 111 Hollidaysburg PA 16648-2022 / Phone (814) 693-3100 / Fax (814) 695-4737
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