Carbon County Weekly Brief

• Carbon County has been awarded $350,000 in state funding to help rehabilitate Bridge 18, a structure on Tannery Road that crosses the Lehigh River between Kidder and Foster townships. The money was announced by state Rep. Doyle Heffley and state Sen. David Argall, who emphasized that maintaining safe bridges is vital for emergency services, school transportation and daily travel. The planned work includes repairs to structural elements. This funding is part of a larger Multimodal Transportation Fund grant application jointly pursued with Luzerne County to cover the project’s needs.

• Volunteers in Carbon County spent a night conducting the annual “Point-In-Time” count of people experiencing homelessness. Organized by the Carbon County Action Committee for Human Services, teams collected information and distributed backpacks with cold-weather supplies, food, hygiene items, and service referrals to unsheltered individuals. The effort, which involves multiple community agencies, helps track trends in homelessness and evaluate what resources are needed.

• Weissport and Lehighton officials are planning a meeting to talk about local policing after the recent resignation of Weissport’s police chief. Lehighton’s mayor reached out to discuss whether Lehighton’s police department could help with patrols in Weissport while the borough works to fill the vacancy. Weissport leaders have received a few applications for the part-time chief position and are hoping to move quickly to hire someone. In addition to policing, the borough council also addressed other municipal business like garbage payments, delinquent taxes, and proposed wage structures for borough workers.

  
  

• Carbon County has seen a rise in people using newly established cold-weather shelters as temperatures drop into the single digits. The Lehighton Cold Weather Station in Mahoning Township has opened for several weeks and has already provided overnight stays for dozens of individuals experiencing homelessness, especially on the coldest nights. Shelter managers say demand increases as weather worsens, and volunteers and donations—like warm clothing and coffee—are greatly appreciated. Guests have expressed gratitude for the warm beds and meals, though challenges remain, including gaps in daytime shelter options when other facilities are closed.

• The Panther Valley School Board swiftly cleared a lengthy agenda at their recent Wednesday meeting.  They approved budgets with mixed impacts: a $41,856 reduction for Carbon Career & Technical Institute, a $148 decrease for Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21, and a $14,257 increase for Lehigh Carbon Community College, with board member Mike Alabovitz highlighting positive changes and better future relations. Personnel actions included accepting resignations, hiring a new elementary nurse at $47,686, granting tenure to one teacher, approving mentors and pay scale adjustments, and various professional development items. The board also okayed large general fund bills (over $3.78 million), cafeteria payments, spring sport workers, property writs of execution, closing FNB Bank accounts in favor of a higher-yield trust, nursing and behavior support contracts, and homebound instruction. Board President Daniel Matika suggested exploring a student ambassador program, and thanks were given to Bitfarms Ltd. for donations including sweatshirts, holiday gifts, and food pantry support. The next full meeting is set for February 18 at 7 p.m.