Carbon County Weekly Brief

Week of January 26, 2026

• A 17-year-old has been formally charged in connection with 19 separate wildfires that burned across Carbon County between March and November of 2025. The largest wildfire was over Easter weekend on Bear Mountain. That fire alone charred about 560 acres and demanded more than $560,000 in firefighting costs. Authorities announced a series of felony counts for each blaze such as arson, endangering persons and property, recklessly endangering others, risking a catastrophe and maliciously causing forest fires, along with additional reckless burning charges.

• Carbon County officials announced more than $800,000 in Small Water and Sewer Program grants to  go toward upgrading and improving local water infrastructure.  The  goal is to provide  safer, cleaner water and easing costs for residents. The funding, approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority and secured by State Rep. Doyle Heffley and State Sen. David Argall, is being split among several municipalities and authorities for specific projects. Beaver Meadows Borough will get about $284,622 for utility upgrades, Bowmanstown Borough Authority and Jim Thorpe Borough each receive $100,000 for a pump station upgrade and water line improvements, while Lansford Coaldale Joint Water Authority and Nesquehoning Borough Water Authority also get $100,000 each for pump and system enhancements. Additionally, Summit Hill Water Authority will receive $117,009 to replace a bridge connected to its system.

• Weatherly Borough Council responded to residents’ concerns about a shrinking police presence and the lack of around-the-clock coverage. Initial steps were taken to strengthen the force, including reactivating the civil service commission to start recruiting and hiring new officers. Several locals raised worries after noticing fewer patrols and learning that departures had left the department with only four full-time and three part-time officers, and that the borough currently does not have 24/7 police coverage. Borough leaders acknowledged the difficulty small municipalities face attracting officers, and the council filled vacancies on the civil service commission so it can begin developing an eligibility list for future hires. During the discussion, the police chief also noted challenges in staffing and changes in shift practices, while residents asked questions about coverage, shift lengths and overtime.

• Nesquehoning police are gearing up for their annual Sports Night community event on Feb. 27 at the Narrow Valley Sportsplex. The event will run from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for kids ages 4–17 featuring games like basketball, baseball, soccer, pickleball, volleyball and dodgeball along with giveaways, raffles and other activities. The Nesquehoning  police chief said last year’s event drew nearly 300 children and is a great opportunity for youth to meet officers, build positive community relationships and enjoy a night of sports and fun. Families can either stay and watch or drop off participants, though waivers must be signed before attending.

• The Carbon County Community Foundation announced its annual scholarship program offering more than $45,000 to local high school seniors to help with college or vocational training costs, with individual awards ranging from $500 to $8,000. Some scholarships are available to students anywhere in Carbon County, while others are tied to specific school districts, reflecting the intentions of different donor-established funds. Interested students must submit applications by March 1, with recipients to be notified in early May and honored at the foundation’s Annual Grants and Scholarships Awards Celebration and at their schools’ senior awards programs.