State Forest Plan Unveiled see story below
Children hurt in Tioga County accident…Roulette driver accused of leaving crash scene….Criminal mischief charges being filed against suspect at St. Marys Walmart….Administration unveils forest plan….State positivity rate now 6.9%….
Wednesday’s high, 88; Overnight low, 62
THU-MOSTLY SUNNY, HIGH 88
THU NIGHT-PARTLY CLOUDY, LOW 64
FRI-MOSTLY SUNNY AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORM POSSIBLE, HIGH 85
FRI NIGHT-MOSTLY CLOUDY, LOW 67
SAT-PARTLY SUNNY, AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORM POSSIBLE, HIGH 85
SAT NIGHT-MOSTLY CLOUDY, LOW 68
Minor injuries were reported four children after a one-vehicle accident Monday afternoon in Liberty Township, Tioga County. Troopers at Mansfield report Deborah Byron of Rochester, NY was going north on Route 15when her Mitsubishi Outlander spun of the wet pavement and struck some guide wires three times before stopping. Byron and an adult passenger, Tiffany Byron also of Rochester, were not hurt but four children, three girls, ages 1, 7, and 14 and a 9 year old boy were taken to UPMC Soldiers and Sailors as a precaution. The 60 year old driver was cited for speeding.
A Roulette driver received minor injuries in a one-vehicle crash occurring last Thursday in Keating Township, Potter 
County. Coudersport based state police say Adelbert Lockwood was going south on the Reed Run Road when he swerved to avoid an undetermined road hazard causing the truck to go off the road and roll over onto the drivers side. Troopers claim Lockwood left the scene but was later located.
Troopers at Coudersport are continuing to investigate a disorderly conduct occurring Sunday night at 150 Main Street, Roulette. Two people reportedly were involved in a confrontation and the investigation continues.
Criminal mischief charges are being filed by Ridgway state police against an unnamed suspect. Troopers claim the man got out of his vehicle at the St. Marys Walmart and urinated on automotive tires stacked outside the store Monday morning.
Earlier this week, Governor Tom Wolf unveiled a State Forest Action Plan (PDF), which assesses the condition of Pennsylvania forests and sets a framework for strategies for long-term forest sustainability in the commonwealth.
The 681-page plan highlights current conditions and trends of forests, delineates priority landscapes, and provides a suite of broad strategies to ensure the long-term sustainability of Pennsylvania’s forests and trees. In addition to making recommendations for all public and private forests in Pennsylvania, the plan also includes stakeholders and partners to help ensure a shared vision and coordinated efforts. 
Forests cover more than 60 percent of Pennsylvania’s land and provide an array of values including clean air and water, recreation opportunities, wood products, habitat for plants and animals, carbon storage.
The Forest Action Plan builds on the sustainability meters developed in the 2010 plan and notes changes in the past 10 years. The plan also the identifies the 11 priority issues to address, which are:
Land use change
Forest health
Sustainable forest management
Climate change
Communicating natural resource values
Energy management and development
Wildland fire and public safety
Plant and animal habitat
Forest-related economy and jobs
Forest recreation
Water and soil
Pennsylvania’s 10-year strategic plan is a part of a national forest planning effort required by the federal government and a mandate from the Farm Bill.
Visit DCNR’s website to learn more about the Pennsylvania Forest Action Plan.
Learn more about federal forest action plans on the National Association of State Foresters website-
The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed that as of 12:00 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 25, there were 3,622 additional positive cases of COVID-19. Please note, a large file of 5,227 old test results dating back to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania are included in today’s case count, bringing the statewide cumulative total to 1,281,199.
CAMERON 225
ELK 1636
McKEAN 2992
POTTER 1131
TIOGA 2667
ALLEGANY (NY) 3667
CATTARAUGUS(NY) 5999
There are 1,617 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that number, 462 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19. More data is available here.
The trend in the 14-day moving average number of hospitalized patients continues to increase again.
Statewide percent positivity for the week of Aug 13 – Aug. 19 stood at 6.9%.
As of 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24, there were 33 new deaths identified by the Pennsylvania death registry, reported for a total of 28,131 deaths attributed to COVID-19. County-specific information and a statewide map are available on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard.
- According to the CDC, as of Wednesday, Aug. 25, Pennsylvania ranks 5th among all 50 states for total doses administered.
- According to the CDC, as of Wednesday, Aug. 25, 65.1% of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older are fully vaccinated.
Vaccine providers have administered 12,060,033 total vaccine doses as of Wednesday, Aug. 25.
5,902,230 people are fully vaccinated; with 10,115 vaccinations administered yesterday and a seven-day moving average of more than 17,380 people per day receiving vaccinations.
In licensed nursing and personal care homes, there have been a total of 74,142 resident cases of COVID-19 to date, and 15,830 cases among employees, for a total of 89,972 at 1,604 distinct facilities in all 67 counties. Approximately 29,959 of total cases have been among health care workers.
- All Pennsylvanians age 12 and older are eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine. Use Vaccine Finder to find a COVID-19 vaccine provider near you.
- A commonwealth COVID-19 vaccination guide explains the current process for getting one. Pennsylvanians with questions about the vaccination process can call the Department of Health hotline at 1-877-724-3258.