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Legislation  to fight Lyme disease approved in state senate. See story below:

Vandalism on North Hollow Road investigated….Whitesville driver and passenger arrested for drugs…Sleepy Truck driver wrecks in Elk County….Tires punctured in Ridgway….Legislation to help control ticks approved in state senate….

Potter County

State police at Coudersport are looking for the person who fired a shot at a  pull barn door on North Hollow Road owned by Guy Wheeler. The incident took place between June 18 and Sunday. It is not known what caliber gun was used but anyone with information is asked to call state police at 814.274.8690.

At Whitesville man has been arrested for DUI drugs following a traffic stop on Main Street in Genesee Township on the afternoon of May 22. Troopers claim 38 year old Stanley Cwiklinski IV had been driving his 2016 Chevrolet  under the influence of a controlled substance. He was also charged with careless driving, having an expired license, and lack of insurance.

Drug possession charges are being filed against another Whitesville resident, 28 year old Courtney Gross who apparently was a passenger in the Cwiklinski’s car.

Elk County

DUI charges are pending against a 32 year old Ridgway man who was stopped for speeding on Oakmont Road in Ridgway late Saturday night. Ridgway based state took the suspect, whose name was withheld, to PennHighlands  Elk for a blood test.

A Pittsburgh truck driver escaped injury a little after 5:00 o’clock  Saturday morning when he fell asleep at the wheel of his 2023 Hino on the Toby Road in Horton Township. Damond Thomas was going north when he nodded off.

A criminal mischief on Commons Lane in Ridgway early Saturday morning is being investigated by troopers at the Ridgway barracks. Vandals punctured two tires on a 2010 Dodge Chrysler owned by a 37 year old Ridgway man.  Damage is estimated to be $500.

Statewide

Responding to Pennsylvania’s ranking as the state with the highest number of Lyme disease cases in the nation, Sen. Michele Brooks applauded the Senate’s passage of her legislation to help control the tick population, provide coverage for doctor-recommended Lyme disease treatment, and spread education and awareness of tickborne diseases.

“Senate Bill 1188 seeks to combat the long-term effects of Lyme and other tickborne diseases by promoting education and awareness among health care professionals, providing coverage for diagnostic testing and treatment, and improving public awareness about tick bite prevention practices that can reduce the incidence and prevalence of ticks in this Commonwealth,” Brooks said.

Additionally, this legislation requires the Department of Health to work with the Tick Research Lab of Pennsylvania at East Stroudsburg University to develop an electronic database for use by the Lab, the department, and health care professionals.  The database would include nonidentifiable patient information, including tick testing information, results, and zip code and county location of ticks tested at the Tick Lab; diagnostic testing information and results; and the surveillance criteria applied to determine the confirmed or suspected patient diagnosis from the attending health care professional.

In 2019, there were 6,763 confirmed and 2,235 probable Lyme disease cases reported in this Commonwealth, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  This is an incidence rate of 52.8 in 2019 and 62.3 over three years.  From 2000 to 2021, more than 110,000 Lyme disease cases have been confirmed in this Commonwealth, but since the CDC’s number only represents confirmed cases, the actual number of Lyme disease cases may be far higher.  These numbers continue to increase, and Pennsylvania is categorized as a “high incidence” area.