Black Forest Broadcasting

 

Police warn of another scam….two people charged following altercation Sunday in Bloss Township…State to study rail transportation of hazardous materials…

Elk County

State police at Ridgway are advising Elk County resident of a scam going on in the area involving Camcast/Xfinity. Authorities are advising there is no Comcast/Xfinity service available in Elk County at this time. Troopers say no legitimate companies will not ask you to purchase gift cards for payment.

 

Tioga County

Both people involved in an argument Sunday morning at 18 Cypress Street in Bloss Township have been charged with physical harassment. State police at Mansfield claim 50 year old John Joseph Fox and 55 year old Constance Brooks are both charged in district court.

Statewide

Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35), chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee,  has announced his intentions to conduct a fact-finding public hearing on hazardous materials transported by rail in this Commonwealth.

On Feb. 3, Norfolk Southern was moving 150 train cars, including 20 cars carrying hazardous materials, that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, near the border of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. On Feb. 6, Norfolk Southern conducted a “controlled burn” of the train cars containing vinyl chloride, which created national attention on the safe transport and management of hazardous materials by rail.

The committee will hold a public hearing next Monday Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. at the State Capitol, North Office Building, Hearing Room 1 to collect factual information on rail safety. The public is invited to submit questions on the transportation of hazardous materials by railroads at the following website: SenatorLangerholc.com/rail-safety.

Pennsylvania ranks first in the nation with the highest number of operating railroads (65) and fifth in the total track mileage (more than 5,600 miles).

Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding released a statement on animal health concerns following the East Palestine train derailment:

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture veterinarians and Pennsylvania Animal Health Commission partners directly advised livestock and poultry owners and private veterinarians within 6.2 miles of the train derailment on safely housing, feeding, and caring for animals during and after the incident. Private veterinarians received instructions for toxicology testing should any of their clients report respiratory or other symptoms.

The department has received no reports of livestock, poultry, or other domestic animal health symptoms that could be attributed to air contaminants since the incident. The Department received two reports from private veterinarians treating horses affected by smoke immediately following the controlled burn and will continue to monitor the situation. Poultry, livestock and pet owners should contact their private veterinarians with concerns about unusual respiratory issues, or decreases in feeding, or egg or milk production.

The department is in continuous contact with Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the EPA regarding water quality and environmental sampling results, and will advise Pennsylvanians immediately should testing yield results that warrant additional precautions.