Standing Against Voting Record Letters
Many residents, including my wife, recently received letters in the mail from the Pennsylvania State Voter Report, listing their voting records, as well as the voting records of their neighbors and friends. Though these letters appear to be from an official state agency, they are not. These letters did not come from my office. Similar letters have been sent to residents of Indiana, Alaska and Pennsylvania in the past.
The letters recently sent to residents of Carbon County are nothing more than bullying tactics and have no place in our democracy. That is why I contacted the state Attorney General’s office to investigate this matter and see if any laws were broken.
To read my full statement on the letters, click here.
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Spotted Lanternfly Seminar a Success
Thanks to everyone who attended my seminar on the Spotted Lanternfly. This invasive insect has the potential to devastate the livelihoods of those in the agricultural industry. Early projections estimate the insect could destroy $18 billion worth of agricultural commodities like apples, grapes and hardwoods.
To learn more about what you can do to help combat this bug, click here.
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On the Air with Legislative Report
I recently visited the new Lehighton Outdoor Center and spoke with Operational President and Guide Jerry McAward and Assistant Vice President of the Northeast Region for the Carbon County Chamber and Economic Development Corporation, Alice Wanamaker. This two-story, state-of-the-art facility — complete with filtered water fountains, radiant floor heating and changing rooms with showers and touchless fixtures — is also home to Jim Thorpe River Adventures and the Northeast PA Kayak School. Click the above image to view the story.
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Happy Birthday, Florence!
It was my privilege to present Florence Wehr a citation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to mark her 100th birthday.
Florence is a life-long resident of Carbon County and a life-long Republican. She shared many wonderful stories with us during her party, including one about riding the switchback railroad between Summit Hill and Jim Thorpe when she was a young girl.
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Are You Owed Unclaimed Property?
The Pennsylvania Treasury Department is currently holding more than $3.2 billion in unclaimed property, with about one in 10 residents eligible to recoup that property.
Unclaimed property is any financial asset that has been left inactive by the owner for a period of three years or more. The most common kinds of unclaimed property include savings and checking accounts, uncashed checks, unclaimed insurance benefits and items abandoned in forgotten safe deposit boxes. The amounts can range from a few dollars to a few thousand dollars.
The Treasury is required to advertise the names and addresses of unclaimed property owners in their last known county of residence, but only if the property is valued in excess of $250. The names and addresses of unclaimed property owners appear in the newspaper only once per year, even though they may be owed multiple pieces of property. State officials are also cautioning individuals to be wary of services or “finders” that charge costly fees to help locate unclaimed property.
There is no need to pay a private service to submit a claim when there is a FREE and more effective way to conveniently determine if the state is holding some of your money.
To search Pennsylvania’s unclaimed property online database, go to the Treasury Department’s website, patreasury.gov, and follow the simple instructions. My offices can assist with obtaining the paperwork to file a claim, tracking a claim and resolving claim difficulties.
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Beltzville Park Study
I met with Department of Conservation and Natural Resources officials on Wednesday to discuss plans for a study of the local community and visitor experience at the 3,002-acre Beltzville State Park.
The study will be completed by Penn State and will include interviews with residents, as well as park goers. Drones will also be incorporated in the gathering of information. A series of public meetings will be held regarding this issue. For more information, please contact my office.
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Retaining Wall Repairs to Begin Next Week on US 209 in Carbon County
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 5 announced yesterday work to repair a retaining wall along US 209/Mauch Chunk Street in Mahoning Township, Carbon County is scheduled to begin this Monday. Learn more by reading the full news release here.
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