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| The Barb Wire |
| #Listrak\DateStampLong# |
The latest news from the State Capitol |
Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Barb’s Update
We had a devastating fire in Carlisle this past weekend with many people displaced. Thanks to many fire companies, churches and the Red Cross, most people were able to find a safe landing place. I visited the Seven Gables management office last Sunday and offered expedited services to anyone who has lost their driver’s license, birth certificate, or state-related paperwork that needs to be replaced. I spoke to Carlisle Fire Chief Randy O’Donnell and thanked him, as no one died because of their quick actions, as well as the actions of mutual aid companies.
On Monday I interviewed an intern from Widener University who is working in Harrisburg and attended the House Appropriations Committee hearings on the state budget. On Tuesday, the Education Committee held a hearing on a recurring teacher shortage and options the state has for expanding the teaching pool. Later that day, I attended the Labor and Industry appropriations hearing and prepared for the next day’s joint Ag/Health hearing on bird flu. I am including a link to the hearing about the bird flu in this newsletter so you may watch it. I encourage your thoughts in either a web submission or to my House email, bgleim@pahousegop.com, if you have time.
Here is a link to the joint ag/health hearing.
The PA Department of Aging testified before the House Appropriations Committee Thursday, and I had multiple constituent meetings in the district office. I am including a photo of Dillon Strouse from the Newville area, who has been working with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and me to obtain a handicapped vehicle for his business. The process had been put on hold due to the availability of parts, inspection personnel, and paperwork, and we are happy to report the log jam has been lifted.
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Looking to Stock Fish in Your Private Pond or Stream?
The PA Aquaculture Advisory Council is alerting property owners who normally stock their private ponds or streams that last year’s drought caused significant trout inventory shortages across the eastern seaboard.
As a result, Pennsylvanians may end up having to look out of state to get their trout this year. The council is reminding them that in addition to filing a Notice of Stocking, written permission from the PA Fish and Boat Commission must be obtained before those out-of-state fish are stocked in the Commonwealth. Directions on both the Notice of Stocking and getting written permission can be found here.
It is important that residents perform due diligence, protect our waters and wildlife, and avoid introducing diseases and invasive species into our communities.
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Think Spring! Trout Stocking Schedule Available
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced its 2025 trout stocking schedule is now available online and on the FishBoatPA mobile app.
The PFBC will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 691 streams and 130 lakes open to public angling. Stocking is set to begin the week of Feb. 17 in advance of the statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day on Saturday, March 29, and the statewide opening day of trout season on Saturday, April 5.
The 2025 adult trout stocking schedule is searchable by county; lists the waterways in alphabetical order; and indicates stocking dates, meeting locations for volunteers and the species of trout that will be stocked at each location.
Click here for additional details about stocking or visit fishandboat.com.
Hard copies of the trout stocking guide will be available in my district office beginning next week. Please call my office at 717-249-1990 to make sure they are in stock before stopping in.
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Report Potholes to PennDOT
‘Tis the season for potholes on our roads and bridges.
To help combat potholes and prevent them from becoming a danger to vehicles and drivers, you can report potholes on state-owned roads to PennDOT. Simply call 1-800-FIX-ROAD or click here to file a report online.
Be prepared to provide specific information to help crews find the pothole, including the name of the county and municipality in which it is located, name of the road, and the closest intersection.
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Route 34 (Spring Road) Bridge Replacement, Middlesex Township
Replacement of the Route 34/Spring Road bridge which crosses Spring Run at the intersection of Route 944/Enola Road in Middlesex Township is scheduled to begin soon.
Weather permitting, work will begin next Tuesday, March 4. Work will initially involve replacing pipe on Routes 34 and 944. This work will be performed during daylight hours and will take about a week to complete. There will be lane restrictions under flagging during daylight hours.
Once the pipe work is completed, the bridge replacement will begin on or about Monday, March 10.
Traffic will be reduced to a single lane controlled by three-way temporary traffic signals located on either side of the structure and on Enola Road/Route 944. While cars can travel through the construction zone, a one-mile truck detour will be in place using Sheaffer Road and Wagner Drive. This traffic control will be in place for up to 165 days.
Access will be provided for businesses and dwellings within the project limits, unless otherwise prearranged with the property owner. Access to all side roads, alleys, and fire hydrants will also be maintained. The existing single span concrete slab bridge, which was built in 1921, will be replaced with a precast concrete box culvert.
This section of Spring Road averages more than 5,100 vehicles daily. All work is expected to be completed by Nov. 18, 2025. JVI Group, Inc., of York Springs is the contractor on this more than $1.4 million project.
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Sheriff’s Office Warns Residents of Federal Jury Duty and Warrant Phone Scam
The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office is alerting residents about an ongoing phone scam where callers state that warrants are out for the person’s arrest due to missing federal jury duty.
These scammers demand payment for alleged fines, insisting that payment be made over the phone by Venmo, PayPal or gift card. The callers tell residents that they are Cumberland County Sergeant Vioral, and the caller ID is 717-240-6390 (the main number for the sheriff’s office).
It's important to note that the office never requests payment for court-related fines over the phone and does not handle cases of failure to appear for jury duty. While the Cumberland County Court Administrators’ Office may contact residents regarding missed jury duty, they do not ask for payment in any form.
Residents are urged to use caution when receiving a call of this nature hang up and directly call 717-240-6390 if questioning the legitimacy of a call.
The sheriff’s office emphasizes that if residents receive one of these calls and have already sent money, please reach out to local law enforcement.
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FPR Update
During a budget hearing this week, Sen. Greg Rothman asked the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) about food processing residuals. DEP has not received any complaints from Cumberland County residents, according to the testimony, which you can view here.
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New U.S. Department of Education Resource for Parents
A public portal has been launched for parents, students, teachers and the broader community to submit reports of discrimination based on race or sex in public schools.
The U.S. Department of Education is committed to ensuring all students have access to meaningful learning free of divisive ideologies and indoctrination. This submission form is an outlet for students, parents, teachers, and the broader community to report illegal discriminatory practices at institutions of learning. The Department of Education will use community submissions to identify potential areas for investigation. You can find the website here.
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Commonwealth Job Fair
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House Scholarship Opportunity
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Carlisle Job Fair
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| Office Locations |
| District Office: 437 E North Street | Carlisle, PA 17013 | Phone: 717-249-1990 |
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| 427 Irvis Office Building | House Box 202199 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2199 | 717-772-2280 |
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