Keystone State News Connection

Emily Scott

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania has seen a lot more litter generated during the pandemic, and environmental advocates have launched a cleanup campaign this month to keep trash out of waterways.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the state Department of Environmental Protection, is asking volunteers to pick up garbage along streams, lakes and rivers, now through November 30.

It’s estimated more than 502 million items litter Pennsylvania roadways alone, and a good portion end up in waterways. Michelle Dunn, who coordinates the “Pick Up Pennsylvania” campaign, said trash can be hazardous, both to water quality and wildlife.

“With all these rainstorms we’re having, all the litter and even illegal dumping gets washed into the storm drains,” said Dunn. “That clogs the storm drains, flooding local areas. It can be blocking our creeks, which then causes flooding and eventually gets into our rivers and to the ocean, adding to the marine pollution.”

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 80% of the debris in the ocean started as trash on land. Pick Up Pennsylvania plans to kick off year-round litter clean-ups starting in January.

Due to the high costs of trash cleanup, Dunn says the DEP, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and PennDOT are preparing to release a state Litter Action Plan, focused on prevention, by the end of this month.

“Anything that you can keep out of the waterways is tremendous, and it doesn’t have to be this big fanfare of an event,” said Dunn. “It can be removing an illegal dumpsite. It can be educating students or just your family to not litter, to be conscious of what could be recycled.”

Trash bags and gloves will be provided to Pick Up Pennsylvania volunteers. There’s a schedule of upcoming cleanups by region on Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s calendar of events, along with infor

(File Photo) 

Story by Frank Sparks News/Program Director 

Monday, November 15, 2021 at 6:53 AM

(Perry Twp., Lawrence County, Pa.) Pa State Police are reporting that an unnamed 75-year-old man from Portersville suffered suspected minor injuries following a two car crash that occurred earlier this month on Route 488 in Perry Lawrence County.
Troopers said via release that the man was traveling on Route 488 in Perry Township just before 1pm on November 5th when he allegedly rear ended a mail delivery vehicle causing the man’s vehicle to rollover twice before coming to a final rest in the opposite lane of travel.
Troopers said in the release that the man suffered suspected minor injuries, but was not transported to a local hospital for treatment. He will be cited with a traffic violation.

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Friday, November 12, 2021 at 4:26 PM

Harrisburg, PA ­– Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Corporal Brian Rickard was charged today with crimes related to obtaining possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, forgery, tampering with records and evidence, theft, obstructing administration of law, and unlawful use of a computer. Charges were filed by the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards, Internal Affairs Division in conjunction with the Office of Attorney General.

Corporal Rickard is accused of stealing heroin from the Troop R, Honesdale evidence room, ingesting it while at work and home, and using work computers and programs to cover up the thefts.

The following felony and misdemeanor charges were filed in District Court 22-3-02:

• Obstructing administration of law or other governmental function
• Forgery-alter writing
• Tampering with records or identification
• Tampering with or fabricating physical evidence
• Theft by unlawful taking or disposition-movable property
• Criminal use of a communication facility
• Unlawful use of computer and other computer crimes
• Acquisition or obtaining possession of controlled substance by misrepresentation
• Use of, or possession with intent to use, drug paraphernalia

Corporal Rickard enlisted in the PSP in November 2003 and graduated as a member of the 115^th cadet class. He is assigned to the Troop R, Honesdale Criminal Investigation Unit as a supervisor. Corporal Rickard has been suspended without pay under the Governor’s Code of Conduct and the Confidence In Law Enforcement Act.