GreeneSpeak

In honor of Veterans Day yesterday, Marjorie Howard sent in this photo of two eagles seen Nov. 4th near Rogersville, PA. Marjorie is the President of the Ralph K. Bell Bird Club of Greene County, PA

Looks like Judge Farley Toothman will not run in 2021 but he will finish his term, stepping down as president judge, and switching roles with Judge Dayich who will now be in that position. I have been hearing about his court shenanigans for years, particularly from the former DA. Why she or nobody else filed complaints before now is concerning. Toothman is an embarrassment to our county and an afront to anyone who voted for him. I suspect there will be numerous lawsuits from people whose cases came before Toothman and I don’t blame them but I wonder who will be paying for THAT??? Taxpayers of course. Intelligent debate is welcome here but keep it civil or you know what will happen.

C’mon out and support East Franklin Grange Soup Sale, 2-5 pm Sat, Oct 17th.

Greene County, PA, Sheriff Marcus Simms releases the Activity Report for September 2020 Civil Actions35 Civil Actions Attempted28 Civil Actions Served13... Real Estate/Personal Property1 Real Estate/Personal Property Attempts0 Real Estate/Personal Property Served0 Real Estate/Personal Property Posted0 Protection From Abuse13 PFA Attempts6 PFA Served10 PFA Violations0 License to Carry Concealed166 License to Sell Firearms0 License to Sell Precious Metals0 Warrants Served16 Outside Agency Assist15 (Local Police Dept., State, Probation/Parole/FBI) County Transports14 SCI Inmate Transports0 Special Details3 Traffic Stops65 ##

DEP FINES COLUMBIA GAS $156,000 FOR NUMEROUS VIOLATIONS IN RICHHILL TOWNSHIP GREENE COUNTY Oct. 7, 2020Pittsburgh, PA The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has executed a consent order (See link below) with Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC in settlement of violations that occurred during construction of its Leach Xpress gas pipeline in Richhill Township, Greene County. The agreement requires Columbia Gas Transmission to pay a civil penalty of $156,000... to the department and $1,126 in cost recovery to the Greene County Conservation District (GCCD). From June 6, 2017 to November 8, 2019, GCCD and/or DEP documented numerous violations on the site 28.3-acre site, including failure to: implement or maintain effective best management practices (BMPs) to minimize the potential for accelerated erosion and sedimentation at the site; implement the erosion and sedimentation plan of its permits; stabilize areas of earth disturbance; comply with permit terms and conditions; and perform work according to specifications in its permits. Erosion and sedimentation discharges from the site entered Dunkard Fork (a warm water protected use fishery) and an unnamed tributary to Enlow Fork (a trout stocked protected use fishery). Columbia Gas Transmission also allowed fill material from a slip to enter a wetland in the Wheeling Creek floodplain. Though Columbia Gas Transmission submitted responses and documentation of remedial actions it took andin one instancesubmitted a new permit application, some violations remained uncorrected. DEP issued two compliance orders to Columbia Gas Transmission. This COA outlines additional corrective actions required of Columbia Gas Transmission including a schedule for the work, which includes implementation of the restoration plan, monitoring of the impacted wetland for at least five years, submission of regular reports, and additional remedial measures as necessary to fully restore the wetland. Columbia Gas Transmission has agreed to pay a civil penalty totaling $156,000: $106,000 of which will go into the commonwealth’s Clean Water Fund and $50,000 will go into the Dam Safety and Encroachments Fund. Columbia Gas Transmission will remit $1,126 in cost recovery to the Greene County Conservation District. Details on the violations and remedial actions can be found in the COA. ##

This drug bust took place Oct. 1 in Washington Township, Greene County, PA. Thank you to Sheriff Marcus Simms and his deputies, well as District Attorney Dave Russo for their efforts. Read the full release below.