Juniata updated on upcoming events

County Commissioners hear from Conservation District Manager Glace

MIFFLINTOWN -- Lori Glace, District Manager of the Juniata County Conservation District, spoke with the Juniata County Commissioners on Tuesday about "Celebrate Conservation District Week" and upcoming events and progress made for the county.

The department is hosting an Ag Service Agency Open House Tuesday from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at the Ag Services Building at 146 Stoney Creek Rd. in Mifflintown. During the event, members of the public will be given small sweet gum tree saplings to grow. The tree is native to the region.

Juniata County is one of Pennsylvania's top-producing agricultural counties and the department is vital in sharing helpful agricultural information with county residents. If farmers have questions regarding business with the United States Department of Agriculture, the Juniata County Conservation Department can answer questions and has regular information sessions regarding all aspects of agricultural land preservation.

The department is also active in partnerships with neighboring counties and conservation organizations such as the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in Maryland. The Juniata River is a main tributary to the Susquehanna River, flowing into the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

The Conservation District has a number of programs to help local landowners utilize their land through land practice workshops, information sessions and educational resources. Founded in 1957 as a subdivision of state and local government responsible for conservation work within the county, the program is actively seeking public input regarding many conservation projects. The department is seeking public input on why the Juniata River is important as a part of a Watershed Management Plan in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Alliance.

"We have been quite busy and we have recently received funding for flood control buffer zones, funding for preservation of low-volume roads and we have secured $1.9 million for our conservation district," Glace said.

The public can reach the Juniata County Conservation District at (717) 436-8953 or visit https://www.juniataccd.org/index.html.

MIke Hannon of the Tri-County Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission also spoke to the board to share information regarding program funding updates. Hannon has been active in both Juniata and Mifflin Counties in spreading awareness of the resources available to residents of both counties who may be dealing with addiction.

"If we can help anyone, we are here for them," Hannon said. "If anyone needs help getting access to Suboxone, a medication designed to eradicate Opioid addiction which is typically $70 over the counter at a pharmacy, we now have it in-house and we can help people who need it."

Tri-County Drug and Alcohol can be reached at (717) 242-1446.