Submitted photo
Pictured are, from left, alternate Juniata County Dairy Princess Sandra Graybill, Juniata County Dairy Princess Jena Rissler and dairy board member Karen Rissler.

MIFFLINTOWN — Juniata County Dairy Princess Jena Rissler and her alternate Sandra Graybill were recognized as the Juniata County Commissioners’ proclaimed June as Dairy Month on Tuesday.

Rissler and Graybill shared that their duties as dairy princesses include educating young minds about the importance of including dairy in their diets. They visit area elementary schools to share dairy facts with students and set up an informative booth at the Juniata County Fair to encourage children and their parents to buy more dairy products.

“A princess will also visit the local grocery stores and hand customers $1 or $2 towards their purchase of milk, even non-dairy milk,” said Rissler.

In other business, the commissioners also received updates about Juniata County’s opioid settlement fund from Mike Hannon, executive director of the Juniata Valley Tri-County Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission.

Hannon said the commission plans to use the fund for its services.

“We are still using our funding for treatment, case management services, and prevention services in the schools,” said Hannon.

Hannon said the commission is looking into alternative harm-reduction activities but explained that he has no details to share at this time.

Hannon added that he and the commission’s deputy director will attend an opioid settlement conference from June 17 to 19 in Colorado. This conference will allow Hannon and his team to see what other states are doing with their funding and get some ideas.

The Juniata County Library Board of Trustees recommended Laurie Kepner to fill the vacant seat of outgoing board member Rob Digon. Laurie Kepner’s first term will begin June 1, 2026, and end June 1, 2029.

Commissioners approved ratifying a CDBG-IDIS check that was submitted by the Juniata County Planning and Community Development Department to C&R Directional Boring, LLC in the amount of $71,079.10.

Commissioners also accepted resignations from Macenzie Rohrer, part-time 911 telecommunicator, effective on May 21, 2026; and Myessiah Herrold, Juniata Children and Youth intake caseworker, effective as of June 5, 2026.