Mifflin County sees 53% election turnout
Officials address voting receipt errors
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LEWISTOWN -- Mifflin County recorded 53% voter turnout in Tuesday’s general election, and a software problem that produced incorrect times on some voter receipts didn’t affect ballot counts, Elections Director Paula Hoffman told county commissioners Thursday.
Hoffman said 90% of mail-in ballots were returned. She described the mail-in return rate as the highest she could recall during her time with the county.
The elections office was completing reports required by the state. Hoffman addressed concerns about the times printed on receipts at polling places.
A software update had not reached every electronic tablet, she said, causing some receipts to display incorrect times. The receipts confirm that voters received ballots, but the printed times don’t affect how votes are counted.
“If you put a ballot through the DS-200 at the polls, your vote was recorded,” Hoffman said.
She thanked election workers for processing mail-in ballots, saying the bulk of that work had been completed before an observer arrived at 12:30 p.m., although ballots received later in the day still had to be handled.
Employment coalition recognized
The Huntingdon-Mifflin-Juniata Employment Coalition received recognition for the Employer Engagement Champion Award associated with the 2026 Central Region Employment Symposium. The state’s Office of Developmental Programs and Office of Vocational Rehabilitation honored the coalition for its work with employers and workers with disabilities.
Coalition chair Lisa Miller, program specialist Bethlyn Corbin and coordination supervisor Stephanie Renninger attended the meeting.
Miller said the coalition emerged from a regional initiative in 2018 and separated into employment and housing groups the following year. This year’s recognition effort honored 73 employed people with disabilities and 41 employers across the three counties.
Among those recognized at an Oct. 22 event was a Lewistown Burger King employee with 17 years of service.
Children and Youth Agreements
The commissioners approved three purchase-of-service agreements for Children and Youth, covering services that can be used as needed from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
Administrator Nicole Patkalitsky said Bethesda Lutheran Services of Meadville offers residential and foster care with daily rates ranging from $170 to $560. Bethany Christian Services of Lancaster provides foster care at $75.94 to $220.49 per day, while Families United Network of Muncy charges $26.02 to $158.43 per day.
The agencies provide behavioral health services for dependent and delinquent youths. Patkalitsky said that Families United Network is the county’s most frequently used provider of the three for foster care and operates a Lewistown office.
County officials try to place children in foster homes within Mifflin County when possible, she said. The rates vary according to the level of care and services needed.
Infrastructure projects
The commissioners approved a $93,700 first and final payment application to Solid State Masonry for the Walnut Street Sidewalks Phase 3 project in Brown Township.
Grants liaison Madison Price said the contractor replaced deteriorated sidewalks. Payment remains conditional on submission and approval of required labor documentation under the Community Development Block Grant program.
The commissioners also approved a $2,826.38 change order for the Armagh Township Public Trail Improvement project, bringing its total cost to $656,908.17. Price said construction on the trail is complete and the change reflects a reconciliation of material quantities. Township officials and the project’s engineer had approved the adjustment.
The board then approved a $65,908.17 first and final payment application to Jay Fulkroad and Sons Inc., pending final documentation. Price said the payment would close out the remaining balance.
Other county business
Commissioners approved an agreement with Government Software Services Inc., estimated at $23,000, for the county’s real estate tax billing system. They also approved exoneration of 25 county per capita tax bills submitted by Menno Township Tax Collector Cheyna Lyter.
The commissioners proclaimed Nov. 15 Warrior Call Day, encouraging residents to reach out to veterans and service members, listen and help them remain connected to community support. The proclamation also emphasized the importance of preventing veteran suicide through personal connections and access to assistance.
The commissioners welcomed Cassidy Bumbaugh-Lucas, a new Penn State Extension county agent serving Mifflin and Huntingdon counties. A 2023 Wilson College graduate in animal science, she said she hopes to strengthen local relationships and develop programs based on residents’ interests. She began her new position in August and maintains an office in Huntingdon, dividing her time equally between the two counties.
In personnel matters, the board rehired Kevin Ulsh as a part-time corrections officer, effective Oct. 29, and promoted Jesse Miskolcze from part-time to full-time corrections officer, effective Nov. 8. Addison Lane was promoted from field assessor to deputy chief assessor, effective Nov. 9.
Commissioners also accepted the resignations of part-time corrections officer Tara Manbeck, effective Oct. 29, and Human Services employee Zashelle Florentina, effective Nov. 6.