Franklin County

After three months under new ownership, Gibble's snack products will disappear from store shelves, leaving millions of people without a household favorite that's been around since the Eisenhower administration. Gibble's potato chips and snacks have been produced in Franklin County since the late 1950s, with most of the production done at facilities off U.S. 11 south of Chambersburg.  “Gibble Foods is discontinuing the manufacturing of Gibble's snack products effective March 9, 2013.

Storms knock down trees in Franklin County CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Trees and other debris from a fast-moving line of tunderstorms blocked some lanes of travel Tuesday on Franklin County, Pa., roads, particularly in the hard-hit St. Thomas and Fort Loudon areas, according to 911 dispatchers. However, no roads in Franklin County were completely closed at 5:15 p.m., dispatchers said. St. Thomas Fire Department sent crews out evaluating problem spots, according to personnel on station.

Franklin County ballots for Pennsylvania's April 24 primary election are changing to reflect objections filed in court regarding candidates' nominating paperwork. Two county men will not appear on ballots as planned. Travis Schooley of Quincy Township, Pa., will not appear as a candidate for the Ninth District in the U.S. House of Representatives and James B. Taylor of Mercersburg, Pa., will not be listed as a candidate for the 33rd District in the Pennsylvania Senate. Both received challenges to their nominating petitions based on not having enough valid signatures from registered voters.

In Franklin County, Pa., flooding was reported south of King's Lane in Lemasters, Pa.

Commissioners pass resolution for fire cleanup, repairs The Franklin County (Pa.) Commissioners on Thursday passed an emergency resolution that will allow for repairs and cleanup following a May 17 fire in their building. Sparks from demolition of an adjacent building ignited the commissioners' office building at 14 N. Main St. The second-floor meeting room and two offices sustained “extensive water damage,” County Administrator John Hart said Thursday.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Franklin County, Pa., decreased two-tenths of a percentage point to 6.2 percent in March, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry announced Tuesday. Franklin County ranked sixth for the lowest unemployment rate among Pennsylvania's 67 counties. Neighboring Fulton County's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.9 percent. It ranked 54th among the counties. “Pennsylvania's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a point to 7.9 percent, while the nation's rate went down one-tenth of a point to 7.6 percent,” labor department analysis stated.

Most Franklin County, Pa., voters headed to the polls Tuesday will be making choices in local races, but voters from Montgomery and Warren townships also have referendum questions about allowing activities in their municipalities. In Warren Township, voters will be asked if they “favor the issuance of licenses to conduct small games of chance in the township.” In Montgomery Township, voters will be asked if they “favor the granting of liquor licenses for the sale of liquor in the township.” Each proposal would need more than half of responding voters to answer “yes” to pass, according to Franklin County Deputy Chief Clerk Jean Byers.

Franklin County Commissioner Robert L. "Bob" Thomas, who has been a commissioner since 1995, announced Friday that he will be able to continue serving in the post even as he undergoes treatment for the blood and bone marrow disease myelodysplastic syndrome. He made the announcement Friday in the commissioners meeting room, in the presence of his wife, Sherryl, daugthers Bobbie and Kelly, other family members, friends and fellow Commissioners David Keller and Bob Ziobrowski. Thomas said he will spend much of the next two to three months undergoing treatment, including a bone marrow transplant, at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

Franklin County (Pa.) Commissioner Robert L. Thomas, who has been a commissioner since 1995, announced Friday that he will be able to continue serving in the post even as he undergoes treatment for the blood and bone marrow disease myelodysplastic syndrome. Thomas, 58, made the announcement Friday in the commissioners meeting room, in the presence of his wife, Sherryl, daughters Bobbie and Kelly, other family members, friends and fellow Commissioners David Keller and Robert Ziobrowski.

Reading, Pa., man charged with rape is taken into custody WAYNESBORO, Pa. - A man charged with rape in Berks County, Pa., was taken into custody in Waynesboro on Tuesday morning, Waynesboro police said in a news release. Police said Keyen Darnell Camper, 29, of Reading, Pa., was arrested at 519 Pratt Court in Waynesboro. He is charged with rape, indecent assault and burglary by the Hamburg (Pa.) Police Department, the news release stated. Camper was incarcerated in the Franklin County (Pa.)

Three candidates are running for the open seat on the bench created by the retirement of Richard Walsh. Jeffrey S. Evans, Jerrold A. Sulcove and Jeremiah Zook are registered Republicans and residents of Franklin County, Pa. The winning candidates in the Republican and Democratic primary races May 21 will appear on the ballot in November. The winner in November will serve a 10-year term and earn an annual salary of $173,271, according to county officials. Registered Democrats and Republicans will be able to vote in the race since the candidates all cross-filed.

Elected representatives should lead by example To the editor: Franklin County Commissioners Bob Ziobrowski, Bob Thomas and David Keller, along with state Reps. Rob Kauffman and Todd Rock, and state Sen. Richard Alloway recently voiced their support for legislation that would eliminate the prevailing wage. These elected officials argue that taxpayer monies are wasted when Franklin County workers are paid a wage equal to wages earned by workers in other parts of the state.

Firefighters contained a mobile home fire to the property's kitchen Sunday afternoon. The Franklin Fire Department and a half-dozen other departments responded to 649 N. Franklin St., Lot 112, at 3:15 p.m., according to fire officials and the Franklin County (Pa.) Department of Emergency Services. The first crews to arrive saw fire coming out of one window in the single-wide trailer, Franklin Fire Chief Mark Trace said. Everyone was out of the home, although one of the residents tried to go back in, Trace said.

Thirteen and a half years ago, Brittney Mazie benefited from March of Dimes' services as she laid in a hospital incubator connected to an oxygen machine and heart monitor. Just 3 pounds when she was born, Brittney spent three months in Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Va., during what her mother called a “very scary” time. “In the hospital, March of Dimes contacted me to see if they could be of any help,” said Andrea Mazie, Brittney's mother. On Sunday, Brittney wanted to walk in the March of Dimes March for Babies fundraiser at Norlo Park to help babies in similar situations.

The Waynesboro Borough Council has established a tax abatement program designed to stimulate economic development. On Wednesday, the council approved a Local Economic Revitalization Tax Abatement (LERTA) program and a map of eligible commercial and industrial properties. The council's efforts mirror ones in neighboring Washington and Quincy townships. The Waynesboro Area School Board and Franklin County (Pa.) Commissioners will be asked to extend similar tax savings, officials said.

The Franklin County Democratic Committee will host a forum for the candidates running for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas on Thursday, May 9, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Shady Grove Community Center, 2700 Buchanan Trail East. The candidates are Jeff Evans, Jerrold Sulcove and Jeremiah Zook. All three are registered Republicans and have cross-filed, meaning they will appear on the Democratic and Republican ballots in the May 21 primary election. The judge of the Court of Common Pleas serves Franklin and Fulton counties.