Franklin County

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.

Franklin County's career and technology center will showcase the school's $14 million renovation and expansion during a day-long open house Saturday. The open house at the newly named CareerTech is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the school's campus on Loop Road. A full day of activities is on tap including tours of the school at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon. “I'm hoping that the public sees the value in what they have invested in in order to upgrade (our facilities) and move this school forward for the future,” said Keith Yohn, administrative director of CareerTech.

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.

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.

The following incidents were reported on Sunday by Franklin County (Pa.) Emergency Services: At 7:05 p.m., a traffic accident was reported in the 3000 block of Path Valley Road in Metal Township. At 9:15 p.m., a traffic accident was reported in the 700 block of Sollenberger Road in Hamilton Township.

Jesse Rotz and Ryan Richards are living the dream. The two Chambersburg friends, pals since grade school, have managed to parlay their passion for beer into a lucrative business. Since 2008 when the Roy-Pitz Brewing Co. at 140 N. Third St., sold its first keg, business has more than quadrupled for the 29-year-old entrepreneurs. What began five years ago as a small, manufacturing facility housed in what was once a hosiery plant off an obscure alley has emerged as a beer business that's all the buzz.

The Franklin County (Pa.) Commissioners have announced the hiring of Carrie Gray for the position of Franklin County assistant county administrator. Gray has been employed with the county for four years as the county's director of grants and operation management, according to a news release. Originally from Reisterstown, Md., Gray obtained her master's degree from Towson University in 2003. She worked for the University of Maryland School of Social Work and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she evaluated public policies and community-building initiatives, the news release stated.

Few contested races are anticipated in Franklin County, Pa., for the May 21 municipal primary election. Voters will be choosing nominees for judge positions, school boards, boards of township supervisors and borough councils. However, they do not have too many choices for those spots. In some school board races that have featured as many as 14 candidates in the past, there are four candidates for four open positions. The Waynesboro Area School Board, which often has featured aggressive campaigns, only has three candidates for four spots now that borough resident Erin Darrough has withdrawn.

Attempted theft of firearms from Pa. Wal-Mart Pennsylvania State Police said they were looking for two people who tried to steal firearms Thursday from the Guilford Township Wal-Mart in Franklin County. Troopers said the incident happened at about 7 a.m., when two males accidentally broke the glass on a gun case while they were attempting to steal firearms. Anyone with information may call state police at 717-264-5161.