Franklin County

Pennsylvania State Police said they were looking for two people who tried to steal firearms Thursday from the Guilford Township Walmart 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.

Franklin County residents are losing ground on some very important health-related issues, according to a study released by Summit Health Thursday. Summit Health, in cooperation with the Penn State Institute of State and Regional Affairs, released the results of its 2012 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) of Franklin County and Shippensburg, Pa., at Green Grove Gardens near Greencastle. After wading through a sea of data over the course of a year, Summit's 30-member advisory group pinpointed four priorities - education, nutrition, access to health care and mental health.

Grants to teachers in Franklin County public schools will be awarded to encourage the innovative use of technology in kindergarten through 12th grade. The Greater Chambersburg Chamber Foundation, an affiliate of the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce, is offering the Innovative Technology Challenge Grants to educators in all six school districts. The deadline for applications is June 28. Applicants will be evaluated based on three key criteria: innovation, value added to curriculum and advanced academics.

Pa. Senate passes legislation that would allow counties to eliminate position of jury commissioner HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Pennsylvania Senate approved legislation Thursday that would allow most Pennsylvania counties to eliminate the position of jury commissioner, according to a news release from state Sen. Richard Alloway II, R-Franklin/Adams/York. Senate Bill 808 would allow county commissioners to eliminate the position by passing a resolution by a majority vote.

A Chambersburg woman accused of sending text messages about her then-4-year-old stepson's deteriorating medical condition, but not taking him to a doctor, testified in court Thursday. Michele Renae Hunter, 28, is charged with aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, simple assault and conspiracy. She told a Franklin County (Pa.) Court of Common Pleas judge that she was “depressed” and “spaced out” when she gave statements to police in March 2011. “I was not functioning at all,” Hunter said.

A bill sponsored by state Sen. Richard Alloway II, R-Franklin/Adams/York, is under consideration by the Pennsylvania Senate after clearing a committee last week. The Pennsylvania Senate's local government committee approved Senate Bill 744, which would give counties greater control over the makeup and responsibilities of local row offices such as prothonotary. Under current law, counties advancing from the fifth class to the fourth class based on population gains are mandated to increase their number of elected row offices.

“Road Work Ahead” signs are popping up around Franklin County, Pa., slowing traffic and fraying nerves. “There are a number of projects that start in the late summer or early fall and resume in the spring for final paving,” said Mike Crochunis, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. A lot of the preparations, such as excavation and pipe work, can be done over the winter until the spring, when more favorable temperatures allow milling and resurfacing to be done.

4-H Annual Calf Sale - The 38th annual Franklin County (Pa.) 4-H Calf Sale will be held Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Cumberland Valley Antique Engine Show Grounds in Chambersburg, Pa., at 7 p.m. Twenty-five lots of calves and embryo packages will be auctioned off along with other supplies donated by local agribusinesses. Proceeds from the sale help support the 4-H Dairy Clubs. Native Plants Program - On Saturday at 1 p.m., the Cumberland Woodland Owners Association is sponsoring a “Native Plants” program at Spring Haven Nurseries, 1362 Mountain Road in Newburg, Pa. The nursery specializes in native woodland plants and shade perennials grown in propagation beds or in the gardens there.

Pa. lawmakers do not support our local schools To the editor: If Franklin County residents like paying higher property taxes so that our communities' children can go to school in crowded classrooms with fewer and fewer educational opportunities, they have elected the perfect governor and state lawmakers. If Franklin County residents want their school tax dollars to be spent on expensive advertising, political lobbying, seven-figure CEO salaries and shareholder profits for cyber charter school management companies instead of being used to educate children, they have elected the perfect governor and state lawmakers.

Chambersburg police are investigating a report of shots fired Saturday at a South Second Street home. Bullet impact marks were found on a concrete retaining wall in front of the residence in the 600 block, police said in a news release. Police said the incident appeared to be a drive-by shooting, and a potential victim was checked by emergency medical technicians, who found the man had no visible injuries. Shell casings were collected from the scene, police said. Anyone with information about the incident may call police at 717-264-4131 or Franklin County (Pa.)