The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today adopted changes impacting the agency’s license-issuing agent program.

The Game Commission recently evaluated that program, partly because changes in how licenses are sold significantly have impacted issuing agents via reduced license sales opportunities and increased business costs. The goal of the assessment was to find ways to decrease costs and requirements for those license-selling partners.

That’s resulted in several changes.

When deputy state game wardens find individuals in possession of controlled substances or drug paraphernalia on state game lands, they can file the appropriate charges.

But on properties enrolled in the Hunter Access Program – private lands where the Game Commission works with landowners to allow public hunting – deputies don’t have the same authority to enforce drug violations. Instead, a deputy must request assistance from a state game warden or police, and when those options aren’t available in a timely fashion, the violations might go unaddressed.

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today took a step to change that, giving preliminary approval to a regulation that extends the drug-enforcement authority deputies now have on game lands to Hunter Access properties, too. The measure is slated to be brought back to the January meeting for a final vote.

State game wardens and deputies report they are encountering more drug violations on Hunter Access properties than ever before.

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today added substantially to the state game lands system, with three deals especially noteworthy.

First, the commissioners approved an oil and gas agreement with Pennsylvania General Energy Co. (PGE). PGE will extract oil and gas from beneath a portion of State Game Lands 75 in Brown and Pine townships, Lycoming County, using existing infrastructure so that there’s no net increase in surface disturbance.

In exchange, PGE will convey to the Game Commission 2,195 acres in Spring Creek Township, Warren County, known as the Spring Creek Tract, and 943 acres in East Taylor and Croyle townships, Cambria County, known as the South Fork Tract.

The Spring Creek Tract is considered one of the most prized in the area because of its biological diversity. It will become an entirely new game lands, State Game Lands 337.

The South Fork Tract will become part of State Game Lands 79.

Second, the commissioners approved another oil and gas agreement with PGE allowing it to extract oil and gas from beneath a portion of State Game Lands 134 in Gamble and Plunketts Creek townships, Lycoming County, and Hillsgrove Township, Sullivan County, provided it confines all of its equipment to one right of way.

In exchange, PGE will convey to the Game Commission 3,931 acres in Jay Township, Elk County – the heart of the elk range – for what will become State Game Lands 338. PGE will also make a $500,000 contribution to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for use in creating elk habitat in cooperation with the Game Commission.

Clearfield, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the following schedule of maintenance activities in McKean County the week of September 18. PennDOT performs year-round maintenance in its mission to provide a safe, efficient transportation system, and the scope of work in McKean County for the coming week is as follows:

D9Sports.com

1h  · 9-16-23 at 12:12 PM

UPDATE ON MASON MARTIN

We really appreciate the concern for Mason and we are not bothered when people ask about his condition or if there are any changes. It’s difficult to update regularly because things change daily and sometimes even hourly.

Last Saturday evening Mason’s cranial pressure increased rapidly and Doctors had to intervene to basically save his life. They believed this was caused by respiratory issues which they addressed through medication. The next day his sodium levels became dangerously elevated. They again battled through and got his levels back down to a safe level. This took about 24 hours for it to lower so it was another intense day.

Monday was pretty calm as he was heavily medicated. Tuesday started out well but turned very quickly. Mason had an aggressive coughing spell. Afterwards everything seemed okay. Instead of just walking out of his room his nurse stopped and stared at his monitor. I don’t know what made her stop, maybe her instincts or a feeling she had (yes, she is that good), but that action saved him. She yelled, “he’s in V-Tech” and took off running to alert everyone. Now it was the nursing staff’s turn to save his life. Within seconds they were in here doing their superhero stuff and saved him. Shortly after all his vitals returned to normal.

By the next morning he was in such a good spot they started removing most of his meds. His body started self-regulating and his vitals were the best they’ve ever been. He started reacting to light well in both eyes and Wednesday through Friday were very encouraging days.

Today, only one eye is reacting to light and it’s not reacting as well as it previously was, but his purposeful movements in his arms seem pretty good.

As you can see, almost every day is different. There is no linear path or set timeline for injuries like this. We said we would be honest with the community and this is what our weeks look like. To respond to such a simple question of “How’s he doing?” is difficult to answer. As always we are so thankful for the support and prayers. He is fighting like crazy and there’s not an ounce of giving up in him. Please keep fighting for him! Thanks.

Jeremiah 29:11

Clearfield, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the following schedule of maintenance activities in Potter County the week of September 18. PennDOT performs year-round maintenance in its mission to provide a safe, efficient transportation system, and the scope of work in Potter County for the coming week is as follows: