Total virus PA cases near 15,000 but 76,719 have tested negative…..Virus results in early start of trout season….state senate approves bill to expand municipal services during pandemic….State police hold media conference about enforcement efforts…Potter County Commissioners will hold abbreviated meeting Thursday via phone…Mansfield state police investigate PFA violation….

Today’s Podcast:

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., April 7, that there are 1,579 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 14,559. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania now have cases of COVID-19. The department also reported 78 new deaths among positive cases, bringing the statewide total to 240.  All people are either in isolation at home or being treated at the hospital. There are 76,719 patients who have tested negative to date. County-specific information and a statewide map are available on the department’s website.

Pennsylvania anglers have gotten an early start to Trout Season. Effective 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), in consultation with the Office of the Governor, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) opened the statewide 2020 trout season.This measure allows properly licensed anglers and youth to begin fishing for and harvesting trout. All regulations, sizes, and creel limits apply.Anglers and boaters must abide by social distancing guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Governor Tom Wolf’s Stay-at-Home Order regarding COVID-19.  Anglers and boaters should limit travel by fishing close to home, cover their faces with a mask or other cloth covering, keep a distance of at least six feet from others (the length of arm with an outstretched fishing rod is a good guide), only go fishing with members of their families living in the same household, and never share fishing gear with others. If another angler is in an area you intended to fish, move on to another spot.Non-resident Pennsylvania fishing license holders should comply with the CDC Travel AdvisoryOpens In A New Window urging residents in several states, including New York and New Jersey, to refrain from non-essential domestic travel.The decision to open trout season immediately is intended to discourage concentrated gatherings of people that may have occurred on the traditional opening day, to minimize intrastate and interstate travel, and to reduce the threat of illegal poaching in waters that have already been stocked.PFBC staff will continue to stock trout throughout the spring, but not all waters have been stocked at this time. To further discourage group gatherings, a stocking schedule and list of waters that have been stocked will not be provided to the public this season. Anglers should also be aware that public access to some waters may be restricted by the landowner or local municipal government.Fishing and boating is permitted in Pennsylvania state parks and state forests, when social distancing guidelines are followed. DCNR is encouraging people to fish and conduct other outdoor recreation within 15 minutes of their homes. Anglers should note that state park facilities, including restrooms may be closed.Regardless of fishing location, anglers should bring a bag with them and carry out their trash.As a result of this action, a Mentored Youth Trout Day will not take place this season. The PFBC will honor all Voluntary Youth Fishing Licenses purchased in 2020 for all mentored youth fishing opportunities during the 2021 season.To participate in trout fishing, anglers must have a Pennsylvania fishing license and Trout/Salmon Permit, both of which may be purchased online using the FishBoatPA mobile app for smartphones, or at www.fishandboat.com. Those who do not have the ability to purchase online and are unable to visit a retail location may call (814) 359-5222 for purchasing assistance. Anglers may produce a digital copy of their license on their mobile device as proof of purchase. A signed, printed copy is not currently required to prove you own a valid license. If approached by a Waterways Conservation Officer in the field, an angler or boater may provide a digital image or receipt of their fishing license, and a digital receipt from their launch permit or boat registration. Anglers may still display their fishing license.

Practice Social Distancing While Fishing in accordance with direction provided by the Governor, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the CDC, the PFBC recommends that anglers practice social

Stay home if you do not feel well.

Cover your face with a mask or cloth covering

Practice social distancing by keeping at least 6 feet (the length of an outstretched standard fishing rod) between you and the nearest angler.

Avoid crowds. If you arrive at a fishing spot that is already occupied, find another location.

Keep children from wandering into the personal space of others.

Do not share fishing gear.

Do not carpool.

Buy your fishing license ·

Continue to follow CDC guidelines which include washing your hands or using hand sanitizer frequently,  and not touching your face.

If you are fishing at a state or local park, the restrooms may be closed. Use the bathroom before you visit or dispose of waste properly. Carry out your trash.

A video message containing social distancing recommendations while fishing can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/NUtaY260DDA

The State Senate has  approved emergency measures to help local governments respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency, according to Senator Joe Scarnati (R-25).

Senate Bill 841 would take a number of steps to ensure local governments can continue to operate during the coronavirus pandemic. The bill would:

• Allow local governments to provide greater flexibility on property tax deadlines.


• Permit local governments to conduct remote meetings.


• Give notaries emergency authorization to notarize documents remotely through the use of communications technology.

Under the bill, local governments would be authorized to extend deadlines for property tax discount rates to any date up until August 31. The legislation would also allow local governments to waive any fee or penalty for late payments of property taxes if paid in full by the end of the year. The provisions give local taxing bodies more flexibility to help local taxpayers who are struggling financially due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Senate Bill 841 also extends the ability of notaries to conduct business remotely in order to meet the needs of local governments and individuals. A notary public would still be required to confirm an individual’s identity and reasonably identify records, and an audio/visual recording of the notarial act and all related interactions would be required.

The legislation would allow members of local governments to participate in meetings and conduct other business remotely during the governor’s disaster declaration.

Additional time would also be allowed for businesses to contribute to educational scholarship programs in order to earn tax credits.

In addition to providing emergency provisions for local governments, the bill also reauthorizes the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, which is responsible for collecting and analyzing data about the cost and quality of health care in the state and making recommendations to reduce the cost of care.

The panel would be responsible for preparing a report on the effect of the COVID-19 disaster emergency on healthcare facilities, including expenses and lost revenue during the crisis to determine additional financial assistance.

Senate Bill 841 has been sent to the House of Representatives for a concurrence vote.

 An abbreviated business meeting of the Potter County Board of Commissioners will be held as scheduled at 11 am Thursday, April 9, 2020, to deal with essential county business. Public access will be available by telephone. Call 814-274-0844. When prompted, enter 114478#.To remain apprised of the county’s responses to the Coronavirus pandemic and related topics, please see updates being posted to today.pottercountypa.net

Black Forest Broadcasting  participated in a telephone conference yesterday with Lieutenant Colonel Scott Price, Deputy Commissioner of operations for the Pennsylvania State Police regarding the Commonwealth’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The discussion focused on the department’s commitment to public safety during the ongoing public health emergency. The colonel said that the department is focusing on educating businesses and the public about the restrictions “We don’t stop cars, simply to determine what someone’s reason for traveling might be, for example, during the course of law enforcement duties we encounter folks maybe as a result of a traffic crash or an investigation or a traffic stop, who are out traveling, we try to inform and we try to encourage.” As  time goes on now that we have that consistent basis and there’s a statewide order, we will be continuing to encourage compliance. But the intent is that if folks don’t comply, then we will begin issuing more cit