Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine have announced new targeted mitigation measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19.  In the past week, the number of COVID-19-attributable deaths has quadrupled, and the average daily case count is seven times higher than it was two months ago. The new measures include revamped school safety attestation, targeted business and gathering restrictions, and a new enforcement plan that includes liability protection for businesses enforcing the Secretary of Health’s strengthened mask-wearing order. The administration is also advising all Pennsylvanians to limit unnecessary travel and keep gatherings held in homes to members of the same household. 

A Reedsville woman is awaiting extradition back to Mifflin County.  Mifflin County Regional Police say 41-year-old Donna Jo Keller was reported missing on December 6th, 2019.  Police initiated a missing person investigation and Keller’s name was entered into the FBI’s NCIC database.  Authorities discovered Keller was to appear in Mifflin County Court in January 2020 on theft charges.  Possible threats against her led police to investigate a possible abduction.  After a credible tip and further investigation by a number of federal and state law enforcement agencies, Keller was taken into custody on Saturday (November 21st) in Saint Tammany Parish in Louisiana.  

Authorities say a Juniata County resident was the victim of another phone scam and attempted identity theft.  A Thompsontown woman received a call on November 18th from an unknown individual who said a vehicle full of cocaine had been found with her identification inside.  The caller requested personal and banking information.  Otherwise, the woman would be arrested.  No losses have been reported.  The incident is still under investigation. 

The Borough of Lewistown has modified the refuse schedule this week for Thanksgiving.  Thursday’s route will be picked up one day earlier – on Wednesday.  All other days remain the same.  Thursday’s recycling customers should hold materials until their next scheduled day on December 10th.