The government announced half of all adults in the U.S. have received at least one COVID-19 shot. This marks another milestone in the nation’s largest-ever vaccination campaign but leaving more work to do to convince skeptical Americans to roll up their sleeves. Almost 130 million people 18 or older have received at least one dose of a vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. Locally, Mifflin County is inching toward having 10,000 of its residents fully vaccinated, according to Friday’s data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The department shows there are 9,941 people fully vaccinated and another 3,787 partially vaccinated. In Juniata County, just over 4,200 people received both their shots, while 2,100 received one. There were 29 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Mifflin County on Friday and only six in Juniata.

Work begins today on the Route 22 resurfacing project. PennDOT announced the nearly 10 mile project spanning Route 22 from Penn Street to the Mifflin County line in Smithfield, Henderson and Brady Townships and Mill Creek Borough in Huntingdon County. Starting today, the contractor will begin drainage work under daylight flagging operations. Minor delays up to 10 minutes are possible. Motorists should plan accordingly and use caution in the work zone. All work on this $7 million project is expected to be completed by November. All work is weather dependent.

The second phase of a new COVID-19 relief grant is available in Juniata and Snyder Counties.  Grants range from $5,000 to $50,000 to help alleviate 2020 revenue losses due to the pandemic.  Funds are to be allocated before the program closes June 15th.  Juniata County businesses needing assistance should contact Planning & Community Development Director Brad Kerstetter at 717-436-7729.  For more information, contact SEDA-COG Grants Manager Betsy Lockwood at 570-522-7265, or elockwood@seda-cog.org.

The USDA has extended the Seamless Summer option through the end of the school year. Under this program, the Mifflin County School District food service operations can provide free meals to all children, under the age of 18, living in the district, but not attending one of the public schools. If you would like to sign your child up to receive these free meals, log on to the school district website. Under USDA extends seamless summer option there is a tab for you to order your weekly meals. Pick-up is every Monday at the Mifflin County Jr. High School from 3:30 to 4:30PM. If you have any questions, please call the food service office at 717-248-0148, ext. 2514.