October 22 - 28, 2015

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Your Award-Winning News Source for the Upper Delaware River Valley Region Since 1975

Vol. 41 No. 43

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OCTOBER 22 - 28, 2015

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www.riverreporter.com

Wayne announces budget cut plans

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ote Counts

Dam breaches prompt official outrage By DAVID HULSE

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ONESDALE, PA — The Wayne County Commissioners on October 19 formalized the budget reduction plans they warned about earlier this month. According to their statement, “…Wayne County may be forced to reduce and/ or interrupt some of the social services the county provides to our community’s families by the end of December… During the next eight weeks, the county and its Human Services Agency (HSA) will be planning for a staged and systematic approach to what may become a considerable reduction and/or shutdown of some services in the event the [state] budget impasse is not resolved…. ” The announcement at the same time emphasized that reduced services will not impact those receiving services covered by the Commonwealth’s Medical Assistance (MA) programs, for whom the state has promised continuing services. “The county will begin announcements during the month of November of any services which may be delayed, reduced and/or curtailed during the month of December, 2015,” the statement continued, detailing problems that are likely to arise. “The Commonwealth’s budget impasse has sorely strained the resources of our county and our local community resources as we have struggled to maintain uninterrupted services to local residents who are most vulnerable…. “If the Commonwealth does not pass a

budget on or about December 1, 2015, so that funds may begin to flow to the county, the HSA will be unable to continue to provide some services to Commonwealth funded programs greatly used by so many, with such positive effects for the entire community. Service interruption will have a considerable impact, as all funding has the goal of helping people to remain independent, contributing members of our community, and keeping them out of more restrictive alternatives with higher costs, such as emergency rooms, physical and mental health hospitals, other institutions, and even prisons.” The Wayne statement called on the state to release state lottery funds, which have in past budget delays remained available to counties. “The county encourages interested parties to contact our governor and all state legislators to urge that (1) a budget compromise be reached; and (2) that, separate and distinct from the impasse negotiations, the lottery funds held and being accrued by the Commonwealth be authorized to be released to counties immediately.”

Political season in the Upper Delaware Valley

‘I’m no dam expert’ Taking the unusual step of speaking as a citizen during the commissioners’ October 15 public comment period, Chairman Brian Smith said, “I’m very upset about our lakes being drained—Miller Pond and White Oak are to be drained. I’d like to see some sort of accountability, not just saying that (dams) are impaired. We need Continued on page 3

NEWS: Vera Williams

CURRENTS: World-class

The community loses a beloved author

Chamber music at St. Andrews

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TRR photo by Fritz Mayer

A fresh crop of election signs has sprouted across the Upper Delaware Valley landscape.

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EGION — In Sullivan County, all nine legislators are up for election on November 3, and only one, county chair Scott Samuelson is unopposed this time around. Across the river in Pike County, two established Republican commissioners are

being challenged by two Democrats with strong ties to the community. In Honesdale, two female candidates are vying to become the next mayor of the borough. Election coverage begins on page six.

SPANNING 2 STATES, 4 COUNTIES, AND A RIVER THAT UNITES US

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The River Reporter


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October 22 - 28, 2015 by Stuart Communications - Issuu