Local leaders, historians and residents gathered at the Bedford County Courthouse on Saturday to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the county they call home.
The event was considered the âgrand openingâ ceremony for the countyâs ongoing sestercentennial celebrations, which have been organized by those involved with the Bedford County Historical Society.
âIs there any place any more beautiful than Bedford County, Pennsylvania, today?â Commissioner Barry Dallara asked the crowd, which gathered under a clear sky with temperatures in the mid-60s.
The speakers at the event commented on the natural scenery of the county, but said the residents here are what make it a truly special place to live.
Bedford Countyâs new commissioner took the oath of office on Tuesday in front of a gathering of courthouse employees and representatives from different organizations he has worked with in the past.
Alan Frederick, of Rainsburg, was sworn in by President Judge Travis Livengood, who last week appointed him to fill the spot on the three-member board left vacant by the resignation of former Commissioner Josh Lang earlier this month.
County employees from most departments attended the ceremony. Frederick told the crowd heâs looking forward to âhonest cooperation and communication.â
âHonest communication is the way to keep this county moving forward,â he said.
The Bedford County commissioners on Friday announced the completion of a broadband expansion project that increases high-speed internet access into underserved portions of the county.
Crowsnest Broadband LLC of Woodbury installed broadband transmitters in five locations across the county. The project was funded through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act last year.
âWe wanted to be able to support first responders, businesses, nonprofits â various organizations,â Commissioner Josh Lang said. âThis is really just phase 1 of what weâre hopefully going to be able to expand as a county going forward.â
Crowsnest was award $184,000 in August to provide broadband to six areas of the county. Dwayne Zimmerman, owner of the company, said it was unable to install transmitters on the countyâs 911 tower in Saxton prior to the CARES Act Dec. 30 deadline because it did not pass a structural stability assessment to support additional d
Bedford Countyâs president judge expects to select a new county commissioner by the end of next week.
Mary Wilt, court administrator, said multiple residents have contacted Judge Travis Livengood about the soon-to-be vacant spot on the board of commissioners, and that the judge intends to fill the role by Feb. 12.
âJudge Livengood has received letters of interest from more than 15 people and has personally spoken to all of them,â Wilt said in an email. âHe is currently working through the candidates and plans to announce his decision by the end of next week.â
Commissioner Josh Lang, who has served as chairman of the board, on Jan. 5 announced that he would be resigning from the public office to take a new job as operations manager with the Hyndman-Bedford-Richland Family Health Centers. His last day with the county is on Friday.
Feb 3, 2021
Bedford County approved new contracts with increased wages for two of its employee unions on Tuesday.
The tentative agreements were with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, Council 83 (AFSCME) and SEIU (Service Employees International Union) Local 668/Pennsylvania Social Services Union.
Both deals span Jan. 1, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2023. Commissioner Josh Lang said the agreements concluded good negotiations with the workers.
âIt went pretty smoothly,â he said about the contract negotiations. âWe worked collectively and collaboratively to reach an agreement that was consistent with the overall comprehensive plan that was approved earlier in the month (January).â
The county in 2020 approved a three-year agreement with its other union, the Bedford County Court Related Employees Association, which represents more than 20 employees in the sheriff, prothonotary and register/recorder offices. Earlier this month its