The propensity for Washington County Court of Common Pleas judges to allow criminal defendants to perform community service in lieu of paying fines and other penalties cost the state and
Counties May Team Up to Form Regional Health Department
Frustrated with the state health department and a “disjointed effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, seven counties in Pennsylvania are discussing forming their own regional health department.
May 10, 2021 •
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(TNS) - Washington County commissioners are leading the charge for the formation of a regional health department a move still in its early stages and sparked by challenges that needed to be met during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughan , who is spearheading the effort, leaders from seven counties Washington , Beaver , Butler , Lawrence , Greene , Fayette , and Westmoreland have met twice since February to discuss the next steps for the proposal of forming a regional health department. Leaders from the counties first met Feb. 23 and then again on April 19 , Ms. Vaughan said.
The Gov. Tom Wolf administration said Tuesday it will lift COVID-19 mitigation on Memorial Day with the exception of the face mask order.
The face mask requirements will be lifted once 70% of adults are vaccinated against the virus and according to future guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state Health Department said.
âWe continue to make significant progress in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19, and as more Pennsylvania adults get vaccinated and guidance from the CDC evolves, we can continue to move forward with our reopening efforts,â Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam said in a news release.
Diana Irey Vaughan knew Peg Wilson quite well and for quite a while. Irey Vaughan has been a Washington County commissioner since 1995, about the time Wilson became involved with the Greater Washington County Food Bank.
They worked together on a number of initiatives, and fostered a mutual respect that endures with the commissioners chair.
âPeg cared very deeply about her community,â Irey Vaughan said Thursday afternoon. âShe worked very hard in her mission to eliminate food insecurity and built a great number of partnerships.â
Margaret Jean Wilson, 91, board president of the Centerville-based food bank, died on Sunday at Premier Washington Health Center. She also was a longtime political figure, serving on state and county Democratic committees, including time on the latterâs executive board.