(12/2023) Elected officials of Adams County often will affirm that Adams County is always number one. Then, with a smile, add, alphabetically. Yes, figuratively, we are number one, but in other respects we are literally number one. Adams County has the reputation for being the most accurate election office in the state of Pennsylvania. The ladies that operate the election and voter registration office take pride to maintain that distinction and their work shows it. The most recent election was no different. It was 100% accurate. The physical count of ballots that were received by mail plus those that were cast at the polls, exactly matched the vote counts and the unused ballots returned to the elections office. Added to accuracy is the secure transport of ballots to the elections office for counting. All ballot boxes were locked and sealed as they left the polls. The ballot boxes were also accompanied by a chain of custody document that must be signed when passed from one party (transporter) to another (receiver). This process is the security that verifies that the ballots were properly handled. The bottom line, not one ballot was lost or misplaced.

If you took notice, the three incumbent commissioners were removed from the Board Of Elections for this year’s election cycle. Running for commissioner disqualifies us from serving as the Board Of Elections, this being an obvious conflict of interest. We are replaced by a recommended board of elections that must be approved by the county’s President Judge. Political parties are represented on the replacement Board equal to the parties on the current Board of County Commissioners (two Republicans and one Democrat). You may then ask the question, "Why were the Democrat candidates listed first on the General Election ballot"? The party that is listed first on the General Election ballot is always the party of the present governor. The present Board of Commissioners will be returning to the board of elections for next year’s presidential election provided none of the commissioners decide to run for another elected office.

Another number 1 status of Adams County was recognized during a recent Veterans’ Benefits Program held at the World War II American Experience Museum. Douglas Etter, an official from the Lebanon VA Medical Center said the best county Veterans Office processing claims and assisting Veterans’ families in the Lebanon region is Adams County. Director Stan Clark and his assistant Sonny Freeman are "all business" putting forth what it takes to get claims processed. Their office is getting busier than it ever has been as a result of new benefits that address toxic exposure situations. Next year the Commissioners plan to add another staff person to handle the increase in claims. Without this new individual there would be an unmanageable backlog of applicants.

Also, to handle this increased volume, a newly constructed office will be showcased in the coming months. It will be on the first floor of the Adams County Courthouse in the former location of the Adams County Elections and Voter Registration Office. Veterans and their families need to know that Stan has been a dedicated and strong advocate to bring this need before the Commissioners.

Did you know Adams County has some of the best "pickers" north of the Mason Dixon Line? Our County Court Administrator Don Fennimore got a picker’s lead on furniture being left behind in a federal court building being vacated. If we provided the transport, we could have whatever we are able to use for county operations. Using our maintenance crew, we were able to acquire two large truck loads of wonderful quality furniture. Some of this lovely furniture is now on the second floor of the courthouse. The elevator lobby area is now surround with very attractive solid oak court room benches. Our maintenance crew gave the benches a new luster and a fresh look- making this a pick that even the American Pickers couldn’t beat!

The opportunity to make this project a success was timing. We never would have been able to manage the logistics of this endeavor had it not been for the public auction that emptied the old St. Francis School. With that building emptied of mostly unusable items we could receive and store the treasure from the federal courts. We have often referred to the St. Francis School as an asset in our portfolio of long-term investments; it may take time but is does pay dividends.

I hope all that take time to read this article will accept my recommendation to visit two wonderful museums during your holidays. Personally, experiencing the quality and content of these museums makes the recommendation easy. The two that I am referring to are Beyond the Battle and the World War II American Experience. We are so blessed to have these new venues conveying our local heritage.

Remember, December is one of the greatest months of the year to celebrate the joy of the Christmas season. And may you carry that joy throughout the whole year.