(11/2022) Weikert to become next police chief

Carroll Valley Police Corporal Clifford Weikert was approved as qualified for the position of police chief following the November retirement of Chief Richard Hileman, Carroll Valley Borough Civil Service Commission deemed to the Borough Council October 11.

Hileman began his career with Carroll Valley as a patrol officer in 1992 and was named chief in 1997. Hileman has been noted for a commitment to public safety, initiating and teaching the Fairfield Area School District drug education program, and serving on multiple county boards.

Weikert joined the Carroll Valley Police Department in 2001 and has received numerous commendations for exemplary service and successful investigations, according to the borough website.

The Carroll Valley Police Department is also currently accepting applications for the position of patrol officer.

Community Media seeks finical aid

Raymond Gouker, founder of Community Media, a local non-profit broadcaster, asked the Carroll Valley council to consider donating 40% of the ‘franchise fees’ the borough receives for allowing cable to be strung in the county. Cable franchise fees were initially established to help local broadcast stations like community Media compete with big cable companies.

Community Media is a nonprofit PEG station, (public education and government) founded as Adams County Television in 1988 by Gouker. The nonprofit’s vision from the beginning has been to celebrate the people of Adams County and what they do as a community. "The goal was to take our neighbors that are doing awesome things in the community and give them a chance to be seen by all of Adams County and try to give them support," Gouker said.

In addition to current internship offerings, Community Media is currently working on new shows and programs including education curriculum for digital literacy. It also allows public use of their facilities he said. Community Media reaches thousands of homes in Adams County and has grown to telecast on two cable channels as well as live stream, and on-demand online. More information about Community Media can be found at communitymedia.net.

Property Lot discussion continues

During the council’s regular meeting Sept. 13, members declined a proposal of a lot swap made by Michael Capone and Mary Jo Vincent, who live at the west end of Friends Creek Trail.

Because no bridge carries the road over the creek, they rely solely on a concrete ford that becomes impassable when the water is high, they previously told the council.

In exchange for a borough-owned lot adjoining their property, the property owners had offered a lot they own nearby. Their 0.54-acre lot is at 66 Ranch Trail. The borough’s 0.64-acre lot is at 82 Toms Creek Trail.

Due to subsequent evidence pointing to the lots not being of equal value and hot public comment against the swap, the council chose instead to go forward to explore alternative methods to bring access to the property owners.

Although the council decided not to proceed with the lot exchange due to a speculative appraisal, Capone said the appraisal had been conducted as if a percolation test, (a process that measures the water absorption of soil), had been performed on the borough lot but the parcel had never been tested. If the lot cannot pass perc, then it would put the lots at the same appraisal value, he claimed.

The council granted Capone’s request to have the borough lot perk tested at his own expense. If the borough lot tests negatively, discussion for the lot swap could potentially be opened again.

Adams County Giving Spree Underway

Hosted By the Adams County Community Foundation, the Giving Spree is the county’s largest nonprofit fundraiser and provides donors opportunities to learn about and support local groups.

Thanks to a slew of dedicated community sponsors, nonprofits pay nothing to participate in the Giving Spree and only reap the benefits of local generosity.

"All participating nonprofits commit to using the money donated through the Giving Spree to serve the people of Adams County," according to Ralph Serpe, President and CEO of the Adams County Community Foundation.

The 2021 Giving Spree saw more than 90 nonprofits of all shapes and sizes participating including the Strawberry Hill Foundation and Fairfield Alumni Scholarship Fund and the trend of participating nonprofit continues in 2022, with more than 90 local organizations pursuing donations of generosity.

Last season, Strawberry Hill sought the community’s assistance in reaching its goal of $25,000 to champion nature and environmental education.

Giving Spree results will be announced in December.

More information about the Adams County Giving Spree can be found by calling 717-337-0060 or by visiting ACCFGivingSpree.org.

Preservation partners to plants trees

Strawberry Hill Foundation partnered with Gettysburg Green Gathering to host a Plant a Tree for Adams County at the nature preserve October 22.

Donations of $150 were accepted to sponsor a sugar maple tree. The tree planting will help replace the native trees that have been lost at the preserve over the years. Memorial plaques were also available for an additional $75.

Donations went toward offsetting costs of plantings and ongoing tree maintenance, and sponsors were welcomed to help with the plantings October 22.