Emergency work
PennDOT secured emergency contracts with two firms Thursday, raising the number of emergency contracts in District 3 to seven.
One of the latest emergency flood-debris removal contracts involves five state bridges in Columbia County: at Route 487 in Catawissa Township, two bridges on Route 11 near the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds, one on Route 254 just south of Benton and on Route 42 at Catawissa, according to a department press release.
Work under this emergency contract is expected to start no later than Saturday.
Another emergency debris removal contract includes an additional 10 state bridges, including four in Columbia County - three on Central Road/Elk Grove Road, and on Double Track Bridge at Bloomsburg - and one in Northumberland County - Route 61 near Irish Valley Road, just south of Paxinos.
Next Monday, the district will open bids for emergency roadway repairs on Route 11 near the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds.
For more on PennDOT's flood-recovery efforts, visit www.dot.state.pa.us\district3.
Roads opened
PennDOT opened Route 11 in Bloomsburg Thursday afternoon.
The highway is now open on Market Street in Bloomsburg to the Roure 42 ramp to Catawissa near the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds.
Two roads in Northumberland County were reopened Thursday - SR 2002, Boyd Station Road in Rush Township, from Route 54 to the Montour County line., and SR 3024, Mahantango Creek Road, in Lower Mahanoy Township, from Route 147 to Malta Road.
Benefit planned
SHAMOKIN - A benefit yard sale will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in front of the Shamokin-Coal Township Public Library, 210 E. Independence St.
All proceeds will be donated to Central Susquehanna Opportunities Inc., which will be used locally toward flood-relief efforts.
Theresa Engelbrecht, Kulpmont, is organizing the yard sale, during which she'll sell toys, books, household items, odds and ends and more. Her sons will sell lemonade.
"We didn't get much damage like a lot of people did," Engelbrecht said of Kulpmont, while noting the damage caused by Tropical Storm Lee last week in the Shamokin, Coal Township and Bloomsburg areas.
"Watching the news and that, that's why I got involved. We're very privileged and I think I should do something. Since I don't have a lot of money to donate, the least I can do is a yard sale and give the money to them to help out," she said.
Gale Zalar, CSOs community action director, said CSO continues to collect donations at its offices inside the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center, Eighth and Arch streets, where emergency kits are also available.
She said the local chapter of the American Red Cross will continue to deliver hot food to serve to flood victims at Friendship Fire Company on Rock Street, along North Second Street, in Tharptown and in Ranshaw. The deliveries will be about noon and 4 p.m.
Collection planned
ELYSBURG - The Ralpho Raiders midget football team and cheerleaders will be collecting donations of cleaning supplies, bottled water, toiletries, clothing and the like to be donated to victims of last week's flooding.
Volunteers will be at the All Home Days Association's Arts/Craft Building on the All Home Days grounds from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, at which time donations can be dropped off and people affected by the storms can pick up what they need. The collection and distribution of goods will be held until donations run out. Some of the information regarding the collection published in Thursday's edition was incorrect.
For more information, call Sandy at 490-3276, Barb at 672-5067 or Audie at 898-6070.
Timely reminder
COAL TOWNSHIP - Coal Township Commissioner Gene Welsh issued a reminder to all township residents who experienced flood damage to make sure they fill out all forms at the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center.