Flood-prone Edwardsville shopping center receives big-ticket assessment reduction

G.A.R. Memorial Junior & Senior High School Honor Roll for the first marking period of the 2015/2016 achool year

<p>HARRISBURG<strong> &#8211;</strong> Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Kingston, and his staff will be available to assist qualifying residents of the 120th District who are applying for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program.</p><p>Eligible program participants can receive a rebate of up to $650 based on their rent or property taxes paid in 2014. The program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians who are 65 years or older, widows and widowers 50 years or older, and those 18 years or older with disabilities.</p><p>Eligibility income limits for homeowners are set at the following levels, excluding 50 percent of Social Security, Supplemental Security Income and Railroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits:</p><p>&#8226; $0 to $8,000, maximum $650 rebate (homeowners and renters).</p><p>&#8226; $8,001 to $15,000, maximum $500 rebate (homeowners and renters).</p><p>&#8226; $15,001 to $18,000, maximum $300 rebate (homeowners only).</p><p>&#8226; $18,001 to $35,000, maximum $250 rebate (homeowners only).</p><p>Kaufer reminded residents that they need not pay a private entity for assistance in filing the forms. Copies of the forms, as well as assistance with filing them, are available at Kaufer&#8217;s office at no cost. Applicants should be prepared to provide all the necessary income, property tax or rental information required to process claims quickly and accurately. Applications are due by June 30.</p><p>A member of Kaufer&#8217;s staff will be available during the following municipal tax collector hours:</p><p>&#8226; March 14, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Kingston Township Municipal Building; 2 to 4:30 p.m., Forty Fort Borough Building.</p><p>&#8226; March 15, 10 a.m. to noon, Wyoming Borough Building; 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Swoyersville Borough Building.</p><p>&#8226; March 16, 1 to 4 p.m., Kingston Township Municipal Building; 6 to 7 p.m., Courtdale Borough Building.</p><p>&#8226; March 17, 10 a.m. to noon, Kingston Borough Building; 6 to 8 p.m., Luzerne Borough Building.</p><p>&#8226; March 18, 2 to 4 p.m., Kingston Borough Building; 10 a.m. to noon, Swoyersville Borough Building.</p><p>&#8226; March 22, 6 to 8 p.m., Pringle Borough Building.</p><p>&#8226; March 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Edwardsville Borough Building.</p><p>The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is one of many initiatives supported by the Pennsylvania Lottery, which dedicates its proceeds to support programs for older Pennsylvanians. Since the program began in 1971, $5.6 billion has been paid to qualified applicants.</p><p>For more information about these outreaches, or any other state-related issue, contact Kaufer&#8217;s district office in Luzerne at 161 Main St., by calling 570-283-1001. Information can also be found online at RepKaufer.com or Facebook.com/RepKaufer.</p><p><strong>AG launches audit of PUC&#8217;s administration</strong></p><p><strong>of shale gas well impact fees under Act 13</strong></p><p>HARRISBURG<strong> &#8212;</strong> Auditor General Eugene DePasquale last week announced the start of a performance audit of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission&#8217;s administration of the collection and disbursement of the unconventional shale gas well impact fees provided for in Act 13 of 2012.</p><p>&#8220;In 2014 alone, shale gas well impact fees totaling more than $223 million were distributed to counties and municipalities for projects and programs to improve the quality of life for their residents and reduce the local tax burden,&#8221; DePasquale said. &#8220;It has been several years since these fees were implemented, so now is an appropriate time to do this audit to ensure this money is being monitored by the PUC and the counties and municipalities are using the funds as Act 13 intended.&#8221;</p><p>Under Act 13, counties may impose an impact fee on unconventional gas wells started in a shale formation, employing hydraulic fracturing methods and producing more than 90,000 cubic feet per day.</p><p>Counties and municipalities may use the impact fees for a variety of initiatives, including affordable housing projects; roadway and bridge maintenance and repair; water, storm water and sewer maintenance, repair and construction; delivery of social services; local tax reduction; emergency preparedness; local planning; and assistance to county conservation districts.</p><p>The audit period begins Feb. 14, 2012, and focuses on three initial objectives:</p><p>&#8226; Determining whether the PUC has accurately calculated and distributed the unconventional gas well fees in accordance with Act 13 of 2012;</p><p>&#8226; Determining if all required reports have been filed by the counties and municipalities and appropriately processed by the PUC; and</p><p>&#8226; Determining if the counties and municipalities have properly used the unconventional gas well fees.</p><p><strong>Motorcyclists encouraged to take</strong></p><p><strong>free courses, start riding season safely</strong></p><p>HARRISBURG<strong> &#8212;</strong> With the prediction of an early spring and warmer weather ahead, PennDOT recommends free motorcycle training through the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program as part of a rider&#8217;s preparation for the 2016 riding season.</p><p>Free courses for novice through seasoned riders are offered at 76 statewide locations to Pennsylvania residents who have a motorcycle learner&#8217;s permit or motorcycle license. All training courses are conducted on a riding range, under the supervision of certified instructors.</p><p>&#8220;As with any skill, it is important to practice and refine riding techniques from time to time. Riders of all skill levels can benefit from the valuable skills and safety lessons learned through Pennsylvania&#8217;s free motorcycle safety classes,&#8221; said PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards. &#8220;The short amount of time spent in training translates into many safe miles of riding by helping riders sharpen reflexes and hone the split-second decision making required to safely operate a motorcycle.&#8221;</p><p>&#8226; The <strong>15-hour Basic Rider Course</strong>, consisting of five hours of in-class instruction and 10 hours of practical riding, provides valuable training for new riders and gives experienced riders the opportunity to polish their skills and correct any unsafe riding habits they may have developed. Students taking the BRC are provided with a motorcycle and helmet; however, students are responsible for providing all other protective gear. Act 84 of 2012 put into place the requirement that all permit holders under the age of 18 successfully complete the BRC in order to receive their motorcycle license.</p><p>&#8226; The <strong>6-hour Basic Rider Course</strong> <strong>2</strong> allows skilled riders to refresh their safety knowledge and hone their on-road skills. Licensed riders taking the BRC2 are permitted to carry a passenger while practicing balance and steering techniques in a controlled environment. Students taking the BRC2 must provide their own motorcycle and protective gear.</p><p>&#8226; The<strong> Advanced Rider Course</strong>, a one-day training session modeled after a military training course, offers licensed motorcyclists a chance to enhance their safety skills through a minimum of 3.5 hours of classroom instruction and 4.5 hours of practical riding experience designed to enhance riding attitude and awareness. Participants in the advanced course are required to use their own motorcycle.</p><p>&#8226; The <strong>3-Wheeled Motorcycle Basic Rider Course </strong>is a 12-hour course comprised of four hours of classroom instruction and eight hours of practical riding. Students must provide their own three-wheeled motorcycle and protective gear.</p><p>Motorcycle learner&#8217;s permit holders who successfully complete the BRC, BRC2 or the 3WBRC will be issued a motorcycle license. Those who successfully pass their skills test on a three-wheeled motorcycle will be issued a motorcycle license with a &#8220;9&#8221; restriction, meaning they are prohibited from operating a two-wheeled motorcycle.</p><p>For more information or to enroll in a course, visit www.pamsp.com or call 1-800-845-9533. Potential riders who want a convenient way to study for their knowledge test can download the PA Motorcycle Practice Test app by visiting www.pa.gov and searching the mobile apps for the Pennsylvania Motorcycle License Practice Test.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Kaufer </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Kaufer.jpg</photo0><caption0>Kaufer </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_DePasquale.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">DePasquale </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_DePasquale.jpg</photo1><caption1>DePasquale </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_PennDOT-3.jpg">
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Assistance offered with 2015 property tax/rent rebate forms across 120th District