Game Commission releases deer harvest estimates

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Happy birthday to Aidan M. Dyer!

<p>HARRISBURG &#8211; A resolution sponsored by Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-Butler Township, recognizing March as &#8220;Intellectual Disabilities Awareness Month&#8221; in Pennsylvania, was unanimously adopted by the House of Representatives.</p><p>During her floor remarks about House Resolution 706, Toohil acknowledged the important role of public awareness in improving the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities.</p><p>&#8220;More than 56,000 Pennsylvania residents with intellectual disabilities received services and support during the last fiscal year, which ensured them the opportunity to participate in the range of life experiences we all enjoy in our homes and communities,&#8221;Toohil said. &#8220;We also express our appreciation to all those Pennsylvanians who conduct special outreach, education and services, allowing residents with intellectual disabilities to live full and productive lives.</p><p>Members of the State Street Miracles, a performance troupe of adults with intellectual disabilities from Delaware County, were in the House chamber to witness the vote. The group also performed in the East Wing Rotunda.</p><p>An intellectual disability is not a mental illness, but a disorder that may be genetic, neurological or the result of a traumatic event characterized by a limitation in intelligence and adaptive skills. There are no known medical, social or educational cures for intellectual disabilities, although skills and functioning can be dramatically improved.</p><p><strong>State Department launches</strong></p><p><strong>voter education initiative</strong></p><p>HARRISBURG &#8212; Pennsylvania Department of State has launched a voter education initiative aimed at increasing participation in the electoral process.</p><p>&#8220;Everyone votesPA&#8221; will provide a web-based educational toolkit, as well as a series of in-person trainings at locations around the Commonwealth.</p><p>Secretary of State Pedro A. Cort&#233;s introduced the program during a press conference held at Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC). Also on hand were HACC President John J. &#8220;Ski&#8221; Sygielski, Susan Carty, president of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania; and Marian K. Schneider, Deputy Secretary for Elections and Administration.</p><p>&#8220;Everyone votesPA will guide Pennsylvania electors through all aspects of voting, from registration to the actual experience at the polling place,&#8221; Cort&#233;s said. &#8220;Our goal is simple &#8212; we want to increase voter registration and the number of eligible citizens who go to the polls.&#8221;</p><p>There are approximately 2 million eligible Pennsylvanians not registered to vote, according to U.S. Census and Department of State (DOS) statistics.</p><p>The Everyone votesPA material is aimed at the voting public, civic engagement groups and educational institutions. DOS is partnering with a variety of community groups, colleges and universities, and county library systems to distribute the voter toolkit.</p><p>Schneider said education is key to making voting more accessible to all.</p><p>&#8220;Already, we have greatly simplified the registration process through our online voter registration site,&#8221; Schneider said. &#8220;Now, we want to educate voters about their rights and exactly what they can expect when they go to the polls. The more the voter knows, the better the experience will be.&#8221;</p><p>The complete voter education toolkit, which includes a 2016 Voter Guide and &#8220;Top 5 Things Every Pennsylvania Voter Should Know for the 2016 Elections,&#8221; can be found at Everyone.votesPA.com. Also included are a welcome video by Secretary Cort&#233;s and a PowerPoint component.</p><p><strong>Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs</strong></p><p><strong>releases 2015 Problem Gambling Annual Report</strong></p><p>HARRISBURG &#8212; In concurrence with National Problem Gambling Awareness month, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) has announced the release of its 2015 Compulsive and Problem Gambling Annual Report.</p><p>The month of March has been designated nationally and in Pennsylvania as an opportunity to educate the public and healthcare professionals about the warning signs associated with problem gambling and to assist those seeking help for a gambling problem.</p><p>&#8220;Without intervention, problem gambling can progress to financial hardships, relationship problems, criminal activity and job loss,&#8221; said DDAP Secretary Gary Tennis. &#8220;Treatment is available and treatment with clinical integrity works.&#8221;</p><p>Pennsylvania&#8217;s Gambling Helpline &#8212; 1-877-565-2112 &#8212; received nearly 1,700 calls in fiscal year 2015 from individuals inquiring about help for gambling addiction. The helpline provides crisis counseling and referral services to individuals and their families who may be experiencing difficulty as a result of problem or compulsive gambling. The helpline employs professionally trained operators to take calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in a free and confidential manner.</p><p>Reasons prompting callers to call the helpline in 2015 included:</p><p>&#8226; Financial problems &#8212; 1,251</p><p>&#8226; Family problems &#8212; 388</p><p>&#8226; Marital problems &#8212; 270</p><p>&#8226; Slot machines (591) were identified as the most problematic type of gambling, followed by lottery/scratch-off tickets (161) and casinos (131).</p><p>Of those calling the helpline, 1,085 were referred to a treatment provider. Of those discharged from gambling addiction treatment, 58 percent reported they were no longer gambling and 9 percent reported they had reduced their gambling.</p><p>&#8220;For most, gambling is a form of harmless entertainment,&#8221; Tennis said. &#8220;For some, however, gambling can become compulsive and problematic and can be a devastating illness that negatively affects every aspect of their lives, including their family members and significant others.&#8221;</p><p>Warning signs of a gambling addiction include:</p><p>&#8226; Denying there is a problem</p><p>&#8226; Lying about where the money is going</p><p>&#8226; Borrowing money to gamble or pay off debts</p><p>&#8226; Missing work to gamble</p><p>&#8226; Losing touch with friends</p><p>&#8226; Looking for the &#8220;high&#8221; that comes from gambling</p><p>Most individuals with problem gambling answer yes to one of the following two questions:</p><p>&#8226; Have you ever had to lie to people important to you about how much you gambled?</p><p>&#8226; Have you ever felt the need to bet more and more money?</p><p>DDAP contracts with outpatient agencies and licensed professionals to provide gambling counseling services to those affected by compulsive and problem gambling. Calls can be answered in English, Spanish and more than 60 other languages. Additionally, no-cost training and case consultation is offered to clinicians seeking to enhance their skills in the treatment of compulsive and problem gambling.</p><p>To seek help or for more information about problem gambling, call the Pennsylvania Gambling Helpline at 1-877-565-2112 or visit the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs&#8217; website at http://www.paproblemgambling.com/.</p><p><strong>Mullery introduces legislation to prohibit drones</strong></p><p><strong>from interfering with outdoor sportsmen activities</strong></p><p>HARRISBURG &#8212; State Rep. Gerald Mullery, D-Newport Township, has introduced legislation that would prohibit individuals and organizations from using drones to interfere with lawful hunting, fishing and boating activities.</p><p>House Bill 1896 would make operating a drone a punishable offense when it intrudes on a person partaking in outdoor sports activities. It also would make it a punishable offense to use a drone that interferes with someone engaging in the lawful taking of wildlife or other permitted activities.</p><p>Mullery said while some drone operators claim they are operating them to spot illegal activities, many times, they are disrupting a law-abiding citizen&#8217;s leisure time, whether they are hunting, fishing or boating.</p><p>&#8220;The reality is that operating drones in this matter is becoming an overwhelming nuisance,&#8221; Mullery said. &#8220;Many of these folks enjoying the great outdoors of Pennsylvania are doing so legally and they shouldn&#8217;t be disturbed by someone using a drone who thinks there may be illegal activity going on.&#8221;</p><p>Mullery added several states have already enacted laws making it an offense to use a drone to interfere with hunting and fishing activities.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TOOHIL.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Toohil </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TOOHIL.jpg</photo0><caption0>Toohil </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Cortes.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Cortes </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Cortes.jpg</photo1><caption1>Cortes </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Secretary-Gary-Tennis-Portrain.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Tennis </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Secretary-Gary-Tennis-Portrain.jpg</photo2><caption2>Tennis </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Jerry-Mullery.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Mullery </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Jerry-Mullery.jpg</photo3><caption3>Mullery </caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div></div>
<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>

Capitol roundup: Toohil resolution raises awareness of residents with intellectual disabilities and their needs