Lawrence to get vaccine in November

By Mary Grzebieniak

NEW CASTLE, Pa – Lawrence County commissioners learned that the H1N1, or “swine flu,” vaccine won’t be available in the county until early to mid-November.

Commissioners met Tuesday at Wilmington Area High School, part of their effort to move their meetings to various parts of the county.

Brian Melcer, Lawrence County’s director of public safety, said there have been 23 cases of H1N1 so far this year in Lawrence County. But Stacy Kriedeman, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Health, said later Tuesday that the state is trying to get away from counting because so many cases are not reported.

Melcer assured commissioners that the county has a pandemic plan that was developed several years ago and that his office is working with the Pennsylvania Department of Health to identify locations for vaccine clinics as well as with schools to make the vaccine available in the schools at parents’ request.

Also Tuesday, Commission Chairman Steve Craig warned that for some county departments that receive state funding, the new state budget will be a “catastrophe.”

He said commissioners still have not received word on what 2009-10 revenue will be from all state agencies. He warned that the county will not be able to make up revenue cuts that may be experienced by local departments but added that he has heard of cuts ranging from 50 percent to 100 percent

Commissioner Rick DeBlasio commented that the state-income projections also assume $200 million in revenues from gaming tables, although this income is not certain.

Also Tuesday, Commissioners hired John Carran as Fiscal Officer II for the Lawrence County Mental Health/Retardation office at $37,944. Carran has been working in the position on a contract basis, and his salary is slightly less than what he was making on contract, officials said.

They also hired Danielle MacDonald as part-time records-keeper position at the Lawrence County Jail at $11 per hour with a 3 percent cut imposed for the remainder of 2009. She will receive no benefits. The position was recently created to replace a full-time position.

Commissioners will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Enon Valley’s Masonic Lodge on Pa. Route 551 in Little Beaver Township.