New Law Affects PA Drivers

January 11, 2019

Slow Down to Get Around Law Now in Effect

An expansion of the state law designed to protect roadside workers is now in effect in Pennsylvania.

Act 83 of 2018 adds trash haulers to the list of vehicles, including stationary tow trucks, mail delivery vans and other vehicles involved in performing a roadside service, to those for which a driver must slow down when passing.

Drivers are required to move at least one lane away when possible or slow down and be ready to stop if they cannot.

This law is in addition to the “Steer Clear” law requiring drivers to move over when approaching an emergency response scene.

PA Farm Show Ends Saturday

There’s still time to stop by if you haven’t yet visited the largest indoor exposition of its kind along the East Coast.

The 103rd Farm Show will wrap up Saturday, after hundreds of thousands of visitors have walked through the doors at the Farm Show Complex near Harrisburg.

Learn more about the Pennsylvania Fam Show here.

Veterans Should Review Benefits

As the New Year starts, the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) suggests veterans review the benefits they have earned through their service.

Veterans should check with a veterans service officer to see if a change in their circumstances or in benefit policies could make them eligible for different programs.

Veterans are encouraged to apply for federal health care and state benefits by visiting their local county director of veterans affairs or area accredited service organizations. County directors can be found by clicking here.

DMVA officials stress that veterans and their dependents should never pay for help to apply for benefits. There are about 200 veterans service officers in Pennsylvania who work with organizations such as the DMVA, county veterans affairs offices, and several veterans service organizations available to provide assistance at no cost.

To get timely information about state benefits, programs and services, veterans are urged to sign up for DMVA’s Veterans Registry at register.dmva.pa.gov.

Happy 100th Birthday!

I presented a House citation this week to Thelma Arndt in celebration of her 100th birthday. Thelma was born in Shamokin on Jan. 9, 1919. She was married to William Raymond Gribbin in 1943. Their son, Keith Gribbin, was born in 1945. Thelma left Shamokin to live in Philadelphia for 55 years before moving to Tannersville in 2000. She is active in her community and independent. She lives by herself and drives herself to go shopping. She remains an active member of Reeder’s United Methodist Church. Happy birthday, Thelma!

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month

In recognition of January as Cervical Health Awareness Month, residents are reminded of the Commonwealth’s HealthyWoman Program, a free breast and cervical cancer early detection program for those who are not insured or whose insurance doesn’t cover the screenings.

Nearly 13,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, but the disease is virtually always preventable with vaccination and appropriate screening.

The most common form of cervical cancer starts with pre-cancerous changes that can be found and treated before they turn into cancer. The changes do not have symptoms but can be detected through regular screening.

Among the services offered are pelvic exams, Pap smears and follow-up diagnostic tests for an abnormal screening result. Cervical cancer screenings are recommended for women beginning at age 21.

For more information, call the HealthyWoman hotline at 1-800-215-7494 or click here.

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