Submitted photo
Pictured are, from left, Allison Yocum, Penn State Extension’s new master gardener coordinator of Mifflin and Juniata County, and Jeff Hackenberg, client relationship manager.
MIFFLINTOWN — Penn State Extension’s Client Relationship Manager Jeff Hackenberg Tuesday introduced Juniata County Commissioners to the extension’s new master gardener coordinator of Mifflin and Juniata County, Allison Yocum.
Yocum joined the extension in September and has been busy ever since.
The master gardening program is a volunteer program that provides support to home gardeners through workshops, a garden information hotline, and other outreach events.
Yocum and her team of volunteers worked with kids at the Juniata County Library over the summer on five projects, including building birdhouses.
“We recently recognized two residents of Juniata County who volunteer with our program. One volunteer was recognized for 20 years of service. The other volunteer was recognized for five years and 500 hours of service,” said Yocum.
During the business portion of their meeting, commissioners approved a commercial lease agreement with Juniata County Children and Youth Services and LCM Ventures, LP.
The lease period runs from Nov. 1, 2025, to Jan. 31, 2026.
During a November meeting, Juniata County Commissioners approved a grant request for the UPMC Child Advocacy Center of Central Pa.
The child advocacy center serves Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Dauphin, Lebanon, Cumberland and Schuylkill counties.
The center provides forensic interviews, specialized medical care, and mental health services to children who have experienced sexual or physical abuse, neglect, or who have witnessed a violent crime.
Juniata County Children and Youth Services sought to establish this advocacy center in Juniata County to conduct interviews after abuse allegations, benefiting the district attorney, police, and families.
Bringing the center to the county allows those who need its services to travel shorter distances.
“Right now, when we have a child abuse report, the child (and) the family have to travel to Harrisburg or Bellefonte; often times transportation is an issue. And in some cases, staff provide the transportation themselves because the family can’t,” said Ashley Baxter, director of children and youth services.
After children and youth services secured grant funding, the organization secured a space to conduct interviews.
The center will soon open at 1717 William Penn Highway in Mifflintown.
Commissioners also:
• Approved the appointment of Bradley Kerstetter as a voting member of the SEDA-COG Metropolitan Planning Organization, to serve a four-year term ending Dec. 31, 2029;
• Approved the appointment of John Anstine to the Auxiliary Assessment Appeals Board;
• Approved Jessica Payne as an unpaid intern in the Juniata County Children and Youth Department as requested by Baxter, director of children and youth services;
• Ratified the payment of a hazardous material check in the amount of $32.17 to Wex Bank;
• Approved the November 2025 departmental reports for the sheriff’s office, treasurer’s office, tax assessment office, as well as the summary of collections report submitted by MDJ Powell’s office and the monthly report presented by the adult and juvenile probation office;
• Approved the professional services agreement between Juniata County 911 and Mission Critical Partners to provide geographic information systems support. The contract will be in effect until Dec. 31, 2026;
• Approved the tax exonerations for Milford Township, Susquehanna Township, Mifflintown Borough, and Walker Township;
• Approved the service contract between Juniata County and Knowbe4 for cybersecurity.
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