Logging project halts hunting in local park
HILLER – When local hunters take to the woods Monday morning for the first day of antlered deer season, the Patsy Hillman (Brownsville-Luzerne) Park will be off limits this year because of the current tree removal project at the park. Park board member, Paul Pressey, informed the board at Tuesday’s meeting that a ban on all hunting should be in effect for the safety of the workers removing trees.
“There is to be no hunting at the park this year because of safety reasons for the workers,” said Frank Ricco, park board president. “‘No hunting’ signs are to be posted by week’s end to notify area hunters. This is purely a safety issue, we are just looking out for the workers.”
According to Pressey, the signs will be posted at all entrances of the park, as well as throughout the park.
Pressey also noted that Pennsylvania Game Commission officials will be patrolling the park during the deer hunting season and small game seasons. If anyone is caught hunting in the park by the game commission, fines can be levied against the individual(s), and their weapons can be confiscated.
Ricco said he hopes that everyone abides by the request of no hunting and that hunting at the park will resume next year.
Both Brownsville Borough and Luzerne Township, co-owners of the park, were in agreement on the hunting ban.
As for the logging project itself, Ricco says he is very satisfied Stump Creek Lumber Co., located in Punxsutawney, with the way the project is going.
Ricco added, “Park board members have been on the job site and the reports I have received are favorable.”
Elsewhere, the flag pole project on Flag Pole Hill has been completed by Justin Chuma of Republic. Chuma, a Boy Scout, needed to complete the project to become an Eagle Scout. The project consisted of Chuma resurfacing the concrete in which the flagpole was attached to, as well as the installation of new rollers to raise the flag, and the painting of the pole.
The park board also announced that they received a $5,000 dollar donation from Racer Productions, the promotion company that hosts the motorcross events at the park and a $1,000 dollar donation from Luzerne Township. The money from the grants will be used for general purposes.
Ricco indicated the donation from Racer Productions, hopes to be a good sign that motorcross races will return to the park next year. The promotion company had cancelled previously scheduled races this past year at the park for unspecified reasons.
In other news, the park board noted vandalism to the soccer field by four-wheelers and the concession stand was broken into at the baseball field, with damage.
The park board will call a reorganization meeting for February.