(7/2021) Adams County received notification from WellSpan that the Adams County Community Vaccination Center at the Adams County Department of Emergency Services will be ceasing operations on July 1st due to the decrease in demand. Vaccinations will still be available at Gettysburg Hospital, other WellSpan locations and at other vaccination participants.

The Board would again like to applaud the collaboration between Adams County and WellSpan to make the Adams County Community Vaccination Center timely, efficient, and convenient. We have heard nothing but positive comments regarding the venue and the service provided. Special recognition goes out to DES Director Warren Bladen, Adams County Manager Steve Nevada, Solicitor Molly Mudd, the Adams County Security Department, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, and Building/Maintenance for their key roles in facilitating and managing this critical community facility.

The Board thanks WellSpan for this community partnership that greatly benefited many residents of Adams County! If you haven’t been vaccinated - please consider getting vaccinated! For vaccination information contact WellSpan at www.mywellspan.org or by calling The WellSpan COVID Hotline at 855-851-3641.

Until recently, to enter county facilitates an appointment was required along with a temperature scan and mask. This policy has changed. Following CDC protocol, applicable to both staff and public, persons that have been vaccinated are not required to wear a mask. Persons that have not been vaccinated are still required to wear a mask. Temperature checks for public and staff have ceased. Signage indicates this policy to visitors entering the building.

Appointments are no longer required to visit county offices - with the exceptions being the District Attorney and the Sheriff’s Office. Public viewing of court proceedings is still limited to virtual viewing at the Human Services Building by contacting the Court Administrator at 717-337-9846 at least 24 hours prior to the hearing.

The May 18th Primary Election is in the books and we are happy to report the process in Adams County was generally seamless. The total voter turnout was 28.68% from a registered voter pool of 70,268. Absentee/Mail-in ballots applied for and mailed out was 6,371 and the total returned was 5,049. Unlike the much larger Presidential General Election, the Elections office, supplemented by other county staff, was able to process all ballots on election day. A shout out to our Elections Staff for their extra effort put in to assure the election went smoothly.

We are always looking for assistance at the polls. This is a great opportunity to see your friends and neighbors while serving your community. Anyone wishing to serve our community and run for a Judge of Elections, or sign up as a poll worker, are urged to contact the Adams County Voter Registration & Elections office at 717-337-9832.

In late May, the Adams County Board of Commissioners cut the ribbon for the Mercy House Recovery Center. Mercy House is located on High Street in Gettysburg beside St Francis Church. The building includes a walk-in center on the 1st floor and residential housing for 7 males approved for the treatment program. The center will be administered by The Rase Project who have a commendable track record with similar centers in York, Lancaster, Harrisburg, and Carlisle.

Mercy House has been an outstanding collaboration between The Adams County Board of Commissioners, York/Adams MHIDD Health Joinder, community organizations and individuals that made this vision possible. To take a county owned, vacated and deteriorating building, and re-purpose it for a significant community benefit is very gratifying. To largely accomplish this with grant funding, and funding from community organizations and individuals, is a tribute to this cause and the vision and generosity of our community. The Mercy House project and The Adams County Law Enforcement Firearms Training Range are two public/private projects our community can be very proud of accomplishing.

The Board has already begun to examine properties for a female version. It is anticipated that the female facility will be entirely residential as the walk-in center already exits at Mercy House.

COVID has certainly enhanced and illustrated the benefits of electronic communications. The Adams County Information Technology Department is in the process of working with Court Administration on the development and deployment of new courtroom technology. A trial of new technology was initially put into the Human Services Building Courtroom so that thorough testing could be completed. After multiple years of testing, a determination has been made to extend this technology into all Common Plea’s courtrooms located at the Courthouse.

The new technology will include digital recording, video conferencing, and audio system upgrades. With the modernized technology in place, the Courtrooms will have further capabilities that would otherwise not be available. The goal of the effort is to leverage the technology to provide a courtroom that is capable of meeting the standards of our current time while increasing efficiency and safety.

At the May 5th Commissioners Public Meeting, our Corrections Employees were recognized on Corrections Employee Week - May 2-8. The Board was honored to recognize our corrections staff for their contributions to Adams County with a proclamation and remarks by Warden Katy Hileman.

Adams County has several departments that are deemed essential - including corrections. A career in Corrections provides excellent benefits and competitive wages with advancement opportunities. The Board, HR, and Prison Administration has been discussing both proven and new methodologies for recruiting corrections officers. Apply online at www.adamscounty.us or call Adams County Human Resources at 717-337-9822.

Summer has finally arrived, and we are hopefully putting COVID in our rear-view mirror. Adams County Farmers markets are bursting with fresh produce with corn, peaches, and apples on the way. The Majestic Theater, Totem Pole Playhouse and Gettysburg Community Theater have turned the lights back on. There will be a Civil War Reenactment/Living History at The Daniel Lady Farm on July 3-4, Bike Week is back from July 8-11, and there will be July 4th celebrations at the Gettysburg Rec Park & Carroll Valley Community Park, with food trucks, music, and fireworks.

No matter what you do, get out there and experience all the historic, recreational, agricultural, natural, and cultural opportunities that beautiful Adams County has to offer.