Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania resident asks Game Commission to send sharpshooters to cull deer

Published

1 year ago

January 26, 2025

Pennsylvania resident asks Game Commission to send sharpshooters to cull deer

Hawley Borough is a small town covering only six tenths of a square mile, surrounded by woods, nestled in a landscape like a bowl where two creeks and a river meet. It is home to 1,229 people, according to the 2020 Census, and an untold number of deer.

Most of the deer, however, are just passing through, stopping to munch here and there courtesy of residents’ shrubbery and gardens. Hudson Street resident Thomas Colbert, however, informed Hawley Borough Council on Jan. 8 that there is what appears to be a herd that is here to stay, and something needs to be done. He suggested deer culling.

Colbert contacted the Pennsylvania Game Commission to inquire about having certified sharpshooters come in and reduce the herd. After a long discussion, Borough Solicitor Christopher Weed said he would contact the Game Commission for information.

“To me there is a deer population in Hawley, they are eating everything, they are aggressive,” Colbert said, adding the deer make a mess defecating. “There are at least eight to 10 individuals that hang out right below Prospect Street, in the backyards there, that’s where they camp… All shrubs are eaten up to five feet.”

“I’d like the borough to do something about it,” Colbert said. He said the Game Commission referred him to the game warden, Kevin Moran. Colbert stated that Moran suggested looking at what the private communities of The Hideout and Wallenpaupack Lake Estates, in Wayne County, did about their deer problem.

“They cull their deer,” Colbert said, and shared what he learned about how to arrange it through the Game Commission. “He thought it was too small a problem to deal with,” Colbert said, of the game warden’s response.

Councilor Mike Dougherty asked, “To do what?”

“To shoot the deer,” Colbert replied.

“In town?!” Dougherty asked, incredulously.

Colbert stated that there is some expense involved, but it could be done. “If nothing else, I’d like to borough to complain to the Game Commission that the deer population is out of control. I’ve been there 30 years. I’d see three deer. Now I see eight, 10, sometimes up to 15,” Colbert said. “They are eating everything. I’ve seen them between the road and guard rail, cars are going by, sure enough they get hit. It’s a safety issue for drivers.”

Colbert added, “The deer learned they can be safe right in town and can keep multiplying.”

After the meeting, he commented that culling would be more humane than having the deer injured by a vehicle. He said that although they eat everything they can find, they don’t just leave but seem to stay put.

Police Chief Daniel Drake stated, “Unfortunately we see deer all the time, just moseying around.”

Colbert said he has tried fencing and spray. “You invest in all this greenery, and it just gets eaten by the deer,” he said. “I’ve talked to numerous people, and it’s a problem. These deer just raid their yards,” he continued. “I hoped that hunting season would take them down, but it didn’t really reduce the number at all.”

Weed commented, “My issue is with liability and the expense… I think there are those certain concerns and that balance between where we live in terms of wildlife on top of liability, etcetera.”

The solicitor noted that where they have culled deer, it also is meant to help the deer herd, who otherwise would not find enough to eat.

“I sympathize, because I know, they are eating my rhododendrons, that means they are coming right up to the porch,” councilor Elaine Herzog said. “[This] would be my concern, if we eliminate 10 deer this year, are 10 more going to come in?”

Weed said they need to hear from the Game Commission if there is enough room in Hawley to cull the deer. In larger communities, he said, the deer can be coaxed further away with bait.

“I don’t see much hope in changing it. I think it’s a problem that the Game Commission needs to be aware of. We have rights to be here too; animals are not the only ones,” Colbert said.

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.

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Pennsylvania

Quakertown police chief on leave after clash with student protesters

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7 minutes ago

February 28, 2026

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Quakertown police chief on leave after clash with student protesters

From Delco to Chesco and Montco to Bucks, what about life in Philly’s suburbs do you want WHYY News to cover? Let us know!

Quakertown Police Chief Scott McElree is on leave after he was seen on video placing a student in a chokehold during a high school walkout earlier this month.

Borough Solicitor Peter Nelson told 6abc and other outlets Friday that McElree, who also serves as the borough manager, is currently on workers’ compensation leave. A request for comment from Nelson was not immediately returned Saturday.

The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office is currently investigating the police department’s response to a student-led protest against the Trump administration federal enforcement actions on Feb. 20.

After more than 30 students walked out of Bucks County’s Quakertown Community High School, a violent confrontation with Quakertown officers saw at least five students arrested. The students have since been charged with aggravated assault, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Police claim that students threw snowballs at the responding officers on the scene and kicked their cars.

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 2 Day results for Feb. 27, 2026

Published

12 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

The Pennsylvania Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

11-18-39-43-67, Mega Ball: 23

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 2 numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

Day: 4-7, Wild: 5

Evening: 8-8, Wild: 0

Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

Day: 6-7-7, Wild: 5

Evening: 0-0-3, Wild: 0

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

Day: 7-2-1-4, Wild: 5

Evening: 5-7-3-1, Wild: 0

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

Day: 8-4-5-4-4, Wild: 5

Evening: 1-1-9-8-7, Wild: 0

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

04-14-16-20-38

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Treasure Hunt numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

02-04-08-13-30

Check Treasure Hunt payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Match 6 Lotto numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

10-12-23-31-33-46

Check Match 6 Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

03-04-13-28-42, Bonus: 02

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Sign the Ticket: Ensure your ticket has your signature, name, address and phone number on the back.
Prizes up to $600: Claim at any PA Lottery retailer or by mail: Pennsylvania Lottery, ATTN: CLAIMS, PO BOX 8671, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
Prizes from $600 to $2,500: Use a Claim Form to claim at a retailer or by mail: Pennsylvania Lottery, ATTN: CLAIMS, PO BOX 8671, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
Prizes over $2,500: Mail your signed ticket with a Claim Form or in person at a Lottery Area Office (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

Lottery Headquarters is currently not open to the public. Visit the PA Lottery website for other office locations near you.

When are the Pennsylvania Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 2, 3, 4, 5: 1:35 p.m. and 6:59 p.m. daily.
Cash4Life: 9 p.m. daily.
Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily
Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. daily.
Treasure Hunt: 1:35 p.m. daily.
Match 6 Lotto: 6:59 p.m. Monday and Thursday.
Powerball Double Play: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Pennsylvania editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Pennsylvania

Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania Helps Homeowners Protect Their Investment Across Generations » NCRC

Published

1 day ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania Helps Homeowners Protect Their Investment Across Generations » NCRC

For the past 17 years, the Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania (AHCOPA) has provided a range of programs designed to build wealth within low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities. AHCOPA provides services to approximately 3,000 people each year via their pre-purchase, post-purchase and mortgage prevention counseling programs.

When Kenneth Bigos joined AHCOPA as their Executive Director in 2013, he set out to expand the organization’s offerings beyond first-time homeownership counseling services. He identified estate planning as an urgent need for the region’s LMI communities as well.

A 2022 Consumer Reports survey found that 77% of Black and 82% of Hispanic Americans do not have a will in place, which is needed to ensure that their home investment continues to build generational wealth. Consequently, the state court steps in upon the owner’s passing to decide how assets will be distributed, with property not being able to be transferred to an heir until that lengthy process is complete. In Philadelphia alone, there are approximately 10,000 properties with titles that have not been legally settled.

In response to this, AHCOPA launched the Will Power program in 2022 by leveraging existing relationships with pro-bono lawyers in the creation of wills and trusts for community members. The program has created an opportunity to serve a larger portion of Philadelphia’s population.

While the first-time homebuyer program initially attracted people in their mid-30s, Will Power participants are generally in their late 60s, prompting AHCOPA to think about what housing support looks like across an individual’s lifetime.

“Elderly households are more vulnerable,” Bigos said. “To reach these homeowners, we had to develop relationships with trusted agencies, such as senior centers, churches and other institutions that we would not typically work with in our first-time homebuyer program.”

As a result of that work, AHCOPA marked a major milestone in October 2025: the signing of 1,000 wills. Thanks to the success of Will Power and the first-time homebuyer program, AHCOPA has solidified its reputation as the go-to financial advisor for working-class residents.

Looking ahead, they are planning to add a new program designed to support people beyond the initial purchase of their home, which will include coaching to help owners develop their financial literacy. This would encompass how to build savings to buy a first home and avoid foreclosure in the event of a crisis.

For Bigos, NCRC membership is key to ensuring the success of these programs, especially in terms of organizing at the federal, state and local levels advocating for continued funding.

“Engaging with decision makers is very important and being an NCRC member has helped facilitate those relationships,” Bigos said. “Their support has been very impactful.”

Jesse Rhodes is a Contributing Writer.

Photo courtesy of the AHCOPA team.

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