Pike County recognizes two 50-year voters; Penn State Extension highlights 4‑H, youth and financial-literacy programs

The Pike County Board of Commissioners recognized two county residents for voting in every November election for at least 50 consecutive years and heard program updates from Penn State Extension at the Sept. 3, 2025 meeting.

Elections staff presented certificates to honorees Joanne Rose and James Bonnard as part of the county’s voter hall of fame, which honors Pennsylvanians who have voted in every November election for at least 50 consecutive years. An elections official explained that mail-in ballots (Act 77, enacted in 2019) and the 2020 implementation of no-excuse mail voting have increased turnout in the county: the presentation cited municipal turnout rising from about 12% in 2017 to about 23% in 2021 for comparable cycles, as shown in the slides presented to commissioners.

Commissioners and a representative from Representative Olson’s office presented governor’s citations and other recognition materials to the two honorees. Light refreshments (coffee and donuts) were announced to follow the ceremony.

During the press-and-public portion of the meeting, Penn State Extension staff provided several program updates. Extension reported summer activities in 4‑H (including a craft camp and a STEM lab camp for grades 4–12), a first-responders club at DBHS that will meet monthly to teach CPR and emergency preparedness for students in grades 6–12, and a “Welcome to the Real World” train-the-trainer financial-literacy program for grades 8–12 that ties to upcoming school district requirements and offers Act 48 certification for instructors. The Extension also announced a November terrarium workshop hosted by Master Gardeners and a time-limited online promotion for an online marketing course bundle.

No formal votes were required for the recognitions or the Extension updates, which were presented during the public/press portion of the meeting.