Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Proclamations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Centre County adopts proclamations for Peace Officers’ Memorial Day, Mental Health Awareness Month and EMS Week
Summary
The Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted three proclamations May 12 recognizing Peace Officers’ Memorial Day (May 15), Mental Health Awareness Month (May) and Emergency Medical Services Week (May 17–23); speakers highlighted memorial events, community mental health programming and EMS workforce strains.
Centre County’s Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted three ceremonial proclamations during its May 12 meeting in Bellefonte.
The Board proclaimed May 15, 2026, as “Peace Officers’ Memorial Day.” Sheriff Bryan Sampsel said the courthouse memorial event the next day at noon will honor 113 men and women who died in 2025 and 22 service canines. “The event will be attended by the DOC, the Honor Guard, Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement and will last about 45 minutes,” Sampsel said.
The Board also proclaimed May 2026 as “Mental Health Awareness Month.” Marisa Vicere of the Jana Marie Foundation described a Jamfest event at the MLK Plaza on May 16 and a wellness mobile that brings programming to rural communities. Vicere said the foundation and county partners have trained more than 40 county employees in mental health first aid and plan child mental health first aid training for Children and Youth Services staff by the end of May.
Proclamation 27 of 2026 declared May 17–23 Emergency Medical Services Week. Josh Fremberg, president of the Centre County Ambulance Association, told the Board that 13 EMS agencies in the county respond to more than 25,000 calls and said agencies face workforce shortages, rising call volume and funding challenges. Harold Mast of the Seven Mountains EMS Council thanked the Board for the recognition.
Each proclamation was adopted on motions moved by Commissioner Amber Concepcion and seconded by Commissioner Steven Dershem. The proclamations are ceremonial statements of recognition and do not enact policy.
The Board’s next scheduled public sessions were also listed in the meeting materials, including several Board of Elections meetings that CNET will livestream.
