City Lands Streetscape Grant; Thanks Good Samaritan

The Washington City Council breezed through their agenda meeting Monday night. Department reports highlighted discussion. Leading off, Police Chief Dan Rush publicly thanked Doug DeCosta for his efforts in helping return two kidnapped children to their home in Zanesville, Ohio last month. Rush explained how DeCosta recognized the vehicle and kids from an Amber Alert earlier in the day and contacted police to make sure no further harm was done. Rush reported that the man arrested for the kidnapping, Thomas Pritchard, is in jail awaiting a preliminary hearing. Council also received good news from Christy Rowing, Executive Director of the City of Washington Citywide Development Corporation. Rowing reported that the city was awarded a grant from the Pennsylvania State Local Share Accounts fund. The city will receive $99,000 to improve streetscape lighting. The lighting was found to be deficient during he Christmas Parade in 2022 when a lady temporarily lost contact with a young child and found it difficult to see much of anything due to dim lighting on city streets. Rowing expects to begin installation of updated and new light poles and lights in late summer.