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Some Ephrata residents complain about odor | Here's what's causing it

Some Ephrata residents complain about odor | Here's what's causing it
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    CUSTODY, WHO POLICE HAVE ALSO CHARGED IN CONNECTION TO THE SHOOTING. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. IT’S 430 ON THIS TUESDAY MORNING. I’M MATT BARCARO I’M CAITLIN SMITH, JOINED BY CHIEF METEOROLOGIST CHRISTINE FERREIRA. IT IS AN IMPACT DAY. IMPACT DAY TODAY FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF STORMS. LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT WE HAVE THIS MORNING. WE ARE GETTING JUST DONE WITH THIS LAST ROUND FROM LAST NIGHT. NOTHING SEVERE ON THE RADAR RIGHT NOW. JUST SOME RAIN LIFTING TO THE NORTH, SOME POCKETS OF HEAVY RAIN IN THERE AND MAINLY LIFTING ALONG 83 FROM YORK COUNTY INTO DAUPHIN COUNTY AND THEN NORTHWARD TOWARD UNION, SNYDER, NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTIES. THAT’S WHERE THE MOST CONCENTRATED RAIN IS. TEMPERATURES NOT TOO BAD. WE’RE IN THE 60S AGAIN IN MOST SPOTS, FEW 50S OUT THERE, AND YOU’LL NOTICE IT STILL FEELS STICKY, BUT DEW POINTS WILL DROP TO THE 50S LATER TODAY, SO NOT QUITE AS HUMID AS YESTERDAY. I THINK IT WILL BE RELATIVELY QUIET AFTER SHOWERS END THIS MORNING. THEN WE’LL SEE SOME PEEKS OF SUNSHINE. WE’LL GET UP TO 72 FOR OUR HIGH WITH ANOTHER ROUND OF SOME SHOWERS THUNDERSTORMS FIRING UP THIS AFTERNOON. WE’LL TALK MORE ABOUT THOSE IMPACTS COMING UP. THANKS, CHRISTINE. THIS MORNING, CREWS SPENT SEVERAL HOURS CLEANING UP THE MESS LEFT BEHIND AFTER A TRACTOR TRAILER CRASHED ON I-81 SOUTH IN CARLISLE. STATE POLICE TELL US THE CRASH HAPPENED JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT NEAR THE HIGH STREET EXIT. THE DRIVER WAS NOT HURT AND NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED. STATE POLICE SAY THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT WAS ON THAT TRACTOR TRAILER, BUT SAY NOTHING HAZARDOUS SPILLED ON THE ROAD. IT DID CAUSE A CLOSURE THOUGH, FOR HOURS. IN FACT, THAT ROAD JUST REOPENED AT THIS HOUR. TODAY, ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA ARE GOING TO THE STATE CAPITOL FOR WHAT THEY’RE CALLING ADVOCACY DAY. PHYSICIANS, FAMILY GROUPS, TEACHERS, AND SEVERAL OTHERS RALLYING IN HOPES OF INFLUENCING LEGISLATORS TO PASS BILLS THAT WOULD BENEFIT THEM. THE GROUP PA NEEDS TEACHERS WANTS TO SEE MORE STUDENT TEACHER STIPENDS AWARDED TO ASPIRING TEACHERS TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE TEACHER SHORTAGE WE’RE SEEING IN THE STATE, AND REDUCE THE TURNOVER RATE IN TEACHERS. THEY’RE ASKING FOR AN INVESTMENT OF 50 TO $55 MILLION OF RECURRING MONEY FOR THE STUDENT TEACHER STIPEND PROGRAM IN 2023, GOVERNOR SHAPIRO SIGNED A LAW THAT GIVES $20 MILLION TO STUDENT TEACHERS EACH YEAR. ALSO AT THE CAPITOL TODAY, MATERNAL CARE GROUPS WILL BE ADVOCATING FOR THE FAMILY CARE ACT. THAT BILL WOULD PROVIDE PARENTS AND GUARDIANS WITH NEWBORNS. ALSO, CAREGIVERS, PREGNANT WOMEN AND VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC OR SEXUAL ASSAULT. 12 TO 20 WEEKS OF PAID LEAVE. THE MATERNITY CARE COALITION SAYS PASSING THAT LAW WOULD HELP GIVE FAMILIES FINANCIAL SUPPORT WHILE THEY CAN FOCUS ON THEIR WELL-BEING. THERE WILL BE A NEWS CONFERENCE AT 3:00 TODAY AT THE CAPITOL ROTUNDA. THIS ISN’T JUST ABOUT TODAY. IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT HUNDREDS OF UNION MEMBERS FROM ALL ACROSS THE STATE COMING TO HARRISBURG ONE DAY. THIS IS REALLY A, YOU KNOW, WEEKS LONG, CONCERTED CAMPAIGN TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE’RE TIRED OF WAITING. AND THIS IS THE YEAR THAT WAS THE MESSAGE FROM ORGANIZERS WITH THE SEIU UNION. THEY ADVOCATED FOR AN INCREASE TO THE STATE’S MINIMUM WAGE. THEY’RE ASKING FOR LAWMAKERS TO RAISE IT FROM 7.25 AN HOUR TO $15 PER HOUR. THE GROUP SAYS THAT INCREASE NOT ONLY FAIR TO THE WORKERS, BUT WOULD ALSO HELP ADDRESS THE STATE’S POPULATION DECLINE AND RAISE TAX REVENUE. A PENNSYLVANIA REPRESENTATIVE IS INTRODUCING A BILL TO CRACK DOWN ON SHOPS SELLING VAPES TO. CHILDREN. AHMED BROWN, A DEMOCRAT FROM PHILLY, INTRODUCED WHAT’S CALLED THE CLEAR ACT. IT WOULD FINE ANY BUSINESS THAT SELLS A VAPE TO A CHILD $5,000 AND ALSO REVOKE THAT BUSINESS’S CIGARETTE LICENSE AFTER A THIRD OFFENSE. THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS 16% OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DO VAPE. A STATE HOUSE COMMITTEE HAS ADVANCED A BILL THAT WOULD CREATE A SYSTEM TO LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN PENNSYLVANIA FOR ADULTS. THE BILL WOULD ALSO ALLOW CANNABIS TO BE SOLD OUT OF A STATE RUN STORE, LIKE THE WAY LIQUOR AND WINE HAVE BEEN SOLD IN PENNSYLVANIA. NOW HEADS TO THE CHAMBER FLOOR FOR POTENTIAL VOTE BY THE FULL HOUSE. DAUPHIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER GEORGE HARTWICK, CHARGED WITH DUI IN A COUNTY VEHICLE LAST MONTH, SAYS HE HAS NO PLANS TO RESIGN. HARTWICK RETURNED TO THE OFFICE YESTERDAY. NOW HE HAS BEEN STRIPPED OF HIS OVERSIGHT OF COUNTY DEPARTMENTS. IN THE WEEKS FOLLOWING THAT CRASH, AND ALSO HAD HIS DRIVING PRIVILEGES OF COUNTY VEHICLES REVOKED. HARTWICK’S STATUS AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL MEANS HE CANNOT BE FIRED FROM COUNTY GOVERNMENT, BUT COULD BE REMOVED IF STATE LAWMAKERS OR LEADERS TAKE ACTION TO DO SO. NEWS EIGHT TALKED WITH HARTWICK ABOUT HIS PLANS TO CONTINUE WORKING. I’M NOT GOING ANYWHERE. IT’S REALLY GOOD TO BE BACK AND REENGAGE WITH OUR COUNTY STAFF. THEY’VE WORKED TIRELESSLY AND I’M BACK TO DO WHAT THE TAXPAYERS AND THOSE VOTERS IN DAUPHIN COUNTY HAVE ELECTED ME TO DO, WHICH IS DIG IN AND PROVIDE A HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT THEY’VE COME ACCUSTOMED TO AND TO SUPPORT OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE BUSTING THEIR --. WE’VE GOT A LOT OF CHALLENGES WE FACE, AND IT’S TIME TO GET BACK TO WORK. DURING THAT INTERVIEW, HE DECLINED TO TALK ABOUT THE CRASH OR WHERE HE HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST MONTH, BUT HE DID PROMISE THAT HE WOULD HAVE MORE TO SAY IN A STATEMENT AT TOMORROW’S COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING IN YORK COUNTY IN HANOVER. SEVERAL RESIDENTS AND THOSE STAYING AT THE HANOVER HOTEL WERE EVACUATED AFTER AN UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL FIRE AND GAS LEAK THAT HAPPENED ON BALTIMORE STREET. YORK COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES SAYS THE SMELL OF GAS WAS REPORTED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. FIRE CHIEF JOSEPH WAUSAUKEE SAYS HIS CREWS NEEDED TO WORK QUICKLY TO MAKE THE SITUATION AND MAKE SURE IT DID NOT ESCALATE. WORST CASE SCENARIO FOR A GAS LEAK IS SIGNIFICANT. IT’S ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS THINGS THAT WE CAN GET INTO AND THANKFULLY, TODAY’S WAS RESOLVED WITHOUT AN ISSUE. NO ONE WAS HURT, AND THE CAUSE OF BOTH THE GAS LEAK AND THE FIRE, THOUGH STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, A CAR DEALERSHIP IN SHIPPENSBURG IS CLEANING UP SMOKE DAMAGE AFTER A FIRE THERE. THE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF SHIVELY MOTORS TELLS US THAT FIRE STARTED AROUND 8:00 SUNDAY NIGHT IN A BUILDING NEXT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE ATTACHED SHOWROOM, WHICH HOUSES A CLASSIC CAR MUSEUM, DOES HAVE SMOKE DAMAGE. THE GENERAL MANAGER SAYS THAT SMOKE GOT TO ABOUT 35 CLASSIC CARS THAT WILL NEED TO BE CLEANED. THE STATE POLICE FIRE MARSHAL IS INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THAT FIRE. WE ARE LEARNING SOME NEW INFORMATION ON THE DEATH OF A WOMAN WHO WAS FOUND ON A ROAD IN LITITZ. POLICE SAY MAGNOLIA WINNINGHAM, WHO WAS 43 YEARS OLD, WAS FOUND UNRESPONSIVE EARLY SUNDAY MORNING WITH HER SKATEBOARD ON THE ROAD NEAR LAUREL AVENUE AND EAST FOURTH AVENUE. THE CORONER SAYS SHE DIED OF MULTIPLE TRAUMATIC INJURIES. HOW THAT HAPPENED, THOUGH, IS STILL PENDING. HARRISBURG POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A MAN. THIS IS IN CONNECTION TO A HOMICIDE FROM LAST MONTH. 22 YEAR OLD TARIQ COLEMAN IS CHARGED WITH MURDER IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF 26 YEAR OLD OMAR WILSON JUNIOR. THIS IS AT NORTH FOURTH AND MAIN STREETS ON APRIL 14TH. POLICE SAY 23 YEAR OLD AARON HURT IS ALSO CHARGED IN THE HOMICIDE. A LANCASTER COUNTY MAN IS FACING CHARGES AFTER POLICE SAY HE BROKE INTO A CHURCH NAKED AND UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF METH. POLICE SAY CORY CALDERWOOD. CALDERWOOD BROKE INTO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS ON KING STREET. POLICE W
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    Updated: 6:55 AM EDT May 7, 2025
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    Some Ephrata residents complain about odor | Here's what's causing it
    WGAL logo
    Updated: 6:55 AM EDT May 7, 2025
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    If you've noticed an unpleasant smell in Ephrata Borough, Lancaster County, you're not alone.Video above: Headlines from WGAL News 8.The borough told WGAL Reporter Sarah Metts that residents have been complaining and they're aware of the "odor issue." The borough said the smell is coming from a construction project at the wastewater treatment plant at 405 S. Reading Rd. "This project processes biosolids using a new technology," the borough said in a statement. "When the odor complaints started last fall, we made some operational changes to the new biosolids handling process. It was believed this helped the situation until last month when the odor complaints increased."The borough said after looking into the problem, they found that a portion of the system was not working properly."Modifications were completed early this week which will take approximately two weeks to effectively impact the odor. In addition, we are making further enhancements to the odor control system, which we believe will be operational in a few weeks," the borough said. "In addition to these measures, we are undertaking an odor assessment to evaluate if additional odor reduction measures are required, and the (Ephrata Borough) Authority will continue to evaluate and address this concern."Get breaking alerts sent to your phoneiPHONE: Download the WGAL app in the App Store.ANDROID: Download the WGAL app on Google Play.

    If you've noticed an unpleasant smell in Ephrata Borough, Lancaster County, you're not alone.

    Video above: Headlines from WGAL News 8.

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    The borough told WGAL Reporter Sarah Metts that residents have been complaining and they're aware of the "odor issue."

    The borough said the smell is coming from a construction project at the wastewater treatment plant at 405 S. Reading Rd.

    "This project processes biosolids using a new technology," the borough said in a statement. "When the odor complaints started last fall, we made some operational changes to the new biosolids handling process. It was believed this helped the situation until last month when the odor complaints increased."

    The borough said after looking into the problem, they found that a portion of the system was not working properly.

    "Modifications were completed early this week which will take approximately two weeks to effectively impact the odor. In addition, we are making further enhancements to the odor control system, which we believe will be operational in a few weeks," the borough said. "In addition to these measures, we are undertaking an odor assessment to evaluate if additional odor reduction measures are required, and the (Ephrata Borough) Authority will continue to evaluate and address this concern."

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