Good Morning, Pennsylvania: Horses for adoption; return of poker; money for market

Also: State has raw milk farm shut down.

View in browser  |  Get our newsletters Good Morning, Pennsylvania THURSDAY, JAN. 25, 2024 • TODAY'S WEATHER What are those notes?  As if 2020 weren't weird enough, people around the Schuylkill County area that year began to post pictures of weird paper messages they were finding folded up in their groceries. An early mention of what's become known as the "Schuylkill notes" appeared in an April 2020 Coal Speaker article.   As our Claudia Dimuro explains, the tiny notes were in items ranging from chocolate bars to pasta to dog food. No part of the messages, which referred to politics and religion, made any sense.   The notes set off amateur investigators. And they've continued to be found. Even the FBI is taking a look into it. Essentially, one more thing to wonder about. Yay. Curated by Janet Pickel PHOTO OF THE DAY: Bishop McDevitt's Rico Scott works out under Micah Parson's trainer, Lance Deane, as he prepares to attend and play football at Alabama. (Photo by Sean Simmers, PennLive.com) Today's talkers 2023 homicides: There were 66 deaths ruled as homicides last year across six south-central Pa. counties, a drop from last year's record high 72. Two of those included deaths that happened years after the initial crime. The list also contains two mysterious cases.   Data loss effects: Efforts to restore thousands of lost evidence logs and other data from the Pennsylvania State Police crime labs continues, according to a spokesman for the agency. The loss of police and other records was caused by human error, authorities said.   Tax hike: Cumberland County commissioners voted yesterday to reopen the county's 2024 budget and increase the real estate tax rate by 15%.    Raw milk sales stopped: The owners of a Lancaster County farm accused of selling raw milk and raw milk products without required permits and licenses can no longer manufacture or sell their products after a county judge approved an emergency motion yesterday. The state filed suit this week, saying the owners of the farm have been in violation of state and federal guidelines for years. Read more Food & drink Pecan rolls rolling: Jimmy Rosen, owner of the former Old Sled Works in Duncannon, is helping to revive a nostalgic candy brand with his "Stuckeymobile." The converted 75-year-old station wagon, adorned with a surfboard and oversized Stuckey's Original Pecan Log Roll, is a roving ad.   Restaurant to close: Kondu restaurant, next to 2nd & Charles bookstore at the mostly shutting-down Harrisburg Mall, is closing Sunday after an eight-year run serving build-your-own sushi burritos and bowls and teppanyaki. The owners are looking to relocate.   Restaurant to open: Playa Bowls is headed to Hershey. The chain, known for its acai bowls, is opening in spring at the Park Village Plaza in Derry Township. It's the second location in Dauphin County.    Fast-food failings: The owner of 21 Wendy's franchises in Pa. violated child labor laws, including failing to give employees mandatory breaks, according to the state Department of Labor & Industry. The company was fined $300,000 for 766 violations. Read more Business Market money: The Broad Street Market is receiving $30,000 from the William Penn Social Association, a bar and social club in midtown Harrisburg. The market's brick building was destroyed last summer in a fire that left two dozen vendors without a place to do business.   Longtime shop closing: A gift shop in Carlisle plans to close this year after more than four decades in business. Olde Susquehanna House will start its storewide sale Saturday.   Poker returning: Live poker is set to return to Hollywood Casino in Grantville in the spring after a long absence, according to casino executives. Read more Advertisement Animal headlines Puppy recovering: G.I. Joe, the dog left for dead in a cardboard box outside a house, is recovering nicely and returning to Speranza animal rescue in Mechanicsburg. An adoptive family is waiting.   Horses up for adoption: Nine horses seized in a horrific animal cruelty case more than a decade ago who are being made available for adoption by the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area. The horses were part of a herd rescued from starvation in late 2012 at a dilapidated farm in Palmyra.   Dog shooting: A homeowner in York County shot and killed a neighbor's dog this week after he said the dog attacked a cat on his property, police said. The dog's family is gutted by grief and wrestling with questions for which they don't have answers.   Cat loss: More than 300,000 people have signed a petition calling for a Russian train conductor to lose her job after she threw a pet cat off a train, believing it was a stray. The animal was found dead days later. Read more Sports PIAA decision: Steelton-Highspire lost its appeal of the PIAA's plan to move its championship football teams into a tougher division. See also: Steel-High's Taevon Legrande adds to his list of college offers   Eagles coach returns: Philadelphia Eagles head football coach Nick Sirianni will be back next season, and he says he didn't have to talk the front office into it. He did lose some assistant coaches. See also: Lions getting help from former Eagles Pro Bowler   College to NFL: James Franklin and Penn State have seen the last of Jim Harbaugh. Michigan's coach is leaving Ann Arbor to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, according to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter. See also: NFL conference games: Routine for 49ers, Chiefs; new to Lions, Ravens Read more OTHER DON'T-MISS STORIES Pa. governor wants to double funding for first-responder grant program When is Groundhog Day? What to know about the 2024 holiday Senate bill would let parents collect tax credits for day care, child care Pa. man pleads guilty to killing bald eagle he thought was turkey vulture Jon Stewart to return as 'Daily Show' host, sorta You're caught up. Thanks for joining us in Good Morning, Pennsylvania. You can always find the latest Pennsylvania news by visiting PennLive.com. If you value the hard work of our journalists, consider becoming a subscriber.   See you next issue. GAMES & COMICS Today's Crossword More free puzzles & games Today's Comics Today's crossword Puzzles & games Today's comics CRIME, CRASHES, CALAMITIES: UPDATES FROM THE PENNLIVE COPS DESK NEWSLETTER Know what's going in your neighborhood and beyond with the latest police, fire, traffic, courts and related news. Click here to subscribe. EAT, SHOP, GO WITH PENNLIVE NEWSLETTER Your weekly report on food, restaurants, businesses, retail centers, things to do and places to go all around central Pa. 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