Numbers in the news

35

Fewer young people are fishing these days. Some 35% of Pennsylvanians ages 6-15 are anglers, down from 41% in 1995.

15,047

State troopers set a record in 2006 by making 15,047 arrests for driving under the influence, an increase of more than 10%from the previous record, set in 2005.

Police attributed the increase to better training in techniques to identify those driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription medication or other substances. The state also has certified 30 troopers and four municipal officers as drug recognition experts, with special training in catching those driving after using drugs.

There were 4,691 alcoholrelated crashes investigated by the state police in 2006, up slightly from 2005.

25,637

The region's "Letters From Home" program this week shipped out 25,637 cards of support to more than 4,750 military personnel engaged in various facets of service.

More than 150 volunteers gathered in St. Marys to prepare the packages. Most of the donations came from Elk and Cameron counties.

"The purpose is to make sure the men and women defending our freedom know that they are thought of daily," said Letters from Home director Chris Jovenitti.

She said the next campaign, under the theme "Raise a Flag for Freedom," is now underway. Shipping date is July 29. Anyone can help by collecting cards and letters of support, treats or other items.

Letters from Home has collected 200,500 letters to date, and sent items to 25,700 soldiers, sailors, Air Force members, Marines, and Coast Guard enlistees. Additional information is available by phone at 781-1982 or 965- 5118.

40

Forty students from the Mt. Jewett Elementary School spent a school day at the Chestnut Street Elementary School in Kane last week.

They'll be attending classes there full-time in September, as a result of Kane Area School Board's decision to shut down the Mt. Jewett school and bus its students to Kane.

In the meantime, a charter school committee is meeting to lay the groundwork for opening a facility in Mt. Jewett in time for the 2008-09 school year.

1B

The U.S. military last year paid more than $1 billion in bonuses to persuade Army soldiers and Marines to reenlist. The spending has increased sixfold over the past three years. About 70 percent of Army enlistees who agreed to stay on were given bonuses.

Lump-sum payments range from a few thousand dollars to as much as $150,000 for senior special forces soldiers who reenlist for six years.