Numbers in the news

1,600

Some 1,600 tires were sent off for recycling by a McKean County group after a one-day collection at the Bradford Mall.

The county's Pa. Cleanways chapter sponsored the event, sending the tires to S&J Recycling of Williamsport. Chapter volunteers have recycled more than 21,000 tires since 2000.

12,134

A military support event, known as "Operation Enjoying Freedom," returned to the Fox Township Park in Kersey last weekend. A project of the regional Letters from Home program, the two-day camp recruits young people to show their support for military personnel deployed overseas.

The kids accepted items to be sent in the next round of Letters from Home care packages. So far, the young troops have collected a whopping 12,134 items, such as personal care products, snacks, games, vitamins and writing supplies.

Campers also got a taste of the military experience. They slept in tents and were taught about cadences, salutes, marching and uniforms.

200

About 200 private water wells will soon be tested across McKean County. Penn State Cooperative Extension and the McKean County Conservation District are conducting the free tests for property owners who register. Individual results will be kept confidential. Results will only be released as a combined report.

Pennsylvania has more than 1 million private water wells, with about 20,000 new ones drilled per year.

About 50 percent of wells have water quality problems, ranging from staining and unpleasant taste to more serious issues, such as E coli bacteria contamination.

State law does not require testing of private water supplies, and regulatory agencies do not routinely monitor the quality of private supplies.

Last year, a survey of about 40 found that half tested positive for E coli.