HOLLIDAYSBURG — Rails to Trails of Central Pennsylvania will receive $12,500 to help in their efforts to repair the Dilling Bridge along the Lower Trail after the Blair County Commissioners approved the allocation from its Park and Recreation Fund on Thursday.

“There’s a huge effort, as everyone’s aware, of the Lower Trail, there’s a bridge that has basically separated the trail in half,” Commissioner Dave Kessling said. “And there’s no way around it.”

Kessling said a combination of public and private support has allowed work to begin on the bridge as quickly as possible “because it is a huge economic impact on this county.”

“In addition, we are matching someone else’s $12,500 for this effort,” Kessling said.

Dilling Bridge, located between mile markers 9 and 10, is near the midpoint of the 16.5-mile walking/biking trail that runs from Flowing Spring near Canoe Creek to Alfarata near Alexandria. An inspection of the bridge showed the deterioration of one of the bridge’s supporting piers, resulting in the bridge being marked for closure Aug. 29.

The commissioners also approved a request made by County Facilities and Public Works Manager Nicholas Burket to increase the number of visits from Robert’s Pest Control to the Blair County Prison to twice a month from Nov. 1 through July 31, 2026, for an additional cost of $125 per month.

The prison is facing nearly a dozen lawsuits in regard to alleged overcrowding and mice infestation, with one inmate reporting having eaten part of a mouse that was in his oatmeal.

In other matters, the commissioners approved the promotion of defense attorney John Siford from Assistant Public Defender to First Assistant Public Defender with a salary of $81,673. The position was left vacant after now-Chief Public Defender Julia Burke took over as interim Chief Public Defender with the departure of Russ Montgomery.