News from around the  RVing and camping lifestyle.

– Coal Township, PA :  Coal Township is asking for the public’s opinion on a proposed new ordinance, which could add a five-percent admissions tax to recreation parks such as the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area, Newsitem reports.  At its meeting Thursday night, the township’s board of commissioners voted 3-1 to advertise the ordinance, which has yet to be drawn up, for the admissions tax. Newsitem explains, the tax would apply on all activities allowable under the Commonwealth’s Local Tax Enabling Act “which would include, but is not limited to, campgrounds and outdoor recreation parks.”

– Gettysburg, PA :Gettysburg Bike Week celebrates 13 years of riding through historic Pennsylvania this year with rides, entertainment, vendors and more July 10 through 13 at Granite Hill Campground Resort.

– Washington DC : The 16-day federal government shutdown last October frustrated and angered RVers when federal lands became inaccessible. Now a study estimates that the shutdown of National Parks cost nearby communities $414 million in visitor spending.

– Arizona : Hibernation season for Arizona bears has evidently ended early, with reports of two bear sightings. In mid-February campers spotted a black bear near Peppersauce Campground outside of Tucson. In January a hunter reported seeing a sow and cub at Fort Huachuca.

– Richland County, Mont.: health officials say they’ve had enough. According to the officials, “85 to 95 percent of RV parks” in the county are out of compliance with health laws so the county is dragging them into court to get them to clean up their acts. One hot-button issue: gray water. “Gray water out of your sink actually carries more pathogens than out of your toilet,” claims Terry Murphy, local compliance officer. There are 18 licensed RV and mobile home parks in the county.

– Mission, TX :Police in Mission, Texas, may have broken up a ring of thieves who specialized in stealing Ford F-250 pickups and selling them in Mexico. Police staked out Mission Bell RV Resort in February, where pickups had been previously stolen, and netted four adults and a juvenile who were charged in connection with at least one truck theft.

~ News From The Weird ~

– PUNTA GORDA, Fla. : Police arrested a Punta Gorda couple prowling an RV park Friday night while their children wandered through some nearby woods, Fox 4 reported.
Michael Scott Butcher and his wife, Sarah, were found by security guards at Water’s Edge RV Resort claiming to be looking for lost truck keys. When they wouldn’t leave, the couple was arrested for loitering or prowling, as well as possession of drugs.

Safe Travels and Happy RVing!