CAROL SHETLER/The Luminary Recognized for 60 years in county government, Annabelle Miller (left) will retire as Register and Recorder at the end of 2015. The announcement was made by Elizabeth Downey, State Grange President during the 62nd legislative banquet of the Lycoming County Pomona Grange held April 10 at Hughesville.

HUGHESVILLE – Grangers, Dairy Princess and Maid, plus several current and hopeful local candidates attended the 62nd legislative banquet of the Lycoming County Pomona Grange on Friday evening, April 10. The meal was provided and hosted at the Hughesville Area Fire Hall.

During the meet and greet session prior to the banquet, Olivia and Ariana Paulhamus of Jersey Shore, Dairy Princess and Dairy Maid, offered a beverage mix of milk and juice. The girls are the daughters of Michelle and Jed Paulhamus. “We live next to our cousin’s farm where we bottle feed calves, clean stalls and house the the beef cows we raise to show at the Lycoming County Fair,” Olivia said of cousin Steve Paulhamus.

In addition to the girl’s mother the twosome were accompanied by Becky Steppe of South Williamsport, Chairperson of the Lycoming County Dairy Princess Association.

Remarks by the evening’s speakers were geared toward the agriculture industry. Senator Garth Everett said that, “In the next two to five years, the industry faces a large challenge, that of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and their requirements regarding protecting runoff to the Chesapeake Bay. I will stand with agriculture and if need be, find funding should fencing off streams become a requirement.” States affected in addition to Pennsylvania are Maryland and Virginia.

The banquet’s keynote speaker was U.S. Representative Tom Marino, who is concerned with the lack of oversight with EPA and the Army Corp of Engineers, and regrets Congress gave away that power. “There have been 75,000 pages of regulations enacted by this administration without congressional input or vote. This is a big over reach needing regulatory reform. When it comes down to it, I’m a state’s right’s guy,” Marino said.

CAROL SHETLER/The Luminary Senator Eugene Yaw and Congressman Tom Marino were among a group of politicians participating in a contest to determine who could stack the most number of yogurt cups. However, there were no winners.

The topic of net neutrality was also broached by Marino, who said he does not favor control of the internet by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). “It should survive by the law of supply and demand. I predict that if the FCC picks winners and losers, it will likely be followed by taxing internet use,” he said.

Elizabeth Downey of Huntersville, President of the Pennsylvania State Grange who presided over the meeting, recognized Annabelle Miller. At the end of 2015, Miller will retire after 60 years of service to Lycoming County, currently in the office as Register and Recorder.

Recognition was also given Ann and Rod Fry who have for many years donated milk for the banquet from local processor, Schneider-Valley Farms Dairy.

CAROL SHETLER/The Luminary Ann and Rod Fry of Ski-Hi Jersey farm in Hepburn Township, have donated milk to Grange banquet goers for many years.