CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a proposal to rename the Sandy Bridge in honor of Pennsylvania State Police Trooper First Class Bradley Wilson.
Wilson—who was stationed at the DuBois barracks—was wounded in the line of duty in 2013, according to previously-published reports.
At approximately 2:30 p.m. Sept. 26, 2013, Wilson was shot and critically wounded while trying to serve a warrant at a private residence along Cemetery Hill Road, just outside of Brockway, in Jefferson County.
Wilson, who was left quadriplegic afterwards, was presented with the PSP Purple Heart Award in November of 2014.
The bridge dedication was proposed by the Military Order of the Purple Heart and Troop C of the Pennsylvania State Police. It’s also received approval from both Sandy Township and DuBois City.
When our bridges are renamed, it’s almost always after fallen veterans, but there have also been a few state police troopers, said Chapter 519 Military Order of the Purple Heart Commander Joe Woods.
It’s rarely done for those who are still living, Woods said, but his organization’s effort got support by petition, collecting a thousand signatures.
“Brad is pretty humble and didn’t believe he deserved it … but I said ‘bull crap.’ As a veteran, I don’t think our first responders get the recognition they deserve. Brad is a heck of a good man.”
The county commissioners will now send correspondence expressing their approval of the bridge’s renaming to state lawmakers including State Rep. Mike Armanini and State Senator Wayne Langerholc Jr.
In other business, the board:
- reported that there’s a potential broadband application with a service provider that would encompass “a lot” of municipalities. The county has notified the affected municipal officials via e-mail about two different meetings that are scheduled for this week, but the response has been “less than hoped for,” and so municipal officials—particularly in townships—are being asked to please check their e-mail, and to respond as quickly as possible.
- approved purchase of service agreements with Justice Works Youth Care; Valliere & Counseling Associates; and Summit School Inc., at the request of Clearfield County Children & Youth Services.
- approved an agreement with Experian.
- approved an agreement with Centre Counseling & Wellness.
- approved a purchase of service agreement with Bryanna Casher to assist with the upcoming tax sale.
- appointed Jeff Wriglesworth to the Farmland Preservation Board to finish out the term of Robert Edwards. Edwards was thanked for his service to the board as one of its original members.
- approved the personnel report, including two new hires, one employee transfer and three employee separations/retirements.
- approved the minutes of the July 11 meeting as presented by the chief clerk.
- approved the bills as presented by the Controller’s office.
- approved cancellation of the Aug. 8 commissioners’ meeting and payment of bills through Aug. 22. The meeting may be rescheduled if it becomes necessary.