[naviga:h3]Route 422 work to begin Monday[/naviga:h3]

Work on Route 422 in Summit Township will begin Monday, weather permitting, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The work will extend from the Jefferson Street Exit off Route 68 to the intersection of Bonnie Brook Road and Route 422.

The multi-phase improvement project will begin with shoulder work and addressing the rumble strips to accommodate traffic in the next phase of the project.

Crews will patch the road surface and overlay, update drainage and guide rails, replace concrete median barriers and complete preservation work.

Lane and shoulder restrictions will be used in the work zone.

Mekis Construction will lead the $18 million improvement project, which is slated for completion in October.

[naviga:h3]Mars High ranked in state’s top 100[/naviga:h3]

Mars Area High School was listed among the top 100 Pennsylvania High Schools, according to rankings released by “U.S. News and World Report.”

The school is listed as 14th in the Pittsburgh region, 72nd in Pennsylvania and 1,966 in the U.S.

Rankings are based on college readiness; math and reading proficiency; math and reading performance, underserved student performance; college curriculum breadth; and graduation rate.

[naviga:h3]Rodeo Queen contest postponed[/naviga:h3]

The North Washington Rodeo Queen Contest, which was scheduled to take place over the weekend, has been postponed until further notice.

The contest would select the rodeo queen, who would promote the rodeo, as well as attend and participate in the rodeo and rodeo parade.

The North Washington Rodeo is scheduled Aug. 18 to 22.

[naviga:h3]Knoch graduation packages coming[/naviga:h3]

Knoch High School officials will deliver caps, gowns, tassels and honor cords to seniors May 8, according to a news release from Principal Todd Trofimuk.

Senior families will also receive yard signs to display indicating the home is that of a 2020 Knoch High School graduate.

Seniors will be contacted May 8 to verify the student’s availability to receive the graduation package.

“We understand how difficult these final nine weeks of school have been for families and students,” Trofimuk said. “Our hearts go out to all of our seniors for the loss of the culmination of years of work. We hope that by providing these items to families you can begin to create memories to commemorate the class of 2020 and your graduating senior.”

[naviga:h3]PennDOT extends expiration dates[/naviga:h3]

Expiration dates for driver’s licenses, identification cards and learner’s permits will be extended statewide in response to COVID-19 mitigation efforts, according to the state Department of Transportation.

These extensions are in addition to those announced by PennDOT on March 27.

Driver’s licenses, photo identification cards and learner’s permits to expire from March 16 through May 31, 2020, are now extended through June 30.

All Driver’s License Centers and Photo License Centers are closed until further notice.

Various transactions and access to multiple resources are available via the Driver and Vehicle Services section at dmv.pa.gov. There are no additional fees for using online services.

[naviga:h3]National Forest lifts ban on campfires[/naviga:h3]

Part of the Allegheny National Forest’s closure order has been lifted, though many measures remain in place.

A ban on campfires, stoves and grills will no longer be in effect in the 517,000-acre forest, which is the only national forest in the state.

However, all overnight camping, groups of more than 10 people and use of restroom facilities in the forest will still be prohibited.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture encourages visitors to avoid coming if they are ill with COVID-19 symptoms, to practice social distancing and to use the restroom before or after going to the forest.

[naviga:h3]Cemetery cleanup day set May 8[/naviga:h3]

North Washington Union Cemetery Association will hold its annual cleanup day May 8 at the cemetery. The event will begin at 9 a.m. and volunteers are needed, according to Beverly Bishop of the cemetery association.

[naviga:h3]Mars AP exams will be held online[/naviga:h3]

Mars Area High School students who are taking an Advanced Placement (AP) course and plan to take the corresponding exam should know all exams will be online.

Exams will be held at various times from May 12 through 20. The district will offer AP tests for biology, calculus AB and BC(3), chemistry, computer science A, English language and composition, European history, physics 1 AB, physics 2 AB and U.S. history.

A complete schedule of exam dates and times is available on the high school web page www.marsk12.org.

Make-up testing will be offered June 1 through 4.

[naviga:h3]Kennywood Park picnic rescheduled[/naviga:h3]

Mars Area’s 2020 school picnic at Kennywood, originally planned for June 22, is rescheduled for Aug. 16.

Tickets are $30 per person and available online at www.kennywood.com/mars. Discounted tickets for Sandcastle Water Park can be purchased on the website for $22.99.