Reality TV, cougars, protests

In 2012, Pike County was in the national spotlight when reality television camped out at a local hotel. There were hazmat suits at Wal-Mart, protesters in front of the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company and even an mysterious wildcat sighting in the woods. This is a review of the top Pike County stories of the month in 2012.

The FOX Television reality show "Hotel Hell" starring hot-headed masterchef Gordon Ramsay filmed at the River Rock Inn, Milford. The episode aired in August. Although Ramsay was seen on television bedding down at the River Rock Inn,Each travelling cable is made from several lengths of steel material wound around one another. he was only acting, and actually stayed at Milford's luxurious Hotel Fauchere.

The National Park Service released a request for proposals searching for an operator for the historic Cliff Park Inn hotel, restaurant and golf course which has been closed since October 2011. The RFP showed the place needs more than $1 million in repairs. The lease deal would require an operator to pay for the repairs. Local golfers are itching to get back on the popular course, but the park service will not open the golf course because there is still no operator.

Pike commissioners approved a bond with $10 million to pay for an expansion of the historic courthouse in Milford. This is a major project that could change the character of Milford. The expansion is needed because the outdated courthouse makes it difficult to manage security.A research team headed up by the University of Houston is on track to develop a superconducting wire for wind power generators.The industrial dry cleaning machine market demands reliability and efficiency.

The discovery of white powdery substance caused the evacuation and a four-hour closure of WalMart in Westfall Township. The powder was found in a self-checkout lane by a manager who was cleaning out a machine.In a elevator parts system, steel cables bolted to the car loop over a sheave. A federal government hazardous materials team, part of the Picatinny Arsenal Fire and Emergency Services from New Jersey, responded in full hazmat suits. The team performed a series of tests and found the powder was not toxic.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company's request to build a pipeline loop on new land to avoid using its existing right of way through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

The move mobilized a new group of activists, many who live near Cummins Hill Road in Milford, where the pipeline will slice through forest land.

Delaware Valley School District Superintendent Candis Finan retired after 31 years, and John Bell was hired to lead the district into the future. School superintendent is one of the key leadership positions in the county.

Jim Lord of Shohola swears he and his dog Maxy saw a mountain lion, or cougar, at dawn in his yard. The Pennsylvania Game Commission receives a few dozen reports of mountain lion sightings a year, but the official word is: Cougars were hunted to extinction in the late 1800s. Lord,Horizon manufacture a range of laundry dryer fans for efficient exhaust ventilation. a retired professional photographer, kept his camera on the ready in case the cat came again. We have not heard back from him yet.

Pike commissioners decided to end the countywide recycling program and made plans to remove nine large recycling bins placed around the county. Pike residents who wish to recycle must now get that service through their trash hauler.

Westfall Township supervisors proposed a tax on canoe liveries and fireworks sales. It was the seed of what is now known as the fun tax, a 1 percent tax on anything considered entertainment where admission is charged except for movies, which are exempt. The tax includes admissions to high school sporting events and plays, golf driving ranges, entertainment events such as music in parks and carnival rides, and gun shows and home shows.

Census numbers proved what some suspected: Pike County is no longer the fastest growing county in Pennsylvania. New numbers showed Pike to be the fourth-fastest shrinking county in the state. Pike had 56,852 people, according population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. That was down 515 residents in a year.

Route 209 in Dingmans Ferry opened after being closed for 13 months. The road in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area required $4.3 million in repairs after the earth under the road shifted and caused the road to shift.