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Franklin County Recognizes National Co-Responder and Crisis Responder Week

Franklin County has announced that September 14–20, 2025, is recognized as National Co-Responder and Crisis Responder Week.

Since the start of Franklin County’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training in 2013, more than 300 individuals have participated. CIT is a partnership between law enforcement, mental health professionals, and addiction specialists. The program educates first responders on how to interact effectively with individuals experiencing a crisis or receiving mental health care.

The training emphasizes collaboration with mental health professionals, individuals, and family members to improve outcomes. Without intervention, mental health challenges can lead to homelessness, frequent law enforcement interaction, incarceration, and emergency room visits.

Franklin County also operates a Mental Health Co-Responder Program, embedding mental health professionals with law enforcement agencies to respond to individuals in crisis. The program aims to provide appropriate interventions, reduce arrests, emergency room visits, and repeat 911 calls, and connect people to local behavioral health services.

Since its launch in May 2017, the program has served more than 2,500 individuals through over 13,000 contacts with co-responders from the Chambersburg, Greencastle, Washington Township, and Waynesboro police departments, as well as the Franklin County probation departments and the public defender’s office. Of those served, 90% have not had additional contact with law enforcement.

A video about the CIT program is available at https://youtu.be/2ewfgZi-SVI?si=N9V95YUj6OMOENrE.

Photo credits to Franklin County, PA

Runaway Juvenile

On 11/05/26 at 0725 hours, Spencer Newman ran away from his residence. Newman is 5’9, 125 pounds, white male, brown eyes, brown hair and was last seen wearing a brown

Fred Allen Blocher 1943-2026

Fred Allen Blocher, 83, of Gardners, PA passed away Saturday, October 24 2026 at his home. Born October 19, 1943 in Gettysburg, he was the son of the late Fred

Frank Charles Henry 1945-2026

Born January 4, 1945 in Washington, D.C., Frank was an avid Civil War enthusiast who loved to share his knowledge with others.

Who We Are

The Franklin County Free Press, established by Vicky Taylor in 2019, emerged as a beacon of local journalism for the residents of Franklin County. Under Vicky's leadership, it quickly became an essential source of news, particularly at a time when major newspaper publications were increasingly overlooking local coverage.

On January 1, 2022, the torch was passed to Nathan Neil and his firm, Neil Publishing, LLC. Neil, a local entrepreneur with multiple thriving businesses in Chambersburg, shares Vicky's fervent commitment to both the community and the world of local journalism.

Rooted in the heart of Franklin County and powered by its residents, the Franklin County Free Press continues to bridge the gap, ensuring that the local stories, events, and issues that matter most to the community remain in the spotlight.

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