Justin Houser

LOCK HAVEN — The Clinton County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to appoint Attorney Justin Houser as county solicitor.

Houser was hired with a salary of $65,500 (Grade U) based on his experience and knowledge of county code and regulations, according to the board.

Houser is a partner in local law firm Coploff, Ryan & Houser in Lock Haven. He is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University and Dickinson School of Law of Pennsylvania State University.

Following his graduation from law school, Justin served as a law clerk to the Honorable Thomas I. Vanaskie of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He then worked as an associate for a law firm in Wilmington, Delaware, for three years before returning home to his roots and joining the firm of Coploff, Ryan & Welch in October, 2014, according to the law firm’s website.

Houser was elected as a partner in the firm effective Jan. 1, 2017. His bar admissions presently include the states of Pennsylvania and Delaware, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Houser also serves as primary contact in the firm’s role as solicitor for the City of Lock Haven, and also in its role as counsel for the Clinton County Children and Youth Social Services Agency, according to his biography.

Houser replaces Attorney Larry Coploff who resigned from the position in 2023.

In other personnel news, the county:

— Accepted the retirement of Sheila Peter, assistant fiscal technician at the Clinton County Correctional Facility, effective Feb. 2.

— Accepted the retirement of Keith Yearick, chief assessor of the assessment department, effective April 1. Yearick took a moment to reflect on his time with the county for 38 years. “Things have come a long way. When I first started, and people don’t believe it, up at the courthouse the building was filled with smoke because people could smoke in their offices,” Yearick said. “I’ve been very blessed to have this job, I’ve been blessed to have the commissioners I’ve had over the years, my office personnel and most of all I loved to help the public. I’ll continue to do what I can to make Clinton County the best place to live and work in.”

— Accepted the retirement of Kathy Merrill, computer operator in the assessment department, effective March 4.

— Accepted the retirement of Colleen Wise, director of domestic relations, effective April 1.

— Accepted the resignation of Sara Henninger, watershed specialist/education coordinator at the conservation district, effective Jan. 25.

— Hired Karlie Thompson as the watershed specialist/education coordinator, effective Jan. 15 at an annual salary of $41,272 (Grade K).

— Hired Charles Mitchell as part-time security guard in the sheriff’s department, effective Jan. 8 at a rate of $15.50 per hour not to exceed 1,000 hours annually.

— Promoted Spencer Ross from dispatcher trainee to full-time 9-1-1 dispatcher effective Jan. 5 at an annual salary of $38,750 (Grade H). Emergency Services Director Jon Plessinger said the department has 2 trainees currently and only one position left to fill.