Carbon County officials are finding out that there are groups and individuals who would like to take over the county's animal shelter.

During the county commissioners' meeting on Thursday, a second interested party, this time a business owner, came forward and expressed his interest in operating the shelter on the Broad Mountain in Nesquehoning.Robert Dages of Jim Thorpe asked the commissioners about the status of the shelter.In recent weeks, couonty officials said they are hoping to get out of the business, but would like another organization to take over the operations. Expenses and a high turnover of shelter employees have caused the county to question if it should be in the dog shelter business.Commissioner Wayne Nothstein, chairman, said that there is a group of volunteers trying to form a 501(c)3 non-profit organization at this time. The group met earlier this week to discuss the available options."I think they made some progress," Nothstein said, adding that he attended the group's meeting. "They have a sense of direction and are pursuing it now."Dages said that he would like to be considered and hopes the commissioners would sit down with him to hear what he could do for the shelter."I could put in one of my wood stoves," he said. "I have support of people in 4-H and corporate support and would like to do a pilot program for the future of the sheriff in Carbon County with a dog sniffing program."Dages added that he would do this under a private proprietorship and would be influenced by the county's leadership and would be flexible upon the needs and ambitions of the county.Commissioner William O'Gurek said he was just made aware of the second interested party but was happy to see some interest."I think the right thing to do is to entertain all proposals from everyone so they all have a chance to submit their thinking and theories on how they would operate it and determine which would be best for the shelter's future," O'Gurek said.He suggested Dages write up a proposal on what he proposes for the shelter operations.Nothstein said the county will set aside a day to meet with all interested parties and hear what they have to say.In other matters, Pat Handwerk of the Jim Thorpe Chamber of Commerce announced that officials and teams from USA Today's Best of the Road contest will be in Jim Thorpe this weekend to tour the town. Jim Thorpe was named a finalist in the Most Beautiful category of the contest.Currently, residents and volunteers, as well as litter clean up crews have been working to clean along roadways coming into Jim Thorpe.Handwerk said the group will be here Saturday morning around 10 a.m. and will tour various landmarks Saturday and Sunday, including Mauch Chunk Lake Park, the Old Jail, Asa Packer Mansion, the Lehigh Gorge and more."I think we should really be proud of our town and county," she said.