U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright announced that the Rural Development arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded grants totaling $7,600 to Mahanoy Township for the purchase of a utility police interceptor all-wheel-drive vehicle.

Mahanoy Township will combine these grants with other funding to purchase the new vehicle and equip it with a license plate reader and an in-car camera system."Small towns in rural counties often can't afford the police cars, trucks, or SUVs needed to adequately patrol and respond to emergencies within their communities," said Cartwright.