People needing a passport photo will soon no longer be able to get it taken at the Carbon County Sheriff's office.

On Thursday, Sheriff Anthony Harvilla announced that, effective May 1, or whenever his department runs out of materials, the sheriff's department will discontinue passport photo services.He cited many reasons for stopping the service, including the added security to the county buildings, which means additional staff being out of the sheriff's office; prisoner transports; providing security to the courts during sessions; and license to carry permit applications."The workload is just becoming unmanageable," Harvilla said, adding that passport photo services is not something a sheriff's office typically does anyway, but had done in the past as a courtesy because the license to carry permit photos and passport photos were taken on the same equipment.That is no longer the case, meaning that the sheriff's office must maintain two types of photo equipment now.There are some other places who do passport photos, he said, including some pharmacy chains and the Hazleton Post Office, which requires an appointment.AAA offices also takephotos, Joann Behrens, county prothonotary, said recently.Carbon County's prothonotary's office, located in the courthouse in Jim Thorpe, is the only department that takes walk-in services in both Carbon and Luzerne counties.Earlier this month, Behrens reminded applicants that they must give ample time to obtain a passport.Currently, it is taking the state 6 weeks for passports.Her office accepts applications until 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and stresses that all applicants must be present when applying and have all proper documentation, including a state-issued birth certificate with parents names listed; another form of identification, such as a driver's license or military card; two 2-inch-by-2-inch passport approved photos; speak English to help expedite the application filing at her office; and have two payments - $110 for adults and $80 for minors made out in either check or money order to the U.S. Department of State; and $25 in cash or check made payable to the Carbon County prothonotary for the processing fee.For more information on passports, visit the state passport website at

travel.state.gov.