WILLIAMSPORT AREA SCHOOLS TO OFFER 5-DAY IN PERSON INSTRUCTION
The Williamsport Area School Board has reversed a decision about hybrid learning in a 7-2 vote yesterday. According to the Sun Gazette, Dr. Timothy Bowers made a case during the special meeting yesterday to discuss the issue at which some parents protested the decision by the board to remain in hybrid mode as of last week. In person instruction will resume for elementary students November 2nd and middle and high school students resume 5 day a week classed November 9th. Students still have the full remote option if wanted. There are reports that some students are struggling with remote learning and coping with significant absenteeism
DANVILLE SCHOOLS SEND LETTER WITH AN INTENT TO STRIKE
The Danville Area Education Association sent a notice of a strike to the Danville Area school board, which means the teachers could strike as soon as next Monday, November 2. According to School Superintendent, Dr. Rickie Boyle, both sides met Monday with a state mediator, but there was no resolution to the outstanding issues including wages, length of contract and health care. Dr. BoYle said in a letter that parents will receive at least a 48-hour notice of the start of a strike and that strike days will need to be made up through holidays and/or days in June. Once the strike happens the district will be forced to place all schools into an emergency closure. Tonight’s school board meeting will be held tonight in the Danville High School auditorium – as well as virtually at 7 p.m. Instructions about joining the ZOOM conference here.
MONTOURSVILLE WILL HAVE FOOTBALL THIS WEEKEND
In an early morning decision, the Montoursville school board voted 7-0 Wednesday at 1:23 a.m. to allow school district sports to resume play beginning Thursday. The word first came yesterday afternoon that it was moving to remote learning in the high school after a positive case of COVID-19 and was canceling its extra-curricular activities, meaning the undefeated football team and the girls soccer team would have to forfeit their District 4 playoff games. According to the Sun Gazette, it was decided that sports will resume the football team will host Loyalsock at 1 p.m. Saturday in the District 4 Class AAA quarterfinals. The girls soccer team will play at Troy on Friday afternoon in the District 4 Class AA quarterfinals.
PUBLIC RECOMMENDED TO DELIVER MAIL-IN BALLOTS IN PERSON
Yesterday may have been the deadline to apply for Mail-in Ballots, but Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar made a statement encouraging those who still have their mail-in ballot intending to deliver or mail it by November 3rd, to hand deliver the ballot you have in person to your local county election office. The governor says the US Postal Service can’t guarantee a ballot would be delivered on time. The official deadline to drop off completed mail ballots is 8 p.m. on the November 3 Election Day, but voters today were urged to turn in their ballots as soon as possible.
STABBING SUSPECT TO BE ARRAINGED
The suspect who stabbed a man outside of a Renovo bar has been charged with aggravated assault after the victim was hospitalized for his injuries. According to State Police at Lamar, Shawn Mills of North Bend in Clinton County stabbed 28 year old Bradley Shearer while they were fighting in the parking lot of the Green Lantern bar. Mills stabbed Shearer 17 times in the leg and arm, after which Mills fled, but later returned and fired shots at Shearer who remains hospitalized at UPMC Williamsport and faces arraignment after being released from the hospital.
LOCAL CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
Lycoming County reports 10 new cases of the coronavirus with a county wide total now of 960. In Northumberland County ere were 14 new Northumberland County cases at 1,517 since the start of the pandemic According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed 2,751 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 198,446. Today’s increase is the largest daily increase to date. There are 23 new deaths reported in Pennsylvania for a total of 8,696 fatalities.
NEW LOCATION FOR DANVILLE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
Representatives from the Danville Area School Board report that their board meeting tonight at 7pm will be held in the Danville High School auditorium. According to the School District website, the meeting will be streamed live on YouTube and also through a ZOOM conferencing platform. After shutting down last week due to coronavirus concerns , Danville area schools, specifically the primary and middle school will remain open after there have been several positive COVID tests in the system. There has also been a notice to strike, possibly by November 2nd, by the Danville Area Education Association which was presented to the school board president, Dr. Rickie Boyle, yesterday. A mediation process will take place to hopefully resolve the dispute over wages, length of agreement and health care. If a strike is held, parents will receive at least a 48-hour notice of the start.
WRESTLING GUIDELINES MUST BE FOLLOWED TO HAVE A SEASON
New guidelines for the Jersey Shore Area High School open mat wrestling program had school board members discussing the process last night which some believe may be hard to follow for the teams. According to the Sun Gazette, some questioned who set up the guidelines that school officials say have to be followed in order to have a wrestling program during the upcoming winter season. Some measures include touchless temperature checks and one designated partner per practice, as well as hygiene factors to clean exposed skin and regular cleaning of the mats.
SPORTS
MLB
For the first time since 1988, the Los Angeles Dodgers are World Series champions. The Dodgers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 in Game 6 of the Fall Classic at Globe Life Field on last night to clinch the series. It is the seventh title in franchise history.
NASCAR
NASCAR will make a fourth attempt to complete its playoff race at Texas Motor Speedway today at 3pm after persistent mist and cold temperatures continued the long delay. The Cup Series race began Sunday and drivers completed 52 of the scheduled 334 laps before mist and drizzle halted the action.
HS Sports
Montoursville football team will host Loyalsock at 1 p.m. Saturday in the District 4 Class AAA quarterfinals. The girls soccer team will play at Troy on Friday afternoon in the District 4 Class AA quarterfinals.
