BRUSH FIRES LEAD TO OLD LYCOMING TOWNSHIP BURNING BAN
Firefighters in Piatt Township, amongst other locations throughout Northeast and Central Pennsylvania, have been battling multiple brush fires. Dry conditions, have prompted Old Lycoming Township to issue a burning ban Campfires, burner barrels, brush piles are on hold in the township. According to the Pa DCNR website The greatest danger of wildfires in Pennsylvania occurs during the spring months of March, April, and May. and 99 percent of all wildfires are caused by people.
PP&L FUNDS TO MECHATRONICS STUDENTS
Pennsylvania Power and Light, in giving back to the community, has provided $13,000 to the mechatronics students of the Pennsylvania College of Technology for the purchase of training gear. According to northcentralpa.com, the resources were utilized to mechanical and hydraulic components as well as a flammable liquid cabinet to fulfill safety requirements.
STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS
Pa Attorney General Shapiro’s office on Apr. 6 adopted an agreement that will cancel private student loans held by 1,300 Pennsylvania students. The agreement alleges that the student debts were the result of misrepresentations of schools’ educational quality, accreditation status, career services, and overall financial condition. Due to these allegations, collecting the debts violates Pennsylvania’s debt collection law.
US REP FRED KELLER MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT PAYMENTS
Federal legislation, which may help UPMC Susquehanna, has been re-introduced by U.S. Rep. Fred Keller, who recently sat down with UPMC administrators to discuss health systems based in rural communities. To assist with vital Medicare issues, Keller’s Rural Help Act, attempts to bring parity to inpatient Medicare reimbursement payments. According to northcentralpa.com, operational costs may be causing some rural hospitals to close. Sunbury has recently suffered such a loss and it is something that is felt close to home, and as Keller noted, he was returning to his team to draft legislation to continue the fight.
BRUSH FIRES LEAD TO OLD LYCOMING TOWNSHIP BURNING BAN
At least three separate fires kept volunteer firefighters and state forestry crews busy throughout yesterday afternoon along the mountain range of Cement Hollow Rd in Piatt Township. Around 2pm, two small brush fires began a series of events, which eventually made its way up and over the mountain. In a related matter, due to the dry and windy conditions, Old Lycoming Township issued a burning ban late yesterday afternoon and will remain in effect until further notice.
MUNCY BOROUGH COUNCIL LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME
The Muncy Borough Council is looking for a new borough hall to seat its operations. Their current location, a historic building, sits inside a floodplain and is not accessible to disabled residents. According to the SUN Gazette, the borough is open relocation through construction, expansion or renovation. At present, an option could be the Muncy Area Volunteer Fire Company, which is available. The price tag is the issue. The Muncy Borough Council will next meet May 4 at 7 p.m. in the Muncy Volunteer Fire Co. fire hall.
LOYALSOCK TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT SUMMER PLANS AND MEETING SCHEDULED
Students in the Loyalsock Township School District have been given the opportunity to continue their education for approx five weeks this summer for remediation summer school. In addition, the summer vacation months, the board approved the 2021 summer school breakfast and lunch program. The next meeting of the board, 6 p.m., April 21, in the auditorium to discuss the proposed changes to transportation and school start times in the fall. Around 130 people are permitted to attend in person. The meeting will also be held virtually.
PROBATION ON MOLESTATION ALLEGATIONS
A Mifflinburg man received a sentence of 60 months probation stemming from his April 2020 arrest on molestation allegations. Union County President Judge Michael Hudock ordered Brian K. Gemberling, 57, to maintain lifetime registration with the state’s Megan’s Law list.
FATAL STABBING
Rockview state police report a Spring Mills man died in an overnight stabbing incident in Haines Township, Centre County. According to therecord-online.com, the victim was identified as Robert William Farwell, 26. PSP responded at 4:30 a.m. yesterday to the 200 block of Mountain Avenue for an assist to an EMS call. Farwell had sustained a stab wound and EMS treated and transported Farwell to the Mount Nittany Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The police release said, “This investigation is a homicide in relation to a domestic incident. There is no immediate threat to the public.”
GLENN O HAWBAKER ALLEGATIONS
Attorney General Josh Shapiro reported Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc., of State College, was charged with four counts of theft relating to violations of the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act and the federal Davis-Bacon Act. According to northcentralpa.com. Hawbaker, one of the largest contractors to complete projects on behalf of the Commonwealth, received an estimated $1.7 billion in funding as of 2021. AG Shapiro reported, “This is the largest prevailing wage criminal case on record — under Pennsylvania prevailing wage law and across the United States under federal law.” Hawbaker is accused of stealing its workers retirement, health and welfare money adding up to tens of thousands of dollars.
MULTIPLE MISDEMEANORS INVOLVING CHILDREN
A man in Union County was charged with misdemeanors for allegedly touching himself in front of two minor children. PSP Milton filed charges against Steven A. Mowery Jr., 31, of West Buffalo Township, The incidents involved two children, with one as young as 11 years old. Mowery was charged with multiple misdemeanors. A preliminary hearing is set for May 18 with District Judge Jeffrey C. Mensch.
COVID-19 NUMBERS REPORTED FOR APRIL 8
The Pennsylvania Dept of Health released updated COVID-19 numbers and locally, Lycoming 41, Montour 3, Northumberland 29, Clinton 11, Union 18, Snyder 5 and Centre County has 56 new COVID-19 cases reported.
