RALLY QUESTIONED AT WILLIAMSPORT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
During a recent Williamsport School Board Meeting, about 20 residents complained about a student run rally held at the Williamsport Area High School in April. Complaints surrounding the rally’s presence on Facebook, and whether it was a Black Lives Matter event promoting anti police sentiment and why students were permitted to do so on the taxpayer’s dime were discussed. Timothy S. Bower, District Superintendent, spoke in support of the students and denied the claims. According to the SUN Gazette, the rally had been pre-planned by approximately 75 students with the administration, to find out if they could hold the rally without disrupting the school day.
DAY OF GIVING
The Lycoming College community rose to the occasion to support its students on April 21 during its Third Annual Day of Giving. The community, students and faculty responded overwhelmingly, resulting in 875 donors and $371,817 in 24 hours to help the college.
WILLIAMSPORT AREA SCHOOL BOARD PROPOSED BUDGET
The Williamsport Area School Board gave their approval to a proposed final budget for 2021-22 school term with a .53 mill increase in real estate taxes. Final budget approval must be by June 30. The budget will now be on display at the district office and on the district’s website for examination. The next board meeting will be May 18 at 6 pm at the high school auditorium.
WILLIAMSPORT AREA SCHOOL BOARD NEW POSITIONS APPROVED
The Williamsport Area School Board approved the addition of two new coordinators of trauma and mental health services to help to deal with a significant growth and need among students K-12 in the district. At present, the district currently employs counselors, school nurses, health room techs and three social workers to work through mental health, trauma and truancy issues with the 5,000 students in the district.
NARCAN EVENT IN MUNCY
A UPMC and West Branch Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission event will be held at UPMC Muncy, on Monday, May 10 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. where Narcan will be available free. Narcan is an emergency nasal spray medication that reverses opioid effects and may save someone’s life during an overdose situation. To access the event, pull into the UPMC Muncy Emergency Department parking lot off E. Water St. and look for the tent.
COVID-19 DASHBOARD RESULTS FOR OUR AREA
The Pennsylvania Department of Health had released COVID-19 dashboard results for our area. Locally,
Lycoming County has 14 new cases today; Clinton 4; Tioga 15; Sullivan 0 and Northumberland 28. Montour 4; Snyder 11; Union 13; and Centre County 40 new COVID cases listed for today.
SUNBURY MAN FOUND
Yesterday, The body of a missing Sunbury man has been found. According to Schuylkill Haven State Police, May 3, 37-year-old Brandon Marks, of Sunbury was reported missing from the Schuykill County Fairgrounds, According to an online media source, the case remains under investigation.
GOV TOM WOLF VISITS PSU
Gov. Tom Wolf joined Penn State coach James Franklin, tight end Theo Johnson and University President Eric J. Barron to encourage members of the university community to get vaccinated against COVID-19. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10.5 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in the commonwealth or 32.3% of the population — are fully vaccinated. For Penn State it opens the path for fans to return to Beaver Stadium for the Nittany Lions’ Sept. 11 home opener against Ball State.
REPRESENTATIVE WITH MEMO PROPOSAL
State Rep. Stephanie Borowicz announced yesterday a co-sponsorship memo seeking support for her legislation which would exclude firearms and ammunition purchases from the state sales and use tax. According to a media outlet Borowicz cited the Pennsylvania and US Constitutions in her post on social media.
NORTHUMBERLAND POLICE UPGRADES
Mayor Daniel Berard, announced the seven full-time and two part-time police officers in the Northumberland Borough Police will have body cameras. The $14,454 investment is among several new upgrades that also include a new police vehicle, a renovated armory and a new paint job for the control room. According to the Daily Item, Northumberland is the third valley police department to use or explore the use of body cameras. Sunbury’s $50,000 body camera system went live the end of April and Mahoning Township Police Department, in Montour County, is preparing the technology this month.
Sports:
Maggie and Klair Fausnaught, 19 and 17, both Williamsport High School students, are heading to the Level 9 Eastern Championships for gymnastics at the Georgia International Convention Center May 7-9.
