PROJECTS SET TO BEGIN AT WILLIAMSPORT REGIONAL AIRPORT

A facelift could be in store for the Williamsport Regional Airport with a price tag of $11.1 million over the next two years. According to Airport Executive Director Richard Howell, most of the prospected projects would be funded by federal CARES dollars. According to SUN Gazette, projects discussed in the recent airport municipal authority meeting include; sewer upgrades, tower rehabilitation, repaving of taxi lanes, roofing needs and runway improvements, with the largest ticketed item being the new maintenance building at a cost of $6 million.

TWO SHOOTINGS IN SUNBURY IN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF TIME AND LOCATION

Two people are in custody following a second gun incident in Sunbury yesterday, and according to police say they have recovered a weapon at a Seventh Street home. Sunbury Police Chief Brad Hare said the latest incident is not related to an earlier incident that occurred on yesterday around 4 p.m., also on Seventh Street. Hare went on to say the latest incident occurred at 8:29 p.m. and had police in the 600 block of Seventh Street. As of last evening police were still on scene and were conducting interviews on both cases. As reported by an online media outlet, anyone with information is asked to call Northumberland County 911 and Sgt. Travis Bremigen.

COVID-19 NUMBERS LOCALLY FROM SUNDAY

The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Sunday reported new COVID-19 cases statewide. In Clinton County 21 new cases were reported,Centre County saw an increase of 36, while Lycoming County increased by 29, 44 cases in Northumberland County, 10 in Snyder, seven in Union and nine in Montour.

TODAY LAST DAY TO REGISTER FOR NOV 2 ELECTION

State election officials remind voters today is the last date to register to vote in the Nov. 2 election; also that Tuesday, Oct. 26 is the last date to request a mail-in or absentee ballot. Information on registering to vote or update a registration is available on the pa.state.gov or you local county website.

FALSE IDENTITY TO POLICE ADDS CHARGES TO CRIMES

The woman arrested and jailed on charges of allegedly trying to set fire to a chair outside an apartment at the Victorian Gardens, 653 Hepburn St., on Friday morning will face an additional misdemeanor charge of giving a false identity to law enforcement, according to Williamsport City Police yesterday.  On Friday, when she was arrested, Tiffany Whaley, identified herself to police as Belinda Diggs. Already in the Lycoming County Prison on charges of arson endangering persons and related offenses, Whaley, 49, whose last known address is of the 600 block of Fifth Avenue, is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing before District Judge Aaron Biichle on Thursday. According to SUN Gazette, Whaley is jailed in lieu of $85,000 bail.

POLICE LOOKING FOR DRIVER/OCCUPANT OF HIT AND RUN

A sudden hit-and-run in Milton on Saturday night has police on the lookout for a missing passenger or driver. At around 8:25 p.m., a motorist hit three other automobiles in the parking lot of the Shoe Factory on Hepburn St. The driver then proceeded to exit the parking lot and strike hit a tree.  As reported by the Daily Item, although unconfirmed reports say the driver has been taken into custody, Milton Police are still looking for the second occupant of the vehicle.

HOUSE FIRE CLAIMS LIFE IN NEW COLUMBIA

A woman in New Columbia died in a house fire Friday afternoon. State police fire marshal James Nizinski reported 57-year-old Brenda Lee Reibsome died in the fire along Grover Drive. The home was destroyed. Crews from White Deer Township, William Cameron Engine Company, Milton, Turbot Township, Mifflinburg, Union Township, Pottsgrove and Warrior Run were summoned about 1:30pm.  According to an online media outlet, the cause of the fire is unknown.

COVID’19 NUMBERS RISING IN VALLEY

According to President and CEO, Dr. Jaewon Ryu, “We are not out of the woods.” Reports from Geisinger campuses across the region, hospitalizations are averaging upwards of 180-200 patients.  Ryu offered an update on the pandemic and took questions from the media in a virtual briefing Friday morning. According to a media source, he went on to report, the number of cases that Geisinger is treating is not decreasing as it is in other areas of the country. Currently, 95% of all Geisinger staff members are vaccinated against COVID.

NATIONAL MOVE OVER AWARENESS

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC), and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) are reminding motorists to move over or slow down ahead Saturday was “National Move Over Awareness” Day.

Pennsylvania’s Move Over Law requires drivers approaching an emergency response area who are unable to safely merge into a lane farther away from the response area to “pass the emergency response area at a speed of no more than 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit and reasonable for safely passing.” Failure to move over or slow down will result in a citation that carries a fine of $500 for first-time offenders, $1,000 for a second offense, and $2,000 and a 90-day license suspension for a third or subsequent offense.

OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR MEDICARE

-The open enrollment period for Medicare has opened for Pennsylvanians and will remain open for enrollment until Dec. 7. There are several outlets and places to get questions answered. During the enrollment period, new beneficiaries to Medicare are able to sign up for Prescription Drug coverage and health plans set to complement Medicare. If you are a current Medicare beneficiary, you can review and join,  switch or drop Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Coverage.

$450,000 TO PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

– Pennsylvania College of Technology is dedicating $450,000 by the  U.S. Department of Education’s Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success to support outreach to veteran students over the next three years. Funds are set for use to facilitate the development of new recruitment materials, training for faculty and staff, the creation of support teams for veteran students, and expanded orientation and outreach programs to increase enrollment and retention of veteran students. According to northcentralpa.com, in order to help with coordinating veteran services in the Major General Fred F Marty Veterans and Miltary Resource Center at the college, the funding will also support the new veteran services specialist position.

DEATH OF THE FIRST BLACK SECRETARY OF STATE

Colin Powell, the first black Secretary of State, has passed away due to complications from COVID-19. Facebook held the  statement, issued by his family.  “General Colin L. Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, passed away this morning due to complications from Covid 19. We have lost a remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather and a great American.” According to northcentralpa.com, Powell was 84.

STATE APPEALS COURT THROWS OUT LAWSUIT

Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports…. A state appeals court has thrown out a lawsuit challenging Gov. Tom Wolf’s vaccine-or-test requirement for prison guards, among thousands of other state employees in congregate settings.  In a Sept. 28 decision, a three-judge panel of the Commonwealth Court dismissed the challenge, brought by the Pennsylvania State Correctional Officers Association, which represents 11,000 prison workers, on technical grounds. The union had requested an injunction to block the policy. According to PSCOA President John Eckenrode, “We’re disappointed and disagree with the court’s decision.”  It applies to 25,000 state employees who work in state prisons, hospitals, centers for people with disabilities, and other similar facilities.