PIATT TOWNSHIP FIRE DESTROYS CAMPER
A fire Thursday afternoon in Piatt Township destroyed a woman’s camper and its addition near Route 220 at about 2:15pm. According to the Sun Gazette, the unnamed woman who lived year round at the Susquehanna Campground will be helped by a local chapter of the American Red Cross after the property was completely destroyed by the two-alarm fire. It took Citizens Hose and Independent Hose shuttling water in tankers from a Route 287 hydrant and support from AntesFort, Woodward Township, Old Lycoming, Nippenose Valley and Avis to control the fire and extinguish brush in about 40 minutes. The state fire marshal determined the accidental fire to be caused by smoking.
COUNCIL ELIMINATES HEALTH COSTS TO SAVE MONEY
Williamsport City Council voted 7-zero last night in favor of eliminating health insurance contributions for council members and setting new salary guidelines. According to the Sun Gazette, without the healthcare costs and with the upgraded salaries – which haven’t increased for council members since 1972 – a net savings between 80 and 100 thousand dollars is created. Annually, the Council president will earn 10 thousand five, vice president 10 thousand, 250, and members 10 thousand which will start in the year they are elected or reelected with small percentage increases over their four years.
FETTERMAN CHECKS INTO HOSPITAL WITH DEPRESSION
Newly elected US Senator from Pennsylvania, John Fetterman has checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for clinical depression, drawing attention to the seriousness of mental illness and the priority of getting care. According to Penn Live, Fetterman has experienced depression on and off throughout his life, but it most recently became severe after his stroke in May while on the campaign trail and medical experts say depression affects one in three people recovering from a stroke. Fetterman’s doctors recommended inpatient care and he remains hospitalized on a voluntary basis.
PA LAWMAKERS PROPOSE LOWERING DRIVING AGE
Making an argument that the current driving age for teens restricts choices for employment, two lawmakers from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are proposing a bill that would lower the driving age in the commonwealth from 16 to 15. The proposal would only lower the age for a junior license and allow a teenager to be eligible for a learners permit at15 with the same existing restrictions; no driving between 11pm and 5am unless with a parent or guardian or involved in charitable service, and not to carry more than one passenger who is under 18. According to WHTM, West Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland have already made these changes.
SURVIVOR OF FATAL ACCIDENT WAS OFF-DUTY TROOPER
The other motorist involved in the fiery vehicle crash that killed a Troy area school district teacher last Saturday night is a Pennsylvania State Trooper who was off-duty at the time of the crash. According to the Elmira Star gazette, Troy school teacher Christine Woodward and Officer Michael J Brown collided at the intersection of Route 6 and Aumick Road, and Woodward’s car caught fire. Brown attempted to rescue the woman but the fire prevented it, he was then airlifted to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre where he remains in stable condition today. State police will continue the investigation.
WOOD-MODE EVACUATES FOR SMOKE ALARM
Employees at Wood-Mode LLC in Kreamer were evacuated from the facility this week after officials at the custom cabinet manufacturing company said hot ash found in the dust-collection system triggered the smoke detectors at the plant. According to the Daily Item, no fire was detected, so the sprinklers did not activate Tuesday around 10:30 when local fire companies responded to the facility and disconnected the pipe that contained the hot ash that was smoking. Employees only remained outside for about 20 minutes while emergency crews helped the plant resume safe operations.
LETTER SENT FROM SENATORS TO EPA ABOUT SPILL ACCOUNTABILITY
A group of federal lawmakers from Ohio and Pennsylvania have sent a letter to the EPA and NTSB about their plans to maintain accountability for the 53 car train derailment and chemical spill that happened in East Palestine Ohio, near the western border of PA. The spill has sickened residents and caused deaths in animals, with air and water quality of great concern to lawmakers and residents. According to a letter submitted by Bob Casey, John Fetterman, JD Vance and Sherrod Brown they are asking the EPA to hold Norfolk Southern transport company responsible for the cleanup of hazardous materials as well as compensation to the residents and businesses who were affected by the spill.
THON STARTS TONIGHT IN STATE COLLEGE
The largest student-run philanthropy event in the world is this weekend in State College. According to Penn Live, “Thon” is a 46-hour dance marathon to be held at the Bryce Jordan Center that has frequently raised millions of dollars in record-breaking funds which again this year will go toward the Four Diamonds Foundation. Thon starts tonight at 6pm through Sunday February 19th and participants will remain standing for the entire event, it will be streamed live at thon.org.
SPORTS
HS Boys Basketball
Mansfield 65 Canton 34
Wellsboro 75 Sayre 43
Girls Basketball
Williamsport 51 Wellsboro 25
So. Columbia 60 Line Mountain 34
Bloomsburg 51 Central Columbia 36
NBA
Bucks 112 Bulls 100
Wizards 114 Timberwolves 106
Clippers 116 Suns 107
NHL
Kraken 6 Flyers 2
Hurricane 6 Canadiens 2
Blue Jackets 3 Jets 1
Panther 6 Capitals 3
Bruins 5 Predators 0
Red Wings 5 Flames 2
Blues 4 Devils 2
Golden Knights 2 Sharks 1
NCAA Men’s Basketball
Houston 80 SME 65
Maryland 68 Purdue 54
UCLA 73 Stanford 64
Arizona 88 Utah 62
Gonzaga 108 Loyola Marymount 65
St Mary’s 62 San Diego 59
Middle Tenn. 74 Florida Atlantic 70
NASCAR
Pulling in the wins at the Blue Green Vacations duels last night at Daytona, it was Joey Logano in Duel 1 and Eric Almirola in Duel 2 with the Daytona 500 looming on Sunday starting at 1:30 on the Twin Valley’s Talk Radio Network
