MONTOURSVILLE AREA  HOME HIT BY FIRE

Several volunteer fire companies, along with city fireman, battled a two alarm blaze that was engulfing a home on Jerry Lane, off of Heilman Road, North of Route 864 in Upper Fairfield Township yesterday afternoon.  The fire was reportedly called in by a neighbor.  When the fire crews arrived on the scene, 50 percent of the home was engulfed in flames.  The blaze burned out of control for at least an hour.

COVID CASES RISE IN TIOGA COUNTY

Tioga County faces a drastic increase in COVID-19 cases according to a warning from the Tioga County COVID-19 task force. For the month of September the county has recorded 277 positive cases and a 14.7% positivity rate.  These findings are based upon Department of Health data.

DOMESTIC CALL IN LOYALSOCK, POLICE FIND UNATTENDED CHILDREN

While responding to a domestic call at the catch all self-storage at Commerce Park Drive in Loyalsock, state police discovered four children ages ranging from 7 to 12 locked inside a fenced area unattended.  John William Clontz, 52, of Muncy was charged with four counts of misdemeanor endangering the welfare of children after trooper determined he left them unattended.  Clontz is being held at the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $15,000 bail.  His preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 13^th.

106^TH PENNSYLVANIA FARM SHOW

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced today that the 106^th Pennsylvania Farm Show will run Saturday, January 8^th through Saturday, January 15^th and will be hosted at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.  The theme of the next farm show will be, we harvest more in 2022.

CHARGES FILED ON DRIVER OF MOTORCYCLE OF HIGH SPEED CHASE

Orangeville Police arrested Jason Dale Ruhmel, 41, who was operating his motorcycle at speeds over 100 miles per hour.  While on patrol, officers observed the individual pumping gas, when attempting to run the license plate, Ruhmel left the parking lot and after failing to stop the speeding motorcycle, the police terminated the chase due to a danger to the public.  Ruhmel had two active warrants and officers charged him with third degree felony fleeing or attempting to elude officers, flight to avoid apprehension, six summary traffic offenses, and careless driving.  No bail or preliminary hearing was scheduled for Ruhmel.

NEXT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER

The Pennsylvania College of Technology has announced James R Dougherty the Third as the next Executive Director of the Community Arts Center beginning earlier this week.  He takes over the position from Chuck Still who had been with the center since January 2020.  Dougherty has most recently served as Director of Computer and Media Services.  He looks forward to working closely with local community.

JERSEY SHORE SCHOOL PARENTS VOCAL ABOUT MASKS

A crowd of people calling for the unmasking of students highlighted action at the Jersey Shore School Board Meeting this week.  The meeting included parents of school children who claimed the masks are  harmful to students.  Others told the board they felt their rights were being trampled on by the state’s mask mandate.  The School Board in Jersey Shore did vote to support an injunction filed by State Republicans and parents seeking to overturn the state wide mask mandate for schools.

WILLIAMSPORT CITY AND TAX OFFICE MOVED

The Williamsport City Treasurer and Tax Office has found a new home in Williamsport at 100 West Third Street.  The new office entrance is on Pine Street directly across from the court house fountains.  The office has 15 minute parking available along 3^rd Street directly across from the M & T Bank Building.

STEP IN LYCOMING COUNTY

The Lycoming County Board of Commissioners approved funding for housing programs through STEP. Commissioner Tony Mussare voiced his concern for the reduction of funding for the, “Homes in Need” program.  The program helps seniors who fall within a certain household income.  The program was reduced from $300,000 to $225,000 this year.  Funding comes through the Marcellus Shale Activity in the State which has gone down.

VIDEO SCOREBOARD TO BOWMAN FIELD

A video scoreboard is on its way to Bowman Field.  The $630,000 videoboard is considered a win-win for the City of Williamsport and region. It was included in a list of stadium improvements that were to be paid for as part of the state redevelopment assistance capital program grant.  The grant was approved by Governor Tom Wolf and the State Office of Budget.

MASKING OF STUDENTS HOT TOPIC LATE FOR MONTOURSVILLE AREA SCHOOL BOARD

The Montoursville Area School Board was burning the midnight oil when they finally adjourned their meeting at one minute before midnight.  The board heard from many district residences, mostly on the issue of masking the students.  The nearly five hour virtual meeting included remarks from people opposed to masks and people who called for the resignation of board members and Superintendent Christa Basson.  School Officials repeatedly made it clear they cannot simply go against the state order without facing legal action.

DA GARDNER DENIES PROSECUTION OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN FOR MASKS

There will be no prosecution of parents or children for refusing to wear a mask at school. According to District Attorney Ryan Gardner in a statement last Friday, explaining the office had no business with the prosecution in these cases. “The Department of Health’s Order of Aug. 31, 2021 is ambiguous with respect to enforcement,” Gardner said. “The decision whether to mask any child in school is best made between the parent and members of the school’s administration and not the Governor, law enforcement or the District Attorney’s Office.” According to a media source, however, Gardner also stated the school district’s ability to give detention, suspend students or expel them from school, is still present without his prosecution. Gardner encouraged parents and students to remain composed, and that law enforcement may become involved for applicable criminal offenses.

LYCOMING COUNTY COVID VACCINATION RATES

Lycoming County still sits in the high level of community virus transmission, and its case numbers and  a vaccination rate of 45.2%, in the past week Lycoming County has had 258.61 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people, with a test positivity rate of 11.9%. Meanwhile, Union County, with a vaccination rate of 50.9 percent, has in the past week reported 282.71 new cases per 100,000 people, and has a test positivity rate of 10.1 percent. Finally, Clinton County, with a vaccination rate of 37.2%, shows in the past week 188.96 new cases per 100,000 people and a test-positivity rate of 7.03%. The state currently leads the nation with a 56% vaccination rate compared to a 53.8% vaccination rate. However, the state’s 7-day total for COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people is 207.7 to the nation’s 286.2. The state’s week-long test positivity rate for COVID-19 is 9.1% to the nation’s 9.14%.

SECOND WORK SESSION FOR WILLIAMSPORT CITY  ADMINISTRATION

The Williamsport City Administration and Williamsport City Council will hold a second work session on the American Rescue Plan funding at 7 p.m. Sept. 30. The meeting will be held at the Trade and Transit Centre II third floor in the Michael Ross meeting room, 100 W. Third St. According to Mayor Derek Slaughter, the city received $25.4 million, half of which it received in May, and the other half expected next spring. According to a media outlet, the money is specifically to be used for relief associated with losses from COVID-19 and, according to the U.S. Treasury Department rules, the rescue funds cannot be used to lower debt or reduce pension costs.

HIRING OF ACCESSIBILITY COMPLIANCE SPECIALISTS

City Council recently agreed to the hiring of two accessibility compliance specialists. Janetta Green was appointed coordinator for accessibility compliance and Mark Derry, accessibility building consultant. The city has about $20,000 reserved in the budget for their expenses, said Liz Miele, council vice president. According to SUN Gazette, once Green and Derry accomplish their work, Joseph Gerardi, city codes administrator, will be certified as accessibility coordinator. Green and Derry’s hirings are part of the commitment by the city to meet the consent decree it has agreed to in U.S. Middle District Court, to avoid a federal lawsuit.

SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM GRANT

A Small Community Air Service Development Program grant, in the amount of $950,000 was approved by the Williamsport Municipal Airport Authority at the last meeting. As was reported by SUN Gazette, the grants, awarded in August to small municipal airports, are utilized for funding air service and airfare issues. Airport officials are hopeful the money allocation will allow for improvements to attract another commercial provider to the area. In addition,  the Authority approved a one-year agreement with Midwest ATC, who covers the labor costs for traffic control service. The contract covers the airport’s labor costs for traffic control service. According to airport executive director Richard Howell the airport received $128,675 in CARES Act funding in August, bringing CARES funding to $1.35 million for the year and $3.4 million in overall allocations.

WOLF AND HIS MASKS MAY BE GOING TO COURT

The union that represents corrections officers in Pennsylvania prisons wants a state court to intervene over the governor’s recent mandate that they all get coronavirus vaccines or submit to weekly testing.The six-page Commonwealth Court complaint requests that the court issue a preliminary injunction to end mandatory testing unless inmates, visitors and outside vendors are also subject to the requirement. In addition to the Corrections Department, it applies to state hospitals, veterans’ homes, community health centers and homes for those with intellectual disabilities. Wolf press secretary Lyndsay Kensinger declined to comment on the specifics of the lawsuit but called the union’s opposition to the pandemic mitigation “extremely disappointing.”

RETIRING NUMBERS AT THE WILLIAMSPORT AREA  HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

A few pieces of history keep the Williamsport Area High School football alive in the hearts of young and old. Three retired jerseys, Larry Kelly (31), Gary Brown (28) and Natt Neenan (78) were joined by another on Friday night. Williamsport football welcomed Darrell Blackman to the field at halftime during a home game against Mifflin County. As reported by a media outlet, the 2003 Williamsport graduate — who currently holds the all-time rushing title for the Millionaires at 6,761 career yards — had his No. 2 jersey placed high among the elite four. An ovation from a packed stadium was for Blackman, who stood with the red board and his family. According to Blackman, “I’m proud of it, that’s a big accomplishment,” He continued.  “Now, forever, they’ll see that name ‘Blackman,’ that No. 2 jersey that’s sitting in the rafters.”

SCREAMING FOR HELP OVER THE TELEPHONE

Williamsport Police responded to a 911 call with a person allegedly screaming for help into the phone near the 2500 block of Federal Avenue on Sept 1. Police identified, Ciera Aaliyah Johnson, 21, of Williamsport as one of the women. Johnson allegedly punched the elderly woman in the face after she refused to take garbage outside. Johnson then began “beating” on the elderly woman. According to northcentralpa.com, Johnson was charged with multiple charges including felonies. Johnson is held at the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $50,000 monetary bail an upcoming preliminary hearing scheduled for Sept. 21.

DANVILLE POLICE RESPONDING TO POSSIBLE DEMONSTRATION

In a Facebook post made by the Danville Police Department yesterday, the department said it has received word of a potential demonstration in the Danville area today. “We appreciate everyone’s right to gather and air their grievances; however EVERYBODY’s rights must be protected;” the post said. According to comments made in the post, demonstration in opposition to the vaccine mandate at Geisinger is planned by employees.  According to a media source, today’s planned demonstration will likely disrupt the regular flow of traffic in Danville. The police department has offered tips for participants and community members: Parking violators will be ticketed and /or towed, do not interfere with emergency vehicles or block roadways, either impeding vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

STATE POLICE IN MILTON ARE LOOKING FOR THE SUSPECT WHO CAUSED DAMAGE TO A VALLEY RESTAURANT.

An unknown suspect caused damaged and cut power to a Valley Township business last week. According to State Police in Milton, a suspect went to the Hilltop Bar & Grill restaurant on Liberty Valley Road early the morning of Sept. 8, cut a phone wire and pulled apart a power meter base mounted to the exterior wall. Video surveillance cameras appeared to be tampered with during the incident, according to state police. There was no sign of forced entry at the building. According to SUN Gazette, anyone with information is urged to contact State Police in Milton.

CITY OF WILLIAMSPORT TREASURER AND TAX OFFICE MOVED TO 100 W THIRD ST

According to a news release from Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter, the City of Williamsport Treasurer and Tax Office has relocated to 100 W. Third Street at the corner of Pine Street and Third Street. The move stems from the water and air quality issues at City Hall, said the mayor. The new office entrance is on Pine Street directly across from the Court House Fountains. The office was previously the location of Sterns Café, The Transit Scoop, and most recently Derone’s Dynamite Dogs. The office has fifteen-minute parking available along Third Street directly across from the M&T Bank Building. According to a media source, the office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Office can be reached by phone at 570-327-7520.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Monday reported new COVID-19 cases across the state, Clinton County nine new cases, Centre County saw an increase of 20, Lycoming County has 57, 45 in Northumberland County, nine in Union and six in Montour and Snyder counties.