RAPE CHARGES FOR NEW COLUMBIA MAN

Felony rape, and sexual assault charges sends a Union County man to jail. State Police in Milton were called to Evangelical Community Hospital the afternoon of Aug. 8 to speak with a victim for a reported rape that occurred in White Deer Township, according to northcentralpa.com.  Monday Ky A. Getz of New Columbia, has been charged with multiple felonies and remanded to Union County Jail on $50,000 monetary bail. According to SUN Gazette, Getz’s preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 24 at the office of District Judge Jeffrey Mensch.

HUMANE OFFICER CHARGES TWO LINDEN RESIDENTS WITH MISDEMEANORS

A woman allegedly admitted to owning eight of the 13 cats found in poor conditions at her home, according to a police affidavit. Candace Leeann Temple, 48, Linden, claimed ownership of eight of the felines and identified the owner of other animals as John Daniels, 50.  According to SUN Gazette, Humane Police Officer Shawn McMonigle filed multiple misdemeanors on both Temple and Daniels and their preliminary hearing is Aug. 25 before the Honorable Judge Jerry C. Lepley.

EVIDENCE IS GOING TO BE USED, BASED ON FINDINGS BY PRESIDENT JUDGE NANCY BUTTS

Three pieces of evidence, to be used during the trial of a Muncy woman accused of involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of her own daughter, were permitted by county judge. President Judge Nancy Butts denied a motion to suppress evidence gained from a phone search and a blood draw, in addition to refusing to suppress statements made in a consented interview with police in the case of Demsey Long, of Muncy. According to a media outlet, State Police accuse Long of being under the influence of amphetamine, methamphetamine and THC, which led to the death of her infant child in April of 2020.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHER RATES MAY GO UP, PENDING A VOTE AT THE NEXT MEETING

For 342 times during the last school year, classrooms in the Montoursville Area School District were without a teacher because of a lack of substitutes, according to statistics Superintendent Christina Bason. Citing a national teacher shortage, Bason said that the district draws from several sources in order to find substitute to cover the classrooms. Daily sub rates would possibly change to $90-$100 for the first 30 days and $110 beyond that. The board agreed that the increase should be placed on a future agenda for a vote.According to a media outlet, the next regularly-schedule board meeting will be at 7 p.m., Sept. 14 at McCall Middle School, 600 Willow St.

THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH LYCOMING COUNTY YESTERDAY

A brief — but powerful — thunderstorm swept through parts of Lycoming County on Thursday afternoon, blowing down numerous trees and snapping a few utility poles. According to SUN Gazette, the 911 call center, which handles emergency dispatches for Lycoming County handled nearly three dozen storm-related incidents during a two-hour period beginning about 1:30 p.m.“We had trees on wire as well as a pole and transformer down there. Residents in the upper end of Pleasant Stream Road were still without power for some considerable time” Ralston Fire Chief John Orr said.

A brief — but powerful — thunderstorm swept through parts of Lycoming County County on Thursday afternoon, blowing down numerous trees and snapping a few utility poles. Plunketts Creek Fire Chief Brad Stine reported that at least “a dozen trees” or more fell in his fire district alone. Route 87 from Barbours to Hillsgrove was closed for at least two hours due to several large down trees at the Lycoming-Sullivan county line, Stine said. According to SUN Gazette, Trout Run firefighters handled several emergencies related to the storm, including trees down on Lower Bodines Road and a transformer fire at Route 14 and Field Station Road, both in Lewis Township.

EMERGENCY FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING

The Loyalsock Township School Board approved spending $91,000 of emergency federal grant funds to upgrade the HVAC management system. A proposal from Siemens Industry, Inc. to migrate the building management system to a Desigo Optic Workstation was accepted by the board at their recent meeting. In addition, five policies, two which are new were approved. The policies were recommended for implementation regarding threat assessment. The policies approved cover weapons, threat assessment, hazing, bullying/cyberbullying and school security personnel. The next board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Sept. 8 at the board conference room, 1605 Four Mile Drive.

MASKING CONCERNS AT THE EAST LYCOMING SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

The East Lycoming School Board meeting this week featured opposing views from district residents on the issue of masking students. One concern was that COVID-19 remains a health threat and there are serious concerns with optional masking. Another concern was for the psychological damage that occurs as kids are forced to wear a mask all day. Board president Richard Michael noted that the health and safety plan will be reviewed on a regular basis and “adjusted as needed.”

THE PRESIDENT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS ASSOCIATION RESPONDS TO GOVERNOR WOLF

The union that represents about 10,000 guards in Pennsylvania’s state prisons told Gov. Tom Wolf yesterday it plans legal action to stop his effort to force them to get COVID-19 vaccines over the next month. The president of the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association sent a letter to the Governor Wolf as a direct response to orders from Wolf saying guards and some other state workers are required to get fully vaccinated by Sept. 7 or face weekly testing. Union president John Eckenrode told Wolf his policy announcement was “a slap in the face — and frankly, way too late because thousands of our members already have been infected, due to your inaction.”

KIDS’ UNITED COMMUNITY PLAYGROUND AT COCHRAN PRIMARY SCHOOL  PROGRESS

Progress on the Kids’ United Community Playground at Cochran Primary School is moving forward.  According to Dr. Timothy S. Bowers, superintendent at the Williamsport Area School District relayed that several workers are struggling to build the new equipment without assembly instructions provided. Bowers went on to say, “That’s a huge, huge project.” Ground was broken for the all-access playground in June on a plot of land on the north side of Cochran. The 9,400-square-foot playground, located closer to the school to allow for increased accessibility and lighting, will replace the playground that had been at the school.

LITTLE LEAGUE HOPEFULS ARE HEADING TO THE LARGEST STAGE FOR LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL

It appears as if four more teams are heading to the Little League World Series in Williamsport.

Honolulu Little League Team is heading to Williamsport after their latest win, Upper Providence (Oaks , Pennsylvania) has earned a spot, Taylor North Michigan and Sioux Falls, SD are also heading to play in the largest stage for Little League Baseball.

UPDATE ON DRIVER’S CONDITION

It was a motorcycle accident that sent an Orangeville to the hospital. On Aug 2 around 7:10 p.m. Pete Rose of suffered serious injuries when his motorcycle collided with a truck driven by Matthew Neidig of Hughesville on Rte 442  and Neufer Hollow Rd in Muncy Creek Township. According to a media source, Rose remains in intensive care at UPMC Williamsport.

UPMC URGING MASK, DISTANCE AND VACCINATE

The Delta, Delta Plus and future variants bring with them a laundry list of concerns and UPMC professionals continue to urge individuals to mask, distance and vaccinate. “We expect to see some evolution,” Graham Snyder, medical director of infection prevention and hospital epidemiology, said during a news briefing. “We are facing a pandemic that will be with us for some time. … It will continue to evolve.” According to SUN Gazette, Snyder stressed the pandemic could be with us years down the road. He added that while vaccines are not mandated at UPMC at the moment, the potential is still there for the future.

MASK PROTOCOLS CHANGING PENN COLLEGE

With the threat of the now dominant Delta variant, the Pennsylvania College of Technology has changed their masking protocols and now requires all students, faculty, staff and visitors to be masked, regardless of vaccination status. At Penn College, the new protocols went into effect Aug. 9. Fall classes begin at the college on Aug. 16. The masking protocols will be re-evaluated every two weeks, beginning Aug. 27. As reported by a news source, Penn College has no plans at this time to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for students.

MASK PROTOCOLS CHANGING LYCOMING COLLEGE

With the threat of the now dominant Delta variant Lycoming College has changed their masking protocols. According to an update sent to students from Dr. Kent Trachte, Lycoming College president issued a message to students, “All members of the community will be expected to wear masks indoors in public settings. This protocol means that everyone will begin the semester wearing masks during class. While more detail will be provided, you should be prepared with a supply of masks. The decision at Lycoming was made following a convening of the COVID Response/Advisory Group at the beginning of the month.

TRADING PROPERTY WITH LYCOMING COUNTY AND CITY OF WILLIAMSPORT

Following lengthy discussion and debate at their weekly meeting, Lycoming County commissioners voted 3-0 in favor of a land swap with the city of Williamsport which includes the county-owned Executive Plaza building and the city’s Third Street parking lot. Commissioner Rick Mirabito who voted against the land swap two weeks ago decided to change his vote, despite reservations regarding transparency and questions over the appraised value of city land. City council had already approved the issue. The swap transfers the land underneath the plaza building and its parking lot to the county. According to a report from SUN Gazette, the land on the parking garage owned by the county will transfer to the city.

LOOKING FOR BIDS TO PURCHASE NEW GLOCKS

The city reaches out for bids to vendors to provide cost estimates on 55 Glock handguns and related equipment for City police. Chief Snyder  wants to put the gun bid out and is using PennBid to find eligible vendors. According to a media outlet, the estimated cost is $57,000 for the firearms and associated equipment. The firearms with attachments were listed in the six-year capital projects budget with payment over two years. In other related action, the committee also gave a positive recommendation on a resolution authorizing an existing memorandum of understanding with the Williamsport Area School District. It is a new year and the cost went up to $317 per day, for the school resource officer service.

CITY MAY HIRE NEW OFFICER

Williamsport Bureau of Police may be hiring a 47th police officer, should City Council approve the hiring tomorrow. City Police Chief Justin Snyder asked City Council’s finance committee to recommend the hiring of Nathaniel Kendall, the newest candidate who will be done with the police academy soon, and prepared to be put on the street by Nov. 15. According to a media outlet, the committee gave the request a positive recommendation. In other related action, the committee also gave a positive recommendation on a resolution authorizing an existing memorandum of understanding with the Williamsport Area School District. It is a new year and the cost went up to $317 per day, for the school resource officer service.

GOV TOM WOLF CALLS TO STATE EMPLOYEES TO GET VACCINATED

Some 25,000 employees of Pennsylvania’s prisons and state health care and congregate care facilities have about a month to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or take weekly tests for the virus, Gov. Tom Wolf announced yesterday. Wolf said workers in those jobs — and all new hires at those facilities — have until Sept. 7 to get fully vaccinated. In addition to the Corrections Department, it applies to state hospitals, veterans’ homes, community health centers and homes for those with intellectual disabilities. Starting Oct. 1, all state workers under Wolf’s jurisdiction who prove they are fully vaccinated will also be given an extra day off of work as an incentive to increase the vaccination rate.

LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES TEAMS

Four teams have earned Little League World Series berths Lafayette, Louisiana became the first qualifier Sunday.  Wylie, Texas will be competing at the Series for the first time and also captured its first state championship. Texas fought through the loser’s bracket, winning three straight games to reach both the Southwest final and the Series. Stuart/Palm City became Florida’s first Series qualifer since 2008.  Finally, this is the third time since 2013 Nolensville will be playing at the Series.

SUNBURY SEXUAL ASSAULT OF CARETAKER

She was at his home to help and provide his daily living needs, a caretaker, when a Sunbury man allegedly sexually assaulted her in his home. Robert Weaver, 62, caused physical injury when he assault occurred, as reported by the Sunbury Police Department. Weaver, who is being held at the Northumberland County Prison in lieu of $200,000 monetary bail, was charged with multiple felonies. Weaver is scheduled to appear before Judge Michael Patrick Toomey on Aug. 10 for a preliminary hearing.

MONEY ALLEGEDLY STOLEN FROM CHURCH, USED FOR PERSONAL REASONS

A Sunbury couple, a Pastor and his wife, were alleged to have taken money from the church to pay for personal accounts. Gary Smith and his wife Cindy Smith, of the Calvary Tabernacle Church, allegedly appropriated nearly  $14,400 in church funds from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of 2017 to pay for various personal items that included Sirius XM radio, a Peloton exercise bike, and a kayak. The couple was charged with multiple felonies and released after they posted $10,000 unsecured bail each. A status conference is scheduled for Sept. 3 with Judge Paige Rosini.

DEATH THREATS LANDED SUNBURY MAN IN JAIL

A Sunbury man allegedly threatened to kill a woman several times in July. Alan Englehardt, 72, allegedly kept multiple firearms in his home. And,  according to a witness, who visited the Sunbury Police Department and handed officers multiple pocket knives. The accuser  claimed she has feared for her life and unable to sleep.  Englehardt was taken into custody and given $100,000 monetary bail for his alleged actions at the end of July and is being held at the Northumberland County Prison as he awaits a preliminary hearing scheduled for Aug. 10.

NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK

The River Valley Health and Dental Center plans to celebrate National Health Center Week, this week. The celebration’s goal is to raise awareness and understanding of America’s Health Centers, according to SUN Gazette.  As part of the celebration, a special activity has been planned for Thursday, August 12 from 9 a.m. to noon for its celebration of children and their families. This year is River Valley Health & Dental’s 10th year as an independent community health center.

STEPPING OFF THE LEDGE FOR A CAUSE

A local fundraiser gives you the opportunity to rappel down the side of the 192-foot-tall Genetti Hotel. Participants first raise $1,000 with the Over the Edge Fundraiser, supporting the River Valley Regional YMCA, YWCA North Central PA and the Williamsport Area School District Education Foundation … these groups have been working together with the Over the Edge fundraiser for the past four years to raise money for local programs. To date, more than 100 people have rappelled down high-rise buildings in Williamsport. The event is to be held Sept. 25.

INDOOR MASKING RECOMMENDATION FOR LYCOMING COUNTY

Indoor masking, for the fully vaccinated and unvaccinated, is a recommendation for Lycoming County from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention— as of Thursday. Lycoming County recently passed the CDC threshold of “substantial transmission,” which means the weekly COVID-19 case rate is between 50 and 100 cases per 100,000 people according to the county COVID-19 Hub. According to a media source, this, coupled with the CDC’s claim that the Delta variant is the “predominant” strain in the U.S. now, leads to updated guidelines.

SOJOURNER TRUTH MINISTRIES OPENS HOME

After three years of planning, remodeling and prayer, Sojourner Truth’s House of Hope has begun accepting its first residents. The house, located next to Sojourner Truth Ministries, can house up to 12 people. But, they say the plan is to start slowly with three women initially. Before being accepted into the program, the potential residents will be assessed. Devotions are a daily requirement for those in the program as well as weekly church attendance, either in-person or virtually and meeting with a budget coach weekly. The length of time a resident stays in the program is around six months or longer.

CHANCE ALUMINUM CORP MOVING INTO JW ALUMINUM PLANT WITH PLANS OF HIRING 100 EMPLOYEES

Plans are to hire upwards of 100 employees to work in an aluminum distributor, as they are moving into a plant on Trenton Avenue in Williamsport. AA Metals Inc., with headquarters in Orlando, recently acquired the former JW Aluminum plant and it will operate under the name Chance Aluminum Corp. According to a media source, the owner expects to start operations as early as October. For the next 12 months the company plans to generate over $100 million revenue.

GEISINGER SETS PATIENT VISITATION RESTRICTIONS AND MASK REQUIREMENTS

Illustrating Geisinger’s commitment to protect the safety of patients, visitors and employees, changes involving visitation restriction are in place. As COVID-19 cases increase, Geisinger will reinstate visitation restrictions and continues to enforce mask requirements per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidelines, beginning today. Hospitalized patients and patients in the emergency room are permitted two visitors only. For outpatients, one visitor is permitted.. According to a media outlet, masks must be worn (regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status) by all patients, visitors and employees in all Geisinger buildings and facilities.

OPIOID DISASTER DECLARATION

Gov. Tom Wolf failed last week in a push to extend the state’s opioid disaster declaration, while prosecutors ramped up pressure to ensure drug companies can be punished for their role in the crisis. The governor pressed lawmakers last week to return from their summer recess to extend the disaster declaration, which is set to expire in less than three weeks. The declaration — which grants the state certain powers to deal with the years long opioid crisis — only lasts 21 days since voters approved strict limits on the governor’s emergency powers this year. More than 5,000 Pennsylvanians died from drug overdoses last year, according to preliminary data from Wolf’s office. That’s a significant increase from 2019 and the most deaths in a year since 2017.

DECOMMISSIONING OF THE UNIT 2 REACTOR AT THREE MILE ISLAND

The decommissioning of the Unit 2 reactor at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant is delaying demolition of the reactor’s two cooling towers, according to a media outlet.  Frank Helin, director of the demolition project  told the TMI-2 Community Advisory Panel that the towers will come down in 2022 instead of this fall. The decommissioner, TMI-2 Solutions, company plans to start removing what remains of TMI-2’s damaged core by mid-2022. It expects to complete the entire clean-up process by 2037. On its website, TMI-2 Solutions says it anticipates the project will cost $1.06 billion. It says the trust fund dedicated to the reactor’s decommissioning contains about $877 million, but that fund growth over time will provide enough money to cover the costs.