Trump Campaign Loss in Federal Court

Many PA officials are beginning to certify election results in the states, dealing another blow to the trump campaign. Currently the results as of now show Joe Biden winning by more than 80,000 votes. This comes after a ruling by federal judge. U.S. district judge Matthew Brann in Williamsport turned down the request for an injunction by Trumps lawyers, cutting down expectations of smoothly overturning the election results, citing that Trumps campaign presented a strained legal argument with speculative accusations.

Reading Women Assault Charges

Lisa R. Llewellyn, a 55 year old Reading woman is being charged with aggravated assault and public drunkenness after causing an incident at a holiday inn in Williamsport. Officer Brett Garbrick responded to a call of an intoxicated women with possible mental health issues at the hotel on 100 pine street. When trying to get her to speak with EMS she began getting confrontational leading to her arrest, where she kicked one of the police in the genitals and soiled her pants on the way to the car. She was put briefly in county prison, but was later released after posting her $25,000 bail later in the day.

Overdose Leads to Endangerment Charges

Wellsboro Police were called to the Nichols street home of 35 year old Jenna L. Kriner for a possible overdose. First responders arrived on scene shortly after the call was made, where officers Phillip Deveney wrote in an affidavit found 2 children appearing very distressed and worried at the back door.  EMS found Kriner on the floor and administered 2 does of NARCAN to revive her. When stabilized she was taken to soldier and sailors memorial hospital, and the children were taken by a family member . A preliminary hearing for Kriner is set for December 15^th where she will be facing felony endangerment charges at district judge Robert L. Repards Office.

PennDOT Funding Falls Short

PennDOT is facing a money issue in regards to their annual highway and bridge funding. A failure to keep up with rising costs of maintenance from federal funding along with an increase in fuel economy across the board from newer models of cars, cutting into the large portion of tax revenue made through gasoline sales in the state, have contributed to an 8.1 billion dollar gap that is crucial to maintain PA roads. PennDOT secretary Yassman Gramian is calling PA residents for public comment about their plan to explore sustainable transportation options intended to bridge the gap, and they are accepting feedback until Dec. 17^th. You can visit our website fo the link to the PennDOT pathways prgram, and give your opinion. Click here, for the page.

Baltimore Resident Charged in Williamsport

State police in Montoursville recently charged a Baltimore native at a fine wines and good spirits store on Wednesday. 18 year old Joseph Buttarazzi had the police called on him by a clerk working the counter at the store, when he realized the identification was fake. After a brief investigation, Buttarazzi was cited for carrying a false identification card and misrepresentation of age to secure a liquor, malt or brewed beverage. All the trouble was brought on by a mere $55.08 cents worth of alcohol.

Large PVA Donation From Weis

Weis markets has recently made a large donation of $800,00 dollars to the paralyzed veterans of America on Tuesday. The money was reaised in partly by corporate donations and an in store fundraising campaign in which shoppers were asked to donate while purchasing their groceries. This is the fourth year that wies has partnered with the PVA, and since the first year they have generated more than $1.5 million dollars in revenue for the program. For over 70 years the PVA has been working has been supporting the most injured veterans exclusively, and the PVA national president David Zurfluh has said that he looks forward to the next year with weis, as it has been a big help.

Sports

PIAA Girls 2A Soccer Championship:

Bloomsburg 1 North Catholic 0

Panthers win 1st girls state soccer title

PIAA Boys Triple A Soccer Championship:

Lewisburg 6, Deer Lakes 0

Green Dragons win their third

soccer title in the last six years.

Football – Double A Semifinal

Southern Columbia 42

Bishop McDevitt 14

Head Coach Jim Roth tied George Curry for most coaching wins in Pennsylvania high school football history with 455 victories.

The Tigers advance to their 6th straight state title game and will take on Wilmington next Saturday morning at 11 in Hersheypark Stadium.

Football – Triple A Semifinal

Wyomissing 44, Danville 14

MORE MOTIONS EXPECTED IN THE ELECTION 2020 CASE BEING HEARD IN WILLIAMSPORT
In the Election 2020 case that has landed in US Middle District Court in Williamsport, the case brought before the court by attorneys for President Donald J Trump, including Rudy Giuliani,  states that some voters in different Democrat heavy counties were treated differently when it came to curing ballots in Pennsylvania.  According to the Sun Gazette, defendant, Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar and attorneys with the ACLU, DNC and NAACP say it’s a lawsuit in search of a legal theory.  Judge Matthew W. Brann has given President Trump’s team through Saturday at noon to respond.  Giuliani maintains without a filing in court to support it that Democrats have created a scheme that favored president-elect Joe Biden in the most recent Election process that has been touted by experts at the highest levels to be the most secure in history.  Pennsylvania is set to certify state ballots this coming Tuesday.

LOCAL COVID-19 UPDATE
There’s a new record in the state for coronavirus cases, today at over 7,100 according to the Department of health.  Lycoming County has reported 68 new cases, Union County reports 43, Northumberland has 23, Snyder has 18 new cases ,Tioga County – 15.  Over 2,900 patients are hospitalized statewide, with over 600 in the ICU and over 300 on ventilators and 116 new deaths have also been confirmed

LEGISLATORS WORK ON NO-NEW TAX STATE BUDGET
Even as the Democrats in the state legislature voted in a way that showed they were not satisfied with  how federal coronavirus funds are being spent in the state, the House Appropriations Committee passed a main spending bill this week, and began voting yesterday on a no-new taxes budget.  According to the administration, the package authorizes nearly $11 billion in new spending, bringing the current year’s operating budget to $36.5 billion, about 4% above last year’s approved spending.  There is a projected $6 billion deficit, but lawmakers are using more than $3.3 billion in federal pandemic aid approved by Congress and transferring more than $500 million from off-budget state accounts.  Using the federal aid lowers the reliance on state tax dollars from $36.5 billion to $33.1 billion.

FLU SHOT CLINIC AT FAIRGROUNDS
Bloomsburg Fairgrounds will be the scene of their last community drive-thru and walk-up Geisinger Medical Center flu Shot clinic for the season this Saturday from 9am til 2pm.  Anyone age three and older can get an inoculation for free.  A limited supply of high-dose vaccine is available for those 65 years of age and older.  The address for the fairgrounds is 620 West Third Street in Bloomsburg.

EPISCOPAL CHURCHES SHUTTING DOWN THRU 2021
The Central Pennsylvania Diocese of the Episcopal Church, has announced that all in-person worship in the churches under the authority of Rev. Audrey C. Scanlon will be suspended until 2021. According to the Sun Gazette, the number of coronavirus cases in two counties where large congregations are has caused the bishop of the diocese to make the call.  All in-person worship and parish meetings will be suspended beginning Saturday.  Local pastors such as Bishop Jeremiah J. Park, of the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church, and the Rev. James Wooster, pastor at Pine Street United Methodist told the paper, they are remaining open for now but are also encouraging rigorous safety practices to mitigate the spread of the virus.  St. Joseph the Worker  will be broadcasting masses on Facebook and YouTube

SCHOOLS GO FULL REMOTE LEARNING
The East Lycoming School District is the latest school to decide to go to full remote instruction beginning today.  Officials from the district said that due to an increase in cases of COVID-19 in the Jr./Sr. High School, they will make the move albeit temporary at this time with a return to in-person instruction planned for December 1. There were two additional cases of COVID-19 reported in the District yesterday.  Students can access class information through their district email, or on the Sapphire Student/Parent Portal. Other schools reportedly moving to virtual; The Shamokin Area School District  will be full remote through Friday, December 4.  The Shikellamy School District reported four  coronavirus cases yesterday and will go online for the week reopening December 1.

ROAD TO OPEN NEXT WEEK AFTER ROCK SLIDE
After a rock slide closed the road, Route 11 between Danville and Northumberland is expected to be open next week. According to PennDOT, New Enterprise Stone and Lime, will be remove debris from the site through the weekend and should  beopen Tuesday. About 7,500 tons of rock was estimated to have blocked the highway last Monday and they say heavy rains contributed to the rockslide. A detour is posted in the area at this time.

SPORTS

NFL
Thursday Night Football
Seahawks 28 – Cardinals 21

NCAA football
Penn State vs. Iowa Saturday @ 3:30 in Beaver Stadium
Maryland vs Michigan St. Cancelled (COVID)

HS Football
PIAA Class AAA semifinals
Jersey Shore plays District 3 Champ Lampeter-Strasburg tonight 7pm
Winner plays in the State Championship Saturday, November 28th

HS Soccer State Championships
Boys Soccer

Undefeated Lewisburg (21-0) vs. Deer Lakes
Saturday 130pm, Hersheypark Stadium

Girls Soccer

Southern Columbia vs.

Greensburg Central Catholic

Today 11am, Hersheypark Stadium

Bloomsburg vs North Catholic

Saturday 11am, Hersheypark Stadium

PRESIDENT TRUMPS LAWYERS COME TO TOWN
Counsel for President Donald J Trump, Rudy Giuliani and others, came to Williamsport yesterday for a hearing in federal court to continue the legal fight to block certifying the state vote count.  After five hours in the courthouse, and a gathering of Trump supporters in nearby parking lots showing support with State Police nearby, US District Court Judge Matthew W. Brann gave the president’s lawyers time to file an opposition to the defendant, Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar’s motion to dismiss, until 5pm today.  In addition while reviewing the claims in the case in which 680 thousand ballots in Philadelphia and Allegheny Counties were in question due to a poll-watching irregularities, Judge Brann found that the Supreme Court had ruled 5-2 against the argument, negating the issue.  With the time to fight a  dismissal of the case, Trump’s team has been given until today to present evidence that Democrats were treated more fairly than Republican voters  which they maintain violated the equal protection clause of the 14^th Amendment.

WILLIAMSPORT FEDERAL COURT WELCOMES tRUMP COUNSEL, RUDY GIULIANI
State Police and supporters of President Trump lined the streets surrounding the Williamsport Federal Courthouse yesterday when counsel for President Donald J Trump, Rudy Giuliani and others, came to town for the hearing involving questions over 680 thousand ballots alleged to have been secretly counted without observation by poll-watchers, as well as an amended filing of the suit that electors were not given an adequate chance to have equal protection of their vote, a violation of the 14^th amendment of the Constitution.  Giuliani argued for US District Court Judge Matthew W Brann to not dismiss the case and allow more time to present evident, which Judge Brann did and there will be another hearing.  Judge Brann will consider the plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction and allow the defendant to counter today at 5pm in Williamsport.

NEW MANDATES FOR THE COMMONWEALTH IN THE FACE OF COVID SPIKES
Dr. Rachel Levine Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health held a press conference yesterday announcing more targeted efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania by implementing a mask mandate for all residents in PA whether in their home or not.   Dr. Levine’s order also says that those who are traveling between Pennsylvania from another state, must test negative for the virus within 72 hours prior to arrival. The order does not apply to people traveling back and forth for work or medical treatment. People who refuse to be tested will be required to quarantine for 14 days.  The state has no plans to enforce that measure at this time, but is asking for voluntary compliance. Levine said there are no plans to go with another broad-based shutdown.

LOCAL COVID UPDATE
Lycoming county reports 53 new cases of Coronavirus as of yesterday, Northumberland has 54, Snyder county reports 55 cases, Union has 15 and Montour reports 11 new cases.  Tioga County saw an increase of 23 cases as of yesterday.    Today’s COVID-19 total case count in Pennsylvania hit another record level – almost 5,900 There were 30 new deaths reported according to the PA Department of Health.

COMMISSIONER TESTES POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
The Lycoming County Commissioners has called for all of their public meetings for the Lycoming County Commissioners to be virtual now that his colleague, Commissioner Tony Mussare reported publicly that he tested positive for the Coronavirus ten days ago.  According to the Sun Gazette, Mussare tested positive and experienced minor symptoms, but had not been hospitalized – he had attended the last three meetings virtually.  However, a member of his family was  hospitalized, and is at this time in stable condition.  Mirabito also said county employees need to follow county directives to wear masks, to protect themselves and others.

MAN KILLED BY FAULTY HYDRAULIC RAMP
A man working for an excavation company was killed Monday in Lewis Township after a 500 pound hydraulic ramp failed and fell on him at a remote site off of Bodines Mountain Road.  According to the Sun Gazette, the Lycoming County Coroner said 50 year old Wayne Neureiter or Troutville in Clearfield County died instantly at the scene after workers there tried to free him from under the ramp attmeprting to resucitet him by using CPR.  The accident was not witnessed by anyone at the gas well pad near the Lewis-McIntyre township line on land owned by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Neureiter was employed by Lindemuth Excavating Inc., of Brookville in Jefferson County

NURSES GO ON STRIKE IN BUCKS COUNTY
Nearly 800 Bucks County nurses at a local hospital there went on strike yesterday over what they describe as dangerously low staffing levels that prevent them from providing high-quality care to patients. Represented by Pennsylvania health care union PASNAP, the union told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the staffing situation might only grow more dire through the winter.  Officials from Trinity Health, the Catholic health system that owns St. Mary’s, said it will hire qualified agency nurses during the strike.  The strike is planned to continue today, but PASNAP nurses will not be allowed back to work until Sunday because Trinity Health officials say that’s how long it takes to transition away from the replacement staff.

EAST LYCO PARENT EXPRESS CONCERN OVER REMOTE OR IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION
Parents in the East Lycoming School district heard from Superintendent Michael Pawlik at the school board meeting yesterday about how the school will handle the positive cases of the coronavirus that are occurring in the district while providing in person instruction.  According to the Sun Gazette, Pawlik said they rely on a team effort to contact trace, clean and keep proper distance in classroom areas, working closely with the department of Health.  During the public comment time of the meeting some parents questioned the schools measures like why they are not in remote learning mode. Other parents are grateful for the in-person instruction.  Palwik also said students have to submit a form if they are leaving the state and those traveling must comply with the DOH’s new mandate to provide a negative COVID-test upon returning to PA or quarantine for 14 days.

SPORTS

HS SPORTS STATE PLAYOFFS

Boys Soccer Double A Semifinal

Lewisburg beat Oley Valley 2- nothing

State Championship on Saturday at 130, Hersheypark Stadium
Lewisburg (21-0) vs Deer Lakes

Girls Soccer Class A Semifinal

Southern Columbia 9, Conwell-Egan 0

State Championship Friday 11am, Hersheypark Stadium 

Southern Columbia vs. Greensburg Central Catholic

Girls Soccer Double A Semifinal 

Bloomsburg 1, Allentown Central Catholic 0

State Championship Saturday 11am, Hersheypark Stadium

 Bloomsburg vs North Catholic

Girls Soccer Triple A Semifinal

Villa Joseph Marie 1 Selinsgrove 0……In double overtime

Field Hockey Class A Semifinal 

Wyoming Seminary 6, Bloomsburg 0

Field Hockey Double A Semifinal 

Palmyra 3, Selinsgrove 0

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT IN REMOTE INSTRUCTION MODE
Due to an increase of confirmed COVID cases and quarantines, the South Williamsport Area School District announced that beginning today,  Juniors and Seniors at the high school will be transitioning to remote instruction. According to the Sun Gazette, District Superintendent, Dr. Mark Stamm, said that in person instruction is likely to be brought back after Thanksgiving break if all goes well. A letter to parents was sent out with information about the shutdowns, and all updated schedules have been emailed.

TRUMP CAMPAIGN SET BACK IN PENNSYLVANIA AFTER JUDGE’S RULING
The Trump administration suffered setbacks in Pennsylvania federal appeals court after efforts were rejected to block around 9,000 mail in votes received after election day. The judge noted the “vast disruption” the nation faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Sun Gazette Judge D Brooks Smith said that every lawful vote must count. The plaintiff has since withdrawn an appeal. According to pollsters, even if the 9000 votes were determined to be illegal, despite the T5rump campaign would still not have the amount of 50,000 votes to win in PA.

HIGH SPEED CHASE ENDS WITH AN ACCIDENT
Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police engaged in an approximate 12 mile pursuit that began near Jersey Shore late Saturday night near the Limestone Washington Township line that sent two suspects to the hospital with critical injuries.  According to the Sun Gazette. A 26 year old Jersey Shore man was driving a 2004 Mazda 3 with a 28 year old passenger and when they were  traveling south on Route 44 lost control of the car, going off the right side of the road into the tree about 11:40pm.  One victim was transported by ambulance and the other flown to a Geisinger trauma center.  Police say the suspects may have thrown evidence out of the car along the way, there was drug paraphernalia found in the wreckage. Police reconstructed the accident and the identities of the two crash victims are expected to be released soon.

There is a detour in place after a rockslide closed parts of Route 11 between Northumberland and Montour County.  Both the north and southbound lanes are blocked with debris on Route 11 between Ridge Road in Point Township and Continental Blvd in Danville.  Motorists are to sue the detour in place using Route 147, Route 642 and Route 54.  Closures should be expected through this week.   IN addition, Mile Post Road is reported to be closed in the Sunbury area because of trees and wires down.

Police seized a very large amount of drugs from White Deer Township Tuesday including hundreds of bags of heroin, methamphetamine, other drugs and and firearms.   The suspects William Zwernemann and Kaitlyn Zechman were both charged with 12 felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, with intent to deliver. Zwernemann was remanded to the Union County jail under  $250,000 bail and Zechman remains in jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. Their preliminary hearing is November 24^th.

Sensitivity and diversity training has been proposed for Sullivan county school board members by the school District Superintendent and the president of the  school board after public comments about a rainbow flag and an LGBTQ display in the high school library came across as offensive and hurtful to community members.  According to the Sun Gazette, there was a joint statement presented calling for the training, so that the diverse student body in Sullivan Countycontinues to feel supported and be able to learn in a positive environment.  The next board meeting is on November 17th

As of Saturday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has reported 5,551 additional cases of COVID in the Commonwealth.  Union County led the new numbers with 44 new cases of COVID-19, Lycoming County reports 37 new cases, Northumberland County has  32 cases, Clinton reports 14, and Tioga County reports 19 new cases.  Geisinger Danville has the same 48 admitted patients with the viurs, 20 on ventilators.  Geisinger Shamokin has one new patient with COVID-19, for a total of 10 people admitted, two on ventilators,.  Evangelical Community Hospital has two new patients; 17 patients admitted, three on ventilators.  There are 50 new deaths reported statewide according to the PA Department of Health

Pennsylvania’s Gov. Tom Wolf  met with governors from neighboring states this weekend to discuss possibly coordinating new restrictions to help curb COVID-19 spread as a second wave of the coronavirus grips the region. Governors of New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont  as well as New York.  NY Governor Andrew Cuomo says the group was to discuss possibly coordinating more regulations on bars, restaurants, and gyms, as well as limits on gatherings and interstate travel.  No major announcements have been made after the summit..

SPORTS
NFL
Giants beat the Eagles 27-17, Steelers beat the Bengals 36-10, Cardinals over the Bills 32-30, Patriots beat the Ravens 23-17, Buccaneers beat the Panthers 46-23, Lions beat Washington 30-27, Packers over the Jaguars 24-20, Raiders beat the Broncos 37-12, Dolphins beat the Chargers 29-21, Rams over the Seahawks 23-16,

Monday Night Football
Vikings vs the Bears kick off at 8:15 from Chicago

GOLF
Masters Tournament at Augusta
Dustin Johnson shot a 4 under 68 and made the lowest score in tour history finishing a t20 under 268.

HS Boys Soccer
Lewisburg defeated Notre-Dame Green Pond in the PIAA Class AA Quarterfinals Saturday and will move on to play Oley Valley, Tuesday night at 6pm

Trump Administration Withdraws From Court

The Trump administration has had some major setbacks in court after a federal appeals court in Pennsylvania rejected efforts to block around 9,000 mail in votes received after election day. The judges cited the “vast disruption” the nation faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the sun gazette Judge D Brooks Smith said that every lawful vote must count. They have since withdrawn their appeal. Even if they proved the 9000 votes to be illegal, despite the ruling, they’d be at least 50,000 votes short of a PA win.

South Williamsport Upperclassmen Transition

Due to an increase of confirmed COVID cases and quarantines, the South Williamsport Area School District announced yesterday that beginning Monday, Juniors and Seniors at the high school will be transitioning to remote instruction. According to the sun gazette Dr. Mark Stamm, the district superintendent said that in person instruction is likely to be brought back after thanksgiving break if all goes well. A letter to parents was sent out with information about the shutdowns, and all schedules have been emailed.

White Deer Drug Bust

Police seized a very large amount of drugs from white deer township on Tuesday. 806 bags of heroin, 14 ounces of methamphetamine and three handguns. They also found several bags of multicolored pills, nine MDMA pills, 2 plastic bags containing LSD tablets, an unknown brown powder and plastic bags with suspected cocaine. The suspects William Zwernemann and Kaitlyn Zechman were both charged with 12 felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, with intent to deliver. Zwernemann was remanded to the union county jail with a $250,000 bail and Zechman remains in jail with a $100,000 bail. A preliminary hearing for them will be on Nov 24^th.

Lycoming County Prison Population and Data

The Lycoming county prison board met recently, reveling an increase of inmates. According to the sun gazette, the average daily inmate population has gone up to 245.59, from 235.37 in male prisons. As for the females, they have decreased their numbers slightly to 29.04, down from 29.27. They also revealed that their were no overcrowding inmate transfers last month, and that prison numbers have remained below capacity for both male and females for the time being. The next prison board meeting will be on dec. 11^th at 8:30 AM.

Airport Repairs

The Williamsport Municipal Authority approved DGR excavation and L. Robert Kimball to do some work for the airport at their regular monthly meeting on Thursday. According to the sun gazette DGR is getting paid $80,000 for some repairs that need to be made to the pathway beneath the passenger loading bridge. Executive director Robert Howell says that the asphalt is practically sinking and needs to be replaced with concrete.  L. Robert Kimball will be handling the removal of trees at the end of the runway.

Sports

MLB

Former New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden has been sentenced to a year of probation in connection with a drug arrest in New Jersey in 2019.He had pleaded guilty in August 2019 to one count of cocaine possession stemming from a traffic stop in June 2019.

NBA

The Golden State Warriors have presented an ambitious plan to state and local officials to reopen Chase Center in San Francisco at 50% capacity for the upcoming NBA season, which owner Joe Lacob believes can be the model for all sports franchises and entertainment venues to safely bring back fans amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

High School Football

The Jersey Shore Bulldogs Beat Crestwood in the quarterfinal game last night. With an end score of 26-14, the bulldogs will be advancing to the state semi finals for the second consecutive season.