MONTOURSVILLE TO RESUME CLASS FRIDAY
With the reversal of the decision to cancel extracurricular activities at Montoursville Area Schools after two students tested positive for COVID-19, the school board also voted early Wednesday after a marathon meeting Tuesday night to revise the health and safety plan for the school.  According to the Sun Gazette, the Montoursville school board said they will now reopen the school Friday after extensive cleaning and sports and other activities can resume.  The revised infection number that would require closings will now be 2 percent and be a building by building case.  As a result of the decision, the football game between undefeated Montoursville and Loyalsock will be held Saturday at 1pm. The game had earlier been earlier canceled.

LOCAL CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
There are 8 new cases of the coronavirus in Lycoming County with 968 as the countywide total.  Northumberland reports 10 new cases for a countywide total of 1,527, Union County has three new cases at 702 overall.,  According top the Pennsylvania Department of Health,  we’ve crossed the 200 thousand mark for cases in the state with 2,228 additional positive cases for 200,674 total.  In Pennsylvania there were 22 new deaths reported from COVID-19 with 8,718 total fatalities. 

PLCB FULFILLS REQUEST OF GOVERNOR
Following a request by Governor Wolf last week, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has waived $27.7 million in licensing fees for next year for businesses most affected by the coronavirus in a vote of 2-1.  The board forgave certain license fees for 2021 but a timely filing and renewal of applications will still be required to keep licenses currents and keep from being hit with late-filing fees.  PLCB officials said it’s the right thing to do to support  and ease the financial burdens of restaurants, bars, and gathering places in the state.

VIRTUAL FUNDRAISER FOR LOCAL THEATER
Ahead of Halloween, the Millbrook playhouse will feature a virtual fundraiser and Rocky Horror Reunion tonight at 7pm.  According to the Millbrook Playhouse Facebook page, the event is intended to raise funds for licensing fees and other expenses as the theater copes with the pandemic.  The members of the cast from the Rocky Horror Picture Show cast from 2019 will be gathered to participate with viewers in sing-a-longs and the chance to win trivia games.  Find Millbrook playhouse on Facebook or go to millbrook playhouse dot org to participate and donate. 

MIDD-WEST INSTRUCTION SHUT-DOWN
In person instruction at Midd-West High School is suspended for Thursday after a teacher has tested positive for the virus.  There are also six students who  have reportedly had symptoms.  According to media outlets, theres’s no word on whether the school will be closed as well, on Friday.  Midd-west Principal Thor Edmiston said  as more test results come back, the district will determine if there need to be more closings.

STRIKE LOOMS IN DANVILLE
With a possible strike starting Monday in the Danville area school district, mediation talks between the School District and the Danville Area Education Association will resume on Thursday night.  According to officials from the DEA the issues at odds are healthcare deductibles, and contract length.  If a strike starts Monday, it could last up to 15 days. However, the board did unanimously approve to continue athletics and extracurricular activities in the event of a strike. Both sides meet Thursday at 6 p.m.

NO INFO RELEASED OVER CASE ABOUT OFFICER SUSPENDED WITH PAY
No information will be released about the circumstances surrounding a former Williamsport police corporal who was suspended with pay last summer and has since resigned from the department. According to the Sun Gazette, Cpl. Eric Derr, who joined the department in 2013, was subject of a police internal investigation and city officials have not released information surrounding the case.  Police Chief Damon Hagan also declined to comment.  The police pension board authorized a pension for Derr at almost 27 thousand dollars. 

FREE FLU SHOTS THIS WEEKEND
Geisinger is hosting a community drive-thru flu shot clinic this weekend for anyone 18 years and older.  Drive-thru flu shots will be available this Saturday, Oct. 31 from  9am to 2pm on, and Sunday, Nov. 1, at The Lycoming Mall, 300 Lycoming Mall Circle, Pennsdale. The flu shots are available at no cost. Also available will be flu shots specially designed for those 65 and older, but supplies are limited.  There’s no need to preregister to get a flu shot, just remember to wear a mask and loose-fitting clothing that allows easy access to the upper arm.

SPORTS
NASCAR
Kyle Busch scored his first Cup win of the season Wednesday at Texas Motor Speedway at the race that was rained out for three days. With the checkered flag, Busch extends his streak of consecutive seasons with at least one win to 16 years. Martin Truex Jr. finished second. Christopher Bell had a career-best third finish, followed by Ryan Blaney and Alex Bowman.  Five playoff drivers finished in the top 10: Truex, Bowman, Brad Keselowski (sixth), Kurt Busch (seventh), Denny Hamlin (ninth) and Joey Logano (10th).

Kyle Larson will be back in NASCAR next season driving the flagship No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.  Larson signed a multiyear Hendrick contract Wednesday that ended his seven-month banishment from NASCAR for using a racial slur while playing an online racing game last spring. After the incident in April, he was fired by Chip Ganassi Racing and lost all his sponsors

NFL
Thursday Night Football
Atlanta Falcons head up the road to Charlotte tonight to play the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium with a kick off at 8:20
MLB
Major League Baseball says Justin Turner violated coronavirus protocols when he celebrated on the field with his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates, and he refused instructions from security to leave the field, risking the safety of others. The Dodgers won their first World Series championship since 1988 on Tuesday at Globe Life Field, where Turner was pulled from the game after MLB was notified that he had tested positive for COVID-19 following the 7^th inning. 

HS Girls Soccer
District 4 Class A South Williamsport defeated Meadowbrook 1-nothing
Today’s District 4 Playoffs
Boys Soccer Class AA  4pm games; South Williamsport @ Warrior Run, Milton at Midd-West, and Bloomsburg @ Lewisburg,  7pm game; Loyalsock @Wellsboro.
Field Hockey Class A
5pm matchup between Southern Columbia vs. Lewisburg @ Selinsgrove.  7pm game Muncy vs. Mifflinburg @Central Columbia.

SULLIVAN COUNTY SCHOOLS TO CLOSE FOR A WEEK
Due to a confirmed Covid-19 case within the Sullivan County School community, the School District campus will be closed until Monday, November 2. According to the Sullivan County School District website, classes were dismissed at noon Monday, and students are to continue schoolwork and follow the guidance within the packets given out in early October.  In addition, the Northern Tier Career Center has had a positive COVID case reported and are working now to identify who was within close contact and which individuals will require a 14 day quarantine.  Students and staff at the NTCC should continue screening for symptoms daily before coming to the CareerCenter

LANDLORD TENANT MEDIATION PROGRAM AVAILABLE
Thanks to funding through the federal CARES Act, a Landlord Tenant Mediation program has been launched to find solutions to issues that will arise as evictions become more numerous outside of a courtroom.  According to a press release on  The Lycoming Law Association Foundation’s website, interested landlords and tenants should apply for the mediation program as soon as possible since the program will expire at the end of November – even if a court case has been filed.  There is no charge if you qualify.  More info can be found here .

TURKEY SEASON TO START SATURDAY
Pennsylvania’s fall turkey season starts this Saturday, Oct. 31 in 19 of Pennsylvania’s 23 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs), with the return of a three-day Thanksgiving season which will be held in 12 WMUs this year will run Wednesday, Thursday and Friday instead of Thursday through Saturday as in previous years.  Fall turkey hunters no longer are required to wear fluorescent orange, but the Game Commission highly recommends it even when not required.  A link to the full press release from the Game Commission with dates for individual WMU’s in our area here.

VOTING DEADLINE TODAY
The deadline to submit an application for mail-in and absentee ballots is 5 p.m. today. Until then, applications can be submitted online at votespa.com or at your county elections office with a driver’s license or your Social Security number. People who have already applied but not yet returned their ballot can do so in person until Election Day, Nov. 3 is one week away.  Any ballots not postmarked Nov. 3 or earlier, or that reach elections officials more than three days after the election, will not be counted.

DOMESTIC DISPUTE ENDS IN CHARGES FILED
A 21 year old Bloomsburg man was charged with two counts of felony aggravated assault in the second degree after a police responded to a domestic dispute in which he spit on officers and later threw urine at a nurse while in custody. According to court documents a man identified as Thomas John J. Leahan Jr. was engaged in the dispute with a female at the 100 block of Honeysuckle court around 3am on October 2^nd when Bloomsburg police arrived, and they determined Leahan was to be taken into custody after he threw a baseball bat at them.  Police say he was taken for a mental health evaluation and later released on 50 thousand dollars monetary bail through a professional bail bondsman.  Leahan is due in court again November 4^th.

LOCAL COVID-19 UPDATE
There are 8 new cases of the coronavirus reported in Lycoming County with 950 positive cases to date.  In Northumberland,  there are 19 new cases, including one at a long-term care facility for a pandemic wide total  of 1,503.  According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health as of midnight yesterday, there has been a a two-day total of 3,073 additional positive cases of COVID-19 reported , bringing the statewide total to 195,695. With daily increases comparable to the numbers last April. In the same two days there have been 19 deaths for a total of 8,673 fatalities.

PRSION FACILITY HAS COVID OUTBREAK
SCI-Coal Township has reported a COVID-19 outbreak, reporting 96 active cases at the facility including 2 staff members.  According to media outlets, the Department of Corrections has ranked the facility at a level 2 out of a five level demobilization plan that requires sets of restrictive safety measures within the prison.  At this time,  there are 23 active inmate cases and 12 active staff cases at Allenwood and Lewisburg has four active inmate cases and one active staff case.  SCI Coal Township is also implementing more video visits in place due to enhanced quarantining

HOSPITAL TO RESTRICT VISITORS AGAIN
Geisinger hospitals are temporarily restricting routine, in-person visitation to hospitalized patients starting Monday November 2 in an effort to make sure staff, patients and the community stay safe from COVID-19. According to a press release from Geisinger, clergy and Doulas are part of the care team and not visitors, and that adult or pediatric patients with appointments at Geisinger clinics may still have one person accompany them.  Details on specific visitation requirements are available at Geisinger.org/coronavirus

SPORTS
NFL Monday Night Football
Rams beat the Bears 24-10

MLB
Rays play the Dodgers in Game 6 of the World Series tonight at 8:08 in Arlington Texas, LA leads 3-2

NASCAR
The NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race in Texas is still on hold until this morning due to rainy conditions that barely let up yesterday.  Sunday’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 was postponed after 52 laps with Clint Boyer in first position followed by Jimmie Johnson.

In Person City Council Meetings

Many people in government and private sectors are beginning to move past the initial panic of the covid crisis. Many are starting to ponder how to go about balancing safety with the publics right to address local government, and assemble. According to the sun gazette, the Williamsport school district has already done so after governor wolf gave the order to increase indoor capacity, taking the school board meetings to the auditorium where there is ample room to accommodate social distancing guidelines. City council may follow suit in the coming weeks. According to Randall Allison, Council president, many agree that in person meetings will benefit the public, especially when presenting the budget deliberations. A decision is likely to be made before thanksgiving on that matter.

Handgun Found On Felon

Hafiz El, a 30 year old a convicted felon, was taken into custody by deputies near the park on Memorial Avenue. According to court records they found a loaded handgun in his waistband. When questioned about it, he told them that the gun belonged to his girlfriend with whom he was meeting to give back to her. A different picture was painted when the serial numbers were ran and the gun came back under a different name.  He was sent to prison in lieu of a 125,000 dollar bail for carrying a firearm without a license and possessing a weapon as a felon.

Infant Ingests Marijuana Edible

Dylan R. Coble, a 21 year old man from Bloomsburg has been charged with child endangerment after he allegedly accidentally let an infant ingest marijuana. Coble, a legal recipient of medical marijuana, had purchased THC extract oil from a dispensary, where he later put them into chocolates. According to northcentralPA.com, during an interview with officers he said that he had left the chocolates out on the table while working from home, when at some point the infanthe was watching ate them, consuming around 10 milligrams of THC extract. He took the infant to the emergency room after realizing it was unusually groggy and not fully awake after a nap, where the infant tested positive for THC. He was released on a $10,000 dollar unsecured bail.

Route 287 Crash

Thursday evening a motorcyclist was injured traveling south on route 287, after swerving out of the way of deer in the road. Zachary Rogers, 44 of trout run, went into the northbound lane of traffic when trying to avoid the deer, where he hit a stone embankment on the side of the road falling off and injuring himself. He was taken by ambulance to the Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre for his injuries. His current status is unknown.

Sports

MLB

Tampa Bay Rays rookie Randy Arozarena became the first player to hit nine home runs in a single postseason after taking Los Angeles Dodgers starter Julio Urias deep to right field in the fourth inning of Game 4 of the World Series on Saturday night.

Astros pitcher Josh James underwent hip surgery and will need six to eight months to recover. Houston general manager James Click said Saturday that James had a labral tear of his left hip repaired Friday.

MMA

Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement ufc 254 in Abu Dhabi after a choking out his opponent just a minute and a half into the second round.

NFL

Antonio Brown and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have reached an agreement on a one-year deal, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday. Brown is likely to make his Bucs debut in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 8.

EAST THIRD STREET OPENS TODAY
East Third Street in Williamsport is expected reopen this morning.  According to PennDOT, the closure that was in place on East Third  because of the reconstruction project shared by the department, the city and Lycoming College, between State Street and Basin Street will be back to normal after 7:30am today.  The detour will be removed after the reopening is complete.

WOLF ASKS PLCB TO WAIVE FEES
Governor Tom Wolf will ask the Liquor control board to waive liquor license fees to provide financial relief to restaurants and bars, which have faced significant financial impacts during the pandemic. According to a press release by the administration, more than 16,000 Pennsylvania restaurants and bars, clubs, catering clubs and hotels would see $20 million in relief after waiving standard licensing fees through 2021 beginning January 1^st.  Wolf says he expects the PLCB will take up his request at its next board meeting.

MAN ARRESTED AFTER DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE
A Williamsport man is in custody after he allegedly attempted to strangle his wife in their North Market Street home following a domestic disturbance.  According to the Sun Gazette, police say Jesse Bean had tried to strangle his wife earlier in the day and then started a fight with Emily Bean about money inside the home, which later escalated to him smashing the windows of a car with a baseball bat while she fled the scene October 14^th  after 9pm.  Emily Bean was treated at UPMC Muncy for injuries, Jesse Bean was arraigned on aggravated assault charges and reckless endangerment.  He is incarcerated in lieu of 85 thousand dollars bail.

ANOTHER LAWSUIT ABOUT PA BALLOTS
There was a new lawsuit filed yesterday by four registered voters from Somerset County and a Republican congressional candidate that asks a federal judge in Pittsburgh to block the deadline extension allowing ballots that arrive by November 6^th  to be counted.  Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court, was divided 4-4, in a ruling that rejected an earlier Republican filing – the new suit has made a different argument, saying that allowing unlawful ballots is unconstitutionally unfair to in-person voters.  The Democratic majority on the state’s high court want to extend election deadlines during the disaster emergency.

SUSPECT IN SUBURY ARMED ROBBERY IDENTIFIED
A  homeless man who was the suspect captured in the armed robbery that occurred in Sunbury this week has been incarcerated in lieu of 250 thousand dollars cash bail.  According to court records, 42 year old Jamie Giffin has been arraigned under two felony robbery counts as well as other misdemeanors after he allegedly attempted ‘suicide by cop’, by fleeing the scene after stealing 500 dollars and not complying with officers as well as pulling a toy gun on state troopers.  Giffin was injured when shot after Wednesday’s incident at the VP Racing Gas station.

THEFT IN LOYALSOCK TOWNSHIP BEING INVESTIGATED
Seven hundred dollars in cash was stolen from a home in Loyalsock Township earlier this month and police are seeking a suspect.  According to North Central PA dot com, an unknown person forced their way into a home through a back door on the 400 block of Pearson Avenue sometime in the evening of October 17^th or the overnight hours of October 18^th, and left the scene in an unknown direction.  State Police in Montoursville are asking the public to come forward with any information they may have about the suspect or the incident.

LYCOMING CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
There are 8 new cases of the coronavirus in Lycoming County with 11 hospitalized patients, In Northumberland County there are 28 new cases confirmed as well as two new deaths reported from there.  A jump in numbers occurred in Luzerne County as of yesterday with an increase of 107 cases.  After a correction from a faulty data file of daily cases across the state sent to the PA Department of Health, as of yesterday the number is still one of the highest seen in the commonwealth at 2,063 cases – the statewide total now at 188,360.  30 new deaths were reported in PA, for a total of 8,592 fatalities.

COMMS OFFER NO-TAX HIKE BUDGET
A no-tax-hike spending plan for next year was announced by the Lycoming County Commissioners yesterday.  According to the Sun Gazette, the commissioners said the budget is being put together a little early this year for residents to consider it, and even though it contains a 23 million dollar deficit, that reflects the expenses of priority projects that they are working on at this time.  However, some projects were pushed back to give some tax relief to property owners. The expenses showing up in the overall budget include $9 million in bonds and $5 million in gas impact fees, or Act 13 funds, for funding projects.

SPORTS
NFL Thursday night football
Eagles rallied late to beat the New York Giants 22- 21, Continuing the Eagles 8-game winning streak over the Giants

MLB
Game 3 of the World Series tonight between the LA Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays – First pitch at 8:08 PM

HS Football
Backyard broadcasting high school football game of the week Dallas at Williamsport with a Saturday afternoon kick off at 1pm and coverage starts at 12:30 on our sister station WWPA or WILQ’s HD3.

HS Girls Soccer
Montoursville beat Mount Caramel 1-nothing, South Williamsport over CMVT 11-nothing, Benton beat Muncy 5-nothing, Warrior Run over Selinsgrove 1-nothing and Hughesville defeated Milton 2-nothing

HS Field Hockey
Lewisburg beat Mifflinburg 1- nothing

POLICE SEEK SUSPECT IN WILLIAMSPORT HOMICIDE
A man has been identified as a suspect in the death of Jimia Alston who was shot and killed in her Louisa Street home last week.  According to the Sun Gazette, an arrest warrant has been issued for 36 year old Antwan McClain who remains at large.  The mother of 5 children was found shot in the abdomen and lying inside her front door last Thursday night and witnesses say a man who may have been McClain was dressed in black and approached the home before the shooting.  She was transported to UPMC Williamsport where she died in surgery.  Police say McClain, the alleged gunman and a convicted felon, fled the scene and now faces several charges including criminal homicide and aggravated assault.  He is considered armed and dangerous.

FORMER MAYOR ALLEGEDLY ASKED POLICE CHIEF TO “FIX” PFA AGAINST HIM
Allegations have come forward after 2 police officers and a former police captain amended federal complaints that former Williamsport Mayor Gabriel J. Campana requested former city police chief David J. Young  help “fix” a protection from abuse order that was filed against him by his now, ex-wife.  Complaints were filed in U.S. Middle District Court by three other officers about incidents that occurred when Campana was seeking the Republican party nomination for Lycoming County commissioner, before Young was selected as the city police chief by Campana.  He said the allegations are fake news.

WILLIAMSPORT AREA SCHOOLS WILL STAY HYBRID
Williamsport Area Schools will remain in hybrid mode after a school board vote for five day a week instruction in person failed to get the approval needed.  According to the Sun Gazette, the school recently sent out surveys to district households and received almost 80 percent response of which over half indicated they would send their child back to in person instruction.  As of now, out of 3,870 students included, the number of students in the hybrid model were 1,845,  students in remote-model is 440 and a those who chose a combination of the two, 140.

BRUSH PILE GATE NOT COMPLETE DUE TO COVID DELAYS
A shipping backlog has stalled the delivery of parts that will be part of the new gate system at the City’s brush pile.  According to the Sun Gazette, the general manager of city streets and parks department, Adam Winder said due to COVID-19 issues there’s a delay and crews have not been able to assemble the gate that will provide more security allowing city residents to use a card key for entry.  The site at 1500 W. Third St will be accessible to residents at any time once the gate system is complete

FATAL PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT IN DANVILLE
An early morning accident in Danville in which a 28 year old woman was struck and killed while crossing Continental Blvd, the roadway was shut down for several hours while police investigated.   According to police, Gloria Hutchinson was struck as she attempted to cross the east bound lanes of Route 54 on foot from the area of a nearby gas station.  Police say the driver attempted to avoid the collision that happened around 7:15 a.m. in the area of Montour Street. Route 54 east and west were shut down for about two hours.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
There are 3 new coronavirus cases today in Lycoming County for a county wide total of 891 and in Northumberland County there are five new cases bringing the county wide total to 1,351.  There are four new deaths reported in Northumberland County as well.  Lycoming County has 7 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, none are on a ventilator. Montour County has 18 patients, 9 are on a ventilator.  As of yesterday at midnight, statewide, there were 1,557additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 184,872.  According to the PA Department of Health there were 33 new deaths in PA for a total now of 8,533.

REPUBLICANS FAIL TO OVERRIDE GOVERNOR’S VETO
The vote failed to override Governor Wolf’s veto of a bill yesterday that would have let restaurants reopen at full capacity in some circumstances, because the State House didn’t make the two-thirds majority.  The override failed on a vote of 133-69.  It would have allowed taverns and restaurants to operate at half of capacity, or more if they met state and federal social distancing standards or erected appropriate barriers.

NO STRAIGHT TICKET VOTING IN PENNSYLVANIA THIS YEAR
There are new considerations as election day approaches in Lycoming County. After legislation was passed a year ago that eliminated “straight-ticket” voting in the state to be in place for this year’s election,  voters won’t be able to fill in a single bubble to vote for a party’s entire slate, voters will have to fill out the ballot by individual lines.  In the 2019 general election, more than 726,000 voters in 59 Pennsylvania counties voted straight-party.  According to Lycoming County Voter Services Director Forrest Lehman, mail-in voting expected to reach an all-time high this election and voters are urged to take the time to read the voting instructions and as well as remember to sign their ballots.  Voting in-person at a polling place,  or mailing or hand delivering  ballots to the Voter registration office are the options voters have.  Details about ward lines and polling place locations are available at www.lyco.org/vote.

SPORTS

MLB
Dodgers beat the Rays 8-3 in Game 1 of the World Series.  Game 2 is tonight at 8:08pm
NFL
Giants and the Eagles play Thursday night football this week with an 8:20 kick off at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia
HS Girls Soccer
Mount Carmel beat Milton 6-2
HS Girls Volleyball
Wellsboro beat Towanda 3- nothing

HS Football
Harrisburg Cougars 41 Williamsport Millionaires 0

Next:  Dallas play the Millionaires

In the BYB Game of Week

Live coverage Saturday 1230 pm

Twin Valleys Talk Radio Network

HS Boys Soccer Tonight
Montoursville plays Jersey Shore at 4:30
Hughesville goes to Shamokin at 7 PM
HS Girls Soccer at 4pm today
Lewisburg is at Warrior Run, Line Mountain play South Williamsport and Benton is at Montgomery