HOSPITAL SYSTEM OVERWHELMED WHEN VACCINE HOTLINE OPENED
Lewisburg’s Evangelical Community Hospital was overwhelmed by phone calls earlier this week after they announced an opportunity for those eligible to get COVID-19 vaccines.  According to the Sun Gazette, after the phone line opened for scheduling of Phase 1A residents on Monday at 8am the system was overwhelmed by noon.  Evangelical Community Hospital’s communications manager said that they were able to physically answer 1700 calls by Monday afternoon and that unfortunately some calls went unanswered.  The hospital system said anyone who made an appointment is urged to keep it.  The state allocated Evangelical Community Hospital almost 3,000 Pfizer vaccine doses and 800 Moderna vaccine doses.

WOMAN FALLS ASLEEP IN DRIVE-THRU LINE
A West Milton woman was arrested for DUI after police came to a fast food restaurant where she had fallen asleep behind the wheel in the drive-thru line.  According to North Central PA dot com, Pennsylvania State police were called to the McDonalds on Westbranch Highway January 10^th for a possible crash into a building, but found 51 year old Michelle Maxwell sleeping in the car and determined that she was allegedly intoxicated.  Charges were filed in Lewisburg District Court.

LAND DEVELOPMENT PLAN APPROVED FOR LOYALSOCK TOWNSHIP
Loyalsock Township supervisors and representatives from Texas Roadhouse Restaurant met this week and approved a land development plan for the former site of Ruby Tuesday’s on East Third Street in Williamsport.  According to the Sun Gazette a land development plan was conditionally approved so that Larson Design Group can supervise stormwater management for the site, which will include a retention pond that the township agreed to install behind the site. Opening of the new restaurant is planned for 2022 .

LIBRARY OPENING AFTER COVID EASES
Union County libraries have made an announcement that they have adjusted the level of services to the community in response to  the pandemic.  According to the Marketing Coordinator of the Union County Library System, on February 1, browsing the collection and making an appointment to use a computer will be available at two libraries, Herr Memorial Library in Mifflinburg and West End Library in Laurelton. Construction and renovation at the Public Library for Union County in Lewisburg, will keep that facility only offering lobby pick-up services.  Specifics hours and details are available at UnionCountyLibraries.org/reopen

PA SENATOR SAYS IMPEACHMENT IS PERMISSIBLE
U.S. Senator Pat Toomey from Pennsylvania has told media outlets that it is constitutionally permissible for the U.S. Senate to hold the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. According to a statement this week, Senator Toomey says there are legal and constitutional arguments both favoring and opposing a US Senate trial.When the trial begins February 9, Toomey says he to consider the arguments made by his lawyers and the house managers.

COPVID UPDATE
Lycoming County has had 63 new cases of the coronavirus  as of yesterday, Northumberland county reports 86, Union County has 31, Snyder has 35 and Montour has 32.  The Pennsylvania Department of Health reports there were 5,874 additional positive cases of COVID-19 reported yesterday and  222 new deaths due to COVID-19. Statewide hospitalizations are now down to over 3,700.  Of those patients, over 700 are in an ICU and over 400 are on ventilators. Lycoming has 38 COVID-19 patients hospitalized and 2 on ventilators

FLOOD CONTROL WEBSITE UPGRADED
There is a new tool available for Sunbury residents concerned about flood control.  According to the Daily Item, the Sunbury Municipal Authority flood control website has been  revamped for a more community-friendly experience featuring real-time radar.  According to department manager Jeff Lewis, sunburyfloodcontrol.com has  real-time Shamokin creek elevations where Route 61 crosses the creek at Zimmerman’s Motors.  Much of the data from the site is compiled from the National WEeather Service, but the weather and river forecast is from the department’s own program, Emergency Managers Weather Information Network. Residents will be able to log in and monitor weather events any time.

CDL WAIVER AVAILABLE FOR SOME VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY
PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs announced this week that a new Pennsylvania law waives the requirement for Pennsylvania residents who are current and former military members and who operated a commercial vehicle as part of their duties, to take a CDL  Knowledge Test when applying for a CDL. Previous legislation –established a waiver of the CDL skills test for these individuals.  The waiver applies to CDL applicants who wish to operate vehicles similar to those they operated in the military, but Doubles, triples and school bus endorsements cannot be waived under this program.  Military personnel and veterans interested in taking advantage of the CDL skills and knowledge test waivers can get details at  www.dmv.pa.gov.

SPORTS

HS Boys Basketball
Montoursville beat Northwest 56-20, Danville beat Selinsgrove 69-48, Central Columbia defeated Hughesville 60-43, Northeast Bradford beat Wellsboro 59-24 HS Girls Basketball
Millville beat Montgomery 40-24, Athens over N. Penn Liberty 63-16, Bucktail beat Columbia Montour 39-36, Wyaulsing beat Cowanesque Valley  50 -29
Boys Varsity Wrestling
Athens defeated Towanda 54-18

NBA
76ers beat the Lakers 107 to 106, the Nets beat the Hawks 132 to 128, Cavaliers defeated the Pistons 122 to 107, Pacers beat the Hornets 116 to 106, Kings beat Magic 121 to 107, Nuggets over Heat 109 to 82, Bucks beat the Raptors 115 to 108, the Spurs over the Celtics 110 to 106, The Pelicans beat the Wizards 124 to 106, Thunder beat Suns 102 to 97, Jazz over the Mavericks 116 to 104, Warriors beat the Timberwolves 123 to 111, Bulls and Grizzlies were postponed

NHL
Predators beat the Blackhawks 2 to 1, Canucks over the Senators 5 to 1

Super Bowl LV (55)
Sunday, February 7 at 6:30 PM on CBS at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay Florida, Kansas City Chiefs vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

HARRISBURG WOMAN CHARGED WITH STEALING LAPTOP RELEASED TO CUSTODY OF HER MOTHER
The Pennsylvania woman who was charged with stealing a laptop from the US Capitol during the January 6^th riots in Washington DC was released from prison into the custody of her mother late yesterday until her court appearance in federal court Monday. According to media outlets, 22 year old Riley June Williams turned herself in earlier this week for the theft, obstruction and trespassing charges.  A Virginia-based FBI agent said Williams was recorded on closed-circuit cameras in the Capitol going into and coming out of Nancy Pelosi’s office.  Williams will be under electronic monitoring, she has no prior criminal record.

SCHOOL DISTRICT AUDIT TURNS OUT POSITIVE
The results of the audit of the Williamsport Area School District determined that the district is in good shape financially despite the pandemic circumstances.  According to the Sun Gazette representatives of Baker Tilly conducted the final audit for the district said even with the unprecedented situation caused by the health crisis, expenditures from the date of closure until the end of the school year that just were not incurred because schools were shutdown, so the the 2019-20 fiscal year was actually a good one for most school districts.

MIDDLEBURG TO GET NEW WATER SYSTEM
The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority or PENNVEST will fund a new infrastructure upgrade for Middleburg’s water system.  The Middleburg Municipal Authority received $555,000 in grant money, and over $4 million in low interest loans to replace old cast iron and asbestos cement, iron piping, and replace the old reservoir with a 290,000 gallon concrete storage tank.  According to the authority, there will be meter and control upgrades and water pressure may improve after the installation of a steel standpipe tank.   PENNVEST offers grants and loans assisting municipalities with important water projects.

VACCINATIONS IN HIGH DEMAND
Geisinger Medical Center and other local entities are working hard to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine with an allocation of doses that has yet to match the demand from local residents seeking to be vaccinated.  According to the hospital system media relations, people in the Phase 1A groups including people over 65, and those with high-risk medical conditions can schedule an appointment at any of the health system’s community-based vaccine centers online.  It’s required to receive both vaccine doses at the same location and both appointments are scheduled at the same time.  Anyone who is 18 or older can call 570-284-3657 to set up a MyGeisinger account.

WILLIAMSPORT PROPERTIES GET ATTENTION
There was a virtual public hearing this week in Williamsport that resulted in listing Williamsport city property as blighted and will allow the owners more time to complete a rehabilitation of the properties at 510 Rural Ave. and 928 High St. in the city. The four member board chaired by Patrick Marty decided the owner of the blighted property on High St. gets 9 months to make improvements, but the owner of the 510 Rural Ave., property was not at the meeting, so according to the Sun Gazette, Joseph Gerardi, city codes administrator said the house can be seized and either razed or sold to a developer to rehabilitate.  The High St. property will be revisited by codes inspection in nine months and the report turned over to the committee.

COVID UPDATE
The Pennsylvania Department of Health said  there were 5,664 additional positive cases of COVID-19 as of yesterday , and state is reporting 260 new deaths today, which takes PA across a milestone number of fatalities, 20,128 since the pandemic began. Lycoming County has 63 new cases reported, Northumberland has 40, Union County has 30, and Montour has 19.  The COVID Tracking Project reports that Pennsylvania’s seven-day average of deaths reported hit its highest point in the pandemic earlier this month, but  the numbers of patients in hospitals and intensive care units have continued to drop throughout January,

YOUTH SERVICE AGREEMENT APPROVED IN LYCO
The Lycoming County Commissioners voted this week to approve several youth agreements in the county.   According to the Sun Gazette,  Lycoming County Children & Youth Services Director Mark Egly said costs have increased by 2 percent from 2020, and range from $78.79 per day to $315.21 per day.  The contract approved with Adelphoi Village, Inc. to cover foster care and residential care services.  Contracts with Justice Works YouthCare, Inc. and Dwell Lycoming County were also approved.

BUCKNELL EDUCATORS INVOLVED IN SPACE DISCOVERIES
Local college educators and researchers are part of an international team making strides in Astrophysics.  According to the Daily Item,  Bucknell physics and astronomy professor Katelyn Allers and postdoctoral researcher Blake Pantoja have  elped  discover a new, low-mass binary planetary system located 450 light years from Earth.  They recently released a study in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.   The system is named Oph 98.

SPORTS

NBA
Lakers beat the Bucks 113 to 106, Jazz beat the Pelicans 129 to 118, Knicks beat the Warriors 119 to 104,
Tonight NBA
Nets play the Cavaliers in Cleveland and the 76ers and the Celtics tip off in Philly at 7:30, the Knicks and the Kings are in Sacramento at 10 PM Eastern.

NHL
Bruins beat the Flyers 5-4, Islanders beat the Devils 4-1, Lightning over the Blue Jackets 3-2, Jets beat the Senators 4-1, Canadians beat the Canucks 7-3, Kings over Avalanche 4-2, Panthers and Hurricanes were postponed.

NFL
The Conference Championships are  Sunday at 3:05pm between the Buccaneers and the Packers, the Bills play the Chiefs at 6:40pm

HS Boys Basketball
Williamsport beat Altoona 67-43, Northumberland Christian over Bucktail 65-33
HS Girls Basketball
Selinsgrove beat Jersey Shore 57-22, Towanda beat Cowanesque Valley 55-19 , Wyalusing beat North Penn Liberty 55-43, Troy beat Canton 37-16, Athens beat Williamson 62-23
HS Wrestling
Montgomery defeated South Williamsport 61-6

NEW RESTAURANT BEING BROUGHT TO GOLDEN STRIP NEXT YEAR
The land where the former Ruby Tuesday’s was located in Loyalsock TownShip is expected to be the new location for a soon to be built Texas Roadhouse Restaurant.  At this time, according to the Sun Gazette, the township supervisors have yet to review and approve the land development plan, which will start the process of working with the landlord to get the proper permits to demolish the existing building on East Third St.  A Texas Roadhouse Restaurant spokesman said the opening date will be sometime in 2022.

VIDEO SCOREBOARD COMING FOR BOWMAN FIELD
Bids were officially opened this week as City officials seek to install a future video scoreboard at Bowman Field.  According to the Sun Gazette, city engineer, Jon Sander opened the bids in a virtual meeting that was originally delayed due to technical issues, but included offers from TSI, Lundy Construction, Daktronics and Samsung which will now be reviewed by the Larson Design Group.  The $1.2 million state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project grant will pay for the video scoreboard project and was obtained through application to the Office of Budget of Gov. Tom Wolf by the former city administration.

COVID PUBLIC HEALTH CAMPAIGN
The First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania (FCFP), a collaboration of UPMC, The Evangelical Community Hospital and Geisinger Medical Center has joined together to launch a public health campaign aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19 with the theme, “FCFP brought us together. To keep you apart.”  They say individual behaviors – not healthcare organizations – will determine how long this pandemic continues to impact our region. The campaign will appear on billboards and video ads through social media and YouTube.

MLK, JR DAY TODAY
It’s Martin Luther King Jr Day today and members of who he called the Beloved Community will be working together this week during “Dream Week” in Williamsport.  Local Churches and groups organized an effort last year to bring awareness to racial injustice as well as reminding all that they are are equally loved and valued.  The theme for Dream Week in Williamsport in 2021 is “Better Together” and events for the week at Penn College can be found at https://pctoday.pct.edu/  planned in co-operation with STEP AmeriCorps, Penn College, Lycoming College and the Beloved Community Council

LOCAL COVID UPDATE
Lycoming County has 63 new cases of the coronavirus reported by the PA Department of Health.  Northumberland County has 47 new cases, Union has 34 new cases, Montour has 23 new cases, and Snyder has 18 new cases.. Statewide, 7,166 new cases have been confirmed and 231 new deaths were reported   Statewide hospitalizations have decreased a third straight day, down to over 4,700 now being reported– of those patients, just under 600 are on ventilators.

STATE TROOPERS TO COLLECT PROFILE DATA
If you’re stopped by a Pennsylvania State Troopers this year they will be collecting data to include your age, gender, race and ethnicity in a new program meant to identify potential patterns of racial bias in policing.  Troopers will also record how long the traffic stop lasted, if your car was searched, as well as the results of that search.  Once the year of data is collected it will be send to the University of Cincinnati to be analyzed.  A similar data reporting program quietly ended after 2011 and state lawmakers have been working to reinstate it.

SCAMMERS CALLING ABOUT AMAZON OR FED EX
The Montoursville Police Department is advising the public that there are fraudulent calls coming from someone saying they are from Amazon or Fed Ex reported in our area.  The criminals are claiming that there is a problem with the victim’s account in the Amazon case and the Fed Ex scam claims they need a signature for a package but police say they are investigating when victims will and won’t be home.  Police say not to return the call, engage in a conversation, or give any personal information to strangers who call you.

GEISINGER HAS VACCINATED 20 THOUSAND PEOPLE SO FAR
Sources at the Geisinger Medical Center report a health care milestone of 20,000 vaccinations has been reached. Of the 20,000 doses of vaccines provided so far, more than 16,000 were first doses, 14,000 of which were for employees.  They said about 60% of the health system’s employees are vaccinated. Geisinger says they complied with the mandate that at least 10% of its first doses go to non-Geisinger healthcare personnel in the state’s Phase 1A groups.  Second dose vaccinations for employees began January 6 and nearly 4,000 employees are now fully vaccinated.

SPORTS
NFL
This weekend’s NFL Divisional Playoffs in the NFC – Packers beat the Rams 30 to 18 and Buccaneers beat the Saints last night 30 to 20, Bills beat the Ravens 17 -3 in the AFC and the Chiefs beat the Browns 20 to 17
The Conference Championship is next Sunday at 3:05 between the Buccaneers and the Packers, the Bills play the Chiefs at 6:40 PM
NBA
Knicks beat the Celtics 105 to 75, the Bulls beat the Mavericks 117 to 101, Jazz beat the Nuggets 109 to 105, Pelicans beat the Kings 128 to 123, Clippers beat the Pacers 129 to 96, Cavaliers and Wizards, and 76ers and Thunder were postponed.
College basketball Sunday
Men’s
Purdue beat Penn State 80 to 75,
Women’s
Bucknell beat Lehigh 80 to 66, and #22 Northwestern defeated Penn State 67-50

HS Boys BBall Saturday: St John Neumann over Millville 76-42, Williamsport 57 beat McCaskey 44, Loyalsock over Tyrone 78-71, Muncy over CMVT 73-38, Montoursville over Benton 56-34, South over Northwest  52-29, Mount Carmel over Hughesville 65-54, Mifflinburg over Montoursville 68-63, Danville defeats Lewisburg 61-25, NPL over CV 70-38 Warrior Run defeated Midd-West 69-50

HS Girls BBall Saturday Athens over Wellsboro 28-22, Towanda over NPL 59-26 Troy defeated Williamson 27-22, Canton over NPM 44-26

Today HS Basketball
HS boys basketball
Wellsboro at Canton at 6 PM in North Penn Mansfield at Wyalusing@6, Central Mountain at Milton, Lewisburg at Central Columbia, Montoursville at St Joseph’s, and Loyalsock at Williamsport @ 7:30
HS Girls Muncy at Lewisburg, Williamson at Cowanesque Valley, Jersey Shore at Williamsport @ 7:30
HS Wrestling Bloomsburg comes to Southside @7

NO INJURIES IN BARN FIRE
There were no injuries reported after a family’s barn caught fire yesterday morning in Cascade Township. According to the Sun Gazette, the owner of the Rose Valley Road home said she awoke to the dog barking early Wednesday and then saw the glow of the fire on the property.   The woman, who is 6 months pregnant, drove to a neighbor’s house to call 911 since there was no phone service there.  The two humans, and a dog plus the six goats who were penned behind the insured storage structure that burned, were unharmed.  Firefighters from six departments responded and the Trout Run Fire Chief said the fire was extinguished before 5:30 am Wednesday.

SHIKELLAMY GOES REMOTE AFTER 4TH POSITIVE TEST
A fourth positive COVID test in 14 days at Shikellamy High School will shut down the school building for the rest of this week.  According to the Daily Item, Superintendent Jason Bendle said the closure effects the High School – not the other schools in the district.  Students will return to class next Tuesday since Monday is an Act 80 day and students have no academic responsibilities.  Lunches for In-Person, Virtual, and Remote Students will be available outside the cafeteria lobby today and tomorrow from 1:00 – 1:30

WILLIAMSPORT READY FOR POTENTIAL UNREST IN THE CITY
With possible protests and demonstrations taking place in the days to come surrounding the inauguration of President elect Joe Biden, local authorities in Williamsport have made statements that they are prepared for any event or demonstrations that could occur.  According to the Sun Gazette,  Williamsport Bureau of Police Chief Damon R. Hagan said his department can effectively handle any incidents within the city and that there has not been any intelligence on local threats  in the city, but that those who might wish protest or demonstrate peacefully will be given space to do so.

THURSDAY FARM SHOW ACTIVITIES
The virtual farm show continues today for kids with an 11am STEM Demonstration – Color Explosion in Pennsylvania milk as well as a noontime online cooking program all sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.  A Farm Show Agricultural Law Symposium takes place in the afternoon as well.  You can watch any of the 2021 Virtual Farm show , called “Cultivating tomorrow” on the PA Farm show facebook page or at farmshow.pa.gov

WOMAN RESCUED FROM WEST BRANCH OF SUSQUEHANNA
A woman was rescued from Susquehanna River’s West Branch river after a car accident about 7:50 am yesterday.  The unidentified woman’s was involved in the crash on the Lewisburg side of the Route 45 bridge that spans the river, but according to the Daily Item she then jumped off the bridge. Cpl. Travis Burrows of the Buffalo Valley Regional Police Department was enroute to the accident and saw the woman in the water and with the help of another witness, used a 100 foot rope for stability in the strong current while they went for the victim.  Two other first responders arrived at the scene and utilized a nearby canoe in the successful attempt of getting the woman out of the water.  The officers were evaluated and realeased from  Evangelical Community Hospital, Lewisburg.. The unidentified woman was taken to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville with minor injuries.

COVID CLAIMS MIDDLEBURG POLICE CHEIF
The police chief of Middleburg has passed away after being ill for the last few weeks with COVID-19.  According to media outlets the acting Mayor of Middleburg Heidi Potter said Police Chief Tony Jordan had been hospitalized for over a week after becoming ill with the coronavirus earlier this month.  Mark Bailey has been serving as Acting Police Chief while Jordan was ill and was formally appointed during Tuesday night’s council meeting.

COVID UPDATE
There are 88 new cases of the coronavirus in Lycoming County, Northumberland has 80, Union County has 108 Snyder has 53 new cases Clinton has 30.  According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health as of midnight yesterday there were 7,619 additional positive cases reported and 349 new fatalities. Lycoming has 65 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, 8 in the ICU, 4 on ventilators

VACCINE ROLL-OUT ADJUSTMENTS
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has tweaked the roll-out schedule of vaccinations for COVID-19.  In addition to the health care workers and those in long term care facilities in the 1A distribution phase, they have updated the criteria for the category to include those who are 65 and older, as well as those who have pre-existing conditions.  According to the Secretary of the Pennyslvnai Department of Health,  the state should transition into phase 1B soon which include more age groups and more service workers in additional industries.  Details on the phasing process is available online here.

SPORTS
HS Boys Basketball
Montgomery beat CMVT 61 to 56, Muncy beat Millville 55 to 36, St John Neumann beat Northwest 64-48, Canton beat Cowanesque Valley 57-26
HS Girls Basketball
Saint Joseph’s beat  Montoursville 56-52, Mifflinburg over Jersey Shore 44-36
HS Wrestling
Lewisburg defeated central Columbia 41-28
Tonight HS Sports
HS Boys Basketball
Central Columbia at Hughesville, Muncy at Montoursville, Northumberland Christian at South Williamsport and Warrior Run at Line Mountain, all @ 7:30
HS Girls Basketball
Athens at Wellsboro, North East Bradford at Canton, Williamson at Towanda, North Mansfield at Townada at 7:30 PM
HS Wrestling tonight
Milton at Loyalsock, Hughesville at Southern Columbia, Benton at Montgomery Duboise at Williamsport, Bellefonte at Jersey Shore, Towanda at Warrior run, Montoursville at Midwest, CMVT at Muncy all at 7 PM
NBA
Mavericks beat the Hornets 104 to 93, the Bucks beat the Pistons 110 to 101, the Nets beat the Knicks 116 to 109, Grizzlies beat the Timberwolves 118 to 107, Lakers over Thunder 128 to 99, Clippers beat the Pelicans 111 to 106, Trailblazers beat the Kings 132 to 126,  Jazz and Wizards, Magic and Celtics, and Hawks and Suns were postponed due to Covid
NFL Division playoffs
Saturday
NFC – Rams vs Packers @4:35 @Lambeau
AFC Ravens vs the Bills @ 8:15
Sunday
AFC – the Browns vs the Chiefs in Kansas City @ 3:05
NFC – Buccaneers vs the Saints @6:40 in New Orleans

Klete Keller, a two-time U.S. Olympic swimming gold medalist, was charged Wednesday for allegedly participating in last week’s riots at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Court records say, Keller was charged with obstructing law enforcement, knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and more,  all  federal crimes.