MAJOR SNOW STORM ON THE WAY
A crippling snow is forecast to begin in our area at midday today and we could see upwards of 12 inches of snow before it’s over by Thursday midday.  According to the City of Williamsport their plowing fleet consists of 15 drivers  and 18 trucks and they will be working through the storm, using a combination of salt and cinders, tackling major roads first then the secondaries followed by alleys which are  expected to be plowed by Thursday afternoon.  River Valley Transit will be using emergency routes with limited drop-off locations.

FORMER OFFICER CHARGED
A Williamsport police officer has been charged by the Attorney General of Pennsylvania with misconduct after allegedly leveraging his authority as an officer and participating in coercive sexual relationships with two women.  According to the Sun Gazette, 36 year old Eric Derr of Cogan Station participated in shielding more than one person from prosecution in 2015 while allegedly knowing they were purchasing drugs and involved in other crimes.  According to Williamsport Police chief Damon Hagan, Derr intentionally bypassed a supervisor when filing reports about those related incidents.  Derr resigned from the Williamsport Bureau of Police in September after being suspended in June.  Derr was arraigned yesterday and will have a preliminary hearing on January 4^th 2021.

LOCAL COVID UPDATE
Lycoming County reports 156 new cases of COVID today Northumberland County has 83 new cases Clinton County has 59 Tioga County has  23 new cases, Union has 16 new cases.  Lycoming County has 87 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, 12 in the ICU, with 4 on ventilatorsAccording to the Pennsylvania Department of Health there are 9,556 additional positive cases as of yesterday and  270 new deaths attributed to COVID-19.

LOCAL HOSPITAL GETS THE VACCINE
Evangelical Community Hospital announced  that the  first wave of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has officially arrived Tuesday at their facility, and patient-facing employees will receive the doses beginning today. According to media outlets, hospital employees unpacked the vaccine doses that require to an ultra-low temperature freezer according to FDA guidelines.

PENNDOT PREPPING THE ROADS
With a major storm heading our way today, forecast to start  around noon PennDOT will be pre-treating major roads with anti-icing trucks along high-volume roads in the District 3 region of Bradford, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga and Union counties.  PennDOT encourages motorists to pack an emergency kit for their vehicles which can include non-perishable food, water, blanket, small shovel and warm clothes.  PPL Electric has issued a statement for the public that they expect some outages due to heavy snowfall and are prepared to respond in a quick and a safe manner for their crews.  If you lose power and are using a portable generator, never operate the generator in an enclosed area.

WILLIAMSPORT MURDER SUSPECT ARRESTED IN NEW YORK
A man who was a suspect in the murder of a Williamsport woman last October has been arrested by US Marshall’s Service in New York.  According to the Sun Gazette, witnesses say a man who resembled 37 year old Antwan Michael McClain approached a group of people  outside a home on Louisa St. in the city and shot Jimia Alston in the abdomen before fleeing.  With attempts to apprehend McClain in Williamsport unsuccessful,  the USMS Fugitive Task Force was asked to step in.  McClain was taken into custody without incident at a home in Schenectady NY.  He faces criminal homicide and other charges including carrying a firearm without a license.

CORRECTIONAL OFFICER RELEASED FROM HOSPTIAL AFTER ASSAULT BY INMATE
The corrections officer at USP Allenwood who was seriously injured last week was released from the hospital  Sunday and is recovering.  According to media outlets, 51-year-old Dale Franquet Jr had been stabbed in the eye by an inmate and was in critical condition, but according to reports,  underwent surgery to remove his right eye .  Franquet is the varsity wrestling coach at Midd-West High School.  Other employees at Allenwood who were also hurt in the assault at the prison have recovered and returned to work.

MUNCY ELEMENTARY TO BE IN-PERSON, THE HS WILL BE REMOTE
The Muncy School Board has voted 4-4 Monday night that the elementary school will continue in-person instruction, and students in the High School are in remote learning prior to and in the week following the holiday break.   According to the Sun Gazette, students at the high school had returned this week to in-person learning, but are scheduled to be remote for Dec. 21 and 22 and Jan. 1 through 8. They will return to in-person instruction on Jan. 11. Students at the elementary level will be in school for those dates. Their holiday break begins on Dec. 23 and runs through Jan. 1, with return to school slated for Jan. 4

SPORTS
NCAA BigTen
In a vote by conference coaches, Justin Fields of Ohio State has been named Offensive player of the Year.  The Buckeyes are 5&0 and will play Northwestern in Indianapolis Saturday.

NBA
Alize Johnson contributed to the Toronto Raptors 112-109 win over the Charlotte Hornets in a preseason game this week.  In his four minutes on the court, the St. John Neumann graduate had two rebounds an assist and a point.  The Raptors continue their preseason in 2020 with a game against the Miami Heat Friday.

COVID VACCINES ARRIVE IN PENNSYLVANIA
COVID 19 vaccines arrived yesterday morning at UPMC Pittsburgh just after 9am and 5 frontline healthcare workers there were vaccinated with the first doses of Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine.  According to CBS Pittsburg, the workers who received the vaccine will return for their second dose in 21 days.  Workers in several different departments were vaccinated, including an emergency medicine physician, acute care nurse practitioner, a patient transporter and environmental services supervisor.  Dr. David Lopatofsky of UPMC in the Susquehanna Region said in this first phase, UPMC hospitals in Williamsport, Muncy Valley and Lock Haven should receive 2,000 doses of Pfizer’s two-step vaccine and Wellsboro and Coudersport campuses will receive approximately 1,000 doses.

MEDICAL COMPONENT JOBS COMING TO JERSEY SHORE
West Pharmaceutical in Jersey shore, who was planning a future expansion even before COVID-19, will now invest 35 million dollars in its area facilities in a plan to provide various medical supplies needed during the pandemic.  According to the Sun Gazette, Eric Haman, West Pharmaceutical’s director of global corporate said the local manufacturer of components and systems for injectable drug delivery, plastic packaging and other components for the healthcare industry will provide a critical role in the fight against COVID-19. A 1,070 square-foot building expansion is planned along with more jobs for the area.

ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES IN PA
The 59^th Pennsylvania Electoral College officially voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for President and Vice President of the United States yesterday. Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar says the commonwealth’s 20 electors voted for Biden and Harris unanimously. The state’s electoral votes will be delivered to the President of the U.S. Senate. All votes will be counted January 6 in a joint session of Congress to determine the national elector vote for president and vice president. Boockvar says 6.9 million Pennsylvanians – more than ever before – participated in the November 3 election.

DCNR TO CANCEL IN PERSON EVENTS FOR 2021
About 150 planned events, including the First Day Hikes on New Year’s Day, January 1^st, with Pennsylvania’s DCNR have been cancelled in response to the continuing rise of COVID-19 cases in the commonwealth.  According to a press release, DCNR Secretary Cindy Dunn said state parks and forests will remain open for use as they have been since the start of the pandemic, but social interaction must be limited.  There will be some self-guided offerings and virtual events available, but out of state overnight visitors must present a negative coronavirus test within 72 hours of arriving or quarantine for ten days away from the state facility.

LOCAL HOSPITALS WAIT FOR VACCINES TO ARRIVE AS VIRUS SPIKES
Local hospital officials are anticipating several thousand doses of the coronavirus vaccine to arrive in our area within days and they express confidence in the Pfizer and BioNtech vaccines that will be administered to frontline healthcare workers first.  Moderna’s vaccine is expected to receive FDA approval later this week and will be among the doses of coronavirus vaccine that will be delivered across the US.  According to the Sun Gazette, Geisinger and UPMC officials are bracing for the local surge of coronavirus cases, working hard to monitor the number of supplies staff and beds that are available to fight the cases that are admitted into the healthcare systems.  The vaccine is a good tool to slow the spread of the virus but must be used along with masking to continue to mitigate this dangerous virus.

LOCAL CORONA VIRUS UPDATE
In two day totals of coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania have been released and include 330 new deaths in the Commonwealth.  Lycoming County reports 135 cases, Northumberland has 145, Montour County reports 178.  Union County has 87.  18,646 new cases have also been confirmed statewide, with the total over 499,000, of which 58% have recovered. There are over 6,000 statewide hospitalizations, including over 1,200 in the ICU and nearly 700 on ventilators

SENIORS ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR RENT REBATES FROM 2019
Financial assistance is available for older adults and people with disabilities in Pennsylvania for rebates on property taxes and rent paid in 2019.  The initial deadline to apply for the rebates is normally June 30^th but  was extended to December 31^st  this year to provide eligible Pennsylvanians with extra time to submit their applications during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Eligible seniors are encouraged to fill out an application for funds that has delivered more than 6.8 billion dollars to eligible applicants since the programs’ inception in 1971.  Details about applying can be found here.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE PA WATERWAY
The public is invited to vote for the 2021 River of the Year in the 11^th annual  Department of Conservation and Natural Resources online competition.  Pennsylvania Organization for Watershed and rivers said nominations for favorite waterway are based on conservation needs and the celebration plans for each of the waterways.  Buffalo Creek, Lehigh River, Loyalhanna Creek, Shanango River and Tunkhannock Creek are the choices for 2021.  The winning waterway will win $10,000 in grant money for local groups to use for annual river of the year events.  Go to PAwatersheds.com.

SPORTS

NFL Monday Night Football
Ravens beat the Browns 47-42

Centre County Arson

Chris Stover Myers, a 22 year old Centre County Man is being charged with four felonies, stemming from an arson he is alleged to have committed. In an affidavit, Myers is cited risking catastrophe, criminal mischief and 2 counts of arson, along with a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment. After an investigation by the fire chief on duty, an origin of the fire was found in the floor of a second story apartment with partially burnt magazine pages in it. According to witnesses Myers told one of them not to call the police out of fear of getting in trouble. Currently, Myers is still waiting on his preliminary hearing.

Aggrivated Assault Charges Pending

Jason D. Wenger, a 19 year old male from bloomsburg has been charged with felony aggravated assault that left Ryan Edgar, the victim, with a broken jaw and missing teeth after police concluded a month long investigation. The assault occurred at a party by several people, but wenger was one of the men who stood out. Police canvassed witnesses and interviewed weeks after the incident, where wengers name came up several times. A photo on Instagram also verified wenger was in fact at the party the night of the assault, providing substantial evidence for prosecutors. His case is still ongoing.

Local Business Robbed

An investigation by the state police of a theft at coles hardware store in muncy is ongoing. 2 suspects are known to be involved, making away with around 200 dollars of hand products. The 2 perpetrators looked to be in their mid 40’s, one male and one female, making a getaway in an early 2000’s Hyundai sedan. The vehicle had a Pennsylvanian registration plate, and a sizeable dent on the driver side rear quarter panel. If any information is known, contact Montoursville police at (570)368-5700

Governor Wolf In Quarantine

Governor Wolf has tested positive for the corona virus in a routine test taken Tuesday and is isolating at home and feeling well.  The First Lady of Pennsylvania, Frances Wolf, has been tested for the virus and is also quarantining with the governor at their home near York, PA.  Wolf – who is 72 – is working remotely and is one of several US governors who have tested positive for the virus including the governors of Oklahoma, Missouri, Virginia, Nevada and Colorado.  The Governor held a news conference about the pandemic Monday with PA Department of Health Secretary, Dr. Rachel Levine, but they all wore masks at the virtual event.  Pennsylvania is averaging about 10,000 new confirmed cases per day, up more than 50% in two weeks, according to an AP analysis of data from The COVID Tracking Project

Sports

MLB

Arizona Diamondbacks assistant general manager Jared Porter is working on a deal to be the new GM of the New York Mets. Porter, 41, won three World Series in the front office for the Red Sox and another with the Cubs before joining Arizona as a senior vice president and assistant GM in 2017.

NFL

The Carolina Panthers are expected to hand out fines of at least $10,000 to players who broke COVID-19 protocols

College Football

PSU’s Nittany Lions beat Michigan state on Saturday afternoons game 39-24, marking their first home victory of 2020. As of now, the match up for Championship Week has not been announced yet, but is expected to be commented on later today.

NBA

Six-time All-Star forward Paul George has signed a maximum contract extension with the LA Clippers guaranteeing him as much as $226 million over the next five years. Adding $190 million on top of the $35.4 million guaranteed him for the 2020-21

STRICTER MITIGATIONS EFFORTS ORDERED BY GOVERNOR WOLF
Governor Wolf announced limited time mitigation efforts yesterday to slow the spread of the coronavirus that is adding up by hundreds of cases a day in the commonwealth.  Starting at midnight tonight and in effect until 8 a.m. on January 4, 2021, school sports and other extracurricular activities are stopped, gyms, theaters and casinos are closed and indoor dining at restaurants is prohibited.  Accoridng to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the state has bveen averaging 10,000 new confirmed cases a day with a record number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital. There were 248 new deaths Thursday as the statewide toll passed 12,000.

WILLIAMSPORT POLICE SEARCH FOR MISSING TEEN
Williamsport police are asking for the public’s help as they search for a 16 year old who has been missing since the beginning of December.  According to a social media post posted by the Williamsport Bureau of Police, Maverick Wilton was last seen leaving his home on West Fourth Street December 2^nd and has not returned.  Wilton is a 140 pound white male – 6ft tall with light brown hair, wearing a black and grey hoodie with jeans and white shoes.  Police are following leads as they come in, you can email [email protected] with any assistance about the whereabouts of Wilton.

LOCAL COVID UPDATE
As of yesterday at noon, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported there were 227 new cases of COVID -19 in Lycoming County, Montour County has 166 new cases, Tioga County reports 107.   Northumberland County’s numbers are better today at 67 new cases Clinton County has 54.  Snyder County has 30 new cases Sullivan County has 6.  Lycoming County has 82 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, 9 in the ICU, with 6 on ventilators and 3 available Adult ICU beds.  There were 11,972 new cases of COVID-19 reported yesterday and  248 fatalities in PA.

JERSEY SHORE GOING REMOTE TIL 2021
Jersey Shore School District has made the decision for K-12 to be in remote mode until after  the end of the year, returning to in-person instruction January 11, 2021.  According to a statement released by Superintendent Dr. Brian Ulmer, in an effort to preserve continuity for students by remaining in one mode and allowing for the buildings to remain open for faculty to safely work and assist students and families, the remote option will remain in place.  Dr. Ulmer said, in addition, the spike we see now is from post-Thanksgiving and the concerns about more spiking cases after Christmas break are valid, so he is taking this step in the interest of health and safety.

ALLENWOOD INMATE DIES OF COVID
An inmate at Allenwood serving a life sentence has died of COVID- after testing positive in November.  Accoriding to media outlets, a release from the Federal Bureau of Prisons said that 70-year old John Lewis began experiencing symptoms November 21^st and was later transported to a local hospital for treatment.  Lewis had pre-existing medical conditions.   He had been at USP Allenwood since October of 2015.

PENN COLLEGE 2020 GRADUATIONS POSTPONED
With the fall semester at Penn College coming to a close, President Dr. Davie Jane Gilmour reported to the college’s board of directors at their meeting Thursday that students at the Pennsylvania College of Technology slated to graduate at the end of the fall semester will be joining the graduation ceremony scheduled for May 14-15, 2022. Degrees for winter 2020 graduates will be conferred in December, but commencement ceremonies have been postponed.

FIRST LADY TEST NEGATIVE
As she continues to quarantine at home, Pennsylvania’s first lady Frances Wolf has tested negative for COVID-19.  Governor Wolf tested positive this week and is isolated at home while working remotely.  Mrs Wolf made a statement to the public on behalf of more than 400 thousand in the commonwealth who have contracted the virus, more than 12 thousand who have died as well as the hospital workers who are at risk of becoming overwhelmed, urged everyone to wear masks and  to please stay home if possible.

SPORTS

NFL Rams beat the Patriots 24-3

NCAA
Big Ten Football
Penn State will play Michigan this Saturday, Dec. 12, with a kick off now at noon.  It will be televised on ABC. The game will also be available on the Penn State Sports Network starting at 10:30 am and GoPSUsports.com.

Doctors at UPMC held a press briefing yesterday to announce who will get the Pfizer and Moderna Coronavirus vaccines first once the expected doses are received.  Dr. Graham Snyder, UPMC medical director of infection prevention and hospital epidemiology said, front line workers would have the first opportunity to receive the series of two shots if they choose, since the vaccination is not a requirement at UPMC at this time.  Snyder said UPMC will be able to store the “thousands” of doses of Pfizer in the freezers and will expect Moderna vaccines to arrive following FDA approval for use outside of clinical trials in the US.  Even with the vaccine, UPMC doctors reminded the public that mask wearing is still needed. And that the general public will probably not see a vaccination until later in the spring.

Montoursville and South Williamsport have made the decision to go to remote learning through the end of the year with both schools reporting positive COVID tests that have forced school officials to change the models of instruction for the rest of 2020.  Montoursville high school students will be full remote, but students without internet connectivity can reserve a seat to go to the school building and free meals will be available today through December 22^nd from 11:30 til 1pm weekdays in the high school lobby.  Montoursville will return to school January 4^th.  The Southside district k-12 will be full remote through January 8^th with special needs students still in person learning without disruption.  Free hot meals are available at South Williamsport’s  high school main entrance 11am til 12:30pm.  According to the Sun Gazette, schools will continue to monitor state  health guidelines as decisions are made for 2021.

Free parking is back again for the holiday season in the Central Business District thanks to a decision by the Williamsport Parking Authority.  According to the Sun Gazette, the authority works with the Williamsport Business Association to provide free parking  Monday through Friday starting at 3pm through the evening for its on-street metered and parking lots.  Free parking will be available for this weekend’s Catch the Spirit shopping experience Friday afternoon through 8pm Saturday with some merchants open Sunday.  Kids can even look for Santa downtown on Saturday around 5pm.

Even with the Farm show in Harrisburg going virtual this year, the resurgence of COVID has effected the ability to have the Butter Sculpture for 2021.  Typically an artistic sculpture made from Pennsylvania Dairy butter is highlighted to show the importance the dairy industry is to the state economy, but the annual feature has been cancelled.  According to Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, the 105^th Pennsylvania Farm Show can be followed on Facebook and Instagram from January 9-16, 2021.

A man from Elkland who police say broke into a Tioga County home  and held a woman against her will, was captured after they received a 911 call about the incident, only arriving to find the suspect locked in a bathroom of the home.  Pennsylvania State Police at Mansfield said 24 year old Shane Bisel barricaded himself and a victim inside someone else’s  home on Legion Heights Road in Elkland and once he became trapped in the bathroom, the victim called the police, who contacted the homeowners who arrived and unlocked the house around 5:30 on November 30^th.  Bisel was charged with one felony count of burglary and one count each misdemeanor of criminal mischief and criminal trespass and is in Tioga County Prison.

Police are still investigating the cause of a fire that occurred Monday in Jersey Shore.  According to the Sun Gazette, the assistant fire chief at Independent Hose Voluntary Fire Co said the fire broke out about 8pm in the front half of a Smith Street property, but the couple who lived in the home was not there at the time of the fire.  A few of the family’s pets were able to be rescued, but no one else was harmed in the blaze.  Citizen’s Hose Station 45, Nippenose Valley Volunteer Fire Company, Avis Fire Company from Clinton County and Woodward Township Volunteer Fire Company assisted and left the property after 11pm.

Lycoming County has reported  65 new cases  of COVID, Northumberland  has 79, Montour has 40 new cases , Clinton County reports 37, Union has 35 new cases,  Tioga County 36, Snyder has 33 new cases.  There are over 5,400 statewide hospitalizations, including over 1,100 in the ICU and over 600 on ventilators. Tuesday, the state Department of Health confirmed 10,170 new statewide cases – a new record – and 169 new deaths

The city of Williamsport has loans available for businesses with less than 100 employees that operate within the city and show need for assistance to overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing due to COVID. According to the Sun Gazette, Mayor Derek Slaughter said amounts from 5 thousand to 50 thousand dollars are available for those businesses who qualify, but they need to apply.  Businesses can use the funds to pay any expenses that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact.  Details can be found at www.cityofwilliamsport.org

SPORTS
NFL Tuesday
Ravens beat the Cowboys 34-17

College Football
Big Ten
“The Game” won’t be played for the first time in 102 years, Michigan cancelled its game against Ohio State due to COVID.  The cancellation of this game puts Ohio State at five total games played this season, which is under the threshold put forth by the Big Ten conference to compete in the conference championship game against Northwestern.