SNOW ON THE WAY
There is some significant snow in our forecast this week.  Accuweather says we’ll get light now this morning but the real punch comes late Wednesday when the region is expected to receive close to 12 inches of snow.  Meteorologists say the storm will develop Tuesday in the Gulf states and move up through the east coast Thursday morning.  With reduced staffing and COVID quarantines, Williamsport is asking for the public’s patience in the snow removal process, and will work as efficiently as possible to clear roads and sidewalk.

LOCYALSOCK GOES VIRTUAL UNTIL 2021
In an email sent over the weekend, the superintendent of the Loyalsock Township District announced that the district will be in remote instruction starting today through January 4^th 2021.  Jerry McLaughlin said the district has been monitoring the COVID-19 cases and have seen a significant increase and will transition to maintain the health and safety of students staff and their families.  Food services with meals being distributed in the front entrance of the high school will continue to be provided.

CENTRE COUNTY ARSON CHARGE
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 for risking catastrophe, criminal mischief and 2 counts of arson, along with a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment in April of 2019. After an investigation by the fire chief on duty, the origin of the fire was found in the man’s second story apartment in Miles Township. According to witnesses Myers did not want to call police out of fear of getting in trouble. Currently, Myers is awaiting on his preliminary hearing.

NEW APP FOR SHERIFF’S OFFICE
In an effort give information to the public virtually, the Lycoming County Sheriff’s  Office has developed an smartphone app  called Lycoming Sheriff.  It will allow residents to submit tips, contact office personnel, run inmate searches and receive other information.  The app can be used since the Lycoming County Offices are shut down due to the pandemic and can obtained at the App Store ort where you download apps.  There are sections for COVID-19 notifications, travel information, prevention tips and more

CORONAVIRUS ROLL-OUT
Pennsylvania Pharmacies are awaiting the coronavirus and the PA Department of health is planning a potential distribution timetable.  Dr Rachel Levine said the Pfizer vaccine would be first distributed to hospitals, such as Geisinger Health System and Penn State, where they’ll be immunizing their health care workers with the Moderna vaccine arriving a week later.  Then paharmacy partners will receive the meds next.  Pennsylvania will not be sharing information with the CDC about who gets vaccinated, only data from the results.

COVID-19 LOCAL UPDATE
Lycoming County has reported 162 new cases of the coronavirus, Tioga County has 56, Clinton County has 45 new cases, Northumberland County has 37 Union has 32 Snyder 24.  According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, 10,684 additional positive cases of COVID-19 have occurred in the sate  and there are 129 new fatalities in the commonwealth as of yeasterday at midnight.

LOWER PROPOSED MILLS IN UPCOMING BUDGET
Williamsport’s mayor will use funds from a Williamsport city hall account to lower the proposed tax hike and decrease the burden on taxpayers this year.  According to the Sun Gazette, City Council had asked Mayor Slaughter to reduce the proposed tax increases by over 430 thousand dollars to decrease the tax millage.  Slaughter said he will use half of an 850 thousand dollar account for the cuts, at this time lowering the tax hike to .5 mills, another meeting is set for Thursday.

GOVRNOR TESTS NEGATIVE IN SECOND TEST
Governor Wolf has tested negative from the coronavirus in a second test after he was diagnosed last week.  According to media outlets, the governor was asymptomatic and plans to continue to quarantine at home in the coming days, following the CDC guidance.  He thanked all those who sent well wishes to him and his wife.

SPORTS
NFL Football Sunday
The Eagles beat the Saints 24-21, Seahawks beat the Jets 40 to 3, Cardinals beat the Giants 26-7, Bills beat the Steelers 26-15, Washington beat the 49ers 23-15, Chiefs beat the Dolphins 33-27, Cowboys beat the Bengals 30-7,  Bears beat the Texans 36-7, Broncos over the Panthers 30 to 27, Colts beat the Raiders 44-27, Titans beat the Jaguars 31-10, Packers over the Lions 31-24,  Falcon beat  the chargers 20-17

NFL Monday Night Football
Ravens vs. the Browns in Cleveland 8:15 kickoff.

College Sports
Penn State Football
Penn State beat Michigan State39-24
The Big Ten has announced matchups for week nine, as Penn State will host the Illinois Fighting Illini this Saturday, Dec. 19, in Beaver Stadium. Kickoff will be at 5:30 p.m. ET on FS1.   In 24 all-time matchups with the Illini, Penn State leads the series, 19-5.

Penn State Mens’ Basketball
Michigan beat Penn State 58-62

Teen Gets Assault Charges

A teenage girl is being charged for assault after testing positive for COVID-19, and intentionally spitting on people. While at a treatment facility in Montour County, she contracted the virus, and knowingly struck, scratched, bit, coughed, and sneezed on more than 4 staff members. At this time no information has been released on the girl due to her age, nor has any information on whether they contracted it. She has been charged through the Montour county probation office.

Bell Ringing Stopped This Holiday Season

As Christmas approaches, one starts to wonder where has all the bell ringing gone? How will I donate my leftover change? According to the sun gazette, Kendra Parke, the marketing and community engagement coordinator of American rescue workers are putting in an effort to limit exposure to COVID-19 this time around, due to the simple fact that a large majority of bell ringers are seniors. This decision isn’t without its heart ache though, bell ringing is a big chunk of the budget, raking in nearly $20,000 on a slow year. They will survive though, many public grants are being utilized to offset the cost, as well as other types of outreach for the cause.

ICU Director Fired Over Social Media Posts

The Director of the ICU at UPMC  Susquehanna has found some controversy surrounding her after a post she made on social media about masking. In the post the director talked about a man calling them a loser for not wearing a mask in Lowe’s, going on to say that they were 6 feet apart. Many people responded to the post negatively, assuming that the post was ment as a sneer to people in a different school of thought from her own. Multiple individuals filed formal complaints to UPMC, calling for the hospital to take action and set a precedent so that she wouldn’t say her opinion without proper etiquette on social media. She has recently been let go as an employee of the hospital due to multiple other, more blatantly boisterous posts.

City Budget Cuts Continue

The Williamsport City budget has been cut yet again thanks to the councilmen and women who challenged Mayor Derek Slaughters Major increase, cutting another 432,000 dollars off the originally proposed 2.5 million dollar increase. This brings the proposed increase to around 1 million dollars, a much milder and digestible number for Williamsport tax payers, and its not even done yet. According to the sun gazette councilmen and women are striving for even more cuts, with councilwomen Liz Miele spear heading efforts, challenging the administration to find an additional 436,000 dollars to cut before next weeks meeting.

SPORTS

College football

Utah State has canceled Saturday night’s scheduled game at Colorado State because of concerns voiced by football players about religious discrimination in the search for a new football coach, the university said in a statement Friday. The decision came after Aggies players said earlier Friday that they had opted out of the game because of comments allegedly made by Utah State president Noelle Cockett about interim coach Frank Maile.

Penn State will play Michigan today, with a kick off now set 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.

MLB

Pitcher Brandon Morrow is back with the Los Angeles Dodgers, having signed a minor league contract. Also signing Friday were pitchers Jimmy Nelson, Brock Stewart and James Pazos.

LOCAL LEGISLATORS SAY NO CHANGES WOULD IMPACT ELECTION
In an effort to restore voter confidence in Pennsylvania’s election process, local lawmakers have agreed to investigate claims made about the integrity of  the vote, but note that there is no evidence of widespread fraud or irregularities that would impact election results.  Senator Gene yaw of Loyalsock Township told the Sun Gazette that there are claims that through a Senate resolution, there could be a dispute of the election and new electors can be assigned contrary to the popular vote winner , but adds that the Constitution prohibits changing the law after the fact. Pennsylvania Election results have already been signed and certified by Governor Wolf.

COURTHOUSE ACCESS LIMITED TO PUBLIC
Access into the Lycoming County Courthouse was restricted to the public as of Monday this week until further notice with very few exceptions, according to a statement released by the Lycoming County Sherriff’s Department.  Those who arrive at the facility and those who come with them will need to be on an access authorization list maintained by the Sheriff’s Department.  The public must call and make an appointment with the departments they need to visit.  Anyone who is seeking a Protection From Abuse order can call the YWCA’s Wise Options at 815  West Fourth Street  at 570-322-4637.

GOVERNOR WOLF TESTES POSITIVE FOR VIRUSGovernor Wolf has tested positive for the coronavirus 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.

The winter sports season in Pennsylvania  is slated to move forward Friday after a statement yesterday by the PIAA.  There will be some changes implemented for wrestling, basketball and swimming, including a 16 team  single elimination wrestling championship, and the start of the state basketball tournament pushed back to March of 2021 to allow for longer district tournaments.  There are some COVID protocols about practice/play guidelines in place as well.  The Pennsylvania Principal’s Association and PA Association for School Administrators wrote letters to the PIAA asking for a delay of a start to the season during the current surge of the coronavirus.

Stonington State police have identified a man who was found dead in his Northumberland County home on Monday.  Troopers say they are investigating the death of Joseph Collier who was found around 6:30pm Monday at his home on 253 Collier Road in East Cameron Township.  Northumberland County Coroner James Kelley joins the state police in the investigation, but no other details have been provided as of today.

There are minimal details at this time about a house fire last night in Penn Township that brought 11 companies to the scene.  Central Susquehanna Regional 9-1-1 reports that a fire at a home on Kratzer road was fully engulfed in flames and reported around 7:30 pm Wednesday.  Volunteers fought the fire using a tanker shuttle with several companies.  Dispatchers said no one was hurt in the fire and details on the Snyder County blaze should be forthcoming today.

As of yesterday at noon, Lycoming County reported 79 new cases of the coronavirus, 58 cases in Northumberland County.  Tioga County has 41 new cases and Clinton County has had 1035 cases (917 confirmed and 118 probable) 37 new today.  However, the Clinton County correctional facility is handling an outbreak this week after 76 inmates in the prison tested positive according to the Sun Gazette.  Lycoming County has 88 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, 11 in the ICU, with 6 on ventilators and 7 available Adult ICU beds.  There were 8,703 new cases of  COVID-19 as of yesterday and 220 new deaths reported in the commonwealth.

City Council will meet virtually tonight to continue to work to decrease the 1.5 mill tax-hike, $29 million budget proposed for 2021.  In the first reading of the budget on December 3^rd, Council worked to remove about $777,000 from the proposed spending plan and passed the proposed budget upon their first reading.  The City Council is expecting Mayor Derek Slaughter – who today promised transparency when discussing the budget – to bring ideas on ho wto whittle the numbers down even more by reducing the tax burden.  Head to the city website lyco.org to get details on watching the live meeting broadcast on Zoom and YouTube at 6:30 p.m.

SPORTS

LSU announced a self-imposed bowl ban on Wednesday night and will forgo participating this season, adding to the list of self-imposed sanctions stemming from the NCAA’s investigation into improper booster payments to its football players.  LSU’s football program is charged with a Level III violation involving Odell Beckham Jr., a former Tigers star, who gave $2,000 in cash to four Tigers football players on the field after the team’s victory over Clemson after the National Championship game on Jan. 13

FEDERAL PRISON GUARD INJURED IN STABBING
A guard at Allenwood Federal Correctional Complex was allegedly stabbed yesterday by an inmate and is in critical condition at Geisinger Medical Center.  According to the Daily Item, 51 year old Dale Franquet, of Middleburg, who also is the varsity wrestling coach at Midd-West High School was stabbed in the eye and another inmate was also injured by a stabbing but was treated and released from care.  NO charges against the suspect have been announced, but with the assault happening in a federal facility, the FBI will investigate the case.

LOCAL COVID-19 UPDATE
Lycoming County has 64 new cases of the coronavirus reported as of yesterday at noon, Northumberland county has 107 , Montour has 81 new cases, Snyder has 33 new cases Tioga County reports 22 . Clinton County has 13 new today.  Lycoming County has 72 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, 13 in the ICU, with 4 on ventilators and 3 available Adult ICU beds.  According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health ,there were 6,330 new cases COVID-19, with 42 fatalities attributed to COVID-19.

ACORD MARKETS CHANGING HANDS
Sixteen Acorn Market stores throughout northcentral Pennsylvania and South Central New York have been acquired by United Refining in Warren and will now be Kwik Fill or Red Apple stores.  According to the Sun Gazette, all retail store employees were retained and new positions are expected to be added, but it is unknown at this time whether the Tioga County chain will expand into Lycoming County.  United Refining sells fuel through a network of over 400 stores in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

SOAP BOX DERBY SCHEDULED FOR NOW
Williamsport will likely see a Soap Box Derby in 2021as organizers of the annual event deal with planning during a pandemic.  According to the Sun Gazette, barring any COVID restrictions, a construction clinic is set to take place in May where the kids build their cars, and after a safety inspection  the race is expected to take place on Saturday, June 12^th.  Families of participants who want information on registering for the race next year can find Soap Box Derby Williamsport, PA on Facebook and message the group.

WOMAN KICKS POLICE CRUISER, FACES MISDEMEANOR CHARGE
A South Williamsport woman faces misdemeanor charges for kicking at a police cruiser last September while there was gathering and protest going on close to the police headquarters at 245 W. Fourth Street.  According to the Sun Gazette, the young daughter of 36 year old Rebecca Neidig of East Mountain Avenue was holding a sign and stood behind Cpl. Jordan Stoltzfus’ patrol car while he was attempting to leave on a call.  Neidig yelled at the officer, hit the car window and then kicked at the car once both Neidig and her daughter were pulled away from the cruiser.  According to court records Neidig waived her preliminary hearing and is free on $5,000 bail.

GOVERNOR WOLF WARNS ABOUT OVERRUN HOSPITALS DURING PANDEMIC
With COVID hospitalizations up in Pennsylvania, facilities are at risk of being overrun and resource sharing agreements between hospitals in the commonwealth may face a breakdown.  According to a warning by Governor Tom Wolf in a virtual news conference yesterday, he will not impose the blanket restrictions imposed last spring but may be faced with placing targeted restrictions in places where the virus strikes harder.  He said deaths have risen 85 percent in two weeks and the fall-out from the Thanksgiving holiday haven’t been felt yet.  He asks Pennsylvanians to do their part now to slow the spread of the virus by simply wearing a mask and keeping from non-essential travel.  Pennsylvania is averaging 9,000 new confirmed infections per day.

OPIOID BILL SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
In a move to address the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania, Republican Clint Owlett sponsored a bill that has been signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf.  House Bill 616 placed a strong large animal tranquilizer called Carfenteril on the list of Schedule II controlled substances making it illegal to be possessed or distributed without a license or prescription.  Originally proposed by Owlett’s predecessor Matt Baker, the new law is one part of  a process of enforcement, and education to help those who are addicted.

PA FISHING LICENSES ON SALE NOW
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat commission have begun selling 2021 fishing licenses permits and vouchers valid immediately through December 31, 2021.  According to the PFCB, an annual license costs $22.90 but ther are multi-year options and other permit add-ons.  You can apply for a license online at fishandboat.com or at issuing agents in retail locations.

SPORTS

NFL Monday Football from Monday
Washington beat the Steelers 23-17, the Bills beat the 49ers 34-24
Tonight NFL Football
Cowboys vs the Ravens in Baltimore at 8:05

Men’s College Basketball
Seton Hall defeated Penn State 98-92 in  OT

HS Girls Volleyball
North Penn Liberty seniors Charisma Grega and Ali Koval and Canton Senior Annie Gaiotti were named to the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association all-state team.

Representative Jeff Wheeland has reintroduce house bill 1579, with the intent to quell unfaith in the integrity of our election. The bill would introduce some ID requirements to any Pennsylvanian voters wanting to participate in the election, with Wheeland saying in a statement released that you cant do much of anything in life without an ID, the same standard should apply to voters. Under the bill expectable ID’s would include a military and student ID, along with a drivers license, bank statement, current utility bill, firearm permit or government issued check. Anyone not able to produce a photo ID would need 2 forms of non-photo ID’s.

Bishop to the united Methodist church Jeremiah J Park, recently urged members of the church and pastors to cease in person congregation in an advent messege from the Susquehanna conference of the united Methodist church, saying that the grave situation requires a sacrificial response. According to the sun gazette many pastors in the area found it difficult to to suspend in person worship, espescially with Christmas season approaching. Regardless, many are conceding, in line with the request from Park, shifting to online worship, or broadcasts at local radio stations to continue their work from a distance.

Williamsport Police Officer Clinton Gardner made a traffic stop after observing the driver leah Davis and a passenger roll through a stop sign. When approaching the drivers side he alleges to have smelled a marijuana odor and saw what looked like to be a burnt marijuana cigarette. The police report says that the passenger, Kasaan Lamar McKay, a 26 year old Brooklyn native, tried hiding cocaine in his rectum, along with finding 5k in cash and a large amount of unused packaging. During the search someone called McKay’s cellphone requesting crack. He is being held at the Lycoming county prison under an $85,000 bail, and is facing 2 felonies and a misdemeanor.

A jersey shore women reported domestic violence to police, alleging that her boyfriend assaulted her by breaking her lip and choking her. 25 Year old Noah Fox-Carr is accused of the assault at the 600 block of south broad street in jersey shore. The officer who wrote the report, recorded that the victim had asked for a pillow from Fox-Carr when he said no, hitting her. She then tried exiting the residence with her daughter before Fox-Carr intercepted her, forcing her onto the couch, strangling her. She was examined at the emergency room and found to have a concussion. Fox-Carr was charged with one felony count of strangulation and simple assault.

City council has made some revisions to the mayor’s first proposed budget, leaning more towards budget cuts, taking ou t$766,500 dollars of tax revenue in a 4 to 2 vote. According to the Sun Gazette, city councilman Adam Yoder said that the first Mayor Slaughters first budget was the largest tax increase in over 15 years, and gave shade to the current attitude from many state employees saying that we have to figure out how to live within our means rather than raising taxes to keep up. Currently the tax rate is staying at 17.22 million dolllars, down from 2.5 million, but according to councilwoman Liz Miele, that it is not a final product. The mayor and council will be continuing their work on the budget over the next week.

An early morning car crash on route 22 left a teen dead in this multi collision car crash. At 4:45 the unidentified teen was speeding while trying to pass a truck in the left lane when he lost control and spun into the side fuel tank of the truck. When both cars stopped the teen got out on the side of the road, failing to keep his lights on. Another tractor trailer came driving up the road and swerved out of the way to avoid hitting the wrecked cars, striking the teen. Police and coroners along with a cleanup crew arrived shortly after, all of the vehicles were cleared off the road before 10am.

This Monday UPMC will be expanding their service hours at the COVID-19 outpatient collection site starting Monday. Anyone with a physician referall will be able to get a covid test at the Brandon ave location. The new hours will be Monday through Friday 8am to 8pm, and Sunday 8am to noon. The chief medical Director, David Lopatofsky says the hours change is in response to the spike of patients we have been having, and that it is ment to reduce the expended resources on site inside the hospital. It’s going to allow a more thorough and efficient exam for people who don’t necessarily need the higher level of care the hospital provides.

Sports

MLB

The Texas Rangers hired former pitcher Chris Young as executive vice president and general manager Friday, bringing the Major League Baseball executive home to work under president of baseball operations Jon Daniels, the club’s GM since 2005.

NFL

Free-agent linebacker Vontaze Burfict was arrested early Saturday in Nevada on a misdemeanor battery charge, according to Clark County court records. According to Clark County Detention Center records, Burfict, whose bond was set at $1,000, was released on his own recognizance. A hearing in the case was set for Monday.