UPMC Lock Haven Re Opens

UPMC Lock haven, after being shut down for a time due to repairs being made for a fire that ignited, is resuming their health care operations. According to the sun gazette Tyler Wagner, the UPMC manager of communications said that the whole ordeal of repairing the damage done and the rigorous inspections from the department of health was a big challenge, but in an “organized way.” The hospital will have 200 employees back to work and ready to serve at 6pm on Monday, and the offices will be reaching out to patients and scheduling appointments.

Lawsuit Against Hover Board Company

Heather Villareal and Micheal Bingaman, a Clinton county couple, are suing Razor Co. of Cerritos California, for allegedly selling them a faulty product that ignited their house on fire. According to the sun gazette the said product was a hover board, which they had bought as a gift back in 2019. The fire had started in the sun room of their house where they claim the board was charging, causing over 400,000 dollars in damage. The couple is seeking reimbursement for the house, as well as the legal fee’s they will acquire as the case continues. As of now, the company has not responded in court.

Methamphetamine Found On Inmate

At the centre county correctional facility, officers were alerted to a situation involving a young man being transferred to the facility. Austin Lee Miller of Bellefonte, an inmate of the facility, was being transferred when during processing, a baggie of white powdery substance was found on his person. The correctional officer who found the substance asked miller what it was, to which he replied “crystal meth.’ The baggies were handed over to police where they were positively identified as methamphetamine, and weighed to be 2 grams before being stored away into evidence. Miller is now facing additional charges on top of the ones he is jailed for, all charges have been waived to a lower court.

Stalking and Harassment Charges Filed

A 37 year old man named Brett Hawkins has received charges of stalking and harassment after alledgedly attempting to break into a home in Clinton township. According to northcentralPA.com Hawkins is said to have gone the Montgomery street home around 4am where he attempted to force entry through the front door. When troopers arrived to investigate, they ended up obtaining a warrant for his arrest and apprehended him later in the day as he was driving down route 15, where they found a controlled substance on him. Bail for Hawkins was set at 50,000 dollars.

New Dollar General Construction

A proposal by Hutchinson Development LLC to construct a dollar general 305 Washington St was recently approved by city council. According to the sun gazette many people in the community were wary about the construction, saying that the increased traffic and potential litter could decrease quality of life. Hutchinson released a statement saying that they promised a clean and properly maintained store, with considerations for the neighborhood like a similar construction and feel of the Lycoming college buildings, early morning truck deliveries a single time per week and a smaller design than originally proposed.

Sports

NFL

After a morning COVID-19 scare after a false positive test on one of the players, the New York Jets announced Friday night that they received negative test results for every player, coach and personnel staffer. This means their home game Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals will start as scheduled. The Jets’ announcement came about an hour after the Cardinals’ team flight departed Phoenix en route to New Jersey.

NBA

In China, the first NBA game was recently broadcasted on the state ran CCTV after a whole year. The ban of the NBA came after the general manager of the Huston rockets tweeted his support for the demonstrators in Hong Kong protesting human rights violations and censorship of the Chinese government back in 2019.

High School Football
Friday Night Lights!
Week 5 Final Scores

Southern Columbia 56, Hughesville 7
South Williamsport 28, Bucktail 8
Selinsgrove 28, Shikellamy 0
Muncy 21, Northwest Area 13
Montoursville 45, Lewisburg 7
Wellsboro 43, Towanda 0
Loyalsock 26, Bloomsburg 20
Danville 16, Central Columbia 10
Williamsport 48, Wyoming Valley West 13
Central Mountain 41, Shamokin 27
Mifflinburg 35, Midd-West 33
Milton at Jersey Shore, postponed

American Airlines began suspension in service from Williamsport Regional Airport yesterday.  This summer the airline began 2-a-day service to Charlotte North Carolina and then changed course stating low demand and the expiration of CARES Act funding.  The service was only to be paused temporarily until November 7^th but since funding for the airlines is in jeopardy due to the mixed climate about passing an economic stimulus for the airlines, Richard Howell, Executive Director at the Airport remains hopeful a decision will go in the region’s favor.

A positive recommendation was given from the City Council this week for the Williamsport  Water Authority to start a water main replacement project along Grampian Boulvard.  According to the Sun Gazette, the authority’s executive director said older and weakened pipes will be replaced with more efficient and powerful lines.  The work will be located around Grmapian, Upland Avenue, Franklin Street, Selkirk Road and Lundy Drive.  The recommendation is scheduled to be finalized at tonight’s meeting.

After the new guidelines in the state announced yesterday changed the number of people previously allowed to attend High School sports, Williamsport Area Schools reported the changes spectators can expect.  According to the Sun Gazette, Williamsport’s stadium has a capacity of 6500 so at 20 percent, about 1300 people can attend while still maintaining social distancing and wearing masks. district superintendent Dr. Timothy S. Bowers, said the details are being worked out with the Athletic department for future events.

The Jersey Shore Education Foundation has secured a grant in the amount of 15 thousand dollars from the Bayer Fund’s America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education program.  According to the Sun Gazette, District Superintendent Dr. Brian Ulmer said the grant will enhance STEM education in the district as well as the CTE Engineering program, and provides computers that will help students develop those engineering skills.

Another search warrant of the Campbell Street scene of a shooting that ultimately resulted in the death an 18 year old Williamsport man was issued this week.  According to North Central PA dot com, police records say a search of the property turned up a gun in an oven compartment, several cell phones and ballistics evidence from two gunshots.  One shot struck Semaj Mozee early Monday morning through the door of the apartment and he was transported to UPMC Williamsport where he later died.  Police continue the investigation and request the public call Williamsport Police with any information.

There are 18 new cases of the coronavirus in Lycoming County  bringing the total here to 771 positive cases to date, 4 patients are hospitalized.  In Pennsylvania, according to the Department of Health, there are 1,039 additional positive cases of the virus reported, and the total is now 166,552.  28 people in the state have died as of yesterday for a statewide total of 8,244.

Lock Haven has made an announcement concerning the spring semester which will mostly continue the current instruction model.  According to a press release by the school the spring 2021 semester will start a week later, January 25, and there will be no spring break. 85% of spring courses will continue to be remote learning as well having limited on-campus residency.  Asymptomatic testing will take place on-campus prior to the start of the semester.  More details at lockhaven dot edu.

The Williamsport Crosscutters will sponsor  Boomer’s Drive Thru Trick or treating event on Halloween night from 6 til 8 in the parking lot of BB&T Ballpark.  Children 14 and under who come to the Ballpark will be able enjoy an event with the cutter’s mascot, Boomer as well as other friends and exhibitors.  According to a Gabe Sincropi, Cutters VP of Marketing and public relations, the participants can enter at the 4^th street entrance only and will stay in their cars following CDC guideline., Cars will exit on Beeber street.

SPORTS

MLB
Natioal League Division Series Game 2 – Braves beat the Marlins 2-nothing, Atlanta is up 2, Dodgers edged the Padres 6-5, LA leads their series 2-nothing, American League Division Series Game 3 – A’s beat the Astros 9-7, Houston leads 2-1, and the Rays beat the Yankees 8-4 in their Game 3, Tampa Bay leads 2-1.

NFL Tonight
Tampa Bay Buccaneers play the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field with an 8:20 kickoff

NBA Finals Game 5 Miami Heat play the LA Lakers Friday at 9pm LA leads 3-1

HS Boys Soccer
North Penn-Liberty over Northeast Bradford 7-4,

HS Girls Soccer
Muncy beat Montgomery 5-1,

HS Tennis
Williamsport over Jersey Shore 3-2

SHOOTING VICTIM IDENTIFIED
A victim has been identified in the fatal shooting that happened early this week at an apartment building along Campbell Street in Williamsport.  Police say that 18 year old Semaj Mozee, who lived in the building, was shot about midnight early last Monday and was transported by ambulance to UPMC Williamsport.  According to the Lycoming County Coroner, Mozee died about an hour later during surgery.  Police have not released a motive for the shooting or if anyone is in custody at this time for the crime.  Three children who were in the building at the time were taken away from the scene by family members.  An investigation continues and police are asking the public to call with any information about the homicide.  570-327-7548.

SPIKE OF CORONAVIRUS AT THE LOCAL PRISON
There has been a spike of coronavirus infections the at Federal Corrections Institution at Allenwood with 47 inmates at the medium security facility and 6 staff now facing the virus.  According to officials at the prison, those inmates who are sick have been isolated and the infected staff  are under quarantine.  According to the Sun Gazette, the inmates were serving sentences at Allenwood and had not been transferred from any other facility. The prison started taking visitors again  Saturday and officials said they are following COVID-219 regulations with daily testing of staff and inmates.

Republican Sen. Pat Toomey formally announced Monday he will neither run for reelection nor run for governor in 2022, which could harm Republicans’ upcoming election and future plans. The two-term fiscal conservative said he recently decided  to bow out of politics and go to work in the private sector.  Toomey is the only statewide elected Republican politician in office in the commonwealth , and  it remains an important state for the GOP.   Toomey told POLITICO that he is “cautiously optimistic” his party would retain its majority and that he supports Donald Trump’s reelection.

Last Saturday Lock Haven University dedicated a new Bald Eagle Statue  as a focal point for the university’s Poorman’s Commons.  The 18 ton statue was funded by and given as a gift from the class of 1966.  According to a press release the class of ’66 started planning the class gift following their 50^th reunion in 2016.  The carved bald eagle with a 6-foot wingspan is centrally located in the university’s commons right along North Fairview Street.

A Williamsport man has been arrested for felony theft and other charges after police say he broke into a home in Old Lycoming Township on September 23^rd.  According to North Central PA dot com, 28 year old  Samuel Joseph Agor, admitted he illegally entered the home along Green Avenue about 4am.  Agor said he stole money from a wallet, a laptop computer, and soda from the refrigerator of the home.  After his arraignment, Agor went to Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.

More state funding for coronavirus relief has been approved for small business according to a release this week by Governor Tom Wolf.  Area counties share in  $96 million in additional state grants, 52% of which are historically disadvantaged businesses. More than 10,000 businesses were approved for $192 million in grants through the COVID-19 Relief Statewide Small Business Assistance Program. The full list of  businesses helped by this round of funding listed HERE.

PennDOT says they will be performing patch work in Jersey Shore today.  If you’re headed through the intersection of Allegheny Street and Thomas street, watch for single lane conditions and flaggers in place.  The PennDOT crew will be working between the hours of 7am and 3pm. Motorists are reminded to drive with caution through work zones.

State police are warning state residents to be vigilant this election season and not to fall victim to phone scams or email fraud.  According to Trooper Brent Miller the things to remember are what a legitimate candidate or committee will never do; asking you to pay for voter registration, wire money or buy gift cards having to do with the election.  Registering to vote either in person or by mail is free. Police say if you wish to donate anything, don’t do it over the phone.  Research your choices and donate through a secure website, and never give out personal information or credit card numbers to strangers.

SPORTS
NFL
Monday night football Chiefs beat the Patriots 26 to 10, Packers at home over the Falcons 30-16

MLB American League division Series Game 1 – Astros over the A’s 10-5, Yankees over the Rays 9-3

NBA
Game 4 of the NBA finals tonight at 9 PM between the Lakers and Heat  – LA leads 2 to 1

HS Girls Tennis
Hughesville over Shikellamy 5-0h, South Williamsport over Muncy 5-oh, Loyalsock defeated Jersey Shore 3-2, North Penn Liberty over Wellsboro 4-1
In the District 6 Class AAA Semi-finals – Altoona beat Central Mountain 4-1

HS Girls Soccer
South Williamsport over Montgomery 8-1
HS Boys Soccer
Northumberland Christian tied Sullivan County 1-1,
Warrior Run defeated Hughesville 14-2, Milton blanked Shamokin 3-nothing

OVERNIGHT SHOOTING IN WILLIAMSPORT
An individual was reportedly shot after midnight last night in Williamsport at  a three-story apartment building in 600 block of Campbell Street.  According to the sun gazette’s Social media pages, shooting scene was a property on the west side of Campbell Street, between Park Avenue and High Street. After the incident, the victim was carried out of the building and loaded into an ambulance enroute to UPMC Williamsport. City police and firefighters, along with paramedics responded.  City Police Chief Damon Hagan arrived at police headquarters just after 1 a.m. to oversee the investigation.  Police have not reported  anyone in custody at this time.

FORMER DEPUTY SENTENCED TO JAIL, WILL PAY OVER 250K RESTITUTION
A former Sullivan county sheriff’s deputy has recently been sentenced to a year in prison for allegedly embezzling almost 200,000 dollars from the sheriff’s office bank account. According to Penn Live, Mary Handzus, 64, of the Laporte area plead guilty to embezzlement after the FBI and PA state police investigated last February.  Handzus was sentenced by district court judge Matthew W. Brann on Thursday, and ordered to pay over 250,000 dollars in restitution to pay back the funds stolen in addition to reparations to the forensic unit.

LYCOMING COUNTY COVID-19 UPDATE
Lycoming County added 20 coronavirus cases as of midnight Saturday, with 744 positive cases to date 6 patients are hospitalized in Lycoming County.  In Pennsylvania, there were 2,251 additional positive cases reported for a statewide total of 163,535.  Thirty-seven new deaths were also reported for a pandemic wide total of  8,216 fatalities.

TURBOTVILLE CONSIDERING POLICE REGIONALIZATION
Turbotville residents have recently expressed concerns about reckless drivers and speeding and are considering a contract for police coverage that is similar to the agreement between McEwensville and Watsontown police.  According to the Sun Gazette, the Turbotville Borough Council last week, heard from community members familiar with the motivations to consider police regionalization; among them, that local police can serve local communities faster and can spend more time at a scene than State Troopers who are redeployed more often, who serve a larger area. Watsontown police have been covering McEwensville since July.

BIG BERTHA VANDALIZED
A Large pro-president Trump billboard in Upper Fairfield Township, Lycoming County, that fans call Big Bertha has been vandalized.  According to North Central PA dot com, the sign and the trailer used to move it were vandalized late Friday or early Saturday.  The sign itself was damaged by someone spray painting a V symbol in red and the tires the trailers slashed while at the 2700 block of Route 87.  Organizers of the Susquehanna River Trump Rally and Boat Regatta, who maintain the sign provided by an anonymous donor, said there was 5 thousand dollars-worth of damage done.

NURSING HOMES REVEAL PLAN FOR REOPENING
Local nursing homes have the ability to start opening up once again, if certain parameters are met. According to the Sun Gazette, nursing homes will follow a 3 step process for reopening safely.  Zach Shamberg, the CEO and President of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association has explained the first step being limited, with no visitation permitted. The second level  allows for small visitation sessions outdoors with regular temperature checks and social distancing. The third step adds larger groups and longer visitation periods. If anyone tests positive, communities must revert back to step one.   Shamberg says these steps allow everyone within the community to remain safe during the pandemic.

BACKPACK FULL OF NARCOTICS CONFISCATED
Montoursville state police made a traffic stop last spring  and confiscated a backpack full of narcotics from a Jersey Shore man along Route 15 south before i-180east for a broken taillight.  Police say in an affidavit from September 25^th that 32 year old Andrew S. Huntington had on his person a large amount of cash, and a varied amount of drugs including cocaine, meth and mushrooms. Huntington was charged with five felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, he was jailed last month in lieu of $45,000 monetary bail.

MAN TURNS HIMSELF IN FOR SHOOTING DOGS
State police in Mansfield were called to a residence after a man self-reported shooting 2 of his neighbor’s dogs. The man, whose name has not been reveled, was the owner of a domesticated white tail deer, that was fenced in on his property. The 2 German Shepherds are alleged to have run over to the deer, barking at it and causing it to be frightened. The deer began damaging the fencing and likely themselves while trying to escape. The owner then shot the dogs. According to northcentralPA.com the police filed the incident under animal cruelty. It is currently under investigation, the Tioga county district attorney has yet to make a disposition.

GOLD TOURNEY RAISED MONEY DESPITE CANCELLATION
The UPMC Susquehanna Invitational Golf tournament raised 50,000 dollars despite canceling the event due to covid-19. According to northcentral PA.com the contributions will go toward an expansion of the Hillman Cancer Center and the Kathryn Candor Lundy Breast Health Center. The expansion project will add 11,000 square feet with additional exam rooms and private chemotherapy treatment bays. For the full list of sponsors, and more information on the tournament, go to UPMCsusquehanna.org/giving.

SPORTS
NASCAR Denny Hamlin won the Yellawood 500 at Talladega Sunday with a photo finish and Matt DiBenedetto coming in a close and devastating second but later penalized to 21st by NASCAR officials, Ty Dylan finished third.
Horse Racing
Swiss Sky Diver ran for the win during the 145th Preakness Stakes race at Pimlico on Saturday in Baltimore.
NBA
Heat beat the Lakers in the NBA 115/104 in game three of the NBA finals with LA leading the series 21
HS Football rivalries from Friday night
Montoursville beat Danville 42-28, Muncy beat Montgomery 34-17
NFL
Browns beat the Cowboys 49-38, Rams beat the New York Giants 7-9, Bills beat the Raiders 30-23, Eagles beat the 49ers 25-20, Ravens over Washington 31-17,  Saints over the Lions 35-29, Seahawks beat the Dolphins 31-23, Buccaneers over the Chargers 38-31, Panthers beat Cardinals 31-21, Vikings over the Texans 31-23, Colts over the Bears 19-11
Monday Night Football
Chiefs and the Patriots play in Kansas City @7:05, Falcons and Packers meet at Lambeau field for an 8:50 kick off.
MLB
The American League Division Series starts today – A’s meet the Astros in LA at 4:07, and Yankees play the Rays at 8:07 tonight.

Montoursville Schools to Re-Open

The Montoursville area school board has recently approved as of Thursday during a special meeting that five day in person schedule beginning on the 19th for many middle and high schoolers, and according to the sun gazette, Elementary school students may return as soon as Monday. While the original  hybrid model of schooling at this time will be suspended, it doesn’t mean it wont go back to the way it was, or even 100 remotely. Daniel Taormina, Montour area high school principle says that moving back to a in person schedule was always the plan, as it serves the families and students much better. For people still wary of the  pandemic, online schooling for the district is available.

Home Invasion

Nicholas Heisley has charged and jailed after breaking into a home and threatening a family last Friday. Heisley kicked in the front door of Gary Lohmans homes, striking his 8 year old daughter to the floor and hitting Lohman in the chest with a metal rod. He then allegedly pulled out a handgun, pointing at several family members in the room. He then tried to flee but was confronted in the yard, where he and Lohman started fighting. He eventually left the scene and was later apprehended by police and taken in to custody where he is being held with a 250,000 dollar bail at the Lycoming county prison.

Sullivan Deputy Sentenced to 1 Year in Prison

A former Sullivan county deputy has recently been sentenced to a year in prison for allegedly embezzled almost 200,000 dollars from the sheriff’s office bank account. After the FBI and PA state police concluded their investigation, she was sentenced by district court judge Matthew W. Brann on Thursday, and ordered to pay 250,000 dollars in restitution to pay back the funds stolen in addition to the forensic unit that had to be funded due to here actions.

UPMC Golf Tournament Fundraising Despite Cancellations

The UPMC Susquehanna Invitational Golf tournament raised 50,000 dollars despite this years cancellation due to covid-19. According to northcentralPA.com  the contributions will go toward an expansion of the Hillman Cancer Center and the Kathryn Candor Lundy Breast Health Center. The expansion project will add 11,000 square feet with additional exam rooms and private chemotherapy treatment bays. For the full list of this years sponsors, as well as more information on the tournament, you can go to UPMCsesqhuahanna.org/giving.

Sports

NFL

Doc Rivers has reached agreement on a five-year deal to become the next coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, sources told ESPN on Thursday. Rivers’ deal with the Sixers comes only three days after he parted with the LA Clippers.

MLB

Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Gibson died Friday at age 84, the St. Louis Cardinals confirmed to ESPN. Gibson, who was born in Omaha, Nebraska, played all of his 17 MLB seasons with the Cardinals from 1959 through 1975.

High School Football

Week 4 Final Scores from Friday are:

Central Mountain 49, Milton 6

Central Columbia 17, Mifflinburg 0

South Williamsport 21, Northwest Area 14

Williamsport 26, Wilkes-Barre 0

Jersey Shore 33, Selinsgrove 0

Shamokin 41, Shikellamy 20

Muncy 34, Montgomery 17

Mount Carmel Area 54, Hughesville 7

Wyalusing 18, Sayre 15

Montoursville 42, Danville 28

Towanda at Athens, postponed