URBAN EXPLORERS ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING
Two Pennsylvania teens have been charged with defiant trespassing after state troopers say they entered an abandoned hotel in Montour County. According to police, 19 year old Kobey Heberling, of Lebanon, Pa., and 18 year old Emilee Frazier of Fredericksburg, called themselves urban explorers and had found out about the Days Inn in Valley Township being abandoned on Facebook. Milton State police said the two defied the owner who told them they were trespassing on February 29th and once police arrived on the scene, took Heberling and Frazier into custody.
LAW WILL ACCOMMODATE OUTDATED GUN BUY BACK
A city law will be modified so that sniper rifles can be sold to to retiring officers. Police Cheif Damon Hagan asked for the change at a city council meeting on February 20th so that an older outdated rifle can be sold to a retiring officer from the Special Response Team. According to media outlets money from sale of firearms will go into the police general fund.
NEW ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM IN WILLIAMSPORT
The City of Williamsport has a new administrative team, named by Mayor Derek Slaughter Monday, solidifying the engineering, public safety and recreation departments. According to the Sun Gazette Police Chief Damon Hagan was named as director of public safety – an unpaid position, making his goal to add a sense of teamwork between the departments. Slaughter also called on Mark Killian the city assistant fire chief, to be chief of the 33-personnel department and Jon Sander, who has a professional civil engineer certification, was named full-time city engineer. Kayla Drummond will oversee the recreation department.
VALLEY HOSPITAL OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE COVID-19 PLANS
Health care providers in our area are working together to ensure local safety as COVID-19 or coronavirus appears in Pennsylvania. In a news conference Monday officials from UPMC Susquehanna alongside UPMC Health Plan and Geisinger, spoke of the preparation and plans in place for the potential spread of the virus. Doctors said that symptoms of coronavirus can overlap with other respiratory viruses and that we should be just as concerned about the flu because both are important to watch. Hospital officials say the are increasing precaution and protection with the development of new tests, and removing financial testing barriers by waiving some fees. Geisinger has also established a hotline for the public to ask questions and get general information about the virus. 570-284-3657
MOTHER ARRESTED AFTER BABY HAS ALLEGED METH BURNS
A Williampsort woman has been charged with endangering the welfare of a 19 month old child after the baby’s father brought the child to the hospital with burns he said were caused by methamphetamine. According to North Central Pa dot com, Jazalyn M. Welshans allegedly was home February 7th with the child and other adults who were using or manufacturing meth. An adult in attendance was treated at UPMC for similar burns according to a police affidavit, but Welshans did not take the child to the hospital to treat the blisters that were reportedly on 11 percent of the child’s body. The mother was arraigned March 6th, with bail set at 75 thousand dollars and a preliminary hearing March 12th.
ROUTE 220 SAFTEY CORRIDOR PLAN MEETING WELL ATTENDED
A public meeting last night to outline the construction schedule of the Route 220 safety corridor in Woodward and Piatt townships by the State Department of Transportation had more than 140 residents attend – some who voiced concerns and dissatisfaction with the project. According to the Sun Gazette, some in attendance said the project was previously designed by those who don’t understand what the township needs. County officials speculate there could be lower response times in emergencies due to the project which will eliminate left turns on both sides Route 220, install acceleration and deceleration lanes and large U-turns. The project has also doubled in price to 40.9 million dollars. Tony Mussare, Lycoming County commissioner, attended the meeting to hear from constituents about their concerns.
CITY STATEMENT ON CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE
The city of Williamsport has released a statement regarding the coronavirus in Lycoming county area. According to Mayor Derick Slaughter, public safety officials from the city are closely monitoring confirmed cases of coronavirus within the Commonwealth, however, there are no reported cases in Lycoming County. City officials are continuing to work with public safety and health care officials so that they are prepared in case of any health emergency. 10 cases have been reported in PA. If you feel sick please contact your healthcare provider or find details regarding the coronavirus at Health.PA.gov or call 1877-PA HEALTH.
INSURANCE COMPANIES TO WAIVE FEES FOR CORONAVIRUS TESTING
Major health insurers in Pennsylvania will cover testing for the new coronavirus, according to a news release from Gov. Tom Wolf’s office. The health insurers are Highmark, UPMC Health Plan, Geisinger, Independence BlueCross, Capital Blue Cross, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Pennsylvania Health & Wellness, and Oscar. According ot the Goovernor, no Pennsylvanian should forego testing for any reason, if deemed medically necessary, including fear of what it might cost. Some commercial labs in the state have begun to perform tests for the coronavirus, which means they will begin billing insurance for the COVID-19 testing as they would for any other diagnostic testing.
Sports
NBA
Hawks beat the Hornets 143 to 138, the Nuggets over the Bucks 109 to 95, Raptors beat Jazz 101 to 92
NHL
Sabers over the Capitals 3 to 2, Jets beat the Coyotes 4 to 2, Panthers over the Blues 2 to 1, Golden Knights beat Oilers 3 to 2, Kings over Avalanche 3-1,
Women’s Basketball
Bucknell beat Army 87-61 in the Patriot League Quarterfinals, they now play in the Semi’s Thursday at Sojka Pavilion at 6 PM
College Baseball
Lockhaven beat Virginia State 2 to 1
College Softball
Eureka over Lycoming 5-nothing and Lycoming beat Fitchburg State 11 one in North Myrtle Beach at the SLIAC championship.
HS Girls wrestling – Sunday
Montoursville’s Dominika Daugherty- 2nd seed at 128lbs- finished second on Sunday in the MyHouse Pennsylvania Girls State championships in Gettysburg. Canton’s Miah Lehman was 3rd
