AREA SCHOOLS RESPOND TO CORONAVIRUS
Some area schools are responding to the coronavirus threat by cancelling events and field trips as well as limiting visitors at area school buildings. According to the Sun Gazette, administrators at East Lycoming Schools have temporarily suspended visitors and guests into the school while school is in session. Montoursville schools told the paper they are monitoring trips outside the school on a case by case basis, recently cancelling a trip to Montgomery County. Lock Haven has suspended face to face instruction with courses resuming after spring break March 23rd with remote instruction and have asked students to arrange for temporary housing off-campus. The University has canceled all university-sponsored non-athletic events through April 3rd.
STATE REPSONSE TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
Cases of the new coronavirus crept into Philadelphia in Bucks County this week as Penn State, the University of Pennsylvania and other state schools are moving classes online and St. Patrick’s Day parades in Philadelphia, Scranton and Pittsburgh were canceled. The state Department of Health began sharing more information about testing Wednesday, saying there were 59 tests pending and 100 negative tests, while an out-of-state resident is hospitalized in Montgomery County. Hardest hit is Montgomery County, where nine residents, including a Lower Providence police officer, have tested positive. Philadelphia officials confirmed the city’s first case Tuesday.
POTENTIAL TAX INCREASES IN MONTOURSVILLE
Even with a potential tax increase at over a mill and budget cuts from adminstrators, Montoursville school board officials said yesterday that the budget will still be at an estimated deficit of over 380 thousand dollars as they continue to try and work out budget details for the next year. According to the Sun Gazette, there are still contracts to come in that could change the bottom line, but officials say a deficit could continue to eat away at the district’s savings, moving on through to next year’s budget. Raising taxes beyond the index would mean another $104 on a $100,000 assessment. The Montoursville Area School Board will continue budget talks on April 14th at 7pm.
CRASH IN JERSEY SHORE SHUT DOWN ROADWAY
Route 44 is reopened after PennDOT closed it last night following a tractor trailer accident. Motorists were detoured in Lycoming County from both lanes of Main Street between Baer Street and Allegheny Street in Jersey Shore. A tractor trailer crashed into a utility pole causing the pole and wires downed in in the roadway. Commercial vehicles and tractor trailers slowed the Thomas Street exit off Route 220 and the clean-up took a little over 3 hours.
RAISE THE REGION TAKES PLACE THROUGH TONIGHT
Raise the Region – a multi hour fundraising event benefiting non-profit organizations in 6 local counties continues today until midnight. The kickoff was last evening at Aubrey Alexander Toyota in Selinsgrove / Hummels Wharf and organized by the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania. Over 280 individual non-profit organizations prepared to compete during the 30 hours of fundraising, with Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships providing 150 thousand dollars of stretch funds and working to break their total goal of 1.5 million. Raise the Region increases individual funding to nonprofits through a concentrated, online, matching gift campaign, find out more and follow the results at raise the region dot org.
SUN BURY MAN ARRESTED FOR DRIVE-BY SHOOTING
A Sunbury man was taken into custody after police say he shot at a moving vehicle Wednesday at 8th Alley and Reagan street around 2pm. According to the Daily item, police were dispatched for shots fired at that location after a victim made statements about a man shooting toward his car. Police investigated and found Julio Costales, 29, of Greenough Street driving near the scene and detained him. Police obtained a search warrant and found a handgun in Costales pocket and seized it for evidence. Costales faces felony charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, as well as carrying a firearm without a license.
DEVELOPMENT PLANS APPROVED ON SOUTHSIDE
A Williamsport developer has been approved for a lot consolidation for a planned subdivision on property owned by George A Hutchinson. According to the Sun Gazette, The South Williamsport Borough Council approved the next step for the development of 2.85 acres on Phillips Park Drive overlooking the Susquehanna River. In other business on the council on Monday, Casey Lowmiller, a former borough fire chief, was voted in to fill Henry Frey Jr. seat in the third ward.and they accepted the resignation of Councilman Richard Kershner in the first ward.
LANCERS ADVANCE AFTER VICTORY AGAINST CAMP HILL
In Local basketball last night, in a second round matchup at Shamokin, the Loyalsock Lancers, in thrilling fashion, after being down 49-35 with five minutes left in the third quarter, came back to defeat Camp Hill 66-65, thanks to a game winning shot by Eli Gair with 1.1 seconds remaining. Loyalsock advances to the state triple a quarterfinals and takes on Newman-Goretti this Saturday
Sports
NBA 76ers beat the Pistons 124 to 106, Knicks beat the Hawks 136-131, Hornets over the Heat 109 to 98, Mavericks beat Nuggets 113 to 97, Jazz and Thunder and Pelicans and Kings were not played due players health – Rudy Gobert of Utah Jazz tested positive for the virus. According to the NBA, they are suspending game play until further notice due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
NHL
Blackhawks beat the Sharks, Jets over the Oilers 4-2, Blackhawks beat the Sharks 6-2, Blues over the Ducks 4-2, Avalanche over the Rangers 3-2, and Kings beat the Senators 3-2
Women’s Lacrosse
Lycoming beat Alburtus Magnus 16-6, Lock Haven beat Gannon 13-9
College Softball
Minnesota State beat Lock Haven 8 to 1 in Game one, and Lock Haven beat American International 5-3 in Game 2
Men’s lacrosse
Virginia Wesleyan be Lycoming 11 to 7
HS Swimming PIAA championships Class AAA
Williamsport diver Jack Beattie advanced out of the first round taking 16th in the finals of the 1-meter diving competition.
HS Boys Basketball
P I-AA Class AAA Playoffs 2nd Round
Loyalsock beat Camphill 66-65 in Shamokin with Eli Gair hitting a three-pointer at the buzzer, stunning Camp Hill. Loyalsock came from a third quarter deficit to earn their spot in the Elite Eight this Saturday against Neumann- Goretti.
