DOH REPORTS LATEST COVID-19 NUMBERS FOR PENNSYLVANIA
According to the PA Department of Health, the latest COVID-19 case count in Lycoming County is 17, but there are 1,989 new cases in Pennsylvania bringing the statewide total to 18, 228. Twenty-nine new deaths in the commonwealth, brings the total fatalities to 338. Department of Health Secretary Rachel Levine says the governor’s guidelines are working and staying home is the right thing to do. She says we need to keep protecting our vulnerable Pennsylvanians, and our healthcare workers and frontline responders.
TWO ALARM HOUSE FIRE IN WATSONTOWN
Several Fire companies responded to a 2 alarm house fire this morning, reportedly on Main Street in Watsontown. According to the Union County Firewire on Facebook, the fire has been brought under control but Warrior Run, Milton,White Deer, Mifflinburg, Cameron Co, Watsontown Borough and more units were on the scene. Watch for low visability due to the smoke from the structure and emergency crews on the scene near Main street.
WIND GUSTS BROUGHT DOWN TREES AND LIMBS
Some Lycoming County residents experienced power outages yesterday after gusty winds reached 35 miles per hour, and brought some limbs and trees down causing delays for crews out trying to restore power to customers. Officials report Station 18 Loyalsock Volunteer Fire Company worked from around noon til 2pm around 1670 Log Run Road in Loyalsock where a tree went across the road and brought down power lines. According to the Sun Gazette, 911 communications reported wind related incidents near Balls Mills in Hepburn township, in Salladasburg, and Picture Rocks, as well as in the east end of Williamsport near Eldred Street, on Bloominggrove Road and Northway Road. The national weather service says there’s more wind maybe up to 40mph – in store for Saturday.
AIRPORT TAXIWAY BIDS EXPECTED NEXT MONTH
Bid openings are expected next month after the Williamsport Municipal Airport Authority voted to advertise for a taxiway project that’s slated to begin later this year. However, according to the Sun Gazette, Airport Executive director, Michael Howell, the Montour Street project to extend the street to the airport, remains behind schedule and hopes to qualify for funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act that President Trump enacted March 27th.
LICENSE RENEWALS, WAIVERS AND EXTENSIONS FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN PA
Licensed professional healthcare professionals facilities and trainees can respond more easily to the COVID-19 disaster declaration after the PA Department of State announced 30 licensing waivers since March 17th, available to extend some filing deadlines, renew qualifications, and expedite temporary licenses for out-of-state health care workers. Restrictions will also be loosened on in person requirements for notary work. The Department of State website will be updated regularly as additional requirement waiver information becomes available at www.dos.pa.gov
CONGRESSMAN WANTS TO HALT PRISONER MOVEMENT
Congressman Fred Keller of Kreamer has called on the director of the federal bureau of prisons to stop the irresponsible movement of prisoners to USP Lewisburg in consideration of the Pandemic Act of 2020. According to a press release on Keller’s website, By housing inmates set to be moved in the northeast region at USP Lewisburg, the federal Bureau of Prisons is endangering the community and putting at risk the staff members who work at the facility every day. He wants director Michael Carvejal to halt all prisoner movement during this national emergency.
CITY REAL ESTATE TAX EXTENSION
The Williamsport City Treasurer said there will be extra time for paying city real estate taxes. According to the Sun Gazette, County taxes will keep the original schedule. Due to financial hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic, the discounted rate for city real estate tax has been extended from April 30 to June 30, while the deadline to pay at the normal rate shifts from June 30 to August 31. The deadline for filing business privilege and mercantile, or local earned income tax with no penalties or interest is July 15. The taxes may be put in a secure drop-off box outside a closed City Hall, online payments or through U.S. Postal Service. Lycoming County property owners can pay their real estate tax bills online or by mail by April 30 and receive a 2 percent discount for early payment.
WOMAN ARRESTED FOR A woman in Montour county has been arrested for trespassing and defying a stay- home order and other charges after leading police on a vehicle chase last Saturday starting at the Hampton Inn at 97 Old Valley School Road near Danville. According to North Central PA dot come, state police were called when 38 year old Taylor Eaton was discovered trespassing on the property in her Volkwagen Jetta. She fled from police, heading east on Rt 54, took U-turns and finally tried to flee on foot. She was caught, arrested and arraigned in Bloomsburg. Eaton posted 10 thousand dollars bail.
GOVERNOR WOLF ANNOUNCES SCHOOLS WILL REMAIN CLOSED
Governor Wolf announced yesterday that due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in efforts to protect students and communities, the school buildings in Pennsylvania will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Speaking in a video message, Governor Wolf today said that just because school buildings are closed there will continue to be progress. All Department of Education early learning program classrooms will also remain closed.
Sports
NFL
The Buffalo Bill fanbase is embracing newest receiver Stefon Diggs with a 4 patty burger named “Can you Diggs it?” in his honor at a local burger place. Diggs was traded to Buffalo on March 16 for a first, fifth and sixth-round pick in 2020, and a fourth-round pick in 2021. He spent his first five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings,
NBA
The semifinals for the NBA 2K Players Tournament are set between some of the NBA’s top video game players – Suns guard Devin Booker, Clippers Montrezl Harrell, Phoenix center Deandre Ayton and Clippers guard Patrick Beverley will play against each other Saturday at 8 pm eastern on ESPN.
The dates of the ESPN HORSE competition have been finalized for the players of Oklahoma City, Atlanta and Chicago, plus some WNBA stars, competing from their home locations. The first round will be Sunday from 7-9 eastern. Semi-finals and the championship will happen April 16th from 9-11
UFC Boxing
UFC 249 will not proceed on April 18 despite UFC president Dana White’s efforts to move forward with the pay-per-view event. All other UFC events have also been postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to ESPN, Seton Hall University’s Stillman School of Business took a recent small sample poll of 762 Americans, and released Thursday that 72% said they would not attend a live sporting event even if they resumed without a vaccine for the coronavirus. Only 13% said they would feel comfortable going to games the way they had in the past.
