STATE RECONCILES TWO WEEKS OF COVID-19 DEATHS, ADD HUNDREDS
The Pennsylvania Department of Health added 865 additional positive cases of COVID-19 yesterday for a statewide total of 50,957 coronavirus cases.  The big shift in numbers today is that more deaths were added to the total in the Commonwealth announced yesterday by PA secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine adding 554 new deaths as of yesterday.  The statewide death toll is 3,012.  Lycoming County reported no new cases of COVID-19, with 86 cases here and 4 deaths reported.

COMMISSIONERS PLAN PRESS CONFERENCE AS WE TRANSITION INTO YELLOW
As Lycoming County plans to head into the Yellow Phase on May 8^th, County commissioners have planned a press conference Friday at 10am to address steps to take about a new plan they announced this week.  According to the Sun Gazette, Commissioner Scott Metzger announced the County Planning and Coordination Cell, comprised of representatives from several county departments including planning and development, court administration  and information services, which will help ensure safe and effective guidance  as policies change due to state and federal health guidelines .

COMMISSION WILL ADD A NEW AREA CODE TO THE 814 REGION
After a 4-0 vote by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on Thursday, there will a campaign to add a new local area code to the 814 region which covers 27 counties throughout Northwestern and Central parts of the state.  According to the Sun Gazette, officials from the Commission stress that there will be no change in phone service for existing customers, PUC will just start implementing a new overlay area code when 814 numbers are exhausted.  Ten-digit dialing will begin voluntarily in this same region for customers this coming October, and be phased in by next April.

HOSPITAL FUNDRAISER CANCELLED
The 36th Annual Muncy Valley Hospital Auxiliary Lawn Party originally scheduled for Saturday, June 22 has been cancelled.  According to t press release by UPMC, the Lawn Party is a fundraising project of the MVH Auxiliary and the cancellation is one way  to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.  The Committee and UPMC is planning a fundraising event for 2021..

THIRD INDIVIDUAL ARRESTED FOR INVOLVEMENT IN TROUT RUN MURDER FOR HIRE
A third individual has been arrested in the murder for hire scheme that was discovered last month  in Trout Run. According to the Sun Gazette, 22 year old Annette Kriner of Brandon Avenue was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit murder after being the person to allegedly contact a third individual to carry out the deed, when two teens Dillian Weaver and Angela Peluso, plotted to kill Peluso’s stepfather, Howard Blackburn.  Kriner has been jailed in the Lycoming County Prison, along with Weaver and Peluso who were arrested April 24^th.

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT GRADUATES TO FORMALLY ACCEPT DIPLOMAS
South Williamsport High school is planning a graduation experience for their seniors since COVID-19 has cancelled so many celebrations for the class of 2020.  According to the Sun Gazette, the South Williamsport School Board  has days scheduled for seniors and their families to come to the school and formally accept their diplomas and be filmed going through the process that will then be put into a single production for an upcoming ceremony.

NO MEMORIAL DAY YARD SALES
The Montoursville Borough Yard Sales normally expected on Memorial Day Weekend, this May 30^th will be rescheduled for a later date.  According to the Sun Gazette, the Montoursville Borough Council decided during a virtual meeting this week that they will wait until the state begins lifting restrictions to pick a new date for the community event.

BEER FEST POSTPONED
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected another series of events this summer – The Milton Beer fest, has postponed their event til later in the year.  According to the Sun Gazette, the TIME board met virtually this week and decided to move the 4^th annual Beer Fest to December 5^th inside the Shoe Factory in Milton.  Some cancellations include the Turbotville High School Alumni Banquet planned for June 13and the 2020 reunion class graduates will be honored next year.

SPORTS

Lycoming College has announced the loss of a pioneer of women’s athletics at the college.  Deb Holmes, former tennis coach for 34 years and member of Lycoming’s Athletics Hall of Fame,  passed away last Friday after a battle with cancer.

NFL

The New York Jets signed former Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore for one year.  He’s the 3^rd leading rusher in NFL history and played last season with the Buffalo Bills.

UFC
UFC boss Dana White  says the upcoming UFC 249 fight is slated to take place this Saturday at 10pm in Florida without fans.  White said there will be two more events with our fans coming up soon.

MLB
Korean Baseball kicked off one of it’s games this week with a 9 year old boy in a large baseball-sized bubble, walking to the plate to signify the first pitch in a game while sticking to social distancing guidelines in a stadium without fans.