LYCOMING TO GO GREEN THIS FRIDAY
Governor Wolf yesterday announced he will lift most of his pandemic restrictions in an additional 16 counties in western and north central PA for the green phase this Friday which will now include Lycoming and Clinton County. Counties that will remain yellow after Friday are Union, and Northumberland County. According to Governor Wolf, the counties who are still in the red phase – hit the hardest by the pandemic – are in line to be reopened to the yellow phase by Friday. Find out the details of Governor Wolf’s phased plan here.
PEACEFUL PROTESTS IN WILLIMSPORT
Williamsport residents gathered in peaceful protests Saturday and Sunday in response to the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer last week near the Market Street Bridge in downtown Williamsport and in other areas of the county but there are no official reports of any arrests from those protests from local police. In contrast, larger cities in Pennsylvania, saw violence and looting take place after escalation from originally peaceful protests. Governor Wolf said in a press conference yesterday that he was appealing to the spirit of Pennsylvanians to protest effectively. Curfews were ordered for the evening hours in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and clean up from looting and destruction has started there as of yesterday according to media outlets.
LANCASTER COUNTY WOMAN KILLED IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT
A motorcycle accident involving two people from Lititz, Pennsylvania, that happened in East Cameron Township in Northumberland County killed one person Sunday before noon. According to State Police in Stonington, Jay and Melissa Otto were traveling on a 2016 BMW RS motorcycle north on State Route 125 near Boyer’s Grove Road when they hit gravel that had been washed into the travel lane from prior storms, they lost traction and rolled over. Both were thrown into the southbound lane , 50 year old Melissa Otto suffered fatal injuries, 53 year old Jay Otto was transported to Geisinger in Shamokin with unknown injuries. Police say both were wearing helmets during the crash.
BACK TO BUSINESS VIRTUAL FORUM TOMORROW
UPMC and the Lycoming Chamber of Commerce are hosting a “Back to Business” virtual forum tomorrow at 2pm. State senator Gene Yaw and state representatives will discuss the re-opening of businesses and the economy in Lycoming County. UPMC’s Medical Director for Infectious Disease will provide information on how businesses can keep their employees and patrons safe. Business Owners can go to UPMCSusquehanna.org/BacktoBusiness for information on how to attend Tuesday’s event.
STATEWIDE PROTESTS SPUR VIOLENCE, CURFEWS
Protests occurred across Pennsylvania over the weekend in response to the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer last week. According to PennLive, the mayor of Harrisburg Eric Papenfuse and police there reportedly de-escalated tensions and police left the Front street area in the capital Saturday night, but the Police commissioner in Harrisburg said non-resident groups were the majority of those inciting violence. According to the Sun Gazette, Philadelphia has implemented a 6pm curfew as of Sunday night. Philly Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said much of center city from the Schuylkill River to the Delaware River — would be blocked off. The Ben Franklin bridge between Philadelphia and Camden, New Jersey, was closed until further notice. Penn Live also reports that Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said in a press conference that peaceful protests in his city had been hijacked and turned into a riot. He ordered the city locked down from 8:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday night.
SINGLE LANE CONSTRUCTION THIS WEEK ON I-80
Motorists who drive east and westbound I-80 in Lewis, West Buffalo, and White Deer Townships, Union County will see alternating lane closures on the interstate this week. Today and tomorrow , a PennDOT maintenance crew will perform crack sealing along Interstate 80 westbound starting at mile marker 194.5 from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM. And on Wednesday and Thursday, crack sealing will take place eastbound starting at mile marker 207 during the same times in the day. Motorists can check conditions on Pennsylvania roadways at 511pa.com.
PENN COLLEGE BACK IN SESSION THIS FALL
Penn College of Technology has announced it will reopen in the fall for in-person instruction and also for a few weeks in the summer for make-up work that could not be completed before the campus closed down due to the pandemic in March. According to Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour, the campus will open for students needing to make-up work for a few week sessions starting July27th, August 3rd and August 10th , with the semester scheduled to start for all first-year and returning Penn College students August 17th.
WEIS EXTENDS HOURS
Weis Markets announced this week that they will extend their hours, expand their online pick-up and delivery hours and reopen their deli counters with safety measures in place. The stores’ pharmacies have also resumed their immunization program. Store hours have been extended 7am to 9pm Monday Through Saturday and Sunday hours are 7am to 8pm. In Pennsylvania, the designated shopping time for seniors and those with compromised immune systems is Tuesday mornings from 6am to 7am. The changes are part of the grocery chain’s efforts to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
