“NEW NORMAL” FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION IN WILLIAMSPORT IS ON
After overcoming many state hurdles, the city of Williamsport, the Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce and Backyard Broadcasting have been cleared to hold the 25th annual 4th of July Celebration Fireworks with no vendors, bands or crowds. With UPMC Susquehanna as the main sponsor, families are encouraged to have small gatherings and watch the show from a new location that will be accessable from many city neighborhoods, Saturday July 4th around 9:50pm. After some final details are worked out and protocols are finalized, we will have more details available at all the Backyard Broadcasting websites and Facebook pages.
SUMMER ACTIVITY GUIDELINES IN PA
Governor Tom Wolf and the PA Department of Health has issued guidelines for families seeking summer activities and day camps, so that the providers of these programs can understand how to operate. Information on which types of programs are permitted and additional requirements in yellow and green phase counties, group size, face covering requirements for youth and staff, status of playgrounds and operation guidelines for public pools and DCNR facilities. Guidance related to reopening public schools will be released by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The full list of frequently asked questions is available HERE.
TROOPER ACCUSED OF CONSPIRACY WAIVES HEARING
A former state trooper accused of abusing his power during his tenure with the Pennsylvania State Police in Montoursville in 2019 was in court Tuesday and waived his preliminary hearing. According to the Sun Gazette,c court records say Johnathan B. Buynak, of Hughesville allegedly conspired with Amanda Fenderson on three occasions to get money from a third party for a fictitious state police drug investigation. A conspiracy charge was added yesterday, bringing the charges Buynak faces to 8 misdemeanors. In a separate set of criminal charges, Buynak allegedly failed to investigate a crime in which Fenderson was the prime suspect last July. Buynak is free on bail. US Magistrate Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, William I. Arbuckle has been asked to preside over the proceedings after the Magisterial District Judges of Lycoming County recused themselves in February.
COMMISSIONERS SUPPORT LYCOMING COUNTY POLICE
At the Lycoming County Commissioners meeting yesterday, the commissioners said they will support law enforcement with funding for police officer training. According to the Sun Gazette, a $20,000 agreement was approved to work with Mansfield University through the Act 120 Municipal Police Officer Training Academy. In response to national cries to defund police, the commissioners said police in Lycoming County will be supported
In order to further protect hospital staff and patients from COVID-19, the PA Department of Health issued an order requiring hospitals to develop implement and adhere to safety measures by June 15th. The requirements come after frontline workers brought forth concerns and some policies to be implemented include, notification of close contact of COVID-19 patients for hospital staff members, specific testing, and the ability to determine whether a damaged or ineffective respirator mask needs replaced. There is a hotline to report confidential complaints through the Department of Health, find the phone number and a link for an online form HERE.
In a dramatic session this week, Black Democrats took the floor in the PA House Monday for about 90 minutes at the start of a voting session calling for changes to policing in the state in support of Black Lives Matter and displaying the banner as they spoke. The Republican speaker paused the proceedings and suggested a special session for legislation on the matter but those protesting at the podium said they would not leave until action was taken. Rep. Steven Kinsey, D-Philadelphia, chair of the Legislative Black Caucus asked everyone in the chamber to kneel for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the length of time prosecutors say George Floyd – who was laid to rest yesterday – was pinned to the ground under the officer’s knee in Minneapolis over 2 weeks ago. The House never formally convened and Democratic and Republican leaders met privately afterward to discuss a plan
Stormwater fees will be attached to South Williamsport residents sewer and water bills on July 1st. According to the Sun Gazette, The Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority told the borough council Monday about the inclusion. According to the authority, fees are based on the amount of impervious ground that people own. Impervious ground includes concrete and pavement where rain water discharges off and gets into the watershed of the Chesapeake Bay. Comments can be made at the authority’s website at https://www.lcwsa.net/
Lane restrictions are going on this week and next on Route 45 in Lewisburg borough in Union County. According to PennDOT, maintenance crews will work on Market Street beginning in the eastbound lane between 8th Street and Water Street 9 AM and 2 PM. Motorists can expect alternating lane closures with daylight flagging. Work should be complete next Friday June 19th weather permitting.
Another local drive up testing center for COVID-19 has been added to the statewide list for locations for residents in low case-count cities to get a free coronavirus test. Today there will be a drive-up testing site added to the Walmart Supercenter parking lot, on Hogan Blvd in Mill Hall, from 7am to 9am Monday, Wednesday and Friday with registration required one day in advance through Quest Diagnostics Patient Services. Last Friday, the Supercenter location in Montoursville opened for drive thru service. Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said anyone who believes they have symptoms of COVID-19 can get set up for testing today in Pennsylvania.
SPORTS
MLB
The Major League Baseball Players Association is making a proposal to team owners for a season of 89 games with a full prorated share of salary and expanded playoffs. It would bring both sides closer to a potential deal that’s 25 games fewer than the players union’s last offer. This newest proposal would have the season start July 10th and end on October 11th.
NBA/FISHING?
Sports great Michael Jordan has entered the 62nd installment of the The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament this week in North Carolina. Jordan and the crew on his boat the Catch 23, reeled in a 442-pound blue marlin on Tuesday, the second day of the tournament. Catch 23’s marlin is the sixth heaviest reeled in so far during the tournament, which boasts a $3.3 million overall purse.
TENNIS
Roger Federer will be out of competitive tennis until the start of the 2021 season because of a setback in his recovery from arthroscopic knee surgery in February on his right knee. The 38 year old, 20-time Grand Slam champion on Wednesday posted on Twitter confirming he’ll be out of action for the rest of 2020.
NASCAR
NASCAR has decided to allow up to 1,000 Florida service members, representing the Homestead Air Reserve Base and U.S. Southern Command in Doral, to attend the Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway this Sunday as honorary guests and view the race from the grandstands…. At Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama June 21st, up to 5,000 guests will be allowed in the front stretch grandstands for the race, with limited camping available outside the track. Fans will be screened before entering, required to wear masks, maintaining social distance with no access to the infield, among other protocols.
