Williamsport Area School Board’s met Tuesday and announced plans for a return to school September 1st using a hybrid alternate phase of education. According to the Sun Gazette, District Superintendent, Dr. Timothy S. Bowers said students will attend classes on site and remotely on a staggered schedule based on the alphabet – with all students learning remotely on Fridays. Over 4500 families responded to a survey sent to 5000 with only 40 percent of the parents preferring in-person instruction. Bowers told the board that the district’s plan is designed to be flexible, so if infection rates go down or another district comes up with a better plan, the district would review that.
Arrests involving the use and sale of bath salts has increased in the Jersey Shore area. According to the Sun Gazette, Tiadaghton Valley Regional police and court records report that police intercepted a transaction between a 34 year old mother, Erica Wagner, in Porter township and the man who had arrived to sell her the drug, 34 year old Timothy Getchen was charged with possession with intent to deliver bath salts and other charges and is in Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $75 thousand bail. Wagner was arrested for endangering the welfare of a child and is currently behind bars as well. According to Jersey Shore police there have been at least 5 more arrests recently in which bath salts possession or use has been part of the case.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health says there are 3 new cases of the coronavirus in Lycoming County as of yesterday at midnight, part of 342 positive total cases in the county. According to the Sun Gazette none of the Lycoming County patients are being treated with ventilators at this time. . There are 854 new positive cases in the state with total cases to date in Pennsylvania is just over 115 thousand. Over 150 thousand tests have been administered across the state with 5,891 positive cases reported between July 28th and August 3rd. 23 new deaths were reported in PA for a total of 7, 232.
The open container law in the Selinsgrove borough has been suspended after Selinsgrove Borough Council members Monday night voted for it for the central business district. . According to media outlets the suspension is a way to further support downtown businesses during COVID-19. Additional curbside parking spaces were approved along Market Street and some other street closures there to allow for more seating and the availability for takeout.
Funding for election modernization and security measures were approved by the Lycoming County Commissioners yesterday, and there are two new polling places for two neighborhoods. According to the Sun Gazette, a grant worth over $542 thousand will enhance the election process in a year with COVID-19 when the use of absentee ballots is expected to increase. For Lycoming Township residents who vote at the municipal building, they will now vote at Fairlawn Community Church, and in Williamsport’s 8th ward who vote at the Bridge club, the new location is St. Paul Calvary United Methodist Church.
A woman has been sentenced in Lycoming County court over a Williamsport homicide that occurred on New Year’s Day 2019. According to WNEP, Monica Burns was sentenced Friday for the stabbing death of Ryan Jones in a city apartment. Police say Jones’ body was found near the building where he was killed. Burns will spend 15 and a half to 25 years in prison.
The state Department of Health confirmed 18 new cases of the coronavirus in Union County. Most if not all of today’s new cases are presumably from the Lewisburg penitentiary. As of midday yesterday, there are still 35 Lewisburg inmate cases, and an inmate and staff case among both Allenwood facilities. Union county’s total is now at 191 cases since the pandemic and two deaths. There are 3 new cases of the coronavirus in Lycoming County as of yesterday at midnight, part of 342 positive total cases in the county.
U.S. Senator Bob Case and Governor Tom Wolf asked the US Congress to extend the additional $600 weekly unemployment benefit for Pennsylvanians that expired last week. Senator Casey says the Republican proposal to push compensation down to $200 a week doesn’t make sense, and Governor Wolf says this money is still needed because there are simply no available jobs for anyone who is unemployed. Senator Casey said in a press release that he hopes the benefit will be extended by the end of the week at the latest.
The mikeroweWORKS Foundation recognized the potential of nine Pennsylvania College of Technology students to shrink the skills gap by awarding them Work Ethic Scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year. The foundation, created by skilled-labor advocate Mike Rowe, distributes the scholarships annually to students who “embrace personal responsibility, delayed gratification, a positive attitude and a strong work ethic” in preparing for a career in the skilled trades. Over $1 million was distributed to 223 recipients nationwide. Local Penn College students Jonah M. Hartman of Jersey Shore, and William R. Hugar of Hughesville were among other students who received the Work Ethic Scholarships. Penn College had more scholarship recipients than any other Pennsylvania school.
SPORTS
MLB
Twins beat the Pirates 7-3, Indians over the Reds 4-2, Rays beat the Red Sox 5-1, Nationals beat the Mets 5-3, Braves over the Blue Jays 10-1, White Sox beat the Brewers 3-2, Cubs beat the Royals 5-4, Marlins over the Orioles 4-nothing, Rockies beat the Giants 5-2, Astros over the Diamondbacks 8-2, A’s beat the Rangers 5-1, Dodgers over the Padres 5-2, Angels beat the Mariners 5-3, Phillies and Yankees make-up game is tonight
NBA
Nets beat the Bucks 119 to 116, Mavericks over the Kings 114 to 110, Suns beat the Clippers 117 to 115, Pacers over Magic 120-109, Heat beat the Celtics 112 to 106, and Trailblazers beat the Rockets 110-102
NHL
Islanders beat the Panthers 4-2, Predators over the Coyotes 4-2, Maple Leafs beat the Blue Jackets 3-nothing, Flames over the Jets 6-2, Hurricanes beat the Rangers 4-1, and Canucks beat Wild 4-3.
NASCAR
The Indianapolis 500 announced yesterday that the 104th running of the legendary race will be August 23rd but closed to fans, even though the decision to allow some fans in the grandstands was announced last month. Those who have tickets for the Indy 500 will receive credit for the 2021 race
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Yahoo Sports reports that Penn State linebacker Micah (MY-cah) Parsons is expected to opt out of the 2020 college football season and declare for the 2021 NFL draft, where he’s widely viewed as a sure fire first round pick. Parsons could make the decision official as early as today. Last year, as a sophomore, he was named the Big Ten Conference linebacker of the year.
