Williamsport residents struggling with the water bill may face shut-offs next month after the moratorium that has been in place since March will come to an end in September. According to the Sun Gazette, the Williamsport Municipal Water and Sanitary Authority has lost about a million dollars of revenue and will start notifying customers of potential shut-offs happening in mid-September. There will be pink cards to nitify the customer of a 10 day warning for shut-off instead of instead of the normal 2-day warning indicated by blue cards. The bills in arrears will be collected but not the penalties
There will be a virtual meeting of the City Council at 6:30pm tonight for a vote on creating an accessibility advisory commission for policy making and design plans to include the a voice from the disabled community. According to the Sun Gazette, the proposed ordinance to be considered was overseen by Councilman Jon Mackey who said he supports inclusion of the disabled in city government. The link to tonight’s meeting is online at City of Williamsport.org
At the Loyalsock Township School board meeting last night it was a seven to nothing vote in approval of the continuation of PIAA fall athletics and extracurricular activities as scheduled. The vote was taken at a special meeting of the board held virtually Wednesday night. According to Ronald Insinger, athletic director at Loyalsock the changing guidelines from the state have been challenging but they are taking every precaution for the welfare and safety of the kids, and that the physical, mental and social aspect of students participating in sports is why he supports continuing with the fall schedule. The livestreaming of games so that the public can watch them – is also on the table. The next board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Sept. 2.
Mansfield University officials have opted to hold a virtual homecoming this fall and announced changes to their schedule. According to the Office of Alumni Affairs, the normal September 18 & 19 Homecoming weekend event will transition to a week-long series of virtual opportunities beginning October 19th. There will be no golf tournament for 2020 and the Alumni-Athletic hall of fame event usually done on campus will be held at a later date as well with the announcement of the class also postponed to preserved the experience for the inductees.
An accident which brought down electrical wires across Route 15 yesterday before daybreak, closed the Southside interstate for seven hours. Emergency crews reported the Clinton Township accident and vehicle fire around 6am with PennDOT closing the road after 6:45am. Traffic was diverted from Route 15 North and South between Montgomery and South Williamsport. Tractor trailers slowed Route 54 and 405 as they detoured toward Elimsport. According to PennDOT, the roadway was predicted to be closed for the afternoon – but crews got the route opened up before 1 pm.
Local lawmakers are not in support of legislation, introduced by five Republicans representing different areas of the state, which could impose the fees to specific parks in order to provide for their maintenance, operation or administration. According to the Sun gazette, House Bill 2806 would overturn the law that makes it presently illegal to charge entrance and parking fees at state parks. State Rep. Garth Everett opposed the measure saying the use of the facilities during the pandemic may be driving the legislation. Rep. Clint Owlett, R-Wellsboro said he would look at the options but sees no needs at the present time for funding. The PA Environmental Council reported trail use in March and April spiked by as much as 200 percent in many areas of the state
Lycoming County reports 6 new cases of the coronavirus after recently testing 100 residents who had a negative result. There are 501 additional positive cases of COVID-19 in the state, bringing the statewide total to 130,536 according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. There are 11 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Lycoming County, none are on a ventilator. Nineteen new deaths were reported in the state for a total of 7,624.
A paving project will take place starting Monday of next week on Route 15 northbound in Liberty Township, Tioga County. According to PennDOT, Monday the 31st and Tuesday the 1st of September will have a crew on site, mill and pave a 200-foot stretch of the interstate about three quarters of a mile from the Lycomign County line. Motorists should watch for alternating lane restrictions next week near Exit 162.
SPORTS
MLB
White Sox beat the Pirates 10-3, Doubleheader last night – the Braves over Yankees 5-1 in Game 1, Braves iver Yankees 2-1 for Game 2, Phillies beat the Nationals 3-2, Blue Jays routed the Red Sox 9-1, Rays over the Orioles 4-3, Indians beat the Twins 6-3, Tigers over the Cubs 7-6, Met edged the Marlins 5-4, A’s over the Rangers 3-1, Cardinals beat the Royals 6-5, Rockies over the Diamondbacks 8-7
ESPN says Three Major League Baseball games were postponed Wednesday as players across the sports landscape reacted in the wake of the weekend shooting by police of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Wisconsin. Games between the Cincinnati Reds and Brewers in Milwaukee, Seattle Mariners and Padres in San Diego and the Los Angeles Dodgers and Giants in San Francisco were called off hours before they were set to begin. Dodgers star Mookie Betts, who is black, told his teammates he was sitting out and they backed him.
NHL
Flyers beat the Islanders in OT 4-3 in the East second round Game 2 of the series – all tied up, Lightning beat the Bruins 7-1 in Game 3, Tampa Bay leads the series 2-1, Avalanche over Stars in the West 2nd Round Game 3 – 6-4 Dallas leads the series 2-1.
NBA
The Milwaukee Bucks’ decision to not take the floor for Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic to shine a light on the racial injustices, prompted the NBA to postpone all three games scheduled last night. The NBA said the three Game 5s (Bucks-Magic, Houston Rockets-Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers-Portland Trail Blazers) would be rescheduled. But ESPN reports there is a special board of governors meeting this morning about the NBA playoff season. Milwaukee is about 40 miles north of Kenosha, Wisconsin, the city where 29-year-old Jacob Blake, was shot seven times by police on Sunday.
NFL
The Washington Football Team canceled its scheduled practice at FedEx Field on Thursday in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin, the team announced Wednesday night. The incident sparked more protests and caused more athletes to speak out or take action. Three NBA playoff games were postponed, set in motion by the Milwaukee Bucks not taking the court against the Orlando Magic in protest over Blake’s killing. Three major league baseball games were also postponed.
