LOCAL CORONAVIRUS TOTALS ARE ALSO RISING
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has released the two day totals concerning coronavirus numbers in our area. In Lycoming County there have been 35 new cases of the coronavirus, with 19 hospitalized and 2 on ventilators. In Northumberland County, there are 43 new cases. 60 new Union County cases have been reported, Snyder with 16, and Montour has nine new cases with 33 of their residents hospitalized including 7 on ventilators. There has been a two-day total of 6,311 additional positive cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania, there have been nine new fatalities.
POSITIVE NEWS ABOUT FUTURE COVID VACCINE
As the world waits for a vaccine to successfully battle COVID-19, recent positive results from the pharmaceutical company Pfizer has officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Health working on logistics to distribute it when and if it becomes available. Pfizer announced recently that its latest vaccine candidate is over 90% effective – an astounding statistic according to health officials. According to Dr Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania Department of Health they will use a three phase system that had been in place to prioritize distribution of the medicine, for health-care personnel and front line and emergency workers as well as vulnerable populations. The public is included in the third phase. One challenge to distributing the vaccine, is that it has to be kept very cold, so the Department of Health is reaching out to facilities in the commonwealth to meet that challenge.
NEW JERSEY SHORE COUNCIL MEMBERS APPOINTED
Joe Hamm of the Jersey Shore Borough Council most recently won the race for the 84th state House seat in the Nov. 3 election, leading him to resign as borough manager and the council there accepted his resignation last night . According to the Sun Gazette, Cody Hoover was appointed to Hamm’s position and in other business, unanimously aappointed Abbey Welker to fill the vacancy there for Mayor through December 2021 when the position comes up for election. Welker steps in after Dennis Thompson stepped away from the seat to fill a council position in First Ward.
PENN COLLEGE WILL USE FUNDS FOR BODY CAMS
Members of the Newberry Independent Club has donated the funds to allow body camera use in the Penn College Police Department in another showing of financial support this year. According to the Sun Gazette, the Polish Club has a history of empowering local families and organizations. A donation of 35 hundred dollars each will go to Penn College, Old Lycoming and South Williamsport police departments. The club was founded in 1933 and has also supported the donation of K-9 units to local police in past years.
GEISINGER HOSPITALIZATIONS RISE, OFFICIALS REMAIN VIGILANT
Health officials from Geisinger Medical center Friday said that COVID’s resurgence in our area is concerning but they are remaining vigilant and adaptable even as there is an uptick in positive tests and hospitalizations at their facilities. They say that with colder weather coming and activities moving indoors more restrictions could come along with the reminder to use masks and prioritize hand washing. Most recently, there have been 80 to 90 patients in the hospital system who are positive with the virus, as compared to the summer months when there were less than 30 patients receiving care in the system on average. In the past two days in Lycoming County alone, there have been 35 new cases of the virus reported.
BALLOT COUNTING CONTINUES IN PENNSYLVANIA
Counties continue to sort through and count provisional ballots this week in Pennsylvania even as more election-related lawsuits come in, some of which will be disqualified since they were postmarked past the November 3rd. President Donald Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani vowed last Sunday that litigation over Pennsylvania’s presidential election would continue this week, and Trump has refused to concede. Courts have rejected Republican demands so far in Pennsylvania and other battleground states to throw out ballots or stop vote counting. Other races also remain uncalled including the contest for state treasurer, where political newcomer Stacy Garrity from Athens in Bradford County could unseat the incumbent, Democrat Joe Torsella. As of Monday, Biden’s lead in the state stood at about 45,700 votes.
VALLEYT SCHOOL GOES REMOTE FOLLOWING 5 COVID DIAGNOSES
Selinsgrove Schools have moved again into remote learning for this week after Five COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the district. Superintendent Dr. Frank Jankowski said in a letter to school families that two cases are at the elementary school, one at the intermediate school, one at the middle school, and one at the high school. At this time, he says the plan is to resume in-person learning next Monday. Snyder County Emergency Management personnel and the Department of Health to are conducting contact tracing and instructing those required, to quarantine.
SOUTHSIDE HAS APPROVED NEW BUDGET WITH NOT NEW TAXES
A new budget was adopted by the South Williamsport Borough Council last night that will not increase property taxes. According to the Sun Gazette, the $2.59 million 2021 budget is balanced and set at a tax rate at 4.48 mills for general purposes and 0.64 mills for fire protection service, for a total of 5.12 mills. Homeowners with property assessed at $100,000 will pay $512 and there is a tax of 1 percent on earned income and net profits of residents.
SPORTS
NFL Monday Night Football
Patriots over the Jets 30-27
NBA
The NBA and players’ union have reached an agreement in principle last night on the start of the 2020-21 season, as well as an amended collective bargaining agreement. Free agency is to begin at 6pm on Friday, Nov. 20, two days after next week’s NBA draft. There was a prior announcement that the regular season will begin Dec. 22, and the schedule will be 72 games.
HS Boys Soccer Today
PIAA Class A playoffs
Lewisburg vs. Wyoming Seminary @ Danville 7pm
