MAJOR SNOW STORM ON THE WAY
A crippling snow is forecast to begin in our area at midday today and we could see upwards of 12 inches of snow before it’s over by Thursday midday. According to the City of Williamsport their plowing fleet consists of 15 drivers and 18 trucks and they will be working through the storm, using a combination of salt and cinders, tackling major roads first then the secondaries followed by alleys which are expected to be plowed by Thursday afternoon. River Valley Transit will be using emergency routes with limited drop-off locations.
FORMER OFFICER CHARGED
A Williamsport police officer has been charged by the Attorney General of Pennsylvania with misconduct after allegedly leveraging his authority as an officer and participating in coercive sexual relationships with two women. According to the Sun Gazette, 36 year old Eric Derr of Cogan Station participated in shielding more than one person from prosecution in 2015 while allegedly knowing they were purchasing drugs and involved in other crimes. According to Williamsport Police chief Damon Hagan, Derr intentionally bypassed a supervisor when filing reports about those related incidents. Derr resigned from the Williamsport Bureau of Police in September after being suspended in June. Derr was arraigned yesterday and will have a preliminary hearing on January 4th 2021.
LOCAL COVID UPDATE
Lycoming County reports 156 new cases of COVID today Northumberland County has 83 new cases Clinton County has 59 Tioga County has 23 new cases, Union has 16 new cases. Lycoming County has 87 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, 12 in the ICU, with 4 on ventilatorsAccording to the Pennsylvania Department of Health there are 9,556 additional positive cases as of yesterday and 270 new deaths attributed to COVID-19.
LOCAL HOSPITAL GETS THE VACCINE
Evangelical Community Hospital announced that the first wave of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has officially arrived Tuesday at their facility, and patient-facing employees will receive the doses beginning today. According to media outlets, hospital employees unpacked the vaccine doses that require to an ultra-low temperature freezer according to FDA guidelines.
PENNDOT PREPPING THE ROADS
With a major storm heading our way today, forecast to start around noon PennDOT will be pre-treating major roads with anti-icing trucks along high-volume roads in the District 3 region of Bradford, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga and Union counties. PennDOT encourages motorists to pack an emergency kit for their vehicles which can include non-perishable food, water, blanket, small shovel and warm clothes. PPL Electric has issued a statement for the public that they expect some outages due to heavy snowfall and are prepared to respond in a quick and a safe manner for their crews. If you lose power and are using a portable generator, never operate the generator in an enclosed area.
WILLIAMSPORT MURDER SUSPECT ARRESTED IN NEW YORK
A man who was a suspect in the murder of a Williamsport woman last October has been arrested by US Marshall’s Service in New York. According to the Sun Gazette, witnesses say a man who resembled 37 year old Antwan Michael McClain approached a group of people outside a home on Louisa St. in the city and shot Jimia Alston in the abdomen before fleeing. With attempts to apprehend McClain in Williamsport unsuccessful, the USMS Fugitive Task Force was asked to step in. McClain was taken into custody without incident at a home in Schenectady NY. He faces criminal homicide and other charges including carrying a firearm without a license.
CORRECTIONAL OFFICER RELEASED FROM HOSPTIAL AFTER ASSAULT BY INMATE
The corrections officer at USP Allenwood who was seriously injured last week was released from the hospital Sunday and is recovering. According to media outlets, 51-year-old Dale Franquet Jr had been stabbed in the eye by an inmate and was in critical condition, but according to reports, underwent surgery to remove his right eye . Franquet is the varsity wrestling coach at Midd-West High School. Other employees at Allenwood who were also hurt in the assault at the prison have recovered and returned to work.
MUNCY ELEMENTARY TO BE IN-PERSON, THE HS WILL BE REMOTE
The Muncy School Board has voted 4-4 Monday night that the elementary school will continue in-person instruction, and students in the High School are in remote learning prior to and in the week following the holiday break. According to the Sun Gazette, students at the high school had returned this week to in-person learning, but are scheduled to be remote for Dec. 21 and 22 and Jan. 1 through 8. They will return to in-person instruction on Jan. 11. Students at the elementary level will be in school for those dates. Their holiday break begins on Dec. 23 and runs through Jan. 1, with return to school slated for Jan. 4
SPORTS
NCAA BigTen
In a vote by conference coaches, Justin Fields of Ohio State has been named Offensive player of the Year. The Buckeyes are 5&0 and will play Northwestern in Indianapolis Saturday.
NBA
Alize Johnson contributed to the Toronto Raptors 112-109 win over the Charlotte Hornets in a preseason game this week. In his four minutes on the court, the St. John Neumann graduate had two rebounds an assist and a point. The Raptors continue their preseason in 2020 with a game against the Miami Heat Friday.
