CITY: CLEAR STORM DRAINS OF ICE AND DEBRIS TO AVOID LOCAL FLOODING
With the anticipated snow melt and re-freeze expected for the end of this week, the Williamsport Bureau of Fire chief said the city streets and parks department crews will be working today and tomorrow to clear snow, ice, and debris from as many storm drains as possible to avoid the possibility of localized flooding. According to the Sun Gazette, Chief Mark Killian is also asking residents to clean storm drains and basins at their homes and on their properties. The National Weather Service is forecasting for 2 or more inches of rain combined with 2 inches of snow melt on Christmas Eve. There is a flood watch in effect from noon Thursday until noon Christmas or Friday
WATER TRUCK HIT POLE AFTER ACCIDENT
A water tank truck crashed into a power pole following a collision with another vehicle Monday night in Loyalsock Township around 9pm. According to the Sun Gazette, police say a Jeep driven by a minor male with a female passenger collided with a truck, owned by Heckman Water Resources, was heading southbound on Lycoming Creek Road and attempted a right turn onto Colvin Road. The truck went on to hit a power pole after the crash. Both vehicles were totaled but no one was injured. Several fire companies responded to the downed power line and the scene was cleared by 10:30pm.
STIMULUS DEAL STILL UNSETTLED
Congressman Fred Keller of Kreamer voted against the COVID relief measure worth $900 billion bill, saying it spends ‘well beyond’ our nation’s means. According to the Sun Gazette, Keller says the bill lacks critical protections. President Trump, last night, said he wants more in direct payments to go to Americans and will not sign the bill. As of yesterday, the aid package included $600 in direct payments, $300 per week in enhanced federal unemployment benefits and more than $284 billion in Paycheck Protection Program loans for businesses. NO word on the fate of the bill at this time.
LOCAL DONATION ADDS TO WILLIAMSPORT POLICE K-9 PROGRAM
Williamsport Bureau of Police announced that there are new funds that will go toward expanding their Canine (K-9) program, thanks to a 15 thousand dollar donation Monday from Lou and Nicole Miele of local business Pennsylvania Skill. The donation funds will be used in support of the Bureau’s current Canine (K9) training and equipment and operations hopeful adding a future third K-9 team.
LYCOMING COUNTY COVID UPDATE
The state Department of Health confirmed 231 new statewide deaths, and 7,962 new coronavirus cases as of yesterday. Lycoming County’s COVID case count increased by 66, and there were 54 new Northumberland County cases. Union County has 62 new cases and Snyder has 16. There were more deaths reported as of Monday in local counties according to the health department with 18 deaths in Clinton County, Lycoming County reports 4 and Tioga County had two fatalities. Statewide hospitalizations are now over 6,100, including over 1,200 in the ICU and over 700 on ventilators.
LINDEN MAN ACCUSED OF RAPE
A Linden man accused of rape is in jail after he attempted the assault of a clerk at a Renovo business last week. According to the Sun Gazette, police say a 59-year-old woman allege that a man identified as 35 year old Lance Baker forced the attempted sexual assault in the back room of a business where she was working about 10pm on December 17th . Renovo Police apprehended Baker on Dec. 18 in the 700 block of Erie Avenue in Renovo Borough. In a separate criminal complaint, Baker is charged in Lycoming County with misdemeanor indecent assault from an incident in October and is being held at the Clinton County Correctional Facility in lieu of $50,000 bail
NEW APP FOR COVID TRACING
Pennsylvania is encouraging residents to use a new app to help trace and discover COVID exposure in the Commonwealth. If a user is diagnosed with the coronavirus the app will note their risk, demographic info and travel habits and use it for COVID detection in a community. Over 700,000 users are using the app at this time and allows the PA Department of Health to track the virus in record time. You can download the app from your Google Play Store or Apple App Store and downloading the free COVID Alert PA app to your smartphone.
LOTS TO TRAVEL THIS CHRISTMAS
AAA Travel predicts that as many as 84.5 million Americans will travel over the next 10 days. Although warnings exist, much as they did before Thanksgiving, travelers are still heading out. According to reports, approximately 10 million people flew during the Thanksgiving holiday. If you aren’t willing to stay home, the CDC requires a 10 day quarantine without a negative test result within 72 hours of arriving in the state
SPORTS
NBA
The NBA kicked off the season last night…
Nets beat the Warriors 125 to 99, Clippers beat the Lakers 116 to 109
NFL
Central Mountain graduate and former Penn State standout Robbie Gould kicked his 400th career field goal in Sunday’s game with the San Francisco 49ers. Gould is the 11th player in NFL history to do so.
