LOCAL LEADERS REACTION TO INAUGURATION DAY
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf attended the Inauguration Ceremony of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington DC yesterday and released a statement after the event saying it was more a solemn occasion that normal but that he was honored to be there and that it’s time for bold vision as our nation faces unprecedented challenges. Local and state leaders told the Sun Gazette they are looking forward to the nation navigating a steady course to a bright future through compromise. US Representative Fred Keller said in a statement that he wishes the nation success under Biden.
CITY COUNCIL WEIGHS OPTIONS ON MOVING FROM CITY HALL
In discussion about weighing the options between staying in City Hall and moving to a new location, Williamsport City Council’s Ad Hoc Committee met this week and are narrowing down the choices. According to the Sun Gazette there is no official funding plan at this time, but there are a host of grant opportunities for the committee to investigate, and according to one economic development consulting firm involved, there is a potential for Keystone Community funds for the move to Trade and Transit Centre I, and a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant opportunity for remaining at City Hall. Committee members and Mayor Derek Slaughter agree that a broad overarching funding plan would be needed before a final decision can be made.
PPP LOAN PROGRAM STARTING AGAIN THIS WEEK
The Paycheck Protection Program through the US Small Business Association re-opened this week for all First and Second Draw loan applications. First Draw PPP loans are for those borrowers who had not received a loan before August 8, 2020, Second Draw PPP loans are for eligible small businesses with 300 employees or less and that previously received a First Draw PPP loan. The program remains open for until March 31, 2021, as set forth in the Economic Aid Act, or until Congressionally-appropriated funding is exhausted. Details at sba.gov.
COVID VACCINE AVAILABLE AT AREA WEIS MARKETS
Some Weis Markets stores in Lycoming and Northumberland Counties will be locations where you can receive COVID-19 vaccines beginning tomorrow. The Weis Markets corporate office issued a statement Wednesday that 55 of their in-store pharmacies will have vaccines. Locally, Montoursville, Muncy, Lewisburg, Mifflinburg, and more area stores are taking appointments. Go to WeisMarkets.com to schedule an appointment. Weis says they’ll priorities people age 65 and old. A full list of Weis locations offering the vaccine is here.
MAN CHARGES FOR TAKING FUNDS FROM EMPLOYER
A Lewisburg man who was a hotel manager in Union County has been charged with stealing funds from the business over a four year time frame. According to North Central Pa dot com, 44 year old Andrew C. Gemberling was arraigned this week after an internal investigation showed that he allegedly stole more than 85 thousand dollars from the Country Cupboard Inn Best Western in Kelly Township since March of 2018. Police say the assistant manager made fraudulent refunds and placed them into his personal bank account. Gemberling’s preliminary hearing is for February 2nd.
MAN LEADS POLICE ON CHASE
A Winfield man led police on a high speed chase Tuesday in Buffalo Township and was charged with fleeing the scene and reckless endangerment. According to State police at Milton, they attempted to pull over 28 year old Jadrick Haines in a 1996 Mustang on Dreisbach Church Road un Union County when he took off from police. Haines led police for a few miles but police say he lost control of the car and crashed at at Ridge and Tower roads. Several other traffic summaries were also filed in District Court.
COVID UPDATE
Lycoming County has 69 new cases of the coronavirus today, Union County has 59, Northumberland County has 55, Montour has 33, Snyder has 23, and Clinton16, Tioga 10 new cases. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 5,984 additional positive cases of COVID yesterday, but they reconciled some numbers and updated fatalities to 401 in the last 10 days statewide. Lycoming County has 45 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, 5 in the ICU, 1 on a ventilator
DCNR GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR NON-PROFITS
Senator Gene Yaw of Loyalsock Township has announced that non-profits and other eligible organizations interested in applying for conservation, recreation, or trail, grants through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources may do so now. Yaw said that eligible applicants in his five-county region can apply for funding as a way to improve and preserve our local recreational areas. The Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) Applications will be accepted through April 14th, 2021.The DCNR Recreation and Conservation grant program is funded with a variety of state and federal funding sources including Pennsylvania’s natural gas “Impact Fee.”
SPORTS
NBA
Cavaliers beat the Nets 147 to 135, Mavericks beat the Pacers 124 to 112, 76ers beat the Celtics 117 to 109, Hawks beat the Pistons 123 to 115, Heat beat Raptors 111 to 102, Magic beat Timberwolves 97-96, Suns over the Rockets 109 to 103, Warriors beat the Spurs 121 to 99, Clippers beat the kings 115 to 96, Wizards and Hornets as well as the Grizzlies and Trailblazers postponed
NHL
Oilers beat Maple Leafs 3 to 1, Oilers, Sharks over Blues 2 to 1, Wild beat the Ducks 3 to 2, Canucks beat the Canadiens 6-5, Golden knights beat Coyotes 5-2
NFL
The Conference Championships are Sunday at 3:05pm between the Buccaneers and the Packers, the Bills play the Chiefs at 6:40pm
College Basketball
#22 Illinois beat Penn State 79-65
HS Wrestling
Central Mountain defeated Selinsgrove 35-25
HS Boys Basketball
Wellsboro over Williamson 71 to 19, Central Columbia beat Mount Carmel 78-63, Montoursville over Shikellamy 50 to 30, Loyalsock defeated Milton 58-23, Danville beat Mifflinburg 51-49, Lewisburg beat Selinsgrove 57-43, Cowanesque Valley beat Sayre 63-51, Athens beat Mansfield HS 79-61, Dubois beat Central Mountain 58-44, and Wyalusing beat Canton 50-34, and Troy beat Towanda 59-32
HS Girls Basketball
Sullivan County beat Montgomery 48-16, Loyalsock beat Williamsport 66-44, Saint John Neumann beat Columbia Montour 36-42
