Two Loyalsock Township adults were displaced after a fire damaged their residence. According to the Sun Gazette, the two alarm fire was called in by a neighbor who saw the smoke coming from the home in the 100 block of Willow Brook Road. According to state police, one firefighter sustained minor injuries responding to the blaze that was under control in about a half an hour thanks several communities responding to the incident.
There are traffic concerns that are being discussed amidst the approval of the Loyalsock Township land development plan for the future Popeye’s restaurant on the Golden Strip. According to the Sun Gazette, the township planning commission has requested that the state Department of Transportation create delineation marks on East Third Street to prevent traffic from turning left from the street onto Russell Avenue- where the vehicles will eventually enter the restaurant. The stacking traffic has been a concern on East Third Street for several years after other stores create traffic backups from drive thru customers, A Popeye’s engineer said 12 vehicles are able to be lined up from the ordering board to East Third Street, and can serve 100 vehicles per hour.
There will be a telephone town hall meeting with US Representative Fred Keller of Kreamer next Tuesday at 5pm. According to the Sun Gazette, Keller, who represents the 12th Congressional district will discuss legislative issues and give an update on the pandemic recovery efforts, the economy and reopening of the schools. Those who want to participate or call in to ask questions of Representative Keller can get the details on the number to call at keller.house.gov.
It will be 150 years for the fair this year! The Lycoming County Fair association announced the dates for the 2021 event with details about the entertainment lineup to be provided in the coming weeks. Lycoming County Fair Association President Rocky Reed says the opening day for the fair will be July 14th and run through the 24th. This is the second reopening of the fair that has only closed during World War II and for the virus in 2020.
The Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation project will resume this spring and motorists could soon be using the roadway that will connect state Route 147 south of Montandon to Route 15 south of Winfield with four-lane limited access highway. According to the Sun Gazette, PennDOT says Southbound traffic on Route 15 will shift to single lane beginning March 29, which will enable crews to construct overhead signs. The one-lane traffic will last around two months. Eventually the project, which includes a 4,500-foot-long bridge over the west branch of the Susquehanna River, will separate local traffic from highway congestion in Selinsgrove by the Susquehanna Mall.
Lycoming County has 36 new cases of the coronavirus as of yesterday, Northumberland County has 19, Snyder County has 14 more cases. The state Department of Health reported 4,967 additional positive cases of COVID-19, with 48 new deaths. The concern for state officials is that the recent uptick in cases could indicate a spike in the virus, but vaccinations locally have risen with more availability of the one and two dose shots. South Williamsport School district returns to the classroom today after a rise in COVID cases there last week.
The U.S. Small Business Administration is increasing the maximum amount small businesses and non-profit organizations can borrow through its COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. According to a press release from the SBA, Starting April 6, the SBA will raise the loan limit from 6-months of economic injury with a maximum loan amount of $150,000 to up to 24-months of economic injury with a maximum loan amount of $500,000. Recently the agency announced it would extend deferment periods for all disaster loans, including COVID-19 EIDLs, until 2022 to offer more time for businesses to recover.
State-owned historic sites and connected to the Pennsylvania’s Historical and Museum Commission announced yesterday that they will reopen to the public on Friday, April 30. Some sites may have reduced hours or limited capacity inside their facilities. Some areas that will reopen include the Joseph Priestly House in Northumberland, the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg and Harrisburg sites like the PA State Archives and the State museum. Face masks and social distancing will be required, and there will not be any rentals or events allowed at these sites at this time.
The Senate confirmed Dr. Rachel Levine in a 52-48 vote to be assistant secretary of health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Her confirmation makes her the first openly transgender individual to be approved by the Senate as well as the highest-ranking transgender federal official. Levine was previously the secretary of health for Pennsylvania, where she led the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and worked on programs battling the opioid crisis, HIV and Hepatitis C as well as addressing LGBTQ health equity.
SPORTS
HS Boys Basketball
Loyalsock Lancers (24-1), take on Brookville, this Saturday afternoon, @ 2:30, at the Giant Center in Hershey for the state championship.
NBA
Pacers beat the Pistons 116 to 111, Bucks beat the Celtics 121 to 119, Raptors beat the Nuggets 135 to 111, Magic beat Suns 112 to 111, Cavaliers beat the Bulls 103 to 94, Hornets over the Rockets 122 to 97, Mavericks beat the Timberwolves 128 to 108, Grizzlies beat Thunder 116 to 107, Clippers beat the Spurs 134 to 101, Jazz stomped the Nets 118 to 88, Kings over the Hawks 110 to 108
NHL
Penguins beat the Sabres 5 to 2, Senators beat the Flames 3 to 1, Wild beat Ducks 3 to 2, Jets beat the Canucks 5 to 1, Sharks over the Kings 4-2, Oilers and Canadians were postponed due to Covid
NCAA March Madness coming up on Saturday
Midwest Region – (12) Oregon State meets (8) Loyola Chicago at 2:40 PM, and (11) Syracuse faces (2) Houston at 5:15pm, In the South Region, (5) Villanova faces (number 1) Baylor at 7:25p, (15) Oral Roberts faces (3)Arkansas at 9:55pm in the Second round of the Sweet 16.
