RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

The Lycoming County SPCA Board of Directors have announced the retirement of Executive Director Victoria Stryker and hiring of Alyssa Correll as her replacement. According to northcentralpa.com, in her 22 years at the facility she played an intricate role in operations, for example; she expanded the shelter to add more space for incoming cats, trained as a Humane Society Police Officer and developed a week long camp for children to learn about animals and how to care for them, amongst many other things.

ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION

U.S. Rep Fred Keller, sat down with local banking and business officials to discuss moving forward from COVID-19.  According to the SUN Gazette, the round-table discussion  was sponsored by the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers. All agreed no one wants to struggle through another pandemic, “Quite frankly, I don’t know whether we can afford to do it again,” Keller said. Other concerns, among the group, included the nation’s growing debt, hiring employees and the surplus inventory that many businesses are maintaining, causing a potential loss when selling it.

SAFE KIDS PA

At a recent Kiwanis meeting, Kate Nickles, Lycoming County Coroner administrative assistant, and Charles Keissling, Lycoming County Coroner, spoke on behalf of Safe Kids Pennsylvania and discussed concerns including; child seat, teen driver, bicycle and water safety among others. This weekend, there will be a Splash Event, at Memorial Pool, where Safe Kids PA will be holding water safety games, as well as giveaways to families in need. To learn more or if you are interested in joining the local partnership, visit Safe Kids PA on Facebook.

EXTENSIVE PRE-TRIAL MOTION

Jamie Lynn Jackson, charged with criminal homicide, endangering the welfare of children and others, is accused of abusing her 9-year-old nephew, Anson Stover, and leaving him for dead in a bathtub has attorneys who have filed an extensive pre-trial motion. The motion includes but is not limited to, suppression of evidence, moving the trial outside of the county and finding the death penalty unconstitutional. Jackson entered a not guilty plea in February and remains at the Clinton County Correctional Facility. According to Sun Gazette, a hearing on the pre-trial motion will be held before President Judge Craig P. Miller on July 28 at 8:30 a.m.

GREEN LIGHT-GO PROGRAM FOR UNION COUNTY

PennDOT’s Green Light-Go Program has brought Union County nearly $550,000 to upgrade two traffic signals in Kelly Township. Gov. Tom Wolf announced this week that 50 municipalities will share $15.6 million to support traffic signal upgrades, increasing mobility and efficiency across the state. Two of the grants are heading to Kelly Township. According to the governor’s office, $297,665 for the signal at Route 15 and Hospital Drive, which will cover full signal replacement.. Another $248,559 will be for the signal at Route 15 and William Penn Drive, including a signal replacement, re-timing, and more..

TRACKING WILD TURKEYS FOR THE GAME COMMISSION

The Pennsylvania State Game Commission is tracking wild turkeys  and monitoring their reproduction and population models, helpful in tracking long-term turkey population success.  A new survey period began on July 1 to help track the wild turkey population in the state.The two-month window is used every year by state wildlife agencies. The Pennsylvania Wild Turkey Sighting Survey relies on and encourages state residents to report sightings to the state Game Commission through the agency’s website or mobile app.  Access the survey by selecting “Turkey Sighting Survey” in the “Quick Click” section of the website. To use the app you can search Pennsylvania Game Commission in the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store.

FIREFIGHTERS RECOVERING FROM FIRE IN LEWISBURG

Two firefighters taken to the hospital for heat exhaustion following a fire at a double home in Lewisburg have been released from the hospital. William Cameron Engine Company Chief Jamie Blount says Thursday both firefighters are now recovering. The fire started around 4 p.m. Wednesday in the 500 block of North Fourth Street.  Blount says crews were challenged by heat index temperatures of over 100 degrees, and additional personnel were requested. According to a media outlet, two families with a total of five people are now displaced. The cause remains under investigation. Lewisburg, Milton and Shamokin Dam fire companies responded.

SENATE BILL 618 VETOED BY GOV TOM WOLF

Gov Tom Wolf has vetoed legislation that would have preserved medical freedoms for Pennsylvanians by prohibiting the use of vaccine passports and narrowing the powers of the Department of Health. According to Rep Jeff Wheeland, the governor’s actions mean our health care privacy remains at risk. Senate Bill 618 would have prohibited a school district, institution of higher education or other government entity from requiring proof of a COVID-19 vaccination to use a service, for example to enter a building or undertake an activity. The bill would have also prohibited the expenditure of tax dollars to create an electronic vaccine tracking system.

MAXIMUM SENTENCE FOR SUNBURY WOMAN

Christy Willis faces up to 17 years in state prison after a judge delivered the maximum sentence allowed on Friday following her conviction earlier this year for providing false and misleading statements to police about the case surrounding the death of 3-year-old Arabella Parker in 2019.Northumberland County Judge Hugh Jones delivered the sentence on Friday morning and also admonished Willis, 51, of Sunbury, in Northumberland County Courthouse.”You failed to protect an innocent child and I hope you can live with yourself for the rest of your life,” Jones said before delivering the sentence of 20 months to 17 years in state prison. Burgess was charged with homicide after Arabella died Nov. 22, 2019. The girl spent 44 days at Geisinger Medical Center before her death.

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