LYCOMING COUNTY RANKED HIGH LEVEL OF COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION
Lycoming County is ranked among U.S. Counties currently experiencing high levels of COVID-19 community transmission. According to SUN Gazette, the current vaccination rate in Lycoming County currently is at 63.2% of residents over the age of 18 with at least one dose of the vaccine. According to Tyler Wagner, senior manager of UPMC public relations in the North Central Pa region, “Across the UPMC system in the U.S., we are treating 576 inpatients who are positive for COVID-19,” Wagner goes on to say “Fifty-six are here in north central Pennsylvania hospitals including UPMC Cole, UPMC Muncy, UPMC Lock Haven, UPMC Wellsboro and UPMC Williamsport.”
FIRE FIGHTERS RECEIVE AWARDS
On Saturday at Susquehanna State Park, Williamsport Bureau of Fire honored their own by presenting two fire fighters with awards for their efforts in rescuing residents from a burning building. City fire fighters Engineer John McCann and Lt. Kenneth Smith were presented the Medal of Valor in a ceremony to honor those who have gone above and beyond to save lives.
ACCESSIBILITY RAMP SET FOR INSTALLATION
Williamsport City Officials reported the accessible ramp is expected to be constructed later this month on City Hall. According to Jon Sander, city engineer, “The start of construction is expected to be by the end of October.” The company is Landserve, Inc, of Boalsburg and they are scheduled to construct the 12 piece ramp in stages. The pricetag of the ramp is $165,000. According to Councilwoman Bonnie Katz, chair of the public works and safety committees, “The ramp will be finished by the beginning of November.” According to a media source, the accessible ramp is a commitment of the city consent decree signed by a judge in U.S. Middle District Court with advocates of the disability community.
FIREARM CHARGES FROM STOP IN CHECKPOINT
Criminal charges have been lodged against Wayne R. Jacobs, 41, of Williamsport, after a 12 -gauge shotgun with an altered barrel was discovered in his SUV after he was stopped at a city police checkpoint in the 1700 block of West Fourth Street about 9:40 p.m. on June 25. As reported by a media outlet, two weeks after the incident at the checkpoint, Jacobs was arrested for drug charges. Initially jailed on the two sets of charges, he has since been released on a total of $15,000 bail.
FIREARM VIOLATIONS FROM SPEEDING VIOLATION
A Williamsport resident pulled over for speeding on Interstate 180 in Loylasock Township ended up going before a district judge to face firearm violations. Clocked going 97 mph in a 55 mph speed zone, Gabriel Janerella, was stopped just before 7 a.m. on Sept. 3, police said. According to SUN Gazette, following his recent arraignment before District Judge Gary Whiteman on charges of carrying a firearm without a permit and another weapons violation, Janerella was released on $10,000 bail.
OPPOSING RALLIES HELD IN WILLIAMSPORT
Lycoming County was the hot spot for two rallies took place over a one-day period. It was Saturday, Oct 2 when upwards of fifty local pro-choice supporters appeared at the corner of Third and Market St. in Williamsport. Sunday, Oct. 3, pro-life, anti-abortion supporters, with a larger crowd, lined the area known as the “Golden Strip” in Loyalsock Township. According to northcentralpa.com, both local rallies reflected the nation’s response to the issue.
WORLD OF LITTLE LEAGUE MUSEUM TO RE-OPEN
After closing 18 months ago due to the coronavirus pandemic, the World of Little League® Museum will officially reopen its doors to the public as it counts down to the celebration of the 75th Little League Baseball World Series in August 2022. According to a media outlet, starting on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, the museum and its Official Store will open for public admission from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET on Saturdays and Sunday (unless otherwise noted due to holidays and other closures) through the end of the calendar year.
WOLF ADMINISTRATION VISITS AREA BUSINESS
The Wolf administration spoke with several apprentices during a stop at PMF Industries last week in Williamsport. “Strengthening the workforce is a top priority of the Wolf Administration, which is redoubling efforts to help Pennsylvanians and Pennsylvania businesses,” said Pennsylvania Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO) Director Tara Loew. “According to SUN Gazette, registered apprenticeship programs, like the one at PMF Industries, allow commonwealth workers to earn a living while they complete their education and learn valuable job skills.”
WOLF ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS BUSINESS WITH TIES TO LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS
The Wolf administration spoke with several apprentices during a stop at PMF Industries last week in Williamsport. “Strengthening the workforce is a top priority of the Wolf Administration, which is redoubling efforts to help Pennsylvanians and Pennsylvania businesses,” said Pennsylvania Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO) Director Tara Loew. According to SUN Gazette, the program is part of an Apprenticeship Consortium with 5 local high schools that offer CTC Programs: Williamsport High School, Jersey Shore High School, Keystone Central, Sun Area Tech in New Berlin, and CPI in Bellefonte and other Williamsport area manufacturers.
COVID-19 LOCAL RESULTS
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Monday reported new COVID-19 cases statewide. In Clinton County 20 new cases were reported, Centre County saw an increase of 32, Lycoming County increased by 64, 49 cases in Northumberland County, 22 in Snyder, 15 in Union and 14 in Montour.
ARREST OF WILLIAMSPORT MAN FOR UNLAWFUL CONTACT WITH A MINOR
On Saturday, October 02, 2021 officers from Old Lycoming Twp Police Department arrested 26 year old Maxwell J. Derenzis for unlawful contact with a minor and related offenses. Derenzis had utilized the social media platform SnapChat to communicate with a juvenile from Old Lycoming Township. Derenzis sent unsolicited photographs of himself naked to the victim, knowing the victim was a minor. Derenzis was subsequently arraigned in front of District Magistrate Kemp and committed to Lycoming County Prison, unable to post bail.
