HALL OF FAME ADDITIONS
Muncy announced its Class of 2021 for the Muncy High School Athletic Hall of Fame. The class consists of Bill Hughes (1959), Jordan Rishel Sarginger (2008), Galen Miller (1972) and Justin Grenoble (2001). They will be inducted at halftime of Friday’s football game against South Williamsport. They will be the 71st through 74th members inducted since the Hall of Fame was established 45 years ago. According to a media outlet, the Committee’s President Roger Campbell will be in attendance to present honorary picture plaques to its four newest members.
MONEY DONATED FOR MUCH NEEDED CLASSROOM SUPPLIES
AdoptaClassroom.org and Subaru teamed up to help five teachers at Williamsport Area High School. As a national effort to buy school supplies and other classroom tools as part of its Subaru Loves Learning initiative, the corporation and its 600 retailers, including Blaise Alexander Subaru, partnered with the educational nonprofit. This summer, 5 WAHS teachers received $500 to support their classroom supply needs. According to a media source, the group of teachers was able to purchase items, such as lab equipment, educational technology and other general classroom supplies to help enhance student learning.
A MOBILE VACCINE SITE POSSIBLITY
At their most recent meeting, Williamsport Area School Directors discussed a mobile vaccine site in the district. Lisa Nible, board member, advised the River Valley Health and Dental Center would partner with the district and make the vaccines available. However, several other board members questioned the idea of having the site and even questioned the use of vaccines. According to a news outlet, this discussion may arise again in future meetings.
“ABANDONING” ALLEYWAYS IN MUNCY
Muncy Borough Council at their most recent meeting discussed the possibility of looking into “abandoning” alleyways and right-of-ways in town which serve no purpose to the borough. According to Borough Manager Charley Hall, borough employees will review alleyways and determine if they are “abandoned,” which means they will revert back to subdivisions established before they were alleyways. There will be opportunities for residents who own subdivisions that were part of those alleys to challenge abandonment through public hearings. According to SUN Gazette, Muncy Borough Council will have a brief meeting Thursday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. to formally approve the carpool purchases and will have its next full meeting Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.
BUDGET READY FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REVIEW
Muncy Borough council also previewed the 2022 budget, and sent borough council members to review it for its Nov. 2 meeting in order to advertise to the public. The bottom line, according to Hall, is that the borough has an estimated surplus of $86,000, which will drop by around $74,000 due to the invoice for the truck the borough purchased earlier this year. The number leftover could fluctuate beyond that, as well. Also, Leaf collection in the borough will begin Nov. 2 and will continue to a time that has yet to be advertised. As reported by SUN Gazette, Muncy Borough Council will have a brief meeting Thursday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. to formally approve the carpool purchases and will have its next full meeting Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.
JUVENILE JUSTICE WEEK
Lycoming County Courthouse officials recognized the efforts of its Juvenile Probation Staff earlier this week for Juvenile Justice Week. As reported by a media outlet, the county’s Juvenile Probation team focuses on community protection, victim restoration and youth redemption, as they go above and beyond in terms of counseling, advocating, listening, coaching and disciplining juveniles in the system.
TREE REPLACEMENT PLANS FOR SPRING
It was two years ago, during street construction, when upwards of 40 street trees on West Fourth Street were removed by the state Department of Transportation. Now, the trees may be on target to be replaced as early as spring according to city officials. Chad Eckert, city arborist, and Adam Winder, acting general manager of the streets and parks department, said they are reaching out to various utility companies to check where the gas, water and electrical lines were buried. In all, 51 trees were removed and eight have been replaced. Eckert and Winder have told the group they are working on a plan with the goal of breaking ground in the spring, a target time set by the city department. According to SUN Gazette, regarding the upcoming spring replanting, Winder noted, “We’ll start slow and see how much we need.”
STAKEHOLDERS TABLED AGAIN
Once again, the Williamsport Area School Board this week discussed the policy for allowing public participation at meetings. A revision to the policy would allow stakeholders to publicly comment as well as residents and taxpayers. With questions regarding the policy revision and non-residents taking time from residents during meetings, the board agreed to table the matter until its next meeting. In other matters, Superintendent Dr. Timothy Bowers said there are a number of job openings in the district and encouraged people to apply for positions. “We need more employees,” he said, according to SUN Gazette.
MULTIPLE FELONIES FOR CHILD MOLESTATION
An investigation into the assault of a child started in July of 2020 when PSP Stonington received information from Children Youth Services. According to the affidavit, the accuser told authorities Michael Bishop, 44, of Sunbury would come into her room and touch her. Bishop allegedly touched the accuser on more than 20 to 30 occasions during a time span of June 1 to Sept. 2020. Bishop has been charged with multiple felonies. According to a media source, courts records show Bishop bail has been paid through a professional bondsman on Sept. 30.
COVID-19 LOCAL NUMBERS FOR WEDNESDAY
The Pennsylvania Department of Health yesterday reported new COVID-19 cases statewide. In Clinton County 16 new cases were reported, Centre County saw an increase of 64, Lycoming County increased by 79 to 14,873. Northumberland County had 50 more cases, Union had 18 and Montour and Snyder both had 12.
PROFESSIONAL FAILED TO COMPLETE PROJECT
Woodward Township police have charged a Lock Haven man with theft over his alleged failure to complete a remodeling project. Police said Kenneth Richard Caris Jr. has been charged with three felonies: violating the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, theft by deception and receiving stolen property. Police allege Caris was contracted and paid $10,550 to remodel a property; they said he failed to complete the work on the property and failed to return any monies paid to him. According to therecordonline.com, Caris was taken into custody on Sunday, Oct. 3 and placed in the Clinton County Correctional Facility in default of $5,000 bail to await further court proceedings
DANVILLE AREA SCHOOL NUMBER TWO TO VIRTUAL LEARNING
A second school within the Danville Area School District will shift to remote learning for the next week, superintendent Ricki Boyle said yesterday afternoon. Boyle said an increase in cases and the number of students quarantined led to the closure of Liberty Valley Intermediate School, which houses third through fifth grades. According to a statement to parents, “Due to rising cases and contact tracing, Liberty Valley will switch to virtual instruction.” Students will shift to remote learning Thursday, Friday, Monday and Tuesday with plans to return to in-person instruction on Oct. 13. As reported by Daily Item, Danville’s Primary school is closed this week due to an increase in COVID in that school as well.
PENNSYLVANIA LIQUOR CONTROL BOARD GRANTS
Governor Tom Wolf today announced the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) approved grants totaling $1,925,319 for 15 projects to increase the production of Pennsylvania-made malt and brewed beverages and enhance the Pennsylvania beer industry through promotion, marketing, and research-based programs and projects, and to enhance the Pennsylvania wine industry and increase production of Pennsylvania-made wines. “Pennsylvania industries have to adopt new ways of doing business in the COVID-19 world, and these grants will provide substantial funding to help two vital parts of our agricultural community not only explore ways of improving production methods, but also boost marketing efforts that reach beyond our borders,” said Gov. Wolf.
PA National Guard first to receive new Army Black Hawk helicopter
During a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday at the Pennsylvania National Guard’s Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (EAATS), located at Fort Indiantown Gap’s Muir Army Airfield, the new Black Hawk UH-60V was formally introduced. According to an online media source, the Pennsylvania National Guard’s Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site received the first fielding of UH-60V Black Hawks from the Utility Helicopter Program Office (UHPO) on July 27. EAATS is the first unit in the U.S. Army – active or reserve component – to receive the new variant.
UPDATE ON TUESDAY’S FATAL SHOOTING
The truck driver from Bucks County killed by state police at an Interstate 80 rest area had a weapon and did not give troopers any warning before he drove his rig into two of their vehicles. That was the update provided Wednesday by Cpl. Tyler R. Morse on the ongoing investigation into the shooting that occurred early Tuesday in southeastern Clinton County. While the man’s name has not been released, police have said he’s 27 and is from Langhorne. According to an online media source, Morse would not disclose how many troopers are on required administrative leave for participating in a shooting. He plans to discuss the investigation with Clinton County District Attorney David Strouse but there is no indication anyone will be charged, he said.
