COVID-19 UPDATE FOR LOCAL AREA

The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Saturday reported new COVID-19 cases statewide. In Clinton County 30 new cases were reported on Saturday, Centre County saw an increase of 50, Tioga county saw 30, while Lycoming County increased by 85, Northumberland County 54, Union County reported 42 new cases, Snyder County added 13 new infections and Montour added 12.

BICYCLE FATALITY IN UNION COUNTY

A bicycle accident on Friday night in Union County claimed the life of a 77-year-old Lewisburg man.  According to state police at Milton, the accident happened on Colonel John Kelly Road when, around 7pm, Samuel F. Sauder was struck. He was transported to the Evangelical Community Hospital by EMS. According to the daily item, Sauder died at the hospital. State Police from Milton report the accident is under investigation.

FAILED JAIL ESCAPE

In a letter to his father, a convicted killed was preparing to escape the Northumberland County Jail. The letter, from Matthew Reed, asked his father to “ram a sheriff’s vehicle when he would leave a court appearance,” and then he would “take out the guard and two cops.” The investigation, with assistance from a search warrant, allowed troopers to intercept the letter at the local Post Office. Reed, with new charges of felony escape and aggravated assault for his threats to law enforcement,  will appear before Shamokin District Judge John Gembic. As reported by the Daily Item, Reed was convicted in June for the murders of Susan Williams, 58, James Dicken, 59, and 17-year-old John Paul Dicken, all of Snydertown.

REPRESENTATIVE’S WIFE CATCHES THE ATTENTION OF AN ETHICS WATCHDOG

 A congressional ethics watchdog has concluded there is “substantial reason to believe” that the wife of Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Kelly used nonpublic information gained through her husband’s position in Congress to purchase stock last year, a likely violation of federal law and House rules. A report from the Office of Congressional Ethics released late Thursday detailed the April 2020 purchase of stock in an Ohio steelmaker. The company had threatened to shut down a plant in Kelly’s district unless the Trump administration took action that would help make it more competitive, steps the administration took after Kelly, a Republican, and others intervened. The ethics office has recommended that subpoenas be issued for Kelly, his wife, Victoria, a senior staffer and former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross because they declined to be interviewed or participate in the investigation.

SHE WAS HIRED TO HELP THE VICTIM, SHE ALLEGIDELY HELPED HERSELF

Missing medication spawned a call to local police in Jersey Shore. According to Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police, Autumn Roxanne Glass of Jersey Shore had access to the medication.   As reported by northcentralpa.com, Glass then gave officers the medication, allegedly admitting she removed two pills. Glass, charged with one count each of third-degree felony criminal trespassing, third-degree misdemeanor theft by unlawful taking, and third-degree misdemeanor receiving stolen property, posted $10,000 unsecured bail and will appear before Judge Jerry Leply for a preliminary hearing Oct. 27 with Judge Jerry Leply.

NEW DIRECTOR OF WILLIAMSPORT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLC WORKS

At the Williamsport City Council meeting, Scott Livermore was approved as the new director of the Department of Public Works with a paycheck of $72,000 annually. Livermore brings over 20 years’ experience in construction, highway, and scheduling to the table. The Williamsport resident also has budgeting experience. Adam Winder remains the director of transportation and general manager of River Valley Transit.

CDC BOOSTER AVAILABLE

According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are now booster recommendations for all three available COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots. Millions of people are newly eligible to receive a booster shot and will benefit from additional protection. However, today’s action should not distract from the critical work of ensuring that unvaccinated people take the first step and get an initial COVID-19 vaccine. More than 65 million Americans remain unvaccinated, leaving themselves – and their children, families, loved ones, and communities– vulnerable.

GEISINGER TO PROVIDE BOOSTERS

Following recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Geisinger is offering booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccines for eligible individuals. Those eligible for a booster dose include people who have received their two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, and: Are 65 years and older or age 18 and older who live in long-term care settings or have underlying medical conditions or who work or live in high-risk settings.

 People can get their booster dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine beginning six months after receiving their second dose. The booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is half of a single dose (0.25 milliliters). The booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the same dosage (0.3 milliliters) as a single dose.

GOVERNOR RECOGNIZES HARDWORKING PENNSYLVANIANS

Governor Tom Wolf believes that hardworking Pennsylvanians deserve fair wages, paid sick leave, safe workplaces and quality jobs. Recently, the governor visited Delaware County to outline his workforce plan to benefit workers across the state, including an executive order issued yesterday, and a call on the legislature to finally pass several bills that help working families.

LOOKING FOR BUS DRIVERS IN COMMONWEALTH

PennDOT Deputy Secretary Kurt Myers and Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Secretary Dr. Noe Ortega today joined the Pennsylvania School Bus Association to encourage interested individuals to obtain Commercial Driver’s License to address bus driver shortage in Pennsylvania. To address the shortage, PennDOT mailed a letter from PDE reaching out to approximately 376,000 individuals with Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) to help connect interested drivers with school entities. The letter included information for a survey linkOpens In A New Window for individuals who had an interest in exploring employment opportunities.