BELLS ARE RINGING

It was a sound the neighbors have been without for upwards of three months, as reported by the SUN Gazette. The original brass St. Boniface bells, around 146 years old, are ringing again following necessary renovations. They were returned to their hanging tower, which has been their perch since the church was founded in 1875, and blessed on Sunday in front of a crowd of more than 75 excited residents, family and friends.

FLAMES ENGULF TRUCK TRACTOR

Flames embraced a truck tractor, which caught fire as it was sat in a private parking lot in the 700 block of Route 405 in Wolf Township around 3:30 am on Saturday.  According to SUN Gazette, the fire remains under investigation, as the cause was immediately unknown. Although the fire did not spread to the trailer filled with potatoes, it took over 20 minutes to bring under control.

TURKEY SEASON IN PA

Pennsylvania’s fall turkey season kicked off Saturday, Oct. 30 in 20 of Pennsylvania’s 23 Wildlife Management Units and there’s reason for hunters to be excited. Turkey reproduction was well above average this past summer, translating to above average fall flock sizes that are worth pursuing. Hunters should take note the 2021 fall turkey season is shorter in 14 Wildlife management units.. Shotguns, archery tackle, or muzzleloading firearms are the only lawful implements that may be used. Centerfire and rimfire rifles are no longer permitted for fall turkey hunting. Fall turkey season lengths are as follows: Wildlife management units 4D and 4E – Oct. 30-Nov. 6;  WMUs 2G, 3B, Oct. 30-Nov. 13;

CHARGES FILED AND IN JAIL

A LAPTOP which, according to police, had multiple photos of young girls with an older female performing sexually-explicit activities. Duane Laidacker, Hughesville, has been arrested after illegal images were found on a computer tablet mid-February, according to a criminal complaint filed at the office of District Judge Jon E. Kemp. According to SUN Gazette, Laidacker charged with a felony of possession of child pornography and jailed in lieu of $10,000 bail.

CHARGES AND A TRIP TO THE HOSPITAL

A physical altercation between brothers involved charges and a trip to the hospital.  Robert Lin Miller, Montoursville has been charged with simple assault and harassment following a physical confrontation with his brother, Kevin, in mid-October, according to SUN Gazeette.  The assault began shortly after Kevin Miller arrived at his brother’s home about 4:45 p.m. on Oct. 12.  A second confrontation occurred outside and Kevin Miller was taken to UPMC Williamsport.  Robert Miller waived his preliminary hearing and is free on $10,000 bail.

PLEA OF NO CONTEST

It was an 2018 homicide of a 19-month-old child which brought an Old Lycoming Township to court. There, he plead no contest to involuntary manslaughter yesterday. Jason Forsyth, did not offer contest.  The morning of Dec. 21, 2018, the child was last under Forsyth’s care the child was rushed to UPMC Williamsport, where he was declared dead just before 10 a.m. The autopsy, according to Martin Wade, Lycoming County prosecutor, the child suffered from blunt force trauma including a skull fracture with other corresponding injuries. According to an online news outlet, sentencing will occur mid-December and President Judge Nancy Butts reported Forsyth could face upwards of  5-10 years in state prison and up to a $25,000 fine. Forsyth remains incarcerated in Lycoming County Prison.

COVID-19 CASES REPORTED IN KEYSTONE CENTRAL

– Keystone Central School District Superintendent Jacquelyn Martin, with her  monthly report issued yesterday, said there are 16 known positive cases of COVID-19 within the district; compared to 27 one month ago. The number equates to less than 1 percent of the student population. Elementary cases (grades K-4) number seven and secondary (grades 5-12) total nine. Current cases among staff total eight, same as a month ago. The report continued by saying Clinton County remains at a high level of community spread.

NATIONAL WEATHER ALERT FROM STATE COLLEGE

…FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM EDT

WEDNESDAY…

Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30 expected for portions of central Pennsylvania. From midnight tonight to 9 AM EDT Wednesday. Freeze conditions will kill sensitive vegetation. This will likely bring and end to the growing season. Take protective measures now as freezing temperatures could damage or kill tender plants and vegetation.

WHITETAIL DEER ON THE MOVE THROUGH COMMONWEALTH

With deer becoming increasingly active, and daylight-saving time soon to put more vehicles on the road during the hours when deer move most, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is advising motorists to slow down and stay alert. Deer become more active in autumn with the lead-up to their fall breeding season, commonly referred to as the “rut.” Around this time, many yearling bucks disperse from the areas in which they were born and travel, sometimes several dozen miles, to find new ranges. Meanwhile, adult bucks more often are cruising their home ranges in search of does, and they sometimes chase the does they encounter. When daylight-saving time ends Nov. 7, there also will be increased vehicular traffic between dusk and dawn – the peak hours for deer activity. “While the peak of the rut still is a few weeks off, deer already have ramped up their activity and are crossing roads more frequently,” said Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans.

WEBSITE TO HELP VOTERS OF PENNSYLVANIA

​In preparation for Pennsylvania’s municipal general election on Nov. 2, Acting Secretary of State Veronica Degraffenreid reminds Pennsylvanians they can find comprehensive voting information at vote.pa.gov. “The vote.pa.gov site is a one-stop shop for Pennsylvania voters. They can verify their registration, locate their polling place and find out how to return their mail ballot, among other important information,” Secretary Degraffenreid said. “We encourage all eligible voters to be fully informed about their rights and to vote in the election.” Another fantastic resource for voters is the Lycoming County Voter Services page at lyco.org/vote … there you can  see Unofficial Election Night Results (will update after close of polls) Statewide Results Sample Ballots  Polling Place List and other tools for the voter.

COVID-19 CASES IN OUR AREA

The Pa Dept of Health released new COVID-19 numbers for our area. Lycoming County has 20 new cases, 100 in Northumberland County 21 in Snyder County 49 in Union County and 12 Montour cases.

GEISINGER RESOLVING ALLEGATIONS

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Geisinger Community Health Services (GCHS) has agreed to pay $18,513,621.05 to resolve allegations of civil liability for submitting claims to Medicare for hospice and home health services that violated Medicare rules and regulations.  GCHS voluntarily disclosed the violations. According to the voluntary disclosures, between January 2012 and December 2017, through several affiliated entities, GCHS submitted claims to Medicare for hospice and home health services that violated Medicare rules and regulations regarding physician certifications of terminal illness, patient elections of hospice care, and physician face-to-face encounters with home health patients.  After it discovered the problems, GCHS took corrective action and disclosed the matter to the United States Attorney’s Office.