BROADBAND INTERNET AIMED AT HELPING FIRST RESPONDERS

It is more reliable communications and it is going to enable first responders to connect and communicate, it’s a broadband internet expansion in Tioga County and AT&T customers will see some benefits as well. An organization that prioritizes first responders’ ability to communicate and expanding broadband networking has a new site in Middlebury Center set to amplify coverage between Tioga and Wellsboro near the Route 287 corridor. The new tower, located near the Middlebury Fire Department’s fire hall, gives first responders such as police and firefighters “priority and preemption” to regular customers. Other sites have cropped up in Lycoming County to the same effect; the Loyalsock Volunteer Fire Co. enjoys increased access when responding to incidents in Barbours, according to AT&T’s website.

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RURAL HEALTH LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD

She was recognized for leading measures to fight COVID-19. She is the President and CEO of the Evangelical Community Hospital and Kendra Aucker was honored during a ceremony yesterday, where she was provided the Rural Health Leader of the Year Award. Aucker accepted the award from the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health. In true Kendra Aucker fashion, she commented the award is everyone’s award and it is just how their strong, independent health care facility can respond and handle an emergency like the pandemic.  Kendra Aucker, president and CEO of Evangelical Community Hospital, accepted the Rural Health Leader of the Year Award during a ceremony Thursday.

PA’S FIRST LADY IN TROUBLE WITH AN ELECTION LAW

She violated the Pennsylvania election law, and according to Spotlight PA and the Inquirer, First Lady Frances Wolf, simply dropped a mail ballot off for her husband, Governor Tom Wolf.  Commonwealth law says, with very few exceptions, voters have to mail or bring their ballot to an elections office, satellite location, or drop box themselves. As it stands, it is an act which is punishable by upwards of a year in prison and a fine of up to $1,000 or both.

PREPAY DISCOUNT

Good news for those in the area of pay a fixed base rate to the Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority. According to Sun Gazette, customers will see a prepay discount of 5% on the upcoming 2022 bills.  The option, however, is limited to those in good standing and those who will be making a full payment in January for the year. Those areas that may see that discount rate include the Montoursville Regional Sewer System, Armstrong, Mifflin Manor and the Beaver Lake sewer systems. With this in mind, the authority is expecting to see a rate increase of $5 for the Armstrong Sewer and the Montoursville Regional Sewer systems.  Those with the Limestone Water System can expect a 6.5% increase to stretch across all tiers.

WILLIAMSPORT CITY RECREATION DEPT HAD ROUGH FINANCIAL YEAR

The City of Williamsport Recreation Department Superintendent,  Kayla Drummond,  described this past year as a “bounce back” year, but they remained behind when finances were discussed, especially when the summer programs became the topic during the Williamsport City Council Finance Committee Meeting this week. With the concerns from the summer, which included an over budget staffing situation, transportation to Loyalsock pool and even issues with the food trucks, the money loss was obvious in the books, but the reasoning remained confusing. Finance Committee Chairwoman, Councilwoman, Liz Miele questioned the issue. Bonnie Katz, Councilwoman, stressed the need for the issues to be repaired before the pool reopens and staffing potentially can be a problem again.

PA WILDS AWARDS

During the Clinton County Commissioners’ meeting  Thursday, recipients of the 2021 Champions of the PA Wilds Awards were distributed including three Clinton County events or individuals, according to therecordonline.com. Outstanding Leader award went to Julie Brennan, Clinton County Tourism Director; the Artisan of the Year went to photographer Bill Crowell and finally it was the Lock Haven JAMS Festival that won the Event of the Year.

COVID-19 IN OUR AREA FROM YESTERDAY

The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Thursday reported new COVID-19 cases, in Clinton County 19 new cases were reported, Centre County saw an increase of 33 new cases, while Lycoming County increased by 57, Tioga 22, 47 new cases in Northumberland County, 20 in Snyder, 15 in Union and eight in Montour.

TITLE 7 AND 9 PROBLEMS FOR PENN STATE UNIVERSITY

According to a former Penn State University employee, she alleges that a supervisor sexual assaulted her in December 2019.  Following her reporting the incident, she was harassed. According to northcentralpa.com, Penn State University faces three violations of title 7 policies. These policies include, but are not limited to, sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. Further charges include Title 9 violations. Penn State was charged with three violations of Title VII policies including sexual harassment/hostile work environment, constructive discharge, and retaliation, according to the complaint. Other charges include two violations of Title 9.  She is asking for back pay and compensation among other things. Judge Matthew W. Brann at the federal courthouse in Williamsport is presiding over the case.

PENNDOT CLOSED ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that all driver license and photo centers, will be closed Thursday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day. Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications and driver training manuals, online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website. Driver and vehicle online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

GOV TOM WOLF TRAVELS THE COMMONWEALTH

Gov. Tom Wolf continues to fight for workers to have fair wages, paid sick leave, safe workplaces and quality jobs. Yesterday, the governor is visiting Erie and Allentown to discuss his recently issued executive order that supports workers and to urge the General Assembly to pass legislation that will give workers confidence in the safety of their workplaces and the fairness of their pay.

UPMC OFFERING VACCINATIONS FOR COVID-19 TO CHILDREN 5-11 YEARS OF AGE

UPMC is now offering COVID-19 vaccinations to children ages 5 and older at community vaccination clinics as well as in primary care and pediatric provider offices. Vaccinations are available by appointment only. UPMC’s next community vaccination clinic scheduled for Tues., Nov. 9, at Hope Enterprises, 2401 Reach Rd, Williamsport. Appointments for children are available and start at 5 p.m. Parents can schedule an appointment by calling their primary care or pediatric provider office, visiting Vaccine.UPMC.com, or calling 844-UPMCVAC (844-876-2822) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., seven days a week.

DCNR ATTEMPTING TO REDUCE GARBAGE WASTE FROM PA STATE PARKS

​ Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn today announced that the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is taking steps to reduce the use of plastics and amount of waste generated from food concessions at Pennsylvania state parks. As contracts with food providers are renewed, new provisions prevent the use of plastic bags, straws, and cutlery. These items are to be replaced with compostable, paper, wooden or plant fiber alternatives. “As the state’s conservation leader, DCNR strives to model practices that conserve and sustain our natural resources, and we are now extending that to the concessions that provide snacks at our state parks,” Dunn said. “This step will help to reduce the emissions generated through plastic production and eliminate the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills.

GOV TOM WOLF PROMOTING PA HARDWOOD PROJECTS

​ Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, Department of Conservation and Natural Resource Assistant State Forester Matthew Keefer and Pennsylvania hardwoods industry leaders toured Conestoga Wood Specialties in East Earl, for a behind the scenes look at one of Pennsylvania’s premier hardwood products companies. Since 2015, Governor Tom Wolf has invested more than $1 million in grants, loans and tax credits to help Pennsylvania hardwood businesses expand, upgrade equipment, train their workers and increase sustainable environmental practices. Pennsylvania leads the nation in the production and export of hardwood lumber. With 16.6 million acres of forestland, Pennsylvania has the most abundant hardwood forest in the United States and contributes more than $39.1 billion to the state’s economy annually. The Pennsylvania Specialty Crop Block Grant program was created under the PA Farm Bill to grow and promote high-priority specialty crops in the state, including hardwoods. The PA Specialty Crop Block Grants has invested more than $160,000 in seven projects, over the course of 2019 and 2020, to support hardwoods projects related to promotion, education and workforce development.

.PURSUIT THAT BEGAN FROM A BURGLARY CALL

On October 30 around 1:00 am, State Police in Montoursville were dispatched to the 1600 block of Log Run Rd in Loyalsock Township in response to a burglary call.  The vehicle fled the scene prior to the arrival of troopers.  Old Lycoming Township Police located a vehicle matching the description and found the vehicle to be stolen.  A traffic stop was attempted and the suspect vehicle fled. State Police from Montoursville and Milton assisted, even deploying spike strips and PIT maneuvers to stop the pursuit. The vehicle was stopped and the operator was identified as Alan Seijas . Multiple charges with given to Seijas and he was remanded to the Lycoming County Prison.