ATTEMPTED AGGRAVATED ASSAULT ON TROOPERS
A Danville man almost struck two state troopers with his truck and then leading them on a high-speed pursuit. On Wednesday, Jarrett Lee Castelonia has been charged with upwards of 22 offenses stemming from the chase along Snydertown Road. Castelonia has been committed, in lieu of $25,000 cash bail, to Northumberland County Jail, according to an online media outlet.
LITTER ACTION PLAN FROM THE WOLF ADMINISTRATION
Governor Tom Wolf, the state secretaries for the departments of Transportation and Environmental Protection joined other administration and community stakeholders today to highlight innovative local anti-littering measures and called for action to combat Pennsylvania’s litter-problem at all levels statewide. The Wolf Administration released the state’s first-ever Litter Action Plan (PDF)–which reflects the work of more than 100 stakeholders from state and local government, businesses, the legislature, and more–and includes both current initiatives and recommendations to clean up the more than 500 million pieces of litter scattered throughout the commonwealth.
COVID-19 VACCINE BOOSTERS OPEN TO ALL ADULTS
Geisinger is offering booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccines for all adults. 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. People who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine are eligible to receive a booster dose of any of the COVID-19 vaccines two months after their initial J&J dose.
DEER SEASON IN PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania’s upcoming firearms deer season – always the most popular on the hunting calendar – features abundant whitetails and increased flexibility in when and where hunters can harvest them. The 14-day 2021 statewide firearms season is designed to maximize flexibility, in three ways. First, it begins on Saturday, Nov. 27, and continues on Sunday, Nov. 28, providing hunters – many off work or school – a full weekend to be afield. Deer season then runs through Dec. 11, closing only on Sunday, Dec. 5. Second, hunters with the proper licenses can harvest either an antlered or antlerless deer at any time throughout the season anywhere in the state. And third, the Game Commission this year made it possible for hunters willing to use antlerless tags to get more of them if the allocation hasn’t been sold out.
AMERICAN RESCULE PLAN FEDERAL FUNDING TO MEDICAID
Governor Tom Wolf today announced the spending plan for approximately $1.2 billion in American Rescue Plan Act federal funding to support Medicaid’s home and community-based services (HCBS) system throughout the commonwealth, allowing more Pennsylvanians the access to critical services in their communities. The temporary funding enhancement will be directed toward Medicaid-funded essential care services to seniors, adults with intellectual and physical disabilities, adults with behavioral health needs such as substance use disorder or mental illness, and children with chronic complex medical needs.
LOCAL UPDATE COVID-19 CASES
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Monday reported new COVID-19 cases.Clinton County reported 13 new cases. Lycoming County added 104 new cases. There were 63 in Northumberland County, 20 in Union, 17 in Snyder and 10 in Montour. Tioga County has reported 9 new covid-19 cases yesterday.
TRAFFIC ACCIDENT UNDER INVESTIGATION
The morning commute came to a screeching halt yesterday for several hours, as both lanes of Interstate 80 were blocked in Northumberland and Montour County due to an accident involving two tractor-trailers in the area of Mile Marker 222. According to an online news outlet, no injuries were reported and the accident remains under investigation.
INSIDE THEIR NEW OFFICE IN DECEMBER
Sunbury Police Department will be finally inside their new Arch Street office in December. Sunbury Police Chief Brad Hare told City Council members last night. The fully functional facility will offer officers patrolman rooms, interview rooms and more. According to the Daily Item, the building will be open for public viewing at the beginning of 2022.
SENATE BILL 248 SIGNED BY GOVERNOR TOM WOLF
Governor Tom Wolf signed into law Senate Bill 248 provides for the following holidays and observances in Pennsylvania: March 6 of each year is designated as “Persian Gulf War Veterans Day,” October 7 of each year is designated as “Global War on Terrorism Veterans Day,” and September 27 of each year as “First Responders Day.”
IN-PERSON COMMENCEMENT FOR BUCKNELL
A traditional in-person commencement will be held for graduates of the class of 2020 at Bucknell University. The ceremony will be at 10am on Saturday, May 21, on Malesardi Quadrangle. Graduates of 2020 participated in Bucknell’s first ever “Online Commencement Celebration” after their in-person ceremony was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to an online media outlet, the graduating class of 2022 will hold their Commencement, May 22 at 10am on Malesardi Quadrangle.
