TERRORISTIC THREATS

A Watsontown man allegedly pulled the Victim’s hair and threatened to kill the Victim in the 600 block of Elm Street on Friday morning. David E. Phillips was taken into custody, charged with a misdemeanor count of Terroristic Threats and a summary count of Harassment, arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Michael I. Diehl and committed to the Northumberland County Jail in lieu of $50,000.00 bail.

LOCK HAVEN REACCREDITED

Over the last three years, Lock Haven University has been engaged in a reaccreditation process through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), in which the institution has been accredited by since 1949. In mid-October, a MSCHE team virtually visited LHU’s campus to discuss the university’s self-study and meet with the campus community. The MSCHE team commended LHU’s faculty for the exceptional work done in the area of assessment, noting that, “LHU has built a comprehensive system of student learning outcomes assessment from the ground up.” The team also extended a commendation to the faculty, staff and administration for their dedication and loyalty to the institution and willingness to work above and beyond. In his final comments, the team chair stated that, “LHU is truly a caring, student-centered community.”

LOCAL COVID-19 CASES

On Saturday, the DOH reported there were 126 new Valley cases, the 11th time in 12 days with at least 100 cases. State Health officials recorded 66 new cases in Northumberland County, 34 in Snyder, 22 in Union and nine in Montour. Centre added 115, Clinton 26, Lycoming 72, Montour 9 and Tioga County added 17 new COVID-19 cases yesterday.

GEISINGER MEDICAL CENTER MOVING TO LIMIT VISITATION

As COVID-19 cases continue to increase systemwide, we are limiting visitors for inpatient settings. Effective, Monday, Dec. 20, one visitor is permitted per hospitalized adult patient. Other family members, friends and general visitors will not be permitted at this time. In the Geisinger  system, one in four inpatients has COVID and we are reaching or exceeding capacity in some hospitals. These guidelines protect the health and safety of our patients and staff. Having fewer visitors allows our staff to focus on treating our patients.

THREAT TAKEN SERIOUSLY

A bomb scare on Friday closed the entrance to the Jersey Shore Area Senior High School. According to police, students were moved to another building and were reported to have been released at regular dismissal bells. As reported by the Express, state police with a bomb-detection k-9 arrived around 3 p.m. There were no injuries reported. This is an ongoing story.

MILITARY SHARE PROGRAM IN DUBOISTOWN

Military Share program food distribution early Wednesday morning at the VFW Duboistown Post 7863 provided meals from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.  According to Angel Fortin, the coordinator of Military Share Program for the DuBoistown area, the meal of frozen turkey, milk, eggs, potatoes, apples and more were given to veterans and their families through the fundraising efforts of the VFW and a grant of $15,000 from Highmark. according to sun gazette, at the end of the day, over 375 families were provided meals.

VACCINE MANDATE MOVES AHEAD

A federal appeals court panel on Friday allowed President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for larger private employers to move ahead, reversing a previous decision on a requirement that could affect some 84 million U.S workers. The 2-1 decision by a panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati overrules a decision by a federal judge in a separate court that had paused the mandate nationwide. The mandate from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration was to take effect Jan. 4. With Friday’s ruling, it’s not clear when the requirement might be put in place, but the White House said in a statement that it will protect workers: “Especially as the U.S. faces the highly transmissible Omicron variant, it’s critical we move forward with vaccination requirements and protections for workers with the urgency needed in this moment.” Republican state attorneys general and conservative groups said they would appeal Friday’s decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

A RESIDENCE SHOT IN LOYALSOCK TOWNSHIP

A projectile, fired from a gun, struck a house in Loyalsock Township.  According to State Police in Montoursville, on December 12, they were dispatched to Richards Avenue to find that an unknown person had shot her bathroom window. Sometime between Thursday, December 9 and Friday December 10, a BB struck the side of the home, breaking one window and becoming encapsulated between the panes.  This incident remains under investigation.

TAX RELIEF FOR THOSE RECEIVING LOAN FORGIVENESS IN TWO PROGRAMS IN PA

Pennsylvania will no longer impose state income taxes on public sector workers and nurses who receive student loan forgiveness from two major programs, the Wolf administration announced Friday. The change impacts participants in the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which provides debt relief to teachers, social workers, military members and other public servants, and the Pennsylvania Student Loan Relief for Nurses Program, a recent pandemic-era initiative to forgive up to $7,500 in student loan debt incurred by state-licensed nurses. According to Gov Tom Wolf in a news conference yesterday,  “These people have chosen to serve the public, and often in lower-paying fields, because they want to make a difference. They don’t have thousands of dollars lying around to pay a one-time tax bill. So it’s wrong to take what should be a blessing and turn it into just another burden.”

COVID-19 CASES UPDATED

The state Department of Health registered new cases on Friday statewide. State Health officials recorded 76 new cases in Northumberland County, 41 in Snyder, 20 in Montour and 17 in Union. Lycoming County added 57, Clinton 18, Centre 88, Tioga County had 23 new cases, 76 in Northumberland and 20 new COVID cases listed yesterday in Montour County.

KAUPAS CAMP AT BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY

For one month each summer, roughly 60 middle-school students around Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, descend on the campus of Bucknell University to attend the Kaupas Camp, a free day camp to learn sports, ecology, playing instruments and more.  These opportunities are provided in large part by philanthropists serving long-term sentences at a nearby medium-security state prison in Coal Township, where about 250 men participate in the Lifeline Association, a giving circle that contributes to local charities. Many of its members are incarcerated for life; the rest will have spent at least 10 years in prison by the end of their sentences.  Lifeline primarily contributes to charities that promote the well-being of children, for example, they raised $3,743 for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and $500 for Marley’s Mission, a local nonprofit that offers horseback-riding therapy to children overcoming trauma.

COVID-19 CASES UPDATED

On Saturday, the DOH reported there were 126 new Valley cases, the 11th time in 12 days with at least 100 cases. State Health officials recorded 66 new cases in Northumberland County, 34 in Snyder, 22 in Union and nine in Montour. Centre added 115, Clinton 26, Lycoming 72, Montour 9 and Tioga County added 17 new COVID-19 cases yesterday.

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

A nationwide effort hits home with ‘Wreath’s Across America‘, an event full of history and lessons for the young, when wreaths were placed on the graves of U.S. veterans of all wars past. In total, according to Dori Rankinen, the coordinator for Central Pennsylvania Wreaths Across America, 12 cemeteries in Lycoming and Sullivan Counties were covered Saturday. As she mentioned on In Touch,  “They say a person dies twice. First, when they take their last breath physically, and then again when there’s no one left to say their name and tell their story.”  The ceremony started at 10 a.m. in Montoursville and upwards of 300 volunteers honored the fallen with a wreath and a mention of their names. It was a successful event of remembrance and respect. Congratulation to Dori and the Central Pennsylvania Wreaths Across America for a successful event.

SMOKE DETECTORS AVAILABLE TO WILLIAMSPORT RESIDENTS

The Williamsport Bureau of Fire provides Fire, Rescue, and EMS service to the City of Williamsport which also serves as the county seat for Lycoming County, PA. The City encompasses over nine square miles and has a permanent population of approximately 30,000 residents as well as 10,000 college students. The Williamsport Bureau of Fire was organized in 1874 as a career department with a staff of 33 sworn personnel and one Administrative Aide. The Williamsport Bureau of Fire offers FREE smoke detectors to residents of the City of Williamsport.  The Bureau will come out and install these smoke detectors for you at NO CHARGE. In order to obtain a FREE smoke detector, you can stop by Fire Headquarters at 440 Walnut Street, Williamsport, PA, and a Fire Fighter will review all of the information with you.  Smoke detectors are available to everyone.

FIREFIGHTERS TAKING EQUIPMENT TO KENTUCKY

When asked for help, the call is answered. Firefighters from our area are sending that help to fellow firefighters in Kentucky, who lost everything in last Friday’s massive tornadoes.  The equipment is set to leave for Mayfield tonight and has firefighting gear and apparatus from our local heroes. Departments lending their hand are the Muncy Area Volunteer Fire Co, Clinton Township Vol Fire Co and have extended to county wide efforts from Lycoming, Clinton, Tioga and Columbia Counties.  According to SUN Gazette, this has been a combined efforts of firefighters reaching out  to help other firefighters to help others.