ANOTHER KITCHEN FIRE
A kitchen fire in Williamsport sent fire crews to the 800 block of West Third Street Sunday night. According to SUN Gazette, there was an estimated $15,000 in damage when the resident fell asleep, only to be woken by her smoke alarm. Nikkia Scott was able to escape without injuries. The cause of the fire, according to Williamsport Bureau of Fire Platoon Chief Sam Aungst, was unattended cooking. He goes on to remind the community to remain vigilant when cooking and not to utilize the oven to heat the house.
ARRAIGNED IN HOSPITAL ROOM
A pursuit ended in a fiery crash on Kehrer Hill Road in Fairfield Township. Just over two weeks later, the driver and his passenger remain in the hospital. It was in his hospital room, where Gavin Schomburg, of Hughesville, was arraigned on charges of felony fleeing, DUI, endangering the welfare of a child and possession with intent to deliver controlled substances. According to SUN Gazette, once he is released from UPMC Williamsport, Schomburg will be free on $75,000 intense supervised bail set by Magisterial District Judge Whiteman.
LOCAL COVID-19 CASES
The Pennsylvania Department of Health added new cases. In Centre County 26 new cases were recorded. Lycoming County added 21 new cases. There were 27 new cases in Northumberland County, 17 in Snyder, 11 in Union, six in Montour and Tioga County had 5 new cases listed yesterday.
DEPORTATION FROM JAIL
A Northumberland County man who pleaded no contest on Monday to sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl will be deported at the conclusion of the case in Northumberland County Court. Jose Figueroa-Cante, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of indecent assault. According to the Daily Item, it is the intention of the U.S. Government, through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to deport Figueroa-Cante to his home country of Honduras at the conclusion of the county case. He is a a county inmate in lieu of $250,000 cash bail, has credit for 717 days of jail time. A sentencing date is not yet scheduled.
FREE SMOKE DETECTORS 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.
MUSIC IN THE VALLEY FOR 2022
Music continues at the Uptown Music Collective! The Collective’s winter enrollment week begins on December 13th for both in-person and virtual private lessons on Guitar, Vocals, Bass, Keyboards, and Drums. The Winter Semester will begin on January 10th, 2022, and will run for 15 weeks. The Winter Semester will see the continuation of in-person classes and workshops, as well as the Adult Music Program known as “AMP”. In the last 21+ years, the Uptown Music Collective has grown from what many used to call “the best-kept secret in the Williamsport area,” to one of the area’s most highly respected, non-profit, educational organizations. There are currently openings for students of all levels who are looking for private instruction. The school also offers financial assistance upon request and scholarship opportunities every year. For more information call the Uptown Music Collective.
NO SURPRISES ACT
Governor Tom Wolf today was joined by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID), stakeholders, and a consumer who has fallen victim to surprise billing to celebrate the upcoming implementation of the federal No Surprises Act on January 1, 2022. The No Surprises Act will protect patients from receiving surprise medical bills. A surprise bill is an unexpected medical bill that a patient receives when they unintentionally obtain health care from a provider that is outside their plan’s provider network. Today, Gov. Wolf also signed an Executive Order designating the PID as the lead agency to coordinate implementation of the No Surprises Act in the Commonwealth.
SENIORS DECORATE THE TREE AT THE CAPITAL
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging announced that visitors to the State Capitol Main Rotunda during the holiday season can check out handmade ornaments hung on the holiday tree that were created by Pennsylvania seniors. Older adults from more than 32 Senior Community Centers in 27 counties across the commonwealth submitted ornaments in response to an annual request by the department. The tree will remain in the rotunda until January 10. Here is a list of Senior Community Centers that submitted holiday ornaments: Columbia County – Benton Senior Center, Bloomsburg Senior Center, Catawissa Senior Center, Lycoming County – George C. Meck Senior Community Center, Jersey Shore Senior Community Center, Tioga County – Wellsboro Senior Center Individuals can get a closer look at the ornaments made by the older adults, as well as information about resources and programs for seniors, by visiting the Department of Aging’s Facebook.
STUDENTS FACING CHARGES
Students were behind a written threat and led to the evacuation of Jersey Shore High School Friday face charges. According to an online media outlet, a written threat involving the high school building was taken seriously, as the entrance to the high school was closed, students were moved and the middle school placed on alert. Jersey Shore Super indent Ulmer reported the student who made the threat was identified and the building was still searched to make sure it was safe for students to return Monday. The Tiadaghton Regional Police are not releasing the names of the students, as they are juveniles.
MANY ARE HITTING THE ROAD THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Even with the increase in COVID-19 cases nationally, millions of Americans are expected to travel for the holidays, a number industry experts say could be triple the number of people who traveled a year ago.Americans who had to cancel getaways and get-togethers last year because of the pandemic are making up for lost time this holiday season. More than 109 million people — an almost 34% increase from 2020 — will travel 50 miles or more as they hit the road, board airplanes or take other transportation out of town between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2.
PENNSYLVANIA LAWMAKER CALLED OUT
The House panel investigating the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection requested an interview and documents from Republican Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania on Monday, marking the first time the committee publicly sought to sit down with a sitting member of Congress. The latest request launches a new phase for the lawmakers on the committee, who have so far resisted reaching out to one of their own as they investigate the insurrection by President Donald Trump’s supporters and his efforts to overturn the election. Perry and other congressional Republicans met with Trump ahead of the attack and strategized about how they could block the results at the Jan. 6 electoral count.
WORKING TO KEEP LAW ENFORCEMENT HEALTHY
Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) funds are used to improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services for law enforcement through the implementation of peer support, training, family resources, suicide prevention, and other promising practices for wellness reform. The 2021 LEMHWA program funded projects that develop knowledge, increase awareness of effective mental health and wellness strategies, increase the skills and abilities of law enforcement, and increase the number of law enforcement agencies and relevant stakeholders using peer programs.
Pennsylvania Philadelphia, City of $125,000 Snyder, County of $109,885
