PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COVID-19 UPDATE
The Commonwealth has added 1,323 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 54,238 total confirmed cases, with 3,616 deaths. Lycoming County is currently at 127 cases, with 4 deaths. The north central region of Pennsylvania has not been hit as hard as many of the southeastern counties, so the stay at home order has been lifted here. Governor Wolf stressed in his daily press release, that we are not out of the woods yet, and that residents should still limit their contact with others. If cases begin to re-surge then going back to red is possible in order to keep local medical facilities from being overwhelmed. Wolf asks citizens to try their best to stop the spread by continuing to use social distancing guidelines and maintain new protocols brought on in the yellow phase.
WESTERN COUNTIES TO MOVE INTO YELLOW PHASE
Governor Wolf yesterday added 13 southwestern counties, which includes Pittsburgh, to move into the yellow phase as of May 15th. Beaver County is the only western county being held in the red, due to a rash of nursing home deaths, and an investigation pending there. The yellow phase opened business in Lycoming County yesterday with small businesses open to retail shopping during a new normal. River Valley YMCA will reopen daycare services Monday at a number of its’ facilities. Find out more at rvrymca.org.
MONTGOMERY MAYOR RESIGNS
The Mayor of Montgomery as well as a council member there, Shawn Coles, have resigned as of Friday. Mayor Fae Herb, will be replaced by vice president of the Borough Council Rocky Sanguedolce. The Sun Gazette confirmed also, that the officer in Charge of the Montgomery Police Department, Eric Winters, was placed on administrative leave earlier this week. Sanguedolce will be the 5th Mayor of Montgomery in less than 2 years.
WATER AND SEWER APPROVES CUSTOMER RELIEF
Lycoming County Water and Sewer customers were granted relief this week after the Authority waived penalties and shutoffs for non payments through May. According to the Authority Director, Christine Weigel, payments are coming in at a relatively normal pace. Public business at the authority building will return next week with regular schedules.
WILLIAMSPORT LIBRARY TO REOPEN FOR LIMITED SERVICES
The James V. Brown Library is one of the many business’s reopening. The paper says on May 18th expect limited operations. Several safeguards will be in place including rigorous cleaning, limited pickup times and no public in the building. Find out more information at jvbrown.edu.
KITTEN SHOWER AT LYCOMING COUNTY SPCA
Today is the last day for the Lycoming County SPCA 3rd Annual Kitten Shower. Those wishing to donate funds, supplies or adopt one of the many kittens expected this spring can find out more information on their Facebook Page: Lycoming County SPCA, or go online to lycomingspca.org
SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
According to the Sun Gazette Pennsylvania Jr Wrestling chairman, Steve Hoover, has rescheduled the youth state tournament as a last ditch effort. Originally it was scheduled for March 13-14th but was canceled due to COVID-19. PJW has rescheduled the tournament for Labor day weekend but may still be in danger of cancellation depending on the the severity of the pandemic by then.
MLB
Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez have ended their pursuit to buy the New York Mets. They planned to spend $1.5 billion for the team but those who currently own it were looking for more like $2.5 billion
The 2020 Major League Baseball draft will shortened to five rounds according to ESPN. The draft usually consists of 40 rounds, but the owners wanted to trim that number in order to limit spending during the coronavirus shutdown.
NBA
The Orlando Magic have been approved and plan to administer coronavirus testing to players, prior to a Tuesday reopening. The LA Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers are also among the teams expected to be allowed to conduct coronavirus tests of all players and staff members entering facilities for individual workouts — regardless of whether they are experiencing symptoms.
UFC Wrestling
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, who was scheduled to fight Uriah Hall at UFC 249 on Saturday in Jacksonville, Florida, has tested positive for the coronavirus. The UFC pulled Souza from the event, but it still plans on moving forward with the rest of the pay-per-view lineup. UFC 249 begins at 6 p.m. Saturday on ESPN. It will mark the UFC’s first live event since March 14 and will take place without a live audience.
