DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH UPDATE; CHECK CHILDRENS’ VACCINATION SCHEDULE
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 938 new cases of the coronavirus yesterday with a statewide total of 59, 636. There were 275 new fatalities brought on by COVID-19 and a total of 4, 218 deaths in adult patients. In Lycoming county there are no new cases of the virus but one death has been added, bringing that total to 10. During the daily video conference yesterday, Secretary of Health Dr Rachel Levine brought attention to the fact that some children may have missed important vaccinations during the state’s shutdown and encourages a call or visit to the pediatrician to get up to date <<<<<LEVINE1 Real threats>>>> Dr. Levine says that procedures to separate well patients from sick patients at pediatricians offices across the state are in place to keep families safe.
PRESIDENT VISITS COMMONWEALTH
President Trump visited a medical equipment manufacturing company in Allentown yesterday who has contributed to manufacturing and shipping personal protective gear across the country. At Owens and Minor Inc, Mr. Trump highlighted the importance of U.S. manufacturing during his 18th visit to the state as president. In a jab at Democrat Governor Tom Wolf, the president Tweeted that Pennsylvanians “want their freedom”, referring to Wolf’s stay at home orders and business shutdowns. According to the Sun Gazette, A Washington Post-Ipsos poll this week found that more than 2 in 3 people surveyed from April 27 to May 4 approve of how Wolf has handled the outbreak. Trump’s approval nationally in the same poll was at 43%.
TAX HIKE FOR LOYALSOCK TOWNSHIP
The Loyalsock Township School Board Wednesday, via Zoom teleconference, passed a proposed final budget for 2020-21 with a tax increase of 0.25 mills by a 5-4 vote. The vote shows that members were split on raising taxes in the current economic climate. A final approval will have to take place at the June 24 meeting, meaning that a property owner in Loyalsock would pay $25 more per $100,000 of a property’s assessed value next year. The board secretary pointed out that the district has only raised taxes seven times in the last 15 years.
RECYCLING RETURNING IN LEWIS TOWNSHIP
Lycoming County Resource management has announced that Lewis Township will reopen their recycling drop off sites on a limited schedule. The township sites will be open 8-4 on Monday May 18th , Tuesday the 26th, Monday June 1st, and Monday June 8th. Accoridng to the press release, if the containers fill before 4pm, the township will close the center. The boxes will be locked when not in operation.
LYCOMING COUNTY CASES MEET YELLOW REQUIREMENTS; SOME STATES WILL DEFY GOVERNOR
Lycoming County has no new cases of the virus as of yesterday at midnight, good news for the average goal to keep our state in the yellow phase, maintaining a 50 cases per100,000 ratio. In Northumberland, 4 cases were added – bringing the total to 132 with no deaths from that county, Union County added only one case bringing their total to 43, Bradford county added 4 cases to 41 and 2 deaths overall there. According to the state media, Governor Wolf will announce today which counties designations will be changed as of midnight tonight. Earlier this week, leaders from Beaver and Columbia counties said they may defy the order and move to the yellow if Wolf doesn’t make the change. Lebanon and Lancaster Counties may also defy the Governor’s orders.
FUGITIVE FROM APRIL WILLIAMSPORT SHOOING ARRESTED IN SCRANTON
A Lycoming County man was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force at a hotel in Scranton for his role in an attempted homicide and shooting that happened around 5pm onApril 25th along 7th street in Williamsport. Police say 19 year old Jordan Artley fired shots into a group of four people on Seventh Street, just east of Hepburn Street, last month, one of the bullets striking 21 year old Kwary Alford who was treated at UPMC Williamsport after the shooting. Bail was denied for Artley after he was charged in District Court and he was committed to Lycoming County Prison.
Even with the budget constraints recently highlighted by Williamsport City Council, 2 new officer hires were approved at Thursday night’s meeting, completing 48 of the 49 budgeted hires for this year. According to the Sun Gazette, Brett Garbrick, an officer for Old Lycoming Township and Ericka Heath who has been a Lycoming County Sherriff’s Deputy since 2017, were brought on to the Williamsport Bureau of Police force. Council woman, Liz Miele said during the meeting that the committee wants to be cautious about the 49th hire and maybe wait until the end of the year to consider the expense. The city faces an almost $2 million contraction in the budget after the COVID-19 pandemic impact hit
PennDOT says they will have crews performing litter pickup in an effort to improve our environment and clean up our local roadways. Watch for the work in Union County starting next Monday through Friday along Route 15 and Interstate 80. No work will impact traffic but work along Route 15, both north and southbound from Lewisburg to the Lycoming County line will take place and there will be work on I-80, both east and westbound in Union County from the Route 15 interchange to the Clinton County line. PennDOT says work will be in accordance with CDC and PA Dept of Health guidance as well as a project-specific COVID-19 safety plan,
Sports
NASCAR
The NASCAR cup series is scheduled to resume this Sunday at Darlington raceway in South Carolina. The teams will run four times in 11 days in the Carolinas including at Charlotte motor speedway in NC. NASCAR has also set plans for 20 more races including nine in the elite cup series they’ll take place in Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, Florida and Alabama in June without fans.
GOLF
Four of the biggest names in pro golf are gearing up for a 2 on 2 skins game in Florida this weekend airing on NBC and the golf channel. Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson, will take on Ricky Fowler and Matt Wolf at the Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach with winnings going to charity. There will be no caddies and no carts. The first six holes worth 50,000, the next 10, $100,000, the 17th hole $200,000, and the final hole worth $500,000. McElroy and Johnson will play for the American nurses foundation, Fowler and wolf will play for the CDC foundation.
NFL
If the NFL season begins on time without fans in the stands, the Fox network has a plan to put crowd noise during the program for a more normal viewing experience, as well as adding virtual fans in the stands.
MLB
Bob Watson, who played Major League Basebvall of 19 seasons before a career as a team and league executive has died at the age of 73. Watson began his career with the Houston Astros in 1966 and the played for the Boston Red Sox, Yankees and Braves before retiring in 1984. He wqas the first African American to hold the title of GM in the Major leagues.
