BOY STRUCK AND KILLED AT BUS STOP
A five year old boy was struck and killed by a vehicle in Columbia County yesterday morning while crossing the roadway to his school bus. The child, identified by the Columbia County Coroner’s office as Silas Hunsinger was crossing Rohrsburg Road in Greenwood Township just outside of Millville to get to his bus stop when he was struck by a pick up truck driven by 71 year old Gary Derrick of Orangeville. . The boy died at the scene. There was an adult with him. The bus was not at the stop yet. State Police in Bloomsburg say they are investigating and are not saying if any charges will be filed against Derrick.
BEAR ATTACK?
Emergency responders were dispatched out in Muncy Creek Township last evening for a reported Bear attack. That incident happened in the 1000 block of Peach Orchard Road around 7pm and one person was said to have been taken to the hospital, their name and condition not released. WNEP-TV 16 reports that the Pennsylvania Game Commission was called in and is investigating. A bear trap was reportedly set up along Peach Orchard Road and not other details are currently available regarding that incident.
YAW HOSTS FLOOD TOUR
State Senator Gene Yaw took local, municipal and state official on a tour yesterday of flood affected areas in the Wallis Run area in Gamble Township in Lycoming County as well as along Route 87. During the tour, areas that have been struck by flood waters, ripping up roads and causing property damage were pointed out. Yaw is calling for more regular maintenance and stream cleaning of waterways saying that trees and other debris are damming up the streams contributing to them spilling over the banks and onto roadways causing damage. As the tour went on, Yaw did say he is not sure where to start with the stream cleaning and as to who should be in charge of it.
BUDGET APPROVAL EXPECTED
Williamsport City Council will meet tonight and is expected to pass a proposed $27.2 million dollar budget for 2019, but not before the possibility of readjusting the tax millage and making some more cuts. Council members are concerned about a city reserve reported at only $12,000 dollars with officials saying that reserve should be around a have million dollars. City taxpayers already face a .75 mills tax increase for next year, and 7 city jobs will be cut through attrition and retirements. They are four on the police force, 2 in codes and an assistant general manager of streets and parks position. Council is looking at a couple of places where they may cut into the budget.
PIPELINE MEETING
Residents along the Loyalsock Creek and in the Plunketts Creek Township vicinity turned out at the Plunketts Creek Township Fire Hall last night to hear from officials with Pennsylvania General Energy Company regarding a pipeline project in that area. The pipeline would be a water pipeline which would provide water for gas well pads there and would include a pump station and natural gas gathering line. Officials say the pipeline would reduce the traffic from trucks which now deliver the water to the gas pads there. They say that plans are just in the initial stages and more meeting will be held in the future.
NO CELEBRATION IN SUNBURY
For the second year in a row, the city of Sunbury will not have a New Year’s Eve Celebration. The annual Countdown in the Downtown put on by Sunbury Revitalization Incorporated began at Fourth and Market Streets in Sunbury and 2012 and ran up until last year when it was cancelled due to the lack of support and volunteers. IN the past the event had music, a VIP tent and the lighting of a large light bulb at midnight, drawing hundreds of people to the downtown area. Officials with Sunbury Revitalization say they would like to bring back the celebration in the future but need volunteers and business participation to make that happen.
PARKING RATES REMAIN THE SAME
Parking in Downtown Williamsport will not cost any more next year. The Williamsport Parking Authority confirmed during their meeting yesterday that there will be no rate hike. They do say that there will be new meters installed in the downtown area following an agreement with the company providing those meters which will take care of the software and hardware maintenance. The agreement allows the authority to have direct contact with the seller in case of a failure of the system, which would not require payment until things are fixed.
DELAYS ON VETERANS MEMORIAL BRIDGE
Delays are expected today on the Veterans Memorial Bridge, Route 61 into and out of Sunbury. Crews are removing flood debris from several piers on the bridge today and will close the right driving lane of Route 61 northbound from approximately 9am to 2pm. There will also be periodic stoppages in both lanes northbound during that work. Motorists are asked to plan additional time for their travels, be alert and drive with caution through that workzone there today.
WATER BOIL ADVISORY LIFTED
A Water Boil advisory which was put into effect for some customers of the Crawford Township Authority has been lifted. The advisory was instituted due to a water main leak and subsequent repairs and affected customers who lived north of 2999 Rauchtown Road into the Limestone Township, Middle Road area. Officials say they had to wait until the water was tested and the results returned deeming the water safe for drinking, and have received the all clear.
