CHEMICAL STORAGE PLAN CONCERNS COMMUNITY
About 100 concerned residents attended a public meeting last night at Montgomery High School to talk about a chemical storage facility planned for the flood-prone property on Miller Avenue. Officials from Coastal Chemical Company outlined a plan to build a facility that will house up to 10, 12-thousand gallon storage tanks for materials like motor oil, methanol and more. VP of Operations, Clay Wade says the company has a safety first policy. A 30-day public comment period for the company’s installation permit required by the EPA expires Monday, June 10th.
PA VOTER ID LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
Republican Jeff Wheeland, Representative from Lycoming County, has sponsored legislation in Harrisburg to update Pennsylvania’s Voter ID Laws. Wheeland’s bill would apply the same votoer ID requirements to every election and would include photo and non-photo ID options as acceptable forms of identification. The legislation goes up against a Commonwealth Court ruling that nullified PA’s 2012 Voter ID law.
WRITE-IN CANDIDATE JOINS THE CITY COUNCIL RACE
Another Republican has been written into the race for the open city council seats this November in the general election. Officials from Lycoming County Voter services said Bill Hall received 110 write-in votes from the May 21st Primary election; enough to include him on the ballot with 3 other Democrats and Republicans who hope to fill the four open seats on the council this fall.
CITY DIVIDED OVER TAX ASSESMENT BOARD NEED
Lycoming County Commissioners tabled a discussion last night regarding the need for an independent board to examine tax assessment appeals. The commissioners are divided over the decision with some members wanting to be more in touch with the process and some wanting to protect the administration from future appeals expected after insurance rates change next year. The commissioner’s next meeting is Thursday at 10am in Executive Plaza.
BEAR CAUSES ACCIDENT
A bear caused a car crash on Route 15 in Tioga county Tuesday. 37 year-old Jessica Tice of Blossburg told police a bear entered the roadway near Tioga and while swerving to avoid it, she lost control, went off the roadway and struck a tree. Tice was able to get out of the car. She was transported to Corning Hospital with injuries
SOUTHSIDE SCHOOL BOARD UPDATE
The South Williamsport School Board meeting was Monday night. The board discussed the installation of NightLock door locks on school buildings to increase safety around their facilities. In other business, they also approved a 5-year Support Professionals Agreement which includes a 25 cent increase annually for included members.
TRUCK BURNS IN DUBOISTOWN
Local volunteer firefighters from DuBoistown and Nisbet were busy yesterday afternoon in Armstrong township when a maintenance truck caught fire along Waterdale Road. The 2004 Cheverolet was determined to have caught fire accidentally – it was a total loss, no one was injured in the fire.
WEST HAZELTON RAISING MONEY TO SAVE MUSEUM
The Greater Hazleton Historical Society has brought a carnival to town in the parking lot of the Bowl Arena and Milkhouse Creamery to preserve the history of their area. Organizers of the Luzerne County event hopes they can raise 20 thousand dollars to save their West Hazleton museum and other items of history featuring their coal mining past. The Carnival is in town through the weekend.