AMENDMENT TO RELEASE NEEDED FUNDING
Lycoming County Commissioners voted in favor of a new amendment of the agreement with STEP in order to release round two of the funding for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. With a reported $1.2 million remaining of the nearly $7.5 million received by Lycoming County after the first round, which continues distribution through September 2022, money will be running out. In fact, according to STEP’s chief operations and planning officer, STEP will be running out of the plan’s funds in early January or February due to the weekly pay-outs of the reported $200 to $300 thousand. As reported by SUN Gazette, the new amendment is set to release needed funding.
EXTENSION FOR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT
An extension has been announced by the Lycoming County Commissioners for the American Rescue Plan Act. The pre-application for the act, extended to February 28, allows municipalities, public authorities, non-profitss and businesses to apply for funding. According to SUN Gazette, the county’s website, Lyco.org, is where interested individuals or groups can proceed with the application process. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Jan 4th at 10 a.m. in the Executive Plaza.
CHILD RAPIST GOING TO STATE PRISON
Sentencing yesterday was for a convicted child rapist. Justin Dean Etters, 30, of Beech Creek, was sentenced to a total term of 55 years in a State Correctional Institution. Etters was charged in May of 2021 for the rape of an 8 year old boy. Clinton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael F. Salisbury imposed the sentence, but prior to imposing the sentence, Judge Salisbury told Etters that he was a “monster who must be removed from society.” Etters was also found to be a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) by the Court.
UPDATED COVID-19 CASES FOR TUESDAY
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Tuesday reported new COVID-19 cases. Clinton County reported 10 new cases. In Centre County 100 new cases. Lycoming County added 46. Tioga County added 10. There were 48 new infections in Northumberland County, 37 in Snyder, 30 in Union and 15 in Montour.
US SENATE MAJORITY LEADER DIES
Harry Reid, the former U.S. Senate majority leader and Nevada’s longest-serving member of Congress, has died. He was 82.Reid died Tuesday, “peacefully” and surrounded by friends at home in suburban Henderson, “following a courageous, four-year battle with pancreatic cancer,” according to family members and a statement from Landra Reid, his wife of 62 years. Over a 34-year career in Washington, Reid thrived on behind-the-scenes wrangling and kept the Senate controlled by his party through two presidents — Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama — a crippling recession and the Republican takeover of the House after the 2010 elections.
HOSPITALS TO GET MUCH NEEDED ASSISTANCE
Pennsylvania hospitals overwhelmed with the latest COVID-19 surge will get help from federal teams as Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration finalizes the details, Wolf’s office reported. Wolf’s administration did not give details about how many people will be in the federal “strike teams,” what sort of expertise or equipment they will bring with them and when they could feasibly arrive at hospitals in Pennsylvania.In a statement, Wolf’s acting secretary of health, Keara Klinepeter, said Wolf’s administration is working to determine which hospitals will receive help and what sort of resources they will get.
OVERWHELMED FACILITIES LOOK TO GOVERNMENT FOR HELP
Pennsylvania hospitals overwhelmed with the latest COVID-19 surge will get help from federal teams as Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration finalizes the details, Wolf’s office reported.Hospitals and nursing homes statewide have been sounding the alarm in recent weeks as largely unvaccinated COVID-19 patients fill hospital beds, sending some acute-care facilities over capacity. Hospitals are reporting very long emergency-room wait times, while staffing shortages in nursing homes are forcing some to stop accepting new residents. Pennsylvania is reporting an average of almost 9,000 new, confirmed infections per day over the last two weeks, up 50% since the second half of November. The number of COVID-19 patients requiring hospital care has increased by 80% since last month, at more than 4,500 per day.
SUNBURY POLICE LOOKING FOR 17-YEAR-OLD FOR FELONY GUN CHARGES
Police are looking for a 17-year-old Sunbury man who held up another man by gunpoint on North 4th Street on Monday as he took $40 and the victim’s cellphone. An arrest warrant has been issued for Elijah Simpson, who is charged with felony robbery and firearms not be carried without a license charges, according to the Daily Item. Police report Simpson will be facing charges as an adult. Anyone with information on Simpson is asked to call Northumberland County 911.
BLACK BEAR DISTROYED BEE HIVES
It was a black bear, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, that destroyed beehives owned by a Montour County man. The attack, which occurred last night, was not witnessed. However, the owner, Larue Shultz saw the impression of a bear paw and opted not to replace the hives. Jared Turner, Pa Game Warden, warned that bears return to properties where they had earlier found food. He goes on to say after a bear visit, residents should remove hives, feeders and take trash inside for at least the following weeks. Although most bears are in hibernating mode, the unseasonably warm weather have inspired some to stay awake a while longer.
THEFTS OF PACKAGES FROM MAILBOX, POLICE LOOKING FOR HELP
A secure mailbox was damaged with multiple packages and letters taken in a theft that occurred sometime between Saturday, Dec 18 and Monday Dec 20. The mailbox was located at 5071 Lycoming Mall Road, Fairfield Township and was owned by Fairfield Auto Group. If anyone has any information on this incident, you are urged to contact the State Police at Montoursville, as the investigation continues.
HIT AND RUN DRIVER SOUGHT
State police are looking for help with the identity of a hit and run crash that occurred Thursday, December 23, which damaged a mailbox and a PennDot sign on SR 405 in Clinton Township, Lycoming County. According to police, the vehicle will have damage on the front passenger corner. It fled in an unknown direction following the crash. If you have any information on this incident, please contact State Police in Montoursville.
