A FACE LIFT FOR A PIECE OF HISTORY IN BRANDON PARK

The Brandon Park band shell, the half-moon-shaped amphitheater and stage for outdoor music concerts, holiday performances and the annual Arbor Day celebrations of the past, is being eyed for rehabilitation. City Council’s finance committee passed a resolution to hire Gannett Fleming as the design inspection firm for about $30,000.  But Councilwomen Liz Miele, committee chair, and Councilwoman Bonnie Katz, urged the administration to make it clear to Gannett Fleming to prioritize the repair needs based on a $280,000 limit, which is how much the city has available toward construction costs. According to a media source, the bandshell is a historic structure built in 1913 by Jacob Gehron, according to minutes taken from the Brandon Park Commission as provided by Bonita C. Mahoney, former city recreation director.

VACANCIES IN SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT AREA SCHOOL BOARD

South Williamsport Area School Directors are looking to fill two vacant school board spots by their Oct. 18 meeting. Superintendent Mark Stamm reported during this week’s board meeting that the positions for the Region I and Region III vacancies have been advertised. The deadline to apply is Oct. 12. “We will bring responses to the Oct. 18, 2021, work session to be discussed and acted upon,” he said. As reported by SUN Gazette, the person filling the Region I position will serve out the remainder of that term through December. The Region III board term does not end until December 2023.

FOURTH STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT

Williamsport City Council’s finance committee gave a positive recommendation to have Larson Design Group provide engineering services for the East Fourth Street reconstruction project.  The contract is for $69,315 and provides design and engineering for a project estimated at $920,000, said Jon Sander, city engineer. The design is for an area on East Fourth Street between Basin and Penn streets and is a continuation of the neighborhood improvement as part of the East Third Street Old City Gateway project and it includes streetscape upgrades such as sidewalk, lights and street reconstruction and paving, Sander said. According Sander, the city received a multi-modal grant in the amount of $645,000 from the Commonwealth Financing Agency, as reported by a media source.

911 CALL CENTER POSITIONS CHANGE CLASSIFICATIONS

In a move to increase and maintain the number of qualified call takers, a change in the classifications of 911 employees at the Lycoming County Call Center was suggested and approved by the Lycoming County Commissioners. With the change, folks will enter the 911 Call Center as new hires, also knowns telecommunicator trainees. As training continues, they have the possibility, but not the requirement, to rise through telecommunicator I, II and III. This allows the training through stages which are designed to maintain able employees and keep those who wish to become and remain call takers.  According to Commissioner Tony Mussare, “By changing these advancements from a new hire to a telecommunicator I, call-taker, we will always have a call-taker, and that’s critical.”  As reported by SUN Gazette, the next commissioners’ meeting will be at 10 a.m. Oct. 12 at the Commissioners’ Board Room, 1st floor, executive Plaza, 330 Pine St.

TWO VEHICLE CRASH IN LOYALSOCK TOWNSHIP

It was a two vehicle crash at Lincoln and Westminster Drives in Loyalscock Township around 11:20 am yesterday which sent a woman to UPMC. According to a media source, Montoursville State Police are investigating the crash.

TRACTOR-TRAILER CRASH SENDS MAN TO GEISINGER

A one-vehicle tractor-trailer crash in Jordan Township late Monday night sent the driver to the trauma center at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville. The trucker slammed on his brakes about five miles from Unityville, about 10:15 p.m. Some of the drilling pipes it was hauling crashed through the cab, trapping the driver for nearly three hours, according to fire officials. As reported by a media source, the medical crew of Life Flight stabilized the trucker’s medical condition and firefighters worked to extricate him from the wreckage. He was taken by ambulance to Geisinger.

NEW PLAYGROUND SOON TO HAVE PLANS IN INDIAN PARK

It has the potential to cost upwards of $200,000, but plans for a new playground in Indian Park were a topic for discussion at the Montoursville Borough Council meeting. Without including engineering fees, mulch or other side items, an estimate from George Ely Associates, a business specializing in playground equipment, provided the $200,000 estimate which would include five pieces of equipment and age specific jungle gyms. Christopher Lucas, council member,   “The rec committee has done some work to get some co-sponsors for the project and help with funding, but they’re going to need some preliminary engineering done,” he said. According to council’s agenda, trick-or-treating for Halloween is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. According to a media source, the next council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 8, at the Borough Building, 617 North Loyalsock Ave.

COVID-19 UPDATED NUMBERS FOR OUR AREA

The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Tuesday reported new COVID-19 cases statewide. In Clinton County 11 new cases were reported, Centre County saw an increase of 24, Lycoming County increased by 65, 41 in Northumberland County, 31 in Union County and six in both Montour and Snyder.

POLICE INVOLVED SHOOTING IN CLINTON COUNTY

A 27-year-old man was shot and killed in an altercation with state police at a truck stop on Route 80 eastbound at mile marker 194 rest area yesterday.  According to a press release from the state police, around 4:30 am troopers responded to shots fired at the rest area.  The suspect was found barricaded inside his tractor trailer. Troopers attempted to give the suspect verbal commands. He ignored those orders and drove his truck into two police vehicles, nearly striking troopers. At that point, troopers discharged their firearms and then provided aid to the suspect. The suspect died from his injuries on the scene. Several troopers sustained minor injuries during this incident and were treated by EMS.  The investigation is ongoing and more information will be released as it becomes available to do so.

A CLEAN WATER ACTION PLAN

Lycoming County will be announcing its final clean water action plan during the Commissioners public meeting. According to northcentralpa.com, the plan, officially known as the Countywide Action Plan (CAP), an initiative to improve water quality, reduce flooding, and improve recreational opportunities, is part of a larger initiative supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to meet state clean water goals. Conservation District Manager, Matthew Long, explains that, “This plan is about Lycoming County residents protecting and enhancing the natural resources of the county through conservation activities.”