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COVID-19

City police kept on call to stop virus spread

During the month of April, a few city police officers were kept on call at home in order to prevent interaction with others in the department and across the city to prevent spread of COVID-19, city officials said. Mayor Derek Slaughter said Monday the coronavirus administrative leave policy, which he enacted early during the outbreak, enabled officers to stay home during minimum shift levels. A little more than $70,000 in salaries, that was in the budget, went to the officers, according to the city finance department. At the beginning of the outbreak, the guidance was that COVID-19 ...

Police officer on paid leave as virus caution

A second police department in Lycoming County put an officer on paid administrative leave to err on the side of caution during the initial COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. None of the officers reportedly had any positive tests returned for contracting the virus. Montoursville Police Chief Jeff Gyurina said one of his officers was out for three days while a family member was tested who had come down with symptoms. The relative of the officer was negative for the virus and the officer returned on the fourth day back to work as normal, Gyurina said. Gov. Tom Wolf’s had non-essential ...

Council members question police agreement funding

City Council recently approved an agreement between the city police Special Response Team and law enforcement agencies — though two council members objected. Councilman David Banks and Councilwoman Liz Miele voted against the agreement because the wording of the resolution added the potential for city general fund dollars to be used to cover training costs for Special Response Team officers from agencies other than the city. Due to the unknown fiscal impact the COVID-19 pandemic has caused on the development of next year's city budget, Banks and Miele said they were unsure about ...

Outdoor activities give reprieve from COVID-19 blues

With the Fourth of July less than a week away, there is an extra emphasis on outdoor activities in the age of COVID-19 due to the open air as well as the ability to easily social distance. As such, a number of state parks have already opened while others plan to do so later this week, just in time for the holiday. Jeffrey Lusk, executive director of the Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority in West Virginia, said of the Hatfield-McCoy Trails last week that he understands the appeal when it comes to why families may seek out recreational getaways over the next couple ...

City homeless shelters expect spike in need as assistance ends

Due to COVID-19, homeless shelters in the city are running on reduced hours and at capacity, a social service need expected to heighten with the arrival of summer and the remainder of the year without an end to the virus. “We expect a huge spike in need by mid-July and the remainder of the ...

Habitat for Humanity works on 54th house in area

After 30 years of building or fixing homes for people who might not otherwise be able to dream of owning their own home, the Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity is working on home number 54, this time in Newberry at 702 Diamond St. The new owner, Stephanie, along with her two children, will occupy the home, her first, when it is finished, according to Kelsey Boyles, program director. Built by volunteers, the latest build is a two-story. Plans for the new home were drawn up pro bono by local architects, Kyle Therrien and Jeff Parsons of the Larson Design Group. “This project ...