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A look back at the news highlights from June of 2019

The year 2019 had its moments. Today the Sun-Gazette continues a daily offering of news highlights from the year.

Following are the stories that made front-page news during June:

• June 1 — A 42-inch broken sewer pipe under Campbell Street was the cause of a 15-foot-deep sinkhole between Third and West Fourth Streets, according to the city’s Water and Sewer Authority. The work is likely to require several weeks to repair and about $600,000 in cost.

• June 2 — The Rev. John K. Manno, 78, a well-known local Catholic priest who died, is honored in a tribute by his friends and colleagues for making wherever his presence was a better place.

• June 3 — The state Capitol teems with lobbyists and politicians horse-trading over the tens of billions of dollars that will keep Pennsylvania ticking for another year. This year, Pennsylvania’s minimum wage increase is a major consideration.

• June 4 — Bill Hall, a city resident and former City Councilman has secured the required number of write-in votes for the Republican nomination and will be one of seven candidates seeking four open seats on council in the Nov. 5 general election. Hall garnered 110 write-in votes.

• June 5 — Coastal Chemical Co. officials tried to calm residents’ concerns about locating a chemical storage tank facility in Montgomery. About 100 people turned out for the public meeting at the Montgomery High School auditorium to ask questions about the operation.

• June 6 — The largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare began 75 years ago and D-Day, which involved some 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces in the Normandy region of France, is remembered. Among those in the invasion was Matt Colabine, father of Alan Colabine, of Hughesville. His son, Alan Colabine, of Hughesville, noted his father was 29 when he landed on one of Normandy’s beaches by boat.

• June 7 — City Council approve the administration seeking a $621,000 state grant to add period lights, sidewalks and pavement to a part of the East Third Street Gateway project. The grant is for a $921,000 project on East Fourth Street between Franklin and Penn streets, said William E. Nichols Jr., city finance director.

• June 8 — The Lycoming County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will no longer be taking in feral cats. The SPCA gives out vouchers when possible to assist the owners of cats in getting them spayed or neutered.

• Jun 9 — An idea to place wrecked cars throughout the region aims to bring the consequences of driving under the influence to the forefront of drivers’ minds ahead of the Fourth of July. Michael Diehl, of the state Department of Transportation’s District 3, told the area DUI Advisory Council he is working on a new DUI awareness campaign for the upcoming holiday. He plans to put crashed vehicles with informational banners on them.

• June 10 — Several bands of showers are about to pound the region adding to the uncomfortable rain amounts this spring, said David Martin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in State College.

• June 11 — The 39th annual Flags Across America March will be named after the late Anthony “Tony” DiSalvo, lifelong member of the Susquehanna Council of the Boy Scouts of America and founder of the march in Williamsport.

• June 12 — The Jersey Shore Area School District voted to raise taxes to 100 per cent of the index which is 3.2 percent.

• June 13 — Two mayoral candidates offered their views on a nearly $40 million proposed economic development project targeted for the East Third Street Gateway Revitalization area east of Market Street. Republican Eric Beiter and Democrat Derek Slaughter agree that more should be permitted to be explained by the developer Daniel A. Klingerman.

• June 14 — The city Municipal Water Authority estimates $550,000 in emergency repairs will be spent on the Campbell Street sinkhole repairs — as part of the city’s century-old sewer line, this sinkhole is symptomatic, according to project engineers.

• June 15 — The atmosphere was as if Anthony DiSalvo special ordered it. That is what Jack McKernan, Lycoming County commissioner, and others said at the 2019 Anthony DiSalvo Flags Across America March in Williamsport.

• June 16 — Those heading to and from the Williamsport Regional Airport will be able to drive there on a smooth road surface, according to Thomas Hart, executive director of the Williamsport Municipal Airport Authority.

• June 17 — Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms and localized flash flooding are possible over the next two days, according to the National Weather Service in State College. And it doesn’t end any time soon, with a 50 percent chance of rain for the next eight to 14 days.

• June 18 — The elevator at City Hall has been inspected by a third-party contractor as the city awaits a bid to modify it to be returned. The inspection stamp, marked June 11, has been surpassed, said Adam Winder, general manager of city streets and parks department.

• June 19 — The city has settled a civil lawsuit with a former finance clerk at River Valley Transit who alleged she was exposed to repeated racism. Shenique Coates will receive $48,000, which covers pay and attorney fees, following her filing the suit in U.S. Middle District Court last August.

• June 20– A veteran landscape architect was interviewed by City Council’s finance committee after agreeing to take another four-year term on the city planning commission. Christopher Keiser of Larson Design Group, a professional landscape architect, was recommended by Mayor Gabriel J. Campana for the reappointment. He is among the longest serving commission members.

• June 21 — City Council voted against a city resident being reappointed to the Williamsport Municipal Water and Sanitary Authority. Cindi Perry was rejected in a 5-0 vote. “She’s staying on if she wants to for the remainder of the year,” Mayor Gabriel J. Campana said.

• June 22 — Williamsport Recreation Department’s 34th annual HomeMade Days arts and crafts show offered visitors a chance to walk around the many stands set up in Brandon Park near the bandshell while snacking on food from a multitude of trucks and vendors offered gift ideas and ideas for the home.

• June 23 — A dozen people, including several children, were left homeless following an early morning house fire on Scott Street that was caused by unattended cooking, according to city fire Platoon Chief Sam Aungst. The fire broke out in the kitchen at the rear of Stephanie Davis’ house.

• June 24 — After last week’s slew of storms, lingering chances of rain will hang on throughout the week, but there could be time for the area to regroup under sunshine and typical summer weather.

• June 25 — Michael Ross, the founder and proprietor of Williamsport, is honored 200 years after his death. Local historians and others offer their tribute at the Thomas T. Taber Museum of the Lycoming County Historical Society.

• June 26 — Lycoming County employee health care expenditures are running nearly 20 percent over budget, Lycoming County commissioners said. That is about $2 million. The health care line-item was not “bare-bones” either, said Commissioner Rick Mirabito.

• June 27 — Williamsport Municipal Water and Sanitary Authority increases rates on water and sewer. The increases amount to 3 percent for water and 4 percent for sanitary. The average users of 42,000 gallons of water per year will see a combined rate increase of about $30 a year. For water use, it would be about $8 and $21 for sanitary, according to John Baker, authority director of finance.

• June 28 — Lycoming County Commissioners approved spending $236,000 on software over the next five years that can track spending of county funds.

• June 29 — Six tennis courts that were resurfaced at Brandon Park are officially opened for public use.

(Compiled by Sun-Gazette reporter Mark Maroney.)

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