BARB BARRETT/The Luminary Montgomery High School ranked number one followed by Muncy High School in second for the PA Council on Financial Literacy’s Stock Market Challenge for 2017. They were recognized at the beginning of 2018 at Fairfield Auto, a sponsor, with awards and prizes for their accomplishments.

The following are recaps and some of the news highlights for the 2018 year.

JANUARY

Muncy borough homeowners saw an increase in their property taxes from 4.8 mells to 5.3.

Community Develpment Corp was developed by a group of concerned citizens in the Montgomery Borough to focus on improving Montgomery Park.

Hunter Poust from Muncy earned all-state Class A honors for a second straight season. Poust helped Muncy become a district and NTL-II champion for the past two seasons.

CAROL SHETLER/The Luminary The Susquehanna Valley Quilt Quild set up a ‘war room’ for their quilt show in Allenwood the first weekend in March and shared information about WWI quilts and veterans. Left to right: Patti Winters, Carol Shetler, Betty Neff and Jarrad Jones.

An Elimsport family was left homeless after a fire spread through their home after a coal stove door was left open.

The Hughesville High School Varsity cheerleading squad took home first place in the PIAA IV cheerleading championship on Sat. Jan. 6.

Recently opened by new ownership, the SilverThorn Tavern in Hughesville has become a popular place for dining on the corner of N. Main and E.Walnut Streets.

Muncy Township became the official owner of the Township building at 1922 Pond Road. The fire department will lease space from the township at $1 per year for 29 years.

On Jan. 11 temperatures reached over 60 degress from record lows of minus 4 degrees causing ice jams in local streams and water rose close to the edges of many area bridges from the melting ice.

The Muncy Valley Hospital Auxiliary helped to purchase a van for UPMC’s Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center after they gave a $37,500 donation.

On Su. Jan. 28, 15 local authors were at the Muncy Public Library for “Authors in our Backyard” to kick off the library’s 80th anniversary year.

FEBRUARY

Montgomery High School students were recognized for their number one ranking in the PA Council on Financial Literacy’s Stock Market challenge for 2017 at Fairfield Auto Group who awarded the prizes. Montgomery led in all divisions followed by Muncy.

Muncy grapplers finished 2nd place at the PIAA District 4 Class AA team dual championship.

The Muncy boat launch on Acquatic Rd. has been closed to boaters from the PA Fish & Boat Commission since July 2016, and now a steel cable barricade has been placed over the river access stirring up public dissent. A public meeting was arranged with officials on Feb. 2 to express concerns at Trout Pond Park.

On Sat. Feb. 10 the Muncy Indian wrestling team finished in 4th place, making history. They became the first Lycoming County team to ever place that high at the PIAA Class AA Team Wrestling Championship in Hershey.

Linda Sosniak of Picture Rocks announced her candidacy to run for the 84th District of the House of Representatives.

Sponsored by Friends of the Muncy Library, an antique appraisal fair was held at the 1st UM Church in Muncy to raise money to benefit the library.

Muncy Borough Council outlined plans for the new Brady Heritage Park to include a walking trail, nature play area, interpretive signage, and an architectural dig.

Vacant since last year, Macy’s department store at the Lycoming Mall was purchased by a Florida-based company, M.C. Storage LLC for $505,555 for storage purposes.

Muncy defeated North Penn-Mansfield, 69-50, in the District 4 Class AA semifinals and earned 1st district final since 2004.

A 16 year old female was arrested and removed from the Muncy Area JrSr High School for allegedly making threats to “shoot up the school” according to police Chief James Dorman.

MARCH

The Susquehanna Valley Quilt Guild opened the month with their show theme WWI Centennial feauring a “war room” with quilts devoted to veterans.

Lady Spartans advanced for the second year in a row to state tournament.

State Representative Garth Everett (R-Muncy) announces re-election for State House.

3-D technology with a virtual reality lab becomes availabe to students at Hughesville High School.

After 45 years, the Montgomery Raiders Girls Basketball team was recognized for winning a championship in 1973 with a wall banner at the Montgomery Athletic Complex.

Former Montgomery Mills employees met to recall days spent during the manufacturer’s time in the Montgomery borough. Balls, braids and fringe were made there from 1940 to 1976.

The Greater Hughesville Business Association met to arrange fundraising events for scholarships given to Hughesville High School seniors each year.

Fae Herb of Montgomery was noted for her volunteer time and research for the veterans and her involvement with the Hometown Hero banners.

The Muncy Professional Business Association ordered new benches for downtown Muncy from proceeds made from the Muncy 4th Friday events.

Montgomery Boroughj Council approved the purchase of Metro Alert, a new reporting software program for the borough’s police department.

Several Christians gathered on Sat. Mar. 31 at Lime Bluff Park to lead a procession from the park and ending at the First United Methodist Church in Muncy. They carried a cross weighing over 500 pounds and 10 1/2 tall.

APRIL

The Montgomery Lions Club hosted their 60th annual Easter egg hunt in Montgomery Park on Sat. Mar. 31

An open public meeting was held April 9 with the County commisisoners, Muncy Borough Council and Muncy Creek Supervisors to dicuss further development for the Muncy Resiliency Plan and to gather input from the community on issues and projects.

Pennsdale area resident Larry Fry was honored at the annual Conservation District and Penn State Awards banquet for his service as a “farmer” director on Lycoming County’s Conservation Board of Directors from 2001-17.

On Sun. April 15 a memorial concert was hosted by Shirley Smith of Turbotville for her late husband’s honor, Richad Smith.

On Apr. 7 Montgomery students competed at state competition for Odyssey of the Mind and qualified for world finals.

Sat. Apr. 28 Little League baseball season opened.

A new plaque was presented to the staff at the Fuel-On convenience store in Hughesville for their continuing service as a weekly transportation stop for veterans en route to the Wilkes Barre Medical Center.

Hughesville High School’s student council sponsored a basketball game featuring the world’s famous Buckeye Donkey Ball Donkeys. Both students and faculty competed.

On Apr. 22 for Earth Day the Merrill Linn Conservancy hosted a hike through the Glacier Pools Preserve outside of Picture Rocks.

On Weds. Apr. 18 the SuperStars of the East Lycoming YMCA went to the Harrisburg Capital building to perform their drumming skills. They boarded a bus 8:30 that morning.

MAY

Lycoming County received an $800,000 revolving loan fund grant to support cleanup activities for Brownfield sites contaminated with hazardous substances. The county said it hopes to start in Muncy with flood mitigation. FEMA bought out the Waltman property on 113 N. Washington St. as it was in the path of the water’s highest velocity and hit with repetitive flooding.

On Fri. May 4 the Ulrich barn in Allenwood was branded an official nationally “Certified Angus Beef” barn. Theirs is party of a third generation family farm raising Angus beef cattle for over 20 years.

On May 8 Grace Speary of Hughesville turned 100. A celebration and a citation of honor were given for her at Wolf Run Village.

* Six Muncy FBLA students place in top ten state finals for their presentation “Doing Good in the Neighborhood”.

Announcement was made that Geisinger Medical Center purchased 22 acres in Pennsdale to build an acute care medical center just off Route 220.

Strong winds and heavy rains hit the area on May 15 knocking down several trees.

Linda Poulton of Muncy was inducted into the Muncy Academic Hall of Fame on May 24 in the Muncy High School auditorium.

JUNE

Friday, June 1 was graduation ceremonies for Muncy and Hughesville High Schools, and June 8 for Montgomery High School.

Muncy Rotary sponsors a program for the public on human trafficking.

A new police car was purchased for the Hughesville Borough Police Department.

A new team of medical leadership started for the UPMC Muncy Valley Hospital and Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

3 senior students from Hughesville High School were awarded scholarships on June 5 at the Country Fork Restaurant by the Greater Hughesville Business Association. They were Kade Heckel, Samantha Thompson and Rachel Thomas.

Montgomery Odyssey of the Mind placed in the top ten of the world finals and ties for 7th place.

On June 13 Elaine Kobbe was acknowledged by the Montgomery Lions Club for her cooking for the club’s meetings for the past 30 years.

The Muncy Professional Business Association opened the season with its first Muncy 4th Friday event on June 22. Four new benches were placed and purchased by them.

The Montgomery Alumni Association celebrated 113 years.

A grand re-opening was held on June 22 and 23 for the new dental offices of Bennardi & Barberio at 42 S. Main St., Muncy.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held June 20 at Wolf Run Village for construction of 29 independent one bedroom townhomes. Each unity will be 860 sq. feet.

After 23 years of service, John Lynch steps down at Montgomery Borough Manager.

Preservation work began for the Lairdsville bridge in Franklin Township on Rt. 118.

A reunion of former students attending one room schools in Moreland Township was held at the former Frenchtown School near Lairdsville on June 24.

Over 200 children registered for the Summer Alive 8 week program in Montgomery.

JULY

A new law in Pennsylvania for purchasing fireworks was passed so consumers could purchas Class C or “consumer-grade” fireworks such as firecrackers, Roman candles and bottle rockets. Previously the purchases were only for out-of-state residents.

July 12 the 148th Lycoming County Fair opened in Hughesville at the fairgrounds.

Lime Bluff Park in Wolf Township had electrical underground utility lines installed from PPL so patrons can have access to electricity in the near future.

Barn quilts became a topic of interest and a workshop was scheduled for July 26 to make a barn quilt at the 1st UM Church in Pennsdale.

Radiant Light Church sponsored an event to say thank you to Lairdsville volunteer fire fighters for dedication and service on the front lawn of Renn Elementary School.

A grant application was made to improve Green Street park in Muncy which is about five acres.

Fort Brady Heritage Park opened for trails after descendants from the Captain John Brady family dug test pits for archaelogical remains. The event was timed with the Brady family reunion that occurs every 3 years.

The Gordner family gathered for a family reunion of 93 held at St. John’s Lutheran Church near Unityville on July 29.

Glade Run area overflows again from heavy rains on July 25.

AUGUST

Pops on Pepper Street free concert with the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra was held on August 4th outdoors at 232 Pepper Street in Muncy from 7 to 8 p.m. with beautiful weather and sponsored through the Muncy Historical Society.

Mike Sullivan of Sullivan Gulf was forced to relocate his business on the corner of Rt. 220 and 405 after 32 years due to eminent domain and a new intersection being planned by PennDot. He is now on Rt. 405 in Muncy Creek Township.

5th annual wine fest to raise money for “Lifting Little Lives” was held Aug. 11 in Montgomery Park with 40 vendors and 9 wineries.

More flash flooding occurred Aug. 3rd impacting several roads in the county with long term detours.

The Muncy Majors and Minors All Stars wre part of the lineup for the Welcoming Division of the annual Little League Grand Slam parade in downtown Williamsport on Aug. 15.

Tri-Town TNR (Trap Neuter Release) was started in Montgomery to attack the problem of roaming feral cats in the borough. They work to trap, neuter and release the colonies in the tri-town area.

A licensed day care facility for seniors opened at Families United Network at 169 Ashler Manor Drive in Muncy and an open house was held on Aug. 8.

The Muncy Public Library received two grants from the Margaret Waldron Memorial grant fund and through the FCFP.

A high speed chase went through 3 counties on Aug. 18 when a 24 year old intoxicated motorist from Allenwood reached speeds in excess of 100 mph and resulted in damage to two state police cruisers before he was locked up.

A new principal, Billie Jo Grohol was hired to start at Myers Elementary School in Muncy.

SEPTEMBER

Allen Smith class of 1959 and Zach Sarginger class of 2007 have been elected as the newest members to the Muncy Athletic Hall of Fame. They were inducted Sept. 21 at the homecoming football game.

The American Rescue Workers opened a new thrift store in the Silk Mill Complex on the corner of Railroad and Academy Streets in Hughesville. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held over Labor Day weekend.

Rep. Garth Everett held a town hall meeting at the Picture Rocks Fire Hall to examine some important issues such as the state budget, Medicaid and high speed internet in rural areas.

The 11th annual Corvettes on Main Street in Muncy was held on Sept. 15.

Lycoming County Rotary sponsored a hot air balloon fest at the Lycoming County fairgrounds in Hughesville on Sept. 15.

Flooding and erosion caused problems for East Lycoming School district and the Hughesville borough. The high school basement had water and the Muncy Creek bank eroded in the borough with dirt up to the pump house on Race Street. Areas of potential mold closed Renn Elementary School in Lairdsville.

The East Lycoming YMCA celebrated ten years of service to the local community with a rededication ceremony on Sept. 8.

The Muncy Historical Society received a grant for $8,000 from the FCFP.

Wolf Run Veterinary Clinic in Pennsdale announced plans for construction of a new building behind their existing building.

The Community Blood Bank has become the contracted supplier of blood for UPMC Susquehanna and Muncy Valley Hospital. The Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center hosted a blood drive on Sept. 14.

To celebrate improvements, the Beacon United Methodist Church held a celebration service on Sept. 23. Interior renovations renewed all areas with moderate touches to the sanctuary.

The Dollar General Store on Rt. 405 in Muncy Creek Township built a new, larger building next to the old one which was at the existing location for more than 15 years.

The Bloomsburg Fair opened on Sept. 22 and the Muncy Garden Club took home three first place blue ribbons for the first time.

OCTOBER

An open house and ribbon cutting ceremony were held Oct. 24 at the newly remodeled Athletilc Complex in Montgomery.

3 new members were inducted into the Montgomery Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 5 during half time of the Old Shoe game which they won against Muncy.. Seth McQuay, Bryn Harding and Craig Weaver were added.

On Oct. 21 Moreland Community Church celebrated a history-memory day dating back to the late 1700’s.

The Lycoming County Marching Band Association sponsored their yearly event on Oct. 6 at the Hughesville High School football stadium. The event takes place each year at a different high school in the county.

George A. Ferrell Elementary School in Picture Rocks was named a National Blue Ribbon School for 2018 by the Department of Education as announced by Betsy DeVos, U.S. Secretary of Education. The school is among 19 schools from Pennsylvania plus others across the country to receive the recognition.

The FCFP and the Muncy Area School District Foundation hosted a Sky Show at Rider Park on Oct. 13 from 6-11 p.m. and featured NASA Engineer Glenn Bock from the Goddard Space Flight Center.

A citation of recognition was given to the Muncy Public Library by the Lycoming County Commissioners for 80 years of service to the community.

The Pennsdale Haunted Barn opened for the 8th consecutive year and held a media preview night on Oct. 11 at 11 a.m. for the “Bells of Peace.”

3D mammography imaging is introduced to UPMC Susqhehanna Muncy Valley Hospital.

Hughesville High School inducted 4 new members into their Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 12 during Homecoming game at half time. They were: the late Mick Myers, Class of 1973; Rachel Houseknecht Anderson, Class of 2007; Bob Hall, Class of 1959; and Rebekah Newhart Baumunk, Class of 2007.

Two lives were claimed in a 3 vehicle crash on Rt. 220 in Pennsdale on Oct. 15.

On Oct. 25 Rep. Garth Everett (R-Muncy) made the announcement that public funding has been secured for $250,000 to open a new boat launch in Muncy.

NOVEMBER

On Nov. 1 yearly memberships were provided to the public to the newly expanded Athletic Center in Montgomery with an offering of more options such as a golf simulator and weekly fitness classes.

The annual Veterans Day Parade hosted by Lycoming County was held this year in Hughesville on Nov. 10 during a cold, windy day. Parade Ambassador was William Sherwood and Grand Marshall was Stanley Eugene Sones.

On Nov. 11 local churches such as the Picture Rocks United Methodist Church and many churches across the nation rang their bells in observance of the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day.

Despite rainy delays, the Trinity Evangelical Church in Hughesville was able to get a new roof.

Muncy football players became the 2018 District 4 Class A championship winning team and won the second district title in three years.

A basement fire on Mechanic Street in Muncy left a family of six and six dogs homeless on Nov. 14.

KVS Computers in Hughesville purchased a vacant lot on the corner of Railroad and Water Streets in Hughesville and broke ground for a new building on Nov. 14.

The Montgomery Lions Club held their 40th annual Thanksgiving day dinner at the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Company on Nov. 22.

DECEMBER

Santa arrived in Muncy on Sat. Dec. 1st at the Post Office.

Paul Metzger from the Muncy Historical Society released his book “Deeds of the Valley” life before the Ordnance and had two book signings at the museum.

Dana Williams of Hughesville won a Ford Focus during GHBA’s annual 5 to Drive contest giveaway. The car was donated by Fairfield Dodge Jeep Ram in Muncy.