MAN CRITICALLY INJURED IN CRASH
A Ralston man was taken to Geisinger Medical Center with critical injuries yesterday following a crash in Fairfield Township. That crash occurred around 12:45pm as a vehicle driven by 85 year old Max Schaefer crossed over the center line on Fairfield Road just south of Brushy Ridge Road and struck a vehicle head on driven by 21 year old Brooke Koch of Jersey Shore. Schaefer was first taken to Williamsport Regional Medical Center then onto Geisinger. His condition has not been released. Koch declined treatment at the scene for minor injuries suffered in that crash.
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT MAN CHARGED
A South Williamsport man was arraigned yesterday on charges stemming from an incident earlier this month. South Williamsport police say 28 year old Brandon Beattie was found slumped over the wheel of his vehicle in South Williamsport around 1am on May 6th and when police tried to wake him up, he became combative and fought with them. They had to use a taser on him twice and he had to be injected with a sedative to bring the man under control, He faces charges of aggravated and simple assault, as well as DUI and other counts. He is jailed in Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $25,000 dollars bail.
42 TO 84 MONTHS IN STATE PRISON
A Williamsport man will spend the next 42 to 84 months in state prison with 44 days’ time served, and then will have to serve 150 hours of community service after being found guilty of distributing cocaine and heroin. 20 year old Quaydee Blackwell was sentenced in Lycoming County Court this week to the state time. He was guilty of distributing 3 and a half grams of cocaine, as well as possession with intent to distribute a small amount of heroin
UNION COUNTY BANK ROBBER INDICTED FOR ESCAPE
A former California man who robbed a bank in Lewisburg back in 2005 was indicted by a grand jury in Williamsport yesterday with escaping from federal custody. 56 year old Daniel Guadio is charged with escape form the Capital Pavilion Residential Reentry center in Harrisburg in March of this year. Guadio was serving a 110 month sentence for robbing the Sovereign Bank Branch in Lewisburg on May 9th of 2005, transporting a Ford pick-up truck stolen in Laws Vegas Nevada and robbing another bank in Kentucky. Following his escape, Gaudio was apprehended in Venice California last month, after allegedly robbing a bank in Manhattan Beach California. He could spend up to five more years in prison.
MARSHAL’S CRACK DOWN ON MEGAN’S LAW OFFENDERS
The United States Marshal’s office recently teamed up with state and local law enforcement to confirm the home addresses of 110 registered sex offenders living in and around Williamsport, upper Northumberland County and Union Cou8nty. The results are that three offenders remain under investigation for possible violations of Megan’s Law. Officers will continue these checks into the future and are putting offenders on notice that if they violated Megan’s Law that they will be discovered and prosecuted.
POLICE OUT AND ABOUT
The holiday weekend is upon us which means busier roadways. State and local police say they will have increased patrols out looking for aggressive drivers, as well as for those driving under the influence of alcohol. The Lycoming County DUI Task Force has already announced that they will have DUI Checkpoints and roving patrols out over the weekend and will strictly enforce the .08 percent blood alcohol limit. You are reminded not to drink and drive, and always buckle up when you get behind the wheel.
COLUMBIA COUNTY METH LAB RAIDED
Another meth lab in Columbia County was raided yesterday. Police served a search warrant along Hetler road near Mifflinville. They searched a mobile home and removed drug making materials. One person ran from officers, three small children were found inside of the home as well. Police say that numerous charges are pending and say that meth labs in Columbia County have increased over the past few years.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RECLASSIFY JOBS
Lycoming County Commissioners yesterday made a move which will help the county stay competitive with the private sector, enabling it to hire qualified workers. Commissioners approved several job reclassifications which encompasses multiple departments. Commissioner say the move was overdue, updating job descriptions, duties and related salaries. Most of them come with an increase in pay in which commissioners say was budgeted for the year.
LIBERTY HOUSE GIVEN A NATIONAL HONOR
An area program which helps struggling women and children get back on their feet has been honored with a national award. The YWCA Williamsport’s Liberty House which provides transitional living for homeless women and children as well as education programs which help with life skills, career and financial empowerment has received the Society for Public Health Education’s 2013 Program Excellence Award. The society looks at education programs and chooses one each year. Liberty House has 28 rooms with 35 beds and typically runs at about 80 percent capacity or more.