RAISE THE REGION
The annual Raise the Region fundraising effort with the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania is underway. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised so far with 283 non-profit agencies in Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties registered. The Blaise Alexander Family Dealership has once again supplied $150,000 dollars in stretch fund money and several area businesses and organizations are also offering prizes and incentives throughout the 30 hour event. Go to Raise the Region.org to donate or to see the leaderboard. We will keep you updated throughout the day.\
ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGES FILED
A Montoursville man faces a count of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and other counts following an incident at his Chestnut Street on Tuesday night. Police say 41 year old David Hill came home, around 10:30 presumably under the influence of something and his mother with whom he lived told him to move out. Hill then allegedly got a knife and raised it up at the woman, chasing her out of the house and to a neighbor’s hosue. Hill accidentally stabbed himself in the leg and had to be treated at the hospital. His mother was not injured. He is in Lycoming County Prison
SHUNK MAN DIED IN TIOGA COUNTY CRASH
State police in Mansfield have identified the man killed in a crash in Tioga County which occurred on Tuesday evening. Police say a tri-axle water truck driven by 59 year old Patrick McLaughlin of Shunk failed to negotiate a turn on Route 414 in Union Township around 6:45 on Tuesday evening, overturning in the roadway,. It then traveled off the roadway and struck a concrete culvert. McLaughlin was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash and no one else was involved.
LEVEE COSTS
Williamsport City Council’s finance and public works committees got some clarification yesterday on the cost of recertifying the levee system in Lycoming County. The members were told by Planning and Community Development Director Fran McJunkin that the next phase of recertification which includes installation of relief wells will cost about $2 million dollars. Other repairs and the replacement of an I wall on the Lycoming Creek Side could push costs to the $16 million dollar range over the next few years.
FEDERAL PRISON FOR DRUG RING LEADER
A man who is said to be the leader of a heroin network involving 27 people, distributing 1 to 3 kilograms of the drug across our region has been sentenced in federal court in Williamsport. 30 year old Kalif English admitted in federal court yesterday that he was in charge of the ring which distributed the drug in and around the Williamsport area from 2014 to 2016. English was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison. The remaining conspirators in that ring, have all been sentenced to various prison terms.
WOMAN STEALS FROM EMPLOYER
A Sunbury woman faces counts of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception and receiving stolen property after being arrested for stealing from the Sunbury Restaurant that she worked for during July and August of this year. 36 year old Marissa Conway reportedly stole $16,000 dollars from Jay’s Tiffany’s Northside Restaurant on Fourth Street in Sunbury while the working as the manager there. Conway has taken responsibility for the thefts but was arraigned on Tuesday and jailed in Northumberland County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail.
MILTON WOMAN CHARGED WITH TAKING MONEY
A businesswoman from Milton is jailed in Northumberland County charged with taking about $13,000 dollars from a non-profit agency there. 40 year old Jessica Mena is accused of making 19 unauthorized bank transactions from the Sunbury based Parent to Parent Connection which links families of children and adults with disabilities or special needs. Mena reportedly took the money for her own use, paying bills with it. She faces forgery and access device graud charges and was jailed in lieu of $50,000 bail.
CANDIDATES LIST READY
With the list of candidates complete, there is a crowded list running for Lycoming County Commissioner on the primary ballot on May 21st. 9 Republicans will vied for nomination to run in the fall including incumbents Jack McKernan and Tony Mussare. The list also includes current Williamsport Mayor Gabriel Campana. The two democrats are incumbent Rick Mirabito as well as Elliot Weiss. The Republican nomination for Williamsport Mayor will be between city councilman Don Noviello, and businessman Eric Beiter. Councilman Derek Slaughter will run unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
