COUNCIL FILED LITIGATION
Williamsport City Council has filed litigation against Mayor Gabriel Campana. The litigation filed in Lycoming County Court is to force the mayor to appoint or reappoint four vacant seats on the Williamsport Municipal Water Authority. Council members say the mayor is not acting within the bylaws and that some of the appointments have not been made within the past three years. In addition last night they voted unanimously to create a committee to examine and review each potential authority member. Mayor Campana is serving his last year in office and is seeking the Republican nomination to run for one of three Lycoming County Commissioner seats in the fall.
POTENTIAL SCHOOL CLOSINGS THE TOPIC OF MEETING
The Jersey Shore School Board met last night to revisit a proposal to shut down one or two elementary schools within the district. A hearing was held last night with most of those present against the move which would result in students from the Avis and/or Salladsburg Elementary Schools to be moved to the elementary school in Jersey Shore. District officials point ot over $700,000 dollars in savings by closing the schools. Due to state regulations, any vote would not be taken for about three months and closures if they happened would not occur until the 2020-2021 school year.
TEEN ACCUSED OF RAPE
An 18 year old Jersey Shore teen faces counts of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault and related offenses for alleged rape of a teen girl at a cabin in Anthony Township. Zachary Kiess reportedly committed the rape at a party at the cabin along Stony Gap Road in the early morning hours of March 24th. The girl was treated at Evangelical Community Hospital in Lewisburg. Kiess was originally jailed in lieu of $50,000 dollars bail but has since been released.
WINFIELD HOME DAMAGED BY FIRE
A Winfield home in Union County was heavily damaged by fire on Wednesday night. The multiple alarm fire was reported around 7:45pm in the home at Route 304 and Park Road bringing in volunteer firefighters from 9 departments in three counties. Firefighters found flames and heavy smoke coming from the house when they arrived. No one was reported injured, and a damage estimate has not been released. The homeowner was not named and the cause of that fire is under investigation. Four persons were reportedly left homeless.
SHAMOKIN MAN SENTENCED FOR PART IN DRUG RING
A Shamokin man has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for his part in a drug ring which sold heroin and other drugs in the Sunbury and Berwick Areas. Adam Poeth who has had three pervious drug convictions was arrested along Frank Galasso of Sunbury 18 months ago on Interstate 80 on their way to buy heroin in Philadelphia to return back to the area for sale. A third man, Chad Snyder formerly of Northumberland was sentenced in February to 17 months in federal prison.
GRANT FOR BANDSHELL RESTORATION
Another $150,000 dollars will go towards the rehabilitation of the Brandon Park Bandshell in the city of Williamsport. The grant comes from the Williamsport Lycoming Community Fund and the Dr. Randall F. Hipple Fund at the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania. The money will be used to add a roof, repoint brick and build accessible accomodations in its restrooms. The bandshell was originally dedicated in 1914 and hosts numerous local events.
MAN SENTENCED FOR COIN SHOP ROBBERY
A Snyder County man has been sentenced to state prison for his part in a Shamokin Dam robbery and assault. Michael Rodenheizer from Beaver Springs will serve a year and a half in prison after pleading guilty to his part in the robbery of $70,000 dollars worth of coins and jewelry from Sterner’s Coin Shop in 2017. The owner of the coin shop was also assaulted in the robbery. The other man, who is accused of pistol whipping the man, David Bobe of Berwick was sentenced earlier this month to 10 to 20 years.
DRILL ON SUNDAY
Sunday morning will be a busy one in the area of the UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center. A large number of emergency vehicles will be in the area between the hours of 9am and 1pm, but it will only be a drill. A coordinated training exercise will include regional first response organizations including fire, emergency medical services and police as they test multi-agency emergency response and operations. There will be a large number of role playing actors as well as props and sound effects during the training. Residents are reminded to not be alarmed as it is only a training session.
GRANT APPLICATION SUBMISSION EXTENDED
A grant program which benefits Lycoming County non-profit organizations that promote youth activity and healthy living through sports has seen the application submission date extended. The Little League Fund for Youth Sports is distributed through the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania and gives preference to request that help remove barriers inhibiting participation or enhance experiences for all participants. Grants are available from $250 up to a thousand dollars. The application deadline is now May 1st.
