HOMEOWNER FACES CHARGES FOR ALLEGED SECRET RECORDING
In addition to several unrelated felony shoplifting charges, the owner of the Loyalsock Township home that burned on July 5th, is also facing new charges after she surreptitiously recorded a conversation with State police while at the barracks in Montoursville on July 20th. According to the Sun Gazette, Alexandrea Sheffield was being interviewed about the two-alarm fire on Inverness Road that was recently determined to be arson by the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal, and she was found by an officer to have secretly recorded the conversation which is illegal in the state. Sheffield was arraigned and released on 15 thousand dollars bail.
FOURTEEN LYCO VOTERS REMOVED FROM ROLLS
Fourteen people have been removed from the Lycoming County voter rolls after challenges to their address information were considered at the county’s Board of Election’s meeting this week. According to the Sun Gazette, the ballots in question did not have a valid address – most using a post office box or the address of the UPS store. When asked if he thought any of the 14 ballots from the spring Primary could indicate voter fraud, the county director of voter Services, Forrest Lehman said most of the residents had a history of voting in the county. Lehman also noted that only two of the voters in the 14 that were challenged voted in the 2020 election.
FORMER SHAMOKIN COUNCILMAN SENTENCED TO JAIL
A senior Northumberland County Judge has sentenced former Shamokin City Councilman, Joseph Leschinskie, Jr. to 6 to 23 months in jail with three years probation, after he was found guilty in May of threatening the husband of a former city councilwoman. According to the Daily Item, Senior Judge Harold Woelfel Jr told 38 year old Leschinskie he could remain free on 5,000 dollars bail if he appealed the ruling, but was ordered to report to the prison August 29th . During the proceeding, Northumberland County Assistant District Attorney Robyn Zenzinger also asked for Leschinskie to be held in contempt of court for a previous incident.
WILLIAMSPORT POOL OPENS SATURDAY
The repairs are complete for Splash Cove at Memorial Pool in Williamsport and the facility will open on Saturday. According to social media, Mayor Derek Slaughter says the final steps are going on now such as filling the pool and adjusting the chemicals. The pool’s electric system was upgraded with new LED lights and over 50 leaks were repaired. The pool is open for adults noon til 1pm and the open to everyone from 1 until 7pm.
FORMER TRAIN CONDUCTOR SETTLES FEDERAL LAWSUIT WITH EMPLOYER
The man who lost his leg and right arm while working as a conductor for the Lycoming Valley Railroad in 2020, has settled a federal lawsuit with his former employer. According to the Sun Gazette, the suite took place this week in US Middle District Court involving 23 year old Wayne Brewer of Lock Haven, who suffered serious internal injuries from the accident. Brewer was injured in Williamsport’s West End at the Newberry Yards on February 13th 2020 when a rail car ran him over. Lycoming Valley Rail is a shortline that is part of Northumberland’s North Shore Railroad Company.
PA CONVENIENCE STORE WILL PAY DAMAGES FOR BREACH
The Pennsylvania convenience store, Wawa, has been ordered to pay a settlement of 8 million dollars to 6 states and Washington, DC who did not have adequate security in place before a data breach allowed hackers to steal customer data, including credit card numbers. According to the Daily item, the Wawa team discovered malware in December 2019 that collected data from those charging at Wawa fuel dispensers and for in store purchases. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said Wawa has agreed to new policies to combat data breaches.
WASD ART TEACHER AWARDED STATE EXCELLENCE AWARD
A Williamsport Area School District art teacher has been chosen as the Art Education Association Outstanding Secondary Art Educator for 2022 in Pennsylvania. According to North Central PA dot com, Dr Andrea McDonough, who earned degrees at Lycoming College, Mansfield University and Drexel University, has worked in the Williamsport School District for 16 years. The ceremony to recognize Dr. McDonough formally, will be at the PAEA Conference October 30th in Lancaster, PA.
TROY FAIR THIS WEEK
The Troy Fair continues through this weekend. The rides begin at 1pm each day and it’s Veteran Appreciation day today with free admission with an active or retired Military ID card! Enjoy free music with Thompson Square in concert at the Pavilion in the Lower meadow and Bullride Mania in the Grandstands at 7:30. Try your hand at Troy Fair trivia by locating the ten stations scattered around the fair for their scavenger hunt. Details at Troy fair dot com.
SPORTS
Little League
2022 Pennsylvania State Little League Major Championships.
Keystone 8 DuBois 6 in 7 innings
Keystone moves on to play Hollidaysburg in the winners bracket semi-finals tonight at 7:30 PM in Bradford. Hollidaysburg opened the tournament with a 6-2 win against Hermitage.
MLB
Phillies 7 Braves 2
Dodgers 7 Nationals 1
Reds 5 Marlins 3
Mets 3 Yankees 2
Rays 6 Orioles 4
Guardians 7 Red Sox 6
MLB Draft League
Williamsport Crosscutters 7 State College Spikes 3 – Wmspt sweeps the series and remain undefeated in the second half of the season the series.
MLB Draft League Tonight
The Cutters play the Thunder in Trenton and begin a 4-game series – 7 PM first pitch
NBA
The Philadelphia 76ers officially announced on Wednesday their new deal with veteran James Harden. The club didn’t reveal terms in a release, but Harden’s contract is for two years and $68.6 million, and it includes a player option for the 2023-24 season
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken yesterday said that the United States made a “substantial” proposal to Russia to bring home wrongfully detained WNBA star Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, who is also serving a prison sentence in Russia.
