FORMER WASD PRINCIPAL SEX ASSAULT CASE WILL GO TO TRIAL
A judge has determined the case against Williamsport High School Principal Roger Freed will go to a jury trial, after testimony was heard in district court yesterday in Lycoming County. According to the Sun Gazette the alleged victim said the incidents began when he was a senior between 2017 and 2018 and continued after graduation, sometimes involving alcohol. Freed now faces third degree felonies for sexual assault and giving alcohol to a minor. A trial date has yet to be determined.
MAN TASED IN CRUISER AFTER DOMESTIC ABUSE INCIDENT
A Jersey Shore man is in custody after a domestic incident at a home on North Main Street last Wednesday. According to the Sun Gazette, Tiadaghton Valley Regional police were called to the scene in Jersey Shore where police say 38 year old Aaron Bitner had punched and beat his wife, and after being handcuffed without incident at his home, later caused a disturbance in the police cruiser while he was being transported. A Taser deployment sent him to the hospital with chest pain, but once he was discharged, he was jailed immediately for a probation violation. Bitner was arraigned Friday and recommitted on simple assault, attempted escape and other charges.
JERSEY SHORE APPROVES REGIONALIZATION AGREEMENT
The Jersey Shore Borough Council met this week and unanimously approved their part of an agreement to officially contribute to the Lycoming Regional Police department. According to the Sun Gazette, this is the final step in the regionalization with Porter and Old Lycoming Townships. There was no negative public comment at the meeting Monday about the issue of regionalization that has been polarizing in other townships. The council also approved a rezoning ordinance for an industrial designation for West Pharmaceutical, and addressed the public’s concern over company truck parking in the borough.
NEW CHARGES ON OCTOBER WATER BILL FOR CITY
Williamsport’s Water Authority will begin a new series of charges and will have a public meeting for residents impacted by the changes. According to the Sun Gazette, residential customers will see a line for storm water service on their October bills for $10. Non-residential customers will pay by non-porous surface area. The sanitary authority’s public meeting for business, industry and non-profit customers will be at 4pm Wednesday at Trade & Transit Center II, 100 West Third Street in Williamsport. The residential meeting will be at the same place at 7pm Wednesday. Details and an interactive map can be found at the authority website; wmwa-wsa.org/stormwater.
LANDLORD THREATENS TENANT WITH GUNS
A Lock Haven couple is facing assault and firearm charges after they threatened a tenant they wanted to evict from their property by showing guns and acting aggressively. According to North Central PA dot com, William Sean and Candy Jo Laubscher fired shots at the ground and showed guns before they entered the property on German Road September 1st and demanded the tenant leave. State Police interviewed the Laubscher’s about the incident, and charged them with first–degree terroristic threats, carrying unlicensed weapons and other charges. They each posted five thousand dollars monetary bail and will be back in court September 20th for their preliminary hearings.
ALLEGED CAR THIEF FOUND AT LOCAL WALMART, IN CUSTODY
Items police say were taken from a home in Bradford County last May were found in a stolen car this summer in the parking lot of the Montoursville Walmart. According to State police at Towanda, the driver of that stolen car, 37 year old David Scott Smith of Newberry, Florida, was arrested and recently arraigned for first degree felony burglary and criminal trespassing. Smith was held on 100 thousand dollars monetary bail and will appear in Lycoming county court September 28th for a preliminary hearing.
NEW PA DRIVER’S LICENSE DESIGN ON THE WAY
PennDOT says they are going to update and enhance the design and security features of the current Pennsylvania Driver’s License starting in November 2022. According to a press release, the new license products will be phased in both be in use during the transition. Both the standard and REAL ID will be using the new design and should be completely phased in within four years. The REAL ID or other federally acceptable identification will be required after May 3rd 2023 to board a flight or enter a federal building.
VETERAN-FARMERS ELIGIBLE FOR GRANTS
There are grants available through Governor Wolf’s Farm Bill for Veteran-Farmers who want to grow their business. According to North Central PA dot com, the PA Farm Bill through the Department of Agriculture can provide up to 10 thousand dollars per framer for food safety, biosecurity planning, equipment of working capital. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Census of Agriculture, Pennsylvania is home to more than 7,000 military veterans identified as agricultural producers.
SPORTS
MLB
Pirates 6 Reds 1 – Game 1
Pirates 1 Reds 0 – Game 2
Guardians 3 Angels 1
Phillies 2 Marlins 1
Orioles 4 Nationals 3
Cubs 4 Mets 1
Yankees 7 Red Sox 6
Braves 5 Giants 1
NFL
Pittsburghs’ TJ Watt does not need surgery on a torn pectoral muscle, according to doctors, after Watt sought a second and third opinion following his injury. However, the Steeler’s star pass rusher could miss six weeks after tearing his left pectoral Sunday during the 23-20 overtime victory with the Bengals.
PIAA Distict 4
Boys Soccer
Danville 6 Jersey Shore 0
Lewisburg 5 Shikellamy 0
Selinsgrove 6 Central Mountain 2
Montoursville 3 Mifflinburg 2 (OT)
Central Columbia 3 Loyalsock 0
Southern Columbia 5 Hughesville 1
Williamsport 1 Midd-West 0
Warrior Run 3 Bloomsburg 2
Girls Soccer
Athens 4 North Penn-Mansfield 0
Muncy 7 Sullivan County 0
Benton 11 Montgomery 0Volleyball
Canton 3 Sayre 0
Wellsboro 3 Troy 0
