SEVERAL CHARGES AGAINST MIRABITO DISMISSED
Burglary, theft, and trespassing charges filed against former Lycoming County Commissioner, Rick Mirabito were dismissed yesterday by District Judge Christian Frey. According to the Sun Gazette, police say charges against Mirabito were filed Janaury 2nd, the day after he allegedly came to a Vine Avenue apartment and illegally evicted Joyleen McClements, taking her keys. Lawyers for Mirabito successfully argued that the tenant was in the apartment the day she said she would be vacated from the premises, but asking for more time to move out, and that Mirabito had license and privilege to check on the unit on the day of the planned vacation of the premises. Court records say McClements willfully gave up her apartment keys. Judge Frey questioned whether the landlord tenant dispute belonged in criminal court at all, saying it was more of a contractual issue.
TWO MEN ARRESTED FOR ILLEGAL HUNTING, FIREARMS
Two Lycoming County men are facing charges after police stopped them for speeding in Montour County and found illegal firearms and illegally killed deer January 1st. According to North Central PA dot com, State police said they observed suspected illegal activity as they pulled over 20 year old Raymond Edward Poust Jr.. During a search of the car, Troopers discovered several dead white-tail deer, the unlicensed guns and Poust’s passenger, 38 year old Joshua Mosteller possessed firearms which he was prohibited to carry. Both men were charged in Danville with felony firearms charges, with Poust being charged with misdemeanor taking of big game, and jailed in lieu of 35 thousand unsecured.
NEW COUNSELING APP FOR SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT STUDENTS
The South Williamsport School District announced they are participating in the pilot roll out of a Mental Health Program that has been made available in Pennsylvania called Kooth. According to the Sun Gazette, Kooth is a digital mental health wellbeing application for students ages 11 to 18. The app gives users tools and resources that help build resiliency skills and coping techniques, and provides chat based counseling for students over 14, students under 14 using the app need parental consent. Funding for the Kooth program is possible through a grant from the Department of Human Services so that school districts, parents, and students can opt into the service at no cost.
GRANT FOR LOCAL LIBRARY PROGRAMS
A grant to provide an upgrade to the musical instrument collection at the Degenstein Community Library in Sunbury was awarded yesterday. According to the Daily item, a thousand dollar grant from the Community Giving Foundation: Sunbury will allow the library to update the instruments used in early literacy programs for young children. Information about the programs at the library at 40 S. Fifth St are available at degensteinlibrary dot org.
TWO FIRE CALLS BRINGS ABOUT CHARGES FOR TENANT
A woman from Mount Carmel who started fires twice with food in her oven and was combative with emergency personnel, is facing charges of making terroristic threats, disorderly conduct, and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. According to the News Item, 57 year old Laurie Valdez burned a pizza in her oven, causing residents in her apartment complex to evacuate. Firefighters who responded asked for help from police when Valedez fought with them. Early the next morning, there was another call for the firefighters when Valdez used the cleaning cycle in the oven with the same pizza inside, starting another fire – at that second visit, police discovered her to be in possession of marijuana. She was remanded to Northumberland County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.
EMPLOYEE NEVER RECONCILED COLLECTED FEES WITH BUSINESS
A Loyalsock Township business owner has reported a theft to authorities after an employee never settled catering fees he collected over the summer of 2023. According to WNEP, 31 year old Brady Jenney of Dewart worked for Bruster’s Ice Cream on East Third Street and allegedly received over 15 thousand dollars of fees from May to August of 2023 through a payment app. The owner told police he never got back any of those fees. Jenney was charged with with theft by failure to make required disposition in Lycoming County Court.
WILLIAMSPORT LIBRARY OFFERS BREAST FEEDING SUPPORT
Administrators at the James V Brown Library said at a recent Board of Trustees meeting, that they are planning to refurbish a room into a private space for breastfeeding or lactating mothers. According to the Sun Gazette, a former space in the Welch Wing of the library will feature a private and separate space for parents and children. The space is expected to be cleaned and open by the end of the month. Through the partnerships with Williamsport UPMC and the Lycoming Clinton Breastfeeding Coalition, the library is officially a breastfeeding, family-friendly location.
SELINSGROVE FOOTBALL COACH TO STEP DOWN
The head coach at Selinsgrove has announced he will be stepping down after 27 years of coaching. According to the Daily Item, Derek Hicks of Selinsgrove will be able now to focus on his own family who are involved in collegiate sports, who said this was the right time to step down . Hicks coached the Seals since 2015 with a record of 77-33-1, finishing this past season 13-1-1.
SPORTS
PIAA HS Basketball
Girls
South Williamsport 60 CMVT 14
Boys
Montoursville 58 Central Columbia 55
Southern Columbia 52 Hughesville 48
Shikellamy 50 Shamokin 49
Danville 65 Midd-West 42
Mifflinburg 61 Lewisburg 50
Mount Carmel 58 Bloomsburg 42
NBA
Nuggets 114 Pacers 109
Knicks 108 Nets 103
Pelicans 153 Jazz 124
Thunder 111 Trail Blazers 109
Clippers 127 Lakers 116
NBA Tonight
Phoenix @ Dallas 8:30pm ABC
NBA Thursday
76ers vs Indiana 7pm
Celtic s vs Heat 7:30pm TNT
NHL
Senators 4 Canadiens 1
Lightning 6 Flyers 3
Golden Knights 3 Islanders 2
Wild 5 Capitals 3
Sharks 3 Rangers 2
NHL Tonight
Carolina vs Boston 7:30pm TNT
Chicago vs Seattle 10pm TNT
Buffalo vs Los Angeles 10:30pm
NFL Divisional Playoffs
Saturday
AFC – Houston vs Baltimore 4:30pm ESPN/ABC
NFC – Green Bay vs San Francisco 8:15 FOX
NFL Sunday
NFC – Tampa Bay vs Detroit 3pm NBC
AFC – Kansas City vs Buffalo 6:30pm CBS
