COUNCIL SAYS NO TO QUICK FIX

A handicapped accessible playground at Memorial Park in the city of Williamsport will not open for now.  During their meeting last night, Williamsport City Council said no to plans put forth by Mayor Campana for a quick fix for the playground in order to get it open by Memorial Day.  Council is looking for a grant to allow for a completely revised accessible playground.  The Mayor had put forth his own plan in order to get the playground open, but council turned it down citing a temporary fix as a waste of taxpayer dollars.

UPGRADES AT FIRE HEADQUARTERS APPROVED

Williamsport City Council met last night, taking care of some items on their agenda.  Included was the passing of a resolution allowing for the awarding of contracts worth $126,000 dollars to make upgrades at city fire headquarters on Walnut Street.  They also approved a resolution approving a transportation alternatives federal aid letter for more work on the Pathway to Health project.  That work would be on Campbell Street and Little League Boulevard to add decorative lighting, sidewalks and portals. It’s hoped another $100,000 available dollars can be received for the work.

EVACUATION AT BLOOMSBURG

A police incident in Bloomsburg this morning has resulted in the evacuation of an apartment complex there at Bloomsburg University.  The Evacuation is taking place at the Honeysuckle complex  It’s not known the exact reason for the evacuation. Police are on the scene.   Roads around the complex are shut down.  Bloomsburg University officails say the  Campus is open for those who have had to evacuate.

MAN DIES, MORE CHARGES COULD BE FILED

Murder charges could be filed in Northumberland County following the death of a man who was seriously injured following a fight in Sunbury late last month.  Brian Cox died at the hospital yesterday.  He was found bleeding from the head after being punched by Jay Boyer during a fight along South Third Street.  Boyer now faces further charges following Cox’ death.

SUPERVISORS DISCUSS LACK OF EMOTIONAL SUPPORT

Muncy Township supervisors during the meeting this week discussed better ways of providing emotional support for emergency responders called to handle a tragedy. The talk at Wednesday’s meeting stemmed from the incident at the Economy Meat Locker Storage company last month where firefighters and other emergency responders had to recover the body of a woman that fell into an industrial machine.  The supervisors are concerned because there were no clergy or other emotional support professionals who were able to respond to the scene.

WOMAN JAILED AFTER DRUGS FOUND IN CAR

A Philadelphia woman was jailed earlier this week after a large stash of powder cocaine was found in her car during a traffic stop.  27 year old Linette Serrano was pulled over at the Hepburn Street Interchange of I-180 by city police on Tuesday night. A search of the car yielded 1.6 grams of the cocaine worth $12,000 dollars in the trunk of her car.  She was charges with possession with intent to deliver and related counts nad was jailed in Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $90,000 bail.

MAN ARRESTED FOR LEAVING SMALL CHILD IN CAR

A South Williamsport man was arrested in Hughesville on Monday night after leaving a small child in a car while going into an establishment there to play pool.  Hughesville police say 23 year old Abishek Patel allegedly left the 10 month old infant unattended in an unsecured vehicle for 20 minutes.  He was charged with recklessly endangering and endangering the welfare of a child and was arraigned and jailed in lieu of $35,000 bail.

THE SEARCH IS ON

The city of Sunbury is looking for another police chief.  A job posting was listed under the employment tab of the city’s website and city officials say they are looking for a minimum of 10 consecutive years of sesponsible full-time law experience with a minimum of five consecutive years of full-time senior command management experience.  Former police chief Tim Miller’s left last year.  Officer Brad Hare has been in charge since Miller left.    Application deadline is June 14^th.

COMMISSIONERS MOVE EMPLOYEES

As expected, during their meeting yesterday, Lycoming County Commissioners approved the move of four fiscal services employees to the controller’s office.  Commissioners say the employees will work under the guise of the controller in order to make sure that certain duties they perform would fall under checks and balances as set down by the county code as legislated by the state.  Before fiscal services had already logged in payments for various services, grants and other payments which weren’t first approved by the controller’s office.

CLICK IT OR TICKET

The Click It or Ticket campaign through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gets underway on Monday and runs through June 2^nd.  Pennsylvania State police and local police agencies reminded that most fatalities in vehicle crashes are attributed to unbelted motorists.  Tickets will be written out for motorists who are pulled over and found not to have their seatbelts on or have children properly buckeled in.  Additionally, free child safety seat checks will take place throught the campaign.

NEW DEVLEOPMENT IN THE CITY?

Williamsport’s Mayor has announced plans for a $39 million dollar building project which would take place in the area of East Third and Mulberry Streets.  According to the story in the Williamsport Sun Gazette this morning, Mayor Gabriel Campana says that he is working with a developer wanting to bring in a mixed use of retail, as well as condominiums.  In addition, Campana says plans are for a 300 space parking garage in the Market Street area.  Plans are very preliminary and would have to go through a number of approvals before construction could even take place.

CRASH THIS MORNING, POSSIBLY FATAL

One person was extricated from a vehicle which crashed overnight in Upper Fairfield Township.  Montoursville Emergency personnel were called out around 3:45 this morning for reports of a vehicle over an embankment along Kaiser Hollow Road.  When they arrived, they found one person inside the vehicle and took about a half an hour extricating that person.  It’s believed that person did not survive, though no other details have actually been released. The crash remains under investigation.

BACK TO JAIL

It’s back to jail for one of the young men charged and jailed several years ago for a rock throwing incident which severely injured an Ohio woman traveling on Interstate 80 with her family.  22 year old Tyler Porter who was convicted with three others of the incident that injured Sharon Budd, and who was out on probation had it revoked in March after guns, ammunition and a samurai sword were found at his residence. He was also found to be violating his curfew.  He is back in state prison in Coal Township with sentencing to take place in the next 15 days.

TAX INCREASE ON THE WAY

It looks like a tax increase is in the cards for Williamsport Area School District property owners next year. The Williamsport Area School Board gave preliminary approval to a budget for the 2019-2020 school year last night which would contain a .45 mills tax increase.  Expenditures are set at more than $92.7 million dollars and the tax increase would bring in more than $702,000 dollars extra.  School district officials say they have been busy trying to pare down an estimated $1.8 million dollar deficit. A final budget vote is set for June 18^th.

CHANGE COMING FOR SOME COUNTY EMPLOYEES

Lycoming County Commissioners tomorrow could take action on the move of four fiscal service staff members to the controllers office.  The Commissioners discussed the plan yesterday which they say would change the way the employees perform their jobs which is more in line with the county code as set up by the state of Pennsylvania.  The fiscal staff members would keep their titles and their pay grades but would have to report to the controller instead of the way their jobs are done now.

FIRE IN MUNCY

Firefighters in Muncy were called out early this morning for a porch fire which spread inside the home.  The fire was reported in the 2am hour in the 400 block of South Washington Street, and when firefighters arrived, they found that the fire had spread inside the structure.  It’s possible there may have been one injury, though the extent of that injury is not known. Firefighters were on the scene for about two hours. A damage estimate is not released, and it’s not known if the occupants are displaced.  A cause has not been given as of yet.

ROCK SLIDE CLEAN UP CONTINUES

Work will continue this morning to clean up a rock slide on a busy Northumberland County roadway.  The slide occurred overnight Monday into Tuesday on Route 147 just south of the city of Sunbury and crews were on the scene for about 12 hours yesterday trying to clean things up.  The road was reopened last night, but will be closed again at 9am this morning so crews can continue to clean things up there.  A detour will be in effect using Brush Valley Road, Route 890 and Route 61.  It’s not known how long that road will be closed today.

MIFFLINBURG BUSINESS DAMAGED

A Mifflinburg car dealership suffered extensive damage to it’s building as  well as having several vehicles on the lot damaged when another vehicle plowed into it last evening.  The incident happened at Mifflinburg Auto Sales at Route 104 and Chestnut Street, when a jeep went out of control, onto the lot, struck several vehicles and then slammed into the business putting a large hole in the wall,  The driver suffered minor injuries. No one was injured inside and the crash remains under investigation.

FORMER CHURCH BURGLARIZED

Shamokin police are investigating the burglary and vandalism at a former church building there set to go up for auction soon.  The incident occurred at the Former Trinity Evangelical Congregational church over the weekend, as at least two people broke into the structure, stole items, defecated in the kitchen and threw an American Flag on the floor.  Taken were a cross, brass collection plates an copper pipes.  The church has been closed for four years and it’s the second case of vandalism there in the past couple of years.  No arrests have been made.

DUI CHARGES FILED IN FATAL CRASH

Charges have been filed in District Court in Mifflinburg against a Mifflinburg man who police say was drunk behind the wheel when he slammed into a motorcycle late last month, killing the operator in Union County.  The crash occurred in the 1600 block of Green Ridge Road in West Buffalo Township around 9pm on April 24^th as a vehicle driven by 33 year Shane Murray hit the cycle operated by 21 year old Hunter Karchner of Mifflinburg, killing Karchner.  Murray faces charges of DUI as well as related counts.

JEEP FLIPS, MAN TAKEN TO HOSPITAL

A man was taken to UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center following a rollover crash on Route 220 in Woodward Township on Saturday evening.  That crash occurred in the northbound lanes in the vicinity of Henry’s BBQ around 6:50pm as the jeep the man was operating rolled and he was reportedly ejected from the vehicle.  He was transported by ambulance to the Medical Center. His name and condition were not released.  The northbound lane was down to one lane for about 90 minutes as crews cleaned up at the scene of the crash.  State police are investigating.

WORK CONTINUES ON I-180 PROJECT

More shoulder closures this week at the on and off-ramps of Interstate 180 at Route 405, the Muncy/Hughesville Interchange. Work continues there to construct a new highway lighting system at the interchange, and the closures will take place all week between the hours of 7am and 5pm. The work is part of the I-180 resurfacing project from Fairfield Township into Muncy Creek Township.  There will also be intermittent lane closures on that stretch of 180 for surveying activities. Motorists should be alert and drive with caution through the workzone.

MAN INJURED IN UNION COUNTY CRASH

A Union County crash has resulted in a man being take to Gesiginer Medical Center with unspecified injuries.  The crash occurred on Friday around 11:30 as 84 year old David Chamberlin of Spring Mills lost control of his vehicle on New Berlin Mountain Road in Buffalo Township, Union County.  The car went off the roadway, struck a sign, went down over an embankment, striking a tree and rolling over.  Chamberlin’s condition has not been released.  NO one else was involved in that crash.

BUSINESS EVACUATED DUE TO SMOKE

A Loyalsock Township medical office has to be evacuated yesterday morning after it filled up with smoke due to a hearing and air conditioning unit malfunction.  Firefighters were called out around 11am to the Geisinger Careworks office on East Third Street.  No one was hurt and there was not structural damage, but they did have to use large exhaust fans to clear the smoke. The business was closed for the rest of the day yesterday, but expected to reopen today.

DELIVERY DRIVER ROBBED

A pizza delivery driver in Milton was attacked and robbed on Saturday night with his two assailants taken into custody a short time later.  Police say the unidentified driver was returning to the Original Italian Pizza in Milton Saturday night and when he got out of his car he was put into a chokehold allegedly by 22 year old Nicolas Trotter of Milton.  Trotter and 21 year old Eric Wilt than demanded that Trotter give them money which totaled to about $80.  The man was punched several times and the two rammed his car before leaving.  They were later taken into custody, charge with several counts and jailed in Northumberland County Prison.

DRUG BUST IN CITY

The Lycoming County Narcotics Enforcement unit arrested a Williamsport man for the sale of heroin on two separate occasions over the past month.  Dawud Rice is accused of selling 14 bags of heroin out of his High Street Apartment on April 17^th and another 28 bags this past Thursday.  He was charged with possession with intent to deliver and other charges and was jailed in Lycoming County Prison after being denied bail.

MARSHALS NAB WANTED MAN

The US Marshals Fugitive Task force report that a man wanted in Bloomsburg on weapons charges as well as other counts was taken into custody on Friday morning in  York Pennsylvania.  A warrant was issued last month for the arrest of 24 year old Edwin Coston who was stopped in Bloomsburg with two other men during an investigation and then ran from police dropping a handgun which it was found had the serial numbers obliterated.  Coston was found in York around 6:30am on Friday and will be returned to Columbia County to face several charges.

BRIDGE WORK BEGINS TODAY

Work will begin today on Route 220 north and southbound bridges over the Railroad Tracks near Antlers Lane in Woodward Township.  A maintenance crew will begin repairs to the bridges and there will be alternating lane restrictions in place in each direction 24/7 for approximately two weeks. Motorists are reminded to be alert and drive with caution through that workzone.

A MORNING FIRE IN WILLIAMSPORT

Firefighters in the city of Williamsport were sent out just past 4am this morning for a fire in the 600 block of Rose Street. Fire was reported on the 1^st floor of the building with people still reportedly inside.  Firefighters reported smoke coming from the front of the house when they arrived, and they were able to knock the fire down quickly.    One injury was reported, though the extent of that injury is not known. It’s not known at this time what started that city fire. Upwards of 7 or 8 are displaced and the Red Cross has been called in.

MAN INJURED IN CRASH

A crash on Route 220 in the Newberry section of the city last evening sent a man to the hospital with unknown injuries.  The crash happened near the Route 220 overpass over Arch Street as the unidentified driver lost control of his vehicle which crashed into the guardrails.  He was transported to UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center for treatment.  His condition not released.  No one else was involved in that city crash.

LARGE CROWD AT LISTENING SESSION

A large crowd turned out last night a the Pennsylvania College of Technology to attend Lt. Governor John Fetterman’s listening session regarding the possible legalization of marijuana.  Both sides of the coin were presented as several people got a chance to speak for or against the issue.  Those in favor of legalization pointed towards medical benefits, economic benefits for government resulting from legalizing it, with one speaker talking about how marijuana has helped her kick the heroin habit.  Those against pointed to potential mental and health problems down the road as well as the contention that pot is a gateway drug to other stronger drugs.

MAN CHARGED

State police in Montoursville have charged a Loyalsock Township man with possession with intent to deliver drugs as well as child endangerment after they multiple bags of a suspected unidentified drug at his Four Mile Drive home.  The incident happened on Tuesday when police went to the home of 28 year old Rafeek Kellam.  Two children were in the home at the time.  He was arraigned and jailed in Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $150,000 bail.

DRUG BUST

A Williamsport man has been jailed and charged with possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine as well as related counts.  43 year old Christopher White was charged by state police for trying to sell the drug out of his East Third Street Apartment between January 15^th and April 22^nd of this year.  He has been arraigned and jailed in Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $250,000 bail.

REVENUES UP

The state of Pennsylvania continues to show an improved fiscal report.  Republican lawmakers released a report yesterday saying that thanks to the Republican led legislature holding the line on spending over multiple budget cycles, it has led to historic revenue returns.  The House Appropriations Committee says revenue collections for the moth of April were more than $4.4 billion dollars which is $465 million dollars more then the Department of Revenue’s official estimate.  They say that for the 2018-2019 fiscal year so far, that collections are more than $828 million dollars ahead of estimates.

WOMAN CHARGED AFTER FIRING BB GUN AT KIDS

A cafeteria worker in the Shamokin School District is now charged with simple assault, reckless endangerment and other counts after firing a bb gun at kids on a playground in Shamokin.  30 year old Marie McWilliams is accused of firing the BB gun at the children on the playground in Coal Township on Tuesday evening and then making threats that she would get the ones she missed at school the next day.  McWilliams told police she got angry because the kids were cursing at her.  McWilliams is jailed in Northumberland County Prison.

MAN ARRESTED AFTER POLICE PURSUIT

A Mifflin County man wanted on multiple arrest warrants was arrested following a high speed chase which began in Shamokin Dam and ended in Sunbury on Tuesday.  Shamokin Dam police tried to pull over 39 year old Antonio Rivera of Lewistown for an inspection violation and he took off leading police into Sunbury where he fled on foot and was apprehended in a creek.  Heroin and other drugs were found in the vehicle. He faces a number of counts and is jailed in Northumberland County Prison. A passenger with warrants out for his arrest was also jailed.

CITY WOMAN CHARGED WITH SELLING DRUGS IN CLINTON COUNTY

A Williamsport woman is jailed in Clinton County after being arrested for selling drugs there on Tuesday.  29 year old Layla Perez-Williams is said to have made a series of crack cocaine sales in Avis and Pine Creek Townships over a four month period, often with her 14 year old child accompanying her.  She was arrested by the Clinton County Drug task force, faces a number of counts and is jailed in lieu of $150,000 bail.

BILLS TO JUMP START THE ECONOMY

Looking to get the Pennsylvania Economy jump started, State House Speaker Mike Turzai was joined by 8 other Republican Lawmakers in Harrisburg yesterday as they introduced a package of bills designed to target job growth and infrastructure.  The 8 bills focus on attracting manufacturers using methane production, providing tax credits and speeding up the permitting process for businesses.   It’s hoped the legislation will help bring more family sustaining  jobs to the Commonwealth.

MAN ARRESTED AT THEATRE

Williamsport police had to take down a man who resisted arrest over the weekend at the theatres in the city of Williamsport after causing a disturbance inside.  Police were called to the AMC theatres at 300 West Fourth Street on Friday evening after 34 year old Raymond Brooks refused to leave when asked after causing issues at the ticket window.  Once outside, Brooks resisted arrest and had to be taken down and tased by officers. He is charged with four separate counts and was jailed in lieu of $35,000 bail.

RAIL IMPROVEMENTS COMING

More than $730,000 dollars is coming to Lycoming County for a pair of rail freight improvement projects.  The money comes for the state as part of 27 rail freight projects all together which will create and sustain 255 jobs statewide.  John Savoy and Son in Montoursville will receive a little less than $205,000 dollars to construct an new rail siding and unloading dock to enable new rail service and Lycoming Valley Railroad Company will use more than $531,000 dollars to rehabilitate approximately 3.5 miles of track by replacing tires and surfacing track.

RAPE CHARGES FILED AFTER A DECADE

A Brooklyn New York man faces charges of rape and related counts stemming from an incident on the Bucknell University Campus in Lewisburg more than ten years ago.  Bucknell police have filed charges against Joseph McClain III, now 34 who they say raped a woman in a frat house on campus during a party in October of 2008.  They say the woman did not want to press charges then, but has decided to do so before the 12 year statute of limitations runs out.  DNA evidence points to McClain as her assailant.

WOMAN INJURED IN WOODWARD TOWNSHIP CRASH

A crash in Woodward Township yesterday morning has sent a Linden woman to the hospital with a head injury.  The crash occurred as 25 year old Ashley Koppenhaver was driving on Quenenshunkeny Road around 7:40am when she lost control of her vehicle which rolled onto a pairt of utility trailer frames. She was taken to UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center where her condition has not been released.

MAN IN CRITICAL CONDITON FOLLOWING FIGHT

A fight in Sunbury early yesterday morning resulted in a man being taken to Geisinger Medical Center and another jailed. An altercation allegedly started inside the Eagles Social Club along South Third Street between Jay Boyer of Middleburg and Brian Cox, whose address was not released.  When the two went outside, Boyer allegedly punched Cox, knocking him to the ground and severely injuring the man.  Cox is in critical condition. Boyer has been arraigned on aggravated assault and other charges and jailed in lieu of $100,000 bail.

REPUBLICAN COMMISSIONER CANDIDATES DEBATE

Residents of Lycoming County can hear from the 9 candidates running for nomination in May to run in the fall for County Commissioner during a forum which will be held in Williamsport tonight.  The formal debate, put on by the Lycoming County Republican Committee will take place at Lycoming College’s Clarke Chapel tonight beginning at 7pm.  All 9 candidates have signified their intent to participate.

MAN SENTENCED FOR INVESTMENT FRAUD

It’s 17 years in federal prison for a Bellefonte man who entered a guilty plea in October of last year to defrauding elderly clients out of close to $1.5 million dollars.  Federal investigators charges 49 year old James Hocker with telling his clients, including his mother he would get them 25 to 30 percent extra on their funds, but he ended up not investing the money, instead using if for his own use. He was sentenced in federal court in Williamsport yesterday and ordered to pay restitution as well.