LYCOMING COUNTY FOREST FIRE

A forest fire burned about 15 acres in Northern Lycoming County yesterday.  Firefighters from several companies as well as from the Bureau of Forestry were called out around 2pm to the fire along Route 414 in Brown Township and found the fire burning up some acreage there. It took about five hours to bring that fire under control and extinguish it by about 90%.  No buildings were impacted.  No one was injured and a cause was not reported.

AN EXTRA DAY FOR THE DEER SEASON

The Pennsylvania rifle deer season will begin earlier this year.  Yesterday, the PA game commission voted to begin the deer season on the Saturday following Thanksgiving instead of the following Monday which it has been that way for years.  One of the motivating factors, according to game officials is that hunters who have to work or have to attend school or college will be able to go out on the first day.  The decision will allow hunters to use three Saturday’s in order to go deer hunting.  There is no Sunday hunting.  The decision is getting a mixed reaction from hunters.

ROUTE 44 PROJECT HAS BEGUN

An embankment repair project has started back up on Route 44 about a mile south of Waterville in Cummings Township, Lycoming County.  A contractor is performing drainage work and paving during the daylight hours and flagpersons will be controlling the flow of traffic there.  Penn DOT reports that the $1.5 million dollar project should be completed by late May and motorists should be alert and dive with caution through the work zone.

SNYDER COUNTY MAN HELD FOR RAPE

A Mt. Pleasant Mills man is jailed in lieu of $100,00 bail, after being charged with the rape of a 17 year old girl in Snyder County.  49 year old Duane Inch faces charges of rape, aggravated indecent assault and several other counts stemming from the incidents which took place at an undisclosed place between January and March of this year.  The girl reported Inch on March 29^th.  He is in Snyder County jail and faces a preliminary hearing.

WOMAN FOUND BEATEN IN SELINSGROVE

A New Jersey woman was found severely beaten in Selinsgrove on Monday morning and police there are investigating.  The woman reportedly arrived in Selinsgrove around 1:30 on Sunday afternoon and after getting a flat tire, walked across the Susquehanna University campus.  She was found around 7:15 on Monday morning with severe injuries to her face and torso and was taken to Geisinger Medical Center.  It’s believed she may have suffered the injuries in the area of Industrial Park Road and police are asking anyone with information to give them a call.

PRELIMINARY HEARING HELD

An area police officer, accused of sexual assault had his preliminary hearing in Lycoming County yesterday in front of District Judge Christian Frey.  The victim in the case testified yesterday in the hearing for 69 year old Larry Wilcox, who it’s alleged took the woman home from a bar in Montgomery while on duty as a Montgomery cop last July and then allegedly sexually assaulted her.  Frey who was stepping in for district judge Jon Kemp who recused himself dropped one charge of aggravated indecent assault and has reserved his decision on three other criminal counts.

FUEL SPILL CLEAN UP POSTPONED

That fuel spill clean up which was to get underway and last through tomorrow on Route 15 Northbound at River road in East Buffalo Township has been postponed. The work will now take place next week on Tuesday and Wednesday between the hours of 7am and 7pkm.  Traffic will be reduced to a single lane during work hours and there will be full intermittent traffic stoppages.

NO BAIL FOR SUSPECTED DRUG DEALER

During a preliminary hearing on Monday for a suspected city drug, dealer, District Judge Gary Whiteman decided to hold the man on all charges, and also to  hold the man without bail, even after his defense attorney asked that the $100,000 bail be lowered.  26 year old Savoy Jennings is accused of selling heroin to an undercover officer or confidential informant on two separate occasions this year.  After reading notes written by another district judge who was on duty during Jennings arraignment, Whiteman made his decision to hold the man with no bail.

PLAYGROUND PLANS REVIEWED

Officials in the city of Williamsport are trying to move forward with the construction of an accessible playground at Memorial Park in the City of Williamsport.  The City Council finance and public works committees reviewed plans for the estimated $360,000 dollar playground and was asked to consider submission of a $250,000 state grant to help pay for it. Recreation officials believe the grant along with possible Community Development Block Grant funding and a private donation could pay for the playground.  The committees stopped short of recommending the project to the full council.

“CI” HONORED

A local educator and coach was honored for his achievements on the floor of the State Senate in Harrisburg yesterday.  Ron “CI” Insinger who has taught and coached at Loyalsock High School since 1974 was honored yesterday.  Insinger became the first coach in Pennsylvania history to amass 1,000 career high school victories in a win over Hughesville earlier this year.  Insinger is a member of the Lycomign County Sports Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and the Pennsylvania Basketball Hall of Fame.

MILTON MAN FACES DRUG CHARGES

Charges of manufacture with intent to deliver, child endangerment and corruption of minors have been filed against a Milton man who police say used two female students in the Milton Area School District to deal drugs.  Craig Lytle was charged after a search warrant at his home turned up a large amount of marijuana as well as $2,000 in cash.  Police say he had the girls deal the drugs for him,  He is jailed in Northumberland County. No word on whether or not the girls have been charged.

TWO ARRESTED BY U.S. MARSHALS

An arrest made on Friday of the two men wanted in our area for striking a man with a vehicle and then shooting at him.  U.S. Marshals arrested Norman Dennis and Robert Vettese at Dennis Drexel Hill Home on Friday morning. The two are accused of striking Chaz Turner with a vehicle along Robbins Road in Loyalsock Township on March 31^st with Vettese then taking a shot and missing Turner.  It appeared they were going to strike him again, but took off after noticing witnesses.  They face attempted homicide charges and other counts here in Lycoming County. Turner suffered minor injuries.

CSVT WORK RAMPS BACK UP

Work has ramped back up on the Northern Section of the Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway project in Northumberland, Union and Snyder Counties. Work will continue on the River Bridge and traffic on Route 147 there are reminded that construction equipment will be entering and exiting the roadway there throughout the construction season.  There will also be intermittent single lane traffic impacts at the Winfield Interchange at Route 15 as the contractor resumes work on pipe, structures and earthwork.  Later this spring, paving is expected to begin on the northbound section.

RESTORE PENNSYLVANIA TOUR HITS LOYALSOCK CREEK

The Loyalsock Creek was the site on Friday of a tour by officials with Governor Wolf’s administration as well as local officials.  An official with the Department of Environmental Protection led a tour along the creek to discuss how Wolf’s Restore Pennsylvania plan would help with flood control along the creek.  Wolf wants to sink $4.5 billion dollars into the state’s infrastructure for various projects including flood mitigation.  He wants to impose a severance tax on the gas industry to fund the program.

BLOOMSBURG MAN INJURED IN I-180 CRASH

A crash on Interstate 180 in Fairfield Township early yesterday morning sent a Bloomsburg man to the hospital with unspecified injuries. The crash occurred around 12:20pm in the westbound lanes near the Fairfield Road Exit when 48 year old Terrance Alden of Bloomsburg lost control of his vehicle which struck the guardrail, went off the road and rolled over. He was taken to UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center. His condition was not released.

GUILTY OF MURDER IN THE 1^ST AND 2^ND DEGREES

A man accused with two others of the murder of a mother and her son was found guilty in Lycoming County Court on Friday.  27 year old Jordan Rawls is accused of pulling the trigger and shooting both Shane Wright and his mother, Kristine Kibler at their Newberry home on Halloween of 2016.  He was found guilty after a week long trial of first and second degree murder as well as several other counts. He faces life in prison without parole for the first degree murder.

I-180 WORK RESUMES

Work on the I-180 resurfacing project from Cemetery Road in Fairfield Township to the Muncy Creek Bridge in Muncy Creek Township is set to start back up this week.  Today shoulder closures at the I-180 Westbound off and on ramps at Route 405 will begin and will occur daily between 7am and 5pm as a subcontractor can construct a new highway lighting system at the interchange.  There will also be shoulder closures during the same hours along I-180 Westbound from E. Lime Bluff Road overpass to Halls Station for stump grinding operations.  Motorists should be alert and drive with caution through the work zone.

FOUR TAKEN TO HOSPTIAL FOLLOWING CRASH

Four persons were taken to UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center for treatment following a crash in Loyalsock Township on Saturday evening. The crash occurred around 8:20 pm as 19 year old Maleana Hampton of Hughesville pulled onto East Third Street from the I-180 ramp into the path of a vehicle driven by 31 year old Matt Emerick of Montoursville.  Hampton and two teen passengers were treated at the hospital, as was a three year old in Emerick’s car.  No word on their conditions.

ROUTE 45 BRIDGE PROJECT

A Bridge rehabilitation project gets underway this week on Route 45 in Northumberland County. The bridge spans Chillisquaque Creek approximately 2.2 miles east of the Route 147 Interchange and work will include removal and replacement of the existing concret deck, substructure repairs and approach work.  The bridge will be closed to all through traffic and a detour will be in place using Route 147 and Route 642..  The project is expected to be completed in October.

INTERROGATION VIDEO SHOWN

Day three of a Lycoming County murder trial centered around a police interrogation of the suspect Jordan Rawls who is standing trial in the shooting deaths of Kristine Kibler and her son Shane Wright at their Poplar Street home in October of 2016.  The video which was played for the jury showed police asking Rawls about his whereabouts before, during and after the shootings, and showing him video and images of him being with the two men who have already been implicated in the murders.  The prosecution will continue their case today in Lycoming County Court.

MONTANDON AREA HOME HEAVILY DAMAGED

A home near Montandon was damaged by fire, fanned by the wind yesterday.  Firefighters from several companies Northumberland and Union Counties were called out just before 5:30 to the home along Ridgeview Colony Road to find flames inside the two story house.  It took about 35 minutes to bring that fire under control, but not before it damaged the back and second floor of the house.  No one was injured, and the homeowner was not named.    It’s believed the fire originated from a debris fire which got out of hand in the windy conditions there yesterday.

FAMILY DISPLACED

A family of five was displaced following a Loyalsock Township fire yesterday. Firefighters were called out around 8:15pm to a fire in the attic at a double home at 802-804 Faxon Parkway in the township.  When they arrived, they found flames and smoke coming from the attic on the 804 side and were able to make quick work of the fire with minimal damage.  No one was hurt and the family is expected to be back in the home by the weekend.  The  cause of that fire was not released.

DISCARDED CIGARETTE CAUSES FIRE

Fire broke out on the back porch of a High Street home in the city of Williamsport yesterday.  The fire which started in the grass at rear of the 1207 High Street home quickly spread to the porch bringing in firefighters form the city. They were able to quicly extinguish that fire before it spread to the house after two contractors working next door quickly ran over before they arrived and poured two five gallon buckets of water on as they attempted to keep it from spreading.  It’s believed that the careless discarding of smoking materials started that city fire.

MAN JAILED

A Williamsport man was jailed on Tuesday night following two separate incidents.  The first early Tuesday morning, when Timothy Jacobs crashed a vehicle on the 6000 block of Route 15 in Clinton Townshipo early on Tuesday morning after assaulting his girlfriend.   He then fled.  He was later seen in a vehicle in Eldred Township by police around 3pm but took off from them.  He faces charges from the two separate incidents including DUI, assault, terroristic threats, fleeing and eluding, and other counts and is jailed in lieu of $100,000 bail.

FINANCING APPROVED

During their meeting last night the Williamsport Area School Board approved a resolution which will help the district move ahead with securing financing not to exceed 9 million, 995,000 dollars which will allow the district to fund capital projects.  Amongst those projects is the Millionaire Drive project, which will include paving, sidewalks and lighting for the road up to the high school.  The project will be funded in part by a multi-modal grant of close to $1.2 million dollars with the district paying for the rest.

YAW TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO HELP MILK HAULERS

Legislation will soon be introduced in the State Senate which would exempt milk haulers from travel bans issued due to declaration of disaster emergencies which includes weather related travel bans.  23^rd District State Senator Gene Yaw will team up with State Senator Judy Ward to introduce the legislation after hearing from dairy producers and processors who have had to dispose of milk due to the weather related travel bans, not allowing the milk to get to market.

REDISTRICTING SESSION

Residents interested in legislative redistricting in the state of Pennsylvania will get a chance to let their views be known during a pair of sessions today in Williamsport.  The newly created PA Redistricting Reform Commission will meet today from 4 to 7pm at the FCFP building at 201 West Fourth Street in Williamsport.  Two public comment sessions will be held. The first from 4:10 to 5:30 and the second from 5:40 to 6:50.  You are encouraged the full meeting, but to comment, can register on site prior to the session.

MEET THE CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESS

Want to find out what the candidates who are running for the 12^th Congressional District open seat in the May 21^st special election have to say?  A meet the candidates reception will take place at the Country Cupboard Restaurant on Friday April 12^th, from 7:30-9am.  Republican candidate Fred Keller and Democratic candidate Marc Friedenberg will be on hand to present their views on serving in congress.  You can register online to attend the session at www.gsvcc.org.

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT FIRE

At least three are homeless following a South Williamsport fire yesterday.  Firefighters were called out to the double home at 221-223 West Second Avenue around 6:15pm yesterday when fire reportedly broke out on the front porch and quickly spread. A second alarm was called in and several companies were dispatched to the scene.  The home owned by John and Chris McDermott was destroyed.  Vehicles parked there were damaged and a neighboring home also suffered damage. NO one was injured, an estimated of damage not released and the cause is under investigation.

MAN STRUCK BY VEHICLE THEN SHOT AT

State police in Montoursville say they are still looking for two men who were inside a vehicle which struck another man in Loyalsock Township yesterday.  The incident happened around 2:40pm on Robbins Road just off of Warrensville Road. The man was struck and then shot at with the shot missing him, the vehicle then backed up to strike him again, but took off.  The victim who was not identified was not seriously injured. The car was later found in the Wal-Mart Parking lot in Montoursville with the store searched.  Police say they continue their investigation and are asking anyone with information to give them a call.

ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILL

A large contingent of emergency responders, police and others descended on the UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Medical Center yesterday morning to participate in an active shooter drill.  The drill involved more than 500 people from more than 30 agencies across the area.  Area college students played patients and victims and two persons portrayed themselves as active shooters with two helicopters involved, as well as fire crews, EMS and employees from other area hospitals.

MOTORCYCLE CRASH INJURES MAN

A man was treated at UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center after crashing his motorcycle in the city of Williamsport on Saturday night.  The accident happened around 11pm, as 67 year old Randolph Hill crashed his cycle into a pole in the 1100 block of Washington Boulevard. His condition was not released. The crash remains under investigation by Williamsport police.

CITY CRASH INJURES WOMAN

A female passenger was taken to the hospital for treatment following a crash in the city of Williamsport on Saturday evening.  Police say 31 year old Clifford Deljonavon of Williamsport lost control of his vehicle on Memorial Avenue around 9:30pm,  The vehicle went off the roadway and onto the property of the Memorial Homes complex, striking a a bank of ground based heating and air conditioning units.  A passenger, 53 year old Collette Weaver of Lock Haven was taken to the hospital and treated. Her condition was not released.  The apartment complex itself was not damaged.

WOMAN RESCUED FROM BURNING APARTMENT

Fire struck in the city of Williamsport yesterday afternoon leaving three homeless and sending a woman to the hospital for smoke inhalation and other injures.  The fire broke out around 5:30pm in the kitchen of a 2^nd floor apartment at 45 Huffman Street.  Williamsport’s Fire chief Todd Heckman who was off-duty at the time, with the help of some neighbors and city police officers was able to pull the woman out of the burning structure.  Her condition was not released.  Fire damage was extensive and the woman and her boyfriend as well as a downstairs tenant are homeless. The cause is under investigation.

DUKE STREET PROJECT CLOSES ANOTHER ROAD

It’s back to work for crews on the Duke Street Reconstruction project in Northumberland today.  Beginning today, Queen Street will be closed between 2^nd Street and Water Street.as the contractor continues reconstruction on the northbound lane of Route 11 from the railroad underpass toward King Street.  Access will be maintained to homes and businesses on Queen Street during the work which is expected to last to the end of July.  A detour will be in effect.

STABBING INCIDENT, TWO JAILED

Two persons were jailed following an incident along Lycoming Creek Road on Saturday afternoon.  Police were called to an apartment house at 2303 Lycoming Creek Road on Saturday afternoon for reports of a man with a knife. There they found that 37 year old Charles Johnson had slashed the arm of Mark Walker Jr. who was there to help a woman retrieve some property from the apartment.  Johnson was charged with assault and other counts and jailed in lieu of $50,000 bail.  Another woman, was jailed after it was found she was wanted on an arrest warrant in Cameron County.

MILTON MAN ARRESTED FOR FIRING GUN

A Milton man faces multiple charges following an incident there early yesterday morning.  Police say around 2am, Rafael Mora-Kuilan fired a gun into a group of people twice in the area of Broadway and Long Alley in Milton.  No one was hit.  It was found that the gun was stolen.  Mora-Kuilan faces charges of felony riot as well as firearms charges.  He is jailed in Northumberland County.

WATSONTOWN MAN ACCUSED OF ASSAULT

A Watsontown man was arrested on Saturday after allegedly assaulting a woman as well as a 14 year old girl.  The incident happened at a Watsontown home as 37 year old Joshua Dunn allegedly attmpted to strangle the girl and threatened her. He then allegedly struck another woman in the head.   He has been charged with 2 counts of simple assault, 2 counts of harassment, criminal attempt to commit strangulation and disorderly conduct and is free on $50,000 bail.

COUNCIL CALLING ON MAYOR TO FILL POSITIONS

During their meeting tonight, Williamsport City Council is expected to announce an option to compel Mayor Gabriel Campana to make recommendations to put people on the board for the Williamsport Water and Sanitary Authority, which would include creating a committee to evaluate prospective appointees or reappointees.  Council members have expressed their dissatisfaction with what they say is the mayor not following protocol in filling seats that have expired in a timely manner.  Five members terms have recently expired.  Mayor Campana has denounced council’s concerns.

RECERTIFICATION EFFORTS GET SOME FINANCIAL HELP

As the levee recertification moves forward in the Williamsport Area, the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce has announced that they are contributing to the effort.  It was announced yesterday that the Chamber will $500,000 dollars towards the project which will cost millions of dollars.  Meanwhile, the Williamsport Water and Sanitary Authority continues to review a request for a million dollars.    The Authority tabled any action on that request yesterday.  Federal, State and local officials continue working on grants and other financing options to fund the mandated repair and recertification process.

CONDITIONS RIPE FOR BRUSH FIRES

It’s that time of year where things are drying up, and with windy conditions, things are ripe for brush fires.  Area fire companies were called out to a couple of those within Lycoming County yesterday.  One occurred in Mifflin Township off of Route 973 which burned about a half an acre, the other in Penn Township along Beaver Lake Road of which it was originally believed a barn was involved.  You are reminded that until we get some rain which is expected to happen later today, to keep and eye on your outdoor burning, so it doesn’t get out of hand.

LINDEN MAN CHARGED

A Linden man with a previous drug conviction was jailed on Monday after firearms were found in his home.  State police charged 45 year old Douglas Fredericks with being a convicted felon not to possess a firearm after a shotgun and two handguns were found at his Linden home.  He was arraigned and jailed in Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $100,000 dollars bail.

CITY MAN JAILED ON DRUG CHARGES

A Williamsport man was jailed on Friday following an unspecified incident in the 200 block of William Street in the city.  29 year old Michael Musilli was found with cocaine and was charged with attempted delivery of cocaine and illegal use of a cellphone after being arrested there.  He was arraigned and jailed in Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.

FAMILY CALLS FOR IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION

The family of a man shot by police in State College last week, is calling for an in-depth investigation into his shooting.  29 year old Osazie Osagie, was shot by police after he produced a knife while police were at his State College apartment to serve a mental health warrant on March 20^th.  His parents have enlisted the help of the ACLU calling on Centre County officials to do a rigorous, independent and transparent investigation which includes an assessment of the role that mental health and race may have played in the shooting.  The identity of the officer who show Osagie has not been released.

WOMAN CHARGED WITH MAKING FALSE REPORTS

A Northumberland County woman is free on bail, charged with two counts of perjury and a count of unsworn falsification to law enforcement after allegedly making false accusations against a police chief there.  Back in January, 21 year old Shaylee Heller of Treverton accused Zerbe Township police chief Mike Kreischer of physical and sexual assault.  It was determined by state police that the woman’s statement were false at the time, but at the end of the month, Heller sought a PSA against Kreischer which was first approved, but rescinded when she made similar false accusations against a state trooper. She is free on $5,000 bail.

ONLINE SCAM

Once again this year, there is an online scam involving Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg.  Officials with Knoebels are telling residents who get an online offer for free tickets to the Amusement Resort in exchange for filling out a survey to ignore it. They say they are not running any such promotion.  Officials say a legitimate Knoebels promotion will also provide contest rules an the communications will originate from knoebels.com, an official Knoebels email address or one of the parks’ verified social media outlets.  The park opens for the season on April 27^th.