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.

FATHER AND SON DROWNED

Drowning has been ruled as the cause of death for a father and his one year old son, who were found in the Susquehanna River following an accident in Bradford County over the weekend.  A car containing 39 year old Derek Marshall, 31 year old Emily Hoey and their 1 year old son Maddox went off of Sheshequin Road in Athens Township into the River around 10pm on Friday night.  Hoey was able to get to shore.  The bodies of the father and son were found on Saturday.  An autopsy confirmed the two drowned.  The investigation into the crash continues. It’s not been determined who was driving or why that car went off of the road yet.

MILTON MAN INVOLVED IN CYCLE CRASH

A Milton man has been identified as the injured operator of a motorcycle which crashed on Interstate 180 on Sunday afternoon.  61 year old Steven Gallo was operating the cycle which went out of control and slid into the medial at the on-ramp to 180 in Loyalsock Township around 5:10 on Sunday. He was taken to UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center for treatment of a serious leg injury. His condition has not been released and no one else was involved in that crash.

STOP THE BLEED KITS DONATED IN JERSEY SHORE

Thanks to Geisinger Medical Center and Susquehanna Transit, the Jersey Shore Area School District and other community groups will receive bleeding control kits as part of Geisinger’s Stop the Bleed Program.  Six wall-mounted stations containing 48 bleeding control kits will be installed in Jersey Shore School district buildings.  Other stations will be installed at the Jersey Shore YMCA, Pool, Lions Club Little League Field and the Walnut Street Christian School.  Training on how to use the kits will also take place allowing for those using the kits to to be used to hep control bleeding during a traumatic incident.

CABIN BURGLARY

A cabin in Pine Township in Lycoming County has been burglarized, and State Police are looking for information.  The burglary happened sometime between January 1^st and March 19^th of this year at the cabin along Cemetery Road in Pine Township owned by Gary Ludwig of Jersey Shore.  Someone broke into the building and took about $950 worth of items and also caused about $400 damage to the cabin.  State police are asking anyone with information to give them a call at 570-368-5700.

MARYLAND MAN CHARGED WITH CASHING STOLEN CHECKS

Police in Union County have charged a Maryland man with forging three stolen checks and cashing them at banks there last year.  Police say that on July 25^th and 26^th of last year, 32 year old John Dombusch cashed the three checks from Murray Motors at the Mifflinburg Bank and Trust Bank branches in Mifflinburg and Lewisburg.  The total of loss is more than $5,200 dollars.  Dombusch who also faces forgery charges in Maryland has been charged with forgery, theft by deception, bad checks, and receiving stolen property and will have a preliminary hearing on April 2^nd.

MAN FACES ASSAULT CHARGES

A New Columbia man faces charges of assault as well as other counts stemming from two incidents on the same day earlier this month.  State Police in Milton say that 69 year old Rodney Noll first went to one home in White Deer Township in Union County on March 14^th and punched a man in the face, knocking him down and causing injury.  He then went to another residence in the Township and used a wooden stick to repeatedly beat a man about the head and face, warning both men to stay away from his family.  It’s not known if the man was jailed following the incidents.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FORUM TONIGHT

Area residents can hear from Republican candidates for various offices in Lycoming County tonight during a candidate’s forum in the city of Williamsport.  The Lycoming County Republican Committee will host the forum at the Genetti Hotel in Downtown Williamsport from 6:30 to 8:30pm.  There will be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions of the candidate during the forum.

ROAD RELOCATION TO BEGIN

Hughesville Borough Council got the scoop from PennDOT about a street relocation which will begin in the borough next week.  Council was told that on April 5^th, crews will begin relocation of Race Street in Hughesville, which will result in the shutting down of some side streets in that area.  The street relocation is part of the larger road construction project to improve the intersection of Route 220 and 405.  The work on Race Street is expected to last until early June.

CRACKING DOWN ON VAPING TEENS

Legislation passed in the State House of Representatives yesterday would crack down on the sales of vaping products to minors in Pennsylvania. Under the law, minors who attempt to buy vaping products or get caught is e-cigarettes at school could face criminal charges.  The law would also allow for state and local inspections to crack down on the sales of vaping products to minors.  Right now the law only allows for inspections for tobacco sales to minors.  The legislation still has to pass the state senate and be signed into law by the governor.