WOMAN CHARGED IN HOMICIDE

Police have arrested a South Williamsport woman who allegedly drove three others to the scene of a robbery and murder in the city of Williamsport in August of 2016.  25 year old Ariel Harlan was allegedly behind the wheel of a vehicle which transported Joseph Coleman Jr, James Rooks and Jamal Brown to the Park Avenue address where Christopher Wilkins was shot and killed as the three attempted to rob his residence.  Due to a state law, Harlan will face the same charges of criminal homicide, criminal conspiracy, robbery and carrying firearm without a license as the other three.

CYCLIST INJURED IN SUNDAY AFTERNOON CRASH

A motorcycle crash on Interstate 180 at the East Third Street on—ramp at Montoursville shut down that section of roadway for about 45 minutes yesterday afternoon.  The unidentified motorcycle operator lost control of his bike around 4:15pm with the bike going into a slide into the median.  The operator suffered a leg injury and was transported to an area hospital via ambulance. That person’s name and condition have not been released.  Traffic had to be rerouted along East Third Street as crews worked at the scene of that crash.

UNION COUNTY COULD OWE THE STATE MONEY

Union County taxpayers may be into the state for $79,330 dollars due to a filing error.  According to the state, Two final reports confirming bridge projects which were funded with state liquid Fuels money were not filed with the state. The audit for 2017 recommends that the county reimburse the money to the Liquid Fuels tax fund as it can’t be determined if the projects were completed to the satisfaction of the Department of Transportation.  The projects were done back in 2007 and 2009 with final payments made in 2015 and 2017.

MAN ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT ON WOMAN

Milton State Police have announced the arrest of a Milton man who they say assaulted a female at a home in Union County earlier this month.  Police were called out on March 14^th when an altercation between 60 year old James Toot and the unnamed woman became physical when Toot allegedly put the woman in a headlock restricting her breathing.  He was charged strangulation, simple assault and harassment and was jailed in Union County Prison in lieu of $15,000 bail.

DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT $5 MILLION

The surveys are in and officials with the city of Williamsport are hoping that damage is high enough to get help from the state.  Some 85 surveys documenting flood damage over the past ten years along Grafius Run in the city of Williamsport were returned with damage estimated at about $5 million dollars in losses over that time.  It’s believed that on average, $10,000 dollars of damage was done to each property.  Officials will send the results to the state Department of Environmental Protection with hopes that state money will be made available for flood mitigation and stormwater repair along Grafius Run.

MAN AND SON FOUND IN RIVER

A 29 year old Bradford County man and his 1 year old son were found in the Susquehanna River on Saturday following a crash there on Friday night.  A vehicle carrying 29 year old Derek Marshall, 31 year old Emily Hoey and their 1 year old son Maddox was traveling at a high rate of speed on Sheshequin Road near Athens on Friday night around 10:15 when it went into the river.  Hoey was able to be out and make it to shore. A search of the river yielded the bodies of the father and son.  Autopsies have been scheduled to determined the exact cause of death.

CSVT WORK RAMPING BACK UP

Work is ramping back up on the Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway project.  Work continues on the River Bridge adjacent to Route 147 and PennDOT reports that there will be periodic lane closures on under flagging on 147 as that work continues.  There is also a ten foot width restriction in place for pier construction there.  Work will ramp back up on the spring at the Winfield Interchange, qas well as on the northern section in which paving is expected to take place this spring.

FEDERAL PRISONER INDICTED

A Federal Grand Jury has handed down and indictment against an Allenwood Federal prison inmate, accused of the November 2018 attack on a corrections officer.  54 year old James Duncan allegedly struck the unnamed officer, causing  a bodily injury to the man at the prison on November 26^th of last year. Duncan faces the federal indictment and if found guilty could see a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison as well as a $250,000 fine.  Prosecutors say the sentence would hinge on a number of factors.

FIRE DISPLACES THREE

Three persons are temporarily displaced and a man suffered first degree burns to his hands as a fire in a grill yesterday spread up the side of a structure in the city of Williamsport.  Firefighters were called out around 9:50am to the rear of a home at 1127 Charles Street.  The fire started in a grill and started spreading up the outside of the home.  One of the occupants, John Alexander was able to push the grill off of the porch suffering the burns.  Firefighters arrived and were able to keep the fire from spreading inside the home.  A damage estimate was not released and the cause is under investigation.

CABIN DAMAGED BY FIRE

Fire yesterday damaged a cabin along Wallis Run Road in Gamble Township.; The fire broke out around 6pm in the cabin owned by George “Herman” Logue bringing in firefighters from four area companies.  They were able to bring it under control in about 15 minutes.  No one was hurt in that fire and it caused about $20,000 dollars damage to the cabin.  The cause of that Gamble Township fire is under investigation.

TWO INJURED IN CITY ACCIDENT

An early morning accident in the city of Williamsport yesterday sent two persons to the hospital with unknown injuries.  That crash occurred around 5:30am at High and Campbell Streets as vehicles driven by Tryphine Strothers and Jolanda Cruz both of Williamsport collided.  The accident also damaged a fire hydrant which was knocked off, a traffic light and a fence.  Both drivers were transported to UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center.  Their conditions were not reported.

WOMAN BRIEFLY TRAPPED FOLLOWING CRASH

A woman was briefly trapped in her vehicle following a crash yesterday on the Route 405 bridge between Muncy and  Montgomery.  The two vehicles collided on the bridge and firefighters had to take the roof off of one of the cars in order to get the female driver out.  Both drivers were transported to UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center for treatment.  Their names and conditions were not released following that crash.

MAN INDICTED IN FEDERAL COURT

An Old Lycoming Township man was recently indicted in Federal District Court in Williamsport for drug sales and weapons charges.  39 year old Zakhary Pryor is accused of the sale of heroin and cocaine in the area on five separate dates between September and November of last year in the area.  In addition, he was found on November 20^th with meth, heroin, cocaine, marijuana an PCP.  In addition he is charged with possessing three handguns in commission of the crimes.  The investigation was a joint effort amongst state police, the county Narcotics Enforcement Unit and the FBI.

MAN SHOT BY POLICE IN STATE COLLEGE

A man was shot by police in State College yesterday and the officers involved are on administrative leave while an investigation occurs. Officers went to the Marvin Garden Apartments on Old Boalsburg Road around 2pm yesterday to serve a mental health warrant on a 29 year old man there.  No other information is available as to how or why the man was shot by police.  State police and the Centre County District Attorney’s office are investigating that shooting.

OFFICER JUSTIFED IN SHOOTING OF MAN

A State police officer was justified when he shot a man who was barricaded in his home in Waterville in December.  The findings were released on Tuesday that a state police special response officer was justified when he fired a shot which struck 62 year old Brant Hartung in the head during a standoff at the man’s home on December 31^st.  Hartung had called 911 that morning, but fired on police when they arrived.  He also would not respond to officers trying to negotiate a peaceful resolution.  No one else was hurt in that incident.

SNYDER COUNTY MAN CHARGED WITH SHIPPING PILLS

A Snyder County man faces up to four years in prison and a $25,000 dollar fine for shipping pain killers and muscle relaxers to customers in at least nine U.S. states.  Clyde Snyder was recently charged in federal court and has pleaded guilty to getting shipments of pills from Germany, repackaging them, and then shipping them through the U.S. Mail. It’s believed that between April of 2015 and April of 2017 he distributed100,000 pills through the mail.

WOMAN STEALS FROM SOCIAL CLUB

A Snyder County woman waived here preliminary hearing on a count of felony theft on Tuesday.  39 year old Tamara Dangelo is accused of stealing more than $41,000 dollars from the Hummels Wharf Fire Company Social Hall and using the money for her own personal use between May 10^th of 2017 and November 5^th of 2018.  Some of the money was used to pay personal bills, and buy items while she was in Las Vegas.  The woman was the treasurer of the social club at the time.  She will be prosecuted in Snyder County Court.

DELAYS EXPECTED IN NORTHUMBERLAND

Delays are expected in Northumberland today along a section of King Street there.  Between the hours of 8:30am and 2:30pm UGI will be core drilling on King Street between Water Street and the Priestly Bridge.  PennDOT reports that during the work there will be lane resrictions under flagging.  Motorists should be alert and drive with caution through the workzone there today.

RESTRUCTRING AT THE AUTHORITY

With the East Third Street Gateway Project underway and the Levee recertification in Lycoming County on the horizon, the Williamsport Municpal Water and Sanitary Authority has restructured it’s engineering department.  Following a review of staffing and production needs by the current administrative and consulting engineer, HRG it was determined that the Authority needs a full-time director of engineering.  While the search is on, HRG will continue as the program manager.  Officials with the Authority say the restructuring is needed as well due to the storm water management transfer from the city.

VOTE EXPECTED TO ELMINATE STAFF POSITION

Lycoming County Commissioners are expected to vote later this week to eliminate a staff position within the county in which the most recent person in that position was paid a yearly salary of $40,000 dollars.  Due to changes that the way the county collection’s office does business, Commissioners will vote whether or not to eliminate the enforcement officer position which could bring with it a salary anywhere from $35,000 to $50,000 yearly.  Due to a court decision, the position which would handle cost and fines payments and bench warrants for those who are unpaid has been rendered just about useless.

TWO INJURED IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY CRASH

Two persons were taken to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville for serious injuries following a crash on Route 54 in Elysburg in Northumberland County yesterday. The crash happened just before 9am as Rose Springer of Bloomsburg went to make a turn off of Route 54 when she was run into by a vehicle driven by Erin Fitzpatrick of Elysburg.  Both were transported to Geisinger Medical Center for treatment. Their conditions not released. Route 54 was shut down for several hours following that crash.

CRASH IN CITY

One person was taken to UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center for treatment following a three car crash in the city of Williamsport yesterday afternoon.  That crash occurred around 5:40pm at the corner of West Fourth and Market Streets.  Police say that a driver in his early 20’s form the Linden Area suffered a medical condition at the intersection and ran into one vehicle.  His vehicle was then spun around, striking a stopped vehicle.  The driver’s in the other vehicles were not injured.   No word on the condition of the person taken to the hospital.

TEEN CHARGES FOLLOWING DISTURBANCE

A disturbance on Monday at a store in the city of Williamsport resulted in a teen being jailed on several counts.  Police say 18 year old Janell Wallace was in the Family Dollar Store at 1221 West Fourth Street around 3:10 on Monday when she  allegedly threw items on the floor and yelled at employees.  When police arrived, she allegedly kicked one officer in the leg and another in the stomach.  She was charged with assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and other counts and was jailed in lieu of $50,000 bail.

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT MAN CHARGED

A South Williamsport man has been charged with terroristic threats and simple assault following an incident earlier this month.  State police on March 6^th were investigating an incident at the Sheetz Market on Westminister Drive in Loyalsock Township and determined that a vehicle operated by 55 year old Michael Shields of South Williamsport was used in the commission of a crime.  When police went to his home, in the 300 block of Hastings Street that night, Shields caused a disturbance and then came out holding a firearm.  No one was hurt and he was taken into custody.

MISSING MAN IN BRADFORD COUNTY

State police in Bradford County say they are looking for a missing man from Troy.  Police say that on Sunday, 77 year old Ronald Young was reported missing from his Troy home.  They say he is known to frequently walk in wooded areas around Troy.  He is approximately 4 ft 7 inches tall, has hazel eyes, brown and balding hair with a small goatee and glasses.  Anyone with information regarding Young is encouraged ot contact state police in Towanda at 570-265-2186 or the Troy police department at 570-297-2423.

FIRE COMPANIES TO GET GRANTS

Local fire companies in Lycoming and Union Counties in 84^th District State Representative Garth Everett’s District will receive grants from the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.  The grants are funded through state gaming proceeds and applications are still open until the end of May.  The grants help fund the purchase of essential equipment or assist with debt reduction.  The amount of the grants range from almost $1800 dollars up to a high of more than $14,800 dollars.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The Great American Clean up will take place along highways across the state of Pennsylvania and PennDOT and the DEP are seeking volunteers to help.  The clean up campaign runs through May 31^st and volunteer organizations, friends and co-workers come together every year for trash clean up projects.  PennDOT has offered a comprehensive webpage that includes all volunteer opportunities available from the Great American Cleanup of PA and Adopt-A-Highway to Safety training, litter brigades and more.  Find it at Penndot.gov under Roadside Beautification.

22 ARRESTED IN LARGE DRUG BUST OPERATION

Operation Save Milton took place last Thursday as some 160 law enforcement personnel spread out across Northumberland and Dauphin counties to arrest 22 persons involved in a drug distribution ring said to have brought in a million dollars worth of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl over the past few years.  A spike in drug overdoses cause the federal investigation in which it was found large amounts of drugs were coming into the Milton area as well as to Dauphin County from Puerto Rico and California.   Indictments were handed down and the operation began early on Thursday morning and wrapped up later in the day.  A large amount of drugs were seized as well and the defendants will be prosecuted in Federal Court.

FIRE DESTROYS A LOYALSOCK TOWNSIHP HOME

Fire destroyed a Loyalsock Township home early yesterday morning, leaving a woman homeless.  The fire broke out in the home occupied by Jean Soars at 1205 Hillsdale Avenue at Poco Farm Estates arouind 3:20am.  She was able to make it out without injury, but when firefighters arrived, they found the blaze quickly spreading through the home.  A second alarm was called in and the fire was not brought under control until around 5:30 in the morning.  A damage estimate has not yet been released, and a state police fire marshal will look into the cause. Firefighters were called back twice for flare-ups at the home.

KING STREET DELAYS

More delays in Northumberland.  UGI crews will be doing core drilling today on King Street between Water Street and the Joseph Priestly Bridge.  The work will take place from 8:30am to 2:30pm and there will be lane restrictions with flag persons controlling traffic there.  Delays are expected and motorists are reminded to be alert and drive with caution through the workzone.

THREE HOSPITALIZED FOLLOWING CRASH

Three were taken to the hospital following a crash in Loyalsock Township on Friday evening.  The crash occurred around 7;30 in the 1500 block of Northway Road Extension in Loyalsock Township as a vehicle driven by 31 year old Andrew Watson of Williamsport went off the road, back on, across the center line and struck a vehicle head on driven by an unidentified 17 year old teen boy.  Watson suffered head injuries. The other driver and his passenger, a 17 year old female were also taken the hospital.  Their conditions not released.  State police say speed and alcohol were  factor.

GREENE COUNTY MAN DIES IN FRIDAY MORNING CRASH

A fatal crash in Lycoming County on Friday morning.  It’s not clear what time the crash happened on Little Pine Road about five miles north of Waterville, as a vehicle was found off the road into a tree there around 6:30am.  Inside, emergency crews found 47 year old Brian Roberts of Carmichaels Pennsylvania in Greene County dead of blunt force trauma.  No one else was involved in that crash and it’s not known what caused the man to go off of the road.

WOMAN TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOLLOWING MONTGOMERY FIRE

An unidentified woman had to be rescued out of her burning apartment in Montgomery last evening.  Firefighters were called to the apartment at the Robert Montgomery Homes at 38 Bower Street, finding a mattress burning and a woman inside the apartment. She was taken out and transported to UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center for treatment of smoke inhalation.  Firefighters made quick work of the fire, with damage kept to the one apartment.  The cause is under investigation.

LITTER PICK UP ON 220

PennDOT reports that they will have maintenance crews out on a busy section of roadway this week in Lycoming County picking up litter.  The operation will take place along Route 220 between Jersey Shore and Williamsport during the daylight hours. While there will be no traffic impacts, motorists are reminded to be alert and watch for workers along the roadway.

HOME BURGLARIZED

A burglary in Northumberland County has state police in Milton investigating.  Sometime between March 6^th and the 13^th someone removed $1600 dollars in cash from the Turbot Avenue in Delaware Township of Joseph Terpollilli.  State police say their investigation continues and they are asking anyone with information to giver them a call.

TWO ARRESTED FOR TRYING TO SELL HEROIN

Two Williamsport men were arrested late last month after setting up a buy of heroin with an undercover officer with the County Narcotics Enforcement Unit.  On February 22^nd, the officer set up a buy with 23 year old Shyheem Gadson and 26 year old Timothy Kelly. The officer was then forced to drive the two around town as they tried to get him to use the drug in front of them. Gadson resisted arrest and injured an officer. Gadson is jailed in lieu of $200,000 bail and Kelly in lieu of #125,000 bail.

STATE SENATOR YAW TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION

State Senator Gene Yaw from Loyalsock Township is getting set to introduce legislation which will separate the state High School Sports playoffs between public schools and private parochial and charter schools.  Yaw says the legislation would address the competitive imbalance and unfairness which results from the ability of non-boundary schools to enroll students from anywhere in the state as well as from out of state.  A similar proposal is also pending in the State House of Representatives.

RAISE THE REGION

The annual Raise the Region fundraising effort with the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania is underway.  Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised so far  with 283 non-profit agencies in Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties registered.  The Blaise Alexander Family Dealership has once again supplied $150,000 dollars in stretch fund money and several area businesses and organizations are also offering prizes and incentives throughout the 30 hour event.  Go to Raise the Region.org to donate or to see the leaderboard.  We will keep you updated throughout the day.\

ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGES FILED

A Montoursville man faces a count of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and other counts following an incident at his Chestnut Street on Tuesday night.  Police say 41 year old David Hill came home, around 10:30 presumably under the influence of something and his mother with whom he lived told him to move out.  Hill then allegedly got a knife and raised it up at the woman, chasing her out of the house and to a neighbor’s hosue.  Hill accidentally stabbed himself in the leg and had to be treated at the hospital.  His mother was not injured.  He is in Lycoming County Prison

SHUNK MAN DIED IN TIOGA COUNTY CRASH

State police in Mansfield have identified the man killed in a crash in Tioga County which occurred on Tuesday evening.  Police say a tri-axle water truck driven by 59 year old Patrick McLaughlin of Shunk failed to negotiate a turn on Route 414 in Union Township around 6:45 on Tuesday evening, overturning in the roadway,.  It then traveled off the roadway and struck a concrete culvert.  McLaughlin was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash and no one else was involved.

LEVEE COSTS

Williamsport City Council’s finance and public works committees got some clarification yesterday on the cost of recertifying the levee system in Lycoming County.  The members were told by Planning and Community Development Director Fran McJunkin that the next phase of recertification which includes installation of relief wells will cost about $2 million dollars.  Other repairs and the replacement of an I wall on the Lycoming Creek Side could push costs to the $16 million dollar range over the next few years.

FEDERAL PRISON FOR DRUG RING LEADER

A man who is said to be the leader of a heroin network involving 27 people, distributing 1 to 3 kilograms of the drug across our region has been sentenced in federal court in Williamsport.  30 year old Kalif English admitted in federal court yesterday that he was in charge of the ring which distributed the drug in and around the Williamsport area from 2014 to 2016.  English was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison.  The remaining conspirators in that ring, have all been sentenced to various prison terms.

WOMAN STEALS FROM EMPLOYER

A Sunbury woman faces counts of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception and receiving stolen property after being arrested for stealing from the Sunbury Restaurant that she worked for during July and August of this year.  36 year old Marissa Conway reportedly stole $16,000 dollars from Jay’s Tiffany’s Northside Restaurant on Fourth Street in Sunbury while the working as the manager there.  Conway has taken responsibility for the thefts but was arraigned on Tuesday and jailed in Northumberland County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail.

MILTON WOMAN CHARGED WITH TAKING MONEY

A businesswoman from Milton is jailed in Northumberland County charged with taking about $13,000 dollars from a non-profit agency there.  40 year old Jessica Mena is accused of making 19 unauthorized bank transactions from the Sunbury based Parent to Parent Connection which links families of children and adults with disabilities or special needs.  Mena reportedly took the money for her own use, paying bills with it. She faces forgery and access device graud charges and was jailed in lieu of $50,000 bail.

CANDIDATES LIST READY

With the list of candidates complete, there is a crowded list running for Lycoming County Commissioner on the primary ballot on May 21^st.  9 Republicans will vied for nomination to run in the fall including incumbents Jack McKernan and Tony Mussare.  The list also includes current Williamsport Mayor Gabriel Campana.   The two democrats are incumbent Rick Mirabito as well as Elliot Weiss.  The Republican nomination for Williamsport Mayor will be between city councilman Don Noviello, and businessman Eric Beiter.  Councilman Derek Slaughter will run unopposed for the Democratic nomination.