MAN WANTED FOR STABBING IN BERWICK

A man continues to recover from his injuries stemming from a stabbing in Berwick in Columbia County on Friday night, and police continue to look for his assailant.  Xavier Class and Bryan Arriaga-Soto got into a fight outside J.J. Bar on West Second Street in Berwick late on Friday night, when Soto pulled a knife and allegedly stabbed Class 8 times.  Class was still in critical condition, but his condition has improved.  Soto ran to a friend’s house, and washed up before going on the run.  He faces counts of attempted homicide and other charges when found.

MILL HALL MAN DIES AFTER BEING STRUCK BY VEHICLE

No charges will be filed against a truck driver who struck a Mill Hall man on Route 220 in Clinton County on Sunday night.  State police say that 26 year old Dylan Hess was in the roadway near Mill Hall just before 11pm when he was struck by a Mack Truck driven by 45 year old Christopher Long of Chandlersville Ohio.  Long stopped immediately following the accident.  Long was first taken to UPMC Lock Haven Hospital then flown onto a hospital in Allentown where he later succumbed form his injuries.

IMPAIRED DRIVING CAMPAIGN EVENT

PennDOT officials and other safety partners, as well as local law enforcement met in Lewisburg yesterday to highlight the importance of designated driving as part of the statewide Saint Patrick’s Day Impaired-driving campaign.  As part of the event, participants will distribute safe driving reminders on take-out items through Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day. The educational outreach looks to reduce impaired-driving crashes and fatalities.  Drivers can also download he free SaferRide app on their Android and Apple Devices from the Google Play or ITunes store.

PERSON STRUCK BY VEHICLE IN CITY

Williamsport police are investigating a pedestrian accident which occurred yesterday morning.   An unidentified person was crossing at West Third and Pine Streets yesterday just before 11am when they were struck by a vehicle there.  Crews were on the scene for a little over a half and hour and it’s believed that person was taken to the hospital for treatment, though their condition was not released. The driver of the vehicle was not identified and it’s not known if any charges have been filed.

REINSTATEMENT UPHELD

The State Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal, upholding a Commonwealth Court decision, allowing a fired Lock Haven University Professor to be reinstated.  Professor Charles Morgan had been fired in 2016 after it was found that he had committed a sexual assault on two children in Kentucky in 1989 when he was 19.  Morgan did not have to reveal that conviction when he was hired at the school in 2004, and the court agreed with an arbitrator that his youthful criminal acts had not followed him into middle age.  A civil rights lawsuit against the school and the state department of education filed by Morgan remains active.

NO TAX INCREASE PRELMINARY BUDGET PASSED

As it stands right now, it looks like property owners in the Jersey Shore School District will not have to pay higher taxes next year.  The School board there last night said yes to a preliminary budget for the 2019-2020 school year of almost $43 million dollars which does not contain a tax increase.  The district had been facing budgetary problems the past few years but district officials say this budget is balanced, though final numbers such as state allocations will not be known for a few months and there may have to be some adjustment.

LEGISLATION TO HELP FUND NUCLEAR POWER

As the deadline for the eventual shutdown of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant in Middletown nears, one state legislator wants to help it and other financially struggling power plants in the state survive.  Representative Thomas Mahaffie of Dauphin County has introduced legislation which would pump hundreds of millions of dollars into nuclear power plants, giving those plants preferential treatment, akin to a law passed in 2004, providing money for solar power, wind power and a few other niche energy sources.

MIRABITO ANNOUNCES BID FOR ANOTHER TERM

Lycoming County Democratic Commissioner Rick Mirabito has decided to seek a second term. Saying he wants to focus on the structural deficit the county faces, by eliminating county positions as they come open either through retirement or attrition, Mirabito has announced that he will run for the democratic nomination in the May 21^st primary to run in the fall for his second term.  Before being elected in 2016, Mirabito was a two term State Representative.

PUTTING HIS MONEY WHERE HIS MOUTH IS

An NBA basketball player from Williamsport who has promise that his success will lead to philanthropy in his hometown has announced his next project.  Through a spokesperson yesterday, Indiana Pacers rookie Alize Johnson said he wants to seal a memorandum of understanding with the city of Williamsport to create two NBA quality courts, preferably at Memorial Park where he learned to play basketball.  Johnson to donate $150,000 dollars for the construction.

MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER ON TROOPER

A 27 year old Hughesville man faces over 20 counts including attempted homicide following a struggle with a state trooper yesterday.  After investigating a burglary in which Brandon Confer was allegedly involved at his mother’s house, Trooper Johnathon Buynak was dispatched to McDonalds on Route 405 around 11am, in which he found Confer and got into a struggle with the man.  Confer got a hold of the trooper’s taser and used it on trooper Buynak then allegedly pulled a knife. He was taken into custody at a home across the street.  He has been arraigned and jailed without bail and the trooper was treated at the hospital for injuries suffered in the incident.

COMPANY MAY HAVE TO SHUT DOWN OPERATIONS

Due to a decision by Lycoming County Commissioners to allow it;’s contracted Prison re-entry company to accept prisoners from state prison, a local company which also deals with re-entry services has said they may have to close.  A letter from Firetree Ltd, says they would have ot close up their services on April 1^st, if the county does not rescind it’s decision to allow the state prisoners to use the GEO group.  Firetree Ltd., says the number of re-entry clients from state prison needs to be in the area of 20 to 25 to stay in business, but has averaged in the low teens since GEO’s contract with the county went into effect.

COLLEGE’S TO HELP WITH MARKETING

One thing to come out of a recent meeting with an ad-hoc committee looking into new employees to work and live in the city of Williamsport is a promise of help from the city’s two college’s.  A story in this morning’s Williamsport Sun Gazette says that the Pennsylvania College of Technology and Lycoming College have offered their assistance as partners in a marketing effort to retain and attract new employees.  The city is not only looking to attract more business and workers, but also would like to have it’s workers live within the city they work in.

BUDGET HEARINGS WRAP UP

The Pennsylvania State House Appropriations Committee wrapped up budget hearings this week, on the Governor’s proposed 2019-2020 spending plan and according to it’s chairman, many questions remain unanswered.  Chairman Stan Saylor of York County says that the governor’s proposal contains a lack of details and says those details are important for legislators to truly evaluate the governor’s proposals.  He said during the hearings that many questions that the committee had of various department heads went unanswered.  The legislature needs to pass a budget by June 30^th.

COMPANY PURCHASED

A local company which does a lot of bridge work for the state, has been purchased by a company out of Minersville Pennsylvania.  It’s been announced that Quandel Inc. has purchased Susquehanna Supply Company.  Officials with the company say their plan is to hire skilled workers to rehabilitate bridges and reconstruct highways.  Company officials say they plan on relocating operations outside of the current Wiliamsport facility but will stay within Lycoming County.  Officials say the purchase will allow for the completion of needed bridge projects which previously could not be done due to limited state funding.

EVERETT WANTS MORE ALLOCATION FOR LOCAL SCHOOL

A state representative from our area wants to see more funding come from the state for a local college.  A story in this morning’s Williamsport Sun Gazette says that Representative Garth Everett who is on the Pennsylvania College of Technology Board of Directors would like to see the state’s appropriation for the school which shows a job placement of 95% for it’s graduates, rise from the current $4,635 dollars per student it currently receives.  Everett points to a much higher appropriation for schools such as Lock Haven and Mansfield Universities as well as the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster.

VEHICLE INTO STRUCTURE

Emergency Personnel were called out yesterday for reports of a Tractor Trailer into a building near the Lycoming Mall.  The call came in shortly past 5pm, for reports of a tractor trailer which was into the Best Buy Building along Lycoming Mall Circle with unknown injuries.  Crews were only on the scene for a few minutes.  No one was injured and very little service was required following that incident.

WOMAN ARRESTED AFTER COCAINE FOUND IN CHILD’S SYSTEM

An arrest last month of a Williamsport woman on several charges has been revealed following an investigation in which high levels of cocaine were found in her infant daughter.  Police raided the home of 33 year old Maria Sweeting in the city a day after her 1 month old daughter was taken to the hospital with injuries, transferred to Geisinger Medical Center, and found with high levels of cocaine in her system.  Officers raided Sweeting’s Brandon Avenue Home and found a safe with 58 grams of drugs as well as a stolen handgun.  She faces a number of counts, was charged on Friday and was originally jailed in lieu of $100,000 bail, since released.

MAN STRUCK BY VEHICLE, IDENTIFIED

The identity of a man who was struck by a vehicle in the city of Williamsport on Saturday night has been revealed.  Officials say it was 61 year old Mark Carlisle who stepped out in front of a vehicle driven by Eugene Caudell of Williamsport  at East Seventh and penn Streets around 9pm on Sunday night.  The city man was taken to UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center where he is recovering from his injuries though his condition has not been released.  It’s not believed any charges have been filed.

RURAL HEALTH CARE PLAN

Residents in rural areas including those who seek help at the Geisinger Jersey Shore facility will see new ways in healthcare is administered thanks to a new state initiative. It’s been announced that the hospital in Jersey Shore will be one of five across the state to participate in the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model  The program will provide the hospital with stable funding while transitioning away from a traditional fee for service reimbursement model.  Officials say the program will allow the hospitals to focus more on the needs of their patients and communities.,  It also emphasizes closer relationships with community organizations to address social issues impacting patient care.

POSSIBLE SCHOOL CLOSING

Another area school district may be closing one of it’s elementary schools.  Officials in the Milton Area School District presented a plan for  the closing of the Montandon Elementary School to the board last night.  Declining enrollment there is being blamed on the possibility of the school’s closing.  The students would be transferred to another elementary school in the district which has close to four times the number of students.   School officials in Milton say the earliest they could make a decision on the school closing would be 90 days from now.

PRISON INMATE FACES CHARGES

A Northumberland County prison faces multiple charges following an attack on a prison staffer there.  The County DA’s office has announced the arrest of inmate David Klinger Jr. who they say attacked a prison records officer causing injuries to the man’s face, neck and leg.  It took other staffers to pull Klinger off of the man, and at least two other staff members suffered injuries in the attack.  Klinger faces three felony counts of aggravated assault as well as several other misdemeanor charges including simple assault and strangulation.

MAN JAILED AFTER MAKING THREATS

A Watsontown man was jailed last week after making threats there.  Police there say that on February 28^th, 54 year old Kevin Houser started making threats that he had to kill people, while labeling himself as a guardian angel and former military sniper.  Houser, also reportedly said he was going to avenge the action of others.  He was arrested and arraigned on charges of making terroristic threats as well as harassment and was jailed in Northumberland County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.

REAL ID AVAIALBLE

PennDOT has announced that Real ID compliant driver’s licences and photo ID cards are now available for  Pennsylvania residents who want one.  After October 1^st of next year, the federally-accepted form of identification will be required to board a commercial flight or visit a secure federal building that requires ID at the door.  State officials say that currently there is no requirement that any resident obtain a Real ID and that they will continue to offer standard-issue driver’s licenses and photo ID’s.  The Williamsport driver’s license center is currently equipped to allow for over-the-counter issuance of Real ID.

NCCS ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT

North Central Sight Services in Williamsport has announced the appointment of their new president.  Current President Robert Garrett is retiring as of June 30^th of this year, and after an in-depth national search, the organization has chosen Brian Patchett as it’s new president.  Patchess was most recently CEO of Easter Seals Nevada for 15 years and will join NCCS in April. NCCS officials say Patchett is a proven leader with excellent leadership skills, business vision and the ability to bring people together.

MORE ROAD CLOSURES

The Duke Street Reconstruction project in the borough of Northumberland is back in full swing, and Penn DOT reports that several streets are closed at Front Street due to the work there.  Prince Street at Front Street was closed on Friday and yesterday, Hanover Street and North Avenue were closed.  Those closures are expected to remain in effect until the end of June and Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.  Excavation also continues on the northbound lane of Route 11 from the railroad underpass toward King Street and a detour is in effect there.

SLIPPERY ROADS

Waking up to the work week with a couple of inches of snow on the ground.  Crews are out working trying to clear things off, and most main roads are in good shape this morning, but side streets and roads in the higher elevations could be snow covered an slippery so take it easy as you head out, clean off your vehicles and leave early for your destination.  Speed limits and commercial vehicle restrictions have been restored on Interstate’s 80 and 180 and all other main roads in our area.  Schools are on delay.  Here is that list.

PEDESTRIAN STRUCK

A man was taken to the hospital on Saturday night after being struck by a vehicle in the city of Williamsport.  That accident happened as the man stepped into the roadway on Washington Boulevard near St. Bonafice Church and was struck by a white SUV.  He was taken to UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center where his name and condition were not released.  The driver of the vehicle has not been identified and Williamsport police continue their investigation into that pedestrian accident.

KELLER CHOSEN TO RUN

85^th District State Representative Fred Keller has been chosen as the Republican nominee to run for the 12^th U.S. Congressional District seat vacated in January by Tom Marino.  Keller who represents Union and Snyder Counties in Harrisburg survived four rounds of voting by Republican conferees in the city of Williamsport as he was one of fourteen candidates vying for a chance to run against Decmocrat Marc Fridenberg in a special election on May 21^st.   It took nearly seven hours of debate and the four votes before the five term state representative from Kreamer was chosen.

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL HELD

Some 40 people walked from the Lycoming County Courthouse to the County Prison on Third Street on Saturday night in a vigil to bring awareness to what they say is the need for better healthcare in the prison system.  The candlelight vigil was organized by a group called the Recovery Community Connection not only to protest, but to remember the life of 30 year old Ashley Cupp who died in a cell at the prison while incarcerated there on February 22^nd.  A cause of death was not released, though it wasn’t suspicious.

TEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED

State police in Milton over the weekend reported that an unidentified 17 year old female from Mifflinburg was seriously injured in a crash near Lewisburg on Thursday afternoon.  Police say the crash happened on Route 192 just west of Beaver Run Road around 2pm when a vehicle driven by 18 year old Tyler Manis of Mifflinburg went off the roadway, swerved and hit a grass embankment, spinning around twice. The 17 year old passenger was taken to Geisinger. Her condition not released.  Two other teens were treated at Evangelical Hospital.  Manis was not injured.

WOLF IN TOWN TO TALK FUNDING

Pennsylvania’s Governor appeared in the city of Williamsport on Friday to highlight his plan to push for additional funding to assist communities with storm preparedness and disaster recovery.  Wolf wants to institute a severance tax on the gas drilling industry in Pennsylvania and says he believes some $4.5 billion dollars could be raised which will be used for various projects including the flood levee recertification and repair in Lycoming County.  Republicans in the State Legislature remain continue to be against the severance tax.

HEARING SESSION CANCELLED

Pennsylvania’s Lieutenant Governor was to make a stop in Lock Haven yesterday as part of his listening tour to gather comments from the public about legalizing recreational marijuana, but due to the threat of inclement weather, that stop was cancelled.  State officials say they will make an announcement soon about when Lt. Governor John Fetterman will reschedule..  He is stopping in each of the 67 counties to talk to residents about legalizing recreational marijuana.  A Lycoming County stop has not yet been announced.

WORK TO CONTINUE

Work will continue this week in the city of Williamsport this week to cut down trees along West Fourth Street in the Newberry section as the road rehabilitation project gets underway there.  Motorists are reminded that things can be slow going as the flow of traffic will be directed by flagpersons.  You are reminded to be patient and drive accordingly.

FIRE CAUSE LIKELY TO REMAIN UNDETERMINED

The fire at 627 Third Avenue in Williamsport on Monday left three people homeless and the cause of the fire will likely remain undetermined.  Michael and Chyanne Mattern and their five-year-old daughter lost everything they owned in the blaze.  Luckily, they were not home at the house they rented from Alpha Student Housing of Williamsport.  The blaze broke out at 12:15 and went to three alarms in fifteen minutes.  According to Assistant Fire Chief Mark Killian, the cause of the fire will likely remain undetermined because the building is unsafe for investigators to enter.

SIDEWALK WIDENING PROJECT UNDERWAY

Yesterday, contractors began removing trees from along West Fourth Street in Newberry between Route 15 and Arch Street.  Heidi Lozano, Project manager with the State Department of Transportation told Newberry residents at a public meeting that the project will widen sidewalks to five feet to make them compliant with The Americans With Disabilities Act.  Wolyniec Construction, Inc. is the prime contractor on this project which also includes relocating water, sewer and storm water lines, according to a news release from PennDot.

FIREFIGHTERS SPEAK OUT ABOUT PRESCRIPTION ISSUES

Speaking through a spokesman at Williamsport City Council’s finance committee Tuesday, several city firefighters say they are owed prescription reimbursements, some of which are approaching thousands of dollars.  Kevin Breen, a firefighter and spokesman for the Local 736 union told the committee that one is in arrears approaching $10,000. Council chairman Liz Miele said that Breen was right to bring the matter forward and that Megan Dayhoff, human resources director is doing her job and must review the reimbursements.  Breen says the matter is known among elected officials and that the mayor has been apprised about the prescription issues.

PA STATE UNIVERSITIES TACKLE OPIOID EPIDEMIC

Efforts by Pennsylvania’s four state-related universities to help combat the commonwealth’s opioid epidemic was discussed at yesterday’s Senate Appropriations Committee on the state budget, according to committee member Senator Gene Yaw.  Yaw has led a series of statewide hearings on the epidemic, which claims an average of 15 Pennsylvanians each day.  At the budget hearing, he sought the input of the leaders of Penn State, University of Pittsburgh, Temple University and Lincoln University.  Penn State President Eric Barron said the school is hiring additional faculty to address the issue across several disciplines, including medical, science and social.

WILLIAMSPORT SYMPHONY RECEIVES GRANTS

The Williamsport Symphony Orchestra received a $1,500 Community grant for the 2018-2019 season in support of the Symphony’s educational youth programs.  PPL Foundation provided a $5,000 grant in support of Williamsport Symphony’s educational program for the same period.  The programs introduce students to orchestral music through presentations, free tickets and music training that includes the Youth Orchestra and Junior Strings programs.

CIT GLASSES ARE UNDERWAY

A Group of emergency responders in Lycoming County is learning how to better respond to a person experiencing a mental health crisis.  It’s called the Crisis Intervention Team or CIT and this is the second year Lycoming County has offered this class.  The Crisis Intervention Team has been implemented to divert people away from incarceration and into treatment.  Law enforcement hopes those in need during a crisis can see them as a resource.

PA FOOD BANK’S SOUP AND A BOWL FUNDRAISER FRIDAY

The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s 13^th annual Soup and Bowl fundraiser take place this Friday at the Genetti in downtown Williamsport.  There will be three seatings offering a light lunch of soup, bread dessert and beverages at 11 a.m., 1 pm and 4:30 pm. Attendees can select a handcrafted pottery bowl as a keepsake.  One in nine of our neighbors struggles to put enough food on their tables and all proceeds of the fundraiser will support the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank directly and the proceeds will provide more than 20,000 meals in our community.