SLIPPERY CONDITIONS OVERNIGHT

Snow turned to sleet and freezing rain last night making for slippery conditions across our area into the overnight hours.  Several accidents were reported including a collision which shut down the Market Street bridge for about a half an hour and briefly trapped the driver.  No one was injured. .  Main roads are clearing up, but back roads and roads in the higher spots are slippery.  You are reminded to leave early for your destination.  Rising temperatures should contribute to melting today, but area schools are on delay this morning.  Here is that list.

ACCUSED MURDERER WAIVES HEARING

A Williamsport woman was in court yesterday to face a preliminary hearing in the New Year’s stabbing death of a man inside a city apartment.  Monica Burns is charged with homicide and aggravated assault in the stabbing death of 28 year old Ryan Jones following a fight amongst Jones and others in the unit at the Timberland Apartments. It’s believed the stabbing occurred shortly after 1am, and Jones then left the apartment on foot and was found dead behind city fire headquarters several hours later.  Burns, who is said to have not be cooperating with investigators waived her preliminary hearing yesterday and faces further court proceedings.

NEXT STEP FOR FLOOD GRAFIUS RUN FLOOD MITIGATION

It’s hoped the city of Williamsport can get some help from the state for a flood mitigation project along Grafius Run in the city which has been causing issues during heavy rain over the past several years.  It was reported in the Williamsport Sun Gazette that the city has completed ht stage of handing out and getting back surveys by residents along the run, documenting flood damage over the past ten years. The surveys have been delivered to the State’s Department of Environmental Protection for review and consideration of the state’s involvement in the project.

MAN ARRESTED FOR DEALING

Williamsport police have arrested a city man who they say tried to deliver a large bag of marijuana at his city home earlier this month.  30 year old Quinton Drummond is accused of the delivery of the drug as well as related charges at his Rose Street home on February 9^th.  He was arraigned and jailed in Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $100,000 dollars bail.

PRELIMINARY BUDGET POINTS TOWARDS SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE

One Lycoming County School district may be looking at a substantial tax increase in their next budget.  The East Lycoming School Board this week adopted a 2019-2020 preliminary budget which has with it an increase in spending close to a million dollars.  Increases are expected in salary and wages, retirement contributions and other aspects of the budget.  It’s possible a 1 mill tax increase could be instituted which would mean the board would have to apply to go above the Act 1 index.  District officials say the budget is preliminary and there are several things that need to be factored in before a final budget is passed.

CANDIDATES ANNOUNCE

The candidates continue to line up for county and municipal primary elections in May.  In the city of Williamsport, City councilman Derek Slaughter has announced that he will run for the Democratic nomination for Mayor in May.   Slaughter is in his first term on council.  Local business owner Jon Mackey will seek the democratic nomination to run in the fall for city council, and City treasurer Nicholas Grimes has said he will seek the Republican nomination to run for another term.  In addition, Steve Brady, the Covation Center executive director will seek the Republican Party nomination to run for Lycoming County Commissioner in the fall.

PRISONER DEATH IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY

Police and other Northumberland County officials are investigating the death of a prisoner at the new Northumberland County Prison.  45 year old Tara Yancheski was found unresponsive in her cell in the prison in Coal Township around 5:15 on Sunday afternoon.  Emergency personnel were not able to revive her.  Yancheski was serving time on a parole violation and an autopsy and toxicology results are pending to determine the cause of death.

OLLIES TO COME TO AREA

The former Toys R Us store along Lycoming Mall Circle will soon be occupied by another store.  It has been reported that Ollie’s Discount Department Store which sells overstocked or old-packaged name brand items will soon be opening in the former Toys R Us Store.  The company is seeking employees through on-line ads. The closest Ollie’s location is currently in Mill Hall.  It’s not been reported as to an opening date.

SOME SLIPPERY CONDITIONS POSSIBLE

Some snow fell overnight mixed with a little freezing rain but very few problems on the roadway have been reported this morning.  Most roads are wet.  Some back roads and roadways in the higher elevations may be a little slippery though as you head out, so make sure you take your time and leave early for you destination.  At this point there are no school delays as many schools are closed this morning due to the Presidents Day Holiday. In addition, most government offices are closed, there is no regular mail delivery and many financial institutions are closed as well.

UNION COUNTY FIRE UNDER INVESTIGATION

Fire struck in Union County over the weekend destroying a building there.  The fire was reported around 4:20am Saturday morning at 3266 Colonel John Kelly Road in Kelly Township. The building was fully involved when firefighters arrived and fire crews from Lewisburg, Mifflinburg, Milton, Winfield and White Deer Township responded.  They were on the scene for about four hours. No one was reported hurt and no other details are available. A State Police Fire Marshall was called to the scene to investigate the cause of that Union County Fire.

GUILTY OF MURDER IN THE 2^ND DEGREE

Following several hours of deliberations, a Lycoming County jury on Friday returned a verdict of guilty of murder in the second degree for a man accused in the killings of two in the city of Williamsport.  37 year old Joseph Coleman had been accused with two other men of entering a home in the 600 Poplar Street on Halloween Night a couple of years ago, with the intent to rob the place of money.  25 year old Shane Wright and his mother, 50 year old Kristine Kibler were shot and killed.  Coleman was also found guilty on robbery charges. His attorney plans on appealing.

REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE TO DECIDE ON CANDIDATE

It’s believed that the State Republican Committee will decide on a candidate to run for the 12^th district Congressional Seat vacated by Tom Marino during a meeting early next month.  Several potential candidates have thrown their hat into the ring to run for the seat.  Those candidates include State House members Jeff Wheeland and Fred Keller.  A convention is set for selecting a  Republican nominee on March 2^nd at 9am at Farrington Place in Williamsport.   The Democratic Committee has already chosen Marc Friedenberg to run in the special election on May 21^st.

MAN ARRESTED FOR HAVING SEX WITH TEEN

A Northumberland man was arrested on Friday, charged with the statutory sexual assault of a 14 year old girl which occurred at a Snyder county Hotel earlier this month.  28 year old Shawn Neidig is accused of using an electronic messaging app to meet the girl at a hotel in Shamokin Dam on February 7^th where he allegedly had sex with her.  Neidig was arraigned on Friday on a count of statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors, and other counts and was jailed in lieu of $20,000 bail.

FIRE IN COLUMBIA COUNTY

Fire struck outside Millville in Columbia County heavily damaging a home there.  The fire broke out around 8:30 in the kitchen of the home along Rohrsburg Road in Greenwood Township. When firefighters arrived they found flames shooting from the home and a second alarm was called in.  No one was injured in that fire and the fire did spread throughout the home with firefighters on the scene for several hours.  It’s not known how many people have been displaced, a damage estimate has not been released, though the home is said to be a total loss.  .

THON RAISES MORE THAN 10 MILLION

Once again this year thousands of Penn State students as well as others descended on the Bryce Jordan Center in participate in the annual THON Dance-a-thon there.  The 46 hour dance marathon is held yearly to raise money to help families of pediatric cancer patients to pay medical bills as well as for research. This year’s event has raised a little more than $10.6 million dollars.  Since the event has begun in 1973, the dance marathon has raised more than $157 million dollars all together.

COUPLE FACES FIREARMS CHARGES

A Lycoming Township couple have been charged with firearms violations after illegally obtaining a handgun at a Williamsport dealer.  Old Lycoming Township Police went to the Dewey Avenue Extension residence of Timothy Kuhns II and Amanda Kuhns yesterday for reports of Kuhn’s possessing a firearm he was not allowed to have due to being on probation.  There they found a 9mm handgun which Amanda Kuhns had completed the background check on but lied about purchasing it for her husband.  Each have been charged with three counts with Mr. Kuhns jailed in lieu of $25,000 bail and Mrs. Kuhns released after posting $25,000 bail.

TWO ARRESTED FOR ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A CHILD

A Williamsport couple faces charges of corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children after being arrested for purchasing and smoking marijuana with a 10 year old child present.  Between May of last year and January of this year, 36 year old April Seagraves and 39 year old Michael Fitzwater are accused of purchasing the drug at different spots in Williamsport and Lycoming County on at least four occasions with the ten year old female in the back seat and Ms. Seagraves is accused of smoking the drug in front of the child.  Bail was set at $25,000 for both.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT

Talk at tonight’s Williamsport City Council meeting will center on a proposed $1.2 million dollar project at BB&T Ballpark at Bowman Field.  A new scoreboard is planned as well as other upgrades including for the offices there.  The city has said they will match a $600,000 dollar grant , but council members are wondering where the money is coming from.  A bidding process for the scoreboard had already been held up once, and a second bidding process has found that the low bidder has filed bankruptcy.  It’s hoped that all the upgrades would be ready for the Crosscutters season which begins in June.

CONSTRUCTION DELAYS

Muncy Township supervisors at their meeting yesterday learned that a construction project on an assisted living apartment complex in the Township has been delayed due to winter weather and other factors.  It was hoped that tenants could begin to move into the Muncy Green Apartments along Brady Drive but construction there has been delayed.  According to the story in this morning’s Williamsport Sun Gazette, a grant, received to help with construction is in danger with a mandate that tenants move in by spring.  A three phase plan is now in place. It’s hoped the first tenants can be moved in next month.

WATER LINE REPLACEMENT PLANNED

A busy intersection in the Newberry section of Williamsport will soon be impacted due to a water line replacement.  The City Council public works committee found out at their meeting yesterday from the Williamsport Municipal Water Authority that there is a broken water pipe at the intersection of West Fourth and Arch Streets, necessitating a replacement there.  Water Authority officials told the committee that an alert will be put out ahead of time giving a heads up to motorists who use that intersection.

WOLF PLAN TO FUND STATE POLICE

Part of the budget talk in Harrisburg this session will center on Governor Wolf’s proposal to impose an annual fee for all state residents to fund the state police.  Wolf’s plan would require municipalities with fewer than 2,000 people to pay $8 per person and those with more than 20,000 residents would pay $166 per person.  The governor says the fees are needed due to the increased demands for state police protection as municipalities continue to eliminate police forces.  The plan is expected to get heavy opposition in the state legislature.

SAFETY PROGRAMS GET UNDERWAY

The State of Pennsylvania is getting ready for motorcycle season.  PennDOT reports that now through October they are offering a line of PA Motorcycle Safety program clinics focusing on developing operator proficiency free-of-charge to prospective, experienced and new Pennsylvania riders who have a motorcycle learners permit or motorcycle license.  Registration for the training season opens tomorrow.  A Facebook live Q&A session will take place today from 1 to 1:30pm on the Live Free Ride Alive Facebook page.  For more information or to enroll in a clinic go to www.pamsp.com.

MONTOUR COUNTY PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD

Things are moving forward in Montour County for renovations to both the County Jail and the Courthouse.  According to the Daily Item Newspaper, Montour County Commissioners on Tuesday accepted a loan proposal from Mifflinburg Bank and Trust which could be worth up to $2.5 million dollars.  County officials have also agreed to sell two buildings on Woodbine Lane in Danville along with some land as they work to consolidate the county’s offices in the courthouse and the former Danville Elementary School.

SLIPPERY CONDITIONS

The snow is falling this morning.  We could see anywhere from 3 to 6 inches across the area before it then turns to some freezing rain.  Roadways are snow covered and slippery this morning and you are reminded to take it easy and clean off your vehicles when you head out this morning.  Speed limits have been reduced to 45ph on I-180 from Route 15 to the Northumberland County Line, and I-80 from Clinton County all the way to Luzerne County.  There are both school delays and closures as we get started this morning and here they are.

MAN CHARGED IN DOMESTIC INCIDENT

A Williamsport man was jailed last week following a domestic incident at his Arch Street home.  Williamsport police were called to the home of 50 year old Calvin Spann on February 4th following an incident where he is accused of striking a woman multiple times, and then putting his hands around her neck and choking her.  He was charged with strangulation, simple assault and harassment and was jailed in Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $30,000 bail.

BUDGET TALKS BEGIN

The State House Appropriations Committee began hearings yesterday concerning Governor Wolf’s $34.1 billion dollar budget proposal.  Leaders of the Republican controlled legislature centered talk on the governor’s proposal to raise the minimum wage in the state.  Republicans on the committee repeatedly criticized the broader impact of the wage hike questioning whether it might choke of entry level jobs, squeeze small businesses or drive up inflation.  The hearing signaled a tough road ahead for the Democratic Governor to get the minimum wage increased.

HUGHESVILLE NOT THRILLED TO CONSOLIDATE VOTING

Hughesville borough council held discussion last night on a suggestion by the Lycoming County Department of Voter services that they consolidate their voting wards in order to help with the cost of new voting machines which has become a state mandate.    Borough officails say they are leaning against doing that saying that a consolidation would mean that Hughesville would have to go to seven person borough council as voters would have to vote for candidates instead of those just in their ward.  Officials say they are having a tough time getting candidates to run for the current six seats.

CLAUSI DROPS OUT OF RACE

A former Northumberland County Commissioner who announced in December that he was interested in running there again, has pulled his name from that candidates list.  Vinny Clausi who was a commissioner there from 2008 to 2015 released a statement yesterday saying that following a long conversation with family and friends that he was withdrawing from the race.  Clausi says that the hardest part about reaching the decision is letting down county voters who offered their support, but says that despite not being an elected official he will continue to stay active and continue to expose corruption in county government.

WEISS TO RUN FOR COMMISSIONER

Another candidate has thrown his hat in the ring to run for Lycoming County Commissioner.  Retired Attorney Elliot Weiss has announced that he will run for the democratic nomination in the May 21^st primary to run in the fall.  Weiss who serves on multiple boards and who also was a Williamsport City Councilman from 1990-1996 the first responsibility of a county commissioner is to promote economic growth through fiscally responsible actions.

CSVT SECTION APPROVED

It looks like another section of the Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway is a go.  At last week’s meeting of the Grater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee, PennDOT Assistant Plans Engineer Mark Beck announced that the eastern alternative for the southern section of the Thruway is a go.  Beck says environmental clearances have ben finalized and fini9shed plans could be announced as early as next month.  The eastern alternative is PennDOT’s preferred choice meeting traffic needs with the lease impact on homes, farms and is less noisy.  It also avoids fly ash basins which were discovered in Shamokin Dam and Monroe Township.

MEETING TOMORROW FOR DUKE STREET PROJECT

Residents and business owners in Northumberland are reminded that a public meeting regarding the next phase of the Duke Street Reconstruction project there is scheduled to tomorrow evening beginning at 6pm at Front Street Station, 2 Front Street in Northumberland.  The meeting will include a presentation and an opportunity for attendees to review and comment on the project and traffic control plans.

LARGE AMOUNT OF COCAINE FOUND

A traffic stop by state police in the city of Williamsport on Tuesday morning yielded one of the biggest cache’s of drugs ever found inside a vehicle in this area.  Police say they pulled over 48 year old Franklin Mejia of Patterson New Jersey for speeding on I-180 around 9am Tuesday morning.  Following discovery of a specially designed compartment under the front seats, and a check of Mejia’s record, police towed the vehicle back to the barracks where over 2 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $100,00 was discovered.  Mejia was charged with possession with intent to deliver and jailed without bail.

RIVER LEVELS TO RISE

The Susquehanna River is back on the rise due to rain and snow melt.  Officials believe the river could rise to anywhere from 14 to 18 feet by this weekend.  That means that city officials will have to fire up the city’s pump stations to prevent any flooding.  Officials say the operation of the four pump stations could cos up to $5,000 dollars in overtime expenses. They are expected to be operated on Saturday and Sunday of this week.

STRUCK PEDESTRIAN IDENTIFIED

An update on a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in the city of Williamsport on Tuesday.  Police say 22 year old Raheem Vincent of Williamsport was crossing in the 500 Block of West Third Street around 7:45 on Tuesday evening when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Kathryn Keller of Montoursville.  It’s believed Vincent stepped out in front of the vehicle.  He was taken to UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.  His condition not released. No charges have been filed.

RADIO SYSTEM APPROVED

Lycoming County Commissioners yesterday voted by 2-1 to lock in to a contract which will replace the countywide radio systems and equipment.  The final contract is for $4.2 million dollars.  The county had until January 31^st to pull out and put the project out to bid or pursue other options.  It’s believed the county will be able to save some money from the original $4.95 million dollar cost, saving on system maintenance.

AUTHORITIES SEEKING FEMALE GUARD

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of that Northumberland County Prison officer who had an unidentified substance found in her locker after a search at the prison this week.  Following the discovery, police tried to talk with Holly Olvaney, but she sped off in her vehicle and hasn’t been found since.  As of right now she is just wanted for misdemeanor charges of reckless and careless driving. The substance which was found is being tested at a lab and Olvaney when found will be questioned regarding that substance and the possibility she may have been smuggling it into the prison.

DUI TASK FORCE RESULTS

Officials with the Lycoming County DUI Task Force have released the results of their recent Super Bowl weekend DUI Enforcement.  Officers stopped 16 vehicles across the county resulting in 5 DUI arrests over the weekend.  They also handled a bar fight and issued non traffic cictations for public drunkenness.  One of the DUI arrests was the result of a hit and run accident with a brief vehicle pursuit.  Other vehicle code citations were also issued during the enforcement.

CAMPANA TO RUN FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER

Williamsport’s Mayor has his sights set a little higher this year.  Mayor Gabriel Campana who has been the city’s mayor since 2008, and who would be up for re-election has announced instead that he will seek the Republican nomination in the May Primary to run in the fall for one of three Lycoming County Commissioner seats.  Campana says eliminating waste and lowering taxes are his priorities if elected., saying he would bring vision, leadership and decisiveness to the position.

GARDNER ANNOUNCED CANDIDACY

Another local attorney has announced his candidacy for Lycoming County District Attorney.  Ryan Gardner, who practices law with Callahan, Gardner LLC will seek the Republican nomination in May for the DA’s post.  Gardner, a Montoursville native says he has prior experience in criminal and civil litigation across the state at both the common pleas and appellate levels and has also practiced in federal court.  He also has experience as an assistant DA.  He says he would emphasize the importance of the safety of community and families.

MAN FOUND GUILTY OF RAPE

A Northumberland County man has been found guilty on all charges relating the rape of a Turbotville girl over a seven year period.  42 year old Jarret Kinley of Lewis Township began sexually assaulting the girl when she moved to the Turbotville Area with her family at the age of 9 and the assaults continue until 2016 when she was 16 and Kinley was arrested.  He was convicted yesterday of multiple counts. No word on when he will be sentenced.