Local News

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT VOTE TOMORROW

It looks like the Lycoming County owned White Deer Golf Course will remain under the current management.  Commissioners are expected to vote tomorrow to extend the contract with Billy Casper Golf to run the course near Allenwood for another three years.  Commissioners Jack McKernan and Tony Mussare seem in favor of that agreement while Commissioner Rick Mirabito would like to see the county and management company get together to find a new way to finance the course.  Officials say that the course did turn a profit this year, despite the number of rounds being down due to all the rain.

PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT VICTIM IDENTIFIED

A Northumberland County man has been identified as the victim of a pedestrian accident which occurred on Monday evening.  The Northumberland County Coroner’s office says it was 76 year old George Schindler who was struck by an SUV while crossing Route 11 in Point Township near his home on Monday evening around 6:30.  He was pronounced dead at the scene from blunt force trauma injuries around a half an hour later.  The road was shut down for about 2 ½ hours during the investigation.  The driver of the vehicle has not been identified and it’s not known if any charges will be filed.

DOG LICENSES NOW AVAILABLE IN LYCOMING COUNTY

Lycoming County Dog owners can now purchase their 2019 dog licenses.  The licenses went on sale on Monday at Lycoming County Treasurers office at 33 West Third Street in Williamsport.  An annual og license is $8.50. if the dog is spayed or neutered, the cost is $6.50.  $2.00 less for people with disabilities.  Licenses are also available to be purchased online at www.lyco.org by clicking on the Top Ten links.  The Lycoming County SPCA on Reach Road in Williamsport will also have the licenses available for purchase beginning next month.

MAN ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT ON OFFICER

South Williamsport police on Monday arrested a man, formerly from Virginia who assaulted a police officer at a borough hotel.  Police were called out on Monday to the Red Roof Inn on Route 15 for reports of a disturbance.  When they arrived, 24 year old Taylor James-Hill reportedly became unruly and spit in the face of one officer.  He was arrested and charged with aggravated and simple assault, as well as harassment and disorderly conduct and was jailed in Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.

NO TAX INCREASE IN MONTOURSVILLE

Following a 0.7 mills tax increase this past year, Montoursville Borough property owners will not see their tax bills go up for 2019.  Borough Council yesterday adopted a $2.3 million dollars budget which will include a 2.5% salary increase for the borough’s 15 unionized workers.  The budget will not have a tax increase though with the tax rate staying at 4 mills.  They say the tax increase last year brought in an extra $75,000 dollars.

WASD BOARD APPROVES LERTA

The Williamsport Area School Board has fallen in line with Williamsport City Council and the County Commissioners, unanimously approving the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Ordinance, better known as LERTA.  That means that the city of Williamsport will be able to offer tax abatement to businesses and developers looking at building or expanding on otherwise unused or underutilized properties within three sections of the city.  The tax breaks would start at 100% and then be reduced on a sliding scale.  It’s hope that the ordinance will help spur on development with in the city.

CHRISTMAS TOYS STOLEN

State police in Bradford County are looking for a grinch.  Police say that in the early morning hours of November 23rd, that someone broke into storage facility along the Berwick Turnpike in Gillet and removed approximately 15 plastic totes full of toys meant for children for Christmas.  The theft happened between midnight and 6am and police are asking anyone with information into that burglary to give them a call at the state police barracks in Towanda.

NO INCREASE IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY

Northumberland County is another step closer to a no tax increase budget for 2019.  Saying that they have finished up large projects from 2018 including the new prison and replacement of the 911 radio towers in the county, Commissioners unveiled a 2019 spending plan of $76 million dollars which is $18 million dollars less than in 2018.  Following a tax increase last year, Commissioners voted 2-1 to keep the tax millage at about 30.22 mills all together which would mean an average bill  for county property owners of $388 dollars.  The vote yesterday was 2-1.  A final adoption is scheduled for December 27th.

REVENUES UP, BUT………

Good news and bad news on the state budget front.  Though tax revenue reports in Pennsylvania show an increase of $913 million dollars in collections for the first five months of the 2018-2019 fiscal year, warnings have been put forth about the state’s overall fiscal health.  A fiscal watchdog for the state has predicted as much at a $1.7 billion dollar shortfall for next year’s budget.  Factors include a large growth in expenditures including more than a billion dollars in one-time funding sources used to balcne this pas year’s budget and an increase in state costs associated with health and human services programs.

Local News

FIREFIGHTERS LAUDED FOR THEIR WORK

Damage is estimated at about $100,000 dollars stemming from that Sunday afternoon fire in the city which began in a five unit apartment building on Memorial Avenue and quickly spread to another house next door.  Williamsport’s Fire Chief Todd Heckman is giving kudos to the first seven city firefighters who responded to the scene at 1526 Memorial Avenue and says that all the firefighters who responded to a the three-alarm blaze did a great job of keeping structural damage to a minimum.  One resident suffered a minor injury when they fell. Ten are currently homeless. The cause of that city fire remains under investigation.

A THIRD DEGREE MURDER CONVICTION FOR GROVES

Guilty of murder in the third degree.  A Clinton County jury yesterday found Loyd Groves guilty of the 1991 murder of Kathy Heckel of Lock Haven.  During the nearly two week trial, the prosecution painted a picture of Groves involvement in the disappearance of Heckel who he was having a romantic relationship at the time, though it’s believed the woman was trying to break it off.  Her body has never been found.  Groves who was arrested in 2015, but who has been a suspect ever since her disappearance was found not guilty of first degree murder.  He will be sentenced next month and could spend the rest of his life in prison.  took about ten hours all together for them to come up with their verdict.

LEWISBURG CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TO SHINE

The lights will go back on in Downtown Lewisburg.  Last week, officials in Lewisburg say that the lights which usually are strung along Market Street to light up the holiday season would not be put up due to the fact that they were in bad shape and the borough did not have enough funds to replace them.  A Go Fund Me page was set up and money raised, and council last night voted to use area power company bucket trucks to string up less expensive non commercial lights. It’s hoped that the lights can be on in time for Lewisburg’s Late Shoppers Friday night this week.

MAN ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT AND THREATS

Police have arrested a Barbours man accused of assaulting and threatening his daughter during a disturbance in Upper Fairfield Township.  The incident happened on Sunday along Back Street as 38 year old Bradley Stewart allegedly assaulted the unidentified female, also allegedly threatening to beat her to a bloody pulp and to stab her in the face. He was charged with simple assault and terroristic threats and was jailed in lieu of $15,000 bail.

CRASH ON 220 INJURES 1

A man was sent to the hospital for treatment following a crash on Route 220 in Woodward Township last evening.  The accident happened around 6pm in front of the Woodward Township Volunteer Fire Company as a vehicle rear-ended another.  The driver of the first car was transported to UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center for treatment of unspecified injuries.  That person’s name and condition have not been released. The second driver who has not been named was not injured. State police are investigating the crash.

MAN STRUCK AND KILLED BY VEHICLE

A section of Route 11 in Point Township, Northumberland County was shut down for about 2 ½ hours last evening after a man was struck and killed by a vehicle.  The Daily Item Newspaper reports that the as yet unidentified 75 year old man was crossing the highway from the Sunoco Quick Shop Convenience store to the Witmer Drive Mobile Home Park around 6:30pm  when he was struck by an SUV. That man was pronounced dead at the scene.  The driver of the SUV was not hurt.  The investigation continues.

APPROVAL FOR BRIDGE BUNDLING LOAN RECIEVED

Approval has been given for a $7 million dollar loan which will go towards the replacement and repair of bridges in Lycoming County. The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Bank loan which was requested back in June will pay for the costs to replace or repair 17 municipally owned bridges.  Debt service will be paid for with help from the $5 registration fee on county vehicles as well as natural gas impact fees that have been set aside, plus a 5% local match from the participating municipalities. County Commissioners will have to approve receipt of the loan.

NO SCHOOL CLOSING MEETINGS YET

The Jersey Shore School Board has decided not to hold hearings on the closings of two elementary schools in the district, at least for the time being.  A vote last night to set dates for public hearings to discuss the possible closings of both the Avis and Salladsburg Elementary Schools, next month deadlocked at 4 with one board member absent.  The district almost closed the schools last year, to help with a large budget deficit, but it was decided not to do so.  The district continues to discuss ways to head off another budget deficit.

NOVIELLO TO RUN FOR MAYOR

A second candidate has come forward saying he will seek nomination to run for mayor in the city of Williamsport next year.  Republican Don Noviello, a current city councilman says he will seek the Republican nomination in the spring primary.  Noviello says the city needs to evelop more opportunities to bring it into the 21st Century and cited outdated and ineffective codes and other regulations that should be updated or eliminated in order to entice new businesses. Previously city resident Eric Beiter had announced his candidacy.  Current Republican Mayor Gabriel Campana has not announced yet whether or not he is running for re-election.

Local News

VEHICLE RUNS INTO STRUCTURE

A vehicle went into a structure in Duboistown last evening shutting down the street at a popular Christmas Display for a time.  The accident happened in the 6pm hour on Summer Street, better known as Candy Cane Lane. It’s believed that the vehicle lost it’s brakes as it was going up the hill, and started going backwards down the street crashing into the structure in the 200 block. It’s not believed that anyone was injured.  Emergency crews had to close down the street as they worked at the scene.  No word on the extent of damage.

11 DISPLACED FOLLOWING CITY FIRE

A three –alarm fire in the city of Williamsport yesterday left 11 people, including three children homeless. The fire broke out shortly past 1pm in a five unit apartment house in the 1500 block of Memorial Avenue.  A woman and her great grandson had to be rescued by neighbors on the second floor balcony of her apartment while the fire was spreading next door to that neighbor’s house. It took almost an hour to bring that fire under control.  Damage was extensive, though an estimate has not been released. No one was hurt, and the cause of that city fire is under investigation.

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY FIRE DESTROYS A HOUSE

Fire struck yesterday in Northumberland County leaving several people homeless and sending one person to the hospital.  Firefighters were called out around 3pm at the apartment house on South Oak Street in Mt. Carmel Township.  Two persons had to be rescued with one person taken to the hospital. Their condition not released.  The fire caused destroyed the building and caused smoke damage at a neighboring house next door.  A damage estimate has not been released and the cause of that Northumberland County fire is under investigation.

FOUR CHARGED IN SELINSGROVE DRUG BUST

Four persons were arrested in Selinsgrove on Friday after police served a search warrant on a home finding drugs there.  Police were tipped off to the drug activity at the North Market Street home and on Friday arrived with a warrant.  When they went to the door, one of the occupants shut and locked the door.  Police forced entry and four persons inside tried to flee but were all taken into custody.  There they found a large amount of marijuana packaged for sale, as well as methamphetamines.  Dustin Kline and Austin Fetterman of Selinsgrove, Uriah Fausey of Watsontown and Christopher Levan of Florida all face felony drug charges and are jailed in lieu of $50,000 bail each.

JURY BACK IN DELIBERATIONS TODAY

It’s back to the Clinton County Courthouse today for a 6 man, 6 woman jury charged with deciding the fate of Loyd Groves, a man accused in the 1991 cold case murder of Kathy Heckel.  It took about three hours for closing arguments on Friday and the jury was sent out to deliberate around 6pm.  They were excused for the weekend at 9pm but told to report back this morning at 8am.  Groves is charged with 1st and 3rd degree murder in the disappearance of Heckel whose body has never been found.

DUKE STREET REOPENED TO CARS

Duke Street in Northumberland is back open to car traffic for now.  Work has wrapped up for the winter on the Duke Street Reconstruction project there with the road reopened to car traffic until the multi-year reconstruction project starts back up next year.  A truck detour remains in place for trucks over 36 feet in length. Meanwhile work continues on the railroad underpass there and some work continues on front street though parking is now permitted on the right side of the street.  ]

TWO VEHICLES BROKEN INTO

Two trucks were broken into at a Clinton Township, Lycoming County property last month with more than $5,000 worth of items taken. The incident happened around 7am on the 21st of November as someone broke into the two vehicles parked in a lot in the 5600 block of Route 15.  The person or persons took various items including cooper wire, batteries and other items from the trucks. Anyone with information regarding that theft is asked to contact State Police in Montoursville at 570-368-5700.

Local News – November 28th

GOLF TALK

As it stands right now, it looks like Lycoming County will continue to be in the golf business at least for 2019.  During their meeting yesterday, a long time employee of the golf course inquired to Lycoming County Commissioners as to the status of his job at the White Deer Golf Course.  Commissioners have said they are happy with the job that the management company, Billy Casper Golf has done there in 2018 despite the tough weather and the number of rounds played being down.  Two of three commissioners seem committed to giving the company another year there.

EX-WIFE TESTIFIES

The jury could begin deliberations later today in the Clinton County murder trial of Loyd Groves.  Groves is accused of killing Kathy Heckel back in 1991.  Heckel left her job in Lock Haven and was never seen again.  Final prosecution testimony took place yesterday including testimony from Grove’s wife at the time, Kathy who told the court that she did not come forward when Groves was first tabbed as being a suspect on advice of counsel.  Kathy Groves said the first time she talked to police since them is when she was subpoenaed to testify in his trail this past June.  Closing arguments could take place as early as this morning in the Clinton County Courthouse.

SEAT BELT AND DESIGNATED DRIVER EVENT

An event in the city of Lock Haven today will stress the importance of seat belt use and designated driving as part of the National Operation Safe Holiday enforcement initiative.  The event will take place at the Parsons Union Building at 401 North Fairview Street between the hours of 6 and 8pm with PennDOT and Lock Haven City police on hand to conduct mock sobriety checks with participants wearing alcohol impairment simulation goggles.  Participants will also be able to operate the impaired/distracted driving simulator sponsored by State Farm Insurance and UPMC in Erie.

MAN BUSTED FOR SELLING DRUGS

The Lycoming County Narcotics Enforcement Unit has announced the arrest of a city resident on drug and theft charges.  24 year old Bruce Jackson is accused of selling heroin to an undercover officer on two separate occasions in September in the city and then following a third sale, he is accused of theft in taking $200 from an undercover officer.  He is charged with possession with intent to deliver, theft and other related counts. He was arraigned and jailed in lieu of $150,000 dollars bail.

POSSIBLE DONATION FOR RECREATION

Though they made no type of decision, the Williamsport City Council Economic Revitalization Committee yesterday heard from a Lock Haven businessman and philanthropist who wants to make a donation for recreation in the city.  Steven Poorman whose family is active in Lock Haven and Clinton County in a number of civic organizations told the committee he would like to make a $240,000 dollars donation as part of a legacy fund, hoping that would spur on other donors.  The money would be used towards making improvements at Shaw Place Park as well as upkeep at the city owned Splash Cove.  In return, a recreation facility would be named for the Poorman family.

MONTGOMERY MAN INJURED IN CRASH

A crash on Sunday in Clinton Township sent a Montgomery man to Geisinger Medical Center with unspecified injuries.  The crash occurred around 9:30 in the evening on Sunday as 28 year old Jeremy Winder lost control of his vehicle on State Route 54 near Chevy Lane. The truck went across the roadway, into a field and overturned, at one point striking a tree. Winder had to be extricated and was taken onto Geisinger where his condition was not released.  No one else as involved in that Clinton Township crash.

FORMER AG HEADED TO JAIL BY TOMORROW

It’s onto jail for a former state attorney general who was found guilty on several charges including perjury back in 2016.  Appeals by Kathleen Kane have been turned down by several courts and on the State Supreme Court made the final determination that Kane will have to serve her 10 to 23 month sentence in prison.  Yesterday afternoon, a Montgomery County judge revoked Kane’s bail and ordered her to report to jail by 9am tomorrow.

FEDERAL FUNDING ON THE WAY

Hoped for federal funds will be coming to some areas counties to help with repairs which either have been made or need to be made following flooding and damage from severe August storms.  Governor Wolf announced yesterday that he has had his request for FEMA funding approved by the federal government.  The money which will be distributed amongst several counties including Lycoming, Montour, Sullivan, Tioga, Bradford and Columbia Counties will be used to either facilitate or reimburse repairs by state agencies, county and municipal governments and other eligible private non-profits affected by the storms.

STORE ORDERED SOLD

The future of the Kmart Store in the Loyal Plaza in Williamsport is up in the air.  U.S.  Bankruptcy Court has approved Sears Holdings Inc. proposal to sell more than 500 Sears and Kmart stores.  Amongst the list of 504 stores to be sold is the Williamsport area store at 1915 East Third Street.   Sears is considering offers from liquidation firms that sell company assets in pieces an then shuts them down. The company has a Mid-December Deadline.   Kmart is a subsidiary of Sears which had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year and closed the Sears Store at the Lycoming Mall as well as the Kmart Store in Shamokin Dam.

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THREE VEHICLE CRASH SENDS ONE TO THE HOSPITAL

A three car crash in the city of Williamsport yesterday afternoon sent one person to the hospital with unspecified injuries.  The crash occurred around 4pm in the westbound lanes of Interstate 180 near the Market Street bridge as one vehicle ran into the back of another, pushing it into a third.  One person was transported to UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center for treatment. Their condition was not released.  None of the persons involved in that accident have been identified. It’s is under investigation by Williamsport City police.

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FLOOD WARNINGS CONTINUE

Flood warnings are still out for most of our area, as creeks and streams stabilized some yesterday, but then started to rise again overnight.  Flooding was reported in sections of Muncy, as well as in the Hughesville area overnight, and there was flooding in the Ralston Area along Lycoming Creek as well.  The forecast for the crest on the river has been revised with a crest of 17.5 feet now expected at Williamsport on Thursday which is still below flood stage.  There still could be some low lying flooding along the river for the next couple of days. More showers are expected throughout the day today.

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LYCOMING COUNTY LOCAL NEWS

PENNDOT VEHICLE AND TRACTOR TRAILER CRASH

Yesterday morning, a crash-impact vehicle on the back of a state Department of Transportation dump truck proved its worth when a tractor trailer truck slammed into it in the northbound lane of Route 15 at the Beautys Run Road interchange. Both the driver of the tractor trailer and the PennDot employee sitting in the stopped vehicle escaped serious injuries in the 9 a.m. crash. The PennDot vehicle was protecting a group of workers who were cleaning bridges less than 1,000 feet ahead of the truck. Why the driver of the tractor trailer failed to move over to the passing lane was unknown and State police who were leading the investigation have not released any details.

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June 12th, 2018 – Local News

NEW PRINCIPAL IN JERSEY SHORE

The Jersey Shore School District has a new High School Principal. The School Board last night unanimously voted to hire current senior assistant High School Principal Steven Keen as the High School Principal as well as the district’s director of career and technical education.  His job will be effective on July 1st.  Keen will be paid close to $105,000 dollars for the principals job and another $7700 for the CTE job for a total of $112, 667 dollars.  He replaces Reed Mellinger who retired this year after serving 24 years with the district.

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MAN CHARGED WITH CHILD PORN

A 19 year old city man was jailed over the weekend after being arrested for possessing child porn.  City police say Darven Moore allegedly displayed a sexual video and nude images of a teenage minor on on social media on Saturday.  He has been charged with dissemination of intimate images, corrupting the morals of a minor and harassment and was arraigned and jailed in Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $99,000 dollars bail.

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