MONTGOMERY WOMAN ARRESTED FOR STEALING FUNDS

A woman from Montgomery who served as the business director of a non-profit food pantry is facing felony theft charges after allegedly stealing over 40 thousand dollars from the organization.  According to the Sun Gazette, the treasurer of Footprints of Montgomery food Pantry reported irregularities in the bank account to state police which led to the discovery of the missing money.  Police allege that  50 year old Shawn Gawblick, who left the business director position in February, illegally withdrew over 30 thousand dollars from the businesses bank account and misappropriated another almost 10 thousand for her personal expenses.  Police said in court recently that Gawblick has an extensive criminal history including theft by deception and forgery.  She is free on 25 thousand dollars bail.

PA TROOPER TRIAL BRINGS GUILTY VERDICT

The jury in the week-long trial of the PA state trooper involved in the deadly crash in Tioga County that killed a 47 year old teacher from the Troy Area School District  returned a guilty verdict of vehicular homicide Friday.  According to the Sun Gazette, court records say Michael Brown illegally crossed a double yellow line along Route 6 last February 11, attempting to pass a car and struck Christine Woodward in an oncoming vehicle – she died at the scene. A judge in Columbia County has yet to set a sentencing date, Brown remains free on bail until then.

BRIDGE WORK IN WATSONTOWN

Work will close the Watsontown River Bridge for three weeks as part of a preservation project, starting today.  According to PennDOT, Brimmer Avenue will be closed Tuesday between Route 15 in White Deer Township, Union County and Elm/Canal streets in Watsontown.  There will be work including deck patching, placement of an epoxy overlay, and milling and paving of the bridge approaches. A detour using Main Street, Route 44, and Route 15 will be in place until approximately Wednesday, June 26^th.

BACTERIA LEVELS COULD LOWER THIS WEEK

The high coliform levels that closed swimming at Raymond B. Winter State Park Halfway Lake over the weekend could be at an acceptable level to return to swimming early this week.  According to the Daily Item, park officials say that during routine testing after the heavy rain last week, the bacteria levels were at 300 per 100 milliliter when it needs to be below 245.  The results of new samples from the lake are expected back today or tomorrow and officials are confident the bacteria levels will be back to normal, resulting in a potential announcement of the reopening of Halfway Lake at the Union County Park.

TWO MEN ARRESTED FOR DRUG DEALING

A Williamsport man was arrested after he delivered 10 bags of fentanyl, that later got into the hands of a confidential informant in February.  According to North Central PA dot com, 47 year old Kyiem Randy Bradshaw is known by police for alleged numerous fentanyl deals within Williamsport, and they say Bradshaw assisted a dealer named Stevie Sanso and the police informant over the phone, directing the two on the type of drugs available and where they could come to pick them up.  When they arrived at a residence near Third and Walnut Street, Sanso was given the fentanyl.  Both Bradshaw and Senso were later charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility.  Both men posted 50 thousand dollars bail.

POLICE SEEK TWO SUSPECTS WHO STOLE FROM VAPE SHOP

Police are seeking two suspects who police say stole cartons of cigarettes after they broke into the Muncy Puff Express store last Tuesday.  According to North Central PA dot com, the theft happened just before 3am at the East Water Street location after a rear door was forced open.  State Police at Montoursville said the suspects damaged the door and fled the scene after the theft.  Contact Muncy police at 570-546-8384 if you have information that would help the investigation. 

MORE RECYCLING OPTIONS IN UNION COUNTY

There are new recycling options for electronic waste in Union County.  According to the Daily Item, officials from the county say ReWorld and Goodwill Keystone Area recently announced they will provide free electronic waste recycling in 42 locations in 22 central and southeastern Pennsylvania counties, with the closest location in our region at the Goodwill Store & Donation Center, 175 International Drive, Lewisburg.  This will be the drop-off point for a wide variety of e-waste items from televisions and computers to other household electronics, with a goal to collect half a million pounds of electronic waste within the first year.  Officials from Goodwill say If the electronics cannot be repaired and sold, they will be responsibly recycled by ReWorld.

FLAG RETIREMENT CEREMONY NEXT WEEK

In in the spirit of the upcoming Flag Day observation in the US on June 14^th, there will be a flag retiring ceremony  hosted by the Coal Township VFW Post 317 on June 11^th.  According to the News Item, the public is encouraged to bring any old or tattered flags they want retired to the Coal Township Municipal Building, 801 W. Lynn Street next Tuesday at 6pm.  The dedicated drop-box for the proper disposal of tattered flags at the Coal Township VFW which was started in 2003 and has since collected more than 700,000 flags.

SPORTS

PIAA HS Softball  State Playoffs 1^st Round
Class A –      Old Forge 6                            Bucktail 3
Double A –   South Williamsport 15           Brandywine Heights 3
                     Bald Eagle Area 2                  Muncy 0
Triple A –    Midd-West 6                  Littlestown 2
                     Loyalsock  4                Mid Valley  2
Quad A –     Valley View 6               Jersey Shore 3
Class 5A –   Central Mountain 10     Penn Trafford 0
Class 6A –   Downingtown East 4     Williamsport 1
HS Baseball Playoffs 1^st Round
Class A –     MMI Prep 11                Millville 1
Double A –  Tri-Valley 10                 South Williamsport 9
                   Bald Eagle Area 9                   Lakeview 3
Quad A  –    Danville 6                      Scranton Prep 1
                   Indiana 3                        Bellefonte 0
Class 5A –   Selinsgrove 11               Lampeter-Strasburg 4

MLB
Phillies  3             Brewers  1
Mets  8                 Nationals 7
Orioles  7             Blue Jays  2
Angles 2               Padres  1
D’backs  4                     Giants 2
MLB Today
Dodgers vs  Pirates  6:40pm
Brewers  vs Phillies  6:40pm
Mets vs Nationals  6:45pm
Twins vs Yankees  7:05pm TBS
Orioles  vs Blue Jays   7:07pm

NHL Stanley Cup Final Game 1
Oilers vs Panthers  8pm ABC Sat. June 8^th

NBA Finals Game 1 Thursday June 6, 2024
Dallas Mavericks vs Boston Celtics  8:30pm ABC
Game 2 Sunday 6/9 8pm ABC

NEW CEO FOR LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL

The Little League International Board of Directors has named a new President and Chief Executive Officer following the 40 year tenure of Stephen D. Keener who previously announced his retirement from the position effective December 31^st of this year.  According to a news release, Patrick Wilson was appointed yesterday by the board who they say will be at the helm of the organization as they reach to achieve future goals for success.  Wilson has held key operational and organizational roles including Tournament Director of the Little League International Tournament, and he was named Chief Operating Officer in 2020.  The board said Wilson is a steadfast leader, deeply committed to the organization and its values of inclusion, integrity, community, teamwork, and fun.  His role will commence January 1^st, 2025.

GUILTY PLEA OVER THEFT IN CASTANEA TOWNSHIP

A 35 year old man from Phillipsburg plead guilty this week to stealing cigarettes and cash after breaking into a convenience store in Flemington.  According to North Central PA dot com, in Clinton County Court Tuesday, Anthony John Harkinson admitted his crime that occurred last July 21^st  when he smashed the glass of the Sunoco on South Hanna Street in Castanea Township and took several cartons of cigarettes and two cash registers causing 20 thousand dollars worth of damage.  Harkinson has his sentencing hearing in July.

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC SIGNALS IN WATSON TOWNSHIP

Temporary traffic signals will be installed today on Route 44 between the intersections of Furnace Run Road and Route 973 in Watson Township, as crews work on an embankment stabilization project. One temporary signal will be installed approximately 1.5 mile north of the intersection with Furnace Run Road and another temporary signal south of the intersection with Route 973. The signals will be set to flash yellow until Monday, June 10^th when the signals will become fully operational. 

REUNION WEEKEND AT BUCKNELL

Bucknell’s reunion weekend for class years ending in 4 and 9 starts this Friday and continues through Sunday  with special recognition for the class of 1974, celebrating 50 years this spring  events and activities will take place all weekend including all-class celebrations and tours of campus, classroom sessions, and outdoor activities including Susquehanna River kayak trips and a golf tournament.  The Bucknell University Alumni Association awards reception and ceremony will be Saturday morning with more than 1,600 alumni and family members are expected to be on campus.  Get more details at Bucknell.edu.

TWO ADULTS AND JUVENILE CHARGED FOR ASSAULT ON TEENAGER

Two adults and a 15 year old boy were charged with assault and other charges after they went to another teenage boy’s home in Snyder County where the victim’s phone was stolen and he was beaten up on May 20^th.  According to state police at Selinsgrove, both 29 year old Wilson Andujar, of Middleburg, and 29 year old Victor Velez, of Shamokin Dam drove with the boy to the 17 year old victim’s home after the two had exchanged texts and then took part in the fight.  The teen suspect punched the victim several times and later destroyed the boys phone after driving away from the scene.  Andujar and the 15 year old were charged with harassment and other charges, Velez was only charged with harassment.

SENTENCING FOR FORMER MEMORY CARE EMPLOYEE

The former employee at a memory care facility near Lewisburg, who admitted to taking disturbing pictures of residents in her care last year, was sentenced this week in Union County Court.  According to the Sun Gazette, the original plea deal for 19 year old Madison Elaine Cox of Montgomery was previously rejected by Judge Michael Piecuch who ruled yesterday that she will be jailed for three months then 18 months of house arrest with electronic monitoring fines and intensive probation.  Cox will never again to able to be unsupervised with the elderly or with children.  A juvenile employee of Heritage Springs who was a co-defendant with Cox, was previously adjudicated in juvenile court.

JURY AWARDS PENN STATE DOCTOR 5.25 MILLION DOLLARS

A Penn State football team doctor who was in court claiming that the PSU head football coach, James Franklin, repeatedly interfered with medical decisions, has been awarded $5.25 million in the 2019 case.  According to PennLive, attorneys for Dr. Scott Lynch said he clashed with Franklin over treatment plans for injured players after the coach took over in 2014, and they sued PennState, Penn State Health, and Lynch’s supervisor who decided to remove him from his sports medicine position, Dr. Kevin Black. The jury in the 7 day trial awarded Lynch 250,000 in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. 

LAUREL FESTIVAL 10K EARLY REGISTRATION DEADLINE

Early bird registrants for the Laurel Festival 10k and 2-mile fun run coming up on June 15^th will get the free T-shirt if they sign up by June 1^st.  According to the Wellsboro Chamber of Commerce, the 10k and the free shirts are sponsored by First Citizens Community Bank, and runners can register for the run at wellsboropa.com.  Registration will begin June 15^th at 7:45am at Packer Park on Queen Street in Wellsboro.  The weeklong festivities of the 82^nd annual, 2024 Laurel Festival are from Friday June 8^th and culminates with the coronation of this year’s Laurel Queen at Wellsboro High School on Saturday night June 15^th.

SPORTS

PIAA D4 Softball
Class 2A Championship Today
South Williamsport vs Muncy 4:30pm Elm Park

PA Sports News
Montoursville native Gavin Hoffman, who won 3 high school state wrestling championships and became an All American at Ohio State, will join the coaching staff at Lock Haven University as a volunteer assistant.

NBA West Finals Game 5 Today
Timberwolves vs Mavericks 8:30pm TNT DAL leads 3-1
NBA Finals Start June 6^th 8:30pm ABC

MLB
Rockies  7           Guardians  4
Game 1 – Tigers  8  Pirates  0
Game 2 – Pirates 10  Tigers 
Phillies  6            Giants  1
Dodgers  10        Mets  3
Orioles  6            Red Sox  1
Nationals  7        Braves  2
Yankees  2          Angels  1
MLB Today
Mets  vs Diamondbacks  7:10pm
Tigers vs Red Sox  7:10pm
Nationals  vs Braves  7:20pm
Yankees vs Angels  9:38pm

NHL West Final
Oilers  5              Stars  2  tied 2-2
NHL Tonight East Final Game 5
Panthers   vs Rangers  8pm ESPN  tied 2-2
NHL Friday West Final Game 5
Oilers vs Starts 8:30pm TNT tied 2-2