MORE ASSAULT CHARGES FOR FORMER CORRECTIONAL OFFICER

More sexual assault charges have been brought against a former female corrections officer at Clinton County Correctional Facility.  According to North Central PA dot com, 31 year old Kelly Lynn Fye had already been charged with assaulting an inmate while she was employed there. New charges, including three counts of third-degree felony institutional sexual assault from February 10^th  have been added. Fye will have a formal arraignment at the end of March., she is free on 50 thousand dollars bail.

FARMERS TO BE SENTENCED FOR POISONING BIRDS

Two PA farmers will be sentenced May 29^th after being found guilty of poisoning more than two dozen migratory birds with a banned chemical.  According to the US Department of Justice, Robert Yost, the operator of Yost Farms, in Beaver County, and Jacob Reese, an employee in June 2020, laced feed with a pesticide called carbofuran and killed 17 Canada geese, 10 red-winged blackbirds, and a mallard duck.  THE EPA banned the substance in 2009.   According to court records, the men destroyed the feed and lied to government officials during the investigation.   Both Yost and Reese face a maximum prison term of 13 months and a fine of $31,000.

CITY COUNCIL REAFFIRMS LYCOMING COUNTY NOT A SANCTUARY AREA

City Council members addressed rumors last week reaffirming that neither Lycoming County nor the City of Williamsport are areas withy a sanctuary status for undocumented migrants.  According to the Sun Gazette, Council President Adam Yoder clarified the role of the Immigration and Custom Enforcement office on South Reach Road – which is merely administrative – not a facility to house or detaining undocumented people.  Yoder also invited anyone who had not heard the most recent broadcast of the Lycoming County Commissioners meeting answering questions regarding the response to a non-government website incorrectly posting that our area was a sanctuary area, to listen to the meeting for more details and answers to questions.

KEYSTONE CENTRAL SCHOOL ANNOUNCES LATEST EMT GRADUATES

Five students and six adults, recently graduated from the first Keystone Central School District EMT class . According to the Record Online, the announcement was made at the Thursday night voting session for the Keystone Central School District school board by  Lock Haven EMS Chief Gerard Banfill.  The program, that started May 20, was a partnership between Lock Haven EMS and the school district to get students and the general public an avenue to explore careers in the health services and emergency services fields. The next class is set to begin August 2024.

MAN STARTS POLICE CHASE OVER SUMMARY TRAFFIC VIOLATION

A 22 year old driver chose to elude state police, refusing to pull over along I-180 last Thursday, which started a chase that reached up to 100 miles per hour.  According to the Sun Gazette, police attempted to pull over Thomas Baldwin Gibson after 11pm starting in Loyalsock Township, where a chase started going until he exited I-180 at Reach Road.  Police say they later located Gibson’s 2003 Mitsubishi abandoned  near the 100 block of Valley Street, and found Gibson and his passenger walking along Route 654.  He was taken into custody for felony fleeing, resisting arrest, endangering another person and more.  Originally Gibson was being pulled over for malfunctioning license plate lights.  He’s in Lycoming County Prison in lieu of 25 thousand dollars bail.

MAN WHO SHOT FAMILY MEMBER SEEKS A CHANGE IN BAIL DECISION

A man awaiting trial for shooting his brother in law in Old Lycoming Township last year has appealed the ruling that has denied him bail.  According to the Sun Gazette, 66-year-old Kenneth Michaels, in September, was arrested for the fatal shooting of John Roskowski in his workplace.  He is now awaiting an answer about the petition filed that says the issue facing Judge Tira was not IF Michaels shot Roskowski, but rather if he intended to kill him, which could change the outcome of a bail decision.  Michaels was arrested for homicide and possession of an instrument of crime.

PERMITS FOR DRIVEWAYS ADJACENT TO STATE ROADS REQUIRED

For homeowners who want to construct or pave a driveway take advantage of spring weather, PennDOT is reminding property owners that if planned improvements connect to a state highway, a Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) must first be obtained by PennDOT.  The State Highway Law through Section 420 of Title 36, requires homeowners to apply HOPs 30 days prior to the project start so that it can be checked for compliance with applicable laws, drainage needs and other required standards. Permit applications can be obtained from PennDOT county offices or by searching for PennDOT HOP online.

SIBLINGS MAKE A DONATION TO WARRIOR RUN FOUNDATION

A pair of siblings has made a five-year commitment to provide 100 thousand dollars for the Warrior Run Community Education Foundation.  According to the Standard Journal, the brother and sister philanthropists graduated from the school in the mid-1960s and did not wish to be identified.  According to school district Superintendent Dr. Thor Edmiston said the gift reinforces a commitment to Warrior Run students for generations to come.  As part of the First Century Campaign, the gift gives the donor the naming designation privilege for the to the junior and senior high school auditorium.

SPORTS

PIAA State Playoffs
Semi Final Tonight
3A Girls
Loyalsock vs Lancaster Catholic  @ Shamokin HS 7pm

NASCAR
*  Denny Hamlin won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, for his fourth victory at the bullring.  It was Hamlin’s 52nd career win and locks him into the playoffs.
* Martin Truex Jr. was  2^nd, Brad Keselowski finished third, Alex Bowman was fourth and  Kyle Larson rounded out the top five.

NCAA Men’s Basketball Sunday
(12) Auburn       Florida  67
(13) Illinois        Wisconsin 87

NBA
Bucks  140                     Suns  129
Heat  104             Pistons  101
Mavericks  107    Nuggets  105
Magic  111           Raptors  96
Celtics  130          Wizards  104
Spurs  122           Nets  115
Hawks  110          Clippers   93

NBA Tonight
Detroit  vs Boston  7:30pm
Miami vs Phila 7:30pm  ESPN
NY Knicks  vs Golden State 10pm ESPN

NHL
Rangers 5             Islanders  2
Golden Knights 3           Devils  1
Hurricanes 7         Senators  2
Penguins  6           Red Wings  3
Jets  6                   Blue Jackets  1
Blackhawks  5      Sharks  2
Blues  4                Ducks  2
NHL Tonight
Washington  vs Calgary  8:30pm
Buffalo vs Seattle  10pm

MUNCY MAN PULLS GUN ON GAME WARDEN

A Muncy man has been charged with assault after he pulled a firearm on a PA Game Warden who was doing a license and safety check last November.  According to the Sun Gazette, 35 year old Erik Olsen was with his minor son and was seen baiting deer with a substance by a game warden who approached to question him.  Following a tense interaction, Olsen drew a loaded firearm at the officer who also pulled their service revolver and order the man to drop his weapon.  The situation de-escalated when Olson placed his revolver on the ground, apologizing to the game warden.  He was charged with simple assault and corrupting the morals of a minor and 6 other summary offenses including using unlawful devices while hunting deer, and was released on 5 thousand dollars bail.

MAN HEADBUTTS WOMAN IN MIFFLINBURG

A man from Mifflinburg is facing charges after he allegedly head butted a woman March 9^th during an argument in Adams Township.  According to State police at Selinsgrove, charges were filed against 22 year old Trent William Barger who caused a cut over the woman’s eye.  Police said Barger committed misdemeanor simple assault and summary harassment according to the court records of of District Judge Bo Trawitz . 

WORK TO START ON OLD LYCO TWP LITTLE LEAGUE FIELDS

Work is expected to start this week in Old Lycoming Township on the little league fields and facilities for little league baseball this spring.  According to the Sun Gazette, the Old Lycoming Township supervisors announced at their meeting this week that the work should be done by opening day and the repairs will improve the dugouts, the concession stands and lighting.  To complete the project, Old Lycoming Township has partnered with an outreach program through Pennsylvania College of Technology.

RAISE THE REGION ON THE WAY TO GOAL

Raise the Region is going strong today!  The 30 hour fundraising event coordinated by the First Community Foundation Partnership has already exceeded donations totaling over 1 million dollars for over 335 area non-profit organizations from 7 counties across our region.  $175,000 in stretch funds have been donated by Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships and are being used as incentives for fundraising strategies that help the pre-registered groups available  Browse the list at Raise the region dot org. The event continues throughout today with folks from FCFP checking in to Backyard broadcasting as we count down to midnight and the end of Raise the Region 20224.  FCFP has raised over $16.79 million for area non profits since starting Raise the region in  2013.

THREE WOMEN ARRESTED FOR A MURDER IN BRADFORD COUNTY

A gruesome murder is being investigated near Troy and charges have been filed against three residents there.  According to North Central PA dot com, police say 46  year old Terry Lynn Parker and 48 year old Rhonda Parker had a problem with Michael Pruitt and lured him to her home in March of 2023, where he was then shot.  State police were called about a possible homicide at the 1400 block of Sawyer Road in Springfield Township, where they later executed a search warrant. A third suspect 26 year old Summer Lynn Heil also admitted her involvement in the crime and that drugs were involved while the three women cut up and disposed of the body. Rhonda and Terry Lynn Parker are both being charged with conspiracy to commit criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence.  Heil is being charged with abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. Bail was denied and their preliminary hearings are on March 27th.

SHAMOKIN OFFICER INJURED DURING CHASE

Two people were fleeing from officers during a chase Tuesday and a car accident during the incident injured Shamokin police officer. According to the News Item, police were responding to a foot pursuit of two suspects about 10:45 Tuesday morning, where a female suspect was followed to a home on Arch Street and  a male suspect to a home on West Walnut Street.  As officials were repsonding to the chase, a county probation vehicle struck a Shamoking police cruiser at the 800 block of West Walsnut.  The officer was transported to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.  Both suspects were taken into custody.

WILLIAMSPORT CASE CITED IN FEDERAL REPORT

A 2023 annual report as part of a Pennsylvania initiative call Project Safe Streets, highlighted a local case in which a Philadelphia man who trafficked drugs to Williamsport was arrested and charged.  According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of PA, the example cited is about 23 year old Naim Taylor, and 23 year old  Antwan Dozier, who were indicted by a federal grand jury and jailed for 96 months for conspiracy to distribute and possession of drugs in spring of 2021.  Project Safe Streets is a Pennsylvania program that uses law enforcement to target trafficking of heroin and narcotics in the middle district.

LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT GRANT FOR MUNCY

A grant has been given to the Borough of Muncy so they can off-set some costs of a needed new full-time officer. According to the Sun Gazette, five thousand dollars was earmarked from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency that supports the Muncy police staff including two full-time officers and three part-time, with an opening being listed now for a prospect officer.  The grant comes from the part of the law enforcement recruitment program that is designed to hire and train new police officers across the Commonwealth.

SPORTS

PIAA Basketball 2^nd Round yesterday
3A Boys
    Loyalsock Twp 62   Notre Dame Green Pond 56
1A Girls
    Linville Hill 47  Lourdes Regional  27
    Greenwood 41 Meadowbrook Christian 36
    St. John Neumann 52  Mt. Calvary Christian 41
4A Girls
    Central Columbia 50  Nazareth Academy 37
NBA
Pistons  113                   Raptors  104
Magic  114                     Nets  106
Bulls 132              Pacers 129
Nuggets  100        Heat  88
Hornets  110        Grizzlies 98
Cavaliers 116       Pelicans  95
Mavericks  109    Warriors  99
Trail Blazers  106          Hawks  102
Kings  120                     Lakers 107

NBA Tonight
Phoenix vs Boston  7:30pm TNT
76ers  vs Milwaukee Bucks  8pm
Dallas  vs Oklahoma City  10pm TNT
Knicks vs Portland  10pm

NCAA Men’s Basketball
(20) BYU   87      UCF  73
Cincinnati   72      (16) Kansas  52
Penn State  66      Michigan  57
NCAA Men’s Basketball Quarterfinals Today
Xavier vs (2) UConn 12pm FS1
Florida State vs (4) North Carolina  12pm ESPN
(20) BYU vs (25) Texas Tech 12:30pm
TCU vs (1) Houston  3pm ESPN
NC State vs (11) Duke  7pm ESPN
Duquesne vs (24) Dayton  7:30pm USA
Villanova  vs (10) Marquette  9:30pm  FS1
Cincinnati vs (14) Baylor  9:30pm  ESPN2

NHL

Blues  3                       Kings  1
Predators  4                 Jets  2
Oilers  7                       Capitals  2
Avalanche 4                Canucks  3

NHL Tonight
NY Islanders vs Buffalo  7pm
San Jose vs Pittsburgh  7pm
Toronto vs Phila Flyers 7:30pm Hulu/ESPN+
NJ Devils vs Dallas  8pm

PIAA State Playoffs Quarterfinals 

Friday March 15th

Girls Double A

Muncy vs Minersville (6pm at Hazleton)

Girls Triple A

Loyalsock vs Holy Redeemer (730pm at Hazleton)

Hughesville vs Lancaster Catholic 

(730pm at Pottsville)