LEWISTOWN SHOOTER KILLED WHEN POLICE RETURN FIRE

A Lewistown man was killed after he first shot at officers in Mifflin County on Monday evening, and they returned fire.  According to Pennsylvania State Police, they responded when 29 year old Ridge Rhodes shot at local police on West Fourth Street in Lewistown at about 8:30pm.  Local police shot back at Rhodes causing fatal injuries.  State police and the Mifflin County District Attorney’s office have opened an investigation.  No officers were hurt in the shooting.

IMPAIRED MAN ARRESTED AFTER TWO CALLS FROM POLICE

A man who was arrested after city police found him at the heart of two incidents they were called to on May 22nd, had a preliminary hearing this week in Lycoming County Court. According to North Central PA dot com, Police report Troy Thomas of Williamsport was doing karate moves and speaking nonsensically near the corner of W. Fourth Street and Seventh Avenue and later admitted that he was under the influence of PCP and alcohol.  Thomas was evaluated at a local hospital and sent home, just a few hours before police were called to another incident near the 1000 block of Vine Avenue involving Thomas once again where a relative said he was trying to take a weapon.  He was charged with disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. 

STUDY RECOMMENDS SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION

The study compiled by a firm hired by the Montoursville Area School District to assess the need for elementary school buildings in the district, recommends that Lyter Elementary and Loyalsock Valley Elementary School students should be consolidated at the Lyter building.  According to the Sun Gazette, an executive from the firm, SiteLogIQ, presented the study, which indicated that the cost of maintaining the Loyalsock Valley building is outpacing the costs for building a new school.  The study also noted that repairs and renovations at Loyalsock Valley were estimated at over 19 million, but at Lyter Elementary the upgrades totaled just over 17 million dollars. 

FLAG DAY CEREMONY FRIDAY AT PENN COLLEGE

The 44^th Anthony DiSalvo Flags Across America celebration at Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport to honor the American flag  for Flag Day will be held tomorrow.  According to the Sun Gazette, the public is invited to the parking lot south of the Madigan Library and southeast of the Bush Campus Center at Penn College for the traditional event.  There will be a flag march prior to the celebration on the campus grounds (which will form at 6:30p) for members of the Susquehanna Council of Boy Scouts of America and their guests, before the speakers and presentation for Flag Day begins at 7pm.  The namesakle of the event, Anthony DiSalvo, was a beloved local figure and long-time BSA leader, who spearheaded the drive to obtain the flag at Penn College, and started the first Flag Day flag march in the Williamsport area.

TEXAS MAN ARRESTED FOR DISTURBANCE

A Texas man caused a disturbance at a fast food restaurant at the 50 block of Maynard Street May 25^th and is being held in Lycoming county prison awaiting his preliminary hearing.  According to North Central PA dot com,  Jeris Seth Sundell of San Antonio was asked to leave the Burger King by the staff who allegedly observed him alarming patrons and throwing objects in the dining room.  Witnesses said Sundell smelled of alcohol and had trouble standing on his feet.  Police took Sundell into custody and charged him with disorderly conduct and public drunkenness, his preliminary hearing is June 24^th.

MIFFLINBURG SCHOOL BOARD SEEKS ARCHITECTURE FIRM

The Mifflinburg School District said at their meeting this week, that they are looking for an architect of record for services to be on call when the board needs drawings for different projects, and will soon be seeking proposals.  According to the Daily Item, requests are expected to be issued by the board in the next few weeks, and they expect a late July response deadline and discussion at the August work session.  The successful candidate would enter into a non-exclusive professional service agreement with the district to develop a professional relationship.  The district set aside $1.25 million for upcoming track projects and agriculture improvements.

CASHLESS TOLLS COMING TO TURNPIKE STARTING IN 2026

There’s a change coming to Pennsylvania Toll Booths along the Turnpike.  According to the Turnpike commission, it will convert booths to open road tolling  or ORT, which is a cashless, free-flowing mode of collecting tolls without traditional toll plazas.   Tolls will be charged electronically as customers drive at highway speeds without slowing down or stopping under the gantries –  the road space between interchanges. ORT will begin in 2025 in the eastern part of the state and expand to the western region of the PA Turnpike beginning in late 2026.  Construction is expected to be completed in 2027.  EZ passes will also be authorized for use through the ORT system.  The cost of the project is 50 million dollars but is projected to save the commonwealth 25 million per year.

LITTLE LEAGUE SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

The schedule for the 2024 Little League Baseball World Series Game schedule has been announced, set to begin August 14^th .  The Little League Classic is scheduled for Sunday evening August 18^th at 7pm at Historic Bowman field between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers. The Challenger Division Game is August 26^th  at 10:30am at Volunteer stadium between Challenger of Lancaster and NY’s District 8 Challenger team, presented by Eggland’s Best.  All Little league Games will be played in South Williamsport and will be broadcast on ESPN.

SPORTS

PIAA State Championships Baseball
Class 2A Tomorrow 10:30am
Bald Eagle Area vs Tri-Valley  @ Medlar Field, Lubrano Park, State College
PIAA State Championship Softball
Class 2A Tomorrow 11am
South Williamsport vs Neshannock  @ State College 

NBA Finals Game 3
Celtics 106          Mavericks 99 BOS leads 3-0
NBA Finals Friday Game 4
Celtics vs Mavericks 8:30pm ABC

MLB Draft League
West Virginia 8    Crosscutters 2
Crosscutters at home for game 3 of the series with the Black Bears tonight, first pitch 6:35pM

MLB
Reds 4                  Guardians 2
Orioles  4            Braves  4
Nationals  7         Tigers  5
Mets  10               Marlins  4
Red Sox  8           Phillies  6
Cardinals 4          Pirates  2
Yankees 11          Royals 5
MLB Today
Braves vs Orioles  1:05pm ESPN+
Nationals vs Tigers 1;10pm
Yankees vs Royals 2:10pm
Pirates vs Cardinals 2:15pm
Marlins vs Mets  7:10pm
Phillies vs Red Sox  7:10pm

NHL Stanley Cup Final Game 3 Tonite
Florida Panthers vs Edmonton Oilers 8pm ABC FLA leads 2-0

SHOTS FIRED IN SUNBURY

Shots were fired in Sunbury Monday afternoon and police there are investigating.  According to the Daily Item, police say the reports of the gunshots happened around 1:40 p.m. Monday on North 8th and Packer streets, and officers investigated, finding that there had been a prior shooting along Memorial Drive, which was added to the investigation.  Police also say there had been officers serving search warrants earlier Monday near Arch and Julia Streets after a previous domestic and alleged drug incident prompted a search.  Sunbury Police, who were assisted by the Northumberland County Sheriff’s Office, seized firearms and drugs from that home, and are now seeking more information about the incidents that occurred Monday.  If you can help the investigation call Northumberland County 911.

LYCOMING NOT LISTED AS SANCUTARY COUNTY ANYMORE

After much work and collaboration between Lycoming County Commissioners, the county Prison Board and the Center for Immigration Studies, the sanctuary designation of Lycoming County has been removed.  According to the Sun Gazette, Lycoming county was previously listed on the Center for Immigration Studies website as a sanctuary county, but officials recognized that current Lycoming County Policies are no longer supportive of the Center’s previous sanctuary designation, and drafted policy to clarify prison procedures when working with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities.  Details of the sanctuary status of counties, cities and states can be found at https://cis.org/Map-Sanctuary-Cities-Counties-and-States.

A6 INTURDER TO BE DEDICATED SATURDAY

The dedication of the static display of the A6 Intruder aircraft at Lycoming County Veterans Memorial Park will take place this weekend.  According to the Lycoming County Veterans Memorial Park Commission, the featured Attack Squadron Fifty-Five Warhorse became the property of City of Williamsport and the Lycoming County Veterans Memorial Park Commission in October of 2020.  The event will be Saturday at the Veterans Memorial Park on West Fourth Street and Wahoo Drive at 11am, rain or shine with tents provided.

MONTOUR NIGHT OUT THIS WEEK

National Night out is an annual event in August that encourages camaraderie between law enforcement and the community, but Danville will hold Montour Night Out this Wednesday in lieu of an event this summer.  According to the Daily Item, residents cam come out tomorrow to Washies Playground on Foust Street from 5 til 7 and meet first responders including police officers, firefighters and others.  Mahoning Township Police say the event is free to attend and will feature a rock wall, free ice cream, hot dogs and other food, as well as a visit by the National Guard .

7 YEAR OLD BOY HIT BY CAR, MINOR INJURIES

Middleburg Police said a 7 year old boy was struck by a car last Thursday in Beavertown when he failed to stop at an alley intersection, but only suffered minor injuries.  According to the Daily Item, the unidentified child was riding a bike eastbound on Strawberry Alley at about 6pm and was struck by a Beaver Springs woman driving a 2018 GMC when he went through the intersection at Zechman Street.  The child was treated at the scene and then transported to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.  Police said the boy returned home Friday.  No citations were issued in the accident.

RENOVO WOMAN CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF CHILD PORN

A Renovo childcare employee was caught with explicit photographs of children. According to North Central PA dot com, 25 year old Maggie Leigh Strouse was found in possession of child pornography. Investigators received word that Strouse claimed to sell these materials on public platforms, saying that some pictures were of her when she was in her teens. It was also found that Strouse had “childcare” and “outdoor education instructor” clearances although it is unknown if she was employed in these positions. Strouse was arranged last month and will have a preliminary hearing July 1^st. Her bail was set at $150,000.

SUSQUEHANNA TRAIL TO CLOSE THIS WEEK UNTIL AUGUST

A portion of Susquehanna Trail will close this Thursday. PennDOT plans to replace the bridge spanning Warrior Run between Schmidt Road and Five Points Road. The work is set to include demolition of the existing bridge, construction of the new culvert, approach work and line painting. A detour is expected to be in place using Reynolds Hill Road and Five Points Road through the beginning of August.

LAUREL FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES HAPPENING THIS WEEK

The 82^nd  Laurel Festival is going on this week in Tioga County and will continue through Sunday, June 16^th  concluding with the 10:30am Union Church Service on The Green.  According to the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce, the annual festival corresponds with the blooming time of the mountain laurel, and features a free concert with different entertainers each evening this week.  Friday and Saturday, the annual Arts & Crafts Fair will be on the Green with 85 artisans and 25 vendors will be on the International Street of Foods both days. The 2024 Pennsylvania State Laurel Queen will be crowned Saturday evening at Wellsboro HS, after the Laurel Festival Parade which steps off 2pm Saturday afternoon.  Get more Laurel Festival information at wellsboropa.com.

SPORTS

PIAA State Semi-Final Baseball
Class 4A      Holy Ghost Prep  8        Danville 6
Class 5A     Governor Mifflin 7          Selinsgrove 2
Class 2A –  Bald Eagle Area 11                  North Star 3
Class 2A State Championships Friday 10:30am
Bald Eagle Area vs Tri-Valley  @ Medlar Field, Lubrano Park, State College
PIAA State Semi-Final Softball
Class 5A  Thomas Jefferson  9           Central Mountain 8
                 South Williamsport 3  Bald Eagle Area  0
Class 2A State Championship Game  Friday  11am
South Williamsport vs Neshannock  @ State College 
SW’s 1^st appearance at States since 2003

MLB
Orioles  5  Rays 2
Yankees 4  Royals  2
Brewers 3  Blue Jays 1
MLB Tonight
Orioles vs Braves  6:35pm
Nationals vs Tigers  6:40pm
Guardians vs Red 7:10pm
Phillies vs Red Sox  7:10pm TBS
Pirates vs Cardinals  7:45pm
Yankees vs Royals 8:10pm

MLB Draft League Tonight
Crosscutters are back home tonight  hosting West Virginia Black Bears – 6:35pm first pitchNHL Stanley Cup Final
Panthers 4  Oilers  1 FLA leads 2-0
NHL Stanley Cup Final Game 3 Thursday
Florida Panthers vs Edmonton Oilers 8pm ABC

NBA Finals Game 3 Tomorrow
Boston @ Dallas 8:30pm ABC  BOS leads 2-0