PHILLY WOMAN FACES MURDER CHARGES IN WILLIAMSPORT

A Philadelphia woman was extradited to Williamsport this week to face charges in the April 2020 killing of a Williamsport man in the Bridge Street Commons.  According to the Sun Gazette, 21 year old Shakya El allegedly exchanged text messages with 27 year old Amir Nobles to lure him to the parking lot on Bridge Street where he was then shot by two gunmen.  Nobles was pronounced dead at the scene.  Williamsport police filed the arrest warrant for El Tuesday at the same time State police in Lancaster County happened to be processing her for an unrelated crime.  She has been committed to Lycoming County Prison on no bail.

HOSPITAL POWER OUTAGE REPORT

Officials at UPMC Williamsport have uncovered the source of the power outages last Thursday night that caused the hospital to go into emergency procedures when the back-up generators also malfunctioned.  According to the Sun Gazette, a hospital spokesperson said there is a long-term contingency plan to avoid this situation in the future.  Williamsport Bureau of Fire officials reported that first, wires in an underground vault shorted out cutting power to the hospital and the generator worked normally for 12 minutes when part of the generator control system failed which caused the total power failure. Second, an electrical relay that allowed electricity to feed the building also malfunctioned .  Generator power was restored to the hospital after 8:30pm and  the full system was restored last Friday morning.

LYCOMING MALL FINALLY CLOSED

The Lycoming Mall finally closed its doors last weekend putting signs up notifying mall walkers that there was no longer access available inside the building.  According to North Central PA dot com, the mall opened in in 1978 and featured over 80 stores including Hess’s, Woolworth, the Bon-Ton, KB Toys and others.  Most recently, the last tenants included Burlington Coat Factory and Books-A-Million who received notice a month ago about the changes and that they would not be evicted.  FAMVEST LLC is planning to purchase and repurpose the mall into a mixture of residential and commercial services. 

COMPUTER CODING BOOK CLUB FOR KIDS AT THE LIBRARY

A new program for elementary school students who want to learn to write computer code starts today at the James V. Brown Library on East 4^th Street in Williamsport . According to the library’s website, “Girls Who Code” is a book club for all genders in 3^rd through 5^th grade to learn about the foundational skills and understanding of computer science concepts.  There is a daytime program for homeschooled students at 1pm and an after school program at 4pm. Register now at jvbrown.edu.

WILLIAMSPORT COUPLE CHARGED WITH CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

A couple in Williamsport have been charged for neglecting a 14 month old pitbull who had to have emergency surgery to save its life.  According to North Central PA dot com, the owners of “Mocha” had hesitated to treat the dog, they said for a badly infected wound due to financial reasons, but when the dog was checked at the Loyalsock Animal Hospital, the doctors there determined the dog was underweight and malnourished.  Animal control officers said an investigation started in January after a concerned person reported the animal often alone in an apartment  on Bridge Street in Williamsport.  The owners of the dog, Jessica Lowmiller and Joshua Franklin Parker, were charged with two counts of felony aggravated cruelty to animals, neglect of animals and other charges.  They both posted $15,000 unsecured bail. Mocha has been adopted.

CLINTON COUNTY COMPANY PURCHASES CANADIAN PULP MILL

First Quality Enterprises has announced they are expecting to close a deal for a pulp mill in Ontario, Canada which will secure work for Clinton County’s largest employer which provides tissue and paper towel products.  According to the Sun Gazette, the purchase price was not disclosed for the mill that was previously owned by Domtar Corporation, a subsidiary of Paper Excellence Group.  In a statement by First Quality about the acquisition, closing should take place in the third quarter of 2023. 

MANSFIELD FUNERAL HOME HAS NEW OWNER

A Pennsylvania funeral director has purchased the former Gary W Wilston Funeral Home and Cremation Service at 130 South Main Street in Mansfield and has rebranded the facility to reflect the new ownership.  According to a news release, the Wilston-Currie Funeral Home and Cremation Service is now owned by Tyler Currie of Gillet, who earned an undergraduate degree from Mansfield University and his funeral service degree from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.  Currie has served in the funeral industry for 15 years and as a funeral director for over seven years in Mansfield, Troy, Wellsboro and Coudersport.

LITTLE LEAGUE CHALLENGER GAME TEAMS SET FOR SUMMER

Two eastern teams have been chosen to compete in the Little League Challenger Division Exhibition Game during the 2023 Little League Baseball World Series this August.  Teams from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Syracuse, New York  will compete and  this is the first time a team from Lancaster County will be represented in Williamsport.  Little LeagueInternational supports the participating leagues with a $15,000 grant to help offset the costs of participation in the Exhibition Game.  The 2023 Little League Baseball World Series will start August 16^th and run til August 27th.  Details at littleleague.org.

SPORTS

PIAA Boys Basketball Semifinals
Class 3A
Troy 67                          Warrior Run 42
N. Penn-Mansfield 66    Loyalsock 62

Class 4A
Lewisburg 54                 Shamokin 52 (OT)
Danville 52                              Athens 48

Girls Basketball Semifinals

Class 4A
Jersey Shore 50 Lewisburg 37
Central Columbia 52 Shamokin 14

PIAA District 4
Boys Basketball tonight
Class A Final
Sullivan County vs Northumberland Christian @ Montoursville HS 6pm
Class AA Final
Muncy vs St John Neumann @Montoursville HS 7:30pm
Class AA Consolation
Northwest vs Williamsport @ Montgomery 7:30 PM
Girls Basketball tonight
Class A Consolation
Lourdes Regional vs North Penn Liberty @ Montgomery 6 PM
Class AAA Semifinal
Southern Columbia vs Mount Carmel @ Shamokin 7:30pm

NBA
Wizards 119                Hawks 116
Bucks 118                   Nets 104
Raptors 104                 Bulls 98
Grizzlies 121               Lakers 109
Nuggets 133                Rockets 112
Kings 123                    Thunder 117
Pacers 124                   Mavericks 122
Spurs 102                    Jazz 94
Warriors 123               Trailblazers 105
Timberwolves 108       Clippers 101
NCAA Men’s Basketball
Kansas 67                    Texas Tech 63
Marquette 72               Butler 56
Tennessee 75               Arkansas 57
Virginia 64                  Clemson 57
Texas A&M 69           Ole Miss 61


NHL
Penguins 3            Predators 1
Senators 6            Redwings 1
Panthers 4            Lightning 1
Blue Jackets 5      Sabers 3
Wild 2                  Islanders 1
Kraken 5              Blues 3
Kings 6                 Jets 5
Coyotes 4             Blackhawks 1
Bruins 4               Flames 3
Canadiens 3         Sharks 1

MAN ACCUSED OF RECORD NUMBER OF SEX OFFENSES

A Muncy man was arraigned this week on more than a thousand sex offenses against children after an investigation that started because a phone tip to police uncovered hundreds of incidences of abuse against minors ranging in age from 4 to 17.  According to the Sun Gazette, Timothy Darren Stroud Sr. of Penn Street was accused of the record number of offenses following many interviews conducted by troopers investigating the crimes that allegedly occurred mostly in the Salladasburg area.  Stroud is in the Lycoming County Prison on no bail.

LOCK HAVEN MAN RAMS HOME WITH VEHICLE

A Lock Haven man has been charged with aggravated assault and more after police say he rammed his vehicle into a home in Liberty Township last Saturday.  According to the Record Online 24 year old Kaine Darby was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and marijuana when residents at the home on Liberty Street called police reporting a man had rammed the side of the house with a black Hummer around 4am on the 18^th.  State police at Rockview reported there was damage to the structure, walkway and front door of the home .  They located Darby nearby at a truck stop and took him into custody. He is in Centre County prison in lieu of 140 thousand dollars bail.

BARN FIRE IN HERNDON

Northumberland County 911was called when a barn caught fire around 10:30pm Tuesday night near Herndon.  According to witnesses, a skid loader was on fire inside the barn at 1125 Herndon Bypass Road, where livestock were rescued and no injuries were reported.  Fire crews only reported minor damage to the barn.  The blaze was under control in about an hour after volunteers first arrived on the scene.

RENOVATIONS FOR BEAVER STADIUM

Penn State University’s Beaver Stadium is looking forward to multi-phase renovations with administration there saying the project is in the finalization stages and that no part of it will be funded by student tuition or the educational budget.  According to North Central PA dot com, the iconic stadium at the corner of Porter Road and Park Avenue in State College last underwent a renovation in 2001 and has doubled in size since its inception in 1960.  The economic impact in Centre County alone for football visitor spending is estimated at $87 million, while attendee spending for all Penn State athletic events generates $149 million in Centre County.

HEROIN DEALER ARRESTED ON ROUTE 15

A Snyder County man, who arranged a drug deal with a police informant in January, was arrested by state troopers at a traffic stop along Route 15 in Lewisburg.  According to North Central PA dot com, when police recognized and stopped 43 year old Scotch Bruce Hanning, a K-9 officer determined there were drugs in the vehicle.  With a search warrant police found bundles of heroin, plastic containers of cocaine, methamphetamine and other drugs in the car, and later, with another warrant found cash, more heroin and paraphernalia at Hanning’s home.  His preliminary hearing is March 23 in Union County; he is incarcerated in lieu of 50 thousand dollars bail.

MEN CHARGED FOR DAMAGING GAMING MACHINES AT LAUDROMAT

Two men have been arrested for damaging and stealing from gaming machines at a self-serve laundromat in Berwick January 5th.  According to North Central PA dot com, surveillance video shows 30-year-old Adrian Michael Bankes and 40-year-old Joseph Stephen Slusser Jr attempting to break into machines at the facility with a hammer and screwdrivers and later returning with a bigger sledgehammer and smashing the machines stealing the cash boxes taking over 190 dollars from the games.  They were charged with criminal mischief and theft.

MENTAL HEALTH DAY LEGISLATION INTRODUCED

A Pennsylvania State Representative from Montgomery County has introduced legislation that says students in the Commonwealth should be able to take absences without a Doctor’s note for mental health days.  According to WHTM a memo to House members from Rep. Napoleon Nelson states three excused mental health days would encourage students to take care of their mental health as they would their physical health.  Nelson says Oregon and Utah have implemented similar measures for students.

UPTOWN MUSIC COLLECTIVE GOES SOUTHERN ROCK

Students from Williamsport’s Uptown Music Collective will present “Free Bird:  A tribute to Southern Rock” at the Community Arts Center next month for two performances.  According to a press release from the Collective, music of southern rock bands including the Allman brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd and much more will be featured March 10^th and 11^th by students who have been working for months on the challenging guitar work, according to executive director Dave Brumbaugh.  The show is directed by senior UMC students and is sponsored by UPMC North Central Pa., Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital, and Hudock Capital Group.  Get tickets at caclive.com and info about the show at uptownmusic dot org.

SPORTS

P I-AA District 4 Basketball Playoffs
Districts 4 and 6

Class 5A Semifinals 

Central Mountain 49   Hollidaysburg 44

Bellefonte 49               Selinsgrove 38

Wildcats vs Red Raiders for District Championship this Saturday 3pm in Cresson 

HS Basketball Playoffs Tonight
Boys Class 2A
7pm – Sayre @Muncy,
7:30pm – East Juniata @South Williamsport
            Canton at Northwest
            Northeast Bradford at Saint John Neumann
Class 3A
7pm – Hughesville @  Mansfield
             Southern Columbia @ Loyalsock
            Warrior Run @ Wellsboro 
            Towanda @ Troy

Girls Class 1A
6pm – Benton@ St John Neumann
6:30pm – Cowanesque Valley @Lourdes Regional
7pm –  Millville @North Penn Liberty
            Bucktail @ Meadowbrook Christian

Class 2A
6pm – Northumberland Christian @ Northwest
Class 4A
7pm-  Danville @ Central Columbia
            Mifflinburg @ Shamokin
            Montoursville @ Jersey Shore
            Athens @ Lewisburg

NHL
Islanders 2           Jets 1
Flames 6               Coyotes 3
Blackhawks 4       Stars 3

NCAA Men’s Basketball
Houston 89           Tulane 59
Alabama 78                   South Carolina 76
Boston College 63         Virginia 48
Yukon 87             Providence 69

NBA
It’s the 76ers and the Grizzlies tonight at 7:30 on TNT

MAN CHARGED FOR POINTING A GUN AT A WILLIAMSPORT WOMAN

A man from Pittsburgh is in custody after he threatened a Williamsport woman with a handgun on January 10^th at Franklin and Hughes Streets in the city.  According to the Sun Gazette, police say 35 year old Derrek Patrick Johnson wanted to kill his victim after holding her responsible for a previous incarceration in 2010, but she managed to flee from him and contact police.  Johnson faces new charges of aggravated and simple assault and terroristic threats and is in the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of 75 thousand dollars bail.

SHOP-VAC SUIT SETTLED

A settlement has been reached in the case between a former Shop-Vac employee and GreatStar Tools USA, the company who bought Shop-Vac’s assets after they shut down cutting over 400 workers in September of 2020.  According to PennLive, details of the settlement between Candice Gair with the company now known as the SV Wind-Down Corp and the defendant were not disclosed, but last week attorneys for Gair, who originally accused the company of violating the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act asked the court to dismiss Shop-Vac from the suit.

POTENTIAL PLASTICS RECYCLING PLANT TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING

A Houston, Texas company is proposing to invest more than a billion dollars in a plastics recycling manufacturing company that would be located in Point Township along the Susquehanna River near Danville and Northumberland, and they are seeking public comment about it this spring.  According to North Central PA dot com, the recycling company called Encina would ship in plastics from landfills and facilities and convert them into new products.  But even though former Governor Tom Wolf exempted Encina’s solid waste permits since it was advanced recycling and not waste management, there are challenges in court about future environmental concerns.  Information about the public meeting this May 11^th is online at encina point township.com.

DAM REHAB PROJECT TO BE DISCUSSED

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission have announced that two public meetings are scheduled soon to discuss a planned dam rehabilitation project at Walker Lake, Snyder County.  According to the Game commission, the public is invited to the Snyder County Conservation District office located at 10541 Route 522 in Middleburg on Wednesday, March 1^st, for a meeting at 2 pm or one at 6 pm. To find out more about the meetings and to find out how to connect to them virtually find the information on the Walker Lake page at Fishandboat.com.

WOMAN STABS MAN IN THE HAND

Police were called to an apartment on Church Street in Shamokin Saturday for a domestic disturbance that sent a woman to jail.  According to the News-Item, witnesses called 911 after the unnamed woman created a disturbance and allegedly stabbed a man in the hand around 6pm.  Shamokin police say residents in the apartment held the woman in a closed room in the apartment until Shamokin police arrived.  More information will be released after charges are filed with the magistrate this week. The injured man did not require hospitalization.

MAN ACCUSED OF SELLING STOLEN WIRE

A Beavertown man who worked at Ritz-Craft in Mifflinburg has been accused of selling wire taken from the company on Facebook Marketplace.  According to North Central PA dot com, police say 33 year old Jeff Wells, whose legal name is Muhammad Geoffrey Wells Biniskandar, sold the wire to a buyer who suspected it to be taken from the company and contacted management, who confirmed the match to products at the plant.  Police interviewed Wells about the theft who admitted selling the wire but wouldn’t discose who stole it.   Wells was charged with receiving stolen property and has a preliminary hearing March 14^th in district court.

COURTS IN SEVERAL PARKS TO GET UPGRADE

The finances have been approved by Williamsport City Council this week for several athletic facilities and courts in Williamsport, and a contractor in Mill Hall has been tapped to do the work.  According to the Sun Gazette, the over 858 thousand dollar contract with RC Bowman combines Community Development Block Grant funds and American Rescue Plan funds to improve playability at basketball courts at Youngs Woods, basketball and tennis courts at Shaw park, pickleball courts at Memorial Park, and tennis courts at Cochran Elementary.  Work is set to begin in April.

SHUTTLE AVAILABLE FOR NEW EMPLOYEES

A cabinet manufacturer in Cressona has announced they are looking to recruit new employees  and will provide a shuttle service for those coming from Sunbury and Milton.  According to the Daily Item, St Martin America, who has been in business in this area for 10 years are recruiting finishers and assemblers, with a starting hourly pay of between $15 and $17.  The company operates one shift daily from 7am til 3:30pm.

SPORTS

P I-AA District 4 Basketball Playoffs – all games @ 7pm tonight

HS Boys Class A
Meadowbrook Christian @ Northumberland Christian
Galeton @ CowanesqueValley 
Bucktail @Sullivan County
Lourdes Regional @ Liberty
HS Girls  Class 2A
Wyalusing @ South Williamsport
Canton @ Northeast Bradford
Line Mountain @ Muncy

NHL
Flyers 4               Flames 3  
Islanders 4          Penguins 2
Bruins 3              Senators 1
Panthers 4           Ducks 3
Sharks 4              Kraken 0
Jets 4                   Rangers 1

NCAA Men’s Basketball
Kansas  63          TCU 58

NBA
Thursday this week the 76ers host the Grizzlies at 7:30 on TNT

MULTIPLE TRACTOR TRAILER ACCIDENT KILLS ONE

State Police at Rockview are investigating Friday’s crash that involved three tractor trailers on I-80 and killed one driver.  According to North Central PA dot com, the Centre County Coroner said Galdino Negreros of Connecticut died from blunt force trauma when his truck collided with two others along I-80 eastbound  near the rest stop around 5:30am.  Police say Negreros was critically injured, but the Life Flight helicopter was unable to fly due to weather conditions, so the man wqas transported by ambulance to the hospital where he later died.  No word on the condition of the other drivers involved in the crash.

LOCK HAVEN MAN FORCES STAND-OFF WITH POLICE

A Lock Haven man who kept police engaged in an hour-long stand-off at his Renovo home, is now in custody.  According to North Central PA dot com, police saw 34 year old Ryan Duane Dunham driving on Pennsylvania Avenue in South Renovo, and tried to stop him knowing him to be a suspect with multiple arrest warrants.  Dunham fled from police and ran into his home on Ridge Road, sideswiping a police officer during the pursuit.  State police at Lamar say Dunham surrendered about an hour later without incident.  He is expected to be charged with aggravated assault and is being held under 500 thousand dollars bail at the Clinton County Correctional Facility.

WILLIAMSPORT CITY HALL LISTED

A piece of Williamsport history is now for sale. According to North central pa dot com, historic Williamsport City Hall at 245 West Fourth Street is now  listed for $499,000.  The listing with the Fish Commercial Group says the building spans 40,000 square feet with 35 parking spaces and a variety of amenities that open the property to a multitude of uses. City Council recently approved listing and has final approval over the sale of the building.

FREE ADMISSION TO SOME AREA MUSEUMS ON CHARTER DAY

Some Pennsylvania Museums along the Trails of History, including the Joseph Priestly House in Northumberland, will offer free admission on March 12^th, to celebrate Charter Day.  According to North Central PA dot com, the State Museum in Harrisburg will display the 342 year old historic Penn Charter that was granted by King Charles II to William Penn in 1681 from Friday March 10^th until Friday March 17^th and then the 342 year old document made from parchment with iron-gall ink will be re-stored in the vault under specific environmental conditions.  Get details about visiting the Penn Charter exhibit at state museum pa dot org.

TWO UNRELATED DEATHS IN SUNBURY

Local police in Sunbury are investigating the deaths of two individuals who were discovered in two unrelated incidents Saturday.  According to the Northumberland County Coroner, James Kelley, says one male individual was found Saturday morning deceased along a bench on the Susquehanna River side of the flood protection wall.  Another man was found Saturday evening in Tharptown in the Shamokin Creek.  Kelley said the autopsies for both men are scheduled for this week in Allentown, with the investigation continuing.  

FATHER OF INMATE WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE AMENDS LAWSUIT

An amended Federal lawsuit has been filed against Northumberland County and the Northumberland County jail officials. According to the Daily Item, Timothy McAndrew of Paxinos, father of Meghan McAndrew, the female inmate who took her own life while incarcerated at the Northumberland County Jail on Feb 11, said that inadequate staffing created the environment that led  to the death of his daughter. The previous lawsuit was dismissed last month by Chief U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann saying there was a failure to state a claim and saying the lack of the proper staff fails to violate constitutional rights and state laws.

CYBER EDUCATION CURRICULUM BEING CONSIDERED

The Milton Area School District high school co-principal and cyber coordinator Michael Bergey presented a plan to create their own cyber education for district students in the fall.  According to the Daily Item, if the idea gets enough votes from School board members this week, a plan could be implemented that would use the school district’s teachers in a Milton Area School District in the cyber curriculum creation.  More discussion of the new cyber curriculum will be at the meeting scheduled for 6 pm Tuesday at the high school library.

THON RAISED RECORD AMOUNT

Penn State University’s THON Fundraiser this past weekend pulled in over 15 million dollars during their 48 hour dance-a-thon that had the participants awake and on their feet for the entire event that last year raised 13.7 million dollars for the Four Diamonds Foundation, an organization dedicated to raising money for research to help children fight cancer.  The annual celebration at the Bryce Jordan Center was the largest amount of money THON has ever raised in the history of the event.

SPORTS

P I-AA District 4 Wrestling
Class 3A District Tournament  
Shikellamy         186.5
Williamsport      167
Selinsgrove at     157
Jersey Shore       89
CMVT                 58
The Shikellamy Braves advance into next week’s P IAA 3A Northwest Regional tournament in Altoona

NASCAR
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was the winner of the Daytona 500 in double OT under caution in the longest running of The Great American Race. The 65th running of the event went to a record 212 laps, technically making it the Daytona 530.
(1)Stenhouse Jr. (2) Joey Logano, (3) Christopher Bell, (4)Chris Buescher and (5)Alex Bowman.

NBA All-Star Game
Team Giannis made it to 182 first, beating Team LeBron 184 -175 .

NHL
Wild 4                 Predators 3
Senator 7             Blues 2
Avalanche 6        Oilers 5
Blackhawks 5     Maple Leafs 3  
Devils 4               Jets 2
Coyotes 3            Blue Jackets 2

NCAA Men’s Basketball
Houston 72         Memphis 64
Purdue 82           Ohio State 55
NC State 77        North Carolina 69

TROY AREA TEACHER DIES IN TWO-CAR WRECK

A 15-year teacher for Troy Area School District was killed in a two-vehicle accident last Saturday night near Mainesburg.  According to the Sun Gazette, 47 year old Christine Woodward of Troy who taught at East Troy Middle School and WR Cronan Elementary School was involved in a crash at Route 6 and Aumick Road at about 10:45 pm.  State police say the other driver, 35 year old Michael J. Brown of Troy, suffered significant injuries and was transported to Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre. In a statement from the school, Superintendent Dr. Janilyn Elias said Woodward was a devoted teacher who will be missed greatly and that counseling and grief support will be available to students and staff for as long as it is needed.

FEMALE INMATES BACK AT LYCOMING COUNTY PRISON

Female inmates are coming back to the Lycoming County Prison since they have been in other facilities awaiting new employees to be trained and hired to fill critical positions here. According to the Sun Gazette, during the monthly prison board meeting, Warden Brad Shoemaker mentioned his appreciation to the other county prisons that were able to take on the inmates and assist with their lack of staffing problem.  Female prisoners continue to be transferred back this week with seven full-time correctional officers hired at an increased starting wage of 20 dollars per hour with more hires expected to take place. 

RARE WHISKIES FOR SALE FROM PLCB

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board will be holding a lottery this Friday for over 800 bottles of rare whiskey.  According to North Central PA dot com, PA residents can opt-in until February 17^th at 5pm on the lotteries and drawings made available online for those able to pay with an active account online at Fine Wine and Good Spirits stores and billing information on file.  Lotteries will feature bourbons from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection and others. Get details at FWGS.com. Winning entrants 21 and over will be notified by email after the lotteries are complete.

SHAPIRO FULFILLS DEAL WITH KANSAS AND MISSOURI GOVERNORS

The inevitable exchange of goods between the governors of the two teams who played the Super Bowl Sunday is happening with Missouri Governor Mike Parson and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly.  According to Penn Live, newly elected governor of PA, Josh Shapiro was very optimistic on Twitter before the game, the Eagles loss to the Kansa City Chiefs Sunday now has the governor hanging the chief’s flag in his office at the Capitol this week.  Shapiro will also send soft pretzels from a bakery in Levittown, Cheesesteaks from Tony Luke’s in Philly, and Eagles Mini Donuts from Collegeville Italian Bakery in Montgomery County. 

MONTOURSVILLE AREA LOSES HOME IN FIRE

A couple from Upper Fairfield Township lost their home along Mountain Road in a fire Monday morning. According to the Sun Gazette, Nathan and Carissa Miller are expecting their first child in August and are now staying with relatives after the fire is suspected to be a total loss.  Nathan Miller was working at the automotive shop next door when a customer made them aware of the fire and they immediately unsuccessfully attempted to rescue their 3 year old lab named Georgia.  They then tried to keep the fire controlled with garden hoses until emergency responders arrived from Montoursville as well as companies from half a dozen other local areas. Officials say it originated in the kitchen of their home.

PHILLY TEEN ARRESTED AFTER POLICE CHASE

Police have arrested a 19 year old from Philadelphia after he led them a high speed chase through Lock Haven last Sunday while trying to elude a traffic stop.  According to the Record Online, Kasan Johnson-Townsend ran a stop sign at about 12:30pm February 5^th in Lock Haven, and police attempted to pull him over.  Police are charging Johnson-Townsend with DUI and reckless endangerment after they say he placed pedestrians in danger while he fled from law enforcement.  He will also face charges from a previous incident in February.

GOP MUST DECIDE WHETHER CONTINUE VOTER INFO APPEAL

Senate Republicans are still able to require the Department of State to turn over private voter information even though a Commonwealth Court decided last week not to enforce a subpoena that was drafted to do so in the last legislative session. According to the Sun Gazette, Thursday’s decision said the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee can enforce its own subpoenas, the attempt of which over the last year drew criticism from Senate Democrats, the Attorney General and non-profits in the state.  However, Senate Republicans will have to issue new subpoenas since a new legislative session has begun.  It’s not clear if the GOP is interested in continuing the appeal.

MILL COVE ANNOUNCES EARTH DAY CELEBRATION

After COVID shuttered the Annual Earth Day Celebration in Mill Cove for the past 3 years, the organizers of the event have announced that April’s Earth Day at Mill Cove Environmental Area will be held Saturday April 22, from 10 til 4.  The event is free and there will be free parking at Mansfield University with a shuttle bus provided to the site, showcasing an array of vendors with wares related to the natural environment. Activities like fishing, kayaking and archery will be available to try with gear and safety gear provided.  Details and free registration at mill cove inc dot org.

SPORTS

HS Girls Basketball
Southern Columbia 42        Shikellamy 31
Northumberland Christian 63 Nativity BVM 42
Wellsboro 42                        Athens 33
Mifflinburg 30                      Selinsgrove 28
Cowanesque Valley 46       Williamson 37
Wyalusing 56                        Sullivan County 48

HS Boys Basketball
Milton 80                               Midd-West 56
Shamokin 57                         Danville 48
St. John Neumann 96           Bucktail 54
Central Columbia 58           Hughesville 42
Canton 56                              Montgomery 25
Warrior Run 45                    Lewisburg 41
Wellsboro 55                        Northeast Bradford 25
Southern Columbia 60        Shikellamy 54
Bald Eagle Area 65              Jersey Shore 43
NBA
76ers 123             Rockets 104
Hornets 144         Hawks 138
Cavaliers 117       Spurs 109
Jazz 123               Pacers 117
Nuggets 112         Heat 108
Knicks 124                    Nets 106
Magic 100            Bulls 91
Pelicans 103         Thunder 100
Timberwolves 124 Mavericks 121
Warriors 135        Wizards 126
Trailblazers 127   Lakers 115
NHL
Senators 4            Flames 3
Panthers 2            Wild 1
Coyotes 4             Predators 2
Redwing 6            Canucks 1
Kings 5                 Sabers 2

NCAA Men’s Basketball
Texas Tech 74      Texas 67
Baylor 79             West Virginia 67
Miami 80              North Carolina 72