FORMER WASD PRINCIPAL SEX ASSAULT CASE WILL GO TO TRIAL

A judge has determined the case against Williamsport High School Principal Roger Freed will go to a jury trial, after testimony was heard in district court yesterday in Lycoming County.  According to the Sun Gazette the alleged victim said the incidents began when he was a senior between 2017 and 2018 and continued after graduation, sometimes involving alcohol.  Freed now faces third degree felonies for sexual assault and giving alcohol to a minor.  A trial date has yet to be determined.

MAN TASED IN CRUISER AFTER DOMESTIC ABUSE INCIDENT

A Jersey Shore man is in custody after a domestic incident at a home on North Main Street last Wednesday.  According to the Sun Gazette, Tiadaghton Valley Regional police were called to the scene in Jersey Shore where police say 38 year old Aaron Bitner had punched and beat his wife, and after being handcuffed without incident at his home, later caused a disturbance in the police cruiser while he was being transported. A Taser deployment sent him to the hospital with chest pain, but once he was discharged, he was jailed immediately for a probation violation. Bitner was arraigned Friday and recommitted on simple assault, attempted escape and other charges.

JERSEY SHORE APPROVES REGIONALIZATION AGREEMENT

The Jersey Shore Borough Council met this week and unanimously approved their part of an agreement to officially contribute to the Lycoming Regional Police department.  According to the Sun Gazette, this is the final step in the regionalization with Porter and Old Lycoming Townships.  There was no negative public comment at the meeting Monday about the issue of regionalization that has been polarizing in other townships.  The council also approved a rezoning ordinance for an industrial designation for West Pharmaceutical, and addressed the public’s concern over company truck parking in the borough. 

NEW CHARGES ON OCTOBER WATER BILL FOR CITY

Williamsport’s Water Authority will begin a new series of charges and will have a public meeting for residents impacted by the changes.  According to the Sun Gazette, residential customers will see a line for storm water service on their October bills for $10.  Non-residential customers will pay by non-porous surface area.  The sanitary authority’s public meeting for business, industry and non-profit customers will be at 4pm Wednesday at Trade & Transit Center II, 100 West Third Street in Williamsport. The residential meeting will be at the same place at 7pm Wednesday.  Details and an interactive map can be found at the authority website;  wmwa-wsa.org/stormwater.

LANDLORD THREATENS TENANT WITH GUNS

A Lock Haven couple is facing assault and firearm charges after they threatened a tenant they wanted to evict from their property by showing guns and acting aggressively.  According to North Central PA dot com, William Sean and Candy Jo Laubscher fired shots at the ground and showed guns before they entered the property on German Road September 1^st and demanded the tenant leave.  State Police interviewed the Laubscher’s about the incident,  and charged them with first–degree terroristic threats, carrying unlicensed weapons and other charges.  They each posted five thousand dollars monetary bail and will be back in court September 20^th for their preliminary hearings.

ALLEGED CAR THIEF FOUND AT LOCAL WALMART, IN CUSTODY

Items police say were taken from a home in Bradford County last May were found in a stolen car this summer in the parking lot of the Montoursville Walmart.  According to State police at Towanda, the driver of that stolen car, 37 year old David Scott Smith of Newberry, Florida, was arrested and recently arraigned for first degree felony burglary and criminal trespassing.  Smith was held on 100 thousand dollars monetary bail and will appear in Lycoming county court September 28^th for a preliminary hearing.

NEW PA DRIVER’S LICENSE DESIGN ON THE WAY

PennDOT says they are going to update and enhance the design and security features of the current Pennsylvania Driver’s License starting in November 2022.  According to a press release, the new license products will be phased in both be in use during the transition.  Both the standard and REAL ID will be using the new design and should be completely phased in within four years.  The REAL ID or other federally acceptable identification will be required after May 3^rd 2023 to board a flight or enter a federal building.

VETERAN-FARMERS ELIGIBLE FOR GRANTS

There are grants available through Governor Wolf’s Farm Bill for Veteran-Farmers who want to grow their business.  According to North Central PA dot com, the PA Farm Bill through the Department of Agriculture can provide up to 10 thousand dollars per framer for food safety, biosecurity planning, equipment of working capital. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Census of Agriculture, Pennsylvania is home to more than 7,000 military veterans identified as agricultural producers.

SPORTS

MLB
Pirates 6     Reds 1 – Game 1
Pirates 1     Reds 0 – Game 2
Guardians 3        Angels 1
Phillies 2             Marlins 1
Orioles 4             Nationals 3
Cubs 4                 Mets 1
Yankees 7           Red Sox 6
Braves 5              Giants 1

NFL
Pittsburghs’ TJ Watt does not need surgery on a torn pectoral muscle, according to doctors, after Watt sought a second and third opinion following his injury. However, the Steeler’s star pass rusher could miss six weeks after tearing his left pectoral Sunday during the 23-20 overtime victory with the Bengals.

PIAA Distict 4
Boys Soccer
Danville 6                     Jersey Shore 0
Lewisburg 5                 Shikellamy 0
Selinsgrove 6               Central Mountain 2
Montoursville 3           Mifflinburg 2 (OT)
Central Columbia 3     Loyalsock 0
Southern Columbia 5  Hughesville 1
Williamsport 1             Midd-West 0
Warrior Run 3              Bloomsburg 2

Girls Soccer
Athens 4              North Penn-Mansfield 0
Muncy 7             Sullivan County 0
Benton 11           Montgomery 0Volleyball
Canton 3             Sayre 0
Wellsboro 3        Troy 0

TWO CAR ACCIDENT INJURES SIX

A two-car accident in Williamsport that also involved a bicyclist, sent six people to the hospital yesterday afternoon.  According to the Sun Gazette, two cars collided at Park Avenue and Walnut Street about 5:30pm.  The two drivers and three minor passengers were injured in the crash.  A man on a bicycle who was also traveling through the intersection, was struck by one of the vehicles after the initial accident and was also injured.  All parties were taken to UPMC Williamsport, but no word on the nature of their injuries or their condition today.

PROPANE LEAK ALONG ROUTE 522 IN SELINSGROVE

A propane leak has been reported and a portion of Route 522 in Selinsgrove was closed down last night around 7pm.  According to emergency services, a leak was reported at K& L Feeds in Selinsgrove and was extremely close to the roadway near the Clifford Road intersection.  A cause of the leak has not been released, but no injuries have been reported.  There is no word on when the section of Route 522 will be reopened.

BALLOT REFERENDUM BEING REMOVED FOR NOVEMBER

In the wake of the arrival of a letter from the State Department, Lycoming County’s Election Board has now voted to remove the recent referendum that was to be placed on the upcoming ballot about using electronic voting systems.  According to the Sun Gazette, the State Department says the local Election Board does not have the authority to place the referendum on the ballot because of a case in Westmoreland Township requiring electronic voting due to the Help America Vote Act, addressing accessibility for the disabled voter. A group of concerned citizens recently presented signature filled petitions asking for the upcoming ballot to contain the question for the voters, on whether to hand count ballots and remove the electronic voting system.

TOP COASTER HONORS FOR KNOEBELS

Knoebels Amusement Park has received top honors for a popular rollercoaster at the park for the fourth year! According to their social media page, The Phoenix is the Golden ticket winner as the top wooden roller coaster in the world according to Amusement Today magazine.  The Knoebel family was in San Antonio Texas to accept the award recently since the ride was brought from the Lone Star State in 1985.  The Golden Ticket award was also given to Knoebels for the best food.

SUNBURY MAN WANTED FOR BLOOMSBURG SHOOTING

Police are seeking Sunbury man who shot another man in the leg while they were at at Bloomsburg bar.  According to media outlets,  they are seeking 21 year old Kenny Meeker who police say was seen on surveillance cameras at the bar on East Main Street shooting a victim in the right knee.  Bloomsburg police say Meeker is facing aggravated and simple assault charges as well as  reckless endangerment.  If you know the whereabouts of Meeker, contact Bloomsburg police 570-784-4155

CONTRACTOR CHARGED FOR TAKING PAY AND NOT WORKING

A Loganton man is free on bail after he was charged with felony theft for failure to honor a construction contract for work to be done.  According to the Sun Gazette, South Williamsport Police say the owner of Black Bear Construction, Dustin Allen Butler, also faces receiving stolen property charges after accepting 14 thousand dollars from a DuBoistown man who hired him to build a garage on Euclid Avenue last February.  Butler was arraigned with bail set at 25 thousand dollars.

MOST PA NURSING HOMES REACH AGREEMENT

A tentative contract agreement has been reached between Comprehensive Healthcare and both Priority and SEIU Healthcare PA.  According to the Sun Gazette, picketing was paused on Friday due to the agreement with 13 out of 14 nursing homes across Pennsylvania however contract details were not released.  The dispute that began the strike on September 2^nd, was over pay, benefits and staffing levels.  About 700 union members were involved in the strike, Shenandoah Heights nursing home in Schuylkill County is an independently owned nursing home which has yet to reach an agreement to end their walk-out.

WILLIAMSPORT AIRPORT TOWER TO BE UPGRADED

Improvements to the tower are set to begin soon at the Williamsport Regional Airport.  According to Airport Executive Director, Richard Howell, about 700 thousand dollars in federal funds from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law money and CARES Act funding will be used for a tower upgrades to the windows, energy system improvements and general building rehabilitation.  In other matters at the Regional Airport Authority meeting last week, Howell said the Montour Street project to extend the roadway to the south end of Montoursville is on track, he said about one million dollars in CARES Act funding total has been utilized at the airport.

SPORTS

PIAA District IV

Girls Soccer
Southern Columbia 4 Midd-West 2
Warrior Run 3              Loyalsock 1
Selinsgrove 4               Williamsport 1
Milton 6                       Mifflinburg 2
Central Columbia 6     Hughesville 0

Boys Soccer
Sullivan County 4       Northeast Bradford 2
Wellsboro 8                 North Penn-Liberty 0

Volleyball
Loyalsock 3                  Sugar Valley Rural Charter 0
Wellsboro 3                 South Williamsport 0
Bald Eagle Area 3        Williamsport 0

NFL
Seahawks 17 Broncos 16

NFL Thursday 9/15
Los Angeles @ Kansas City 8:15 on Prime Video.

MLB
Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout homered in his seventh consecutive game Monday night, one shy of the major league record. Ken Griffey Jr., Don Mattingly and Dale Long share the major league record of eight straight games with a home run.

Guardians 5        Angels 4
Astro 7                Tigers 0
Pirates 6              Reds 3
Cubs 5                 Mets 2
Dodgers 6           Diamondbacks 0
Giants 3               Braves 2

Today marks the 21^st Anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States. Extremists hijacked planes and crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Here in Lycoming County, the 9/11 Coalition will be holding a memorial motorcycle ride that will take bikers along a 42 mile journey, beginning at 3pm. The ride will start from the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Company in Montgomery. With the ride, it will also have road delays for motorists. Listen to one of the Backyard Broadcasting stations to get up-to-the-moment traffic reports. The 9/11 Memorial Ride for today, is rain or shine.

Lycoming County Commissioners are putting $1 million dollars  into improving a situation in Jersey Shore Borough, that will see the restabilization of the culvert pipe that feeds into Lawshe Run. The pipe runs underneath the heavily-traveled Allegheny Street, and is at risk of a total collapse. The project is expected to cost a total of $9 million dollars. Other funding sources are being sought for the project. If the pipe would collapse, it would affect thousands of residents and businesses, in the area.

A prison guard from Mount Carmel is now behind bars for institutional sexual assault, that occurred at the Columbia County Prison. Joseph Rogustski was charged with the assault, harassment, and indecent assault on the female inmate. The alleged assault took place on August 31^st. The inmate’s fiancé contacted police about the incident and who then promptly initiated the investigation. Bloomsburg state police are continuing the investigation.

A man accused of robbery, stood in front of a judge on Friday morning, in a preliminary hearing. Demetri Carroll, of Philadelphia, was charged with first-degree felony robbery, third-degree robbery, first-degree misdemeanor terroristic threats, theft by unlawful taking and simple assault. However, Judge Ryan Tira dismissed the terroristic threat charges, after prosecutors withdrew that charge. Carroll was initially held on $100,000 monetary bail; but, was modified to unsecured bail on April 19^th. The robbery occurred at a home along West Third Street, in March of this year.

Many area counties around Central Pennsylvania, have received election integrity grants through the the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Under Act 88 of 2022, DCED established this program to provide grants to counties for elections administration. The amount of funding each county received was determined by the number of registered voters within the county in the previous primary election. Lycoming County received $366,000; Northumberland County got $298,551.81; Columbia County received $198,195.15; Sullivan County received the smallest amount at $22,529.78. However, Clinton, Snyder, Union and Tioga counties also received grant funds.

A father and son in Williamsport, were arrested for assault, after a confrontation resulted between the two men and another neighbor, along Wildwood Boulevard in June. Donald and Justin Fisher were charged on August 25^th, with second-degree misdemeanor simple assault and harassment, and are both scheduled to appear before District Magistrate Christian Frey on October 10^th.

According to Northcentral PA dot com, a third Williamsport teacher is being investigated by police for inappropriate contact with a student. Michelle Pulizzi, who formerly taught English at the high school, was allegedly involved with a student, who also was a confidential informant for the police. Pulizzi was implicated after former high school principal, Roger Freed, confirmed to police about the incidents involving Pulizzi and the student. Freed is facing 30 charges of sexual abuse of students. Recently, Chris Yoder was suspended without pay, since last Fall, for similar indiscretions involving students. No charges have been filed against Pulizzi, as of yet.

Motorists that travel along Route 64, near Lamar, in Clinton County; should expect to see delays as construction crews will be setting beams over Fishing Creek, just North of the village. Delays are expected for up to 15 minutes at a time. The $1.8 million dollar project is expected to last until mid-November.

PennDOT crews in Clinton County will be performing numerous maintenance and upgrade needs around the county, this coming week. The Paul Mack Boulevard bridge, just off Route 220 in Lock Haven, is expected to see some bridge repairs. Route 144 (also known as the Ridge Road near Renovo) will have crews performing crack sealing repairs. In addition, crews will be mowing all along Interstate 80, from the Lamar area to near the Jersey Shore exit.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES –

Philadelphia 8, Washington 5

St. Louis 7, Pittsburgh 5

NY Mets 11, Miami 3

NY Yankees 10, Tampa Bay 3

Boston 17, Baltimore 4

Cleveland 6, Minnesota 4

Seattle 3, Atlanta 1

San Francisco 5, Chicago Cubs 3

Chicago White Sox 10, Oakland 2

Milwaukee 5, Cincinnati 1

Colorado 4, Arizona 1

Detroit 8, Kansas City 4

LA Angels 6, Houston 1

LA Dodgers 8, San Diego 4

Toronto 11, Texas 7

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TENNIS –

Lewisburg blanked Selinsgrove, 5 to 0

Bloomsburg edged Danville, 3 to 2

Towanda over North Penn – Liberty, 4 to 1

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER –

Milton over Shamokin, 4 to 0

Midd-West over Milton, 4 to 0

Danville over Midd-West, 2 to 1

Wyalusing Valley blanked North Penn-Mansfield, 6 to 0

Troy over Wellsboro, 3 to 0

Central Columbia defeated Bloomsburg, 2 to 0

Hughesville over Selinsgrove, 4 to 1

Mifflinburg defeated Jersey Shore, 7 to 2

Southern Columbia tied Danville, 3 all

Montoursville blanked Loyalsock, 5 to 0

Millville doubled up Sullivan County, 4 to 2

Williamson edged Meadowbrook Christian, 2 to 1 in OT

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER –

Selinsgrove over Mifflin County, 7 to 1

Wellsboro blanked Troy, 6 to 0

Northern Bradford edged North Penn – Liberty, 5 to 3

Athens over Galeton, 3 to 1

South Williamsport defeated Millville, 5 to 1

Sullivan County edged Montgomery, 1 to 0

Williamsport slipped past Warrior Run, 2 to 1

Williamson blanked Towanda, 14 to 0

Danville defeated Benton, 4 to 0

Midd-West blanked Milton, 4 to 0

Benton slipped past Milton, 2 to 1

North Schuylkill over Lourdes Regional, 1 to 0

Nativity BVM blanked Shamokin, 7 to 0

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAMES –

Berwick(1-2) blew out Abington Heights(0-3), 49 to 0

Northwest Area(3-0) defeated Towanda(1-2), 45 to 12

COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAMES –

Penn State defeated the Ohio Bobcats, 46 to 10

Lycoming edged Lebanon Valley, 21 to 20

Susquehanna defeated Franklin & Marshall, 30 to 28

VMI defeated Bucknell, 24 to 14

Mercyhurst upended Lock Haven, 49 to 7

Bloomsburg defeated Clarion, 42 to 3

NFL FOOTBALL GAMES TODAY –

Philadelphia Eagles at Detroit Lions, 1pm

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals, 1pm

San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears, 1pm

New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins, 1pm

Cleveland Browns at Carolina Panthers, 1pm

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans, 1pm

New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons, 1pm

Baltimore Ravens at NY Jets, 1pm

Jacksonville Jaguars at Washington Commanders, 1pm

Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings, 4:25pm

NY Giants at Tennessee Titans, 4:25pm

Las Vegas Raiders at LA Chargers, 4:25pm

Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals, 4:25pm

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys, 8:20pm

Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks, 8:15pm – Monday

SOUTHSIDE LOCKDOWN AFTER PARENT THREAT

An alleged threat from a Clinton County parent who had previously been served a PFA, that he might take a gun to the South Williamsport school when he picked up his kids, sparked lockdowns at three district buildings yesterday.  According to the Sun Gazette, state police took the man into custody a little after 1pm while Central, Rommelt and the junior and senior high schools were locked down for safety.  Police and public safety officers on the scene commended parents and guardians who were alerted to the threat, because they were cooperative and patient while they waited around the block until they could connect with their children. The man who made the threat never was on school grounds and officers have not said whether charges will be filed against him.

DUBOISTOWN MAN THREATENS ANOTHER WITH A FIREARM

A confrontation between neighbors has resulted in a DuBoistown man being taken into custody last Saturday.  According to the Sun Gazette, 51 year old Daniel Smith accused a group juveniles who were gathered at Edgewood and Cochran Avenues of being drug dealers, when the kids returned with their parents to speak with Smith, he brought a gun from inside his residence.  Police say Smith pointed the weapon at Brian Reagan’s head then fired it in the air.  Reagan and his family left his property and called 911.  Smith was arraigned and taken into custody and is in Lycoming County Prison in lieu of 150 thousand dollars bail.

FETTERMAN AGREES TO DEBATE OZ

According to Politico John Fetterman, Lt Governor of Pennsylvania, has agreed to one debate against his Republican rival and political novice, Dr. Mehmet Oz some time in October.  Oz has been questioning Fetterman’s health after his stroke last May after Fetterman himself says he has lingering effects of his stroke, like slower auditory processing speed, meaning he can’t respond quickly to what he’s hearing. Details on the debate against the men vying for the US Senate seat vacated by Senator Pat Toomey, will be announced when they are arranged.

VALLEY UNITED WAY TO PROVIDE TUTORS FOR K-12 STUDENTS

The Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way and Bucknell and Susquehanna Universities are partnering to offer virtual tutoring for K-12 students in the Susquehanna Valley.  According to a press release, student tutors from the universities will provide virtual sessions on Zoom for up to 2 hours per week for elementary and high school students who need help in Reading or Early Literacy, Math, Science, Literature and English, and History.  There are also Pre-K through 5^th grade options for reading and early literacy and math.  Sign up for the United we learn program at  gsvuw.org.

FORMER WASD STUDENT FILES SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE

A former Williamsport Area High School student has come forward with allegations that he was sexually abused by another student while on a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with the high school baseball team in 2018, and says district officials covered up the assault.  According to the Sun Gazette, a lawsuit was filed in US Middle District Court this week alleging former district officials, including then-principal Brandon Pardoe, then Assistant Principal Roger Freed and Athletic director Sean McCann and others, knew of the assault by the unnamed John Doe, and that there was video evidence of other assaults on the same trip they asked students to delete after being told of the incident despite being mandated reporters.  Law enforcement officials say the school district has countered with a response, but it is unknown at this time.

FACEBOOK DRUG DEALER ARRESTED

A man conducting drug transactions over Facebook Messenger for several months was arrested after he delivered heroin to a confidential informant and undercover detective three times.  According to North Central PA dot com, 35 year old Dallas Grove from Williamsport arranged to meet with the officers at a local convenience store on West Fourth Street where the drugs were exchanged for marked cash and each time he was followed by police.  Grove was taken into custody and arraigned in Lycoming County District Court August 30^th.  He  was released on 85 thousand dollars bail.

BICYCLIST STILL CRITICAL AFTER LAST WEEKEND ACCIDENT

A 61 year old Danville man who was sideswiped by a car while riding a bicycle along Continental Blvd in Montour County August 31^st , is still in critical condition according to Geisinger officials.  Police say Larry Robbins of Danville was traveling east on Routes 44 and 54 in Limestone Township when 41 year old Michael Carr of Pottsville, also traveling east in a 2011 Subaru Outback approaching Robbins from behind his bike, drifted onto the south shoulder of the roadway and struck the man.  Robbins flew from his bicycle, both coming to rest in a ditch on the south shoulder .  No word on whether Carr will be charged.

LOCAL STUDENT CHOSEN FOR FFA BAND

A trumpet player from Line Mountain High School has been chosen to play in the National Future Farmer’s of America Band at the 2022 National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis in October.  According to the Daily item 16 year old Line Mountain junior Levi Ferster from Dalmatia, who is the president of the Line Mountain Mahantango FFA Chapter in Herndon will perform several times from October 26^th to 29^th.

LANE RESTRICTION IN SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT TODAY

There will be a lane restriction today on Route 654 – in South Williamsport for a maintenance project.  According to Penn DOT, the crew will be performing an inlet repair on West Southern Avenue. So, motorist can expect a man on the scene  flagging on West Southern between Sidney and Lowe Streets.  Work on this project starts after 8:30am and goes until 2:30 PM, weather permitting.

SPORTS

PIAA District IV

Boys Soccer
Lewisburg 3                           Midd-West 2
Northeast Bradford 5           Troy 3
Benton 7                                Montgomery 0
Athens 1                                 North Penn-Liberty 0
Wellsboro 2                           Williamson 0
State College 4                      Williamsport 0

Girls Soccer
Hughesville 5               Troy 2
Shikellamy 4                Warrior Run 0

MLB
Game 1 – Mets 5          Pirates 1
Game 2 – Mets 10        Pirates 0
Game 1- Yankees 5     Twins 4
Game 2 – Yankees 7    Twins 1
Braves 7              A’s 3
Rays 1                 Red Sox 0
Phillies 4             Marlins 3
Blue Jays 4         Orioles 1
Cardinals 6         Nationals 5

Men’s  Tennis US Open
America’s Frances Tiafoe (tee AHF oh) beat Andre Rublev of Russia 7-6, 7-6, 6-4, earning the first trip to the US Open semifinals by an American man since 2006.
(22 seed Tiafoe beat 2^nd seed Rafael Nadal Monday in the Fourth Round of the US Open)
Andy Roddick, who was in Arthur Ashe stadium yesterday, was the last U.S. man to get to the semifinals in New York, losing to Roger Federer in the title match 16 years ago. 

NFL Tonight
Buffalo @ Los Angeles 8:20pm on NBC