HOME BURNS DISPLACES FAMILY OF FOUR
A home was lost and four people displaced after fire engulfed a home along the 8900 block of Route 220n north of Picture Rocks. According to the Sun Gazette, Jonathan and Ariel Drummond and their two children escaped the blaze Thursday afternoon that fire officials say started by a candle on a dresser in a bedroom. Firefighters from multiple units arrived after 1pm to flames shooting from a second story window. The Picture Rocks Assistant Fire Chief ordered the building evacuated at around 1:40 due to potential structural collapse of the attic of the house. It took 90 minutes and 20 thousand gallons of water to control the blaze, but the home was a total loss. Route 220 was closed in both directions until just after 5 p.m. The American Red Cross is reportedly assisting the familyof 4.
DEFENDANT IN ABUSE CASE SEEKS TO SUPRESS EVIDENCE
A man who is co-defendant in an abuse case with a Williamsport woman recently asked to have evidence suppressed in a drug possession case from 2018. According to the Sun Gazette, Grant Wright, of 2109 Central Ave, is now married to his co-defendant, Maria Sweeting, who was recently incarcerated for failing drug tests from her legal case. Wright is facing charges allegedly of abusing their infant in February of 2019. Lawyers in the case asked President Judge Nancy Butts to derive an opinion and order. Wright has not yet been scheduled for any pre-trial hearings.
FIRST COUNCIL MEETING FOR SLAUGHTER AS MAYOR
Williamsport City Council met Thursday in their first meeting under Mayor Derek Slaughter. According to the Sun Gazette, four new members attended the meeting David Banks, Adam Yoder, Jon Mackey and Vincent Pulizzi, and Slaughter told the group that he looked forward to working together on behalf of the city. The mayor also told the paper that he was working through the process of naming an administrative team. Personnel and legal matters were addressed at an executive session after the regular meeting yesterday.
FARM SHOW WEEKEND
The Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg is about to end this weekend. Today is Pork Day on the Pa. Preferred Culinary Connection stage, so go there for the tastings and demonstrations. Saturday at 2:30 is the Lumberjack Competition and get tickets for any of the three days of the First Frontier Circuit Finals Rodeo in the New Holland Arena. The PA Farm Show runs until 5 p.m. tomorrow. Admission is free – parking is $15
WOMAN ARRESTED AFTER PICKING UP UP CASH DROPPED BY A CUSTOMER
A woman working as a cashier at a local store has been charged for pocketing an envelope of money dropped by a customer. 47 year old Kym R. Bonnell, was working at the River Avenue Weis market in October of this year she picked it u p the $480 cash dropped by a shopper and put it in her pocket. Montoursville State Police say Bonnell admitted during an interview that she took the money. She had a preliminary hearing December 23rd. Her case was waived for court and a formal arraignment for theft charges is set for Monday.
COMMS CHANGE STAFF, SALARY STRUCTURE
The Lycoming County Comissioners made some changes including a reduction in staff and a restructuring of salaries for elected row officers and other personnel. The Commissioners agreed to remove positions for an assistant district attorney, and one full and one part-time clerk. According to the Sun Gazette, newly elected District Attorney Ryan Gardner requested the restructuring which added two assistant county detectives. Commissioner Tony Mussare said adding two detectives will help reduce the monthly case backlog while fighting crime. The detectives have not been hired at this time.
BUCKNELL STUDENTS IN PUERTO RICO ARE SAFE
Bucknell University spokesman Mike Ferlazzo has told local media outlets that the 20 students and three staff who were in Puerto Rico when an earthquake hit this week are safe and staying in a retreat house about two hours from the epicenter . Je saod the time spent working in the school’s “Building Global Solidarity Puerto Rico Immersion Program” has been cut short. The 6.4-magnitude earthquake which struck Tuesday, killed one person, injured nine others and severely damaged infrastructure in Puerto Rico’s southwest coast.
MORE FARM SHOW
The Pennsylvania Farm Show & Expo wraps up this weekend but the blue ribbons are still being awarded this week – especially in the rabbits category. According to the Daily item Rita Cluck, of Richfield; Suzanne Thomas, of Danville and Danita Stoltzfus, of Mount Pleasant Mills, received the most accolades. Wednesday, Montour County-based Time Warp won first place as champion shearer and the Weaver’s Award in the Sheep to Shawl competition. The Farm Show ends tomorrow AT 5PM. Details at farmshow.pa.gov
Sports
NBA
76’ers beat the Celtics 109 to 98, Cavaliers beat the Pistons 115 to 112, Timberwolves beat the Trailblazers 116 to 102, Thunder beat the Rockets 113 to 92
NHL
Bruins beat the Jets 5 to 4, Oilers over the Canadians 4 to 2, Lightning over the Coyotes 4- nothing, Panthers beat the Canucks 5 to 2, Rangers beat the Devils 6 to 3, Blues over the Sabres 5 to 1, Predators beat the Blackhawks 5 to 2, Flames over Wild 2 to 1, Kings defeated Golden Knights 5 to 2, Stars over the Ducks 3-nothing, Sharks beat the Blue Jackets 3-1
HS Wrestling
South Williamsport over Bloomsburg 54 to 17, Mifflin County over Central Mountain 37 to 18, Montoursville over Loyalsock 84 nothing, Muncie beat Sullivan County 54-21, Montgomery over Sugar Valley 58-18, Southern Columbia over Hughesville 53-15, Wyalusing beat Williams 60-15, Milton over Jersey Shore 45-26
HS Girls Basketball
Loyalsock (10- 0) beat Southern Columbia 56-52, Wellsboro over Cowanaesque Valley 40-34, Troy beat North Penn Liberty 39-36, Towanda beat Canton 59-28, Swimming
Girls – Lewisburg over Jersey Shore 58-43 Lewisburg over Montoursville 90 to 4
Boys – Lewisburg over Jersey Shore 60-34, Lewisburg over Montoursville 58-31, North Penn Mansfield over Williamson 71-16
Women’s basketball
Penn State beat Michigan State 86-73
