MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON AFTER MURDER-FOR-HIRE
It’s life in prison for a Cambria County man who admitted to killing a Newberry man’s wife for money in August of 2018. According to the Sun Gazette, Kenneth Wayne Smith said in court yesterday that Edward Heck promised 10 thousand dollars and a vehicle if he carried out the murder of his wife and 2 dogs. Court records show Smith testified of the murder for hire in a cold way and other examinations show he was diagnosed with a medical issue that affects one’s ability to express emotion. Judge Marc F. Lovecchio sentenced Smith in Lycoming County Court and Heck was also in court Tuesday for a suppression hearing.
COUNCIL MOVES MEETINGS IN GOOD FAITH
In an effort to fully cooperate with the US Department of Justice, the City of Williamsport City Council who is engaged in litigation concerning Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, will move their meetings to the Trade and Transit Center II on February 20th. According to the Sun Gazette, it’s a show of good faith by council to provide a safe and accessible venue for all public meetings. The transit center has handicapped and public access to the Ross Meeting Room on the third floor, as well as technology to assist individuals with special needs.
WOLF TRIES TO RAISE MINIMUM WAGE AGAIN
Governor Tom Wolf wants to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $12 an hour and up to $15 by 2026. According to a press release, the governor’s plan will be considered by the state’s rule-making board later this week. The General Assembly has not passed a minimum wage increase in more than a decade, at $7.25 an hour since 2009, the minimum wage allowed by federal law. Twenty-nine states have a higher minimum wage and 21 states are increasing the wage floor this year.
TRANSPORTATION GROUP ADOPTS STATEWIDE PROGRAM
The Williamsport Area Transportation Study Coordinating Committee met Monday and due to community questions about the roadway, they discussed that there is no target date for re-opening Warrensville Road after it was closed due to earth and rock slides. Also on the table was the adoption of part of a statewide program to decrease the numbers of serious and fatal crashes and to meet performance measures set by the state Department of Transportation.
FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CHARGED WITH THEFT
A former Shamokin Area School District school board member, is facing two misdemeanor counts of theft by deception after allegedly taking donations meant for the school swim team. According to the Daily item, Coal Township police say 42-year-old Richard Kashnoski took money from owner of Brent’s Trash Removal in Coal Township meant as a donation for the school. Officers say Kashnoski then wrote his own name on the checks and cashed them. Kashnoski served on the Shamokin school board between 2013 and 2017.
DUI BILL COULD INCREASE PENALTIES
A bill to end Pennsylvania’s so called revolving door system for those with multiple DUI convictions passed in the State Senate yesterday and will go to the House of Representatives. According to the bill, penalties go up when people receive multiple driving-under-the-influence convictions and have higher blood alcohol content levels. It would also impose court ordered sobriety monitoring for someone who is charged with their second DUI offense.
OWLETT WILL RUN AGAIN FOR HIS HOUSE SEAT
State Representative Clint Owlett a Republican from Wellsboro, has announced his intention to seek re-election to the 68th state House seat serving Tioga, Bradford, and Potter Counties. According to a press release, Owlett has sponsored 19 pieces of legislation in the past year and established the Dairy Investment Fund designed to invest $5 million into the state’s dairy industry. The state primary election is April 28th.
HYDROPONIC COMPANY DONATES TO FOOD BANK
There was a ribbon cutting event and celebration Tuesday at a newly opened hydroponic greenhouse off or Route 522 near Selinsgrove and their first five thousand pound harvest of greens was donated to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. Snyder county commissioners and the State agriculture secretary were on hand for the event at Bright Farms in Penn Township. According to the Daily Item, the 263,000-square-foot facility will employ 50 and produce about 2 million pounds of arugula, spinach, butter lettuce, pak choi, romaine and kale salad greens annually which is sold at Giant Stores and other markets in the East Coast.
Sports
NBA
Hornets beat the Knicks 97 to 92, 76ers over the Warriors 115 to 104, Pelicans beat the Cavaliers 125 to 111, Raptors beat the Hawks 130 to 114, the Bucks over the Wizards 151 to 131, Grizzlies over the Nuggets 140 – 96, Celtics over Heat 109 to 101, and the Suns beat the Mavericks 133 to 104,
The Lakers held a tribute to Kobe Bryant and the Clippers game will be made up at a later date.
NHL – Senators beat the Sabres 5 to 2, Blues over the Flames 5 to 4
HS Boys Basketball
Hughesville over South Williamsport 76 to 38, Loyalsock over Montoursville 77-63, North Penn Liberty over Canton 66 to 50, Wyalusing over North Penn Mansfield 62 to 51
HS Girls Basketball
Cowanesque Valley beat Bucktail 51-28, Montgomery over St. John Neumann 40 to 32, Sullivan County over CMVT 57 to 13, Warrior Run over South Williamsport 45 to 40, Williamsport beat Mifflin County 61 to 48, Loyalsock over Montoursville 48 to 27, Mifflinburg beat Jersey shore 57 to 50
HS Wrestling
Hughesvile over Central Columbia 42 to 35, Southern Columbia beat South Williamsport 63 to 12,
HS Swimming
Girls – Jersey Shore over Mount Carmel 120 to 41
Boys – Jersey shore beat Mount Carmel 69-17
