WILLIAMSPORT MURDER TRIAL BEGINS FOR PHILLY NATIVE
The first day of testimony wrapped up yesterday in Lycoming County Court in the murder trial of Philadelphia native Joseph Sentore Coleman Jr., currently in jail with two consecutive life sentences for an October 2016 double homicide. According to the Sun Gazette, Court records say Coleman allegedly robbed and murdered Christopher Wilkins two months earlier in August of 2016 at 505 Park Avenue in Williamsport, but the defense says they have the wrong person in this murder. Wilkins roommate, 27 year old Savoy Jennings testified in the case admitting he left town with money that belonged to Wilkins after he discovered him dead, and had a friend call police about the murder who then lied about the circumstances surround the incidents. The trial continues today at 9am.
FIRE DESTROYS MOTORCYCLE CLUB HOUSE
A local motorcycle club lost their Hepburn Township building to fire Sunday night. According to the Sun Gazette, the one story building on Heleeka Road that housed a bar and entertainment equipment, was maintained by the Road Knights Motorcycle Club. Witnesses saw flames from the interstate, called in the incident around 11pm and according to fire officials, the 40 by 40 structure was completely engulfed in flames when volunteer firefighters arrived. It was declared a total loss with no insurance on the building, but there were no injuries.
EDUCATORS TO SUPPORT WOLF’S CHARTER SCHOOL PROPOSAL
The Keystone Central School Board made a motion last week to weigh in on charter school reform and support proposed budget legislation by Governor Tom Wolf. According to some board members as reported by the Sun Gazette, calculating the logics of funding for charter schools in some cases is hard to pin down. The school board will meet this week to vote on approval for signatures of a supportive resolution. The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Central Mountain Auditorium in Mill Hall.
TWO TOWNS APPLY FOR A TELEVISION MAKE-OVER
Two area towns have entered a television network contest which, if successful, the bid could bring a makeover for the entire town. Both Sunbury and Shamokin have submitted an entry in HGTV’s ‘Hometown Takeovers which includes a video which pitches the fix-up-needs of the town. According to the Daily Item, that could include homes, businesses and public parks. The winning town would be featured in a special six-episode series planned to premiere in 2021.
LOYALSOCK ACCIDENT CLOSES ROAD
An unidentified driver was hospitalized yesterday evening after an accident in Loyalsock Township closed the road for about an hour. According to police reports
a local man was driving a Toyota 4Runner on Warrensville Road, north of Four Mile Drive around 7 p.m, lost control of the vehicle and overturned. According to the Sun Gazette, the man was briefly trapped in the wreckage, then transported to Williamsport Regional. Once the car was uprighted and removed from the scene, township firefighters reopened the roadway.
GRANT BRINGS NEW SOUTHSIDE EQUIPMENT
South Williamsport Borough Council will expand its recycling services this spring after a grant with a borough match is presented in March of this year. According to the Sun Gazette, a dump truck, a front-end loader, and wood chipper will be purchased for garden residue and yard waste, with the 300 thousand dollars from the state Department of Environmental Protection. The local match is just over 31 thousand dollars required by the state. In other Southside news, any resident of the borough’s third ward who is interested in filling the seat of Councilman Henry Frey Jr’s who will be moving from the area can contact borough manager, Steven W. Cappelli.
MAYOR SEEKS NEW FIRE CHIEF
Some changes are on the way for the Williamsport Bureau of Fire. According to the Sun Gazette, Mayor Derek Slaughter is searching for a new fire chief, and has offered current Fire Chief, Todd Heckman other opportunities. Heckman was hired under former Mayor Gabriel Campana. The job oversees the department which has 33 members and candidates will be considered from within and outside the department.
3 STUDENTS HONORED FOR HELPING FORMER TEACHER
Three area students were honored this week for helping a woman who was trapped in a SUNbury Car Wash facility. According to the daily item, Macy Carper, Alyssa Keeley, and Brianna Hennett heard a former Shikellamy school district teacher of theirs, Anne Hollenbach yelling as she was pinned nearby. She was in the car with the door closing on her while reaching for a dropped debit card as the vehicle was still in drive. The girls approached the scene and Carper got in the passenger side putting the car in park stopping Hollenbach from being more hurt. The girls were presented with Sunbury’s “Caring Award.”
Sports
NBA
Hornets beat the Pistons 87 to 76, Nets beat the Pacers 106 to 105, Magic beat Hawks 135 to 126, Raptors over the Timberwolves 137 to 126, Bucks beat the Kings 123 to 111, Jazz over the Mavericks 123 to 119, Nuggets over the Spurs 127 to 120, Heat beat the Warriors 113 to 101, and Lakers over the Suns 125 to 100
NHL
Coyotes beat the Canadiens 3 to 2, Flyers over the Panthers 4-1, Islanders beat the Capitals 5 to 3, Lightning over Blue Jackets 2 to 1, Canucks over the Predators 6-2, Flames over the Sharks 6-2
HS Boys Basketball
Montoursville over Hughesville 60 to 33 Williamsport beat Susquehanna Township 73 to 70, Bellefonte over Jersey Shore 64 to 51, Bloomsburg beat Saint John Neumann 73 to 42, Loyalsock over Athens 79-51
HS Girls Basketball
Williamsport New Jersey Shore 60 to 46, Cowanesque Valley over North Penn Liberty 56 to 18, Wellsboro beat Port Allegheny 64-57 in OT, Millville beat Muncy 52-33, Montgomery over Midd-West 42-33
HS Wrestling
Selinsgrove beat Milton 58 to 12
