FELONY RAPE JURY SELECTION TODAY

It is jury selection today in the case of a Jersey Shore man charged with multiple felony counts of forcible rape, according to northcentralpa.com.  Joshua K. Morehart arrested by the Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police  of sexually assaulting a woman 2020. Jury selection begins at 1:30 p.m. on May 17 in Courtroom 4. Assistant District Attorney Devin Victoria Walker will be representing the Commonwealth.

SUPPRESSION ARGUMENTS 

A Lycoming County Sheriff’s Deputy is accused of confiscating a backpack without a warrant while serving a Protection From Abuse order on Dec. 4.  Attorney Timothy Reitz argued, in a motion, that drug evidence seized from his client Abdul Ali Shuaib should be suppressed because it was illegally obtained, according to northcentralpa.com. Reitz also argued that the Commonwealth had insufficient evidence to support the possession with intent to deliver charges against Shuaib. Arguments are scheduled for July 1 before President Judge Nancy L. Butts. Assistant District Attorney Eric Williams will represent the Commonwealth.

GUILTY PLEA IN DRUG CHARGES 

A Jersey Shore man, charged by the Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police,  was sentenced in Lycoming County Court for selling methamphetamines. Shawn M. Stine, pleaded guilty on May 10 to a felony and misdemeanor. President Judge Nancy L. Butts sentenced Stine to 18 months’ probation for the felony charge, and a consecutive six months of probation for the paraphernalia charge, according to a media outlet.

LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY TEST-OPTIONAL ADMISSION POLICY

Through fall of 2022, Lock Haven University extended its test-optional admission policy for students applying to the university.  First-year applicants to the university will not be required to submit either a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Testing (ACT) score to complete an application for admission. Recently, the board of governors for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education voted to freeze basic in-state tuition for a third consecutive year, even while confronting financial challenges brought on in part by the coronavirus pandemic. For more information on Lock Haven University, visit their website.

LYCOMING COLLEGE GRADUATION

Lycoming College’s members of the 173rd graduating class walked through the opening of the Oliver Sterling Gate, honoring tradition and preserving excellence, as this class, through speakers, looked back at a year of challenge and change. Jalen Williams, Senior Speaker, told the graduating class to “think deeply, act boldly.” Lycoming will host an invitation only commencement ceremony for the class of 2020 at 2pm Saturday. The event will be available on livestream through the university according to the SUN Gazette.

BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY 

Bucknell University, condemned a “horrific” incident in which LGBTQ students were harassed at an affinity house last week, according to university officials. The incident took place Thursday at Tower House: Fran’s House, an affinity house that provides LGBTQ-friendly, gender-neutral housing for Bucknell students. In a letter released Friday, University President John Bravman, said a group of male students approached the residence where they harassed and intimidated the residents while then attempted to gain entry.”It is clear from multiple accounts that the students violated the physical space and, far more importantly, the residents’ sense of place and security. Further, it is equally clear that Bucknell Public Safety’s response to the incident was lacking in myriad ways,” the letter reads. The school will investigate the incident and an outside firm will investigate the Public Safety Department’s response, according to the letter.

POLICE PURSUIT

A late Saturday night police pursuit that began in Shamokin Dam Borough, led police over Veterans Memorial Bridge and south on Route 147, where the vehicle wound up in the river, according to a Pennsylvania State Police communications officer Mark Reasner yesterday.The driver, who has not yet been identified, had to be rescued, Reasner said. Shamokin Dam Police are charging the driver with fleeing and eluding and State Police in Stonington are completing the crash report, according to the Daily Item. The driver was taken into custody.

CHIRP

Clinton County restaurants, bars, hotels and other for-profit businesses in the hospitality industry have today, to apply for grant funding through the COVID Hospitality Industry Recovery Program. SEDA-COG is administering the program for the county and recently announced that third-round funding for the grant program closes today. According to information provided by the Clinton County Economic Partnership, $170,160 remains in Clinton County’s overall allocation. The CHIRP update comes as Gov. Tom Wolf has encouraged businesses to apply for the CHIRP hospitality industry recovery funding, saying the state has already announced $50 million in CHIRP grants, including $1.2 million in Lycoming County (to 56 businesses).

GRADUATION AND RETIREMENT PLANS

Pennsylvania College of Technology, over three days, graduated 794 students from both the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 classes, receiving their diplomas from Dr. Davie Jane Gilmour, president of the college, who closed graduation a simple thought, “It is my honor to be the last person to get to share some thoughts with you before you go out into the world.”With nearly a quarter century on campus, Davie Jane Gilmour plans on retiring next year as president of Pennsylvania College of Technology according to an online media source. Gilmour spent her entire career in higher education at Penn College, with 23 years leading the college. She announced plans for a legacy fundraising campaign investing in students as they continue to transform tomorrow throughout the workforce. Gilmour hopes that her legacy will reflect boundless opportunity at  Penn College for students.