VEHICLE THEFT AND DRUG USE
A 28-year –old homeless woman is scheduled to appear in Bradford County Court on April 23. Liza Johnson of Athens was initially charged with a second-degree felony of theft for an incident on March 4. According to Towanda State Police, Johnson allegedly took a vehicle from a residence in Athens after she was denied a ride. Johnson allegedly was in possession of hypodermic needles, small plastic baggies, alcohol prep pads, and a modified spoon. Troopers said they also discovered Johnson had an active warrant of arrest in Pennsylvania. Johnson was charged with unauthorized use of motor vehicles, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving with a suspended license. Johnson is being held at the State Correctional Institution in Muncy on $50.000 monetary bail.
LEGALIZATION OF RECREATIONAL CANNABIS
New Jersey. New York. Virginia. One by one, Pennsylvania’s neighbors are moving to legalize recreational cannabis for adults. And after years of saying he wouldn’t endorse such a move, Gov. Tom Wolf changed his position in 2019 and has committed to signing a bill, if it reaches his desk. But, in order for that to happen, the idea would need to gain backing among the Republican lawmakers who control both the state House and Senate. House Speaker Bryan Cutler opposed medial cannabis when it passed in 2016 and said in 2019 that legalization wasn’t the right move in helping the thousands of Pennsylvanians who are battling drug addiction.” Democrats in the chamber, as they have in past sessions, are still pushing for legalization, but with one major difference this spring – a Republican sponsor.
RIVER RESCUE IN LOCK HAVEN
Emergency officials responded to a call of an individual in the Susquehanna River on Thursday in Lock Haven. At approximately 4:40p.m. crews were alerted to a water rescue. Upon assessing the situation, the call was upgraded to a technical rescue. “Typically a technical rescue is more complex or out of the ordinary,” said Tyler Wooding, Assistant Fire Chief of the Lock Haven Fire Department. In this case, additional resources, including rope rescue systems, were necessary to retrieve the person from the water. The effort took around one hour and 20 minutes, according to the Clinton County Department of Emergency Services. The cause of the incident is under investigation by law enforcement.
COMMUNITY THEATRE LEAGUE
For many students throughout Lycoming County and the surrounding area, theatre camps at the Community Theatre League in Williamsport are a highlight of the summer. CTL is excited to announce six weeks of theatrical education and fun for students entering Kindergarten through 12th grade, beginning July 12. This year’s theme is “Dream. Bigger.” It encourages ‘campers’ to grow through the arts. Taught by local theatre artists and creative professionals, the three-hour day camps, which range from one to three weeks , engage local students through hands-on, active learning opportunities, with each camp culminating in a performance or presentation for families and friends. Fifteen separate camps offer students learning opportunities to expand onstage and backstage creativity. The Community Theatre League has been operating on a limited basis since March 2020, but is working to reopen under CDC and Department of Health guidelines.
SEXUAL ASSAULT ON A MINOR
A Shamokin man pled guilty on Friday to inappropriately touching a teenage girl while he was free on bail for a different sexual assault accusation. Hunter Dannheimer of Shamokin , pleaded guilty in front of Northumberland County Judge Paige Rosini to one misdemeanor count of indecent assault of a person age 16 or under. A pre-sentence investigation was ordered before he is sentenced within 90 days . Dannheimer faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $5,000 fine as well as being a lifetime Megan’s Law registrant. A felony count of unlawful contact with a minor and a felony count of corruption of minors were dropped as part of the plea deal.
TAX INCREASE LOYALSOCK TOWNSHIP
Residents of the Loyalsock Township School District could face just under a half mill increase in real estate taxes next year if the tentative budget introduced this week is approved as the final budge by June 30. Dan Egly, district business manager, introduced the 2021-22 budgets reflecting a .43 mill increase in real estate taxes for residents of the district. If the millage increase is approved in the final budget, township residents would pay an extra $43 per $100,000 of the assessed value of their property.
COVID-19 DASHBOARD FOR TODAY
The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed 5,048 additional positive cases of COVID-19. There were 77 new cases in Centre County, 35 in L ycoming County, 32 in Northumberland, 13 in Clinton, 12 in Snyder, 10 in Montour, 7 in Union, and 7 in Tioga.
STRUCTURE FIRE IN THE CITY
Williamsport Bureau of Fire responded to a fire Friday evening around 5 pm on Campbell Street. The fire was called in as a porch fire with two possible entrapment. Williamsport Bureau of Police units blocked traffic on Park Avenue from east of Campbell Street, including the Campbell and Park intersection. The fire damaged at least one house next door by melting the siding.
UPTOWN MUSIC COLLECTIVE LIVE
The Uptown Music Collective is bringing back live shows this month. The music school in downtown Williamsport is well known for its big performances at the Williamsport Community Arts Center. The upcoming show is called “Good Times, Bad Times” and it is a tribute to Led Zepplin. There will be three live performances. One of the shows will be streamed for folks who feel more comfortable staying at home. You can buy tickets to the live shows or buy access to the live stream on the Uptown Music Collective website.
SMUGGLING TOBACCO INTO ALLENWOOD LOW
A Northumberland County man has admitted he accepted bribes to smuggle tobacco products into inmates at the Allenwood low-security prison. William Lokitis, of Marion Heights, on Thursday in the U.S. Middle District Court pleaded guilty to a charge of bribery of public officials. The prison is smoke-free so possession of tobacco is considered contraband. Inmates are known to sell tobacco using postage stamps as money. Lokitis was released on personal recognizance pending sentencing.
JERSEY SHORE OFFICER CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT ON MINOR
A Jersey Shore cop who once received a “key to Ocean City” is charged with sexually assaulting a minor. Tyrone Rolls turned himself in at the Cape May Prosecutor’s Office Wednesday. Rolls was charged with aggravated sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault of a domestic violence victim, official misconduct and endangering the welfare of a child, prosecutors said. If convicted on all charges, Rolls could be sentenced to 65 years in prison.
APPLE TREES AND OTHER TREES TO BE PLANTED IN CENTRALIA
The mostly abandoned coal mining town of Centralia will soon see new life when an environmental group plants 250 apple trees during an event on April 17, hosted by the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation. The planting is part of a plan to restore the ecosystem in the town and improve wildlife habitats. Executive director Bobby Hughes says the group will be planting 16 varieties of trees next weekend in an effort to beautify the properties there that are vacant.
MUNCY BOROUGH COUNCIL LOOKING FOR NEW SEAT
The Muncy Borough Council is in the early stages of finding a new borough hall to seat its operations. The current borough hall is a historic building and is not accessible to disabled residents. So, the borough council is working on finding the best location for a borough hall – either through construction , expansion or renovation. An option standing at the forefront of the borough’s conversation is purchasing the Muncy Area Volunteer Fire Company’s fire hall, which it intends to sell, then renovating it. However, Borough Council President Ed Feigle said the cost may be too high. The fire department is asking for $275,000 but Feigle anticipates renovations to make the building functional as a borough hall might push the total cost up to half a million dollars.
