LOCK HAVEN MAN FACES 31 FELONIES
A Lock Haven man faces upwards of 34 years in prison following a conviction of sexual crimes against a juvenile in 2020 when authorities said he intentionally mislead a young girl online to meet for sexual acts and to receive explicit photos. According to Clinton County District Attorney’s Officer, Lionel Darryl Jones, 26, is looking at 31 felony counts. Jones is to be evaluated by the Pennsylvania Sexual Offender Assessment Board to determine if he should be classified as a sexually violent predator. According to northcentralpa.com, Jones is scheduled for sentencing on September 20 at the Clinton County Court House.
SEXUAL CHARGES SEND MILTON MAN TO JAIL
A Milton man accused of allegedly forcing a juvenile girl under age 16 to perform sex acts, faces charges. In January, a child line tip led police to investigate and then charge Anthony R. Bach, 22, with multiple felonies. Bach was arraigned on June 10 at the office of District Judge Jeffrey A. Rowe in Lewisburg. Bail was set at $150,000 monetary and remanded to Union County Jail with a preliminary hearing July 29.
A HEALTH CARE PARTNERSHIP
A partnership to continue providing a high-quality health care system throughout Pennsdale, Muncy, Hughesville and Picture Rocks was renewed between UPMC in North Central Pa and the East Lycoming Ambulance Association. According to SUN Gazette, this collaboration ensures communities in eastern Lycoming County to have access to superior Emergency Medical Services.
26TH ANNUAL SET THE NITE TO MUSIC
The “26th Annual Set the Nite to Music Fireworks Extravaganza” with UPMC, the city of Williamsport and Backyard Broadcasting is happening, in downtown Williamsport, on Sunday July 4th. A petition filed with PennDOT that was required to close the Market Street Bridge was initially denied. However, the city petitioned for a waiver. The waiver was granted by Governor Wolf’s office. Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter added that approval from the state was received yesterday morning. Backyard Broadcasting’s 26th Annual Set the Night to Music Celebration will be held in the area of the Williamsport Hampton Inn for a world class fireworks display, fired off the Market Street Bridge, and choreographed to a super patriot soundtrack.
EAST BUFFALO TOWNSHIP SUCCESSFUL IN COURT FINDING
It was a win in Union County Court for East Buffalo Township in its dispute over regional police funding with the Borough of Lewisburg. According to an online media source, County President Judge Michael Hudock ruled in favor of the township, explaining it properly interpreted its intergovernmental agreement with the borough.Court papers say the borough’s lawsuit is now dismissed, but it has 30 days to appeal.
PENNSYLVANIA’S HIGHEST COURT OVERTURNS A CONVICTION
Pennsylvania’s highest court overturned Bill Cosby’s sex assault conviction yesterday after finding an agreement with a previous prosecutor prevented him from being charged in the case. Pennsylvania prison system says Bill Cosby has been released after the conviction was overturned. Cosby has served more than two years of a three- to 10-year sentence at a state prison near Philadelphia vowing to serve all 10 years rather than acknowledge any remorse over the 2004 encounter with accuser Andrea Constand, where the 83-year-old Cosby, was convicted of drugging and molesting the Temple University employee at his suburban estate.
GOVERNOR WOLF SIGNS STATE BUDGET
Gov.Tom Wolf yesterday signed a state budget, his office said in a release, that will help power the commonwealth’s recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic by making the largest investment in public education in state history, by investing in quality, affordable child care for parents who wish to return to the workforce and by helping Pennsylvanians struggling with mortgage or rent payments stay in their homes. The budget outlined in House Bill 1348 makes a historic $416 million increase in state funding for public education. The budget makes crucial investments to support the needs of schools and students, including a $200 million increase in the Fair Funding Formula, $100 million to support underfunded school districts through the Level Up initiative, $50 million in special education funding, $30 million for early education, $20 million for Ready to Learn, $11 million for preschool Early Intervention and $5 million for community colleges.
COVID-19 DASHBOARD FROM PA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Pennsylvania’s new COVID-19 case total increased for the third day in a row on Wednesday as hospitalizations continued to decline across the state.The Department of Health registered 202 new cases on yesterday, ending a string of four days in a row with fewer than 200 cases. In the Valley, there were four new cases, including two in Northumberland County and one in both Snyder and Union counties. Montour County did not have any new cases for the sixth time in seven days. DOH officials announced that more than 11.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Pennsylvania, the fifth highest in the nation.
STORMS ROCK THE VALLEY
A quick-moving and powerful thunderstorm knocked power out to more than 2,500 homes yesterday in the Valley and tore the roof off of a storage building near a cemetery in Milton. With temperatures hovering near 100, thunderstorms kicked up across the Valley in the middle of the afternoon, sweeping through Union and northern Northumberland County around 4:30 p.m. According to PPL’s outage map, power was out to more than 1,000 customers last evening. Citizen’s Electric’s outage map showed more than 1,600 were left in the dark as well. A National Weather Service severe thunderstorm watch for Valley counties expired at 8 p.m., and by that time the temperature had dropped to 76 degrees, according to AccuWeather.
FELONY CHARGES ON FORMER ASSISTANT PRINCIPLE
Former Selinsgrove Middle School Assistant Principal Christopher S. Morrison pleaded guilty Tuesday to four counts of felony unlawful contact with a minor, involving Morrison soliciting sexually explicit images from four children, ages 11, 13 and 14. Morrison, 40, entered the plea before Snyder County Judge Michael H. Sholley with sentencing to occur this summer, according to the Daily Item. Morrison was serving as an assistant school principal last August according to state police at Selinsgrove when Morrison reached out to underage girls online. In court records, Morrison admitted soliciting young girls while under the influence of alcohol. He resigned from the school district last summer after the criminal charges were filed against him.
ONLINE TOURS OF THE LITTLE LEAGUE MUSEUM
The Little League Museum, 525 Route 15 in South Williamsport, has been closed since March 2020. But, even though their doors to the inside remain closed, the Little League Museum has adapted a sizeable social media presence and an outdoor walk-through exhibit accessible to anyone with a smartphone according to SUN Gazette. The audio-guided tour, with professionally recorded audio, allows visitors to learn about the history of the complex. Officials reported there is no specific timeline to reopen, but they are working toward that goal.
CAPITAL PROJECTS BUDGET FOR THE CITY
It was on first reading that the city council passed a six-year capital projects budget of $79.5 million, a combination projects to be considered priorities and some that may not receive funding at all. It was called the city version of a wish list and a planning tool that runs from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2027. After the planning commission review council holds a second and final reading on the capital projects budget July 8.
AREA FIREWORKS
In addition to the 26 th annual Set the Night to Music Extravaganza, slated to shoot fireworks at 9:40 p.m. Sunday, July 4, sponsored by Backyard Broadcasting. Other fireworks shows include those being held in Montgomery, Jersey Shore, Watsontown, and Millville. Montgomery, Saturday July 3, fireworks at dusk from community park. Rain date is July 5. Watsontown, 9:15 p.m. Saturday, July 3. Jersey Shore, 9:45 p.m. Saturday, July 10 and also Millville, midnight, Saturday, July 10.
