RAPE CHARGES FOR NEW COLUMBIA MAN
Felony rape, and sexual assault charges sends a Union County man to jail. State Police in Milton were called to Evangelical Community Hospital the afternoon of Aug. 8 to speak with a victim for a reported rape that occurred in White Deer Township, according to northcentralpa.com. Monday Ky A. Getz of New Columbia, has been charged with multiple felonies and remanded to Union County Jail on $50,000 monetary bail. According to SUN Gazette, Getz’s preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 24 at the office of District Judge Jeffrey Mensch.
HUMANE OFFICER CHARGES TWO LINDEN RESIDENTS WITH MISDEMEANORS
A woman allegedly admitted to owning eight of the 13 cats found in poor conditions at her home, according to a police affidavit. Candace Leeann Temple, 48, Linden, claimed ownership of eight of the felines and identified the owner of other animals as John Daniels, 50. According to SUN Gazette, Humane Police Officer Shawn McMonigle filed multiple misdemeanors on both Temple and Daniels and their preliminary hearing is Aug. 25 before the Honorable Judge Jerry C. Lepley.
EVIDENCE IS GOING TO BE USED, BASED ON FINDINGS BY PRESIDENT JUDGE NANCY BUTTS
Three pieces of evidence, to be used during the trial of a Muncy woman accused of involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of her own daughter, were permitted by county judge. President Judge Nancy Butts denied a motion to suppress evidence gained from a phone search and a blood draw, in addition to refusing to suppress statements made in a consented interview with police in the case of Demsey Long, of Muncy. According to a media outlet, State Police accuse Long of being under the influence of amphetamine, methamphetamine and THC, which led to the death of her infant child in April of 2020.
SUBSTITUTE TEACHER RATES MAY GO UP, PENDING A VOTE AT THE NEXT MEETING
For 342 times during the last school year, classrooms in the Montoursville Area School District were without a teacher because of a lack of substitutes, according to statistics Superintendent Christina Bason. Citing a national teacher shortage, Bason said that the district draws from several sources in order to find substitute to cover the classrooms. Daily sub rates would possibly change to $90-$100 for the first 30 days and $110 beyond that. The board agreed that the increase should be placed on a future agenda for a vote.According to a media outlet, the next regularly-schedule board meeting will be at 7 p.m., Sept. 14 at McCall Middle School, 600 Willow St.
THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH LYCOMING COUNTY YESTERDAY
A brief — but powerful — thunderstorm swept through parts of Lycoming County on Thursday afternoon, blowing down numerous trees and snapping a few utility poles. According to SUN Gazette, the 911 call center, which handles emergency dispatches for Lycoming County handled nearly three dozen storm-related incidents during a two-hour period beginning about 1:30 p.m.“We had trees on wire as well as a pole and transformer down there. Residents in the upper end of Pleasant Stream Road were still without power for some considerable time” Ralston Fire Chief John Orr said.
A brief — but powerful — thunderstorm swept through parts of Lycoming County County on Thursday afternoon, blowing down numerous trees and snapping a few utility poles. Plunketts Creek Fire Chief Brad Stine reported that at least “a dozen trees” or more fell in his fire district alone. Route 87 from Barbours to Hillsgrove was closed for at least two hours due to several large down trees at the Lycoming-Sullivan county line, Stine said. According to SUN Gazette, Trout Run firefighters handled several emergencies related to the storm, including trees down on Lower Bodines Road and a transformer fire at Route 14 and Field Station Road, both in Lewis Township.
EMERGENCY FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING
The Loyalsock Township School Board approved spending $91,000 of emergency federal grant funds to upgrade the HVAC management system. A proposal from Siemens Industry, Inc. to migrate the building management system to a Desigo Optic Workstation was accepted by the board at their recent meeting. In addition, five policies, two which are new were approved. The policies were recommended for implementation regarding threat assessment. The policies approved cover weapons, threat assessment, hazing, bullying/cyberbullying and school security personnel. The next board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Sept. 8 at the board conference room, 1605 Four Mile Drive.
MASKING CONCERNS AT THE EAST LYCOMING SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
The East Lycoming School Board meeting this week featured opposing views from district residents on the issue of masking students. One concern was that COVID-19 remains a health threat and there are serious concerns with optional masking. Another concern was for the psychological damage that occurs as kids are forced to wear a mask all day. Board president Richard Michael noted that the health and safety plan will be reviewed on a regular basis and “adjusted as needed.”
THE PRESIDENT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS ASSOCIATION RESPONDS TO GOVERNOR WOLF
The union that represents about 10,000 guards in Pennsylvania’s state prisons told Gov. Tom Wolf yesterday it plans legal action to stop his effort to force them to get COVID-19 vaccines over the next month. The president of the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association sent a letter to the Governor Wolf as a direct response to orders from Wolf saying guards and some other state workers are required to get fully vaccinated by Sept. 7 or face weekly testing. Union president John Eckenrode told Wolf his policy announcement was “a slap in the face — and frankly, way too late because thousands of our members already have been infected, due to your inaction.”
KIDS’ UNITED COMMUNITY PLAYGROUND AT COCHRAN PRIMARY SCHOOL PROGRESS
Progress on the Kids’ United Community Playground at Cochran Primary School is moving forward. According to Dr. Timothy S. Bowers, superintendent at the Williamsport Area School District relayed that several workers are struggling to build the new equipment without assembly instructions provided. Bowers went on to say, “That’s a huge, huge project.” Ground was broken for the all-access playground in June on a plot of land on the north side of Cochran. The 9,400-square-foot playground, located closer to the school to allow for increased accessibility and lighting, will replace the playground that had been at the school.
LITTLE LEAGUE HOPEFULS ARE HEADING TO THE LARGEST STAGE FOR LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
It appears as if four more teams are heading to the Little League World Series in Williamsport.
Honolulu Little League Team is heading to Williamsport after their latest win, Upper Providence (Oaks , Pennsylvania) has earned a spot, Taylor North Michigan and Sioux Falls, SD are also heading to play in the largest stage for Little League Baseball.
