STRANGULATION ASSAULT AND THEFT
They went on a shopping trip and, shortly thereafter, the attack occurred. After they left the store, a man nearly choked his accuser to unconsciousness before taking his wallet and fleeing the area. On Aug. 13, Jarmon-Austin allegedly accompanied the 16-year-old accuser to Prime Clothing on Washington Blvd. in Williamsport. Jarmon-Austin was charged with multiple felonies. Court records showed no bail listed for Jarmon-Austin, who was awaits a preliminary hearing.
QUANDEL CONSTRUCTION GROUP, INC.
Following its ground breaking on May 26, Nicholas Meat LLC has chosen Quandel Construction Group, Inc. as the construction management firm that will oversee the development of its Sustainable Resource Facility (SRF), the first of its kind in the United States. According to Brian Miller, Director of Sustainability at Nicholas Meat, the completion of the SRF will be the most meaningful thing we can do to demonstrate our commitment to a sustainable Sugar Valley,” Miller said.The construction project is expected to take 24 months to complete and cost an estimated $50 million, which is funded solely by Nicholas Meat LLC.
RETAIL THEFT IN OLD LYCOMING TOWNSHIP
Police in Old Lycoming Township were alerted to a theft from Weis Market on Lycoming Creek Road. According to surveillance video and information from police, Joseph Walter, 44, of Williamsport and Nykeana Hutchinson, 42, of Jersey Shore were seen failing to scan several items over three trips to the store. The total for the alleged thefts was $203.98, according to the report. Walter was charged with third-degree felony retail theft and held at the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $15,000 monetary bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 1 with Judge William C. Solomon. No charges have been filed against Hutchinson.
RENOVATION AND EXPANSION PROJECT AT COLUMBIA-MONTOUR VO TECH SCHOOL
The Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech School will be given more funding for their renovation and expansion project. State Senator John Gordner (R-27th) and State Representative David Millard (R-109th) both announced additional grant money in the amount of $300,000. This amount can be added to the $1 million in state funds both lawmakers agreed to channel to the Vo-Tech renovation project.The total project cost is expected to be $16.8 million.
COVID-19 DASHBOARD RESULTS
The Pennsylvania Department of Health Thursday confirmed that as of 12:00 a.m., Thursday, there were 3,451 additional positive cases of COVID-19. The new single day total is the highest since early May, part of a trend upward that began in early July. New cases in Clinton County went up by three,. Lycoming County jumped by 33, while Centre County reported 22 new cases Columbia 14 , Snyder 13, Union 12, Northumberland 20, and Montour County had 2 new COVID-19 cases listed..
ACCUSED KILLER FOUND NOT GUILTY OF THIRD-DEGREE CRIMINAL HOMICIDE
Accused killer Brian Heffner on Thursday was found not guilty of third-degree criminal homicide after a two-and-a-half-day trial in front of a Northumberland County jury. Heffner, who police said fired the gun that killed Sean Maschal, 33, of Mount Carmel Township in 2017, was found guilty of a misdemeanor count of involuntary manslaughter, and five felony counts of illegally possessing a firearm, among other charges. President Judge Charles Saylor ordered a pre-sentence investigation. Sentencing will take place within 90 days.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY JUDICIAL SALE
The Northumberland County Judicial Sale scheduled for this week is postponed until October. Tax claims director Janel Barwick said on Wednesday that the sale will be held at 10 a.m. Oct. 1 at the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center, 2 E. Arch St., Shamokin. The judicial sale has nearly 100 properties up for bid. The judicial sale in March, also held at the career and arts center, generated $722,460.31 with 11 parcels sold out of 152 available. Parcels will be offered at the listed starting bid and go to the highest bidder. Bidders have until 3 p.m. the day of the sale to pay their bid in full, said Barwick.
CONSENT DECREE
The claim that the City of Williamsport violated an agreement requiring City Hall to be updated, as necessary by the Americans with Disabilities Act, will not see federal court. The settlement reached in US Middle District Court was signed by attorneys and representatives from both sides of the issue. Inside the terms of the consent decarree, the city is required to retain an accessibility consultant and develop a feasible plan for continued work on City Hall within 60 days. According to a media outlet, fines based on inaction can be leveled against the city of $350 a day, paid to the plaintiffs.
GOLDEN CROWBAR AWARD GIVEN TO AREA JUDGE
The Golden Crowbar Award is issued for “significantly furthering the goal of the judicial system by implementing innovative programs and by alleviating backlogs in the court system.” In July, Judge Marc F. Lovecchio received the 2021 Golden Crowbar Award by the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges. The SUN Gazette reported the Golden Crowbar Award is the highest recognition awarded by the Pennsylvania State Trial Judges Association. The only other judge from Lycoming County to receive the award was Judge Thomas Raup in 1989.
ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
It’s a prestigious award presented to a graduate of the past 10 years in recognition of noteworthy career accomplishments that demonstrate the importance of a Penn College education. LaQuinn N. Thompson, a 2016 alumnus of Pennsylvania College of Technology, was honored with an Alumni Achievement Award at the college’s Summer 2021 Commencement ceremony at the Community Arts Center. According to a media outlet, Thompson received this award in recognition of his dedication to giving back to the community, has been a lifelong effort.
GOV TOM WOLF ISSUES GRANTS TO LOCAL FIRE COMPANIES
Gov Tom Wolf yesterday announced that he had awarded $602, 306 in grants to help Pa’s rural communities increase protection from wildfires. The grants were awarded to qualifying local firefighting forces in rural areas and communities with fewer than 10,000 people. The funding may be used for training and equipment purchases directly or related to fighting brush and forest fires.
Depts in our area that received the Grants include:
Avis Fire Co Number 1, Avis
Kratzerville Vol Fire Co, Selinsgrove
Lower August Vol Fire Dept, Sunbury
Muncy Valley Area Vol Fire Co, Muncy Valley
Nisbet Vol Fire Co , Nisbet
Union Township Fire Co, Winfield
