GROUNDBREAKING FOR GROUNDBREAKING BUILDING IN SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT

It was a ground breaking ceremony for the construction to begin on the 15,790-square-foot, four-story, full-service office for Muncy Bank & Trust Company, set for completion in the fall of 2022  in South Williamsport.  The SUN Gazette reported the bank’s four-story building is the first structure of that height to be built in the borough since changes were made to zoning to permit buildings that high. According to South Williamsport Borough Council President Cory Lehman, “We needed to change the zoning, which we have recently, to allow to grow vertically.” He noted that since the change in zoning buildings in the borough can be built as high as 70 feet.

DOMESTIC ASSAULT IN UNITYVILLE

A dispute over a lawn mower with his son on the afternoon of Aug. 28 resulted in Lehman Brown, of Unityville, being charged with simple assault and harassment. According to a media outlet, Brown assaulted the son, who suffered a sprained knee, police said. Brown was arraigned before District Judge Gary Whiteman released on $5,000 bail.

HONORING THE LATE MARY WILLIS, WIFE OF CIVIL WAR VET FROM LYCOMING COUNTY

It was a tree-planting ceremony to honor the late Mary Willis, the wife of the oldest Civil War Veteran from Lycoming County, James Henry Willis that recently brought two groups together.   SUN Gazette reported Montoursville Area High School’s Rho Kappa National Social Studies Council members recently teamed up with the staff of Wildwood Cemetery to plant an Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry Tree, provided by Fort Muncy Nursery. In addition, the group has plans to attempt to move Willis, from his final resting place in NJ, to the Wildwood Cemetery, next to his wife.

HUSBAND WIFE SHOPLIFTING TEAM

A husband and wife shoplifting team brought charges from Old Lycoming Township Police. Walter Jackson and his wife, Angela Jackson, both of Williamsport, entered the Weis Market, 1916 Lycoming Creek Road between June 29 and July 26 and took upwards of $61 in merchandise. As reported by a news source, Walter was charged with a misdemeanor. Angela was charged with a felony, due to her five shoplifting convictions, according to police.  Both were recently arraigned before District Judge William Solomon and jailed in the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail each.

THEFT OF LAWN MOWING EQUIPMENT COST A LOCK HAVEN WOMEN A FELONY

Natasha Evelhair of Lock Haven, was charged with felony theft and receiving stolen property for stealing a $1,500 lawn mower and a $200 grass trimmer from her ex-girlfriend’s garage on Lincoln Avenue in Jersey Shore on Aug. 22, Tiadaghton Valley Regional police alleged in court papers filed at District Judge Jerry Lepley’s office. According to northcentralpa.com, following her arraignment last week, Evelhair was released on $10,000 bail.

WILLIAMSPORT NATIVE GOING TO CHICAGO BULLS

Former free-agent forward AND WILLIAMSPORT native (AL EEE ZA) Alize Johnson and the Chicago Bulls agreed to a two-year 3.6 million dollar deal last evening. “I work my butt off every day. There was never a doubt in me picking up another contract. I feel like I’ve shown a lot in this past season, and in the G-league that I belong in the NBA” Johnson told NorthCentralPA.com after the deal was announced. Last week the Brooklyn Nets waived Johnson as part of the DeAndre Jordan trade, after signing Johnson to a multi-year deal in April. Johnson joins Chicago as yet another free-agent in an active offseason for the Bulls.

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ENDED YESTERDAY FOR MANY

Millions of jobless Americans lost their unemployment benefits yesterday, leaving only a handful of economic support programs for those who are still being hit financially by the year-and-a-half-old coronavirus pandemic.
As reported by SUN Gazette, yesterday, two critical programs expired. A jobless aid to self-employed and gig workers and another providing benefits to those receiving unemployment more than 6 months. Also done, the Biden administration’s $300 weekly supplemental unemployment benefit also ran out. It’s estimated that roughly 8.9 million Americans will lose all or some of these benefits.

ASSISTANCE FOR MANY STILL POSSIBLE THROUGH FEDERAL HELP

Americans still financially struggling in the pandemic will find a smaller patchwork of social support programs, both at the state level and through the federal government. The White House approved last month a 25% increase in food stamp assistance, also known as SNAP benefits. According to a media outlet, that increase will continue indefinitely for those 42.7 million Americans who receive those payments. The Biden administration also pushed the restart of federal student loan repayments until January. Those unemployed less than six months will still be able to collect their benefits, but the amount will fall back to the level that each state pays.

ANTERLESS DEER LICENSES SEPT 13

Any hunters who missed the first round of antlerless deer hunting licenses will have one final change to claim a tag. The PA Game Commission will offer one more round of opportunity to get a licenses on Sept. 13.  According to northcentralpa.com, hunters looking to pick up additional antlerless licenses at that time need to know a couple things: First, over-the-counter antlerless license sales are handled only by county treasurers, and county treasurers’ offices. And second, while this round of antlerless license application continues to be called the “over-the-counter sales” round, applications during this round now are accepted by mail, as well. 

HOME REPAIR OR IMPROVEMENT SCAMS

Home owners should be wary of home repair or improvement scams in the wake of Hurricane Ida.  According to a consumer alert issued by Attorney General Josh Shapiro,  “As Pennsylvania rebuilds and recovers from the remnants of Hurricane Ida, scammers will try to take advantage of consumer panic to make a profit. I’m asking Pennsylvania homeowners to report suspicious offers to my office.”

DR KRAYNAK TRIAL BEGINS TODAY

The trial of Dr. Raymond Kraynak is scheduled to start today following jury selection in federal court. Kraynak the suspended Northumberland co doctor who was arrested for criminal prescribing practices resulting in the deaths of five patients, is scheduled for jury selection in front of us judge matthew brann in courtoom no 1 on fourth floor of the us courthouse and federal building, Williamsport.  According to Daily Item, the trial is anticipated to last four weeks. Kraynak is free on $500,000 unsecured bail.