MULTIPLE FELONIES AFTER METHAMPHETAMINE SALE
A woman was charged with multiple felonies after undercover agents allegedly purchased methamphetamine from her on two separate occasions. On April 28, officers with the Pine Creek Township Police Department said they arranged the purchase of 3.5 grams of methamphetamine from Kristina Ellen Guthrie, 39, of Centre Hall. A second transaction was completed on June 4. Guthrie was charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and multiple other charges. According to a media outlet, she was arraigned this week before Judge Thomas Jordan in State College. Guthrie is being held at the Centre County Prison in lieu of $1,000 monetary bail as she awaits a preliminary hearing on Oct. 20.
KEYSONE CENTER FOR CHARTER CHANGE MEETING
The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) and the Keystone Center for Charter Change held the meeting Friday to discuss issues faced by charter schools in particular. According to PSBA, Pa. school districts are set to spend upwards of $23 billion in taxpayer dollars for mandatory payments to cyber charter and other brick-and-mortar schools, with those costs growing substantially every year. The COVID-19 pandemic has directly caused over 22,000 students throughout Pa. to move to cyber charter schools. PSBA said this change cost local taxpayers an additional $335 million statewide. Charter school tuition payments are now identified as the greatest source of pressure on the budgets of school districts. As reported by a media source, the politics behind charter schools and school boards was addressed during the meeting.
FELONY CHARGES FOR WILLIAMSPORT MAN
A Williamsport man is facing felony charges for an allegedly transaction for methamphetamine with undercover detectives. According to a report from Detective Curtis Loudenslager, Jesse Johnston, 30, of Williamsport delivered 1.78 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in the parking lot of Wegman’s in Williamsport. According to a media outlet, Johnston was charged with felony possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and third-degree felony criminal use of a communication facility. No bail was listed for Johnston
CLINTON COUNTY DA’S OFFICE RELEASE NAME OF SUSPECT IN FATAL POLICE SHOOTING
The Clinton County District Attorney’s Office has released the name of a robbery suspect who was shot and killed by police last week at the Interstate 80 eastbound rest area in Greene Township. The truck driver, Nurgazy Mamyrov, 27, of Langhorne, Pa., died at the scene of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the office of Clinton County District Attorney David Strouse. State police shot Mamyrov after he attempted to ram three of their vehicles with his tractor trailer. Police were called to the rest stop at 4:33 a.m. on Oct. 5 for a report of a robbery with multiple shots fired. The alleged robbery occurred at the rest area near mile marker 194 as Mamyrov had reportedly “shot out” the vehicle windows of other motorists at the rest area, according to a press release issued by Strouse. As reported by northcentralpa.com, the matter remains under investigation and a final review will be conducted by the district attorney’s office as part of the standard operating procedure for all officer involved shootings. As per Pennsylvania State Police policy, the involved officers were placed on administrative leave.
DETAILS RELEASED ON DEATH OF A SUPPORT STAFF MEMBER
State police at Lamar have issued a release on the death of a support staff member whose body was found at the Central Mountain Middle School Monday morning. The police report said no foul play is suspected as the result of the investigation and reiterated word from Keystone Central School District earlier that there is no threat to the students, school staff or the public. The police release said the victim was a 43-year-old man from Mill Hall; his identity was not released, nor the cause of death. According to therecordonline.com, the police report said, “The victim was discovered deceased by an employee of the school district. Video surveillance inside the school was observed and the victim was the only one inside the school at the suspected time of death.” Police put the time of the incident at between 10 p.m. Sunday and 7:10 a.m. on Monday.
SECOND DAY OF REMOTE LEARNING
The Central Mountain Middle School will hold a second day of remote learning on Tuesday after a support staff member at Central Mountain Middle School passed away inside the school; that person’s body found before the start of the school day on Monday.Word on a second day of remote learning for Tuesday was shared Monday afternoon by Keystsone Central School District Superintendent Jacquelyn Martin: All students and staff from the Central Mountain Middle School will operate on a Remote Learning Day for Tuesday, October 12, 2021. Online classes will begin promptly at 8:27 am. As reported by therecordonline.com, in-person learning on our regular schedule will resume on October 13, 2021. Grief Counseling support is available for students and staff.
MONDAY COVID-19 NUMBERS FOR LOCAL AREAS
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Monday reported new COVID-19 cases statewide, the lowest one-day number since mid-September. In Clinton County eight new cases were reported, Centre County saw an increase of 12, Lycoming County increased by 42, Northumberland County posted 39 new cases, while Union County added 23. Snyder County had 11 new cases while Montour added four more.
DOG ORDINANCE FINE INCREASED
Last night at the South Williamsport Borough Council meeting, dog owners found an ordinance amendment making it more important, if not financially important, to keep dogs on a leash. The fine is $1,000. It was formally $50. The amendment is on the “Dogs Running At Large” ordinance. According to SUN Gazette, an official at the Lycoming County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on Reach Road in Williamsport said she was not aware of the proposed amendment and would be interested in seeing how Council voted because another problem exists of stray dogs.
ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGES TO WILLIAMSPORT MAN
Punching and kicking a small dog, according to the local chapter of the SPCA, was the allegation on July 23 against Hixson Pears of Williamsport. Hixson Pears, of 1547 Louisa St., has been charged by the local chapter of the SPCA with cruelty to animals non his property, according to court papers at District Justice Frey’s office. The SPCA has had dealings with Pears regarding the welfare of his dog. Pears refused to communicate, instead slamming the door and shouting profanities. According to a media source, Pears has been sent a summons to appear before the judge.
ATTORNEY GENERAL, JOSH SHAPIRO, EYES ON GOVERNOR JOB
Pennsylvania’s high-profile attorney general, Josh Shapiro, will formally announce his candidacy for governor on Wednesday, entering the 2022 race months after making his intentions known and effectively clearing the field of potential rivals for the Democratic nomination. Shapiro, a familiar presence on cable TV news who has spent nearly two decades in elective office, will launch a bid to become the state’s chief executive with a speech in Pittsburgh, campaign communications director Will Simons confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday. The 48-year-old Shapiro is a self-described progressive who led a nationally prominent investigation into sexual abuse of children by clergy and further raised his political profile by pushing back against Donald Trump’s effort to overturn his presidential election loss last year.
BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY TO INCREASE MINIMUM HOURLY WAGE FOR EMPLOYEES
Bucknell University set a new minimum hourly wage of $15 for qualifying employees, announced $5,000 one-time pandemic bonuses to all eligible workers and added Juneteenth to its regular calendar of holidays, as reported by the Daily Item. “We want to reward the critical roles our hourly staff plays in the overall success of the institution by providing them a more adequate pay rate for the valuable work they perform,” Bravman said during Bucknell’s Employee Celebration event.
ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE
Williamsport City Police responded to a domestic disturbance on Sept. 15 and arrived to find a very distraught Bonnie Swain at 610 Poplar St. According to court records, she was distraught and displayed multiple injuries in varying stages of healing all over her body. Swain alleged that her ex-husband, Ishamarr Swain, 42, of the same address, had tried to drown her in her hot tub as he had his hand wrapped around her neck, according to police. According to SUN Gazette, jailed in the Lycoming County Prison on probation, Ishamarr Swain has since been arraigned before District Judge Christian Frey on attempted homicide and other charges and recommitted in lieu of $250,000 bail.
