MONTOURSVILLE NATIVE IN PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT
A Montoursville native has taken the oath of office to become a justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Republican Kevin Brobson was sworn in on Monday in the high court’s Harrisburg courtroom. The oath was administered by Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt, who served with Brobson on Commonwealth Court. A ceremonial event had been scheduled for Friday but was postponed because of the pandemic. Brobson is a Montoursville native who now lives in Dauphin County. He spent more than a decade on Commonwealth Court, including as its president judge, and has been a member of the state’s Judicial Conduct Board. He is a graduate of Lycoming College and Widener University Law School.
ASSAULT CHARGES ON HUGHESVILLE MAN
A Hughesville man assaulted a woman who was driving with him in a car on East Third Street in Loyalsock Township on December 9th. According to SUN Gazette, Dominic J. Thomas suddenly turned to the female driver and struck her several times, while threatening to slice her throat. State Police in Montoursville have charged Thomas with several charges and he is now free on $10,000 bail.
WILLIAMSPORT COMPANY HAS TOURS PLANNED FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS
Spartronics Williamsport is a leading supplier of mission-critical defense electronics in Williamsport, which started with the inception of GTE in 1959 in Williamsport. According to SUN Gazette, Spartronics is expecting to welcome elected state, county, and local officials to tour the Williamsport facility this month to discuss federal investments, reach out and obtain local government support and enable the growth of the workforce in Pennsylvania.
COVID-19 CASES FOR LOCAL AREA
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Tuesday reported new COVID-19 cases. Clinton County reported 13 new cases on Tuesday. In Centre County 174 new cases were recorded on Tuesday. Lycoming County added 92.Tioga County added 15. There were 95 new infections in Northumberland County, 53 in Snyder County, 28 in Union and 16 in Montour.
ICE FACILITY PLANS MOVING FORWARD IN WILLIAMSPORT
Plans continue to move forward for the Immigrations and Custom Enforcement (ICE) facility, according to Gary Knarr, city zoning officer. The proposed location is 2851 South Reach Road is set to be an ICE facility, according to SUN Gazette. Knarr went on to say the facility will not be a location used to jail or house immigrants. When all is done, codes Administrator Joseph Gerardi and Gary Knarr will conduct a final walk through and inspection, thereby providing the occupancy permit that is needed to use the location.
WOMAN DIES AT GMC FOLLOWING MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON SUNDAY
An accident caused injuries that ended the life of a woman on Sunday, Jan. 2. Leah M. Fisher was traveling south on North Mill Street near Pepper Run Road. According to state police, Fisher lost control and veered into the northbound lane, striking another vehicle. Fisher was taken to Geisinger Medical Center Danville by Flemington Goodwill Hose Ambulance Association where she succumbed to her injuries, police said.
SUNBURY MAN ARRESTED FOLLOWING SHOOTING IN SUNBURY
Police allege a Sunbury man shot two men on Monday night near Packer Street in Sunbury. According to police, Felix Pena and Tyrone Short were transported to Geisinger Medical Center in critical condition after Yusuf McLaurin shot them during a possible drug interaction. As reported by Daily Item, McLaurin is slated to appear before Judge Toomey for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 11. McLaurin will appear before Toomey on Jan. 11 for a preliminary hearing on the charge. The investigation continues and more charges are expected to be filed.
SENTENCE HANDED DOWN FOR MAN GUILTY IN THE DEATH OF A 3-YEAR-OLD
It was a sentence based on his responsibility in the death of 3-year-old Arabella Parker. Jahrid Burgess will see upwards of 50 years but no less than 24 years in state prison. It was November when Burgess was found guilty by jury for multiple charges including homicide and four felony counts of aggravated assault for a person under 13 for the beating death of the 3-year-old, whose injuries caused her death a month later. According to District Attorney Tony MAT UH LVICH , it was one of the worst crimes he has experienced in his two year terms as district attorney.
INVESTIGATION OF VOTING MACHINES IN PENNSYLVANIA
Dominion Voting Systems has asked a court to restrict any inspection of its voting machines as part of what Republican lawmakers call a “forensic investigation” of Pennsylvania’s 2020 election to a laboratory that has specific credentials. The Denver-based voting-system manufacturer filed paperwork in court Monday evening as Republican lawmakers move to inspect Dominion’s machines and software in southern Pennsylvania’s sparsely populated Fulton County using an unaccredited contractor that has no election experience. In its court papers, Dominion requested an order requiring that any inspection be conducted by a federally accredited voting system test lab or a national laboratory used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Fulton county heavily backed former President Donald Trump, whose baseless claims about election fraud in 2020′s presidential election have propelled various Republican endeavors to search for fraud in states Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
GOVERNOR SET TO DELIVER FINAL BUDGET PROPOSAL
Pennsylvania is sitting on a fat budget reserve, a healthy and growing surplus, and billions in unspent federal coronavirus relief cash. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, about to deliver his eighth and final state budget proposal to lawmakers, says Pennsylvania’s flush accounts make this a “magical year” in “budget surplus territory” that won’t require higher taxes or spending cuts. The governor’s annual budget address is scheduled for Feb. 8 and will be followed by weeks of hearings by the appropriations committees in the House and Senate. Normally, arm wrestling between the governor and Legislature over the budget gets done in June, with passage shortly before or after Pennsylvania’s next fiscal year begins July 1.
MAXIMUM SENTENCE HANDED DOWN TO FORSYTH
President Judge Nancy Butts sentenced a Williamsport man with the maximum sentence yesterday after he was charged in the death of a 19 month old child. Jason M. Forsyth will see between five and 10 years in state prison for involuntary manslaughter, a second-degree felony. According to SUN Gazette, Forsyth is not eligible for parole.
