SIX MONTHS OF ABUSE

A Williamsport man allegedly abused a woman over a six month period. Anthony Williams, allegedly struck the woman with a closed fist numerous times, according to Williamsport police. Over the past 6 months, this abuse continued as well as threats and not allowing her to leave. According to SUN Gazette, the woman escaped the house the next day when she climbed out a window. District Judge Christian Frey arraigned Williams for multiple charges including false imprisonment and simple assault. He was initially incarcerated on $50,000 bail, but was later released on unsecured bail.

DISTRICT JUSTICE RETIREMENT

A local District Justice quietly retired after 10 years in office, District Judge Jon E. Kemp retired on Jan. 2. According to SUN Gazette, President Judge Nancy Butts has appointed District Judge William C. Solomon to serve as administrative judge for the magistrate’s office at 2134 Route 405. Solomon, whose office is on Lycoming Creek Road in Old Lycoming Township, will ensure that matters are properly handed in the office until a new judge is elected in November 2023 and takes the bench in January 2024, Stahl explained. Retired Senior District Judge Allen P. Page III will serve in the Route 405 office one to two days a week and will handle preliminary hearings until mid-May when Kemp is expected to return to handle such hearings for the remainder of the year, Stahl said.

BOOST TO VETERANS PARK

The Veterans Park in Clinton County has received a welcome boost with a $5,000 donation from Northwest Bank in the form of a $5,000. According to Dave Harger from project developer Harger Utility Charities, the project has commitments of $216,167 to this point. He said the goal is $500,000, which will include some level of in-kind services as well as cash. As reported by therecordonline.com, the anticipated start date for the park renovations is this spring. Then, there will be a dedication date of Nov. 11, Veterans Day.

GOV TOM WOLF ASKING FOR GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf is urging the U.S. Senate to prevent election sabotage and protect our freedom to vote by passing the Freedom to Vote Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.  The governor is also encouraging the Pennsylvania state legislature to pass HB 2090 from prime sponsor House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton that would bolster the state’s election process and further remove barriers to voting.

BOATING NEAR SUNBURY POSSIBLY NOT A REALITY FOR 2022

A huge majority of this year’s upcoming boating season will be gone near Sunbury due to delays in Fabridam repairs.  In fact, according to an online media source, the marina docks may not even be installed this year.  The Fabridam repairs were delayed due to this past fall’s multiple high water events, most notable events were Fred, Henri and Ida. However, sources say there is still a possibility for a partial boating season, as the main Shikellamy Marina boat ramp will remain open. With many questions for the Susquehanna River and the Fabridam, answers may become clearer the closer we get to summer.

COVID CASES FOR OUR LOCAL AREA

The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Tuesday reported new COVID-19 cases. Clinton County reported 32. In Centre County 140 new cases and Lycoming County added 129. There were 208 cases in Union County and 141 new cases in Northumberland County, 53 in Snyder and 26 in Montour County. Tioga County added 7.

THE COMMONWEALTH COURT IS STEPPING IN

A statewide court has given lawmakers and Gov. Tom Wolf two weeks to break a stalemate around redrawing Pennsylvania’s congressional districts to account for a decade of demographic shifts. The Commonwealth Court issued the order Friday, acting on a request last month for it to get involved in the process. It set Jan. 30 for the deadline for it to render its judgment on proposals that are submitted to it. That deadline is barely two weeks before the date — Feb. 15 — when candidates can start circulating petitions to get on primary election ballots. The primary election is May 17. The Commonwealth Court told parties in the case — including lawmakers, activists and Wolf — that they must submit a proposed map by 5 p.m. on Jan. 24.

ANOTHER VEHICLE THEFT FOR WINFIELD MAN

Vehicle thefts in the area are charged to a Winfield man. State police utilized an aircraft to find a man facing two vehicle theft charges. David Gockley of Winfield was arrested on January 5 for a vehicle theft on Tame Deer Road. Gockley fled into the woods and the State Police called their aviation unit to assist in finding him. According to an online media source, Gockley was jailed on $100,000 bail and faces a number of charges including DUI, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, receiving stolen property.

POSSIBLY $20 MILLION TO BRING CITY HALL BACK

Moving forward, yesterday’s Williamsport City Council’s public works committee asked Mayor Derek Slaughter for a cost estimate to repair and repurpose Williamsport City Hall. The building recently suffered major damage from water leaking in the roof and then a coil that broke in the heating system.  As reported by SUN Gazette,  according to Jon Sander, city engineer, the project, which includes the needed accessibility upgrades and to repair and recondition the building will be well above $6 million and closer to $20 million to complete.  As reported by SUN Gazette, a deadline exists where the court ordered consent decree for accessibility guidelines and corresponding upgrades must be finalized by March.

MATCHING GRANT FUND TO REVITALIZE A WILLIAMSPORT STAPLE

It was a Redevelopment Assistant Capital Program and a matching grant of $1 million which received approval from the Lycoming County Commissioners for DiSalvo’s Restaurant. According to SUN Gazette, DiSalvo’s, located in the East Fourth Street/Basin Street area of the city, can now begin work on their $2 million renovation project. Lycoming County will enter into a sub-recipient agreement with DiSalvo’s for the state grant money which passes through the county to DiSalvo’s project. According to Commissioner Rick Mirabito, the $2 million project will create jobs for people in the community.