MORE DETAILS ON FRIDAY SHOOTING ON VILAS DRIVE
Reported drug usage may have played a role in the Friday afternoon shooting on Vilas Drive. In fact, according to state police, the shooter, Nigel Lee, and the victim, Adam Butler, allegedly used crack cocaine, crystal methamphetamine and marijuana days before the incident occurred. As reported by SUN Gazette, Lee, of Mill Hall, was accused by state police for shooting Butler multiple times in an unprovoked attack. At this time, Butler is hospitalized and Lee is jailed with no bail, charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, illegal possession of a firearm and possession of an instrument of crime.
FIRE ON REACH ROAD
Dust caught fire and brought Williamsport City firefighters to the Danzer Veneer Americas, 240 N. Reach Road around 1:40 p.m. yesterday. Upwards of six off duty crew members were called in to fight the blaze. According to reports, crews returned to available status just after 3:30 pm with no injuries and an unknown damage estimate.
NEW GAME WARDENS GRADUATE
Twenty-four new game wardens have been assigned to districts in Pennsylvania. Following 44 weeks of intensive training, the 33rd Class of the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Ross Leffler School of Conservation graduated Feb. 5, 2022 at the Susquehanna Township Middle School in Harrisburg. Training School Director Kyle Jury praised the class for its resiliency and commitment. The 33rd Class enrolled on March 28, 2021 and was trained by nearly 200 instructors and field-training officers. Welcome, Andrew D. Butler, of Wellsboro to the Lycoming County Office.
BEAR SEASON, A RECORD IN THE COMMONWEALTH
Pennsylvania bear hunters had quite the year in 2021. They took 3,659 bears across last year’s various seasons. That ranks as the state’s fifth-best harvest ever, and the second-largest recorded since 2011. The 2020 bear harvest, for comparison’s sake, was 3,621. The statewide regular bear season accounted for the largest part of the 2021 bear harvest. Hunters took 1,315 bears in that four-day hunt. The extended bear season – which last year for the first time allowed hunters to harvest bears throughout the opening weekend of deer season in some Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) – contributed 1,128 animals to the harvest. The archery bear season added another 680, while the muzzleloader/special firearms bear season harvest was 536.
COVID CASES REPORTED YESTERDAY
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Monday reported 7,855 new cases. Clinton County reported 12 new cases. In Centre County 138 new cases were recorded. Lycoming County added 105 and Tioga County added 14. There were 65 in Northumberland County, 62 in Union, 15 in Snyder and five in Montour.
HIS FINAL BUDGET PROPOSAL
Gov. Tom Wolf will pitch his eighth and last budget proposal to lawmakers Tuesday, as the Democrat pushes Republicans to spend more federal pandemic relief aid now and Wolf looks to cement his public school legacy by securing a big boost in state aid. The state’s bank accounts are brimming with cash, and Wolf, who is constitutionally required to leave office next January when his second term ends, is touting himself as the only governor since Dick Thornburgh in 1987 to leave a cash surplus to his successor.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COURT IN TROUBLE WITH DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Northumberland County court officials have been accused by a US Department of Justice investigation of violating the civil rights as they forced three people with an opioid use disorder to stop taking a doctor-prescribed addiction medication or risk violating terms of court-ordered supervision. The Justice Department officials went on to explain those directives directly contradict medical research and approved practices. In addition, as reported by the Daily Item, the directive are also violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
KINDGERGARTEN REGISTRATION FOR LOCAL SCHOOL
Kindergarten registration has opened in the Warrior Run School District. According to the Daily Item, registration for the 2022-23 school year is currently open and will close March 5. If you want to begin the registration process, visit the Warrior Run School District homepage at wrsd.org. All children must be five years of age before Sept 1, 2022.
PRESCHOOL EVACUATED
Initial dispatch of a boiler explosion brought emergency crews to the Blessed Beginnings and Preschool on West Central Avenue in South Williamsport yesterday morning just after 10 am. As reported by SUN Gazette, all students and staff were evacuated to the church next door. South Williamsport Fire Chief Tyler Dickson noted crews discovered a radiator malfunction with no explosion and no fire. With no injures, all children and staff returned to preschool without further incident.
