SPECIAL NEED CAREGIVER FACES FELONIES
A caregiver in Shamokin is facing felony endangerment of a child after she was found so intoxicated EMS had to be called to the home. According to North Central PA dot com, 33 year old Caitlin Ilene Bitler was seen on home surveillance drinking alcohol while caring for a five year old special needs child. Parents of the child told police that while Bitler was allegedly drunk at the home, she did several things that endangered the child who was in a wheelchair. There were a 12 year old and a 3 year old at home at the time, as well. Bitler has been jailed with no bail listed. Her preliminary hearing is February 7th.
CORONER SEEKS RELATIVES OF NORTHUMBERLAND WOMAN
Northumberland County coroner James F. Kelley is seeking information about a Northumberland woman. According to the Daily item, Coroner James F. Kelley wants the general public’s assistance in locating living blood relatives of 75 year old Judy Ann Silks, of Northumberland. If you have information call Kelley at the Northumberland County Communication Center 570-988-4539.
RAISE THE REGION 20-23 TAKING NONPROFIT AGENCY APPLICATIONS
Preregistration for local nonprofit organizations interested in being a 501c3 organization for Raise the Region is going on now until February 24th. The First Community Foundation Partnership, along with Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships will host the 11th annual online program that is meant to raise funds for hundreds of non-profit organizations in Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Tioga and Union Counties on March 8th and 9th. According to a news release by the First Community Foundation Partnership of PA, in 2022 donations for Raise the Region totaled over 2 million dollars, and since the inception of the 30-hour online event over 14.4 million dollars has been raised. Find out more about the event at raise the region dot org.
PENNSYLVANIA HAS A NEW GOVERNOR
Joshua David Shapiro is the state’s 48th governor after his inauguration yesterday at the State Capitol in Harrisburg. Shapiro had clergy from four different faiths – Jewish, Catholic, Baptist and Islam – deliver a shared invocation. According to Penn Live, 49 year old Shapiro is the youngest person to hold the office since former Gov. Dick Thornburgh was elected in 1978 at age 46. Shapiro hosted four of the five current members of Pennsylvania’s “Governor’s Club” – Tom Ridge, Mark Schweiker, Tom Corbett and, now, Tom Wolf – for a breakfast at the Governor’s Residence Tuesday morning before the inauguration event.
INTOXICATED WOMAN ARRESTED FOR BITING OFFICERS
A Williamsport woman who police say was highly intoxicated is facing second degree aggravated assault charges after biting and trying to head butt officers. According to North Central PA dot com, family members of 48 year old Amy Brooke Rutherford called police when she attempted to leave her home around 4:30pm January 4th after drinking. Police said Rutherford continued to act aggressive at the police station where tests showed her at a .255 blood alcohol level. Her bail was set at 50 thousand dollars with a preliminary hearing last Thursday.
WOMAN SENTENCED FOR CONCEALING MISSING CHILD
The Lock Haven woman who was charged with concealment of the whereabouts of a child for picking up and hiding a 12 year old girl she said she was trying to protect last May, was sentenced yesterday. According to the Record Online, 38 year old Gwen Ardner was sentenced to 9 to 18 months for the charge of interference with the custody of children, and 3 to 6 months for the charge of concealment of a child which are both third degree felonies. Ardner will serve these sentences at the Clinton County Correctional Facility.
PA GAME COMMISSION SEEDLING SALE GOING ON NOW
The PA Game commission is offering tree and shrub seedlings to the public. The Howard Nursery grows tree and shrub seedlings for use on state game lands, and in the Seedlings for Schools program and by the Game Commission’s conservation partners, so remaining surplus is available to Pennsylvania residents to purchase. Seedlings are sold in units of 25. The 2023 order form contains a selection of evergreens, deciduous trees and shrubs, most of which are native to Pennsylvania and collected from Pennsylvania sources. Info on the seedling sale is online at www.pgc.pa.gov under the information and resources tab.
MORE DREAM WEEK EVENTS FOR 2023
Dream week 2023, Celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr continues this week on the Lycoming and Penn College Campuses with a night of Expression tonight at Lycoming College 7:30 til 9pm where the public is invited to share expressions that inspire hope and community, and Penn College offers a Dinner and discussion, poverty simulation activity tomorrow, led by trained facilitators from the Central PA Food Bank. More service opportunities are available by registering at stepcorp.org/mlk.
SPORTS
PIAA District 4
Boys Basketball
St. John Neumann 71 Northwest Area 55
Wellsboro 51 Canton 34
Wyalusing 76 Williamson 29
Muncy 74 Millville 30
Bucktail 61 Benton 55
Towanda 60 North Penn-Liberty 48
South Williamsport 59 Sullivan County 41
Girls Basketball
Southern Columbia 57 Loyalsock 32
Mount Carmel 62 Hughesville 48
Selinsgrove 32 Central Mountain 30 (OT)
Bloomsburg 49 Warrior Run 26
Jersey Shore 60 Shikellamy 54
Mifflinburg 43 Milton 17
Lewisburg 30 Danville 25
NBA
76ers 120 Clippers 110
Bucks 130 Raptors 122
Spurs 106 Nets 98
Nuggets 122 Trailblazers 113
NHL
Flyers 5 Ducks 2
Canadiens 4 Jets 1
Maple Leafs 5 Panthers 4
Wild 4 Capitals 2
Predators 2 Blue Jackets 1
Blackhawks 4 Sabers 3
Coyotes 4 Red Wings 3
Oilers 5 Kraken 2
NCAA Men’s Basketball
Houston 80 Tulane 60
Kansas State 83 Kansas 82
Alabama 78 Vanderbilt 66
Iowa State 78 Texas 67
Tennessee 70 Mississippi State 59
Wake Forest 87 Clemson 77
Baylor 81 Texas Tech 74
TENNIS
The No. 1 seed at Australian Open today at Melbourne Park, Raphael Nadal injured his left hip and lost to American Mackenzie McDonald 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in the second round, abruptly ending his bid for a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam trophy.
