WILLIAMSPORT TEEN JAILED FOR SHOOTING AT CAR
An 18 year old man from Williamsport has been charged with aggravated assault and other charges for allegedly discharging a firearm toward a vehicle in September 2024 toward occupants in a black Nissan sedan. According to WOLF, police say Tahir Abdul Dixon shot a gun toward the vehicle after the people in the car were driving away. Dixon was 17 at the time of the incident, now he has been arraigned in the Court of Common Pleas and was committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $150,000 bail.
JERSEY SHORE MAN ARRESTRED FOR STRANGLING WOMAN
A Jersey Shore man is in custody after police say he assaulted his ex-girlfriend in her home Sunday afternoon. According to the Sun Gazette, Luke Welshans allegedly struck his victim several times and threw furniture at her before squeezing her neck in his harms. Court records say the officer who responded to the domestic disturbance noted an injury to the woman’s neck that was consistent with strangulation. Welshans faces assault and harassment charges and is jailed in lieu of 50 thousand dollars bail.
BUSINESS OWNER SENTENCED FOR TAX EVASION
The Cogan Station business owner who pleaded guilty to failing to account for and pay employment taxes when he was the owner of a local construction company has been sentenced in US District Court. According to North Central PA dot com, 69 year old James Michael Barr received a time-served sentence plus two years of probation from Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann. Court records say that between 2017 through 2020 the former owner of Barr Construction, in addition to regular paychecks, he also paid his employees in cash and did not withhold federal taxes. Barr is required to make restitution to the I.R.S. in the amount of $337,000 plus civil penalties.
PA TEACHER AWARDED GRANTS FOR STEM EXCELLENCE
A Danville middle school teacher is one of four recipients of an award for being an outstanding STEM teacher in Pennsylvania. According to North Central PA dot com, Jeanne Ladner, who teaches grades 6 through 8, receives the 15-hundred dollar cash prize for classroom supplies from the PPL Foundation for success in designing and facilitating science, technology, engineering and math learning that engages the next generation of innovative thinkers. The PPL Foundation has awarded more than 500 thousand dollars in grants through this program since 2003.
MAN’S BAIL INCREASED TO PROTECT VICTIM
Bail was increased this week at the victim’s request for a Muncy man accused of strangulation, simple assault and harassment during his preliminary hearing last Friday. According to North central PA dot com, charges against 35 year old Paul Michael Temple will go to trial and his bail was increased to 100 thousand dollars from 50 thousand due to safety concenrs for the victim. Temple threw items around the victim’s home January 15th before he put her in a choke hold and bit the woman’s thumb. His formal arraignment is in February.
EASTERN EUROPEAN MAN IN US ILLEGALLY
A man from Romania who was deported in 2019 has been discovered in Centre County. According to North Central PA dot com, 30 year old Nicolae Strava who left the country previously through Houston, Texas was indicted January 23rd for illegal reentry. The U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus alleges that Strava did not obtain permission to be in the United States, and was discovered in Northcentral PA on September 20th.
REQUEST TO RAISE GAS RATES FILED BY UGI
A request for an increase in natural gas rates has been filed by UGI with the Pennsylvania Utilities Commission. According to media outlets, stating the need for system improvements, the utility asked for a 110.4 million dollar rate increase request that would raise the average residential customer heating bill by about 11 percent. Authorities from UGI says the increase supports 786 million in pipeline, facility, and technology upgrades. The PUC will make a decision on the request by October of 2025.
SOUPIE COMPETITION IN SHAMOKIN
The annual Jeff Thew Memorial Soupie Contest is going on Saturday evening in Shamokin. According to the News Item, the West End Fire Co has invited a panel of judges to crown the best soupie makers in the area including Chief of Police Raymond Siko II, retired District Attorney Tony Rosini, attorney Frank Knopka and Shamokin Area Elementary School Principal Jennifer Neary. There’s no charge to enter the competition at 316 W. Pine St that benefits the annual children’s Christmas party – with registration at 4pm and the contest beginning at 6pm. A soupie is a local version of Italian soppressata –a cured meat in a casing like salami. Organizers say the event brings together local people to pit their soupie recipes and methods against each other in a festive environment.
SPORTS
PIAA HS
Boys Basketball
Loyalsock 65 Hughesville 50
Lewisburg 57 Montoursville 47
Warrior Run 43 Mifflinburg 41
Danville 61 Central Columbia 36
Shamokin 81 Jersey Shore 50
Muncy 51 Montgomery 6
Girls Basketball
Muncy 64 Montgomery 42
Athens 60 Sayre 13
Canton 48 Wellsboro 35
Millville 71 CMVT 20
Boys Wrestling
Sugar Valley 32 South Wmsprt 31
Mt Carmel 42 Muncy 36
Montoursville 39 Selinsgrove 22
Midd-West 69 Loyalsock 0
So.Columbia 46 Benton 12
NCAA Men’s B-ball
Michigan State 73 Minnesota 51
Kentucky 78 Tennessee 73
Marquette 78 Butler 69
Kansas 91 UCF 87
Texas A&M 75 Oklahoma 68
NCAA Men’s B-Ball Today
Houston vs West Virginia 7pm ESPN+
TCU vs Texas Tech 7pm ESPN2
DePAul vs UConn 8pm Peacock
NBA
76ers 118 Lakers 104
Rockets 100 Hawks 96
Warriors 114 Jazz 103
Trail Blazers 125 Bucks 112
NBA Tonight
Nets vs Hornets 7pm
Raptors vs Wizards 7pm
Bulls vs Celtics 7:30pm
Cavliers vs Heat 7:30pm
Nuggets vs Knicks 7:30pm ESPN
Kings vs 76ers 7:30pm
Thunder vs Warriors 10:30pm ESPN
NHL
Sabres 7 Bruins 2
Hurricanes 4 Rangers 0
Islanders 5 Avalanche 2
Capitals 3 Flames 1
Stars 4 Golden Knights 3 OT
NHL Tonight
Kings vs Panthers 7pm ESPN+
Flyers vs Devils 7pm TNT
Penguins vs Utah 9:30pm TNT
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