MAN ACCUSED OF SELLING OPIATES
A Lairdsville man was in District Court this week to face two charges of felony delivery of a controlled substance, felony use of a communication device and other drug related charges for allegedly selling prescription opiate medication to a confidential informant. According to North Central PA dot com, Austin W. White arranged a sale of the drugs on his phone around noon on August 14th 2019 then presented 100 dollars-worth of opiate pills to the informant later. White was arraigned yesterday at the Muncy Courthouse.
DAM PROJECT GETS FUNDING
A grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been awarded to the Williamsport Municipal Water Authority to rehabilitate the Frank E. Heller Dam near South Williamsport. Authority officials told the Sun Gazette that almost 177 thousand dollars will go toward planning of repairs of the dam which is categorized as a high hazard potential by the Pennsylvania DEP with massive flood potential on Heller Run. State lawmakers who represent Lycoming County recently toured the area near the dam spillway and the funding which will be used for planning and design of the project.
UPMC CAN APPEAL TAX ASSESMENT DENIAL
A tax exemption request made by Sunbury medical facility has been denied by the Northumberland County Assessment Office. According to WKOK, the county appeal board denied the 20 parcel request made by UPMC for exemptions that could have led to a loss of close to 400 thousand dollars for the county, city of Sunbury and Shikellamy School District. According to Northumberland County officials, UPMC has 30 days to appeal the decision to the Court of Common Pleas.
SOME LOCATION CHANGES FOR ELECTION DAY TOMORROW
Voters are encouraged to go to the polls today to make their choices in the 2019 municipal election. There are a couple changes for voters to know listed on the Lycoming County Board of Elections website – lyco dot org. The polling place for Upper Fairfield Township has been changed to the Community Baptist Church, 1853 Route 87 Highway and all of Clinton Township has been consolidated into a single precinct. The polling place for all of Clinton Township will be St. John Lutheran Church at 196 Brick Church Road. Sample ballots and information on using the new voting machines at your polling place is also at lyco.org. Polls are open in 85 precincts in Pennsylvania today from until til 8pm.
WEAPON FOUND IN INMATES CELL
An improvised weapon called a shank was found in a female inmates cell at the State Correctional Institution in Muncy in August of this year and she will have a preliminary hearing on the charges next week in Lycoming County Court . According to North Central PA dot com Katelynn Soudan Harvey, 23 admitted the weapon with a 4 inch blade was hers after a search of her cell by correctional officers recovered it. She claimed the self made weapon was for self-defense. Harvey is in Lycoming County Prison awaiting a hearing November 8th
PA TURNPIKE TO GO CASHLESS
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has announced that there won’t be cash toll booths by 2021, possibly costing about 600 people their toll worker jobs – but according to authorities many will be retained in other positions. Several cashless and E-ZPass-only tolls are already in use on the Turnpike. They say they will trade plan is for it to be fully cashless in two years. By 2026, all tollbooths could be replaced by overhead gantries. Drivers will have two options — get an E-ZPass or have their license plate photographed and receive a bill in the mail.
HELLBENDER SALAMANDER NAMED PA AMPHIBIAN
Did you know we have a state amphibian? Thanks to Senator Gene Yaw of Loyalsock Township, legislation was passed naming the Eastern Hellbender salamander for Pennsylvania and it became official at a Lycoming College ceremony last week. According to the Sun Gazette, the PA Student Leadership Council which is a program of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, made the presentation and praised Senator Yaw for recognizing the importance of legislation that supports the state’s rivers and streams. Officials from the CBF said The Hellbender can be an indicator of clean water across the commonwealth
Sports
NFL Monday night football
Cowboys beat the Giants 37-18
NBA
Wizards beat the Pistons 115 to 99, Nets beat the Pelicans 135 to 125, Rockets over the Grizzlies 107 to 100, Bucks over the Timberwolves 134 to 106, Suns over the 76ers 114 to 109, and Warriors beat the Trailblazers 127 to 118.
NHL
Bruins beat the Penguins 4-6, Senators over the Rangers 6-2, Predators beat the Red Wings 6-1, Coyotes over the Oilers 3-2