NEWS CONFERENCE TO ADDRESS RECENT GUN VIOLENCE
With the recent gun violence in the city, officials will hold a news conference this morning at City Council Chambers at 9am. Mayor Gabriel Campana told the Sun Gazette that he will make statements about the investigations of 5 shootings that have happened in the city within the last 3 weeks – 2 of them fatal. In the most recent shooting, 48 year old Rhonda McPeak of Williamsport was shot and killed at a W. Fourth convenience store Sunday night. Police are working to identify the suspects and motives in these shootings.
POLICE ARREST SUSPECT AFTER CARJACKINGS, HIGH SPEED CHASE
Milton State police report that a man from Nanticoke was seen involved in two carjackings Monday, and that the second one resulted in a police chase and several accidents between the Market Street Bridge and Pine Street around 2pm. State police say 29 year old Michael Coombs took two vehicles – first from a woman in Union County after 1pm, then Coombs took a second vehicle along Route 405 in Northumberland County around 2pm. Watsontown Police responded to the theft and pursued the suspect. Police located Coombs along Rt 15 South near South Williamsport, who then crashed into parked cars and a tree – exiting his vehicle and fleeing. Coombs was taken into custody and is Union County Prison this morning.
AMISH COMMUNITY SAYS PROPOSED LAW TARGETS COMMUNITY
At Monday’s Washington Township supervisors meeting, members of the Amish community and township supervisors discussed a proposed law that a lawyer for the Old Order Amish says is discriminatory against the Amish culture. In a letter to the supervisors there were complaints about manure left by horses along roadways is a health and safety hazard. The Williamsport Sun Gazette says there are also concerns in the community about the damage done to roads from modified steel horseshoes. No decision was made about the potential law – but talks between the township and the Amish are proposed to continue in September.
SUNBURY CONSTRUCTION THIS WEEK
There’s some construction continuing this week in Sunbury. North Fourth Street at the intersections of Woodlawn Ave and Pennsylvania Avenue will have repaving and ADA curb ramps installed this week. According to PennDOT the work should be completed in 4 weeks and the impact on traffic should be minimal. The final paving on the $1 million project will be done next year.
FATAL CRASH ON LITTLE PINE CREEK ROAD
Two young adults were killed in a vehicle crash that occurred in the 2800 block of Little Pine Creek Rd., Cummings Township, about 1:30 a.m., on Friday Aug. 2 The Lycoming County Coroner’s Office and Pennsylvania State Police report that the driver, 27 year old Bryan Edmundson Jr of Butler, PA and passenger, 21 year old Katie Johnson of Morris PA were traveling southbound on Little Pine Creek Road and went off the roadway, hitting a culvert and landing in a the creek. Police say both were deceased when they arrived on the scene. Waterville Volunteer Fire Company responded to the accident.
POSITIVE RESULTS FROM SAFE 2 SAY APP REPORT
In a 21-page report by the state attorney general’s office, the Safe 2 Say Something program – an online mobile app to combat bullying and struggles experienced by school children, generated more than 23,000 tips between mid-January to June. Sen. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh said that the program is contributing to a safer school environment. The report said there were 607 tips about threats against schools and 523 about threats against people. The Safe 2 Say Something program is exempt from the state’s open records laws and guarantees confidentiality.
LOCAL NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENTS
In the spirit of solidarity there will be National Night Out events all around our area tonight in an effort to build relationships between law enforcement and neighborhood residents while combating crime and negligent behavior. In Williamsport, neighborhood watch groups and churches along East Third and West Fourth Streets will have outdoor activities with food available. In Cogan Station, the Old Lycoming Township Police and family fun fair is tonight, in Lewisburg emergency responders host an event between 5 and 9pm with free food, a bike raffle and fireworks at the Lewisburg Area Recreation Park on St. Mary and 15th streets.
Sports
Major League Baseball
Mets knocked the Marlins 6-2, Brewers over the Pirates 9-7, Yankees beat the Orioles 9-6, White Sox over the Tigers 7-4, Red Sox bumped the Royals 7-5, Mets over the Marlins 5-4, Rangers blanked the Indians 1-nothing, Blue Jays bumped the Rays 2-nothing, Reds over the Angels 7-4, Cubs beat the A’s 6-5, Twins over the Braves 5-3, Phillies thumped the Diamondbacks 7-3, Nationals beat the Giants
4-nothing, Dodgers bashed the Cardinals 8-nothing.
NY Penn League
Williamsport Crosscutters defeated the Batavia Muckdogs 9-3
