EARLY MORNING ACCIDENT CLOSED I-80 EAST
An accident occurred around 3:20 this morning blocked Eastbound Interstate 80 in Montour County until about 7am when the left lane of I-80 opened up – According to PennDOT the right lane continued to have crews on the scene between the Route 254 Exit Limestoneville to the Route 54 exit – Danville. According to State Police, a tractor trailer and an SUV collided on I-80 east near mile marker 220, where the truck turned over and broke into flames. Columbia/Montour 9-1-1 said crews may work on the clean-up and investigation possibly until 9am. According to WNEP, two adults and a child in the SUV were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
KITCHEN FIRE IN TURBOT TOWNSHIP
Fire damaged the kitchen and dining room of a mobile home Thursday in Turbot Township according to fire officials there. Fire companies from Turbot Township, Potts Grove, Warrior Run Area, Turbotville and White Deer Township responded to the alarm called for the residence at 1185 Muddy Run Road just before 10 a.m. According to the daily item, Firefighters were on the scene for about two hours and the blaze was controlled around 11. The cause of the fire remains undetermined according to the State Fire Marshal.
COUPLE THREATENED WITH A GUN AT THEIR DOOR
A man with prior convictions of aggravated battery, threatened an Old Lycoming Township couple in December at their apartment on Lycoming Creek Road. According to the Sun Gazette, the couple knew 28 year old Norman M. Torres-Gonzalez who came to their home on the afternoon of December 10th and showed a handgun at the door. The victim closed and locked the door on Torres-Gonzalez who attempted to kick it in and later left the property. When police were called they found the man in a suspected vehicle nearby and arrested him. Torres-Gonzalez had some charges dismissed December 18th at a preliminary hearing, but misdemeanor charges of simple assault and terroristic threats were held for court. Formal arraignment at the Lycoming County Court of Common Pleas is scheduled for January. 6th
NEW PENNSYLVANIA LAWS TAKE EFFECT IN 2020
There are new Changes for laws in Pennsylvania in 2020. People under the age of 21 will no longer be allowed to buy tobacco or vaping products. Voting is also changing, there will be no more vote straight party voting with the press of one button, every county will have to use voting machines that leave paper trails and for Hunters, there are three Sundays to hunt this year. The new overtime law in PA will affect thousands and it’s going to be more expensive to drive on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, at 12:01 a.m. on January 6 for both E-ZPass and cash customers – prices will go up 6%.
EMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH VANDAL UPDATE
The man who allegedly vandalized a Loyalsock township church and was apprehended naked along the roadway there, has now been charged with ethnic intimidation and other offenses for causing over 10 thousand dollars-worth of damage to a house of worship. According to the Sun Gazette, Steven Smith-Williams who lives on Four Mile Drive, near the church broke into the Emmanuel Baptist church on December 21st and carved statements into the walls and did extensive damage to the property, then took off his clothes before assaulting police once they attempted to apprehend him while he walked naked along the road. Monday, he was arraigned on a total of 10 additional charges for his alleged involvement in the burglary, including desecration of venerated objects, felony trespassing and other offenses. He was recommitted to Lycoming County Prison in lieu of an additional $75,000 bail.
ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS TO BE SWORN-IN
The community arts center in Williamsport will host an Inaugural ceremony today at 10am to welcome all County, City, Township, and Borough officials who have been elected into office during the 2019 general election, as well as County and City appointed officials. The oaths of office will be administered by Court of Common Pleas Judges for the 29th Judicial District. Dr. John Piper Jr. will provide the keynote address. Also involved in the cermoney will be The Williamsport Symphony Orchestra, The Marine Corps League Color Guard, With Special Guest Korean War Veteran Howard Wilt and Eagle Scout Isaac Schriner, a senior at Loyalsock Township High School, will lead the pledge.
POLICE DE-ESCALATED AN INCIDENT ON NEW YEARS DAY
A police situation was reported in Sunbury New Years Day that ended peacefully. According to Sunbury police, they confirmed that they were called to a neighborhood in the hill section of the city Wednesday around 5am, and helped resolve a situation at a home in the area of Eleventh and Line Streets. There were no injuries and police say the situation was quickly resolved.
FREE RADON KITS FOR PA RESIDENTS
The American Lung Association in Pennsylvania will be providing free radon test kits to the public during Radon Action Month (January 1-28,while supplies last. According to an ALA press release, Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that hides invisibly in homes, yet is the nation’s second-leading cause of lung cancer. The American Lung Association’s program is to help Pennsylvanians take action, test their homes for radon, and get radon problems fixed at lung radon kits
Sports
College Football
Bowl Games yesterday
– Ticketsmarter Birmingham Bowl, Cincinnati beat Boston College 38 to 6,
– The Gator Bowl, Tennessee beat Indiana 23 to 22,
NBA
Hornets beat the Cavaliers 109 to 106, Nuggets beat the Pacers 124 to 116, Heat beat the Raptors 84 to 76, Timberwolves over the Warriors 99 to 84,Jjazz over the Bulls 102 to 98, the Mavericks beat the Nets 123 to 111, Thunder beat the Spurs 109 to 103, Kings over the Grizzlies 128 to 123, and Clippers beat the Pistons 126 to 112.
NHL
Blue Jackets beat the Bruins 2 to 1, Sabres over the Oilers 3 to 2, Lightning beat the Canadiens 2 to 1, Devils beat the Islanders 2 to 1, Sharks over the Penguins 3 to 2, Panthers beat the Senators 6 to 3, Flames over the Rangers 4 to 3,Coyotes over the Ducks 4 to 2, Avalanche beat Blues 7 to 3, Canucks over the Blackhawks 7-5, and Golden Knights beat the Flyers 5 to 4
HS Wrestling – Central Mountain beat Milton 55 to 18, Lewisburg beat Loyalsock 61 to 12
HS Boys Basketball
Harrisburg beat Williamsport 72 to 55
HS Girls Basketball
Muncy over Benton 47-39, and Montgomery beat CMVT to 37-23 Williamsport beat Bellefonte 59 to 41
College Wrestling – All three Lock Haven University wrestlers placed in the top five of the 2-Day 2020 Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga; Luke Warner at second Kyle Shoop at fourth and Cole Manley, fifth
