WILLIAMSPORT SET TO FINISH PAVING
Williamsport City streets will receive the finish they need through the spring and summer. As reported by SUN Gazette, milling will be completed for those streets with temporary patchwork and even those that are bumpy throughout. Following the milling, according to city officials, the streets will receive a paving of a top coat of asphalt. Councilwoman Vice President Bonnie Katz, committee chair, recently noted a majority of the streets to be done in 2022 were going to be half-width pavings and, Katz continued, the half-width will not endue and last as long as a paving the full cartway. Big Rock Paving is the city contractor for this year.
COVID LATEST CASES
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Friday reported new cases of COVID-19. Clinton County reported 18 new cases. Centre County added 49 cases and Lycoming County listed 67. There were seven cases in Montour County, 50 in Northumberland, 23 in Snyder and 20 in Union.
GRANTS OFFERED
PAsmart Advancing grants of up to $500,000 each support cross-sector partnerships that provide quality STEM and CS experiences to learners of all ages – early childhood, PreK-12, postsecondary, and adult learners – as part of high-level strategic approaches to workforce readiness. The grants enable regions to expand STEM ecosystems; grow partnerships between Local Education Agencies, postsecondary institutions, and businesses; expand CS/STEM opportunities to historically underserved populations; and expand the pool of CS/STEM educators at all levels of education. Advancing grant applications must be submitted to PDE by Monday, March 21, 2022. Grant applications and additional information is available on the PDE website.
BUCKNELL ANNOUNCED SPECIAL ADVISOR
Not everyone is thrilled to see the former retired chief of public safety at Bucknell University in a new role with the university. As reported by northcentralpa.com, Steve Barilar, is now the special advisor to the general counsel. Barilar fell under the watchful eye of the state attorney general following a complaint from a former public safety officer, Colby Snook, highlighting Barilar’s alleged mismanaged response during a sexual harassment case on Bucknell’s campus. Snook had claimed Barilar and the university violated the Pennsylvania whistleblower law. Snook claimed he left due to a hostile work environment following his allegations against the then chief of public safety. In an error, discovered by Northcentralpa.com, Barilar was listed as Casual Public Safety. However, as further reported by the online media outlet, “The title listed on the website was in error,” said Mike Ferlazzo, Director of Media Relations at Bucknell. Ferlazzo said there was a short-term extension of Barilar’s retirement so that he could conclude work on a student discipline case, unrelated to the situation outlined in the lawsuit. Barilar had been accused of misconduct in 2000, when he worked for Pennsylvania State. Barilar had an of obstruction of administration of justice and intimidation of a witness were filed against him. This case dealt with Barilar’s wife, who was stopped and cited by state police for speeding. Following a conversation and alleged pressure, the speeding ticket was thrown out in court.
ACTED REASONABLY
In a statement released by the Clinton County District Attorney regarding the Oct. 5, 2021 shooting of a man by State Police officers in Greene Township. As reported by northcentralpa.com, the incident took place near a rest stop and mile marker 194 on interstate 80.. DA David Strouse said troopers from PSP Lamar, Montoursville, and Milton were justified in their use of force that left Nurgazy Mamyrov, 27, of Langhorne deceased. “At the time the officers discharged their weapons, they reasonably believed that both they and their fellow officers were in a life-or-death situation that posed both the threat of serious bodily injury and death,” wrote Clinton County District Attorney David Strouse. Mamyrov was accused of attempted robbery while being armed with a firearm. “Based upon my review of the facts and circumstances surrounding Mamyrov’s death, the law enforcement personnel involved in this incident acted reasonably under the circumstances and bear no criminal liability for their actions,” Strouse wrote.
WOLF ADMINISTRATION HIGHLIGHTS BENEFITS OF BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE, UNVEILS EQUITY PRINCIPLES FOR INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT
Officials from the Pennsylvania Departments of Transportation (PennDOT) and Environmental Protection (DEP) today highlighted benefits to Pennsylvania from the passage of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), specifically for electric vehicle (EV) and alternative fuel infrastructure. PennDOT also unveiled its EV Equity Guiding Principles for private industry and other agencies to consider as they plan and deploy EV charging infrastructure. The principles aim to increase accessibility to the infrastructure and maximize benefits for all Pennsylvanians. Signed by President Joe Biden in November 2021, the BIL provides states with $7.5 billion to expand the EV charging network. Over five years, Pennsylvania will have access to $171.5 million in formula funds for EV charging infrastructure and $2.5 billion in discretionary grant funding opportunities for all alternative fueling infrastructure. The funding supports the commonwealth goal of expanding EV charging along the previously designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) (list) and Interstate lookalikes. Federal AFC criteria was updated this week to require AFC designated ready corridors to have charging stations no more than 1 mile from an Interstate exit or highway intersection (previously 5 miles) and no more than 50 miles apart. The department will review all corridors to align ready and pending corridors with the new criteria.
TIOGA COUNTY MAN SENTENCED TO 51 MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR MARIJUANA GROW OPERATION
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on February 9, 2022, James Burrous, age 47, of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Matthew W. Brann to 51 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release for his role in a marijuana grow operation. According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Burrous possessed more than 100 marijuana plants that he intended to distribute. When a search warrant was executed on Burrous’s home in February of 2017, other controlled substances such as Dimethyltryptamine (“DMT”) and lysergic acid diethylamide (“LSD”) were also recovered. Co-defendant, Zack Boyer, age 37, of Tioga County, was previously sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment for his role in conspiring with Burrous to manufacture and distribute controlled substances. The case was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin prosecuted the case.
CHILD PORNOGRAPHY FROM BLOOMSBURG MAN
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Alexander Stroup, age 33, of Bloomburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted on February 11, 2022, by a federal grand jury on charges of attempted production of child pornography, attempted enticement of a minor, receipt of child pornography, and transmitting obscene material to a minor. According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that from or about October 23, 2021 through October 23, 2021, Stroup attempted to persuade, induce, and entice, a person under the age of 18 to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct using a facility of interstate commerce. The indictment also alleges that Stroup did transfer and attempt to transfer obscene matter to another individual who had not attained the age of 16 years.The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney George J. Rocktashel is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” If convicted, the maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
CAUGHT WITH SHANK IN PRISON
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Rigoberto Garay-Lopez, age 34, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution, Allenwood (FCI Allenwood), was indicted on February 10, 2022, by a federal grand jury for possessing a weapon in prison. According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that on January 22, 2022, Garay-Lopez was found in possession of a piece of sharpened metal with a plastic handle, commonly referred to as a “shank,” that is intended to be used as a weapon. The charge stems from an investigation by the Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Special Assistant United States Attorney Drew O. Inman and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan Martin are prosecuting the case. If convicted, the maximum term of imprisonment is five years and a $250,000 fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
COVID CASES LISTED
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Saturday reported new cases of COVID-19. County reported 26 new cases. Centre County added 93 cases and Lycoming County listed 56 new cases.There were 31 in Northumberland County, 19 in Union, six in Snyder and two in Montour County.
THREE PEOPLE IN CUSTODY
Sunbury police have successfully rounded up three people following the intensive investigation of the Feb 6 stabbing on North Third Street. As reported by the Daily item, Jordan Seelye of Northumberland was taken into custody yesterday morning and charged with attempted homicide. Blake Dunbar and Paul Byers, both of Sunbury were jailed in relation to the incident. Seelye was arraigned Saturday and sent to Northumberland county jail with no bail. (print daily item)
FIRE DESTROYS HOME ALL ESCAPE SAFELY
Fire forced the evacuation of an Amish family from their frame home off Eisenhower Crossroad in Lamar Township early yesterday morning. The home was already well engulfed in flames when firemen arrived before 5 a.m. Saturday, according to Lamar Township Fire Chief Shane Steinbacher. The two story frame dwelling was a total loss. Steinbacher said it’s believed the fire was caused by a heating device inside a garage attached to the building. According to therecordonline, the home was occupied by the Henry Kauffman family consisting of Kauffman, his wife and four young children; who all escaped safely.
