POLICE WANT TO KNOW WHO CALLED
A shooting, called into a private line at the 911 center, on West Park Street in Hughesville turned out to be false. Police responded, from multiple departments, and in force, to find that the complaint called in yesterday afternoon just before 1 pm had been a false call. As reported by SUN Gazette, police, in trying to determine the source of the call, are looking to the public for help. If you have any information about the reported shooting yesterday, please contact the state police in Montoursville.
FIRES ROCK WILLIAMSPORT ON FRIDAY
A two-alarm blaze in a vacant property at 620 Green St. in Williamsport around 9:30 p.m. on Friday took Williamsport City firefighters 30 minutes to control. With no reports of injuries, the fire remains under investigation. As reported by SUN Gazette, later that night, city firefighters battled a kitchen fire at 326 Bridge Street. There were no injuries at that fire.
CHARGES AFTER THREE MONTHS
A recent court arraignment before District Judge Allen P. Page III for a felony charge of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, in addition to recklessly endangering, among others, has a Hughesville woman is free on $10,000 bail. As reported by SUN Gazette, Hannah Elizabeth Shipman, with her two young children in her vehicle, crossed the centerline and crashed head-on into a tractor-trailer truck just ahead of midnight on December 18th. Her children suffered multiple injuries including a broken collarbone.
AN ACCIDENTAL CONTACT WITH A SUBSTANCE CAUSED A LOCAL OFFICER’S MEDICAL REACTION
Fentanyl powder on a suspect’s cell phone may have caused a local officer to become ill. As reported by SUN Gazette, officers responded to the rear of 105 South Washington Street in Muncy, to find Dominick Latsch unresponsive in the driver seat of a vehicle. According to reports, a minor child was also in the vehicle. Officers took Latsch under arrest and after he refused medical treatment, he was placed in the back of the police car. Officer David Williams Jr was asked by Latsch to contact his grandmother on his phone, which was said to have a powder on it. Williams became immediately ill and was taken for treatment, while Latsch was taken to prison with charges pending.
WORK SET TO BEGIN IN THE OLD CITY SECTION OF WILLIAMSPORT
$20 million dollar proposed development in the works for the Old City section of Williamsport. As reported by SUN Gazette, the mixed-use development is set for review at the April 4th Williamsport Planning Commission meeting. Considered a part of Williamsport’s economic revitalization efforts for the East End, the property is along Basin Street and between East Third and East Fourth Streets. With a letter of intent for development of the property from Lycoming College, the proposal is for retail and dining businesses, offices and residential sections.
VIOLENCE LANDS MILL HALL MAN IN JAIL
A violent domestic involving an attempted strangulation in Mill Hall led to an arrest and jail for a Mill Hall man. On Wednesday, just before 9 pm, State Police from Lamar responded to a reported domestic violence incident at a residence on Main Street. An unnamed 22-year-old male, arrested on domestic violence related charges, was taken to the Clinton County Jail to await arraignment. There is no information as to the status of the female victim.
PUBLIC HEARINGS ON RATE INCREASES
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has scheduled two public input hearings regarding UGI’s proposed rate increase. Both hearings will be by phone and are scheduled for Wednesday, April 13, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Under the rate increase proposed by UGI, the total average monthly bill of a residential customer using 73.1 cubic feet of natural gas per month would increase from $98.62 to $108.01 per month, or by 9.5%. On a daily basis, the average US home uses 196 cubic feet of natural gas. You must pre-register no later than 3 p.m. Friday, April 8.
DCNR OPENS CAMPING AS APRIL 2 TROUT SEASON APPROACHES
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn today encouraged anglers to consider using state park campsites for overnight fishing trips as trout season approaches. A total of 43 campgrounds throughout the state will provide camping for the April 2 opener. DCNR has opened additional campsites to accommodate the trout season to help expand the outdoor experience. There are 86,000 miles of rivers and streams, and thousands of lakes and ponds in Pennsylvania. Much of this abundant freshwater wealth is found within our state parks and state forests – 101 state parks and 20 state forests permit fishing with the proper fishing license. Campsites at state parks can be reserved online on a first-come, first-served basis or by calling 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), Monday through Saturday, 7:00 AM until 5:00 PM, except on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
EVANGELICAL COMMUNITY HOSPITAL EYES COUNTRY CUPBOARD
Evangelical Community Hospital is one of many interested parties in the sale of a restaurant staple. According to an online media source, Evan has recently announced its interest in the Lewisburg property, even while they enter into negotiations with Family Practice Center to move both Selinsgrove offices of SUN Orthopedics and Selinsgrove Imaging into the Susquehanna Valley Mall and purchase the facility at 21 Susquehanna Mall Drive.
HOMICIDE AT LOCAL JAIL
A homicide was the ruling on Thursday by Northumberland County Coroner James Kelley, as he investigated a death at SCI Coal Township. As reported by an online news media outlet, 50-year-old Ronnie Brooks died as a result of blunt force head trauma and strangulation while a prisoner at SCI Coal Township. Brooks was serving two to five years on a gun charge and was reported to have been at SCI Coal Township since 2018. The investigation there continues.
A PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY CLOSES THE DOORS OF LOCAL FACILITY
Merck, a pharmaceutical company, has decided to close the doors of its Riverside facility. As reported by an online source, the Cherokee plant, which employs 300 workers, has no exact closing date. However, the company plans on helping those workers by giving them opportunities to apply for other positions and separation benefits. The company cites continuous assessment of its operations and evolving business needs as reasons for closing.
