POTTER COUNTY FIRE KILLS 5, INJURES 2
Two adults were injured and five teenagers killed when a fire tore through a Potter County home about 3:30am Monday. According to Penn Live, Michelle and Charles Erway, are currently in a burn unit at a hospital in New York, after police say they tried to save three boys, ages 14, 16, and 17, and two girls, both 16, who were sleeping in their Genesee Township home. The Olean Times reports that two of the teens were friends of the Erway’s three children who were sleeping over. An investigation has pointed to a wood stove chimney malfunction in the basement may have caused the fire, but the damage is too extensive to determine at this time. The deaths are being ruled accidental.
MAN CHARGED WITH RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT
A Waterville man has been charged with four counts of reckless endangerment after he fired a handgun from a moving truck along Little Pine Creek toward people who were fishing nearby. According to the Sun Gazette, 23 year old Dalton Laubenstein had been arguing with a girlfriend and then told police he had fired toward a road sign after he left the Pine Township area. Police say in an affidavit that Laubenstein was riding in a truck driven by a minor who had been drinking, and may have provided alcohol for them. Laubenstein faces more charges for corrupting the morals of a minor and disorderly conduct.
SOUTHSIDE SCHOOL BOARD ADD IN-SERVICE DAYS
Two professional development days were added to the South Williamsport School Calendar for 2023 during this week’s school board meeting. Teachers from Central Elementary came forth recently addressing the need for them. According to North Central Pa dot com, the Southside Schoolboard approved February 17th and May 23rd to be added next year for kindergarten through 6th grades so that teachers can utilize important professional development days. In addition, a new superintendent hiring process will begin this month as Dr. Mark Stamm submitted his resignation. Dr. Stamm will be transitioning to the East Lycoming School District.
HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION IN CENTRE COUNTY
There will be a hazardous waste collection event on April 28th through 30th in Centre County that will utilize pre-registration to alleviate long lines of cars at the disposal site. According to the Express, the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority will collect hazardous waste like insecticides, pool chemicals, poisons and corrosives, oil based paints, CFL bulbs and fluorescent tubes. Latex paints, oil, antifreeze, medications, batteries and explosives are not accepted. To pre-register for the event at 253 Transfer Rd in Bellefonte, go to www.centrecountyrecycles.com or call (814) 238-7005
AT LEAST ONE GUILTY PLEA EXPECTED IN 2016 STARVATION CASE
One of four people involved in the starvation death of two little girls from Lycoming County has scheduled a guilty plea for the third-degree murder she faces for later this year. According to Penn Live, 49 year old Michelle Butler waived her arraignment this week and has not made any plea deal with DA, Ryan C. Gardner. Butler’s husband Ronald is also on trial for obstruction of child abuse has also waived his arraignment. The Butler’s daughter, Echo, and her partner, the girls’ mother, Marie Sue Snyder, are primarily accused of starving 6 year old Nicole Elisabeth and 4 year old Jasmine Jean Snyder in May of 2016, with their bodies found in Hepburn Township that November. Court records say Michelle Butler allegedly knew of the abuse but concealed it from a Children and Youth Caseworker. All the women are incarcerated without bail. Ronald Butler is in jail in lieu of bail. Both girls weighed less than ten pounds at their death.
CONTRACTOR ACCUSED OF TAKING FUNDS, NOT DOING WORK
A Muncy paving contractor has been charged with several felonies for failure to provide service, deceptive business practices and theft by deception. According to the Sun Gazette, 48 year old Brian Richard Jacobs, owner of B&B Sealcoat, took deposits from three separate customers in April of 2021 and gave a verbal time frame for completing work, but did not start the projects. Jacobs eventually refused to return the deposits and the victims called police. He has been arraigned in District Court and is free on $15,000 bail.
STATE POLICE SETTLE WITH ACLU
In a settlement to potentially avoid lengthy litigation, the PA State Police have reached an agreement of 865 thousand dollars with the ACLU. According to NorthCentral PA dot com, Marquez et. al. vs the Commonwealth et. al. was filed by the ACLU on behalf of 10 people who say their civil rights were violated during their immigration detention. Since the suit began, federal laws have been revised so that policies and training are consistent with current immigration case laws. Part of the settlement includes mandatory training to help enlisted members become familiar with new procedures.
WELLNESS CENTER GETS A NEW LOCATION
Evangelical’s Community Health and Wellness department will move to a new location next month. According to a press release, the new location will be at The Miller Center beginning May 2nd. The new location will allow easier access to programming activities as the facility is built around the focus of healthy living. Anyone attending events at The Miller Center should use the main entrance that faces Giant during their business hours from 8am until 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
SPORTS
PIAA District 4
Varsity Baseball
Sullivan county 13 Sugar Valley Rural Charter 8
Muncy 16 Millville 3
CMVT 7 Montgomery 3
Benton 19 Bucktail 4
Wellsboro 15 Towanda 6
North Penn Mansfield 14 Troy 8
Varsity Softball
Warrior Run 12 Hughesville 1
North Penn Liberty 11 Troy 1
Montoursville 19 Southern Columbia 6
Central Mountain 15 Mifflinburg 0
Muncy 10 Millville 0
Cowanesque Valley 12 Williamson 0.
NBA
The NBA Play-in East
7th place vs eighth place
Nets 115 Cavaliers 108
In the NBA Play-in West
Timberwolves 109 Clippers 104
Major League Baseball of note
Guardians 10 Reds 5
Cubs 2 Pirates 1
Mets 2 Phillies 0
Brewers 5 Orioles 4
Yankees 4 Blue Jays 0
Braves 16 Nationals 4
NHL
Blues 4 Bruins 2
Sabres 5 Maple Leafs 2
Panthers 3 Ducks 2 in OT
Hurricanes 4 Rangers 2
Capitals 9 Flyers 2
Senators 4 Redwings 1
Islanders 5 Penguins 4
Wild 5 Oilers 1
Predators 1 Sharks 0
Kings 5 Blackhawks 2
Flames 5 Kracken 3
Stars 1 Lightning 0
Canucks 5 Golden Knights 4
Devils 6 Coyotes 2
