RIVER VALLEY TRANSIT AUTHORITY UNDER INVESTIGATION
An investigation is open in Williamsport about the handling of federal funding within River Valley Transit Authority. According to the Sun Gazette, Mayor Derek Slaughter said the Federal Transit Administration has hired a contractor to perform a special review to look at grant agreements and examine checks and balances that were or were not in place. A review team will next meet with Mayor Slaughter and interim General Manager of RVTA, Todd Wright to complete a Financial Management Oversight Special Review. In a previous audit from 2019, the bus system came out 11 million dollars in debt, with auditors unable to determine what funds were appropriately related to RVTA.
LYCO COMMISSIONERS WILL APPEAL LATEST COURT RULING
The Lycoming County Commissioners announced at their meeting yesterday that they will appeal the latest court ruling that put the functions of payroll, general ledger and accounts receivable back into the hands of the county controller, Krista Rodgers. According to the Sun Gazette, Commissioners Rick Mirabito and Tony Mussare, continue to seek clarity of the fiscal functions. Commissioner Scott Metzger stated he would prefer to avoid the legal cost. All three commissioners in a statement said that the new appeal only seeks to make sure they are properly handling the financial affairs of the county which is their duty by statute.
MONTOURSVILLE RE-ELECTS PRESIDENT, HIRES SECURITY CAPTAIN
In their annual reorganization meeting this week, the Montoursville Area School District decided on the hire of a security captain, and re-elected the current president and vice president of the school board. According to the Sun Gazette, Dave Shimmel who represents the borough, is President and Dottie Mathers, who represents Fairfield and Upper Fairfield Townships is Vice President. New security captain, LaRue Stelene, originally from Nisbet and a former State police trooper, said his military background and supervisory experience makes him a good fit for the job that will pay 56 thousand dollars per year. Regular school board meetings at Montoursville will continue on the second Tuesdays of the month at 7 p.m. except in December.
DROUGHT LIFTED FOR LYCOMING COUNTY AND 14 OTHERS
At a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force, The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced that drought watch conditions have been lifted for 15 counties including Lycoming, Northumberland, Montour, Snyder and Union counties that had been watching their water consumption, but the watch still remains for Carbon, Luzerne, Northampton, Potter, and Schuylkill counties. Drought watch means consumers are asked to reduce their individual water use by 5-10%, or three to six gallons of water per day.
FORMER MOUNT CARMEL FOOTBALL PLAYERS CHARGED WITH HAZING
The Office of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania has charged nine former area high school football players for a hazing incident that occurred in 2020. According to North Central PA dot com, court records say in two incidents, football players from Mount Carmel were at the football captain’s house to watch football game footage and burned new players with sticks and fireworks as part of what they said was an informal initiation. Reed Witowski, Damon Dowkus and a third captain who was a juvenile at the time, have each been charged with hazing, simple assault, and intimidation of a victim. Six players on the team have also been charged with hazing.
DRIVER FLEES FROM VIOLENT WRECK
Police say a person who was involved in a vehicle accident Wednesday night at the 600 block of Beeber Street in Williamsport, fled the scene and is still at large. According to the Sun Gazette, police say just after 7pm the driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee hit a parked Nissan Sentra and overturned creating a loud noise that caused neighbors to think a nearby building had been hit. The Jeep hit the parked car with such force it was pushed 35 feet. Fire and ambulance crews responded to the scene, but no injuries were reported. If you have information about the driver of the Jeep, call Williamsport police.
MONTOUR COUNTY MAN CHARGED WITH 84 GRAMS OF COCAINE
A Washingtonville man has been arrested for having 84 grams of cocaine in his apartment after a family member in the home called police about it. According to NorthCentral PA dot com, State Police in Milton were called to an apartment November 10th and shown the bag of the suspected drug sticking out from a bathroom cabinet. Police say once the substance was tested, it was determined to be cocaine. An arrest warrant was issued for 45 year old Jeremy Michael Simmons who faces felony possession charges with intent to deliver and a misdemeanor possession charge. Charges were filed against Simmons December 1st.
NORTH BRANCH NOMINATED FOR RIVER OF THE YEAR
The North Branch of the Susquehanna River is one of four finalists for 2023 Pennsylvania River of the Year recognition. According to the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper, other finalists include the Conestoga River, a tributary in the Lower Susquehanna watershed, and both the Schuylkill River and Perkiomen Creek from the Delaware River basin. Recognition from a River of the Year win for the North Branch would help partnering agencies tackle a number of issues for the waterway, including excessive sedimentation. One vote is allowed per email between now and 5pm on January 14th . Learn more about each of the 2023 River of the Year finalists at Pawatersheds.org.
SPORTS
PIAA District 4 Boys Basketball
Northumberland Christian 71 Hughesville 68
Selinsgrove 53 Bellefonte 49
PIAA 2A Football Championship Today
Southern Columbia vs. Westinghouse
1pm Mechanicsburg, PA
NCAA Football Saturday
Army / Navy game 3 PM on CBS
NFL Thursday Night Football
Rams 17 Raiders 16
NFL this weekend
Eagles vs. Giants, Ravens vs Pittsburgh 1 PM on Sunday
NHL
Lightning 5 Predators 2
Maple Leafs 5 Kings 0
Panthers 5 Red Wings 1
Jets 5 Blues 2
Stars 4 Senators 3
NBA
Heat 115 Clippers 110
Spurs 118 Rockets 109
Nuggets 121 Trailblazers 120
