ARCTIC COLD APPROACHING THE AREA
The wild weather has most of the region waiting on a dip in temperatures that could be potentially dangerous for the unprepared. According to the national weather service, artic cold is coming to Williamsport by this afternoon with wind gusts approaching 40 miles per hour bringing wind chills down to negative 15 degrees. According to the Sun Gazette, PennDOT has prepared roadways with salt and anti-skid to ensure the roads are clear, but ice is still a factor on many routes in the area. They recommend avoiding unnecessary travel, but if you must go, prepare an emergency kit with blankets, shovels, medications your family needs, pet food and bottled water. It’s also recommended to keep your gas tank at least half full, carry a cell phone and if you are stranded, stay in your car until help arrives.
LYCO CONTROLLER SEEKS LEGAL FEES FROM COURT
A request was filed in Potter County Court this week by the Lycoming County Controller, Krista Rogers, for legal costs upward of 82 thousand dollars to cover the ongoing legal dispute between her office and the county commissioners. According to the Sun Gazette, the costs requested are close to double the costs claimed in July when the court ruled for her and agreed to pay those expenses. In the case between the Controller’s Office and the count commissioners, the commissioners are asking for clarity about who has the direction and authority under the county code drafted by the state legislators to be responsible for the fiscal affairs of the county. Rogers recently released a statement saying their most recent appeal is frivolous.
PA HOUSE STILL TO DECIDE ON SPECIAL ELECTIONS
Democrats and Republicans in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives are still in dispute over when to hold three special elections for open seats that will determine control of their chamber. According to Penn Live, closed-door negotiations failed this week. All three vacancies are Democratic-leaning districts in Allegheny County, where elections officials have begun the preliminary work needed to hold the special elections on Feb. 7.
PA TREASURY BANS TIK TOK APP FROM GOVERNMENT DEVICES
Pennsylvania is one of a few states now banning the use of the social media app TikTok on their cell phones and other treasury-issued devices. According to a press release by State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, TikTok is owned by a company in Beijing China and has been called a national security concern. In an internal review, there have not been any treasury issued devices found to have been using the app, but in a pre-emptive move, access has been blocked in the Treasury IT network. Congress may soon ban employees from using TikTok on federal government devices.
ACCIDENT CLOSED I-80 DURING STORM
The snowy conditions in the region yesterday caused fender benders around the region, but I-80 was shut down westbound for most of the afternoon in Northumberland County. According to North CentralPA dot com, a jack-knifed tractor trailer caused the interstate closure between the Limestoneville exit and the eastbound I-180 ramp. Interstate traffic was detoured on Routes 254 and 147 for several hours. State Police reopened the roadway after 4pm and there are no delays at this time.
INMATE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH OFFICER WILL GO TO COURT
All the charges will be held for court against a Lycoming County Prison inmate who was in a relationship with a corrections officer and gained access to drugs, a phone, and a weapon. According to North Central PA dot com, James King began the relationship in February with officer Olivia Katzmaier, which was discovered by June. Prison authorities then found the contraband, including a shank, in Kings cell. Several other witnesses testified last week that they knew of the relationship, or that they saw the shank or the drugs. King will be back in court January 9th. Katzmaier who was suspended pending termination from the prison, will also have a preliminary hearing in January for third-degree felony institutional sexual assault, forgery and obstruction of administrative law.
MAN THREATENS FORMER EMPLOYER
A Coal Township man is free on bail after he was accused of threatening a former employer at a business along Route 61 December 4th . According to North Central PA dot com, after 43 year old Brent Tomcavage went to the business and demanded the owner of Full Service 122 call him, he told him that he had a machine gun for him in his car and made other accusations. Police interviewed Tomcavage after viewing video footage of him at the scene, and then charged him with first –degree terroristic threats. He posted the 10 thousand dollars unsecured bail after his preliminary hearing.
TRANSIT COMPANY CLOSING EARLY FOR HOLIDAY
Those who use Rabbittransit will have a schedule change for the holidays. The fixed route service says it will end early, at 6:30 pm, on Saturday, Christmas Eve, and also next Saturday for New Year’s Eve. According to a statement by Rabbittransit, ADA Paratransit Service will also end at 6:30 pm on these two days and no reservations will be accepted for pick-up later than 5:30 pm. In addition, there will be no service for the next two Sundays in observance of the holidays. Get information at rabbit transit.org
SPORTS
PIAA District 4
Boys Basketball
Meadowbrook Christian 45 Millville 29
Shikellamy 73 Mount Carmel 72
Girls Basketball
North Schuylkill 56 Shamokin 34
Central Columbia 51 Berwick 26
NFLThursday Night Football
Jaguars 19 Jets 3
Christmas Eve NFL Football 1pm
Buffalo Bills @ Chicago
New Orleans Saints @ Cleveland
Seattle @ Kansas City
NY Giants @ Minnesota
Bengals @ New England Patriots.
Detroit @Carolina
Atlanta @Baltimore
Eagles @ Dallas – 4:25pm on FOX
Las Vegas @ Pittsburgh at 8:15pm on NFL Network
NCAA Football Bowl Schedule
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl in Shreveport
Louisiana vs Houston 3 PM on ESPN
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa
Wake Forest vs Missouri 6:30pm on ESPN
NCAA Football Christmas Eve
The Easy Post Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu
Middle Tennessee vs San Diego State at 8pm on ESPN
NBA
Pelicans 126 Spurs 117
Jazz 120 Wizards 112
NHL
Maple Leafs 4 Flyers 3
Hurricanes 4 Penguins 3
Bruins 3 Jets 2
Rangers 5 Islanders 3
Capitals 3 Senators 2
Canucks 6 Kraken 5
Kings 4 Flames 3
Sharks 5 Wild 2
