PHILLY WOMAN FACES MURDER CHARGES IN WILLIAMSPORT
A Philadelphia woman was extradited to Williamsport this week to face charges in the April 2020 killing of a Williamsport man in the Bridge Street Commons. According to the Sun Gazette, 21 year old Shakya El allegedly exchanged text messages with 27 year old Amir Nobles to lure him to the parking lot on Bridge Street where he was then shot by two gunmen. Nobles was pronounced dead at the scene. Williamsport police filed the arrest warrant for El Tuesday at the same time State police in Lancaster County happened to be processing her for an unrelated crime. She has been committed to Lycoming County Prison on no bail.
HOSPITAL POWER OUTAGE REPORT
Officials at UPMC Williamsport have uncovered the source of the power outages last Thursday night that caused the hospital to go into emergency procedures when the back-up generators also malfunctioned. According to the Sun Gazette, a hospital spokesperson said there is a long-term contingency plan to avoid this situation in the future. Williamsport Bureau of Fire officials reported that first, wires in an underground vault shorted out cutting power to the hospital and the generator worked normally for 12 minutes when part of the generator control system failed which caused the total power failure. Second, an electrical relay that allowed electricity to feed the building also malfunctioned . Generator power was restored to the hospital after 8:30pm and the full system was restored last Friday morning.
LYCOMING MALL FINALLY CLOSED
The Lycoming Mall finally closed its doors last weekend putting signs up notifying mall walkers that there was no longer access available inside the building. According to North Central PA dot com, the mall opened in in 1978 and featured over 80 stores including Hess’s, Woolworth, the Bon-Ton, KB Toys and others. Most recently, the last tenants included Burlington Coat Factory and Books-A-Million who received notice a month ago about the changes and that they would not be evicted. FAMVEST LLC is planning to purchase and repurpose the mall into a mixture of residential and commercial services.
COMPUTER CODING BOOK CLUB FOR KIDS AT THE LIBRARY
A new program for elementary school students who want to learn to write computer code starts today at the James V. Brown Library on East 4th Street in Williamsport . According to the library’s website, “Girls Who Code” is a book club for all genders in 3rd through 5th grade to learn about the foundational skills and understanding of computer science concepts. There is a daytime program for homeschooled students at 1pm and an after school program at 4pm. Register now at jvbrown.edu.
WILLIAMSPORT COUPLE CHARGED WITH CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
A couple in Williamsport have been charged for neglecting a 14 month old pitbull who had to have emergency surgery to save its life. According to North Central PA dot com, the owners of “Mocha” had hesitated to treat the dog, they said for a badly infected wound due to financial reasons, but when the dog was checked at the Loyalsock Animal Hospital, the doctors there determined the dog was underweight and malnourished. Animal control officers said an investigation started in January after a concerned person reported the animal often alone in an apartment on Bridge Street in Williamsport. The owners of the dog, Jessica Lowmiller and Joshua Franklin Parker, were charged with two counts of felony aggravated cruelty to animals, neglect of animals and other charges. They both posted $15,000 unsecured bail. Mocha has been adopted.
CLINTON COUNTY COMPANY PURCHASES CANADIAN PULP MILL
First Quality Enterprises has announced they are expecting to close a deal for a pulp mill in Ontario, Canada which will secure work for Clinton County’s largest employer which provides tissue and paper towel products. According to the Sun Gazette, the purchase price was not disclosed for the mill that was previously owned by Domtar Corporation, a subsidiary of Paper Excellence Group. In a statement by First Quality about the acquisition, closing should take place in the third quarter of 2023.
MANSFIELD FUNERAL HOME HAS NEW OWNER
A Pennsylvania funeral director has purchased the former Gary W Wilston Funeral Home and Cremation Service at 130 South Main Street in Mansfield and has rebranded the facility to reflect the new ownership. According to a news release, the Wilston-Currie Funeral Home and Cremation Service is now owned by Tyler Currie of Gillet, who earned an undergraduate degree from Mansfield University and his funeral service degree from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. Currie has served in the funeral industry for 15 years and as a funeral director for over seven years in Mansfield, Troy, Wellsboro and Coudersport.
LITTLE LEAGUE CHALLENGER GAME TEAMS SET FOR SUMMER
Two eastern teams have been chosen to compete in the Little League Challenger Division Exhibition Game during the 2023 Little League Baseball World Series this August. Teams from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Syracuse, New York will compete and this is the first time a team from Lancaster County will be represented in Williamsport. Little LeagueInternational supports the participating leagues with a $15,000 grant to help offset the costs of participation in the Exhibition Game. The 2023 Little League Baseball World Series will start August 16th and run til August 27th. Details at littleleague.org.
SPORTS
PIAA Boys Basketball Semifinals
Class 3A
Troy 67 Warrior Run 42
N. Penn-Mansfield 66 Loyalsock 62
Class 4A
Lewisburg 54 Shamokin 52 (OT)
Danville 52 Athens 48
Girls Basketball Semifinals
Class 4A
Jersey Shore 50 Lewisburg 37
Central Columbia 52 Shamokin 14
PIAA District 4
Boys Basketball tonight
Class A Final
Sullivan County vs Northumberland Christian @ Montoursville HS 6pm
Class AA Final
Muncy vs St John Neumann @Montoursville HS 7:30pm
Class AA Consolation
Northwest vs Williamsport @ Montgomery 7:30 PM
Girls Basketball tonight
Class A Consolation
Lourdes Regional vs North Penn Liberty @ Montgomery 6 PM
Class AAA Semifinal
Southern Columbia vs Mount Carmel @ Shamokin 7:30pm
NBA
Wizards 119 Hawks 116
Bucks 118 Nets 104
Raptors 104 Bulls 98
Grizzlies 121 Lakers 109
Nuggets 133 Rockets 112
Kings 123 Thunder 117
Pacers 124 Mavericks 122
Spurs 102 Jazz 94
Warriors 123 Trailblazers 105
Timberwolves 108 Clippers 101
NCAA Men’s Basketball
Kansas 67 Texas Tech 63
Marquette 72 Butler 56
Tennessee 75 Arkansas 57
Virginia 64 Clemson 57
Texas A&M 69 Ole Miss 61
NHL
Penguins 3 Predators 1
Senators 6 Redwings 1
Panthers 4 Lightning 1
Blue Jackets 5 Sabers 3
Wild 2 Islanders 1
Kraken 5 Blues 3
Kings 6 Jets 5
Coyotes 4 Blackhawks 1
Bruins 4 Flames 3
Canadiens 3 Sharks 1
