PSP DISCOVER SUSPECTS OF ID THEFT RING DURING TRAFFIC STOP
State troopers stopped two men from Florida on the Route 15 off-ramp of I-80 in White Deer Township on March 7th who were allegedly part of an identity theft ring and later took the two into custody. According to North Central PA dot com, the driver, 28 year old Lontre Antonie Smith and passenger, 30 year old Robert Ellis Norris Jr. fled a traffic stop at speeds up to 120 mph, including going the wrong way on I-80 west after police discovered the passenger had a full extradition probation violation warrant out of Florida. The pair attempted to turn again in the median, became disabled and fled on foot before police tased and arrested the two. A search warrant turned up some drugs and over100 state ID cards, debit and credit cards and several checkbooks, evidence in an alleged ID theft case. Norris and Smith are in Union County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail with a preliminary hearing March 21.
ONE INJURED, ONE KILLED IN BRADFORD COUNTY ACCIDENT
A Bradford County woman died in a vehicle accident Thursday night and her passenger suffered critical injuries. According to North Central PA dot com, State Police at Towanda report 50-year-old Letitia Lynn Frye-Irish died in the one-vehicle crash. Thirty-two year old Desiree Lynn Bump who is 14 weeks pregnant was flown to Robert Packer hospital and was last reported in critical condition. Emergecny crews responded to the accident that occurred at the 200 block of Beaman Road near Columbia Crossroads.
ZONING CHANGE REQUEST CHANGE DENIED FOR RECYCLING FACILITY
The Point Township zoning board has denied a request last week by Encina Fort Union LLC, the company planning to build a $1.1 billion plastics recycling facility there, for relief of a zoning ordinance limiting the height of buildings in an industrial district to 50 feet. According to the Daily Item, the company proposed reducing the footprint of the facility with a taller building plan at 80 feet. Representatives from the company say they will now have to go back to the drawing board in development of the building. The facility is planned to be built at 3288 Point Township Drive, along Route 11, by 2025.
WOMAN OF EXCELLENCE AWARD TO TIOGA COUNTY RESIDENT
A Tioga County resident is one of eight women chosen in the United States who have been awarded a 2023 Woman of Excellence Award, an award given by the non-profit to women who make a lasting impact in their communities. According to First News Now, Tasha Pratt of Wellsboro, is the Wellness Director at the Tioga County YMCA and was celebrated March 8th in Mansfield. Mayor Kathy Barrett declared the day as Tasha Pratt Day because of the achievement.
DUSHORE MAN ARRESTED FOR STALKING
A man from Dushore was jailed in the Bradford County Prison for stalking an employee of a local Dollar General store there. According to North Central Pa dot com, State police at Laporte say 72 year old James Richard Rouse repeatedly sought out an employee, attempting to make advances, giving gifts and asking for dates in a series of incidents that had increased in severity since last fall. Police say the store’s General Manager had banned Rouse from the property. An employee at another local business reported Rouse leaving gifts there as recently as the end of February. Rouse faces harassment and stalking charges in both cases and posted a total of 40 thousand dollars bail with a preliminary hearing March 15th.
IGNORING SEX REGISTRY REQUIREMENT LEADS TO MORE JAIL
A Snyder County man who had recently been paroled on his felony unlawful contact with a minor sentence, has been sentenced to six more years in state prison for failing to comply with Megan’s Law requirements. According to media outlets, the Snyder County District Attorney says Nicholas Barnhart of Port Trevorton obtained social media accounts and cellular devices but didn’t register them with State police. Police say Barnhart used the devices to access pornography.
WILLIAMSPORT MAN JAILED ON DRUG CHARGES
A Williamsport man is facing drug and resisting arrest charges after Lycoming County Narcotics Enforcement officers found methamphetamine with a search warrant at his High Street Apartment February 2nd and took him into custody. According to the Sun Gazette, court records say 50 year old Mark T Robinson allegedly sold the drug to an undercover officer in Loyalsock Township February 1st. Robinson is incarcerated for the drug charges in lieu of 85 thousand dollars bail.
PENNDOT PERFORMING ROAD CLEAN UP THIS MONTH
PennDOT is gearing up to begin their effort to improve the environment and clean up local roadways. According to a press release, maintenance crews in Lycoming County are scheduled to begin picking up litter along Interstate 180 and Routes 220 and 15, from today through Friday, March 31, weather permitting, during daylight hours. There will be no impacts to traffic during litter cleanup activities. But do use caution if you see PennDOT crews working along the roadway. Check conditions 24/7 at 511pa dot com.
SPORTS
PIAA District IV State Basketball Playoff
Boys Basketball
Class 1A
Northumberland Christian 73 Forest City 61
Linville Hill Christian 74 N P-Liberty 39
LaAcademia 69 Sullivan County 26
Class 2A
Muncy 73 Mount Union 58
Lancaster Mennonite 62 St. John Neu. 61
Mahanoy Area 63 Northwest 52
Line Mountain 56 Northern Lehigh 50
Class 3A
North Penn-Mansfield 68 Delone Catholic 65
Loyalsock 59 Bishop Guilfoyle 57
Mid Valley 62 Troy 42
Class 4A
Valley View 53 Shamokin 39
Littlestown 64 Lewisburg 23
Eastern York 56 Danville 52
Class 6A
Lower Merion 65 Williamsport 58
Girls Basketball
Class 1A
Meadowbrook Christ. 41 Hrsbrg Acad. 18
Lourdes Regional 38 Nativity BVM 22
St. John Neumann 57 Weatherly 24
Class 2A
So. Williamsport 64 Lanc. Mennonite 22
Montrose 46 Northwest Area 28
Class 3A
Mount Carmel 46 Holy Redeemer 36
Dunmore 64 Bloomsburg 33
Columbia 55 Loyalsock 33
Class 4A
Jersey Shore 52 Wyoming Area 39
Scranton Prep 68 Lewisburg 35
Trinity 46 Central Columbia 45 (OT)
PIAA State Championship Wrestling tournament in Hershey this weekend…
Double A – Montgomery’s Conner Harer won his second straight state title… Muncy’s Austin Johnson won his first and was a perfect thirty nine and oh on the year.
Silver medals
Warrior Run’s Reagan Millheim and Cameron Millheim … Meadowbrook Christian’s Cade Wirnsberger, Connor Heckman of Midd-West, plus Montgomery’s Brandt Harer.
In Triple A…for the first time since 1990, Williamsport has a state champion as Cael Nasdeo posted a 4-and oh shutout. Central Mountain’s Luke Simcox also won gold.
Warrior Run’s Jeremy Betz won Coach of the year award and Central Mountain’s Dylan Caprio named the state’s Assistant Coach of the year.
NBA
76ers 112 Wizards 93
Nets 122 Nuggets 120
Cavaliers 114 Hornets 108
Pelicans 127 Trailblazers 110
Thunder 102 Spurs 90
Knicks 112 Lakers 108
NCAA Men’s Basketball
Purdue 67 Penn State 65
Memphis 75 Houston 65
Alabama 82 Texas A&M 63
Tuesday night – South & Midwest Regions – 1st 4
NHL
Penguins 3 Rangers 2
Red Wings 5 Bruins 3
Devils 3 Hurricanes 0
Golden Knights 5 Blues 3
Jets 3 Lightning 2
Flames 5 Senators 1
Predators 5 Ducks 4
Coyotes 5 Wild 4
