BENTON MAN CHARGED FOR UNCONTROLLED BRUSH FIRE
Charges were filed after a Benton man started a fire he couldn’t control. According to North Central PA dot com, the 44 year old Eric Michael Kocher started the blaze in late April to clear brush behind his home. Kocher’s neighbors called 911 after seeing the fire had spread to their property. Kocher’s wife claimed the neighbor threatened to shoot her, Kocher and their dog after approaching on a four-wheeler. When questioned by authorities, Kocher admitted to starting the fire. Kocher is being charged with risking catastrophe, dangerous burning, failure to control a dangerous burn, disorderly conduct, and more. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Aug 20 and is free without bail.
FATHER WHO ABUSED HIS CHILDREN FREED AFTER TIME SERVED
The man who pleaded guilty to abusing his 8 children from 1994 until 2020, had a sentencing hearing and will be released from prison for time served. According to the Sun Gazette, Matthew Joseph Zeigler was sentenced to 1,137 days in prison, but the term for the 5 counts of endangering the welfare of a child was maxed out, and Zeigler is free. However, he was also sentenced to 60 months’ probation and ordered to pay a $6,500 fine and must adhere to a no-contact provision, prohibiting him from contacting the victims by any means, including through a third party.
MCCLURE MAN ARRESTED AFTER THREATENING CODES OFFICER
A man from McClure allegedly threatened a property code officer and is facing charges. According to the Daily Item, 27 year old Matthew C. Lash was on his property July 18th when Code Enforcement Officer Gerald Lloyd III was doing inspections. After an interchange between the two men who were both inside their vehicles, Lloyd said he was threatened by Lash and told that he’d be shot and killed if he returned, before Lash sped off, striking Lloyd’s car in the process. Lash has now been charged with felony threats against an official, misdemeanor terroristic threats, reckless endangerment and obstructing a government official. He was arraigned and posted 15 thousand dollars bail.
NEW FORESTER IN TIOGA COUNTY
A Galeton native and graduate of Penn College has been appointed as the district forester for Tioga State Forest, covering over 161 thousand acres in Bradford and Tioga counties. According to DCNR, Benn Carlson will manage the forest, including the majestic Pine Creek Gorge, also known as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, and the popular Pine Creek Rail Trail. He said priorities of the position for him include managing the forest’s timber resources and recreational forestlands, as well as raising awareness about careers in conservation through programs for school age children.
PENN STATE FRATERNITY BROTHERS PLEAD GUILTY IN HAZING INCIDENT
In a Centre County courtroom, the two former Penn State students who were involved in a fatal hazing incident at their fraternity in 2017 entered their plea yesterday. According to North Central PA dot com, Brendan Young and Daniel Casey pleaded guilty to 14 misdemeanor counts of hazing and a single count of reckless endangerment after sophomore student Timothy Piazza, a pledge of the fraternity, was found unresponsive after participating in an event involving excessive amounts of alcohol. Piazza died a few days later after suffering from multiple falls. Young, 28, and Casey will be sentenced October 1st. The Piazza family supported the Pennsylvania legislature in passing the Timothy Piazza Anti–Hazing Law, which includes a felony-graded offense when serious injury or death results.
NORRY CORONER LOOKING FOR BLOOD RELATIVES OF SUBJECT
Living blood relatives of a Northumberland County resident are being sought. Coroner James F. Kelley says he is looking for living relatives of 64 year old Thomas J Crumlic, who lived in Mount Carmel. If you have any information that can help, please call Kelley through the County Communication Center at 570-988-4539.
‘FREE FILE’ COMING FOR PA RESIDENT IN 2025
The IRS is offering a new free tax filing system for 2025. According to the Penn-Capital Star, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Gov. Josh Shapiro announced yesterday a transformation at the Internal Revenue Service that drastically improves the taxpayer experience through the Inflation Reduction Act. The program called Free File could save Pennsylvanians $630 million in combined annual tax filing fees and additional tax credits claimed directly from the IRS. Governor Shapiro said the prgram would be available for all Pennsylvanians in the next tax filing season.
VA HEALTHCARE EVENT AT PENN COLLEGE IN AUGUST
The Department of Veterans Affairs will hold a town hall & enrollment event at Penn College next month. According to a press release from the Wilkes Barre VA Medical Center Leadership, the event will be August 21st at the Thompson Professional center on the campus. The event will provide veterans family members and the public to express feedback on the recent expanded benefits of the PACT Act and if desired, also enroll in VA Healthcare. Parking for the 5pm event is available in lot V-3.
SPORTS
MLB Draft League
Crosscutters and Thunder were cancelled last night due to rain. They’ll try again tonight at Journey Bank Ballpark @ Historic Bowman Field; 6:35pm first pitch.
MLB
Guardians 5 Tigers 0
Orioles 6 Blue Jays 2
Yankees 7 Phillies 6
Mets 2 Twins 0
Pirates 6 Astros 2
D’Backs 17 Nationals 0
MLB Tonight
Yankees vs Phillies 12:35
Blue Jays vs Orioles 12:35pm
Twins vs Mets 1:10pm
Nationals vs D’Backs 3:40pm
Pirates vs Astros 8:10pm
Olympics News Coming up today…
* LeBron James and the U.S. men’s basketball team play South Sudan.
* U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky competes in the 1,500-meter final.
* The U.S. women’s national soccer team continues group play, with a match against Australia. * The Olympic gymnastics men’s all-around title is live at 11:30amUS Women’s Gymnastics
*The US Women’s Gymnastics team earned gold yesterday, defeating Italy, by nearly six points, with a seven-point gap to bronze medalist Brazil.
*It was the fourth time that the American women have claimed gold in the event, but the first since 2016.
*The medal for Biles with her floor routine score of core of 14.666 earned her the eighth overall and her fifth gold in three appearances – making her the most decorated American gymnast in Olympic history.
Triathalon
*The Olympic triathlons got underway today as the women dove into the Seine River to start the swim after days of delays and uncertainty over water quality concerns.
* The men were slated to start about three hours after the women’s race.
Men’s Olympic Soccer
U.S. 3 Guinea 0
* U.S. and France qualify for the Quarterfinals
Medal Count
US 26 4-gold 11-silver 11-bronze
France 19 6-gold 9-silver 4-bronze
China 14 6-gold 6-silver 2-bronze
