WOMAN SENTENCED FOR STARVING TWO YOUNG SISTERS

Twenty seven year old Echo Butler, who plead guilty to two counts of criminal conspiracy to commit murder was sentenced  to two consecutive life terms in state prison without the possibility of parole.  According to the Sun Gazette, the courtroom was full of family and friends of the victims, 6 year old Nicole Elisabeth and 4 year old Jasmin Jean Snyder, who died of starvation under the care of Butler and their mother, Marie Snyder.  During an investigation police discovered the girls bodies in a shallow grave behind a mobile home belonging to a family member in Hepburn Township in November 2021.

NEW POOL FILTER FOR CITY FACILITY

Williamsport City Council has approved the use of American Rescue Plan funds to purchase a pool filter in order to get the facility ready for a summer opening.  According to the Sun Gazette, the cost of the system is just about 270 thousand dollars, and should be installed in about a month.  Other American Rescue Plan funds were awarded to GPI Engineering to design a levee pump station, with a remaining 1.7 million dollars left in the ARP funds for future construction management.

COMMISSIONERS WANT TO ID DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS

The Lycoming County Commissioners are looking for the public’s help in finding dangerous intersections within the county.  According to the Sun Gazette, the Lycoming County transportation department is revising and updating the transportation plan for the county, and are looking for information about the most dangerous intersections with red lights in Lycoming County.  Commissioner Tony Mussare is urging the public to report the areas they’re most concerned about, by calling the transportation department at 570-320-2138.  The Commissioners next meeting is January 26^th at 10am at 330 Pine Street.

DIGITAL DRIVER’S LICENSE COULD BE COMING TO PA

Pennsylvania Lawmakers are working to accelerate the digital driver’s license plan for the state. The new legislation would not eliminate the need for a physical copy of the license, but would provide an additional way for people to present identification.  According to Patch dot com, the bill calls for PennDOT  to develop an app for downloading and renewing licenses for a reasonable fee. The concept is already in use in 10 states, including Ohio, Connecticut, Kentucky, and others.

WALMART CASHIER CHARGED WITH THEFT

A man working as a cashier at the Montoursville Walmart has been charged with felony retail theft for scanning items for customers without ringing them up last November and December.  According to North Central PA dot com, 18 year old Jaheem Brown passed items without actually scanning them seven times before loss-prevention officers who saw video of the incidents called Montoursville police January 7th.  Brown was arrested and posted 75hundred dollars bail  and will have a preliminary hearing January 30^th.

PLAYERS ACCUSED OF HAZING, WAIVE PRELIMINARY HEARING

The four Mount Carmel area football players accused of a hazing incident in 2020 have waived their preliminary hearings to Northumberland County Court last week.  According to the News Item, the cases for Tyler Owens, Michael Balichik, Reed Witkoski and Damon Dowkus will head directly to court. The alleged incidents happened at watch parties the team held in 2020. When reports of the incident were brought to the attention of school officials, they cancelled the remainder of the 2020 football season. Magisterial District Judge William Cole, was originally to hear the case but recused himself.

DAN MEUSER SUPPORTS LEVEE IMPROVEMENTS

A federal lawmaker U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, representing the new 9th Congressional District recently met to lend his support on several important local projects in and around the City of Williamsport. As reported by Sun Gazette, Meuser voiced his support on levee recertification including talk of possible federal money to be earmarked toward the continuing improvements needed on the levee, which must be improved otherwise those protected by it must pay untenable flood insurance.

HOSPITAL TO CONVERT TO OUTPATIENT EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

UPMC Lock Haven is about to work with the Pennsylvania Department of Health to convert services at UPMC Lock Haven to an outpatient emergency department -the first of its kind in the commonwealth.  The facility will be staffed 24/7 by a comprehensive team of physicians and nurses with UPMC specialists continuing to offer outpatient services in Lock Haven. UPMC in North Central Pa. intends to retain and incorporate 100% of the Lock Haven employees by placing them in comparable positions at UPMC facilities in the region.

SPORTS

NFL Saturday
Eagles 38            Giants 7
Chiefs 27            Jaguars 20
NFL Sunday
49ers 19              Cowboys 12
Bengals 27          Bills 10
Sunday, January 29
NFC Championship
49ers in the Eagles 3pm on FOX
AFC Championship
Bengals vs the Chiefs 6:30pm on CBS

NBA
Clippers 112       Mavericks 98
Heat 100             Pelicans 96
Raptors 125        Knicks 116
Thunder 101       Nuggets 99
Suns 112             Grizzlies 110
Nets 120              Warriors 116
Lakers  121         Trailblazers 112

NHL
Devils 2               Penguins 1
Jets 5                   Flyers 3
Bruins 4              Sharks 0
Kings 2                Blackhawks 1
Coyotes 4            Golden Knights 1

NCAA Men’s Basketball
Temple 56                    Houston 55
Purdue 58                     Maryland 55
UConn 86                     Butler 56