A MUNCY MAN SENTENCED TO OVER 60 YEARS FOR ABUSE OF A CHILD
A Muncy man who was found guilty in October of the sexual abuse of a minor child was sentenced yesterday to over 60 years in prison for his crimes. According to the Sun Gazette, 37 year old Marcus McDaniel was arrested last April for the abuse committed with the alleged consent of the victim child’s mother, 34 year old Michelle Strayer who was also charged with sexual exploitation of a child and related offenses. Court records show that an official from the sex offender assessment board say McDaniel is classified as a sexually violent predator, with the likelihood to re-offend. Judge Ryan Tira gave McDaniel a prison term of 61 years and 3 months to 122 years and 6 months.
PHONE SCAMMER TRICKS PERSON SUFFERING FROM DEMENTIA
Another scammer has taken advantage of the elderly in Lycoming County. According to North Central PA dot com, State police at Montoursville were called when the 78 year old victim’s daughter discovered her mother had been taken advantage of by a caller who allegedly convinced her she had won the Mega Millions lottery jackpot and needed to pay 35 hundred dollars in fees to receive any winnings. The victim, who has dementia, wrote two checks to the scammer. An investigation is ongoing.
GOVERNOR SHAPIRO INTRODUCES PENNSYLVANIA BUDGET
Governor Shapiro presented his 2024 to 2025 budget proposal to the general assembly yesterday. According to media outlets, the budget proposal highlights over a billion dollar increase in basic education funding which is the largest increase in state history with 600 million also earmarked for the Commonwealth’s 10-year strategic plan for economic development. The budget proposal does not raise taxes – with Pennsylvania looking at a potential 11 billion dollar surplus by the end of Fiscal Year 2024- 25. Senator Gene Yaw says the 7.1% increase in overall state spending makes it extremely difficult to balance future budgets and maintain the state’s Rainy Day Fund savings account which would be depleted in 5 years.
NO TOBOGGAN SLIDE THIS YEAR IN EAGLESMERE
With nowhere near the amount of ice & cold needed in Eagles Mere , the annual fundraising Toboggan Slide will not be built again this year. According to the Sun Gazette, this is the tenth year in a row that the slide could not be built due to the warm temperatures. Officials from the Eagles Mere Slide Association say the slide requires 1,000 blocks of ice on Lake Avenue and an ice thickness of 12 inches for maximum safety. Eagles Mere, Forksville, Muncy Valley, Hillsgrove, Laporte, Eldredsville, Endless Winds or Shunk, Dushore and Mildred are the fire companies who participate in running the slide operation when it’s cold enough.
MAN CHARGED WITH DUI, CONCELAING ILLEGAL FIREARM
A Williamsport man was charged in Lycoming County Court last week for an illegal firearm found in his vehicle by city police after they impounded his car following a traffic stop on Second Avenue on November 29th. According to the Sun Gazette, Police allege Brian Matthew McKenzie was under the influence of a controlled substance at a traffic stop due to his lethargic behavior, raspy speech and his history as a heroin user, and had Niko the police dog trained to detect narcotics come to the scene. Handlers say Niko alerted positive several times near the vehicle, but upon impounding and a police search no drugs were found. Only the stolen gun was under the seat. McKenzie was incarcerated under 50 thousand dollar bail for receiving stolen property charges, DUI and more.
MAN TRIES TO HAVE STOLEN BIKE REPAIRED
A man from Wilkes-Barre is facing charges after he brought a stolen motorcycle to a Sunbury repair shop in December. According to North Central PA dot com, 36 year old Michael Kelley took a 2021 Sherco motorcycle to a shop in upper Augusta Township, giving them a fake name. When Mile Hill Cycle looked up the VIN the records came back that the bike was potentially stolen from Virginia in October of 2021. State Police from Stonington arrested Kelley when he came back to the shop to pick up the bike. He faces a felony count of receiving stolen property in Northumberland County Court .
MIFFLINBURG TO HAVE AN OPEN HOUSE FOR PARK, POOL PLAN
As the borough of Mifflinburg begins developing a master plan for their community parks and community pool, they are inviting the public to participate during an open house. According to the Daily Item, a discussion about the Mifflinburg Borough Parks Master Plan and Pool Study will be held February 21st from 6 til 8 at the Mifflinburg Bank & Trust Community Room, on East Chestnut St in Mifflinburg. The public is invited to the open house and discussion. Call the Borough office at 570-966-1013.
DANVILLE MIDDLE RECOGNIZED FOR VOCAB EXCELLENCE
A Northumberland County school has had success at a nationwide biannual competition for vocabulary and literacy. According to North central PA dot com, Danville Middle School was named Pennsylvania’s champion mastering nearly 14 thousand words. The virtual event took place online at vocabulary dot com with more than 380,000 students participating from 2,100 schools who can win up to 500 dollars in the competition.
SPORTS
PIAA District 4 Basketball
Girls
St John Neumann 55 Bucktail 48
Muncy 43 So Wmsport 25
Central Columbia 44 Lewisburg 34
Boys
Montoursville 71 St John Neumann 48
Troy 66 Wellsboro 36
NP Mansfield 47 Wyalusing 42
NCAA Men’s Basketball
UConn 72 Butler 62
Clemson 80 North Carolina 76
Baylor 79 Texas Tech 73
Kentucky 109 Vanderbilt 77
South Carolina 68 Ole Miss 65
Iowa State 70 Texas 65
NBA
Pacers 132 Rockets 129
Mavericks 119 Nets 107
Heat 121 Magic 95
Knicks 123 Grizzlies 113
Bulls 129 Timberwolves 123
Jazz 124 Thunder 117
Suns 114 Bucks 106
NBA Tonight
Golden State vs 76er’s 7:30pm ESPN
NHL
Flames 4 Bruins 1
Stars 2 Sabres 1
Flyers 2 Panthers 1
Penguins 3 Jets 0
Canadiens 5 Capitals 2
Devils 5 Avalanche 3
Golden Knights 3 Oilers 1
* The Las Vegas Golden Knights grabbed a 3-1 win to break the Oilers’ 16-game winning streak
