SERIAL ROBBER FACES ANOTHER GUILTY VERDICT
A convicted serial robber in Lycoming County is facing yet another guilty verdict. According to the Sun Gazette, 37 year-old Jesse Derick Giddings was convicted Wednesday of robbing a tobacco outlet on Washington Boulevard in November 2020. Prosecutors say surveillance video, witness accounts, and GPS data from his ankle monitor tied him to the heist, where more than $400 and cigarettes were stolen at gunpoint. The ruling comes weeks after Giddings was found guilty of a Subway robbery, and a year after convictions for robbing a Boost Mobile and Family Dollar. He’s already serving up to 28 years in prison.
CRIMINAL APPEALS DENIED FOR SHAMOKIN COUNCIL CANDIDATE
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has denied appeals from Shamokin council candidate Joseph Leschinskie Jr. in two separate criminal cases. According to the News Item, Leschinskie faces consecutive jail terms for misdemeanor convictions — one for making terroristic threats against the husband of a former councilwoman in 2020, and another for unlawfully recording inside the Northumberland County Courthouse in 2019. Despite a prior court order removing him from office due to felony convictions, Leschinskie remains one of three candidates vying for two open Shamokin City Council seats this fall.
GARRITY TO OFFER LOW-COST LOANS DURING BUDGET IMPASSE
Pennsylvania’s budget stalemate has entered a third month, leaving counties and Head Start programs without state funding. According to the Daily Item, Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced a $500 million short-term loan program to keep essential services running. The loans, carrying 4.5 percent interest, must be repaid within 15 days of a new budget being enacted. Garrity says the program will provide about three months of relief for groups struggling to cover operating costs. County officials warn they may otherwise face cutting services, furloughing staff, or raising taxes as they wait for Harrisburg to resolve the impasse.
CONCERNS ABOUT ELECTRIC SCOOTERS IN HUGHESVILLE
Hughesville officials are raising new concerns about electric scooters on borough streets and sidewalks. According to the SUN Gazette, Mayor Richard Smith says the issue is public safety, noting many riders are teenagers or even younger with police regularly receiving reports of accidents or near-misses. State law prohibits e-scooters from traveling on streets and borough council members say they don’t want to ticket kids, but are urging the community to take the warnings seriously before a tragedy occurs.
NY MAN ARRESTED FOR VIOLENT ASSAULT IN BRADFORD COUNTY
A Barton, New York man with a violent history is back behind bars, accused of assaulting his girlfriend in front of her young daughter in Sayre. According to North Central PA dot com, police say 27-year-old Scott L. Franks assaulted the woman, including biting her face and strangling her to unconsciousness. The victim fled with her child and alerted police, who arrested Franks after a brief struggle. Officers say he later became combative in his holding cell, forcing them to further restrain him. Franks faces multiple charges, including strangulation, assault, terroristic threats, and child endangerment. He remains in Bradford County Prison on $125,000 bail.
FIREARM CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY MAN
Charges against a 31-year-old man have been dropped after new evidence. According to North Central PA dot com, felony charges of possession of a firearm and receiving stolen property against Hakeem Jefferson—filed in 2022—were withdrawn Monday by the Northumberland County DA’s Office. Testing showed no DNA match on the weapon recovered in the case, making prosecution impossible. Jefferson was arrested in January 2022 by Sunbury Police. No further action is expected.
FINAL SETTLEMENT IN MOUNT CARMEL HAZING CASE
Undisclosed settlements have been reached in a federal lawsuit over a 2020 hazing incident involving the Mount Carmel Area High School football team. Plaintiff Michael Reed settled with defendant Tyler Owens, while claims against the school district and other defendants were resolved before mediation. Reed alleges he suffered permanent scarring and emotional distress after being burned with lit sticks during team initiation. Criminal charges were filed in 2022, and several adult defendants have since pleaded no contest to hazing and assault-related charges.
SUNBURY ASKING FOR PUBLIC INPUT ABOUT FLOURIDE IN THE WATER
The Sunbury Municipal Authority is weighing whether to continue adding fluoride to the city’s drinking water and is asking for public input. According to the Daily Item, General Manager Derrick Backer says the board is considering either upgrading its current fluoride system for safety or ending fluoridation altogether. The annual cost is about $7,000, but handling powdered fluoride poses risks to staff. Residents can submit comments until October 21 by mail or email. Any decision would require a state permit, but officials say they want community feedback before moving forward.
SPORTS
PIAA HS
Boys Soccer
Benton 4 Muncy 0
Williamsport 4 Jersey Shore 3
Montoursville 1 Warrior Run 1
Danville 5 Milton 4
Wellsboro 2 NP Liberty 0
Loyalsock __ So. Columbia __
Midd-West 2 Shikellamy 0
Hughesville 7 Mifflinburg 4
Lewisburg 3 Central Mt 1
Girls Soccer
Selinsgrove 8 Shamokin 0
MLB
Nationals 4 Braves 3
Rays 6 Orioles 2
Guardians 5 Tigers 1
Pirates 4 Reds 3
Phillies 11 Marlins 1
Yankees 8 White Sox 1
Cubs 10 Mets 3
Dodgers 5 D’backs 4
MLB Today
Pirates vs Reds 12:40pm MLBN
Rays vs Orioles 10:5pm
Dodgers vs D’backs 3:40pm MLBN
Marlins vs Phillies 6:05pm
White Sox vs Yankees 7:05pm
Mets vs Cubs 7:40pm MLBN
MLB NEWS
* Mariners’ Cal Raleigh hit his MLB-leading 59th and 60th home runs Wednesday night as the Seattle Mariners clinched the AL West with a 9-2 win over the Colorado Rockies.
* The Mariners, the only big league team that has never been to a World Series, clinched the fourth division crown in the franchise’s 49-year history and the first since 2001, when they set an AL record with 116 wins.
* The Yankees’ Aaron Judge tied the record by reaching 50 home runs in a season for the fourth time in the New York Yankees’ 8-1 victory against the Chicago White Sox.
NFL Thursday Night Football
Seahawks vs Cardinals 8:15 PrimeVid
NFL Sunday
Vikings vs Steelers 9:30am NFLNet Dublin, IRE
Saints vs Bills 1pm CBS
Eagles vs Buccaneers 1pm FOX
Ravens vs Chiefs 4:25pm CBS
Packers vs Cowboys 8:20 NBC
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