HEPBURN TOWNSHIP FIRE DESTROYS HOME, DISPLACES COUPLE
A husband and wife are homeless after Tuesday morning’s three-alarm fire destroyed their Beach Drive home in Hepburn Township. Fire officials say the couple escaped safely, but several cats are believed to have died. Crews briefly entered the home but were forced back by severe hoarding conditions, and part of the attic later collapsed. The American Red Cross is helping the couple. A state police fire marshal is investigating, though the cause may remain undetermined because of the heavy damage.
BEAVERTOWN MAN CHARGED AFTER 100-MPH MOTORCYCLE CHASE
A Beavertown man is facing charges after police say he led officers on a high-speed motorcycle chase in Union County. Twenty-year-old David Woodling allegedly sped away from Buffalo Valley Regional Police July 8th in East Buffalo Township, reaching more than 100 miles an hour. Another rider later identified Woodling from police dashcam video. Woodling is charged with fleeing or attempting to elude police and several traffic violations. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 15th in Lewisburg.
WILLIAMSPORT DRAFTS NEW RULES FOR FUTURE DATA CENTERS
Williamsport is moving to set rules for any future data center development, even though no applications are currently pending in the city. Officials have drafted a zoning ordinance amendment after City Council declared the city’s 1998 zoning code substantively invalid because it did not address data centers or related infrastructure. According to the Sun Gazette, the proposal would establish definitions, operating requirements and protections for sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals, parks and homes. The draft ordinance is available for public review on the city’s website.
WILLIAMSPORT FIREFIGHTERS JOIN SULLIVAN COUNTY LIVE-FIRE TRAINING
Williamsport firefighters joined crews from across Sullivan County for a live-fire training exercise in Dushore. Eighteen firefighters from seven departments took part in the daylong session, including members of the Williamsport Bureau of Fire. Crews practiced fire attack, hose advancement, ventilation, search and rescue and communications inside an acquired structure. Twelve Pennsylvania State Fire Academy staff members supervised the training, which officials say helps departments prepare to work together during major emergencies.
COUDERSPORT MAN JAILED AFTER FIVE-HOUR GAS-LINE STANDOFF
A Coudersport man is jailed after police say he barricaded himself inside a home and threatened to blow it up using an open gas line. State police say 33-year-old Stephen Hamilton sent troopers video of the open line during the October 2nd standoff on Cartee Street, prompting evacuations and a gas shutoff. The standoff lasted more than five hours before Hamilton surrendered. He is charged with risking catastrophe and is being held on 100-thousand-dollars bail.
NEWBERRY STORE EMPLOYEE CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING YOUNG GIRL
A Newberry store employee has been convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl more than a decade ago. Fifty-year-old Joshua Turner was found guilty on seven counts, including statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of minors. Prosecutors said Turner groomed the victim while working at Turner’s Market and gave her drugs before the assaults. The jury deliberated about three hours before returning the verdicts. Turner is scheduled to be sentenced December 22nd.
BODY FOUND IN SUSQUEHANNA RIVER IDENTIFIED AS NEW JERSEY MAN
State police have identified a body found last month in the Susquehanna River near Herndon. Troopers say the remains recovered September 5th belong to 69-year-old James Raymond Stanaitis of New Jersey. Police were called to Riverside Lane around noon that day after the body was spotted in the river. The investigation into Stanaitis’ death remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact State Police at Stonington at 570-286-5601.
PENNSYLVANIA SENATE APPROVES PFAS FIREFIGHTING FOAM RESTRICTIONS
Pennsylvania senators have overwhelmingly approved a bill that would restrict firefighting foam containing PFAS, chemicals linked to health and water contamination concerns. Senate Bill 980, sponsored by Senator Gene Yaw, passed 48-to-1 and now heads to the House. The measure would ban manufacturing of most PFAS firefighting foam beginning in 2027 and its use in 2028, with exceptions for places such as airports and refineries. Fire departments could also use state grants to dispose of existing foam.
SPORTS
PIAA HS Sports Today
Boys Soccer 4pm
Williamson @ Galeton
NE Bradford @ NP Liberty
Troy @ Wyalusing
Athens @ Towanda (7:15pm)
Girls Volleyball 6:30pm
Loyalsock @ Central Columbia
Hughesville @ Danville
Midd-West @ Williamsport
Montoursville @ Shamokin
Sugar Valley Rural Charter @ Selinsgrove
Lewisburg @ Central Mtn (7pm)
MLB National League Division Series
Dodgers 3 Braves 1 LA leads 2-1
Padres 4 Brewers 3 MIL leads 2-1
MLB Tonight
Guardians vs White Sox 4pm TBS Chi leads 2-0
Dodgers vs Braves 6pm FS1 LA leads 2-1
Rays vs Yankees 8pm TBS TB leads 2-0
Brewers vs Padres 10pm FS1 MIL leads 2-1
NHL News
Alex Ovechkin’s farewell season is already driving up NHL ticket prices. The Washington Capitals star announced Monday he will retire after this season, ending a career that made him the league’s all-time leading goal scorer. Demand has surged for Capitals games, especially Washington’s final regular-season home game April 4th against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
NFL Thursday Night Football
Buccaneers vs Cowboys 8:15pm PrimeVid
NFL Sunday
Eagles vs Jaguars 9:30am (London)
Colts vs Steelers 1pm CBS
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