Local News

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT VOTE TOMORROW

It looks like the Lycoming County owned White Deer Golf Course will remain under the current management.  Commissioners are expected to vote tomorrow to extend the contract with Billy Casper Golf to run the course near Allenwood for another three years.  Commissioners Jack McKernan and Tony Mussare seem in favor of that agreement while Commissioner Rick Mirabito would like to see the county and management company get together to find a new way to finance the course.  Officials say that the course did turn a profit this year, despite the number of rounds being down due to all the rain.

PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT VICTIM IDENTIFIED

A Northumberland County man has been identified as the victim of a pedestrian accident which occurred on Monday evening.  The Northumberland County Coroner’s office says it was 76 year old George Schindler who was struck by an SUV while crossing Route 11 in Point Township near his home on Monday evening around 6:30.  He was pronounced dead at the scene from blunt force trauma injuries around a half an hour later.  The road was shut down for about 2 ½ hours during the investigation.  The driver of the vehicle has not been identified and it’s not known if any charges will be filed.

DOG LICENSES NOW AVAILABLE IN LYCOMING COUNTY

Lycoming County Dog owners can now purchase their 2019 dog licenses.  The licenses went on sale on Monday at Lycoming County Treasurers office at 33 West Third Street in Williamsport.  An annual og license is $8.50. if the dog is spayed or neutered, the cost is $6.50.  $2.00 less for people with disabilities.  Licenses are also available to be purchased online at www.lyco.org by clicking on the Top Ten links.  The Lycoming County SPCA on Reach Road in Williamsport will also have the licenses available for purchase beginning next month.

MAN ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT ON OFFICER

South Williamsport police on Monday arrested a man, formerly from Virginia who assaulted a police officer at a borough hotel.  Police were called out on Monday to the Red Roof Inn on Route 15 for reports of a disturbance.  When they arrived, 24 year old Taylor James-Hill reportedly became unruly and spit in the face of one officer.  He was arrested and charged with aggravated and simple assault, as well as harassment and disorderly conduct and was jailed in Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.

NO TAX INCREASE IN MONTOURSVILLE

Following a 0.7 mills tax increase this past year, Montoursville Borough property owners will not see their tax bills go up for 2019.  Borough Council yesterday adopted a $2.3 million dollars budget which will include a 2.5% salary increase for the borough’s 15 unionized workers.  The budget will not have a tax increase though with the tax rate staying at 4 mills.  They say the tax increase last year brought in an extra $75,000 dollars.

WASD BOARD APPROVES LERTA

The Williamsport Area School Board has fallen in line with Williamsport City Council and the County Commissioners, unanimously approving the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Ordinance, better known as LERTA.  That means that the city of Williamsport will be able to offer tax abatement to businesses and developers looking at building or expanding on otherwise unused or underutilized properties within three sections of the city.  The tax breaks would start at 100% and then be reduced on a sliding scale.  It’s hope that the ordinance will help spur on development with in the city.

CHRISTMAS TOYS STOLEN

State police in Bradford County are looking for a grinch.  Police say that in the early morning hours of November 23rd, that someone broke into storage facility along the Berwick Turnpike in Gillet and removed approximately 15 plastic totes full of toys meant for children for Christmas.  The theft happened between midnight and 6am and police are asking anyone with information into that burglary to give them a call at the state police barracks in Towanda.

NO INCREASE IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY

Northumberland County is another step closer to a no tax increase budget for 2019.  Saying that they have finished up large projects from 2018 including the new prison and replacement of the 911 radio towers in the county, Commissioners unveiled a 2019 spending plan of $76 million dollars which is $18 million dollars less than in 2018.  Following a tax increase last year, Commissioners voted 2-1 to keep the tax millage at about 30.22 mills all together which would mean an average bill  for county property owners of $388 dollars.  The vote yesterday was 2-1.  A final adoption is scheduled for December 27th.

REVENUES UP, BUT………

Good news and bad news on the state budget front.  Though tax revenue reports in Pennsylvania show an increase of $913 million dollars in collections for the first five months of the 2018-2019 fiscal year, warnings have been put forth about the state’s overall fiscal health.  A fiscal watchdog for the state has predicted as much at a $1.7 billion dollar shortfall for next year’s budget.  Factors include a large growth in expenditures including more than a billion dollars in one-time funding sources used to balcne this pas year’s budget and an increase in state costs associated with health and human services programs.

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