COUNCIL CALLING ON MAYOR TO FILL POSITIONS
During their meeting tonight, Williamsport City Council is expected to announce an option to compel Mayor Gabriel Campana to make recommendations to put people on the board for the Williamsport Water and Sanitary Authority, which would include creating a committee to evaluate prospective appointees or reappointees. Council members have expressed their dissatisfaction with what they say is the mayor not following protocol in filling seats that have expired in a timely manner. Five members terms have recently expired. Mayor Campana has denounced council’s concerns.
RECERTIFICATION EFFORTS GET SOME FINANCIAL HELP
As the levee recertification moves forward in the Williamsport Area, the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce has announced that they are contributing to the effort. It was announced yesterday that the Chamber will $500,000 dollars towards the project which will cost millions of dollars. Meanwhile, the Williamsport Water and Sanitary Authority continues to review a request for a million dollars. The Authority tabled any action on that request yesterday. Federal, State and local officials continue working on grants and other financing options to fund the mandated repair and recertification process.
CONDITIONS RIPE FOR BRUSH FIRES
It’s that time of year where things are drying up, and with windy conditions, things are ripe for brush fires. Area fire companies were called out to a couple of those within Lycoming County yesterday. One occurred in Mifflin Township off of Route 973 which burned about a half an acre, the other in Penn Township along Beaver Lake Road of which it was originally believed a barn was involved. You are reminded that until we get some rain which is expected to happen later today, to keep and eye on your outdoor burning, so it doesn’t get out of hand.
LINDEN MAN CHARGED
A Linden man with a previous drug conviction was jailed on Monday after firearms were found in his home. State police charged 45 year old Douglas Fredericks with being a convicted felon not to possess a firearm after a shotgun and two handguns were found at his Linden home. He was arraigned and jailed in Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $100,000 dollars bail.
CITY MAN JAILED ON DRUG CHARGES
A Williamsport man was jailed on Friday following an unspecified incident in the 200 block of William Street in the city. 29 year old Michael Musilli was found with cocaine and was charged with attempted delivery of cocaine and illegal use of a cellphone after being arrested there. He was arraigned and jailed in Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.
FAMILY CALLS FOR IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION
The family of a man shot by police in State College last week, is calling for an in-depth investigation into his shooting. 29 year old Osazie Osagie, was shot by police after he produced a knife while police were at his State College apartment to serve a mental health warrant on March 20th. His parents have enlisted the help of the ACLU calling on Centre County officials to do a rigorous, independent and transparent investigation which includes an assessment of the role that mental health and race may have played in the shooting. The identity of the officer who show Osagie has not been released.
WOMAN CHARGED WITH MAKING FALSE REPORTS
A Northumberland County woman is free on bail, charged with two counts of perjury and a count of unsworn falsification to law enforcement after allegedly making false accusations against a police chief there. Back in January, 21 year old Shaylee Heller of Treverton accused Zerbe Township police chief Mike Kreischer of physical and sexual assault. It was determined by state police that the woman’s statement were false at the time, but at the end of the month, Heller sought a PSA against Kreischer which was first approved, but rescinded when she made similar false accusations against a state trooper. She is free on $5,000 bail.
ONLINE SCAM
Once again this year, there is an online scam involving Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg. Officials with Knoebels are telling residents who get an online offer for free tickets to the Amusement Resort in exchange for filling out a survey to ignore it. They say they are not running any such promotion. Officials say a legitimate Knoebels promotion will also provide contest rules an the communications will originate from knoebels.com, an official Knoebels email address or one of the parks’ verified social media outlets. The park opens for the season on April 27th.
