MAN JAILED FOR NOT RETURNING RENTAL CAR
A local man who did not return the rental car to a local car rental service in September of this year has been charged with felony theft. According to Montoursville State Police, 30 year old Adrian Dante Mullen rented a silver Kia Optima from Enterprise Rent-A-Car, on East Third Street in Williamsport on September 20th with an agreement to return it on September 23rd. According to a criminal complaint, after attempts to get the vehicle back for several weeks, Enterprise reported the car stolen in late November. The car has yet to be returned. Mullen was jailed after charges were filed on December 16th.
NARCOTICS CASE EVIDENCE WILL BE SUPPRESSED
Evidence will be suppressed in a narcotics trafficking case because evidence seized was taken while an officer trespassed on private property without a search warrant, according to Lycoming County Court records. The defense for Mark A. Billups Jr. said Williamsport police violated his constitutional rights when they searched his car at 1650 Andrews Place on November 9, 2018, and found prescription drugs and large amounts of cash. Judge Marc Lovecchio ruled that the police did not have a lawful right to access the driveway where Billups was without a search warrant or consent, and granted the motion to suppress evidence. Police charged Billups with a felony count of a controlled substance and related charges on December 6th.
PENNSYLVANIANS COULD MAKE MORE OVERTIME PAY
A new federal rule regarding overtime pay could mean more money for some Pennsylvanians. Wednesday a new rule began that guarantees time-and-a-half payments to nearly all hourly employees who work more than 40 hours per week, as well as most salaried workers who worked more than 40 hours a week and earn less than $35,568. According to Penn Live, Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor & Industry Jerry Oleksiak estimated an additional 61,000 Pennsylvanians will be among those newly eligible for overtime payments. The U.S. Department of Labor had previously capped the overpayment threshold at which overtime payments are required, at $23,700 a year.
FIRST AREA BABY BORN IN DANVILLE
The 1st baby of the New Year was born at Geisinger in Danville at about 3:30am Wednesday morning. Officials from the hospital say Brayleigh Rayne Bickel was born at 3:34am to KaSandra Eltringham and Jason Bickel. Geisinger says, mother and baby are doing fine and Brayleigh will join a family of eight in Coal Township.
FIRST BABY IN WILLIAMSPORT BORN
The 1st baby born in the New Year at Williamsport Regional Medical Center’s Birth Place was born a few weeks early, shortly before 5am on January 1st. Weighing 5 pounds and 6 ounces, a healthy Lyncoln Joseph Laubach made proud parents of Dusty Harkey and Nickolas Laubach, of Williamsport. Two other babies were born New Year’s Day at the hospital. Both mother and baby are expected to be discharged tomorrow.
DANVILLE MAN DIES IN NEW YORK SKIING ACCIDENT
A 21 year-old man from Montour County died during a skiing accident at Whiteface Mountain in New York on December 23rd. Nicholas Koch of Danville was at the Wilmington Ski resort with his family when he veered off the Lower Northway Trail just after noon last Monday and hit a group of trees. According to the Daily Item, New York State police reported that Whiteface Mountain personnel and Wilmington emergency medical responded before he was taken to the University of Vermont Health Center in Burlington where he died from his injuries. An investigation into the crash has been opened.
MAN ACCUSED OF THREATENING CALLS TO POLICE
A Wolf Township man was arrested for threatening to shoot a Pennsylvania State Police car and calling the police barracks repeatedly early last Sunday. According to North Central PA dot com, 31 year old Jonathan Morgan of Boak Avenue, in Hughesville called State Police at Montoursville multiple times December 29th of this year. Morgan reportedly threatened to shoot the windows out of a PSP vehicle and made vulgar comments while tying up the emergency line. He was charged with misdemeanor terroristic threats, disorderly conduct and harassment. The charges were filed at the office of District Magistrate Jon E. Kemp in Muncy
FIRE DESTROYS GARAGE
Police are investigating a garage fire that happened in Coal Township after 7:45 on New Year’s Eve. The cause is unknown for the fire at 1506 Montgomery St. that heavily damaged the structure. According to The News Item, multiple fire companies responded to the blaze that had the garage fully engulfed by the time they arrived. No injuries were reported.
TWO WRESTLERS REPEAT THEIR PERFORMANCE
Two local College students have earned their second annual visit to the Southern Scuffle – a wrestling tournament in Chattanooga, Tennessee. On day one of the tournament, Luke Werner and Kyle Shoop of the Lock Haven University wrestling team lead yesterday for their spots in the semi-finals today. Warner was 3 and oh at 125 pounds, earning a pin in the quarterfinals, Shoop was 4 and oh at 141 pounds. Cole Manley of Lock Haven also went 3-1 at 133 pounds, and will compete in today’s consolation rounds.
Sports
NBA
Magic over the Wizards 122 to 101, Knicks beat the Trailblazers 117 to 93, Bucks beat the Timberwolves 106 to 104, Lakers beat the Suns 117 to 107,
NHL – Stars beat the Predators 4-2
College Football Bowl Games
Georgia beat Baylor 26-14 in the Sugar bowl, Oregon over Wisconsin 28-27 in the Rose Bowl, Minnesota beat Auburn 31-24 in the Outback Bowl, and Alabama beat Michigan 35-16 in the Citrus Bowl
Today Sports
Thursday College Football Bowl Games
Boston College vs Cincinnati at the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl @ 3 o’clock in Birmingham, AL, and Indiana vs Tennessee at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, FL @7 PM
NBA Today
Charlotte is in Cleveland, Denver heads to Indiana, Toronto is in Miami, Golden State goes to Minnesota, Utah heads to Chicago, Brooklyn plays in Dallas, Oklahoma City is in San Antonio, Memphis is in Sacramento, and Detroit goes to LA to play the Clippers.
NHL Today
Columbus is in Boston, Edmonton goes to Buffalo, Tampa Bay is in Montreal, New Jersey is in New York to play the Islanders, San Jose is in Pittsburgh, Florida goes to Ottawa, Toronto is in Winnipeg, New York goes to Calgary, Anaheim is in Arizona, St. Louis goes to Colorado, Chicago heads to Vancouver, and Philadelphia is in Vegas.
NFL postseason for Saturday, January 4th, 2020
AFC Wildcard Playoffs – Buffalo is in Houston at 4:35, Tennessee is at New England at 8:15,
Sunday NFC Wildcard Playoffs – Minnesota versus New Orleans at one, Seattle’s in Philadelphia at 4:40
College Wrestling Today
The Southern Scuffle continues today at 10 AM for Lock Haven’s Luke Warner and Kyle Shoop who lead yesterday for their spots in the semi-finals today. Warner was 3 and oh at 125 pounds, earning a pin in the quarterfinals, Shoop was 4 and oh at 141 pounds
Men’s Basketball – Army at Bucknell, Penn College is at Kings 7 PM
Women’s Basketball – Bucknell at Army at 7 PM
HS Boys Basketball – Williamsport at Harrisburg 730 tonight,
HS Girls Basketball
Bucktail at Northern Potter, Central Mountain at Bald Eagle Area, Jersey Shore at Penns Valley, CMVT at Montgomery, Benton at Muncy, Bellefonte at Williamsport
HS Wrestling
Milton at Central Mountain, Lewisburg at Loyalsock, Southern Columbia at South Williamsport, Sullivan County at Sayre, Bloomsburg at Warrior Run