WILLIAMSPORT APARTMENT BUILDING FIRE

Tenants at the Victoria Gardens apartment complex on Hepburn Street in Williamsport were temporarily displaced yesterday afternoon after a kitchen fire erupted from a first floor apartment there.  According to the Sun Gazette, city firefighters responded to the call just after 3pm and witnessed smoke coming from the unit, and said the fire took about ten minutes to extinguish.  Authorities say the electricity and gas is shut off in the building while the fire remains under investigation.  The Red Cross is assisting the families who will likely be able to return to their homes Monday, except for the tenant in the unit from which the fire originated.

WOMAN ATTACKS MAN WITH GLASS JAR, KNIFE

A Williamsport woman is in custody after she attacked a man with a glass jar and knife at a fight at the home on Wells Road in Limestone Township.  According to North Central Pa dot com, police say they had been called to the home earlier in the day July 27^th for a domestic disturbance when 52 year old  Cynthia Marie Peacock then injured the man more severely later on when police returned.  Emergency responders said the man refused treatment for his cuts, stabs and bites .  Peacock was taken into custody and later released on 50 thousand dollars bail.  She has an August 8^th preliminary hearing.

SOUTHSIDE APPROVES 25 YEAR LEASE AGREEMENT WITH LITTLE LEAGUE

South Williamsport Borough recently approved a new 25 year lease agreement with Little League that is set to bring about a new borough building and ensure free parking for the Little League World Series through 2049.  According to the Sun Gazette, the agreement which renegotiates the present-day lease that was signed in 1999, to provide the borough $1 million over the next 10 years and help with the parking needs during the annual world series.  An initial contribution of $500,000 in the first year of the agreement, will cover payments for a planned 8,000 square foot building to be located at the site of the former swimming pool complex. Other costs will be covered by state and federal grants and a small amount of reserve funds, avoiding any long-term debt.

PENN COLLEGE GRADUATION CEREMONY SATURDAY

Pennsylvania College of Technology is preparing for graduation ceremonies Saturday August 5^th after the Summer 2023 sessions and have announced that nearly 150 students have petitioned to graduate.  According to the school, a livestream of the commencement ceremonies will be available with links at pct.edu/events/commencement.  110 students will march in the ceremony that will feature speaker and Dean’s list student Kathryn Ann Plankenhorn, of Montoursville.  The event begins at 11am.

WOMAN, UBER DRIVER’S CAR ATTACKED WITH BASEBALL BAT

A Williamsport woman is facing charges in Lycoming County Court after she allegedly beat another woman at the 1000 block of Vine Avenue with a baseball bat in the street as the victim was taking an Uber on July 6^th. According to North Central PA dot com, 25 year old Terry Laurnea Moore ran from the scene where witnesses say she hit the victim and the Uber Driver’s car.   The victim was interviewed at UPMC Williamsport by police who said they were unable to locate a bat, but found a bent metal crutch at the scene.  Moore was charged with simple assault and harassment charges, which are similar charges that she just received in July.  She’s set for an August 29^th preliminary hearing.

MAN ARRESTED AT WALMART AFTER SECOND DISTURBANCE

A Philadelphia man who was already banned from the Lewisburg Walmart last December for causing a disturbance, caused another one July 28^th.  According to the Daily Item, witnesses said customers in the parking lot and inside the store were alarmed when 41 year old Christopher D. Reyers was hostile, agitated and foaming at the mouth, and allegedly unable to communicate properly. Police placed him under arrest after he told them he was under the influence of methadone.  Reyers was sent to the Union County Jail after his arraignment in lieu of 250 thousand dollars cash bail.  His preliminary hearing is August 10^th.

BILL BANS HUNTING/ARCHERY EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS

Federal legislation called the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, sponsored by Republican Senator Marco Rubio and supported by the Biden administration, will restrict education funds from being used for school-based archery and hunting programs.  According to North Central PA dot com, Representative Jamie Flick opposed the decision saying it was an egregious attack on education, sporting activities, and the culture of his district .  In response, the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act bill was introduced Tuesday by Republican Representative Mark Green of Tennessee.

ANGLERS ASKED TO KILL NORTHERN SNAKEHEADS

The PA Fish and Boat Commission is asking anglers to catch and dispose of invasive Northern Snakeheads that have recently been spotted in Conowingo Reservoir.  In a Facebook post by the Fish and Boat Commission, they say the invasive species and voracious predator  may cause declines in other fish species.  Northern Snakeheads have no size or creel limits and may be taken by hook and line or bowfishing.  They can live outside of water and should be killed by removing the head. It’s illegal to possess, transport or import live snakeheads in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

SPORTS

MLB
Phillies 4              Marlins 2
Rangers  5           White Sox 3
Royals 9               Mets 2
Orioles 6              Blue Jays 1
Giants 1               Diamondbacks 0
Yankees 4            Astros 3
Brewers 14                     Pirates 1
Twins 5                Cardinals 3
Cubs 5                  Reds 3
Mariners 5           Angels 3
Dodgers 8             A’s 2

MLB Draft League
Williamsport Cross Cutters 1        West Virginia Black Bears 0

*The Cutters stopped the Blackbears 2-1 in the series finale last night.  They stay home tonight and host Trenton Thunder at Muncy Bank Ballpark in Historic Bowman Field.  6:35pm 1^st pitch.

Major League Soccer NEWS
Tickets for soccer star Lionel Messi’s first road game with Inter Miami sold out in 22 minutes on Thursday as they face FC Dallas on Sunday in a Leagues Cup match.  

*The home of FC Dallas, Toyota Stadium in Frisco, has a capacity of 20,500.
*Inter Miami’s home Stadium holds 21,000 seats and was also sold out for Messi’s debut.

WNBA NEWS
Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi is the first WNBA player to reach 10,000 points.

*She made a 3-pointer with 8:23 left in the third quarter in a game last night in Arizona; ultimately it contributed to a Mercury win over the Atlanta Dream 91-71.