JUDGE DECLARES MISTRIAL IN FORMER HS PRINCPAL CASE
In Lycoming County Court this week, the judge in the case against former Williamsport area high school principal Roger Weaver Freed was declared a mistrial. According to the Sun Gazette, statements by the alleged victim in the case were made that caused Judge Eric Linhardt to make the decision. Court records say two responses the victim made on the stand implicated Freed for not notifying authorities about information between the student and another teacher he allegedly knew as a mandated reporter. A new jury could be picked for the trial that was supposed to continue throughout this week.
HOMELESS MAN JAILED FOR THEFT IN M ONTOURSVILLE
An area homeless man is jailed in the Lycoming County Prison after he was arrested December 1st at the Montoursville Wal-mart for stealing over 3 thousand dollars-worth of merchandise. According to the Sun Gazette, police say 32 year old Jordan Patrick Charles gave a false identity after he was apprehended for the theft last Sunday around 10:20pm, which was discovered after he was fingerprinted. Charles has a warrant out for his arrest in New York State for an unknown charge, but he now faces felony shoplifting and giving false ID to law enforcement. He is being held in lieu of 50 thousand dollars bail.
CROW DISPERSAL PROGRAM STARTS IN HARRISBURG
A crow dispersal program started this week in the state’s capitol which means the Department of General Services will detonate non-lethal explosives from 5-7pm each day for about a month until the crows who cause the nuisance in Harrisburg leave the area for the season. Crow waste in the Capital complex causes slipping hazards for pedestrians and damages buildings there. Pennsylvania Capitol Police say they will use the U.S. Department of Agriculture-approved method of discharging exploding shells and whistling devices to deter crows from roosting, a method that not harmful to people, crows, other animals, or the environment.
WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA EVENT THIS SATURDAY
Wreaths Across America Central PA are gearing up for laying wreaths across the region this Saturday. In Lycoming County, get information by going to their Facebook page and messaging Dori Rankanin, the coordinator of the local program. In Montour County, a parade will escort 2,750 wreaths into the area Wednesday via Route 54 and Route 11, ending at East End Fire Company. The procession, featuring a tractor-trailer with police and firefighter escorts, invites the community to line the route in support.
INMATE AT FCI LEWISBURG DIES IN CUSTODY
An inmate at FCI Lewisburg was found unresponsive in the medium security prison last Thursday and died as a result of an unknown issue. According to North Central PA dot com, prison staff attempted to resuscitate 41-year-old Jonathan Strader, but was unsuccessful, and he was taken to a local hospital and was pronounced dead Thursday morning. Strader had been in Lewisburg since last May sentenced to 360 months for possession of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Virginia – no other inmates or employees were harmed. Autopsy and toxicology results on Strader are pending.
TWO ARRESTED FOR SEX TRAFFICKING IN TIOGA COUNTY
Two people from Mississippi are facing sex trafficking charges in Tioga County. According to North Central PA dot com, 30 year old Craig Coins and 26 year old Aubreanna Odendahl brought a child to Pennsylvania in April of 2023 for the purpose of making child pornography. After an investigation, members of the FBI confiscated an iPhone from the couple and charged them with conspiracy to sex traffic a minor, conspiracy to produce child pornography and more.
VOTE FOR PENNDOT’S PAINT THE PLOW
Online voting is on now through this Friday for the public to vote on seven Penn DOT plows decorated by high school students in five counties as part of the annual Paint the Plow program, a statewide outreach aimed at promoting winter driving safety and fostering student creativity. According to PennDOT, the “Judges’ Pick” will be determined by PennDOT personnel and based on creativity and ability to incorporate the designated safety message and theme. The public votes for the “Fan Favorite” winner. District 2 features plows painted by students from Bellefonte schools, Galeton Area School, Sugar Valley Rural Charter School and others. Go to penndot.pa.gov/PaintthePlow to cast your vote. A winner in all categories will be announced this month.
SANTA MAILBOX ACCEPTING LETTERS IN RALPHO TOWNSHIP
The Santa Mailbox, sponsored by the Ralpho Township Business Association is open and receiving letters now, but it’s in a new location this year. According to the News Item, association President Francis Berger says children have until December 20th to mail letters to Santa using the mailbox that is located next to the community Christmas tree and recycling center behind the municipal building. Santa’s mailbox is available in partnership with the Ralpho Township supervisors and with the help of the township maintenance department. To receive a response from Santa, please include a return address on the letter you submit.
SPORTS
PIAA HS
Girls Basketball
Hughesville 55 Lewisburg 40
Bloomsburg 47 Montoursville 23
Penns Valley 76 Central Mountain 71 OT
Boys Basketball
Lewisburg 74 Jersey Shore 52
NFL Monday Night Football
Bengals 27 Cowboys 20
NFL Thursday Night Football
LA Rams vs San Fran 49ers 8:15PrimeVid
NFL Sunday
Eagles vs Steelers 4:25pm FOX
NBA
Knicks 113 Raptors 108
NBA Tonight
Magic vs Bucks 7pm TNT
Mavericks vs Thunder 9:30pm TNT
NHL
Red Wings 6 Sabres 5
Blackhawks 2 Rangers 1
Canadiens 3 Ducks 2
NHL Tonight
Maple Leafs vs Devils 7pm Hulu/ESPN+
Avalanche vs Penguins 7pm ESPN+
Flyers vs Blue Jackets 7pm ESPN+
Kings vs Islanders 7:30pm ESPN+
Wild vs Utah 9:30pm Hulu
NCAA Football News
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Colorado’s two-way player Travis Hunter, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Miami quarterback Cam Ward were named finalists for the Heisman Trophy on Monday.
The winner will be announced Saturday during a ceremony at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City starting at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The Heisman Trophy is “annually awarded to the most outstanding college football player in the United States, whose performance epitomizes great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work.”
