The Assistant District Attorney in Northumberland County has told the court that she will be ready for a trial soon against 40 year old Andre Stone, who went to the Shamokin police barracks and admitted in April of 2020, he strangled and killed his girlfriend Dawn Latsha in a South Market Street home. According to the Daily Item, Stone showed pictures on his phone of evidence of the killing to the police who discovered Latsha’s body after investigating that night. Stone is charged with criminal homicide and felony counts of aggravated assault and strangulation.
Two men who assisted a Lycoming County prison inmate in escaping from a Loyalsock Township pre-release center on June 17th have been arrested and charged with felony conspiracy in assisting with an escape and hindering apprehension. According to the Sun Gazette, Mark Tanner and a neighbor 50 year old June Gasper were asked by 48 year old inmate, Todd Aaron Hill, to come pick him up because he allegedly told them was being released. Police say two county employees saw the three leave the County Farm Road facility before 9am and followed them, alerting the sheriff’s department about their whereabouts. Hill was apprehended in Piatt Township by Tiadaghton regional police later that day. Tanner and Gasper were also detained and have been incarcerated in lieu of bail.
After a high number of crashes and extra heavy traffic along 522 in Selinsgrove, SEDA-COG will host a public meeting this month featuring a transportation study in which community members can provide input on plans for a 3 mile section of the road. The public will be able to ask questions and express concerns Tuesday, August 16th at 5pm at the Snyder County East building, 713 Bridge Street in Selinsgrove. Representatives from Snyder County PennDOT and SEDA-Cog will be on hand to answer questions to help provide information on their planning efforts at the regional level. www.seda-cog.org.
Members of the Liquor Control Board and PCLB employees who bought bottles of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon left over from a liquor lottery before the public wsa notified they were available were investigated by the PA ethics commission and found to not have committed any wrongdoing. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer this practice prompted the PCLB to open an investigation into the matter, and have ultimately changed their policy to only allow employees to buy products like this within the lottery like other customers.
Bucknell University has released information that one person related to the University has been diagnosed with Monkey Pox. According to a campus-wide email, one single off-campus case was reported, but there is no risk to the community. There hasn’t been any word on whether the patient is a campus student or a member of the staff there, but they confirmed there is no outbreak, just one case that has been isolated and is not affecting the health of any other campus residents or employees. Monkey pox is less contagious than COVID.
State police at Selinsgrove are looking for a horse who was stolen from their owner’s property in Snyder County. The horse was last seen on the owner’s property, along Red Hill Road, Union Township, on the evening of July 30th. The horse is described as a 9-year-old Connemara breed horse which is dark brown in color and is wearing a purple halter. Anyone with information is urged to contact state police in Selinsgrove.
A Mount Carmel doctor was convicted of prescribing over nine million pills to patients, in a three year span; on Wednesday in Federal Court, in Williamsport. Dr. Raymond Kraynak, 60, of Mt. Carmel, Northumberland County, was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2017. The 19-count indictment charged him with the unlawful distribution and dispensing of controlled substances, causing the death of five patients. The doctor pleaded guilty in 2021 to 12 felony counts of illegal distribution or dispensing of prescription drugs. Judge Matthew Brann sentenced Kraynak to 15 years apiece on each one of the 12 felony counts. The sentences for each conviction will run concurrent.
A Mansfield man, who had been homeless and living at a Tioga County Homeless Shelter; is accused of breaking in to the facility and stealing various drug paraphanalia. Patrick A. Huey, 49, was arraigned on July 26 on 37 charges of felony burglary, criminal trespass, misdemeanor theft charges, and summaries of criminal mischief. The string of burglaries began on April 11 when the Tioga County Homeless Shelter on Route 6, Charleston Township. Huey is locked up in the Tioga County Prison.
There has been a toll increase approved by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission that will raise prices on the highway by five percent. According to Penn Live, the increase will affect EZ Pass and Toll by Plate customers. The toll hike is the 15th one in so many years, after the highway commission has been forced to raise tolls to help pay for Pennsylvania’s unmet transportation funding projects – due to Act 44 of 2007. The new prices take affect on January 8th of 2023.
IN SPORTS…
The NFL is appealing the six game suspension of Cleveland Browns Quarterback Deshaun Watson. The NFL feels that the penalty for Watson violating the league’s Personal Conduct Policy, was not enough and is seeking an indefinite suspension of at least one year, a fine, and treatment. The ruling on the suspension came down on Monday, and the league had formally filed an appeal on Wednesday afternoon. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell must determine on who will hear the appeal. Either himself or a designated individual. The NFL Players Association has until Friday to file a response to the matter.
The Los Angeles Dodgers has quickly paying tribute to its longtime voice, Vin Scully; with a commemorative patch on their shoulders of their uniform. The 94 year old Scully, passed away on Tuesday night. Scully spent 67 years behind the microphone, for both Brooklyn and Los Angeles.
MLB DRAFT LEAGUE…
The State College Spikes edged out the Williamsport Crosscutters on Wednesday night, winning in sudden death, 5 to 4. The two teams will wrap up their current series in State College, with a 12:05pm first pitch.
