A restaurant in Williamsport shut its business in early September to feed nearly 100 residents and staff at a nursing home for free.
In a story on Sept. 6, word came that the kitchen at Leo’s Pizzeria was busier than usual as owner Mark Mangiardi prepared racks of pizzas for residents and staff at Hillside Senior Living in Loyalsock Township.
Mangiardi told the press the shop made 25 pies and fed about 80 staff and residents.
Mangiardi added The Potting Bench in South Williamsport donated ice cream for everyone, and SouthSide Subs donated bags of chips while Julie’s Cafe donated gift cards for the staff.
Mangiardi is known to give back to the community that supports his business and frequently makes pizza for students, teachers and those in comfort care facilities.
9/11 memorial ride continues
The rains came down on the afternoon of Sept. 11, but still hundreds of bikers gathered outside of the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Department near Montgomery.
The 42 miles was, again, a somber reminder. The ride will be held until the next generation takes over, said Thomas “Tank” Baird, a founding member, who cautioned the riders to take it easy and watch for other drivers on the slick roads.
Rain stopped half way through the ride and those along the route rang bells, waved and displayed flags. The thunder roared through the streets of South Williamsport, City of Williamsport, Loyalsock Township, Montoursville, Muncy Township, Hughesville, Muncy and Montgomery area.
Blue is a favorite color
Dozens of students have studied, done homework and performed well on tests at Hepburn-Lycoming Primary School.
That hard work was recognized at the national level and discussed in a story on Sept. 19.
The kindergarten to third-grade primary school in the Williamsport Area School District was one of 297 schools to be named a 2022 National Blue Ribbon School.
Unusual bank robbery
Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police responded to a robbery at Jersey Shore State Bank where Robert Jones, 59, of Harrisburg, allegedly walked in wearing a yellow raincoat and disguise and got away with the cash.
Police executed a search warrant on his car and found clothes that were used in the robbery, as well as a large amount of cash.
Officers say Jones confessed to the crime shortly after his arrest.
Jones later said he wanted to remain in jail so as to not bother his family.
Slew of police activity
State police accused a man in Loyalsock Township of having handmade explosives in his home. Steve Guthrie was taken into custody on a warrant related to a child rape case filed earlier this year, according to a story on Sept. 30.
When officers arrived at his home along Cemetery Street in Loyalsock Township, they found two functional explosives inside.
Later, three teens were charged for a robbery on Market Street in Williamsport in late October.
Williamsport Bureau of Police identified the individuals as Nyreese Turner, 19, along with a 16- and 13-year-old.
A man and woman allege they were surrounded by the three suspects wearing dark clothing and masks.
The suspects demanded the victims hand over several items as one of the suspects pointed a handgun at them and threatened to shoot if they did not comply.
One of the suspects ripped a purse from the female victim and shoved her to the ground, following which the suspects fled west while firing multiple shots toward the two victims, police said.
The three individuals were arrested. Officers were able to locate the stolen items near where the suspects were caught.
Turner was arraigned as an adult before District Judge William Solomon and detained in the Lycoming County Prison after being denied bail.
The three were charged with robbery, criminal conspiracy, terroristic threats and several other related charges.
In another event, fire destroyed a home along Rose Valley Road in Hepburn Township on Oct. 24. No one was home at the time and no injuries were reported.
However, fire investigators said the fire was considered suspicious because, just over a week prior, fire destroyed a barn at the same property.
Downtown
trick-or-treat
The night of Oct. 24 brought out witches, princesses and superheroes as downtown businesses open their doors from 4 to 6 p.m. to hand out candy and treats.
Livermore Road case continues
Marie Snyder admitted to the killing of her 4- and 6-year-old daughters, Nicole and Jasmine Snyder, between 2016 and 2017. In court, she said the people she was living with were accomplices.
Snyder, 32, of Lycoming County, appeared in court to plead guilty to two counts of first-degree murder.
Last fall, investigators discovered the human remains of both Snyder’s daughters buried behind a property on Livermore Road in Hepburn Township.
Snyder admitted that she and her partner, Echo Butler, starved the two girls to death and buried them behind their trailer home.
Snyder went on to say that Butler was the one in charge and manipulating her but both had a premeditated understanding to starve the children.
Snyder also admitted that the children were subjected to constant physical and verbal abuse when they were alive.
Snyder also pleaded guilty to making false statements and theft by deception. She was accused of obtaining nearly $70,000 of child benefits after the children had already died.
Snyder’s sentencing is delayed until after her co-conspirator’s trial.
Echo’s mother, Michele Butler, is also charged with third-degree murder in the girls’ deaths.
Ronald Butler, her father, faces child endangerment and obstruction charges.
Echo Butler has decided to take her case to trial. Snyder will have to testify against her partner as part of her plea agreement.
Woman crashes into museum
A Williamsport woman who purposely drove into the Little League Museum on July 3 wants intent to kill and risking a catastrophe charges dismissed.
Theresa Salazar, 57, drove into the World of Little League museum upset about the perceived lack of credit for a relative’s role in founding the Little League organization.
In district court, Salazar sought to have charges of intent to kill dropped because no one was injured in the incident. A judge held the charges.
Park improvements
Efforts to develop the Williamsport Splash Pad at Shaw Place Park continued. The Sherman Street park location will be prepared and ready for operation for the summer and a $500,000 expense for the facility has been satisfied with funds from the American Rescue Plan. The Splash Pad is a feature introduced after Mayor Derek Slaughter saw the water feature in other cities. The water sprays for five minutes each time the button is pushed. More recreation is slated to come to Shaw Place Park including a BMX trail.
Rain thwarts outdoor Veterans Day activities
Heavy rain due to the remnants of Hurricane Nicole affected Veteran’s Day plans. The event in Montoursville, where U.S. Rep. Fred Keller was expected to speak, was canceled, but there was a “Six Points of Light” event at the Veteran’s memorial at Lycoming Creek Road and Cottage Avenue after the rain. State Rep. Joe Hamm was scheduled at the Jersey Shore Presbyterian Church in Jersey Shore at the Veteran’s Day Prayer for America.
Jordan Twp. shooting claims 4 lives,
including shooter
State police responded to at least four victims of gunshots near Unityville.
Troopers said Brian Taylor, 54, shot and killed his wife, Linda Taylor, 60, before turning the gun on his sister, Andrea Meek. Taylor also shot and killed his friend, 55-year-old Jerry Zehring, 55.
Investigators say during the rampage, Taylor also shot at numerous homes and passing cars along Route 239.
Once police arrived, they then shot and killed the gunman.
All troopers involved in the shooting are on administrative leave while the investigation continues in Lycoming County.
New events planned, past events called off
The Endless Mountains Adventure Race will make its way to Williamsport next summer. Williamsport will be the host city in June 2023 for the race. This past summer, the five-day adventure race was in Clarion and its surrounding areas.
Organizers of the annual Balloonfest and Airshow held at the Lycoming County fairgrounds, announced a postponement in 2023 on social media. “We are going to re-group, grow and improve the event,” organizers said on a Facebook post, adding they hoped to restart the event in 2024.
WAHS teacher
deemed ‘not guilty’
A Lycoming County jury decided that a suspended Williamsport Area High School geometry teacher was not guilty on all counts of sexual misconduct with two former female students. Christopher P. Yoder, 43, was found not guilty of unlawful contact with a minor (sexual abuse), criminal use in a story on Nov. 19.
State troopers rushed to a convenience store that was robbed at gunpoint in Hughesville. At 7:25 a.m., an unidentified man walked into the CITGO, 1 Main St., slid a note to the cashier demanding money and brandished a firearm, Trooper Jameson Keller said. The suspect remained at large at the time of this yearly report.
Rural Health Program of the Year
The East Lycoming Ambulance Association of Hughesville earned honor as Rural Health Program of the Year for 2022.
The award was presented by Lisa Davis, director of the state Office for Rural Health and outreach associate professor of health policy and administration.
Geisinger JS ends emergency surgeries
On Nov. 22, Geisinger Medical Center announced that emergency surgeries will no longer be performed at Geisinger Medical Center, Jersey Shore, due to a lack of need. The monthly number of people requiring such surgery at the hospital has ranged from zero to four.
RVT in search of
director
River Valley Transit Authority bus service in Williamsport will advertise and conduct interviews for the position of executive director. Adam Winder, who formerly held the position, was suddenly no longer employed by River Valley Transit Authority, according to a letter from the authority board chairman.
Budget season
The proposed budgets for the Williamsport bureaus of police and fire as well as codes take up about 60% of the proposed $32.2 million no-tax-hike budget. The police budget is $10.8 million and $7.5 million for fire and $838,000 for codes. The mayor wanted to spend about $3.6 million in American Rescue Plan funds in the budget.
The $31 million budget was officially adopted on Dec. 15 with no tax increase, adding three police officers for a total complement of 51.
There’s no tax increase in Lycoming County’s budget either. Commissioners approved a budget that holds property taxes in place just after Christmas.
Thanksgiving dinner
The American Rescue Workers in Williamsport gave out meals as part of a drive-up giveaway on Thanksgiving. Among the volunteers was Colin Engel, 12, helping to hand out food to a line of cars during the event.
UPMC Muncy is No. 1
Muncy Valley Hospital UPMC Muncy is ranked first out of the 40 hospitals in the UPMC system. The honor is one of many accomplishments highlighted during the annual meetings of UPMC North Central PA.
Six injured in a
violent crash
Montoursville borough police said the crash involved a 14-passenger van and a tractor-trailer truck. There were nine passengers in the van, six of whom were taken to two hospitals and three of whom refused treatment, police said. Three of the injured were reported to be in serious condition. The driver later succumbed to her injuries, police said.
A Grinch gets caught
Lycoming Regional Police recovered over 60 stolen outdoor Christmas holiday decorations early in the month, mostly classic blow mold decorations.
Investor wants mall, other properties
A company called Famvest wants to work with county and city officials on economic development at the Lycoming Mall and on Maynard Street. Famvest partners speak to commissioners about their plans to revive the mall with a combination of commercial, retail and residential investment.
They also proposed “Maynard Street Commons,” a $20 million investment that includes a gas station/food store. The other part of the commons plan is a nationally-known fast-food chain.
The vagueness of the development is due to a non-disclosure agreement.
