Southern Columbia won't face Wyoming Area, school official says

FRANKLIN TWP. — In nine days, Southern Columbia’s powerhouse football team had planned to travel to West Pittston to square off against the currently undefeated Wyoming Area Warriors.

But the Tigers’ football conference had other thoughts, and now they’ll be staying at home and facing 1-5 Shikellamy instead, Southern Columbia officials say.

The Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference felt Southern would be violating conference bylaws, said Southern Columbia high school principal Jim Becker, who also serves as the president of the Heartland Conference.

Tractor trailer slides into ditch

SCOTT TWP. — Incorrect GPS directions sent a tractor trailer down into a ditch 5 1/2 miles from its destination here Tuesday afternoon. 

Zhang Dianxing of California was headed to the Berwick Industrial Development Association complex on North Oak Street in Berwick at around 12:30 p.m.

But his GPS was taking him to the wrong Oak Street — likely the Oak Lane in a nearby trailer court ­— and a too-tight turn caused his trailer to fall sideways into the ditch in front of 33 Thomas Drive, said Chief Tom Frace of Briar Creek Township Police.

Large shed leveled in rural Nescopeck

NESCOPECK TWP. — A large storage shed holding a variety of items including acetylene tanks burned to the ground here Monday morning, officials say.

The blaze along West Cherry Road about eight miles southeast of Nescopeck was first spotted just after 10 a.m. by the daughter of property owner John Ohl.

 the fire behind the residence of John Ohl at 343 W. Cherry Road was first spotted by the owner’s daughter shortly after 10 a.m.

Police: Infant dead; Nescopeck dad charged

By the Press Enterprise staff
NESCOPECK — A borough man has been jailed after the death of his infant son, State Police say.
Jeffery Blake Hutcheson, 21, is locked up in Luzerne County Prison on aggravated assault charges.
He was denied bail due to pending homicide charges, according to online court records.
Here is what happened, according to arrest papers:
Police were called Saturday around noon to Berwick Hospital Center, where an  11-week-old infant identified as “T.H.” had been pronounced dead at 8:36 a.m. by Dr. Jerry Jamison.

UPDATE: Chopper pilot in critical at Geisinger

BLOOMSBURG — A helicopter pilot was in critical condition Sunday at Geisinger Medical Center after crashing his small touring helicopter Saturday night in an employee parking lot at the Bloomsburg Fair.

Kenny Cordrey of Delmar, Delaware, reportedly suffered broken bones and other injuries when the small piston engine-powered Enstrom F28 Falcon chopper went out of control and crashed atop several vehicles in Lot C on the western end of the fairgrounds about 7:35 p.m. Saturday.

Helicopter crash at Bloomsburg Fair injures 3

BLOOMSBURG — A sight-seeing helicopter at the Bloomsburg Fair crashed into the parking lot Saturday night, sending the pilot and both passengers to the hospital by ambulance.

No one in the parking lot was injured, but at least one vehicle was damaged, and dozens of people were stranded when security officers strung police tape around the area where they had left their cars.

Bloomsburg Police Chief Bill Gelgot said the crash happened at 7:35 p.m.

It’s unclear whether the helicopter, one of two giving $20 rides to fairgoers, was coming or going, he said.

Cops: Man shot at Super 8, two arrested

VALLEY TWP. — A Missouri man shot and killed a motel employee after his girlfriend told him the worker had been part of the group that gang raped her, police say.

David Earle Downing, 33, and Miqueal La Myra Brown, 25, both of St. Louis, came under suspicion after a maintenance worker discovered the employee, 50-year-old Derrick Potts, dead of a gunshot wound to the head in his Super 8 Motel room on Thursday.

Suspect alleged rape

Shooting hoax sends officers scrambling

BLOOMSBURG — A prank caller who claimed to have murdered his wife sent police here hurrying to surround an apartment with long guns and medical equipment late Tuesday night.

But officers quickly stood down after making contact with the resident there.
“Nobody’s injured,” said Sgt. Leonard Rogutski. “That makes this a good day in my book.”

It appeared to be a case of swatting, in which perpetrators make frightening reports to 9-1-1 centers to trigger a heavy police response to the homes of their victims.

Montour to hike hotel tax to pay for Preserve

DANVILLE — After nearly five years of penny-pinching and uncertainty, the fate of the Montour Preserve finally seems secure, as county commissioners voted on a tax hike to permanently fund the park.

The extra revenue, which should average about $167,000 a year, comes from increasing the county’s Hotel Room Rental Tax from 3 percent to 5, explained commissioner Ken Holdren at a meeting Tuesday morning.

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