CITY HALL CALLER ARRESTED IN WASHINGTON DC
In a joint effort between the Williamsport Bureau of Police and US Marshals Service, the man who made terroristic threats by phone to City Hall Tuesday morning has been taken into custody. Williamsport police say 34 year old Kevin Lawrence Bascomb made the series of threatening phone calls from his residence in Washington DC and US Marshals made the arrest there about 24 hours later on Wednesday morning. Bascomb will be extradited to Williamsport to face trial. The City Hall building is off lockdown and operating normally today.
TOOLS STOLEN FROM SNYDER COUNTY HOME
Over 200 dollars worth of tools were stolen from a home in Snyder County and police are searching for a suspect. State troopers say someone entered a home in the Mount Pleasant Mills area on Frymoyer Road and took Milwaukee tools and batteries worth about 2000 dollars sometime between July 11th and 24th . Anyone with information about last month’s theft should call State Police.
DIOCESE WORKING TO CORRECT THE WRONGS
The Harrisburg Diocese has made moves this week to acknowledge past wrongs and comply with the Grand Jury Report by the State Attorney General on child sex abuse involving Catholic clergy. Diocese officials say in a news release, that over 12 million dollars was spent for the Survivors Compensation Program this year. The diocese has revised the safe environment lesson plans for religious education and will restructure state pastoral councils and review boards. They have also removed all named clergy from places of honor for failing to do enough to prevent the abuse. The Diocese says 112 survivors participated in the compensation program.
GRAND SLAM PARADE HOSTS OVER 40 THOUSAND
Thousands of people lined Williamsport area roads last night for the 15th annual Grand Slam Parade to kick off the Little League World series which starts today. The Sun Gazette reports that there were almost 100 organizations in the parade grouped into 10 divisions who walked the route down West Fourth Street. Opening ceremonies start this morning at 11am at Volunteer Stadium then Games 1 through 4 will be played throughout the day.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY DOCTOR’S TRIAL DELAYED AGAIN
The prosecution in the trial of suspended Northumberland County doctor, Raymond Kraynak, has asked for more time to prepare the case for the 7th time and a federal judge has granted the delay. Lead prosecutor Assistant US Attorney Williams Behe argued the case is complex and more time is needed. Federal agents arrested Kraynak on Dec. 21, 2017, on 12 counts of illegal drug distribution for his offices in Mount Carmel and Shamokin. The latest jury selection and trial date had been scheduled for Oct. 7. A trial is scheduled to follow unless an eighth successful continuance is granted. Kraynak is free on $500,000 unsecured bail. His medical license is suspended.
CHILDREN’S STORE AT THE MALL WILL CLOSE
There’s another store closing at the Lycoming Mall next month. New Jersey based The Children’s Place is slated to close its Muncy store September 17th. The kids clothes retailer, who bought bankrupt Gymboree and Crazy8 clothing companies in March of this year, plans to close up to 45 stores nationwide next and then re-open 25 stores in highly populated areas.
LOTTERY SCAMS PLAGUE VALLEY RESIDENTS
Lottery scams continue to plague the area, and the Northumberland County DA is warning residents of new schemes to be aware of. DA Tony Matulewicz told WKOK that most recently, a Coal Township woman received a fake Mega Millions flyer which told her she won 4.2 million dollars and to call a number outside the US to claim the prize. Officials say new technology and Caller ID is making it harder to see if the numbers on your phone are from callers you actually know since scammer programs allow them to put any number they want into the system. Call police if you think you’ve been a victim of a scam.
FIRST GIRL IN THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES SINCE 2014
There’s a girl playing in the Little League World series for the first time since 2014. Maddy Freking is the starting second baseman on a team from Coon Rapids, Minnesota, playing in Game 4 today at 7pm against Bowling Green, Kentucky. She’ll represent the Midwest Region in the Little League World Series and become just the 19th girl in history to play in the 72-year history of the Little League World Series since Mo’ne Davis pitched and made news on national media outlets.
Sports
Major League Baseball
Rangers beat the Blue Jays 7-3, Yankees over the Orioles 5-6, Red Sox thumped the Indians 5-1, White Sox over the Astros 13-9, Brewers beat the Twins 6-5, Rockies bumped the Diamondbacks 7-6, Padres beat the Rays 7-2, A’s over the Giants 9-5, Nationals routed the Reds 17-7, Phillies thrashed the Cubs 11-1, Tigers beat the Mariners 3-2, Dodgers pounded the Marlins 9-1, Braves beat the Mets 6-4, Angels over the Pirates 7-4, and Cardinals blanked the Royals 6-nothing.
NY Penn League
Crosscutters defeated the Doubledays 4-nothing/ 22 & 36
Little League Softball World Series
South Williamsport got the consolation win over Mexico City yesterday 6-1
