4+ hour, 14+ min ago (507+ words) Eastern Lycoming County will get a second medical helicopter next year stationed at the UPMC Muncy. UPMC and STAT MedEvac are in the process of establishing a critical care transport base at the hospital, which lies along Route 405 near Interstate 180 and it is expected to be operational in the spring, according to a UPMC North Central Pennsylvania spokesman. Each helicopter is to be staffed by a pilot, flight nurse, and paramedic, and equipped with advanced medical technology to begin critical care immediately, officials said. Helicopter EMS transport from the scene has been associated with improved survival when compared with ground emergency medical services for trauma patients, and this has made it an integral component of modern trauma systems. Up to 27% of the U.S. population relies on helicopter EMS transport to reach a trauma center within the "golden hour," especially in rural…...

4+ hour, 14+ min ago (632+ words) When they cast their ballots earlier this month, Lycoming County voters were asked if they wanted to retain President Judge Nancy Butts, but what they didn't realize was that the courthouse dog, Ludo, could be collateral damage of their no votes. As of Jan. 2, Ludo's handler, Jerri Rook, who is Butts' executive assistant, will be out of a job and so will Ludo. Ludo has been on duty since 2022, replacing the original Court House canine Jedi, who passed away from lymphoma. The program was initially started by Judge Joy McCoy and Rook said that she also worked "very hard to get the program started and make it work." "So, I believe the program is mine," she said. The dog was provided to the county's program by Canine Companions and is owned by them along with Rook. The county does not…...

4+ hour, 14+ min ago (260+ words) Due to the destruction caused by the blaze, a state police fire marshal was unable to determine the origin or cause of the fire that destroyed that Dushore Agway warehouse last week on Route 220 in Cherry Township, according to Mildred Fire Chief Sean Thibodeault. Volunteer firefighters rushed to the 13000 square-foot building at 8779 Route 220 about 1 a.m. on Nov. 18 when a trucker at the warehouse, asleep in his cab, was awakened by the glow of the fire. The entire building was ablaze when Thibodeault arrived on the scene. There were no reports of injuries. The fire caused in excess of $1 million damage, the chief said. The building alone " filled with large bales of hay, woodstove pellets, a tractor-trailer truck and several other pieces of equipment " was valued at $900,000, he said. Security cameras revealed that the fire started about midnight, the chief said. Concerning…...

12+ hour, 23+ min ago (996+ words) They plow the snow, mow the parks and public properties, replace street lights and repair electrical components, work with contractors on street resurfacing, control the floods and provide emergency barrier protection for special events. The plethora of duties for the City of Williamsport Department of Public Works often require long hours, overtime, labor and skills. Each year, the department is among those that go before the City Council as the departmental budget is presented. This year was no different, as Scott Livermore, director, noted a 0.9% increase in the Office of Directors part of the department and 2% increase for at-will employees. City Hall continues to drain funds "Operating cost for City Hall is up $13,613," he said. The building remains unopened to the public since 2021, but it must be maintained and heated over the winter months. The mayor included the sale of…...

2+ hour, 45+ min ago (535+ words) Man jailed for allegedly assaulting his mother Called to check on a 911 hang-up call that came from 1938 Walters Road in Loyalsock Township about 6 p.m. on Nov. 19, state troopers interviewed a woman who said her 27-year-old son, Brendan Christopher Downs, "head-butted her and threw her around the house after an argument," according [] Several arraigned on assault charges in separate cases in Lycoming County district courts Man jailed for allegedly assaulting his mother Called to check on a 911 hang-up call that came from 1938 Walters Road in Loyalsock Township about 6 p.m. on Nov. 19, state troopers interviewed a woman who said her 27-year-old son, Brendan Christopher Downs, "head-butted her and threw her around the house after an argument," according to an an affidavit. The troopers saw "a swollen lump on her right eyebrow, which was black and blue," the affidavit stated. The woman declined medical treatment....

4+ hour, 14+ min ago (393+ words) TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Penn State interim coach Terry Smith coaches during Saturday's game against Nebraska at Beaver Stadium. STATE COLLEGE " Terry Smith's popularity has grown to the point where he can't even go get his car washed in State College any longer without being recognized. It's clear there are many that hope the interim tag is dropped and he is named the next head coach to lead Penn State football. "The way he handles his business and the way he leads us, I believe he should be the coach next year," PSU running back Kaytron Allen said. "He deserves it." On the NBC telecast Saturday night during Penn State's 37-10 win over Nebraska, Penn State letterman Michael Robinson expressed strong support for Smith to be the next coach. He said he has talked to many other lettermen who…...

3+ hour, 9+ min ago (179+ words) Firefighters get ready to use hoses at a reported house fire on Riverside Drive, just east of Beech Street, in South Williamsport about 5:15 p.m. Monday. There was smoke coming from the property, but the fire was declared under control in a matter of minutes. There were no injuries. Efforts to get more details were [] Firefighters respond to smoke from South Williamsport home Firefighters get ready to use hoses at a reported house fire on Riverside Drive, just east of Beech Street, in South Williamsport about 5:15 p.m. Monday. There was smoke coming from the property, but the fire was declared under control in a matter of minutes. There were no injuries. Efforts to get more details were unsuccessful as of press time. Police Fire and Court Fire officials offer updates on investigations in Lycoming and Sullivan counties Several arraigned on assault charges in…...

4+ hour, 14+ min ago (529+ words) My friend and I had just stepped out of May's Drive-In late one October morning when she pointed to a large black bird on the telephone pole across the highway, near the east end of the Lewisburg river bridge. Looking closer, we saw there were actually two crow-sized black birds, both with prominent red crests and white neck stripes. Clinging and climbing with their talons, they chased each other up, down and around the pole, frequently reaching over to jab with their bills. Without binoculars, we couldn't see whether either bird had the male pileated woodpecker's narrow red cheek stripe. I knew pileated couples behave this way during courtship, but it wasn't nesting time. What was going on here? I wanted answers. My Stokes Guide to Bird Behavior explained that pileated woodpeckers' territorial displays, in which birds may hitch around…...

4+ hour, 14+ min ago (591+ words) TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Penn State running back Kaytron Allen rushes during Saturday's game against Nebraska at Beaver Stadium. STATE COLLEGE " Imagine the trials and tribulations that Kaytron Allen has been through, not just in his career at Penn State but just this season alone. He wasn't nearly as heralded as Nicholas Singleton coming out of high school, and he was the No. 2 option behind Singleton for much of his career. The backup job was eventually changed to a split of the workload between the two, and Allen finally got the brunt of the carries in recent weeks. Both Allen and Singleton were stars in the Nittany Lions' 37-10 victory over Nebraska in the home finale Saturday night at Beaver Stadium. Singleton had his own highlight of tying Saquon Barkley's career rushing touchdown record (53). But Allen's star shined brighter…...

4+ hour, 14+ min ago (730+ words) HARRISBURG " You could call it the social event of the season, a mass wellness retreat, grand-scale volunteer work or collective reaping that puts food on the tables of participants and non-participants alike. Or you could just call it deer season. Other than that, it's no big deal. "Across the nation, white-tailed deer put more hunters in the woods more often than any other species," said Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith. "That likely won't surprise anyone living in Pennsylvania. Opening day of deer season here touches countless families, mine included, as well as offices, work sites and schools. "It's about more than recreation, though. Deer season is also conservation and compassion turned into action, as our hunters keep deer in balance with their habitat while feeding themselves and hungry neighbors. There's truly nothing like it." Hunters are allowed one antlered…...