Ralston, PA Local News and More

Lycoming County man accused of contacting victim more than 250 times

LYCOMING CO. (WOLF) — A Lycoming County man is accused of violating a protection-from-abuse order and repeatedly harassing and intimidating a victim, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Charges were filed Nov. 2 against John Joseph King Jr. Investigators said King contacted the victim more than 250 times...

Lycoming County, PA · 4h

WOLF

Loyalsock fire company member charged in alleged misconduct involving minor

LOYALSOCK TWP., LYCOMING CO. (WOLF) — A member of a Loyalsock Township volunteer fire company is charged with soliciting sex from a minor at the firehouse and elsewhere, according to state police. Joseph Leo Foster, 47, faces charges including statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, unlawful dissemination...

Loyalsock Township, PA · 2h

WOLF

Lycoming County woman jailed after police pursuit, officer assault charge

OLD LYCOMING TOWNSHIP, LYCOMING CO. (WOLF) — A traffic stop in Old Lycoming Township turned into a police pursuit Monday after Melissa Marie Mertz allegedly struck an officer and drove away, police said. Officers stopped Mertz’s vehicle in the 3100 block of Lycoming Creek Road on Nov. 9 for...

Lycoming County, PA · 6h

NorthcentralPA.com

Williamsport man convicted of 'wasp dope' county prison smuggle scheme

Williamsport, Pa. — A Williamsport man has been convicted of trying to have drugs smuggled into the Lycoming County Prison by mail. Authorities said Tyree Tyquan Moy, 41, sent a letter to his son instructing him to soak the paper in wasp spray so it could be mailed back into the prison. Inmates would then use the treated paper — a substance commonly known inside prisons as "wasp dope" — to get high. Moy stressed in the letter that his wife, the child’s mother, should not find it. She did. She turned the letter over to prison authorities, leading to the charges. Moy pleaded no contest to a first-degree misdemeanor of criminal attempt of bringing contraband into the prison and a first-degree misdemeanor of criminal solicitation or attempting to sell drugs at the prison. Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Under the plea agreement, Moy faces three to 12 months on each count. Those sentences will run consecutively to any sentence he is currently serving. Moy is currently on probation and state parole. He is being held at a state correctional institution in Pennsylvania. Related reading Williamsport drug dealer sentenced Williamsport

Williamsport, PA · 1d

wkok.com

17 Rapes Reported At Lycoming College Over Two Years

WILLIAMSPORT — Lycoming College reported 17 rapes during 2024 and 2025, but none were reported to local law enforcement. PennLive reports the figures appear in the college’s annual campus safety report. The college documented 11 rapes in 2024 and six last year, including incidents in campus residence halls.

NorthcentralPA.com

Jersey Shore elementary school janitor charged with touching, stalking students

Jersey Shore, Pa. — A Jersey Shore man has been charged for allegedly inappropriately touching several young children in the Jersey Shore Elementary School while working as a janitor. The Lycoming Regional Police Department (LRPD) arrested 28-year-old Dakota J. Gardner, a janitorial employee assigned to the elementary school, on Nov. 10 following an investigation into allegations of unlawful physical contact involving multiple elementary-aged students. On Oct. 16, the Lycoming Regional Police Department received a Child Line report alleging inappropriate physical contact between Gardner and a student at Jersey Shore Elementary School. The investigation was conducted by a LRPD School Resource Officer, the officer assigned to the Jersey Shore Area School District. During the course of the investigation, police interviewed multiple students and reviewed school security footage and determined Gardner engaged in repeated unwanted physical contact with several students inside Jersey Shore Elementary School. The investigation also determined that Gardner had been employed by the district since this summer as a janitorial staff member. Charges were approved by the Lycoming County District Attorney’s Office and Gardner was arrested. Gardner was arraigned in front of Judge Aaron Biichle and released on $50,000 unsecured bail. Based on Gardner being charged with six counts

Jersey Shore, PA · 1h

NorthcentralPA.com

Williamsport toy store opening shop number 'too' downtown

Williamsport, Pa. — A new Moose is just around the corner in downtown Williamsport. Moose Too, located at 343 Pine St., Williamsport, neighboring Pine Square, is holding a Grand Opening Party Nov. 13 from 5 to 8 p.m., and everyone is invited to come celebrate the child-like whimsy of adults. Moose Too, sister store to The Mulberry Moose on Mulberry Street, is designed for an older customer, early teen through adult. It has a more "grunge" atmosphere, and some products use some light profanity. The carefully curated collection is meant for laughs and good fun, but parents might want to be cautious with little ones. The Moose Too store will bring new and fun items such as collectable blind boxes, complex and simple puzzles, figure build-kits, stationary, and more! Whether someone is looking for funky socks or silly journals, the goal of the Moose's is to bring a sense of play to their customers. Five years ago, Nicole Desaulniers, owner of The Mulberry Moose toy store, moved to Williamsport to start a new chapter in her life. In early 2024, her idea for The Mulberry Moose was born, and by June, its doors opened at 423 Mulberry Street. The Williamsport

NorthcentralPA.com

K-9 sniffs out cocaine in Williamsport man's pockets, oxy in Mill Hall man's car

Williamsport, Pa. — A Williamsport man is charged with delivering one gram of cocaine and 18 Percocet pills to a Mill Hall man, according to court records. Franklin Probst of Mill Hall was pulled over after two traffic violations and allegedly admitted to buying the drugs from Khalil Mateen Baines, 40, of Williamsport. On Nov. 2, while sitting surveillance at the Family Dollar on Memorial Avenue, detectives saw a blue Lexus SUV registered to a Probst. Detectives watched Baines, who they described as "a known cocaine dealer in the Williamsport area," get out of the SUV's front passenger seat and walk inside the store. Baines reportedly stayed inside the story for two or three minutes, then returned and got back into the front passenger seat. The SUV then drove to the 400 block of Third Avenue where Baines exited and went into a residence. Probst drove the vehicle away, and was pulled over for crossing the street's double yellow line twice, according to detectives. Williamsport police, including Sgt. Brian McGee and K-9 Niko, conducted an open-air sniff of the vehicle. The K-9 gave a positive alert, and a subsequent search recovered the gram cocaine and 18 Percocet pills, also known

NorthcentralPA.com

Tropical Smoothie Cafe's Williamsport grand opening a resounding success

Williamsport, Pa. — Dozens stood — and some slept — in the cold for hours outside of Williamsport’s first Tropical Smoothie Cafe, securing their spot to win a year of free smoothies for the first 50 to enter. The store’s held their grand opening at 8 a.m. on Saturday with a ribbon cutting, courtesy of the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce. Lycoming County Commissioner Marc Sortman joined in on the festivities at the 1927 E. Third St. store. The Tropical Smoothie Cafe, which has been in its soft opening stage since Sept. 27, neighbors the freshly-opened Wing Stop, which had its first day of operations in Williamsport on Sept. 14. This location’s owners are familiar with the area’s smoothie scene. Het Patel, a Danville graduate, and his family opened the Tropical Smoothie Cafe at 195 AJK Blvd., Lewisburg in May while working on plans for the Williamsport location — and they’re not done. A Bloomsburg location is in talks, a staff member said. The cafe is a popular addition in the northcentral region's college towns, with a separately-ran store in State College open since 2024. The Williamsport restaurant has five full-time positions and several part time, according to staff. The menu

NorthcentralPA.com

Accused killer paints himself as victim and protector in police interview played at trial

Williamsport, Pa. — Prosecutors zeroed in Friday on the long-dysfunctional relationship between an accused killer and his brother-in-law on the second day of the Cable Services murder trial in Lycoming County. During testimony, lawyers played the hourlong police interview in which shooter Kenneth Richard Michaels portrayed himself as both the victim of his brother-in-law, John Roskowski, and the man who spent decades holding the family and business together. Michaels, 68, of Montoursville, is charged with murder in the August 2023 shooting death of 69-year-old Roskowski. Roskowski was shot once in the abdomen in the lobby of a Cable Services building in Old Lycoming Township after walking into the building. Michaels admitted to the shooting, but claimed it was done in self-defense. In the interview with Detective Justin Segura of the Lycoming Regional Police Department, Michaels said, “Nobody has a good relationship with John.” He described how he bought out Roskowski’s shares in the company, ultimately paying more than he believed they were worth because he “wanted to be the good guy” and help the family. Michaels told Segura he had spent the last 40 years keeping the family together and “that’s what this is all about.” The day of the

Lycoming County, PA · 2d

NorthcentralPA.com

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Lycoming commissioners seeks $735K grant for homelessness and housing programs

Williamsport, Pa. — Lycoming County commissioners on Thursday approved submitting a $735,000 state housing grant application that would support programs addressing homelessness and housing instability in the county. The application, which is a request, not a guaranteed award, targets four projects through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) program administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency: STEP housing-support programs, including master leasingSTEP’s homes-in-need and urgent-need work focused on code compliance and helping older adults stay in their homesThe Lycoming County–Clinton Joinder Board Housing Stability ProgramThe YWCA Northcentral PA Liberty House program STEP CEO Rachelle Abbott thanked the board for including the organization in the application. She noted that some shelters have closed while 211 intake numbers in Lycoming County have remained fairly stable, underscoring ongoing demand for housing support. Commissioners also approved a multi-year agreement with GEO Reentry Services for Jan. 1, 2027 through Dec. 31, 2031 to operate the county’s reentry service center. The program provides support for people returning to the community after incarceration, which is a population that often faces housing instability. The county has not needed to house inmates out of county due to overcrowding since November 2019, commissioners noted, and described the reentry

Lycoming County, PA · 21h

abc27 News

PA Lottery scratch-off ticket worth $1 million sold

(WHTM)– A lottery ticket worth $1 million was sold in Pennsylvania last week, according to the PA Lottery. The PA Lottery said that a retailer in Lycoming County sold a $1 million-winning Million Dollar Win It All Scratch-Off last week. Nittany MinitMart in Loyalsock Township will receive a $5,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. […]

Lycoming County, PA · 7h

Yahoo!

Lycoming County holds Veterans Day Parade in Hughesville

Lycoming County hosted a major celebration honoring our nation's veterans and marking the United States' 250th birthday. The countywide Veterans Day parade kicked off this year at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville. The celebration is meant to bring veterans, families, and businesses together for a day of gratitude and...

Lycoming County, PA · 2d

sevenlakes.news

First Snowflakes of the Season Likely for Erie, Coudersport, Wellsboro, and the Laurel Highlands Friday and Saturday as Colder Air Follows Rainy Storm

ERIE, Pa. — Many parts of Pennsylvania are set to see the first snowflakes of the season later this week. A low-pressure system will bring widespread rain on Thursday, followed by colder air on its back side. That cold air could turn rain into snow or a rain-snow mix on Friday and Saturday. Forecasters stress that no major snowstorm is expected, despite some exaggerated snow totals circulating online.

Erie, PA · 17h

montoursville.k12.pa.us

New staff arrives to shake up the school year

As the new school year begins, students bustle into the building from their long summer break, expecting to see the same aspects of the same high school, except this year new faculty arrives to change up the year. New faculty members add a set of new faces among the existing...

Montoursville, PA · 1d

NorthcentralPA.com

From trauma patient to peer: UPMC Williamsport survivor gives back

Muncy, Pa. — When Chad Barner, a Muncy resident, walks the halls of UPMC Williamsport each Wednesday, he isn’t simply making volunteer rounds. He’s retracing a journey that changed his life. In April 2024, Barner fell 15 feet from a ladder at his home, breaking nine ribs, his collarbone and shoulder and collapsing both lungs. After 28 years working for Verizon and routinely climbing poles without injury, an accident at home suddenly put him on the other side of trauma care. Barner was taken by ambulance to UPMC Williamsport, where his recovery included stays in the intensive care and step-down units and inpatient rehabilitation, followed by more than 10 months of outpatient therapy at the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute at the Eastern Lycoming YMCA. “The trauma team kept me breathing,” Barner said. “I figured if they were going to do that, I’d keep fighting. The staff here are very special.” Barner eventually returned to work and even climbed poles again, but lingering effects from his injuries led him to retire early. Around the same time, he found an unexpected new purpose. Kristy Teisher, expert discharge plan manager with Clinical Care Coordination at UPMC Williamsport, invited Barner to a Trauma Survivors Network

Williamsport, PA · 1d

NorthcentralPA.com

Penn College instructor wins national concrete education award

Williamsport, Pa. — Penn College building construction technology instructor Franklin H. Reber, Jr. received the American Concrete Institute’s Clyde E. Kesler Education Award during the institute’s fall convention, held Oct. 11-14 in Atlanta. Reber was nominated for his “outstanding contributions to concrete education through hands-on instruction, creation of a unique concrete science degree program, and dedicated outreach that prepares and inspires the next generation of concrete professionals.” Reber initiated the addition of an associate degree in concrete science technology to Penn College’s building construction program to help fill a void in the industry. Enrollment has nearly doubled each year since the program began eight years ago, and its graduates have a 100% job placement rate, according to the college. “Throughout his 20-plus years of teaching, he’s always stayed abreast of the latest material advances, as well as the innovations in the design and construction of concrete structures and has eagerly continued to mentor our numerous graduates on the many benefits of a career in concrete,” said Ellyn A. Lester, assistant dean of construction and architectural technologies. A Mifflinburg High School graduate, Reber worked as a cabinet builder for Yorktowne Kitchens, now Yorktowne Cabinetry, and in modular home construction for Ritz-Craft

NorthcentralPA.com

Loyalsock middle school band earns spot at PMEA All-State Conference

Williamsport, Pa. — The Loyalsock Township Middle School seventh- and eighth-grade band has been selected to perform at the 2027 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) All-State Conference. The band earned the distinction through a competitive audition process that included approximately 100 ensembles from across the state. Under the direction of middle school band instructor and music curriculum chair David Tini, the ensemble has been invited to present a 30-minute performance at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie on April 15. The performance will feature selections from its school-year repertoire, with an anticipated audience of music educators, college professors and students, and music industry representatives from across the state. The 2026-27 LTMS seventh- and eighth-grade band is the fourth ensemble in district history to receive an invitation to perform at the PMEA All-State Conference. Tini credited the accomplishment to the students’ dedication and the collective efforts of the district’s music department, teachers, administrators, and staff. “Achievements like this are built through countless hours of dedication and the daily work that often happens outside the spotlight,” Tini said. “Our students have spent years developing their musicianship, embracing challenges, and building the skills that allow them to perform at such a high level.

Loyalsock Township, PA · 1d

fastfoodclub.com

Nine Pennsylvania Steakhouses Families Save For Birthdays And Anniversaries

Some dinners are just dinner, and some get circled on the calendar weeks ahead. Across Pennsylvania, certain steakhouses have become the go-to spots when a family wants to mark a birthday, toast an anniversary, or simply make a night feel bigger than usual. This list covers nine of them, from...

Pennsylvania · 1d

NorthcentralPA.com