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Former Jersey Shore school employee ordered to stand trial for multiple sex assault charges

JERSEY SHORE — Brian S. Witner, 39, of 1091 River Mill Road, Jersey Shore, will stand trial on for rape and other sex assault charges relating to contact with a 15-year-old girl at his residence on Dec. 3, 2025, District Judge Denise Dieter ruled following a preliminary hearing Friday morning. At the time of the offense, Witner was working as an ISS paraprofessional employee with Jersey Shore Area Middle School, however, the charges are unrelated to his employment. “Basically came on to me,” the alleged victim said from the witness stand, with Ludo, the courthouse dog in ...

Records show watchdog’s elder abuse probe kept secret as Shapiro’s office claims confidentiality

HARRISBURG — For nearly two years, the Shapiro administration has refused to say whether a state watchdog under the governor’s jurisdiction investigated Pennsylvania’s network of agencies that are supposed to help older adults who are abused and neglected. However, records show state investigators produced a report and provided it to the governor’s office well over two years ago. In an email obtained by Spotlight PA, a staffer for the governor’s office wrote that investigators with the Office of State Inspector General produced a report stemming from a probe into the ...

Commissioners call for community action to promote firearm safety and prevent elder abuse

BELLEFONTE — The Centre County Board of Commissioners adopted two proclamations last week focused on protecting vulnerable communities and fostering safer environments. The commissioners designated June 2026 as Elder Abuse Prevention Month and issued a proclamation highlighting the importance of gun violence prevention and secure firearm storage. Safe and Secure Firearm Storage Month In 2025, there were 17 deaths by suicide, nine of which involved firearms. In the first five months of 2026, there have been 10 deaths by suicide, two of which involved firearms, according to a ...

JS council handles recreation issues

JERSEY SHORE — The weather has warmed up and summer is here. Topics of town recreation took center focus at the June Jersey Shore Borough Council Meeting. One such topic was the newly revived Jersey Shore Bombers Basketball program. Volunteers requested use of the basketball courts, on Thompson Street, in August for a tournament. “I’m here on behalf of Bombers, because (president) Jon Boob could not be here tonight,” Heidi Roupp, a coach and member of the Bombers’ board of directors, said. She explained the program began in the late 90s and early 2000s and eventually ...