Theft of auto parts from Genesee Township investigated….Austin man arrested for drugs….Tioga teen arrested for assaulting mother….Theft of wire probed by state police at Mansfield….Cyber thieves stole $1000 from a Mansfield woman…Owlett, Pickett: Bills to Improve Creek and Stream Maintenance, Prevent Flooding Earn Committee Approval
Tuesday’s high, 65; Overnight low, 54
WED-MOSTLY CLOUDY, HIGH, 72
WED NIGHT-OVERCAST, LOW 55
THU-POSSIBLE SHOWERS, HIGH 75
THU NIGHT-THUNDERSTORMS, LOW 60
FRI-CLOUDS & THUNDERSTORMS, HIGH 73
FRI NIGHT-CHANCE OF SHOWERS, LOW 58
State police at Coudersport are investigating the theft of some vehicle parts from a Genesee Township residence between February 1 and May 5. Thieves stole four 1959-1963 Pontiac 
wheels with an aluminum brake drum, an orange 1953-1963 Studebaker door and a white 1959-1963 Studebaker hood. The parts belong to Rance Baxter and are valued at $1800.
A 58 year old Austin man has been arrested for drug possession. State police withheld the suspect’s name but say he was apprehended during a traffic stop Saturday night on Summit Street in Austin. Troopers claim the suspect was driving his 1999 Ford F250 Supercab under the influence of drugs and was in possession of a small amount of marijuana.
A 16 year old Wellsboro boy has been charged with physical harassment for assaulting his mother. Troopers claim when they arrived at the home on Chad Lane Monday afternoon, they found the teen was upset when his mother, 34 year old Amanda Black, took away his Xbox and wouldn’t let her leave the bedroom. He is also accused of hitting her in the arm with a closed fist and slapping her in the back of the head.
A theft occurring in Nelson Township Tioga County last week is being probed by state police at Mansfield. Thieves cut a lock securing the double doors on a tractor trailer and removed six 25 pound rolls of copper wire valued at $525 and a 150 pound roll of blended wire valued at another $525. The wire belongs to Tri-County Rural electric and the tractor trailer is owned by a Martinsburg, PA man and was parked in a rented lot on Route 49.
Troopers at Mansfield are investigating a theft by deception. Cyber thieves used personal information of a 58 year old Mansfield woman to purchase and activate an iPhone without her permission on May 8 causing a loss of$1000.
Vandals used an unknown object to damage the front passenger door on a Chevrolet parked on Cooper Road in Richmond Township on April 15. The vehicle is owned by a31 year old Mansfield man.
Both woman involved in a scuffle Saturday afternoon in Ridgway Township have been charged with physical harassment. A 29 year old Ridgway resident and an 18 year old Brockway resident have been cited for the incident taking place on Oak Street.
A package of bills spearheaded by Reps. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter) and Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) in the wake of serious flooding in the Northern Tier was advanced Tuesday by the House Environmental Resources and Energy 
Committee.“Flooding threatens lives and livelihoods in communities across the state. Better maintenance of our creeks and streams will – without a doubt – help mitigate those threats,” Rep.Owlett continued “All we are trying to do with this package of bills is put our local leaders who know their communities, their roadways and their waterways the best in a position to address these issues BEFORE they cause property damage, or worse, loss of life.”
“At the House Majority Policy Committee hearing in Tioga County last December, property owners and municipal officials were asked to present solutions to stream destruction that occurs after significant storm events. Many good proposals were given, which resulted in this package of eight creek and stream maintenance bills,” Pickett said. “The proposals complement each other in solving many of these problems for landowners. In particular, they would empower local officials to make decisions on a timely basis to allow for quick remediation and debris removal as preventative action.”
House Bill 2404 (Owlett): Would allow local government organizations to apply for a permit for continuing maintenance for a period of at least 10 years for the streams within their jurisdiction. This permit would grant an affirmative duty to the local government entity to properly maintain the streams and would not require the local government to get pre-approval for maintenance projects.
House Bill 2405 (Pickett): Would create a program that allows counties to opt in to address hazards within their streams by allowing for emergency maintenance permits in consultation with their county conservation district. This is modeled after a pilot project that has proven successful in Bradford County.
House Bill 2406 (Rep. Jonathan Fritz, R-Susquehanna/Wayne): Would create a permit specific to smaller maintenance projects for the mitigation of flood-related hazards of less than 250 linear feet. This permit would be reviewed and issued by the local county conservation district.
House Bill 2407 (Rep. Joe Hamm, R-Lycoming/Union): Would clarify that the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has no authority for permitting or enforcement related to stream clearing or maintenance activities. This authority shall belong solely to DEP and the county conservation districts as appropriate.
House Bill 2408 (Rep. Mike Armanini, R-Clearfield/Elk): Would declare that no permit or authorization shall be required for maintenance activities conducted on a culvert.
House Bill 2409 (Rep. Tim O’Neal, R-Washington): Would state that no permit shall be required for the removal of flood-related hazards from streams that are deemed to be an emergency by a state or county.
House Bill 2410 (Rep. Brian Smith, R-Jefferson/Indiana): Would state that no permit shall be required for stream maintenance activities conducted 50 feet or less upstream or downstream of a bridge or culvert.
House Bill 2411 (Rep. John Hershey, R-Mifflin/Juniata/Franklin): Would require DEP to issue an annual report to the General Assembly regarding flooding and stream maintenance and restoration.
Owlett noted his disappointment in the Wolf administration’s unwillingness thus far to engage in any conversation about the measures he and his fellow lawmakers have offered but said he will continue to reach out in hopes of working together to make meaningful progress in the effort to protect lives and property.