Open Burn Ban to Begin in March
In an effort to mitigate the risk of wildfires this spring, both the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) have issued an open burn ban to begin in March and end in mid-May.Spring is almost here, which means drier conditions and an increased risk for wildfires due to dry conditions. Because of this, both New York State and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have put statewide regulations into place to keep fire risks under control during wildfire-prone seasons.
Towanda Man Sentenced for Police Chase
A Towanda man has been sentenced to state prison following a police chase. Thirty-three-year-old Illion Robert Benjamin will serve five to 36 months for fleeing and eluding police and possession of a controlled substance. Police say Benjamin fled on a bicycle during a traffic stop last August and was later found with drug paraphernalia. He was already on state parole at the time.
Canton Man Sentenced for DUI
A Canton man has been sentenced on a DUI charge in Bradford County. Twenty-five-year-old Dyllan Ray Burgess will serve 48 hours to six months in the county jail for driving under the influence. State Police stopped Burgess last August for a loud muffler in Towanda, and blood tests showed a level of point-one-five-three, nearly twice the legal limit. The case was prosecuted as a first offense under current law.