PHILIPSBURG – It could be Wednesday before two Boggs Township residents will know Magisterial District Judge Allen Sinclair’s decision on harassment charges filed against them.
The summary offenses relate to an incident that allegedly happened after the Nov. 13 meeting of the Boggs Township Supervisors, and testimony revealed that one of the defendants is planning to seek a supervisor seat next year.
After the Boggs Township meeting adjourned on Nov. 13, the supervisors, their secretary and several others decided to meet at Alice’s Pub in Philipsburg Borough, Centre County, to eat.
When one of the supervisors left the township building, he claimed he was followed by Frank Norris, 60, and Paula Norris, 55, both of Boggs Township.
During a hearing before Sinclair Friday, William Dickson, supervisor, said he went the “back way” to Philipsburg instead of using U.S. Route 322. When he left, the Norris vehicle followed behind him.
“I thought that was rather odd because they had never done that before,” Dickson said.
Dickson said he sped up and slowed down while driving in an effort to “lose” the Norrises. He then turned onto a side road and switched off his headlights while while the Norris car passed.
When he finally arrived in Philipsburg, he testified that the Norris car was again behind him.
According to the Norrises, they had to pick up milk and bread at Sheetz in Philipsburg after the meeting that night. They decided to take a route other than U.S. 322 to Philipsburg that night because Frank Norris prefers them. “I would sooner drive back roads,” he told the judge.
While Paula Norris was in the store, Frank Norris said he decided to pick up some wings from Alice’s Pub in Philipsburg to take home.
The Norrises then left Sheetz for Alice’s.
Dickson said he parked his truck in the lot at Alice’s and began to walk toward the entrance, but he saw the Norris car in the bar/restaurant’s parking lot. The same vehicle, Dickson said, nearly hit him while it was driving past.
Dickson’s wife and daughter were waiting near the door of the establishment, and both feared that Dickson was going to be hit by the vehicle.
“I screamed,” said Brittany Dickson, his daughter.
His wife, Mary Dickson, said she thought the driver, Frank Norris, was attempting to scare her husband.
The family entered and Dickson began to recount the story for some people he knew inside, according to testimony.
At that time, Dickson said he heard someone say that Paula Norris was standing behind him. He asked her if she would like to sit down, and, as Dickson and others testified, she used her camera phone to take a photograph of those gathered.
Dickson, Paula Norris claimed, was not in the blurred photograph she showed the judge. Her citation alleged that Paula Norris wanted to alarm or annoy Dickson, so she followed Dickson into Alice’s to take a photograph of him.
Paula Norris said that when she walked in to Alice’s, she said something like, “Look what we’ve walked into.”
She testified that she remembered Dickson and the other two township supervisors always asking for “proof” during township meetings, so she wanted to take a photograph.
“I thought for a moment, ‘Something might come of this,’” she said.
Frank Norris noted that on the same night, the supervisors voted to approve an ordinance change relating to landfills in the township.
Boggs Township is the location of PA Waste LLC’s proposed Camp Hope Run Landfill.
Norris said the Nov. 14 meeting was “the most important meeting … in two years.”
Paula Norris said the filing of the harassment charges was meant as a way to hurt her husband before the May primary election, noting that her husband wanted to challenge Dickson for his seat.
“I think they’ve taken this opportunity to belittle and disgrace my husband.”
Sinclair said he would render his decision within three business days. After that, each party will have 30 days in which to file an appeal.
Both Paula Norris and Frank Norris face fines of $300 each plus court costs, amounting to a total due of $429.50 each if they are found guilty.
The law provides for a fine of up to $300 and up to 90 days in jail for a summary offense.