Today’s top stories: Family displaced by fire, Penn State community mourns beloved doctor
Centre County saw a mix of tragedy, community response and major sports news on Tuesday, May 5. From the death of a beloved Penn State team doctor to a hockey star’s likely NHL destination, we’ve rounded up the top stories you may have missed.
Here’s a look:
- Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, Penn State’s director of athletic medicine for more than 30 years, died Monday at age 68. Former player Adam Taliaferro, who was paralyzed during a 2000 game, said Sebastianelli “gave me and my family something we desperately needed. Hope.”
- A 3-year-old was hospitalized after a farming accident involving a horse-drawn planter in Miles Township. The child was airlifted from the 6000 block of Brush Valley Road to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville around 5:05 p.m. Monday.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs won the NHL Draft Lottery on Tuesday night, making them the likely landing spot for Penn State hockey star Gavin McKenna. The 2026 NHL Draft takes place June 26 in Buffalo, New York.
- A juvenile riding an electric scooter was struck by a sedan in Bellefonte after running a stop sign at Wilson and High streets around 9:10 p.m. Monday, Bellefonte police said. They noted that electric scooters are illegal on public roads and sidewalks in Pennsylvania.
- A family of five was displaced after a fire destroyed their Harris Township home late Sunday night. A GoFundMe organized by family friend Bodhi Spiegel raised more than $22,000 within 10 hours to support Woody and Molly Wilson and their three children.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
Jessica McAllister
Centre Daily Times