Friday, Oct. 16, 2026

Bryan Kohberger, who was raised in Monroe County and is serving four life sentences for the 2022 killings of four University of Idaho students, will not get the hearing that was set for Thursday (Oct. 15) on his request to disqualify the judge, according to WFMZ. That request is still unresolved. Under a new schedule, both sides have until July 7, 2027, to finish gathering evidence, and no hearing dates will be set until other legal issues are resolved. Kohberger pleaded guilty and now says that plea was not voluntary. WFMZ did not report why the hearings were canceled. We last checked in on his case in our August 5 edition.

Steven B. Rannie, 54, pleaded guilty Tuesday (Oct. 13) to two felonies, accidents involving death and homicide by vehicle, in the Aug. 16, 2024 crash that killed motorcyclist Anthony Rodriguez of Mount Pocono, according to the Pocono Record. The crash happened at Route 611 and Cayuga Drive. He will be sentenced Dec. 22 by Judge David Williamson.

Metallica Harrison, 27, of Towanda, is charged with two counts of criminal homicide in the deaths of her husband and their 3-year-old son at Great Wolf Lodge in Pocono Township. She is being held at the Monroe County jail, and her preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday (Oct. 21). According to WFMZ, a search warrant affidavit says investigators want to use the search of her Towanda home to look at motive, how the couple paid for a stay of about three weeks, and their finances, and that the investigation will take a long time. The resort says it is letting guests change reservations without penalty. She is presumed innocent. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988.

State police say a 62-year-old Stroudsburg man grabbed the steering wheel during an argument with the driver of a pickup truck, causing it to hit a guide rail and overturn on Route 33 south near mile marker 2.1 shortly before noon Wednesday (Oct. 14), according to FOX56. The driver was treated at a hospital. The passenger is charged with recklessly endangering another person, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. He is presumed innocent.

Alexander Rivera, 56, of Coolbaugh Township (Tobyhanna), died Tuesday morning (Oct. 13) when a pickup truck struck his motorcycle on Interstate 95 northbound in Darien, Connecticut, according to the Pocono Record. Connecticut State Police are looking for a Toyota Tundra and say the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can call Troop G at 203-696-2500.

On Thursday (Oct. 15) we looked at the skill game crackdown from every side. Here is one more. We stopped by Pub 447 in East Stroudsburg (a regular stop for us) on Thursday, and every skill game is gone. The only machine left is an AC/DC pinball machine. One of our favorite servers put it this way: “Crazy, right? You would be surprised how many people came in just for them!” Skill game machines outside licensed casinos and qualifying truck stops became illegal Wednesday (Oct. 14), and State Police enforcement began that day. Lawmakers return Monday (Oct. 19) with five voting days left in the session, so a deal is not out of the question. We will let you know if one happens.

Most of the county has set hours for Saturday, Oct. 31, according to the Pocono Record’s list, current as of Oct. 9. Stroudsburg runs 5 to 6 p.m. for small children and children with disabilities, then 6 to 8 p.m. for everyone else. East Stroudsburg, Delaware Water Gap, Eldred, Polk, Price, Ross and Stroud Township are 6 to 8 p.m. (Barrett Township is 6 to 8 p.m. on Oak Lane and Prices Drive). Mount Pocono, Chestnuthill, Coolbaugh, Hamilton and Jackson Townships are 5 to 8 p.m., and Middle Smithfield is 4 to 7 p.m. Pocono Township has not confirmed its time, and Paradise and Tobyhanna Townships are still unconfirmed. Trunk-or-treats: Middle Smithfield at Resica Park, noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, and Smithfield Township’s Trunk or Treat and Fall Fest, 3 to 9 p.m. the same day at the municipal center. Tunkhannock Township’s is 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, behind the municipal building. Hours can change, so check with your municipality.

Friday is high school football, Saturday is college and Sunday is the NFL, and Monroe County has a bar for every kind of fan. We ranked the five best game day spots by Google rating, with review count as the tiebreaker, and gave each one a Best For tag. All five are open, all five are in Monroe County, and all five have at least 400 reviews behind them.

Teddy’s Tavern: Best Cheesesteak and Pool Table (4.7 ★, 477 reviews). The highest-rated spot on our list. A classic small-town tavern where the cheesesteak is the star (83 reviews name it) and the wings, fries and the “Kitchen Sink” get plenty of love too. There is a pool table and a jukebox, and some reviewers say the jukebox runs loud, so grab a seat early.

17 N 2nd St, Stroudsburg, PA 18360

Trackside Grill & Bar: Best Overall Food (4.5 ★, 3,332 reviews). A casual sports bar set in a historic train depot with plenty of TVs. Reviewers rave about the chicken sandwich, cheesesteak and pierogies. In the author’s opinion, they have the best reuben in town, rivaling even the best in NYC. Disclosure: Trackside shares owners with Bib’s Ribs and Taste Café, which we have covered. The reuben opinion is the author’s own.

50 Crystal St, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301

The Warrior Grill: Best Big-Screen Setup (4.5 ★, 865 reviews). Fifteen big-screen TVs on Main Street and a kitchen that stays open until 2 a.m. Wings come up in 74 reviews, and there is live music some nights. If you want to see every game at once, this is the room.

418 Main St, Stroudsburg, PA 18360

Barley Creek Brewing & Distilling Co.: Best for the Whole Crew (4.4 ★, 3,964 reviews). A brewpub with its own beers, an outdoor bar with bocce and horseshoes, and a family-friendly crowd. Wings and French onion soup are the favorites. It is a great bar for watching sports. It is a returning pick from our breweries list.

1774 Sullivan Trail, Tannersville, PA 18372

Pub 447: Best Outdoor Hangout (4.3 ★, 1,396 reviews). A rustic pub with an outdoor tiki bar that has TVs, so you can watch the game outside. Weekly specials include dishes from the on-premise smokehouse, and next week’s lineup has a pumpkin sage and Italian sausage cavatappi, a hot honey brisket quesadilla and a maple bourbon brisket harvest pizza. Steamed clams are a house favorite, and Pub 447 is no longer cash only. Full disclosure: we had our first round of drinks on them last night, but that doesn’t have anything to do with Monroe Unfiltered and more to do with the fact that we give well-deserved tips :)

65 Independence Rd, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301

Ratings and review counts are from Google as of Thursday, Oct. 15. Hours and menus can change, so check before you go.

Thank you to the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau for sourcing our weekend lineups. Their events calendar did the legwork so you don’t have to. Here are our picks:

Mushroomhead and Fear Factory, with Nine Treasures, at Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg. A loud one for metal fans, with Fear Factory on the bill too. Sat. 10/17, doors at 6 p.m., show at 7. $30 to $41.05. 524 Main St.

Grierfest Comedy Show at Sherman Showcase, Stroudsburg. A night of stand-up with Brad Lowery, Terrel C. Brown and John Grier, who headlined our Aug. 22 comedy night pick at The Taproom by Barley Creek. Sat. 10/17, doors at 7 p.m., show at 8. $20 to $27.75 with fees. 522 Main St.

Flash Forward: Ink to Impact at Pocono Mountain Harley-Davidson, Tannersville. NorthBound & Co., which we told you about in August, hosts its fourth annual tattoo fundraiser. Sat. 10/17, starting at 10 a.m. Free to attend. Look up the end time before you go. 110 Hill Motor Lodge Rd.

Hotel of Horror and Altered Nightmares at the Lake House Hotel, Saylorsburg. A returning pick from our Oct. 2 haunted list. It is all indoors and runs rain or shine, which helps tonight. Fri. 10/16 and Sun. 10/18 starting at 7 p.m. and Sat. 10/17 starting at 6 p.m., through Nov. 1. Hours vary by night, so check the schedule. $35 to $45, and timed online tickets are recommended. 5105 Cherry Valley Rd.

The Curse of Camelback at Camelback Mountain Adventures, Tannersville. A returning pick from our Oct. 9 Get Out, still running. Fri. 10/16 and Sat. 10/17, 6 p.m. to midnight, and Sun. 10/18, 6 to 10 p.m., now through Nov. 8. Tickets from $30. 301 Resort Dr.

The Haunted Do It In The Dark Tour at The Haunted Candle Shoppe of the Poconos, Swiftwater. A returning pick from our Oct. 9 Get Out, with access to the laboratory and the attic. Sat. 10/17, and again Oct. 23 and 30. $25 per person, with reservations at MyCandleShoppe.com. 1900 PA-611.

Live Music at The Olivet, Swiftwater. Free live music at The Swiftwater’s restaurant, with dinner and drinks before the show. Sat. 10/17, 5 to 9 p.m. 2060 Route 611.

Have a great weekend, Monroe County, and grab a jacket for Saturday.