BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JUNE 26, 2020

In a press briefing this week doctors at UPMC said a focus on the severity of the symptoms of COVID-19 is more important that counting cases in the state since they have found a majority people who are testing positive for the virus become much less sick.  According to Dr. Donald Yealy, senior medical director and chair of Emergency Medicine, cases could increase in younger patients so they’re encouraged to remain vigilant by wearing masks and remaining distanced from others, especially the elderly.  He said UPMC has 14 patients on ventilators  in 40 of their hospitals, including six in Dauphin, Cumberland, York and Lancaster counties, but warns of a second wave of the virus and the need to not let our guard down on COVID-19.

An elderly man who police say went off the road after a rear-end accident and hit the vinyl siding of a house in Antes Fort, was hospitalized yesterday.  According to  the Sun Gazette, Tiadaghton Valley Regional police said the unidentified man was taken to Geisinger Medical Center by ambulance after going off the road following the rear-end crash near the 1200 block of Rt 44 South about noon.  Police say three people were in the other car that was involved, but were not hurt.

In a 102 page report,  Attorney General Josh Shapiro recommended better ways to regulate the natural gas industry and work with elected officials to bring badly needed changes following disregard for and pollution of private property during the shale boom with Marcellus Shale.  According to Penn Live there was direct testimony in the report from more than 70 individuals who point their fingers at a state government that has failed, even touching on the governor’s Department of Environmental Protection and department of health for not collecting data about issues resulting from hydraulic fracking.  The most recent document released Thursday did not assign any criminal blame, Shapiro has charges to file on other gas companies, as well including Range Resources Corp and  Cabot Oil & Gas Corp.

The Troy Fair Board has regretfully announced that the 145th Troy Fair originally to be held July 27th of August 1st, must be cancelled due to current state restrictions over the pandemic.  According to the Troy Fair website, since their property is owned by the Troy Borough Muncipal Authority, they made the final decision.  Ticket and vendor deposit refund details will be posted as soon as the details are solidified.

There will be an increase in water and sewer bills this January after the Williamsport Municipal Water and Sanitary Authority voted for the increase Wednesday.  According to the Sun Gazette, executive director of the authority, Michael Miller said to the economic impact of the virus, the authorities deferred rate increases until January, according to Michael Miller, authority executive director. No late payment fees have been assessed since March and they had suspended shut-offs. For the average family the increase is about $1.05 per month. Increases are due to funding reservoir and dam maintenance and distribution system upgrades on West Fourth, East Third and other streets, he said.

Williamsport Businesses who are scrambling to stay afloat after COVID 19 may be helped by a revolving loan program led by the city Community and Economic Development department that was approved yesterday that makes $750,000 available to help city business and industry.  These loans will be distributed through the Redevelopment Authority not directly given by the city.  The loans are a maximum of $50,000 and a minimum of $5,000, said Stephanie Young, department director. According to the Sun Gazette, Mayor Derek Slaughter said the intent was to use the loans for impact from the virus on business and industry in the city. The loan applicants will be reviewed starting Aug. 7. The loans are expected to assist the businesses to create jobs, retain existing workforces, and cover payroll losses and other impacts from the virus pandemic.

The Selinsgrove Area Community Pool announced they are moving forward with temporary repair work after finding a substantial leak in May.  This will allow them to reopen to the public hopefully by early July. The pool board released a statement saying the work is estimated at $200,000.Funds are needed and donation information and updates are posted at selinsgrovepool.org and on their Facebook page. The pool says they will follow CDC guidelines and safety precautions set forth during COVID-19. In contrast, the Lewisburg Community Pool announced that they would not reopen this season due to financial concerns.

A blood drive to resupply our communities with urgently needed blood products will be at the Mill-Green United Methodist Church on S State St & Walnut St.  in Millville this coming Monday from 2pm til 7pm.  According to a resource development associate at Camp Victory who is hosting the event, there are still appointments available since pre-registering is required.  Blood needs are at critical levels after elective surgeries have resumed. Call 800-B-A-DONOR or visit GIVEaPINT.org today with code 8589 to participate.

SPORTS

NFL
The NFL has advised its teams to expect an on-time start for training camps next month, that means players will report no later than July 28 to begin preparing for the 2020 season.  It’s possible the four-week preseason will be shortened to keep players healthy for the Sept. 10 start of the regular season.  The Hall of Fame Game, the league’s annual preseason opener originally on Aug. 8, was cancelled by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

NBA
Vince Carter confirmed that he has retired from the NBA after his one-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks, ending his 22-year career. Carter is 19th all-time in NBA history in scoring and was the league’s Rookie of the Year in 1999. He averaged 16.7 points per game and played for eight different teams, most notably with the Raptors and Nets.

MLB
The San Francisco Giants are doing a Giants Fan Cutout Program to bring their fans’ presence to Oracle Park since the coronavirus will force the season to start without fans.  Season-ticket holders were asked to send in an image of themselves to be placed onto a weatherproof cutout that will be displayed in the stands during home games. For $99 fee, the team will place a cutout of non-season-ticket holders.  MLB announced earlier this week that it will play a 60-game regular season that is expected to begin July 23 or July 24 and last until late September.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JUNE 25, 2020

Lycoming County Commissioners announced this week that the decision to wear masks inside county buildings will now be up to the individual and not required as a policy going forward.  The commissioners cited the lower case numbers in Lycoming County, 175 as of yesterday, is positively significant, but according to the Sun Gazette, if the numbers of covid-19 cases begin to rise, Commissioner Rick Mirabito said there will be talk of wearing masks again.

In an attempt to eliminate favoritism and level the field concerning police officer promotions in the city, Williamsport City Council’s finance committee recommended a police consulting agreement with the PA Chiefs Association to proctor the tests providing a fair promotion opportunity for all officers.  According to the Sun Gazette, promotional decisions are made within the department , but Police Chief Damon Hagan said the process lets the best officers receive recognition.  The agreement now goes to City Council for review.

Parking will be enforced again in Williamsport on Monday according to Williamsport Parking Authority officials.  All parking meters and permits on streets and in parking lots will be active again except for select meters in the Central Business District that will be designated for limited parking for curbside pickups of  food and other items.  Parking was not enforced during the red, yellow and some of the green phases of the state’s plan to safely reopen after COVID-19.  The parking authority will meet in July to discuss an economic recovery plan following the crisis.

Navigating the Williamsport Fourth of July fireworks plan that saw a couple location changes in recent weeks after wildlife concerns and local ordinances caused a scramble for organizers, but Backyard Broadcasting was authorized this week to hold the 25th Annual Set the Night To Music 4th of July Fireworks Extravaganza at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds, in Hughesville. The public is invited to attend a park and watch event while being parked in a socially distanced manner near the fairgrounds by the members of the Lycoming County Fire Police Association.  Gates will open at 7pm Saturday night July 4th with the show and the radio soundtrack to begin at 9:40pm.

Some of the Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter’s cabinet positions and full-time city jobs are slated to be filled within the next few weeks.  According to the Sun Gazette, the mayor announced Wednesday that they are seeking candidates for director of the Community and Economic Development department, River Valley Transit and city finance director.  Council will be reposting the position of director of the Community and Economic Development department after some previously interested candidates did not fulfill residency requirements.  The current director, Stephanie Young is expected to retire this year.

A Virginia man was killed Tuesday  in a fatal accident in the Beaver Springs area of Snyder County. According to State police 31-year-old Jerel Harris of Madison Heights, Va. died in the 6:30am crash.b Troopers say the wreck on Route 235 just south of Beaver Springs happened when Harris’ truck was driving north, descending a hill, and lost control. The truck overturned, hit a guardrail and came to rest on its side. The Snyder County coroner says Harris died at the scene of that crash.Volunteers from the Beaver Springs, Beavertown, and Middleburg assisted troopers at the scene. Harris was not wearing a seatbelt according to troopers.

The PA state House and Senate started passing legislation yesterday that was begun over recent police brutality cases, including legislation designed to prevent “bad apples” from continuing to find employment in police departments. The bills involve  use of force reports, a written use-of-force policy with a ban on the use of choke holds, applicant background checks and disclosure of job history, as well as biannual training on de-escalation and racial sensitivity.  According to a press release, Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission is to maintain an electronic database containing that information.  All four of the bills passed Wednesday still require approval from the other chamber before going to the desk of Gov. Tom Wolf.
The district superintendent of the Loyalsock Township School District will serve as the district’s new pandemic coordinator. According to the Sun Gazette, the school has also approved their required health and safety plan that will provide guidelines for students and families during the reopening of schools this fall as well as guidelines for athletics and music practices starting over the summer.  All schools in Pennsylvania must provide a plan for each individual board to approve which is then posted on the school’s website for public viewing and then submitted to the PA Department of Education.

SPORTS
NHL
The Hockey Hall of Fame on Wednesday announced a six-member class for 2020, including Canadian goaltender Kim St-Pierre in the women’s category; and Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland in the builder category. The induction ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 16 in Toronto, but it’s unclear whether it will happen. The NHL is working on resuming its season after suspending play in March, with the playoffs potentially extending into October and delaying the start of next season until December or January.

 

MLS
Major League Soccer is soon to restart, the “MLS is Back” Tournament kicks off July 8 in Florida. The regular season will resume in a tournament format at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort, just outside Orlando.  All 26 clubs will take part, as the league breaks them up into five groups of four and one group of six.

 

The New York City Marathon was canceled yesterday, with organizers and city officials deciding that holding the race on Nov. 1 would be too risky. Organizers announced the cancellation of the 50th anniversary edition of the world’s largest marathon after coordinating with local government and deciding that the race posed too many health and safety concerns for all involved.

This year’s Berlin Marathon in Germany, also cancelled, with authorities in Germany blocking the hosting of all major events through October. That marathon was scheduled for Sept. 27.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JUNE 24, 2020

Williamsport’s Fourth of July fireworks, relocated away from the traditional Market Street bridge location this year due to permit issues, have been relocated again in an eleventh hour decision to the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville, keeping wildlife concerns a main priority.  Decisions between the City of Williamsport and Backyard Broadcasting to forgo the second location that could have cancelled the fireworks altogether, have led to the Hughesville borough  and the fairgrounds  association  voting to allow the use of their property for the  on Saturday, the 4th of July.  There will no vendors or gatherings, but there will be socially distanced parking beside the fairgrounds  on a first come first served basis thanks to the Lycoming county fire police association. Gates will open at 7. Portable facilities will be available since the Fairgrounds themselves will not be open.

A landlord who rents property on Route 14 in McIntyre Township has been issued a summons after a tenant alleges he recently arrived at the rental unannounced, unlocked the door, entered and threatened him with the man’s own ax at about 10:30 in the morning.  According to the Sun Gazette, State police say 78 year old Alan Cohick of Cogan Station who later was found to have the ax in the bed of his truck, has been asked to face charges of terroristic threats, simple assault, theft and harassment before District Judge Jerry Lepley.

The Williamsport Area School Board approved a no-tax increase general fund budget for the upcoming fiscal year, keeping the tax rate at 16.89 mills. They also approved a resocialization recommendation plan for sports and marching band practices this summer. Included in the plan is the school year waiver for students participating in these activities. The sports plan is based on a four-level system which determine the extent of the screenings, facilities cleaning and limitations on gatherings. District superintendent, Dr. Timothy S. Bowers,  said they are in the process of working on a health and safety plan for reopening which will have to be approved by the board and then sent to the state’s department of education.

The Lycoming County DUI Task Force has announced that there will be DUI Checkpoints and DUI Roving Patrols in our area throughout the 4th of July holiday.  According to t a press release by Chief Joe Hope, they will also work in conjunction with the PA Fish and Boat Commission to conduct Boating Under the Infulence checks on the local waterways.  Everyone is encouraged to drive and boat safely, as the .08 percent law will be enforced.

Backyard Broadcasting will change the location of the Annual 4th of July Fireworks for a second time after concerns about the nearby wildlife were still important to the City of Williamsport’s Mayor Derek Slaughter .  The Hughesville Borough and the fairgrounds association voted yesterday to allow the use of Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville for the location to shoot off the 4th of July Fireworks. There will still be no vendors or crowds, but there now will be socially distanced parking thanks to the Lycoming County Fire Police Association who will assist with cars spaced in the areas behind and beside the fairgrounds on a first come, first served basis, with gates opening at 7.  There will be portable facilities available since the Fairgrounds themselves will be closed. No alcohol will be permitted on fairground property.

Unable to find financial support and after determining that the COVID-19 crisis may be over at ManorCare Jersey Shore, the Lycoming County Commissioners rejected a request to move patients from a nursing care facility where personnel and patients were infected by the coronavirus.  Commissioners had been approached by the Center for Independent Living North Central Pennsylvania to allocate $250k in funding to offset care for patients once moved to a hotel. But according to the Sun gazette the commissioners researched the issue but found no funding that could support the plan.
The Jersey Shore Area School Board has approved two grants by to help the district deal with issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.  According to the  Sun Gazette, Monday night’s meeting of the board which was live and in person as well as online, approved just over $682,000, part of which will be used for  the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund and supporting remote and hybrid instruction, and the second will be used to meet the requirements for purchases within the COVID-19 Health and Safety plan.

Lycoming County Resource Management Services has reopened one additional site at Upper Fairfield Township, located at the municipal building. Collection procedures have changed to sort the inbound recyclables better, gathering all paper and broken down cardboard –plastic 1&2 steel tin aluminum, and glass.  If you or anyone in your household has COVID-19, LCRMS requests that you please throw away your recyclables.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JUNE 23, 2020

GUIDELINES APPROVED BY JERSEY SHORE SCHOOL BOARD
The Jersey Shore Area School board met Monday night and approved a list of guidelines for middle and high school sports that will be posted on the district’s website for public viewing, as well as a copy will be sent to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.   According to the Sun Gazette, Jersey Shore Athletic Director, Serena Henry, said the guidelines were compiled from ideas from PHAC athletic directors,  the Jersey Shore Music Department, as well as CDC and PA Department of Health recommendations, which include pre-meeting screenings for students, healthy hygiene practices, mask wearing and food concessions must adhere to restaurant industry standards and a potential waiver.

BRIDGE INSPECTIONS WILL CLOSE LANES ON ROUTE 15 TODAY
Route 15 north and southbound are going to be restricting lanes near the i180 interchange today in Williamsport between 8a and 2:30pm.  According to PennDOT a maintenance crew will be inspecting the bridge structures that span Lycoming Creek.  Expect the left lane of Route 15 north to be closed after exiting from 180 westbound, and Route 15 south traffic will have a left lane blocked when exiting to the 180 eastbound ramp.

LANCASTER REPUBLICAN NEW GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER
Pennsylvania lawmakers elevated Lancaster County Republican Bryan Cutler to the chamber’s top spot as speaker and choose a new slate of GOP leaders who will set the tone for policy priorities.  According to a press release from the state legislature, the General Assembly is now tasked with responding to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis, which could lead to austerity measures and conflict with Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.  Cutler’s move from majority leader comes after the early retirement of former Speaker Mike Turzai (R., Allegheny), who resigned June 15 to take a high-ranking position at a utility company House Republicans elected Rep. Kerry Benninghoff of Centre county to serve as majority leader, and Rep. Donna Oberlander  of Clarion county to be majority whip.

HUNTING LICENSES WENT ON SALE MONDAY
The Pennsylvania Game Commission began their sale of licenses of the 2020-21 hunting and furtaking seasons Monday, costing cost just over $20 for Pennsylvania residents and just over 100 dollars for nonresidents. According to the Sun Gazette, the expanded Sunday hunting for big game and an archery deer season that reaches deeper than ever into the whitetail rut, 2020  could be an historic year for hunting in Pennsylvania. Those dates are Sunday, Nov. 15 for archery deer hunting; Sunday, Nov. 22 for bear hunting; and Sunday Nov. 29 A complete list of licensing requirements for Bear, Elk and more big and small game can be found at www.pgc.pa.gov.

A 28 year old man from Hughesville is in jail and facing multiple felony charges for sexual acts involving a female minor between mid-March and June of this year.  According to the Sun Gazette, Hughesville police said Benjamin Stewart of South Main Street, engaged in sexual acts and sent and received photos of the girl.  Stewart faces 14 felony charges including three counts of statutory sexual assault, indecent assault and illegal obtaining inappropriate photos, and is incarcerated under $50k bail.

There will be a change in the traffic pattern coming up Wednesday at the Intersection Improvement Project on Routes 220/405 in the Hughesville borough and Wolfe Township.   On Wednesday work will begin work at the intersection of Routes 220 and 405 on the southbound lanes of Route 220 with Single lane conditions and flaggers with a truck detour limiting vehicle length to 30-feet.  The truck detour will use Route 405 and Route 180.  Race Street will also remain closed. Work will continue through the Fall of 2020.

A viral video showing a person painting racial graffiti saying white lives matter and misspelling white WIGHT allegedly happened on Reagan Street near Catawissa Avenue in Sunbury has been shared on the national media outlet TMZ.  Details and the identity of the painter are not available, but the video is receiving heavy criticism on social media.  According to city administrators, the message was painted over within 24 hours with neighbors saying this is not a reflection of Sunbury’s desire to promote diversity.

Penn College has officially kicked off their virtual career fair this week after shifting focus away from their traditional in person bi-annual career day events for high school and middle school students.  According to the Sun Gazette, Dr. Randy Zangara dean of College Transitions said that after March and COVID-19, an alternative for students to explore careers virtually was started.  The website which features materials in the 13 career clusters of the state’s department of education, and provides students with information about the school, high demand careers, with access to workshops and tours.  Find out more at https://www.pct.edu/events/virtual/virtual-exploration-week

SPORTS
NASCAR
Ryan Blaney held on to the lead after a restart with two laps to go Monday and earned his second straight win at Talladega Superspeedway since October on a day that began with NASCAR drivers throwing their support behind Bubba Wallace.  Thirty nine drivers pushed Wallace’s #43 car to the front of the pre-race grid in a show of solidarity of Black Lives matter and against the anonymous person who put a noose in Wallace’s garage stall this week.  Team owner Richard Petty hadn’t attended a race since NASCAR started back up in May, but he went to Talladega to show his support for Wallace.

MLB
Major League Baseball plans to unilaterally issue a 60-game schedule for its shortest season since 1878 after the players’ association rejected a negotiated deal of the same length. Commissioner Rob Manfred and union head Tony Clark met last week and outlined plans that included expanding the playoffs widening use of the designated hitter and an experiment to start extra innings with a runner on second base. Unofficially, MLB asked the union to respond by 5 p.m. EDT Tuesday as to whether players can report to training by July 1 and whether the players’ association will agree on the operating manual of health and safety protocols.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JUNE 22, 2020

LEBANON COUNTY WILL STAY YELLOW
Governor Wolf announced Friday that all but one of the remaining counties who have been in the yellow phase of his color-coded reopening plan will go green next Friday.  Lehigh, Northampton, Erie, Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Berks and Lancaster will all transition along with Philadelphia and its suburb counties, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, and Delaware.  Philly will be under some city restrictions until July 3rd.  Lebanon County will remain yellow after PA Department of Health Secretary, Dr Rachel Levine, said the county saw a rise in new infection cases, after hindering its own progress two weeks ago by attempting to reopen too early.

TWO INJURED IN MONTOURSVILLE ACCIDENT
An accident on I-180 in Montoursville involving 4 vehicles, injured at least two people at about 6:15pm Sunday.  According to the Sun Gazette, about a half-mile west of the Route 87 interchange on180, a Jeep Patriot, Chrysler Town & Country van were involved in the wreck as well as a third vehicle and a Ford Escape, which lost its’ left front tire and axle.  Two victims of the crash were treated at UPMC Williamsport.

FOX THAT ATTACKED IN LOYALSOCK TESTS POSITIVE FOR RABIES
The fox that charged and attacked a woman outside her home last week, was tested at the state Department of Health laboratory and found to be positive for rabies.  Loyalsock resident David Livermore told the Sun Gazette, that after his wife was attacked he is concerned that there could be other rabid wildlife and warn parents with children who walk near the woods on Northway Road extension to be aware of the possibility.  Livermore says his wife has gone through two rounds of the anti-rabies vaccine so far.

HIGH SCHOOL THEATER CELEBRATED
The 12th Annual Ray of Light Awards celebrating the best in high school theatre took place on Friday and instead of a long red carpet event, it was livestreamed and enjoyed via previously recorded videos or solo performances.  Photos were taken at the Community Arts Center lobby on West Fourth Street and schools were honored with a plaque or certificates of accomplishment instead of having a winner.  Schools who participated included Jersey Shore, Williamsport, Central Mountain, Loyalsock Township, Hughesville, Muncy, Midd-West, Warrior Run, Montoursville, Shikellamy, South Williamsport, Benton, Central Columbia, Line Mountain, Milton and Selinsgrove Area high schools and Meadow Brook Christian School.  DVDs of the performance are on sale at www.CTLshows.com

MANOR CARE SUNBURY SEES SPIKE IN COVID-19
There is a spike in COVID-19 at at ManorCare-Sunbury after 28 patients and five employees have tested positive for the virus according to data released by the facility’s parent company.  The company is also awaiting test results of 112 employees. As far as new cases locally, there is 1 new case in Lycoming County for a total of 173.  Fifteen in Northumberland County for a total of 254, and three new cases in Union County for a total of 84 – part of the 464 new statewide cases with the statewide total at 81,730. The state Department of Health estimates 77 percent of patients have already recovered. There are 729 COVID-19 patients still hospitalized in Pennsylvania, including 149 that remain on ventilators.

DIVE TEAM ASSISTED SATURDAY IN SUSQUEHANNA
The Pennsylvania State Police worked with a dive team Saturday from Lackawanna County in the Bloomsburg Branch of the Susquehanna River.  According to a press release by the State Police in Bloomsburg, through a state investigation involving the Bloomsburg Criminal Investigation Unit, information was obtained that potential evidence was discarded in this area of the river and multiple units were used in the search.  The teams were assisted by the state police and Troop N Forensic Services Unit.

HOSPITAL SYSTEM EXTENDS HOURS, SATURDAY SURGERIES
Some offices in the North Central and Central Region of Geisinger Medical Center are moving through their planned reopening phases this week and have announced extended hours as well as some Saturday surgeries.  According to a press release by the hospital, Geisinger Plastic Surgery at Montoursville, Tiadaghton Health Center Specialty Services, and Vascular Surgery at Williamsport have extended hours in the north central region and some central offices reopened include Geisinger Millville, Mount Carmel, Selinsgrove Cardiology among others.   Patients are being contacted by their care teams to discuss appointments.  For more information about getting back to care safely at Geisinger, visit geisinger.org/safe.

PENNDOT WATER LINE PROJECT STARTS TODAY
Penn DOT says Route 45 will see a long-term lane closure start for a waterline project in Mifflinburg, Union County today.  A contractor  will begin work on the project along Chsetnut street and motorists can expect the eastbound lane of Route 45 to be closed between the intersection with Forest Hill Road and Line Street. Traffic will be controlled by flagging during daylight hours. Work at the Forest Hill Road intersection will be completed during the overnight hours. Work is expected to be completed by Friday, July 10, with the final wearing coat to be paved a few weeks later, weather permitting.

MORATORIUM ON UTILITIES WILL REMAIN FOR NOW
One member of the Pennsylvania’s Public Utility Commission, made a motion to end the 3-month old moratorium on terminating utility services to non-paying customers Thursday but the move was rejected in a 2-2 vote.  Commissioner John F. Coleman Jr, made the motion about non-natural gas utilities terminations which were halted in March, but collection activities can still take place.  According to the Sun Gazette, Coleman said electric utilities are asking to restart termination processes, warning that a delay will result in large unpaid bills requiring more aggressive collection efforts.

SPORTS

HS WRESTLING
The Montgomery School Board approved Denny Harer as the next varsity wrestling coach for the Red Raiders by an 8-1 vote last week.  Harer replaces Kyle Mowrey whose contract was not renewed following a 6-5 season in which the Red Raiders qualified for the District 4 Duals. Mowrey was 49-78 in seven seasons at Montgomery.  Harer accumulated a 231-88 record coaching at Muncy. He coached 23 state qualifiers and 16 state medalists with the Indians, including a trio of state champions, which in 2011, snapped a 55-year drought at Muncy without a state wrestling champion.
GOLF
Webb Simpson emerged from a crowd of contenders with five birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine for a 7-under 64 to win the RBC Heritage by one shot over Abraham Ancer and set a tournament scoring record -22-under 264 to break by two shots the tournament record set in 2009

The NASCAR Cup Series dealt with rainy weather, as Sunday’s Geico 500 in Talladega, Alabama was postponed until today at  3p  at Talladega Superspeedway

A noose was found in the garage stall of Bubba Wallace at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama, on Sunday, less than two weeks after Wallace, who is NASCAR’s only black driver, successfully pushed the stock car racing series to ban the Confederate flag at its tracks and facilities. NASCAR officials said they are working with law enforcement in an immediate investigation.
NHL
Connor McDavid’s Upper Deck “The Cup” rookie patch autograph card sold for a final bid of $113,176 on Friday in the Lelands Spring Classic Auction. While other versions of the card are valued at more than $50,000, this was a one-of-a-kind item: Out of a 99-card run, this card was No. 97, which is McDavid’s jersey number with the Edmonton Oilers.

HORSES
At the Belmont Stakes without fans Saturday, Tiz the Law raced to a 3 and 3 quarter length victory to kick off the rescheduled Triple Crown.  The Kentucky Derby is September 5th and Preakness on October 3rd

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JUNE 19, 2020

U.S. Representative Fred Keller continued his listening tour at the Tioga County Courthouse. According to the Sun-Gazette, Standardized testing and community policing are needed to change police culture and end unnecessary violence, said law enforcement specialists at a roundtable discussion, which included state Rep. Clint Owlett, as well as Mansfield University administrators, community leaders and Commissioner Erick Coolidge. Keller stated, “Those officers and law enforcement advocates with integrity are working to make sure that others are held accountable for their terrible actions.”

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously, saying that individuals holding a valid medical marijuana card are immune from “arrest, prosecution or penalty in any manner” under state law, even if the individual is under a court’s supervision. According to the AP, Counties may not ban people on probation or parole from using prescription cannabis if they are registered in Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The ruling also stated that Congress prohibits the Justice Department from using federal dollars to prevent each state from implementing any laws regarding medical marijuana.

Pennsylvania State Police Drug Law Central Section reported A convicted drug dealer in three states allegedly was caught with a revolver in Williamsport. According to NorthCentralPa.com, Terrance M. Ceasear, 38, of Meade St., Williamsport, has been in and out of court for felony drug dealing since 2003, Trooper Jason Miller said. Police said they found the revolver inside the box for Ceasear’s air mattress in a hallway closet. Ceasear was charged with one count of first degree felony possession of firearm prohibited on June 10. Ceasear was committed to the Lycoming County Prison on June 12 in lieu of $85,000 monetary bail.

PennDOT is alerting motorists that a bridge replacement project on Route 477 is set to begin Monday, June 22nd. The bridge spans Long Run in the Rote/Salona area of Lamar Township and replacing it will remove the structure from Clinton County’s list of bridges in poor condition. A detour using Auction Road and 220 will be implemented and will remain in effect until the project is complete.

Police are looking for two men who attempted to burglarize a home on State Route 405 in Wolf Township. According to NorthCentralPa.com, Pennsylvania State Police were dispatched to the home at 1:30 am on June 7th, for a report of a burglary in progress. Two white males, approximately 20 to 30 years old, arrived on the scene in a white colored four-door sedan. They exited the vehicle and began banging on the victim’s front door, police said. The suspects then fled the scene in an unknown direction. Anyone with information is asked contact PSP Montoursville.

A mother in Fairfield Township has been charged with one misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child. According to state trooper Matthew Trick, Kassidy Phillips, 30, of 91 Odell Road, Muncy  overdosed on heroin in her home while taking care of her 3-year-old daughter, according to state Trooper Matthew Trick. During the morning of January 30th , Phillips, passed out from taking the drug while alone at home with her daughter, Trick said. According to the Sun Gazette, at the hospital, Phillips admitted to “snorting” one bag of heroin and overdosing. She has been sent a summons to appear before District Judge Gary Whiteman.

On Wednesday, PennDOT announced that it will begin applying high friction surface treatments at four sites in Clinton, Juniata and Mifflin counties on Monday, June 22nd. This project will improve skid resistance and enhance safety for motorists on the impacted routes. Interstate 80 westbound approximately a quarter mile before the Clinton County rest area at mile marker 194 is one of the four areas included in the project.

Penn College of Technology students can expect to pay higher tuition costs as well as housing and dining services after the college’s board of directors approved a $156.6 million budget Thursday, according to the Sun Gazette. The budget reflects a $3.9 million decrease in spending from the current year’s budget and a 3.5 percent decrease in credit-hour production or enrollment in 2020-21.  President of Penn College, Dr. Davie Jane Gilmore stated, “The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented complexities and uncertainties in our 2020-21 budget projections”

SPORTS

NFL

Dr. Anthony Fauci believes it may be impossible for the NFL to hold their 2020 season amidst the coronavirus pandemic. According to Sports Illustrated, Dr. Fauci says that players would have to be “essentially in a bubble” in order to avoid a league-wide outbreak. The statement comes days after Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot tested positive for the virus.

MLB

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred immediately rejected the MLB Players Union’s proposal for a 70-game regular season schedule on Thursday. The proposal also included full pro-rated pay and expanded playoffs for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. This came a day after MLB’s latest proposal which included a 60-game schedule and full prorated salaries.

NCAA

In a statement yesterday, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey threatened to not host any future conference championship events in Mississippi until the state changes its flag. According to ESPN, the NCAA already banned any of its predetermined postseason events from being held in Mississippi because of the flag.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JUNE 18, 2020

According to Governor Tom Wolf, yesterday marked 100 days since the first case of COVID-19 struck the commonwealth.  He says Pennsylvania is one of a few states to see a downward trend in the virus and efforts here have been cited as an example for reopening safely according to the CDC.  This week, more than 2.1 million cases have been reported in the U.S., with 37 states and jurisdictions reporting more than 10,000. Pennsylvania has 77, 543 cases of COVID-19.  Lycoming County, just 172.

A grey fox attacked a woman in her driveway Wednesday afternoon in Loyalsock Township, biting her foot and ankle before her husband killed it with a blunt object.  According to the Sun Gazette, the state game warden was notified after the unidentified woman was attacked in the 1000 block of Northway road and sought treatment at UPMC Williamsport for the bites and scratches.  The dead fox will be tested for rabies and other diseases in a state Department of Health lab.

The state Senate Judiciary and Justice Committees heard statements from lawmakers and special interest groups including representatives from the NAACP Wednesday about accountability reforms involving criminal justice and police matters.  There was a call from State District Attorney Josh Shapiro to end the practice of hiring police officers with a history of using excessive force by using a database that a state House bill passed this week helps establish. State Sen. Gene Yaw of Loyalsock Township, said the hearings will evaluate the need to strengthen laws and make reforms ACLU Pennsylvania Legislative Director Elizabeth Randol called for the decriminalization of victimless crimes.

A Biologist who was consulted through the Pennsylvania Game Commission by Backyard Broadcasting after learning the Williamsport Fireworks could have potentially impacted a nearby Bald Eagle nest, has said the Fourth of July Fireworks celebration is unlikely to impact any nesting eaglets that some in the community were concerned about.  According to the Sun Gazette, wildlife biologist Mark Ternet, says the zone designated for pyrotechnics for the Set the Night to Music fireworks extravaganza is outside of the parameters for worry. Ternet says this bald  eagles nest is the noisiest in the state, often hearing traffic and construction while coping with it and thriving.

Route 45 reopened just after noon yesterday after being closed in both directions for several hours between Fairground Road and 14th street in East Buffalo Township due to a fire that spread to two  homes from a garage that was attached.  According to the Daily Item, fire crews from two counties responded to the blaze that was first called just before 9am yesterday for a garage fire between 15th and 16th streets which, quickly spread to the adjacent home when a second alarm was called.  PennDOT had local detour  in place for fire crews who were on the scene for over 4 hours Fire crews from Lewisburg, Mifflinburg, Milton, White Deer Township, Union Township, and Shamokin Dam fire departments were on the scene. No injuries were reported.

PennDOT will be on the roadway  Interstate 80 eastbound in West Buffalo Township today for a Soil re-mediation project.  Following a tractor trailer crash in Union County around mile marker 198, a contractor will be blocking the left lane of I-80 East from about 7am til 5pm today.  Watch for crews on the shoulder and follow posted speed limits.

Four Williamsport Area School District teams performed well in a virtual Odyssey of the Mind virtual World Finals recently, Out of two groups from  Curtin Intermediate School, one earned a historic second-place ranking. The team from Williamsport Area High School earned an eighth-place win, while another took 15th. One other team from Curtin Intermediate took 20th. The World Finals were originally scheduled to take place at Iowa State University last month. With the cancelation of the in-person event due to the pandemic, each team competed virtually by sending in a performance video of them solving their respective problem.

 

SPORTS
MLB
Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and union executive director Tony Clark met face-to-face for four hours in Phoenix yesterday, as requested by Manfred, to continue discussions about a return-to-play plan for the 2020 baseball season. The sides remained split, as a 60-games schedule, which would start July 19th, was deemed to short by the player’s union. Leaving the 2020 MLB season in question.

 

NFL
Arizona Cardinals Quarterback, Kyler Murray, added his name to the list of players that plan to kneel during the National Anthem when the NFL returns this fall. According to NFL.com, Murray told reporters, “Yeah, I’ll be kneeling. I stand for what’s right. That’s the bottom line,” Murray joins J.J. Watt, Baker Mayfield, Adrian Peterson and others that have publicly stated their plan to kneel.

 

NBA
The NBA’s return to play policy has raised concern from the National Basketball Coaches Association according to ESPN. The NBCA fears new league standards and guidelines that could bar team staffers in high-risk categories for the coronavirus from attending the NBA season’s restart in Orlando, Florida, could “severely jeopardize” their future employment opportunities. Head Coaches, Mike D’Antoni, Alvin Gentry and Greg Popovich could be restricted from coaching their respective teams once the season resumes in Orlando.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JUNE, 17, 2020

FOUR INJURIES AND ONE FATALITY IN ROUTE 487 ACCIDENT
An accident that happened Monday on SR 487 south of Zaner Bridge Road in Fishing Creek Township killed the driver of one vehicle, seriously injured his passengers and also injured the drivers of another vehicle who were hit head on along the Columbia County highway.  State Police at Bloomsburg say 52 William Garris of Holiday, FL,  was driving an Oldsmobile Cutlass Sierra, with 65 year old Paula Martin of Elmira, and 29 year old William Garris as his passengers. The Oldsmobile struck the guiderail heading south on 487, overcorrected and veered into the northbound lane where 34 year old Bridget Kingston of Bloomsburg and 19 year old Karlea Bingman of Catawissa were in a Kia Sorrento which then flipped over.  Police say Garris Sr. died upon impact of the crash, three victims were Life-Flighted to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville with serious injuries following the collision and Paula Martin also in serious condition was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM TO END
These are the last two weeks of the Paycheck Protection Program, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.  The program works with lenders to prioritize access to capital and loan forgiveness for those who qualify. Underserved and disadvantaged businesses and nonprofits are encouraged to use the PPP financing, and are reminded of the upcoming deadline of June 30, 2020. So far, according to  apress release by the SBA they have  already served more than 4.5M businesses and nonprofits, infusing more than $500B into the economy. https://www.sba.gov/paycheckprotection/find  to apply.

HUNTING LICENSES AVAILABLE MONDAY
The Pennsylvania Game Commission has announced that licensed for the 2020-21 season go on sale next Monday, June 22nd.   General hunting and furtaker licenses will be available and resident seniors can purchase lifetime licenses, with changes in state law, hunting will be permitted on three Sundays in the commonwealth.  A resident Pennsylvanian with a current hunting license is eligible to apply for an antlerless deer license July 13, with non-residents able to apply July 20. The deadline to apply for an elk license, awarded by lottery, is July 31. Information is available at  pgc.pa.gov. The 2020-21 license year begins July 1.

PA REPRESENTATIVE WILL VOLUNTEER AT FREE DINNER EVENT
Jeff Wheeland, of the 83rd  District of the PA House of Representatives will be one of the volunteers to serve the public during the “Take Out on PA Skill” free dinner event with Meile Manufacturing and Backyard Broadcasting at the 220 Eatery in Linden this Thursday from 4-6.  According to a press release, due to financial challenges following COVID-19, this is a way to meet and also give back to the communities hit hard by the pandemic.  All families, especially those impacted by the recent changes are invited to the event this at 7458 S. Route 22 in Linden.

BLIGHTED PROPERTY REVIEW COMMITTEE PLAN DISCUSSED
Williamsport City Council’s first meeting of the new 6 member blighted property review committee at the Trade and Transit Centre II Tuesday, and determined it could take over $100K to pay for removal of blighted properties in the city. However this committee was formed to enable the Redevelopment Authority to acquire by purchase, gift, bequest, eminent domain or otherwise, any blighted property, according to city ordinance.  According to the Sun Gazette, the committee said if the properties are purchased by the city, there needed to be a deed restriction requiring owners to fix the property to the city code within a certain time.  The next meeting of the committee is July 15th

VICTIMS  FROM ROUTE 220 ACCIDENT RECOVERING
Two men from Lycoming County are recovering after a head-on collision that occurred on Route 220 and Champion Hill Road in Davidson Township, Saturday morning June 6th left them seriously injured.  According to the Sun Gazette, Geisinger Medical Center said patients, 30 year old Andrew Taylor of Muncy and his passenger 31 year old Afton Digilarmo of Hughesville are no longer being treated for their critical injuries there.  Police are investigating  and are working on reconstructing the accident but they say Taylor’s pickup truck crossed the center line about 2:30am and crashed head on into an oncoming tractor trailer. That driver was not identified, but was treated at UPMC for minor injuries.  Volunteer firefighters from Muncy Valley, Eagles Mere and Laporte responded to the accident.

SUSPECT TAKES SOMETHING AND LEAVES SOMETHING
Police in Danville are looking for a suspect who broke into a vehicle in Valley Township and ultimately defecated in the garage before fleeing the scene with a bike and belongings from the victim’s car.  PA State police say, on June 9th a person broke into a car on Old Valley Road, taking clothing and stealing a white Mongoose mountain bike, but not before deciding to leave something behind.  Police are investigating the theft.

RECYCLING IN MUNCH CREEK TOWNSHIP TO BEGIN AGAIN
Muncy Creek Township has recycling available once again at the municipal building according to Lycoming County Resource Management.  Rules for recycling continues to follow new protocols as at all Lycoming County recycling facilities, with new combined materials like, broken down fibers, newspaper and cardboard – plastic 1&2, tin steel and aluminum – and glass bottles and jars.  The public is still asked to not throw the bags used to bring recyclables to facility into the receptical

SPORTS
NBA
A 100 page document from the NBA detailing what life will be like for players when basketball resumes next month on the Disney campus in Florida, was sent to the players yesterday.  A detailed protocol for when a positive test is obtained from a player was spelled out, as well as living conditions and requirements if a player is quarantined.  The players have until June 24 to inform their respective teams whether they plan to participate in the NBA’s return-to-play plan at Walt Disney World.

College Football
Oklahoma State football coach Mike Grundy was called out by a player after a picture of him wearing a shirt with the logo of right-wing news network One America News was discovered and prompted the star running back, Chuba Hubbard, to threaten to boycott the team.  Gundy apologized and vowed positive changes for his football program.  Hubbard, a redshirt junior from Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, rushed for 2,094 yards last season and was a first-team All-American and the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.

MLB
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times yesterday, Dr. Anthony Fauci warned of the potential dangers of letting the Major League Baseball season go too far into the fall due to the lack of knowledge about how the virus will behave during colder months. The potential for a season of any length is currently unclear, as the commissioner’s office won’t set a schedule unless the union waives its right to file a grievance against the league.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JUNE 16, 2020

WEEKNIGHT CRASH INJURES TWO TRUCK DRIVERS
A fiery tractor trailer crash leading to a brushfire closed both lanes of Route 15 north in Tioga County last night a little after 5:30pm, and crews may still be cleaning up part of the scene today.  According to PennDOT, a local detour was in place for hours using the Route 284, Buttonwood Exit to the Sebring exit in Liberty Township.  According to social media reports by First News Now, both drivers were injured, one was rescued from the burning cab and taken from the scene by Lifeflight at around 6:30pm.  The other driver was taken by ambulance and hospitalized.  One truck carried cardboard and was smoldering from the fire, and a reported explosion from the crash caused a wildfire at the side of the road.  Crews from Blossburg and Liberty were the first to respond with additional support by Mansfield, Morris Run and Trout Run.  State Police are investigating the cause of the accident.

PA LGBTQ ADVOCATES CELEBRATE HISTORIC SUPREME COURT WIN
In a 6-3 vote the justices ruled that the nation’s landmark civil rights law protects gay and transgender workers from workplace discrimination, and members of the Pennsylvania House LGBTQ Equality Caucus celebrated the ruling yet also noted that even with the historic win, work remains to extend civil rights protections to all Pennsylvanians beyond the workplace. House Bill 1404, protects employees, customers, students, patients and residents from discrimination based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.

LEWISBURG BOROUGH OFFICES OPEN BY APPOINTMENT
The public is now able to make an appointment to meet with the staff at the Lewisburg borough office according to media reports.  Cloth masks will be required at the offices that opened Monday for people who need to come to the facility.  The public can schedule an appointment by calling 570-523-3614. The brush and mulch piles will be open Saturday from 8-noon this weekend and then next week, opening Wednesdays 8-4.  The Lewisburg Borough Recycling Center will also only be open Wednesdays from 8am to 4pm until further notice, with no Saturday hours.

HERSHEY PARK TO OPEN
Hershey Entertainment and Resorts has announced opening day for Hersheypark will be July 3 for the general public. All park attractions will be open and the park will have new safety and sanitation protocols, based on recommendations from the CDC and PA Department of Health, which will include; face coverings and temperature screenings with all guests over age 2, ride protocols for social distancing and sanitizing and a guest reservation system to help limit capacity during park hours among other changes.  ZooAmerica will reopen to the general public June 22.   For more information on all attractions and hours, visit www.HersheyPA.com.

MORE COVID-19 TESTING AT SUPERCENTERS
Governor Tom Wolf has announced that nine more COVID-19 drive-thru testing sites will open in Walmart parking lots across the state, bringing the total to 19 sites at Walmart locations. Tests are available by registering one say in advance at the Quest Diganostics website.  Sites in our area that will be open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. will include the Supercenters in Coal Township, Selinsgrove, Lewisburg, Mansfield and Sayre.  According to the PA Department of Health, Adding these locations to those already offered by hospitals, health systems, FQHCs, health clinics and other locations significantly expands the testing network in the state.

SNYDER COUNTY EXTENDS PROPERTY TAX DEADLINE
Snyder County residents have a little more time to pay local property taxes.  The county and local municipalities have passed resolutions that allow residents to pay their property taxes by September 30, without penalty.  However, the Commissioners said that even though property taxes are extended, the county per capita invoices are still due by August 31, since the legislation did not allow a deadline change for that.  Residxetns can call the Snyder County Commissioner’s office with questions at 570-837-4207.

NO REAL ESTATE HIKE IN SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT
A real estate tax hike in South Williamsport will be avoided after the South Williamsport Area School Board approved a 2020-21 budget last night.  The spending plan, at $19.5 million will have a tax millage rate of 16.78.There is a 1.1 percent earned income tax and 0.5 percent real transfer tax that also supports the budget. According to the Sun Gazette, the board approved refinancing of general obligation bonds to help avoid a property tax hike.  In other business, the board approved a lease agreement with Apple Inc. for iPads allowing annual payments beginning in the upcoming school year. Funding in the first year will come from federal CARES Act dollars and COVID grant money.

UNIVERSITIES PLAN FOR FALL
Local Colleges and universities continue to announce reopening plans for the fall with local colleges, Lock Haven, Lycoming and Penn College, as well as Bloomsburg and Mansfield are all formulating task forces to plan strategically for the fall semester.  Groups of community members, health officials, students and faculty will work to develop plans in order to have in-person instruction the campuses this fall with health and safety in mind while working to follow guidelines set out by the state’s Department of Education and the CDC.

SPORTS
HS Wrestling
The PIAA took its next step toward eliminating a wrestling weight class Monday when the Board of Directors voted unanimously to pass the new weight classes on a second reading. If the board passes the new weight class proposal on a third reading at its July meeting, there will be 13 weight classes for the 2020-2021 season.  The new weight classes (106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215, 285) came as a recommendation from the PIAA’s Wrestling Steering Committee and was the result of a three-year long look at the adjustments.

HS Soccer
Greta Kriner who has been playing in AYSO in the early 2000s and has been a referee, for high school and district games, is the newest Montgomery girls soccer coach, replacing Melissa Balliett who coached the past three seasons. Kriner will be hoping to turn things around at Montgomery this fall as she inherits a team that finished 2-15-1 last year and went 1-9 in the Mid-Penn Conference.  Kriner’s dad, Fritz Newhart, was president of the NorCenPenn Youth Soccer League and the Hughesville soccer club while she was growing up.

NCAA
Players on Ohio State’s Football team have to sign a COVID-19 waiver, Called the Buckeye Pledge, if they want to take the field this year.  The waiver lets all parties agree on safety protocols like mask wearing and social distancing rules.  The school’s athletic directror says its more about safety than liability.

MLB
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred says he’s not confident that there will be a 2020 baseball season.  Owners and players are having a hard time agreeing on terms of the new season, this after he said in a statement last week that the likelihood of playing the season was 100%

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JUNE 15, 2020

MORE COUNTIES TO GO GREEN
Lycoming County is entering another full week in the green phase of Governor Tom Wolf’s reopening plan for Pennsylvania, and as of last week, Williamsport City Council voted to follow the state’s guidelines for a phased reopening.  As a result, Mayor Slaughter said he will deny permits for all mass gatherings during July.  According to the Sun Gazette, this would negate the proposed meeting date of July 18th for the neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement rally, who considered applying for another permit after their event in April was postponed.

WOMAN ALLEGEDLY UNDER INFLUENCE DRAGS DAUGHTER WITH CAR
A Williamsport woman allegedly hit and dragged her 14-year old daughter about 40 feet while driving a Buick sedan following her smoking a cigarette laced with the drug PCP.  According to Penn Live, 40year old Vanessa Lynn Weaver was attempting to park her car along Washington Boulevard near Packer Street on May 7th after returning with her daughter from the store and struck her with the open door while in reverse.  The teen required a life flight, after suffering serious injuries, to Geisigner Medical center Danville where she remained in a coma for at least a week with a skull fracture, brain hemorrhage and other injuries. Officers had to remove the unresponsive woman physically from the vehicle .  Following her arraignment, Weaver was committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $250,000 bail.

PENN STATE ANNOUNCES FALL SCHEDULE
Penn State University has announced their plan for resuming instruction for the fall semester with some changes in the wake of COVID-19.  According to State college.com, classes will begin on August 24th, with campus-based instruction ending on November 20th, with remote learning when classes resume after Thanksgiving break and online final exams online. There will be classes on Labor Day to minimize travel.  The semester will end on December 18th  as planned.  The schedule is part of the university’s “Back to State” plan for returning students and employees to campus.

LOCAL BLM VIGIL SUNDAY
A candlelight vigil and a march attended by Williamsport residents was part of a remembrance and peaceful protest supporting “Black Lives Matter” in the city Sundayt. According to the Sun Gazette, the group marched from Third and Market Streets to First United Methodist Church where names of those black men and women who had been killed by officers or vigilantes were read during the event.

Governor Tom Wolf announced Friday that eight more counties will move to the green phase of reopening next this coming Friday, June 19th , including Dauphin, Franklin, Huntingdon, Luzerne, Monroe, Perry, Pike, and Schuylkill. As of today, there are 46 counties in green and 21 in yellow.  Governor Wolf announced a new dashboard on the Department of Health website, to further enhance data on demographics of cases, demographics of deaths and the reopening status.

There is more information about the fatal shooting of a male and female state police investigated inside at home in Turbot Township last week.  According to State Police at Milton, they were called to a home at 610 Phillips Road in Northumberland County last Wednesday around 1pm.  Police reports say 59 year old Brenda Hurst shot a 14-year old boy inside the home and died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.  The name of the boy has been withheld and there is no word on a motive in the incident.

The Williamsport Regional Municipal Airport’s authority met last week and has made plans to begin marketing of the new seven day a week flight service from Montoursville to Charlotte, NC that is slated to begin in August.  According to the Sun Gazette, there are three firms who have sent proposals for the work.  Airport Executive Director Richard Howell said that the Montour Street project is still behind schedule, but there is also a number of airport projects to consider with the over $100k received from the federal CARES Act funding.

Lock Haven University has created a new department that will serve as a resource and advocate for the diverse university community called the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. LHU President, Dr. Robert Pignatello, said in a statement that he has met with students about how the university can best embrace equity and fairness and reject hate and bias as an institution. The new office will report directly to the president and the director will be a member of the university’s executive staff.  Kenneth Hall, director of the Center for Excellence and Inclusion at LHU, will serve as interim director of the new office.

 

SPORTS
NASCAR
Sunday, Denny Hamlin held off Chase Elliott for his record-tying third NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway’s the Dixie Vodka 400.  He led 137 of 267 laps on the 1 1/2-mile track in Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 11 Toyota, finishing 0.895 seconds ahead of Chase Elliott.  Ryan Blaney was third,Tyler Reddick finished fourth.

GOLF
The first PGA Tour event back after a three-month pause amid of the coronavirus pandemic saw Daniel Berger win the 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge in a playoff over Collin Morikawa.  The latest in a long stretch of good play for Berger, the now three-time winner on the PGA Tour. Sunday’s 66 is his 28th straight round at par or better.

MiLB
The 2020 season for the New York Penn League has been delayed indefinitely due to COVID-19 according to a press release.  This Thursday the season was to begin with the State College Spikes hosting the Williamsport Crosscutters. In a statement from the NY-Penn League they will continue to monitor the situation and work with our Major League Baseball affiliates, while adhering to local reopening guidelines if possible.

COLLEGE WRESTLING
Montoursville graduate and three-time state placewinner Garrett Hoffman who wrestled as a true freshman at Bucknell and suffered serious knee-injuries will spend his final year of eligibility at Indiana University to wrestle as a graduate student for Hoosier coach Angel Escobedo.  Hoffman has already graduated from Bucknell, so he can go to Indiana without having to sit out a season and will be enrolled in a graduate program for business.

Upcoming

Facebook

Powered By SoCast