BACKYARD BROADCASTING WEEKEND NEWS JUNE 6, 2020

PA GOES GREEN, MORE ON THE WAY
The commonwealth has achieved a big milestone in the fight against covid-19. All 67 counties are not in the red anymore, including even the hardest hit areas around Philadelphia, and it’s looking good moving forward for many of the counties as we reopen. Yesterday, Lycoming County was among 34 of  67 counties announced to be transitioning into the green phase.  In Governor Wolf’s daily press conference,  he said the data continues to show a decline in case counts.  Next Friday an additional 12 counties will transition into the green, including Adams, Beaver, Carbon, Columbia, Cumberland, Juniata, Mifflin, Northumberland, Union, Wayne Wyoming and York Counties. While Governor Wolf is very proud of Pennsylvanians for attaining green status, he says counties need to remain vigilant, wearing masks and following safety guidelines to prevent new infections.

PEACEFUL PROTESTS IN WILLIAMSPORT
Yesterday Memorial Park and Bowman Field were filled with Williamsport area residents in protest of recent charges of police brutality against George Floyd.  Hundreds of walkers, including many local leaders participated in the 7.42 mile pro-equality march from Memorial Park to the Broad Street Bridge in Montoursville. According to the Sun Gazette, Mayor Derek Slaughter commented on the “Walk about it Be About it” walk, saying he hears their voices and supports them in Williamsport.

SCHOOLS PREPARE FOR FALL REOPENING
After Governor Wolf announced guidelines this week for schools and universities to begin reopening in June and July  around the commonwealth, school have ramped up and are getting ready for a new normal  in the fall.  Schools have been given the option to provide hybrid instruction between in-person and online learning.  Deputy Secretary of the office of elementary and secondary education, Matt Stem said that required elements of reopening such as cleaning and social distancing will be addressed by school leaders at a local level while following the CDC guidelines.

FATAL ACCIDENT IN MUNCY VALLEY
PennDOT  is detouring traffic this morning  onto Route 42 in Muncy Valley and Laporte after a fatal vehicle crash that closed both lanes of Route 220 in Davidson Township, Sullivan County.  According to WNEP, 60 year old Kenneth Mann from Eagles Mere was on Rt 220 attempting a left turn near Muncy Valley when his and another car collided.  Police say Mann was pronounced dead at the scene.  Traffic is being detoured onto Route 42.  The road is expected to be closed for several hours.

LIBRARY INITIATIVE GETS PARENTS READING TO KIDS
Northumberland, Snyder and Union county libraries are trying to start a local movement called the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge. The movement is meant to develop early literacy skills, and by reading just one book a day out loud to children,  the 1,000 book goal can be reached in just 3 years. According to the sun gazette, library officials say that Reading is fundamental to the healthy physical, emotional development of a child, get details at 1000 books before kindergarten dot org

PENNDOT ROADWORK EXTENDED
Lane restrictions will continue next week on Interstate 80 in both the eastbound and westbound lanes in Liberty Township, Montour County.  Motorists will see work starting Sunday evening through Friday, June 12 weather permitting. All work will be done between the hours of 7:00 PM and 10:00 AM each day.  Watch for short term lane restrictions and crews between mile markers 217 and 233, both eastbound and westbound. This is part of a 6-mile roadway restoration project patching deteriorated concrete, sealing joints and updating guide rails.

LOCAL GRADUATIONS
Several Graduation Ceremonies in the area took place this past week with Jersey Shore getting set for their commencement today.  Last Wednesday night 132 seniors from Hughesville High School watched a jumbo screen from their cars at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds featuring a video presentation of the students receiving their diplomas, Thursday, Williamsport Area high school live-streamed 317 seniors graduating, in cars with families in tow, through the school’s bus loop to celebrate their 149th annual commencement.  Last night, Loyalsock, Montgomery and South Williamsport celebrated their seniors as well.  Congratulations to the class of 2020, from everyone at Backyard Broadcasting.

Sports

MiLB
The Williamsport Crosscutters New York – Pennsylvania league season was originally scheduled to begin June 18th. They have recently released a statement notifying the public that they doubt the season will start on time due to the ongoing corona virus pandemic.

NBA
The Chicago Bulls were one of 7 teams not invited to finish up the 2020 season. Bulls star Zack LaVine during an interview that its upsetting and that they need to do a lot of things differently to get themselves more recognition.

NCAA Football
Pennsylvania State University is bringing football players back on June 15. 75 student athletes that have been medically cleared will be able to begin voluntary workouts next Monday.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JUNE 5, 2020

Lycoming County is in the green today.   Accoriding to the Sun Gazette, Mayor Derek Slaughter said City Hall is not fully reopened and they are making appointments by phone for those who want to see office personnel.  The office entrance at the first floor will be closed, those with appointments should enter through the Police department at the rear of City Hall.  and the numbers of coronavirus cases continue to trend down with 537 new cases reported in Pennsylvania for a total of 73, 942.  Deaths reported in the state as of yesterday are at 75 according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, with a statewide total of 5,817.  Lycoming County still has 166 cases and 21 deaths.

Governor Wolf spoke out yesterday, announcing a plan to address police misconduct, help law enforcement agencies at the county and state level improve de-escalation training and authorized the use of special prosecutors for deadly assault cases.  According to PennLive, Governor Wolf showed his support this week by marching with protesters during Wednesday’s rally against injustice and gun violence in Harrisburg.  In a press release by Pennsylvania State Troopers Association President David Kennedy said Wolf’s words and choice to march with some aligned against police were an attack on Pennsylvania’s Dedicated Law Enforcement Community.

Medical professionals from UPMC in the Susquehanna region have partnered with spiritual leaders from the United Churches of Lycoming County to develop faith-based guidelines to assist spiritual leaders with how best to reopen places of worship while keeping congregations safe. The Getting Back to Worship Safely Guide consults the most up-to-date guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and contains recommendations for establishing standards in several categories and illness protocols for resuming  worship. To read the full guide, click here.

The Lycoming Mall will reopen today at 11 am as Lycoming County awakens to the green phase.  According to the mall’s parent company, social distancing and mask wearing is still encouraged and they are not sure which stores will be open, as some tenants have yet to confirm their residency.  Those stores open from 11a to 7pm Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 on Sundays may have requirements different from those the mall have designated.

Lycoming County is among 34 of the state’s 67 counties which will be in the green phase today. Ten counties changed to a yellow designation from as well, including  Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh, Northampton, Montgomery, and Philadelphia.   Gov. Tom Wolf will announce  today that more counties will be allowed to enter the “green” phase of his pandemic reopening plan.  The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed nearly 73,942 cases and a total of 5,817 deaths because of the virus in the commonwealth.

Work will continue on the Interstate 180 bridge resurfacing project from the Route 15 interchange to Basin Street in the City of Williamsport and Loyalsock Township this weekend.  There will be epoxy deck treatments applied to the Interstate 180 bridge structures over Hepburn Street and Basin Street.

The left lane will be closed tonight at 9:00 PM through Monday, at 6:00 AM, while the work is being performed. This is a continuation of last year’s project and work is expected to be completed by the end of June in 2020.

More recycling areas are reopening in Lycoming County.  The Montoursville location between the borough building and Indian Park has re-opened according to lyco.org, as well as the Old Lycoming Township location.  County officials still encourage those recycling to wear masks at the facilities.  In addition to the two new announced locations, Hughesville, Jersey shore, Loyalsock Township, South Williamsport Borough and Williamsport recycling facilities are all open 24 hours a day. The Lycoming county landfill on Alexander Drive in Montgomery is open Monday through Friday 7 AM to 4:30 PM and Saturday 8 AM to noon.

After the OK from Williamsport’s mayor, the district attorney and the governor, beginning Saturday, Elm Park and the Lycoming County Softball Association will be hosting softball tournaments again while adhering to various COVID-19 related guidelines, such as no handshakes after a game, opting rather for a wave or tilt of the hat. Saturday’s tournament starts an well-anticipated season as the Elm Park complex is booked through the second weekend of September. The fields will be used Monday through Thursday and the weekends. Fridays will be have crews prepping the fields for the weekends

The announcement was made yesterday that the Delaware Valley Outboard Racing Association has made the decision to cancel the 50th Anniversary Lock Haven Area Jaycees Regatta traditionally held on Labor Day Weekend, postponing the celebration year til 2021. In a statement by DVORA, it was a sad decision, but with spectators, racers and vendors coming to Lock Haven from all over the United States, safety for the community and all involved was the first priority.  The next regatta is tentatively scheduled for Millville NJ, the second weekend in October.

Sports
NASCAR
NASCAR’s All-Star Race will be a midweek event July 15 at Charlotte Motor Speedway as part of a new revision to the schedule that runs through the first weekend of August.  In an update release following the current schedule planned until June 21st,  the schedule will now continue June 28th at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania. The track will host ARCA, the Truck Series, two Cup Series races on consecutive days, June 27-28, and the Xfinity Series.  NASCAR then heads to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a July 4 weekend event combined with the IndyCar Series.

NBA
NBA commissioner Adam Silver suggested on  TNT’s “Inside The NBA”  last night that older NBA head coaches won’t be able to be on the bench when the league resumes play on July 31 at the Walt Disney World Resort. Silver’s comments received instant pushback from coaches, who think older coaches should not be singled out. Later, after talking with NBA Coaches Association, Silver admitted he might have jumped the gun with his comments.

NFL
The Dallas Cowboys placed retired center Travis Frederick on the reserve/retired list Thursday, freeing up $7 million in salary-cap space. Frederick announced his retirement in March, but the Cowboys opted to keep him on their active roster until now in order to be able to spread the salary-cap hit over the next two seasons. He was set to count $11.975 million against the cap in 2020 but will now count $4.975 million this year and $6.06 million in 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JUNE 4, 2020

DRIVE THROUGH TESTING AVAILABLE IN MONTOURSVILLE FRIDAY
The Pennsylvania Department of health announced yesterday that on Friday, June 5, various drive-thru testing locations across the state will provide testing for residents living in areas with fewer testing sites. These tests are being provided at no cost to Pennsylvanians. The 5 Walmart Supercenter sites across the state, which includes the Montoursville location, will be open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7-9 am. Registration is required 1 day in advance.  A link to the Quest Diagnostics portal to create an account and register for a free test is available here.

EDUCATION ACTIVITIES CAN RESUME SOON
Governor Tom Wolf announced guidelines from the Pennsylvania Department of Education that elementary and secondary schools can resume in-person instruction and activities such as school clubs beginning July 1st and colleges and other post-secondary programs can resume June5th. However, sports schedules are decided by the PIAA and NCAA for colleges. Schools must have a health and safety plan based on CDC guidelines and the state health department in place and on the public school website before starting.  State officials said that the guidance may evolve as circumstances change.  The full document from governor wolf is available here.

CRASH VICTIMS IDENTIFIED
The Lycoming County Coroner has identified the two people killed in Tuesday’s crash on Route 405.  Charles E Keissling Jr told the Sun Gazette that 67 year old Betsy Watts of Muncy and 55 year old Matthew Harter of Benton were both involved in the head-on collision near the Meadow Brook Trailer Park that took their lives.  Harter was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, but Watts passed in the emergency room at UPMC Muncy.

FISHING DERBY CANCLLED
In a report after Memorial day weekend, that the Consolidated Sportsmen of Muncy Creeks successfully stocked over 11 thousand yearling trout and 82 2 and 3 year old trout into local streams in Lycoming and Sullivan Counties, they also reported a some bad news to North Central Pa.com.  The  Dick Harner Kids’ Trout Derby has been canceled for 2020, usually held on the first Sunday in May at Van Rensselaer Park in Picture Rocks.  Next year’s Derby is scheduled for May 2, 2021

STATE CONTACT TRACING CONSORTIUM CREATED
The department of Health has set up a consortium in southwestern Pennsylvania to bring together partners who will support the efforts of contact tracing due to the Coronavirus.  According to a press release yesterday, the consortium is the first of what they hope to be the first region of 6 to establish and conduct contact tracing.  Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said they are receiving support from schools across the state.   The Consortiums assess the number of contact tracers needed in each area, and ensure training and education as well as coordinate information and consistent data.

POLICE SEARCH FOR ONE SUSPECT IN DRIVE BY SHOOTING IN LEWISBURG
Police have two suspects in custody who were involved in a drive-by shooting  near the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail in Lewisburg Monday evening that injured two people. Buffalo Valley Regional Police say the incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. in the area of 1704 West Market Street. Officers say they found two people with gunshot wounds who were then taken to Geisinger where they were treated. Police arrested one suspect, as well as the driver of a light green Subaru Forrester XT that was allegedly used in the shooting. At this time the shooter who witnesses say was in the vehicle, is still at large.  Search warrants for evidence in the shootings were issued in District court Tuesday and they are asking the public with information about the shooting to call Buffalo Valley Police.

Millville Community Fire Company has decided to cancel the Millville Fire Company Carnival for 2020.  However, there will still be fireworks at 10pm on July 4th and there will be a caramel corn and peanut sale June 26th, 27th, July 3rd and 4th.  According to their social media pages the fire company will post information about the sales soon.

Ten Lycoming County High School Seniors have been recognized by Little League International through the Carl E. Stotz Little League Baseball Scholarship, who excel in academics and citizenship.  The graduating senior must be in the top 25 percent of their class at one of the nine Lycoming County high schools.  Among the winners are Alexander Reed, and David Hutchinson from Loyalsock Township High School, Alexandra Tsikitas and Lauren Ogden from South Williamsport Area Jr./Sr. High School Maxwell Ferguson and Mackenzie Brooks  from Jersey Shore Area Senior High School, Alex McWilliams and London Mussina of Montoursville Area High School, Rachel Bitler and Jacob Corson Hughesville Jr./Sr. High School.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JUNE 3, 2020

ELECTION RESULTS FROM 81 PRECINCTS IN LYCOMING
The unofficial results are in after the General Primary in Pennsylvania yesterday, According to lyco.org there was a 39.9 percent turnout, with all absentee ballots counted yesterday which included 81 precincts.  According to  the Sun Gazette,  voter services received about 7,000 mail-in ballots out of the 10,500 registered for the process. Incumbent Donald J Trump was elected as the Republican nominee.  Democrat Joe Biden was elected as well in the Primary.  Republicans Fred Keller of the 12th District ran unopposed, but will face Democrat Lee Griffin in November.   Republican Senator Gene Yaw of the 23rd is the nominee as well as Jackie Baker chosen for the Democrats.   Get a link to the full unofficial election results now from lyco.org  here.

ELECTION MORE
The unofficial results are in after the General Primary in Pennsylvania yesterday, According to lyco.org there was a 39.9 percent turnout, with all absentee ballots counted with all those caset yesterday which included 81 precincts.  According to  the Sun Gazette,  voter services received about 7,000 mail-in ballots out of the 10,500 registered for the process.  In the House of Representative republicans Jeff Wheeland and Jeff Hamm were elected as their party nominees, as Representative Garth Everett did not run for an 8th term. For the Democrats, Airneezer J. Page for Representative of the 83rd, and Amanda R. Waldman PA chosen to run as Representative for the 84th.  Get a link to the full unofficial election results now from lyco.org.
HEAD ON COLLISION KILLS TWO
Two unidentified victims died yesterday afternoon after a head-on collision on Route 405 north of the Meadowbrook Trailer Park in Muncy.  According to state police, a 55 year old Benton man driving a Kia Optima northbound, crossed the center line into the southbound lane about 3:45 pm and collided with a 67 year old woman from the Hughesville area.  According to the Sun Gazette, the Lycoming County Deputy Coroner pronounced the man dead at the scene, the woman was taken to Muncy Valley Hospital where she died in the ER.  State police closed a portion of the road yesterday while clearing the vehicles and investigating the cause of the crash.

PA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH UPDATE
The Pennsylvania Department of Health had a website glitch yesterday but as of noon yesterday there were  612 new covid-19 cases in Pennsylvania for a statewide total of 72,894.  100 new deaths were reported and that brings the death toll in the commonwealth to over 5,600.  In Lycoming County there are 164 cases and 17 deaths, Northumberland county adds four cases to 198 with 3 deaths.  Union county had a reduction in cases to 60, Montour has 53 cases and Snyder has 45 cases and 1 death.  Columbia County has one new case at 349 and 31 deaths.

PENNDOT RESUMES DRIVER’S TESTS
Starting today PennDOT has resumed the driver’s skill’s tests at reopened Driver’s License Centers.  There are new guidelines for taking of the non-commercial skills tests that will keep safety as a priority including the PennDOT staff member remaining outside the vehicle.  Deputy Secretary for Driver and Vehicle Services Kurt Myers said that making sure you don’t have to repeat the test is important,  Personal protective equipment including masks will be worn and in yellow phase counties, a health screening will take place before the test.  If your tests were cancelled due to the shut down, those candidates will be given priority.

ATV CRASH INJURES TWO MINORS
An ATV crash happened Monday on private property on Clyde Road near Worthington Extension close to Unityville that injured two girls who are under 18.  According to the Sun Gazette, one girl was flown to a trauma center by a helicopter that had landed nearby, and the other was taken to a hospital by ambulance.  Lairdsvbille and Unityville volunteer responders were called to the scene after 5pm.  No word on their medical condition at this time.

WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT FILED
A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed by the executors of the estate of a man whose motorized wheelchair was struck and dragged in downtown Williamsport last October. According to Penn Live, the suit filed in Lycoming County blames the city of Williamsport and Tyrone Dunn, the driver of the car that struck the wheelchair, for the October death of John C. Yarosz II.  The city is accused of negligence for not maintaining a walk-don’t walk signal at West Fourth and William streets in proper working order. Police reports say Yarosz, was killed Oct. 19, when his wheelchair was struck as Dunn was turning right from William Street on the green light.

MORE EVENT CANCELLATIONS
There are a few recent cancellations of note.  The 2020 Watsontown 4th of July celebration has been cancelled after a difficult decision of the committee there, according totheir Facebook page, and Penn State’s Ag Progress Days have also been cancelled, originally scheduled from August 11th til August 13th . and expected happen again in 2021.   A virtual event may be held in its’ place at apd.psu.edu

SPORTS
NBA
As the NBA models a 22-team format for the season’s proposed resumption beginning July 31 in Orlando, Florida, the last possible date for a Finals Game 7 is Oct. 12th.  Commissioner Adam Silver is expected to have a proposal to take to a vote of the NBA’s board of governors on Thursday.  The expectation is that the NBA draft and the opening of free agency would follow in sequential order in October, sources said.

College football
Oklahoma State linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga said Tuesday that he tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a protest in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ogbongbemiga, a second-team All-Big 12 selection last year, made the announcement on Twitter.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JUNE 2, 2020

ELECTION DAY DETAILS FOR LYCOMING COUNTY
It’s election Day in Pennsylvania from 7am til 8pm tonight – there will be social distancing while you wait to cast your vote today, so expect to wait in line during peak times of voting in the General Primary.  Absentee or mail in voters should be sure to bring their ballots to the polls before 8pm.  The public is asked to wear a mask and bring  their own blue or black ink pen if possible.  A link to the updated polling places for each township in Lycoming County is available here.

SUSPECT IN TIOGA COUNTY SHOOTING AT LARGE
The suspect  who police say shot an Elmira, NY man in the parking lot of Fred’s Woodshed in Tioga County early Sunday morning is still at large.  According to Mansfield State Police, 20 year old Jahrell Jenkins was at the gentleman’s club for his birthday and New York media outlets say a fight inside the club migrated to the parking lot where Jenkins suffered a gunshot wound to the chest.  He was transported to UPMC in Wellsboro where he died in the ER, according to the Tioga County Coroner.  If you have information about the shooting please call Mansfield State Police 570 662-2151.

TRANSIT COMPANY AWARDED GRANT
An almost $7 million grant has been awarded to Williamsport’s River Valley Transit for operating, preventive maintenance and administrative expenses from the US Department of Transportation via the CARES Act, signed by President Donald Trump on March 27th.  According to the Sun Gazette the city-based regional transit system follows the CDC and OSHA guidelines resulting in reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19 among transit employees and passengers.

NO UPMC CAR SHOW IN SEPTEMBER
UPMC and the City Hospitals Auxiliary in Williamsport have cancelled this year’s Autumn Fest & Car Show originally scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 27. In a press release Bob Kane, chairman of the show’s planning committee and vice president of operations, UPMC in the Susquehanna region. “We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to next year’s event in September of 2021.

ELECTION DAY IN PENNSYLVANIA
Today is election day for the General Primary in Pennsylvania and voters will cast their choices for the Republican and Democratic nominees for President, Attorney General, Auditor General, Treasurer and representation in federal government.  Polls are open from 7am until 8pm today with CDC guidelines in place at all polling places across Pennsylvania.  The public should wear a mask, bring your own pen, and expect to wait in longer lines since less people will be permitted in the polling area at a time.  Voters who applied for mail-in or absentee ballot who did not receive their documents in the mail may come to a polling place and vote by provisional ballot, or return a ballot not able to be mailed, in-person, until 8pm tonight.  A link to voter information from Lyco.org is available here.

PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENTS PROTEST, SOME DISPERSED BY NATIONAL GUARD
More trouble yesterday evening around the state as peaceful protests were disbanded  by the National Guard and officers using teargas as they approached Philadelphia’s 6pm curfew, along the Vine Street Expressway and onto I-676.  According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, many protesters were outraged and stunned with the force, citing that their demonstration was originally peaceful. In Harrisburg, a crowd  representing “The Movement – Harrisburg’s Protest to Protect All People,” rallied and walked around the city and the Capitol complex without any clashes with police.

EVANGELICAL TO ALLOW VISITORS
Evangelical Community Hospital has updated their visitor policy to allow visiting hours from 1p to 8pm for those who have been screened upon entering, be over 18, wear a mask and follow social distancing guidelines.  Caregivers and support people are permitted under various circumstances, such as pediatric cases or inpatients, and emergency care.  Find regular updates to the full visitation policy at evanhospital.com

DOG PARK APPROVED IN MONTOURSVILLE
In Monday’s virtual meeting with the Montoursville Borough Council, a dog park was approved at 41 Mill St. According to the Sun gazette, the project is organized by a recent area high school graduate, Zoe Gillespie, who has raised funds and organized volunteer labor for the park.  The 50 by 295 foot area adjacent to Superior Oil will be fenced in.  The council approved the change to the dog ordinance in the borough to allow pets without leashes at the location. The next meeting is scheduled forJuly 6 at the John Dorin Municipal Building.

FOUR YMCA BRANCHES TO OPEN NEXT WEEK
Four YMCA branches will be opening on Monday, June 8th. The Eastern Lycoming, Jersey Shore, Lock Haven, and Williamsport Branch YMCA’s will have restrictions in place to ensure everyone’s safety while  meeting the State requirements.  Find specific details on their website, including information about the waiver members will need to sign to return to the facility at www.rvrymca.org.  Use the bar code from your membership card and last name on your account to sign the waiver virtually.


Sports
A Fox Sports Anchor apologized for his comments during a “Fan in the Stands”  promotion, in which fans pay to have life-sized cardboard cutouts of images placed around empty stadiums.  Matty Johns apologized for making an inappropriate joke about an image of Adolf Hitler in the crowd – saying it was in poor taste.

NHL

If Hockey resumes, The NHL will have rigorous daily testing protocol where players will be tested daily before they leave their hotel rooms.  Each test costs the NHL $125 – making the cost of testing needed to get through the playoffs in excess of a few million dollars, since maybe up to 35,000 tests will be used.

NBA

An NBA Announcer for the Sacramento Kings Tweeted “All Lives Matter”.  Grant Napear was placed on Administrative leave by his radio station after the former Kings star, DeMarcus Cousins asked his opinion on the Black Lives Matter movement.  Napear’s comment was contrary to the movement’s mission.

BOXING
Boxing Legend Floyd Mayweather offered to pay for George Floyd’s funeral expenses and the family accepted.  Myweather is paying for all four services in Houston, Minnesota, Charlotte and another location to be announced.

 

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JUNE 1, 2020

LYCOMING TO GO GREEN THIS FRIDAY
Governor Wolf yesterday announced he will lift most of his pandemic restrictions in an additional 16 counties in western and north central PA for the green phase this Friday which will now include Lycoming and Clinton County.  Counties that will remain yellow  after Friday are Union, and Northumberland County. According to Governor Wolf, the counties who are still in the red phase –  hit the hardest by the pandemic – are in line to be reopened to the yellow phase by Friday.  Find out the details of Governor Wolf’s phased plan here.

PEACEFUL PROTESTS IN WILLIMSPORT
Williamsport residents gathered in peaceful protests Saturday and Sunday in response to the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer last week near the Market Street Bridge in downtown Williamsport and in other areas of the county but there are no official reports of any arrests from those protests from local police.  In contrast, larger cities in Pennsylvania, saw violence and looting take place after escalation from originally peaceful protests.  Governor Wolf said in a press conference yesterday that he was appealing to the spirit of Pennsylvanians to protest effectively. Curfews were ordered for the evening hours in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and clean up from looting and destruction has started there as of yesterday according to media outlets.

LANCASTER COUNTY WOMAN KILLED IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT
A motorcycle accident involving two people from Lititz, Pennsylvania, that happened in East Cameron Township in Northumberland County killed one person Sunday before noon.  According to State Police in Stonington,  Jay and Melissa Otto were traveling on a 2016 BMW RS motorcycle north on State Route 125 near Boyer’s Grove Road when they hit gravel that had been washed into the travel lane from prior storms, they lost traction and rolled over.  Both were thrown into the southbound lane , 50 year old Melissa Otto suffered fatal injuries, 53 year old Jay Otto was transported to Geisinger in Shamokin with unknown injuries.  Police say both were wearing helmets during the crash.

BACK TO BUSINESS VIRTUAL FORUM TOMORROW
UPMC and the Lycoming Chamber of Commerce are hosting a “Back to Business” virtual forum tomorrow at 2pm. State senator Gene Yaw and state representatives will discuss the re-opening of businesses and the economy in Lycoming County. UPMC’s Medical Director for Infectious Disease will provide information on how businesses can keep their employees and patrons safe. Business Owners can go to UPMCSusquehanna.org/BacktoBusiness for information on how to attend Tuesday’s event.

STATEWIDE PROTESTS SPUR VIOLENCE, CURFEWS
Protests occurred across Pennsylvania over the weekend in response to the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer last week.  According to PennLive, the mayor of Harrisburg Eric Papenfuse and police there reportedly de-escalated tensions and police left the Front street area in the capital Saturday night, but the Police commissioner in Harrisburg said non-resident groups were the majority of those inciting violence.  According to the Sun Gazette, Philadelphia has implemented a 6pm curfew as of Sunday night.  Philly Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said much of center city from the Schuylkill River to the Delaware River — would be blocked off.  The Ben Franklin bridge between Philadelphia and Camden, New Jersey, was closed until further notice. Penn Live also reports that  Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said in a press conference that peaceful protests in his city  had been hijacked and turned into a riot.  He ordered the city locked down from 8:30 p.m. to 6 a.m.  Saturday night.

SINGLE LANE CONSTRUCTION THIS WEEK ON I-80
Motorists who drive east and westbound I-80 in Lewis, West Buffalo, and White Deer Townships, Union County will see alternating lane closures on the interstate this week.  Today and tomorrow , a PennDOT  maintenance crew will perform crack sealing along Interstate 80 westbound starting at mile marker 194.5 from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM. And on Wednesday and Thursday, crack sealing will take place eastbound starting at mile marker 207 during the same times in the day.  Motorists can check conditions on Pennsylvania roadways at 511pa.com.

PENN COLLEGE BACK IN SESSION THIS FALL
Penn College of Technology has announced it will reopen in the fall for in-person instruction and also for a few weeks in the summer for make-up work that could not be completed before the campus closed down due to the pandemic in March.  According to Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour, the campus will open for students needing to make-up work for a few week sessions starting  July27th, August 3rd and August 10th , with the semester scheduled to start for all first-year and returning Penn College students August 17th.

WEIS EXTENDS HOURS
Weis Markets announced this week that they will extend their hours, expand their online pick-up and delivery hours and reopen their deli counters with safety measures in place.  The stores’ pharmacies have also resumed their immunization program.  Store hours have been extended 7am to 9pm Monday Through Saturday and Sunday hours are 7am to 8pm.  In Pennsylvania, the designated shopping time for seniors and those with compromised immune systems is Tuesday mornings from 6am to 7am.  The changes are part of the grocery chain’s efforts to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING WEEKEND NEWS MAY 30, 2020

LYCOMING COUNTY TO GO GREEN FRIDAY
Lycoming County will go green this Friday June 5th.  Overall, 16 new counties statewide will go green, which also includes Clinton County.  Every county currently in the red phase, will move into the yellow.  The governor provided an updated order for counties moving to green to give businesses and residents a clearer picture of what is permitted in that phase of reopening.  Some changes include restaurants, personal care business and indoor recreation can resume at 50% occupancy. The document and resources about  the governor’s 3 phase reopening plan are available here.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH UPDATE
The Pennsylvania Department of Health is reporting 693 new cases of the virus with statewide total cases being 70,735. There were 91 new deaths in the commonwealth, making the total 5,464.  Lycoming County has 162 cases and according to the Lycoming County Coroner, 18 deaths.

NEW WARDS, POLLING PLACES FOR JUNE 2ND
Polling places have changed for a few areas in Williamsport for the June 2nd election .  According to the sun gazette, Forest Lehman said  the number of wards in Williamsport have been reduced from 17 to 13.  Many residents are opting to vote by mail,  however, if you plan to vote in person you should have been notified if your polling place has changed for this unusual election year.

BACK TO BUSINESS FORUM TO BE HELD THIS WEEK
UPMC and the Lycoming Chamber of Commerce are hosting a “Back to Business” virtual forum this Tuesday, June 2nd at 2pm. State senator Gene Yaw and state representatives will discuss the re-opening of businesses and the economy in Lycoming County. UPMC’s Medical Director for Infectious Disease will provide information on how businesses can keep their employees and patrons safe. Business Owners can go to UPMCSusquehanna.org/BacktoBusiness for information on how to attend the event.

GROCERY STORE STARTS EXPANDING HOURS
Weis Markets announced this week that they will extend their hours, expand their online pick-up and delivery hours and reopen their deli counters with safety measures in place.  The stores’ pharmacies have also resumed their immunization program.  Store hours have been extended 7am to 9pm Monday Through Saturday and Sunday hours are 7am to 8pm.  In Pennsylvania, the designated shopping time for seniors and those with compromised immune systems is Tuesday mornings from 6am to 7am.  The changes are part of the grocery chain’s efforts to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

PENN COLLEGE TO OPEN CAMPUS TO STUDENTS THIS AUGUST
Penn College of Technology has announced it will reopen in the fall for in-person instruction and also for a few weeks in the summer for make-up work that could not be completed before the campus closed down due to the pandemic in March.  According to Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour, the campus will open for students needing to make-up work on July27th, August 3rd and August 10th , with the semester scheduled to start for all first-year and returning Penn College students August 17th.

INTERSTATE WORK STARTS MONDAY IN UNION COUNTY
Motorists who drive east and westbound I-80 in Lewis, West Buffalo, and White Deer Townships in Union County will see alternating lane closures on the interstate next week.  This Monday and Tuesday, a PennDOT maintenance crew will perform crack sealing along Interstate 80 westbound starting at mile marker 194.5 from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM. And on Wednesday and Thursday, crack sealing will take place eastbound starting at mile marker 207 during the same times in the day.  Motorists can check conditions on Pennsylvania roadways at 511pa.com.

SEDA-COG OFFERS HOME IMPROVEMENT FUNDS TO SNYDER COUNTY HOMEOWNERS
Penn Township homeowners in Snyder County may be eligible to receive up to $65,000 in home improvements from the Existing Owner-Occupied Housing Program funded with Community Development Block Grant funds. According to SEDA-COG  township residents can apply now to get on the wait list by calling Stacy Anderson at 800-326-9310. Eligible repairs  include structural, roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating/furnace, window replacement, radon and lead-based paint mitigation, and energy-related improvements. Also included are modifications for mobility-impaired residents. Additional requirements for eligible residents may apply.

Sports

MLB
Major League Baseball’s contract guaranteeing minor league players a check whilst waiting out covid-19 is set to expire May 31st. According to the Sun Gazette, at least 10 major league franchises have informed minor league teams that they will continue to pay out despite the expiration.

MiLB
A grant application process has been approved by the City of Williamsport to seek the funds from the Office of the Budget for a new $600 thousand dollar scoreboard at Bowman Field.  The grant for renovations for the city owned property needs to be matched through natural gas impact fees, team contributions and donations from city agencies.  The total 1.25 million dollar investment also includes work done on third base clubhouses, an expanded press box.

NBA
16 out 30 teams have expressed their preference to restart the season as it once was with the regular 16 playoff’s. This business as usual plan was one of 4 potential plans presented in a meeting between all general managers and has garnered the most support.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker says the state’s five professional sports teams, the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, New England Patriots and New England Revolution, can resume practicing at their respective facilities on June 6 as long as the health departments guidelines are followed

 

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS MAY 29, 2020

CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO ALIGN CITY RE-OPENING DATE WITH GOVERNOR
Williamsport City Council has voted to align the city’s guidance about limiting the numbers of individuals at public gatherings with the office of Governor Wolf, extending Mayor Derek Slaughter’s proclamation until June 11th.  According to the Sun Gazette, city council acknowledged that if and when the county goes to the green phase, there are still restrictions and recovery plans to be followed.  Some research done investigating other counties recovery plans is proposed to be on the agenda for the economic revitalization committee agenda for next week.

TIOGA COUNTY FOUNDRY TO CLOSE
The Waupaca Foundry in Lawrenceville, PA, will be closing in early August 2020, according to a press release by the Wisconsin company’s CEO, who said they notified employees about the changes Wednesday.  The job losses from the closure include 150 hourly and 50 salaried positions at the plant that manufactured automotive suspension components and is a result of capacity that exceeds demand in the supply chain. 

HIGH SPEED CHASE ENDS IN ARREST
A woman who fled from police in a high speed chase that began from the southbound Route 15 ramp in Williamsport along Interstate 180 to Loyalsock Township at alleged speeds in excess of 110 miles per hour, was arrested Wednesday and is in prison on $100k bail.  According to the Sun Gazette, 26 year old Shaniece Alexandria Wilson of Lycoming Creek Road was identified with a suspended photo ID, had no valid driver’s license with fraudulent emissions and inspection stickers.  In addition, police say Wilson was in possession of illegal drug paraphernalia and had an open container of alcohol.  She has been charged for a number of violations and will appear in District court Monday.

STATE PARK BEACHES TO OPEN NEXT WEEK
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced that all 58 state park beaches will be open to swimming effective June 6th and state park pools will remain closed through at least June 12, with most in designated yellow and green counties reopening June 13. Capacity at beaches and pools will be limited to 50 percent of the normal facility capacity, and there will be restriced visitor parking, and the wearing of face masks when not in the water. Facilities such as cabins, cottages, lodges, and yurts will be opening statewide on June 12th.

PA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH UPDATE
Lycoming County has added one new case of the Coronavirus bringing the county total to 162  according to the PA Department of Health  and 18 deaths according to the Lycoming County Coroner, Northumberland County has 182 confirmed cases and 3 deaths reported.  Statewide there are 625 new cases of  the virus for a total of 70, 042.  There were 108 new deaths, bringing that statewide total to 5,373.

MAN RECOVERING FROM SKATEBOARDING ACCIDENT
Police say a 23 year old man from South Williamsport was hit by a car while skateboarding on West Mountain Avenue on Monday evening.  Police say the unidentified man is recovering from head injuries after allegedly running a stop sign on the skateboard and being hit by a 20 year old Muncy Valley man.  After the accident the victim was taken by ambulance to UMPC for treatment.

PA EDUCATION BUDGET WILL STAY THE SAME AS LAST YEAR
The General Assembly passed a five-month $25.8 billion budget to allow for a more detailed financial picture to emerge following the peak of the COVID-19 crisis. According to a press release from the offices of Sen. Gene Yaw and Reps. Garth Everett and Jeff Wheeland of Lycoming County, the measure is a stabilizing one, which will fund education for kindergarten to 12th grade at the same level as last year, and it also fully funds colleges and universities. The education section of the budget is extended beyond the five months to a full year, and contains no broad-based tax increases.

SUNBURY RIVER FESTIVAL CANCELLED
Sunbury Revitalization Inc. has cancelled this year’s Sunbury River Festival due to the pandemic and according to Governor Tom Wolf’s latest guidance on dining and professional sports in the green phase. SRI told media outlets that they will hold a smaller event for Sunbury citizens promoting Sunbury businesses instead. Also in Sunbury, The Hill Neighborhood Council has cancelled its Hill Night Out, but a hill work party will take place July 17th and 18th to help residents with outdoor beautification projects.

 

SPORTS
LITTLE LEAGUE
This Saturday, May 30th, starting at 3pm there will be a 9 hour marathon highlighting the best games from the Little League World Series in Williamsport on ESPN2 and the ESPN App. One of the games featured is the 2015 Championship game between Lewisberry, PA and Tokyo, Japan at Lamade Stadium.

NASCAR
Chase Elliott won his first Cup Victory of the season Thursday night in the rain-delayed event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The event, postponed from Wednesday night, was the fourth Cup race in a 12 day span for NASCAR since the series resumed racing May 17. Denny Hamlin finished second, with three crew members sitting at home under suspension for an infraction Sunday night.

NFL
The Madden video game franchise will continue for at least the next six years.  NFL owners and the NFL Players Association on Thursday approved an extension of their deal with Electronic Arts, continuing a relationship as the league’s exclusive publisher of football simulation games that has existed for 30 years. The current contract was set to expire after the 2021 season

RUNNING
The traditional Boston Marathon has been cancelled for the first time in its  124-year history.  The race that draws 30,000 people, was already postponed from April 20th til September 14th.  There will be a virtual event in which runners can erify they ran the 26.2 miles to receive their finishers medal.

A new app has been developed that will allow fans who are watching from home to be a part of the stadium action.  By pressing buttons in the app, fans can trigger cheers and boos or other realistic noises on the field that will get louder in the stadium the more people participate.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS MAY 28, 2020

PA LAWMAKER KEPT CORONAVIRUS DIAGNOSIS QUIET
A Republican from Dauphin County who worked closely with several other leaders in the PA House Chamber has just revealed he has been self-quarantining after being exposed to the coronavirus and experiencing mild symptoms on and after May 14th.  According to PennLive, Representative Andrew Lewis disclosed his exposure to a few other members of his staff and Representative Russ Diamond who sits near him in the chamber.  Those people also self-quarantined.  House Democrats are reacting with shock and outrage that only GOP members were notified of Lewis’ exposure. Republican leaders said they followed the proper protocols so that anyone who qualified to be told of Lewis’ illness was notified and self-quarantined.

COMMISSIONERS SEND LETTER TO GOVERNOR REQUESTING GREEN PHASE CONSIDERATION
The Lycoming County Commissioners have written a letter to send to Governor Wolf and have shared it at lyco.org for the public to view.  In the document, they acknowledge that of the 17 counties who are scheduled to move into the green phase as of May 29th, Lycoming County, as the county seat, would like to be reconsidered for opening this week, since many of the factors and guidelines for reopening are met.  The commissioners expressed concern for the people and businesses in Lycoming County who are poised and ready to reopen iN a safe and responsible manner.  The request for “Lycoming County to enter the Green Phase” was sent to Governor Wolf Tuesday.

JOB CREATION AT NEW DOLLAR GENERAL IN OVAL
Fifteen jobs have been created in Oval, thanks to the recently completed construction of a new retail store there.  According to a press release by Williamsport’s Hutchinson Companies, the 9,100 square foot Dollar General building is different aesthetically than other new retail construction with a rustic style to complement the area’s architecture, as well as an added hitching post for horses belonging to Amish clientele.  The new Oval store celebrated a Grand opening at 149 Mountain View Lane opened yesterday.

PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH UPDATE
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health there are 780 new cases of the coronavirus for a state wide total of 69,417.  There have been 115 people who have died from the virus as of yesterday, for a statewide total of 5,265.  Lycoming County has no new cases.  Secretary of Health, Dr. Rachel Levine says they are monitoring pediatric cases of “MISC Syndrome” <<,LEVINE 1 under investigation>>> Geisinger Medical Center reported last Saturday that they are monitoring their first pediatric inflammatory syndrome case in their Danville facility

LOCK HAVEN PLANNING A POTENTIAL FALL SEMESTER OPENING
Lock Haven University has announced plans that they are working through strategies so that they are ready for reopening in the fall.  According to a press release by the university, they are intent on opening the campus and reestablish campus life.  They have put together seven working groups of faculty, staff, students and community members to evaluate the considerations for every scenario that could arise when they resume studies at Lock Haven and hope to wrap up discussions in time to announce a decision on the fall semester in June.

DMV EXTENDS EXPIRING LICENSES TIL JUNE 30
If your Driver’s license is set to expire at the end of this month, PennDOT is giving you a month to take care of it.  According to the department, driver licenses, ID’s and learner’s permits, will be extended for Pennsylvania residents through June 30, 2020 in response to statewide COVID-19 mitigation efforts. A camera card is considered a driver’s license, so it is covered by the same terms and conditions is also extended through June 30, 2020.  You can take care of a lot of vehicle document tasks, plus get information on new hours and DMV policies at www.dmv.pa.gov.

UCONN STUDENT MURDER SUSPECT CAPTURED IN MARYLAND
The 23 year old University of Connecticut student accused of killing two people who was on the run for 6 days and spotted in eastern Pennsylvania convenience stores and shopping areas has been captured in Hagerstown Maryland.  According to WNEP Peter Manfredonia is suspected of killing 62 year old Ted DeMers last Friday and 23 year old Nicholas Eisele, who was found deceased Sunday in Derby, Connecticut. Authorities say he took a hostage in a stolen car and fled the state. After a multi-state manhunt, Manfredonia was taken into custody at a truck stop in Hagerstown near the Washington County Sheriff’s Office last night.

YWCA TO HOLD VIRTUAL AUCTION FUNDRAISER THROUGH THE WEEKEND
There will be a virtual auction tonight to benefit the YWCA North Central PA in place of their 9th Biennial Charity Gala and Auction that was cancelled due  COVID-19.  According to YWCA administrators the fun starts through Facebook Live starting at 7pm tonight, where committee members, employees, and an auctioneer will describe the important work of the YWCA and the items you can bid on.  The community is encouraged to support a rich history of empowering women and vibrant programs that change and save lives as the  YWCA has done in Lycoming County for 127 years. Find out more at ywcawilliamsport.org.

LOYALSOCK TOWNSHIP TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR RECREATION DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS
The Loyalsock Township recreation department has announced they are holding summer recreation programs beginning with Tennis on June 8th, limited sign u ps for the Sumer Youth Program on June 15th and the Summer Hoops basketball program on Jun 22nd.  The pool is also on a tentative schedule to open June 5th. Community members should expect modifications to the programs due to CDC modifications, but can go to loyalsocktownshipbos.com for registration forms and pool pass applications.

SPORTS

NBA
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is postponing its’ enshrinement ceremonies for the class of 2020 until next year. According ESPN the alternate dates for October proposed we’re not feasible. The 2020 class includes Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, San Antonio Spurs great Tim Duncan, and former Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics star Kevin Garnett. There will be separate ceremonies for this year‘s class and the class of 2021 even though they’ll be held in the same calendar year.

NBA Media Ventures is being sued by a landlord who alleges the league has failed to pay $1.25 million in rent on its store on New York’s Fifth Avenue during the coronavirus pandemic. The suit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in New Yorkby a landlord who collects $7.5 million per year, or $625,000 per month.  NBA Media Ventures did not pay rent for April and May, when the store was closed.

GOLF
Phil Mickelson wants to see “The Match” become an annual event.  According to the legendary golfer he wants to showcase people like Steph Curry, Michael Jordan or Tony Romo who are good golfers and also have great personalities. Last Sunday’s charity golf exhibition raised $20 million for COVID-19 featuring Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady

NFL
NFL owners won’t vote this week on two rule proposals that would have established “sky judge” positions for the 2020 season. ESPN says the league could still stage an experiment that would allow for expanded communication between replay assistants in the booth and referees on the field.  The two rule proposals were put forth by the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers, but they were not endorsed by the league’s competition committee.

 

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS MAY 27, 2020

COUNTIES WILL MOVE DESIGNATIONS FRIDAY
In his video press conference yesterday, Governor Tom Wolf mentioned a thank you to the Pennsylvania National Guard and also announced more details about the phased re-opening of the commonwealth  Dauphin, Franklin, Huntingdon, Lebanon, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike and Schuylkill move to yellow Friday and 17 other counties move to green,  including Bradford, Montour, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, and others, plus Centre County is allowed to move to green in a special consideration. All remaining counties in red are expected to move to yellow by June 5th at midnight.  No word on any movement from the yellow phase in Lycoming County as of yet.

LOCAL VETERINARIAN KILLED IN lAWN MOWER ACCIDENT
Pennsylvania State police in Montoursville have released more information about the lawnmower accident that happened in Watson Township Monday.  Police reports say that Local veterinarian 62 year old Dr. Bradford Baker was mowing the lawn on the creek bank at property on Torbert Lane and back tire dropped off the embankment slid causing the lawnmower to overturn on top of him at an undetermined time in the afternoon.  According to the Sun Gazette Kayakers who were passing on Pine Creek saw the overturned mower and called EMS.  State police processed the scene and Jerold Ross, the county’s chief deputy coroner pronounced Baker deceased.

EAST LYCOMING GRADUATION PLANS
East Lycoming School District has prepared a video presentation of most of their seniors for their graduation event planned for on June 3rd at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds.  According to the Sun Gazette, Superintendent, Michael Pawlik said people in about 130 cars lined up  6 feet apart will be invited to watch each student receiving their diploma.

SPEEDWAY TO OPEN AS SNYDER COUNTY MOVES TO GREEN
Attendance will be first come first serve at Selinsgrove motor speedway as they open after Snyder County  goes green they  will open its 2020 season with a “Breakout Weekend” Friday and Saturday, featuring Modern Heritage 410 sprint cars and super late models. Safety measures will be in place with fans in attendance will be required to sign a waiver before entering the track, acknowledging the risks involved.  Both shows will also be available for live streaming via pay per view.More information and the waiver to attend can be found on the speedway’s website at www.SelinsgroveSpeedway.com.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH UPDATE
As of midnight yesterday,  Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 451 new cases of the coronavirus ion the state for a statewide total of 68,637.  13 Deaths were reported for a total of 5,152 fatalities.  Lycoming County reports one new case for a total of 161 cases and 18 deaths.  In a video press conference yesterday, Secretary, Dr. Rachel Levine gave encouraging news that 61% of the people who have tested positive for the corona virus have recovered.   Dr Levine also said that even with the increased testing that is being done in the state, the numbers are still trending down.

SOME MANORCARE JERSEY SHORE PATIENTS WANT A TRANSFER
Officials with Roads to Freedom Center for Independent Living asked the Lycoming County commissioners at their Tuesday night meeting to allocate $250,000 to pay for the transfer of patients from a nursing home facility where more than a dozen people have died from the coronavirus. The plan could fund the transfer of ManorCare Jersey Shore at-risk patients, to a hotel. The commissioners made no decisions but are considering the request.  According to the Sun Gazette, 10 patients from Manor-Care Jersey Shore are requesting a transfer from the facility.

HOLIDAY TICKET VIOLATIONS TO BE DROPPED IN SUNBURY
Officials in Sunbury are dropping the street sweeping violations that were given out to the parked cars last Monday after confusion over the holiday and the regular sweeping schedule.  According to the Daily Item, city administrators said there was obviously confusion within the community when over 200 tickets were handed out on the holiday.  The public can visit the Facebook pages of the city to be aware of the future schedule.

UNITED WAY ACCEPTING FUND APPLLICATIONS THIS WEEK
The Lycoming County United Way is accepting applications for Emergency Food and Shelter funds.  The federal funds are available under the EFSP national board program which helps community agencies with food and shelter need for clients.  The deadline for applications is next Monday.  Find out more at lcuw.org

SPORTS

NASCAR Xfinity Truck Series
Chase Elliott snapped Kyle Busch’s seven-race Truck Series winning streak and collected a $100,000 bounty for beating NASCAR’s most successful truck driver yesterday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.   Kevin Harvick announced before the race that he would donate $50,000 to COVID-19 relief for any full-time Cup driver who finished ahead of Busch. The series sponsor, Gander RV & Outdoors, matched Harvick’s pledge, bringing the total to $100,000 for pandemic relief.

NHL
The NHL will abandon the rest of the regular season and go straight into the playoffs with 24 teams instead of 16 if it is able to resume play, according to commissioner Gary Bettman.  The games would be held inside empty arenas at two hub cities, where players, staff and others would be housed during the season restart.  Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Edmonton, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Toronto and Vancouver are being considered.

HORSES
Two horses from the barn of two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert have tested positive for a banned substance, according to multiple reports.  The New York Times reported one of the horses to test positive was Charlatan, an undefeated colt considered to be a top contender for the Belmont Stakes on June 20.

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