BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

MAN ARRESTED FOR ASSAULTING INFANT
A man has been charged with assault after police say he abused his 5 week old daughter.  According to the Sun Gazette, 44 year old Grant Wright of Williamsport  allegedly caused a spiral fracture to the infant’s leg between January and February of this year.  Tests at the hospital also found cocaine in the baby’s system which led to more charges for Wright once a police search warrant turned up drug evidence at the residence.  After the baby was treated at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, she was released to the care of other relatives.  Wright is in jail in lieu of 25 thousand dollars bail.

HEAD ON COLLISION INVOLVING A SCHOOL BUS
There was a head on collision between a school bus and a van near Oaklyn Elementary school Thursday morning around 8am in Subury.  WKOK reports that the bus Number 11 was hit head on by the van at the intersection of Route 61 and Oak Street when the van veered over the double yellow line.  No one on the bus was injured, but there are reports of three injuries to passengers inside the van who were transported to Geisinger medical center.  Route 61 was closed for some time yesterday morning while emergency crews cleared the wreck.

CITY HALL PROJECT BIDS TO BE REVIEWED

The bids have been opened for the Williamsport City Hall project and City Council told the Sun Gazette that they will consider all the options surrounding staying or leaving the aging building.  6 contractors bid on the improvements which were broken down into three sections: General construction concerning elevator upgrades; elevator construction and electrical. There will be a review of the bids by council September 26th.

FOOD BANK PARTNERS WITH SCHOOLS FOR FUNDRAISER
A community wide “Casual Friday” program to help children at Williamsport area School District  beat food insecurities will be taking place October  18th.  The Williamsport Area School District Education Foundation and the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank are joining forces in the area’s first Dress Down for Williamsport Schools Day to provide  free meals to food-insecure students.  Individuals and businesses can buy a special T-shirt to wear on Oct. 18, which can be ordered til Oct. 3, online at Dress Down 4 WASD dot com. There are hopes to raise $60,000 or sell about 2,400 shirts.

LOCK HAVEN MAN ARRESTED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
A Lock Haven man was arrested this week for possession of child pornography by the Office of Attorney General Child Predator Section who had a search warrant for the residence.  The Sun Gazette reports that the complaint against David Lee Nestlerode of Water Street was for illegal internet activity.  In addition to the computer devices, police also seized marijuana plants, parphranalia and growing equipment at the home. Nestlerode was taken to the Clinton County Courthouse  and arraigned in front of District Judge John Maggs.

MONEY MISSING FROM BEAVER SPRINGS STORE
Police are nvestigating reports of money missing from a mini mart in Snyder County.  According to state police over 16 thousand dollars was stolen betweenJanuary and November of 2018 at the Harvey’s Store on Route 235 in Beaver Springs.  The investigation continues – if you have any information please call Stae police

LYCOMING COUNT COMMISSIONERS APPROVES VOTERThe Lycoming County Commissioners met Thursday and approved a contract in preparation for election season as well as approvals of recent appointments in the county.  In order to help the county comply with new voting regulations, Northern Machine Works was approved under an over 18 thousand dollar contract.  In addition, the Sun Gazette reports that John G. Himes and Christopher H Kenyon were appointed as assistant solicitors for Lycoming County.  The next Commissioners meeting is at 10 next Tuesday in Executive plaza on Pine Street in Williamsport.

RAIL CORRIDOR TO BE STUDIED FOR FLOOD WATER MANAGEMENT
Two grants have been awarded to the SEDA-Council of Governments Joint Rail Authority to study how to mitigate stormwater runoff and flooding along the Bloomsburg-Lime Ridge corridor from the Town of Bloomsburg through Scott Township and ending in South Centre Township. According to a press release the study, possible through 50 thousand dollars in state grants will help identify stormwater management improvements for 1,700 houses and 239 businesses and rail infrastructure in the Kinney’s Run area.
Sports
Major League Baseball
Mets beat the Diamondbacks 11-1, Yankees beat the Tigers the doubleheader, 10-4 in Game 1 and 6-4 in Game 2, Brewers beat the Marlins 3-2, Royals over the White Sox 6-3, Cardinals beat the Rockies 10-3, Cubs over the Padres 4-1, Pirates beat the Giants 4-2, Red Sox over the Blue Jays 7-4, Phillies beat the Braves 9-5, Dodgers over the Orioles 4-2, Nationals beat the Twins 12-6, Rangers over the Rays 6-4, A’s beat the Astros 3-2, Reds beat the Mariners 11-5
NFL Football
Buccaneers over the Panthers 20-14
HS Girls Tennis
Hughesville over Loyalsock 3-2, Montgomery over Bucktail 5-love, Wmsport beat Mifflinburg 4-one
HS Boys Soccer
Warrior Run over Montoursville 10-zip, S. Wmsport beat Bloomsburg 4-1, Muncy over
N. Schuylkill one-nil in OT, Wmsport beat Danville 3-zip, Hughesville over S. Columbia 2-1
HS Girls Soccer
Mifflinburg over Jersey Shore 3-zip, North East Bradford tied north Penn Mansfield 1-1 in double overtime, Meadowbrook Christian beat Montgomery 5-1, Southern over Loyalsock 5-1, Athens beat Wellsboro 7-zip, Mount Carmel- over Hughesville 2-1 in overtime.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS SEPTEMBER 12, 2019

INJURED PEDESTRIAN NEAR BUCKNELL IDENTIFIED
There are more details coming forth about the pedestrian accident that shut down Route 15 near Bucknell University early Monday.  30 year old Audie Shiffer was struck when he was walking from his broken down car east to west along Route 15.  According to WKOK, Shiffer was struck by 30 year old Ricardo Acosta of Manheim when he crested the top of the hill in a 40 mile per hour zone, which is a bit of a blind spot according to police.  Shiffer was Lifeflighted to Geisinger from Evangelical Community Hospital and is in critical condition with fractured bones and internal injuries.  He was the only pedestrian involved in the accident.

NATURAL GAS LINES TO BE INSTALLED
There will be natural gas lines installed in the city on Campbell Street to Vallamont Drive starting around September 23rd.  According to the Sun Gazette, UGI representatives informed the public works committee of the proposed installation  which will involve the replacement of the existing gas lines and then minor repaving.  The public can anticipate other work around the East Third St. Gateway Project near Lycoming College as the city prepares to realign Franklin Street in the near future.

K-9 UNITS ARE COMING BACK TO THE CITY
Williamsport City Council Finance Committee has approved a proposal to bring a K-9 force back to the city police department.  According to the Sun Gazette, the finance committee recommended the proposal and funding is expected to come from solicited fund, not from the general fund with a total cost estimated for equipment and training at about 37 thousand dollars.  Many police personnel are in favor of using K-9 units for crime-suppression.  Police say they will originally need a dog for narcotics detection and then one to be trained to detect bombs.

INMATE CHARGED FOR INTIMIDATING VICTIM
A prison inmate was instructed to not contact his victim by a Lycoming County judge, but did it anyway.  The Sun Gazette reports that 45 year old Stephen Redden of Cogan Station was jailed for assault after allegedly punching his girlfriend, Stacey Eckard, and striking her with a bottle August 23rd .  During Redden’s arraignment, a judge prohibited him to contact Eckard, but he attempted several times to persuade her by phone to drop the charges and not testify against him.  The preliminary hearing was August 28th, Eckard told police about Reddens phone calls and he’s now facing 2 more charges of with intimidation of a victim.

SCHOOL THREAT DETERMINED INVALID
A threat at the Selinsgrove area school District was determined to be invalid after police investigated yesterday.  School officials said the threat was allegedly made at a Selinsgrove middle school but authorities said the student who made the threat poses no risk to students or staff.  The Selinsgrove area School District will be in session today.  No word on if the student faces any charges.

BOARD ACCEPTS LATEST TAX ASSESSMENT
The Montoursville Area School Board has accepted the fair market value of Lowe’s Home Improvement store on Loyalsock Avenue at 4.8 million dollars, stating at their meeting Tuesday that it was lower than they wanted according to the Sun Gazette.  In order to avoid more legal costs from tax assessment appeals like this latest one, the board opted to agree on the assessment which under the agreement, cannot be appealed by either party again until 2026.

A LITTLE RAIN, LOTS OF PATRIOTISM
Despite a brief  but heavy shower during the 9-11 Memorial Ride yesterday, thousands of bikers moved their rolling memorial on a route through Montgomery, Williamsport, Pennsdale, Hughesville and Muncy for hours.  According to the Sun Gazette, the annual ride, had an air of patriotism and excitement with camaraderie, music and vendors around the Clinton Township Fire Company building for the memorial event.

MEMORIAL RIDE DEDICATED TO FATHER JOHN MANNO
Many remembered one of the original ride organizers, Father John Manno, at the 9-11 Memorial Ride yesterday evening in Williamsport.  The memorial service that preceded the ride, was a dedication in Manno’s honor and the Sun Gazette reported that there were several who expressed their memories of  Father Manno and his mission in life.  Members of the 9-11 Memorial Coalition spoke of the gratitude many felt of the opportunity to be able to also participate with so many community members and veterans.

Sports
Major League Baseball
Braves beat the Phillies 3-1, Orioles bumped the Dodgers 7-3, Blue Jays blanked the Red Sox 8- nothing, Mets blanked the Diamondbacks 9-nothing, Brewers over the Marlins 7-5, Nationals beat the Twins 6-2, Rangers over the Rays 10-9, Indians edged the Angels 4-3, Royals over the White Sox 8-6, A’s beat the Astros 5-3, Rockies over the Cardinals 2-1, Pirates beat the Giants 6-3, Padres blanked the Cubs 4-nothing, Mariners over the Reds 5-3, Yankees and Tigers were postponed, there’s a doubleheader set for today.
Boys HS Soccer
Loyalsock beat Bloomsburg 9-1, N.Penn-Liberty over Galeton 3-1
HS Girls Soccer
Muncy beat Sullivan County 3-1Williamsport and Shikellemy Tied at one – game called in the second half
Millville beat Montgomery 5- zip and East Juniata over Lewisburg 3-1
HS Girls Volleyball
In an historic-first varsity game between the two county schools, Williamsport over South Williamsport 3-nothing
Men’s Soccer yesterday
Lockhaven beat District of Columbia 5-1

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS SEPTEMBER 11, 2019

RESIDENT CAUSE ROAD COLLAPSE
A Porter Township resident, attempting to find a water leak underneath a Jersey Shore public roadway caused the road to collapse after digging for the leak with a jackhammer.  According to the Sun Gazette, a leak at a High Street residence caused the Jersey Shore Joint Water Authority to shut off the water to make repairs for 5 days.  The resident started digging up the road himself on day 6.  Now that the borough manager was called in and the Joint Authority fixed the leak, the hole in the road will be filled.  It’s expected to cost the private citizens there – who will be sent the bill –  between 5 and 8 thousand dollars to repair.

MAYORAL DEBATE SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK
There is a mayoral debate scheduled for next Tuesday between City Councilman Derek Slaughter and Republican Challenger Eric Beiter at the Klump Academic Center Auditorium at 7pm at Penn College.  On the agenda is discussion about plans for the economy, public safety and administration of the mayoral office.  According to the Sun Gazette, the debate will be moderated by Craig Miller of Penn College’s Student Government Association.

HIT AND RUN TAKES OUT POWER POLE – CAUSES OUTAGES
Forty eight people lost power in Northumberland after a power pole came down from a hit and run tractor trailer accident Monday night around 9:40 pm.  Penn DOT Crews worked on the scene of the wreck Tuesday and cause traffic delays along Front Street and Orange streets – the current construction detour route.  WKOK reports that the road is back open, the pole replaced and power restored.  An investigation continues into the accident that caused the outage.

9/11 MOTORCYCLE RIDE TONIGHT
As we remember September 11th, 2001 today, motorcyclists prepare for the 9/11 Memorial Ride that begins tonight with a memorial service at 5pm.  The  9-Eleven coalition will meet all those interested in participating at the Clinton Township Fire Hall in Montgomery.  Tank Baird told Backyard Broadcasting yesterday the first ride was impromptu 19 years ago, but now thousands of riders line the streets with a police escort with the spirit and purpose of remembering those we lost. The Reverend Gary Smith told Backyard Broadcasting yesterday that he will be taking on the mantle of blessing the ride and riders as Father Manno.  The ride today is in memory of Manno – who was an original rider on that first impromptu ride in 2001.  According to the Sun Gazette, the city agreed to open a lane at the East Third and Basin Street project for the bikes to pass.   Details about the ride are at 911memorial coalition dot org.

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT APPROVED
A Memorandum of understanding between Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority and  DuBoistown was approved by South Williamsport Borough Council Monday.  The two groups will now cooperate on the costs of managing storm water mandates required by the EPA.  According to the Sun Gazette a budget to tackle the costs will now be created first.  There will be a public hearing about a possible fee required for homeowners contributing to storm water management funding.  A cooperative agreement is expected to be in place by 2020.

CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST CLINTON FIRE CHIEF
Charges have been dropped against Clinton Township Fire Chief Todd Wynder according to the office of District Judge Gary Whiteman. According to the Sun Gazette, State Police withdrew the charges of terroristic threats, disorderly conduct and harassment that were filed in March of this year.  The incident took place at the Clinton Township building in Montgomery over Wynder’s alleged reaction to the timeframe of an inspection at his home.

GOVERNOR WOLF FIGHTS OPIOID ADDICTION
There will be several Valley area locations to get free Naloxone (or Narcan) this month as part of Governor Wolf’s effort to reduce opioid overdoses through the program “Stop Overdoses in PA: Get Help Now Week”.  Locations include Montour, Northumberland and Union County State Health Centers and the Selinsgrove Center on Route 522 in Selinsgrove.  Distributions on September 18 will take place from 11am to 7pm and from 9am to 3pm on September 25, while supplies last.

FLAGS AT HALF STAFF TODAY
Governor Tom Wolf  has ordered all US and Commonwealth flags on the Capitol Complex at Commonwealth facilities and throughout the state lowered to half -staff as a memorial to the 9/11 attacks.  The Governor invites all PA residents to participate in this tribute from sunrise to sunset today.

Sports
Major League Baseball
Tigers edged the Yankees 12-11, Phillies over the Braves 6-5, Dodgers beat the Orioles 7-3, Blue Jays over the Red Sox 4-3, Mets beat the Diamondbacks 3-2, Brewers over the Marlins 4-3, Twins beat the Nationals 5-nothing, Rays over the Rangers 5-3, White Sox beat the Royals 7-3, A’s routed the Astros 21-7, Rockies beat the Cardinals 2-1, Giants over the Pirates 5-4, Indians blanked the Angels 8-nothing, Padres over the Cubs 9-8, Mariners beat the Reds 4-3.

HS Girls Tennis
Hughesville over Montoursville 3-2, South Williamsport over Bloomsburg 5-Love, Danville beat Loyalsock 3-2, Jersey Shore over Selinsgrove 4-1,
HS Girls Soccer
Wyalusing beast Wellsboro one nil, Southern Columbia over Hughesville 3-1
HS Boys Soccer
Jersey Shore over  Shikellemy 6-1, Milton beat Montoursville 4-zip, Selinsgrove defeated Williamsport 2-nothing, Sullivan County over Muncy 5-1, South Williamsport beat Southern Columbia 3-nothing, and Lewisburg took out Shamokin  13-nothing.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

WOMAN IDENTIFIED IN CRASH
The Trout Run Woman killed in the Route 87 crash in Montoursville last weekend has been identified by the Lycoming County Coroner.  Charles E Kiessling, Jr. told the Sun Gazette yesterday that Abigayle Bobinger of Wallis Run Road in Cascade Township was the victim in the one car accident.  Bobinger’s Subaru Legacy went off the roadway Sunday morning on her way home from a friend’s house and hit a tree at about 7:20 am.  She was killed instantly in the crash according to police.

UTILITY POLE REMOVAL IN NORTHUMBERLAND BOROUGH
Motorists in Northumberland County are advised that the intersection of Route 11 Front Street and Orange Street in Northumberland Borough, Northumberland County is closed due to a downed utility pole. This section of Front Street is part of the current detour for a construction project in the borough.  Crews are on the scene and are working to remove the downed pole. Traffic is being detoured via Hanover and Water Streets.

BANK EXPENDS INTO CENTRAL PA
In a move to expand its’ presence into the Williamsport and other Central PA markets, First Commonwealth Financial Corporation announced yesterday that First Commonwealth Bank purchased 14 retail banking locations from Santander Bank, N.A.. The branches located throughout State College, Lock Haven and Lewisburg along with Williamsport locations were converted and they transitioned all customer accounts Monday. According to a press release, First Commonwealth Financial Corporation CEO Michael Price said that the legal closing complete, they can start serving their 23 thousand new customers in our area.

MEETING TO DISCUSS FUTURE PLANS FOR SCHOOLS
There will be a special meeting tonight with the Jersey Shore Area School Board to talk about the two of the five options for the closures of schools in the district.  The board will tonight consider the fate of Salladasburg and Avis elementary schools in an effort to solve financial difficulties for the district.  According to School board officials, student populations are declining and elderly populations are increasing in the area.  The meeting will be held tonight at 7pm with no vote on the matter expected.

SAFETY SEAT CHECK NEXT WEEK IN MONTOURSVILLE
Next week is National Child Passenger Safety Week and the PA State Police will be offering Child Safety Seat Checks in Montoursville.  From September 15th til September 19th Pennsylvania State Police on 899 Cherry Street in Montoursville will check a child seat or booster seat .   Children under the age of 4 are required to be in a Child Safety Seat, under the age of 2 it must be rear facing.  Children aged 4-8 should use a booster seat and parents should follow height and weight guidelines for the seat. Call PA State Police at 368-5700 with questions.

FOUND CELL PHONE LEADS POLICE TO A SUSPECT
A Williamsport man was arrested and charged with theft and receiving stolen property after a police investigation turned up the suspect’s cell phone in a vehicle that was burglarized.  Content on the phone indicate to police that it was owned by 27 year old Samuel Agor.  Witnesses indicated to police that Agor said he had a gun from one of several vehicles allegedly turned over by him around August 8th.  Police told Central PA dot com that forensic reports from when the gun was fired match the one that was stolen.  He will appear in Lycoming County Court September 16th.

FORMER EMPLOYEE EMBEZZELLED MONEY
A former employee of Mid-State Beverage in Loyalsock Township has been arrested for stealing money from the business while she worked there in 2016.  According to North Central PA dot com, 44 year old Jill Brown-Thedford, known then as Jill Beahley, processed refunds of customer’s purchases and kept the money several times totaling over 2-thousand dollars.   Brown-Thedford,  who now lives in Horsham, is scheduled to appear in Lycoming County Court September 16th.

SCHOOL BOARD HAS EXTRA LUNCH MONEY
The Jersey Shore Area School Board has come up with a plan to deal with positive lunch balances that can plague their accounting system for up to 13 years when left behind by students who have left the district. There are three options proposed for parents to settle the accounts.  The Sun Gazette reports that  there can be a request to refund the money, turn it over to a younger sibling’s account or donate it to the Love Center which manages the foodbank, and the backpack project where district students who have food challenges can have meals provided for them on the weekends.  School Board officials say the plan can be implemented by the end of this school year.

PA TURNPIKE TO ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AWARD
The Pennsylvania Turnpike commission will be awarded the 2019 Toll Excellence award for Technology in a formal presentation at the International Bridge Tunnel and Turnpike Association 87th annual meeting in Nova Scotia, Canada on September 15th.  According to a press release from the IBTTA they received the award for the development of a web based application to monitor roadways for early detection and response to emergencies.  The Toll Excellence Awards highlight the very best projects, innovations and solutions from the international tolling industry.

Sports

Major League Baseball
Braves beat the Phillies 7-2, Mets over the Diamondbacks 3-1, Yankees blanked the Red Sox 5-nothing, Brewers over the Marlins 8-3, Astros routed the A’s 15-nothing, Pirates beat the Giants 6-4, Indians over the Angels 6-2, and Cubs over the Padres 10-2.

NFL Football
Saints edged the Texans 30-28 and Raiders over the Broncos 24-16

Boys HS Soccer
Sullivan County beat North Penn liberty 10-5,  Wellsboro over Northeast Bradford 7-nil.
Girls HS Soccer
Williamsport beat Milton 6-1, Montoursville tied Selinsgrove 1-1 in double overtime, Lewisburg beat Danville 3-nothing, Shamokin over Jersey shore 4-nothing.
Girls HS Tennis
Montgomery beat Muncie 4-1, Loyalsock over Selinsgrove 4-1

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS SEPTEMBER 5, 2019

GUNSHOT VICTIM ARRESTED FOR GUN AND DRUG VIOLATIONS
The gunshot victim recovering from the July 17th shooting incident along the 600 block of Maple Street has been charged with a felony firearms violation and other drug charges according to police.  19 year old Corey Stewart-Richardson of Philadelphia was arraigned in district court and jailed Wednesday from charges stemming from whe he was shot in the head and left in the street this summer after which police found drugs on him.  25 year old Jamal Johnson of Williamsport is also incarcerated from the same incident – charged with removing drugs and guns from an incapacitated Stewart-Richardson and hiding them in a nearby house.  Both men have their preliminary hearings in Lycoming County Court today.

ICE TAKES TWO SUSPECTS INTO CUSTODY
Police arrested 2 men from Mexico and 1 man from El Salvador after police on routine patrol and residents heard gunshots along Tenth and Wolverton Streets in Sunbury Monday.  According to the Sun Gazette, Police arrived at a residence along S. Tenth St. and were involved in a minor standoff with the three men who shortly gave up without incident.  One suspect is in the Northumberland County Jail for drug possession, terroristic threats and other charges.  The two others have been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

MILLIONAIRE DRIVE WILL BE COMPLETE NEXT WEEK
Williamsport Area school Board officials say they really mean it when they say the work along Millionaire Drive is practically complete.  According to the Williamsport Sun Gazette Superintendent Timothy S. Bowers reported to the board last night that all the work will be done Saturday with guide rail installation the following week.  The construction which began June 11th includes a complete resurfacing of the road, new curbing and drainage, along with the installation of new lighting and sidewalks for pedestrian traffic.

LOCAL SNACK MAKER HAD SEASONING SUPPLY ISSUES
If you were looking for the Middleswarth’s BBQ chips recently you may have been disappointed since the Snyder County Chip maker’s supplier  ran out of the famous seasoning !  But the shortage is over and the chips are back!  WNEP reports that Middleswarth’s  BBQ chip department is all hands on deck as they replenish supplies.  The Middleburg company officials report that BBQ flavor represents about 50 percent of their inventory sales.

COUPLE BURGLARIZES RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
A Montoursville woman and a Lock Haven man are in custody after police arrested them Monday for burglarizing a recreational vehicle parked in Susquehanna township.  Police told the Sun gazette that Megan Shroy and Daniel Mowry were observed on camera breaking the doors in on the RV parked along the 1800 block of Village Drive.  They were later taken into custody without incident after Mowry was stopped by police in a vehicle with registration violations.  They each are jailed in lieu of 10 thousand dollars bail.

MAN CHARGED WITH TERRORISTIC THREATS
After threatening to hit people and burn down a local charity August 31st , a Williamsport man has been charged with making terroristic threats and simple assault.  According to the Sun Gazette, 45 year old George Flemming of High Street was shouting and waving a broom in from of American Rescue Workers along Elmira Street last Saturday.   City police responded to complaints and took Flemming into custody.  He was arraigned before District Judge Christian D. Frey and committed to Lycoming County Prison.

PARTNERSHIP PLANNED FOR STORMWATER SOLUTIONS
South Williamsport and DuBoistown are considering a partnership with the Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority in an effort to plan to bring down the sediment levels in their stormwater.  With elevated levels of sediment in the  stormwater, both boroughs were issued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits which allows the overage for 5 years.  Officials told the Sun Gazette that they are already working on the foundation of the partnership with the ultimate goal of environmental compliance and saving money for all the local communities.

AMERICAN PICKERS COMING TO PENNSYLVANIA
The History Channel is coming back to Pennsylvania this fall and the American Pickers, Mike and Frank, are going to be looking for private collections of unique and unusual items to feature on the show!  They would like you to help spread the word and let people know they are coming to town in November!  If you have a private collection for them to pick, call  1-855-OLD-RUST (653-7878), or  email [email protected].

Sports
Major League Baseball
Mets beat the Nationals 8-4, Yankees over the Rangers 4-1, Reds thumped the Phillies 8-5, Pirates beat the Marlins 6-5, Indians over the White Sox 8-6, Red Sox bumped the Twins 6-2, Giants edged the Cardinals 9-8, Royals beat the Tigers 5-4, Diamondbacks over the Padres 4-1, A’s blanked the Angels 4-nothing, Dodgers over the Rockies 7-3

HS Girls Soccer
Montoursville defeated Milton 3-zip
South Williamsport over Mt. Carmel  7-6
HS Girls Tennis
South Williamsport over Danville 5-zero
Loyalsock over Jersey Shore 3-2
In US Open Tennis
Men’s Quarterfinals
Italy’s 24th rank Matteo Berrettini defeated France’s 13th rank Gael Monfils in 5 sets

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS SEPTEMBER 3, 2019

ACCIDENT VICTIM MAY HAVE HAD MEDICAL CONDITION
The Lycoming County coroner is investigating a fatal accident Monday afternoon near the Tioga County line that closed Route 287.  A volunteer from the Morris Fire Department told police that a man died in the vehicle that went off of the roadway on Route 287 in Cogan House Township.  The Lycoming County Coroner told the Sun Gazette that the accident wasn’t severe enough to cause the death of the driver and he may have suffered a medical problem prior to the accident. Police say the victim is not from Lycoming county and their name has not been released prior to family being notified.

HALIFAX MAN IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY WRECK
There was an accident late Saturday night in Northumberland County that sent a Halifax man to the hospital.  According to state police, 35 year old Sean Poe was traveling along Irish Valley Road in Shamokin Township and lost control of his vehicle on a curve in the roadway.  Poe’s vehicle went off the road and hit a tree.  Emergency crews rescued Poe from the wreck and transported him to Geisinger medical center with unknown injuries.  Poe was cited for not wearing a seatbelt

AIR QUALITY TO BE TESTED AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Complaints by a former teacher at Selinsgrove Elementary school about air quality in the school has prompted the administration to initiate an air duct inspection and testing regiment for the facility.  According to the Daily Item, teacher Lisa Neff told the board that her respiratory illness has been worsened by the air circulation problems at the school in the last few years.  According to district school board members, there were mold removal projects last year in some school buildings.

MORE FUNDING FOR ALL-INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND
Kids United All-inclusive playground is another step close to being a reality, after local officials presented the most recent donations at a ceremony at Stevens Primary School in Williamsport last week.  County Commissioners told the Sun Gazette during the presentation that they look to distribute funds – or Act 13 monies  – collected from gas company impact fees to worthy projects.  Kids United has collected 360 thousand dollars so far to build an all-inclusive playground just 40 thousand dollars shy of their goal so far.

TEEN PASSES ON DOUBLE YELLOW CAUSES ACCIDENT
A teen attempting to pass a vehicle along Route 104 in Washington township was LifeFlighted to Geisinger after he sideswiped a trailer attached to a vehicle Friday afternoon and crashed according to state police.  The 16 year old from Mount Pleasant Mills crossed the double yellow line and was involved in the wreck that casued severe injuries to his neck shoulder and leg.  NO word on the young man’s condition today.  Selinsgrove state police say the teen was cited for traffic violations.  The other driver was not injured.

RIDESHARE DRIVER ARRESTED FOR DELIVERING TODDLER
A rideshare driver in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania is in custody today after an incident Saturday where she drove away with the toddler of a customer still in the vehicle and sold the child in a pre-determined drop-off location for 10 thousand dollars.  The father of the 2 year old child, Paul Johnson, called 911 after 5pm on Saturday when he said the driver, 25 year old Sharina Nancy drove away when he was coming around the vehicle to get his daughter.  Nancy was taken into custody at a Pittsburgh traffic stop later in the day. Nancy told police she handed the toddler off to a woman in Monroeville at a traffic stop along Route 22.  She is being held without bail at the Allegheny County jail, was arraigned on Monday after being charged with kidnapping of a minor, interference with custody of children and concealment of whereabouts of a child.

ALABAMA MAN ARRESTED IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY
Police say an Alabama man wanted for felony theft by deception was captured Sunday in Northumberland County.   Police in Jim Thorpe say 39 year old Frank Tobia took payments from a church for a roofing job and never returned to complete the work.  According to WKOK, Tobia told  police that he left the job due to a family emergency and intended to come back and return the money.  Tobia was arraigned in District Court yesterday and is in prision in lieu of 5,000 cash bail.

EXPECT WEEK LONG ROADWORK IN UNION COUNTY
PennDOT reports that work begins this week – specifically on I-80 westbound near the Route 15 interchange in Union County today.  Tomorrow, work will be done on I-80 east in Northumberland County just east of the river bridge and the Union County line. PennDOT says motorists should expect shoulder and left lane closures from about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day between milemarker 210 to milemarker 232.

Sports
Major League Baseball
Rangers blanked the Yankees 7-nothing, Mets over the Nationals 7-3, Rays edged the Orioles 5-4, Twins over the Tigers 4-3, Braves beat the Blue Jays 6-3, Phillies over the Reds 7-1, Cardinals beat the Giants 3-1, Cubs over the Mariners 5-1, Astros beat the Brewers 3-2, Diamondbacks thumped the Padres 14-7, Indians over the White Sox 11-3, Dodgers slammed the Rockies 16-9.

NY Penn League
Williamsport CrossCutters tied the State College Spikes 3-3 in the last game of their season yesterday – the Cutters record; 32-43-1

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS SEPTEMBER 2, 2019

Ethic Commission In Works

To ensure transparency of all branches and employees in city government, Williamsport City Council took steps towards creating an ordinance to establish a city ethics commission. According to the Sun-Gazette, the commission would comprise of five city residents with no other elected or appointed connections to the city. The commission will be charged with writing the code of ethics and enforcing said code.

Early Morning Standoff In Northumberland County

Three men were taken into custody after an early-morning standoff at a Northumberland County home yesterday. According to WNEP, after a brief standoff, Jamie Vasquez-Hernandez and Miguel Garcia, both from Mexico and Luis Cuevas-Alverez, of El Salvador, surrendered. An unidentified juvenile also surrendered. Police found drugs, paraphernalia and a gun inside the home.

No IndyCar At Tricky Triangle in 2020

The IndyCar Series is not scheduled to return to Pocono Raceway in the 2020 season. Despite a rise in attendance this past season, Pocono Raceway CEO Nick Igdalsky released a statement saying the track will not be on the 2020 NTT IndyCar Series Schedule, that according to WNEP.

Measles Exposure in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania State Health authorities are warning the public about possible measles exposures at a number of locations throughout the state. According to WKOK, The Pennsylvania Department of Health says people may have been exposed to the measles between August 22nd and August 29th in York County and Hershey. Officials reminded the risk of getting the highly contagious measles is minimal for anyone properly immunized.

PennDOT Initiative an Award Finalist

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s “PennDOT Connects” transportation planning initiative was named one of the Top 12 projects nationwide in the America’s Transportation Awards competition. According to northcentralpa.com, the initiative engages community stakeholders, planning organizations and local governments to help ensure community needs are understood at each phase of a transportation project’s planning.

Emergency Funds Requested For Dam

An emergency grant request of $221,357 has been made for the Frank E. Keller dam after it was classified as a high hazard with a potential risk for Armstrong Township and South Williamsport residents. Built in 1975, the dam could face a structural breach within the decade according to the Williamsport Municipal Water Authority. According to northcentralpa.com, the authority estimated a breach would come with an economic cost of roughly $22.7 million

Clerk Testifies In Store Robbery

The store clerk involved in the fatal shooting at the Uni-Mart on August 4th in Williamsport testified on Friday at the preliminary hearing for I-Keem Fogan and his accomplice, Noah Samuel Stroup. According to the Sun Gazette, JoBeth Wetzel could not identify Fogan, 21, as the gunman, but city police agent Jeremy Brown presented enough evidence to hold both men on all charges.

Mussina Honored At Yankee Stadium

Montoursville native and recent Hall of Fame inductee, Mike Mussina threw out a ceremonial first pitch before yesterday’s Mariners/Yankees game at Yankees Stadium. Receiving the first pitch was Mussina’s son, Peyton. Mussina posted a 123-72 record with a 3.88 ERA over 249 appearances in 8 seasons with the Yankees.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS AUGUST 30, 2019

GRAFIUS RUN TO BE SUBJECT OF POTENTIAL DEP STUDY
The state Department of Environmental Protection has requested 300 thousand dollars be allocated in the capital budget to study flooding at Grafius Run  According to the Sun Gazette, consultants informed City Council of the request Thursday which will now be able to find a long awaited solution to the flooding problem for residents downstream from Loyalsock Township.  The most recent August 15th flooding event will be added to the damage estimate total for the region which could effect how quickly a feasibility study gets done once Governor Wolf Approved the Capital projects budget.

NEW PART-TIME OFFICER FOR MONTGOMERY
The Montgomery Borough Council has hired a new officer with 24 years of law enforcement experience.  Ray Kontz, a Muncy police officer, and former Williamsport City homicide detective was hired as a part-time officer in Montgomery.  According to the Sun Gazette, the Borough had a need for a new hire after losing employees from retirements and a death in the deparTment.

BRIDGE WORK TODAY NEAR SELINSGROVE
There will be a bridge inspection today along Routes 11-15 just outside of downtown Selinsgrove.  PennDOT said in a press release that there will be a crane inspection of the two bridges spanning Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks  along 11-15 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.  All lanes will remain open, but the outside shoulders in both directions will effecting traffic.

HUGHESVILLE NATIVE WWII VET REMAINS WILL COME HOME
A 1936 graduate of Hughesville High School who served in World War II and whose remains were just identified through modern science will be coming home September 28th for burial and full military honors.  According to the Sun Gazette, James I. Trick was a 25 year old private who was killed in Germany November 4th 1944 and was interred at a cemetery in the Netherlands.  A commission from the Department of Defense and American Battle Monuments Commission made Trick’s identification possible.

GRANT ISSUED FOR PA AIRPORTS
There will be a 13.7 million dollar grant available to improve Pennsylvania airports according to Governor Tom Wolf.  Danville’s airport will be allocated about 180 thousand dollars of the grant for runway lighting and other equipment.  The Northumberland County Airport will a receive about 75 hundred dollars to fund security cameras. The funding will help upgrade safety features, expand facilities and attract more growth to the Susquehanna Valley.

ELDERLY WOMAN INJURED IN ACCIDENT ON 220
A three vehicle accident shut down Rt 220 near the Thomas Street interchange early yesterday for about 30 minutes, according to Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police. 65 year old Ardena Cathcart of Jersey Shore was entering the northbound lanes of Rt 220 on the ramp when Jeremiah Stark of Jersey Shore struck her car from behind.  The sun  gazette reports that the woman’s car was pushed onto the interstate striking the rear of a truck driven by Jason Renzo of Lock Haven.  Stark’s vehicle caught fire and Jersey Shore volunteer firefighters responded.  Cathcart was taken by ambulance to Williamsport Regional Medical Center.  Police said Stark and Renzo were not injured.

HOME OF TIOGA COUNTY WOMAN BURGLARIZED
A Tioga County woman reported to police that she was a victim of theft of almost 300 thousand dollars.  The 85 year old Mansfield woman said someone broke into her home on Cherry Flats road and stole a safe from the basement of her residence between August 15th and August 19th. According to Central PA dot com $270,000.00 in certificates of deposit were stolen safe, as well as over 10 thousand dollars in currency and jewelry plus the safe itself was worth over 15 hundred dollars

POLICE HAVE LABOR DAY ROADWAY REMINDERS
Police have some reminders for motorists who are out and about during the Labor Day Holiday this year.  In addition to the checkpoints and roving DUI patrols that will be in place around statistically high crash areas around Lycoming County, State Police in Montoursville say that  motorists are required to move to an open lane if police are stopped along the roadway in PA with emergency lights activated.  And please always wear your seatbelt.

DRUM CORPS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP COMES BACK TO WILLIAMSPORT
Drum Corps is coming to Lycoming County!  The DCA championships come to Williamsport this weekend and the city will be full of music and rhythm tonight!  The Friday night kickoff will feature more than 25 drum corp ensembles performing free at points around the city between 6 and 7:30.  City Hall will have activities and there will also be several featured ensemble performances at the Community Arts Center until 8:15 when 8 mini corps will compete. There will also be drum corp performances at halftime shows during High school football The White Sabres will be at Danville High School and the Hawthorne Caballeros at Williamsport High School.

Sports
Major League Baseball

Indians blanked the Tigers 2-nothing, A’s over the Royals 9-8, Twins thumped the White Sox 10-5, Rays over the Astros 9-8, Cubs beat the Mets 4-1, Marlins over the Reds 4-3, Mariners beat the Rangers 5-3, Pirates over the Rockies 11-8, Diamondbacks beat the Dodgers 11-5, and Padres bumped the Giants 5-3

In Preseason NFL football
Panthers beat the Steelers 25-19, The Jets blanked the Eagles 6-nothing,
New York Giants over the Patriots 31-29, and the Bills beat the Vikings 27-23
New York Penn League
Crosscutters beat the Auburn Doubledays 7-1

Tennis US Open – significant 2nd Round Result
Women’s Singles
US’s Taylor Townsend defeated  4th seed Simona Halep of Ukraine 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (Halep is the 2019 Wimbledon Champ)

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS AUGUST 28TH, 2019

Coach Franklin Denies Wrong Doings

After allegation of pressuring a former team doctor to clearing athletes to return from injuries, Penn State Football Head Coach James Franklin denied any wrong doing. According to ESPN News Services, Franklin stated the school would “vigorously defend our program”. Former director of athletic medicine, Dr. Scott Lynch filed a lawsuit in Dauphin County last Friday, claiming Franklin attempted to interfere with the doctor’s authority on “multiple and repeated occasions” leading to his dismissal.

DCA Makes Way to Williamsport

More than 25 Corps will descend upon Williamsport as Drum Corps Associates will be holding their World Championships Friday, August 30th through Sunday, September 1st. According to North Central Pa dot com, the event kicks off Friday morning at City Hall and runs through Sunday night. More information and tickets are available online at www.dcabilltown.com.

Money to Be Saved By County Commissioners

The Lycoming County commissioners intend to save the $1.2 Million realized in bond refinancing. According to the Sun Gazette, due to low interest rates, the commissioners announced that the Build America Bonds, which were issued after the collapse of the economy in 2008, would be refinanced for significant savings. The Money could go towards multiple county projects.

More Details in Fatal Plane Crash Released

Additional details into the Lycoming County plane crash that left two men dead have been released. According to WKOK, as the National Transportation Safety Board continues their investigation, they stated the plane, called “an experimental and amateur-built aircraft, was purchased just two weeks before the crash. The report also stated, the men had not filed a flight plan prior to the crash.

Natural Gas Plant Under Construction

The construction of a natural gas plant has begun in Wyalusing. According to WNEP, people are expecting the new $800 Million facility to bring jobs and business to Bradford County. The company plans to employ around 500 workers during construction and 50 full-time employees once the plant is operational. New Fortress Energy expects the plant to begin operations in 2021.

City Hall Upgrade Needs Grow

City Codes administrator Joseph Gerardi has made a recommendation to form a committee to specifically look at accessibility needs for City Hall. According to the Sun-Gazette, Gerardi told City Council’s public works committee Tuesday the $650,000 in bids for City Hall improvements are just a start and it could be millions of dollars in accessibility upgrades necessary.

Refinancing of Bonds to Save Jersey Shore Schools Thousands

The Jersey Shore Area School District board approved a motion on Monday night to refinance bonds issued in 2013 to potentially realize a minimum net savings target of $50,000. According to the Sun-Gazette, PFM’s Jamie Doyle noted in a presentation that the current bonds have a fairly low interest rate, but the hope is the rates will go even lower, making refinancing even more attractive.

City Man Arrested After Meth Induced Attack

A Williamsport man was arrested Monday morning after he allegedly possessed a pipe and assaulted a motel employee after consuming methamphetamine. According to the Sun-Gazette, Jared R. Blair, 38, was arrested at a motel on Lycoming Creek Road on multiple charges, including simple assault and criminal mischief.  Blair was arraigned and is prisoned in lieu of $20,000 bail.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS AUGUST 27, 2019

OVERTURNED VEHICLE WRECK ON ROUTE 15
A Lewisburg man was hospitalized after a serious crash along Route 15 in northern Snyder county.  Police told WKOK that 47 year old Johann Balestier-Garcia lost control of his car while traveling north on Route 15 north of Granger’s Road.  State police say that Balestier-Garcia flipped the car after changing lanes in Monroe Township.  Volunteer fire companies from Shamokin Dam and Hummels Wharf assisted at the scene and the victim was transported to Evangelical Community Hospital with serious injuries.

WRITE-IN CANDIDATE ANNOUNCED
A republican write-in candidate has been announced for the Lycoming County Commissioner Election coming up in Pennsylvania on November 5th 2019.  According to a press release, Jack McKernan who has served 4 years as the Lycoming County Commissoner Chairman announced his write-in candidacy yesterday.  According to the campaign, Lycoming County can have three Republican commissioners if the third is selected as a write-in.

FORMER PENN STATE TEAM DOCTOR FILES LAWSUIT
A Former Penn State team doctor and director of athletic medicine has filed a lawsuit alleging that the head coach James Franklin tried to interfere with medical management and return to play decisions.  Dr. Scott Lynch told WNEP that once he reported Coach Franklin to officials at the University, he was fired.  Lynch was removed as team doctor 6 months ago.  Penn State’s Home opener is Saturday against Idaho at 3:30pm.

CONSULTANTS LOOKING AT LYCOMING COUNTY
Consultants and business representatives from around the country have been touring our area this week, exploring opportunities for industry in Lycoming County.  Jason Fink, president and CEO of the Lycoming County Visitor’s Bureau told the Sun Gazette that a group of nine site consultants and 2 business reps are getting to  know more about our community beyond the Little League World Series considering whether this region is a good fit for their companies.  Some said that having the technology of Penn College close to home is a positive when seeking to create a  local workforce for future industry.

ASSAULT SUSPECT FIGHTS OFF POLICE-DEPLOYED TASER
A Muncy man fought off a taser deployment after police say he punched an unsuspecting victim along Little League Boulevard  August 22nd.  Police report that 32 year old Richard Wayne Pepperman growled and punched a victim before fleeing on foot and later caused a disturbance at Randy’s Garage on Memorial Avenue in Williamsport. When police responded to the 911 call, and attempted to arrest Pepperman, he ran through the taser and bounced off a police car during the incident.

TRANSIT COMPANY LOOKING TO EXPAND
River Valley Transit is working through the steps it will take to expand their fixed route transit to Montour, Northumberland, Union Snyder and Columbia Counties.  The process involves a public comment period that ends tomorrow, approval by SEDA Council of Governments, then final approval by the Williamsport’s planning organization.  The funding is in place through a state Department of Transportation grant that would Cover about 85 percent of the cost, with the counties utilizing the service matching 15 percent for a three year demonstration period.  Lycoming county commissioners told the Sun Gazette that the transit demonstration period in Clinton County has been successful allowing residents to travel between counties for employment.

POLICE ASKING COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE SAFELY
PennDOT and the Pennsylvania State Police are urging motorists to celebrate responsibly ahead of the Labor Day holiday. The agencies are working with safety partners across the commonwealth to participate in the national impaired driving enforcement and education initiative through Monday, September 2.  Over this holiday period, the Pennsylvania State Police and local law enforcement will conduct checkpoints and roving patrols. This effort is funded through PennDOT’s statewide annual distribution of more than $4.7 million from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for impaired driving enforcement.

BALD EAGLE POPULATION REBOUNDING
Officials from the Pennsylvania Game Commission are annnouncing a rebound in the Bald eagle population, citing landmark state legislation like the Endangered Species act and banning dangerous chemicals like DDT as the reason.  Dan Brauning, wildlife diversity chief for the commission told the Sun Gazette that eagles are becoming more accustomed to people and have adapted to know what isn’t a threat to them.  Locally, Bald Eagles can be seen nesting along i-180 near Warrensville road.  The Game Commission’s monitoring program documented more than 300 nests in Pennsylvania.

Sports
Major League Baseball
Rockies beat the Braves 3-1, Cardinals slammed the Brewers 12-2, Phillies over the Pirates 6-5, Reds beat the Marlins 6-3, A’s routed the Royals 19-4, Diamondbacks over the Giants 6-4, Yankees beat the Mariners 5-4, and Padres over the Dodgers 4-3

NY Penn League
Batavia Muckdogs blanked the Crosscutters 10-nothing

HS Girls Tennis
Loyalsock over Lewisburg 4-1, South Williamsport over Hughesville 3-2, Williamsport over Milton 3-2, Jersey Shore beat Mifflinburg 5-Oh, Montoursville beat Muncy 5-oh

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