BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS MARCH 19, 2024

UNION COUNTY POLICE SEARCH FOR MAN WHO SKIPPED COURT

Police have issued an arrest warrant for a suspect in a 2020 shooting in East Buffalo Township who wasn’t at his a pre-trial hearing last week in Union County court.  According to North Central PA dot com, when 27 year old Julio Gonzalez failed to appear in court for attempted homicide charges last week, Union County Judge Michael Piecuch issued a felony bench warrant for Gonzalez’s arrest.  He was allegedly involved in a drive-by shooting that injured 22 year old Daevon Bodden and another man who were sitting outside of a home on West Market Street.  Police say Bodden returned fire, which didn’t injure anyone but caused damage to some property in the area.

FOSTER MOTHER CHARGED WITH ABUSE

A foster mother from Cogan Station has her preliminary hearing April 17th after authorities charged her with 11 counts of felony child endangerment and 11 counts of simple assault for abusing a 5 year old non-verbal autistic girl in her Quenshukeny Road home over the course of a year.  According to North Central PA dot com, experts say while in the care of 24 year old Jeanette Hunsberger, the child suffered injuries consistent with abuse and according to an independent review by child abuse experts, once she was taken from her care the child’s physical condition improved, a sign of previous abuse. 

PA LOTTERY SYSTEM UPGRADE TODAY

The PA Department of Revenue, the bureau that manages the Pennsylvania Lottery, has announced that a system upgrade is taking place today that will keep retail customers from buying any Fast Play tickets or Draw Game tickets at lottery retail locations or online.  Scratch-Off tickets will be available with cash at the counter and at vending machines at lottery retailers, and payouts will be paused during the update as well. The process began at midnight and will continue into today with updates about the system progress announced on social media sites and the PA lottery Website at  Palottery.com.

DANVILLE HS STUDENTS TO HOLD BASKETBALL FUNDRAISER

Students involved in the Danville Area High School’s Students Preserving Mental Health club are sponsoring a ‘Hoops for Mental Health’ fundraiser where students and district staff will compete together on the court.  During the game, a special message will be presented at halftime to let those who suffer from mental health issues know they are not alone.  The game is Saturday March 23rd  at 6pm in the Danville High School Gym, and costs 5 dollars for adults and 3 dollars for students and will feature concessions, a 50/50 and a basket raffle.

MAN THREATENS WOMAN AT HER SELINSGROVE WORKPLACE

A man from Selinsgrove is in custody after threatening a woman with a gun at her workplace last week.  According to the Daily Item, 35 year old Brendan Lafferty came to the woman’s workplace and forced her to text and call his girlfriend.  When the victim asked what would happen if she didn’t contact the girlfriend,  he allegedly showed a pistol from under the seat.  After Lafferty left the business in Monroe Township, he was apprehended at a downtown Selinsgrove business.  He was charged with misdemeanor terroristic threats and simple assault and is in Snyder County Jail in lieu of 25 thousand dollars bail.

LIFE IN PRISON FOR BRAD BAILOR

A Snyder County judge found Brad A Bailor guilty of first and third degree murder last week in his bench trial for killing his estranged wife Leslie Bailor in their home during an argument while their two children were away with other family members in April of 2022.  According to North Central PA dot com, Senior Judge Harold Woelfel Jr. sentenced Bailor to life in prison without parole for the murder charge as well as a one month to five year sentence for a misdemeanor possession of an instrument of crime charge to run concurrently.   Bailor had waived his right to a jury trial.

SOUTHERN AIRWAYS PLANS WEEKEND FLIGHTS

The Williamsport Municipal Airport Authority has recently been given a revised flight schedule by Southern Airways Corp for the return of air travel out of Montoursville, and it now includes weekend flights. According to the Sun Gazette, with the return of opportunities for travelers in May to the Williamsport/ Lycoming Regional Airport, they begin a standard two-year agreement with Southern Airways at no cost to the carrier for lease and use of airport facilities which has been approved by airport authorities.  Adding weekend flights could reduce the number of flights in and out of Williamsport on weekdays, but will add more opportunities for domestic and international travelers to and from the region.

AG SAFETY FAIR IN CLINTON COUNTY

Geisinger is planning an Agricultural Safety Fair at the Clinton County Fairgrounds in April and invite the public to take part in an important educational event.  According to Geisinger’s Trauma team, who is sponsoring the fair, there will be educational safety exhibits that will teach all ages about firearm safety, grain silo rescue, and more and will help raise awareness and prevent farm related injuries in the commonwealth’s rural communities.  Local agencies including Goodwill Hose Company and Safe Kids Pennsylvania and many others will be in attendance on Saturday April 13th from 10 til 1.   

SPORTS

PIAA HS Basketball
Class 3A Playoffs
Lancaster Catholic 53   Loyalsock 43

NBA
Cavaliers  108    Pacers  103
Celtics  119         Pistons  94
76ers  98             Heat  91
Bulls  110           Trail Blazers  107
Timberwolves  114  Jazz  104
Knicks  119        Warriors  112
Kings  121          Grizzlies  111
Lakers  136         Hawks 105
NBA Tonight
Houston vs Washington  7pm
New Orleans vs Brooklyn  7:30pm

NHL
Capitals  5           Flames  2
Sabres  6             Kraken  2


NHL Tonight 
Penguins vs Devils  7pm
Jets vs Rangers  7pm
Maple Leafs vs Flyers  7pm
Hurricanes vs Islanders  7:30pm ESPN/Hulu

MLB Spring Training Scores
Guardians 8        White Sox 5
Rays  7                Braves  3
Twins 5               Red Sox  2
Pirates  11           Phillies  2
Yankees 4           Phillies 3
Nationals  10      Astros  1

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS MARCH 18, 2024

MORE ASSAULT CHARGES FOR FORMER CORRECTIONAL OFFICER

More sexual assault charges have been brought against a former female corrections officer at Clinton County Correctional Facility.  According to North Central PA dot com, 31 year old Kelly Lynn Fye had already been charged with assaulting an inmate while she was employed there. New charges, including three counts of third-degree felony institutional sexual assault from February 10th  have been added. Fye will have a formal arraignment at the end of March., she is free on 50 thousand dollars bail.

FARMERS TO BE SENTENCED FOR POISONING BIRDS

Two PA farmers will be sentenced May 29th after being found guilty of poisoning more than two dozen migratory birds with a banned chemical.  According to the US Department of Justice, Robert Yost, the operator of Yost Farms, in Beaver County, and Jacob Reese, an employee in June 2020, laced feed with a pesticide called carbofuran and killed 17 Canada geese, 10 red-winged blackbirds, and a mallard duck.  THE EPA banned the substance in 2009.   According to court records, the men destroyed the feed and lied to government officials during the investigation.   Both Yost and Reese face a maximum prison term of 13 months and a fine of $31,000.

CITY COUNCIL REAFFIRMS LYCOMING COUNTY NOT A SANCTUARY AREA

City Council members addressed rumors last week reaffirming that neither Lycoming County nor the City of Williamsport are areas withy a sanctuary status for undocumented migrants.  According to the Sun Gazette, Council President Adam Yoder clarified the role of the Immigration and Custom Enforcement office on South Reach Road – which is merely administrative – not a facility to house or detaining undocumented people.  Yoder also invited anyone who had not heard the most recent broadcast of the Lycoming County Commissioners meeting answering questions regarding the response to a non-government website incorrectly posting that our area was a sanctuary area, to listen to the meeting for more details and answers to questions.

KEYSTONE CENTRAL SCHOOL ANNOUNCES LATEST EMT GRADUATES

Five students and six adults, recently graduated from the first Keystone Central School District EMT class . According to the Record Online, the announcement was made at the Thursday night voting session for the Keystone Central School District school board by  Lock Haven EMS Chief Gerard Banfill.  The program, that started May 20, was a partnership between Lock Haven EMS and the school district to get students and the general public an avenue to explore careers in the health services and emergency services fields. The next class is set to begin August 2024.

MAN STARTS POLICE CHASE OVER SUMMARY TRAFFIC VIOLATION

A 22 year old driver chose to elude state police, refusing to pull over along I-180 last Thursday, which started a chase that reached up to 100 miles per hour.  According to the Sun Gazette, police attempted to pull over Thomas Baldwin Gibson after 11pm starting in Loyalsock Township, where a chase started going until he exited I-180 at Reach Road.  Police say they later located Gibson’s 2003 Mitsubishi abandoned  near the 100 block of Valley Street, and found Gibson and his passenger walking along Route 654.  He was taken into custody for felony fleeing, resisting arrest, endangering another person and more.  Originally Gibson was being pulled over for malfunctioning license plate lights.  He’s in Lycoming County Prison in lieu of 25 thousand dollars bail.

MAN WHO SHOT FAMILY MEMBER SEEKS A CHANGE IN BAIL DECISION

A man awaiting trial for shooting his brother in law in Old Lycoming Township last year has appealed the ruling that has denied him bail.  According to the Sun Gazette, 66-year-old Kenneth Michaels, in September, was arrested for the fatal shooting of John Roskowski in his workplace.  He is now awaiting an answer about the petition filed that says the issue facing Judge Tira was not IF Michaels shot Roskowski, but rather if he intended to kill him, which could change the outcome of a bail decision.  Michaels was arrested for homicide and possession of an instrument of crime.

PERMITS FOR DRIVEWAYS ADJACENT TO STATE ROADS REQUIRED

For homeowners who want to construct or pave a driveway take advantage of spring weather, PennDOT is reminding property owners that if planned improvements connect to a state highway, a Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) must first be obtained by PennDOT.  The State Highway Law through Section 420 of Title 36, requires homeowners to apply HOPs 30 days prior to the project start so that it can be checked for compliance with applicable laws, drainage needs and other required standards. Permit applications can be obtained from PennDOT county offices or by searching for PennDOT HOP online.

SIBLINGS MAKE A DONATION TO WARRIOR RUN FOUNDATION

A pair of siblings has made a five-year commitment to provide 100 thousand dollars for the Warrior Run Community Education Foundation.  According to the Standard Journal, the brother and sister philanthropists graduated from the school in the mid-1960s and did not wish to be identified.  According to school district Superintendent Dr. Thor Edmiston said the gift reinforces a commitment to Warrior Run students for generations to come.  As part of the First Century Campaign, the gift gives the donor the naming designation privilege for the to the junior and senior high school auditorium.

SPORTS

PIAA State Playoffs
Semi Final Tonight
3A Girls
Loyalsock vs Lancaster Catholic  @ Shamokin HS 7pm

NASCAR
*  Denny Hamlin won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, for his fourth victory at the bullring.  It was Hamlin’s 52nd career win and locks him into the playoffs.
* Martin Truex Jr. was  2nd, Brad Keselowski finished third, Alex Bowman was fourth and  Kyle Larson rounded out the top five.

NCAA Men’s Basketball Sunday
(12) Auburn       Florida  67
(13) Illinois        Wisconsin 87

NBA
Bucks  140                     Suns  129
Heat  104             Pistons  101
Mavericks  107    Nuggets  105
Magic  111           Raptors  96
Celtics  130          Wizards  104
Spurs  122           Nets  115
Hawks  110          Clippers   93

NBA Tonight

Detroit  vs Boston  7:30pm
Miami vs Phila 7:30pm  ESPN
NY Knicks  vs Golden State 10pm ESPN

NHL
Rangers 5             Islanders  2
Golden Knights 3           Devils  1
Hurricanes 7         Senators  2
Penguins  6           Red Wings  3
Jets  6                   Blue Jackets  1
Blackhawks  5      Sharks  2
Blues  4                Ducks  2
NHL Tonight
Washington  vs Calgary  8:30pm
Buffalo vs Seattle  10pm

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