BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS 29, 2022

FAMILY IN WATSONTOWN BEATING DEATH CASE HELD FOR COURT

Homicide charges were held for court against the couple from Watsontown and their nephew who witnesses say beat a man living in their home to death in March of 2020 and buried his remains in their yard. According to the Sun Gazette, 54 year old Thomas Huffman, his 46 year old wife Dorothy and their nephew Kayden Koser are all incarcerated without bail.  During the hearing in Northumberland County Court, witnesses who were living with the Huffmans at the time and afraid to tell police then, testified that the Huffmans and Koser beat Richard Leroy Jameson II to death and buried his body after the assault in court earlier this week.   

FATAL ACCIDENT NEAR HERNDON

Route 147 was closed yesterday morning for several hours after a fatal crash occurred after 7am just south of Herndon between the Sunoco and Toad Valley Road.  According to witnesses, a crew of first responders were heading to a vehicle accident scene in Lower Mahanoy Township and struck a person who was walking along the side of the road.  Originally a helicopter was called to the scene, but the call was cancelled.  No word on the condition of the victims in the car accident or the name of the person who was struck along the road. 

THREE ON MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP BOARD NOW

A third supervisor was appointed to the Mifflin Township Board last Tuesday, since according to township code, a replacement can be appointed without a public advertisement.  According to North Central PA dot com, Nicholas Seese was called to fill the vacancy from Doug Cohick’s resignation.  Seese now joins Supervisor Ty Sheddy, who is the chairman, and Supervisor Kevin Griffith, who is the vice-chairman.  Seese’s position will be on the November ballot.

WASD OPEN HOUSE TIMES ANNOUNCED

The times have been announced for the annual round of Williamsport area High School open houses in August so that parents can learn more about the schools’ various programs and meet their child’s teachers.  In the Williamsport Area Middle School, 7th and 8th graders will begin at 6 and 6:30 pm respectively for their event on August 23rd.  The Intermediate schools will have their open house on August 24th at 5:30 and the Primary schools will open their doors at 5:30 on August 25th.  The High School open house is at 7pm on August 25th, too.  Find more information at the school’s website under upcoming events at wasd.org.

MAN JAILED FOR NOT REGISTERING FOR MEGAN’S LAW

A man in Union County failed to fulfill his reporting requirements under Megan’s law and is now in the Union County Prison. According to North Central PA dot com, 52 year old Roger Lee Williams, has been on the Megan’s Law registry since 2002 when he was convicted of indecent assault.  Williams did not check in with state police who requested his housing verification last October.  Police say they searched in several communities and attempted to serve Williams the warrant from 2020.  Williams was located and taken into custody July 22nd in Union County for the felony charges is incarcerated under 10 thousand dollar monetary bail.

 CHANGES TO WILLIAMSPORT WATER AND SEWER BILLS

 The Williamsport Municipal Water Authority has notified customers that two billing system changes are coming starting August 1st.  According to a letter sent from the Authority, they will be transitioning from a quarterly billing cycle to a monthly billing cycle and customers may still see a final three month bill depending on the date of their last bill.   The second change is that all sanitary accounts will now be sent to a property owners according to the PA Municipal Authorities Act, that requires a property owner to be responsible for the account to expedite emergency situations more efficiently.  Details can be found at the Authority’s website www.wmwa-wsa.org.

GROUNDBREAKING FOR OLD CITY MIXED-USE BUILDING PROJECT

Williamsport officials along with the Pine Ridge Construction Management and River’s Edge Capital attended a groundbreaking earlier this week in the city to kick off the Old City Williamsport Development Project, a 20 million dollar renovation project that start with a mixed-use building near Basin and East Third Streets. According to the Sun Gazette, the Lycoming County Commissioners yesterday approved request for just over a million dollars in grant funds to support a new parking structure for the building at 255 East Third Street, which will include residential, retail, dining and commercial spaces. 

TROY FAIR ENDS SATURDAY

You can still enjoy the Troy Fair today and tomorrow with today being DAIRY DAY at the fair.  Tomorrow it’s Kid’s day with a Bicycle Giveaway and free Helmets for kids, starting at 10:30am!! The Sylvania Lions invite you to the Demolition Derby both nights in the Grandstands. And Saturday at noon the Troy Fair will hold their Junior Prince and Princess Contest – Near the Agsploration Station Gate 1 area for  all 7–12 boys and girls. Get details on entering at Troy fair dot com.

SPORTS

MLB
Orioles   3           Rays    0
Yankees 1           Royals  0
Phillies   8           Pirates  7
Blue Jays 5         Tigers  3
Red Sox  4          Guardians 2
Marlins  7           Reds    6

MLB Draft League
Williamsport Crosscutters and Trenton Thunder were rained out last night.

The Cutters will give it another try on the road tonight in Trenton. 7pm first pitch

Little League
2022 Pennsylvania State Little League Major Championships.
Thursday night winners bracket semifinal:

Keystone 5          Hollidaysburg 4

Keystone’s next game in Bradford is Saturday at 4pm vs Greencastle (near Chambersburg)

MLB NEWS – The Mets acquired outfielder Tyler Naquin and lefty relief pitcher Phillip Diehl from the Cincinnati Reds for multiple prospects. The Mets are sending pitcher Jose Acuna and infielder Hector Rodriguez in the deal, according to statements from both teams.  The Mets sit atop the National League East with a 61-37 record, three games ahead of the Atlanta Braves.

NFL
Seattle head coach Pete Carroll said star wide receiver DK Metcalf have agreed to a three-year, $72 million extension with $58.2 million guaranteed, according to USATOday. The deal includes a $30 million signing bonus, the highest ever for a receiver. 

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JULY 28, 2022

HOMEOWNER FACES CHARGES FOR ALLEGED SECRET RECORDING

In addition to several unrelated felony shoplifting charges, the owner of the Loyalsock Township home that burned on July 5th, is also facing new charges after she surreptitiously recorded a conversation with State police while at the barracks in Montoursville on July 20th.  According to the Sun Gazette, Alexandrea Sheffield was being interviewed about the two-alarm fire on Inverness Road that was recently determined to be arson by the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal, and she was found by an officer to have secretly recorded the conversation which is illegal in the state.   Sheffield was arraigned and released on 15 thousand dollars bail.

FOURTEEN LYCO VOTERS REMOVED FROM ROLLS

Fourteen people have been removed from the Lycoming County voter rolls after challenges to their address information were considered at the county’s Board of Election’s meeting this week.  According to the Sun Gazette, the ballots in question did not have a valid address – most using a post office box or the address of the UPS store.  When asked if he thought any of the 14 ballots from the spring Primary could indicate voter fraud, the county director of voter Services, Forrest Lehman said most of the residents had a history of voting in the county.  Lehman also noted that only two of the voters in the 14 that were challenged voted in the 2020 election.

FORMER SHAMOKIN COUNCILMAN SENTENCED TO JAIL

A senior Northumberland County Judge has sentenced former Shamokin City Councilman, Joseph Leschinskie, Jr. to 6 to 23 months in jail with three years probation, after he was found guilty in May of threatening the husband of a former city councilwoman. According to the Daily Item, Senior Judge Harold Woelfel Jr told 38 year old Leschinskie he could remain free on 5,000 dollars bail if he appealed the ruling, but was ordered to report to the prison August 29th .  During the proceeding,  Northumberland County Assistant District Attorney Robyn Zenzinger also asked for Leschinskie to be held in contempt of court for a previous incident.

WILLIAMSPORT POOL OPENS SATURDAY

The repairs are complete for Splash Cove at Memorial Pool in Williamsport and the facility will open on Saturday.  According to social media, Mayor Derek Slaughter says the final steps are going on now such as filling the pool and adjusting the chemicals.  The pool’s electric system was upgraded with new LED lights and over 50 leaks were repaired.  The pool is open for adults noon til 1pm and the open to everyone from 1 until 7pm.

FORMER TRAIN CONDUCTOR SETTLES FEDERAL LAWSUIT WITH EMPLOYER

The man who lost his leg and right arm while working as a conductor for the Lycoming Valley Railroad in 2020, has settled a federal lawsuit with his former employer.  According to the Sun Gazette, the suite took place this week  in US Middle District Court involving 23 year old Wayne Brewer of Lock Haven, who suffered serious internal injuries from the accident.  Brewer was injured in Williamsport’s West End at the Newberry Yards on February 13th 2020 when a rail car ran him over. Lycoming Valley Rail is a shortline that is part of Northumberland’s North Shore Railroad Company.

PA CONVENIENCE STORE WILL PAY DAMAGES FOR BREACH

The Pennsylvania convenience store, Wawa, has been ordered to pay a settlement of 8 million dollars to 6 states and Washington, DC who did not have adequate security in place before a data breach allowed hackers to steal customer data, including credit card numbers.  According to the Daily item, the Wawa team discovered malware in December 2019 that collected data from those charging at Wawa fuel dispensers and for in store purchases.  Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said Wawa has agreed to new policies to combat data breaches.

WASD ART TEACHER AWARDED STATE EXCELLENCE AWARD

A Williamsport Area School District art teacher has been chosen as the Art Education Association Outstanding Secondary Art Educator for 2022 in Pennsylvania.  According to North Central PA dot com, Dr Andrea McDonough, who earned degrees at Lycoming College, Mansfield University and Drexel University, has worked in the Williamsport School District for 16 years. The ceremony to recognize Dr. McDonough formally, will be at the PAEA Conference October 30th in Lancaster, PA.

TROY FAIR THIS WEEK

The Troy Fair continues through this weekend.  The rides begin at 1pm each day and it’s Veteran Appreciation day today with free admission with an active or retired Military ID card! Enjoy free music with Thompson Square in concert at the Pavilion in the Lower meadow and  Bullride Mania in the Grandstands at 7:30. Try your hand at Troy Fair trivia by locating the ten stations scattered around the fair for their scavenger hunt.  Details at Troy fair dot com.

SPORTS

Little League
2022 Pennsylvania State Little League Major Championships.
Keystone 8          DuBois 6 in 7 innings
Keystone moves on to play Hollidaysburg in the winners bracket semi-finals tonight at 7:30 PM in Bradford. Hollidaysburg opened the tournament with a 6-2 win against Hermitage.

MLB
Phillies 7             Braves 2
Dodgers 7           Nationals 1
Reds 5                  Marlins 3
Mets 3                  Yankees 2
Rays 6                  Orioles 4
Guardians 7        Red Sox 6

MLB Draft League
Williamsport Crosscutters 7 State College Spikes 3 – Wmspt sweeps the series and remain undefeated in the second half of the season the series.
MLB Draft League Tonight
The Cutters play the Thunder in Trenton and begin a 4-game series – 7 PM first pitch

NBA
The Philadelphia 76ers officially announced on Wednesday their new deal with veteran James Harden. The club didn’t reveal terms in a release, but Harden’s contract is for two years and $68.6 million, and it includes a player option for the 2023-24 season


US Secretary of State Antony Blinken yesterday said that the United States made a “substantial” proposal to Russia to bring home wrongfully detained WNBA star Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, who is also serving a prison sentence in Russia.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JULY 27, 2022

DELCAMP GETS ONE MONTH CONTINUANCE

A one month continuance has been given to the Trevorton mother of 3 year-old Arabella Parker in the sentencing phase of her trial after she was found guilty of third degree murder of her daughter in September. According to the Daily Item, 26 year old Samantha Delcamp’s public defender has requested the continuance in order to look at transcripts from previous court hearings.  Northumberland District Attorney has not offered Delcamp any deals and faces a possible 60 years in jail for her role as accomplice in case.  Her then boyfriend, 21 year old Jahred Burgess was found guilty in November of third-degree murder for his role in causing the fatal injuries to the toddler and was sentenced to 24 to 50 years in state prison.

POLICE NAB KNOWN DRUG DEALER IN WILLIAMSPORT

A Williamsport man who already was facing drug charges from 2018, has had new charges brought against him in Lycoming County District Court.  According to the Sun Gazette, police say 22 year old Jahmere Johnson, who goes by the name of “Tooly”, allegedly sold cocaine and other drugs on June 8th and 16th along  7th and Memorial Avenues,  and on West 4th Street to a confidential informant.  Johnson was arraigned in front of District Judge Christian Frey and is incarcerated under 150 thousand dollars bail.

BOARD VOTES A TUITION INCREASE FOR PENN STATE STUDENTS

The tuition at Penn State campuses for in and out of state students has gone up after the Board of Trustees voted to approve that increase as well as a recommendation for a 2.5 percent general salary increase for most Penn State employees to help offset the impacts of inflation. According to North Central PA dot com, he University did exempt out-of-state undergraduate students with household incomes of $75,000 or less and who have filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Lower enrollment after the pandemic, stagnant state funding, three prior years of tuition freezes, supported the decision for the increase.

PENNDOT OFFERS ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR PLACARD RENEWAL

PennDOT just announced this week that they will allow customers who need to renew their placards for Persons with Disabilities Parking have the option to do so online.  According to PennDOT’s Deputy Secretary for Driver and Vehicles Services Kurt Myers, the online initiative will cut down on wait times for customers and eliminate the mail-in process and subsequent processing of paperwork.  be able to update their address and request replacement identification credentials through this online service.  Myers says more than two million Pennsylvanian adults live with a disability.  If you want to apply for or renew a placard, go to www.dmv.pa.gov/VEHICLE-SERVICES.

MAN CONVICTED OF SEXUAL CRIMES SENTENCED

A Paxinos man who was convicted of sexual assault last October has been sentenced in Clinton County Court.  According to the Record Online, 34 year old  Nathan William Weaver, was found guilty by a jury of aggravated sexual and indecent assault and while awaiting sentencing, has been found by the PA Sexual Offenders Assessment Board to be a sexually violent predator.  District Attorney Dave Strouse asked the court for a 22 year state prison sentence, and the judge imposed that maximum.  Weaver is parole eligible after 9 and a half years.

WOMAN RAMS CAMPER WITH VEHICLE

A woman from Mifflinburg who rammed her vehicle into the side of a camper trailer is in the Northumberland County Jail.  Allegedly, according to State Police in Milton, 44 year old Angela Chappell intentionally drove her car into the home in West Buffalo Township last Monday.  Chappell also faces charges for resisting arrest, aggravated assault, harassment and recklessly endangering another person. She was arrested and sent to jail under 40 thousand dollars bail.

LOCAL CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFTS

The trend of catalytic converters being stolen nationwide, is happening in Lycoming County, too.  According to North Central PA dot com, automotive shops in Muncy and Williamsport have confirmed that there have been recent thefts of the auto part this month.  They say the National Insurance Crime Bureau reports the theft of catalytic converters has increased ten times in the last three years and in 2020 14 thousand were stolen across America.  Police say the reason for the theft is the rising cost of the metals used in auto parts and disruption in the supply chain. 

SELINSGROVE POOL WORKING TO HOPEFULLY OPEN

There will be a delay for the opening of the splash pad at the Selinsgrove pool due to a shortage in materials. According to the Daily Item, the material deliveries for the installation – purchased with funds from the Degenstein Foundation – was not adequate to finish the project.  New materials have arrived and the installation continues moving forward.  The state will have to complete an inspection of the facility before it can open and Selinsgrove area board members say they aren’t sure it will be ready before the pool closes August 14th.

SPORTS

MLB
Cubs 4                  Pirates 2
Marlins 2              Reds 1
Braves 6               Phillies 3
Orioles 5              Rays 3
Blue Jays 10         Cardinals 3
Guardians 8         Red Sox 3
Mets 6                  Yankees 3
Nationals 8           Dodgers 3
MLB Draft League
Williamsport Crosscutters 5 State College Spikes 1 -Cutters are 2-0
MLB Draft Tonight
The Crosscutters and Spikes coming to Williamsport tonight for game three of their series in Muncy Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field.

Druw Jones, the second overall pick in this month’s MLB draft, injured his shoulder Monday during his first batting practice with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Jones could miss the rest of the season if he requires surgery.  Jones agreed to terms with Arizona last week for a bonus of more than 8 million dollars.  Druw is the son of former Atlanta Braves great Andruw Jones and was the top player in the draft.

NFL
Veteran wide receiver Julio Jones has agreed to a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. According to ESPN, the seven-time Pro Bowler is hoping to rebound from a down season with the Tennessee Titans. The Titans released Jones in March. Tampa Bay also brought on veteran Kyle Rudolph last week, in the wake of Rob Gronkowski’s retirement.Little League
Clinton County’s Keystone faces DuBois tonight at 7:30pm in Game 4 of the Opening Round of the 2022 PA State Little League Major Championships.  District 10’s Bradford Regional hosts the Tournament this year at the Kessel Athletic Complex, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Campus – 300 Campus Drive in Bradford.
Keystone Juniors – DuBois executed a 7-6 win over the Keystone Juniors in last night’s opening round of the state Little League tournament game.  Keystone will try and bounce back tonight in the double-elimination tournament.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JULY 26, 2022

JANUARY 6TH DEFENDANT COMMITS SUICIDE

The Lycoming County Coroner confirmed last week that 47 year old Mark Roderick Aungst of South Williamsport has died as a result of suicide.  According to Penn Live, Aungst was facing sentencing from his plea agreement after admitting that he and his co-defendant, Tammy Bronsberg of Williamsport entered the Capitol building twice on January 6th , 2021, but they were not facing any assault charges.  Aungst, a gas field well service technician was scheduled for sentencing September 27th.  Aungst’s death is the third suicide among January 6th defendants and the 13th death that day overall between police officers, defendants and Trump supporters in the crowd.

POLICE SEEK DRIVER WHO HIT KNOEBLES PARKING ATTENDANT

Police are asking for information from anyone who may have seen a driver hit a Knoebel’s employee who was directing traffic Saturday evening around 8:45pm.  According to the Daily Item, the Locust Township police say witnesses saw the driver of a red Dodge Ram pick-up truck, disregard instructions of the person directing them out of the park, hit the gas, and bump the employee with the truck. The suspect who may have been Hispanic, along with a white female as passenger, broke through a wooden barricade and drove out of the park onto Campground Road.  Police are asking residents with home surveillance to see if they have any video of the truck traveling around Pine Swamp, Bethel or Middle Roads.  The Knoebel’s employee was not seriously injured in the ordeal.

IMPACT FEE GRANTS TO HELP VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES

Five hundred and sixty thousand dollars in impact fee grants from Act 13 have been approved so that the 28 volunteer fire companies will each receive a one-time grant of 20 thousand dollars.  According to the Sun Gazette, this is an effort to make up the fund raising deficit the companies had after being unable to have public event during the pandemic.

POLE INSTALLATION ON BRIDGE TODAY

The right northbound lane of the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge will be restricted today while crews work to install a new electric pole there.  According to PennDOT, they will work during daylight hours on the bridge between Route 147 in Sunbury and Route 11/15 in Shamokin Dam.  Work was postponed yesterday due to the morning rain, but motorists may encounter slow traffic today.  Officials say the installation should be complete after the work today.

LOYALSOCK FIRE DETERMINED TO BE ARSON

A fire July 5th at a Loyalsock Township home has been ruled arson.  According to the Sun Gazette, the vacant home on Inverness Road sustained 100 thousand dollars damage after a two alarm fire that witnesses said seemed to have begun in the attic of a home owned by Jimmie and Alexandrea Sheffield.  The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshall determined the blaze was intentionally set.  The home had been put up for sale a few months prior to the incident, if you have information about the fire, call state police.

CHARGES AGAINST TROUT RUN MAN DROPPED

A Trout Run man, who had charges of inappropriate contact with a minor filed against him, last January, will not be prosecuted after the victim was unable to testify about the abuse.  According to the Sun Gazette, 32 year old Anthony Foulkrod  has had all state police charges dropped from an alleged incident last October reported by a minor younger than 13.  The assault allegedly happened in Lewis Township.  The Lycoming County District Attorney’s office said the charges were dropped earlier in July.

BLACK BEAR ILLEGALLY SHOT IN ELK COUNTY

The PA Game Commission is investigating the illegal taking of a black bear found in Ridgeway Township on July 22nd .  According to a Game Commission social media post, the bear was shot in the chest with a small caliber firearm near the 1100 block of Montmorenci Road in Elk County.  Anyone with information is being asked to report it by calling 1-833-PGC-WILD.

PA STATE GRANT DEADLINE APPROACHING

Deadlines are approaching for students heading to college in the fall who want to apply for a PA State Grant Award.  According to the PA Department of Education, the deadline is August 1st and is for anyone enrolled or planning to enroll in a community college; a designated Pennsylvania open-admissions institution; a business, trade or technical school; a hospital school of nursing; or a two-year program that is not transferable to another institution. Students can find out details about completing their free Application for federal Student Aid or FAFSA by starting at the PA Higher Education Assistance Agency website – Pheaa.org.

SPORTS

MLB
Reds 11 Marlins 2
Phillies 6 Braves 4
Orioles 5 Rays 1
Red Sox 3 Guardians 1
Cubs 3 Pirates 2
Nationals 4 Dodgers 1

MLB Draft League
          Williamsport Crosscutters 8          State College Spikes 1 in Game 1 of the series this week.  Game 2 is tonight in State College with a 6:35 PM first pitch, but Williamsport is back at home hosting the Spikes tomorrow night in Muncy Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field.

NFL
The Pittsburgh Steelers are back in Latrobe, Pennsylvania today for training camp. The first practice is tomorrow at 1:55pm at Saint Vincent College. Training camp will be open to the public, but ‘no practice’ days are July 31st, August 7th, and 14th. Practice will be closed to the public on August 12th prior to their preseason game on the 13th, and the final day to attend will be Thursday, August 18th.

Little League
Keystone 12 (Major) Little League All-Star team open play in the  Little league State Championship that start tomorrow in Bradford at 6:15 p.m. against DuBois. The eight-team tournament is to continue through Aug. 2. The winner advances to the Mid-Atlantic championships in Bristol, CT next month – the winner of that goes to the 75th anniversary Little league World Series.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JULY 25, 2022

WEEKEND STORMS BRING DOWN TREE IN CITY

Quick but strong storms on Sunday afternoon brought down trees and power lines across the city.  According to the Sun Gazette, dozens of calls were answered by the Lycoming County Department of Public Safety and specifically a hollow tree fell on a home along the 1400 block of Memorial Avenue, however the homeowner said the property was insured.  The tree damaged the roof and left a hole in the attic, but no one was injured.

SILO EXPLOSION NEAR AVIS

A silo explosion occurred at a farm on Nippenose Road Sunday which sent shards of the top of the 100 foot high structure sailing through the air, but no one was injured from the debris.  According to the Sun Gazette, almost a dozen fire companies responded to the explosion that occured around 1:15pm at the Brett Bowes farm and some first responders experienced minor heat episodes due to the elevated temperatures around the region.  The silo was only a third full of grain and crews worked for more than two hours to get the blaze – that was contained in the silo – under control. Firefighters from Avis, Jersey Shore, Nippenose Valley, Woodward Township, and Woolrich responded to the fire.

CAUSE OF SOUTHSIDE FIRE DETERMINED

The cause of the three alarm fire that destroyed a home on Bayard Street Extension Friday morning, has been determined.  According to the Sun Gazette, the fire started from stained rages that were on the front porch of the home.  Fire officials responded to the call around 7:15 am at the residence of Brad and Sue Martin, who were not home at the time.  Firefighters from South Williamsport, the city, Nisbet, Old Lycoming Township Clinton and other companies responded to the fire that was declared under control by about 8:30am. 

TWO LYCOMING COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENTS WILL MERGE

The rationalization of two Lycoming County fire departments is set to get underway on August 1st. This comes after Lycoming County Commissioners approved “startup” funding of $80,000, at their meeting this past week, according to NorthCentral PA dot com. South Williamsport and Loyalsock Township will combine their fire departments to create SMART or Susquehanna Mutual Aid Response Team. It will combine paid and volunteer staffs to handle the call volumes of both areas. Each department will also contribute $150,000 to the joint venture as well.

MIFFLINVILLE DRUG DEALER SENTENCED

A Union County man accused of having a substantial amount of methamphetamine delivered from California to his home in Mifflinburg, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute in federal court this week. According to the Daily Item, James King faced a jury in the case and his alleged partner, Christopher Brown, took a plea deal. Brown could still receive a sentence of 40 years in jail and a fine up to $5 million and a term of supervised release for life.

POLICE SEEK WEGMAN’S WALLET THIEF

Three suspects are being sought for the theft of a wallet from another customer at the Wegman’s in Williamsport. According to North Central PA dot com, the incident happened on May 24th and the Williamsport Bureau of Police is asking for the public’s help in finding the individuals. Approximately, $8000 was used from the wallet stolen to purchase gift cards from Sam’s Club in Muncy. The individuals left in a dark colored Honda CRV. If you have any information, contact the police at (570) 327-7560.

TEMPORARY CODES INSPECTOR HIRED

The City of Williamsport has hired a company to handle the role of the city’s building codes director on a temporary basis. According to Northcentral PA dot com., City Council approved the hiring of Barry Isett and Associates to handle those duties at a rate of $90 per hour. This became necessary after Joe Girardi, previous Williamsport Codes Director, retired.

LYCO COMMISSIONERS APPROVE JERSEY SHORE LAW COMPLEX

The Lycoming County Commissioners approved spending $2.5 million on a regional judicial complex in Jersey Shore. According to the Sun Gazette, the facility will house the Magisterial District Judge and also the Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police Department. The police department is anticipating future growth due to regionalization of services from Old Lycoming and Hepburn Townships, along with other municipalities in the area; that would join Jersey Shore, Porter Township and others from the Jersey Shore area.

SPORTS

MLB
Cubs 4                 Phillies 3
Angels 9              Braves 1
Marlins 6            Pirates 5
Yankees 6           Orioles 0
Blue Jays 8         Red Sox 4
Reds 6                 Cardinals 3
White Sox 6       Guardians 3
Nationals 4         Diamondbacks 3
Mets 8                 Padres 5

MLB Draft League
Saturday – Williamsport Crosscutters 2           Trenton Thunder 0 – in Game 2 of the series.
Game 3 on Sunday was canceled due to rain.
MLB Draft League tonight
Cutters in State College for a 6:35pm first pitch – Williamsport is back @Muncy Bank Ballpark Wednesday night vs. State College Spikes for Game 3 of the current series.

NASCAR
Denny Hamlin initially got the checkered flag at the M&M Fan Appreciation 400 at Pocono yesterday, but he his teammate Kyle Busch were DQ’d at Pocono after their Toyotas failed inspection – it would have been a record 7th victory at Pocono for Hamlin and his 3rd win of the season.  Chase Elliott was then awarded his fourth victory of the season since he was 3rd across the finish line – he never led a lap but his car passed inspection.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JULY 22, 2022

MAN ACCUSED OF STALKING FREE ON BAIL

A man who police say threatened a Williamsport woman and her family has been charged with terroristic threats, stalking and harassment.  According to the Sun Gazette, 43 year old Ryan Morgan obtained a phone number of the victim from his workplace, she was a coworker, and initially called and contacted her on social media using fake accounts up to 100 times per week.  The calls then allegedly progressed to threatening messages as well as to threatening a member of the woman’s family.  Morgan waived his preliminary hearing and is free on 10 thousand dollars bail.

GRANT AWARDED FOR NEW TRAFFIC SIGNALS IN OLD CITY

The City of Williamsport was awarded $326,796 for the upgrade of traffic signals at East Fourth and Mulberry Streets as part of Pennsylvania’s Green Light-Go project.  According to a press release from Derek Slaughter,  he has gratitude that the city is one of 70 municipalities in Pennsylvania that received a portion of the Green Light-Go grants  -part of more than $37.8 million. The grant will complete the funding needed to make East Fourth Street two-ways between Basin and Mulberry Street and new streetscape to match the improvements completed on East Third Street in 2019.  Slaughter said the revitalized area of Williamsport’s Old City will be a convenient, accessible place for walking, biking and regular traffic.

PENN COLLEGE TO AWARD MASTER’S DEGREES

Master’s degrees will be awarded for the first time in Pennsylvania College of Technology’s history at their upcoming commencement ceremonies at the Community Arts Center.  New Penn College President Michael J. Reed will preside over the event in which almost 170 students have petitioned to graduate. According to a press release from Penn College, Summer 2022 Commencement will begin Saturday August 6th at 11am, and will feature student speaker, Brian Bilbao of Old Forge, who is one of the first students to be awarded the Combined Bachelor/Master of Science degree in physician assistant studies.

LYCO FAIR TODAY

The 151st Lycoming County Fair continues tonight for the final Friday, featuring the Dale Wheeland Memorial Tractor Pull at 6pm. The fair opens at 4pm tonight but at 10am tomorrow with the Pony Pulling Contest kicking off the day in the Grandstand. Backyard Broadcasting will be live on the midway from 5-8 tonight and tomorrow for Saturday, the final night of the fair

TWO TEENS REMOVED FROM ALLEGED ABUSIVE HOME

Two adopted teenagers have been removed from the home of a Northumberland County couple accused of abuse along with other charges.  According to North Central PA dot com, Jennifer and Christopher Marks were reported by one child who reported the abuse at school after she got in trouble for stealing a pop tart because she said she was starving. The girl went on to tell authorities other forms of abuse she and her brother suffer at the hands of the couple and that they are told to lie about what happens at home.  Jennifer Marks denies the allegations.  The couple were arraigned in district court Wednesday and are free on 20 thousand dollars unsecured bail.

UNCLAIMED CORONAVIRUS FUNDS DISTRIBUTED IN PA

Unclaimed funds from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery program of the American Rescue Plan Act last year will be distributed to municipalities in the Commonwealth by the PA Treasury.  According to a press release from the office of Stacy Garrity, Pennsylvania Treasurer, 1.5 million dollars have already been allocated for municipalities across the Commonwealth in one round of payments.  The surplus is from the unused funds from 75 municipalities who didn’t apply for the recovery funds. Current payment information can be found on the Treasury’s Department’s website – PATREASURY.GOV

PA’S AG ANNOUNCES HERO-RETENTION BONUSES

Hero-pay retention bonuses have been announced by the office of Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania’s Attorney General for police officers in the Commonwealth who have been working in short-staffed departments.  According to the Wolf administration the 1200 dollar bonuses are funded from the recently authorized Local Law Enforcement Support Grant Program administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.  The statewide grant program awards $135 million to local police departments.  A recent survey also says Pennsylvania’s 9-1-1 call centers are short staffed and have at least 350 openings statewide.

NORTHUMBERLAND AND COLUMBIA COUNTY HAVE JOB FAIRS SOON

PennDOT of Northumberland and Columbia Counties will hold job fairs at the beginning of August for those with valid PA CDL licenses class A or B with no restrictions, wishing to join the Department of Transportation team.  According to a press release, Tuesday, August 2nd from 4 til 7pm, a job fair will be held at the Columbia County Maintenance Office in Bloomsburg . The next day, August 3rd from 4 til 7, a job fair for openings in Northumberland County will be held at the Norry maintenance office on Dewart Street in Sunbury.  Recruiters will be on hand to talk about current job openings.

SPORTS

MLB
   Astros 3 Yankees 2 in Game 1
   Astros 7 Yankees 5 in Game 2
Tiger 7       A’s 2 Game 1
A’s 5          Tigers 0 Game 2
 Dodgers 9 Giants 6 
 Rangers 8 Marlins 0

MLB Draft League
The Williamsport Crosscutters are back at home tonight to kick off a three gane series against the Trenton Thunder @ Muncy Bank Ballpark with a 6:35 first pitch.

NASCAR has planned a street race through downtown Chicago during its 75th season next year. The Cup Series will race against the backdrop of Lake Michigan and Grant Park next July 2 as part of a three-year deal with the city of Chicago. It will be a festival atmosphere weekend leading up to the 12-turn, 2.2-mile street course race.

M&M Fan Appreciation 400 at Pocono Raceway is this Sunday with race coverage beginning at 3pm Sunday on our sister station the Twin Valley’s Talk Radio Network or WILQ’s HD3

NFL Arizona Cardinals star Kyler Murray has agreed to a five-year extension worth $230.5 million, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, a deal that makes him one of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks.  The deal, which runs through the 2028 season, includes $160 million guaranteed for injury, the source told Schefter. Murray will make $105 million fully guaranteed upon signing the deal, 

Smithsonian Magazine reports that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that Pennsylvania’s  Jim Thorpe will be reinstated as the sole winner of two events, the pentathlon and decathlon, in which he competed during the 1912 Games in Stockholm.  Thorpe originally won both events, becoming the first Native American to secure an Olympic gold medal for the United States. But officials stripped him of his medals in 1913 because of their strict amateurism rules – for a short time, Thorpe played minor-league baseball for 25 dollars a week.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JULY 21, 2022

WASD SCHOOL BOARD ADDRESSES PARENT CONCERNS

The president of the Williamsport Area School Board, Dr. Timothy S. Bowers addressed the concerns parent have about the two district employees recently accused of having sexual relationships with students at the public meeting last night.  According to the Sun Gazette, Bowers told the parents in attendance that the district will cooperate with law enforcement about the recent allegations against a former teacher and principal, so that due process proceeds correctly.  He said that background and clearance checks are done for employees every five years as dictated by the state.

PA STILL HAS COUNTIES WHO NEED TO CERTIFY THE ELECTION

Certification of the primary elections for three remaining counties in the commonwealth is on hold while a dispute over whether to count the mail-in ballots that didn’t contain a handwritten date.  According to Penn Live, once the the litigation is resolved, certification will take place in Berks, Fayette, and Lancaster Counties.  Governor Wolf has sued these counties recently to include the ballots without the date in the results to be certified.  A 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel and a state Commonwealth Court judge have agreed that throwing out the ballot violates a voters’ rights.  A decision is now in front of the  Supreme Court.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE DRILLS TODAY IN WILLIAMSPORT

A local business will be performing evacuation drills today, tomorrow and Saturday and the community will hear a siren as part of the daylight drills in the event of an actual chemical release at the Arxada facility.  According to a press release, Arxada LLC, formerly Lonza Specialty Ingredients on Trenton Avenue in Williamsport, will work in coordination with the Lycoming County Department of Public Safety and the Williamsport Police and Fire Departments.  No response is required of local citizens, but you will hear the siren coming from the Arxada property at 5:30pm today, 10am tomorrow and 9am on Saturday.  

DUNKIN’ DONUTS TO CLOSE FOR REMODELING

The Dunkin’ on East Third Street is planning a remodeling project that will temporarily close that location for a month starting tomorrow night.  According to North Central PA dot com, the Loyalsock Township shop will shut down Friday night at 9pm in order to begin construction to install a second drive-thru.  Employees will relocate to other stores while they remodel.

SUNBURY POLICE ARREST TWO FOR HEROIN, FENTANYL DEALING

Charges were filed against two Sunbury residents who were caught selling heroin and fentanyl in a North 4th Street apartment to a confidential informant earlier this month. According to North Central PA dot com, 40 year old Randy Baylor and 27 year old Bridget Miller were found with over 150 bags of the narcotics and were charged with possession with intent to deliver.  Baylor, who had been charged in 2021 for possession or drugs and firearms, and Miller were arraigned yesterday and both are being held on 20 thousand dollars bond.

MORE CONTENTION BETWEEN CONTROLLER, COMMISSIONERS

A new lawsuit has been filed which brings more contention to light between the Williamsport Controller’s office and the Lycoming County Commissioners that has been going on since April of 2021.  According to the Sun Gazette, Controller Krista Rogers has filed for the recovery of attorney’s fees in the amount of almost 46 thousand dollars from previous lawsuits.  The same day Rogers filed her suit, the Lycoming County Commissioners asked a Potter County Judge to vacate his ruling  that previously came down in favor of the Controller’s office having control of the payroll, accounts receivable and the general ledger.

LANDFILL GETTING READY TO COMPLETE A CLOSURE

The Lycoming County Landfill is beginning their Phase I closure process as well as add six new wells into the landfill on the eastern slope along Route 15.  According to the Sun Gazette, closure, involves of a liner going over the full field,  with massive amounts of soil placed over until grass can be planted. A system to collect gas generated by decomposition is in place as well.  The Lycoming County Commissioners approved more than an 8.7 million dollar bid by R&L Development Company to do the work – the money has been earmarked for the 16 month project.

LYCO FAIR TODAY

It’s Military appreciation day today at the 151st Lycoming County Fair .  Tonight, Lycoming County Fair Motorsports presents Throwback Thursday in the Grandstand at 7 with Tommy Hedrick’s Memorial Figure 8 Racing….. and tomorrow it’s the Dale Wheeland  Memorial Tractor Pull at 6pm.  Backyard Broadcasting will be live on the midway from 5-8 tonight and each night through Saturday.

SPORTS

The 2022 ESPYS presented by Capital One celebrated the best players, teams and moments in the world of sports last night at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Some winners included, Best NFL Player: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers Best NBA Player: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors, Best NASCAR Driver: Kyle Larson.

NBA
James Harden  has reached agreement on a two-year, $68.6 million contract to return to the Philadelphia 76ers, According to ESPN, The deal includes a player option for the 2023-24 season, The contract represents a significant reduction in salary for Harden. On the eve of free agency, he declined to exercise his $47.3 million player option for 2022-23


NFL

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have  replaced Rob Gronkowski, with a new veteran tight end.  Kyle Rudolph is signing a one-year deal with the Bucs. 32 year old Rudolph, spent the majority of his productive NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings before leaving last offseason to sign with the New York Giants. 

 

Charles Johnson, a star wide receiver at Colorado and first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, has died at 50. Raleigh TV stations report that police found his body in a hotel room Sunday and don’t suspect foul play. He had been working as a High School assistant athletic director in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Johnson was selected by the Steelers with the 17th overall pick in the 1994 NFL draft and played five seasons for Pittsburgh.  In 1996 he had 60 catches for a career-high 1,008 yards and three touchdowns.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JULY 20, 2022

MOUNT PLEASANT MAN TO BE SENTENCED FOR SEX CRIMES

A Mount Pleasant man has been found guilty of sexual assault in Snyder County Court.  According to the Daily Item, 37 year old Chad Dickenson was accused of committing felony statutory sexual assault and aggravated assault of a 12 year old girl from June 2019 through November 2020.  Dickenson remains in Snyder County Prison and should be sentenced for his crimes later this year.

FIREARMS, DRUGS FOUND IN CAR OF VIRGINIA MAN

A 26 year old man from Virginia who was traveling on Route 15 in South Williamsport on June 30th was stopped for speeding but has been arrested for numerous other charges after a search of his car.  According to the Sun Gazette,  when police stopped Deaaron Christian in his 2022 Toyota Camry, they detected the smell of marijuana, and through a search found other indicators of criminal activity including having more drugs in the console of the car and an unregistered, loaded handgun under the driver’s seat.  Christian was charged with felony carrying a firearm without a license and possession of drugs.  He was released from jail on 50 thousand dollars bail.

DANVILLE SPCA EMPTIES THE SHELTER THIS WEEKEND

There will be an empty the shelter event this weekend at the Danville SPCA.  According to the Daily Item the Danville SPCA will be holding the event for families to come to the facility on 1467 Bloom Road in Daville and adopt kittens, cats and dogs for 25 dollars. All available pets are spayed and neutered, have all their shots, treated for fleas and ticks, dewormed and microchipped.  Each of the animals will go home with food toys and treats and cat carriers are available for $5.  The shelter will take walk-ins this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11am till 6pm each day.  Dog owners looking to add to their family can bring their pet to the shelter to see if they are compatible.

SENIOR DAY AT THE LYCO FAIR

Senior Citizens 65 and older with valid ID enter the 151st Lycoming County Fair for free today excluding rides when the fair opens at 4pm today.  The 9th Annual Draft Horse Pull is tonight and there’s music on the Red Dog Mobile Storage Stage.  Tomorrow is Military Appreciation day and Throwback Thursday Figure 8 racing in the Grandstand at 7pm.  Backyard Broadcasting will be live on the midway from 5-8 tonight and each night through Saturday.

MAN ARRESTED FOR FAILURE TO REGISTER AS SEX OFFENDER

A man who police took into custody for public drunkenness was found to be a convicted sex offender who had not registered his Williamsport address with the state police.  According to the Sun Gazette, city police say 33 year old Joshua Serrano of High Street was found drunk with his pants down on Cherry Street and then found to have bags of marijuana on his person before he was taken to jail.  He was arraigned recently in district court and remains incarcerated on 95 thousand dollars bail.

ANIMALS SEIZED FROM HOME OF HOMICIDE SUSPECTS

Two dozen animals were seized from the home of the Northumberland County residents who were arrested for homicide last week in a 2020 beating death of Richard Leroy Jameson, III.  According to North Central dot com, animal welfare officers from the PSPCA removed rabbits, cats, dogs and horses from the home at 415 Groover Road and after their health is checked, will be adopted out to new homes.  Dorothy and Thomas Huffman, along with Kayden Koser were arrested for their alleged knowledge of and responsibility for the death of Jameson, who lived with the Huffman’s prior to his beating death and burial on their property. A witness to the crime told police about the crime July 12 and the Huffman’s and Koser were arrested shortly after.

PENNSYLVANIA GAMBLING REVENUES PROJECTED TO GO UP

In new report from the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy, total revenues for the Pennsylvania gaming industry hit $3.2 billion in 2018 and are projected to crack $5 billion in 2022.  The commonwealth is looking at an estimated $2 billion in tax revenues which grew much more when sports gambling became legal in 2019.  At that time, revenues were about $4 million per month, but by April 2022, that had jumped to $30 million. Slot machines and internet gaming comprise about 70% of gaming revenue, followed by table games.

DEMOCRATS IN CLINTON COUNTY HAVE A NEW HEADQUARTERS

There was a ribbon cutting at the new offices Clinton County Democratic headquarters last week and there was a crowd in attendance that included local politicians as well as representatives from Pennsylvania government. The new facility is at 507 East Main Street in Lock Haven and will be open to the public Monday through Friday noon til 6pm and Saturdays 11am until 2pm. The next meeting of the Clinton County Democratic Committee will be July 28th at 7pm.  contact the new committee chair , William Mincer, via email; Clinton county democrats @ gmail.com.

SPORTS

MLB
The American League won 3-2 for its ninth straight All-Star victory and 21st in the past 25 Midsummer Classics for the first All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium in 42 years.
NO MLB games today but the Yankees play in Houston Thursday afternoon at 1:10pm

MLB Draft
Along with Wesley Scott and Tayden Hall who were picked on Day 2 of the MLB Draft, four more Williamsport Crosscutters were selected yesterday on Day 3.  Right hander Troy Taylor was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 12th round, Catcher Sabin Ceballos was taken by the LA Angels in the 14th, shortstop Michael Turconi heads to the Toronto Blue Jays, taken in the 15th round and right handed pitcher Easton Sikorksi was claimed

 in the 17th round by the Cincinnati Reds.


Jackie Robinson’s widow, Rachel Isum Robinson celebrated her 100th birthday Tuesday of this week.  The former professor, nurse, civil rights leader and founder of the Jackie Robinson Foundation was married to the baseball trailblazer from 1946 until his death in 1972.

SOCCER
US Women’s Soccer earned their spot at the Paris Games in 2024 by defeating Canada this week for the championship, 1 – nothing.  The reigning Olympic champs will now play number 3 Jamaica in September for the last Olympic spot that remains.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JULY 19, 2022

FOUR ALARM FIRE IN LYCOMING TOWNSHIP

Firefighters from four communities responded to the four alarm fire that destroyed a home and property Friday just before 6pm along Pleasant Hill Road in Lycoming Township.  According to the Sun Gazette, a fire began underneath a vehicle in the attached garage of the home where Bill and Julie Bota lived, and quickly spread to a second car and then to their home causing a total loss of both structures.  A state police fire marshal will investigate the incident this week at the home across from Fairlawn Community Church.

JERSEY SHORE MAN WHO BEAT PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND IN JAIL

A man accused of beating his pregnant girlfriend over several days and keeping her phone from her to avoid calling police, has been incarcerated on charges of terroristic threats, assault harassment and more.  According to the Sun Gazette, Tiadaghton Regional police say 27 year old Zach Taylor Parker of Jersey Shore abused his girlfriend between July 3rd and July 8th and threatened her life if the baby ended up being harmed.  A relative approached the woman at her workplace before she reported the abuse.  Parker is now in the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of 25 thousand dollars bail.

PENNDOT CONTINUES WORK ON ROUTE 220 THIS WEEK

PennDOT says they will continue work in Lycoming County this week. According to a press release, the work on the Route 220 safety improvement project in Woodward and Piatt Townships continues and the contractor will open the Loon Jug Handle and Pine Run Road Interchange this week.  The Young’s Road West Jug handle will remain closed for now.  Watch for alternating lane closures and flaggers managing traffic when crews will be pouring concrete on the bridge deck of Route 220 over Quenshukeny Run.  Work is expected to be performed from 7am til noon each day

TODAY IS FOR THE YOUTH AT THE LYCO FAIR

Tonight is Youth Night at the 151st Lycoming County Fair at the fairgrounds in Hughesville.  Enjoy 2 rounds of trivia tonight on the Red Dog Mobile Storage Stage and at 7pm in the Grandstand enjoy the Best School Talent Challenge.  Tomorrow Wednesday is Senior Citizens day and Backyard Broadcasting will be live on the midway from 5-8 tonight and each night through Saturday.

AMMONIA LEAK AT HUMMELS WHARF MEAT PLANT

HAZMAT crews were called to a meat plant in Hummels Wharf where 46 people had injuries from an anhydrous ammonia leak last Friday around 8pm. According to media outlets, the serious incident sent 46 people home after they were exposed and evaluated on scene, and one person went to the hospital with minor injuries.  According to the Hummels’ Wharf fire chief, Chris Eppley, about 3000 pounds of ammonia leaked after a valve broke when it was being offloaded onto trailers.  Residents are safe and can open windows and run air conditioners like normal.

NEW SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES AGAINST WASD TEACHER

New charges were filed last Tuesday against a former Williamsport Area School District teacher, who already had 11 counts against him for illegal contact with minors at school.  According to North Central PA dot com, the Lycoming County DA says the new accusations against 42 year old Christopher Yoder help expand their knowledge of the investigation, which has revealed evidence of Yoder’s questionable behavior with minors.  The former teacher solicited pictures with victims through Snapchat, and groomed a girl in an inappropriate sexual relationship when she was between 13 and 14, later arranging for the girl to meet him off of the school grounds. Some of the additional charges filed Tuesday include first-degree felony statutory sexual assault, and other assault charges, endangering the welfare of children, and harassment. Unsecured bail was set at $150,000 and $75,000, respectively. 

OVERNIGHT LINE PAINTING THIS WEEK

Crosswalks, stop bars and turning lane arrows will be painted for a signals project that will go on overnights from 9pm til 6am in Lock Haven.  According to the Record Online, crews will be working at several intersections.  Watch for work along Bellefonte Avenue, Main Street and Water Street. Penn DOT says the work could continue for a few weeks.

BOOKLET TO FEATURE SUSQUEHANNA WATERWAY

New and experienced paddlers will benefit from a new booklet recently released by the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership and Lumber Heritage Region.  According to the Sun Gazette, the publication will help users explore the history of the logging industry along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River that crosses between Clinton and Lycoming Counties.  The booklet features four paddling itineraries along the Susquehanna River Water Trail with points of interest,  put-in and take-out locations, difficulty rating and more.  Plans are for the booklets to be distributed for free at the Clinton County Visitors Bureau.

SPORTS

MLB
Washington Nationals slugger Juan Soto won the 2022 Home Run Derby yesterday, topping 21-year-old Seattle Mariners Julio Rodriguez in the final. 

Soto made 19 home runs in the final, walking it off in his minute of bonus time. At 23 years and 266 days, Soto is the second-youngest player to win the derby – only one day older than Juan Gonzalez was when he won in 1993.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Jackson State football coach Deion Sanders will donate half of his salary to make sure the program’s renovations to its football facility will be completed  a month before the season starts.  Jackson State will open the season against Florida A&M on Sept. 4 in Miami.

MLB DRAFT LEAGUE
Penn State baseball junior catcher Matt Wood was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fourth round, 132nd overall.   The MLB Draft continues with rounds 11-20 today, beginning at 2pm.

NFL NEWS
Ryan Switzer, who played for the Steelers during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, announced his retirement at the age of 27 on social media yesterday, citing recent injuries. Switzer is best known for his role on special teams, serving as the team’s punt and kick returner during the 2018 season.

BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JULY 18, 2022

LAWSUIT ALLEGES TWA 800 WAS SHOT DOWN BY ERRANT MISSILE

A lawsuit has been filed in US District Court in Massachusetts against the US Department of Defense saying that TWA 800 crashed because it was struck by a test missile fired by the US Navy and not because of an electrical fire in the fuel tank as reported.  According to the Sun Gazette, the suit says there was a false report released about the fuel tank explosion when they say evidence shows there were tests going on close to the flightpath of commercial airlines. TWA 800 was  carrying students and chaperones from Montoursville Area High School to France from New York City and all on board perished in the crash 26 years ago.

FORMER OFFICER FACING A DUI

A former Catawissa police officer who was seen swerving along the road admitted having several drinks before trying to drive last month. According to Northcentral PA dot com, 49 year old Stefani Gallie, who left the department in 2020, refused a breath test, but South Centre Township police noted she nearly fell out of her truck when they stopped her the evening of June 18. Gallie and was charged with DUI and failing to stay in a single lane of travel. She’s scheduled for a preliminary hearing on August 8th.

NEW MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE

While everyone knows to call 9-1-1 for an emergency. Now, get ready to dial 9-8-8 for a mental health emergency. The United States’ first nationwide three-digit mental health crisis hotline went LIVE on Saturday. It’s designed to be as easy to remember and use as 911, but instead of a dispatcher sending police, firefighters or paramedics, 988 will connect callers with trained mental health counselors.

SOAP BOX DERBY WINNERS HEAD TO OHIO

The two winners from the Soap Box Derby for Greater Williamsport are headed to Akron, Ohio this week for the 84th First Energy All American Soap Box Derby at Derby Downs.  Family, friends, and fans wished Super Stock Champion, Alivia Lukowsky, and Stock Champion Grace Stoltz well as they left for a parade today to kick off the family fun leading up the race this week. Racers will compete for a share of $36,000 in Bill Speeg Memorial Scholarships, awarded to the top three finishers in the Local and Rally divisions of the world championship race.

JURY SELECTION FOR TRUCK DRIVER WHO ALLEGEDLY SHOT NY MODEL

A jury to decide the fate of the man accused of shooting a New York City model and leaving her body along the roadside at a Union County exchange of Interstate 80, will begin to be selected today . According to North Central PA dot com, the trial of Tracy Ray Rollins, Jr. of Texas is scheduled for this fall in the Union County Courthouse.  He is accused of shooting Rebecca Landrith while in his tractor trailer and leaving her body at Mile Run exit  in February of 2021.  Investigators traced receipts found in Landrith’s pockets to Rollins who was extradited back to Pennsylvania after he was arrested in Connecticut.

SUV HITS MONTOURSVILLE HOUSE

An SUV crashed into a house on Sunday in Montoursville and did damage to a front porch and a car parked nearby.  According to North Central PA dot com, around 2pm Sunday, a driver left the roadway and hit a home collapsing the porch at the 200 block of Loyalsock Avenue, bringing the debris down on the car nearest to the home.  Police say the owners of the home at there at the time but were not hurt.  Witnesses say the driver was taken to the hospital by ambulance after the incident.

LONG TERM ROADWORK STARTS TODAY

PennDOT crews want to alert drivers of upcoming work along the Farrandsville Road, near Lock Haven, beginning Monday. Motorists may experience road closures at various times. Flaggers will be on the road to keep drivers apprised of any delays or closures. Utility work will continue on the roadway through the end of the year.

FINAL WEEK KICKS OFF AT LYCO FAIR

The 151st Lycoming County Fair continues for a full week in Hughesville through this weekend. Tonight is Bike night with free parking at the 3rd St Infield with an adult admission.  There will be Live Pro wrestling in the Grandstand at 7  and Backyard Broadcasting will be live on the midway from 5-8 tonight and each night through Saturday.

SPORTS

MLB
Nationals 7                    Braves 3
Yankees 13                    Red Sox 2
Rays 7                           Orioles 5
Phillies 4                        Marlins 0
Cubs 3                           Mets 2
Pirates 8                         Rockies 3
Tigers and Guardians and the Reds and Cardinals were postponed due to rain

NASCAR Sunday Cup Series At New Hampshire
Christopher Bell took the checkered flag Sunday in the #20 Toyota, followed by Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace, Martin Truex Jr., and Kevin Harvick rounding out the top five.
Christopher Bell is the 14th driver to earn a spot in the 16 driver playoff field with six races left to go in the regular season.

MLB Draft League
The Williamsport Crosscutters dropped Saturday night’s game to the State College Spikes 5-0. 
Williamsport finished their 1st half of the season with a 20-18 record, in a three-way tie with State College Spikes and Trenton Thunder – the League heads into their mid-season break until next weekend when all the teams will come back with a re-worked roster.

Little League
Keystone’s 9-11 baseball all-star team defeated Tri Valley on Saturday afternoon, winning 3-2, in one of the winners’ bracket semifinal gamess. Now, Keystone will face  in the championship game slated for Monday evening at 5:30 p.m. with an “if” game set for Tuesday. All the games are at Athens.

GOLF

A remarkable late surge from Cameron Smith saw the Australian win his first major in stunning fashion at the 150th Open Championship in St. Andrews, Scotland.In his event debut, the 28-year-old drained five consecutive birdies as he tore through the back nine of the Old Course, carding an eight-under 64

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