BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JULY 2, 2019

MAN FACES FELONY THEFT CHARGES

Charges have been filed against a man who admitted he stole money from a Loyalsock Township homeowner’s association.  The Williamsport Sun Gazette reports that 28 year old Ryan Workman, who offered to help out to a family member who was the treasurer for the Homewood Oaks Townhouse Association, wrote checks to himself in excess of 40 thousand dollars since January of 2017.  Workman was arraigned Monday on several felony theft charges and charges of forgery and record tampering.  He was released on 25 thousand dollars bail.

SHAMOKIN FARM ACCUSED OF CRUELTY

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals – or PETA have accused a Shamokin farm of animal cruelty – the same farm charged and tried almost ten years ago and found not guilty.  According to WKOK, PETA operatives gained employment on Lloyd Reitz Sr’s farm and videotaped the alleged maltreatment.  State Police have opened a new investigation.

GAS PRICES RISE

Gas prices have apparently gone up in our area.  The national average of a gallon of gas has gone up about 4 cents this week, and that has been reflected in Pennsylvania prices, too.  According to Gasbuddy dot com, prices are up seven cents in the Susquehanna Valley;  $2.91 in Northumberland and Lycoming Counties, up to 2.99 in Tioga County, $2.87 in Snyder, and $2.82 in Union and Montour counties.

CREWS WORK TO CLEAR DEBRIS

Thank a crewmember of the City Streets and Parks Department today.  After Saturday’s severe storms in Williamsport, which had a reported wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour, crews were left to clear trees that came down and remove debris from storm drains yesterday, concurrently preparing for the 4th of July Set the Night to Music Fireworks Extravaganza coming up this Thursday. The Sun Gazette reports that city crews will clear downed tree debris in the street or from the berm from residential areas next week.

STATE POLICE FIND MISSING MUNCY WOMAN

A young woman who walked away from the Ashley Manor Facility on June 6th has been found.  State Police in Montoursville were investigating the whereabouts of 15 year-old Destiny Pugh after she disappeared from the CYS facility in Muncy last month.  Police say Pugh was known to frequent the Gettysburg area of the state.  In a press release, State police in Chambersburg say Pugh has been found safe and returned to the Child Youth Services facility in Franklin County.

VEHICLE EMISSIONS TESTING COULD BE OVER

Mandated vehicle emission testing may end in several areas of Pennsylvania including Lycoming County, according to the Sun Gazette.  State Senator Gene Yaw of Loyalsock Township joined other officials in the Senate in voting 27-23 in favor of removing the outdated emissions testing program. Those in favor of the legislation say new vehicle technologies make the testing illogical and only a small percentage of vehicles fail the testing in the 25 counties where it is still required.

NEW LAW CLEARS RECORDS OF LOW LEVEL OFFENDERS

Pennsylvania Courts have begun automatically sealing more than 30 million criminal records as a result of the Commonwealth’s first-in-the-nation Clean Slate Act.  In a press conference yesterday, Governor Tom Wolf and other lawmakers announced the program as a way to promote criminal justice reform and offer second chances to those with low-level offenses.  Each month, 2.5 million Pennsylvanians who’ve who had charges dropped, were found not guilty or convicted of non-violent misdemeanors and crime-free for 10 years, will have their records sealed from the public.  PA’s Clean Slate law had near unanimous bi-partisan support was signed into law by Governor Wolf on June 28, 2018.

MEMORIAL BRIDGE NAMED FOR PENNDOT EMPLOYEE

PennDOT has named a bridge on Route 405 in West Chillisquaque Township for a young PennDOT District 3 employee who was killed in an accident while on the job in 2016.  The “H. Donald Whipple Memorial Bridge” was honored last week during a ceremony attended by Whipple’s parents and his wife, friends and co-workers, as well as representatives from Senator John Gordner and Representative Lynda Culver’s offices.

Sports

Major League Baseball

Blue Jays over the Royals 11-4, Pirates slammed the Cubs 18-5, Rays beat the Orioles 6-3, Brewers over the Reds 8-6, Giants pound the Padres 13-2,  Angels and Rangers were postponed due to the unexpected death of Angels 27 year-old pitcher Tyler Scaggs yesterday.

NY-Penn League
Williamsport Crosscutters won at home against Mahoning Valley Scrappers 9-1

Major Baseball

Montoursville beat E. Lycoming 10-8

Keystone over Loyalsock 10-nothing (in 5 innings)

Wimbledon – US’s 15 year old Coco Gauff defeats Venus Williams in the First Round in London; 6-4, 6-4

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