BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JULY 6, 2020

Stonington State Police found a body Saturday in Northumberland County and have found no foul play in the incident. According to media outlets the body was found in a wooded area near Bates Road in East Cameron Township near Shamokin. Stonington Troopers say a known individual contacted them around 8:45 a.m. Saturday who tipped them off about situation. Troopers say the Northumberland County Coroner and deputy coroner assisted the police on the scene.

A Montoursville resident has been arrested for simple assault and terroristic threats after police say he attempted to strangled his mother who would not provide him with money for drugs.  Douglas Harding threatening his mother’s life and as she attempted to flee her home and call police, a neighbor saw the confrontation and called 911. Police say Harding was charged with one misdemeanor count of false imprisonment for allegedly holding the victim against her will.  He has been jailed in lieu of 75,000 dollar bail at the Lycoming county prison.

Grants will be available for cultural institutions in Pennsylvania, according to Governor Tom Wolf who recently announced the availability of the the Cultural and Museum Preservation Grant Program, through the federal CARES Act.  Twenty million dollars will be allotted for qualifying organizations for individual grants in amounts between $25k to $500k.  Applications are accepted through July 31st and you can register and find information about eligibility here.

The man known as the “Shepherd of the Streets” in Lycoming County  has announced his retirement.  According to the Sun Gazette, the Rev. J. Morris Smith, has submitted notification that he will retire from his position as head of The Shepherd Program effective Aug. 28. Rev. Smith was part of the United Churches of Lycoming County Program for 20 of the  32 years it has been successfully helping the community.  Rev. Gwen Bernstine, executive director of United Churches, said that the program will continue to operate under new leadership and they are seeking applicants for the position Smith held.   Smith and his wife, Barby, say they will move closer to family in the Kansas City, Missouri.

A home caught fire on the Fourth of July in Williamsport on the 600 block of Rose Street. According to the Sun Gazette at least 5 people that were family and friends of the homeowner were inside when the fire started. According to the Sun Gazette broke out around 3:40 pm setting off 2 fire alarms in the process and leaving 3 adults and 3 children homeless. Fire officials say the blaze was started when a child was playing with a lighter.  The local Red Cross is providing emergency assistance to the displaced victims.  Damage estimates reached about $45k

A naked man in Mill Hall man was tased last Thursday after allegedly assaulting a Jersey Shore police officer. According to the Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police Department, motorists noticed 34 year old Jason Kinley on the 200 block of Calvert street running around and yelling at cars going by around 10:45.  According to police the suspect was not in compliance with officers and continued to ask to be tased.  The Police then complied with his wishes.  Kinley is being held on charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, indecent exposure, simple assault, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and harassment and was jailed at the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $50,000 unsecured bail.

More than $4 million in federal coronavirus relief funding is on the way for Union County and the Commissioners there are determining how to use those funds moving forward.  A portion of those funds may be earmarked to expand wireless broadband internet access in the underserved western end of the county. According ot the Daily Item, Commissioner Stacy Richards said studies have been performed on expanding access in the county.  Areas targeted are the Shamokin Mountain near New Berlin and Jones Mountain in Hartley Township. The funding could be split up to use for more than one initiative, she said.

A statue of abolitionist Frederick Douglass was ripped from its base in Rochester, New York Friday, on the anniversary of one of his most famous speeches.  According to the National Examiner, police said the statue of Douglass was taken yesterday from Maplewood Park, a site along the Underground Railroad. Police say the statue was found near the Genesee River gorge about 50 feet from its pedestal and it had been damaged.  In Rochester on July 5, 1852, Douglass gave the speech saying a celebration of liberty is a sham in a nation that oppresses its Black citizens.

Sports
MLB
Under pressure from national racial movements in America, the Cleveland Indians said Friday night that they will review their long-debated nickname, which has been in place for 105 years.

Ex Philadelphia pitcher Tyson Brummett, 35, of Salt Lake City, died in a plane crash. Brummett was drafted by the Phillies BACK IN 2007 out of UCLA. A right-hander, Brummett’s appearance in the majors came in 2012, when he faced four batters, striking out two of them.

NBA
The NBA has announced a schedule for scrimmages happening at the Walt Disney World Resort. As the season gears back up you can expect 33 scrimmages set for between July 22nd and July 28th.

The Miami Heat have closed their training facility after positively testing a second player for COVID-19

NASCAR
A tire changer for NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney was taken to a hospital, evaluated and released after being injured Sunday early in the Brickyard 400.  Zachary Price was pinned between Blaney’s No. 12 Ford and Brennan Poole’s No. 15 Chevrolet as the result of a six-car pileup near the entrance of pit road 16 laps into the Cup series race. Five of the drivers were checked at Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s infield medical center and released. Blaney, meanwhile, returned to the race.

Justin Allgaier, the replacement for seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, was involved in a six-car pileup near the entrance of pit road 16 laps into the Cup series race and dropped out. Johnson’s streak of 663 consecutive starts ended after he tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday.

At seven laps from another close victory that haven’t worked out, Denny Hamlin went careening into the first-turn wall with a flat right-front tire, and Kevin Harvick beat Matt Kenseth off the final restart to win his second straight Brickyard 500 Sunday.

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