BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JUNE 13, 2019

PRELIMINARY HEARING RESCHEDULED

A Montgomery man who was denied bail for several charges of felony rape and sexual assault against a child will have his preliminary hearing rescheduled.  Northcentral Pa dot com reports 49 year-old Christopher John Grob was originally set to face the numerous charges on May 31st for his alleged abuse of a minor victim on May 15th. There is no date set yet for the new hearing.  Muncy Magisterial District Judge Jon E. Kemp denied bail for Grob when he was arraigned May 24th, with court records stating that Grob was a danger to the public.

BEAR CLIMBS TREE AFTER BEING HIT BY CAR ON I-80

Authorities captured a young bear in our area this week.  The Williamsport Sun-Gazette reports that a 100 pound bear had climbed a tree after being hit by a car at the Muncy-Hughesville interchange of I-80 on Wednesday, which then had to be tranquilized three times before being captured and evaluated for injuries.  The bear had been sighted earlier in the day, picking from a dumpster along Carpenter Street in Muncy.

SENIOR CENTER EXPANSION PLANNED

Loyalsock Township officials have approved a contract to build a one million dollar expansion onto the recreation center along Four Mile Drive.  Primarily using the building will be senior citizens and elementary school students after school hours.  The Sun Gazette reports that township manager Bill Burdett says the facility will provide space for seniors that has been lacking.  The new building will house Meals on Wheels, and arts center and a bus program.

PA SENATE CONFIRMS 23RD STATE POLICE COMMISSIONER

The 23rd commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police has been unanimously confirmed by the state senate.  Colonel Robert Evanchick, who is originally from Wilkes Barre, began his law enforcement career in the Camp Cadet Program in Montoursville and now is in command of the 10th largest police agency in the United States.  Evanchick had been acting commissioner since March  of 2018 when he stepped in for the retiring Colonel Tyree Blocker.

 

MAN CHARGED AFTER THREATS TO POST EXPLICIT PICTURES

An 18 year old man from Ralston faces rape charges after threatening to publish explicit photographs on social media if his victim would not comply with the assault.  Nicholas Matthew Wolf met with the 18 year old woman at a pull off on Rock Run Road in McIntyre Township  around May 5th of this year, at which time she asked him to not publish the pictures.  Police say the woman was forced into sexual acts by Wolf, who was arraigned this week on the charges.  A straight bond is set at 150 thousand dollars for Wolf and his preliminary hearing is next Wednesday in Lycoming County District Court.

ALTOONA WOMAN CAN PROCEED WITH LAWSUIT

A new court ruling will allow an Altoona woman to pursue a lawsuit against the Jonestown-Altoona Roman Catholic Diocese who allegedly concealed a priest’s abuse that happened to her 40 years ago.  Dismissed by a county judge in 2017, Renee Rice’s case was reinstated by a three-judge Superior Court this week in Harrisburg which could change the legal landscape for others in the same situation.  The Reverend Charles Bodziak denies claims that he abused Rice at St. Leo’s Church in Altoona 40 years ago, no word on whether the diocese will appeal the ruling, which could send the case to a larger Superior Court Panel.

INFESTATION PROMPTS TREE REMOVAL

Trees have been coming down along Little League Boulevard this week and the work local tree surgeons say it’s because of an insect called the Emerald Ash borer.  North central pa dot com reports that 55 trees came down due to the insect that can cause trees to lose nutrients and die.  The Williamsport Shade Tree Commission, said they will be replacing 38 trees along Little League Boulevard this fall.  This is the 20th year that the City of Williamsport has been named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of the city’s commitment to effective urban forest management.

BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY FACES A BUSY SUMMER

Look for a busy summer in Lewisburg this year.  The Sun Gazette reports that more than 40 events will bring over 8,000 visitors to the campus of Bucknell University through August 25th.  In addition to sports camps and clinics, there will be swimming events bringing hundreds of participants to the area including the Middle Atlantic Long Course Senior Championships in July which may bring more than a thousand people to town.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REGISTRATION IN HUGHESVILLE

Hughesville residents who haven’t registered their incoming kindergarten through 6th grader for the 2019/2020 school year can do so June 26th from 8am til 2pm at Ashkar Elementary School on South Broad Street.  Students entering kindergarten should be 5 years-old on or before September 1st 2019, and their parents should bring a birth certificate, immunization records, proof of residency  and a current driver’s license..  Parents can set up an appointment to register by calling the Ashkar elementary school office.

Sports

Major League Baseball

Oakland over Tampa Bay 6-2,  Cincinnati over Cleveland 7-2, Boston over Texas 4-3, Toronto beat Baltimore 8-6, Milwaukee over Houston 6-3, Seattle beat Minnesota 9-6, Detroit eeked past Kansas City 3-2, Cubs hammered the Rockies 10-1,  Diamondbacks blanked the Phillies 2-nothing,  Marlins stomped the Cardinals 9- nothing, Braves edged the pirates 8-7, Giants over the Padres 4-2.

NHL

St. Louis Blues checked the Boston Bruins 4 to1 in Game 7,  taking the Stanley Cup for the 1st time ever.  St Louis won the championship series 4-3.

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