BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JULY 31, 2019

SHAMOKIN FIRE REKINDLES THIS MORNING
A fire that broke out in Shamokin’s 5th ward has rekindled this morning.  WKOK reports that Northumberland County Communications first reported the fire around 1:30 this morning in the attic at 14 North Franklin Street in Shamokin.  About a dozen volunteer fire crews are reportedly fighting that blaze again today.  The fire originally began Tuesday before 5:30am along row homes on North Franklin Street.  The Meadeville Tribune says there was one fatality and one man was taken by ambulance to the hospital with no word on his condition.  Brea Scandle was pronounced dead on the scene by Northumberland County Chief Deputy Coroner James Gotlob, who reported say smoke inhalation was the cause of death.

FATAL FIRE IN SHAMOKIN’S FIFTH WARD
A fire that broke out in Shamokin’s 5th Ward took the life of a 23 year old woman yesterday.  Brea Scandle was pronounced dead on the scene by Northumberland County Chief Deputy Coroner James Gotlob, who reported say smoke inhalation was the cause of death.   The early morning fire began before 5:30am Tuesday along 10 row homes on North Franklin Street.  The Meadeville Tribune says there were initial reports that two people were trapped in the unit and one man was taken by ambulance to the hospital with no word on his condition.  WNEP says 9 row homes were damaged in the fire.

POLICE INVESTIGATE FOUR SHOOTINGS IN TWO WEEKS
The Williamsport Police Department is faced with solving 4 shootings in 2 weeks, 2 of which were homicides in the city.  Police report that a 16 year old male was pronounced dead at the 900 block of Market Street after a shooting early Tuesday morning, then, a 17 year-old boy was shot on Almond Street last Sunday night and is recovering from his injuries.  July 17th a 19 year old was shot on the 600 block of Maple street and is recovering also from his injuries.   The second homicide was the incident in which 37 year-old Kerry Young of Williamsport was shot July 24th while driving a car on West Fourth Street.  Young died later at the hospital from his injuries.  Chief of Police Damon Hagen says all available resources are being used to solve these crimes.

TRACTOR TRAILER FIRE CLOSES LANES ON I-80
A lane was closed on I-80 westbound early Wednesday morning after a tractor trailer fire caused problems near mile marker 207.  WKOK reported that an incident was reported to police about  3 miles after the Lewisburg exit.  Crews blocked lanes and backed up traffic for a few minutes while extinguished the fire and cleared the scene there.  No injuries were reported and the lanes opened up just after 6am this morning.

LOCAL ATTORNEY TAPPED AS COMMON PLEAS JUDGE
After being confirmed in June by the State Senate Williamsport attorney Ryan Tira will wrap up his work in private practice and take office as Lycoming County Common Pleas Judge September 3rd.  The Williamsport Sun Gazette reports that Tira won the Republican and Democratic nominations for county judge in the spring primary and will be the only candidate on the ballot in November.  Tira was appointed by Governor Tom Wolf to take the bench seat left vacant after Judge Richard Gray retired last summer.

GRANT FOR NEW TREES MOVES FORWARD
There might be some new trees coming to Williamsport.  The City Council recommended a TreeVitalize grant with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources move forward and that could mean almost 10 thousand dollars would be tagged for about 80 trees to be planted here.  The Sun Gazette reports that trees could be planted along Campbell Street to Memorial Avenue, Brandon Park, Little League Boulevard  and other areas.  If the grant comes through, 48 of 80 trees will be planted in the fall.

FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL RELEASED TODAY
The former Pennsylvania Attorney-General who was tried in Montgomery County court for leaking confidential information and lying about it in 2016 will be released from Montgomery County Correctional Facility today. Penn Live reports that Kathleen Kane was sentenced 10- to 23 months but has been released after 8 months for good behavior.  Kane was disbarred by an order from US Middle District Chief Judge Christopher Conner this year after the state Supreme Court refused an appeal of her case.

TWO CANDIDATES INTERESTED IN COUNCIL SEAT
There were two candidates interviewed during the Williamsport City Council meeting last night who are interested in filling the seat left vacant by Jonathan Williamson’s resignation.  Former Councilwoman Gerry Fausnaught and graduate student candidate and former intern with Mayor Campana, James Gardner, applied for the post.  Officials on the council told the Williamsport Sun Gazette that they will deliberate and announce a decision at Thursday’s meeting this week.

PA TEEN WINS FORTNIGHT COMPETITION
If you know anyone who plays the video game Fortnight – here’s an argument that playing videogames DOES pay off in the long run, a 16 year old from Pottsgrove Pennsylvania has earned his way to claiming the 1st Fortnight World Cup solo champion at Arthur Ashe stadium in New York.  40 million players competed last weekend for the chance to compete for the 3 million dollars in championship prize money and Kyle Giersdorf – who goes by the name Bugha online –won the chance to compete in the finals. In second place, 24-year-old Harrison Chang, of the United States, won $1.8 million.

Sports
Major League Baseball
Orioles beat the Padres 8-5, Braves hit the Nationals 11-8, Diamondbacks over the Yankees 4-2, Phillies beat the Giants 4-2, Astros blanked the Indians 2-nothing, Rays over the Red Sox 6-5, Twins beat the Marlins 2-1, Pirates bumped the Reds 11-4, Mariners over the Rangers 8-5, Mets beat the White Sox 5-2, Cardinals over the Cubs 2-1, Blue Jays over the Royals 9-2, Dodgers beat the Rockies 9-4, Angels thumped the Tigers 6-1, A’s over the Brewers 3-2.

NY Penn League
Connecticut Tigers beat the Williamsport Crosscutters on the road 3-2

Share