BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS AUGUST 8, 2019

ACCUSED SHOOTER HAD PRIOR CONVICTION
The man accused as the shooter in this week’s convenience store robbery on West 4th Street in Williamsport had a prior conviction.  Twenty-one year old Ikeem Fogan was arrested for the shooting of a Unimart clerk and a local woman Sunday He was on probation for criminal mischief and disorderly conduct from an incident in July 2018.  Williamsport Police took Fogan into custody Tuesday as a suspect in the weekend shootings of store clerk JoBeth Wetzel who underwent shoulder surgery this week and is recovering,  Rhonda McPeak of Williamsport who was a customer in the store was allegedly killed by Fogan.

TRANSIT COMPANY TURNS FIFTY
Today marks the 50th anniversary of what we know today as River Valley Transit.  In a buyout, the city purchased Williamsport Bus Company August 8th 1969 for 75 thousand dollars which started the legacy of regionalizing transportation agreements across municipalities.  BeST Transit began in 2011 and serves almost 1.4 million riders according to the Sun Gazette.  River Valley Transit will offer free bus rides all day today and will have activities throughout Williamsport through the weekend.

LOCAL SENATOR TO CONFER DEGREES AT PENN TECH
Senator Gene Yaw of Loyalsock Township will be on hand Saturday to confer degrees upon graduates of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s summer sessions, assisting president Davie Jane Gilmour at the ceremony.  275 students are set to graduate at the Community Arts Center beginning at 11am.  The student speaker will be Dylan Gary Otis of Wyalusing who will also receive the Presidents Award for leadership. A Mentorship Award will be presented to Andrea Reed who is a 2007 Penn College nursing graduate who serves as the director of nursing at UPMC Susquehanna in Muncy.

PRAYER VIGIL PLANNED FOR H EALING
There will be a prayer vigil today at 5:30 at St. Luke Lutheran Church on 1400 Market Street in Williamsport.  A spokesperson from the United Churches of Lycoming County told the Sun gazette that they organized the event to help encourage law enforcement and lift up the community after recent gun violence in the city.  In the event of rain the vigil will be moved into the church building.

WOMAN ARRESTED FOR SENDING EXPLICIT PHOTOS TO MINOR
A woman from Hughesville has been charged with the corruption of a minor after police say she sent sexually explicit photos to a 16 year-old boy on Facebook.  PA State Police say 32 year old Janelle Platt exchanged messages with the boy in May of this year and later admitted to authorities that she sent the pictures.  Platt was arraigned Monday according to State Police in Montoursville

COUNTY PAYS PENALTY TO SAVE ON NEW 9-11 SYSTEM UPGRADES
Northumberland County commissioners made the decision to pay a penalty for delaying upgrades to the 911 system there.  In a contract with the service provider a penalty was imposed after a delay in securing third party negotiations for lower costs for tower space, which will save the county over 200 thousand dollars according to WKOK.  The total cost of the 911 upgrade in Sunbury was 5.2 million dollars.

LAKE AUGUSTA TO BE LOWERED AFTER LABOR DAY
The boating season will end early for those in Sunbury after the DCNR has announced emergency repairs to the Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam in Shikellamy State Park.  Authorities said in a press release that Lake Augusta will need to be lowered starting after Labor Day weekend to repair punctures in Bag 6 of the dam and also damage to the air piping system.  The DCNR say that marina slip holders are required to remove their boats from the marina by the 3rd of September

Sports
Major League Baseball

Mets beat the Marlins 7-2, White Sox over the Tigers 8-1, Indians blanked the Rangers 2-nothing in game 1 and defeated them 5-1 in game 2, Blue Jays over the Rays 4-3, Braves thumped the Twins 11-7, Astros pounded the Rockies 14-3, Cubs routed the A’s 10-1, Dodgers over the Cardinals 2-1, Nationals beat the Giants 4-1,  Brewers bumped the Pirates 8-3, Mariners beat the Padres 3-2, Yankees slammed the Orioles 14-2, Diamondbacks beat the Phillies 6-1, Royals and Red Sox are 4-4 postponed by rain in the 10th inning to resume play August 22nd.

NY Penn League
Batavia Muckdogs over the Williamsport Crosscutters at home last night for the doubleheader, 6-3 in both games.

Little League Softball World Series
South Williamsport defeated Asia Pacific 3-1 in Game 1 of Pool play.

Congratulations to Southeast Regional champions South Riding, Virginia and the Southwest Champs, River Ridge, Louisiana – who both secured their spot yesterday for the Little League World Series. Both teams are first time entries and the 1st two US teams on the bracket.  They’ll play next week in Game 2 and Game 6 respectively – LLWS starts Thursday, August 15th.

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