BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS OCTOBER 8, 2019

BACTERIAL INFECTION CAUSES DEATH OF THREE INFANTS
National News outlets are reporting details this morning about the deaths of three premature babies at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville allegedly due to a waterborne bacteria.  PennLive reports that eight newborns in the neonatal unit were struck with an infection, four have recovered and one is still being treated for the infection.  Officials from Geisinger are transferring premature babies to other hospitals and are also rerouting women who expect to deliver prematurely to different facilities. The Pennsylvania Department of Health and US Centers for Disease Control is working with the hospital to eliminate the infection and prevent more complications.  Geisinger has set up a hotline number for questions; 570-214-9087.

MORNING ACCIDENTS SLOW LYCOMING COUNTY TRAFFIC
Several accidents slowed traffic around Lycoming County this morning.  A tractor trailer rolled over this morning along Route 15 Southbound in Cogan House Township and Penn DOT reports the police closed the interstate near the 184 Exit at Steam Valley just before 8am. Traffic is being detoured onto 184, 220 and 287.   The accident is expected to block the southbound lanes of Route 15 for several hours.  Also, a pedestrian was struck at the 2300 block of Lycoming Creek Road and emergency crews responded to the area around the Shell Gas station just after 7:30. A wreck around that same hour also slowed 220 near Narbor Frey road in the Pennsdale area of Muncy Township – no major injuries reported in that incident.

CAR HITS TRACTOR TRAILER ON EXIT RAMP DRIVER KILLED
Police are investigating a fatal crash that happened along I-80 in Liberty Township last Friday afternoon.  Temur Davronov, a 40 year old truck driver from Philadelphia had parked the rig along the shoulder at the exit ramp at rest area at mile marker 218.  State Police in Milton report that 19 year old Curtis Melville, III, from Limerick PA struck the back of the truck while exiting back to I-80 east and was entrapped inside his Ford F150 after the crash.  Mellville was transported to Geisinger medical Center and later succumbed to his injuries. State police continue to investigate.

LOADED GUN DISCOVERED AT AIRPORT X-RAY CHECKPOINT
A transportation security Administration officer at the Williamsport Regional Airport found a loaded 25 caliber handgun inside a carry-on bag during an X-Ray machine checkpoint Saturday.  When the officer discovered the weapon in the Cogan Station man’s bag, it was confiscated, Montoursville police were called and the man questioned.  No arrests were made, and the man was released after questioning.  The Sun Gazette reports that travelers with concealed firearm permits cannot have them in carry-on luggage and are likely subject to possible fees.

WILLIAMSPORT MAYOR STARTS WRITE-IN CAMPAIGN
The Mayor of Williamsport is seeking another term amongst criticism that he is misusing resources to launch a write-in campaign while still in office.  According to the Sun Gazette Mayor Gabriel Campana  announced after a meeting with grassroots supporters, that he would seek election on November 5th so he can continue to work with developers to complete the revenue-producing upgrades his administration set in motion.

2 CHARGED WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY
Charges of animal cruelty have been filed in Lycoming County court against two men in Montgomery after one dog strangled itself last summer while tethered with a choke chain trying to reach an empty water bowl on an 88 degree day.  24 year old Dante Kenneth Marra, and 21 year old Michael Allen Steinruck, of 149 Snaurytown Road, Montgomery were arrested and with one count of third degree felony aggravated cruelty to animal, two counts of third degree misdemeanor neglect of animal, and two summary counts of neglect of an animal. Their bail was set at $20,000 each . They will have preliminary hearings on Octoiber 11, 2019.

BOROUGH APPROVES FEMA GRANT OPPORTUNITY
Montoursville Borough Council has applied for a federal FEMA buyout grant for several residents in the floodplain who continue to suffer losses.  The council approved the grant and now want to make sure residents know they can apply for the relief.  Council members told the Sun Gazette that there are 10 to 12 homes that continue to be hit with the flooding issues.  The next meeting of the Montoursville Bourough Council is October 21st in the offices on N. Loyalsock Avenue.

DMV OFFICES CLOSED FOR UPCOMING HOLIDAY
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has announced that all driver license and photo centers, including its full-service center in Harrisburg, will be closed Saturday, October 12, through Monday, October 14, in observance of the Columbus Day holiday.  There are no additional fees for using online services at PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website, www.dmv.pa.gov.

LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE
Today is the last day to register to vote in the November election!  To register, complete your application today, you can submit online at pavoterservices.pa.gov, or by mail to your county voter registration office as long as it has today’s postmark.  If you are on active duty in the military, or you’re a hospitalized or bedridden veteran, you can register any time. See www.fvap.gov for more information.

COACHING HIRES STIR UP QUESTIONS
As the South Williamsport School Board approved the hire of several new athletic coaches, some residents questioned how vacancies for coaches were created and whether certain background checks and references were checked.  The Sun Gazette reports that at Monday nights meeting, Tom O’Malley, formerly of the Loyalsock Area School District, was approved for coaching positions at the school.  He was hired as South Williamsport’s varsity girl’s softball coach for a stipend of 4 thousand, 767 dollars.  In addition,  varsity boys and girls basketball and  varsity wrestling coaches contracts were renewed.

Sports
Major league baseball playoffs –

Yankees win their series over the Twins 5-1 in Game 3 last night,  three games to none.
The Nats beat the Dodgers 6-1 last night in game four of the National League Division Series Playoffs – they’re now tied in the series 2 and 2, Cardinals beat the Braves 5-4 yesterday in their National League Division Series Game their series tied 2 and 2, Rays over the Astros 10-3 in game three of the American League Division Series Houston leads the series 2-1.
NFL Monday Night Football
49ers routed the Browns 31 -3

NHL Hockey
Eastern conference – St. Louis over Toronto 3-2,
Western conference – Columbus beat Buffalo 4-3
HS Boys Soccer
South Williamsport defeated Bloomsburg nine nothing, Williamsport beat Danville one nothing in overtime, Muncyy beat Troy 4-3
HS Girls Soccer
Meadowbrook Christian over North Penn Mansfield 4-1

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