BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JANUARY 31, 2020

FELONY STRANGULATION CHARGE FOR LEWISBURG MAN
A man from Lewisburg was charged yesterday with felony strangulation in Williamsport from an incident Thursday.  Williamsport Bureau of Police responded to a 911 call from a victim of Quodrice D. Hendrix who said he choked her till she could not breathe or speak around 3am. Police arrived at the Williamsport apartment about 4am, where Hendrix had returned after initially fleeing, and he was taken into custody.  Hendrix was unable to post bail and was placed into the Lycoming County Prison.

MAYOR MAKES MORE CHANGES TO THE TEAM
Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter Continues to make changes in his administration team, announcing changes to the City Recreation Director position, and removing Shawn Washington from the post.  According to the Sun Gazette, the city will soon advertise an updated position with a modified role, which oversees an annual budget for city recreational programs, facilities and special events.  In addition to the recreation job, two other personnel changes in the city include the finance director and general manager of River Valley Transit, as well as a city engineer job.

COCHRAN PRIMARY IS RECOGNIZED
A local elementary school has been awarded recognition of a Title I Distinguished School which honors schools who rank in the top 5 percent of federally funded supplemental education programs.  According to the State Department of Education, Cochran Primary School was one of 93 schools in the state to rank that high in the 2 most recently completed school years.   According to a press release from the schoolM Cochran’s principal, Cindy Schuyler, attributed the recognition to the high-quality instruction students receive, the support of the district administration and entire school community.

CITY LOSES TWO 1939 LITTLE LEAGUE PLAYERS THIS WEEK
In memoriam – Williamsport Little League lost two men who were historic ambassadors to the youth sports program this week.  Bill Bair passed away January 25th and we lost Al “Sonny” Yearick on Janaury 27th.  Both played on Lycoming Dairy team, one of the first three Little League clubs started by Carl Stotz in Williamsport in 1939. Yearick was the very first Little Leaguer to play professionally, spent four years in the minor leagues.  Bair graduated from Penn State University and was a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War.  He also worked for Williamsport Wire Rope.

BERWICK MAN THREATENS TO DRIVE INTO HOSPITAL
Out of frustration from a scheduling problem, Danville police say a Berwick man threatened to drive his car through the Geisinger entrance last Sunday.  According to the Daily Item,  65-year-old William Somers was charged with felony counts of making terroristic threats.  After the man allegedly called the Mahoning Township facility, security was heightened near the front entrance. Somers, who is free on $10,000 unsecured bail will have a preliminary hearing on February 6th

COMISSIONERS APPROVE LEVEE SYSTEM CONTRACT
A contract for work related to the levee system in Lycoming County for about 274 thousand dollars was approved Thursday by the Lycoming County Commissioners for oversight and construction as well as the review and rescinding of a 20-municipality ordinance that would increase per capita rates.  According to the Sun Gazette, Muncy Township Supervisor Tom Schick asked for a delay on the per capita increase due to inconvenient timing for residents.  The commissioners discussed the possibility of restoring the ordinance in 2021 and voted 3-nothing to rescind it.  They will meet again next Tuesday at 10 at the Executive Plaza, 330 Pine St in Williamsport.

SUNBURY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY DOWN FOR 60 DAYS
Due to the lack of trained and certified volunteer firefighters in Sunbury, the fire company is out of service for 60 days.  According to local media, Sunbury Fire Chief Brad Wertz Jr. said the social and business side of the company will remain open and there is no immediate danger to the public during fire responses, since the city’s remaining fire companies are all in operation. When this 60-day period is over, they’ll re-evaluate the company –  expected to take place in mid-March.

MORE SOIL REMEDIATION IN UNION COUNTY
Clean-up work will continue next week on Interstate 80 westbound in White Deer Township, Union County.  According to PennDOT the contractor will be working in the area of mile marker 202.5 beginning next Tuesday through Thursday again from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Motorists should also anticipate lane restrictions and a brief delay when both lanes are closed as the contractor moves equipment across the roadway.
Sports
NBA

Raptors beat the Cavaliers 115 to 109, Wizards with the Hornets 121 to 107, Hawks beat the 76ers 127 to 117, the Celtics beat the Warriors 119 to 104, the Nuggets beat Jazz 106 to 100, Kings beat the Clippers 124 to 103
NHL
Canadians beat the Sabres 3 to 1, Predators beat the Devils 6-5, and Kings beat Coyotes 3 to 2
HS Boys Basketball
Danville over Jersey Shore 70 to 59, Millville beat Muncy 45 to 34, Sayre beat Canton 60 to 48, Troy over Wellsboro 63 to 58, and North East Bradford beat Cowanesque Valley 66-45, North Penn Liberty over Williamson 81-44, Hughesville beat Selinsgrove 65-55,
HS Girls Basketball
Southern Columbia over South Williamsport 41-34
HS Swimming
Girls – Central Columbia beat jersey Shore 89-79,
Boys – Central Columbia beat Jersey Shore 93 to 50

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