BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS MARCH 6, 2020

SCHOOL SHUTS DOWN AFTER DUST FIRE IN WOOD SHOP
After a small fire started in a dust collector in the high school’s woodshop, the Montgomery Area School District evacuated students yesterday at 12:15pm .  According to the Sun Gazette, the Clinton Township firefighters and other volunteers responded to a fire at 120 Penn St. around 11:20am Thursday when the shop teacher pulled the alarm once the fire was discovered.  Fire officials said the blaze was accidental caused by a spark from a machine and damage is confined to the ductwork in the ventilation system at the school.  Montgomery Area School District is closed again today to clean the building and maintain the smoke detectors there.

COUNCIL WILL WAIT TO DECIDE ON RECONSTRUCTION BIDS
Williamsport City Council has decided to table a decision awarding reconstruction bids after a bidding-construction company owner spoke up at the about discrepancies he sees in how they decide who should be awarded the contracts Thursday night.  According to the Sun Gazette, Ryan King, minority owner of Big Rock Paving said he did all the right things and bid less than the second lowest bidder, Glenn O Hawbaker, who was recommended for the 1.3 million dollar contract and has done regular work for the city.

EDUCATION CELEBRATION RECOGNIZES STUDENTS
The Williamsport/Lycoming chamber of Commerce 19th Annual Education Celebration took place at the Williamsport Country Club Thursday.  Jersey Shore High School student Maxwell Ferguson was honored as the Outstanding Senior of the Year. They presented Alumni of the Year awards to Mark Sitler of Lycoming College class of 1986, and Christopher Gayman, Pennsylvania College of Technology class of 2010.  Other students and educators were also recognized and High Steel Structures Inc. received the Business Partner in Education Award.

PENNDOT RESUMES CRACK SEALING WORK MONDAY
A regional crack sealing project on several local roadways in Lycoming County will resume this coming  Monday, March 9, weather permitting.  Routes effected will be Route 44 between Elimsport and Collomsville, Jacks Hollow Road between Duboistown and Bastress, and Route 42 between Beech Glen and Route 118.  A daylight traffic pattern will be in these locations using flaggers, please be alert and watch for changing traffic patterns.

MAN PUNCHES 69 YEAR-OLD WOMAN IN THE FACE
A 47 year old man has been arrested after Old Lycoming Township police say he struck a 69 year old woman with a closed fist in the face after she accidentally ran over his foot with a grocery cart Thursday.  According to the Sun Gazette, Eric Graham of Williamsport, allegedly struck Ramona Dimassimo in the face around 9:15 am and then fled the scene.  Dimassimo was treated at Williamsport Regional and is in stable condition.  Graham was taken into custody after the incident at his 6th St. home and is facing several assault charges including reckless endangerment.

CORONAVIRUS TRAVEL PRECAUTIONS FOR PA
There are updated travel guidance announcements according to Pennsylvania state officials amid a worldwide outbreak of the new Coronavirus, or COVID-19.  According to the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine, anyone who has arrived in Pennsylvania from China or Iran anytime during the outbreaks there will be notified by the state health department they must stay home and practice social distancing for 14 days after travel. Anyone who has returned from travel in Italy or South Korea within the past 14 days should also self-quarantine for 14 days. Those residents should call 1-877-PA-HEALTH to inform the state health department of their travel schedules.

PAY TAXES AT NEW TREASURER’S OFFICE LOCATION
The Lycoming County Treasurer’s Office is accepting real estate taxes in their newly relocated office along with the county assessment office in same building, the Third Street Plaza at 33 West Third St. starting this month.  The Treasurer’s office also has dog licenses and fishing licenses available to purchase.  2020 hunting licenses will be available there as well beginning mid-June.  According to the Sun Gazette, the public can carry cell phones in these offices.  Normal business hours are between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

DUI TASK FORCE PREPPING FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY
The Lycoming County DUI Task force has released a statement as we approach the St Patrick’s Day holiday and residents start making plans.  According to a press release by Team DUI coordinator Chief Joseph Hope, full DUI enforcement is planned from now until March 17th  and he asks you to designate a sober driver in all cases.  Don’t depend on the Luck of the Irish, if you drive stay 100 percent sober.
Sports
NBA

Nuggets beat the Hornets 114 to 112, the Clippers over the Rockets 120 to 105, 76er’s beat the Kings 125 to 108, Raptors over the Warriors 121 to 113
NHL
Penguins beat the Sabres 4 to 2, Lightning beat the Canadians 4-nothing, Bruins over the Panthers 2-1, Rangers beat the Capitals 6-5, Flyers over the Hurricanes 4-1, Senators beat the Islanders 4-3, Predators blanked the Stars 2-nothing, Blackhawks beat the Oilers4-3, Kings beat the Maple Leafs 1-nothing, and Wild over Sharks 3-2
Men’s basketball

7th seed Bucknell upset 2nd seed American last night 64-59 in the Patriot League Quarterfinals – They now play Boston University Sunday at noon in the semi-finals
HS Wrestling

PIAA class AA
Montoursville’s Cameron Wood, who was last year’s 4th place finisher,  wrapped up the morning in Hershey yesterday as the last of five on his team to win in the first round,  they all move on to today’s quarterfinals in Hershey / Milton’s Kyler Crawford won 9-6 against McGuffey, and will wrestle in Hershey today / Derek Keen from Central Mountain advances to a consolation round today with a win against Cedar Cliff and in AAA – Williamsport’s  Riley Bauer advances with a 3-0 win over Quakertown.

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