BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JULY 19, 2022

FOUR ALARM FIRE IN LYCOMING TOWNSHIP

Firefighters from four communities responded to the four alarm fire that destroyed a home and property Friday just before 6pm along Pleasant Hill Road in Lycoming Township.  According to the Sun Gazette, a fire began underneath a vehicle in the attached garage of the home where Bill and Julie Bota lived, and quickly spread to a second car and then to their home causing a total loss of both structures.  A state police fire marshal will investigate the incident this week at the home across from Fairlawn Community Church.

JERSEY SHORE MAN WHO BEAT PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND IN JAIL

A man accused of beating his pregnant girlfriend over several days and keeping her phone from her to avoid calling police, has been incarcerated on charges of terroristic threats, assault harassment and more.  According to the Sun Gazette, Tiadaghton Regional police say 27 year old Zach Taylor Parker of Jersey Shore abused his girlfriend between July 3rd and July 8th and threatened her life if the baby ended up being harmed.  A relative approached the woman at her workplace before she reported the abuse.  Parker is now in the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of 25 thousand dollars bail.

PENNDOT CONTINUES WORK ON ROUTE 220 THIS WEEK

PennDOT says they will continue work in Lycoming County this week. According to a press release, the work on the Route 220 safety improvement project in Woodward and Piatt Townships continues and the contractor will open the Loon Jug Handle and Pine Run Road Interchange this week.  The Young’s Road West Jug handle will remain closed for now.  Watch for alternating lane closures and flaggers managing traffic when crews will be pouring concrete on the bridge deck of Route 220 over Quenshukeny Run.  Work is expected to be performed from 7am til noon each day

TODAY IS FOR THE YOUTH AT THE LYCO FAIR

Tonight is Youth Night at the 151st Lycoming County Fair at the fairgrounds in Hughesville.  Enjoy 2 rounds of trivia tonight on the Red Dog Mobile Storage Stage and at 7pm in the Grandstand enjoy the Best School Talent Challenge.  Tomorrow Wednesday is Senior Citizens day and Backyard Broadcasting will be live on the midway from 5-8 tonight and each night through Saturday.

AMMONIA LEAK AT HUMMELS WHARF MEAT PLANT

HAZMAT crews were called to a meat plant in Hummels Wharf where 46 people had injuries from an anhydrous ammonia leak last Friday around 8pm. According to media outlets, the serious incident sent 46 people home after they were exposed and evaluated on scene, and one person went to the hospital with minor injuries.  According to the Hummels’ Wharf fire chief, Chris Eppley, about 3000 pounds of ammonia leaked after a valve broke when it was being offloaded onto trailers.  Residents are safe and can open windows and run air conditioners like normal.

NEW SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES AGAINST WASD TEACHER

New charges were filed last Tuesday against a former Williamsport Area School District teacher, who already had 11 counts against him for illegal contact with minors at school.  According to North Central PA dot com, the Lycoming County DA says the new accusations against 42 year old Christopher Yoder help expand their knowledge of the investigation, which has revealed evidence of Yoder’s questionable behavior with minors.  The former teacher solicited pictures with victims through Snapchat, and groomed a girl in an inappropriate sexual relationship when she was between 13 and 14, later arranging for the girl to meet him off of the school grounds. Some of the additional charges filed Tuesday include first-degree felony statutory sexual assault, and other assault charges, endangering the welfare of children, and harassment. Unsecured bail was set at $150,000 and $75,000, respectively. 

OVERNIGHT LINE PAINTING THIS WEEK

Crosswalks, stop bars and turning lane arrows will be painted for a signals project that will go on overnights from 9pm til 6am in Lock Haven.  According to the Record Online, crews will be working at several intersections.  Watch for work along Bellefonte Avenue, Main Street and Water Street. Penn DOT says the work could continue for a few weeks.

BOOKLET TO FEATURE SUSQUEHANNA WATERWAY

New and experienced paddlers will benefit from a new booklet recently released by the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership and Lumber Heritage Region.  According to the Sun Gazette, the publication will help users explore the history of the logging industry along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River that crosses between Clinton and Lycoming Counties.  The booklet features four paddling itineraries along the Susquehanna River Water Trail with points of interest,  put-in and take-out locations, difficulty rating and more.  Plans are for the booklets to be distributed for free at the Clinton County Visitors Bureau.

SPORTS

MLB
Washington Nationals slugger Juan Soto won the 2022 Home Run Derby yesterday, topping 21-year-old Seattle Mariners Julio Rodriguez in the final. 

Soto made 19 home runs in the final, walking it off in his minute of bonus time. At 23 years and 266 days, Soto is the second-youngest player to win the derby – only one day older than Juan Gonzalez was when he won in 1993.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Jackson State football coach Deion Sanders will donate half of his salary to make sure the program’s renovations to its football facility will be completed  a month before the season starts.  Jackson State will open the season against Florida A&M on Sept. 4 in Miami.

MLB DRAFT LEAGUE
Penn State baseball junior catcher Matt Wood was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fourth round, 132nd overall.   The MLB Draft continues with rounds 11-20 today, beginning at 2pm.

NFL NEWS
Ryan Switzer, who played for the Steelers during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, announced his retirement at the age of 27 on social media yesterday, citing recent injuries. Switzer is best known for his role on special teams, serving as the team’s punt and kick returner during the 2018 season.

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