BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS AUGUST 24, 2022

GRAND JURY INDICTS WILLIAMSPORT MAN

A man from Williamsport who was arrested for drug trafficking and illegal firearms in December of 2021 has been indicted by a federal grand jury.  According to the Sun Gazette, 39 year old Richard Ansley’s case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a project combining the forces of local law enforcement and local communities to reduce violent crime and drug environments.  Court records say Ansley allegedly distributed fentanyl and had an illegal Glock pistol in Lycoming County and if convicted, could be sentenced to 20 years in jail.

BENCH WARRANT ISSUED FOR MAN FROM SALLADASBURG

A man from Salladasburg failed to appear for a preliminary hearing on domestic assault charges from last month and a bench warrant has been issued.  According to the Sun Gazette, 31 year old Jerold Ross Jr was scheduled to appear on the charges filed by State Police from a July 2nd incident in which witnesses say he fought with a woman in his apartment according to records filed with District Judge Denise Dieter.  Ross was arraigned the night of the alleged crime and was released on 20 thousand dollars bail.

PA HEALTHCARE WORKERS UNION THREATEN STRIKE

There has been a notice sent out that Healthcareworkers in over 20 nursing home facilities in the Commonwealth want to strike over unfair labor practices.  According to North Central pa dot com, SEIU Healthcare PA says Guardian Healthcare, and Comprehensive Healthcare & Priority Healthcare both owned by Mordy Lahasky, have refused to bargain in good faith. The union said that despite a surplus in state funding, management has offered low raises and has not used proper staffing ratios that should be in place already this year.  According to the law, a nursing home must give a 10 day notice to strike.  The facilities near Pittsburgh will go to the picket line if they don’t come to an agreement by September 2, 2022.  

PERMANENT FIX FOR RAILROAD CROSSING IN WINFIELD

The railroad crossing in Winfield will be replaced with a long lasting fix, according to PennDOT.  They will start working on the project along the southbound lanes of Route 15 starting September 8th thru the 12th, and the northbound side will be completed after that until the 19th with single lane conditions and a 30 mile per hour speed limit.  PennDOT says work will close Route 15 in both directions at night from 10pm September 16th until 6am September 17th with a detour in place for those few hours. The fix will install a custom-tub style highway rail crossing.

POLICE SUSPECT GANG ACTIVITY IN RECENT CITY SHOOTINGS

After the rash of shootings in the last week that most recently seriously injured two 15 year old boys in Williamsport, law enforcement officials say they believe gang activity is to blame for two cases.  According to the Sun Gazette, the Lycoming County District Attorney said in a statement yesterday that the investigation is hampered by the unwillingness of victims and witnesses to provide information, for fear of retaliation, but the DA is urging parents to initiate conversations with their children about any gang activity they are aware of.  Police say the incident that occurred on West Edwin Streets last Friday night may have been an isolated robbery and not related to gangs in the area.

LYCO MAN WAIVES PRELIMINARY HEARING IN DRUG CASE

Police in Lycoming County arrested a Lycoming County man who sold drugs which was witnessed by police during two incidents in May.  According to the Sun Gazette, 33 year old Joshua Serrano waived his right to a preliminary hearing after he was accused of selling crack cocaine and narcotics to undercover agents.  Serrano was sent to Lycoming County prison with 85 thousand dollars bail for second-degree felony failure to register with PSP and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

DUI INCIDENTS TRENDING DOWN IN PA

As alcohol related accidents in Pennsylvania hit a five year low in the Commonwealth, motor-vehicle accident related injuries and deaths from DUI have also fallen.  According to the Pennsylvania DUI Association, the statistics for DUI injuries for drivers under 21 have also dropped significantly.  In 2011, there were 943 crashes involving underage drivers who had been drinking, and in 2020 those numbers fell to 441.  Fatalities are trending down with 293 DUI-crash deaths in Pennsylvania in 2021 – the lowest in 6 years.  Pennsylvania does well coming in at 39th in the nation for the most DUI crashes.

DANVILLE SPCA TO CLEAR THE SHELTER SATURDAY

There will be a Clear the Shelter Event for kittens, cats and dogs this Saturday at the Danville SPCA. According to the Daily Item, each of the animals to be adopted for free are spayed or neutered and have their shots, as well as treatment for fleas and ticks and have a microchip.  The free adoptions come with food samples and gift bags with toys and treats.  Come to the Danville SPCA at 1467 Bloom Road 11am til 6pm – with no appointment needed.

SPORTS

MLB
Braves 6              Pirates 1
Orioles 5             White Sox 3
Phillies 7             Reds 6
Yankees 4           Mets 2
Blue Jays 9         Red Sox 3
Guardians 3        Padres 1
Mariners 4          Nationals 2

MLB Draft League
Williamsport 9   Trenton 5
 Game 2 tonight in Trenton 7pm 1st pitch

Little League Yesterday (Late afternoon rain delays but they got all the games in)
Nicaragua 8, Panama 1
Hollidaysburg, PA 10, Indiana 0 
Curaçao 4, Canada 2
Texas 4, Iowa 0

Little League Today

1pm (Volunteer) Chinese Taipei vs Mexico 

3pm (Lamade) Tennessee vs Hawaii

5pm (Volunteer) Curaçao vs Nicaragua 

7pm (Lamade) Hollidaysburg, PA vs Texas

NFL Week 3
The Green Bay Packers are in Kansas City to play the Chiefs Thursday night at 8pm. San Francisco 49ers will be in Houston to play the Texans Friday.  Saturday, the Bills are in Carolina and the Eagles are in Miami at seven. Sunday, the Giants play the Jets at 1pm and Detroit comes to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers at 4:30pm on CBS.

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