BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS MARCH 2, 2023

WILLIAMSPORT MAN ARRESTED FOR 2020 HOMICIDE IN CITY

A Williamsport man was taken into custody yesterday for the homicide of a one-time friend in October of 2020.  According to the Sun Gazette, police say following an investigation, 21 year old Seneca Martin Mitchell Jr. was the primary suspect in the shooting of 18 year old Semaj Mozee at a Campbell Street apartment in what police say was motivated by rival gang activity.  Mitchell was arraigned on criminal homicide, aggravated assault and other charges.  He was incarcerated in Lycoming County Prison on no bail.

FIBER OPTIC NETWORK COMING SOON TO WILLIAMSPORT

Within two months, the Greater Williamsport area will see the beginning stages of a fiber-optic network being constructed as part of a multi-year expansion to extend high speed internet to rural areas.  According to the Sun Gazette Mayor Derek Slaughter expressed enthusiasm about the choices of high –speed internet that FastBridge Fiber will bring to businesses and residents in Williamsport.  According to Eric Warren, the CEO of FiberBridge, unlike cable networks, the proposed fiber-optic network expected in Williamsport is considered “future proof”.

PENNDOT SEEKS INPUT FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS

PennDOT is anticipating a busy 2023 with several new transportation projects as well as the continuance of projects from 2022.  According to a press release,  the department anticipates investing more than $275 million this year in PennDOT Engineering projects.  Work will include the southern section of the CSVT project, which is roughly 6-miles of new four-lane, limited-access highway connecting Route 11/15 north of Selinsgrove to Route 15 and the CSVT Northern Section south of Winfield.  Other projects in Lycoming County include resurfacing a 13 mile area of I-180 in Muncy Township, Route 220 bridge improvement in Williamsport and bridge replacement over Bennett’s Run.

BIG FENTANYL BUST IN PENNSYLVANIA

A drug bust in Pittsburgh last week by the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Narcotics Enforcement Team seized an estimated 48 thousand doses of fentanyl and took a massive amount of the dangerous drug off the streets.  According to North Central PA dot com, the street value of 962 bricks of the drug was estimated at over 288 thousand dollars.  Police say the traffickers who were using the bus system in the Commonwealth to move the contraband, were caught through a joint collaboration between police in Pittsburgh, New York City and Philadelphia.  Two men were taken into custody.

SAFETY ZONE AVAILABLE IN DUBOISTOWN

For over a year now, Duboistown has provided a Safe Exchange Zone for the public to use while exchanging kids between custodial parents, for internet shopping transactions with strangers or for any reason they might need a safe place to meet-up.  According to  North Central PA dot com,  the public can utilize the parking spot behind the  Duboistown Borough office at any time since the borough council last year voted unanimously to provide the safety area that has 24 hour police surveillance.  Duboistown is the only municipality in our area to provide a safety zone, but they encourage every community to consider one.

TRANSPORTATION SURVEY FOR THE PUBLIC

Penn DOT and the State Transportation Commission  is asking for your feedback to help update Pennsylvania’s 12 year program.  The public comment period for the update is going on now and  continues through Sunday, April 30. Those residents who want to participate can go to penndot.pa.gov to will help identify needs and prioritize transportation projects across the state.  PennDOT will also host an online public forum on Wednesday, April 12, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM so Pennsylvanians can ask transportation-related questions to PennDOT leadership and members of the STC during the public forum. The Transportation Performance Report (TPR) is a is updated every two years.

WILLIAMSPORT SALVATION ARMY NEEDS FOOD DONATIONS

The Salvation Army in Williamsport is struggling to meet the food supply needs of the almost 200 families who rely on them for relief each month.  According to WNEP,   The Salvation Army gets food from the local food bank and donations, but with high demand across the region the shelves empty faster than they can fill them.  The Williamsport offices are accepting food donations of cereal, soups, pasta, including hamburger helper as well as dairy and meat donations.  The public can go to the Salvation Army on Market Street in Williamsport or drop off donations at the YMCA in Williamsport.

SPORTS

P I-AA District 4 Boys Basketball Playoffs
Class A Finals
Sullivan County 52      Northumberland Christian 41
Class AA Finals
Muncy 65                      St. John Neumann 54
Class AA Consolation  
Northwest 64                 South Williamsport 40
Girls Basketball
Class A Consolation
Lourdes Regional 48      N.P. Liberty 35
Class 3A semifinals
Mount Carmel 60                    Southern Columbia 56
Loyalsock 40                 Bloomsburg 36

GIRLS
Class A Finals Tonight 6pm

St. John Neumann vs Meadowbrook Christian @ Milton HS
Class AA Finals Tonight 7:30pm
South Williamsport vs Line Mountain @ Milton HS
Class AA Consolation Tonight 7pm
Northeast Bradford vs Northwest @ SullivanCo.
BOYS
Class A Consolation Tonight 7pm

Galeton vs N.P. Liberty  @ Wellsboro HS
Class 3A Final Saturday 7pm
Mansfield vs Troy @ Mansfield University
Class AAA Consolation Friday at 6pm
Loyalsock vs Warrior Run @ Montoursville HS

NBA
76ers 119             Heat 96
Suns 105              Hornets 91
Bulls 117              Pistons 115
Celtics 117           Cavaliers 113
Knicks 142           Nets 118
Grizzlies 113        Rockets 99
Bucks 139           Magic 117
Lakers 123           Thunder 117
Pelicans 121         Blazers 110
NHL
Rangers 3                    Flyers 2
Oilers 5                        Maple Leafs 2
Stars 4                         Coyotes 2
Devils 7                       Avalanche 5
Capitals 3                    Ducks 2
Golden Knights 3 Hurricanes 2
NCAA Men’s Basketball last night
Alabama 90                    Auburn 85
TCU 75                Texas 73
Gonzaga 104        Chicago State 65
Kansas State 85   Oklahoma 69  
UConn 88            Depaul 59
Xavier 94             Providence 89
Ohio State 73       Maryland 62
Vanderbilt 68       Kentucky 66
Notre Dame 88  Pittsburgh 81

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