BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS AUGUST 29, 2023

FATAL MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT NEAR DEWART

A man from Montgomery lost his life Friday after his motorcycle collided with a vehicle near Dewart.  According to the Sun Gazette, the Northumberland County Coroner reported that 56 year old Kenneth Feaster was the victim in the fatal crash just before 3pm after his motorcycle and a car driven by 87 year old Shirley Grady of Watsontown collided at the intersection of Route 405 and True Blue Road.  Feaster was not wearing a helmet.  Grady had no injuries, but her passenger, 55 year old Lori Schaeffer was treated at the scene by first responders from Warrior Run Area Fire Department and EMS.

PARKING METER RATE INCREASE IN CITY

Parking meter rates in the City of Williamsport are going up. According to the Sun Gazette, Williamsport Parking Authority will adjust the on-street meter rates from 30 minutes for a quarter to 20 minutes, 12 minutes for a dime to 8 and 6  minutes for a nickel to 4, to take effect on September 5th.  On street meter rates in the City have not gone up in over 15 years, and according to the parking authority, the rate increase should improve turnover at street meters which can provide more parking opportunities for patrons for downtown businesses.

RENOVATIONS SLATED FOR SELINSGROVE LICENSE CENTER

The Selinsgrove Driver License Center, located along Route 522, will be closed for about three months during renovations, according to state Rep. David Rowe, of District 85.  The construction schedule and closure is set to begin on Monday, Sept. 11, and run through Monday, Dec. 4. The center is tentatively scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, Dec. 5.   A photo-only license center remains open in Lewisburg, and other full-service driver license centers are located in Shamokin, Elizabethville and Lewistown.

GOVERNOR SHAPIRO TAKES IN LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

The Governor of Pennsylvania came to Sunday’s Championship Little League game and was joined by now 22 year old Mo’ne Ikea Davis who was the first girl to earn a win and to throw a shutout in Little League World Series history.  According to the Sun Gazette, during a statement, Governor Josh Shapiro recognized Steve Keener, president and CEO of Little League Baseball and the whole LL team for doing a great job and keeping the community engaged, as well as remarking that Davis is a Pennsylvania woman and leader who continues to inspire a generation of young athletes.  She was the first Little League baseball player to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a Little Leaguer.

BICYCLIST HURT IN BUS ACCIDENT

Emergency responders treated a bicyclist and transported him to the hospital after he was allegedly hit by a bus as it was making a right turn onto Williams Street near the city terminal.  According to North Central PA dot com, witnesses who were involved say there were arguments going on inside the bus just before the accident happened, and that the man who was injured on his bike was riding through the crosswalk.  Police say they dispatched another ambulance and EMTs to treat any passengers on the bus, but there were no reports of any major injuries during the low-speed accident.

PA STATE TROOPER CADETS NO LONGER REQUIRE COLLEGE CREDITS

The requirement for potential State Troopers to have an Associate’s Degree or 60 college credit hours as a cadet applicant has been dropped,  as hundreds of new troopers are about to be hired. According to a press conference at the State Police Academy, the latest class of cadets, which graduated last week, saw only 50 join PA State Police, noting that police departments across the country, state and municipal, are struggling to fill officer openings. The 2024 state budget includes funding to hire up to 384 new troopers this fiscal year, with a starting salary for troopers at just over $66 thousand per year plus benefits.

FARMLAND PRESERVED THANKS TO CONSERVATION EASEMENTS

The state Agricultural Land Preservation Board has announced the recent approval of the purchase of conservation easements which will protect additional acres of farmland in the 23rd Senatorial District.  According to Senator Gene Yaw, Three local crop and livestock operations were part of 2,645 total acres across the state and 35 farms in 18 counties that were approved for preservation, one each on Wolf, Munch and Kelly townships. The Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program, as it is formally known, is dedicated to slowing the loss of prime farmland to non-agricultural uses. To learn more visit  agriculture.pa.gov.

WILLIAMSPORT PUBLIC MEETING ON CITY HALL BIDS

There will be a public meeting this evening to share information about the bids received for the City Hall building  at 245 W. Fourth St.in the City of Williamsport.  According to the Sun Gazette, there were three bids received for the building and Mayor Slaughter says each are under discussion as they are reviewed with Fish Commercial Group.  The public meeting about the historic building that has been vacant for two years will be at the Trade and Transit II building tonight at 7pm.

SPORTS

MLB
Twins 10             Guardians 6
Phillies 6             Angels 4
Yankees 4           Tigers 1
Orioles 9             White Sox  0
Blue Jays 6         Nationals 3
Astros 13            Red Sox  5
Rangers 4  Mets 3
Padres 4              Cardinals 1
Brewers 6            Cubs 2
Pirates 5              Royals 0
Braves 14            Rockies 4
Mariners 7          A’s 0
Giants 4              Reds 1
Dodgers 7           Diamondbacks  4

MLB Draft League
Williamsport Crosscutters on the road tonight for the first in a three game series with State College Spikes.  They’re back tomorrow night for one game at Historic Bowman Field 6:35pm first pitch.
*Last two home games of the season are this weekend at Muncy Bank Ballpark  – Friday night (6:35pm)  and a Saturday afternoon game (1:05pm) against Trenton Thunder.

TENNIS
The 143rd US Open continues through Sept. 10 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City.

* Coco Gauff beat German qualifier Laura Siegemund 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 to  reach the second round at Flushing Meadows.

*Novak Djokovic, who is seeking his 24th major championship, made a winning return last night after missing the tournament last year, rolling to a 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Alexandre Muller .

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