BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS

PLANE CRASH VICTIM IDENTIFIED

The identity of the 17 year old pilot who perished in the plane crash July 4th near Lock Haven has been released.  According to the Clinton County Coroner, Zach Hanna, Maisie Bitler of Hughesville was the victim in the crash that happened near 200 South Allegheny Street in Woodward Township last Thursday morning. Bitler was operating a Cessna 172 around 10am when witnesses say the engine sputtered and the plane come down in a wooded area.  The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are currently investigating the crash and say a preliminary report about the nature of the crash will be available in 30 days, posted on the NTSB Newsroom Twitter.

POLICE SEARCH FOR COFFEE SHOP ROBBERY SUSPECT

Money was stolen from a coffee shop in Mifflinburg last weekend and Milton State Police are investigating.  According to authorities, a suspect broke in to the trailer on Red Barn Road in Buffalo Township sometime over the weekend of June 29th and 30th and stole the cash.  According to IV Coffee Company’s Facebook page, they’re hoping for help from their followers to find out who might have heard about someone being responsible for the theft.  If you do have information that would help the investigation, please call Pennsylvania State Police at 570-524-2662.

LOCAL BEE KEEPER ON SESAME STREET

A bee keeper from Montandon had an opportunity to appear on the syndicated show, Sesame Street recently to teach Elmo and his friends about the importance of bees within our ecosystem.  According to North Central PA dot com, Ryan Pardoe of Hex Honey Bees said he was asked to be interviewed for the Elmo segment about beekeepers after a friend of his wife’s recommended him after she knew  he was a beekeeper for his father’s fruit tree business, Pardoe’s Perky Peanuts.  Pardoe said he manages about 45 colonies of bees and offers nine flavors of honey and 10 or so different scented beeswax candles which they sell in various local markets around Lycoming County.

LYCO COUNTY FAIR STARTS WEDNESDAY

The Lycoming County Fair in Hughesville is about to start, kicking off tomorrow through Saturday, July 20th.  Vistors can come to the 2024 county fair the first day for free admission and enjoy the free Harness racing both Wednesday and Thursday.  Admission from the 11th to the 20th is 4 dollars with kids 12 and under get in free with a paying adult and parking at the fairgrounds is 3 dollars.  Ride prices are not included in the admission price.  Look for Monster Truck rides and there will be Bulls & Barrels in the Grandstand and bleachers on Friday night for just 10 dollars.  Get all the details for the fair all week at Lycoming fair dot net.

ROUTE 15 SOUTH SPUR THE SCENE OF ANOTHER TRUCK CRASH

Police are investigating a tractor trailer crash that brought out the HAZMAT team Monday night on the Route 15 South Spur just after 6pm.  According to the Sun Gazette, the driver lost control of the rig, crashing into the guardrails and overturning, spilling over 6000 gallons of diesel fuel and an unknown amount of cargo from the truck.  Emergency crews assisted the driver out of the cab and he was transported to UPMC with non-life threatening injuries. A lane of Route 15 south was closed thru 4am this morning after special hazardous materials emergency response team and other clean up crews completed work at the scene, just west of the Maynard Street interchange off of I-180.

SUNBURY MAN PEADS NOT GUILTY TO ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE

A man from Sunbury will face a jury next week for charges against him for stabbing and biting a man at an 11th Street apartment on April 16, 2023.  According to the Daily Item, Jose Aguilar-Velazquez allegedly attempted to sexually assault the male victim and became angry when he was rejected.  Police say a neighbor called 911 after hearing a disturbance in the nearby apartment.  Aguilar-Velazquez pleaded not guilty to attempted homicide charges and jury selection begins in front of Northumberland County President Judge Paige Rosini Monday July 15th with a trial set to begin Friday, July 19th.  When police arrived on the scene the victim was bleeding and injured – he was transported to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.

CLINTON COUNTY SHERIFF SEEKING PLANE CRASH WITNESSES

In regards to the fatal plane crash that occurred July 4th in Woodward Township last Thursday that took the life of pilot, 17 year old Maisie Bitler, the Clinton County Sheriff has issued a statement on his social media page about alleged witnesses to the crash.  According to Sheriff Kerry Stover, during the collaboration of investigating that is being done with federal authorities, information has come to light that there were two female witnesses of the crash who were on the levee walkway close to the end of the path nearest the first island bridge last Thursday before the crash.  Stover and the FAA Investigator are asking the two witnesses to call the Clinton County Communication Center at 570-748-2936 or PA state police at 570-726-6000 and assist the investigation with information they may have.

PA BILL PASSES TO DONATE GOOD-TO-EAT-FOOD WITH AN EXPIRED DATE

A bill has passed in the Pennsylvania House on Monday that will allow food that has gone by past the use-by date but is still safe to eat, to be donated to food pantries for distribution to those in need.  According to the Daily Item, House Bill 2286 exempts the use-by date and allows for judgement  for appearance, age, freshness, grade and surplus of the food item.  The bill passed 201-0, advancing to the Senate for further consideration, and would take effect immediately if it passes there.

SPORTS

Little League
*East Lycoming’s TriTown defeated Keystone last night 4-2 at Volunteer stadium, winning the District 12 Championship and advancing to the Section 3 Tournament.
*First title since East Lycoming won in 1986
* Section 3 Tournament July 14-18

MLB Draft League
Cutters spend  3 days at home this week and host Trenton Thunder tonight at Journey Bank Ballpark /Historic Bowman Field 6:35pm 1st pitch.

MLB
Tigers 1      Guardians 0
Pirates  8    Mets  2
Cardinals 6           Nationals 0
Rangers 9  Angels  4
Braves  5    D’backs  4
MLB Tonight
Cubs vs Orioles  6:35pm
Dodgers vs Philles  6:40pm  TBS
Yankees vs Rays  6:50pm
Nationals vs Mets  7:10pm
Pirates vs Brewers 8:10pm

NFL News
*Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton was suspended by the NFL on Monday for eight games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
*Sutton was released by the Detroit Lions on March 21, one day after a warrant was issued for his arrest stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident. He entered a pretrial diversion program in April.
*Sutton had signed a one-year deal with the Steelers on June 5

MLB NEWS
*Willie Mays received final military honors during a special Army presentation of an American flag to his son Michael at a public memorial service Monday at the San Francisco Giants’ waterfront ballpark. 
*The “Say Hey Kid,” hit 660 career home runs despite spending 1952 to 1954 in the Army during the Korean War, died June 18 at 93.

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