BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS MAY 16, 2025

STUDENT CHARGED WITH HAVING BB GUN AT SCHOOL
A Jersey Shore High School junior is facing charges after witnesses alerted school authorities that he had allegedly brought a handgun to school and made vague threats toward others.  According to the Sun Gazette, Lycoming Regional police were contacted about the incident Wednesday afternoon and began investigating, searching the boy’s home and finding a BB handgun in his backpack.  Officers seized the gun and plan to file charges against the 18 year old  at the office of District Judge Denise Dieter.

MOUNT CARMEL FIRE
There was a fire at the former Guarantee Trust and Safe Deposit Co at the southeast corner of Oak and Third streets in Mount Carmel Wednesday about 5:30am.  According to the News Item, flames engulfed the top-story apartment of the iconic building, even breaking through the floor below.  Firefighters from Clover Hose Fire Co., Anthracite Steam Fire Companies, as well as Shamokin, Overlook and Ashland took about 45 minutes to bring the blaze under control.  The building, owned by York Properties Group LLC, was being renovated contains 24 apartments and five storefronts and only had general liability insurance.  The completion of the renovation project may now be set back three to four months. State police are investigating the cause of the fire.

GRANTS FOR SENIOR CENTER IN BELLEFONTE
A $3 million investment has been awarded to 436 Senior Community Centers (SCCs) across the Commonwealth with some of those funds going toward the Bellefonte Senior Resource Center on North Spring Street.  According to The Pennsylvania Department of Aging, over 42 thousand dollars, brought about by the Pennsylvania Lottery,  will be applied to the local center which aims to help older adults stay connected, healthy, and supported in their communities.

MILITARY MEMBERS GET FREE MUSEUM ADMISSION THIS SUMMER
As part of the 2025 Blue Star Museums program, the Lewisburg Children’s Museum will provide free museum admission this summer to active-duty U.S. military personnel and their families.  According to the Daily Item, from Armed Forces Day on May 17 through Labor Day on September 1st, active-duty service members — including National Guard and Reserve — and up to five family members are admitted to the museum with valid military ID.  The Blue Star Museums program is collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across America. Normal military discounts are also available throughout the year. Get details at Lewisburg children’s museum dot org.

NJ MAN ARRESTED FOR ID THEFT AT LOCAL BANK
A New Jersey man is in custody after state police charged him with forgery, theft, exploitation of an older person and more.  According to the Sun gazette, 72 year old James Cecil of Perth Amboy, NJ claimed he was another man and gave false identification to state police when he attempted to pass the man’s 225 dollar check at Journey Bank in Muncy Creek Township April 24^th.  Cecil waived his preliminary hearing and is in jail in lieu of 25 thousand dollars bail.

MAN ARRESTED FOR STEALING FROM WALMART IN SELINSGROVE
A Bloomsburg man has recently been charged with felony retail theft after he stole items from the Monroe Township Walmart between December 22^nd  and February 17^th.  According to State police at Selinsgrove, they were called to the store by loss prevention officers in April and observed surveillance cameras catching 36 year old Michael Scott Patterson allegedly stealing items worth over 2 thousand dollars, including an electric scooter, women’s clothing, computer equipment, cat litter and pillows that he took outside through a fire exit door.  Patterson was incarcerated with bail set at 15 thousand dollars.

FINALISTS NAMED FOR JOURNEY BANK TEEN STAR COMPETITION
Fourteen finalists from several area schools have been named to perform in the 15^th annual Journey Bank Teen Star Musical Competition finale set for Sunday, June 1 at Bloomsburg University’s Haas Auditorium.  According to North Central PA dot com, more than 60 high school vocalists auditions for the show that will name the 2025 Journey Bank Teen Star.  In an American Idol-like environment, judges critique the performers performing hits from their favorite movies and along with  audience input, choose the finalists who can win a top prize of $2,000, with second, third and fourth place finishers receiving $1,000, $750, and $350, respectively. Get details about tickets for the show on Facebook at Journey Bank Teen Star.

Finalists for the 15^th annual Journey Bank Teen Star Musical Competition

1. Wilmar Lewis – Benton Area High School – Senior
2. Leah Hill – Loyalsock Township High School – Senior
3. Emily Shapeero – Central Columbia High School – Senior
4. Jack Kendron – Berwick Area Senior High School – Senior
5. Kyla Brookhart – Danville Area High School – Senior
6. Jaslin Shand – Williamsport Area High School – Sophomore
7. Camille Cunningham – Columbia County Christian School – Junior
8. Taryn Davenport – Central Columbia High School – Sophomore
9. Jack Fetzer – Jersey Shore Senior High School – Junior
10. Izzy Butters – Loyalsock Township High School – Senior
11. Jace Traugh – Central Columbia High School – Sophomore
12. Sutton Blauser – Meadowbrook Christian School – Freshman
13. Chas Rosler – Central Columbia High School – Freshman
14. Erika Traupman – Bloomsburg Area High School – Senior

INK IN THE RINK THIS WEEK IN SUNBURY
For the second year in a row, a three-day tattoo exhibition will be in Sunbury this weekend.  According to the News Item, Ink in the Rink will be held at the James R. Eister Youth and Community Center on Memorial Drive, starting at noon on Friday through 8pm Sunday. Over 150 tattoo artists will be featured including local artists from Shamokin and Sunbury and other areas of Pennsylvania, as well as from Florida, Texas, and Portugal. There will be live music, and Sunday is “family day” at the expo. The organizers are hoping they have thousands of attendees again this year.  Get details at www.inkintherink.com, or at Ink in the Rink on Instagram and Facebook.

SPORTS
PIAA HS Softball
Williamsport  3    Loyalsock 0
So Wmspt  7        Mifflinburg  1
Montoursville 16   Bloomsburg  0
Wyalusing  11      Montgomery  6
Wellsboro  12       Coudersport  1
Warrior  Run 10   Danville  4

HS Baseball
Williamsport  10            So Wmspt  5
Hughesville  9      Athens  6
Montgomery  4    Bucktail  2

MLB
Braves  5    Nationals  2
Twins  4     Orioles  0
Dodgers  19  A’s  2

MLB Today
Pirates vs Phillies  6:45pm
Mets  vs Yankees  7:05pm
Nationals  vs Orioles  7:05pm
Angels vs Dodgers  10:10pm

NBA Semifinals  Game 6
Nuggets  119        Thunder  107  tied 3-3
NBA Tonight East Semifinals Game 6
Celtics vs Knicks 8pm ESPN   NY leads  3-2

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs  2^nd Round
Hurricanes  3        Capitals  1 CAR wins  4-1
Jets  4  Stars  0 DAL leads  3-2
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2^nd Round Game 6
Maple Leafs  vs Panthers  8pm TNT FLA leads  3-2

NASCAR All Star Race
PreRace coverage 5pm
All Star Open 5:30pm  / All-Star Race 8pm
Twin Valley’s Talk Radio Network / WILQ’s HD3

PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Day 2 Today
Jhonattan Vegas a 40 year old Venezuelan shot three birdies at the end yesterday for a 7-under 64, his best score in 45 rounds at the majors and a two-shot lead on opening day.