Backyard Broadcasting Local News

THREE SUSPECTS IN BEAVERTOWN BURGLARIES

Middleburg police say they have three suspects they plan on filing charges against for more than 40 burglaries in Beavertown in Snyder County the day after Christmas.  The three are 22, 18 and 16 year old males from Union County and are accused of breaking into vehicles and garages taking items including, money, guns and even bikes in the early morning hours.  It’s believed that the three also could be responsible for break-ins in both Union and Lycoming Counties as well.

FIRE STRIKES IN LIMESTONE TOWNSHIP

Fire struck in Limestone Township, Lycoming County on Monday night leaving a couple homeless.  That fire broke out in a house in the 1500 block of Route 654 owned by Walter and Joy Eck around 11pm quickly spreading through the structure.  Firefighters were able to knock down the fire within about 15 minutes but not before it caused extensive damage in excess of $100,000 dollars.  No one was injured, and it’s believed that fire started in a wood burning stove on the house.

KOZ DESIGNATIONS AWARDED

Hoping it will lead to continued economic growth and investment, the state of Pennsylvania recently announced 17 properties in our area to be designated as Keystone Opportunity Zones.  The KOZ program eliminates specific state and local taxes within designated underdeveloped and underutilized areas which can spur economic growth and investment.  10 of the properties are located in Milton, and seven more in Watsontown.  In addition, a property owned by Susquehanna Industrial Development Corporation in Selinsgrove has been given a ten year KOZ extension.

HOTEL EVACUATED

Fire struck yesterday at a Snyder County hotel, causing an evacuation there.  The fire apparently broke out in a laundry chute at the Holiday Inn Express just off the Susquehanna Trail in Hummels Wharf around 12:30 pm.  All guests and hotel staff were evacuated.  When firefighters arrived, they found that the sprinkler system has already put out the fire.  No one was injured, the extent of damage not known, and everyone was allowed back in the hotel within 45 minutes.

DRUG AND WEAPONS CHARGES FILED

A man is jailed charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine, as well as for having an illegal weapon following an arrest in Lycoming County last week.  Following an incident in the city of Williamsport on January 9th, members with the county’s narcotics enforcement unit searched the South Williamsport home of Jermar Hines and found drugs, as well as a handgun and a shotgun there.  Hines is a convicted felon not allowed to possess a weapon.  He was arraigned and jailed in Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $150,000 bail.

NO SALE

According to a story in the Williamsport Sun Gazette, it looks like the city of Williamsport will not be selling it’s pump stations to the Williamsport Water and Sanitary Authority.  The city and the authority were working on a deal for the sale of the pumps for a million dollars, but it now looks like the authority has decided not to buy the stations located on Arch and Basin Streets.  It’s believed that some $5 million dollars in upgrades are needed to bring those pump stations up to date.  The authority has not taken a vote yet on the sale.

WOLF SWORN IN FOR SECOND TERM

Governor Tom Wolf began his second term yesterday as he was sworn in in Harrisburg. During an inaugural address, Wolf called for Pennsylvania residents to work together to form a stronger, fairer and more prosperous future.  He pointed towards his first four years as a success saying the Commonwealth has come back from being a state at a crossroads to one on a comeback.  The governor easily won re-election in November.

SUNBURY HIRES NEW CITY ADMINISTRATOR

A former Air Force Colonel and Sunbury native has a new job in the city of Sunbury.  Jody Ocker was hired on Monday night by Sunbury City Council to the new position of city administrator there.  The new position will replace that of city clerk.  The city clerk there is retiring at the end of the month. In her new position, Ocker will oversee all daily operations of city departments except for the police department.

ANOTHER CITY RESIDENT ANNOUNCED CANDIDACY

Another city resident of Williamsport has announced that he will be seeking a seat on city council.  34 year old Vincent Pulizzi, a gas and oil inspector and owner of several investment properties in the city has announced he will seek nomination to run in the fall for one of four city council seats which will be up for grabs.  Pulizzi says he wants to work to hold the line on taxes, create family sustaining jobs, fight violent crime and drugs, rebuild the infrastructure and invest in the city’s parks.

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