BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JULY 10, 2019

SUSPECT IN 2016 CRIME SURRENDERS TO AUTHORITIES
A city man has come forward to turn himself in for his involvement in the murder of 27 year-old Christopher Wilkins of Williamsport in 2016.  The Williamsport Sun Gazette reports that Jamal Brown was arraigned yesterday in district court on murder and conspiracy charges. Brown is the fourth person involved in this homicide to be charged in the case.  Police say Wilkins was shot at his home in the Park Avenue neighborhood after the suspects went there to rob him for drug money.

DRUG BUST LEADS TO LARGE CASH SIEZURE
The arrest of a Williamsport couple last week has led police to uncover about 250 thousand dollars-worth of drugs and over 175 thousand dollars in drug money.  Corey Blee and his girlfriend, Heather Longo of West Southern Avenue were charged with felony drug counts and jailed last week according to the Sun Gazette.  Now the Lycoming County Narcotics Enforcement Unit reports that the drugs and money could be one of the largest cash seizures in the county’s history, and is allegedly directly related to the operation Blee and Longo were running.  Police say Longo sold drugs to undercover officers several times between May 7th and July 2nd.

THREE-VEHICLE WRECK SHUTS DOWN STATE HIGHWAY
Route 11-15 was closed yesterday for about 4 hours causing major delays in Shamokin Dam, Northumberland and Hummels Wharf after a tractor trailer rear-ended a stopped car causing it to collide with another truck stopped at the same traffic light around 11am.  Sixty-six year old John Wendt of Selinsgrove was stopped at the intersection of Route 11-15 and Baldwin Boulevard in Shamokin Dam and was struck from behind by a truck driven by 59 year-old Charles Bussard of Maryland.  WKOK reports the collision caused Wendt to collide with the truck driven by 52 year old Corey Meeks of Virginia who was in front of him.  Wendt was pronounced dead at the scene according to State Police.  The two truck drivers were treated for minor injuries.  No charges have been filed.

NEW HIRES AT MONTOURSVILLE SCHOOLS
The Montoursville Area School board met this week, and have approved several new hires.  Dr. Amy Breon, who taught in the Bellefonte Area School district and served IU 17 in recent years as an educational consultant, was approved as an assistant elementary principle in a 5-3 vote.  Steven Alexander, from the Jersey Shore area schools was approved in an 8-zero vote as the new Montoursville Area School District athletic director and phys-ed teacher.

ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY TURNS 30
Pennsylvanians have been collecting litter on the states roadways for 30 years.  The state’s Adopt a Highway program was introduced in 1989 and has almost 5000 volunteer groups participating now over 10 thousand miles of state-maintained roads.  PennDOT said in a press release that over 5 million dollars has been saved which can go toward maintaining the highways instead of clean-up efforts.  PennDOT also introduced a program called “Adopt and Beautify” in which clean-up volunteers can also add landscaping and gardens to the roads, interchanges and traffic islands under a 2 year commitment.

WOLF ASKS FOR BOND FOR VOTING MACHINES

Ahead of the 2020 election, Governor Tom Wolf has ordered a bond issue that will help pay for new voting machines in Pennsylvania.  Federal authorities warned several states, including Pennsylvania, that the current voting machines were a target for Russian hackers during the 2016 Presidential election.  The proposed bond would reimburse counties 60 percent of the cost of the new machines which would have a more auditable paper trail.  Approval from a state economic development agency is required before Wolf can replace the almost 25 thousand machines in the state.

WATER QUALITY DISCUSSED IN CLINTON COUNTY
Clinton County commissioners met this week in Lock Haven and discussed the results of a water quality test that met almost all of the drinking water standards, according to the Williamsport Sun Gazette.  Clinton County commissioners heard from authorities who stated that 57 of the 54 wells tested showed high levels of coliform bacteria, which won’t cause illness, but is a red flag for potential disease-causing organisms in the future.  Clinton County authorities say that they’ve tested the ground water in the most extreme wet conditions this season, and well-owners should consider installing UV lights that can help remove bacteria from well-water.

STATEWIDE PHONE SCAM
US Marshalls in the Middle District of PA have released a statement that warns the public of a phone scam known as neighbor spoofing.  WKOK reports that a scammer will use technology to show a fake number,likely a government authority number, then they will scare the victim by saying they are in jeopardy of being arrested for missing jury duty or other offenses, but can take care of it over the phone with a payment.  Police say if you have been a victim of this scam, contact your local FBI office and the Federal Trade Commission.

LYCOMING COUNTY FAIR BEGINS THIS WEEK
The 149th Lycoming County Fair starts tomorrow and will be open 10a til 10pm every day through July 20th.  Fair officials say that visitors can enjoy 150 to 175 outdoor vendors and over 50 vendors inside, as well as tractor pulls, demolition derbies and fireworks through the 10-day fair.  Today is the Lycoming County Fair Preview day, with gates opening at 4pm.  Authorities say the fair helps boost the local economy and they look forward to seeing you there this year.

Sports

Major League Baseball
It was the American League over the National League last night in Cleveland 4-3.

Wimbledon Women’s Tennis Quarterfinals
Serena Williams defeated fellow American Alison Riske 6-4, 4-6, 6-3

NY-Penn League
Williamsport Crosscutters over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers 6-5

District 12 Junior Baseball Tournament
Keystone over Loyalsock 11-6

Pennsylvania Major Softball Tournament
South Williamsport defeated Indiana 9-8

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