BACKYARD BROADCASTING, LOCAL NEWS SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

MASKS ON THE FOREFRONT AT WILLIAMSPORT AREA SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

The Williamsport Area School Board Tuesday held a crowd of upwards of 60 anxious parents and community members. Moments before the school board meeting, district officials were attempting to convince community members to wear their masks, as required by the mask order issued by the State Department of Health. According to SUN Gazette, when the meeting did begin, a generous majority of the guests spoke against the requirement of masks for the students in district buildings.  Two local physicians detailed medical reasons for the mitigation effort and spoke in favor of masks.

CHILDREN HIGHER RISK FOR COVID-19 VARIANT

“Young children are at a higher risk for becoming infected now than at any other time during the pandemic,” said Dr. John Williams, chief of pediatric infectious diseases, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. “Children do get sick with COVID, and they can transmit the virus to family, friends and other members of the community,” Williams said. Williams noted that UPMC Children’s Hospital, Pittsburgh, is seeing an increase in children being treated for COVID-19 at clinics and emergency rooms, some leading to hospitalizations. As reported by SUN Gazette, citing  two key reasons for the increase in infections in children — a relaxation in mitigation efforts, and the delta variant, which is more contagious and more easily spread.

 US SENATOR ROBERT CASEY STOPPED BY PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Yesterday, U.S. Sen. Robert Casey, stopped at Pennsylvania College of Technology to push his Five Freedoms for America’s Children plan for improving the lives of kids. Unfortunately, he said, there is no strategic plan to address the issue as exists for many other of the nation’s priorities such as growing the economy. “If we invest in our kids all of these other priorities are successful,” he said.The lives of children were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, disrupting their education, creating stress levels, and pushing more kids into poverty. As reported by an online news agency, Casey, who took time to tour the college’s Dunham Learning Center, visited with pre-school children and staff before discussing his plan. He is calling for an additional investment of $7 billion for affordable child care and early learning programs, an $18 billion annual increase to cover Head Start, and a permanent expansion of the Child Dependent Care Tax Credit to help families cover child care costs.

COLLEGE NIGHT AT LYCOMING COLLEGE

The Lycoming County Counselors Association (LCCA) and Lycoming College invite local high school students to attend “College Night” an annual event for nearly 30 years Thursday, Sept. 16, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Keiper Recreation Center on the college’s campus.

According to a news outlet, this special night gives local students the chance to interact and network with representatives from more than 50 colleges and universities. The event is free and open to the public. Masks will be required for all in attendance. Representatives from schools in Pennsylvania and surrounding states, as well as branches of the military, will be available to discuss their programs, scholarship offerings, and internship and research opportunities.

A WILLIAMSPORT MAN FAILED TO NOTIFY STATE POLICE AS REQUIRED BY MEGAN’S LAW

A Williamsport man failed to notify authorities when he moved, as required by Megan’s Law. Gerald Edward Jordan, of Williamsport, was charged with first-degree felony failure to register with PSP and first-degree failure to verify address. According to northcentralpa.com,  2009, Jordan pled guilty to indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age and endangering the welfare of children.

DRUG BUY FROM UNWITTING INFORMANT

Police watched an unwitting informant going into a home on Washington Blvd. in Williamsport with prerecorded currency to make a purchase for crack. According to northcentralpa.com, an unwitting informant is a person who is unaware they are providing information to law enforcement. Devin Eugene Mims, 34, of Williamsport was charged with felony possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and third-degree felony criminal use of a facility after the purchaser identified him for officers, according to the report. No bail was listed for Mims, who is scheduled to appear before Judge Aaron Biichle on Sept. 16 for a preliminary hearing.

STALKING CHARGE IN CLINTON COUNTY COURT

Last week in  Clinton County Court a jury returned a guilty verdict on one count of stalking, a misdemeanor of the first degree. The verdict came after a one day trial on Sept. 2. As reported by therecordonline.com, Anthony Martin, of Lock Haven, was convicted of stalking a young woman who was employed at the Dollar General store located on E. Main Street. Sentencing was scheduled by Judge Michael Salisbury to be held on Nov. 1, at 8:30 a.m.

COVID-19 DASHBOARD FOR YESTERDAY

The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Wednesday reported new COVID-19 cases across the state. In Clinton County seven new cases, Centre County saw an increase of 16, while Lycoming County increased by 44. 35 in Union County, 29 in Northumberland, 16 in Snyder and three in Montour, according to a media source.

SECOND DAY IN FEDERAL TRIAL

Dr. Raymond Kraynak allegedly increased his criminal prescribing practices by more than 50 percent in the 11 months between two federal warrants on the doctor’s practice, according to a federal agent with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Federal agents arrested the now-suspended Mount Carmel doctor on Dec. 21, 2017. Kraynak, 64, was charged with 12 counts of illegal distribution or dispensing, five counts of illegal distribution or dispensing resulting in death and two counts of maintaining a drug-involved premises for his offices in Mount Carmel and Shamokin. As reported by the Daily Item, the prescription practices resulted in the death of five people, authorities said. The second day of the trial starts at 9:30 a.m. in federal court.

GUILTY PLEA FOR KILLING OF THREE WOMEN

A homeless man accused of killing two women from our region has pleaded guilty. The Daily Item reports 43-year-old Harold Haulman III, was sentenced to life in prison without parole as a result. He’s responsible for the killing of 25-year-old Tianna Phillips of McClure, who went missing in 2018, and 26-year-old Erica Shultz of Bloomsburg, who went missing late last year.  Michigan investigators say Haulman also committed the 2005 murder of 21-year-old Ashley Parlier. Haulman admitted to murdering all three woman after being interviewed by former Luzerne County Detective Shawn Williams, who’s the now the school police officer for the Shikellamy School District.

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