BACKYARD BROADCASTING WEEKEND NEWS JUNE 27, 2020

FATAL ACCIDENT IN ANTES FORT
Police have released more details about a crash that happened Thursday on Route 44 in Antes Fort.  According to the Sun Gazette, medical officials from Geisinger Medical Center in Danville said 78 year old William Moore of Limestone Township died Friday afternoon – a day after the accident but there were no details on Moore’s exact cause of death.  Police say Moore was driving northbound on Rt. 44 then struck the rear end of a stopped pickup truck and went off the roadway hitting vinyl siding on property nearby. Three people in the second vehicle were unhurt.

PETITION STARTED TO REMOVE TWO WILLIAMSPORT POLICE OFFICERS FOR MISCONDUCT
A petition begun by an anonymous person on the website Change.org is calling for the firing of two Williamsport Police officers citing alleged misconduct, has gained over 1200 signatures or 4.5 percent of the city’s population in two weeks.  According to North Central PA dot com, court documents show that Officers Joshua Bell and Clinton Gardner’s actions while on-duty have been legally questioned at least four times.  Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter said the petition has not been submitted and that it’s necessary for the accuser to bring forth evidence of the acts before he can investigate the issue.  There is no legal obligation for the city to respond to the petition.

FELONY ARSON CHARGES FILED ON SOUTHSIDE MAN
A South Williamsport man has been arrested for felony arson after starting a fire in his apartment at 443 South Market Street  in an alleged suicide attempt.  According to the Sun Gazette, 31 year old Dakota Fisher was found outside his home with minor self-inflicted injuries on May 27th by police who investigated the scene and found Fisher’s apartment to not be in a consistent condition with an accidental fire.  Neighbors’ actions after discovering smoke coming from Fisher’s apartment helped put the fire out before the firefighters arrived, who then assisted in clearing the smoke from the structure.  Fisher is in Lycoming County Prison on $75k bail.

MORE VISITORS ALLOWED AT GEISINGER
Visitation policies at Geisinger have been updated, allowing two visitors to come in with patients in some cases, including allowing a doula and a support person to accompany a delivering mother as part of her care team, as long as they pass the screenings the hospital will administer.  Both parents of minor patients will be able to accompany their child, and one visitor will now be allowed in the facility for patients post-surgery.  According to a press release by the hospital

MONTOUR COUNTY CONSTRUCTION THIS WEEK
There will be more construction on I-80 east and westbound in Liberty Township, Montour County starting Sunday through the week.  According to PennDOT, work will start tomorrow and continue through Thursday, between the evening hours of 7pm and 10am each day.  Watch for crews east and westbound on I-80 between mile markers 217 and 223 with short term lane restrictions during the patching sealing and grinding that will take place along the roadway.

75TH ANNUAL SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT MUMMERS PARADE IS A GO
It has been announced that the 75th Annual Mummers’ Parade in South Williamsport will be held on October 17th at 2pm. According to a social media post, organizers of the parade are asking for participation from volunteers and are planning a small carnival afterward at the Southside Park with circus acts, some concessions, and a few children’s rides with fireworks afterwards for the community. In the event of heavy rain, the rain date will be October 18, at the same time.  Those who want to enter the parade can fill out an entry form at sw mummers parade dot com

KNOEBELS TO OPEN THIS WEEK
Knoebels Amusement Resort has announced they will attempt to preserve as much summer as possible and reopen to guests on Wednesday, July 1st.  Owner Brian Knoebel said the hours for the first few weeks will be from noon til 8pm with individual pay-per-ride tickets for just over 30 rides and the majority of shops and food stands open.  There will be new rigorous cleaning routines, hand sanitizer stations, sneeze guards in shops, and parking lot management if necessary.   Additional rides could open and additional hiring could take place as the weeks progress.  Details at Knoebles dot com

SPORTS
NBA

The NBA season will resume with Jazz-Pelicans, Lakers-Clippers to tip off NBA restart on July 30 in a doubleheader in Orlando, Florida.  The NBA released its schedule for games in Orlando on Friday. Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans will tip off against the Utah Jazz and Rudy Gobert, whose positive test for the coronavirus helped lead to the suspension of the season on March 11.

NASCAR
New Hampshire Motor Speedway will allow fans in the grandstands and suites for the Aug. 2 NASCAR Cup Series race. New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s modified protocols will include social distancing in the grandstands and concession lines, limited guests in suites and infield admission for race team and operational personnel only.  The race originally was scheduled for July 19

MLB
The Baseball Hall of Fame museum has reopened after being closed since March 15th  because of the coronavirus pandemic.  The Hall welcomed visitors on Friday in Cooperstown with face masks required for all staff and guests. Visitors can reserve a specific date and time to enter, with some bigger gathering spots remaining closed, but the plaque gallery is open.  Earlier this year, the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies were also cancelled. But Derek Jeter, Marvin Miller, Ted Simmons and Larry Walker will be enshrined next year, on July 25, 2021.

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