BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JUNE 25, 2024

MEMORIAL HELD FOR CENTRAL MOUNTAIN TEEN

A candlelight memorial occurred last night near Lock Haven City Beach to memorialize the Central Mountain teen who drowned Saturday at in the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.  Administrators at Central MNoutnain High School say that 18 year old Gavin Frey, of Howard was a hardworking leader among his friends.  A 22 year old man who was with Frey on Saturday was flown to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville after the accident and remains hospitalized in unknown condition.  Monday, support services were announced to be available at Central Mountain High School, according to the school district Facebook page.  . Frey is the second Centre County teenager to die this year of drowning. 16 year old Nathan Dan, of Bellefonte, died in May while swimming at Raystown Lake in Huntingdon County.

MILL HALL CNA CHARGED WITH ABUSE

A former Mill Hall CNA is facing charges after she allegedly abused a patient in her care while she was employed at a skilled nursing facility in Jersey Shore in May.  According to the Sun Gazette, police say in an affidavit that 41 year old Sara Marie Watkins intentionally and repeatedly moved a patient in a lift, intentionally causing pain and mocking the patient when they cried out.  Watkins case has been held for court on the charges of abuse of a care-dependent person and harassment And she is free n 45 thousand dollars bail. The woman is no longer employed by the Jersey Shore Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

DATA BREACH AT GEISINGER

Geisinger has announced that up to a million files of patient information may have been involved in a data breach that occurred in November of 2023.  According to a press release, the outside vendor, Nuance Communications Incorporated, had terminated an employee who, upon the firing, accessed data to some of Geisinger’s patient records before Nuance could disconnect their access.  That former employee is now facing federal charges.  Geisinger reports the information breached varied by patient, but included more personal data than financial data or social security number data. 

PROGRAM HELPS OFFICERS UNDERSTAND RESIDENTS WITH AUTISM

PA state police have created a resource to help community members who are diagnosed with Autism communicate effectively when they have an encounter with a police officer.  According to State police officials, a card has been created that can be shared that helps reduce barriers between officers who may not be familiar with the needs of the Autistic person.  The card alerts law enforcement that the person may be uncomfortable with loud noises or with being touched or other barriers to communication, and police can then respond appropriately.  The cards are available online at psp.pa.gov under “public safety documents”.

HOMELESS MAN ATTACKS EMPLOYEES WHERE HE WASN’T HIRED

A homeless man who was overlooked as a new hire at the Sheetz store on West Fourth Street in Williamsport, went inside the store last May, threatening employees and causing a disturbance.  According to the Sun Gazette, Rhamir Hatcher went to the store on May 13th at about 5pm and told employees he would kill them by stabbing, before he scattered over 800 dollars-worth of items around the store and pushed a cash register off the counter.  Court records say Hatcher was charged with terroristic threats, felony criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, shoplifting and criminal trespassing.  After the incident at the Sheetz, the man had been taken into custody for a probation violation.  He remains in jail in lieu of bail.

REPAVING OF SIX STREETS IN THE CITY TO START THIS SUMMER

Williamsport city council has approved a bid for re-paving of six streets in Williamsport and work is expected to be complete by September with considerations to avoid congestion during Little League World Series in August.  According to the Sun Gazette, Glenn O. Hawbaker was approved with a bid of just over 170 thousand dollars to pave the six streets, including Hollywood Circle, Taylor Place, Vallamont Drive, First Avenue, Wayne Avenue and East Third Street.  There is a reconstruction project also scheduled for Little League Boulevard  from Mulberry to Walnut Streets as well.  The public works committee will be discussing the detours around construction for a few weeks. 

TRIANGLE TECH TO CLOSE

The Pittsburgh based Triangle Tech, including the location in Sunbury, will be closing after this current semester is complete.  According to school officials the tech school that has operated for 80 years teaching various trades and assisting with job placement was struck hard by the COVID pandemic, changes in the industry landscape and strenuous government regulations along with a decline in enrollment, leading to the closure.  Other campuses effected include Greensburg, DuBois, Bethlehem, and Chambersburg are also.

GAME COMMISSION DOING THIRD BIRD ATLAS

The PA Game Commission is looking for the public’s help counting birds in Pennsylvania.  According to a press release, the Game Commission and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary are conducting the third Pennsylvania Bird Atlas between now and February of 2029.  Volunteers are asked to observe birds in Pennsylvania and report the findings online at ebird.org/atlaspa.  Instructions and tools to participate are also noted on that site under the explore tab. Coordinators of the program say, whether a volunteer observes one bird or 100, all the reporting is important.

SPORTS

NHL Stanley Cup Final
Game 7 in Edmonton
Panthers 2    Oilers 1  Florida wins 4-3
*  It’s been 25 years since the Panthers had a playoff victory
*   Oiler, Connor McDavid won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the 2024 postseason.

 *   McDavid is the sixth player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe from team that lost in the Stanley Cup Final. He’s only the second skater after Reggie Leach of the Philadelphia Flyers, who was named MVP in 1976.

MLB
Guardians 3        Orioles  2
Phillies  8            Tigers  1
Reds  11              Pirates  5
Padres  7             Nationals 6
MLB Today
Guardians vs Orioles  6:35
Phillies vs Tigers  6:40pm
Yankees vs Mets  7:10pm TBS
Pirates vs Reds  7:10pm
Nationals vs Padres  9:40pm ESPN+

MLB Draft League
The Crosscutters are in West Virginia today for the 1st of three games on the road. 
Friday Williamsport Cutters vs Frederick Keys – Friday night at home @6:35pm first pitch.

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