BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS OCTOBER 18, 2024

TWO JUVENILES ACCUSE MONTOURSVILLE MAN OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

A Montoursville man is facing charges after two underage victims came forward alleging sexual abuse in two separate incidents.  According to the Sun Gazette, in 2019 and 2022 34 year old Joshua Joseph Kutza had inappropriate contact with minors who were 12 years old at the time, one of which was told by Kutza to be quiet about the abuse or he would cause problems with her family, the other reported through a child line report by a school counselor in whom the victim confided.  The man is entitled to be free on bail but has been given stringent conditions by the judge, including being required to wear a GPS monitor and adhering to exclusion zones near the victims and an order of no contact with victims, witnesses or other minors.

COUNTY INMATE ASSAULTS CORRECTIONS OFFICER

A Lycoming County Prison inmate from Williamsport is facing charges after assaulting a corrections officer last month and allegedly causing a concussion .  According to North Central PA dot com, county detectives say 24 year old Bruce Edward Kane fought with a cellmate September 13th and when officers responded to remove Kane from the area, he struck and officer in the head injuring them.  Kane was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, and resisting arrest and has bail set at 25 thousand dollars monetary. Kane was originally jailed for defiant trespassing and reckless endangerment charges last year, according to court records.

LUZERNE COUNTY SETTLES BALLOT PAPER SHORTAGE LAWSUIT

The two voters who filed a Lawsuit in Luzerne County in March of 2023 over a ballot paper shortage have settled the case with the county.  According to the York Dispatch, Luzerne County will pay $30,000 for litigation expenses and will train election workers after ballot paper shortages caused problems during the 2022 election and kept voters from casting ballots in Freeland and Shickshinny polling places.  The suit, filed in federal court in Scranton stated that there was chaos on Election Day that was preventable, and required judges to extend poll hours and delay the report of election results from 16 of Luzerne’s 143 polling locations.  In June of 2023, the Luzerne County District Attorney reported that the investigation found no evidence of criminal activity or purposeful efforts to prevent voting.

UMC TO PERFORM AT COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER IN NOVEMBER

 The Uptown Music Collective is ready to kick off the 2024-2025 performance season next month and announced that tickets sales have begun for Midnight Train to Memphis: A Tribute to Modern Country .  The Collectives’ Special Performance Group , which consists of UMC students aged 13 to 18, will perform the music of as Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Tyler Childers, Taylor Swift and other in partnership with UPMC North Central Pa and UPMC Health Plan.  Get tickets for the November 8 and 9th 7:30pm performance through the Community Arts Center box office and at caclive.com.

VICTIM LIFE FLIGHTED AFTER WINFIELD CRASH

A two vehicle accident on Route 15 tied up traffic for several hours Wednesday in Snyder county.  According to the Daily Item, the crash near Winfield happened before 3pm and authorities say one unnamed person suffered critical injuries, requiring a Life Flight to Geisinger.  Police remained on the scene for an investigation that shut down an area around Grangers Road in Winfield after the wreck.  No other injuries were reported and additional details have not yet been released.

CANNABIS DISPENSARY TO OPEN IN WOODWARD TOWNSHIP

Approval was granted to a medical marijuana dispensary at the end of September to Terrapin, an Avis-based grower and processor of medical cannabis to open a local store.  According to the Lock Haven Express, the Woodward Township Board of Supervisors have been considering the potential of the dispensary that is now expected to be housed at a vacant bank location in Lock Haven at 209 Woodward Avenue.  The conditional use hearing occurred in August where concerns about and support for the project was discussed, which included concerns about security and the possibility of increased crime – but supporters said they have found Terrapin to be a responsible corporate partner and that a lock Haven company will provide security for the facility.

BRIDGE REPLACEMENT WORK NEXT WEEK

Watch for a bridge replacement project next week in Sullivan County on Route 487 in Cherry Township.  According to PennDOT, starting Monday Route 487 will be closed between Old Bernice and Jackson Street/School Road while a contractor begins installation of the new bridge including removing the temporary bridge, paving, and setting of the guiderail.  Drivers will see a detour in place using Old Bernice Road Route 220, and East Main Street or Route 87 through Friday, November 15th.

PENNVEST LOANS FOR MIDDLEBURG SEWER UPGRADES

Middleburg Borough in Snyder County will benefit from a low interest PENNVEST loan to rehabilitate its sewage collection system.  According to the Standard Journal, the 1.2 million dollar  loan will replace approximately 3,200 feet of aging sewer main with a new, 8-inch sewer main, and upgrade 25 sewer manholes in the municipality.  Loans and grants from PennVEST, also went to municipalities in Juniata and Mifflin Counties for wastewater treatment plant upgrades.  Each project is said to significantly improve water quality and public health in the region.

SPORTS

PIAA HS
Boys Soccer

Williamsport 2     Belefonte  2  /2OT
Lewisburg  4        Hughesville 0
MIdd-West  3       Montoursville  1
Girls Soccer 
Muncy  5              Wellsboro  2
Hughesville  3      Lewisburg 2
South Wmspt 3    Midd-West  1
Cntrl Columbia  5  Milton  1
Selinsgrove  4       Warrior  Run  1

Girls  Volleyball
 
Altoona  3            Williamsport  0

HS Football Tonight
BYB Game of the week
Athens @ Muncy
6:30pm pre-game/7pm Kick-off

NFL

Broncos  33          Saints  10
NFL Sunday
Eagles vs Giants 1pm FOX
Chiefs  vs 49ers  4:25pm  FOX
Jets vs Steelers  8:20pm  NBC/Peacock

MLB
NLCS  Game 3 
Guardians  7  Yankees  5  NY leads 2-1
ALCS Game 4 
Dodgers  10  Mets  2  LA leads 3-1

MLB Today

Game 4 Yankees vs Guardians  8:08pm  TBS
Game 5 LA Dodgers  vs Mets  5:08pm FS1

NHL

Devils  3     Senators 1
Capitals 3  Stars  2
Blue Jackets 6  Sabres 4
Rangers 5  Red Wings  2
Blues  1      Islanders  0
Kraken  6    Flyers  4

NHL Today

Hurricanes  vs Penguins  7pm NHL Net

WNBA Finals Game 4 Friday

Liberty vs Lynx  8pm  ESPN

NASCAR Sunday

South Point 400  Las Vegas Motor Speedway  1:30pm Pre-Race/2:30pm Green Flag
Twin Valley’s Talk Radio Network WILQ’s HD3

Share