BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS JUNE 19, 2023

PRESS CONFERENCE IDENTIFIES FALLEN TROOPER

State troopers have identified the officer who was shot and killed in the line of duty in Juniata County Saturday.  According to Penn Live, 29 year old Trooper Jacques Rougeau Jr., was killed and 45 year old Lt.James Wagner was critically wounded in separate incidents prior to suspect 38 year old Brandon Stine of Thompsontown being killed. Police say Stine engaged officers just before 1 pm near the Lewistown police station in Mifflintown Borough where Wagner was shot.  Stine then fled and was confronted at another location, where he and Rougeau were both fatally shot. Wagner is currently listed in critical condition at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. 

WOMAN CHARGED WITH THEFT FROM EMPLOYER

A woman who had been hired for only two weeks at a Williamsport mini-mart before she allegedly stole money from the business was recently charged in district court.  According to the Sun Gazette, Sandra Alexander was hired to work at the 6th and High Street mini mart in November of 2021 and was accused of stealing 17 hundred dollars.  She was charged with theft and receiving stolen property and  after waiving her preliminary hearing, is free on 25 hundred dollars bail.

OVERNIGHT MILLING AND PAVING ON I-180 THIS WEEK

I-180 A contractor will be milling and paving this week on the eastbound lanes of I-180 in Lycoming County starting at Loyalsock Creek and working eastward through Friday.  Watch for alternating lane restrictions when work is going on between the hours of 7pm and 7am weather permitting.  The work is part of  a two year project that will mill and resurface over 13 miles of roadway at the Route 87 and Fairfield Road interchanges and include new lighting guide rail upgrades and more, with additional bridge work planned for 16 structures in the county. 

I-180 A contractor will be milling and paving this week on the eastbound lanes of I-180 in Lycoming County starting at Loyalsock Creek and working eastward through Friday.  Watch for alternating lane restrictions when work is going on between the hours of 7pm and 7am weather permitting.  The work is part of  a two year project that will mill and resurface over 13 miles of roadway at the Route 87 and Fairfield Road interchanges and include new lighting guide rail upgrades and more, with additional bridge work planned for 16 structures in the county. 

BALD EAGLE LEGISLATION
There’s a new bill in PA legislature that would increase fines for killing bald and golden eagles to $2,000 from the current penalty of only $200 for anyone convicted of killing the national symbol. According to North Central PA dot com, Senate Bill 709, is sponsored by Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Bethlehem.  Pennsylvania removed the bald eagle from its endangered list to protected status in 2014, but since 2018, the Game Commission has filed 10 charges for unlawfully taking or possessing eagles.  In Ohio, a conviction carries a maximum of 180 days in jail or a $1,000 fine.

FBI CHARGES THREE LOCAL OFFICERS WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE

Three Mount Carmel police officers have been charged by the FBI and state police have with excessive force, which could send them to prison for up to 10 years. According to the Daily Item, a federal indictment was filed Friday in U.S. Middle District Court against the officers. The indictment identifies officer Kyle Schauer, retired officer Lt. David Donkochik and former officer Jonathan McHugh and claims they used excessive force in upwards of 22 different arrests. All three were arrested on Friday.

MAN JAILED OVER EXTORTION CHARGE

A Mansfield man is facing a felony sexual extortion charge from accusations made against him in 2019 .  According to the Daily Item,  Ralpho Township police say Zane Bryan Walentukonis was arraigned in front of Milton District Judge Michael Diehl last Thursday for allegedly threatening to send explicit videos to a teen in Elysburg. Walentukonis sits in Northumberland County Jail in lieu of  $125,000 bail.  His preliminary hearing has yet to be scheduled.   

2023 PENNSYLVANIA LAUREL QUEEN CROWNED

This year’s Pennsylvania Laurel Queen is Emma Podobinski, representing Warrior Run High School.  Podobinski was crowned queen out of a field of 26 candidates, representing high schools from across the state of Pennsylvania.   During her reign as Pennsylvania State Laurel Queen, Ms. Podobinski will represent the Laurel Festival during Wellsboro’s Dickens of  Christmas event in December and return to next year’s Laurel festival to crown her successor.  As queen, Emma also receives a three thousand dollar academic scholarship.  She will attend Houghton College in the Fall.  First runner up was Melody Rzeszotarski of Montoursville Area High School and Katherine West representing Towanda was second runner up.  They also received a monetary academic scholarship.

SPORTS

MLB
Guardians 12      Diamondbacks 3
Orioles 6             Cubs 3
Braves 14            Rockies 6
Marlins 4            Nationals 2
Red Sox 6           Yankees 2 Game 1
Red Sox 4           Yankees 1 Game 2
Cardinals 8         Mets 7
Angels 5              Royals 2 
Reds 9                 Astros 7
Tigers 6               Twins 4
Brewers 5            Pirates 2
Rangers 11          Blue Jays 7
Phillies 3             A’s 2
Mariners 5          White Sox 1
Giants 7               Dodgers 3
Padres 5              Rays 4

GOLF
Wyndham Clark from Denver Colorado, held off Rory McIlroy, Scottie, Scheffler and Rickie Fowler in the final round to win Sunday at the 123rd US Open at the Los Angeles Country Club and now ascends from 32nd to 13th  in the Official World Golf Ranking.

MLB Draft League
Williamsport Crosscutters 4          Mahoning Valley Scrappers 3
The Cutters are off today but come back Tuesday to Historic Bowman Field to play the Frederick Keys – 6:35 PM first pitch.

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