BACKYARD BROADCASTING, LOCAL NEWS MARCH 30, 2022
THIRD EMPLOYEE GIVING CAMPAIGN
With a matching contribution from Larson Design Group (LDG), the Williamsport Area School District Education Foundation (WASDEF) was able to raise $9,822 through its third employee giving campaign this winter. This year's total marks a 40-percent increase over last year's results. LDG matched, dollar-for-dollar, district employees' new and increased pledges through the foundation's payroll deduction program that totaled $4,836. The foundation also received $150 in one-time cash contributions during the month-long campaign, which ran from Jan. 18 through Feb. 17.
SPRING WINTER WEATHER WARNING
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will be pre-treating major roads in advance of the winter weather forecasted. Anti-icing trucks may be seen along high-volume roads in the PennDOT District 3 region in Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Tioga and Union counties. The public can track the location of PennDOT plow trucks on www.511PA.com. While precipitation is falling, PennDOT will have crews treating roadways around the clock, but the department aims to keep the roads passable rather than completely free of ice and snow. While PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, motorists can check conditions by visiting www.511PA.com.
DADY RESIGNS
The resignation of a top administrator of the Jersey Shore Area School District was accepted by the Jersey Shore Area School Board this week. As reported by the SUN Gazette, Dr. Kenneth J. Dady Jr, the assistant superintendent for the district, has announced he is stepping down from his position effective June 17th. Through his tenure at the district, since 1997, Dr. Dady has worked as a teacher, assistant principal and principal. Thank you for your service.
BLUE DISTINCTION CENTER FOR KNEE AND HIP REPLACEMENT
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association has selected UPMC Williamsport as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated health care facilities that show a commitment to delivering high-quality patient safety and better health outcomes. Facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers® for Knee and Hip Replacement demonstrate expertise in total knee and total hip replacement surgeries. Research for many of these programs shows that, compared to other providers, those designated as Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate higher-quality and improved outcomes for patients.
FIREARMS CHARGES FOR NEW YORK MAN
A New York man, stopped by State Police on Sunday morning, found himself in jail. As reported by SUN Gazette, state police stopped Marquis Reed on Route 15 in Armstrong Township when he didn't use a turn signal to change lanes. With drugs present in open sight, troopers obtained a search warrant and recovered five bags of raw marijuana, 19 capsules of marijuana and a loaded handgun. Charged with a firearm charge among others, Reed was arraigned before District Judge William Solomon. He was jail, but released on $25,000 bail.
UHY ADVISORS TO HELP THE CITY MOVE FORWARD WITH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS
A move by the Williamsport City Council's finance committee, to assist the city in the disbursement of the American Rescue Plan funds, has earned a positive recommendation. As reported by SUN Gazette, the finance committee has provided the needed direction to hire UHY Advisors, which are designed to provide both reviews for the compliance and oversight for the city, as Williamsport prepares to disburse its $25.4 million in funds. According to Mayor Derek Slaughter, the contract would be set for $85,000 a year for three years.
STATEWIDE AGGRESSIVE-DRIVING COORDINATED ENFORCEMENT DAY
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and the Highway Safety Network are urging safe driving ahead of a statewide aggressive-driving coordinated enforcement day on March 30. In 2020, there were 5,615 aggressive-driving crashes, resulting in 91 fatalities and 401 suspected serious injuries. Preliminary 2021 data indicates fatalities in aggressive-driving crashes – crashes involving two or more aggressive driving factors – may have increased by as much as 40 percent. PSP, as well as more than 300 municipal agencies from across the state, will concentrate efforts on roadways that are known to have a high number of aggressive-driving crashes using traffic enforcement zones, saturation patrols, speed enforcement details, work zone enforcement, and multi-jurisdictional enforcement details to identify and cite aggressive drivers.