LOCAL NEWS & SPORTS - Tuesday, March 28, 2023

PORT ROYAL RIVER BRIDGE CLOSES, WEBSITE LAUNCHED

After a delay of over two months, the 113 year old railroad portion of the Port Royal Bridge is officially closed and awaiting demoltion.

The project is expected to be completed in late August, PennDot has launched a website to update residents on the project.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that a dedicated web page has been set up for three projects in Juniata and Mifflin counties. To access the page, go to www.penndot.pa.gov/RegionalOffices/district-2/ConstructionsProjectsAndRoadwork and click on the Juniata/Mifflin tile. The page details the following projects:

• Route 75 Port Royal bridge over the Norfolk Southern Railroad

• Route 3002 (East Charles Street)

• Route 1005 (Valley Street/Electric Avenue)

Each project has its own section on the page, with each section offering information including detour mapping, project overview, contacts, and press releases. PennDOT will update information on the page as it becomes available. Customers are encouraged to bookmark the page for easy reference.

TUSCARORA TOWNSHIP STRAGULATION

Pennsylvania State Police at Lewistown were called to Burnt Church Road in Tuscarora Township, Juniata County for a report of strangulation.

Following an investigation, Jeffery Hockenberry, 59 of Honey Grove was arrested in the incident which included a 52 year old female victim, also from Honey Grove.

Hockenberry was arraigned and lodged at the Mifflin County Correctional Facility on $50,000 monetary bond. A preliminary hearing is pending.

SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP VEHICLE BURGLARY

Pennsylvania State Police at Lewistown were dispatched to Hill Top Road in Susquehanna Township, Juniata County for a reported theft.

Upon arrival, Jerene Swartz, 46 of Liverpool, told PSP that someone removed a purse and its contents from her 2016 Ford Escape between 11:30pm on March 21 and 5am on March 22.

SCHWEYER AVENUE THEFT BY DECEPTION

Pennsylvania State Police at Lewistown are also investigating a Theft By Deception incident in Fermanagh Township, Juniata County.

A 73 year old Mifflintown man was contacted by an unknown actor or actors claiming to represent Publisher's Clearinghouse. They informed the victim that he wona a prize of $450,000 as well as a new car.

The victim was told he had to pay the taxes before they could transwer the money to his account. The victim then purchased $2,000 in prepaid gift cards and provided the pin number to the actor or actors over the phone.

The indcident remains under investigation.

WALKER TOWNSHIP DRUG POSSESSION

A 40 year old Allentown man was found to be in possession of marijuana following a traffic stop on Route 322 in Walker Township, Juniata County.

At approximately 10:55am on March 21, Pennsylvania State Police at Lewistown conducted a traffic stop on a 2022 Toyota Corolla driven by Willis Jarnagin, 40 of Allentown who was found to be in possession of the marijuana.

WALKER TOWNSHIP CRASH

At 6:31pm on March 21 Pennsylvania State Police at Lewistown were dispatched to the area of 2620 Locust Run Road in Walker Township, Juniata County for a vehicle accident.

Timothy M Althoff, 72 of Thompsontown, was traveling north on Locust Run Road in his 2001 Chevy Cavalier when an animal entered the roadway.

Althoff attempted to miss the animal and lost control of his vehicle. He left the left side of the roadway and impacted an embankment, fence and a tree. He was wearing a seatbelt and was uninjured.

Mifflintown Fire Company, Port Royal EMS and Gray's Towing assisted at the scene.

JUNIATA TERRACE SEXUAL ASSAULT

Pennsylvania State Police at Lewistown are investigating the sexual assault of a 10 year old female in Juniata Terrace Brough, Mifflin County.

The incident occured during the 2019 calendar year on Terrace Boulevard. An investigation is ongoing.

SPORTS: (HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS BELOW)

Hollywood Casino at The Meadows had the $18,200 final of the Wilbur Zendt Memorial Pace in honor of Mifflintown resident Wilbur Zendt on Friday, March 24.

Good Investment was the winner in 1:53:0 for owner/trainer Dave Zito and driver Aaron Merriman at odds of 7/2.

Photo courtesy of The Meadows Track Photographer Chris Gooden, video courtesy of Meadows LIVE!.

BASEBALL

NON-LEAGUE –

ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC 15, SUGAR VALLEY RURAL 3 (5 INNINGS)

WILLIAMS VALLEY @ HALIFAX – PPD TO 4/15

PENNS VALLEY @ JUNIATA – PPD TO 4/20

SOFTBALL

NON-LEAGUE –

HALIFAX @ WILLIAMS VALLEY – PPD, DATE TO BE DETERMINED

ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC @ SUGAR VALLEY RURAL – NO SCORE REPORTED

4/5 GAMES

BASEBALL –

PECO TOURNAMENT – POSTPONED TO 4/8

LINE MOUNTAIN @ SELINSGROVE – PPD TO 3/27