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NEWPORT TWP. — Residents in one section of the township are reluctant to let their children or pets use their back yards due to gunfire in the area.

Individuals in the Ridgeview area say an unofficial firing range has sprung up near Vista Drive and Overlook Road.

Acting township Manager John Elmy said the property in question is former mine land off Access Road near Whitney Point. Signs on the property indicate Pioneer Aggregates owns the land.

There are no signs saying “no trespassing” on the land. The expansive land is strewn with evidence of shooting from different types of guns.

Vista Drive resident Mary Kane believes “the only thing that will solve this will be a lawsuit.”

At the township commissioners meeting Monday night, Commissioner John Zyla, who oversees the police department for the board of commissioners, said he wasn’t comfortable sending the police miles into the woods, so far away from populated areas of the township. He did confirm a house was hit by gunfire twice.

Kane showed the Times Leader a video of shooting occurring in the darkness before citing the township nuisance code of 1986.

Both Zyla and township Solicitor Richard Shiptosk said at the meeting that the ordinance wouldn’t cover the land because it’s private property.

Elmy said Shiptoski is looking over an ordinance from Hanover Township presented to the commissioners at the meeting.

“It (an ordinance) has to be drafted to make it illegal,” Elmy said.

The Hanover Township ordinance permits a rifle range within the township, in accordance with the following requirements:

• The range must not be over 250 yards in length.

• The backstop of the range must be a hill, clear of all objects from which bullets might ricochet.

• No part of the range shall be within 150 yards of a dwelling or 50 yards of a highway.

• No more than 10 shooters on the range at one time.

Residents living on the two roads didn’t want to provide their names for fear of retribution.

One woman on Overlook Road said it’s a “shame” the township couldn’t do anything about the situation.

Hanover Township Police Chief Albert Walker said there are no rifle ranges in his township.

“There is so much liability with them,” Walker said.

If anything is passed, “it could possibly be” an amended nuisance ordinance, Elmy said.

Pioneer Aggregates is owned by John Popple Construction. No one from Pioneer Aggregates or Popple Construction returned phone calls to the Times Leader on Thursday.

Residents say this area on Newport Township is being used as a shooting range.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_TTL050616redash2-1.jpg.optimal.jpgResidents say this area on Newport Township is being used as a shooting range.

A paint can appears to have been used as a target in a area of Newport Township.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_TTL050616redash3-1.jpg.optimal.jpgA paint can appears to have been used as a target in a area of Newport Township.

Shotgun shells are left on the ground in an area of Newport Township.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_TTL050616redash4-1.jpg.optimal.jpgShotgun shells are left on the ground in an area of Newport Township.

One of the targets that shooters are using for a gun range that neighbors are complaining about in Newport Township. Surrounding the target are other items that were shot at, including circuit boards, car parts and other items.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_TTL050616redash1-1.jpg.optimal.jpgOne of the targets that shooters are using for a gun range that neighbors are complaining about in Newport Township. Surrounding the target are other items that were shot at, including circuit boards, car parts and other items.

By Melanie Mizenko

[email protected]

Reach Melanie Mizenko at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TL_MMizenko.