Monday, January 25, 2010

Celebrating a new elementary school in Selinsgrove

SELINSGROVE – Second grade students at Selinsgrove Elementary sang “Welcome To Our School” at a special ribbon cutting yesterday afternoon to celebrate the new school in the district. The school has been open since September, but there was still construction going on, but now the school is complete.

School board president Eric Rowe was thrilled to see hundreds turn out for an open house yesterday afternoon. Superintendent Dr. Frederick Johnson says the vision of one campus in the district is now complete. All students in the district are on one campus and Johnson thanked the design and architect team for their new school.

Jackson Penn Elementary is now vacant and Dr. Johnson says they are having the building appraised to determine what steps to take next. The school features a new gymnasium and bleachers, a new cafeteria, new playgrounds and a new wing of classrooms. (Ali Stevens)

Man assaulted in his backyard by another man with brass knuckles

WATSONTOWN – One man is behind bars after he reportedly assaulted a man in his backyard in Watsontown with a pair of brass knuckles. Watsontown police say Quinton Thomas assaulted the man in a yard on East 8th Street Saturday afternoon and then pulled out a knife.

The victim ran from Thomas who chased him onto his back porch. Police say the victim was able to get inside and lock the door and then contacted police. Thomas reportedly kicked at the door trying to get in, but then fled on foot when police arrived. He was arrested on Locust Street in Milton.

Thomas was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and harassment. He’s locked up in the Northumberland County Prison on $75,000 bail. The victim of the assault was transported by ambulance to Evangelical Community Hospital and the severity of his injuries is not known. (Ali Stevens)

Burglary at a beverage distributor in Selinsgrove

SELINSGROVE – Selinsgrove police are investigating a burglary at a beverage distributor in the 600 block of South Market Street in the borough. Police tell us someone cut a phone line into the business and broke into the business.

The incident took place sometime between 9 p.m. Saturday and 7:30 a.m. on Sunday. Multiple cases of beer were taken from the business. Anyone with information on the burglary is asked to contact Selinsgrove Police at 374-8655. (Ali Stevens)

Tonight Bucknell University plans candlelight prayer service for Haiti

LEWISBURG – Prayers for victims and survivors of the January 12th earthquake that struck Haiti will be offered at a candlelight vigil tonight at Bucknell University. The vigil will also include a testimonial by junior Christophe Poline, whose family lives in Haiti.

There will be remarks by Bucknell University President Brian Mitchell and Linden Lewis, a sociology professor who is a graduate of the University of the West Indies. The service is planned for 7:00 p.m. Monday in Rooke Chapel on the Bucknell campus. The University’s chaplains will participate, as will the Rooke Chapel Choir. (Matt Farrand)

The Marcellus Shale primer…on WKOK’s Roundtable this weekend

SUNBURY – The Roundtable program over the weekend was a compilation of three recent interviews on the topic. We spoke to State Senator Gene Yaw (R-23rd, Williamsport) on our On The Mark program and we air his comments on Marcellus Shale. We also spoke to the state DEP Secretary John Hanger, and the head of the Lycoming College Clean Water Institute, Dr. Mel Zimmerman.

Dr. Zimmerman told us geologists have always known about the shale, but it was too expensive with conventional drilling equipment to reach the 3,000 to 7,000 feet down. New drilling equipment has allowed the cost effective extraction of the natural gas deposits in the Marcellus Shale.

You can hear the program at www.wkok.com. The program includes information about an upcoming symposium at Lycoming College related to the shale and it’s extraction. The public is invited the Marcellus Shale symposium this Friday. The details for the all day are posted at www.srhces.org.

Smith faces more than 17 years in prison

SUNBURY – 30-year-old Christeen Smith could spend more than 17 years in prison for trying to hire an undercover state trooper to kill her boyfriend. Northumberland County President Judge Robert Sacavage sentenced Smith Friday after pleading guilty to charges of aggravated assault.

The Sunbury woman was also fined $1,000 and ordered to have no contact with the intended victim. The plot unraveled in April 2008 when Smith reportedly asked an undercover officer to kill her boyfriend. Other charges were dropped in the plea deal, including criminal solicitation of homicide and terroristic threats. (Matt Farrand)

Temporary census taking employment could reach 2,000 in region

WILLIAMSPORT – April 1st is the day the national census is taken, as required by the Constitution. The U.S. Census Bureau says workers are still in demand in local counties. Applicants will be required to pass a test, be 18 years of age, or older, and pass a background check.

The part time temporary jobs will offer flexible hours, paid training and the chance to work close to home for up to $14.50 per hour. More than 2,000 are reportedly needed in the region. Information is available at 1-866-861-2010 or online at www.2010censusjobs.gov (Matt Farrand)

Shamokin Township crash injures four

SHAMOKIN – A sixteen-year-old driver is one of four people injured in a single vehicle crash Saturday in Northumberland County’s Shamokin Township. State troopers say the unidentified driver lost control of the vehicle while driving south on Hosta Road, near Irish Valley Road. The vehicle left the roadway, before returning to the road and rolling over.

Injured were, passenger’s 23-year-old Chrystal Henley of Shamokin, 22-year-old John Rudy Jr. of Coal Township, and 22-year-old Matthew C. Dilliplane. Area Ambulance and Elysburg Ambulance services took all the injured to Geisinger Medical Center after the 12:30 p.m. Saturday crash. The driver will be cited. (Matt Farrand)

Gun theft prompts investigation

LEWISBURG – The public is being asked for help after a Lewisburg area resident reported the theft of a shotgun. State troopers say the theft from a dump truck parked at a residence along Millers Bottom Road was reported Friday. The weapon is described as a 12 gauge Mossberg 835 pump shotgun with a wooden stock and blue barrel, valued at about $250. Troopers request a call to 524-2662 if you have information. (Matt Farrand)

Tire failure contributes to single vehicle crash

MIFFLINBURG – A blown-out tire was a factor in a one-car crash that injured two people Saturday in Union County. State troopers say 25-year-old Lauren Rooney of Hummelstown lost control of her car when a tire failed.

The vehicle spun around and collided with two embankments. Rooney and a passenger, 24-year-old Leanne Shirk of Mifflinburg, were injured. Both were wearing seatbelts at the time of the 9:55 a.m. crash along Route 304 near SR 3012 in Limestone Township. (Matt Farrand)

Russ & Merle I: Who is running for the state house? More names are being mentioned

UNDATED – More names are emerging as possible candidates for the state house seats being vacated in the 85th and 108th district. In the 85th District, Russ Fairchild’s (R-85th, Lewisburg) replacement list includes these republicans: Union County Commissioner Preston Boop and Betsy Snook—the CEO of the state nurses association. Democrats include previous political candidates Trey Casimir and Steve Connolley.

In the 108th District, Merle Phillips (R-108th, Sunbury) will retire at the end of this term. Folks considering a run include Republican Northumberland County Controller Chuck Erdman and GOP leader Scott Meckley of Milton. Other names being mentioned include Sunbury attorney Rick Shoch and former Northumberland County Commissioner Sam Dietrick. Also today, Kathleen Dunkleberger of rural Sunbury is considering a run.

Russ & Merle II: Merle Phillips talks about his years in service as a state representative

SUNBURY – Merle Phillips (R-108th, Sunbury) talked about his many years serving as a state representative in the 108th District as a guest on WKOK’s On The Mark program Friday. Phillips announced along with State Representative Russ Fairchild (R-85th, Lewisburg) last week that he will not seek re-election.

Phillips spoke fondly of his working relationship with Russ Fairchild over the years, saying they have always respected one another and worked together to get things done in the Central Susquehanna Valley. Phillips talked about some of his personal successes over the years beginning back in 1980.

He said a success was when he fought to have the Bainbridge Street crossing redone, which eventually became the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge. He also was proud to receive a “Legislator of the Year” award from the American Association of the Deaf-Blind.

A disappointment for Phillips was not being able to get a property in Watsontown named as a Keystone Opportunity Zone. He says there were businesses ready to move there, but the Warrior Run School District would not approve the KOZ designation. Dozens of new jobs were lost and the lot is still vacant. You can hear more from Merle Phillips from our Friday On The Mark program online at www.wkok.com. (Ali Stevens)

Russ & Merle III: Russ Fairchild talks about his years of service as a state representative

SUNBURY – Russ Fairchild ((R-85th, Lewisburg) talked about his many years serving as a state representative in the 85th District as a guest on WKOK’s On The Mark program Friday. Russ Fairchild announced along with State Representative Merle Phillips last week that he would not seek re-election.

Fairchild talked about one of his favorite accomplishments as a representative…keeping a hazardous waste incinerator out of the Central Susquehanna Valley. The incinerator was proposed by USPCI, which was backed by powerful political players.

Those players include Drew Lewis and the Lieutenant Governor at the time and the former Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection. Fairchild says fortunately after many years of enormous hard work by citizens in the area, they were able to put that issue to rest.

Fairchild was also proud of the work done to vindicate Susquehanna University in recent years. It was alleged by a Patriot News Reporter that there was pollution in the area causing a rise in cancer cases. It was proved to be untrue and to this day, Fairchild believes the reporter did a series of articles attempting to win some kind of award.

There were also disappointments along the way including the closing of the Laurelton Center in Union County and the still unfinished Central Susquehanna Thruway Project, which Fairchild worked on for many years. You can hear more from Russ Fairchild from our Friday On The Mark program online at www.wkok.com. You can also hear comments from state representative Merle Phillips in upcoming newscasts on WKOK. (Ali Stevens)

Local newspaper celebrating 120 years

MILTON – Starting Saturday a familiar newspaper had a new look. The Milton Standard-Journal is celebrating their 120th anniversary. Amy Moyer has been the publisher since 1996. She says they are switching from their broadsheet format. The paper will be a different size, making it easier to read and carry.

Moyer says over the years, the newspaper has tried to stay progressive. Moyer says with Internet popularity rising, The Standard-Journal has a presence on the web, but takes a different approach than other papers. She says they show parts of the local news stories in order to drive customers to buy the newspaper. Moyer says their goal in the years ahead is to remain a good local news source. (Sara Bartlett)

Latest Pennsylvania news, lottery, business and entertainment

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - A prosecutor in northeastern Pennsylvania has dropped plans to retry as many as 46 juveniles whose cases were originally heard by a judge charged in a corruption scandal.  Luzerne County District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll said in court Monday that her office made the decision "in the interest of fairness and justice."  The Pennsylvania Supreme Court had already thrown out thousands of juvenile convictions issued by disgraced former Judge Mark Ciavarella. He is charged with accepting millions of dollars in kickbacks to send youths to private detention centers.  The high court had given the district attorney's office the option of seeking to retry youths who remained under court supervision. Musto had originally planned to retry 46 cases.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A judge in the public-corruption trial of a former top lawmaker and three one-time aides is denying a defense motion to ban the use of Twitter by courtroom observers.  Dauphin County Judge Richard Lewis said in a Monday order that it would be premature and overly broad to impose such a restriction.  His order says issuing a ban before trial begins would represent an impermissible restraint on constitutionally protected speech.  He also says the proposed restriction exceeds the scope of a judge's authority to limit the broadcast of trial proceedings.  A defense lawyer, Michael Palermo Jr., says he made the motion because he's concerned about shielding witnesses from hearing one another's testimony.  The Associated Press, Pittsburgh Post- Gazette and Patriot-News of Harrisburg opposed the motion.

HARRISBURG , Pa. (AP) - Republican gubernatorial hopeful Sam Rohrer wants state party leaders to hold a candidates' debate before deciding whether to endorse state Attorney General Tom Corbett or Rohrer in the primary election.  The state representative from Berks County addressed a Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon and fielded questions about his candidacy Monday.  Rohrer said he is counting on support from conservative Pennsylvanians who are disenchanted with the political system.  Without an open exchange of ideas, he said the Republican Party risks becoming more of "a social club" than a vehicle to advance different points of view.  Rohrer entered the race two months ago and faces an uphill fight against front-runner Corbett for the GOP nomination.  The Republican State Committee is slated to vote on endorsements at its Feb. 13 meeting in Harrisburg.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A joint state House-Senate committee hearing will be looking into the activities of a casino trade association headed by a former Pennsylvania Supreme Court chief justice.  Sen. Jane Earll said Monday she and Democratic Rep. Dante Santoni of Berks County would hold the hearing on the Pennsylvania Casino Association next week.  Earll's and Santoni's committees handle gambling legislation. Earll, an Erie Country Repubulican, says the hearing is set for Tuesday, Feb. 2. Santoni and others  question whether the casino association should have registered under Pennsylvania's lobbying-disclosure law.  Former chief justice Stephen Zappala and other association officials say the group is within the law. The association maintains that its attempts to influence a new law that will to expand casino gambling does not meet the legal definition of lobbying.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Philadelphia Orchestra touts a long history of firsts in the classical world, but with plunging attendance and strained finances, officials are confronting the unwelcome possibility of becoming the first of America's "Big Five" orchestras to declare bankruptcy. Chairman Richard Worley says he does not know the likelihood of such a step for the Philadelphia Orchestra, traditionally considered one of the best in the nation along with the orchestras in New York, Chicago, Boston and Cleveland. Allison Vulgamore, the orchestra's new president and chief executive officer, acknowledges that the financial situation is very serious. She also acknowledges thinking long and hard before deciding to come to Philadelphia after leading the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for 16 years. Vulgamore will be trying to reverse a decline in ticket sales, which has left Verizon Hall only 62 percent full this season, even with many seats offered at a discount and down from 80 percent at the end of last season. There is also the search for a new music director and differences between the orchestra and its subsidiary Peter Nero and the Philly Pops.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - Former NFL linebacker Greg Skrepenak came home to Pennsylvania and parlayed his name recognition and hometown popularity into a seat on the Luzerne County Board of Commissioners. Skrepenak campaigned as a reformer but succumbed to the prevailing pay-for-play politics of the hardscrabble coal region of northeastern Pennsylvania. He's scheduled to plead guilty on Tuesday to federal charges of taking $5,000 in gifts from a developer seeking public financing of a condominium project. He's among 23 people in Luzerne County who have been charged so far by federal authorities investigating a variety of unrelated government corruption schemes over the past year. They include two judges charged with taking $2.8 million in kickbacks to place youth offenders in for-profit detention facilities - a scandal known as "kids for cash."

DRUMS, Pa. (AP) - An one eastern Pennsylvania restaurant, getting a cold one is no problem since everything is on ice – and under it, and surrounded by it. Dementi's Restaurant in Mountain Top has set up a temporary freestanding bar in its backyard that is almost completely made of 50 tons of ice -- including walls, roof, serving bar, benches and decorations. The pirate-themed bar is one of the few ice bars in the country, and owner and chef Kevin McDonald says he knows of no other freestanding one. He's hoping the novelty will bring in the crowds. To keep the ice from melting, air conditioning brought the mercury down to about 20 degrees Saturday inside the bar. McDonald says he thinks the average customer might spend 20 or 30 minutes inside before leaving to warm up. Over the past week and a half, McDonald, his employees and friends shaped, molded, carved and smoothed the 480-square-foot structure, which can accommodate about 40 people. www.delawareonline.com

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Updates on the latest in business

Dow: 10,196.86, up 23.38

S&P 500: 1,096.78, up 5.02

NASDAQ: 2,210.80, up 5.51

WASHINGTON (AP) - One economist says numbers released today show the rebound in housing demand is largely supported by government programs. Home sales took their largest drop in more than 40 years last month, yet managed to end 2009 with the first annual gain in four years. Some analysts fear mortgages will rise and sales will drop after March 31, when the Federal Reserve plans to end its program to buy mortgage securities to keep home loan rates low. A newly-extended homebuyer tax credit is scheduled to run out at the end of April.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says creating new jobs and reducing unemployment is the "single most important thing we can do to rebuild the middle class." And Obama says "I won't rest until we're doing just that." The president gave a preview of his State of the Union address today and proposals that will be in his budget request to Congress next week.   Obama says the middle-class has been "under assault for a long time."

CHICAGO (AP) - A top adviser to President Barack Obama says Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has the votes to keep his job. David Axelrod says that Bernanke should be confirmed because he has provided "strong leadership" through the nation's financial crisis. Some opposition to Bernanke had started to emerge because of public anger over the economy. But senators have begun voicing support for the Fed chief.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn on Monday:

 Midday Big 4

     9-5-3-8

 Midday Number

     2-8-7

 Midday Quinto

     9-2-0-1-5

 Treasure Hunt

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn Sunday:

Big 4 0-9-8-2

Cash 5 07-09-12-27-34

Daily Number 6-8-9

Evening Quinto 5-5-5-4-6

Midday Big 4 6-7-4-0

Midday Number 2-5-7

Midday Quinto 2-1-1-8-7

Treasure Hunt 07-08-14-25-26

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Obama-Jury Duty

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (AP) - A White House official says President Barack Obama will be skipping jury duty after being summoned in Illinois. The administration official confirmed to The Associated Press on Sunday that the president alerted the court weeks ago that he won't be able to make it. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to speak publicly. Obama was summoned for jury duty at the Bridgeview courthouse in suburban Chicago starting Monday. The summons had arrived at the Obama home on Chicago's South Side. With his first State of the Union speech set for Wednesday, Obama has a busy week ahead. The president is a graduate of Harvard Law School and a former professor at the University of Chicago Law School.

Picasso Damaged

NEW YORK (AP) - A notable painting by Picasso will undergo repairs after a visitor to the Metropolitan Museum of Art accidentally lost her balance and struck it. The museum says the accident caused a vertical tear of about 6 inches in the lower right-hand corner of "The Actor," painted by the artist during the winter of 1904-1905. The museum says the damage didn't affect the "focal point of the composition." Curatorial and conservation staff assessed the painting's condition following Friday's accident when a visitor attending a class struck the artwork in one of the museum's galleries. The nearly 6-by-4-foot canvas depicts an acrobat posed dramatically against an abstracted backdrop. The museum has about 250 works by Picasso in its collection.

Bubble Wrap Turns 50

SADDLE BROOK, N.J. (AP) - People have walked to the altar dressed in it, protected their garden plants with it, even put it on display at highbrow art museums. Mostly, they like the sound it makes when they pop it, which largely explains the appeal of Bubble Wrap, the stress reducer disguised as package cushioning that maintains an inexplicable hold on pop culture. The product once envisioned as a new type of wallpaper turns 50 this month. The manufacturer of Bubble Wrap is Sealed Air, based in Elmwood Park, N.J. Spokesman Ken Aurichio says he thought he'd witnessed every form of Bubble Wrap mania - until he received a wedding invitation last year from an Ohio woman who said she would wear the product on her trip down the aisle.

SAG awards

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The cast of "Inglourious Basterds" gets top honors at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Jeff Bridges won best actor Saturday night for his portrayal of a hard-living country singer in "Crazy Heart." Sandra Bullock wins best actress for "The Blind Side." On the TV side, AMC's 1960s Madison Avenue saga "Mad Men" wins the trophy for best drama series ensemble. It's the second year in a row for "Mad Men." The new Fox series "Glee" takes award for best comedy series ensemble.