Route 11 is reopened after nightmare morning commute

NORTHUMBERLAND – Route 11 is open between Northumberland and Shamokin Dam. Less than 24-hours after it the road closed because of floodwaters, the road was inspected, cleaned and reopened by PennDOT. The closure sent thousands of additional vehicles through Sunbury. Also today, Route 405 and the Watsontown River Bridge reopened.

This morning, angry motorists called WKOK reporting delays exceeding 30-minutes and pleaded for PennDOT to resolve the problem. The issue is Route 11 has low spots north of Shamokin Dam, and in Northumberland—river water backs up through storm drains and floods the underpass. PennDOT’s Rick Mason said money is tight so no improvement is likely. 

Crash injuries four in Turbotville

TURBOTVILLE – Four people were injured following a crash that shut down Route 54 in Turbotville for about two hours Wednesday morning.  Around 10:45a.m., 64-year-old Paul Adams of Turbotville was stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of Route 54 and Route 44. 

As he traveled through the intersection he hit a vehicle driven by 69-year-old Irvin Houseknecht of Hughesville.  Adams sustained major injuries, he was transported to Geisinger Medical Center and there is no word on his condition.  

Three passengers in his vehicle, 24-year-old Marybeth Adams, 19-year-old Heather Wirt and 24-year-old Ellen Edall, all of Turbotville, sustained moderate injuries and were taking to Geisinger.  Adams and Wirt are listed in serious condition, while Edall is in fair condition.  Houseknecht was not injured.  

Woman facing felony charges in a horse and buggy crash

MILTON – A Berks County woman was in district court Tuesday in Milton on three felony charges related to a horse and buggy accident that left two adults and two children injured.  Jessica Fenstermacher of Boyertown is charged with fleeing the scene of an accident on December 27^th.

That is when police say she crashed into a horse and buggy on Route 54 in Delaware Township, Northumberland County.  The driver of the buggy, 27-year-old Levi Glick, his 24-year-old wife Mattie and two young children were taken to the hospital for treatment of various injuries. 

Fenstermacher is charged with careless driving, not providing information at the scene of an accident and causing an accident with injuries.  Fenstermacher claims she didn’t know she hit the buggy until she heard reports about the accident on the news the next day.  She then contacted police.  A preliminary hearing is set for February 4^th.  (Ali Stevens)

Local Obstetrician heading to Haiti

LEWISBURG – A local Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Evangelical Community Hospital leaves Friday for Haiti.  Dr. Julia Redcay says she has done mission work in the past, and couldn’t pass by a chance to help.  She says after hearing about the tragic earthquake, and knowing that others local were going, it was a ‘no-brainer’ for her to go. 

Redcay will be in Haiti for a week, and says she isn’t sure what to expect, but is taking supplies, including medicine.  Redcay is one of many doctors and nurses from Evangelical Community Hospital in connection with God’s Missionary Church going to Haiti.  The groups can be followed online at www.gmcinhaiti.blogspot.com. (Sara Bartlett) 

Bucknell hires Rutgers asst. Susan as head coach

LEWISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Bucknell has hired Joe Susan as its next football coach, luring back a former Bison assistant to take over a program coming off three straight losing seasons.  A team spokesman says Susan is to be formally introduced at a news conference Wednesday evening at Bucknell. 

Susan spent the last nine seasons as an assistant at Rutgers, most recently coaching tight ends and serving as recruiting coordinator. The veteran coach was also an assistant at Bucknell from 1981-90. 

Susan takes over for Tim Landis, who left Bucknell last month to take an assistant coaching job at San Jose State.  Bucknell, a Patriot League school, finished 4-7 last season. The Bison haven't had a winning record since going 6-5 in 2006.

Changes could be coming for the 2010-2011 deer hunting seasons

MIFFLINBURG – The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners have given preliminary approval to broad changes to several hunting seasons, including the antlerless or doe season.  One proposal is to eliminate the two-week antlerless deer season held following the close of the regular firearms season leading up to Christmas.

The proposed change would affect Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties.  That would mean hunting for doe would be limited to seven days and the twelve days of buck hunting would be split into two seasons. 

Phil Wagner, past president of the Buffalo Valley Sportsman’s Club and a hunter from Mifflinburg has other hopes for the future of hunting in the area including cutting Management Unit 4D’s allotment of available antlerless licenses by 75 percent. 

He would also like to see how they could justify establishing numbers of how many deer are killed in the valley and how many deer of killed on state forest land.  He said they could do that by adding a section on the tag that hunters can mark depending on where the harvest took place.

Another public meeting is set for April 10^th and 20^th, at which time the board will finalize seasons and bag limits for 2010-2011.  (Ali Stevens)

Lewisburg public accountant announced his plans to run for the 85^th district house seat

LEWISBURG – A public accountant from Lewisburg announced his intentions to run for the 85^th District house seat being vacated by Russ Fairchild (R-85^th, Winfield).  Maurice Brubaker is a senior accountant and also owner and operator of Brubaker’s Clothier in Lewisburg. 

He is president of the Keystone Council of Governments, a board member and treasurer for the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership, a Union County Republican Committeeman and a former state committeeman.  Brubaker is a life-long resident of Union County. (Ali Stevens)

Cattle thieves caught

HERNDON – Two local men have been charged for stealing cattle.  Police say 24-year-old Ryan Campbell of Ashland and 26-year-old Damien Motter of Dalmatia are charged with taking six cattle from the pasture of a Herndon man. 

The incident happened last July.  The two then transported the cattle to a livestock auction, where they were sold.  The cattle are valued at nearly $4,000.  Campbell and Motter will be charged with theft by unlawful taking. (Sara Bartlett)   

Groundbreaking could come in April for a new school in the Danville District

DANVILLE – Groundbreaking could take place in April for a new elementary school in the Danville School District.  The Press Enterprise reports school board directors gave their go-ahead for project designers to begin accepting bids for the construction project. 

The district expects construction to get underway in the spring and continue for about 16 months.  They hope to have the school complete by July 2011.  The district is waiting for final approval on their plans from the Danville Borough and the Montour County Planning Commission.  (Ali Stevens)

Flooding 2010: Flooding is subsiding locally

UNDATED – The flood levels in our region will start going down. The Susquehanna River at Sunbury has crested at about 23.4 feet and is now receding. The river at Danville will crest today at just over 17’. Flood stage in Danville is 20 feet. At Bloomsburg, the river is cresting at about 18.3 feet. Flood stage there is 19 feet.

Along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, the crest occurred yesterday. Watsontown, Milton and Lewisburg reported crests yesterday. The river topped out about one foot above flood stage at Lewisburg, at about 19’. At all points on the West Branch, and on local creeks and streams, water levels are falling.

Flooding 2010: West branch residents and business dealing with flood aftermath

MILTON – Residents and business owners in the Milton and Watsontown areas are spent Tuesday dealing with floodwaters invading roads, fields, homes and businesses. Joseph Prowant has lived in Milton for more than 60 years and says the town is used to flooding and this time around wasn’t so bad.

However, others didn’t see the flooding as minor, such as businesses like Arrowhead Restaurant and the BP Gas Station, which were completely flooded and unable to operate. Dave Reynolds is the owner of the Winding Brook Golf Course off of Route 405 and says they had plenty of water on the course Monday, but things are better now, with no permanent damage done to the course. (Ali Stevens)

Flooding 2010 VI: County EMA requests residents report flood damage

SUNBURY – Northumberland County residents who wish to report flood damage from three days of rainfall that began Sunday should call the county communications center at 988-4217. The Department of Public Safety says residents who believe they have property damage should call the EMA.

The damage can come from either small localized flooding or river flooding will be asked to leave their name, address and phone number. A county official will be dispatched to assess each report. Such information is crucial to seeking flood aid and flood prevention. (Matt Farrand)

Decision 2010…Chuck Erdman announces candidacy

SUNBURY – Northumberland County Controller Chuck Erdman has announced that he will run for the 108th state house district seat. The seat will become vacant following the retirement of Merle Phillips (R-108th, Sunbury) at the end of the year. 37-year-old Erdman, a resident of Point Township, is a Republican serving his fourth term as Northumberland County Controller.

In a statement released today, Erdman says he chose to run because our area “needs a reform-minded, fiscally conservative representative who will go to Harrisburg and fight for economic development, fiscal restraint and end the politics-as-usual that has left many of us to lose faith in our legislature and governor.”

Erdman praised Representative Phillips saying he will fight for some of the same priorities, including Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway Funding, keeping I-80 toll free and working to attract good businesses to the area, and helping existing industries thrive. Erdman is a graduate of Line Mountain High School and earned a degree in business administration at Washington and Lee University.

Other Republicans, John Meckley of Milton, who is the Vice President of the Milton Library Board and Kathleen Dunkelberger a nurse from Sunbury have announced interest. In addition Democratic Attorney Antonio Michetti has said he is interested in the position. Another potential candidate, Sunbury attorney Rick Shoch, said he was considering a run for office—but he said he is not running.

Decision 2010…the campaigning begins: Conestoga Wood employee running for state house

KREAMER – A Snyder County resident and Conestoga Wood employee will run for the 85th state house district seat, which will be vacated by the retirement of representative Russ Fairchild (R-85th, Winfield). Fred Keller will officially announce his candidacy this week.

Keller is the plant operations manager for the dimension plant at Conestoga Wood in Beavertown. Keller, a republican, lives in Middlecreek Township with his wife and two kids. He will announce his candidacy Thursday in Kreamer.

Decision 2010…the campaigning begins: Other candidates?

UNDATED – Following today’s announcement from Chuck Erdman that he will run for the 108th state house district seat, there is speculation who else will run. Republicans, John Meckley of Milton, who is the Vice President of the Milton Library Board and Kathleen Dunkelberger a nurse from Sunbury have announced interest.

Additionally, democrat Antonio Michetti has said he is interested in the position again. Another potential candidate, Sunbury attorney Rick Shoch, said he was considering a run for office, but has confirmed he is not running.

Getting hospitals ready for natural disasters

DANVILLE – U.S. Congressman Chris Carney (D-10th, Dimock) was in Danville Monday for a congressional hearing about emergency preparedness in the event of a natural disaster. Carney, who is the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee's Management, Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee, conducted the hearing.

He says the purpose of the field hearing was to determine if the country has the capability to have a medical surge incase of a disaster. Specific questions include how with Homeland Security handle it, how with Health and Human Services Handle it and how will Pennsylvania handle it.

There were two panels present during the hearing, including a federal panel with representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as well as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. There was also a panel with local hospital administrators.

Those included president and CEO of Evangelical Community Hospital Michael O'Keefe and Director of Emergency Medical Services at Geisinger Medical Dr. John Skiendzielewski. Carney says it's how the local hospitals and federal government work together that's important. Carney says our area is lucky to have so many great medical centers, but it is imperative to identify areas that are still in need of additional resources.

More today about the bittersweet lottery win

SELINSGROVE – For Snyder County resident John Dailey, winning a million dollars in Pennsylvania’s Lottery this month isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Dailey says his winnings are lined with overwhelming sadness following the loss of his son in November. His son was in the Coast Guard and was diagnosed with melanoma cancer.

Dailey, a 76-year-old retiree and frequent lottery player, lives with his wife and says the majority of his winnings will go to help out his family, including his three daughters, one daughter-in-law and grandchildren. For himself, Dailey says he may take up flying again. The Pennsylvania Lottery has the millionaire raffle twice a year, where a limited number of tickets are sold and there are guaranteed prizes.

500,000 tickets were sold in this most recent game, and Dailey was one out of four selected to win the top prize of a million dollars. Dailey was given the money Tuesday at a ceremony at the Giant Food Store in Monroe Marketplace, where the ticket was sold. The store itself gets $5,000 for selling a winning ticket.

Woman critical after a storm blown tree branch pierces auto

KLINGERSTOWN – A Klingerstown woman is listed in critical condition at Geisinger Medical Center following an accident in Schuylkill County Monday morning. A tree branch crashed through her windshield. State police say 58-year-old Darice Wehry was driving on Ridge Road in Eldred Township around 5:30a.m.

The tree branch crashed through the windshield hitting her in the face. She was able to stop the car, but sustained a major injury to her face. The incident took place during a heavy wind and rainstorm early Monday morning. (Ali Stevens)

Former county and federal attorney seeks GOP congressional nomination

WILLIAMSPORT – A former Lycoming County district Attorney and US Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania has announced a run for U.S. Congress. Republican Tom Marino said he’ll seek the 10th District GOP nomination.

Marino so far will face only Malcolm Derk in a spring primary, as the Snyder County Commissioner has already announced that he will also seek the Republican nomination. Incumbent Democrat Chris Carney (D-10th, Dimock) is in his second term in Congress. Marino resigned as US Attorney in August of 2007. (Matt Farrand)

Local runners, cyclists to compete statewide on behalf of local area

DANVILLE – Ten local residents will serve as ambassadors for Central Pennsylvania at running and cycling events statewide. The team is named for the Valleys of the Susquehanna website, PAValleys.com. River Towns Race Series Director Dave Decoteau says the six men and four women were selected mostly for their performances in series races in 2009.

The six also have to be able to promote local recreational opportunities when they travel. Their expenses, race entries and uniforms will be paid for by a grant from the State Department of Tourism. The team roster was announced over the weekend at the River Towns Race Series awards luncheon.

The PAValleys.com race team is made up of the following athletes: Nancy Adams, Ray Adams, Brandon Draugelis, Mike Hebe, Mike Kuhn, Rob Lichtenwalner, Carolyn Popovic, Kara Shiffer, Erica Yozell, and Mike Yozell. (Matt Farrand)

Recreational trail gets donation from regional lifestyle magazine

LEWISBURG – Susquehanna Life magazine is donating money to a proposed recreational trail linking Lewisburg and Mifflinburg. Publisher and founder Erica Shames says the $710 dollar donation was collected $5 at a time from new subscription fees at the end of 2009.

Shames says the transformation of the unused rail line will attract visitors and business to the area. Supporters hope the trial will provide a safe place for exercise, or perhaps commuting. Backers also expect to start a capital campaign to supplement public funding of the trail. (Matt Farrand)

Updates on the latest in business

Dow: 10,236.16, up 41.87

S&P 500: 1,097.50, up 5.33

NASDAQ: 2,221.41, up 17.68

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama will devote most of his first State of the Union address to fixing the economy. Tonight's speech will call for tax cuts for small businesses and a freeze on most domestic spending for three years. And, the president will offer a way to salvage health care reform.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is defending his role in rescuing American International Group. Paulson told a congressional panel today that "an AIG failure would have been devastating to the financial system and the economy." But Paulson says he wasn't involved in any decisions involving AIG's payments to its business partners.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Apple CEO Steve Jobs says the new tablet-style iPad is more intimate than a laptop. There's no word on price or availability yet. Analysts say a tablet-style computer can help people watch videos, surf the Web, play games and read electronic books.

Number one debut

NEW YORK (AP) -- The "Hope for Haiti Now" CD has debuted at number one. It's the first time a digital-only CD has gone to number one. It sold 171,000 copies in its first week. The CD features performances by Beyonce, Madonna, U2 and others.

Apple unveils $499 tablet with AT&T data plans

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Apple will sell its newly unveiled tablet-style iPad starting at $499.  The iPad resembles an iPhone, but larger. Apple will sell some iPad models with data plans from AT&T, with no contract required.  Apple Inc. will have to convince consumers, many of whom already have Internet-connected phones, computers and TVs, that they'll want to pay that much for such a device, when many small, lightweight "netbooks" cost less than $400.  CEO Steve Jobs says the iPad will be better for reading books, playing games and watching video than either a laptop or a smart phone.  The initial price is likely to drop. Apple sold the first iPhone for $599 but slashed the price to $399 after a few months, upsetting early buyers.

Gone from 'Tonight,' Conan still produces for NBC

NEW YORK (AP) - NBC says it has a deal with Conan O'Brien to produce a possible series, only days after his rancorous exit as host of the network's "Tonight Show."  NBC is picking up a pilot from O'Brien's production company, Conaco. The drama, as yet untitled, focuses on a Supreme Court justice who leaves the bench to start his own practice.  Casting has yet to be announced for the pilot, which is bucking for a series slot on NBC's fall schedule.  Despite O'Brien's recent split from NBC as an on-camera star, he retains a development deal with the network.  Past series produced by Conaco include the comedy "Andy Barker, P.I.," which featured O'Brien's longtime talk-show sidekick Andy Richter.