Thursday, September 18, 2008

Bank robbery reported in Columbia County

MIFFLINVILLE – Columbia County Communications reports a holdup at a bank in Mifflinville.  They say an undetermined amount of cash was taken by a man displaying a black handgun at about 3:10 p.m. at the 1^st Keystone Bank.  The man is described as 5’7” to 5’10” in height, 20-30 years old, about 150 pounds, and was wearing dark sunglasses and dark hoodie at the time.  He is also described as having facial hair, and was carrying a white bag.  He is believed to have fled south on Race Street, Mifflinville in a white car. (Matt Farrand) 

Higher marketing costs could eat into ConAgra profit

OMAHA, NE – A push to market frozen dinners at a time when families may be eating at home more often could cut into ConAgra’s earnings.  The company that owns Healthy Choice frozen foods and Chef Boyardee Foods now expects to earn $1.56 per share over their fiscal year that ends in May of 2009.  That’s down three cents per share from a full-year forecast issued in June.  CEO Gary Rodkin says they’re spending more to market Healthy Choice; and notes that competitors have not followed ConAgra’s price increases on certain frozen items.  (Matt Farrand) 

Young driver crawls from crash wreckage

MIDDLEBURG – State Police say a 16-year-old driver crawled from the wreckage of her vehicle following a crash Thursday morning.  The young motorist from Beaver Springs apparently lost control of the car on Route 522 near Royers Bridge in Franklin Township.  The northbound vehicle left the highway, went down an embankment, and ended up on its roof.  The driver was taken via Lifeflight to Geisinger Medical Center with what were described as severe injuries, after somehow getting out of the damaged car.

EMS, Reliance Hose and DH&L emergency personnel responded to the crash at about 6:25 a.m. (Matt Farrand)

PennDOT calls bridge problems in the state a crisis

BERWICK – There are over 25,000 bridges throughout the state of Pennsylvania and PennDOT says that over 6,000 of those are considered "structurally deficient."  PennDOT Engineer, Paul King, along with Community Relations Coordinator, Rick Mason, held a press conference discussing how this issue has become a "crisis."  King says a bridge that is structurally deficient has to go one step further to be considered "unsafe."  He says annual and bi-annual inspections are done, and from those inspections, it is determined if a bridge needs a weight restriction or in worst cases, to be closed.

King says PennDOT is taking part in an accelerated bridge program, which allows them to repair an additional 34 bridges in the area.  Governor Ed Rendell had authorized $350-million for that program, but King says that the number of bridges falling into the structurally-deficient category is still increasing at a faster rate than what they are able to take care of financially.  King spoke at the site of the I-80 on-ramp bridge at Lime Ridge in Columbia County.  Those bridge repairs are expected to be complete next month. (Sara Lauver)

Series of Snyder County burglaries has common link

SELINSGROVE – State police are investigating a series of burglaries in the Monroe Manor area of Snyder County.  Trooper Brent Bobb is handling the investigation and says three or four burglaries over the period of several months have some common themes.  In all of the burglaries, the home was entered at night when family members were inside.  When the family heard noise in the home, troopers were contacted and the burglar fled the scene.  Trooper Bobb says they continue to follow-up on leads and determines if the incidents are related. 

Sources say in the homes that were entered, young children were present.  Also, at least one home was entered using a key under the mat.  Also, a ski mask was found in a backyard in the area, however, Trooper Bobb does not know if the mask is related to the burglaries.  (Ali Stevens)

Bucknell researcher looking at white-nose syndrome

LEWISBURG – It’s a little known illness that has been killing bats since 2006, and now one Bucknell University researcher is doing what she can to stop it.  Assistant Professor of Biology at Bucknell University, Dr. DeeAnn Reeder, says bat researchers have been puzzled for two years by white-nose syndrome, which is killing off hundreds of thousands of bats each year.  After a $50,000 grant from the Wildlife Management Institute, Reeder and a team of researchers decided they needed to intensely study the bats hibernation pattern in the winter.  She says bats drop to a very low body temperature when they hibernate in caves and then used stored body fat to warm up every 15 days.  Reeder says one reason for the syndrome may be that bats are coming out of hibernation too early. 

Reeder says nearly 600 bats at 18 sites will be studied this winter throughout the Northeast, and personally she will bring about 120 back to a captive facility at Bucknell.  Reeder says they test bats in two ways; one is a tag, which is glued on the back of the bat and can monitoring their body temperature every 10 minutes for the whole winter.  They other is a radio transmitter that wirelessly sends data to a receiver in the cave.  Reeder calls white-nose syndrome a threat to bats that could unfortunately cause their mass extinction in the northeast, but is hopeful that data found this winter would help prevent that. (Sara Bartlett)

Riverfront Project the topic of a public meeting in Sunbury

SUNBURY – A public forum will be held Tuesday to inform Sunbury citizens and the surrounding community about the impending Riverfront Project in the city.  Representatives from both design teams for the project will be in attendance, according to Consultant for the project, Tom Deans. Also at the forum will be Sunbury Mayor Jesse Woodring, Sunbury Flood Manager, Greg Wilt, Lock Haven Mayor Rick Vilello and Jim Brozena of the Wyoming Valley Flood Protection Authority. 

Deans says they will discuss how to integrate both sides of the wall and work to create activities along the waterfront, while stabilizing the riverbank.  As for the project, phase one is set to begin this fall, which includes beautification of South Front Street, planting of trees and installing walkways and street lights.  Phase two, bank stabilization, is set to begin next year.  The meeting will be help Tuesday at 7:00p.m. in the Shikellamy High School Auditorium. (Sara Bartlett)

Elegant bridal show planned for this weekend at the Susquehanna Valley Country Club

SELINSGROVE – Bridal Show Extravaganza is set for Sunday at the Susquehanna Valley Country Club.  Brides, grooms, parents and anyone else are invited to attend the event; featuring businesses that can help you plan the perfect wedding.  Leslie Imhoof, special events coordinator for Sunbury Broadcasting and the Daily Item, says the show will feature bridal boutiques, tuxedos, entertainment, food, cakes, photographs and more.  There will be prizes from all 40 vendors participating, including your chance to win one of two $750 gift certificates to Foss Jewelers and a one-night stay in the Jacuzzi room at the Selinsgrove Inn. 

Economist says AIG bailout should prompt questions

LEWISBURG – The White House says the federal takeover of insurer American International Group was needed to prevent broader harm to the economy. It follows months of foreclosures among sub-prime mortgage holders and plummeting real estate prices in many regions. Professor of Economics and International Relations Steve Stamos of Bucknell University says taxpayers are right to ask questions as the crisis broadens.

Stamos says problems at AIG included their inability keep enough cash to cover their debt. He says it all dovetails with what has become a financial crisis and part of a speculative bubble that has been allowed to grow in this economy.

Meantime, officials acknowledge the $85 billion dollar package of loans made to AIG may ever not be paid back entirely. The stock market is enduring another day of losses, and bank lending is reportedly seizing up following news of the takeover. (Matt Farrand)

Lewistown man gets jail time for being 'getaway' driver

WILLIAMSPORT – A Lewistown man has been sentenced to 33 months in prison for driving two men to a Beavertown bank for an armed robbery. 35-year-old Shawn Sassaman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank robbery for the incident on November 18th of 2005 at Susquehanna Bank of Beavertown.

32-year-old Shawn Shimp and 33-year-old Kenneth Harpster, both of Lewistown, are serving five years in prison for robbing the bank with a sawed off shotgun. Sassaman has been ordered to return his share of more than $5,400 that was stolen to the bank. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. (Ali Stevens)

Juvenile driver injured in Zerbe Township crash

TREVERTON – A young driver may be cited after a crash Wednesday afternoon in Zerbe Township, Northumberland County. State Police say the 17-year-old male driver lost control of a vehicle driving northbound on Route 890 near Birch Road.

The vehicle left the highway and rolled over. The driver was taken to Geisinger Medical Center with what were described as minor injuries. State Police say there was an apparent driving violation in the 3:15 p.m. crash. (Matt Farrand)

PA planning experts to speak at Union County meeting

MIFFLINBURG – Union County’s future will be the topic of an upcoming meeting in Mifflinburg and the public is invited. Union County Planning Director Shawn McLaughlin says three planning experts from around Pennsylvania will be in attendance, and they will help with Union County’s Cultivating Community initiative.

The guests will be James Cowhey, of the Lancaster Planning Commission, Bill Fontana, of the Pennsylvania Downtown Center and John Trant Jr, Planning Officer in Cranberry Township. McLaughlin says learning the successes and pitfalls of other communities can help with the planning of Union County.

The session will be moderated by WKOK’s Mark Lawrence and there will be an opportunity for the public to ask questions as well. The meeting is Thursday September 25th at 7:00p.m. at the Carriage Corner restaurant in Mifflinburg. (Sara Bartlett)

Jail time for Shamokin man charged in road death of friend

SHAMOKIN – A man charged with involuntary manslaughter for the death of a friend in a vehicle accident has been sentenced to one to three years in prison. 21-year-old Michael Rutkowski pleaded guilty to aggravated assault by motor vehicle while driving under the influence and involuntary manslaughter before his trial got underway this morning at the Northumberland County Courthouse.

Rutkowski was driving an SUV when he collided with a utility pole along Bear Valley Road in November of 2006. His passenger, 18-year-old Tristen Schrader of Burnside was killed in the crash. Rutkowski was charged with vehicular homicide, but the charge was dropped as part of a plea agreement. Judge William Wiest sentenced him to one to three years in state prison. (Ali Stevens)

Selinsgrove child safety seat check next week

SELINSGROVE – Selinsgrove State Police will be conducting child safety seat checks Monday September 22nd at the Selinsgrove barracks. In connection with National Child Passenger Safety Week, certified safety technicians will be available to instruct on proper child seat installation. All are welcome and for more information call 374-8145. (Sara Bartlett)

Missing Northumberland woman found

NORTHUMBERLAND – 80-year-old Marie Martini, of Northumberland is safe now. Borough Police say she was found in the City of Sunbury Wednesday afternoon, and taken to Sunbury Community Hospital to be checked out. She’d been missing since Tuesday night. Northumberland Police and Sunbury Police were involved in the search. (WKOK)

Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:

BUTLER, Pa. (AP) - The three major power companies in western Pennsylvania are now reporting fewer than 20,000 customers without electricity due to severe winds.  Allegheny Power says 8,000 customers are powerless, including 7,000 in Butler County about 20 miles north of Pittsburgh. That county is under a disaster declaration and was among the hardest hit areas by the remnants of Hurricane Ike, which packed winds up to 80 mph Sunday night.  Duquesne Light, which serves greater Pittsburgh, is reporting 11,500 customers without power.  Penn Power says it has restored power to all of its customers.  The companies had reported more than 150,000 people without power immediately after the storm. Some customers may not get service again until the weekend.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A Pennsylvania man who posted a message on MySpace last year to "make the Virginia Tech incident look like a trip to an amusement park" was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison.  Steven Voneida, a 24-year-old from the Harrisburg suburbs, was sentenced Wednesday for transmitting communication containing a threat to injure.  Prosecutors say he posted a poem on his MySpace page two days after the massacre on the Virginia Tech campus in which 32 people were killed.  Voneida's tribute to the shooter, Seung-Hui Cho, was headed "Virginia Tech Massacre: They got what they deserved."  Voneida is a former Penn State-Harrisburg student.  A phone message Thursday seeking comment from Voneida's lawyer, Ari Weitzman, wasn't immediately returned.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Thursday in the midday Pennsylvania State Lottery drawing:

Daily Number 5-0-9

Big 4 1-9-9-9

Quinto 0-7-9-4-9

Treasure Hunt 16-18-24-27-30

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)