Friday, September 19, 2008
Judge looks for GOP jury commissioner
SUNBURY – Following the passing of Thomas Williams of Coal Township, Northumberland County will be looking for a Republican jury commissioner. The position is one of three that make sure the general makeup of the county is reflected in the pool of prospective jurors. President Judge Robert Sacavage will meet with the head of the county GOP to discuss procedures and possible candidates. Both major political parties are represented among jury commissioners. Judge Sacavage serves as a third commissioner. (Matt Farrand)
Expiration possible of funds for Sunbury Riverfront Project
SUNBURY – State Representative Merle Phillips says a grant that was presented to the city of Sunbury for the Riverfront Project could be facing an expiration issue. Phillips says he was notified that the city received a letter from the budget secretary this week, concerning about a potential “time” issue. Phillips says the grant for 2.8-million dollars was given to the city four years ago, and since that time, no construction on the project has moved forward. He says he met with project consultant, Tom Deans, and the required criteria cannot be met at this time.
Philips says the project is expected to get underway next year and he plans to meet with the city and the Governor’s office in an effort to make sure those funds remain with the Sunbury Riverfront Project. (Sara Lauver)
Police force merger still under consideration
LEWISBURG – More meetings are planned by a group that will continue to look into whether four existing Union County police departments should combine their services. Facilitator Tom Sauers of the Central Keystone Council of Governments says a key factor is what it will cost. Sauers says Lewisburg, East Buffalo, Mifflinburg and New Berlin already have outstanding police forces, but could be even better if they operated together. Kelly Township has no police department of its own, is declining to participate, and will continue to be served by State Police and mutual aid agreements with surrounding municipalities.
The group will next meet Thursday, October 2nd at 4:00 p.m. in the Community Services Building in East Buffalo Township. (Matt Farrand)
Boscov’s has signed a letter of intent for a sale
UNDATED – Boscov’s Department Store LLC has announced they signed a letter of intent for sale of most of their assets to Versa Capital Management Inc., a Philadelphia-based private equity investment firm. Versa reportedly intends to operate the Boscov’s business post-closing. Boscov’s filed to reorganize under Chapter 11 in early August and closed several stores in Pennsylvania and Maryland, but not the location at the Susquehanna Valley Mall. That store is expected to remain open indefinitely. (Ali Stevens)
AG charges a Kulpmont woman with multiple counts including identity theft
KULPMONT – A Kulpmont woman is facing multiple felony charges after police say she stole her mother’s identity to obtain credit cards and make fraudulent purchases. 53-year-old Annmarie Geary is accused of purchasing more than $8,700 in merchandise with the credit cards in her mothers name from February 4th to May 25th of 2004. Geary was charged by the State Attorney General’s Office with several counts. The Shamokin News Item reports Geary is the wife of longtime Mount Carmel Township Police Chief Don Geary. She was released on bail and was scheduled for a preliminary hearing before District Justice John Gembic on Tuesday morning. (Ali Stevens)
You and I will see tighter credit
SELINSGROVE – Consumers will face tighter credit, stricter standards for obtaining loans, and other challenges even after Wall Street settles down from its current troubles. Associate Professor of Economics Dr. Katarina Keller of Susquehanna University says that’s the residue of a week that saw the bankruptcy of a big brokerage and the federal buyout of a major insurer.
Dr Keller says a credit crunch could not come at a worse time of year, as fourth quarter spending has a big economic impact. Meantime, Dr. Keller believes the bad news for the big banks and financial houses will soon play itself out, as the government weighs how to deal with the losses they incurred while engaging in risky lending practices. (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)
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)
Bank robbery reported in Columbia County
MIFFLINVILLE – There was a bank robbery Thursday in Mifflinville, Columbia County. Authorities say some cash was stolen from 1st Keystone Bank around 3p.m. The man had a handgun and got away in a white car.
The suspect is a white male, 5’7” to 5’10” tall, 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 to eat into ConAgra profit
OMAHA, NE – A push to market frozen dinners during 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. Rodkin notes that competitors have not followed ConAgra’s price increases on certain frozen items, a move which he calls a “price war.” ConAgra stock followed the market 2.7% higher Thursday, closing at 19.69. (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 Life Flight 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)
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
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. The event begins at noon and a fashion show will get underway at 2 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend. The Daily Item, Danville News, and the stations of Sunbury Broadcasting, including WKOK, sponsor the event. (Ali Stevens)
Three National Experts will discuss Communicating with the Disabled
MONTANDON – A daylong workshop is being held Saturday (today) at the Haven at Center Hill, located in Montour County. It’s sponsored by the Communication Mentors’ Network of North Central Pennsylvania top provide ideas and recommendations for parents, teachers, caregivers and friends of those who Networks who have trouble communicating because of their disabilities.
Speakers include Martha Leary, a speech and language pathologist and communications consultant from Nova Scotia, Anne Donnellan, a professor and director of the Autism Institute at San Diego University, and Judith Snow who comes from a background of being given the disability label. The workshop ties in with a two-day conference of Pennsylvania Communication Mentors. (Terry Diener)
Helping those with disabilities communicate
MONTANDON – Some sixty people attended a gathering in Montour County Thursday night of the Communication Mentors Network of North Central Pennsylvania. They are part of a national network whose goal is to help those with decreased communications skills, because of disabilities, have their voices heard. Rosa McAllister co-founded the national group some 14 years ago with her husband in the Philadelphia area.
The Communication Mentors Network assesses people with limited or unrecognized communication, recommends technologies, techniques and strategies for opening the lines of communication. Nancy Jo Geise of Northumberland spoke with WKOK by using a hand held device called the chat PC. Her mother Sue says Nancy Jo had been using a similar device for years.
Jennifer Seybert was given the group’s annual award, recognizing her work in helping others find their true voices. Several experts on communications disabilities will be part of a daylong workshop Saturday at the Haven at Center Hill in Montour County for parents, teachers, caregivers and friends. (Terry Diener)
Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The state Senate's Republican leader says the proposal to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike to a private group for 75 years is going nowhere this year. Sen. Dominic Pileggi of Delaware County said Friday there's no support for taking up the plan before the current Legislature goes out of business in November. The long-term lease of the turnpike to a group that's offered a $12.8 billion upfront payment was put on the front burner last week. That came after federal regulators rejected an alternative plan that involved adding tolls to Interstate 80. The high bidders on the turnpike lease have said they'll probably take their offer off the table if it hasn't been acted upon by the end of October.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A prosecutor says a Philadelphia man got shipments of crystal methamphetamine packed inside porcelain dolls. Attorney General Tom Corbett says the meth was made in Culiacan, Mexico, by a woman who has since been captured and killed by Mexican drug cartels. It was taken to California, where it was packaged in the porcelain dolls. Corbett says the dolls were sent to Philadelphia via a commercial shipping company. Corbett says 54-year-old Christopher McDaniel of South Philadelphia paid $22,000 a pound for those shipments and resold the meth in the Philadelphia area. Corbett says he distributed as least 7 pounds, making a profit of about $13,000 per pound. McDaniel is jailed; it was unclear if he had a lawyer. Twelve other defendants are also charged.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Friday in the midday Pennsylvania State Lottery drawing:
Daily Number 5-7-4
Big 4 8-0-7-4
Quinto 6-8-2-1-9
Treasure Hunt 9-17-18-27-29
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Super Chicken
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Super Chicken is taking a step closer to the dinner table. The Food and Drug Administration says it will start considering proposals to sell genetically engineered animals as food. The agency has issued a proposed legal framework for resolving questions about the environmental risks and the safety of using altered animals as food. Reaction from consumer groups has been mixed. On one hand, they're welcoming the government's decision to regulate genetically altered animals. But they also caution that the details need to be spelled out, including whether genetically engineered meat, poultry and fish will have to be labeled for consumers. Genetic engineering is already widely used in agriculture to produce higher-yielding or disease-resistant crops. Genetic engineering in animals could lead to faster-growing fish, cattle that resist mad cow disease, or perhaps healthier eggs laid by a new breed of chicken.
DISNEY-BIRTHDAYS
NEW YORK (AP) - Happy birthday! From Disney. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts will be letting people in free on their birthdays in 2009. The promotion was announced yesterday by Disney officials at a New York news conference. Disney Resorts chief Jay Rasulo says visitors will have to show valid I-D and proof of their birthdate to qualify. You can also register in advance on the disneyparks.com Web site. One industry observer says the Disney parks will still make plenty of money off of the birthday freebies -- from food and drinks, and the family and friends of those celebrating.
SHIRTLESS MAN CITED
EASTON, Md. (AP) - It's a fine for going topless. But in this case the offender isn't female. A young Maryland man is being ordered to pay a $25 fine and court costs for being shirtless in public. Eighteen-year-old Sean Cephus was arrested in June for violating a local ordinance in the city of Easton. The law requires both men and women to wear shirts in public. Police concede the law is rarely enforced. Cephus is currently doing 18 months on an unrelated assault charge.