Monday, September 22, 2008

Tractor-trailer crash on I-80

McEwensville – One lane of I-80 westbound at milemarker 212 was closed for about four hours Monday afternoon after a tractor-trailer crash.  Milton State Police say the tractor-trailer also began leaking fuel after the crash around 1:15p.m.  No word whether there were any other vehicles involved or if there were any injuries.

Financial advisor suggests thorough appraisal of bailout plan

SELINSGROVE – How big a stake the federal government will have in the financial business is not yet known.  The bailout following years of risky lending practices by the industry is still being worked out among the Administration and Congress.  Senior Financial Advisor Laird Gemberling of Waddell & Reed suggests waiting before predicting its impact.  Bailouts backed by Congressional Democrats include caps on financial industry executive pay, while President Bush says failure to act could have consequences beyond Wall Street.

Gemberling calls the timing of the crisis prompted by risky lending practices fortunate, as it will stimulate interest in the presidential debates here at home, especially the final one in late October that is scheduled to be a discussion of economic issues.  Gemberling hopes the passage of time will allow the presidential candidates to intelligently reflect on the crisis.  (Matt Farrand) 

Fire destroys a vacant building in Shamokin and damages another home

SHAMOKIN – Fire destroyed a vacant home in Shamokin this morning and damaged an apartment building next door.  Crews from five area fire companies were called to the two-alarm fire at 421 and 423 North Rock Street around 4:30 a.m.  Both sides of the double row-home were vacant and both were heavily damaged by fire.  Also damaged in the fire was a neighboring building of apartments, where two people were left temporarily homeless.  Ladder trucks were used to help put out the fire, which burned for several hours.  Fire Chief William Milbrand was first on scene and says the investigation continues.  No injuries were reported. (Ali Stevens)

Danville man tries to rob store…leaves driver’s license on the counter

SCHUYLKILL CO – A Danville man who tried to rob a Schuylkill County convenience store Sunday morning was identified after he reportedly left his driver’s license in the store.  23-year-old John Maculloch allegedly went into the store at around 7:00a.m. to buy cigarettes.  After showing his ID, he reportedly pulled out a knife and demanded money from the clerk.  After she refused, Maculloch fled the scene, leaving his driver’s license on the counter.  Maculloch will be charged with robbery, possession of a knife, simple assault and terroristic threats. (Sara Bartlett)

Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way’s Campaign Kick-off

SELINSGROVE – The Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way will kicked off their annual fall campaign Monday afternoon at Susquehanna University.  George and Jill Fecker are this year’s co-chairs of the campaign and will be attending a special ceremony at 4 p.m. on the athletic field at SU.  A parade of funded united way agencies and other events connected with this year's theme: United Olympics.  There was also a relay race.  The goal of this year’s United Way campaign for the Greater Susquehanna Valley is $765,000.  (Ali Stevens)

United Way day is Tuesday at Wood Mode

KREAMER – Wood Mode is one of the major supporters of the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way.  Tuesday marks their annual United Way kickoff, where hundreds of employees sign up for payroll deductions to support the United Way agencies. 

Tom Morganson of Wood Mode, who helps organize the employee-giving event along with Eric Rowe and Maggie Stahl, says over the past two years, more than 700 employees have contributed to the campaign, and last year, $60,000 was raised.  The Wood Mode employee payroll deductions make up a large part of the United Way’s fall campaign, with a goal this year of $765,000.  Other large and small companies in the area have similar campaigns getting underway in the coming days and weeks.  (Ali Stevens)

A family pet was stolen from a yard in Freeburg
 

Wood-Mode employees to report for regular shifts

KREAMER ¾ Wood-Mode officials say thing are back to normal after equipment trouble shut down a production line for a time last week. Trouble with a finishing sander put a crimp in production Thursday, forcing cancellation of a number of shifts. Production and office employees should report to the Kreamer based company for their regular shifts Monday morning. (Matt Farrand)

Bridal show was a big success

SELINSGROVE – About 300 people turned out for the annual Bridal Show Extravaganza on Sunday, hosted by Sunbury Broadcasting and The Daily Item. Brides were treated to music, cake and a bridal fashion show put on by WW Bridal and Brides Bouquet of Selinsgrove.

There were approximately 30 prizes given away including photo packages, gift certificates to local bridal boutiques, limo service and two $750 prizes from Foss Jewelers of Selinsgrove. The show featured everything a bride could need to plan a wedding, with more than 40 local vendors participating. (Ali Stevens)

One man charged in a vehicle pursuit by police

ROCKEFELLER TOWNSHIP – A 45-year-old Sunbury man faces numerous charges after he tried to flee police Saturday evening in Northumberland and Snyder Counties. State police at Stonington say they received a call after the suspect was spotted trying to steal gasoline in Rockefeller Township, Northumberland County.

Police say the unidentified suspect was in a minivan. At that point the man nearly struck the theft victim as he accelerated in reverse, struck a barrel and fled the scene. A Sunbury police officer spotted the vehicle driving in a careless manner in the area of the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge.

Police say the driver refused to stop, fled through Shamokin Dam, and into Northumberland and then back into the city of Sunbury where he almost struck a patrol car operated by officer Jamie Quinn. Police were eventually able to box in the minivan and end the pursuit. Investigators have not yet released the name of the suspect who will be charged with numerous counts including DUI, reckless endangerment, fleeing and eluding police and numerous traffic violations.

He was locked up in Snyder County on a previous parole detainer. Police from Sunbury, Shamokin Dam, Point Township and Northumberland assisted State Police. No injuries occurred and no vehicles were damaged during that pursuit that began at 5:30 p.m. Saturday evening. (Terry Diener)

Crash injuries one person in Snyder County

BEAVER TOWNSHIP – A one-vehicle accident sent one woman to the hospital Saturday afternoon in Beaver Township Snyder County. State Police at Selinsgrove say 73-year-old Jackie Dunbar of Beavertown was headed west on Quarry road around 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon when she fell asleep at the wheel.

Officers say Dunbar’s van ran off the road and struck a tree. She was taken to Evangelical Community Hospital, where a supervisor said she had no record that Dunbar was admitted to the Hospital. Police say Dunbar is being charged with careless driving. (Terry Diener)

Disappearing ghost under investigation in Northumberland County

LEWIS TOWNSHIP – A ghost has disappeared in one part of Northumberland County. This is an eight-foot tall inflatable ghost, which police say was stolen from the victim’s yard along the Susquehanna Trail. The theft from that Lewis Township Residence occurred sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning. (Terry Diener)

Bison team holds clinic for area youths

LEWISBURG – A local college basketball team passes on their skills to some area youths. It was the Bucknell Men’s Basketball Youth clinic and autograph session over the weekend. Some 100 kids between third and eighth grade turned out for the free instructional session from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday followed by an autograph session at the Sojka Pavilion.

Todd Newcomb, an associate director of athletics at Bucknell, says the day included an afternoon of instruction, contests, games and fun. This was held prior to the Bucknell – Cornell football game at 6 p.m. (Sheri Rippon)

Funds given towards Sunbury Riverfront Project in jeopardy

SUNBURY – Funds that have been set aside for the Sunbury Riverfront Project could be facing an ‘expiration issue.’ State Representative Merle Phillips (R-108th, Sunbury) says a grant for $2.8 million that was presented to the city could be in jeopardy if certain criteria for the project are not met. Phillips says the grant was given to the city four years ago, and since that time, no construction on the project has moved forward.

He says a recent letter from the budget secretary says the state wants to see progress and it outlines the criteria that affect this “time” issue. Philips says he has met and still plans to meet with city officials and the Governor’s office next week, in an effort to make sure those funds remain with the Sunbury Riverfront Project. (Sara Lauver)

Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - Republican John McCain is calling for greater oversight of the Bush administration's proposed bailout of U.S. financial markets.  In remarks in Scranton on Monday, McCain said the $700 billion plan being crafted by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson needs broader supervision.  Though McCain praised Paulson, the GOP presidential hopeful called for a bipartisan oversight board to supervise the proposed bailout.  McCain says the goal of any action must be to allow homeowners to keep their homes and prevent Wall Street executives from profiting from the bailout.  McCain, who just a week ago said the economy was fundamentally sound, now says he believes the U.S. financial system is facing a major crisis.

YORK, Pa. (AP) - Once again, Pennsylvania is a battleground state in the presidential election. And the stakes are enormous.  With 8.5 million registered voters and 21 electoral votes, Pennsylvania could decide who takes the White House.  Recent history is on Democrat Barack Obama's side: A GOP presidential candidate hasn't won the state since 1988.  But Obama was defeated here decisively during the primary by Hillary Rodham Clinton. And the lead Obama had over Republican John McCain before the party conventions have dwindled.  That's partly because of a burst of enthusiasm for McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. But Obama also has struggled in Pennsylvania to attract the white working-class voters who flocked to Clinton in the primaries.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's top elected law enforcer says a grand jury handling the legislative bonus investigation won't finish its work on the next phase of its inquiry before the Nov. 4 election.  Attorney General Tom Corbett said in a Pennsylvania Press Club speech Monday that the grand jury is scheduled to meet for one more week before the election.  Corbett says his office can't present all of the testimony and other evidence that the panel will need to make a decision within that time period.  A dozen people connected to the House Democratic caucus became the first to be arrested in the investigation in July.  Legislative election campaigns are being played out against the backdrop of the ongoing investigation.

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

 Daily Number

     2-5-3

 Big 4

     8-7-7-4

 Quinto

     4-8-3-9-5

 Treasure Hunt

     10-13-16-18-19

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