Mayor Woodring confident funding issues for Riverfront will be worked out

SUNBURY – We told you last week Sunbury’s $2.8-million Riverfront grant was in jeopardy. Monday night, Mayor, Jesse Woodring acknowledged the city received a letter from the state, which addressed “time” concerns. He says it is a new issue that the city is facing but it’s also an issue that he believes will be worked out.

The grant was given to the city nearly four years ago and the state showed concern over the lack of progress on the Project’s construction. State Representative Merle Phillips (R-108, Sunbury) says he plans to meet this week with city officials and the Governor’s office in an effort to secure that funding.

Meanwhile, an informational forum about the Sunbury Riverfront Project is being held tonight at the Shikellamy High School. Woodring says there will be a blue ribbon panel that will be able to address questions on the project and present all the facts. He says he is hoping for a good turnout and believes it will be very beneficial to the community. The forum begins at 7 p.m. (Sara Lauver)

Costly meters leads city to do away with them and look at alternatives

SUNBURY— Sunbury city council passed a motion to get rid of parking meters on Arch and Chestnut Streets, in an effort to upgrade and repair meters throughout the city. Mayor, Jesse Woodring, explains the decision and says it will give people in the residential area along Arch and Chestnut Streets, “a little break.”

Wooding says it was a combination of things that led to the decision. He says many meters are inoperable and in need of repairs and nearly 160 of them should be upgraded to digital meters. He says they are costly and the city needs to look into alternatives. He believes now is the time to do that. (Sara Lauver)

Vandalism prompts security measures at parks

DANVILLE – Hess and FQ Hartman Fields near Danville are now being watched, using an infrared camera that records activities 24-hours per day, seven day per week. Vandalism to new bathrooms, a bridge and other facilities at the fields are behind the move. Director Dave Decoteau of the Montour Area Recreation Commission says he was reluctant to put them in, but it had to be done.

The cameras are checked frequently, need no extra lighting, and offer good image quality. Depending on their locations, Decoteau says they can identify license plates, or types of birds. They area also camouflaged and placed in a “bear resistant” case. Decoteau notes information collected will also offer a more accurate record of park usage, thus making grant money easier to obtain. (Matt Farrand)

Teen flees police

UNION TWP – A 17-year-old is facing charges after trying to flee police last week in Snyder County. Selinsgrove State Police say they tried to stop the teen for speeding last Monday at the intersection of Route 11 and Dundore Road in Union Township.

The driver allegedly made an abrupt right turn into a driveway and continued to drive. Police caught up with the teen and filed numerous charges against him, including fleeing and eluding police. (Sara Bartlett)

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 Monday 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 7:00 a.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 is this afternoon

SELINSGROVE – The Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way 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 attending the special Olympic style ceremony.

There was a parade of United Way agencies and other events going along with this year’s theme, United Olympics. A relay race was also part of the festivities. The goal of this year’s United Way campaign for the Greater Susquehanna Valley is $765,000. (Ali Stevens)

United Way day is today at Wood-Mode

KREAMER – Wood-Mode is one of the major supporters of the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way. Today 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

FREEBURG – State police want to know who stole a dog from a home in Freeburg on East Market Street. The dog is a brown male pug wearing a blue collar with a license and his name is Sylvester. The dog was taken from the yard sometime Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Also stolen was a 21-speed bicycle. Anyone with information on the dog or the bike is asked to call State Police. (Ali Stevens)

Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:

BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) - The latest attempt to analyze a hard drive believed to be from missing central Pennsylvania prosecutor Ray Gricar's computer has yielded no new information.  Gricar's successor, Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira, says he sent the hard drive to Kroll Ontrack after earlier analyses failed to recover any data. FBI lab in Philadelphia and one in California previously examined the hard drive found  in the Susquehanna River following Gricar's disappearance in 2005.  Kroll Ontrack is known for having recovered data from hard drives from the destroyed space shuttle Columbia. But Madiera said Monday they've been unable to retrieve anything from Gricar's hard drive.  He says he'll make an official announcement and have more details when he receives a full report.    

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Attorney General Tom Corbett has nearly $1.8 million in his campaign  account heading into the last six weeks before the election.  Corbett's campaign released a summary of his campaign fundraising activity Tuesday, the deadline to file a report with the state covering the last four months.  From May 13 to Sept. 15, Corbett says he raised $1 million and spent $360,000, not including another $32,000 in material contributions.  Corbett is a Republican  running for a second four-year term as the state's top law enforcement officer. His challenger is Democrat John Morganelli, the district attorney of Northampton County.  Morganelli said he plans to file his campaign finance report later in the day.

BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) - A central Pennsylvania legislator says a bill to sell more than 1,100 acres of land near Rockview state prison to Penn State University will be allowed to die in a Senate committee.  To keep the bill alive would require passing it before the end of the General Assembly's session on Nov. 30. State Sen. Jake Corman says that doesn't allow time to complete the planning for the use of the farmland and forest acreage.  Penn State Associate Dean Bruce McPheron expressed disappointment. As state agricultural experiment station director, he says the property is an ideal research site. Corman says legislation can be resubmitted after public input is fully considered and planning is finalized. The process is being led by a Pittsburgh consulting company and is expected to be completed in February or March.

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

 Daily Number

     3-3-9

 Big 4

     8-6-5-2

 Quinto

     6-6-1-9-4

 Treasure Hunt

     7-22-25-27-28

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