Sunday, October 5, 2008

Arsonist involved in prison fight

PENN TWP – Police responded to an altercation between inmates at the Snyder County Prison Thursday and charges were filed.  State Police in Selinsgrove say 35-year-old Alvin Hoover, got into a fight with another inmate and punched him in the face. 

A police report says the victim suffered moderate injuries and had three of his teeth knocked out.  Hoover was charged with simple assault, assault by a prisoner and harassment for that incident.  He is currently serving a nearly two-year jail term, after pleading guilty, but mentally ill, to arson charges after the $1.8 million fire, which destroyed his parent’s business, Irvin’s Country Tinware in Mt. Pleasant Mills. (Sara Lauver)

Time capsule created during SU Homecoming events

SELINSGROVE – Susquehanna University celebrated their 150^th anniversary, along with the beginning of construction on their new Science Center this weekend.  A time capsule was created during Homecoming festivities and Vice President of University Relations, Ron Cohen, says the items that were placed into the capsule, were meant to create a snapshot of SU for people who open it again in 50 years.

State Representative Russ Fairchild was on hand and announced that the state has given SU another $500,000 for the new 75,000-square-foot Science Center, currently under construction. Congressman Christopher Carney also took part in the event.  The time capsule will be embedded in one of pillars located at the front of the new Science building and will be opened again in 2058.  The new “green” Science Center is expected to be complete by August 2010.  (Sara Lauver)

Learn more about the state’s clean air law on Roundtable

SUNBURY – Our Roundtable over the weekend focused on the state’s new anti-smoking law, which helped, clear the air in most restaurants. One of the guests is Tina Zanis. She is the policy and enforcement director for Clinical Outcomes Group; Incorporated and she said virtually all workplaces must be smoke free. Restaurants bars, offices and other workplaces must be smoke free.

The new Pennsylvania smoke free clean air law took effect last month and since then, employers have been adjusting to the change and helping employees ‘quit smoking’ if they wish. Also on the Roundtable panel, a representative from Geisinger’s Wellness program and a restaurateur from Lewisburg. You can hear Roundtable online at wkok.com.

A teenage girl charged for harassing another in Snyder County

MONROE TOWNSHIP – An unidentified 17-year-old Selinsgrove girl is charged with harassment following an incident Saturday at the Wal-Mart Store in Monroe Township, Snyder County. State police allege the teen threw two bottles of shampoo at a 16-year-old girl, also from Selinsgrove, hitting the victim in the face and neck.  That incident occurred around 9p.m. Saturday. (Terry Diener)

Critics target PPL plan for third reactor

LEWISBURG – PPL Corp. is applying for federal loan guarantees to help finance a third nuclear power plant in the Berwick area.   They plant to call it the Bell Bend plant.  Critics have questions about safety, disposal of nuclear waste and cost.  Energy consultant Mike Molesevich of Lewisburg says the unit may cost more than ten billion dollars, money that could be spent on “green” power.

PPL Susquehanna station Community Relations Manager Joe Scopelliti says they already buy some power that’s generated from wind, solar and biomass, but baseline power generation requires coal or nuclear power.  PPL says their final decision to go ahead and build the plant depends on that federal loan guarantee, and the fundamentals of the electric power market as the process continues.  Other factors include obtaining an NRC license and attracting additional investors.  (Matt Farrand) 

Equipment stolen from a Union County business

MIFFLINBURG – The theft of some equipment from a business in Union County is under investigation. State police at Milton say two tanks of compressed oxygen, and two tanks of dissolved acetylene were stolen from the East West Drilling Company in Buffalo Township between September 18^th and 20^th.  The total value of those stolen tanks is estimated at $1226.  An investigation continues. (Terry Diener)

Internet scam leads to the loss of more than $2,000 for an area woman

MIFFLINBURG – A woman applying for a loan on the Internet was apparently scammed out of more than $2,000.  State Police at Milton are investigating the incident involving a 32-year-old woman from West Buffalo Township, Union County.  Police say the victim applied for a loan with a company that identified itself as Stockwell Financial Services out of Canada. The woman was asked to send in $2550 as collateral on the loan. An investigation is underway. (Terry Diener)

Vehicle Stolen from a Montour County property

DANVILLE – The theft of a car from a Montour County man is under investigation.  State police say sometime between 8 and 8:30 pm Friday night, a 1998 Ford Escort was stolen from the property of Scott Houseknecht along Valley West road in Valley Township, Montour County.  The vehicle is gold in color. Anyone with information on that vehicle theft is asked to contact state police at Milton. (Terry Diener)

Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Monday is the deadline for Pennsylvanians to register to vote in the Nov. 4 election.  To be eligible to register, a person must have lived in the United States for at least one month before the election. They also must have lived in the voting district where they plan to vote for at least 30 days. They also must turn 18 by Election Day.  Convicted felons who are incarcerated on Election Day are not eligible to vote, but those who have been released from prison are eligible.  Prospective voters can register at county registration offices, PennDOT photo-license centers and certain other state government offices. They also can download registration applications from the Internet or obtain them from government offices or other sources.  Forms must be postmarked by Monday.

GLEN MILLS, Pa. (AP) - There's been a lot of talk about young voters rockin' the vote for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.  But older voters typically have higher turnout for elections.  And they could turn out to be a more decisive voting bloc come Nov. 4. And, overall, polling has shown them backing 72-year-old McCain, a Vietnam POW.  That's created an organizational challenge for Obama in key battleground states such as Pennsylvania and Florida, where the percentage of residents 65 and older is among the highest in the country.  But Obama appears to be gaining some ground among those 65 and older. In a recent AP-GfK Poll, the two were in a statistical tie.

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

 SATURDAY NIGHT

 Daily Number

     5-2-2

 Big 4

     4-5-2-9

 Quinto

     5-8-3-5-3

The winning numbers drawn Saturday night in Powerball are:

     1-4-26-32-39

     Powerball: 18

     Estimated jackpot: $20 million.

     Power Play: 5

 SATURDAY MIDDAY

 Daily Number

     9-1-9

 Big 4

     3-0-0-1

 Quinto

     9-8-9-7-4

 Treasure Hunt

     9-10-14-16-28

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

'SNL' sends up VP debate with Fey, Queen Latifah

NEW YORK (AP) - Tina Fey was back on Saturday Night Live again, offering another parody of Sarah Palin.  This time the storyline focused on the recent vice presidential debate. Queen Latifah was brought in to portray Thursday's moderator, PBS' Gwen Ifill. SNL cast member Jason Sudeikis stepped into the role of Joe Biden.  Winking and giving answers not always directly related to Queen Latifah's questions, Fey's Palin said that if she was elected, she'd make her decisions by asking "what would a maverick do?"  At the end of the segment, with a flute in hand she asked if there were a "talent portion."  Palin was runner-up in the 1984 Miss Alaska contest.  Sudeikis portrayed Biden as conflicted in his feelings for McCain, calling him "a raging maniac and a dear, dear friend."

Janet Jackson postpones 4th show due to illness