Monday, October 6, 2008

Columbia County bank robbed

MIFFLINVILLE – A Mifflinville bank has reportedly been robbed for the second time in two months.  Police were called to the First Keystone National Bank on 3^rd Street around 1:00p.m. Monday, where they say a man came into the bank and showed a gun before fleeing.  No word whether anything was taken, but there were no injuries reported.  The alleged suspect took off in a car and was reportedly spotted on Route 11 in Montour Township.  Columbia County 911 says portions of that road are closed or slow going while police on the ground and in a helicopter search the area. (Sara Bartlett)

Bucknell Prof says public works spending a real economic boost

LEWISBURG –Too much debt is what’s currently bringing down markets world wide, according to economics Professor Michael Moohr of Bucknell University.  He says the finance business is truly global, thus imbalances in one part of the world can potentially hurt the rest of it.  Dr. Moohr  also says institutions world wide have used excessive amounts of debt to acquire assets, that are losing value by the day.

Dr. Moohr says there’s no real way to predict when the downward trend will hit bottom, especially as credit markets dry up.  Increases in unemployment and underemployment here at home are plaguing the “real” economy, and he suggests massive spending on public works projects such as highway infrastructure.  (Matt Farrand)

Senator Arlen Specter comes to Selinsgrove

SELINSGROVE – Residents filled Isaac’s auditorium on the campus of Susquehanna University as Senator Arlen Specter held an open house town meeting there Monday.  Specter spent over an hour taking questions from the audience and discussing issues important to the region.  The topic of funding for the Central Susquehanna Transportation Project was discussed and Specter says he supports it and will continue to do what he can to get the funding needed to bring it to fruition.  The Presidential election, the right to bare firearms and the cost of college were other topics included in the meeting.

Residents young and old came out to take part in the discussions and the Contemporary Issues class from Selinsgrove High School also made a presence.  This fall, Senator Specter is holding town meetings throughout the state as part of an effort to reach all 67 counties.

Man jailed in Snyder County after assault on teen
 

Local visitors bureau acting to help grant seekers

LEWISBURG – Cultural, historical or recreational organizations in search of 2009 County Tourism money can find help on line.  The Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau tells us applicants can log onto their website, and look over sample applications that may speed up the process.  Not-for-profit organizations that receive County Tourism funds need to spend their grants on attracting visitors form outside a 50-mile radius of the area, encourage them to stay overnight in three counties, and track the success of their marketing efforts. 

The deadline is at the end of the month, and applicants can go to www.VisitCentralPA.org/grants for more information.  (Matt Farrand) 

Berwick man charged with a double stabbing outside a bar

NESCOPECK – A Berwick man was arrested following a double stabbing outside a bar in Nescopeck over the weekend.  State police say 24-year-old Andrew Langford was arrested at his home without incident and charged with aggravated and simple assault, reckless endangerment and harassment.  Langford is accused of attacking 25-year-old Eric Brittain of Berwick and Shawn Kishbaugh of Nescopeck outside a local bar around 1:30 in the morning.  Brittain was reportedly unconscious and flown to Geisinger Medical Center following the stabbing.  He is listed in fair condition today.  Kishbaugh was injured, but left the scene without treatment.  The investigation continues.  (Ali Stevens)

Another teen dies following a crash in Columbia County last week

Family of five injured in a crash in Shamokin Dam

SHAMOKIN DAM – A family of five from New Bloomfield was injured in a crash in Shamokin Dam Sunday. Shamokin Dam Police say last night, the driver of a pickup heading north on Route 15, struck the family’s station wagon on southbound Route 11. The station wagon was then hit by a tractor-trailer. Angela Holley was driving and her husband Alan and their triplet daughters, age 3, were passengers.

All of the Holley’s were taken to Geisinger Medical Center. Angela and Alan were treated and released. The conditions are not known for the toddlers. The driver of the pickup, Lee Wilkinson of Adams County, will be cited for a traffic violation. Shamokin Dam, Selinsgrove and Hummels Wharf emergency crews responded to the scene along with state police around 9:15 p.m. (Ali Stevens)

Car hits train in Herndon

SUNBURY – A Sunbury man escaped injury after his car hit a train Saturday afternoon in Herndon. 33-year-old Kyle Schreffler was driving on Railway Street around 4:30p.m. when Police say he failed to yield to an oncoming train. Schreffler drove his vehicle across the tracks and struck the train’s engine. Neither Schreffler nor his passenger was injured in the incident. (Sara Bartlett)

Lots of celebrations at SU’s Homecoming this weekend

SELINSGROVE – Susquehanna University celebrated their 150th 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 (R-85th, Lewisburg) 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 (D-10th, Dimock) 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. You can learn more about the activities at www.susqu.edu. (Sara Lauver)

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)

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 say a 32-year-old woman from West Buffalo Township, Union County was the victim. 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)

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 www.wkok.com.

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. 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 18th and 20th. The total value of those stolen tanks is estimated at $1226. An investigation continues. (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 p.m. 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)

IDA members speak out

UNDATED – After weeks of scrutiny and a call for their board to step down, John Boback has resigned as Vice Chairman of the Northumberland County Industrial Development Authority. He says when public service becomes a fight he has to ask himself “do I really need this?”

The IDA uses grant money to assist businesses, but has been scrutinized lately by Northumberland County Commissioner Vinny Clausi who says the IDA failed to complete forms documenting how that money was spent. Executive Director of the IDA, Jim King, says they have gotten the clerical and accounting help needed to help turn in all needed paperwork.

King was told about Boback’s resignation, but doesn’t believe the rest of the board should follow his lead. He says the IDA is one of the most competent boards he has ever served on. Clausi and County Planning Director Steve Bartos has expressed concerns about the competence of the IDA’s members, and they are skeptical of how many jobs are being produced by their actions.

King says most of the IDA’s paperwork is up to date or will be up to date in the near future and they do keep years of records about their businesses. Following the Commissioners call to get all the paperwork within 30 days, the IDA has until October 21st to complete it.

Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Two senior state legislators say Pennsylvania's state government could be looking at massive deficits that will have to address in the spring.  The legislators, state Senators Vincent Fumo and Gibson Armstrong, say they don't see a way out of the problem without raising taxes.  If spending isn't cut and taxes aren't increased, they say a deteriorating economy and rising costs could leave a deficit of at least $2.5 billion in June 2010.  In July, Gov. Ed Rendell signed a $28.3 billion budget that raised spending by 4 percent.  But Fumo and Armstrong say there isn't enough time in the fall legislative session to address the budget.  They say that will have to happen next year.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Three more people tied to the state House Democratic caucus are waiving their right to a preliminary hearing into charges they used public resources to conduct campaigns.  That leaves seven defendants scheduled to be in court Tuesday.  Court officials say the latest to waive are Scott and Jennifer Brubaker and Jeff Foreman.  Scott Brubaker is the House Democrats' former director of staffing and administration.  His wife Jennifer Brubaker and Foreman are legislative aides on leave without pay.  Last week Mike and Rachel Manzo also announced they're waiving the hearing.  Mike Manzo was House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese's chief of staff, and Rachel Manzo is on leave without pay as executive director of the House Democratic Policy Committee.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's new open-records chief says she has permission to hire all the employees she needs, despite a statewide hiring freeze.  Terry Mutchler told a Senate panel Monday that the Office of Open Records was granted an exception to the hiring freeze Gov. Ed Rendell ordered last month . Mutchler says she expects the office to have nine employees when the hiring is complete.  Mutchler fielded questions from the Senate State  Government Committee about how the office will help implement the state's new open-records law, which will take effect in January.  The law is designed to give citizens better access to government records.  Rendell ordered the hiring freeze and other spending cuts to save $200 million, citing the weakening national economy.

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

 Daily Number

     5-2-2

 Big 4

     9-1-1-0

 Quinto

     3-2-1-9-0

 Treasure Hunt

     6-8-9-20-29

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

First Carvel closing

HARTSDALE, N.Y. (AP) - A bit of ice cream history is melting.  The original Carvel ice cream store just north of New York City served its last cone last night. Current owner Abdol Faghihi says a new restaurant will replace the old Carvel as part of a redevelopment project in Hartsdale. Tom Carvel opened his ice cream shop there more than 70 years ago. His ice cream truck got a flat tire on Central Avenue in 1934. Two years later he opened an ice cream stand on the spot. Today, the Carvel brand is sold in  more than 500 Carvel stores and 8,500 supermarkets nationwide.

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