Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Man charged with an assault at a home in Watsontown

MILTON – A Williamsport man is locked up in the Union County prison, charged with breaking into a home and assaulting a man during a robbery.  Levi Mathis is accused of assaulting Jeffrey Young with a pipe at a home near Watsontown.  Police say Mathis was one of two intruders involved in the home invasion on October 5^th in the White Deer area.  Kathy Williams of Williamsport is also charged with theft and robbery in the case.  Police believe Mathis and Williams assaulted Young in order to steal drugs from his home.  Two others may be involved in the incident and the investigation continues.  (Ali Stevens)

Boback resignation draws Commissioner comment

SUNBURY – The resignation of a member of the Northumberland County Industrial Development Authority is on the minds of the County’s Commissioners.  Two of three expressed regret following John Boback’s announcement last week that he would step down.  Commissioner Kurt Masser calls it sad.  Commissioner Chair Frank Sawicki says Boback served faithfully and honorably, and wished him luck in his future endeavors.  Commissioner Vinny Clausi has no comment, though he’s been critical of the IDA.  He also says the clock is still ticking toward the date later this month that he’ll call for the IDA to resign, unless certain clerical matters are cleared up. 

Elsewhere, the Commissioners approved a fee for use of the Conference room in the county-owned office building.  Kurt Masser says they’ll be charging $150 dollars per three hours of use, usually by attorneys taking depositions.  He says it will help to recoup some of the expenses incurred in cleaning the room and for utilities.  Not for profit organizations will be exempt.  (Matt Farrand)

A new location for an existing business means double the employment opportunities

HUMMELS WHARF – The Giant grocery store has moved and is 31,000 square feet bigger then the old Shamokin Dam store.  The Giant Store kicked off a pre-opening with a check presentation to many community organizations including the Hummels Wharf Fire Company, Snyder County’s DARE program, Selinsgrove Area School District, Elijah’s Bowl Soup Kitchen, Janet Weis Children’s Hospital and Economics PA.

Store manager, Joe Cardone, says the store has a lot to offer for customers and will employ 250 people, which is double what they employed at the Shamokin Dam location.  Giant officially opens Wednesday at 8:00a.m.  The Monroe Marketplace has their ribbon cutting Wednesday as well at 11a.m. (Sheri Rippon)

County to impose user fee for conference room

SUNBURY – Northumberland County Commissioners say a fee for use of the Conference room in the county-owned office building will help recoup expenses incurred in maintaining it.  Commissioner Kurt Masser says they’ll be charging $150 dollars per three hours of use, often by attorneys taking depositions.  It is effective immediately other than for those who have already booked the room.  In passing the resolution, commissioners note that not for profit organizations will be exempt.  (Matt Farrand)

Voters rush to get registered

UNDATED – Election offices around the Valley were busy Monday with last minute voters coming to register.  Election worker in Union County, Kim Zerbe, says they had people as early as 6:00a.m, and the rush continued all day.  Director of Elections in Snyder County, Pat Nace, says they were busy as well, and the work isn’t over yet.  They still have plenty of filing to do between now and November 4^th.  

Voters registered in our area include, 53,724 in Northumberland County, 23,985 in Union County 21,968 in Snyder County and 12,479 in Montour County.  Statewide, voter registration set an all-time record, with at least 8.6 million people eligible to vote.  Democrats saw the biggest gains with more than 500,000 new voters.  Republicans saw their numbers shrink slightly by about 28,000.

You can get important dates, links to candidates’ websites and updated election information and stories at WKOK’s Election Central page online at wkok.com. (Sara Bartlett)

Two men wanted for robbing a bank in Mifflinville were captured near Danville

DANVILLE – A Catawissa man wanted for robbing a Mifflinville bank on Monday was captured with another suspect near Danville.  Police say Michael Brown robbed the First Keystone National Bank at gunpoint around 1:45 p.m. on Monday.  Brown and another man, who has not been identified, were captured near a gas station in Danville by Police Chief Eric Gill, who reportedly began following the suspects in their vehicle on Bloom Road.  Brown was arraigned last night and apparently admitted to robbing the same bank 18 days earlier.  The arrest came after a four-hour manhunt involving several police departments and a helicopter search.  The two robberies reportedly netted Brown nearly $23,000 in cash.  He’s now locked up on $250,000 bail.  (Ali Stevens)

Ten cars broken into overnight in Watsontown

WATSONTOWN – Ten vehicles were reportedly broken into Monday night in Watsontown.  Police say the vehicles were entered along Pool, Elm and Ash Streets overnight.  Several items and money were stolen.  Police continue to investigate the incident and ask anyone with information to give them a call at 538-2773. (Sara Bartlett)

A warning for parents with children 4 and under…No cold or cough medicine!

SUNBURY – Drug companies are warning people not to give cough and cold medicines to children under 4. Pediatricians have been sharply critical of the companies for marketing such remedies for children under four.

Dr. John Pagana of Sunbury says studies show the drugs don’t really help kids with their symptoms and kids are coming into the emergency room in respiratory distress, or with cardiac arrhythmias secondary to these drugs.  Also kids are often given adult doses of these medicines. 

Dr. Pagana says many over the counter medicines still tell parents not to give the drugs to children 2 and under, instead of four. He says the American Academy of Pediatrics is trying to change that so parents don’t use decongestants the way they have in the past.  He recommends saline nose drops and cooling vapors for treatment and even something as simple as honey can stop a cough. 

The president of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association says the companies are making the voluntarily change "out of an overabundance of caution." The manufacturers are also adding a warning label to their products telling parents not to give young children antihistamines just to make them sleepy. (Ali Stevens/AP)

Flashing lights on Route 54 near Turbotville

Beaver Springs man charged with burglary

BEAVER SPRINGS – A Beaver Springs man has been charged with a convenience store burglary in late September. State police say 18-year-old Curt Zechman broke into Chardon’s Convenience Store on Route 522 in Beaver Springs on September 24th or 25th, and stole several cartons of cigarettes, a dozen candy bars and two dozen lighters.

Troopers say Zechman fled through the back door, which he had pried open, and left a trail of cigarettes and candy bars in the woods behind the store. Zechman was arraigned on charges of burglary criminal conspiracy and theft. The investigation continues, since there was another break-in at the same store in early September. More arrests are expected. (Ali Stevens)

Bucknell Prof, Legends of Success host offer expert opinion

LEWISBURG – Too much debt and the resulting credit freeze are behind the tumbling numbers seen on stock markets worldwide Monday, so say two finance experts.

Economics Professor Michael Moohr of Bucknell University says the finance business is truly global these days, and financial houses everywhere have picked up assets that might not be so profitable, using massive amounts of debt. Dr. Moohr says there’s no real way to predict when the downward trend will hit bottom.

Meantime, Legends of Success host John Resnick concurs with the global nature of investments and markets, but says it’s different than in years gone by. He recommends prudence among businesses and at the level of personal finance. Avoiding debt is a must, for now. He also says economic cycles come and go, both in good and bad times.

Resnick firmly believes in the spirit of the American entrepreneur, and says a learning opportunity is hidden in crisis now facing world credit markets. Legends of Success with John Resnick speaks with Jordan Zimmerman, founder and chair of Zimmerman Advertising, also a partner with the Florida Panthers. Tuesday, 11:00 a.m. on Newsradio 1070 WKOK. (Matt Farrand)

Woolly Worm Festival this Saturday in Lewisburg

LEWISBURG – It’s time again for the Woolly Worm Festival in Lewisburg. The furry creatures are a predictor of how the year’s winter will be. Co-organizer of the event, Kim Ritter, collects the worms for Saturday’s event and says if there is more black on the worms it will be a cold winter, while more brown means a warmer winter.

Ritter says she collected the worms this past weekend, and says she will keep them in her refrigerator until Saturday. The festival kicks off at 9:00a.m. with musical entertainment continuing until 3:30p.m., when the weather prognostication ceremony begins. Other events throughout the day include crafts, games and Woolly Worm races. All are invited to the 11th annual Woolly Worm Festival Saturday at Hufnagle Park in Lewisburg. (Sara Bartlett)

Senator Arlen Specter comes to Selinsgrove

SELINSGROVE – One of Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senators called the $700 billion bailout a ‘necessary evil.’ Arlen Specter (R-Sen. Penna.) said the buy you was not a good ‘pill to swallow,’ it was the only one there was. He said the bill was the ‘lesser of two evils.’

Area residents filled Isaac’s auditorium on the campus of Susquehanna University as Specter held an open house town meeting Monday. Specter spent over an hour taking questions from the audience and discussing issues important to the region.

Regarding the Central Susquehanna Transportation Project, 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 his annual effort to reach all 67 counties.

Man jailed in Snyder County after assault on teen

MIDDLEBURG – A Massachusetts man is jailed in Snyder County after allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. 60-year-old Dennis Hood, from Amesbury, admitted to sexually assaulting the girl in Snyder County in July 2007. Hood is charged on numerous counts and remains in jail on $500,000 bail. (Sara Bartlett)

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 a.m.. 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

DANVILLE – Another teen has died following a crash early last week in Columbia County. 16-year-old Paul Penkela of Hazleton was pronounced dead at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville on Saturday. Penkela was a passenger in a vehicle that wrecked on Scotch Valley Drive in Beaver Township on Tuesday.

Also killed in the crash was Steven Geraci of West Hazleton, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Three other teen passengers were treated and released from the hospital and one teen remains hospitalized in fair condition. (Ali Stevens)

Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Voter registration in Pennsylvania has set an all-time record, with at least 8.6 million people eligible to vote in the 2008 presidential election.  Last-minute registrations on Monday, the deadline, still have to be counted, but the total released by the State Department already far exceeds the previous record of 8.4 million set in 2004.  Democrats saw the biggest gains - an increase of more than 500,000 new voters, or 13 percent, in the past year. Republicans saw their ranks shrink slightly by about 28,000 or 1 percent.  Statewide, there are at least 4,387,027 Democrats and 3,217,464 Republicans.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A powerful former House leader and three more co-defendants waived their right to a preliminary hearing on charges that they helped divert millions of taxpayer dollars and other public resources to run campaigns.  Former House Democratic Whip Mike Veon and the aides signed waiver papers in a brief proceeding Tuesday before Dauphin County President Judge Richard A. Lewis.  Of the dozen defendants, only two still awaited a preliminary hearing in a corruption scandal that has been a cloud over the Capitol for nearly two years. They include state Rep. Sean Ramaley - the only sitting legislator who has been charged.  All 12 are accused of theft, conflict of interest and conspiracy.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania lawmakers are nearing the end of their two-year session with a number of big-ticket items still on the table.  The Senate may vote Tuesday on a bill to limit overtime for health care workers. The measure passed the House and Gov. Ed Rendell has said he will sign it.  Other issues that lawmakers could move on this week are efforts to lessen the effect of electricity deregulation on consumers and major revisions to the state's dog law.  Legislators also are considering changes to Pennsylvania's wiretapping law.  The Senate doesn't plan to return to session after this week, and the House's next session days are scheduled for after the Nov. 4 election.

ZELIENOPLE, Pa. (AP) - Police say a western Pennsylvania man grabbed his ex-girlfriend from a school bus stop and briefly held her against her will.  Nineteen-year-old Joshua McCaslin of Connoquenessing, is jailed on false imprisonment, terroristic threats and other charges.  Police say McCaslin's 17-year-old girlfriend told them she's been trying to break up with him for months. On Monday morning, a school bus driver called police when she said she saw McCaslin grab the girl and drag her into his pickup.  Police issued an Amber Alert which they say helped track the couple to McCaslin's home in Butler County. That's where police say they found the girl, frightened but unharmed, a few hours later.

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

 Daily Number

     9-3-5

 Big 4

     1-1-5-1

 Quinto

     2-9-5-1-8

 Treasure Hunt

     9-11-14-21-27

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

Artist prints 'Zero Dollar' in dig at Wall Street

NEW YORK (AP) - With the financial meltdown leaving many Americans wondering what a dollar is worth, one New York City artist has an answer - zero.  Painter and printmaker Laura Gilbert is passing out signed and numbered prints of the "Zero Dollar," which looks like a dollar bill except it has zeros in place of ones.  Gilbert will be distributing 10,000 of the fake greenbacks in front of the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday to call attention to the economic crisis gripping the nation. She says the artwork is meant to be a statement about "the destructive role of many financial institutions, inflation, and the decline of U.S. currency to the point of seeming worthlessness."

A-list women celebrate their own in Hollywood

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) - In the year of Sarah Palin and "Sex and the City," perhaps it's no surprise that an event honoring women drew some of the biggest names in Hollywood.  Nicole Kidman, Jane Fonda, Jennifer Lopez, Diane Keaton and Halle Berry joined dozens of other stars at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills on Monday for Elle magazine's 15th annual Women in Hollywood tribute, honoring seven noteworthy women in entertainment.  Chelsea Handler, the evening's host, cracked a few jokes at the Republican vice presidential candidate's expense.  Said Handler: "We are more than just a great set of legs, ladies. Except for Sarah Palin. That's where she peaked."