Friday, October 10, 2008
Plant that manufactures motor homes will close its doors
RIVERSIDE, CA – Fleetwood Motor Homes of Paxinos will close their plant in early December. That announcement was made at the plant today and approximately 325 workers will be out of a job. The Paxinos manufacturing facility will cease operations completely, with a full line of products moved to the Decatur, Indiana manufacturing complex. The plant in Paxinos opened in 1973 and was a leading producer of RVs. Employees say they were notified today that the plant is closing and their last day on the job will be December 8th. (Ali Stevens)
Bucknell economics prof expects uncertainty to continue
LEWISBURG – Irrational fear is behind the ups and downs of the stock market. Associate Professor of Economics at Bucknell University Wei Ge says Friday’s drop more than 700 points at the open defies almost any other explanation. He says the market doesn’t typically operate that way under normal circumstances. Volatility followed, and Ge notes “herd behavior” is what frequently kicks in, as smaller players wait until larger market participants make a move.
Ge says a lack of confidence in institutions including banks and governments is behind the worldwide downward trend. He hopes steps can be taken to stabilize markets worldwide, but warns intervention often prompts more instability, which is fed by the fears of ordinary people. (Matt Farrand)
Harclerode’s guilty plea will not be withdrawn in Columbia County
BLOOMSBURG – A Columbia County Judge has ruled that 73-year-old Jack Harclerode will not be able to withdraw his guilty plea of sexually assaulting a young boy. The retired Bucknell University professor had plead guilty to inappropriately touching a 10-year-old boy at a Columbia County campground in 2006. In court Thursday, Harclerode said he only touched the boy’s thigh, and when he plead guilty he misunderstood what he was agreeing to. Harclerode could face up to five years in jail for the incident and will be sentenced October 30th.
Harclerode also faces charges in Union County. Jury selection will get underway at the end of this month for charges of child pornography on his personal computer. He also faces charges of sexually assaulting another young boy in his Bucknell office between 1992 and 1995. (Sara Bartlett)
Man charged with rape could go to trial
DANVILLE – All charges against a Montour County man accused of raping a young girl have been waived on to court. 62-year-old Luther Pfleegor was charged with rape, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault and other counts for an incident in July in Liberty Township. State police say Pfleegor had sex with a girl under the age of 16 at his home on July 30th. Pfleegor reportedly admitted to state police that he had sex with the girl. A preliminary hearing was held yesterday in Danville. (Ali Stevens)
One injury after a crash on Route 15 in Union County
NEW COLUMBIA – A New Columbia man was injured in a crash Thursday afternoon on Route 15 in Union County. State police say 22-year-old Jason Short was trying to turn onto Route 15 southbound from a convenience store parking lot and pulled in front of another vehicle, driven by 26-year-old Donald Himes of Trout Run. The collision took place at the intersection with Route 44. Short was treated for minor injuries. Himes was not injured. (Ali Stevens)
Two people charged with stealing clothes from a department store
SELINSGROVE – Two Selinsgrove residents have been charged with retail theft after state police say they stole clothes from a department store at the Susquehanna Valley Mall. Troopers say 23-year-old Marlee Mitchell and Kenneth Moore stole jeans and shirts from the store, but were observed by store personnel, who contacted police. The stolen items were valued at about $150 total. (Ali Stevens)
Williamsport man charged with a road rage incident in Northumberland County
MILTON – A Williamsport man has been charged with a road rage incident on Route 180 eastbound in Northumberland County in mid-September. 37-year-old Charles Pittenger was charged with recklessly endangering another person after state police say he tried to run a motorist off the road in Delaware Township. Troopers say the woman driver from Muncy had five children in the car at the time of the incident. Pittenger reportedly fled the scene, heading westbound on Route 180. (Ali Stevens)
Personnel issues reported in Point Township Police Department
POINT TOWNSHIP – It appears Curt Brown’s three years as Point Township Police Chief may be coming to an end. Sources, that have remained unnamed, tell us Brown may resign at a meeting Monday. If he doesn’t resign, disciplinary action is likely and he may be asked to leave. This reportedly comes after a number of personnel disputes in Point Township.
Brown became Chief in 2005 amid controversy of former Police Officer Seth Cotner. Cotner filed a lawsuit claiming the township Supervisors and Chief Brown deliberately tried to keep him from becoming Police Chief after the resignation of Chief Gary Steffen. In September of this year a judge dismissed all Cotner’s charges against the township Supervisors and Chief Brown.
Since then, Brown has reportedly lost the confidence of most of his officers and township supervisors. A closed-door meeting is set for Monday. Point Township Patrolman Joshua VanKirk and Sunbury Police Chief Steven Mazzeo say they have no comment on the matter. Calls to Curt Brown, as well as Point Township Supervisors Randy Yoxheimer and Todd Snyder have been unreturned. (Sara Bartlett)
Shik Music Department receives large donation
SUNBURY – During the regular meeting of the Shikellamy School Board last night, the district’s music department received a surprise gift from middle school parent Dave Woodring. Woodring presented the district with a check for $15,000, earmarked for the music departments at C.W. Rice and Sunbury Middle Schools.
Woodring explained that one of his passions has always been music and that through his charitable donations; he always tries to do something to help local underprivileged children.
He said, “The intent of this money is to introduce children to music whose parents are unable to purchase or rent a musical instrument due to financial difficulties.” Members of the music department happily accepted the generous donation and stated that the funds will help numerous music students in years to come. (Lura Scott)
Consultant supports use of wood for heating
NORTHUMBERLAND – The use of wood as a heating fuel can reduce expenses incurred by a business. So says John Karakash of Lewisburg’s Resource Professional Group. The consultant and advocate for sustainable energy notes that using wood products for heating could also reduce the demand for petroleum, as one-third of the oil use din America is used for heating.
Karakash says a school system in Western Pennsylvania is among his first clients to install a modern wood burning system. He says they’ve saved as much as $100,000 annually in heating costs since 1990. Karakash spoke to the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. (Matt Farrand)
9th graders “Create a Candidate” to learn about campaigns
MIDDLEBURG – 9th graders at Midd-West High School are getting hands-on this election year. Charles Volchansky is a Civics teacher at the school and is doing “Create a Candidate” with his classes. He says they are lucky this year to have a vigorous primary with two good candidates.
Two classes are running the McCain campaign, while two are running the Obama campaign. Volchansky says are split into four sections: advertising, fundraising, posters and pamphlets. With these, they will learn how and what messages to send to the public based on demographics and how much money is really spent in campaigns.
Volchansky says the experiment is not to push the kids to support one candidate or the other, but rather, by the end of the election, learn to separate the “fluff” from the “stuff.” This is the 13th year that Civic classes at Midd-West High School have done “Create a Candidate.” (Sara Bartlett)
Crash injures two near Forest Hill
MIFFLINBURG – A pair of motorists from Mifflinburg sustained minor injuries after a two-vehicle crash near Forest Hill in Union County. State Police say a vehicle driven by 54-year-old Donna Swartzlander pulled into the path of a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Jason Royer.
The mishap occurred at the intersection of Forest Hill and Shiveley Roads shortly after 2:00 p.m. Tuesday. Both drivers were taken to Evangelical Community Hospital for injuries received and vehicles had to be towed. (Matt Farrand)
Turbotville man accused following fight
TURBOTVILLE – A Turbotville man is accused of injuring another man with a skateboard, and damaging his vehicle with a mop. State Police say 19-year-old Timothy Engel repeatedly struck 22-year-old Richard Rolon of Milton on his arm as he attempted to leave a residence on Paradise Street late last month. Troopers allege he then took the mop and began to hit the vehicle with it. Engel will face charges of simple assault, harassment and criminal mischief. (Matt Farrand)
Furniture missing after theft from storage unit
VALLEY TWP. – Furniture valued at about $1,200 is missing after someone broke into a storage unit in Montour County in September. State Police say the theft from the padlocked unit on Red Roof Road in Valley Township was not discovered until this week. A Danville woman owned the furniture. Troopers have no suspects and request anyone with information to call the Milton State Police station. (Matt Farrand)
Support sought for community college
NORTHUMBERLAND – Proponents of a local two-year college say as technology grows, so does the need for technicians. Former Shikellamy School District assistant superintendent Dan Perna says technical classes in high school are okay, but will not be enough in the future. That’s where a local community college fits in.
Dr. Perna and President Lenaire Alhum of the Susquehanna Valley Community Education Project addressed the monthly meeting of the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce Thursday, and are encouraging business owners and private citizens to write their legislators, and express their support for a community college in the immediate area. (Matt Farrand)
More charges filed in Beaver Springs burglary
BEAVER SPRINGS – Another man was arrested in connection with a Beaver Springs burglary. 18-year-old Robert Hannick, of Beaver Springs, is charged with burglary, theft and criminal mischief after breaking into and stealing from a convenience store last month. He was released on $25,000 bail.
18-year-old Curt Zechman of Beaver Spring was charged earlier this week in the same incident. Police also say more charges are now filed against Zechman after he allegedly broke into a restaurant the same week as the convenience store burglary. Additional charges of burglary, theft and criminal mischief will be filed against Zechman. (Sara Bartlett)
Danville woman sentenced to jail for her role in a local drug ring
WILLIAMSPORT – A Danville woman has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for her role in a local drug ring. 37-year-old Wendy Barrett was sentenced Tuesday in Middle District Court in Williamsport on charges of delivery and possession of cocaine and heroin.
Barrett plead guilty in May of last year to getting heroin in New Jersey and bringing it to the Danville area. She was one of 12 people indicted for the drug distribution ring in Columbia, Montour, Northumberland and Union Counties. She was also given three years of supervised release. (Ali Stevens)
Milton man charged with statutory sexual assault
MILTON – A Milton man is charged with statutory sexual assault for having sex with a teen girl, who gave birth to his child. State police say 20-year-old Richard Rolon has been charged with corruption of minors for having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl. State police were notified after the girl gave birth at Geisinger Medical Center. (Ali Stevens)
Jury to be selected in Union County pornography case
LEWISBURG – Jury selection will get underway October 27th in the pornography case against retired Bucknell University professor 73-year-old Jack Harclerode. In Union County Court Wednesday, Harclerode’s attorney, Pete Campana, requested a motion for a change of venue saying he believes media reports have been sensationalized and that may lead to a biased jury.
Judge Louise Knight said she would also decided on the 27th if a change of venue is needed. Harclerode is charged with having nearly 250 pornographic images on his personal computer. Meanwhile, Judge Knight postponed trial for involuntary deviate sexual intercourse charges against Harclerode. He is charged with allegedly sexually assaulting a young boy in his Bucknell office between 1992 and 1995.
Harclerode also faces charges in Columbia County for sexually assaulting a young boy at a campground in 2006. He will appear in Columbia County Court today and is expected to withdrawal his guilty plea to first-degree indecent assault.
McClure man missing after teen soliciting charge filed
MCCLURE – A McClure man, who was charged for soliciting sex from a 14 and 15-year-old boy in Hershey this week, is now reported missing. State police say 63-year-old Rodney Snyder was arrested Tuesday in Dauphin County after police say he was found with an adult male prostitute and the two young boys.
Snyder was arraigned and posted $250,000 bail, but has not been in contact with his family since then. Due to recent events, the family believes Snyder may be in danger and filed a missing persons report. Anyone who may know of Snyder’s whereabouts is asked to call State Police at Selinsgrove. (Ali Stevens)
Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania has a new law that Gov. Ed Rendell and animal advocates hope will help the state shed its reputation as the "puppy mill" capital of the East. Rendell signed a bill late Thursday that would impose strict standards on commercial kennels, including at least twice-a-year veterinary exams, larger cage sizes and exercise requirements. The Humane Society of the United States has counted Pennsylvania among a handful of states where lucrative, largely unregulated puppy mills are concentrated. The movement took on new momentum in August, when operators of two eastern Pennsylvania kennels shot 80 dogs after being ordered to let veterinarians examine some of them. Lobbyists for dog breeders say they're concerned some of the new requirements will be costly for kennel owners.
ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Analysts say Hershey is facing a serious challenge as M&M-making Mars creeps up on Hershey's dominance of the U.S. chocolate market. Mars is setting up shop in a big way near Hershey in south-central Pennsylvania, with its $70 million "Dove Chocolate Center of Excellence." It is also pivoting its PR messages to chide its rival for using cocoa-butter substitutes in some of its candy and for closing factories in the United States. Together, Hershey and Mars control better than two-thirds of the U.S. chocolate market, the world's largest. Hershey's market share edge is currently about 42.5 percent to Mars' 30 percent. But it has slipped several percentage points in the last couple years as Mars has outmarketed and outmaneuvered Hershey.
CARLISLE, Pa. (AP) - Electric utility PPL Corp. is set to begin converting methane gas from the Cumberland County Landfill into electricity. The project received approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection this week and is supposed to be up and running by the end of the year. The PPL-owned and -operated facility will produce enough electricity to power about 5,200 homes. It will buy the gas from the landfill and contribute the electricity to the regional grid. Officials say the engines can generate electricity cheaply while solving the environmental problem of escaping greenhouse gases. Pennsylvania has more than 30 other gas-to-energy projects, making it one of the nation's leaders.
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) - A northern Pennsylvania radio station is operating on reduced power because a suspected joy-rider crashed a logging vehicle into the station's transmitter building. General manager Dan Farr says someone drove a machine known as a skidder into WILQ-FM's transmitter building on Bald Eagle Mountain near South Williamsport about 4 a.m. Thursday. Farr says the station, known as Country 105, is now broadcasting at about one-tenth its normal power. WILQ serves listeners in a six-county area, and Farr says many won't be able to pick up the signal until repairs are made - hopefully, within a month. Tom Atkins of Backyard Broadcasting says if the skidder, which had been parked nearby, had hit the high-voltage transmitter, the rider could have been electrocuted.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Friday in the midday Pennsylvania State Lottery drawing:
Daily Number
9 9 9
Big 4
3 2 2 0
Quinto
0 8 4 7 4
Treasure Hunt
14 21 24 25 30
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)