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Saturday, May 13th, 2006
One flown to hospital
after motorcycle crash
FRANKLIN TWP – A Snyder County teen is
hospitalized after crashing his motorcycle into a house on Friday
afternoon. State Police say 18-year-old Jonathan Kauffman of Middleburg
lost control of his motorcycle on Kissamee Road – crashing into the
Kline home in Franklin Township. A LifeFlight helicopter was called to
the scene, and flew Kauffman to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. A
nursing supervisor tells us, this morning, that the 18-year-old Kauffman
is listed in “Fair” condition. (Matt Paul)
Highway fatalities up
in 2005
HARRISBURG – PennDOT says Pennsylvania
highways were deadlier in 2005. The official numbers show 1,616 highway
fatalities for the year. That’s up by 126 over the previous year,
according to the state’s transportation secretary Allen Biehler. He adds
that aggressive driving played a role in more than 1,000 of those
deaths.
Locally, from August of 2005 to this past
Thursday, six teens and youths from Snyder County alone have been killed
in traffic accidents. The latest victim was 17-year-old Travis Brosious,
a student in the Midd-West School District. In a related story today,
WKOK will discuss a pair of new safe driving programs that PennDOT is
implementing in local schools. (Matt Paul)
Targeting young drivers
with a message of safety
MIFFLINBURG – The program is called
“16-Minutes,” and PennDOT’s Mike Hess says it uses a police officer to
bring the message of driver’s safety directly to students about to turn
16. Hess tells us the most dangerous thing a 15-year-old can do is turn
16 – a reference to reaching Pennsylvania’s driving age. He adds they’re
driving the message home that vehicle crashes are the number one cause
of death for teens. When the message comes from a police officer, Hess
says, it helps tie in the message with what the officer has seen in the
field.
Hess says it’s a quick-hitting, small
group program – aptly titled “16-minutes,” because it targets those
about to turn 16, and only lasts for about 16-minutes. The program
began, this past week, in the Mifflinburg School District when Borough
Police Chief Doug Bickhart visited the classrooms there. Meantime,
another PennDOT program that’s about to be presented at the Shikellamy
School District is called “Survival 101.” It’s designed to share
important driving information with teens ahead of Memorial Day and
summer break. (Matt Paul)
1st degree murder means
Fuentes gets life in jail
SUNBURY – Admitted killer Fredil Omar
Rodriguez Fuentes will spend the rest of his life behind bars – with no
possibility of parole. The President Judge made the ruling today, after
more than a week of testimony. Northumberland County District Attorney,
Tony Rosini, says Fuentes admitted that he took a knife from the victim,
punched her and stabbed her 37-times. Rosini continues to say that
Fuentes snuck out the back door, and hid his clothes when he got home.
The DA explains that the evidence does not support the defendant’s claim
that he was too high to know what he was doing.
A small crowd of the victim’s family let
out a sigh of relief when the President Judge made his ruling. The
stabbing victim was 20-year-old Carly Snyder of Milton. Family and
friends describe her as “a beautiful girl, inside and out.” Alice
Snyder, Carly’s mother, says the death penalty would have been too easy
for Fuentes. Reacting to the mandatory life term in prison – Mrs. Snyder
says Fuentes doesn’t deserve to live a free life, and now he won’t.
Carly was found stabbed to death in her Milton apartment last on June
10th, 2005. By one o’clock that afternoon, Fuentes had confessed to
police. Rosini commends all of those who worked on this case. (Matt
Paul)
Freeburg Borough
Councilman seeks State House seat
FREEBURG – The Republican challenger for
the 85th District State House seat is differentiating himself from the
Republican incumbent. Freeburg Borough Councilman Malcolm Derk says – if
elected – he would not utilize car lease monies or per diems that are
available to legislators. Derk cites public records when he says that
between car lease payments and per diems Russ Fairchild received a total
of $16,000 in reimbursements in 2005.
Derk – a recent guest on our Leaders and
Lawmakers program – also offered his view on the controversial issue
that is the now-repealed legislative pay raise. He tells us that 50% of
Snyder County households in the 85th District have a combined household
income of less than $35,000. Derk cites that number when he says the
near $20,000 pay raise that Fairchild voted for was excessive. The
24-year-old Derk graduated from Susquehanna University with a double
major in Political Science and Religion. Longtime incumbent, Russ
Fairchild, has been serving the district since 1988. (Matt Paul)
Pay Raise Pig I: A new,
pink sight on the Winfield landscape today
WINFIELD – A giant, pink, inflatable pig
drew all eyes in Winfield to State Representative Russ Fairchild’s
office on Friday. The pig was a symbolic protest to Fairchild’s vote on
last summer’s unpopular legislative pay raise. Democratic candidate for
Lt. Governor, Gene Stilp, has been traveling the state – with the pig in
tow to make his statement. Stilp tells us they’ve been visiting the
offices of everyone who led the pay raise fight – fighting for the
people. It’s being called the “Squeal or No Squeal” Tour. Stilp believes
Fairchild is not serving the people of the 85th District. Meantime,
Fairchild calls it a political stunt for the political season. (Sara
Lauver/Matt Paul)
Pay Raise Pig II:
Fairchild reacts
WINFIELD – State house member Russ
Fairchild reacts to the big pig out front by saying, it is a political
season, and political stunts are common. He noted that he does not
charge rent for his legislative office in Winfield, and has distributed
to charity any additional dollars he’s received from the now-repealed
pay raise. He also said the pig was set up on private property, state
troopers were called to remove it and eventually, the pig…moved on.
(WKOK)
Democratic candidate
wants to be a Republican write-in too
LEWISBURG – The Democratic candidate for
the 85th District State House seat says he’s seeking the Republican
nomination too. Steve Connolley has declared himself as a write-in
candidate for Tuesday’s primary. He says Republicans need an alternative
to ‘politics as usual,’ noting the one-year anniversary of the infamous
legislative pay raise is on the horizon. Volunteers from the Connolley
campaign will be on site at the district’s polling places. Two
Republicans will be on the primary ballot, including the Incumbent Russ
Fairchild, and current Freeburg Borough Councilman Malcolm Derk. (Matt
Paul)
The Just People series
goes on the road to Bloomsburg
SUNBURY – Roundtable this weekend is
recorded on the road in Bloomsburg, at the headquarters of the Task
Force on Racial Equity. The more than decade old organization has been
working to promote diversity and cultural awareness in and around
Bloomsburg. Mary Harris is a member of the task force; she is a retired
professor at Bloomsburg University and said she used to see racial
tensions regularly.
She says, upon her retirement, she could
have gone anywhere to live, but stayed in this area because of the
community. She is proud of the work that has been accomplished, and says
little racial issues keep popping up all the time.
She is on the program talking about their
racial literacy programs, their work in area schools, and even their
work with the monster truck show—to discourage the flying of the
confederate flag on some of the trucks. You can hear about all of this
on Sunday’s Roundtable program. You can hear Roundtable Sunday at 9am on
WKOK. (WKOK)
Drivers should be alert
for paving work – beginning Monday
MONTOURSVILLE – PennDOT is warning
motorists of several paving projects that begin on Monday. In
Northumberland County, projects affect Turbot and Delaware Townships and
Watsontown Borough. Portions of Routes 405 and 44, and Eighth and
Matthew Streets will be repaved through the $1.5-million project. Three
miles of Route 405 will be affected – from the north end of Milton to
the Watsontown Borough line, and more than a mile of Route 44 will be
repaved, through Watsontown.
In Snyder County, paving work will begin
on parts of 11th Avenue and Market Street in the Shamokin Dam/Monroe
Township area. Also, more than 4-miles of Route 104 will be repaved in
Chapman and Perry Townships. And, nearly 4-miles of Route 522 will get
the same treatment, between Kreamer and Middleburg. The Snyder County
paving is another $1.8-million PennDOT contract. (Matt Paul)
Geisinger adds fifth
LifeFlight helicopter
DANVILLE – LifeFlight V has been added to
Geisinger Health System’s fleet of emergency helicopters. Adding the new
chopper, which will be based at Nativity Field in Pottsville, was a
$6.5-million dollar commitment. It’s the first full-service medical
helicopter to be based in Schuylkill County, and Geisinger officials say
it will get patients to the hospital faster and improve services in the
region. Geisinger officials gathered in Pottsville on Friday to dedicate
LifeFlight V. (Matt Paul)
Bowling event supports
Big Brothers Big Sisters
SUNBURY – They’re “Bowling for Kids’
Sake.” It’s a fundraising event for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the
Central Susquehanna Valley, and more than 150 bowlers are taking part
today (Saturday) in Sunbury. This is one of Big Brothers Big Sisters
biggest fundraisers of the year. Last year’s Bowl for Kids’ Sake raised
nearly $10,000 for the agency – helping them provide mentors to area
children who need an adult presence in their lives. (Matt Paul)
Mifflinburg man behind
bars after alleged rape
LIMESTONE TWP – A Mifflinburg man is
behind bars after being accused of raping a 7-year old girl. State
Police in Milton say that 25-year old, Jathan Long, admitted to the
alleged rape, which took place on several occasions, including an
incident this week. Long was arraigned and placed in the Union County
Jail in lieu of $125,000 bail. He faces multiple counts of rape,
statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault and other related
charges. (Sara Lauver)
Saying thank you to
childcare providers
SUNBURY – Childcare organizations across
the US recognized Friday as Provider Appreciation Day. The day takes
notice to the value of childcare providers, nationwide. Member of the
Early Care and Education Coalition of Northumberland County, Mary
Mahoney-Ferster, says childcare providers are too often taken for
granted – calling it the most difficult and the most rewarding
profession.
The Coalition is under the umbrella of
the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way, and Coalition leader, Diane
Marro, adds that it takes a special person to work in the childcare
field. For more information on Early Care and Education Coalition of
Northumberland County, you can call 988-0993. (Matt Paul)
Norry History Day is a
family day
NORTHUMBERLAND – Norry History Day is
taking place today (Saturday) at King Street Park in Northumberland.
With lots of food and fun, the day includes various activities, which
will take a look back into the history of the region. One of the events
will include stagecoach rides, pictures in colonial costumes, colonial
games and lot of homemade food. Norry History Day runs from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. today (Saturday). Families are invited to head out and enjoy lots
of great food, entertainment, and activities. (Sara Lauver)
Officials rally against
Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling
DANVILLE – Dozens of law enforcement
officials – including the Sheriff’s from nine counties – rallied Friday
at the Montour County Courthouse. They were there to call for
legislation righting what they called a wrong made by the State Supreme
Court. Danville Mayor Ed Coleman compared a ruling that took away
Sheriffs’ wiretapping powers was compared to a car with three wheels or
the military with no Navy. The event was organized by Montour County
Sheriff Ray Gerringer. Those who gathered Friday, encouraged people to
write their State Representatives to urge legislation, which they say
would right the wrong. (Matthew James)
Here is the latest
Pennsylvania news from The Associated Press:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A half-dozen
organizations are calling on the Pennsylvania Legislature to enact
lobbying reform. The office of House Speaker John Perzel says action may
occur soon after next week's primary election. Perzel's press secretary
says legislation will be ready to be introduced as early as early June.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Animal activists
say Pennsylvania's dog law inspectors are not enforcing crucial aspects
of a law that is designed to crack down on puppy mills. They say
Pennsylvania is now the "Puppy Mill Capital of the East," home to
lucrative, virtually unregulated operations that crank out hundreds of
puppies.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A pastor made a plea
for gun control during the funeral Mass for a slain Philadelphia police
officer. Monsignor Francis Feret says families and citizens should be
more important than the right to own a gun. Officer Gary Skerski was
killed Monday when he was called to a brazen robbery at a tavern.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Governor Ed
Rendell has signed into law a measure that clears the way for training
90 fresh state police recruits. The law ends a stalemate over hiring
civilians to assume some duties now performed by state troopers. The
troopers' union says it's still willing to negotiate over civilianizing
some troopers' jobs.
KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) - Pat Croce has
opened a pirate museum in Key West, Florida. The former president and
part-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers is now host of the daily reality
show "Pat Croce: Moving In." The part-time Key West resident is a
passionate collector of pirate memorabilia who says he uses a pirate
philosophy to steer his business ventures.
Here are the winning
numbers selected Friday in the Pennsylvania Lottery:
FRIDAY NIGHT:
Daily Number 8-7-7
Big 4 6-8-1-4
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FRIDAY MIDDAY:
Daily Number
6-4-2
Big 4
7-0-6-1
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The winning numbers drawn Friday in the
"Pennsylvania Cash 5" game were:
11-17-25-26-33.
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The winning numbers drawn Friday in the
"Pennsylvania Match 6 Lotto" game were:
11-12-18-20-36-42.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press.
All Rights Reserved.)
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