Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Groundbreaking ceremony in Sunbury for the Riverfront Project

SUNBURY – Phase one of the Sunbury Riverfront Project is officially underway after a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday.  Work is underway on a new walking path, curbs, sidewalks, lighting and gardens in Merle Phillips Park near Front and Chestnut Streets.  State Representative John Gordner (R-27^th, Berwick) was in attendance and says he has seen first-hand what a riverfront project can do for a community.  Gordner talked about visiting Lock Haven and running along the river dike. He says they have a walking trail and an amphitheater where many people enjoy outdoor recreation. 

The second phase of the project includes riverbank stabilization, refurbishing a wall that protects the main floodwall and adding attractions such as boat docks, an access road and an amphitheater.  Those projects are expected to move forward in late January and early February.  Others in attendance at the groundbreaking included Congressman Chris Carney (D-10^th, Dimock), former Sunbury Mayor Jesse Woodring, Linda Culver of State Representative Merle Phillip’s (R-108^th, Sunbury) office and many other local officials involved in the project.  (Ali Stevens)

Local officials applaud low-income housing unit

NORTHUMBERLAND – Ground was broken Wednesday for a low income housing complex near Northumberland.  Located along 16^th street, Cannery Point will include 24-units for rent.  This is the sister site to Queens Point, located nearby, and both are developed Susquehanna Valley Development Group.  Point Township Supervisor Randall Yoxheimer says they are pleased to bring this development to the area, and commends the developer Rober Yoder on the quality and efficiency of his work.

The project is funded by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  Congressman Chris Carney (D-10^th, Dimock) was in attendance, as was Senator John Gordner (R-27^th, Berwick).  Gordner says he is glad construction will start next week, considering the project almost didn’t happen because there had been a sewer moratorium in the township since Yoder purchased the property in 2005.

Construction is expected to take anywhere between nine and twelve months.  The units will be rented to people at or below 60% of median income. (Sara Bartlett) 

Carney hopes for spirited campaign

NORTHUMBERLAND – Last month, Snyder County Commissioner Malcolm Derk announced he would run against Congressman Chris Carney (D-10^th, Dimock) for the 10^th District seat.  Carney says he is gearing up for this year’s reelection campaign.  He says he is looking forward to a spirited campaign, and although he takes nothing for granted, has a good record to run on.

During his announcement to run, Derk says he will continue to push for the Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway. Carney says that is a project he has been instrumental in advancing and there are now a lot of positives talks and actions are going on behind the scenes. 

Carney visited the Central Susquehanna Valley Wednesday attending groundbreaking ceremonies in Northumberland and Sunbury.  He was also in Williamsport holding a town hall meeting.  He will hold a similar meeting Monday in Selinsgrove with representatives of AARP to discuss healthcare reform.  That meeting is open to the public at 11:00a.m. in Stretansky Hall on the campus of Susquehanna University. (Sara Bartlett) 

Lewisburg council is once again council president

LEWISBURG – Lewisburg Borough Council President is once again Peter Bergonia Jr.  The council unanimously voted to reinstate Bergonia to his formerly held position at Monday’s reorganization meeting.  Bergonia recently lost the election to Bucknell student Tim Hoffman, but Bergonia challenged Hoffman, saying he hadn’t lived in the area consecutively for a year, and Hoffman resigned.  Bergonia will now serve until the end of the year and must run for re-election to a four-year term in 2011.  The council had 30 days to fill the position.  (Ali Stevens)

Congressman running for U.S. Senate talks about airport security

SUNBURY – A congressman running against U.S. Senator Arlen Specter for U.S. Senate was a guest on our On The Mark program today. He talked about the Christmas Day airliner terror attempt.  Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7^th, Media) agrees with President Barack Obama, who says the government needs to do better next time.  Sestak says after September 11^th, we need to prevent these things from happening and realize that attacks can happen on our own home turf. 

Sestak says an important lesson still hasn’t been learned about information sharing.  Sestak says the government has failed to recognize that the change in this adversary is one that will take the interagency process in a different direction.  He says information must be shared between agencies to prevent future incidents.  

Joint Chiefs of Staff. Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen told an audience at George Washington University that the government failed to make use of information that could hav prevented the terror attempt over Detroit on Christmas Day.  You can hear more from Congressman Joe Sestak on a number of other topics on our Wednesday On The Mark program online at www.wkok.com.  (Ali Stevens)

Northumberland County Chief Clerk has resigned

SUNBURY – The chief clerk in Northumberland County has submitted her resignation and will leave her position at the end of January.  The commissioner’s office tells us Rose Marquardt has resigned to dedicate more time to her work as a minister at three area churches.  The Reverend Marquardt has been on the job as chief clerk since January of 2008, when the current board of commissioners took office.  She has been a minister for nine years and also has been a member of the Mount Carmel School Board for 15 years.  No word yet from the commissioners on the search for a new chief clerk in Northumberland County.  (Ali Stevens)

Possible gunshot turned out to be just a medical call in Sunbury
 

Selinsgrove man says lottery winner ‘tainted’ by family’s loss

MIDDLETOWN – A Snyder County man is one of four players statewide who hit Saturday’s Millionaire Raffle drawing—but the joy of winning is tainted by the sadness the family is experiences. The Pennsylvania State Lottery says John W. Dailey of Selinsgrove joins entrants from Altoona, Shippensburg, and East Berlin in Adams County as winners of the big prizes.

Dailey told Newsradio 1070 WKOK he certainly is glad to have won the money but the entire situation—including the media attention—is far outweighed by the loss of their son—40-year-old John P. Daily last fall. He said the family is still overwhelmed with sadness and it has been a difficult time.

A formal presentation is planned for later this month at the Giant Market in Monroe Marketplace, where Dailey bought the winning ticket. In all, there were 6,000 winners in the Millionaire Raffle game, which also offers prizes of $100,000, $1,000 and $100. (Matt Farrand)

Counties chipping in to help fund transportation study

SUNBURY – Establishing public transportation in the Central Susquehanna Valley won’t happen without a $100,000 feasibility study. However, if $20,000 is raised among the seven local counties that would be served, the Commonwealth is promising to fully fund such a study.

Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way Executive Director Keri Albright says the need became apparent in 2007 when local community needs were surveyed. Albright says an efficient bus system could be used by teens or others who don’t drive and need to get to jobs or retail shopping.

DUI offenders or others who’ve lost drivers licenses could also rely on public transportation, according to the United Way survey. Union County recently approved a contribution of $1,000, following comparable contributions from Northumberland and Lycoming Counties.

Other local county commissioners are concerned about the cost of public transportation, but Albright says the point is that a study simply needs to be done to determine if public transportation will ever work in the Central Susquehanna region. The United Way is also accepting individual contributions. (Matt Farrand)

94th annual Farm Show in Pennsylvania opens on Saturday in Harrisburg

HARRISBURG – For the 94th year, the Pennsylvania Farm Show will be held at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, starting Saturday and running through the following Saturday. Mark O’Neill of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau says the Farm Show is a huge enterprise. He says it’s the largest indoor agriculture show in the country with thousands of visitors each year.

O’Neill says the Farm Show is a learning experience for all ages. He says since 2003, nearly 300,000 grade school students have participated in hands-on fun lessons focusing on agriculture while visiting the Farm Show. For more on this year’s Farm Show, you can go to their website at www.farmshow.state.pa.us. We will also be airing live reports from the Farm Show next week on Newsradio 1070 WKOK.

Northumberland County Commissioner Vinny Clausi asks sheriff to apologize

SUNBURY – Northumberland County Commissioners are firing back at the employees of the sheriff’s office. The commissioners have filed a court motion demanding that the sheriff’s employees move forward with their potential lawsuit—or withdrawal their initial court filing.

Last week, the sheriff’s department employees threatened to sue Commissioner Vinny Clausi for defamation of character after Clausi alleged that two sheriff department employees looked at pornography on county computers. Now the employees and their attorney will have to move forward with their suit or drop the matter.

Clausi also made a motion at Tuesday’s meeting for the solicitor to send a letter to sheriff Chad Reiner asking him to apologize to the Northumberland County cleaning crew, who Reiner previously said could have been the ones on the county computer. Solicitor Vincent Rovito says it’s the sheriff’s responsibility to clear the air.

Clausi says the commissioners and the sheriff know the names of the two employees who were looking at the material online, but those names have not been released. Clausi says he invited the sheriff to the meeting, but the sheriff did not show up. A call to sheriff Reiner has not been returned. (Sara Bartlett)

Mifflinburg farmer wins bear fight

MIFFLINBURG - A Mifflinburg farmer has won his battle against the state game commission. Following an hour-long hearing in the office of magistrate Jeff Mensch, the case against farmer John Nolt was dismissed. He was challenging a citation for killing a 400-pound black bear, which was menacing his farm and neighboring properties. Nolt, of Buffalo Township, shot the bear Oct. 5 on a neighbor's property.

His attorney says he was cited for not giving the game commission adequate time to deal with the animal but he said the bear had been killing calves, goats and chickens for at least six months and resumed killing even after it was trapped and released. About 30 people attended the hearing today. Nolt faced a $168 fine if convicted and could have lost his hunting privileges.

Education foundation thriving in Lewisburg

LEWISBURG – A local educational foundation is raising thousands of dollars to advance the Lewisburg Area School District. There are almost 200 education foundations in Pennsylvania, but few in our area. An exception is the Green Dragon Foundation, a not-for-profit independent organization that raises private funds for projects in the Lewisburg Area School District.

Foundation President Brooks Gronlund says the funds raised don’t replace the funding in the budget, they just provide more than is currently being earmarked. Gronlund says that both the District Superintendent Mark DiRocco and School Board President Kathy Swope are advising members of the Foundation, and help keep the funding in line with the district’s Vision 20/20 initiative.

Some of the programs the Foundation would like to help fund include a multi-sports complex, arts alive, summer scholars, a swimming pool and tennis courts. At next Thursday’s school board meeting, the Foundation will present a check for their first completed goal, which helps fund 21st century classrooms for Kelly Elementary School. For more information you can go to www.greendragonfoundation.org. (Sara Bartlett)

Local professor talks about the economic outlook in 2010

LEWISBURG – A lot of folks around the world are hoping 2010 is a little better than 2009, however, a local professor says that may not be the case if changes aren’t made. Stephen Stamos, a professor of economics and international relations at Bucknell University, was a recent guest on our On The Mark program and said we need to learn from mistakes made in the past.

He says it we don’t learn from mistakes made in the past 20 years, or even the past 2 years, how can we get up everyday and go about our work, and our leaders go about their work, without some idea of where the country is going and how to get where we want to be.

He talks about the problem of underemployment, where some people are working their job and another person’s job that has been eliminated due to downsizing. He says that this can’t help open up jobs for unemployed workers. You can learn more about the state of the economy from Professor Stamos from our Tuesday On the Mark program online at www.wkok.com.

Groundbreaking ceremony set for Wednesday for the Sunbury Riverfront Project

SUNBURY – The city of Sunbury is having a groundbreaking ceremony today for the trail enhancement portion of the Sunbury Riverfront Project. This includes new curbing, walkways and lighting along with a central park plaza at Front and Market Streets and the addition of gardens and soft lighting through Merle Phillips Park.

The ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Merle Phillips Park and Congressman Chris Carney (D-10th, Dimock) will be in attendance along with other local officials. The second phase of the Riverfront Project calls for a major bank stabilization effort to eliminate erosion of the shoreline.

This includes the installation of riprap and repair and restoration of the deteriorated wall that serves as a buffer for the main city floodwall. Another part of the Riverfront project, which will be bid in February, is an amphitheater, fishing pier, daytime boat docking facility and a service road to assure access to the newly improved riverfront. (Ali Stevens)

Two cases of animal cruelty in Union County

LEWISBURG – State police have investigated two cases of animal cruelty in the Mifflinburg area. Sometime between December 26th and December 31st, someone shot and killed five chickens at a property on Dietrich Road in the Mifflinburg area. The investigation continues.

Another animal cruelty case involving a dog was reported on Gast Road in West Buffalo Township between December 28th and January 2nd. State police say 38-year-old Gary Degroat traveled out of town and left his one-year-old golden retriever chained to a plywood box in his yard. Temperatures dropped into the low teens and after five days, state police were contacted.

The dog was found shivering and shaking uncontrollably. The dog had wrapped his chain around a tree and couldn’t reach the plywood box. A frozen blanket was found lying in the snow and there was no food for the dog. Also the dog’s water was frozen solid. The dog was taken to the Animal Emergency Shelter in Watsontown. Degroat was charged with cruelty to animals. (Ali Stevens)

Protecting yourself and others during a very cold week

LEWISBURG – As the cold weather grips Central Pennsylvania this week, the American Red Cross is urging everyone to be safe and prepared. Annie Smith is Red Cross Disaster Services Coordinator and says you need to be safe when trying to keep warm in your home. Smith says you don’t want to get creative using any type of heat sources.

You shouldn’t open the oven door and turn it to 400 degrees to heat a room and make sure space heaters are safe and up to date with no open flames. She says people should always be a good neighbor and check on the elderly this week.

Smith says the elderly have a different tolerance for cold weather and might not be as strong as others. She says to make sure they are heating their homes properly and help them insulate the home with plastic on the inside of windows or other items to eliminate drafts.

Smith also says instead of turning the thermostat above 68 degrees, dress in layers to stay warm in the home to keep your bill from climbing dramatically in the winter. Also use heavy curtains to keep cold air out and make sure heat vents aren’t blocked by furniture. (Ali Stevens)

Search ends in Coal Township after a person turns up safely

COAL TOWNSHIP – A search was underway in Coal Township overnight, but the person they were looking for apparently turned up safe this morning. Coal Township police were searching for a person in a rural wooded area near Ranshaw that was reported missing.

Emergency dispatchers say the person was located around 8 this morning without the help of police or fire personnel. The person is said to be doing okay and has not been identified. (Ali Stevens)

Vandalism reported at an auto dealership in Milton

MILTON – State police are investigating a case of vandalism at an auto dealership near Milton. Troopers say sometime between Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, someone shot paintballs at vehicles parked at the Spangler Motors Dealership on Route 405 near Milton. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call State Police at Milton. (Ali Stevens)

Update on the latest in business

Dow: 10,573.68

S&P 500: 1,137.14, up .62

NASDAQ: 2,301.09, down –7.62

NEW YORK (AP) - The showing on Wall Street so far today for stocks has been indecisive. The key averages have seen only modest moves, both up and down.

NEW YORK (AP) - A trade group says the U.S. service sector saw slight growth last month, helped by retail sales during the holiday season. The Institute for Supply Management index reflects a slowly improving economy - but it was not enough to generate overall job growth.

EAST HADDAM, Conn. (AP) - Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd says he will retire from the U.S. Senate, ending a career that spanned four decades in Congress. Democrat Dodd has been trailing former Republican Congressman Rob Simmons in the polls.

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Dell will jump into the smart phone this year with a device using AT&T's wireless network and Google's Android operating system. Dell has already built versions of the phone, known as the Mini 3, for wireless carriers in China and Brazil. The price and release date for the U.S. model have not yet been announced.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn on Wednesday:    

 Midday Big 4

     8-9-0-1

 Midday Number

     6-0-4

 Midday Quinto

     3-1-9-5-9

 Treasure Hunt

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn on Tuesday:

Big 4 3-3-9-2

Cash 5 03-08-18-30-43

Daily Number 8-4-2

Evening Quinto 0-4-4-1-1

Midday Big 4 4-8-2-5

Midday Number 8-8-5

Midday Quinto 5-0-1-6-8

Super 7 03-14-33-40-42-51-53-59-60-62-66

Treasure Hunt 01-07-11-19-23

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Man seeks payment for LA from Jackson estate

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A Los Angeles man is seeking $3.3 million for the city from Michael Jackson's estate to cover the cost of the King of Pop's public memorial.  Jose F. Vallejos filed a creditor's claim for the money on Wednesday, stating he is entitled to seek reimbursement of the memorial's public costs as a taxpayer.  Los Angeles paid for police overtime and sanitation costs for the July memorial held at Staples Center. Vallejos' petition claims the estate benefited from the use of public resources and that it amounted to an illegal gift of public funds. The filing states the money should be returned to the city treasury.  City leaders have wrangled for months with how to try to recoup some of the money from AEG Live, which owns venue.

Actor Gary Coleman hospitalized in LA

LOS ANGELES (AP) - "Diff'rent Strokes" actor Gary Coleman is in a Los Angeles hospital for tests after complaining that he didn't feel well.  Coleman's agent, Robert Malcolm, says the 41-year-old actor was doing promotional work at a hotel Wednesday morning and went to his room to rest.  Malcolm says Coleman then began feeling unwell, although he doesn't have any details.  The Los Angeles Fire Department says an  ambulance was sent to the hotel shortly after 8 a.m.  Malcolm says Coleman was taken to a hospital for tests. He says the actor is doing well but he doesn't know when Coleman will be released.  Coleman played Arnold Jackson on the popular 1980s sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes."  He's had two kidney transplants.

Image Award Nominees
 

SKULL AND BONES-AUCTION

NEW YORK (AP) - It's an enigma wrapped in an auction. A human skull will be put up for bid later this month. Officials of Christie's auction house believe the skull once belonged to Yale's mysterious Skull and Bones society. It apparently was used as a ballot box in the late 1800's. Christie's says the skull should go for 10- to 20-grand. Skull and Bones doesn't reveal its members' names. But both presidents Bush are known to have belonged to the elite society while students at Yale. Christie's is keeping the seller's name a secret, too.

Michelle Obama-PETA

WASHINGTON (AP) - The fur is flying over a new ad campaign by an animal rights group the White House says is using first lady Michelle Obama's image without her permission. The president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Ingrid Newkirk, said her organization wouldn't have sought Mrs. Obama's consent for the anti-fur ad because it knows that she can't make such an endorsement. PETA included the first lady in its Washington ad campaign based on White House confirmation that she does not wear fur. Mrs. Obama appears in the ad with celebrities Oprah Winfrey, Carrie Underwood and Tyra Banks - three others who have shunned fur. The ads are appearing in Washington's Metro stations, magazines and PETA's Web site.

Dating Web Site Ban

TORONTO (AP) - The social networking and dating Web site, BeautifulPeople.com has purged newly chubby members. Members have voted out some 5,000 people for putting on weight. More than 1,500 members in the U.S. have been sent packing. BeautifulPeople.com spokesman Greg Hodge says the election was held because of "numerous complaints" against those who had gained weight. He says dismissed members were e-mailed "good advice" that included a list of weight-loss boot camps. SELF magazine features director Sara Austin says the Web site feeds on a natural instinct for people to compare themselves with others. She says she hopes those booted off don't have too much of their self-esteem wrapped up in the site.

Pot Ransom

MARATHON, Fla. (AP) - Investigators in the Florida Keys say they lured a suspected marijuana grower into turning himself in by leaving a ransom note in place of six seized pot plants. The sheriff's office in Monroe County says detectives discovered the plants in a wooded lot and confiscated them. They left a phone number on a note that read: "Thanks for the grow! You want them back? Call for the price." Steven Alan Locasio called the number about 10 minutes later. Locasio offered $200 for the plants, and detectives agreed to meet him for an exchange. Locasio was arrested and booked into jail on drug charges. It's unclear if he already has an attorney. A telephone message left for Locasio was not immediately returned.