A special meeting will be called to discuss a disputed wind lease

SUNBURY – The Northumberland County Commissioners had hoped to take public comment and do some negotiating in public Tuesday, but one of the key parties in a controversial wind turbine lease, wasn’t present. The Penn Wind Company of Sunbury wasn’t at the meeting but a motion was passed to invite them to a future evening meeting so the public can monitor the negotiations.

It was evident today; Commissioner Frank Sawicki and Commissioner Vinny Clausi are sharply divided over terms of the lease. Clausi said the wind company will reap millions of dollars in profits and only share a fraction of that with the county taxpayers. Sawicki said the issue is simple—a straight lease for a set number of dollars each year—or an agreement to share a portion of the electricity proceeds.

The commissioners meeting room was packed and there were a few interruptions—to one of which Sawicki yelled for a visitor to, “Shut up,” a remark for which he later apologized. The special meeting will be held later this year.

Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way grateful to donors

SHAMOKIN DAM – The Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way held their annual meeting Tuesday and awarded their Volunteer of the Year and Business of the Year awards.  Terry  Scheneck is an employee at Boscov’s and Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way Executive Director Keri Albright says he was a great winner for Volunteer of the Year, because he worked tirelessly to promote the GSVUW and encourage employees to give.

Business of the Year was awarded to National Beef of Shamokin Dam.  They were represented by Diane Peifer and Joelly Clemente.  In the last five years, National Beef has pledged nearly $70,000 to the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way.  They are just one of the 4,500 employees in 95 workplaces that helped raised money.  The Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way is at 80% of their $765,000 goal, having raised over $600,000. (Sara Bartlett) 

Four candidates for DA…three identified

MIDDLEBURG – There are four people that are hoping to be the next District Attorney of Snyder County.  Three candidates have been identified by Judge Harold Woelfel and Judge Mike Sholley.  Those candidates are Selinsgrove Attorney John Reed, Selinsgrove Attorney Matthew Slivinski and the executive director of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, Michael Piecuch. A fourth candidate has not been identified. 

Judge Mike Sholley says they hope to have a decision made by the end of January and that person will take over as interim D-A. The candidate will have to run in the November election if they wish to remain on the job. 

PPL puts program in place for RTS customers

UNDATED – There are about 20,000 PPL customers who remain on a residential thermal storage rate.  This rate was put in place in the 1980’s and 90’s, and was discontinued for new customers in 1995.  General Manager of PPL Corporate Communications, Dan McCarthy, says the rate provided a much less expensive price for electric use, with special heating equipment, which heats water during the day and uses that water to circulate through the home during off-peak hours.

The rate was an experimental process promised to the customers for at least 10 years.  Now, McCarthy says because there have been significant  changes in the way electricity is priced, these kind of special rates can not be subsidized by other customers.  There are special programs in place for these customers including a discount this year and in 2011, a rebate program to replace their heating system and a free timer if they want to go to an off-peak electricity supply.

You can hear more from Dan McCarthy from our On The Mark program by downloading the show online at www.wkok.com. (Sara Bartlett) 

Wrestlers more susceptible to certain illnesses

Bucknell University to welcome Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in February

LEWISBURG – One of the children of the late Robert F. Kennedy is making waves, not in electoral politics, but as an environmental lawyer and bestselling author. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will kick off the spring events in the continuing Bucknell Forum series, "Global Leadership: Questions for the 21st Century." His talk will be titled "Globalization and the Green Economy: A New Vision for American Leadership and Strength."

Kennedy has also led successful battles to preserve and protect rivers, land, and the water supply of New York City. His talk is planned for Tuesday, February 2nd at 7:30 pm. in the Weis Center for the Performing Arts. Public registration for tickets will be online at specific times. There is more information at www.bucknell.edu. (Matt Farrand)

Four candidates for DA…three identified

MIDDLEBURG – There are four people that are hoping to be the next District Attorney of Snyder County. Judge Harold Woelfel and Judge Mike Sholley have identified three candidates. Those candidates include Selinsgrove Attorney John Reed and Selinsgrove Attorney Matthew Slivinski. The candidates are identified in today’s Daily Item.

A third candidate is the executive director of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, Michael Piecuch. A fourth candidate has not been identified. Judge Mike Sholley says they hope to have a decision made by the end of January and that candidate will have to run in the November election if they want to remain on the job.

Four people injured in a Columbia County crash

BERWICK – Four people were injured in a Columbia County crash Monday morning. State police say 21-year-old Nicholas Garber of Ashland lost control of his vehicle on Big Mine Run Road in Conyngham Township around 1:45 a.m.

The vehicle skidded on a patch of ice before rolling and hitting several trees. Three teen passengers from Ashland were injured in the crash and treated and released from an area hospital. The road was shut down for a time while the accident was cleared. (Ali Stevens)

Games carry MLK message to Heiter Center kids

LEWISBURG – The holiday recognizing the birthday of the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was recognized Monday by the staff and students at Lewisburg’s Donald Heiter Community Center. Executive Director Andrea Tufo says activities are the best way to explain Dr. King’s legacy to school age children.

Tufo says they played a game called “blue eyes, brown eyes,” where kids made distinctions among each other, based on eye color, and were then asked how it made them feel. Tufo says they teach the kids that tolerance in their community extents to youngsters with learning disabilities, physical handicaps, and behavioral disorders. 10-year-old Earl Voneida of Lewisburg best summed up the sprit of the day.

He says he spent his time at the center playing games and making a book that gave colors to qualities such as peace, brotherhood, love, friendship, loyalty and unity. Additional help o the holiday arrived in the form of 20 volunteers from Susquehanna University’s AmeriCorps. They helped clean the building, led activities and cooked lunch with the staff for the kids. (Matt Farrand)

Commissioner Clausi voicing his displeasure regarding lease deal with Penn Wind

SUNBURY – Northumberland County Commissioner Vinny Clausi says he’s extremely upset about a lease deal the county has with Penn Wind LLC of Sunbury. Clausi says three years ago, before he was commissioner, the board approved an agreement with Penn Wind to lease 200 acres of land in Coal Township and East Cameron Township.

Penn Wind plans to use the land to develop a wind farm to generate electricity and the county is paid $56,000 a year. Now Penn Wind reportedly wants to sell the lease deal to a company in California. Clausi says this is not acceptable.

However, Justin Dunkelberger, owner of Penn Wind, says Clausi doesn’t understand the deal and the county will actually do much better with the new lease since they will receive a guaranteed yearly payment totaling $1-million over a 20 year period. Vinny Clausi says they have not received a fair share of royalties in the past from coal companies and that won’t happen in the future.

Clausi claims Dunkelberger’s company will make more than a million dollars from this deal, but Dunkelberger disputes that saying they will be lucky if they break even. Clausi encourages residents to attend tomorrow’s public meeting at 1:00p.m. at the Northumberland County Administration Center to hear more on this discussion. (Ali Stevens)

Who will run?

SUNBURY – Now that State Representative Merle Phillips (R-108th, Sunbury) has announced that he will not run again to represent the 108th legislative district, many are wondering who will. One person giving it some serious consideration is Republican Northumberland County Controller Chuck Erdman.

Erdman tells us he is in the “exploratory phase,” talking it over with his family and colleagues before making a final decision. He does say that after four successful campaigns for controller, he feels confident that he would have a lot of voter support. Erdman believes the position will go to a Republican.

On the Democratic side, Trevorton Attorney Antonio Michetti says he is certainly thinking about running again...he has run for the 108th district seat twice, unsuccessfully. When asked if he would be intimidated since a Republican has held the seat for decades, he said, “Not in the least.”

He believes he wouldn’t be a party-line candidate and feels people will vote for a person and not a party. In his last two runs against Phillips, he has gotten only 25 percent of the vote, however Merle Phillips had the incumbent’s advantage.

Petitions for those running for state representative are due to be circulated starting February 16th, so decisions will have to be made over the next few weeks and we will update you here on WKOK when more information is available. (Ali Stevens)

Andy Russell to make appearance during SBC’s Big Boys Big Toys Expo

SELINSGROVE – Former Steelers star linebacker Andy Russell will be at the Susquehanna Valley Mall Saturday during Sunbury Broadcasting Corporation’s Big Boys Big Toys Expo. His appearance will be in support of EconomicsPA, based in Selinsgrove. Russell is the vice chair of the EconomicsPA board.

Russell recently released his third book called “Beyond the Goalpost,” which he will be signing at the mall’s Boscov’s court from 11:00a.m.-3:00p.m. Saturday. The Big Boys Big Toys Expo will feature over a dozen vendors, including Bill Marks Auto Sale, Miller’s Turf & Trail, Heritage Aviation and Weaver’s Archery. It runs Friday through Sunday during mall hours. For more information go to www.wkok.com. (Sara Bartlett)

Charges of animal cruelty are withdrawn, but are expected to be filed again

SHAMOKIN – Charges of animal cruelty that were filed against a father and son operating a farm in the Shamokin area have been withdrawn, however additional charges are expected again. The News Item reports PETA claims the charges were withdrawn only because multiple charges are expected to be filed against Lloyd and Andy Reitz, operators of Irish Valley Farm.

The Reitz family was accused of mistreating animals on the farm. They entered not-guilty pleas in court on October 6th. The original charges of one count each of animal cruelty were filed on September 24th and then withdrawn on December 11th. PETA now says multiple charges are pending.

The Irish Valley Farm provides milk to the company “Land O Lakes”, which investigated the farm after the charges were filed, and reported that no mistreatment of animals was discovered. (Ali Stevens)

Eagles Mere toboggan slide could open this week

EAGLES MERE – The Eagles Mere toboggan slide in Sullivan County may open Friday. It’s all weather permitting for the popular attraction built by cutting the slide out of a 400-pound slab of ice on a lake. The Eagles Mere Fire Company makes and organizes the slide.

They need a certain amount of ice thickness to open it to the public. The latest news is that the slide may be open Friday at 6:30p.m., then continue to be open Saturdays from 10:00a.m. -8:00p.m. and Sundays from 10:00a.m. to 6:00p.m. For more information call 525-3244.

Latest Pennsylvania news, lottery, business and entertainment

CORAOPOLIS, Pa. (AP) - A flight carrying 53 Haitian orphans evacuated from the earthquake ravaged island nation has arrived at Pittsburgh International Airport.  A flight carrying the orphans landed around 9:20 a.m. Tuesday at the airport just outside Pittsburgh.  The orphans will be taken to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh for medical care and be placed in-group homes until their  adoptions are finalized.  Gov. Ed Rendell and other officials escorted the orphans from Haiti, where they and their American caretakers spent days in dire need of food and water after last week's massive quake.  The families of two Pittsburgh sisters working at the orphanage used Twitter and Facebook to spread the word about their plight, prompting Monday's evacuation.

DRUMS, Pa. (AP) - Police say two Drums-area teens are safe after being rescued  from the surface of a frozen lake.  Valley Regional Fire and Rescue chief Rich Bogmar says the two boys were walking on the ice about 350 feet from shore Monday when it began to crack beneath them. One of the teens called his parents, who dialed 911.  Rescuers used hovercrafts and ropes to inch their way to the unidentified 14-year-olds.  Rescuer Matthew Balliet says it took about an hour to retrieve the boys because the ice was cracking under the emergency personnel as well. The two boys were reunited with their parents and refused medical treatment.  

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - A northeastern Pennsylvania gang member will spend life in prison after pleading guilty to killing another man in a gang hit.  Twenty-six-year-old Jeffrey Future pleaded guilty to first-degree murder Tuesday in Lackawanna County Court, avoiding a trial that could have ended in the death penalty if he was convicted.  Prosecutors say Future, his 18-year-old brother Tonie and 17-year-old Christian Kenyon killed 29-year-old Allen Fernandez of Scranton last year in a gang-related slaying.  Fernandez's body was discovered July 30. Authorities say he was shot 12 times.  Jeffrey Future told the court he was a victim of "psychological trickery" by the gang.  Tonie Future is charged with murder and Kenyon is charged with attempted murder, conspiracy and other charges. They are awaiting trial.

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - The former head of a northeastern Pennsylvania county redevelopment authority has pleaded guilty to accepting a bribe.  Former Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority Director Allen Bellas on Tuesday admitted accepting $2,000 from a contractor in September 2008.  Federal prosecutors charged Bellas in October. He has resigned from his post with the redevelopment authority and his elected position on the Wyoming Valley West School Board.  Bellas faces a maximum of 10 years in prison when he is sentenced in April but he is likely to get a reduced sentence as part of a plea deal.  More than 20 people have been charged in a wide-ranging corruption probe aimed largely at government officials in Luzerne County.  

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A judge in the public-corruption trial of a former leader of the Pennsylvania Legislature and three former aides is opening the door for prosecutors to use e-mail evidence.  Dauphin County Judge Richard Lewis on Tuesday said he'll go by the terms of an appeals court ruling when it comes to deciding whether e-mails used against former Rep. Mike Veon and the other defendants are sufficiently authenticated for use in court.  Lewis says prosecutors won't need to introduce entire e-mail strings in every instance, but he'll decide disputes on a case-by-case basis.  The decision comes after a day of jury selection in which six jurors were selected. That leaves six more jurors and four alternates remaining to be picked. Testimony is scheduled to begin the week of Feb. 1.

HYNER, Pa. (AP) - State police in north central Pennsylvania say a van crash killed two men over the weekend. Police in Clinton County say the van was traveling on Route 120 in Grugan Township at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday when it veered into an embankment and crashed into a tree. Police say 47-year-old driver Michael Dittus of Glenolden died in the crash, and so did a passenger whose name has not been released.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The trial of a former Pennsylvania House power broker and three ex-aides is about to get started with the selection of a jury in Harrisburg, but the first testimony is still two weeks away. The judge presiding over the criminal trial of former Rep. Mike Veon and the other defendants is also expected to rule today about the use of e-mail evidence that prosecutors consider key to their case. The Dauphin County trial of Veon, Brett Cott, Stephen Keefer and Annamarie Peretta-Rosepink could take as long as a month. The defendants are accused of conspiring to divert resources of the Legislature toward campaigning. Seven other defendants arrested a year and a half ago have pleaded guilty to related charges. The eighth, former state Rep. Sean Ramaley of Beaver County, was acquitted of all charges last month.

LEWISTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Emergency officials say at least 10 people have been injured and dozens left homeless after a fire broke out in a Lewistown apartment building. Mifflin County Emergency Management director Phil Lucas says six people who suffered burns and smoke inhalation were in intensive care, and two were reported to be in critical condition. Officials say the fire broke out shortly before midnight Sunday at the Elsessers Apartments in Lewistown. Lucas says 30 to 50 people were evacuated. He says three of the building's 28 units were severely damaged, and the remaining 25 had smoke and water damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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

Updates on the latest in business

Dow: 10,725. 43, up 115.78

S&P 500: 1,150.23, up 14.20

NASDAQ: 2,320.40, up 32.41

NEW YORK (AP) - The start of a shortened trading week for Wall Street saw stock market gains. The Dow rose 116 to 10,725. The S&P was up 14 points and the Nasdaq surged 32 points. 

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - IBM says it saw a 9 percent increase in profit in the last quarter as the technology company's revenue grew for the first time in a year and a half. It's also offering a slightly better forecast for 2010, although IBM shares have slipped in extended trading.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is urging the Government Accountability Office to do a "full review" of the central bank's role in bailing out insurance giant AIG. Bernanke appears to be trying to defuse criticism of the government's $182 billion rescue, already being investigated by a House panel.

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Housing experts say the housing market recovery should continue this year as the economy improves. But they also caution that the weak job market through at least through 2011 will slow any housing turnaround.

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

Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers

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

 Midday Big 4

     3-6-5-6

 Midday Number

     1-1-4

 Midday Quinto

     4-2-2-4-4

 Treasure Hunt

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

Big 4 9-8-7-4

Cash 5 02-13-14-20-37

Daily Number 0-1-6

Evening Quinto 3-5-8-5-2

Midday Big 4 3-4-7-7

Midday Number 9-7-3

Midday Quinto 6-2-3-8-5

Mix and Match 14-11-12-19-04

Treasure Hunt 01-02-12-21-30

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

James Taylor to hold Haiti benefit show in Mass.

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. (AP) - James Taylor is planning a benefit concert in Massachusetts to aid earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.  Proceeds from the concert scheduled for Friday at The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington will go to Partners in Health. The Boston-based group brings modern medical care to poor nations and has been working in Haiti for more than 20 years.  Singer-songwriter Taylor says in a statement that he and his wife, Kim, will match proceeds from sales of tickets. Prices range from $100 to $1,000.  Taylor lives in nearby Lenox. He will be joined onstage by his wife, singers Kate Markowitz and Arnold McCuller, and Boston Symphony Orchestra cellist Owen Young.

NBC suit surprised

NEW YORK (AP) -- The guy who runs NBC Universal is surprised at  "how nasty" the late-night shakeup has gotten. Jeff Zucker tells the Wall Street Journal that he didn't know Conan O'Brien and others would go after Jay Leno in their monologues as they have. He says he can understand why O'Brien is disappointed, but he says moving Leno back to late night is the right financial move. A deal for O'Brien to leave NBC that could earn him at least $30 million is reportedly in the works.

Nevermore? Mystery visitor misses Poe's birthday

County celebrates return of Ten Commandments to courthouse walls

LEITCHFIELD, Ky. (AP) - Amid talk of God and country, officials in a Kentucky county have restored the Ten Commandments to their courthouse walls, days after an appellate court allowed the display. Grayson County Judge-Executive Gary Logsdon thanked God for the return of the commandments as part of a display of historical documents. An overflow crowd of hundreds of people at the county courthouse sang "Amazing Grace" and "God Bless America" to celebrate their victory in an eight-year legal battle. Monday's ceremony came less than a week after the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down an injunction barring the Ten Commandments from public property. Two citizens and the American Civil Liberties Union sued over the display. The ACLU has not decided whether to appeal the decision.

LENO-CONAN

BURBANK, Calif. (AP) - Jay Leno says Conan O'Brien is a "good guy." Leno adds that he has "no animosity toward" O'Brien. Leno turned serious on his show last night to discuss the late-night chaos at NBC. Leno says he'll probably return to his old 11:35 p.m. time, but nothing is finalized. He and O'Brien have traded increasingly edgy monologue jokes. But Leno says O'Brien is a gentleman. O'Brien wasn't too serious on the "Tonight Show" last night. He jokes since he'll soon have so much free time he's placed a personal ad on Craigslist. O'Brien says he's a "tall slender redhead, available for nighttime recreation."

Marriage Economics

NEW YORK (AP) - A new analysis of census data suggests growth in the number of working wives over the past 40 years has resulted in a shift in who gets the biggest economic boost from marriage. Historically, marriage was the surest route to financial security for women. But a Pew Research Center report says it's now men that benefit most. A larger share of today's men are married to women whose education and income exceed their own, and a larger share of women are married to men with less education and income. Back in 1970, the reverse was true. Median household income rose 60 percent between 1970 and 2007 for married men, married women and unmarried women, but only 16 percent for unmarried men. The Pew researchers noted that the economic downturn is reinforcing the gender reversal trends, with men losing jobs more often than women.

Obama to give State of the Union speech Jan. 27

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama will deliver his first State of the Union address on Wednesday, Jan. 27. Obama will address a joint session of Congress, beginning at 9 p.m. EST. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs says the speech will be broadcast live on national television and streamed on the White House Web site. It will be Obama's first State of the Union address. The speech Obama delivered last year, just weeks after taking office, technically is not considered a State of the Union address.