SUNBURY – Northumberland County Commissioners Vinny Clausi and chairman Frank Sawicki had a heated discussion yesterday regarding whether or not a settlement should be reached over the court system’s budget.  Sawicki says $50,000 in attorney fees have already been paid with taxpayer dollars and now is the time to reach an agreement on the courts budget, so more money isn’t wasted.  However, Clausi claims it’s not up to them to settle and the president judge should talk with the solicitor to resolve the matter.

Near the end of last year, the court and President Judge Robert Sacavage agreed to the same budget as last year, or level funding, which is about $6-million for the court system.  This after Sacavage sued the county when they wanted to cut $600-thousand from the court’s budget. However the two sides are still negotiating over an additional $200,000 that Sacavage is seeking.  Sawicki says they are wasting taxpayer dollars and an olive branch should be extended by the commissioners to resolve the issue.  (Ali Stevens)

Northumberland County Controller wants open primary, no endorsements

SUNBURY – Northumberland County Controller Chuck Erdman is running for the 108^th District State House Seat and says he wants an open primary.  Erdman says on Monday night at the county Republican party committee meeting, he decided that he would ask the committee not to endorse a candidate in the race for the 108^th district.  He says in his time working with the party over the last 20 years, he’s seen the effects of endorsements, both good and bad. He adds that endorsements can create fractures in the party and that weakens the nominee as they head into the general election and that’s something he would like to avoid in Northumberland County. 

Erdman says his announcement was received very favorably by the Republican Committee.  Erdman says currently he is the only announced Republican candidate for the seat being vacated by State Representative Merle Phillips (R-108^th, Sunbury).  (Ali Stevens)

The Slifer House Museum of Lewisburg has a new director

LEWISBURG – The Slifer House Museum in Lewisburg has announced the hiring of a new director.  Kathryn Balistrieri of Lewisburg has been named director of the museum.  Balistrieri has worked at various museums along the east coast, serving as both director and manager.  The Slifer House Museum is currently closed for re-organization and updating of the exhibits and will re-open in March. 

The Slifer House is a large mansion built in the early 1860’s.  The property is the former home of Eli Slifer, a Lewisburg businessman who served Pennsylvania as a state senator.  It is located on the campus of Riverwoods Senior Living Community.  (Ali Stevens)

Northumberland County upgrading emergency dispatch system

SUNBURY – The Northumberland County Emergency Services Department is busy upgrading their computer dispatching system.  Paul Froutz is director of public safety in Northumberland County and talks about the “CAD” system, which is Computer Aided Dispatch.  Froutz says it’s a great tool for dispatchers to be able to find information such as addresses and phone numbers and supply that information to the responders.  The county’s CAD system will be upgraded to provide Pre-Arrival Instructions, since the county commissioners have approved the purchase of the upgraded system.  The priority dispatch upgrade will allow dispatchers to give pre-arrival instructions such as telling the person to take an aspirin if they think they are having a heart attack or talking the caller through CPR instructions.  The priority dispatch is new technology and relatively new to the area. 

Froutz says they are busy training to get ready for the upgrade. The notification system being put into place will provide mass public notification of weather, shelters, disaster, events and other important information.  The information can then be sent to the cell phones of first responders who are needed on the scene.  (Ali Stevens)

Help the state champs get rings in Selinsgrove

SELINSGROVE – A fundraising dinner is planned to help the Selinsgrove State Champion Football Team pay for championship rings. A spaghetti dinner is being held at the Selinsgrove VFW on February 20^th and the public is encouraged to attend.  The football team will be the ones serving that evening. 

There will be a basket auction at the event at 7 p.m. with championship merchandise to give away and you can also buy merchandise at the dinner.  Tickets are available at a number of businesses in the area including Selinsgrove Ford, Dunkin Donuts, Applebee’s, Heimbach’s Country Store and the Pepper Tree.  Players will also have tickets for sale and you can get them at the door the night of the dinner.  Everyone is encouraged to attend the spaghetti dinner on February 20^th at the Selinsgrove VFW.  The players say they are looking forward to getting championship rings so they can remember this season forever.  (Ali Stevens)

Market Street closed after pedestrian accident in Selinsgrove

SELINSGROVE – Two international students, visiting Susquehanna University, were struck by a car Tuesday afternoon in Selinsgrove. The incident happened around 3:30p.m. along Market Street. Police say the exchange students sustained injuries and were taken to Geisinger Medical Center and those injuries were said to be not life threatening. Police are not disclosing their names.

The Japanese students were part of a group visiting the university. Market Street was closed for about an hour while emergency crews were on the scene. The driver of the vehicle was a juvenile and Selinsgrove police say because of the young age—the driver will not identified. (Ali Stevens)

Attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says subsidies support polluters

LEWISBURG – Bucknell University’s Weis Center was full Tuesday night for an appearance by environmental attorney and best selling author Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The 56-year-old third son of Bobby and Ethel Kennedy admits he supports tighter regulations on companies drilling for natural gas in fields such as the Marcellus Shale. But he says he also supports free markets, and capitalism.

Kennedy says subsidies awarded food and energy companies act against the free market, and are behind the destruction of rivers and mountain ranges. Kennedy says subsidies excuse corporate interests from having to pay production costs and are a decision making force behind virtually all polluters.

Kennedy also believes last month’s US Supreme Court decision, rejecting limits on corporate contributions to political campaigns is potentially as damaging to the environment as the one over 100 years ago that upheld separate but equal public accommodations was to civil rights.

President Barack Obama’s scolding of the court during the State of the Union address last week earned the praise of Kennedy, who initially supported Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination in 2008. Kennedy’s talk titled, “Globalization and the Green Economy; A New Vision for American Leadership and Strength,” was the first spring talk in the university’s series called, “Global Leadership Questions for the 21st Century. (Matt Farrand)

Montour County burglaries may be linked

ANTHONY TWP – Police are investigating a pair of daylight burglaries in Anthony Township, Montour County. The first happened on Magargle Road Monday around 2:00p.m. Someone broke in the home by damaging the door, then rummaged through dressers, cabinets and closets. They removed several jars of various coins valuing about $250.

Not long after, around 3:30p.m., a burglary was reported at a home on Whitehall Road. The incident was similar, with the unknown person going through lock boxes, drawers, dressers and closets. Anyone with information is asked to call Milton State Police. (Sara Bartlett)

State police investigate a theft from a construction site

DANVILLE – State police are investigating a weekend theft from a construction site in Montour County. Troopers tell us someone stole a skid steer loader valued at $15,000 from a construction site in the 1,400 block of Montour Boulevard in Cooper Township. The vehicle is white with red lettering and was taken sometime between January 29th and February 1st. Anyone with information is asked to contact state police at Milton. (Ali Stevens)

State Representative Bob Belfanti will not seek reelection

MOUNT CARMEL – Representative Bob Belfanti (D-107th, Mount Carmel) will not seek reelection. The 62-year-old representative from Mount Carmel made the announcement today that he will not be a candidate for a 16th term. In a statement, Belfanti says his decision waned for the past two weeks, but in the end he needed to think about his family.

He also says his quality of life is certain to continue on a negative path if he doesn’t spend much more time and effort tending to it. Belfanti has served since 1981 and has suffered a host of health problems. Most recently, he was stricken with severe pneumonia that kept him in the hospital in February and March of last year.

Belfanti includes in some of his accomplishments: the conversion of Roosevelt Court into a multi-faceted structure as opposed to condemnation, opening the first legislative constituent services offices in Montour County and Shamokin, KOZ legislation and an industrial park, Reinhart Foods and millions in fire services grants and loans.

In addition, Belfanti says announcements about new industry and family-sustaining jobs will be made in the very near future. Belfanti is the third local representative that has announced his retirement recently. Last month, both Representatives Russ Fairchild (R-85th, Winfield) and Merle Phillips (R-108th, Sunbury) announced that they would not seek reelection.

Man dies while working on Union County billboard

WINFIELD – A Williamsport man was electrocuted while working on a billboard off of Route 15 in Winfield Tuesday morning. Around 7:30a.m., 52-year-old Francis Plocinski, who works with Lamar Advertising, was changing a light bulb on the billboard near Seven Kitchens Road and was electrocuted.

Plocinski was the only worker on the scene, and police were notified by those working at businesses nearby who noticed the man on the billboard. Union County Coroner Wanda Walters pronounced Polcinski dead at the scene. Local fire and rescue crews assisted state Troopers. Police say the electricity was not turned off and the investigation will continue.

NorCoComms: Transportation Department under investigation

SUNBURY – The Northumberland County Commissioners and the county controller said today—the county transportation department is under investigation—but they won’t suspend the director at this time. The issue is over billing—or double billing the state for transportation under the PennDOT Shared Ride program.

Director Dennis Hepler is at the center of the probe, but the commissioner’s board was split on what action to take. Commissioner Vinny Clausi said Hepler is a personal friend of the Commissioner Chairman Frank Sawicki and that Sawicki is protecting him.

Sawicki would only say that he is acquainted with Hepler but no commissioner’s action is appropriate yet until a case is formulated against them and no case has not yet compiled.

Controller Chuck Erdman said the issue is the reimbursement the county seeks form the state and the issue came to light when the Area Agency on Aging was doing recalculating of their billing. He said the trips for senior citizens were inflated and it appears that about $15,000 were intentionally overcharged. He said there was not theft of money that benefited an individual.

But Commissioner Vinny Clausi said the provider of the transportation could benefit from the overbilling—but he would not elaborate. Clausi said ‘transportation’ is another county is another department in his crosshairs and more revelations will come next week.

Former US Attorney, running for congress, appears on OTM

SUNBURY – The former District Attorney in Lycoming County recently announced that he is running for the 10th U.S. Congressional district currently held by Congressman Chris Carney (D-10th, Dimmock).

Tom Marino was a guest on our Tuesday’s On The Mark program and talked about why he has chosen to run for congress. Marino says he wants to run because of how our money is being spent in Washington. He says Nancy Pelosi’s arrogance is obvious, paying no attention to what the public wants.

He says Pelosi doesn’t have to make mortgage payments or worry about paying college tuition like the average American. Marino says the working class is stepping up and letting legislators know that they are the backbone of this country and they are tired of Washington taking money out of their pockets.

And what is Marino’s top priority if elected to office? He says the spending must be stopped. Marino says the deficit has reached heights they never even dreamed of, and once the spending is cut back, taxes need to be cut. Marino says small businesses need to get incentives and this country is run on small businesses.

After serving as District Attorney for several years, Marino was appointed to United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Following that tenure, Marino worked as a business law attorney.

He is a Republican seeking the seat held by a Democrat. Another Republican hoping to face off against Carney is Snyder County Commissioner Malcolm Derk. To hear more comments from Marino from our On The Mark program from Tuesday, listen online at www.wkok.com. (Ali Stevens)

Celebrating Catholic Schools Week

SUNBURY – Celebrations are ongoing throughout the country during Catholic Schools Week. At St. Monica School in Sunbury, kids performed Tuesday for family during grandparent’s day. The school has weeklong events planned including bowling; dress down day and a special Friday mass. 4th graders at St. Monica say this is one of their favorite weeks.

Principal Susan Bickhart says they are very proud of the school that reaches children both spiritually and educationally. Other schools celebrating the week in our area include St. Joseph in Danville and Our Lady of Lourdes in Coal Township.

Crash in Northumberland County injures two

SHAMOKIN TWP – Two people were injured in a crash Tuesday morning in Shamokin Township, Northumberland County. Around 11:55a.m., 67-year-old Marlin Snyder of Elysburg was driving near Short Road when he lost control of his vehicle traveled across an opposite lane and hit an embankment.

Snyder and his passenger, 65-year-old Donna Snyder of Elysburg, sustained injuries and were taken to Sunbury Community Hospital by ambulance. No word on their conditions. Marlin Snyder will be cited for the crash. (Sara Bartlett)

Shamokin woman accused in a destructive hit and run Sunday

SHAMOKIN – A Shamokin woman is facing a number of charges for a hit and run crash Sunday that caused damage to a truck, a home and a utility pole. The News Item reports 18-year-old Patricia Zimmerman crashed into a parked pick-up truck in the 900 block of East Race Street early Sunday morning.

Zimmerman also struck a utility pole in front of a home, knocking the pole onto the front porch of the home. PPL crews were called to the scene and electric service in the area was knocked out due to the accident. The street was closed for several hours following the incident. Zimmerman reportedly fled the scene of the accident and a front seat passenger was not injured. Multiple charges are pending. (Ali Stevens)

Man stole from a volunteer fire and ambulance company

SUNBURY – A Coal Township man has been sentenced to two years probation for stealing thousands of dollars from a volunteer fire and ambulance company. 44-year-old Barry Strausser was charged with stealing about $5,000 from the Fairview Fire and Ambulance Company in Coal Township.

He served as a trustee and emergency medical services chief there. Strausser pleaded no-contest on November 2nd to theft by unlawful taking. He was sentenced to serve the first 90 days of probation on house arrest and must pay $10,000 in restitution. (Ali Stevens)

Guidance counselor reinstated after being terminated in January

SELINSGROVE – A guidance counselor who was terminated in January by the Selinsgrove School Board has been reinstated in the district following protests and petitions. Rob Whyne will be reinstated after the board voted unanimously to grant Whyne a transfer from his position as a guidance counselor to a job as a social studies teacher in the district.

Whyne has worked in the district for 15 years and was terminated January 4th after allowing a student who graduated to return for additional coursework in the summer so they would qualify to compete in NCAA sports.

Whyne claims he didn’t know this was against school policy and was just trying to help a student. Parents, teachers and students rallied in his support with petitions and a page on Facebook. His reinstatement goes into effect on Wednesday, but he will have a pay cut since he is switching from guidance counselor to teacher. (Ali Stevens)

Latest Pennsylvania news, lottery, business and entertainment

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Penn State will move forward with an investigation into a leading climate scientist after an internal inquiry into four possible allegations of research misconduct   A university committee has been looking into the work of meteorology professor Michael Mann since late November, when leaked e-mails were obtained by computer hackers from a British research center. Mann's research has long been a target of criticism by skeptics of man-made global warming theories.  An inquiry report issued Wednesday said an allegation of inappropriate faculty conduct in scientific discourse warrants further investigation.  The report said three other allegations contained "no substance" on which to follow up.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A western Pennsylvania defense attorney wants his client's drug conviction dismissed because one of the jurors wasn't a U.S. citizen, which is a requirement of jurors.  Thomas Shaffer says he didn't know the woman was Canadian when she was chosen for his client's trial last month in Fayette County.  After his client's trial, Shaffer was in another courtroom where the woman was on a panel for another trial and disclosed she was Canadian in response to that judge's questions.  The Fayette County jury commissioner says it was an oversight that the woman got in the jury pool.  A Duquesne University law professor says he's never heard of such a case.  Shaffer will argue for the dismissal at a hearing Thursday.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A former top Pennsylvania House Democratic staff member who says he was involved in a conspiracy to use taxpayer-paid bonuses to illegally reward state workers for campaign activity is back on the witness stand.  Mike Manzo resumed his testimony Wednesday, his second day on the stand.  Former Rep. Mike Veon and three of Veon's former assistants are being tried on charges of theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest.  Manzo is helping prosecutors explain to jurors the significance of e-mails about the bonuses that are being presented as evidence.  Manzo is a one-time chief of staff to former House Democratic leader Bill DeWeese.  The trial opened Monday in Dauphin County court and is expected to last about a month.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A new proposal by President Obama to boost Medicaid payments to states next year could help Pennsylvania deal with another looming budget shortfall. A spokesman for Gov. Ed Rendell said Tuesday that the president's just-released budget would mean another $850 million for Pennsylvania. The proposal still needs congressional approval. Rendell will present his state budget next Tuesday for the fiscal year that starts July 1. As it stands now, the Rendell administration is cutting spending to help offset a projected $450 million shortfall in the current fiscal year. Based on that number, Rendell spokesman Gary Tuma says the state could be facing a $900 million budget hole if spending and revenues are identical next year.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A former chief state Supreme Court justice has been paid $550,000 by three casinos through an organization that he says sought his help in establishing a statewide trade group. Former Justice Stephen Zappala told an unusual session before a joint House-Senate panel that he had not lobbied for the casinos or discussed gambling issues with any sitting Supreme Court justices. Zappala appeared with other Pennsylvania Casino Association officials to answer questions from legislators over why the group wasn't registered under the state's lobbyist disclosure law. Prominent Philadelphia lawyer Richard Sprague started the association in 2007 and says he recruited Zappala because casino executives were more likely to listen to him. So far, only three of the state's 12 casino licensees have joined the group.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A major prosecution witness in the legislative corruption trial in Harrisburg says former House Democratic whip Mike Veon gave the go-ahead to pay legislative employees bonuses if they campaigned for House Democrats. Mike Manzo testified Tuesday that he ran a list of potential bonus recipients past Veon sometime in 2004. At the time, Manzo was the chief of staff to Democratic Floor Leader Bill DeWeese, and Veon was the second-ranking caucus leader. Manzo testified that Veon "said OK" to the plan that has spawned an investigation in which 25 people, including Manzo and Veon, were arrested. Veon is on trial in Harrisburg with three of his former aides. Manzo pleaded guilty to related charges last month.

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) - Punxsutawney Phil might be an expert at shadow spotting, but texting? Not so much. About two hours after the famous groundhog "saw" his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter, the rodent's inaugural stab at text-messaging appeared. Phil also sent a Twitter update at about that time. Officials with the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club didn't immediately return calls about Phil's texting skills. German tradition holds that if a hibernating animal sees its shadow on Feb. 2 - the Christian holiday of Candlemas - winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend says spring will come early. The Inner Circle annually announces Phil's forecast at dawn on Gobbler's Knob, about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - State police say they may have made the biggest drug bust in Pennsylvania's history over the weekend after pulling over a truck loaded with between two and three tons of marijuana. State Police Major Huascar Rivera says troopers pulled over a tractor trailer loaded with marijuana in Lebanon County after it failed to stop at a weigh station on Interstate 81 on Sunday. Rivera said Monday they found six plywood crates containing between 4,000 and 6,000 pounds of marijuana hidden behind other boxes. He says the drugs have a street value between $10 and $25 million. The truck's driver and a passenger are being held on $1 million bail. Authorities identified them as 35-year-old Eric Emmanuel of Pembroke Pines, Fla. and 34-year-old Stanley Narcisse of Wintergarden, Fla. Police continue to investigate.

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

Update on the latest in business:

Dow: - 26.83 (10,270.02)

S&P 500: - 6.42 (1,096.90)

NASDAQ: + 0.50 (2,190.56

LaHood says he misspoke on advice to Toyota owners

WASHINGTON (AP) - Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood now says he misspoke when telling owners of recalled Toyotas to stop driving them.  Instead, LaHood says take the vehicles to dealerships to get them repaired.  LaHood told reporters it was "obviously a misstatement" when he told a House panel earlier Wednesday that he would advise owners not to drive recalled vehicles. The remark came during testimony to the Appropriations subcommittee on transportation.  Toyota's most recent recall in the United States affects 2.3 million vehicles with the potential for sticking gas pedals.

Top 3 Cadbury officials to step down

LONDON (AP) - Three top officials at Cadbury PLC have announced their intention to step down, after the British candy maker's shareholders approved Kraft Foods Inc.'s roughly $19.5 billion offer to acquire the company.  Todd Stitzer leaves his post as chief executive officer, following a 27-year career at the company, Cadbury said. Chief Financial Officer Andrew Bonfield, who joined the company last year, and Chairman Roger Carr also said they were resigning.  The effective date of the three men's resignation has not been determined, Cadbury said Wednesday.  Kraft announced Tuesday that nearly 72 percent of Cadbury shareholders voted in support of the deal - the final step in creating a merged global food giant.

PA Lottery

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

Megaplier

     4

Midday Big 4

     4-2-2-0

Midday Number

     8-3-8

Midday Quinto

     8-1-4-3-2

Treasure Hunt

     04-07-17-23-29

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

 Kim Clijsters reinvented as a Barbie doll

BRUSSELS (AP) - Now little Jada will still have her mother to play with, even when Kim Clijsters is off competing in Grand Slam tournaments.  The tennis star was immortalized as a Barbie doll Wednesday, and her daughter Jada is also now available in a mini-version of the doll phenomenon that has spanned generations.  Clijsters said in a statement: "When I was a young girl I played with my Barbie dolls ... My family means everything to me, so I was really excited when I found out that Jada would also receive her very own 'Jada Barbie' doll."  Jada, almost 2, caught the world's attention at the U.S. Open last September when celebrating her mother's victory at Flushing Meadows.  There was no version available of Clijsters' husband, Brian Lynch, as Ken.

 Jackson lawyer: Doctor should face murder charge

NEW YORK (AP) - The family attorney of Michael Jackson says an involuntary manslaughter charge against the pop singer's personal physician would be insufficient.  Brian Oxman calls the charge, with its maximum jail sentence of four years, "just a slap on the wrist."  Jackson's death on June 25 came after Dr. Conrad Murray administered the powerful anesthetic propofol and two other sedatives, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office, which ruled the death a homicide.  Murray is ready to surrender to authorities if prosecutors file charges, according to his attorney, Ed Chernoff.  Murray says nothing he gave the singer should have killed him.  But Jackson attorney Oxman tells CBS' "The Early Show" on Wednesday that Murray displayed recklessness in dispensing the drugs, warranting a second-degree murder charge.

'Avatar' tops $600M, beats 'Titanic' domestic haul

LOS ANGELES (AP) - James Cameron's "Avatar" has sailed past his blockbuster "Titanic" to become No. 1 on the all-time domestic box-office chart.  "Avatar" climbed to $601.1 million domestically on Tuesday, putting it a fraction ahead of the $600.8 million haul for “Titanic."  With more than $2 billion worldwide, Cameron's sci-fi sensation shattered the global box-office record of $1.84 billion held by "Titanic" last week.  "Avatar" still has plenty of box-office life left. It passed $600 million domestically on its 47th day of release. Back in 1998, "Titanic" was at barely half that amount - $311 million – after its 47th day in theaters.  Factoring in today's higher admission prices, "Titanic" still has sold more tickets than "Avatar."