Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Michetti in the race

HERNDON – The first Democrat has announced his intentions to run for the seat being vacated for the retiring Merle Phillips (R-108^th, Sunbury).  Attorney Antonio Michetti, of Herndon, announced he will make a run for the 108^th District seat.  Michetti calls himself someone who will challenge Harrisburg to make much needed legislative reform.  He also says if elected he would focus on revitalizing local infrastructure.  As a RN, Michetti also says he has a better understanding of the community’s healthcare needs.

Michetti joins the race with three Republicans: Northumberland County Controller Chuck Erdman, former Northumberland County Commissioner Sam Deitrick and Wood-Mode employee Stanley Geiswhite of Sunbury.

New D-A targets youth for more aid

MIDDLEBURG – Selinsgrove resident Michael Piecuch was sworn in as Snyder County District Attorney Tuesday.  He takes over for former DA Mike Sholley, who is now Union-Snyder County Judge.  Sholley, along with Judge Harold Woelfel and Judge Louise Knight presided over the ceremony Tuesday morning at the Snyder County Courthouse.  Piecuch, who was joined by his wife and daughter, says he is looking forward to taking over district attorney duties.  He says he has experience working with DA’s from all over and is excited to bring that here to Snyder County.

Piecuch says he wants to continue practices already in place in the court system, including drug and DUI treatment court, as well as a youth aid panel that is aimed to reduce recidivism.  Piecuch is also the Director and Legal Resource Prosecutor for the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute.  He will finish out this term as Snyder County DA, which ends in 2012. 

Local benefits of Food Checkout Day

DANVILLE – The Danville Ronald McDonald House received more than $20,000 worth of donated food and other items from the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau today. 

Today is Food Check Out Day, the day that Pennsylvania Farm Bureau says the average American family has earned enough money since the start of the year to pay for their food for the entire year.  Ronald McDonald House Development Manager Ann Blugis says Food Check-Out Day is also the day that the Farm Bureau delivers donated food and other products to five locations statewide. 

Blugis says the contributions are important to the successful operation of the house that provides a living space for families of critically ill children treated at Geisinger Medical Center.  This is the 12^th year the Farm Bureau has donated food and other products to the Ronald McDonald houses across the state.  Last year’s donations were valued at more than $16,000 and today’s donations totaled more than $20,000. 

45 pot plants found in burning home--growers gone

SHAMOKIN – While firefighters were putting out a blaze that damaged a home in Shamokin late Friday night, police discovered more than 45 marijuana plants in the home.  The News Item reports 47 plants were removed by police from a home at 449 S. Harrison Street in Shamokin.  The fire at the home started around 9:40 p.m. 

Police say the pot plants belong to 37-year-old Christopher Elliott and his son, neither of whom have been located since the fire. The fire was ruled accidental, electrical in nature.  So far no charges have been filed.  An adjoining home sustained minor damage in the fire.  (Ali Stevens)

ACLU: Sexting not a felony

UNDATED – District Attorneys across the state are working hard to cut back on “sexting” amongst high school students.   However, a staff attorney with the state American Civil Liberties Union says the punishment for offenders is too harsh.  An example of “sexting” is teens taking inappropriate pictures of themselves and then sending them to people. 

Valerie Burch of the ACLU in Harrisburg says they filed for an injunction against the District Attorney of Wyoming County for threatening teen girls that sent topless photos of themselves, which were sent to classmates. 

The offenders now face felony child pornography offenses.  Burch says a felony offense for “sexting” is “over the top” and will ruin the rest of a teenager’s life.  Burch was a guest on Tuesday’s On The Mark program talking about “sexting” and many other topics.  You can listen to the program online at www.wkok.com.  (Ali Stevens)

Popular fundraiser returns to raise money for Camp Cadet

LEWISBURG – A popular fundraiser is coming up next week to raise money for Camp Cadet, the annual camp for children interested in learning more about law enforcement.  Trooper Matt Burrows helps organize and run the summer camp each year and says he looks forward to their February fundraiser at Applebee’s in Lewisburg. 

The event features state and local police officers working at Applebee’s for the night with all tips collected going to Camp Cadet. Burrows says they are already preparing for this year’s camp at Susquehanna University June 20^th-25^th.  He says they are now in the process of accepting applications from prospective campers.

The website to download an application is www.svlecc.com, which is short for Susquehanna Valley Law Enforcement Camp Cadet.  The camp is for boys and girls ages 12 to 15 and is free for campers. Celebrity server night is Thursday, February 24^th at Applebee’s in Lewisburg from 5 to 9 p.m. A 5K race will also be held on May 8^th at the Lewisburg Penitentiary.  Applications for the 5K can also be found on the Camp Cadet website. (Ali Stevens)

Snow cleanup in Sunbury
 

Resignation effective

SUNBURY – Northumberland County Transportation Director Dennis Hepler has resigned. Northumberland County Commissioner Vinny Clausi tells us the move was effective Monday. Hepler is accused of overcharging the Area Agency on Aging and PennDOT’s Shared Ride program. He admitted to overcharging nearly $15,000 and said he wanted to recoup lost money in the transportation department.

Clausi says they will now advertise for a new transportation director. He tells us he is willing to increase the salary for the position, in order to get someone in charge that has expertise. Clausi also says Hepler’s resignation helps the county move in a new direction, and that this was the last county department he was looking to ‘clean up.’

Home destroyed by fire 

HARTLETON – A two-story home in Hartley Township, Union County was destroyed by fire Monday afternoon. The blaze broke out around 1:00p.m. at the Steve Noggle residence at Creek and Ranck Road along Penns Creek.

John Heiges is Fire Chief of the Mifflinburg Hose Company and says flames were shooting through the roof when they arrived on scene. He said the blaze had already run its way through the home. The fire is not suspicious and a state police fire marshal will be at the scene this week. The fire was thought to start in the back of the home near the area of a wood-fired boiler. Neighbors discovered the fire and called 911.

Noggle and his wife were not home at the time. No injuries were reported, though two small dogs did die in the blaze. Heiges says the home is a complete loss. Assisting Mifflinburg on the scene was New Berlin, Penns Creek and Middleburg fire crews. (Sara Bartlett)

Casimir only Democrat in 85th District State House field

LEWISBURG – A Lewisburg Borough Council member says people largely support his desire to be elected to higher office. But, Democrat Trey Casimir says constituents still expect him to do his job on the council and as a director of the Lewisburg Area Recreation Authority.

The Lewisburg acupuncturist is running for the state house seat now held by retiring Republican Russ Fairchild (R-85th – Winfield). Casimir announced his intentions earlier this month, and to date is the only Democrat in the race.

He says tough economic times offer an opportunity for public institutions and private citizens to each do more with less, “rightsizing,” rather than “downsizing.” Three Republicans are vying for the GOP nomination. Casimir ran unsuccessfully for the 23rd District State Senate seat in 2006. (Matt Farrand)

Kriner facing more charges

MILTON – As expected, the man charged with stealing from the Milton Alumni Association has now been charged with stealing thousands of dollars from the Milton Harvest Festival. 61-year-old Dale Kriner is charged with theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property for stealing more than $9,000 from the festival while working as their treasurer.

Kriner admitted to police that he stole the money because he was having financial problems after he claims to have helped a man from Nigeria return to the United States. Kriner says he met the man in an Internet chat room and lent him the money, but then realized he wasn’t coming to the U.S. and kept the money.

Kriner is also accused of stealing close to $10,000 from the Milton alumni association and is expected to plead guilty to those charges in March. He’s locked up in the Northumberland County Prison. (Ali Stevens)

Sunbury man runs for 108th district seat

SUNBURY – A Sunbury man is the latest to announce his candidacy for the 108th legislative district seat currently held by Merle Phillips (R-108th, Sunbury). Stanley Geiswhite plans to make a run for the seat. Geiswhite has been employed at Wood-Mode for 17 years.

He says he thinks he can continue the great work done by Phillips. Geiswhite says he will work with current businesses and try to bring new ones into the district. He also wants to increase voter participation. Geiswhite joins fellow Republicans Sam Deitrick, former Northumberland County Commissioner, and Chuck Erdman, Northumberland County Controller, in the race for the 108th district seat. (Sara Bartlett)

State budget deliberations continue

DANVILLE – Following Governor Ed Rendell’s budget presentation last week, the Director of Government Affairs for the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce is trying to break down the proposed $29 billion spending plan. John Callahan was a recent speaker in front of members of the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Callahan says the 2010-2011 budget being negotiated leaves the state about $525 million in the hole, and while that’s less than the current budget, it’s still something to take into consideration. Callahan says Rendell also made his budget presentation based on the assumption that there will be federal fund help.

42% of the general fund in the proposal is for education, and Callahan says the Governor will also want to increase that percentage. Budget deliberations continue in Harrisburg. Rendell’s plan comes amid a recession that is cutting deeply into state tax collections, and the sale of many services may be taxed for the first time. (Sara Bartlett)

Fatal crash near Mifflinburg

MIFFLINBURG – A Penns Creek man died after a crash early Monday morning on Route 104 outside of Mifflinburg. Around 5:50a.m., Union County Coroner Wanda Walters pronounced 52-year-old Leon Bowersox Jr. dead at the scene.

Bowersox was driving on Route 104 when his vehicle began sliding on the icy roadway, and into the opposite lane. He hit a vehicle driven by 40-year-old Jeffrey Maurer of Mifflinburg head-on. Maurer was not injured in the crash. Milton State Police say Bowersox was speeding and was killed on impact. Route 104 was closed for several hours while emergency crews were on the scene. (Sara Bartlett)

Latest Pennsylvania news, lottery, business and entertainment

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) - U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is remembering congressman John Murtha at his Pennsylvania funeral as a friend to men and women in the military.  Pelosi spoke at Tuesday's service and says Murtha's vocal opposition to the Iraq War in 2005 taught people "to make a difference between the war and the warrior." Murtha died Feb. 8 at age 77 after complications from gallbladder surgery.  U.S. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway says he will remember Murtha as a fellow marine, patriot and a great American.  A large congressional delegation attended the funeral, as did former President Bill Clinton.  Murtha was the powerful head of the House appropriations defense subcommittee. He became the first Vietnam veteran elected to Congress after taking control of the seat in Pennsylvania's 12^th district in 1974.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's beer-sales law is among the nation's most restrictive and is proving near-impossible to change.  But a state senator said Tuesday that he will try again to loosen it and allow six-pack sales at beer distributors, groceries and conveniences stores.  Similar legislation pressed by Sen. John Rafferty of Montgomery County collapsed a couple years ago amid feuding between the stores, distributors, brewers and others.  Pennsylvania's law currently only allows six-pack sales in places where a patron can also drink beer. Distributors only sell cases and kegs.  But over the past year, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has approved a number of liquor licenses for grocery stories that have dining areas.

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - A woman accused of placing foreign exchange students in filthy homes in northeastern Pennsylvania has pleaded guilty to child endangerment.  Edna Burgette pleaded guilty Tuesday to three misdemeanor counts.  Burgette placed exchange students in homes around Scranton as a coordinator for the Aspect Foundation. Authorities say some of the students were malnourished and living in deplorable conditions.  Sentencing guidelines call for probation to several months in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.  Lackawanna County Assistant District Attorney Gene Talerico says he's pleased that the 70-year-old Burgette has accepted responsibility, avoiding a trial that would have forced the students to return from their home countries to testify.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A former top staff aide for Pennsylvania House Democrats says he's not proud of his role in a scheme to dole out illegal taxpayer-paid bonuses to encourage employees to work on elections.  Former director of staffing and administration Scott Brubaker testified Tuesday that he wishes he had been courageous enough to oppose something he knew was wrong.  Brubaker was answering questions from defense lawyers in week three of the corruption trial.  Former House Democratic whip Mike Veon and three former aides are on trial for theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest.  Brubaker says he tried to hide the scheme from investigators by deleting spreadsheets and e-mails from his computer.  Brubaker is the third witness to appear in the Dauphin County Courtroom. He pleaded guilty last month to similar charges.

ROSTRAVER, Pa. (AP) - The owner of the western Pennsylvania ice skating rink where a roof collapsed won't reopen anytime soon, though a pub and banquet facilities could reopen soon. Rostraver Ice Garden owner Jim Murphy says he believes excessive snow over the past 10 days appears to have caused a wooden truss to break on Sunday afternoon. The rink was hosting a youth hockey tournament at the time, but no one was injured. About 100 people were inside at the time. Murphy says a building inspector was expected Monday. He didn't have a cost estimate of damages. The rink is in the middle of facility, which was built in 1965, and is flanked by a banquet hall and a pub. Murphy says those sections weren't damaged.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Former Pennsylvania treasurer and auditor general Barbara Hafer says she has decided to enter the race to succeed the late Rep. Jack Murtha. Hafer told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the pa2010.com Web site on Monday that after talking with Democratic leaders, she has decided to go forward with a campaign. Hafer said she would never be able "to fill Murtha's shoes, but would be honored to follow him." She said, however, she would change her mind if the late congressman's widow, Joyce Murtha, were to decide to run. Other possible Democratic candidates include former lieutenant governor Mark Singel, state Sen. John Wozniak and Westmoreland County Commissioner Tom Ceraso. Possible GOP hopefuls include retired Army Lt. Col. William Russell, who ran against Murtha in 2008, and Eighty Four businessman Tim Burns.

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

Updates on the latest in business

Dow: 10,236.62, up 137.48

S&P 500: 1,091.38, up 15.87

NASDAQ: 2,208.36, up 24.83

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Transportation Department is formally demanding documents related to Toyota's massive recalls in the U.S. It wants to know if the automaker conducted three of its recalls in a timely manner.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The nation's largest shopping mall owner, Simon Property Group, has made a $10 billion hostile bid to acquire ailing rival General Growth Properties. The acquisition would allow General Growth to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The National Association of Home Builders' housing market index rose two points in February. The increase is a sign that low interest rates and federal tax credits for buyers have given builder sentiment a boost.

(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

     2-9-8-3

 Midday Number

     9-9-3

 Midday Quinto

     5-8-3-4-5

 Treasure Hunt

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

Big 4 0-4-4-6

Cash 5 02-16-26-30-33

Daily Number 7-8-3

Evening Quinto 6-6-9-5-6 (six, six, nine, five, six)

Midday Big 4 6-8-3-1

Midday Number 4-8-2

Midday Quinto 5-8-1-1-9

Mix and Match 17-04-12-16-01

Treasure Hunt 13-19-25-26-30

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

Dickens' dog collar fetches $11,590 in NYC auction

NEW YORK (AP) - A dog collar that belonged to Charles Dickens has fetched $11,590 at a New York City auction.  The leather and brass collar is inscribed with Dickens' name. It had been estimated to sell at $4,000 to $6,000. The buyer's name was not immediately disclosed.  The collar was auctioned Tuesday at Bonhams New York's sale of dog art.  Like many Victorians, the author of "David Copperfield" and "A Tale of Two Cities" was fond of dogs.  Last year, an ivory and gold toothpick that belonged to Dickens sold for $9,150 at auction.

Olympics…Canada’s new hero

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) - They're calling him "Alexandre the Great." Alexandre Bilodeau is Canada's new hero. Bilodeau ended what some called the Olympic curse by winning Canada's first gold medal on home turf – or rather home snow. His victory in the moguls is also bringing some fringe benefits. The prime minister called with congratulations.  There are plans to issue commemorative coins and stamps in his honor. And the 22-year-old Bilodeau is even getting marriage proposals on Twitter.

You’re so vain

Panel passes on religious exemption bill

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma lawmakers have taken no action on a bill that would prohibit facial recognition and digital fingerprinting technology on drivers licenses if people have religious objections. The measure by state Rep. Sally Kern was considered by a state House subcommittee on Monday. But the panel's chairman, Rep. Randy Terrill, released the bill without a vote. He noted that the bill would cost between $8 million and $37 million at a time when the state is facing a budget shortfall. Terrill said the bill can still be heard in the House Appropriations Committee. Under the bill, those applying for a license could object to enrollment in an international biometric identification system on religious grounds.

Extreme Igloo

AQUILLA, Ohio (AP) - It's quite the man cave. Jimmy Grey says he's been out of work for almost a year and needed a project to stay busy. So with the heavy snowfall this winter, the 25-year-old laborer got to work on an extreme igloo in his family's yard in Aquilla, about 30 miles east of Cleveland. His four-room creation has 6-foot ceilings and an entertainment room. He powers the TV with an extension cord plugged into an outlet in the garage. He also ran wires for cable television with surround-sound stereo. Grey says candles help add ambiance for nighttime get-togethers with friends, and the freezing temperatures mean that the beer never goes warm.

IN THE NEWS: SWINE FLU-TECHNOLOGY

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Your iPhone could be a flu-fighter. HealthMap Outbreaks Near Me is among scores of apps and other digital tools giving consumers new ways to share information and keep tabs on swine flu and other health threats. Along with the apps, there are social networks, Wikipedia and flu-tracking sites. Consumers now can help paint a fuller picture of what's happening and complement the often delayed and restrained announcements from health officials. But there are concerns. These digital tools could create mass panic from unreliable reports. The public is often unfamiliar with medical terminology and can mistake ordinary colds for more serious illnesses.