Saturday, May 24, 2008
Memorial Day drivers face record high prices
SHAMOKIN DAM – Gasoline prices in the Central Susquehanna Valley area usually are close to the national average. That’s currently a record high of about $3.90 for a gallon of unleaded regular. The cost of fuel is on the mind of many drivers along the Route 11 & 15 strip, and they’re also finding fault with who they believe is responsible. That includes President Bush and the petroleum exporting nations.
Some drivers are driving less and others compensating in other areas, but the vacation plans of at least one driver is unchanged. He plans to take his family to World’s End State Park as they annually do. You’ll find even higher fuel prices in the southeastern portion of the state. A Mid-Atlantic AAA survey shows regular unleaded gasoline was selling above $4 per gallon Friday morning in five counties around the Philadelphia area. The highest was $4.299 at a filling station in New Hope, Bucks County.
AAA says prices likely will change throughout the weekend. Prices in excess of $4 gallon are average in seven states - Alaska, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan and New York. (Matt Farrand)
St Pius X parish dedicates, opens new church building
SELINSGROVE – Less than a year-and-a-half after groundbreaking, the parish of St. Pius X is now officially using its new church building on Fairview Avenue, Selinsgrove. Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Diocese of Harrisburg dedicated the $5.5 million dollar structure Saturday afternoon. The bishop says the spiritual aim of any church building is to provide a suitable place to worship God. Father Ted Keating is the local pastor and says the new building represents the dedication of the parish to the members of the future.
The sanctuary seats more than 700 and features stained glass windows purchased from a now-closed parish in New Jersey. The church building sits atop a hill overlooking Selinsgrove, and also contains classrooms, a library, a social hall and a kitchen. Father Keating notes the church building the parish used since 1959 is being sold to Susquehanna University for $1.1 million dollars. It is on University Avenue, across from the campus. (Matt Farrand)
Governor “oks” $2.5 million for Shikellamy State Park Marina building
SUNBURY – Local legislators are pleased that the Shikellamy State Park Marina building project is moving forward thanks to a grant from Governor Ed Rendell. State Representative Merle Phillips says the $2.5 million boost into the state’s capital budget is a step in the right direction. Phillips says Rendell’s commitment to the project shows that the Governor thinks it is worthwhile for the region.
The marina building will be used by a number of agencies for environmental study labs for six area colleges, offices for the Chesapeake Bay Commission, displays by the Fish and Boat Commission and more. Phillips says the next step is to finish the architectural drawings for the building and then go out for bids and assess where the project is financially. (Sara Bartlett)
The Valley’s local leadership school is looking for enrollees
SUNBURY – Are you a natural born leader? The Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce is once again planning to offer the Leadership Susquehanna Valley class. The wide range of experiences would be helpful for people of all ages, according to Ryan Unger, a senior program analyst at SEDA-COG.
Unger is a graduate of the Leadership program and is now on the Leadership board, and he he told us, their goal is to educate the members of the class about our region and prepare the students for community leadership. Also on the program, several other ‘leadership’ personnel and graduates. You can hear more about the leadership class this weekend on our Roundtable program. You can hear Roundtable (Sunday) on:
n Eagle 107 (107.3FM) at 6a.m.
n 100.9, The Valley, at 6a.m.
n WKOK at 9a.m.
n Talkradio 1380 WMLP, 11a.m.
n 94KX at 11p.m.
n And anytime, at www.wkok.com
One Lewisburg business owner not too happy about “Core Initiative” program downtown
LEWISBURG – Big plans are in the works for downtown Lewisburg in an effort to connect the Bucknell University campus with the town. Barbara Ross is the owner of Wilson Ross, an antique store in downtown Lewisburg that sits in the 400 block of Market Street where a proposed Barnes & Noble bookstore may soon be located. She isn’t too happy about the idea, as her store will most likely be closed.
The Lewisburg Core Community Initiative has plans to close the Bucknell bookstore on campus, replacing it with a three-story commercial bookstore at the corner of Market & 4th Streets downtown. It’s just one of the many proposed ideas to connect the campus with the town and create more foot traffic. Bucknell officials have previously said that the initiative would help local shops, and for the ones who would have to close, they would get help in relocating elsewhere in Lewisburg. Ross says she doesn’t need help relocating, it’s the financial aspect that affects her and moving off the prime location of Market Street will probably put the store out of business.
Ross, who rents her space, says she was approached by the building’s owner with an offer to buy, but the store couldn’t afford it. She says she doesn’t blame the building owner for wanted to sell it, and doesn’t blame Bucknell for wanting to buy it. Other business owners in Lewisburg seem to have a positive outlook on the initiative and are grateful that Bucknell is willing to help make the downtown thrive. A meeting for business owners and the public to learn more about the Lewisburg Core Community Initiative will be held Thursday May 29th at 7:00p.m. in the Parkview at 6th and Market Streets. (Sara Bartlett)
Half-gallon pricing okayed for older fuel pumps
HARRISBURG – With gasoline prices exceeding $4 per gallon in some areas, older fuel pumps may display half gallon prices in coming weeks. The total cost will remain the same, and the consumer will pay double the price on the pump, according to state officials. Some older, non-digital fuel dispensers cannot compute prices exceeding $3.99, making it necessary to allow half-gallon pricing until upgrades can be made.
Signs advertising fuel prices must still advertise the price for a full gallon of unleaded or diesel, but the price displayed on the pump will be half the per-gallon price. Half-gallon pricing was widespread in the early 1980’s when the price of motor fuel went over $1 per gallon for the first time. (Matt Farrand)
Giving pay raises to several employees in Snyder County
MIDDLEBURG – 39 Snyder County employees will see their pay go up, effective June 1st. Snyder County Commissioner Malcolm Derk says the salary board approved pay raises for employees that were not being fairly compensated, with the pay scale now based on years of service to the county. Judge Harold Woeful, the chief probation officer and the director of tax claims came up with more than $67,000 from their departments to cover the cost of the employee raises. Commissioner Derk says minority commissioner Richard Bickhart was against the increases, saying he didn’t want to spend the money.
Derk says under the old pay scale, Sheriff’s deputies were being paid less than some administrative positions. With the pay increases approved, the deputies will now be paid the same as probation officers. (Ali Stevens)
Shamokin man facing up to 30 years in prison for selling drugs
SUNBURY – A Shamokin man was found guilty on a number of drug charges today (Friday) and now faces up to 30 years in prison. 46-year-old Daniel Ruskuski Sr. allegedly sold 22-year-old Hank Millard of Catawissa two patches of the painkiller Fentanyl in 2005. Millard reportedly took the drugs and was found dead in his home the next day. A toxicology report showed Millard’s death was due to an overdose of drugs. Ruskuski denied any involvement with the death.
In Northumberland County Court, Ruskuski was found guilty on charges of delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver, criminal use of communication and criminal conspiracy. Because of his prior convictions of drug delivery, Ruskuski could face a maximum of 30 years in prison. He will be sentence in the coming weeks. (Sara Bartlett)
All charges going to court for man who burned down his house
MIDDLEBURG – All charges will go to court for the Mt. Pleasant Mills man accused of burning down his own house last month. 47-year-old Wayne Roemer appeared at a preliminary hearing in front of District Justice Willis Savidge Friday. He faces a felony count of arson and a misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment. Roemer admitted to setting the fire, which destroyed the home and caused $150,000 in damages. He is in Snyder County Prison on $100,000 bail and is scheduled for a trial in July. (Sara Bartlett)
Barnyard improvements to be funded by Farm Bill
HARRISBURG – The Senate completed the override of a presidential veto Thursday, and enacted the Farm Bill. Pennsylvania Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Matt Erhart says it includes $480 million dollars over five years to maintain watershed quality of the bay region. It includes conservation funding such as barnyard improvements for small farms, enabling them to water livestock while preventing the herd from fouling streams.
Erhart is based in Harrisburg and notes it will take awhile for upstream improvements to be noticed in the Bay itself. The 82-13 vote in the Senate followed a 316-108 vote in the House Wednesday night. However, not all of the bill is becoming law right away because of a printing error. The version the president vetoed was missing 34 pages on international food aid and trade. That mistake may require Congress to send the White House yet another bill. (Matt Farrand)
Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:
WASHINGTON (AP) - A video clip has surfaced of Democratic U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski saying that his party "sort of stretched the facts" before the 2006 election. Speaking in Ashley, Pa., in August, Kanjorski said his party didn't say, but implied, that Democrats could stop the Iraq war if they took control of Congress. The northeastern Pennsylvania congressman handily won a 12th term two years ago when Democrats swept control of the House and Senate. This election, he faces a Republican opponent with name recognition. The challenger, Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta, is known for a local crackdown of illegal immigration. Barletta says Kanjorski betrayed voters' trust. Kanjorski says when he spoke in August, he was sharing the frustrations of his constituents that the war in Iraq was continuing.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - With gas prices going over $4 a gallon in some areas of Pennsylvania, it's not just a problem for consumers. Some older gas pumps can't display a price above $3.99. So Pennsylvania is joining other states in allowing gas stations with those older pumps to temporarily have the pump set to the price for half a gallon of gas. The price on the pump is multiplied by two before the customer pays. The price of a full gallon has to be on the sign drivers see from the street. The state estimates that fewer than 500 gas pumps statewide have this problem. Half-gallon pricing was in widespread use decades ago, when the price of gas went above $1 for the first time.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Harrisburg police have arrested five juveniles who allegedly tried to rob an undercover police officer posing as a pizza deliveryman. The incident began around 10:35 p.m. Wednesday when a Domino's pizza store received a phone call for a delivery. Employees recognized the phone number from a delivery attempt Tuesday night, which was called off after the deliveryman felt he was in danger of being robbed. Instead of delivering the pizza pie, employees called police. A Harrisburg police officer stepped in to pose as the deliveryman and uniformed officers arrested five males, 14 to 15 years of age, who allegedly tried to rob him. One of them, police say, was armed with a BB gun. The teens were charged and are being held at the Schaffner Detention Center.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Friday in the Pennsylvania State Lottery:
FRIDAY NIGHT
Daily Number
0-7-7
Big 4
8-7-7-1
FRIDAY MIDDAY
Daily Number
9-4-3
Big 4
8-9-5-9
Treasure Hunt
2-20-22-27-28
The winning numbers drawn Friday in the "Pennsylvania Cash 5" game were: 06-10-14-30-32.
The winning numbers drawn Friday in the "Pennsylvania Match 6 Lotto" game: 16-17-35-37-43-46.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)