Big Rt. 15 project underway...No long delays yet

WINFIELD – In spite of one less travel lane, traffic flowed smoothly through a PennDOT construction zone in Winfield Friday afternoon. The project that will cost nearly $3.1 million dollars is in its first week and will improve both the north and southbound sides of Route 15.

The highway will be widened, resurfaced and milled. A left turn lane will be added, and the rail crossing connecting a grain depot with the Union County Industrial Railroad will be replaced. Officials expect the project to be completed by November.

However, heavy local traffic was seen in downtown Lewisburg as summertime activities were apparent in the borough. Drivers on Market Street had to wait for several turns of the lights at Third and Fourth Streets before proceeding. (Matt Farrand)

Target Corp. distribution center still “on hold”

ALLENWOOD – There is no change in the status of the Target Corporation distribution center, once proposed for Gregg Township, Union County. The project that would have employed several hundred people is still on hold, according to Union County Commissioner John Showers.

Hopes that the project would again move forward were raised after improvements were completed at the intersection that would have directed traffic to the center. However, PennDOT’s upgrade of signals and resurfacing of Route 15 near the Allenwood Federal Prison Complex remained on the books in spite of Target’s decision to shelve the project. Plans to build the distribution center were initially announced in 2006, but were put on hold after the credit crunch and business slowdown of 2008. (Matt Farrand)

Medicine drop off today

LEWISBURG -- A safe medication drop off is being held today (Saturday) in Lewisburg. Jo Mueller, of Home Instead Senior Care, says the 'Mission Medicine' purpose is twofold. It helps loved ones from taking unnecessary prescriptions, but it is also the 'green' thing to do.

Mueller says medicine should not be flushed, because it is not good for the water. It also should not be thrown away because it takes too long to disintegrate at a landfill. She says the safest way to dispose is through incineration.

The Lewisburg Police Department will collect all of the prescriptions and safely dispose of them. The prescription drop off is open to anyone and will take place from 8:00a.m.-2:00p.m. in the CVS parking lot along Route 15 and Buffalo Road in Lewisburg. (Sara Bartlett)

Selinsgrove store may shut its doors

SELINSGROVE -- A business in downtown Selinsgrove is in danger of closing its doors. Sherrie Bolig is the owner of Sarah-Kate Interiors and says the economy has really slowed down sales, but she can't afford to go bankrupt.

Bolig, who has owned the store for 21 years, says small businesses are the heart of downtown, yet there is little help for them. An upcoming fundraiser for the store will be hosted by downtown Selinsgrove. It includes a huge sale where buyers can also be registered for free gifts such as local dinners, hotel stays and amusement park tickets.

There will also be a fundraising lunch at Sarah's Tea Cup and a special 'celebrity scoop ' event at Kate's Kreamery. The fundraiser takes place June 17th, 18th and 19th, and all are invited. Bolig says she hopes the fundraiser, along with a boost in summer sales may help the store stay open. (Sara Bartlett)

Swerving bus driver charged

KULPMONT -- Blood tests show the bus driver seen driving erratically last month in Kulpmont had taken three types of prescription medication. 37-year-old Melissa Tehansky of Coal Township was charged on counts including endangering the welfare of children, possession of misbranded drugs, driving under the influence and numerous traffic violations.

Tehansky, operating a Mount Carmel Area school bus, had just dropped off the last children on her bus route May 19th when she was seen swerving on Route 61, running a red light and striking a street sign. Police found she illegally possessed four types of prescription medications including anxiety pills, anti-depressants and opiate treatment pills. Tehansky was arraigned and released on $20,000 bail. (Sara Bartlett)

Ground broken: Amphitheater work begins in Sunbury

SUNBURY -- The dream of having a river front amphitheater is closer to being realized now that ground was broken Friday for the second phase of Sunbury's Riverfront Project. This is the river phase which will provide riverbank stabilization, repairs to the floodwall and more.

State Representative Merle Phillips (R-108th, Sunbury) has assisted with the project since its inception and says the idea began while boating one day. He says the tremendous resource of the Susquehanna River was being overlooked.

This is the river phase which will provide riverbank stabilization, repairs to the floodwall and the building of an amphitheater, boat launch and new access road. U.S. Congressman Chris Carney (D-10th, Dimock) also helped to break ground, he called the Susquehanna, "A gem," and the, "10th district's river." This second phase is about $7 million worth of work.

Money has been provided by the governor's Redevelopment Assistance Program, Growing Greener grants, a state assistance program for flood control and federal grants. A fish and boat commission grant is also pending. The first phase of the project involves beautification and improvements to Front Street and Merle Phillips park. Work there is expected to wrap up in September. (Sara Bartlett)

Second assault in a week

LEWISBURG -- For the second time this week, an inmate at the Lewisburg Penitentiary needed outside medical attention following an assault. An officer at the prison says an assault occurred during a fight with two individuals in an outside recreation area around 12:30 Friday.

Staff secured the area and there was no further incident. One inmate received injuries that required outside medical attention. Another assault where an inmate was taken to a local hospital occurred Tuesday morning. Both incidents remain under investigation by the FBI. (Sara Bartlett)

Roundtable travels down the Susquehanna River…again

SUNBURY – Peaceful, seclusion and being one with nature…that’s why folks are traveling the Susquehanna River Trail, so say our guests on this weekends encore broadcast of a Roundtable program. The SRTA has an update on the Byer’s Island near Shamokin Dam, the Shady Nook boat launch in Hummels Wharf and the upcoming activities for families. We are re-airing the Roundtable as part of our Boroughs to the Bay and Beyond program.

Jim McNulty, the president of the river trail association tells us—what the Susquehanna River Trail is a series of islands, campsites and clearly marked portage areas, where folks can easily traverse the river between Sunbury and Harrisburg.

He and officials from DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry and Monroe Township, Snyder County, are on Roundtable this weekend talking about the upgrades along the river trail. It is an encore Roundtable—part of our ongoing Boroughs to the Bay and Beyond program.

You can hear Roundtable (Sunday) on Eagle 107 (107.3FM) at 6a.m., 100.9 (100.9FM), The Valley, at 6a.m., Newsradio 1070 WKOK (1070AM) at 9a.m., Talkradio 1380 WMLP (1380AM), 11a.m., 94KX WQKX (94.1FM) at 11p.m., and anytime, at www.wkok.com.

Jury selected for a federal prison inmate charged with killing another inmate

WILLIAMSPORT – A jury was selected this week for a federal prison inmate who is charged with killing his cellmate at the Allenwood Federal Prison complex. 48-year-old Gregory Morton was serving a 30-year sentence for robbing a bank in California, when he apparently strangled inmate Scott Lilly in their cell two years ago.

Morton’s trail is scheduled in U.S. Middle District Court in Williamsport in about three weeks. The prosecution claims Morton intentionally killed Lilly, but Morton says he was just defending himself. Lilly was strangled while serving a 72-month sentence for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. (Ali Stevens)

Another person charged in a hunting accident

DANVILLE – Another person has been charged in connection with the hunting accident this week in Montour County. 75-year-old Samuel Kelly is charged with failing to render aid at a hunting accident and recklessly endangering another person. Authorities say when his nephew Michael Kelly of Danville shot and wounded Jeff Blue, Samuel declined to help Blue and helped hide the shotgun involved.

Michael Kelly was charged with shooting Jeff Blue while they were turkey hunting Monday on Bald Top Mountain…Kelly is a convicted felon and is not permitted to own or use a gun. He was accused of shooting Blue in the face, chest and arms while turkey hunting near the Montour-Northumberland County line.

Latest Pennsylvania news, business. lottery and entertainment

HERSHEY, Pa. (AP) - A labor agreement expected to lead to job losses at The Hershey Co. but expand one of its hometown plants has been approved by workers. Unionized workers at two plants in Hershey, Pa., overwhelmingly approved the deal in a vote last night. Union representatives say the vote was 1,317 to 95. The deal now faces board approval. The agreement allows the maker of Hershey's Kisses, Reese's and other candy to cut up to 600 jobs while leaving just administrative offices in the original factory built by company founder Milton Hershey. Across town, Hershey is pledging to invest $200 million into expanding its West Hershey plant and increase employment there from about 500 to 1,100. Hershey had threatened to move the expansion and jobs elsewhere if the union members at the factories rejected the deal.

PENFIELD, Pa. (AP) - Officials say a blowout at a natural-gas well in a remote area shot explosive gas and polluted water as high as 75 feet into the air before crews were able to tame it about 16 hours later. The gas never caught fire, and no injuries were reported, but state officials worried about an explosion before the well could be controlled. EOG Resources says the well was brought under control just after noon yesterday. EOG declined to explain how the accident happened, citing the ongoing investigation. But the company said in a statement that public safety and protection of the environment are of the utmost importance. The well is on the grounds of a hunting club in a heavily forested section of Clearfield County, near Interstate 80 and about 90 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger said in a statement it was a "serious incident" that will be fully investigated by his agency.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - A northeastern Pennsylvania courthouse official charged with taking bribes has resigned from his position. Luzerne County Clerk of Courts Robert Reilly resigned effective Thursday. Federal prosecutors have charged him with soliciting and accepting thousands of dollars in bribes in 2007. Reilly faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. A motion to delay a preliminary hearing indicates he is working with prosecutors on a plea agreement. Reilly is one of more than two dozen people in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties charged in a federal corruption probe.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Penn State University has signed president Graham Spanier to a three-year extension that will keep him at the school through 2015. Spanier is one of the longest-tenured university presidents in the country, having arrived at Penn State in 1995. He heads a university system overseeing 24 campuses around the state and a total of about 94,000 students. The university said in a statement that Spanier's new deal takes effect July 1, giving him a $700,000 annual salary. The new contract takes Spanier a year beyond a recently announced $2 billion capital campaign scheduled to end in 2014. It also means Spanier will likely have to deal again with questions about Hall of Fame football coach Joe Paterno's contract. The 83-year-old Paterno is signed through 2011.

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

Business News

Hershey chocolate workers approve labor deal

HERSHEY, Pa. (AP) - A labor agreement expected to lead to job

losses at chocolate manufacturer The Hershey Co. but expand one of

its Pennsylvania hometown plants has been approved by workers.

Unionized workers at two plants in Hershey, Pa., overwhelmingly

approved the deal in a Friday vote. Union representatives say the

vote was 1,317 to 95.

The deal now faces board approval.

The agreement allows the maker of Hershey's Kisses, Reese's and

other candy to cut up to 600 jobs while leaving just administrative

offices in the original factory built by company founder Milton

Hershey.

Across town, Hershey is pledging to invest $200 million into

expanding its West Hershey plant and increase employment there from

about 500 to 1,100.

Hershey had threatened to move the expansion and jobs elsewhere

if the union members at the factories rejected the deal.

NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks took a tumble on weaker-than-expected

hiring news. The Dow dropped 323 points to 9,932. The S&P was down

38 points and the Nasdaq shed 84 points.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A jump in temporary government hiring for the

census drove almost all the job market's gains last month. American

businesses added 41,000 jobs in May, the lowest number of private

sector job gains since January.

KENNER, La. (AP) - President Barack Obama says there's progress

in fighting the enormous Gulf oil spill. But he cautions that it is

"way too early to be optimistic" about the latest effort aimed at

capping the well and siphoning off some of the crude oil.

UNDATED (AP) - Oil prices ended the week with a decline.

Benchmark crude for July delivery today fell $3.10 to settle at

$71.51 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas (AP) - Wal-Mart CEO Mike Duke tells

shareholders the company is positioning itself for 20 years of

worldwide growth. He says plans call for hiring of a half-million

employees over the next five years.

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

Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers

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

Big 4

6-3-9-7

Cash 5

01-03-23-35-37

Daily Number

4-0-2

Evening Quinto

5-0-1-7-8

Mega Millions

12-13-15-17-50, Mega Ball: 23

Megaplier

4

Midday Big 4

2-6-8-1

Midday Number

9-2-3

Midday Quinto

1-7-6-3-2

Treasure Hunt

14-15-19-20-26

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

Colo. theater says Sheen lawyers asked about work

ASPEN, Colo. (AP) - A Colorado theater's artistic director says Charlie Sheen's lawyers have approached her about having the actor work at the theater as part of a plea deal with prosecutors. Theatre Aspen artistic director Paige Price said Friday that Sheen could work with the nonprofit theater's education programs and help with three summer shows. Pitkin County Chief Deputy District Attorney Arnold Mordkin says it's possible Sheen would leave the county jail periodically to do "useful public service" at the theater. Authorities said earlier this week that Sheen has reached an agreement with authorities over menacing, criminal mischief and assault charges stemming from an argument with his wife on Christmas Day at an Aspen home. The proposed plea deal is scheduled to be presented to a judge on Monday.

Chefs sign on for Michelle's anti-obesity kick

WASHINGTON (AP) - Scores of chefs are joining Michelle Obama's anti-obesity campaign and lending their expertise to local schools. Mrs. Obama is hosting celebrity chefs Rachael Ray, Tom Colicchio, Cat Cora and others at the White House to tout the program, in which individual chefs adopt schools and work with teachers, parents and school officials to help educate kids about food and nutrition. Several of the chefs - way more than a baker's dozen - will pick vegetables from Mrs. Obama's kitchen garden with local school children and cook on the South Lawn Friday. Other famous participants include Daniel Boulud, Jose Andres and Marcus Samuelsson. He helped prepare the Obamas' first state dinner in November in honor of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

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