Friday, June 6, 2008
House bill could put brakes on energy speculators
WASHINGTON – An end of the week spike in crude oil and gasoline prices on New York futures markets could soon result in higher retail prices. The action may be influenced by trades done away from the New York Mercantile Exchange, and other formal markets. Some call them dark markets and speculation in them is drawing the attention of Congress, including representative Chris Carney (D-10th, Dimock). He notes that only 0.1% of all trading results in physical delivery of crude oil or products such as gasoline or heating oil.
Carney notes that crude oil prices are about 30% higher than where some analysts say they should be, based on supply and demand. July crude on the New York Mercantile Exchange topped $135 per barrel for a time, and unleaded gasoline was up 12 cents per gallon on Friday. More than 40 members of the House are sponsoring a bill that will force independent energy traders to report to a regulatory body such as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Carney expects HR 594 to emerge from committee soon. (Matt Farrand)
Heat moves graduation indoors
MIDDLEBURG – Unexpected hot weather is prompting a change of venue for Midd-West High School graduation ceremonies. Tonight’s proceedings are being moved to the Middle School, rather than being held outdoors at the athletic fields. The Middle School is nearby the fields but seating is limited. (Matt Farrand)
Danville man facing sexual abuse charges
DANVILLE – A Danville man faces felony counts of sexual abuse after allegedly having inappropriate contact with a 16-year-old girl. 21-year-old Fredrick Gregorio reportedly had lewd photos of the girl on his cell phone, and admitted to having sexual contact with her numerous times. Gregorio waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday in front of District Justice Marvin Shrawder. He is charged on three felony counts of sexual abuse of children and a misdemeanor count of corrupting minors. He faces up to 10 years and $25,000 in fines for the charges. (Sara Bartlett)
Students cool down in pool
SELINSGROVE – Students in the Selinsgrove School District celebrated their last day of school by going to the Selinsgrove Pool, which opened for the season Friday. Troy Seiberling is the pool’s manager and says they had about 400 people for their first day. With temperatures staying in the 90’s, Seiberling expects the pool to be packed all weekend. The Selinsgrove Area Pool is open daily from noon to 7:00p.m. They also feature “Splash Hops” on Thursdays from 8:00-10:00p.m. with swimming, music and food. Swimming lessons and group rates are available, and for more information you can call the pool at 374-3548. (Sara Bartlett)
Accident prompts hour-long road closure
SELINSGROVE – A portion of Route 522 in Selinsgrove was shut down for over an hour Thursday after a tractor-trailer ran into a passenger car. The tractor-trailer, driven by 21-year-old Jeffrey Page, of Mifflinburg, was on Route 522 at Salem Road. Page failed to stop and rear-ended a car driven by 41-year-old Donna Goundie or Selinsgrove. Police report there was extensive clean up after the crash, but no injuries were reported. (Sara Bartlett)
A teen summer time safety Roundtable this weekend
SUNBURY – Question…How do you know when a politician is lying? Their lips are moving…that old joke doesn’t apply to teenagers, but it’s close, according to Jolee Djaraher, a school psychologist in the Danville Area School District.
She tells us on this weekend’s Roundtable program that parents need to be careful, “The thing that you need to assume, that your teens are not telling you the truth, when they are in the adolescent years. That you are getting the whole truth.”
This weekend’s Roundtable is a special ‘schools out’ parents and teenager safety program, featuring Djaraher, was well as Dr. Sergio Buzzini, the chief of adolescent medicine at Geisinger Health System. They talk about prescription drug abuse, fitness, risky behaving and a dozen other topics. 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.
And anytime, at www.wkok.com
41-year-old Snydertown pilot is in fair condition
RIVERSIDE – A 41-year-old student pilot from Snydertown is in fair condition after crashing his ultra-light at Riverside airport last evening. Christopher A. Marquette was taken to Geisinger Medical Center after his plane landed nose-first about 100 yards off the runway. The student pilot apparently tried to land the experimental plane, bounced and crashed off the end of the runway.
He was flying the ultra-light single-engine, single seat craft around 8:45p.m. when he crashed. Authorities tell us Marquette used his own cell phone to all 9-1-1. The investigation will continue into that plane crash…Marquette is in fair condition at Geisinger.
Curran insanity defense rejected
SUNBURY – 34-year-old Richard Curran will stand trial later this month for allegedly shooting his estranged wife to death. However, he will not be able to use insanity as a defense. Judge Robert Sacavage decided in favor of District Attorney Tony Rosini who noted in a pretrial hearing that the specifics used in a typical insanity defense are not admissible in this state.
Richard Curran is accused of killing Tina Curran in the parking lot of Shamokin Area Hospital in August of 2005. His mental condition has been evaluated a number of times, and faces execution if found guilty of first degree murder (Matt Farrand)
Superdelegate Carney offers no endorsement of Obama
WASHINGTON – With the formal withdrawal of Hillary Rodham Clinton from the Democratic Presidential race nearly certain, superdelegate Chris Carney (D-10th, Dimock) is coming out in favor of both Hillary and presumptive nominee Barack Obama.
A statement issued by the 10th District member of Congress credits both for energizing voters and showing strength under pressure, but offers no endorsement of Obama. Carney had previously followed state Democratic voters in support of Hillary Clinton. (Matt Farrand)
Monroe Marketplace construction draws picketers
HUMMELS WHARF – You may have noticed a few picketers carrying signs in front of the Monroe Marketplace Thursday afternoon. The signs read “Shame on Lobar Associates.” Lobar is a firm doing construction on the new shopping center. The group protesting was the Greater PA Regional Council of Carpenters.
Council Rep, Vern Johnson, says the reason behind the picket is that they feel some companies don’t pay fair wages and give good benefits. He says they go all over the state and negotiate contracts to get a better standard of living for their working members.
Johnson says none of their members are currently doing construction work on Monroe Marketplace, but they frequently have members working at the Shamokin Dam power plant. Construction company, Lobar Associates, is based in Dillsburg. (Sara Bartlett)
Child pornography charges against former Danville prison guard
DANVILLE – A former federal corrections officer from Danville is facing child pornography charges. The Press Enterprise reports 42-year-old Randy Albertson plead guilty to receiving child pornography over the Internet. Albertson had previously been sentenced after molesting a young girl in Bloomsburg.
While investigating that incident, police found nearly 40 inappropriate images of children on his computer. He was sentenced 23 months in prison for molesting the girl, but recently was awarded a new trial. He is now in custody awaiting sentencing and a retrial in Columbia County court. (Sara Bartlett)
Milton State Park has big event tomorrow
MILTON – Work for over two years at 82-acre Milton State Park will be recognized Saturday. The public is invited to the dedication of a new walking trail. Amy Davis is the Program Assistant for the Community Resource Center and the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, says the trail is between a half-mile to a mile and there has been a lot of work done to it.
A ceremony will be held followed by a walk on the trail. Kids can also participate in a “fun run” on the trail, or check out the new playground. Musical entertainment will also be provided. The free event is sponsored by Friends of the Milton State Park and starts at 10:00a.m. Saturday. (Sara Bartlett)
‘Brewer’s’ has birthday party today
SUNBURY – Bob Mertz didn’t set out to be in the beer business…it just sort of fell into his lap. Mertz, who also owns Sunbury Motors, says when he went to by a building for the car dealership, the seller owned a beer business and wanted to see that too.
Now, the beverage distribution center is celebrating 40 years in business. Bought in 1968, and relocated to its current location in Sunbury in 1978, Mertz says they have many loyal customers and have drawn those from surrounding towns as well.
Manager at Brewers, Cory Fasold says they hope to be open another 40 years and beyond, and just as they have in the past, they will change with the times. He says they’ll have to adapt to survive is legislation passes where beer could be sold at grocery stores or convenience stores. Brewers Outlet is located at 231 Reagan Street in Sunbury. (Sara Bartlett)
Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's state government workers are getting warned that they could be furloughed if the governor and Legislature can't agree on a budget by the end of June. Gov. Ed Rendell's secretary of administration wrote to state workers Friday to alert them. The administration says that this year, if there's no budget by midnight on June 30, furloughs will begin immediately. The letter from Secretary Naomi Wyatt says paychecks will stop for about 25,000 people, but health care coverage will continue if there are furloughs. In addition, the state will seek flexibility from financial institutions regarding loan repayments by furloughed workers. In a separate letter sent Friday to agency heads, Wyatt asks them to double-check the list of who'll be laid off and who'll have to continue working.
LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) - A prosecutor says a Lancaster teen accused of killing a classmate and the other boy's parents is going to plead guilty in the case later this month. Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman would not tell the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal what Alec Kreider is expected to plead guilty to, or whether it's part of a plea agreement. Kreider is accused of stabbing to death Kevin Haines and his parents Thomas and Lisa Haines inside their suburban home in May 2007. Authorities have said Kevin Haines was the intended target. Kreider was arrested after his father informed police that his son confessed to the killings. The Haines' daughter, Maggie, was also home at the time but was not attacked.
BLOOMSBURG, Pa. (AP) - Rieter Automotive North America is shutting down one of its plants in Michigan because of plummeting U.S. auto sales. But according to officials at the company, the auto carpet plant in Bloomsburg is doing well. In fact, it recently won new business from Toyota for a hybrid vehicle. The Press Enterprise reports 27 Bloomsburg workers furloughed during a strike at American Axle that halted GM production have returned to work since the strike ended last month. That means about 600 are now working at Rieter's Bloomsburg plant.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Friday in the midday Pennsylvania State Lottery drawing:
Daily Number 3-8-0
Big 4 9-2-1-9
Treasure Hunt 6-11-21-23-29
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)