Saturday, June 7, 2008
Hazy, Hot and Humid I: “It’s gonna be a scorcher honey!”
UNDATED – We are in for a warm weekend around here as temperatures reach the 90’s. AccuWeather is reporting that Monday’s forecast high of 98 would break the record at Selinsgrove of 96, set back in 1933. This will be the warmest weekend so far this year.
The usual heat warnings are out…keep an eye on the elderly, reduce strenuous outdoor work, seek shade and drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids. The AccuWeather Real Feel index, a calculation that figures in the temperature, humidity and other factors, says it will feel like its 100 degrees this weekend. You can hear the AccuWeather forecast here, or go to www.wkok.com.
Hazy, Hot and Humid II: 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)
Hazy, Hot and Humid III: Making sure your pet doesn’t get overheated
SELINSGROVE – With the heat and humidity this weekend it’s important to keep cool and hydrated, especially when working or playing outside. But what’s important for us is also important for dogs, according to veterinarian at Companion Animal Hospital in Selinsgrove, Dr. Steva Stowell-Hardcastle. She says even 10 minutes of outdoor activity in the heat can cause heat stroke or overheating. She says dogs of all sizes and breeds can be affected.
Stowell-Hardcastle offers tips for avoiding overheating, which include no big meals before exercise, letting your dog drink water frequently and wetting your dog’s coat. Signs that a dog may be overheated include heavy panting, a pounding heart rate and a blue tongue. Stowell-Hardcastle says if you see any of these symptoms to call you veterinarian. (Sara Bartlett)
Over 180 Seniors graduate from Midd-West High School
MIDDLEBURG – At Midd-West High School last night, it was graduation time for over 180 Mustang Seniors. Salutatorian, Kahla Woodling encouraged her classmates to get messy as they go on this journey of life and remember that childhood cartoon figure from the “Magic School Bus” Miss Frizzel by saying, “take chances, make mistakes and get messy.”
Woodling also said that life’s highway was full of detours, wrong turns and construction zones. Over 180 Seniors received their diplomas last night in the gymnasium of Middleburg Middle School. Seniors also graduated from Warrior Run, Lewisburg and Danville. (Peter Meloni)
Man is in custody after an incident overnight
NORTHUMBERLAND – Police in Northumberland arrested a man who tried to flee from police overnight. Details aren’t in yet on the incident what began at a bar in Northumberland, and then the suspect fled to Sunbury—and was stopped by officers there. An arraignment is pending in that police action overnight in Northumberland.
Police are looking for a stolen truck
SUNBURY – Sunbury police issued a ‘be on the lookout’ for a stolen truck this morning. Around 3a.m., the call came in for the truck, which was stolen on Edison Avenue. The red Ford Ranger pick-up truck has a yellow decal on the rear window. Anyone with information on that stolen truck in Sunbury—is asked to call Northumberland County Communications.
Congress seeks to regulate informal energy markets
WASHINGTON – Some blame the weak US dollar, others blame speculators, but the $18 dollar per barrel spike in crude oil prices late in the week is attracting Congressional attention. Higher prices for gasoline and home heating oil are almost certain to follow, as noted by congressman Chris Carney (D-10th, Dimock).
He says he’s talked with local oil dealers who fear that heating oil will be $5.00 per gallon by the winter. Carney says HR 594 will force some energy traders to report to a regulatory body such as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
“Dark markets” as they are sometimes called operate independent of more formal markets such as the New York Mercantile Exchange. HR 594 has more than 40 co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle. 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. (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)
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: Eagle 107 (107.3FM) at 6a.m. 100.9, The Valley, at 6a.m. WKOK at 9a.m. Talkradio 1380 WMLP, 11a.m. 94KX at 11p.m. And anytime, at www.wkok.com
Pair of birds establishes nest in wilds of Union County, Pa.
NORTHUMBERLAND, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania Game Commission officials confirm that a pair of peregrine falcons have successfully nested on a cliff overlooking the Susquehanna River in Union County. The nest is near the borough of Northumberland near the Shikellamy Overlook. Game officials say it's the third known wild nest that state-endangered peregrines have established in Pennsylvania in half a century. Since the early 1990s, peregrines have established about two dozen nests in Pennsylvania, mostly on buildings and bridges in the state's larger cities. But in 2003, a pair of peregrines nested successfully on a cliff over the Susquehanna River in Lycoming County.
Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - State officials are warning government workers 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 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 to agency heads, Wyatt asks them to double-check the list of who'll be laid off and who'll have to continue working.
CAMP HILL, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell says Pennsylvania Democrats should unite behind Barack Obama as the party's likely nominee for president. Rendell told reporters before a dinner of the Democratic State Committee in Camp Hill that members of the party must set aside differences stemming from the grueling nomination battle between Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton. Rendell, who previously backed Clinton for the nomination, says his remarks represent his "first Obama speech." He called Republican nominee-apparent John McCain the strongest candidate the GOP has put forth since the mid-1980s. But he predicted Obama will carry the battleground state of Pennsylvania if he concentrates on economic issues. Rendell predicted Obama would beat McCain in the state "not by a hair, but no landslide either."
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Don't try to book a ticket on "Derrie-Air." Readers of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News opened their papers yesterday (Friday) to see ads for a new airline called Derrie-Air, which purportedly charges passengers by the pound. But the new carrier will never get off the ground. It's a one-day advertising campaign about a fake airline by Philadelphia Media Holdings, the papers' owner, and by the Gyro ad agency. The ads and the papers' Web site, Philly.com, trumpet Derrie-Air's policy as: "The more you weigh, the more you pay." The ads direct readers to the Web site www.flyderrie-air.com. But those who scroll to the bottom find a disclaimer that labels the ad campaign "fictitious" and says it is designed to test the results of the papers' advertising in print and online.
BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) - Centre County is cautiously looking at giving some employees a four-day workweek to help them save gas. County Administrator Tim Boyde said before Thursday's commissioners' meeting the idea would cut employees' driving costs. He says if it can be made to work while continuing to provide services it is worth discussing. Boyde says the schedule changes might go hand-in-hand with changes in office hours. For example he says perhaps a human services agency could offer evening hours on certain days to serve people who can't get there during working hours. Commissioner Steve Dershem cautions that the idea may not be practical. And the Centre County commissioners have no proposals on the table yet.
(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 8-8-5
Big 4 8-2-2-6
FRIDAY MIDDAY Daily Number 3-8-0
Big 4 9-2-1-9
Treasure Hunt 6-11-21-23-29
The winning numbers drawn Friday in the "Pennsylvania Cash 5" game were: 20-21-30-34-36.
The winning numbers drawn Friday in the "Pennsylvania Match 6 Lotto": 35-37-40-41-45-48.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)