Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Power remains out to thousands in Central PA

SUNBURY – Power is still out for thousands of residents in Central Pennsylvania.  As of 4:30 p.m., PPL Electric reports more than 550 customers remain without power in the Sunbury region, which includes Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties.  Also, about 2,900 customers are without power in the Bloomsburg region, including a portion of Northumberland County and Montour and Columbia Counties. 

Columbia County Emergency Management says the power outages could continue into tomorrow. Restoration of power to those who lost it Tuesday night is slow but steady.  (Ali Stevens)

Board member hopes budget to be finalized this month

DANVILLE – New contracts for Danville Area School teachers and support employees are being looked over by the school board.  Steve Schooley is a board member and says employee pay and benefits will increase in the proposals.  He notes that talks are on-going.  Support employees struck for a time in January, having worked without a contract for nearly two years. 

Schooley says labor contracts are the biggest single expense in the plan proposed for 2008-09, contributing to the budget that spends about 3.0% more than during the previous year.  A 2.2% tax increase is also in the budget, lower than increases of nearly 4.0% a year ago.  The Danville school’s budget could be finalized at the board meeting on June 24^th.  (Matt Farrand)

The 36^th Annual Love N Care Street Fair

SUNBURY – The Love N Care Street Fair is truly a community and volunteer effort, according to co-chairs of the fair committee Terry Specht and Kathleen Persing.  Specht says all of the funds raised go back to the community through the Sunbury Area Health Foundation, awarding grants to students in medical professions.  The fair is sponsored by the Mary Derr Rockefeller Auxiliary. 

The theme this year is “Go For the Gold,” which Persing and Specht say tie in with the 2008 Olympics.  There are many of the traditional favorite vendors at the fair including pork and sausage sandwiches, tacos, funnel cakes, and strawberry shortcake.  Besides food there are also kids games and pony rides.  Entertainment on the street stage includes Moyer’s School of Dance, Miller’s Martial Arts, Billy D. and Rosie, Reverent Blue Jeans and more.  The Elks Lodge Flag Day ceremony will begin at 9:00a.m., followed by a performance by the Sunbury City Band.  All are welcome to Cameron Park Saturday to the 36^th annual Love N Care Street Fair in Sunbury. (Sara Bartlett) 

Danville man charged with molesting a 14-year-old girl

DANVILLE – A 25-year-old Danville man is jailed, charged with aggravated indecent assault and other counts after police say he molested a 14-year-old girl.  Gary Cooper was arraigned and sent to prison after failing to post $25,000 cash bail.  Police say Cooper denies molesting the girl at his home on Mill Street in April.  The girl was reportedly at Cooper’s residence playing video games when the incident took place.  The man also is accused of sending inappropriate text messages to the girl following the incident.  (Ali Stevens)

Two juveniles face charges for lying to police

NORTHUMBERLAND – Two juvenile girls are facing charges after allegedly filing a false report to police.  The girls, who have not been identified because of their age, reportedly filed a complaint last month to Point Township Police that they had been physically harassed by another female.  That female was arrested for the harassment, but before a hearing, the two juveniles told police the harassment incident never happened.  They now face charges of filing a false report and will appear in Northumberland Juvenile Court in the coming week. (Sara Bartlett)    

Youth on bicycle injured in Sunbury accident

SUNBURY – A 7-year-old boy was hit by a car while riding his bike in Sunbury Tuesday.  Police say the boy was riding on Race Street at 11^th Street around 2:30 p.m. when he was hit by the car.  The driver says she was unable to stop as the boy that drove into the intersection.  The boy has not been identified, but was taken to Sunbury Community Hospital with unknown injuries.  The Daily Item reports the brakes failed on the boy’s bike.  (Ali Stevens)

Truck drivers face fines for not following Middleburg detour

MIDDLEBURG – Middleburg police want truckers to know that if they aren’t following the detour off of 522 in Middleburg, they will face fines.  Police say tractor-trailers are trying to avoid the detour and driving behind Bridge Side Restaurant, or along-side the duck pond.  Yesterday, two tractor-trailers got stuck on Spade Alley behind the restaurant and police say they will fine any truck- drivers that don’t follow the detour.  Cars are permitted to take the roads behind the restaurant and the county courthouse, as long as they are going in the right direction, with temporary one-way signs in place. 

The detour for trucks will continue through the end of August, as the steel bridge on Route 522 is replaced.  The detour includes taking Route 104 to Paxtonville Road and then back onto 522 between Beavertown and Beaver Springs, near the former Country Side Restaurant.  A separate detour is in place for truckers coming in from Penns Creek and Mifflinburg on Route 104.  (Ali Stevens)

Route 15 traffic patterns change in New Columbia

NEW COLUMBIA – PennDOT has announced that traffic patterns in the southbound Route 15 bridge work zone north of I-80 in New Columbia have changed.  The contractor removed the concrete barrier in the southbound lanes, but the lane restriction remains in place.  Tomorrow or Friday, work will wrap up on the deck joints.  Traffic will then be switched to the other lane after the first half of that work is completed.  Minor delays are possible during the switch and similar changes will take place in the northbound lanes of the work zone next week.  (Ali Stevens)

Athena nomination deadline approaching

SHAMOKIN DAM – Nominees are being sought for the annual prize that recognizes advocacy of women’s issues in the work world.  Special Events Manager Megan Bollinger of the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce says prior Athena Award nominees could be described as activists.  In spite of major gains in professional opportunities for women, Bollinger says there is still room for progress. 

Powerful storms knock down utility lines, trees

UNDATED – The first of at least three lines of powerful thunderstorm hit the valley at about 4:45 p.m., moving quickly through Selinsgrove, Shamokin Dam and Sunbury, then to the northeast. Other well-organized storms came through starting at about 5:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., hitting Snyder County and moving through eastern Union County and northern Northumberland. A third, less powerful line came through later.

But police, fire and utilities crews were kept busy due to power lines downed by the storms and some fires reported due to lightning strikes. Scores of PPL Electric customers lost power early in the evening, notably in Northumberland Borough, and their communications center was said to be swamped. Some Citizen Electric customers in Union County also lost power for a time.

Downed trees also proved to be a problem in Danville, as one nearly took out a parked car at Bloom and “A” Streets near Memorial Park. AccuWeather says today’s condition should be more pleasant as the storms at least took some of that oppressive humidity out of the air. Some local roads may still be closed this morning. (Matt Farrand)

Value of theft unknown pending inventory

SUNBURY – Some time between Monday and Tuesday, someone made off with more than a dozen multi-media projectors from Chief Shikellamy Elementary School. State Police say there was evidence of forced entry at the school on Memorial Avenue in Upper Augusta Township.

The value of the 13 LCD projectors is not yet totaled up, as an inventory is pending and the investigation continues. Anyone with information is encouraged to call State Police in Stonington at 286-5601. (Matt Farrand)

Unexpected start to highway project slows motorists

UNDATED – Today, Wednesday June 11th, is the day milling and repaving of Route 147 on Packers Island was supposed to start. However, contractor HRI Inc. began the work a day early, slowing already heavy traffic on the island between Northumberland Borough and the City of Sunbury.

PennDOT’s Rick Mason explains that the contractor may have been freed early from another project and wanted to take advantage of it. Mason notes that contractor schedules are subject to changes that include weather and equipment availability

Mason is also offering apologies to motorists and hopes the early start means an early finish. Observers tell us traffic from the project on the island was not being diverted onto side roads. Northbound Route 147 was reportedly backed up from the island into the city itself, on Front Street and others nearby. (Matt Farrand)

Ways to handle economic stress

LEWISBURG – There are ways to cope with the economic stress, before it leads to depression. Dr. Richard Dowell, a clinical psychologist at Evangelical Community Hospital, says people handle stress with “flight or fight.” He says the people who take flight move out of the economic situation while the people who take fight handle it by taking charge like getting a second job or doing without certain items.

Dowell says some people set up a plan of action for their economic stress and that helps spread the monetary hardship over a matter of time. Others can get their homes and lives in order and compartmentalize their stress. Dowell says that as a last resort there are anti-depressants or counseling. (Sheri Rippon)

Local valedictorians and salutatorians reflect on their years in high school

SUNBURY – The areas top students are looking forward to a summer break before college begins, but took time out to reflect on their four years of high school on a recent Leaders & Lawmakers program. Joe Hiller was valedictorian in the Lewisburg School District and says it takes a big effort to achieve this goal, with a lot of hard work and a lot of thought.

Devin Cassels was salutatorian and says support is key to success, such as parents and other family members believing in you and being interested in your goals. Gabriel Robison was salutatorian in the Selinsgrove District and says he made a plan to achieve early on and stuck to the plan. He chose to take harder classes and worked hard to be successful in those classes.

Robison also believes getting to know and respect your teachers is an important step for all students. Valedictorian of Selinsgrove, Kirsten Krebs says she stays focused on success since she is an “internalizer”, which she claims to have gotten from her parents drive to succeed. Brooke Gessner was the valedictorian for Shikellamy.

Gessner says mostly she wanted to do her best. She says some people do just enough to get by, but she focuses on being the best she can be. Olivia Fladmark was salutatorian at Shik and talked about the importance of being involved in other aspects of school, such as extra-curricular activities and personal hobbies. All of the students encouraged future students to set goals for themselves to be successful. (Ali Stevens)

Illegal alien captured in Northumberland County

MILTON – An illegal alien living in Connecticut for the past four years was captured in Northumberland County on Sunday morning. State police say 23-year-old Victor Romano got a flat tire while driving on the westbound side of Interstate 80 in Turbot Township.

He was pulled off on the side of the road and when police approached him, he was reportedly under the influence of alcohol. Troopers took Romano to Evangelical Community Hospital. They determined that he was in the country illegally, under the influence, and driving without a license or a vehicle registration. Charges were filed in Milton and deportation proceedings are underway. (Ali Stevens)

Illegal alien captured in Northumberland County

MILTON – An illegal alien living in Connecticut for the past four years was captured in Northumberland County on Sunday morning. State police say 23-year-old Victor Romano got a flat tire while driving on the westbound side of Interstate 80 in Turbot Township. He was pulled off on the side of the road and when police approached him, he was reportedly under the influence of alcohol.

Troopers took Romano to Evangelical Community Hospital. They determined that he was in the country illegally, under the influence, and driving without a license or a vehicle registration. Charges were filed in Milton and deportation proceedings are underway. (Ali Stevens)

Trial date for alleged arsonist to be set

DANVILLE – 52-year-old Chester Cyphers is in the Montour County Jail, and will be tried for allegedly setting nearly a dozen fires in three area counties. The Whitehall man waived charges of arson, aggravated assault, and others onto Montour County Court Monday.

A trial date will be scheduled. Cyphers was arrested in April after a month-long investigation. A Turbotville firefighter was paralyzed responding to one of the fires. Wayne Hawley was struck by part of a barn in Anthony Township and is now home after several months of rehabilitation. (Matt Farrand)

Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A bill to borrow $800 million for water and sewer systems and dams is on its way to the House as legislators try to chip away at the state's massive infrastructure needs.  The Senate unanimously approved the Republican-penned bill today.  The borrowing plan is one of at least three water and sewer financing measures pending in the Legislature.  In the meantime, a task force appointed by Gov. Ed Rendell is studying what his administration says is a $20 billion shortfall facing drinking water and wastewater systems.  House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dwight Evans says a $28 billion state budget being negotiated this month is likely to include funding for water and sewer projects.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Wednesday in the midday Pennsylvania State Lottery drawing:

Daily Number    
5-1-0

Big 4    
2-2-9-9

Treasure Hunt    
4-12-13-19-23

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)