Friday, June 11, 2010

McClure man injured in Route 522 crash

BEAVERTOWN -- A McClure man is in fair condition following a crash on Route 522 Friday morning.  40-year-old Kevin Weader was driving near Beavertown around 6:15a.m. when he ran into the back of a pickup truck driven by 41-year-old Keith Drumheller of McClure.  Weader then struck a modular home being pulled by a tractor-trailer driven by 43-year-old William Hall of Mifflinburg. 

Weader had to be rescued from his vehicle and taken by Life Flight to Geisinger Medical Center. He is in fair condition. There were no other injuries reported.  The crash shut down Route 522 for an hour and a half Friday morning.  Beavertown and Beaver Springs fire crews assisted at the scene. (Ali Stevens)

Next step for Selinsgrove schools

SELINSGROVE -- What is the next step for Selinsgrove following the announcement that superintendent Dr. Frederick Johnson is leaving to take another job in the Philadelphia area?  School Board President Eric Rowe tells us the search for a new superintendent will be discussed at the Monday night school board meeting. 

Rowe says he and the district will miss Dr. Johnson, but will move on and not skip a beat. Rowe talked about some of the things the district achieved under Johnson's leadership, including all-day kindergarten, unifying the district onto one campus, large facilities projects and improvement of PSSA test scores. 

Dr. Frederick Johnson has been with the Selinsgrove School District for more than nine years and will be a featured guest on our Thursday Leaders & Lawmakers program on WKOK at 3 p.m.  You can also hear that interview next week online at www.wkok.com. (Ali Stevens)

Bear rescue in Danville

DANVILLE -- A 100 pound bear had to be captured in Danville Friday morning. The bear was 'up a tree' on private property when it was tranquilized and captured by the state game commission. Police tell bear was first seen running across the road at Berry and East Mahoning Streets around 6 a.m.

The bear ran into a nearby backyard, before climbing a tree.  The Pennsylvania Game Commission arrived and were able to tranquilize the bear.  Danville police say the bear will be released in the wild in Sullivan County.  Danville Police were assisted by the Danville Fire Department and the bear is said to be doing fine.  (Ali Stevens)

Shikellamy SD hires new super

SUNBURY -- The Shikellamy School District has a new superintendent. Last night the school board, on a seven to one vote, hired Robin Musto to replace Dr. Alan Lonoconus. She will be paid $119,500 in her first year.

Musto is currently an assistant superintendent in the East Lycoming School District in Hughesville. Musto has a Masters degree from Bloomsburg University and has also served as an elementary school principal in the Muncy School District. 

Musto was selected from a pool of six candidates after a national search.  The finalists’ interviews consisted of two formal interviews and a series of informal meetings prior to the school board making their selection.  Musto will begin her duties immediately after being released from her current position in Hughesville.  (Ali Stevens)

Nursing home worker wants dismissal of case

MIDDLEBURG -- An Elizabethville woman, charged with felony counts of theft, is looking to have her trial dismissed.  Linda Sullivan, an employee at the Loving Care Nursing Center in Selinsgrove, was charged last year following a lengthy investigation that found she made herself the power of attorney for a mentally handicapped resident and stole money from him. 

That resident, 69-year-old Francis Simonoski, passed away in April and now Sullivan says there is no case against her.  In court Thursday, Sullivan says there is now no evidence of her alleged actions, but Snyder County District Attorney Michael Piecuch says Sullivan isn't off the hook. 

Piecuch tells us he has other evidence that Sullivan stole money from Simonoski's inheritance and called it a donation to the nursing home.  Union/Snyder County Judge Louise Knight is expected to issue a ruling on the continuation or dismissal of the case in the next two months.  If the case goes further, trial will begin in October. (Sara Bartlett)

Sunnybrook Park is ready to open this weekend in Danville

DANVILLE – Sunnybrook Park outside of Danville has been on the mend is ready to open this weekend in Danville.  If you haven’t been there, you’ll be surprised by its renaissance, according to board president Darla Gill.  She says they are always working to make things better. The park offers pavilions, volleyball courts, a playground and a swimming pool.

This Saturday marks the summer opening of the 83-year-old facility and its swimming pool.  Gill says they’ve upgraded some of the pool’s systems and it’s even sporting a new paint job.  Check out www.sunnybrookpark.org for all the details you’ll need.  The park is along Route 642 east, just off of Route 54 outside of Danville. 

DA waits for crash reconstruction

MIDDLEBURG -- Snyder County District Attorney Michael Piecuch says he expects to hear by next week the crash reconstruction results that injured two Selinsgrove high school students.  He tells us the results, coming from State Police, could determine if the vehicle that 17-year-old Seth Lauver hit along Penns Drive May 22 was parked illegally. 

Piecuch says the driver of the vehicle had stopped to change a tire and that's when Lauver swerved to avoid the car, and his vehicle, carrying 17-year-old Alex Mullen, flipped over.  Piecuch says depending on the outcome of the reconstruction, the driver of the parked vehicle could face some sort of criminal reckless charge.  Both Lauver and Mullen continue to recover at the hospital. (Sara Bartlett)

Looking at the ‘gems’ of The Valley this weekend on Roundtable

SUNBURY – Tourism, unique downtowns and the ‘gems’ of the Central Susquehanna Valley are the topics of our Roundtable program this weekend. The Greats Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce is featured along with the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau executive director Andrew Miller.

Miller said our local fairs and festivals, the confluence of the Susquehanna River, all work to bring people back to our area to visit. The gems of The Valley include places like Knoebels Amusement Resort, Reptileland and T & D Cats.

Festivals and fairs, Love-n-Care, River Festival, Lewisburg Arts Festival. 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.

More than 200 bike helmets given away as part of safety event

LEWISBURG -- More than 200 bike helmets were given to children this week during the annual Bike Helmet Safety Event in Lewisburg.  The event is held at the Lewisburg McDonalds in conjunction with the Kiwanis Clubs of Lewisburg and Buffalo Valley Am and Evangelical Community Hospital. 

The clubs raise money to purchase the helmets and then they are distributed to children at the event, which was held last Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m.  This year, 160 children were properly fitted for a bicycle helmet and 60 additional helmets were ordered, bringing the total to 220 helmets.  The event is to promote bike safety for children.  (Ali Stevens)

Separate Wednesday morning crashes injure two

UNDATED – State troopers say two were injured and tickets were issued after separate crashes in Union County at about the same time Wednesday morning.

51-year-old Donna Elsayed of New Columbia sustained a minor injury when her car was clipped by a motorist who did not stop at a stop sign at Ridge Road and Creek Road in White Deer Township. Neither Richard Hudgens of McEwensville nor his three passengers were injured. Hudgens will be cited for failing to stop.

In another crash, 35-year-old Joshua Franck of Mifflinburg will be ticketed for entering a roadway unsafely after exiting a driveway along West Buffalo Road, into the path of an eastbound car. 18-year-old Marra Smith of Mifflinburg sustained minor injuries in the 10:05 a.m. collision and was taken to Evangelical Community Hospital. (Matt Farrand)

Survivorship dinner to be served at Relay for Life

HERNDON – Organizers of the Line Mountain Relay for Life hope to raise $85,000 to fight cancer at this year’s edition of the annual event. It starts Friday at 3:00 p.m. and continues for 24 hours on the track at Line Mountain Junior-Senior High School.

There are plenty of activities planned to support the teams of walkers, including karaoke, a frozen t-shirt contest and volleyball matches. Co-chair Bridgette Feger says there are also special events planned to recognize men, women and children whose lives have been touched by cancer, including a lap for survivors and caregivers.

That will be followed by a dinner served in tents on the field, prepared by relay participants. The “Game of Life” is the theme of the Line Mountain relay this year and teams are encouraged to dress as figures from familiar board games. The Luminaria ceremony is planned for 9:30 p.m. All proceeds raised go to the American Cancer Society. (Matt Farrand)

Sunbury Municipal Authority’s role explained

SUNBURY – Following an email from a listener of WKOK’s On The Mark program, regarding the role the Sunbury Municipal Authority has, Dan Ramer was a call in guest on the show. Ramer is the general manager of the authority and says they perform five functions for the city including providing drinking water, wastewater treatment, transfer station, flood control and recycling.

Ramer says the $20-million wastewater treatment plant upgrade in Sunbury was mandated by the DEP to control runoff of harmful nutrients that could enter the Chesapeake Bay from the Susquehanna River.

Ramer also talked about a flood control fee of approximately $6.00 a month. He says the flood control project has a budget of between $400,000 and $500,000 and as long as the flood control system is operating, the fee is necessary.

You can hear more from Dan Ramer on the Sunbury Municipal Authority from our Thursday On The Mark program online at www.wkok.com. (Ali Stevens)

Wolfgang trial to being in September

SUNBURY -- The murder trial for 49-year-old Steven Wolfgang of Mount Carmel will begin in September. Wolfgang is charged in the 2007 murder of his wife 42-year-old Sherry Wolfgang. Wolfgang has since plead not guilty.

Northumberland County President Judge Robert Sacavage, who will preside over the trial, reiterated his prior ruling this week that Wolfgang is competent to stand trial. Jury selection is scheduled for September 13th, with the trial beginning September 20th.

Mount Carmel man behind bars after a high speed chase

MOUNT CARMEL – A high speed chase and crash resulted in a Mount Carmel man being sent to the Northumberland County Prison on Tuesday night. Police say 31-year-old Richard Erb faces numerous charges for the incident along Route 61 in Mount Carmel Township. Police say Erb was driving in Atlas when police tried to pull him over, but Erb fled at a high rate of speed toward Kulpmont.

Police say Erb reached speeds of 80 to 100 miles per hour through Kulpmont and then struck a curb and a stop sign before the vehicle spun out and went airborne. Erb apparently tried to flee on foot but police used a Taser gun to stop him. He was arrested and charged with several offenses. Erb was treated at Shamokin Area Community Hospital for various injures and then incarcerated at the Northumberland County Prison. (Ali Stevens)

Visitors Bureau optimistic about area tourism

SHAMOKIN DAM -- Tourism is the second largest industry in Pennsylvania, and during a recent meeting of the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Valley was touted as a great place for summer activities.

Andrew Miller, Executive Director of the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau, says for residents staying in the area, or outsiders coming in to visit, there is something for everyone. He says outdoor recreation is hugely popular this summer, and we are lucky to have access to the river.

There are a number of river guides, as well as boat rentals and rowing camps. Miller says he is optimistic that the tourism industry in the Central Susquehanna Valley will continue to the thrive in the future. Miller gave a sneak peak of some events in the future. Some things to look forward to, according to Miller, are the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

Over the next four years, there will be a theme: 'The American Civil War, Stories from the Home Front,' and many activities will surround that. He also says the 6,000 acre off-road vehicle park proposed in Northumberland County is also generating excitement nationwide.

Miller says with downtown shops and restaurants, museums, an amusement park and many other attractions, the Central Susquehanna Valley is a great draw for visitors from all over the country. He's also encouraging local residents and families to take day trips in their very backyard. (Sara Bartlett)

Charges could be filed in an incident that left a Dalmatia teen dead

DALMATIA – Charges could be filed next week against a Millersburg man involved in a vehicle death. 29-year-old Thomas Schorr is accused of driving erratically and striking an embankment April 12th on Lenker Road in Lower Mahanoy Township A passenger in the car, 19-year-old Bethany Harris of Dalmatia, was reportedly nervous of the driving and jumped out of the vehicle.

She was taken to Geisinger Medical Center and succumbed to her injuries the next day. Schorr, along with two other passengers in the vehicle, 21-year-old Joel Nies of Northumberland and 23-year-old Jessica Beers of Millersburg, all escaped injury. State police say the investigation is wrapping up and they expect charges to be filed sometime next week. (Ali Stevens)

Relay for Life events in set in Lewisburg

LEWISBURG – Lewisburg Relay for Life will kick off on Friday at 1p.m. and continue through Saturday afternoon with non-stop events and activities planned. The co-chairs for the Relay are Amy Gronlund and Jodi Batman, who tell us they have a sports-theme for the relay which is “Just Cure It.” They will have a basketball clinic at 3p.m. featuring the Bucknell basketball team and coaches.

There will be other activities including a dunk tank and hot-dog eating contest. The ceremony will kick off at 6p.m. with some guest speakers, including Mike Wright, who is the featured speaker and a six year cancer survivor. The Lewisburg Relay for Life is held at the Donald Eichhorn Middle School Pawling Athletic Complex. The public in encouraged to attend and participate. (Ali Stevens)

McClure man injured in Snyder County crash

BEAVER SPRINGS – A McClure man was injured in a crash Thursday morning on Creek Road in Beaver Township, Snyder County. State police say 24-year-old Casey Wagner was heading east on Creek Road near Covered Bridge Road around 4:30 a.m. when he fell asleep at the wheel.

Wagner struck a tree stump with the vehicle, which sent the car airborne into another tree. Wagner was treated at the scene for cuts and scratches. He was charged with careless driving. (Ali Stevens)

Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania regulators have given the go-ahead for drilling to resume at two gas wells owned by the company that had a blowout at a third, nearby well last week.  Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Neil Weaver said Friday that Houston-based EOG Resources has been authorized to resume work at two wells that have been inspected and found to have no environmental or operational violations.  State officials ordered EOG Resources to stop operations at all its sites after the June 3 accident at a well on the grounds of a Clearfield County hunting club.  Work will not resume at that well while an investigation continues, and dozens of the company's other wells remain idle.  No one was injured in the 16-hour blowout, which sent highly pressurized gas and polluted water 75 feet into the air.

YORK, Pa. (AP) - Police are investigating an overnight shooting outside a York nightclub that left four people wounded.  Northern York County Regional Police said they arrived at Club XS around 2 a.m. Friday and found about 12 people involved in fights while a crowd of 150 to 200 watched.  Officers breaking up the fights heard gunshots nearby and found three men and a woman with non-life threatening gunshot wounds. Police say they range in age from 17 to 23 and are from Lancaster.  The investigation is continuing. No arrests have been made.

CHESTER, Pa. (AP) - A movie and TV studio facility is coming to suburban Philadelphia.  Officials turned out for a groundbreaking Thursday at what the future home of the 33-acre Sun Center Studios in Chester. The $85 million dollar project is expected to create about 300 permanent jobs during the first year. About $40 million of the cost is coming from private lenders.  Lawyer and developer Jeffrey Rotwitt says the studio will be equal or better to anything in Hollywood.  Rotwitt is being investigated by the FBI for a failed development deal in Philadelphia. He wouldn't discuss the probe, but said he thinks the case will be resolved quickly and favorably.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A contrite Ben Roethlisberger says he got caught up in being a caricature called Big Ben, not the grounded player and person he once was -- leading to his off-field problems and affecting his play as the Steelers quarterback. In his first detailed interviews since a Georgia college student accused him of sexually assaulting her in a nightclub bathroom on March 5, Roethlisberger told Pittsburgh TV stations KDKA and WTAE that he expects to be booed this season. He also apologized for his actions, and promised to become the role model he should have been throughout his career. He blamed his problems on being young, dumb and immature - even though he's 28 - and is especially sorry that his behavior hurt and saddened his parents, sister and other family members. Because lawyers did not permit the questions to be asked, the two-time Super Bowl winner gave no details about the Milledgeville, Ga., nightclub incident that resulted in his six-game suspension by the NFL. But he said his family members know what happened.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - State officials have hired a Texas-based petroleum engineer to perform an independent investigation of last week's natural gas well blowout. DEP officials also say they've discovered a new waterway apparently polluted by drilling fluids released during the accident. They say they continue to monitor the unnamed tributary to Little Laurel Run. Meanwhile, the contractor ordered by state officials to stop its well-finishing work in Pennsylvania says it is cooperating. C.C. Forbes Co. of Texas says it had already idled its two Marcellus Shale rigs Friday. No one was hurt in the accident at an EOG Resources well on the grounds of a Clearfield County hunting club.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The number of Pennsylvania homes entering the foreclosure process over the past 12 months rose by more than 20 percent, despite a national rate that stayed flat over the same period. New figures from foreclosure listing firm RealtyTrac Inc. showed almost 5,300 Pennsylvania homes received at least one foreclosure filing in May. That's a slight drop from April, and about the same percentage decrease nationally over the same period. Nearly 1,600 of those properties in Pennsylvania were seized. Pennsylvania's foreclosure rate in May was two-fifths the national rate, with approximately one in every 1,000 homes receiving a foreclosure filing last month. A year ago, the state's foreclosure rate was one-third the national rate, a sign that Pennsylvania's situation worsened while the nation's foreclosure crisis appeared to level off.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is leaving three gun ordinances on the books in Philadelphia, but the National Rifle Association says they'll eventually be struck down. The high court issued a set of decisions this week that mean, among other things, the city may continue to require people to report lost or stolen handguns. But the justices also declined to overturn a Philadelphia judge's decision that threw out city ordinances limiting how often someone can buy a gun and a ban on assault weapons. National Rifle Association lawyer Scott Shields says as soon as someone has legal standing to challenge the lost-and-stolen law it'll be thrown out, too. Philadelphia city lawyer Richard Feder calls it a "mixed decision."

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

Updates on the latest in business:

Dow: 10,211.07, up 38.54

S&P 500: 1,091.60, up 4.76

NASDAQ: 2,243.60, up 24.89

NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks are trading in a narrow range after a report showing consumers are gaining confidence in the economy offset a report showing a decline in retail sales. With two hours of trading left, the Dow was down 42 and the S&P was down 4, but the Nasdaq was 4 points higher.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - The Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index shows confidence at its highest level since January 2008. The index released today was well above forecasts.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Volkswagen is recalling nearly 16,000 Routan minivans to address fire concerns involving latches on the sliding doors. The German automaker says the recall affects 2009-model minivans jointly developed with Chrysler and built in Canada at Chrysler's Windsor, Ontario, plant.

WASHINGTON (AP) - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says oil companies that cause major spills like the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico should face unlimited liability for economic damages. Federal law currently caps liability at $75 million for economic damages beyond direct cleanup costs.

HOUSTON (AP) - Scientists see a growing threat to birds, fish and other wildlife from the Gulf oil spill. New numbers show the amount of oil gushing from a well on the Gulf floor may be double previous estimates, and scientists say that means the crude is likely to travel farther away and have a bigger impact.

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

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

 Mega Millions

     Estimated jackpot: $36 million

 Midday Big 4

     1-1-0-4

 Midday Number

     0-0-4

Midday Quinto

     5-9-0-1-5

Powerball

     Estimated jackpot: $44 million

 Treasure Hunt

     08-10-17-21-30

Tweets on tanning tax

PHOENIX (AP) -- Snooki and John McCain are tweeting over President Obama's 10 percent tax on tanning beds. Snooki, of course, is outraged. She says in a preview for the next season of "Jersey Shore" that "McCain would never" implement such a tax because "he's pale and he would probably want to be tan." McCain is a skin cancer survivor. He tweeted Snooki to say she's right, he'd never tax tanning beds. He says Obama's "tax/spend policy is quite The Situation."

Travolta pays visit to Australia's World Cup team

MULDERSDRIFT, South Africa (AP) - John Travolta showed off some of his dance moves in a visit to Australia's World Cup team Friday ahead of its opening game against Germany.  The movie star is an ambassador for one of the team's sponsors, Qantas, and dropped in on Australia's five-star resort lodge in Muldersdrift, 25 miles west of Johannesburg.  Midfielder Carl Valeri was thrilled with the visit, saying "I watch his movies and I love them. ... It's fantastic really."  Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer said Travolta "wished us well," and called him "inspirational." Schwarzer said "you just have to look at how the guys were excited to get photos with him."  The Socceroos play Germany in Durban on Sunday. Serbia and Ghana are also in Group D.

Iguana man

OCEAN CITY, Md. (AP) - Iguana Man may have to get a new pet. Ocean City, Maryland, has banned reptiles on city streets and its Boardwalk. The City Council was concerned about a local guy known as Iguana Man. He walks around the resort city's Boardwalk, asking people if they want to pet his iguana. The man had a required reptile permit, but there was nothing in the law requiring that lizards be kept inside. Officials made an exception in the amended ordinance for people taking their lizards to the veterinarian.

Time's almost up for churches to replace some wireless microphones

WASHINGTON (AP) - Churches across the country have spent millions of dollars to replace wireless microphones that are about to become illegal. This Saturday is the deadline to stop using wireless microphones that operate in the 700 megahertz band, a frequency that will now be used by emergency responders. Matt Nodine is chief of staff of the Federal Communications Commission's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, which has been trying to get the word out for months. He says churches or other facilities that use 700 MHz wireless microphones this Sunday or anytime in the future will be subject to fines, seizure of equipment and even criminal penalties. Churches that have questions about their microphones can find answers on the FCC's website. Angry NYC meeting over plan for mosque where convent once stood

NEW YORK (AP) - Residents on New York's Staten Island are angry about plans to build a mosque on the site of a former convent. Nearly 390 people attended a contentious meeting on the issue Wednesday night. St. Margaret Mary Roman Catholic Church plans to sell the parcel to the Muslim American Society. Residents said they were upset that the church agreed to the sale without consulting them. Three members of Muslim American Society were grilled about their views on terrorism and religion, prompting the president of the local chapter to express exasperation. He said it was not the right way to handle the situation, but declined to say whether the meeting would change the Muslim group's plans to purchase the property.

Forture tellers predict big Md. court fight

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Some good luck -- for fortunetellers. Maryland's highest court has ruled fortunetelling is protected by free speech rights. Montgomery County had banned fortunetelling. But the court didn't need a crystal ball to rule that peering into the future is OK under the law. While fortunetellers may sometimes rip-off their customers, the judges said that didn't justify an overall ban.

Iguana man barred from boards

OCEAN CITY, Md. (AP) - Iguana Man may have to get a new pet. Ocean City, Maryland, has banned reptiles on city streets and its Boardwalk. The City Council was concerned about a local guy known as Iguana Man. He walks around the resort city's Boardwalk, asking people if they want to pet his iguana. The man had a required reptile permit, but there was nothing in the law requiring that lizards be kept inside. Officials made an exception in the amended ordinance for people taking their lizards to the veterinarian.

Ozzy tries for scream record

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Ozzy Osbourne is trying to set a screaming record. Osbourne will lead fans at the Angels-Dodgers game tonight for what he hopes is the world record for the longest and loudest scream. The scream will happen during the 5th inning break. A representative from Guinness World Records will be there to verify the record. The scream is in honor of Osbourne's upcoming album, "Scream," out June 22, and as part of the "Scream for a Cure" campaign for ThinkCure!, the Dodgers' cancer charity.