Thursday, June 12, 2008

Carney says a veterans’ outpatient clinic is a reality in the Valley

WASHINGTON DC – Building of a community-based outpatient clinic for veterans in Northumberland and Snyder Counties is now closer to a reality according to Congressman Chris Carney.  He says the regional office and the VA Under Secretary of Health have approved it.  They are now waiting on word for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Dr. James Peake.  With the closest places for veterans to go now in either Harrisburg or Wilkes-Barre, Carney says a local clinic will be more convenient. 

Carney says he is optimistic that when he meets with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs next week, he will get the third ‘yes’ to go through with the clinic.  He says they will then begin a bidding process in Snyder and Northumberland County, identifying whether the clinic could be placed in an existing building, or if it would be a newly built structure.  He says if all goes smoothly the clinic could be open within 18 months. (Sara Bartlett)

Intensive training program for Red Cross volunteers at Bucknell

LEWISBURG— Red Cross volunteers from all over the east coast took part in a 2-day training program in Lewisburg recently.  Nearly 140 volunteers and staff converged on the campus of Bucknell University for the intensive training program, which included conferences and a practical.  Volunteer, Jennifer Mabus, says she was a supervisor in the Disaster Mobile Kitchen and they took a course on Disaster Kitchen Preparedness.  Mabus says making the food was part of their practical, and they made all the food from scratch.  She says the scene resembled what you would see if volunteers were sent to a disaster to serve food at a fixed site.  Volunteers then served their food to kids from the local Community Center as well as participants in the 2-day training program.  Mabus says that volunteers could be sent anywhere in the United States to serve food from their mobile kitchen during or after a disaster.  (Sara Lauver)

Borough Council votes to demolish buildings in Mount Carmel

MOUNT CARMEL – The Borough Council in Mount Carmel has approved the removal of two buildings in the 100 block of South Oak Street.  Although there had been talk before of demolition of the uninhabited properties, the decision came quickly after one of the properties partially collapsed Tuesday during the stormy weather.  Mount Carmel Code Enforcement Officer Kelly Campbell says since the building was damaged by fire many years ago, it has been unsecured.

Campbell says the demolition will begin soon, and will hopefully be successful in not affecting any existing standing buildings.  Although the contractor has not provided them with a timeline, Campbell says they hope to have the work complete in the next two weeks.  After the demolition, the property will remain a vacant lot because it is owned by private entities. (Sara Bartlett)

Preliminary hearing continued for Sunbury double-homicide suspect

SUNBURY – A hearing has been continued for a Sunbury man charged with a double homicide on January 18^th.  39-year-old Michael Harrell was scheduled in court this morning for a hearing on the changes against him, but it was continued due to ongoing jury selection for Richard Curran, who is also charged with homicide.  The hearing for Harrell is now set for July 18^th.  Harrell was arraigned on June 4^th on two open counts of criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault and other charges.  He’s accused in the shooting deaths of 24-year-old Crystal Scholl Gordon of Selinsgrove and 25-year-old David Moore of Sunbury.  (Ali Stevens)

Theft, drug suspect in custody

SHAMOKIN – A Shamokin man accused of stealing items in exchange for drugs has been captured in Berks County.  46-year-old William Ganns was taken into custody Wednesday morning in Pottstown, according to Shamokin Police.  He’s been on the run since December after he was charged with theft, criminal conspiracy, retail theft and several other charges including drug counts. 

Police say Ganns was the ringleader of a group that stole high-end electronic equipment from Wal-Mart Supercenter in Coal Township. Other local businesses were also victims of the goods-for-drugs ring, according to the News Item.  The group would reportedly give the stolen items to Ganns in exchange for crack cocaine. 

Ganns was the last member of the group to be arrested.  Four others have been charged, including Ray and Cindy Wheary, Hope McCollum and Nicholas Villareal, all of Shamokin.  Ganns is being held in the Berks County Prison and will be transferred to Northumberland County for arraignment before District Justice John Gembic.  (Ali Stevens)

McClure man charged with robbing a market in McAlisterville

MCCLURE – A McClure man is behind bars, charged with trying to rob a bank, and robbing a market in Juniata County on Friday.  State police say 38-year-old Stacey Mosley was arrested Monday night following a large manhunt in the McClure area, involving several police agencies.  Several residents of McClure reportedly found and detained Mosley until police could arrive and take him into custody. An accomplice, 32-year-old Diane Harry of McClure, was also arrested. 

Police say Mosley and Harry tried to rob the McAlisterville branch of the Juniata Valley Bank, but were unsuccessful.  They then robbed Rosewood Markets.  Harry is in the Mifflin County Prison on $25,000 bail.  Mosley is in the Juniata County Prison on $100,000 bail, charged with robbery, attempted robbery, theft and receiving stolen property.  (Ali Stevens)

Danville men charged with selling prescription drugs

DANVILLE – Three Danville area men have been charged after their involvement with selling prescription painkillers.  The Press Enterprise reports 31-year-old James McNaughton met twice with an informant earlier this month in a Danville grocery store parking lot to arrange the sale of prescription drugs.  He is in jail, charged on numerous counts including selling, possessing and conspiring to sell drugs. 

Police also say 22-year-old Brandon Mowrer helped to set up the drug deals, while 21-year-old Donald Erlston provided transportation for the sellers.  Mowrer is charged with criminal conspiracy and facilitating a crime, he is in jail on $25,000 bail.  Erlston was charged with criminal conspiracy and was released from custody. (Sara Bartlett)   

Ag Secretary says PA tomatoes are safe

HARRISBURG – In light of a recent salmonella outbreak linked to tomatoes, PA Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff has issued a statement that all PA tomatoes are safe.  He says they were cleared by the Food and Drug Administration and are not associated with the outbreak.  He also encourages customers to feel safe when buying locally grown products including the round, roma and plum red variety of tomatoes. (Sara Bartlett) 

Milton High School softball goes for the gold

MILTON – The Milton High School girl’s softball team is ready to play for the PIAA AAA final against Susquehannock.  Jordan Frederick, one of three seniors on the team, is ready for the big game, saying they can win this one.  She says they still need to show up and give 100 percent to pull off the win.  This is the first time in Milton High School history that a girl’s softball team has made it to the finals. 

The championship game will be played at Shippensburg University at noon on Friday.  The game will also be televised on PCN.  (Ali Stevens)

Companion service animal fundraiser in Muncy
 

11 jurors seated to hear Curran homicide

SUNBURY – The jury that will hear the homicide case against Richard Curran is closer to complete. 11 of 12 jurors were selected as of Thursday in Northumberland County Court. Four alternates area also sought. Curran is a former law enforcement officer, and is accused of shooting and killing his estranged wife in the parking lot of Shamokin Hospital on August 24th, 2005.

Judge Robert Sacavage will hear the case against Curran, who fled after the alleged shooting and was picked up in Niagara Falls, New York, attempting to cross into Canada. District Attorney Tony Rosini says he will seek the death penalty if Curran is convicted of first-degree murder. Jury selection began Monday. Opening arguments are scheduled to begin next week. (Matt Farrand)

Advocate says Act 44 repeal gaining momentum

HARRISBURG – Organizers of Monday’s presentation by opponents of the bill that would impose tolls on Interstate 80 see momentum shifting to their favor. However, CEO Maria Culp of the Central Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce says more Harrisburg lawmakers need to be convinced of Act 44’s negative economic impact before a critical portion of it can be repealed.

She says the modular housing industry would be especially hurt as it relies on toll free roads to move its finished product. Culp says tolls on the east-west highway would also hurt other industries statewide, and the communities where they reside.

More than 30 legislators, advocates and business leaders gathered at the state capitol Monday to demonstrate their opposition to Act 44. it was under the auspices of the Coalition to Keep I-80 Toll Free. (matt Farrand)

Sunbury man, three juveniles face charges

POINT TOWNSHIP – Vandals did nearly $10,000 worth of damage with a BB gun in the Point Township area nearly two weeks ago. Now, three juveniles and a 19-year-old Sunbury man face charges. Court documents claim 19-year-old Damien Alexander Nagle and the three juveniles admitted to shooting out windows of parked vehicles and businesses.

The Daily Item reports a rare window at the Priestley-Forsyth memorial library was among their targets. The juveniles are between the ages of 15 and 17. Nagle was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Robert Bolton, and released on $30,000 unsecured bail. The three juveniles face charges in Northumberland County Juvenile Court. (Matt Farrand)

Red Cross donation by local car dealerships

UNDATED – Four local car dealerships are teaming up with the Snyder County Red Cross this month to raise money. Dealers say for every vehicle they sell during the month of June, $25 will be donated to the Red Cross.

$15.00 will go towards local disaster victims, while $10.00 will go towards giving the car-buyer a first aid kit and a gift certificate to a CPR class. Involved in the donation are Beaver Motors in Beaver Springs, Paul Stine Chevrolet and Zimmerman Auto World in Selinsgrove and Sunbury Motor Kia in Hummels Wharf. (Sara Bartlett)

Board member hopes budget to be finalized this month

DANVILLE – the school board is looking over new contracts for Danville Area School teachers and support employees. 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 24th. (Matt Farrand)

2008 Athena Award nominees wanted

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 stillroom for progress.

Nominees may be women or men. The deadline is July 16th, finalists are announced in September, and the winner is announced October 23rd at the Athena Award Banquet. Go on line to www.gsvcc.org for an application. Donita Koval won the Athena in 2007; she is now the CEO of the Omega Division of FNB Bank. (Matt Farrand)

The 36th 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 Kathaleen 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 Mary Derr Rockefeller Auxiliary sponsors the fair.

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 36th 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 another female had physically harassed them.

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)

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.

Tuesday, 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 bridgework 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)

Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The latest tribute to legendary Steelers broadcaster Myron Cope is out of this world. Literally.  The International Astronomical Union has agreed to name an asteroid after Cope, who died Feb. 27. The asteroid orbits the sun between Mars and Jupiter and is now officially known as 7835 Myroncope. The asteroid is about three miles wide and 88 million miles from Earth. It cannot be seen by the naked eye.      The name was proposed in March by Dr. Eric Mamajek of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Mass.  Mamajek is a native of the Pittsburgh suburb of Bethel Park.  The International Astronomical Union approved the name late last month.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A renewed push to make broad changes to Pennsylvania's dog law has reignited criticism from groups who say the state is going too far in its effort to crack down on puppy mills. Organizations representing professional dog breeders, farmers and sportsmen told the House Agriculture Committee on Thursday they oppose legislation that would impose tougher health and safety standards on large breeding operations.  Rob Sexton of the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance says proposed criminal and civil penalties of up to $1,000 against violators are too steep.  State Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff says the legislation is intended to provide safer living conditions for dogs that are house in large commercial kennels. The legislation was introduced last month after state officials abandoned an earlier effort to push for regulatory changes.

BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) - A Penn State University student says running in the Mifflin Streak held annually to usher in spring finals should not subject her to an open lewdness charge.  A district judge ruled Wednesday that 20-year-old Elizabeth Burke of Jamison will face trial. Penn State police charged her after she joined the unclothed dash just after midnight May 5.  Burke's lawyer, Stacy Parks Miller, says the crime of open lewdness requires that someone be affronted or alarmed.  Miller says more than 1,000 people gathered to watch the 50-foot streak, and she doubts prosecutors will find a witness who says they were offended. Assistant District Attorney Steve Sloane argues that to imply that running through the streets naked is acceptable is "the equivalent of saying our campus is like Woodstock."

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

Daily Number   7-2-0

Big 4   4-0-6-0

Treasure Hunt   1-2-6-26-30