Saturday, June 14, 2008

A fatal accident closed Route 11 in Snyder County

SHAMOKIN DAM – At least one person was killed in a traffic accident on Route 11, between Shamokin Dam and Northumberland this morning. The 4:30a.m. accident involved a car and a tractor-trailer truck and at least one of those vehicles caught fire after the crash. At least one person was trapped and died at the scene—according to early reports from authorities at the scene this morning.

Route 11 is closed and should be reopened later this morning.

The Snyder County 9-1-1 center tells us, responders include state police, local police from Sunbury and Northumberland, volunteer firefighters from Shamokin Dam and Hummels Wharf, three ambulance companies and fire police from Northumberland. The Snyder County Coroner’s office was also summoned to the scene.

We’ll keep you posted on the reopening of the road and will have more details on the crash.

Fleetwood Motor Homes announces job cuts

PAXINOS – Nearly 130 employees who worked at Fleetwood Motor Homes are without jobs today.  The company announced the job cuts from their Paxinos plant Friday.  The mobile and manufactured housing builder recently employed as many as 800 at the Ralpho Township facility.  Decreased demand for motor homes is reportedly the reason behind the cuts.  Stock in Fleetwood Enterprise last traded at slightly more than $4 dollars per share, and was worth more than $11 per share about a year ago.  (Sara Bartlett)     

Tom Brokaw to host special edition of Meet the Press

WASHINGTON – The accolades have been pouring in following the death of highly respected newsman Tim Russert.  NBC's longtime political pundit and bulldog reporter died on the job yesterday from a heart attack. He was 58-years-old.  Russert, who was the network's Washington bureau chief and host of Meet the Press, was most recently in our area last September speaking at Bucknell University.  His speech was entitled “The View From Washington,” where he touched on many topics including politics and the media.

NBC says Tom Brokaw will host a special edition of Meet the Press Sunday.  It will be dedicated to Russert.  You can hear the program on WKOK Sunday at noon. (AP/SB) 

Sunbury man charged with careless driving
 

Man takes cross-country ride on horseback

SHAMOKIN DAM – It’s not high gasoline prices, but disrespectful language on television and in the movies that prompted Mick Thompson to start riding his horse from the Oregon coast, arriving in Portland, Maine in July or August.  The Laramie, Wyoming native rode along the Routes 11 & 15 strip Friday afternoon, where we caught up with him on his journey east.  Thompson obliged curious photo takers atop a 10-year-old paint named “Hawkeye,” accompanied by “Yogi,” a collie-mix work dog. (Matt Farrand)

Murder trial begins on Monday in Northumberland County

SUNBURY – Now that jury selection is complete, the murder trial for Richard Curran of Shamokin will get underway on Monday in Northumberland County.  The final jurors were seated on Thursday after four days of selections.  The 33-year-old Curran is charged with shooting and killing his wife, 31-year-old Tina Curran of Mount Carmel, on August 24^th of 2005.  The shooting took place on a loading dock outside Shamokin Area Community Hospital, where the victim was employed.  Richard Curran was taken into custody later that evening when he tried to cross into Canada from Niagara Falls, New York.  District Attorney Tony Rosini says he will seek the death penalty if Curran is convicted of first-degree murder.  (Ali Stevens)

West Nile Virus prevention

UNDATED – It’s that time of year again when mosquitoes are around.  Snyder County West Nile Virus Coordinator Brenda Reddig reminds residents to check their properties for any standing water in storm drains or pool covers.  She also reminds residents to be aware of any dead birds that may be on their property, which could signal that a mosquito is carrying the virus.  She says they hope this year is like last year, when no virus was found.

Spraying for mosquitoes has begun in Montour and Columbia counties and Reddig says they will probably begin in Snyder County shortly.  If you have questions or would like to report an incident you can call the control team in Snyder County at 884-0211. (Sara Bartlett)

State police announce DUI sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols

UNDATED – State police will be patrolling roads in Snyder, Union, Montour and Northumberland Counties through July, cracking down on drinking and driving offenders.  State police say in light of the ongoing efforts to keep Pennsylvania highways safe, troopers from barracks across Central Pennsylvania will be patrolling these counties for the next several weeks.  Both checkpoints and roving patrols will be done in various locations and at different times.  (Ali Stevens)

Tornados vs. Microbursts, AccuWeather explains

STATE COLLEGE – Tornadoes were in the initial forecast for this past Tuesday, but later revisions only predicted strong storms.  AccuWeather Meteorologist Dave Bowers says use of “the t-word” in a forecast depends on whether the conditions are right for a tornado.  Apparently, conditions changed by Tuesday afternoon.  When the storms did some through, some contained “microbursts,” or the blast air that is often at the leading edge of a storm. 

It took more than two days for electric power to be restored for some following Tuesday’s severe thunderstorms.  Bowers notes the storm activity basically missed the State College area, and in fact portions of Centre County could use a little rain.  AccuWeather predicts thunderstorms here Saturday afternoon, but they are not expected to be as powerful as those from earlier in the week, (Matt Farrand)

Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way starts “Priorities for Impact”

SUNBURY – There are struggling families all over our region, but how can the root cause of these problems be dealt with?  This is a question the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way is trying to tackle, with the help of the community.  The group has determined problems such as drug and alcohol use, poverty and lack of public transportation, quality childcare and social opportunities as leading issues in the area.  Board member of the United Way, Steve Connolley says these are things “Priorities for Impact” will look at on a local and neighborhood-to-neighborhood level.

The United Way will continue to provide funding for non-profit agencies, but President and CEO Keri Albright says they also have grant money available for this new project.  An informational meeting about the new program will be held at Tedd’s on the Hill Monday from 7:00-8:00p.m.  Members of the United Way will be in attendance to answer questions.  For more information call 988-0993. (Sara Bartlett)

Woman charged with stabbing her boyfriend with a steak knife

SUNBURY – A Sunbury woman is charged with stabbing her boyfriend with a steak knife. 27-year-old Lori Conklin of North Second Street is accused of stabbing Timothy Willis at his apartment at Memorial Acres Thursday afternoon.

Willis was stabbed in the side and taken to Geisinger Medical Center for treatment. He was treated and released. Conklin was arraigned before District Justice Bob Bolton, charged with two counts of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and harassment. She was sent to the Northumberland County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail. (Ali Stevens)

Executive Director hopes Greenway will attract tourism, promote healthy living

SHAMOKIN DAM – The Susquehanna Greenway projects are closer to being completed. Executive Director Gary Bloss says the public and privately funded series will encourage increased use of the river and local natural features while also maintain a high quality of life.

Bloss says projects such as the North Branch Canal along the river in Columbia and Montour Counties could improve the health of the community if used widely for exercise. He says the era of the “one tank vacation” will make the region more attractive to visitors from New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia area

The Sunbury Riverfront Project is also among Greenway projects, and is considered an important part of revitalizing the city. Other Greenway projects include the Susquehanna Riverwalk in Williamsport and restoring Duncannon to its original appearance as a river town. (Matt Farrand)

Carney says a veterans’ outpatient clinic, soon 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 (D-10th, Dimock). 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)

Preliminary hearing continued for Sunbury double-homicide suspect

SUNBURY – A hearing has been delayed for a Sunbury man charged with a double homicide on January 18th. 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 18th. Harrell was arraigned on June 4th 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)

Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell says adding Pennsylvania to the list of more than 30 states with a statewide smoking ban is "one of the most important steps in public health this state has made in recent years." Rendell on Friday signed into law a bill that will get ashtrays tossed out of break rooms and restaurants in 90 days. Restaurant owners will have to tell customers to light up outside, or separate the bar from the restaurant. Owners and employees of small businesses will have to decide whether to change their habits or break the law. "Smoking" or "No smoking" signs will have to be posted just about everywhere. Repeat violators could be fined up to $1,000. Pennsylvania is now the 33rd state with some sort of statewide smoking ban. The ban covers restaurants, office buildings, theaters, arenas and more. Exemptions will allow smoking to continue in bars and taverns that have limited food service, casinos, private clubs, nursing homes, tobacco-related businesses and volunteer ambulance, fire and rescue squads.

CHICAGO (AP) - Sen. Barack Obama holds a small town meeting Saturday in the Philadelphia area. The invitation-only event is part of Obama's "Change That Works for You" economic tour. Obama and Republican John McCain have been exchanging charges about the flagging American economy. Both major party  candidates have their eyes on Pennsylvania's 21 electoral votes.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A company that sells license-plate covers and aerosol sprays to prevent police cameras from recording license numbers has agreed to stop marketing its products in Pennsylvania. Harrisburg-based Innovative Media also agreed to pay $25,000 in fines and costs under a settlement with the state attorney

general's office. On its Web site, the company boasts that its products thwart cameras like those used to catch red-light scofflaws at some intersections in Philadelphia. The reflective plate covers and spray coatings cause the cameras to overexpose the picture - supposedly making it impossible to read the number. The Attorney General says such products violate Pennsylvania's Vehicle Code and may not be as effective as they are advertised. The company did not admit any wrongdoing. Its president did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the settlement.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Annual financial disclosure reports show that Sen. Arlen Specter has a nice nest egg and Sen. Bob Casey is saving for his four daughters' college education. The reports don't include the value of members' primary homes, but they provide insight into how they invest and what they're worth. Specter, a 78-year-old Republican, last year earned the Senate salary of $165,200. Casey, a 48-year-old freshman Democrat, earned that as well as $8,624 that was in carry-over pay from his work as the Pennsylvania state treasurer. Specter has a Vanguard retirement bond worth from $1 million to $5 million as well as a city pension. He also has a rental home in New Jersey and a 1976 Jaguar. Casey has four accounts with Pennsylvania's Tuition Account Program and three college investment plans as well as a state pension.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A Lancaster man faces a federal mail-fraud charge stemming from an alleged scheme to divert $1.1 million form a Lutheran church organization where he worked. Prosecutors say 61-year-old Barry Herr allegedly took the money from the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, where he was employed in Harrisburg as its treasurer. Herr was earning a salary of about $90,000 when he was fired for unrelated reasons last summer. Herr's lawyer says Herr is very remorseful and is doing what he can to make things right. Herr has agreed to plead guilty. A prosecutor says if he makes full restitution by the time he is sentenced, would face a prison term of between 41 and 51 months under federal guidelines.

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

 FRIDAY NIGHT

 Daily Number

     0-2-3

 Big 4

     9-7-8-7

 FRIDAY MIDDAY

 Daily Number

     0-0-3

 Big 4

     1-8-8-7

 Treasure Hunt

     7-11-17-24-28

The winning numbers drawn Friday in the "Pennsylvania Cash 5" game were:   08-26-28-30-38.

The winning numbers drawn Friday in the "Pennsylvania Match 6 Lotto" game were: 12-36-41-45-46-47.

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