Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Former borough council president charged with theft

NORTHUMBERLAND -- A former Northumberland Borough Council president has been charged with stealing from the borough.  39-year-old Bryan Wolfe is facing charges of theft, theft by deception, access device fraud and unlawful use of a computer.  Police say at the time Wolfe was the council's president, between April 2007 and February 2010, he would maintain the borough's website. 

During this time he would start to charge the borough for time spent on the website.  He also purchased over $18,700 worth of computer software that is currently unaccounted for.  Wolfe was arraigned before District Judge Robert Bolton and is in Northumberland County Prison on $40,000 bail.  A preliminary hearing is set for next week. (Sara Bartlett)     

Injuries after Norry accident

NORTHUMBERLAND -- A two-vehicle accident backed up traffic for about an hour in Northumberland this afternoon.  Northumberland County 911 tells us the crash happened at 300 Duke Street and injuries were reported.  More information is expected later today.

New superintendent in Selinsgrove

SELINSGROVE – The Selinsgrove School Board will not take time to search for a new superintendent.  They already have chosen a replacement for Dr. Frederick Johnson, who is leaving the district this summer to take a new job in Philadelphia.  The school board voted last night to appoint Chad Cohrs, the director of curriculum and instruction in the Selinsgrove District, as the new superintendent.

Cohrs has been working for the Selinsgrove School District for 21 years in a number of capacities, including classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal and most recently director of curriculum and instruction.  He is a graduate of Milton High School and Clarion University.  Cohrs lives in Milton with his wife and daughter and has a son at Penn State.  He says he’s happy to move up to the superintendent’s job and says Dr. Johnson has been preparing him to take over.  (Ali Stevens)

Interim superintendent takes over in Danville

DANVILLE -- An interim superintendent for the Danville School District has taken over.  David Price will resume the duties, as current superintendent Susan Bickford prepares to leave the job at the end of this month.  She has been superintendent since 2007.  The district will continue the search for a full-time superintendent, and has a number of candidates they are considering. 

Two accidents in Northumberland County

UNDATED -- Two accidents in Northumberland County backed up traffic for a time this morning.  Northumberland County 911 tells us around 10:00a.m., there was a two-vehicle accident on 5th and Reagan Streets in Sunbury.  Injuries were reported.

Around the same time, in Coal Township along Route 61, a tractor-trailer was disabled after problems with an axle.  Emergency dispatchers say there were fluids down at the scene.  More information on both Northumberland County crashes is expected later today. (Sara Bartlett) 

Responsible Drilling Alliance hosts a bus trip to Harrisburg

WILLIAMSPORT – The Responsible Drilling Alliance is hosting a bus trip to Harrisburg on Tuesday as they work to promote environmentally friendly drilling in the Marcellus Shale.  Barb Jarmoska of the Responsible Drilling Alliance says people in our area need to understand the issues raised by gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale. 

The Responsible Drilling Alliance advocates for best management practices and regulations needed to protect and preserve our rural life.  The RDA is sponsoring a bus that will pick up residents at the Country Cupboard in Lewisburg around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday.  The cost of the bus trip is just $5.00.  To find out more, go to www.responsibledrillingalliance.org or you can listen to Tuesday’s On The Mark program online at www.wkok.com.  (Ali Stevens)

Mifflinburg man charged with trying to flee probation officers

MIDDLEBURG – State police have filed charges against a Mifflinburg man for trying to flee probation officers.  21-year-old Joseph Rubendall Jr. is charged with resisting arrest, criminal attempted escape and flight to avoid apprehension for the incident on Friday of last week.  State police say Rubendall tried to flee from probation officers at the Snyder County Courthouse and was found a short time later in the basement of the courthouse.  (Ali Stevens) 

Route 35 is now open after being shutdown in Freeburg

FREEBURG – Route 35 has reopened to traffic after being closed for several hours last night in Freeburg. PennDOT tells us the road was shut down following multiple water main breaks, which caused flooding of Route 35.

The road was closed from the blinking light at Route 104 in Mount Pleasant Mills all the way to Selinsgrove. Traffic was detoured onto Route 104 and 522 starting around 9:40 last night. Route 35 reopened early this morning and traffic is back to normal on Route 35 in Snyder County. (Ali Stevens)

Selinsgrove picks a superintendent

SELINSGROVE -- The Selinsgrove school board isn't waiting to hire a new superintendent. The district last night chose Chad Cohrs, the director of curriculum and instruction in the district, as the new superintendent. He'll replace Dr. Fred Johnson who is leaving the district to take another job in the Philadelphia area--he will be on Leaders & Lawmakers this week.

City council promotes part-time officer to

SUNBURY – Sunbury Mayor David Persing says Bradley Slack will be a great full time addition to the city’s police force. That’s why the mayor overruled a hiring protocol that would have required Slack, or any officer, to live within the city limits.

Sunbury City Council hired the Shikellamy High School graduate Monday night. Slack lives in a rural area near Sunbury, rather than in the city itself.

Slack has served part time on the city’s police force, and has previously worked for Bloomsburg University. He replaces Corporal Michael Miller, who died in March of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after killing his wife outside their Catawissa Avenue home. (Matt Farrand)

Milton man identified in Williamsport murder

MILTON- A Milton area man was killed in a Williamsport shooting early this morning (Monday). Police say 33-year-old Abdul Miller was found suffering from a gunshot wound after a burglary was reported at 1510 Scott St. in Williamsport.

Police received a call from the house around 2am. Before police arrived gunshots were fired. Miller was found and taken to Williamsport hospital where he later died. No arrests have been made but police continue the investigation. (Stephanie Klock)

City residents invited to discuss comprehensive plan

SUNBURY – A meeting is planned for Wednesday night that organizers hope will be the first step toward revising the City of Sunbury’s comprehensive plan. It’s been 40 years since the city last wrote a plan to evaluate its public needs.

Mayor David Persing says the federal government also requires cities to have an up to date plan before they award most grants. He hopes the word will spread after Wednesday night’s general meeting.

The first session to gather information about the needs of the city is planned for Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Sunbury’s Kiwanis Playground. The mayor says they hope to revise the city’s comprehensive plan within the next 18 months. (Matt Farrand)

Shamokin company given conditional approval to replace city hall roof

SUNBURY – Bids were opened Monday night to replace the roof of Sunbury’s City Hall. Bidders are being required to use material that would be guaranteed for 30 years. The eight proposals ranged from less than $48,000 to more than $83,000.

City Council thus gave its approval to the $47,824 bid submitted by the Budget Renovation & Roofing Company of Shamokin. However, the conditionally approved bid is still subject to review by city solicitor Michael Apfelbaum.

The second-lowest bid of $59,258 by Mid-State Roofing of Bellville could be awarded if the original bid does not meet all the city’s requirements. GSH Installation Corp. of Selinsgrove was the highest bidder, at $83,430. (Matt Farrand)

Vandals sought after vehicles damaged on Sunbury’s “Hill”

SUNBURY – Hundreds of dollars in property damage is being reported after vehicles parked in a Sunbury neighborhood were vandalized early Monday. Sunbury Police Chief Steven Mazzeo says the damage mostly consists of removal of nameplates or emblems from the vehicles; but other damage is also being reported.

Mazzeo says the automotive vandals covered a seven or eight block section of Sunbury’s “Hill” neighborhood. Car owners also report their vehicles were scratched, and at least one convertible top was ripped.

Mazzeo says the removal of nameplates appears to be simple acts of vandalism rather than theft for resale. There area no current witnesses or suspects and anyone with information is asked to call Sunbury Police at 286-4584. (Sara Bartlett)

Shamokin woman in fair condition after crash

SHAMOKIN – A Shamokin woman remains in fair condition at Geisinger Medical Center following a crash Saturday night in Shamokin at around 10:30 p.m. 62-year-old Dawn Clark was driving a vehicle struck by 62-year-old Geraldine Noll of Shamokin.

Noll, whose condition is still unknown, was attempting to turn left from Route 61 onto Reading Turnpike when she came into the path of Clark. Noll was cited for making the left turn and Clark was cited for driving without a license. (Sara Bartlett)

Tip leads to drug charges in Northumberland

NORTHUMBERLAND -- A Watsontown teen is facing drug charges. Northumberland Police say they got a complaint in April that on numerous occasions, a vehicle would park along Front and King Streets and two occupants in the vehicle would smoke out of a pipe. Police say following the complaint, an undercover officer took post in the area of Front and King Streets and noticed the behavior of the two occupants.

Both 19-year-old Christopher Dwulet and a 17-year-old female from Northumberland were found to be smoking marijuana. Dwulet is facing charges of drug possession and corruption of minors. The 17-year-old will appear at Northumberland County Juvenile Court. (Sara Bartlett)

Major remodeling project at Aubrey Alexander Toyota in Hummels Wharf

HUMMELS WHARF -- If you drive down Routes 11 and 15 this week in Hummels Wharf, you may see construction crews demolishing the showroom at Aubrey Alexander Toyota. It's part of a major remodeling project that will take about a year to complete.

Blaise Alexander tells us the current showroom building will be torn down and a new building will be added onto the former gas station building on the corner of their lot. Alexander says the time is right for a new facility because they have outgrown the other building and can only fit one car into the showroom.

He says construction gets underway this week and it will take about a year to finish the project, so customers will experience some inconvenience. Alexander says he hopes folks will be patient with them until the new facility is built. Aubrey Alexander Toyota is just one of nine dealerships that are part of the Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships company. (Ali Stevens)

Suspicious fire reported Sunday near Trevorton

TREVORTON – A state police fire marshal will investigate a fire that destroyed a cabin in the Trevorton area Sunday night. Fire officials tell us the fire was at a large cabin in a remote area between Trevorton and Coal Township.

The cabin, whose owner has not yet been identified, was reported to be fully involved in flames when firefighters from Trevorton, East Cameron Township and Coal Township arrived on scene. The fire is suspicious and a state police fire marshal is on the scene Monday to determine if the fire was arson. (Ali Stevens)

Latest Pennsylvania news, business and entertainment

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is debating final passage of new taxes on Marcellus shale natural gas extraction and another dime a pack on cigarettes.  A vote on whether to send the $317 million tax package to the state Senate was expected later Tuesday.  Republicans say the Democratic-backed package falls short of balancing the budget and would have a harmful effect on the state's economic health.  The debate comes as lawmakers and Gov. Ed Rendell are facing the June 30 end of the fiscal year. Dwindling state revenue collections and uncertainty about the level of federal stimulus payments are complicating the budget process this year.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is considering substantial changes to how the state's two large public-sector pension systems operate.  The House began debate Tuesday on legislation that would reduce a looming increase in pension costs for state government and school districts, and change the rules for new hires.  A final vote on the legislation isn't expected until Wednesday at the earliest.  The proposals would not eliminate the need for substantially higher costs to taxpayers but would reduce the amount.

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) -The Scranton Housing Authority has approved a $160,000 settlement with the former executive director it had suspended following a 2008 federal indictment.  David Baker claimed that the authority violated his constitutional rights because he wasn't given a chance to defend himself at a hearing.  Jury selection is scheduled Monday in his trial in federal court in Wilkes-Barre.  Baker has pleaded not guilty to charges including obstruction, wire fraud and theft of federal funds. Authorities allege he illegally misapplied federal money intended to fund low-income housing.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Chocolate maker The Hershey Co. says it will spend $250 million to $300 million modernizing some facilities in its home town to cut its annual costs by $80 million a year. Hershey said Monday that its board has approved the plan. Union members paved the way 10 days earlier by approving a contract that will lead to hundreds of layoffs and move production out of the century-old factory built by company founder Milton Hershey. The company will modernize and expand its newer factory in West Hershey and upgrade its distribution and administrative facilities in Hershey. The company expects the project to save it $80 million a year by 2014.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - A Penn State study which paints a rosy forecast on the economic potential of natural gas drilling has been greeted with skepticism from a citizens group and a think tank, which favors a severance tax because an industry group funded the research. The university says the Marcellus Shale Coalition will pay more than $50,000 for the study released last month co-authored in part by researchers at Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. The industry group in a release on its website boasts that among the key findings are the potential to create more than 200,000 jobs over the next decade. Critics say the findings are overblown, but a study author and the coalition say the methods used to arrive at the findings are fairly common.

WEST TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - The anticipated Marcellus shale drilling boom has been put on hold in the Delaware River basin, at least for now. The Delaware River Basin Commission announced Monday that it has placed exploratory drilling under its jurisdiction, meaning that energy companies must obtain regulatory approval before sinking any new exploratory wells. Commission Executive Director Carol Collier says Monday's decision will help project ground and surface water. She says it will also remove any incentive for gas companies to classify their wells as exploratory and sink them without DRBC review. The move temporarily halts all Marcellus drilling in the Delaware basin. The commission last month declared a moratorium on new shale drilling projects until regulations are drafted, but exploratory wells had been exempt.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - State officials are lifting part of their stop-work order on the company that had a blowout at one of its wells earlier this month. A state Department of Environmental Protection spokesman said Monday that Houston-based EOG Resources can resume drilling wells. Spokesman Neil Weaver says the company still is barred from hydraulic fracturing or well-finishing operations, and work will not resume at the blowout site while an investigation continues. Weaver isn't sure how many EOG sites are affected by the permission. Last week, the department lifted the moratorium on two EOG gas wells. State officials ordered EOG to stop operations at about 70 sites after the June 3 blowout on the grounds of a Clearfield County hunting club. No one was injured in the blowout.

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

The latest in business:

Dow: 10,404.77, up 213.88

S&P 500: 1,115.23, up 25.60

NASDAQ: 2,305.88, up 61.92

NEW YORK (AP) - Industrial stocks are pulling the market higher after Boeing and equipment maker Illinois Tool Works said they're seeing increased demand. With two hours to go in the trading session, the Dow was up 158 points, the Nasdaq was up 48 and the S&P had advanced 19 points.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Members of Congress have chastised the largest oil companies, accusing them of being no better prepared than BP to avert an environmental catastrophe. As the oil executives testified at a House hearing, Rep. Henry Waxman asserted that the companies' spill response plans amounted to "paper exercises" that mirrored BP's failed plan.

BRUSSELS (AP) - The European Union's executive has warned Spain and Portugal that they will have to keep up their painful budget cuts into 2012 to curb deficits and regain markets' confidence. The EU Commission says pledges by both countries to make big cutbacks next year are in line with bringing their budget deficits down to the EU's maximum of 3 percent of gross domestic product by 2013.

GENEVA (AP) - The Swiss parliament has approved a treaty with the United States that will hand thousands of files on suspected tax cheats to U.S. authorities. The deal would end UBS AG's three-year battle with U.S. tax authorities with revelations the bank had for years helped American clients hide millions of dollars in offshore accounts.

PARIS (AP) - Nestle has launched a patent infringement lawsuit against U.S. rival Sara Lee. The Swiss food giant says Sara Lee's brand of coffee capsules unfairly uses Nestle's popular capsule-based Nespresso coffee machines.   

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

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

 Mega Millions

     Estimated jackpot: $12 million

 Midday Big 4

     2-8-3-7

Midday Number

     0-0-2

Midday Quinto

     1-8-4-1-5

Powerball

     Estimated jackpot: $60 million

 Treasure Hunt

     02-09-18-26-27

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

Sony touts 3-D, motion-control gaming at E3

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Sony is moving forward with 3-D and motion-control gaming. During the game maker's E3 press conference, Sony announced 20 3-D games would be released for PlayStation 3 by March 2011 while 40 games that use Move, the console's new motion-control system, would be out for the holiday season.  Among the unveiled 3 D games, which would require a 3-D television to be played in 3-D, were "Motor Storm: Apocalypse," "Gran Turismo 5," "Crysis 2," "Tron Evolution," "Shaun White Skateboarding" and "Mortal Kombat." Sony also announced the Move controller will be  available for $49.99 on Sept. 19 in the U.S. while a bundle with the controller, PlayStation Eye camera, console and "Sports Champions" will cost $399.99.

Crashers reality show

WASHINGTON (AP) -- It's been rumored ever since she and her husband were caught crashing a state dinner at the White House and now, Bravo is confirming that Michaele Salahi will be part of "The Real Housewives of D.C." A Bravo executive says the scandal at the state dinner happened when filming for the series was nearly over. He says they had to decide whether to go ahead with the show or scrap it. The decision was made to continue because there was no way to replace Salahi that late in the game. She and four other women from the D.C. area will star in the series that will premiere August fifth.

Police: 2nd Sheen vehicle taken, driven over cliff

LOS ANGELES (AP) - For the second time in five months, a Mercedes Benz belonging to actor Charlie Sheen has been found down a cliff near his Sherman Oaks home.  Los Angeles police Officer Norma Eisenman says the 2010 Mercedes was found after authorities received a report of a car driving over a cliff on Mulholland Drive early Tuesday. She says officers checked the Mercedes' plates and confirmed it belonged to the actor.   Eisenman says someone apparently took the vehicle from Sheen's driveway, where  it had been parked Monday afternoon.  Another Mercedes that Sheen reported stolen in February was also found overturned down a nearby cliff. Sheen publicist Stan  Rosenfield did not return a phone message.

1.6 million more Americans volunteered in 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - Volunteering in America is on the rise. A federal report says Americans spent 100 million more hours helping their communities last year than in 2008. The number of people getting involved also went up by 1.6 million to 63.4 million, as more women and blacks lent a helping hand. Overall, Americans set aside more than 8 billion hours to give back last year. Raising money or selling items was the top volunteer activity. Collecting and distributing food followed that. The report is being released Tuesday by the government-run Corporation for National and Community Service.

Bay Foundation: Spill opportunity for conservation

BALTIMORE (AP) - Chesapeake Bay Foundation president Will Baker says President Obama should use the gulf oil spill as an opportunity to call for conservation. Baker says conservation provides the one strategy for immediately reducing oil consumption and cutting pollution that washes into the bay and other waterways nationwide. Baker was on hand Monday at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, where Rep. Elijah E. Cummings and Sens. Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski discussed their recent visits to the Gulf Coast. The foundation president also called on Obama to permanently ban drilling off the Mid-Atlantic coast.

GOAT IN TRUNK

BEDFORD, Va. (AP) - Deputies find lots of stuff in car trunks -- but usually not a goat. Authorities in Bedford County, Virginia, report a woman stopped at a regional drunken-driving checkpoint and deputies heard noises from the trunk. There was a goat inside. Fiona Ann Enderdy told deputies she had bought the goat from a farmer and was giving it to the four passengers in her car, who are from Kenya. Enderdy told deputies she's from the United Kingdom and that's how they transport goats. The goat was panting heavily and animal control officers say the temperature in the trunk was 94. Enderdy is now charged with cruelty to an animal.

Drive-By Condiment Vandalism

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Police in Idaho think they might have solved a yearlong condiment crime spree. Authorities say a 74-year-old Boise woman arrested after pouring mayonnaise in the Ada County library's book drop box is a person of interest in at least 10 other condiment-related crimes. Joy L. Cassidy was picked up Sunday at the library, moments after police say she pulled through the outside drive-through and dumped a jar of mayo in the box designated for reading materials. Cassidy was released from jail and faces a misdemeanor charge of malicious injury to property. Boise police say Cassidy is under investigation for other cases of vandalism that started in May 2009. Library employees have reported finding books in the drop box covered in corn syrup and ketchup.