Thursday, June 17, 2010

Hostage taken in Snyder County, road closed

MIDDLEBURG -- State troopers are on the scene of what is being described as a hostage situation in Snyder County.  Troopers based in Selinsgrove will only confirm that they are talking to a suspect who has taken a hostage along Strawberry Lane, near Smalsh Barrack Road. 

Smalsh Barrack Road in Middlecreek Township is currently closed in both directions.  The initial call for the incident was at about 3:00 p.m.  Motorists in the area say they saw columns of state police vehicles along Route 15 in Snyder County shortly after the reported time of the incident.  (Matt Farrand)

Crash with injuries reported at busy intersection

DANVILLE -- Crews had to direct traffic around a crash site in Montour County Thursday afternoon.  At least two vehicles were involved at Route 11 and Woodbine Lane, Mahoning Township at about 2:10 p.m.  Several people were reportedly injured and were transported to Geisinger Medical Center. 

A second crash was reported nearby, but is apparently less serious.  Reports of a vehicle accident along Montour Boulevard, Montour Township, Columbia County came in about 10 minutes after the crash in Montour County.  (Matt Farrand) 

Legislation would allow commissioners to determine DA status

HARRISBURG – The Senate Local Government Committee has approved legislation that would allow county commissioners in small counties, including Montour County, to determine full-time status of the county District Attorney.  The legislation now moves to the full Senate for consideration.  Senator John Gordner (R-27th, Berwick) says the bill would allow commissioners in eighth class counties to decide if their District Attorney should work part-time, instead of full-time. 

In 2005, the General Assembly passed legislation that required D-A’s to work full-time, with the state paying 65 percent of their salary.  However, the state has failed to pay counties that salary, leaving smaller counties such as Montour County, financially strapped.  On June 11th, counties received partial payment of just under $50,000 to reimburse counties for expenses in 2008, however 2009 and 2010 have not been paid.  (Ali Stevens)

$500,000 grant awarded to Milton Public Library

MILTON -- Milton's public library move, from the downtown to their new Rose Hill site, is now a multi-million dollar project.  A new $500,000 state grant was announced today. State Senator John Gordner (R-27th, Berwick) explains why Milton has received funds despite the cuts in the state budget.

He said there are funds in the budget for projects like this but it is very limited and extremely competitive. However, this project was able to receive the grants because of the broad community and municipal support which is what helped them receive the grants. Gordner says that he expects for the community to be fully enjoying the new public library by 2011. (Stephanie Klock)

Softball tournament to attract 950 young athletes 

SUNBURY – The Amateur Softball Association of Pennsylvania will be hosting the annual Girl’s Fast Pitch Hall of Fame Tournament in Sunbury this weekend, with more than 960 girls competing.   Some games are being played at the David Persing Recreation Complex on North Fourth Street and one of the organizer’s, Kathaleen Persing says the tournament will bring plenty of people to the city, with thousands expected to visit local restaurants, hotels and attractions in the area.

Persing says some games will also be played in Point Township, Lewisburg and Danville.  Teams have entered from across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland.  Local teams participating include Sunbury, Selinsgrove, Beaver Springs, Danville, Williamsport, Shamokin and Elysburg.  The tournament is a three day event, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and residents are encouraged to stop by the Recreation Complex in Sunbury to enjoy a day of softball.  (Ali Stevens)

Five people injured in a crash on Route 54 in Montour County

DANVILLE – Crews from two counties responded to a bad accident last night on Route 54 in Montour County outside of Danville.  Emergency responders had to free a driver trapped in a vehicle after the two-vehicle accident around 9 p.m. Officials say the accident took place during a heavy rainstorm, causing an SUV driven by 63-year-old Linda Beachel of Danville to hydroplane and slam into a car. 

Four juveniles were inside the car and two backseat passengers were able to escape on their own.  The 16-year-old male driver and a front seat passenger, identified as a 17-year-old boy, were both trapped and it took about 40 minutes for emergency workers to cut them from the vehicle.  The juveniles and Beachel were all taken to Geisinger Medical Center. State police say the two teens in the front seat sustained major injuries.  The two rear passengers, boys ages 15 and 16, sustained moderate to minor injuries.  Beachel was treated for minor injuries. (Ali Stevens)

County's starting to get some reimbursements

DANVILLE -- Montour and Northumberland County leaders each received $49,000 checks this week--the money is partial payments of the 'hundreds of thousands of dollars' they are owned by the state. The checks are to offset the high cost of the district attorney's salaries, which have risen to over $175,000 annually. All Pennsylvania counties are still owed more than $200,000 in DA reimbursement.

Commissioner Jack Gerst says while they're glad for the partial payment, he's is not optimistic that the state will pay up for 2009 and 2010. He expects administrators to continue to complain about money problems as the end of the fiscal year and another budget deadline approaches.

Montour County sued the commonwealth last year to recover the money owed. Gerst says the issue is symptomatic of the excesses of state government, and there's lots of blame to go around, rather than simply the Rendell administration. (Matt Farrand)

Delays on Routes 11 and 15 today in Snyder County

SHAMOKIN DAM – PennDOT will be doing work on Routes 11 and 15 in Snyder County today which will require lane restrictions and may cause delays on the strip. The work will take place from 7 to 3 p.m. while PennDOT crews check the condition of the underlying concrete pavement.

The lane restrictions will be on both the north and southbound side of the highway from the intersection with Park Road in Hummels Wharf to just north of the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge in Shamokin Dam. Motorists are asked to be alert and watch for the work crews today. (Ali Stevens)

Five people injured in a crash on Route 54 in Montour County

DANVILLE – Crews from two counties responded to a bad accident last night on Route 54 in Montour County outside of Danville. Emergency responders had to free a driver trapped in a vehicle after the two-vehicle accident around 9 p.m. Officials say the accident took place during a heavy rainstorm, causing an SUV driven by 63-year-old Linda Bechel of Danville to hydroplane and slam into a car.

Four juveniles were inside the car and two backseat passengers were able to escape on their own. The male driver was trapped and it took about 40 minutes for emergency workers to cut him from the vehicle. The juveniles and Bechel were all taken to Geisinger Medical Center and their conditions are not known. (Ali Stevens)

Additional charges for former borough council president

NORTHUMBERLAND -- Former Northumberland Borough Council President Bryan Wolfe will face additional charges. He is being formally accused in Snyder County of stealing more than $178,000 while employed by Northway Industries as a website developer.

Wolfe is accused of buying software using the company's money, then reselling it and keeping the money. Wolfe's residence was searched in 2008, following his termination the previous year.

Wolfe is free on bail after appearing Wednesday in Snyder County Court. He already faces separate charges in Northumberland County of theft, theft by deception, access device fraud and unlawful use of a computer for irregularities while serving as borough council president. (Matt Farrand)

Inmate dies after fight at USP Lewisburg

LEWISBURG -- An early June fight at the federal penitentiary in Lewisburg apparently led to the death of an inmate. Officials say 54-year-old Arnold Smith, originally from California sustained injuries in a physical altercation with another inmate on June 1st. Smith died Tuesday night at a local hospital.

The FBI is investigating, and an autopsy will determine the exact cause of death. Smith was serving a 100-month sentence for a variety of charges related to providing contraband, including heroin, to federal prisoners. (Matt Farrand)

Juveniles arrested for automotive damage

SUNBURY -- Sunbury Police say they've made some arrests in connection with thefts of automotive emblems earlier this week. The vandalism was reported in an eight block area of "The Hill" neighborhood. An undisclosed number of juvenile suspects were picked up early Wednesday morning.

Sunbury Police say some of the stolen emblems were recovered but the names of the suspects are not being released because of their age. Police say their investigation will continue. Victims are being requested to submit full invoices for losses in the next week. Rips to convertible tops were also among the damage reported. (Matt Farrand)

An open discussion on Sunbury’s comprehensive plan

SUNBURY – The kickoff event to discuss Sunbury’s comprehensive plan was held Wednesday at the Kiwanis Playground. Citizens were invited to an open discussion about the goals for the plan and the issues that need to be dealt with.

The topics reflected both the positive and negative aspects to the city but Mayor David Persing believes the key role in a positive turn for Sunbury is the public’s participation and support of the plan. Mayor Persing explained that the important thing about the kickoff event is getting people from the community involved in the development of the plan.

By doing so his goal is to find out what the citizens think it takes to make Sunbury a place where people will want to come and raise their family. Carol Mazzeo and many other people from the public expressed their concerns and faith in the city’s future.

Mazzeo believes that there are many ideas being batted around that sound very positive and hopeful but because there are many plans that do not evolve into anything she needs to wait and see before she puts all her support in it. However, she hopes this plan works and people start seeing that Sunbury is a beautiful place.

Neighborhood ambassadors are holding events in the next week to complete the sketch for the vision of the plan. For more information on how you can get involved you can go to www.mysunburyplan.com. (Stephanie Klock)

Inmate dies after fight at USP Lewisburg

LEWISBURG -- An early June fight at the federal penitentiary in Lewisburg apparently led to the death of an inmate. Officials say 54-year-old Arnold Smith, originally from California sustained injuries in a physical altercation with another inmate on June 1st. Smith died Tuesday night at a local hospital.

The FBI is investigating, and an autopsy will determine the exact cause of death. Smith was serving a 100-month sentence for a variety of charges related to providing contraband, including heroin, to federal prisoners. (Matt Farrand)

Local superintendent says school districts aren’t to blame for childhood obesity

SELINSGROVE – As Dr. Frederick Johnson prepares to leave the Selinsgrove School District to take a job in Philadelphia, he gave a final interview on WKOK’s Leaders & Lawmakers program about a number of topics. One discussion was the controversy over childhood obesity.

Dr. Johnson says it’s unfair to blame school districts for children becoming overweight since they only eat one meal a day at school and school lunches are nutritious. Dr. Johnson also says a national initiative has an impact on childhood obesity too, the No Child Left Behind Act., which limits recess and exercise time for more time reading and completing math.

You can hear Dr. Johnson discuss the state of the Selinsgrove School District, the No Child Left Behind act and many other topics on WKOK’s Leaders & Lawmakers program Thursday at 3 p.m. or online at www.wkok.com. (Ali Stevens)

Teen boy charged with assaulting neighbor with sword

SHAMOKIN -- A 14-year-old boy from Shamokin is jailed, charged with assaulting a neighbor with a sword. Police say Jordan Bruns will be charged as an adult for the incident Monday evening in Shamokin.

Bruns is accused of striking a young girl in the arm with the sword along West Sunbury Street. Police demanded Bruns drop the sword and eventually had to point a gun at him to get him to drop his weapon.

Bruns was charged with felony assault and possession of a prohibited weapon. The sword was described as a 3-foot-long samurai style sword. Bruns was sent to Northumberland County Prison on $60,000 bail. (Ali Stevens)

Milton man sentenced to federal prison for inappropriate emailing with minors

MILTON -- A Milton man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for sending sexually explicit emails to minors. 53-year-old Dennis Bastian was sentenced in U.S. Middle District Court in Williamsport on Tuesday.

Bastian must also register as a sex offender, undergo sex offender treatment and his Internet usage is restricted. Bastian was caught after chatting with an undercover agent for several months.

Police say Bastian thought the agent was actually a 14-year-old girl. Bastian pleaded guilty in Northumberland County Court to soliciting a 16-year-old girl and receiving pornographic pictures of her. (Ali Stevens)

Maryland woman cited for a crash on Routes 11 and 15 in Port Trevorton

PORT TREVORTON – A Maryland woman was cited for speeding after a crash on Routes 11 and 15 in Port Trevorton on Tuesday afternoon. State police say 32-year-old Jessica Reichner of Ellicott City swerved to avoid another vehicle turning onto 11 and 15 and lost control of car.

The car went off the road and flipped onto its roof. Reichner and her passenger, 31-year-old Timothy Barnes, also from Maryland, crawled out of the back window of the vehicle. They were transported to Sunbury Community Hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries. (Ali Stevens)

Literary lawn party to raise money for the new Milton Public Library

MILTON -- “Gone with the Wind” is the theme of the 2nd annual Literary Lawn Party to benefit the Milton Public Library. For the past two years, the Milton Library Board has chosen a book in history as a the theme for their Literary Lawn Party fundraiser.

This year’s event will be held on Saturday, June 26th at the Rose Hill property, which was purchased by the library board to be the future site of the Milton Public Library. John Meckley says this is a fundraiser for the future of the Milton Public Library, which will be moved to the Rose Hill site from the current location on South Front Street.

The Literary Lawn Party will kick off with free demonstrations and re-enactors from 10 to 4 p.m., featuring a civil war reenactment and artillery fire. From 6 to 9 p.m., you can attend the lawn party with a donation of $40 per person, featuring live music, dancing, food and drink. For tickets call 742-7111.

Rain delays project on Mile Hill Road until today

SUNBURY -- A project expected to be done today on Mile Hill Road outside Sunbury will lead to some delays. PennDOT says they will close a section of Mile Hill Road in Upper Augusta Township to replace a cross pipe to improve drainage in the area.

The project is expected to only last one day from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. . A detour will be set up using Reagan Street, Fourth Street, Mile Post Road and Mount Pleasant Road. The pipe is being replaced on Mile Hill Road between Mountain Trail Road and Tower Road. (Ali Stevens)

Exiting superintendent reflects on 9-year career

SELINSGROVE – As Dr. Frederick Johnson prepares to leave the Selinsgrove School District in a few weeks to take a new job in the Philadelphia area, he says the decision to leave Selinsgrove was not an easy one. He says the relationships he’s made with staff and residents made the decision tough, but ultimately, he wanted to work for a large school district with more than 7,000 students.

Dr. Johnson gave an exit interview for our WKOK Leaders and Lawmakers program on Thursday. He says after more than 9 years on the job, he didn’t want to stay stagnant and wanted to pursue his goals.

You can hear Dr. Johnson discuss the state of the Selinsgrove School District, the No Child Left Behind act and many other topics on WKOK’s Leaders and Lawmakers program Thursday at 3 p.m. or online at www.wkok.com. (Ali Stevens)

Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment

WYALUSING, Pa. (AP) - The remains of two people discovered in the northeastern Pennsylvania home of an elderly woman may be the woman's husband and sister.  According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by state police, a case worker for the woman told investigators the woman admitted digging up the bodies with the help of other people. Authorities discovered the bodies Tuesday afternoon at a home in Wyalusing Township, Bradford County. That's about 50 miles northwest of Scranton, near the New York state line.  According to the case worker's statement, the woman said she disinterred the man's body years ago and dug up her sister shortly after she was buried on the property.   No charges have been filed.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pittsburgh police are investigating several attacks on bicyclists but they are unsure if the incidents are related. The most recent attack happened Monday night in the city's East End neighborhood. Bicyclist Ryan Ference says he was attacked by a group of people while riding his bike home from work. No one has been arrested in the assault.  Police say the attacks haven't had a pattern and there is no indication they are connected. However, authorities are urging bicyclists to take precautions and be aware of their surroundings.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell says layoffs of teachers and state and local government employees will result if Pennsylvania doesn't get $850 million in budget help from the federal government. Rendell said Wednesday layoffs will begin in July if Congress doesn't approve additional subsidies helping states weather the recession and a severe downturn in tax collections. Rendell didn't give a specific number of state employees who would lose their jobs, but says government employees at all levels would be laid off. He says spending cuts on public schools would result in teacher layoffs, while the state would have to cut payments that help subsidize county programs. Congress is debating a bill that combines subsidies for cash-strapped state governments with jobless aid and the renewal of dozens of tax breaks.

BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) - A central Pennsylvania man is suing the state police over guidelines that forbid the use of hearing aids in the certification process for becoming a municipal police officer. Lawyers for 39-year-old Bill Furman have asked in the federal discrimination lawsuit filed Wednesday that the rule be changed so he has the chance to become eligible for certification. The state police oversees certification. Furman is a parking officer and constable in Centre County. He was set to attend a police training academy last year when he said he was told he couldn't continue because of his hearing aids. His lawyer notes the guidelines do allow for the use of glasses to meet vision requirements.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's top environmental regulator is warning of "serious consequences" for the state's rapidly growing natural gas industry if companies are caught sacrificing safety for profits. Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger told a state Senate committee Wednesday that the industry must improve its performance and stop well blowouts, gas migration and water pollution. Hanger says his agency found no violations after inspecting several Pennsylvania wells being drilled by a company that was drilling a West Virginia well that caught fire. However, Hanger declined to reveal the results so far of the investigation into the blowout of another Pennsylvania well earlier this month. Hanger's testimony came a day before a state board is to vote on proposed new standards that he views as crucial to protecting public waterways from polluted drilling wastewater.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Pennsylvania's state university system will suspend, discontinue or merge dozens of academic majors that officials say are under-enrolled. Officials with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education say 15 master's and bachelor's degree programs will be discontinued at some campuses. They said Wednesday that more than 50 programs will be placed in moratorium, including some foreign language and science degrees. The organization representing university faculty members says it is concerned that such changes will lead to job losses and fewer academic options for students. The state system's 14 university campuses serve about 117,000 students.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union says the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has agreed not to enforce a little-used regulation that it claims restricted free speech in all state parks. The ACLU on Wednesday says state park rangers stopped two people from soliciting nominating petition signatures at Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh, and also told a balloon-twisting artist he needed a permit for that activity in recent weeks. DCNR press secretary Christina Novak confirmed that the agency has agreed to suspend enforcement while its attorneys research the issue. The ACLU says the incidents resulted from a 1971 regulation requiring prior written permission for "expression of views" or distributing literature in state parks.

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

Update on the latest in business:

Dow: + 24.71 (10,434.17)

S&P 500: + 1.43 (1,116.04)

NASDAQ: + 1.23 (2,307.16)

UAW chief: organizing nonunion workers a priority

DETROIT (AP) - The new president of the United Auto Workers says the union must organize nonunion workers in order to win back concessions to companies during the recession.  President Bob King said in his acceptance speech Thursday in Detroit that gaining rights to organize must be a top priority.     He says the union must organize all companies in the automotive, aerospace and agriculture equipment industries so a unionized company is not at a disadvantage to its competitors.     King says the union also must seek labor law reforms and push for the Employee Free Choice Act. That would allow workers to join a union simply by filling out a card.  King was elected to the post on Wednesday. He succeeds Ron Gettelfinger, who is retiring after eight years in office.

Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers

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

Midday Big 4

     2-3-3-3

 Midday Number

     4-4-4

 Midday Quinto

     8-5-4-4-0

 Treasure Hunt

     06-17-18-22-29

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

Rush Limbaugh latest to take Golf Channel's tips

NEW YORK (AP) - Newlywed Rush Limbaugh will be brushing up on his golf game. The Golf Channel said Thursday the radio commentator will be the third celebrity featured in "The Haney Project." In the series, Tiger Woods' former coach Hank Haney gives celebrities tips on improving their golf game.  The third edition of the series will be taped later this year. It will air next spring.  Charles Barkley and Ray Romano were the first two celebrities to get tips from Haney on the show.  Limbaugh will also talk about his love for golf in this summer's Golf Channel series "Golf in America."   The 59-year-old radio host was married earlier this month in Palm Beach, Fla., to an event coordinator he met at a golf tournament.

Cups "runneth over" at world beer pong event in NJ

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - Organizers hope a nationwide tournament and a $25,000 first prize will help put a respectable face on something that started as a college drinking game.  The World Beer Pong Tour held its championships Tuesday at the Resorts Atlantic City casino in New Jersey, where hundreds of two-man teams competed to see who could toss ping pong balls into 10 water-filled cups first. Normally the cups are filled with beer the losing team drinks.  Tour commissioner Sam Pines says it's not about getting drunk.  He says the tour is about competition, skill and having fun.   But not everyone got the message. Unemployed 25-year-old Brian Bailey says all he does every day is drink beer and toss ping pong balls at cups.  A team from Sacramento, Calif., called Drinkin' Smokin' Straight West Coastin' claimed the top prize.