Saturday, June 21, 2008
Warrant issued for former Sunbury man charged with rape
SUNBURY – The name of a former Sunbury man has been entered into the National Crime Information Computer system. 43-year-old Joseph Gleason is wanted for the sexual assault of two boy’s, ages seven and seventeen.
The incidents occurred in April of this year, Gleason is charged with felony counts of rape, along with numerous other charges. Police say his last known address was in Sunbury. A warrant for his arrest has been issued and anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact Sunbury Police. (Sara Bartlett)
Victim’s family requests life over death
SUNBURY— Former police Chief, Richard Curran, who was found guilty of first-degree murder for the shooting death of his ex-wife, Tina Curran, will spend life in prison without parole. In the fifth day of trial, District Attorney, Tony Rosini, says he was prepared to seek the death penalty. He said it was a unanimous agreement from Tina Curran’s family that Richard Curran not receive the death penalty.
In the first time throughout the week-long trial, Curran showed emotion and wiped tears from his face after Tina’s mom, Bonnie Smith, took the stand and read a letter from his 10-year-old daughter. The letter said “You’ve done a very bad thing to my mother. You’ve become a hateful person to my family.” It went on to say, “You deserve to go to jail.”
Curran himself had the chance to address the court and President Judge Robert Sacavage. He said, “I wish August 24th, 2005 would have been different. At the time, as a Police Chief, I should have known better.” Curran went on to say, “This whole thing happened because I got upset over losing my job—it was stupid. If only I’d used common sense.”
The day began unexpectedly as Curran addressed Judge Sacavage with a file for new council. After a brief conference in the Judge’s chamber, proceedings continued as normal. (Sara Lauver)
Boil water advisory for portion of Middleburg
MIDDLEBURG— There’s a boil water advisory in effect for residents living in a portion of the Middleburg Borough. It’s due to a water leak. The advisory is for residents who live on South Shuman Street, just south of Shambach Street and Meadow Lane. The boil water advisory will remain in effect until further notice.
Stay away from Bald Eagles…especially in the spring
SUNBURY – Bald Eagle etiquette…isn’t a protocol you’ll hear from Miss Manners, but its important that folks around here who are interested in aiding the resurgence in the Bald Eagle. The young eaglets are the reason you should stay away of eagle nests.
Doug Gross, endangered bird specialist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission said if you see a Bald Eagle nest, ‘don’t go there.’ He said if you flush the eagle from the nest, the eaglets would be vulnerable to predators. His advice is to stay a long distance from Bald Eagle nests and don’t go toward the nests.
Gross, along with a wildlife biologist from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Keith Smalley of Lewisburg, a leader in the Susquehanna River Trail Association, took our Roundtable on the Susquehanna River this weekend. You can hear Roundtable (Sunday) on:
n Eagle 107 (107.3FM) at 6a.m.
n 100.9, The Valley, at 6a.m.
n WKOK at 9a.m.
n Talkradio 1380 WMLP, 11a.m.
n 94KX at 11p.m.
n And anytime, at www.wkok.com
Local physician’s video makes national contest semi-finals
LEWISBURG – A Lewisburg physician and his family made a video that is a semi-finalist in a contest sponsored by Baby Ruth. David Zelechoski’s video is one of nine selected, tells a story of his son dreaming of hitting a home run, and includes the song “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” Fan voting for “What Are You Waitin’ for” continues through the 30th, at www.mlb.com/babyruth. Three finalists will visit New York City for baseball’s All Star Game. (Matt Farrand)
National Gypsum employees recognized for saving a life
LEWISBURG – Union County’s chapter of the American Red Cross is honoring volunteers who performed heroic deeds during the last year. Communications Director Anne Smith says a group from National Gypsum was recognized with a team award, for saving the life of a truck driver. Smith says they saw the driver slumped over the wheel of his vehicle and performed Red Cross recommended procedures to the letter, including calling 9-1-1, performing CPR and using an AED.
Smith says the group received the award at a Heroes Breakfast, Friday at the Country Cupboard in Lewisburg, and was humbled by it. Others receiving recognition included Jim and Jean Lilley of Lewisburg, who have volunteered for the Union County Red Cross chapter since 1959. (Matt Farrand)
Local director clarifies appeal for flood aid
LEWISBURG – The American Red Cross is grateful for flood relief contributions targeting Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. However, donations of clothing are not needed. Director of Disaster Services Anne Smith of the Union County Chapter of the American Red Cross says an appeal for clothing was aired in error on a nationally televised program Friday morning. Smith says the organization is deeply grateful, but monetary donations allow the Red Cross to serve clients in a more immediate way. (Matt Farrand)
Union County’s annual 4th of July celebration is four days long
LEWISBURG – Four days of events and activities will get underway next week in Lewisburg for the annual 4th of July Celebration in Union County. On Wednesday, the tenth annual Stars, Stripes and Sousa will be held at Hufnagle Park. A new event is planned for Thursday night at the Campus Theatre in Lewisburg. The theater is showing “Yankee Doodle Dandy” at 6 p.m. All veterans get in for free and if you bring a gift for a soldier serving, you also get in free.
Graham Showalter, one of the event organizers, says all soldiers of the wars should be recognized during the celebration. Other events include a concert by Big Band Nostalgia at Wolfe Field in Lewisburg on Friday at 7 p.m. followed by a fireworks display at 9 p.m. On Saturday, the 14th annual Union County Veterans 4th of July parade begins at 10 a.m. followed by a number of events throughout the day. And don’t forget, on Saturday July 19th, it’s the annual Cavalcade of Champions Drum and Bugle Corps Competition at Christy Mathewson Stadium at Bucknell University starting at 7 p.m. (Ali Stevens)
Raising awareness of buying fresh and local
SELINSGROVE – A Selinsgrove restaurant will be hosting a Buy Fresh, Buy Local event to promote local foods. Emma’s Food for Life will offer a variety of foods and drinks Monday from 7:00-9:00p.m. SEDA-COG coordinates the program locally and Trish Carothers says local food is often consumed within hours of its harvesting and it keeps the money right here in the Valley’s economy. The event at Emma’s will also provide participants the chance to meet with local farmers and ask questions about how they can get involved in eating and buying locally. The cost is $10.00 for the evening. Emma’s Food for Life is located at 11 South Market Street in Selinsgrove. (Sara Bartlett)
FISA amendment heads to US Senate
WASHINGTON – The current round of political debate over the government's terrorism surveillance rules is wrapping up. The House approved a new Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act today (Friday). Among its provisions, the compromise protects telecommunications companies from being sued for cooperating with government efforts to tap the phones and computer lines of terror suspects. Congressman Chris Carney (D-10, Dimock) voted in favor of the measure that passed 293-129. The Senate is expected to pass the bill next week. (Matt Farrand)
Milton’s Moose Family Center gets a new look
MILTON – A 2,300 square foot mural is in the process of being painted on the Moose Family Center on Front Street in Milton. As a project under The Improved Milton Experience (TIME), three artists have begun the project that will highlight the history of transportation in Milton. Included in the painting are a trolley car, a pusher biplane, the train station and the canal system. Lead designer, Pamela Snyder-Etters of Altoona, is working with Kaitlin Thompson of Warminster and Alyssa Scott of Coatesville on the project.
Milton Downtown Manager for the Main Street program, Flora Eyster, says murals create an identity for the downtown and she says the Moose Family Center is the perfect place for the first one because the building stands out, and will also soon be the site of the Milton model railroad museum.
The three artists put in a good 40 hours or more every week on the mural. They have scrubbed the wall, applied the base coat and their next step is to begin applying color. They hope to be finished the mural by the end of the summer. (Sara Bartlett)
Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's special-education funding formula is under attack in a federal lawsuit that claims it shortchanges needy urban school districts. A Pittsburgh-based legal advocacy group for the poor wants the state Education Department to revise the formula, which assumes that 16 percent of all students in each school district require special-education services. Evalynn Welling of the Community Justice Project says districts with larger numbers of special-education students don't receive enough money.
U.S. District Judge Yvette Kane heard arguments Friday over whether the plaintiffs should have class-action status, but didn't immediately issue a ruling. The lawsuit was filed in 2006 on behalf of seven special education students in Reading and Lancaster. The Education Department has argued that special-education disputes should be resolved through administrative hearings first.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell's chief of staff says a new law to help Pennsylvania consumers cope with sticker shock once electric-rate caps expire in the coming years may be worked out by negotiators as part of a state budget deal. Greg Fajt is a lead budget negotiator for the Democratic governor. He says lawmakers are interested in phasing in the higher rates, rather than let them hit all at once. Rate caps are scheduled to expire for 85 percent of Pennsylvania's electric customers in 2010 and 2011. It's a looming problem that's drawn the attention of state lawmakers. Fajt says the administration is leaving negotiations over the fine points to the General Assembly. Speaking with reporters Friday, Fajt said he remains optimistic that a budget deal can be struck before the state's fiscal year ends June 30.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - John McCain's campaign opened its Pennsylvania headquarters in Harrisburg on Friday. Supporters of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee served pizzas at a reception to mark the opening of the headquarters in a rowhouse a couple blocks from the state Capitol. The building is owned by the state Republican Party, which is renting it to the McCain campaign. Jon Seaton, McCain's campaign manager for Pennsylvania and Ohio, says the Arizona senator has a good shot at winning Pennsylvania and its 21 electoral votes - even though no Republican has carried the state since 1988. Seaton says key battlegrounds include the Philadelphia suburbs and western Pennsylvania counties where Democratic nominee-apparent Barack Obama struggled in the Democratic primary in April.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Friday in the Pennsylvania State Lottery:
FRIDAY NIGHT
Daily Number
4-5-2
Big 4
6-8-8-3
FRIDAY MIDDAY
Daily Number
0-9-1
Big 4
8-2-3-7
Treasure Hunt
6-16-22-26-30
The winning numbers drawn Friday in the "Pennsylvania Cash 5" game
were:
20-23-27-37-42
The winning numbers drawn Friday in the "Pennsylvania Match 6 Lotto"
game were:
06-07-15-16-35-38.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)