Monday, June 21, 2010
Police ask public for help after possible child kidnapping
SUNBURY – Did someone try to kidnap a child in Sunbury over the weekend? Police say that is a distinct possibility after an incident Saturday or Sunday. Police aren't saying much about the occurrence along Memorial Drive.
They do say a man in a car tried to lure a girl into his vehicle. He said he knew her parents. She declined and police tell us she offered the following description: An African-American male, of undetermined weight and height, balding or with a clean-shaven head, and driving a white four-door sedan.
Police did not offer a specific time frame of the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call Sunbury Police at 286-4587, or Northumberland County Communications at 988-4539.
This is the second suspicious incident lately involving a child. Last Friday at the Lewisburg Walmart, a child reported that a man asked a girl to go into the rest room. She refused and state police say they are still looking for the perpetrator of that incident. (Matt Farrand)
Congressman Chris Carney is spending the day in the Gulf of Mexico
UNDATED – Congressman Chris Carney (D-10th, Dimock) is spending the day in the Gulf of Mexico assessing the situation after the massive oil spill. WKOK spoke with him Friday about his planned trip. Carney said from his position as the chairman of the oversight subcommittee for homeland security, it’s important that congress understand how well the federal government is doing, what they can be doing better, what they’ve been successful at and make sure they are doing things the right way.
Carney also spoke about drilling in the Marcellus Shale here in Pennsylvania and the impact it can have on the environment. Carney says they need to make sure they don’t do anything that will cause harm to the environment. Carney says it makes sense that we proceed with caution with the best science available. (Ali Stevens)
Day of Action in the Valley
LEWISBURG -- Nearly 150 volunteers helped out around the Valley during today's (Monday's) Day of Action. The national event is sponsored by the United Way and gives the community a chance to see what goes on at the group's member agencies. Tina McDowell is the Executive Director of Union County's United Way and says the day also gives volunteers a chance to give back to the community. It is also beneficial for the agencies, because they may not have the budget or manpower to get work done. McDowell says volunteers are at about 30 different agencies, from the McEwensville Library, to the AYSO soccer fields in Selinsgrove, to the YMCA in Sunbury.
She says the volunteers are working outside painting and mulching, and inside cleaning and organizing. This is the second year the Union County United Way and the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way have worked together during the Day of Action. (Sara Bartlett)
Partial building collapse at a school building in Coal Township
COAL TOWNSHIP – A building that partially collapsed on Sunday will now be inspected to see if it can be repaired. The second floor of the St. Anthony’s School building at Fifth and Webster Streets in Coal Township collapsed into the first floor. No injuries were reported. It’s not yet known if the building will be usable again. (Ali Stevens)
USDA-chartered plane crashes into Lock Haven home, 3 dead
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (AP) - The Federal Aviation Administration says a plane chartered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture has crashed into a residential area in Lock Haven, and that three people are believed dead. FAA spokesman Jim Peters says the Cessna 210 was on final approach to Lock Haven's William T. Piper Memorial Airport when it went down west of the runway at about 1 p.m.
Peters says the plane struck a utility pole, a house and three vehicles, but there are no reports of injuries on the ground. Peters says the plane was owned by a Colorado firm but had been chartered by the USDA. Officials do not yet know where it was coming from or where it was going, or whether more than three people were aboard. Calls to city officials and the county coroner were not immediately returned.
Milton woman to be sentenced this week for kidnapping her children
MILTON – A former Milton woman, who was found guilty last week of kidnapping her children and bringing them to Milton from Spokane, Washington, will be sentenced this week. 48-year-old Jill Haugen was arrested in Milton in December 2009 for a domestic dispute and it was determined that Haugen was wanted for more than 10 years for taking her two children from their father.
Haugen told police she fled with her children because of physical and sexual abuse in the marriage, but the father was never charged. Haugen was found guilty last week of two counts of first-degree custodial interference. She now faces a maximum of 5-years in prison. (Ali Stevens)
Residential burglary investigation in Union County
MILLMONT – State police are investigating a residential burglary that took place Saturday morning in Lewis Township, Union County. Troopers say someone entered an unlocked home along Millmont Road sometime between 9 and 11 a.m. on Saturday. Once inside, a wallet and several pieces of jewelry were stolen from a bedroom, before the burglar fled the scene. Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious is asked to call state police. (Ali Stevens)
One area resident injured in a motorcycle-car crash Sunday in Juniata County
MCALISTERVILLE – One area man was injured in Sunday morning in Fayette Township, Juniata County. Police say 69-year-old Larry Maurer of Mount Pleasant Mills failed to stop at the intersection on Route 235 and pulled his car into the path of a motorcycle driven by 50-year-old Thomas Bryner of Laurelton. Bryner was wearing a helmet and sustained moderate injuries in the crash. He was transported by ambulance to Geisinger Medical Center, where he was treated and released. (Ali Stevens)
Employees chase child abuse suspect
LEWISBURG – State police are looking for a man who reportedly tried to lure a child into a restroom Friday at the Lewisburg Walmart. Troopers say the suspect offered five dollars to a nine-year-old girl if she would follow him to the restroom. The girl instead, reported the 1p.m. incident to a store employee.
Here is his description—a white male, in his late twenties to early thirties, with light brown hair, wearing a white tee shirt and tan shorts Employees followed the suspect said he left in a maroon late model sedan, with black steel wheel rims and no hubcaps. State police request a call to 524-2662 if you have information. (Matt Farrand)
Alex Mullen discharged from GMC
DANVILLE -- The second Selinsgrove Area High School student injured in a prom night crash is now out of Geisinger Medical Center. A nursing supervisor says Alex Mullen was released June 15th, though they declined to say whether the 17-year-old was discharged to another hospital.
Mullen was in a car driven by 17-year-old Seth Lauver that collided with a vehicle that was parked along Penns Drive in Monroe Township. Lauver also sustained serious injuries in the May 22nd crash and was released from Geisinger to a rehabilitation facility near Philadelphia. (Matt Farrand)
Hagenbaugh will keep promoting Mifflinburg
MIFFLINBURG -- Mifflinburg's Main Street Manager is retiring soon, for a second time. Becky Hagenbaugh came to the Mifflinburg job ten years ago, having previously retired from a career in advertising out of state. Hagenbaugh says her first duties only included running the annual Christkindl Market and publishing a newsletter.
Her efforts since then helped expand the scope of the job to develop and promote the Mifflinburg Oktoberfest and Blueberries & Bluegrass in the community park. Hagenbaugh says she will continue to help advance the Union County Rails to Trails project, and train her replacement.
Meantime, Mifflinburg Heritage & Revitalization is looking for a new Main Street Manager. Potential applicants should call 966-1013 for details. You can get more information about the activities and the job opening at www.mifflinburgpa.com. (Matt Farrand)
Why the moms of the world are the local advocates for children with autism
SUNBURY – If you hear about the prevalence of autism in the world, you are likely to also hear from one of the so-called ‘mother warriors’ who are leading the fight for additional rights and better treatment of children with autism. Dave Alunni is a licensed clinical social worker with over two decades experience. He says at Community Care Behavior Health, has seen these moms get more active, advocating for their children.
He said for families of a child with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum disorder, sometimes the child serving agencies can become very confusing and women who ‘learn the ropes’ end up become the advocates for other families.
The mother warriors in our region include Susan Colon of Lewisburg and Kathleen Dunkelberger of the Sunbury area. Those are women who became family with the human service community in our region, then connect the families with the right agencies, organizations or individuals. You can hear Roundtable anytime, at www.wkok.com
Outgoing superintendent talks about Keystone Exams, No Child Left Behind
SELINSGROVE – The outgoing superintendent in the Selinsgrove School District gave some final thoughts about education on a recent Leaders & Lawmakers interview on WKOK. Dr. Johnson is pleased with the Keystone Exams taking over for the PSSA Exams, since the tests are given when students finish learning a subject, instead of only testing students in certain grades.
Dr. Johnson also talked about the federal No Child Left Behind Act. He says no one can argue with the general rhetoric of No Child Left Behind, but he says the “devil” is in the details. Dr. Johnson says the remedies they have suggested for improving school districts have not been successful and there are a lot of problems.
Johnson believes the law needs to go back to its roots and is terrible federal interference with state regulations. You can hear more from Dr. Johnson on a number of topics on our Leaders & Lawmakers program online at www.wkok.com. (Ali Stevens)
Latest Pennsylvania news, lottery and business
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - With just 10 days until the new fiscal year begins, the state Legislature is back in Harrisburg and is at odds with Gov. Ed Rendell over his proposed $29 billion budget. Rendell pressed his case Monday, appearing at a rally with public school advocates who back his call to boost spending on instruction and operations by more than $350 million. Spending decisions will be difficult with Pennsylvania facing a $1 billion-plus shortfall in tax collections in the almost-finished fiscal year. Rendell wants to fill the gap with tobacco settlement money and increased taxes on sales of tobacco products and the extraction of natural gas. Legislative leaders are working behind closed doors to balance the budget with program cuts that Rendell warns will lead to state employee layoffs.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia's Department of Environmental Protection says the number of gas wells being permitted in that state's portion of the Marcellus shale field is growing faster than the agency's ability to keep pace. DEP records show permits issued for Marcellus wells more than tripled between 2007 and 2009. The number of inspectors increased by one. Four more are working now, but Secretary Randy Huffman says 18 are still too few. How to address the shortage is among the questions the DEP intends to answer in a review Huffman hopes to complete by fall. Huffman wants to brief the governor in November and present any legislative changes by January. But the Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia calls the time line aggressive and cautions against a rush to judgment.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's tax amnesty program is adding about $261 million to state coffers, far exceeding projections. Gov. Ed Rendell announced the total collections Monday, saying about 60,000 delinquents participated in the program. Participants are getting their penalties waived and are only having to pay half the interest due. Officials had expected the 54-day amnesty period to bring in $190 million. Final figures aren't expected to be announced for a few weeks, and a complete report to the Legislature is due in December.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dan Onorato wants 14 debates or similar forums in the months leading up to the November election. Onorato announced his proposal to Republican candidate Tom Corbett during a Monday conference call with political reporters. Onorato says he wants at least two events in each media market, and that some debates should focus on particular issues. His list of proposed topics includes the economy, natural gas drilling, political corruption, education, transportation and the environment. Corbett campaign spokesman Kevin Harley calls Onorato's announcement a media stunt. Harley says there will be debates, but he says the number and other logistics will be determined by negotiations between the campaigns.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Business travelers are once again clustering at the front desks and in the conference rooms of Philadelphia hotels, part of a nationwide surge that analysts call an unofficial indicator of an improving economy. Hotel managers in Philadelphia's Center City say the turnaround in corporate travel has been faster and more robust than they expected. Occupancy and revenue per available room were up 8.3 percent and 5.8 percent, respectively, in May. Paul Schwartz, general manager of the Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel, says the lobby after 5 p.m. is "teeming with corporate types after they get out of meetings." He says the hotel is booked solid three days in the middle of this week due largely to business travelers, and they are all short-term bookings - which he called "unheard of." Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Economy.com in West Chester, says travel is one of the first things businesses cut in recessions. He says it's also one of the first things they resume in economic recoveries.
CAMP HILL, Pa. (AP) - Control of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party changed hands for the first time in eight years this weekend. The Democratic State Committee elected a new chairman, Pittsburgh lawyer Jim Burn, as the sun sets on the Rendell era and the Republican Party vigorously campaigns to reclaim the governorship and an open U.S. Senate seat. Saturday's leadership shake-up did not come without a fair amount of behind-the-scenes drama, dealmaking and uncertainty over who was in charge. The top-of-the-ticket Democratic candidates - Dan Onorato for governor and Joe Sestak for Senate - said they studiously avoided taking sides prior to the vote. Onorato, the elected executive of Allegheny County governor, appeared at a state committee dinner on Friday night and urged unity. Sestak, a second-term congressman who ousted Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter in the primary, said he personally would have liked to elect a woman as the party's leader. But he said he did not want to interfere in the selection process.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Updates on business
Dow: 10,433.87, down -16.77
S&P 500: 1,112.16, down -5.35
NASDAQ: 2,289.15, down -20.65
NEW YORK (AP) - Stock prices are off their best levels of the day. Markets have rallied today after China said it would allow its currency to rise the dollar. That, in turn, could help U.S. manufacturers and exporters compete more effectively.
LONDON (AP) - On the eve of the event, BP CEO Tony Hayward has decided not to attend a London oil conference, citing his commitment to the Gulf of Mexico relief effort. The last-minute pullout follows criticism of Hayward's attendance of a yacht race off the coast of southern England over the weekend.
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Food maker Ralcorp Holdings says it has agreed to buy American Italian Pasta Co. for about $1.2 billion. It has also acquired two cracker makers.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. Supreme Court is allowing a new trial in the case of a woman who got breast cancer after taking hormone replacement therapy. She's seeking punitive damages against Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration's flagship effort to help people in danger of losing their homes is falling flat. New figures show that more than a third of the 1.2 million borrowers who enrolled in the $75 billion mortgage modification program have dropped out.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn Monday:
Mega Millions
Estimated jackpot: $26 million
Midday Big 4
7-7-7-9
Midday Number
2-6-6
Midday Quinto
2-3-3-7-0
Powerball
Estimated jackpot: $97 million
Treasure Hunt
05-08-12-26-29
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn Sunday:
Big 4
2-9-6-2
Cash 5
04-16-24-28-31
Daily Number
0-6-4
Evening Quinto
7-0-1-9-3
Midday Big 4
4-5-0-1
Midday Number
0-1-0
Midday Quinto
5-0-8-9-4
Treasure Hunt
07-09-11-13-30
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
CNN to host Gulf telethon
NEW YORK (AP) - Robert Redford, Jenny McCarthy and Sting are among the celebrities who have signed up for tonight's telethon to help rebuild the Gulf Coast after the BP oil spill. The money raised will go to charities that help communities and wildlife affected by the spill. Other celebrities participating include Tim McGraw, Chelsea Handler, Alyssa Milano, Pete Wentz, Ted Danson, Harry Connick Jr., Lenny Kravitz, Ian Somerhalder and Edward James Olmos. The telethon runs tonight on CNN.
Want to be an 'Idol'? Tryouts announced
LOS ANGELES (AP) - "American Idol" has announced the full list of audition cities for next season. The search for the next Idol begins July 17 in Nashville. The tryouts will continue in Milwaukee, New Orleans, East Rutherford, N.J., Austin, Texas and San Francisco. The eligible age has been expanded to anyone between 15 and 28 years old.
Bach and beyond: NYers plunk on public pianos
NEW YORK (AP) - Musicians are taking advantage of public pianos that have been put near New York City landmarks and in city parks this week. The 60 pianos were installed Monday morning at landmarks like Lincoln Center, Times Square and the Coney Island boardwalk. Pianists plunked out Bach, Elton John and Scott Joplin as small crowds gathered. In Times Square, the music mixed in with sounds of jackhammers, honking cabs and fire truck sirens. The pianos are part of an art installation touring the world that is making its first U.S. stop in New York. The concept has put more than 130 pianos in parks, squares and bus stations in cities from London to Sydney.
McDowell holds on, wins US Open
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) - Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland has won the U.S. Open, holding off France's Gregory Havret to become the first European to win America's national championship since 1970.
McDowell shot a 3-over 74 on a difficult Sunday at Pebble Beach to finish at even-par 284 for the tournament and win by one. Havret, a Frenchman ranked 391st in the world, played in the same group with Tiger Woods and didn't let it bother him. He was within one of McDowell with two holes left but couldn't make birdie on the par-5 18th to tie. Ernie Els finished third at 2 over. Woods made four bogeys on the front nine en route to a 4-over 75. He tied for fourth with Phil Mickelson, the same spot he finished in at the Masters in April.
KEVIN COSTNER - BP ORDERS HIS SEPARATORS
PORT FOURCHON, La. (AP) - BP has taken Kevin Costner up on his suggestion that they use his spinners to help get the oil out of the water in the Gulf of Mexico. BP has ordered 32 of the centrifuges from a company Costner co-founded. Costner joined BP officials for an inspection Friday of a barge that would be used to take three of the devices into the Gulf over the weekend. Oily water is pumped onto the barge where the centrifuges can process a total of 600,000 gallons a day. They separate the gunk from water. Costner says he "didn't come to save the day" but he's happy the technology is being used.
IN THE NEWS: STUDY INDICATES ADULTS TEXT AND DRIVE, TOO
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Do as I say - not as I text? That seems to be the conclusion of a report on the dangers of texting and driving. Apparently the practice isn't limited to teens - not by a long shot. The study by the Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project says adults and teens are equally likely to have texted while behind the wheels. And when it comes to chatting while driving - adults are even more likely to have done that than teens. A Pew researcher notes that while many educational efforts about texting and driving are aimed at teens, the findings show adults need some schooling on the subject, too.
DON'T FEED HOMELESS
OCEAN BEACH, Calif. (AP) - "Please don't feed our bums." That's what a bumper sticker in Ocean Beach, California, reads. They're being sold at The Black head shop for $2.50. Ken Anderson says he had the stickers printed because he's tired of rude panhandlers. He says they're demanding spare change at the San Diego area beach rather than asking for it. Local blogger Frank Gormlie disagrees. He runs the "OB rag" and says Ocean Beach should be a place of "laid-back tolerance."
STING, BIEBER WILL TAKE PART IN GULF TELETHON
NEW YORK (AP) - Sting and Justin Bieber will perform on a telethon tonight to benefit victims of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Randy Jackson, Ted Danson, Cameron Diaz and Robert Redford will participate as well. Ryan Seacrest will host an online suite for viewers on Facebook and other social media. The telethon will raise money for the United Way, National Wildlife Federation and The Nature Conservancy.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)