Sunday, June 22, 2008
Severe thunderstorms in Central Susquehanna region
STATE COLLEGE – The National Weather Service issued a series of severe thunderstorm watches and warnings for Sunday night. A severe thunderstorm was expected to cross through portions of Snyder, Union, Montour, Columbia, Northumberland and Lycoming Counties in the early evening. Mifflinburg, Laurelton, Penns Creek and RB winter State Park were in the path of the strong storm.
Additional severe thunderstorm activity was organizing in the Bedford and Huntington County areas in the early evening, and also expected to travel into the Central Susquehanna region from the southwest to the northeast. The Weather Service says these storms are capable of producing hail, and will likely contain high winds, lightning and produce heavy downpours.
Meantime, the entire region remained under a severe thunderstorm watch through 10:00p.m. (Matt Farrand)
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 boys, ages 7 and 17.
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)
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.
Expo shows what valley has to offer the young at heart
SUNBURY—You’re only as old as you feel… at least that is what area residents found to be true at Saturday’s Young at Heart expo at the Sunbury YMCA. The event exposed mature community members to YMCA and other local services available to them. Lorraine Martinez stumbled upon the expo while using the gym and found helpful advice, like a new healthcare option available to her through Geisinger Hospital. Expo venues also exposed participants to sleep testing, travel services, and mortgage advice. The day featured massages, a scavenger hunt, and WNEP’s Mike Stevens talking about travel across PA. (Lindsey Bingaman)
Montour county attempted break in
DERRY TOWNSHIP – Police are investigating an attempted break in over the weekend. State Police at Milton say it was reported that someone tried to pry open the front door of a residence at the Shady Oaks Trailer Park in Derry Township. According to police no one was home at the time of incident and damage was reported to the door jam. Police say the incident occurred sometime between 11:30 p.m. Friday and 12:30 a.m. Saturday. Anyone with information is asked to contact State Police. (Sheri Rippon)
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)
Victim’s family requests life over death
SUNBURY— Former police Chief, Richard Curran, was sentenced to life in prison without parole in the homicide case for the shooting death of his ex-wife, Tina Curran. 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 receives the life imprisonment sentence. Curran was found guilty of first-degree murder for shooting and killing his ex-wife outside of the Shamokin Hospital in August 2005. (Sara Lauver)
Scam alert in Northumberland County
MILTON – Police are investigating a Publisher’s Clearing House scam in Northumberland County. State Police at Milton say the incident occurred as a 48-year-old Milton Woman received information that she was the winner of the Publisher’s Clearing House back in January. The victim reportedly received a check and was instructed to deposit, withdrawal and send the cash from the check to a Canada address. The check was determined counterfeit. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police at 524-2662. Police continue their and investigation and urge you to be cautious of these and similar types of scams. (Sheri Rippon)
DUI and other traffic violations for an area man
CENTRE TOWNSHIP – A Millmont man is answering to charges stemming from a drunk driving incident earlier this month. State Police at Selinsgrove say 52-year-old Gary Bingaman was stopped at about 1:45 a.m. after he was driving on the wrong side of the road on Route 104, near Penns Creek in Centre Township. Bingaman is charged with 2 counts of DUI, driving on the wrong side of the roadway, and several other traffic violations due to that incident on June 7th. (Sheri Rippon)
Man found sleeping man near the roadway charged
SELINSGROVE – A Selinsgrove man is charged after he was found asleep next to the roadway. State Police at Selinsgrove say 51-year-old, Richard Lutz, was walking in and out of the travel lanes along Route 11 in Penn Township, when he apparently staggered off the roadway and passed out in the grassy area next to the road. Police say the incident occurred on June 19th at about 9 p.m. He is charged with Public Drunkenness. (Sheri Rippon)
Shikellamy overlook celebrates summer solstice
SUNBURY— An event to reflect on and celebrate the summer solstice was held at the Shikellamy State Park overlook Saturday. The daylong event featured yoga, poetry and music. A Shaman from Hazelton took part in the events and told the crowd that the solstice is a time of quarterly reflection on life. Organizer of the event, Mark Cox, says the solstice celebration was to help people realize all great resources that the overlook and the State Park have to offer. He says they are hoping to make it a yearly event.
According to Wikipedia, a solstice happens twice a year, in summer and winter, and occurs when the tilt of the Earth’s axis is most oriented toward or away from the Sun. That causes the Sun to reach its northernmost and southernmost extremes. (Sara Lauver)
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)
Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A federal appeals court has rejected the appeal of a former Philadelphia city councilman convicted on corruption charges in 2006. Rick Mariano argued that there was insufficient evidence to support his convictions for honest-services fraud. A three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that a rational jury could have concluded that Mariano took bribes from a scrap metal dealer. Mariano also argued the sentencing judge erred in calculating his guideline-range sentence, but the appeals panel upheld his 6 1/2-year sentence. He is scheduled to be released from the federal prison in Fort Dix, N.J., in March 2012.
BRIDGEVILLE, Pa. (AP) - The state is investigating a series of violent incidents involving people who have received psychiatric treatment at Mayview State Hospital. During the past year, four former Mayview patients have died violently and three have been arrested. In August, the state decided to close the Pittsburgh-area Mayview hospital. State mental health officials say the probes are meant to ensure that those who require mental health treatment receive the proper care. The most recent incident involves a man who allegedly stabbed 18-year-old Lisa Maas to death in May. Police say Terrence Andrews told them after his arrest that he had been in and out of a mental health facility 37 times in the past 10 years. Deputy secretary of the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse services Joan Erney says the state wants to be vigilant about making the necessary changes before Mayview's closure.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - About 200 residents of an 80-unit apartment complex in the Logan section of Philadelphia were evacuated Saturday due to unsanitary conditions. The city's Licenses and Inspections Department ordered the evacuation of the Lindley Court Apartments after inspecting the building following a complaint. Officials say residents have had no water for two or three days and fire alarm systems are not working. Officials said about 35 feet of copper water pipe had been taken from the building, triggering the water problem. The American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter said the city transported some of the residents to a hotel in South Philadelphia to stay for the time being. Officials said the city requested 34 rooms but the number of people being assisted was not immediately known.
WEST CHESTER, Pa. (AP) - A Chester County township that holds its commissioners' meetings at 4 p.m. on Wednesdays is facing criticism from some residents. Critics say West Goshen Township is keeping working people away from the meetings by holding them at that time. The township used to hold meetings at 7 p.m. Other Chester County municipalities' meeting times range from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Supervisor Robert White says back when the meetings were at 7 p.m., only two or three people would show up. He says evening meetings are held when there's a big issue. Supervisor Edward Meakim Jr. notes that the county commissioners, the state Legislature and the U.S. Congress all meet during the day.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Saturday in the Pennsylvania State Lottery:
SATURDAY NIGHT
Daily Number
5-0-1
Big 4
3-7-5-4
The winning numbers drawn Saturday night in Powerball are:
7-8-9-31-50
Powerball: 31
Power Play: 2
SATURDAY MIDDAY
Daily Number
5-2-9
Big 4
1-1-7-7
Treasure Hunt
4-6-15-21-26
The winning numbers drawn Saturday in the "Pennsylvania Cash 5" game
were:
01-06-21-35-37
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)