Monday, June 23, 2008

Vandals damage McEwensville restaurant

MCEWENSVILLE – The owner of a restaurant in McEwensville says he’s putting up $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of whoever targeted it for vandalism.  An investigation by State Police also continues.  Fred McWilliams believes teenagers are behind the breaking of glass doors and windows at Fred’s Restaurant, once on Friday night, and again on Saturday night or early Sunday.  Troopers in Milton want anyone with information to call them at 524-2662.  (Matt Farrand)

EconomicsPennsylvania gets grant

SELINSGROVE – EconomicsPennsylvania of Selinsgrove has announced that they’ve received a $35,000 grant form the Foundation for Teaching Economics.  The grant will be used to sponsor a four-day institute on “The Environment and the Economy”.  This symposium will assist middle and high school teachers to better understand environmental economic issues so they can relay those issues to students in the classroom.  EconomicsPennsylvania is a non-profit educational organization that promotes the study of economics and financial literacy in the interest of helping students become prudent savers and investors, productive members of the workforce, informed voters and successful participants in the changing global economy.  (Ali Stevens)

Fire company treasurer charged with embezzling money

MILLMONT – The former treasurer of the West End Fire Company will go to court, charged with stealing thousands of dollars from the fire department in Union County.  Charges of felony theft and forgery were bound over for court for 58-year-old Joyce Bingaman of Mifflinburg.  Police say Bingaman stole more than $37,000 from the West End Fire Company from June of 2006 to June of 2007.  She reportedly ordered a special double-signature stamp in her name and the assistant treasurer’s name and then used the stamp to steal funds.  Bingaman is also accused of forging the assistant treasurer’s name on checks.  An independent audit last year uncovered the missing funds.  (Ali Stevens)

Keeping track of your own health records

LEWISBURG – Imagine getting a test or procedure done at the doctors and being able to check your results online, or having a comprehensive list of all of your family’s immunizations right at your fingertips.  By the end of the month Evangelical Community Hospital will join many other medical facilities around the country that offer electronic health records to their patients.  Vice President of Information Services at Evan, Scott Peterson says what’s also involved in electronic health records are personal health records, which offer patients the ability to have a comprehensive list of their immunizations, test results and records to doctor’s visits.

Privacy is one topic of concern with the online records, but providers offer guarantees of not selling any personal information.  Peterson says these types of health records are on the rise, mainly because of convenience.  Once a patient has an online health record, it will be valid anywhere, even if procedures and tests are done in a different place, or if the patient moves.  Once it is put into place at Evangelical Community Hospital, the service will be voluntary and free. (Sara Bartlett)

Items stolen from vehicles in Upper Augusta Township

Scam alert in Northumberland County

MILTON – Police are investigating a scam in Northumberland County. State Police at Milton say the incident occurred as a 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)

Sunbury celebrates Edison’s electricity anniversary

SUNBURY – The Edison’s Sunbury Experiment 125 year anniversary is coming up and the city has festivities planned to celebrate. John Shipman, representing Sunbury Revitalization incorporated, says this is a major world event that happened in Sunbury on July 4th 125 years ago when Thomas Edison delivered the first ever electricity to a commercial building. That building is now known as the Hotel Edison.

The celebration begins at 10 a.m. in Sunbury and here is what will be going on: + There will be Sunbury Generation Power Plant Tours + An Exhibit of Edison correspondence and memorabilia at the Hotel Edison + Early antique Car display + Victorian high wheeler vintage bicycle group

+ Alternative energy display by Penn Wind, LLC and PA Solar, LLC. + Food and drink vendors. + The Sunbury Band Concert in the Zion Lutheran Church Garden + 1 p.m. will be the dedication of the Edison Plaza. There will also be a fashion show of clothing form the 1880’s to 1980’ and the reenactment of Edison’s

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)

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)

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.

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)

Ejected from a motorcycle into a house has man answering to charges

SPRING TOWNSHIP – A McVeytown man answers to charges after he was ejected from a motorcycle into a house in Snyder County last week. State Police at Selinsgrove say 36-year-old Clint Harshbarger was heading North on Route 235 in Spring Township at about 6 p.m. Friday when he failed to negotiate a curve and landed in a private property.

Harshbarger was ejected from the motorcycle and struck the side of a house before rolling down the grass into a tree. Harshbarger was taken by ambulance to the Lewistown hospital for minor cuts and abrasions. He will be charged with driving too fast for conditions, driving with an expired license and the required motorcycle permit or license, as well as equipment violations. Police say Harshbarger was wearing a helmet. (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.

One of the organizers 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. (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)

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 over the weekend. You can hear Roundtable at www.wkok.com

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