Thursday, July 8, 2010
Mifflinburg blaze displaces family
MIFFLINBURG – No cause has been determined after fire heavily damaged a Mifflinburg home Thursday. The main portion of the blaze at 530 Walnut Street was contained to the living room, where there was an air conditioner plugged in. 43-year-old Mark Hannah is the occupant of the double home.
Mark and Lisa Hannah were able to escape without injury during the 4:00a.m. fire. The home sustained heavy heat, smoke and water damage, and damage estimates are $100,000. The Red Cross is assisting the Hannah family. Mifflinburg and New Berlin fire crews were on the scene until about 6 this morning. (Ali Stevens)
Dog left to die in extreme heat
POINT TOWNSHIP -- Point Township Police are reporting a rather disturbing incident, following a dog that was found on the side of the road. Police say Tuesday they were called to the area of Ridge Road, near Hookies Grove Road, for a report of a dog tied to a tree in the extreme heat. When police arrived, they found a white and tan Chihuahua lying on the road.
Police did get a response from the dog and it was transported to Sunbury Animal Hospital. At the hospital, bruises were found on the dog that revealed it may have been thrown from a vehicle and left to die. Police are asking anyone with information to call them at 473-9364.
Pickup truck and buggy crash in Montour County
TURBOTVILLE -- A vehicle ran into a horse and buggy Thursday morning in Montour County and a woman sustained minor injuries. 36-year-old Elizabeth Hostetler of Turbotville was in the horse and buggy on Route 54 around 9:00a.m. A pickup truck, driven by a 17-year-old Danville man, struck the back of the buggy. The buggy was inoperable after the crash and the horse died upon impact. Hostetler declined medical treatment at the scene, but was taken to Geisinger Medical Center by a private driver. The teen driver did not sustain injuries and will be cited for speeding. (Sara Bartlett)
Supervisor's thoughts on Union Township zoning ordinances
UNDATED -- Zoning ordinances have been a recent topic on our live telephone talk show On The Mark, and on Thursday's program the question was asked, 'Should Union Township, Union County impose zoning laws?' Union Township supervisor Billy Allred was a guest on the program and thinks zoning is an infringement of property rights and the answer is 'no.'
Union Township currently has no zoning ordinances. Many who are in favor of zoning say it would help keep what may be unwanted business from building. Allred says that isn't necessarily true, since zoning laws must still allow some building. He says zoning doesn't prohibit building; it makes it necessary to have a zone for every possible use, whether it be industries, farms or houses.
Allred says there are a lot of pressures from the county, state and even federal government to push for zoning laws. But, he says that there are many alternatives, including homeowners associations, private negotiations, deed restrictions and nuisance laws, to government power interference. (Sara Bartlett)
Coal Township woman locked up following a domestic dispute
COAL TOWNSHIP – A Coal Township woman is behind bars, charged with threatening to stab two people during a domestic dispute. 19-year-old Brittany Brown of West Mulberry Street is accused of grabbing a woman by the throat and scratching a man inside the home.
She is also accused of threatening to stab both victims. She was arraigned by District Judge Bob Bolton of Sunbury on charges of terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment. Brown was sent to the Northumberland County Prison on $8,000 cash bail. (Ali Stevens)
Sunbury Celebration features fun events all weekend
SUNBURY – There is plenty to do this weekend in Sunbury as Sunbury Celebration is now underway. Sunbury Celebration is an annual event that has now been going on for 9 years in the city. Friday evening, there will be a splash hop at the Sunbury pool featuring refreshments and live music.
There is also a baseball and softball tournament throughout the Sunbury Celebration weekend.
Saturday features plenty of games, food and prizes throughout the day at the North 4th Street Complex. Saturday night at 9:30 will be the annual fireworks display featuring a soundtrack from our sister station 94KX.
And Sunday is a special event for the kids…the annual soap box race down Market Street. For a complete list of events and activities, go to our website at www.wkok.com.
Preliminary hearing continued for a man charged with aggravated assault for a deadly attack
SUNBURY – A hearing has been delayed for a Sunbury man accused of attacking another man. 26-year-old Frank Brannon Jr. has had his preliminary hearing delayed three times so far. Brannon is accused of assaulting Jorge Cruz on May 14th at Third Street and Raspberry Avenue in Sunbury.
Cruz was hospitalized and died several days later from injuries sustained in the assault. Brannon has not yet been charged with homicide but faces charges of aggravated and simple assault, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. Brannon remains locked up in the Northumberland County Prison. (Ali Stevens)
Watsontown man still hospitalized following motorcycle crash
LEWISBURG -- A Watsontown man has been upgraded to serious condition following a motorcycle crash last month. Clinton Mettler remains at Geisinger Medical Center after a crash June 29th on North 7th Street in Lewisburg.
Mettler was struck by a turning vehicle driven by Robert Bowersox. Mettler was thrown from the motorcycle, which then landed on top of him. Recently he was upgraded from critical condition to serious condition. Bowersox was not injured in the crash. (Sara Bartlett)
Phone system temporarily out of order at the Snyder County Courthouse
MIDDLEBURG – The phone system at the Snyder County Courthouse in Middleburg is temporarily out of order and may be out the rest of the day. Anyone wanting to contact offices at the Snyder County Courthouse should use email for the office they wish to contact. Individuals can find email addresses for departments by going to www.snydercounty.org. We will update you when the phone system is back online.
Death of a Swami I: Swami Sudharman remembered fondly
NEW BERLIN – The New Berlin yoga master shot and killed allegedly by a St. Louis man was well known and admired locally. Steva Stowell-Hardcastle of Lewisburg developed a friendship with Swami Sudharman, talking with him frequently at farmer’s markets and other events.
Stowell-Hardcastle spoke with the 70-year-old director of the Integral Yoga Center three days before his death and says he will be remembered as one of the genuine, kind and generous people she’d ever met.
She hopes the philosophy that accompanies the practice of yoga let him live his last moments on earth with a sense of peace. Stowell-Hardcastle also says she never had a chance to take yoga classes with the Swami, a fact that will have to remain on her “wish list.” (Matt Farrand)
Death of a Swami II: Students react to death of yoga master
NEW BERLIN – Reaction to the shooting death of a yoga master based in New Berlin is emerging. Keri Albright is among those who studied with the long time yoga master Swami Sudharman. The 70-year-old once known as Joseph Fenton introduced Albright to the practice of yoga. She attended retreats in Virginia to practice, and says the yoga master had more teaching to do.
A suspect in the shooting death was picked up Wednesday morning. Albright says she is baffled by the crime and motives of the man who will be accused of it. 33-year-old Joel Snider of St. Louis, Missouri, was arrested in Baltimore County, Maryland, and will be extradited to Union County. (Ali Stevens)
Death of a Swami III: E-mails reveal yoga student's murder plans
MIDDLEBURG -- The St. Louis man accused of killing New Berlin yoga teacher Swami Sudharman plotted the killing. According to arrest papers 33-year-old Joel Snider, a yoga student, shot Sudharman multiple times in his New Berlin yoga studio, where he also lived.
Sudharman was found on Monday in his residence wrapped in two sheets and a comforter, with duct tape wrapped around the outside. He also had an apparent gunshot wound to the neck.
While investigating, police say Swami Karunananda, a staff member at Yogaville in Buckingham County, Virginia, where both Sudharman and Snider had ties, contacted them.
After hearing of Sudharman's death, Karunananda contacted police in regards to disturbing e-mails she had received from Snider, whom she had known for 10 years. Court papers say an e-mail from Snider dated May 9, 2010 said that he is able to carry out an 'assassination' of Sudharman and another man named Andrew Cohen.
In the e-mail, Snider goes on to say that he is "a very good shot with a rifle and would prefer to do it from a longer range, but I would need to have a handgun. He also wrote "I would definitely want to avoid prison and U.S. law enforcement."
Snider also sent Karunananda an e-mail the following day. A portion said: "I am thinking that for both Andrew and Sudharman it would be best if they just disappeared. No bullet holes, no blood, no signs of forced entry or struggle.
Both appear to be mysterious, eccentric spiritual guys, so it might be easily believable that they would just take off for awhile, or maybe they had spontaneous enlightenment or something and they reached satori or went home to God or something."
He went on to say that his idea may take more planning and it could be risky, but with God as his guide, he will be fine. He continued to talk about Sudharman and his New Berlin yoga studio. He says "Years ago, when he was trying to recruit me to teach in the center he mentioned that he would be living there.
The yoga center is in the middle of a very small town, which is very dark at night, few streetlights. The area the center is in is a mostly commercial area so in the early morning or evening when it is dark, there will be potentially no one around. Place a tarp on floor, roll body up in tarp to carry out to car. Tidy up yoga center. Drive to hotel room."
Karunananda told police of a final e-mail she received July 4th around 5:30p.m. In the e-mail Snider wrote "in PA now. If the opportunity presents itself there will be a great celebration of independence. May God's might be swift and strong. May evil be utterly destroyed wherever it is lurking. May all be set free from the clutches of evil, for good, for all time."
Though court papers did not say more about Andrew Cohen, he is a known spiritual teacher, who holds retreats and talks worldwide. Milton State Police say Snider has no known tie to Pennsylvania. He will be extradited to Pennsylvania at the earliest Thursday.
Death of a Swami IV: Suspect charged with Sudharman murder
MILTON – Yoga teacher Swami Sudharman was murdered and a suspect is in custody. Milton State Police Trooper Matt Burrows says 33-year-old Joel Snider of St. Louis, Missouri was arrested in Baltimore County, Maryland Wednesday.
Burrows said Snider shot Sudharman multiple times with a small caliber weapon. Sudharman body was found in his New Berlin yoga studio, where he also lived, around 5:00p.m. Monday. Burrows says the investigation since Monday has been extensive. Much of the information came in Tuesday, Wednesday and following the arrest of Snider.
He says numerous organizations helped out with the investigation, and while the death is tragic, it is fortunate that a quick investigation lead to someone in custody. Burrows says Snider has been extradited to our area. No word yet on the connection between Sudharman and Snider. (Sara Bartlett)
Man with alias pinched for Megan’s Law violation
SUNBURY – A suspected Megan’s Law violator was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon at Sunbury’s Memorial Acres. State troopers say 36-year old Eduardo Cruz of Dornsife Mountain Road was picked up there for failing to register within 48 hours as required.
The suspect is also known as Eduardo Casanova, and was placed in the Northumberland County Prison on $100,000 bail after arraignment before District Court Judge Carl Rice. Megan’s Law requires sex offenders to register with authorities even after release from prison, and failure to do so is a felony. (Matt Farrand)
Blazing heat continues...Where to find refuge from the heat
LEWISBURG -- Local pools are packed as people try to cool off from the Valley's 100-degree temperatures this week. Craig Bressler is an intern with the Lewisburg Area Recreation Authority and works at the pool through the summer. He says people of all ages are coming to cool off.
Tuesday they were very busy and Bressler says Wednesday they had a line of people waiting to get in before the pool even opened. In addition to the pool, Bressler says the concession stand has been popular with people buying drinks, Slushies and ice pops.
Meanwhile, down the road from the pool Ron Lentz of Lewisburg has set up for a yard sale. Lentz says despite the heat, he hopes people would stop by on their way to the pool or the farmers market, but it may just be too hot.
By about noon, they had about a dozen people stop by. Lentz says it's the one of the hottest times he can think of in recent history. He stays outside during the yard sale, but has to seek shade every one in a while.
While the Valley may get a break from the 100-degree temperatures, AccuWeather says it will remain hot and sticky through the end of the week with temperatures in the 90s. A heat advisory remains in effect until 8:00p.m. tonight. (Sara Bartlett)
Three counties to impose burn bans
UNDATED -- Three counties are issuing burn bans due to the lack of rain and dry weather conditions. In Union County, the ban will go into effect Thursday at 2:00p.m. Northumberland County's ban also starts Thursday at 3:00p.m.
In Snyder County, the ban will take effect Friday at 4:00p.m. Each ban is in effect for 30 days. In all three counties, open burning of combustible material outdoors in a burn barrel, fire ring or on the ground, is prohibited. Fines range from $100-$300 for anyone in violation.
Fire damages a home in Mount Carmel
MOUNT CARMEL – A fire that started in the basement of a home in Mount Carmel was put out quickly on Tuesday afternoon. The fire started just before 1 p.m. at 222 S. Beech Street, while Steve and Carol Ennis and their children were swimming in their backyard pool.
The fire caused heavy damage to the basement and the rest of the home sustained smoke and water damage. There was also minor smoke damage reported to a neighboring home at 224 Beech Street. No injuries were reported. The fire was put out quickly and crews cleared the scene around 2:30 p.m. The Ennis family is not insured. (Ali Stevens)
Shamokin man waives charges of possession of child pornography on to court
SHAMOKIN – A Shamokin man will be formally arraigned on charges of possession of child pornography and criminal use of a communication device after waiving his charges onto court Tuesday. 24-year-old Justin Wyland of East Packer Street is charged with downloading pornographic movies depicting children after an undercover officer discovered the incidents.
Wyland apparently used a relative’s wireless connection to download the images. His arraignment is set for July 30th at the Northumberland County Courthouse in Sunbury following a hearing in Shamokin Tuesday. (Ali Stevens)
Quizzo tournament to raise money for a student scholarship
SUNBURY – The annual Bill Hoover Quizzo Tournament will be held on Monday to help raise money for a student scholarship in the Shikellamy School District. Hoover, a teacher and community leader, died a few years ago from cancer and his daughter Angie Brouse organizes the tournament with her mother and brother.
The Quizzo tournament is for teams of six or more players and features a series of trivia questions from a variety of areas including sports, history, science and more. The event will be held on Monday evening at the Hotel Edison in Sunbury, with proceeds supporting scholarships for Shikellamy High School Students in Bill Hoover’s honor.
Brouse says they choose students who wish to further their education and may not be able to afford a college education. To take part in the Quizzo Tournament, you can call the Hotel Edison at 286-5605 to reserve your team’s spot. The event raises about $4-$5,000 for the scholarship fund. (Ali Stevens)
Two local residents remain hospitalized after separate incidents
DANVILLE – Two area residents remain hospitalized following separate incidents that left them in critical condition.
Firefighter Shawn Richendrfer is listed in critical condition at Geisinger Medical Center following a motorcycle crash on Sunday. Police say his bike crashed into a group of trees off of Route 42 in Catawissa Township.
A Danville woman remains in critical condition following a fire on Sunday. Kellie English is hospitalized at Lehigh Valley Hospital burn unit in Allentown. She was burned in a fire at her apartment building. Officials now say a cigarette probably started that fire in Danville on Sunday. (Ali Stevens)
Latest Pennsylvania news, lottery, business and entertainment
PARRYVILLE, Pa. (AP) - Police in eastern Pennsylvania say twin brothers have been found shot dead, one in the home they shared and the other at a gas station. Authorities say 58-year-old Gerald Awisato was found dead Tuesday at a gas station in Palmerton, Carbon County. His brother Nicholas was found dead Wednesday at their home in nearby Parryville. Both men had been shot. Police say the investigation is continuing.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The company that owns a duck boat that caught fire on the Delaware River in Philadelphia and was struck by a barge says it had shown no sign of mechanical problems. Ride the Ducks President Chris Herschen said at a news conference Thursday that the Norcross, Ga.-based company hopes to pull the vessel from the bottom of the river soon. The company suspended duck boat tours nationwide after the accident Wednesday. Police and Coast Guard officials are still searching for two people. Others suffered minor injuries. Herschen says the duck boat's captain appears to have followed all proper procedures during the emergency. He says that, to his knowledge, no problems had been reported on the 10-year-old ship.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania Lottery officials say they've fixed a computer glitch that took down game terminals. The lottery said Thursday that a computer network problem affecting terminal-based games and ticket validation functions lasted until about noon. Lottery officials say the glitch affected all of it approximately 8,500 retailers. Players who purchased advance tickets for the day's drawings can validate winning tickets now that the system is back up.
WASHINGTON, Pa. (AP) - Table games are now open at western Pennsylvania casinos and there's one man that couldn't have been happier. Jerry Testa, of Moon Township, got his wife up at 3:30 a.m. to get to the Meadows Racetrack & Casino when the game tables opened at 6 am Thursday. The 47-year-old Testa was the first to throw the dice when the first craps table opened. Testa says he goes to West Virginia casinos a lot because they have table games. He says he's glad he can now keep his money in Pennsylvania. Table games are also open at the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh. The tables at Presque Isle Racetrack & Casino were to open at 10 a.m.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Rescue boats in Philadelphia have returned to shore for the night after hours of fruitless searching for two people aboard a duck boat that capsized and sank. Just two boats are still out on the Delaware River, about a half mile downriver from where the Ride the Ducks vessel was struck by a barge Wednesday afternoon. A 16-year-old girl and a 20-year-old man are still missing. More than 30 other people are accounted for, with only minor injuries reported. Investigators from the National Transportation and Safety Board say they are starting an investigation.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - It was another day of record-setting heat in Philadelphia and eastern Pennsylvania. he National Weather Service says the mercury hit 103 degrees in Philadelphia yesterday, eclipsing the old record of 98 degrees for the date set in 1999. It was a sweltering 102 degrees Tuesday, and forecasters say the last time temperatures reached 100 degrees on consecutive days was in August 2001. Record highs were also set in Reading and Allentown. In Reading, it was 101 degrees yesterday, breaking the old record of 99 set in 1988. In Allentown it was 99 degrees, breaking the old record of 97 for the date set in 1988.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Updates on the latest in business:
Dow: 10,128.25, up 109.97
S&P 500: 1,069.03, up 8.76
NASDAQ: 2,173.28, up 13.81
NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks are hanging onto gains after the improvement seen over the previous two sessions. The Dow closed back above the 10,000 level yesterday.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Speaking in Kansas City, President Barack Obama asserted that his economic policies averted disaster. He's also raising funds in Missouri for Democratic Senate hopeful Robin Carnahan. He heads later to Nevada to campaign for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
NEW YORK (AP) - Taken together, retail chains saw a rise in June sales of 3 percent from a year ago. Analyst Marshal Cohen of The NPD Group says retailers may be prompted to put more aggressive markdowns in place, and may even cut prices on new merchandise.
CHICAGO (AP) - An Illinois court has ruled in favor of the Chicago Board Options Exchange in a case over the company's exclusive license to trade certain index options. Under the ruling, competitor International Securities Exchange will be prohibited from trading options on the Standard & Poor's 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
NEW YORK (AP) - Mortgage rates have dropped again this week, now at a new modern low. But many people either don't qualify for new mortgages or have already taken advantage of the low rates this year.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn Thursday:
Mega Millions
Estimated jackpot: $43 million
Midday Big 4
4-8-5-4
Midday Number
1-6-5
Midday Quinto
1-8-7-2-5
Powerball
Estimated jackpot: $72 million
Treasure Hunt
08-09-16-18-22
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn Wednesday:
Big 4
4-4-6-9
Cash 5
08-10-18-36-42
Daily Number
5-2-7
Evening Quinto
9-0-9-2-9
Midday Big 4
4-0-6-2
Midday Number
8-2-0
Midday Quinto
7-2-3-1-4
Powerball
10-41-44-48-56, Powerball: 4, Power Play: 2
Treasure Hunt
07-16-23-26-28
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Top Chef contestant simmering over Md. restaurant
WASHINGTON (AP) - A "Top Chef: Washington D.C." contestant is simmering after his plans for a new Washington-area restaurant went up in smoke. Washington native Timothy Dean is suing National Harbor, a retail and restaurant complex in Maryland where he planned to open Timothy Dean Bistro. The lawsuit says National Harbor's developer sabotaged his plans to open what would have been the first black-owned restaurant in the complex. Dean claims he signed a lease for the restaurant space in 2008 and put more than $1 million into the project, but the developer did not pay $600,000 it promised for improvements he was making to the space. A spokeswoman for National Harbor did not immediately return a request for comment. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday.
Poster mocks topless Judd for coal criticism
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Appalachian anger at Ashley Judd's outspoken criticism of mountaintop removal coal mining has led to a backlash using a topless photo of the actress. A poster with a Marie Claire magazine portrait of Judd covering her breasts with her hands was on display Wednesday at a coal industry golf tournament in Prestonsburg, Ky. Paul Hughes, assistant general manager at the golf course, says the poster reads: "Ashley Judd makes a living removing her top, why can't coal miners?" Hughes and an event sponsor say they don't know who made the sign, first reported by WYMT-TV in Hazard. Judd last month said blasting the tops off mountains to expose coal is "the rape of Appalachia." Judd's publicist, Cara Trippichio, said Thursday she was trying to get reaction from the actress
Lohan: Sentence for probation violation is harsh
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Lindsay Lohan's attorney says she and the actress believe the 90-day jail sentence the actress received earlier this week is harsher than other defendants would have seen under similar circumstances. Even so, attorney Shawn Chapman Holley says the 24-year-old Lohan will serve her jail sentence and comply with court orders that include a three-month stay in rehab. Superior Court Judge Marsha Revel sentenced Lohan after ruling Tuesday she violated her probation in a 2007 drug case. Testimony revealed that Lohan had missed seven, court-ordered alcohol education classes since December.
Texting on the links crackdown
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. (AP) - Texting and carting don't mix. Police in Peachtree City, Georgia, are cracking down on golf cart drivers who are texting. Police say a new state law banning texting while driving also applies to those operating a golf cart. Captain Rosanna Dove says enforcement will be easier on the cart paths of Peachtree City. She notes the golf carts are open, unlike most cars, so officers will be able to see what cart drivers are doing with their cell phones. Drivers face fines of $150 for texting behind the wheel.
Tennessee baker looks like robber
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - She's no robber -- she's a baker. Lynette Hill wondered why police were giving her the eye when she went into a Memphis-area bank. Turns out Hill looks a like woman who had just robbed another bank. Both Hill and the suspect were wearing a brown apron, blue shirt and a wig. Hill tells a local TV station (WPTY) that officers were about to bust her, until they figured out she wasn't the bank bandit. Hill makes funnel cakes and cotton candy across the street from the bank. Her husband, Eldrid, says she's very "lucky."
Lindsay Lohan was drug free...believe it or don't
LOS ANGELES (AP) - No drugs or drink in Lindsay Lohan's system. Court records show six drug screenings of Lindsay Lohan since May were clean of illicit drugs and alcohol. A probation report shows the screenings were taken after Lohan missed a court hearing and a judge imposed new restrictions, including wearing an ankle alcohol monitor. The report shows Lohan was taking a variety of medications, including Adderall, which is used to treat attention hyperactivity disorder, and the prescription painkiller Dilaudid. The report also says Lohan had valid prescriptions for those medications and using them is not a probation violation. The report also says Lohan was cooperative and showed a positive attitude during the drug screenings. The day before the probation report was released, a judge sentenced Lohan to 90 days in jail to be followed by 90 days in rehab. It's because she missed some court-ordered alcohol education classes.
Asbury Park rejects topless beach
ASBURY PARK, N.J. (AP) - The Jersey shore city best known for Bruce Springsteen says it doesn't need any additional exposure. Asbury Park shot down a proposal Wednesday night to allow women to go topless on one of its beaches. The idea was the brainchild of a yoga studio owner who has sunbathed without a top in Europe and Miami. She wanted to do it legally here. Supporters said the topless beach would revitalize tourism in Asbury Park and create a new buzz surrounding the resurgent beach town. But others worried it would scare away families who have recently started coming back to the once-famous resort.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)