Wednesday, July 14, 2010
I-80 slowdown after crashes
BLOOMSBURG -- Residual delays from two tractor trailer crashes backed up traffic on I-80 westbound in Columbia County for much of the afternoon. PennDOT says cleanup is largely completed from the non injury crashes Wednesday morning between Lightstreet and Buckhorn.
Motorists were diverted through the Town of Bloomsburg, and were urged to consider alternate routes long after a single lane was reopened on the Interstate. There were delays of up to 13 miles reported between Lightstreet and Nescopeck. (Matt Farrand)
Debate planned between 10th District Congressional candidates
UNDATED -- Democratic Congressman Chris Carney (D-10th, Dimock) and his Republican challenger Tom Marino will hold a debate October 27th to be broadcast on WVIA -TV. It's uncertain though whether there will be more debates between the two. Tuesday, the Marino campaign requested that Carney attend nine, one hour debates throughout the 10th district. A letter states Marino is not afraid to share his "common-sense conservative message with the people of the region."
A statement from Carney's campaign reads that the "Congressman visits every county in the district multiple times a year and holds town hall meetings throughout the region." It goes on to say that, "given the constraints of the Congressional schedule and his commitment to fulfilling his active military duty, the Congressman feels that the WVIA forum provides an opportunity for a broad number of 10th District residents to understand the differences between the Congressman and his opponent." The two will face off in November’s general election.
Pastor reflects on local effect of global tragedies
SUNBURY -- Two recent tragedies have affected the Valley in a personal way. Richard Fangmann, Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Sunbury, says the group of Hungarian students were expected in the Valley, but on July 7th, were involved in the duck boat accident in Philadelphia. Fangmann says the group was going to tour some of the ministries in the area. Two students were killed in the accident, and the group has returned to Hungary.
Four days later, two bombs hit Kampala, Uganda where a group of six on a mission trip from our area were staying. Five remain with serious injuries and are being treated in Africa. Pastor Fangmann says it is an eye opener to see how global events can touch us locally. He says until a tragedy, many people fail to see how small the world is and how interconnected we are as people. Fangmann says tragedies like these are magnified when it affects locally, and while it is important to continue prayer for those we know, it's also important to remember and pray for the people around the world who deal with tragedy and violence on a daily basis.
The mission group's leader, Lori Ssebulime, says the group was watching the World Cup when the bomb went off. In a post on the mission group's blog, Ssebulime explains that following the blast; there was a state of confusion, screams, flesh and blood. On Tuesday, Ssebulime attended the funeral of three Ugandan friends who died during the bombing. Fangmann says he is not surprised that Ssebulime, who runs the after school program at Zion Lutheran Church, stayed in Uganda, because she is extremely committed to the people there.
As of Tuesday, Joanne Kerstetter of Selinsgrove is in a Johannesburg hospital awaiting arm surgery. Her granddaughter, Emily Kerstetter, of Maryland, sustained major leg injuries and remains with Joanne in the intensive care unit. Her parents are expected there this week. Pam and Thomas Kramer of Lewisburg, as well as Kris Sledge of Selinsgrove all sustained major injuries, but hope to fly back home by the end of this week, or early next week. Updated information is available online at our website www.wkok.com. (Sara Bartlett)
Milton Moose Family Center hopes to revitalize properties
MILTON – The Milton Moose Family Center board of directors has sent a letter to Milton Borough Council and The Improved Milton Experience, known as TIME, expressing their interest in acquiring properties recently destroyed by fire in Milton on South Front Street. George Venios of TIME tells us members of the Moose have talked with the owners of the three building destroyed by the fire, Richard Agler and Jim Vogel, and they seemed receptive to the idea of an outdoor park at the site. TIME has always been interested in a canoe and kayak site along the riverbanks and the Moose would like a picnic grove, so the two go together perfectly according to Venios.
The apartment buildings and the dry cleaning business will have to be demolished following the devastating fire. The Moose board will discuss the idea at tonight’s borough council meeting. Because of budget constraints, the Moose would have to pursue grants and will need help from the TIME organization in acquiring the funds for the potential project. (Ali Stevens)
Fire closes diner for the day
BLOOMSBURG -- The Bloomsburg Diner sustained damages after a fire early Wednesday morning. The blaze broke out in the kitchen area of the business along Main Street just after 5:00a.m. Crews had the flames out quickly, but the fire rekindled briefly a few hours later. There were no injuries reported, and no word yet on the amount of damage, but the diner will remain closed today. The fire may have started in a grill area, but the investigation will continue.
Snyder County Commissioner talks about streamlining government
MIDDLEBURG – Snyder County commissioner Joe Kantz says Snyder County officials are always working to cut costs and streamline government spending. Kantz says a lot of people believe there is a lot of waste in government and he believes that also. However, Kantz says in Snyder County, there is not a lot of waste and the employees are also working to find ways to cut costs. Kantz says there are always ways to make more cuts, but they have done a great job at reigning in the spending.
Kantz is a guest this week on our Leaders and Lawmakers program and took time to talk about the newest county commissioner, Peggy Chamberlain Roup, who he says is doing a great job for the county and he enjoys working with her, since she is so enthusiastic about her work. You can hear his comments on our Thursday Leaders and Lawmakers program at 3 p.m. on WKOK and online at www.wkok.com. (Ali Stevens)
Shamokin man suspected in a series of auto thefts
SHAMOKIN – A Shamokin man, who is a suspect in a series of area auto thefts, was also involved in the accident Monday morning near Elysburg. Police tell the News Item 20-year-old Brandon Herb slammed a stolen SUV into a tree and utility pole on Route 487 in Franklin Township with a 17-year-old boy from Shamokin riding with him. Police say the SUV was stolen from a home in Milton sometime between 11 p.m. Sunday night and 2 a.m. Monday morning. Herb doesn’t have a license and is being called a person of interest in a series of auto thefts, although he has not yet been charged. Charges expected to be filed include reckless driving, receiving stolen property and filing false reports to law enforcement. (Ali Stevens)
Norry borough asks commissioners for $40,000
SUNBURY -- $40,000 is still needed in order to get a bowl slide up and running at Liberty Splashland in Northumberland, and Borough Council President Greg Carl approached the Northumberland County Commissioner Tuesday about the money. The commissioners agreed that the pool's project was a tremendous effort, but are still undecided how to provide the money.
Commissioner Frank Sawicki agreed with Commissioner Kurt Masser in that more information is needed. Clausi then withdrew his motion. They will now gather paperwork from the borough, iron out details and look for ways to provide funding for the project. $58,000 of the $100,000 project has been raised thanks to donations and fundraisers according to Carl. He says the bowl slide will be a draw to the area, and the only other bowl slides in Pennsylvania are at major water parks. The borough hopes to start construction in September and open the new slide next year. (Stephanie Klock)
Flood warnings in our area
STATE COLLEGE – A flash flood warning is issued in southeastern Montour County, east central Northumberland County and southern Columbia County until 9:30a.m. Heavy rain has fallen over these areas, and locations in the warning involve a number of areas including Danville, Kulpmont, Mount Carmel, Shamokin, Bloomsburg and Berwick. Those impacted by the flood warning are asked to move to higher ground and residents living along streams and creeks should take immediate precautions. Motorists are to use caution when driving on slick roads and be careful when driving through standing water on roads.
There is a flash flood advisory in effect for Union and Snyder Counties until 8:30a.m. The advisory means streams and creeks may be elevated or rise out of their banks, but and damage is expected to be minimal.
Crews quickly knock down Bloomsburg fire
BLOOMSBURG -- A fire was reported this morning at the Bloomsburg Diner. The blaze happened around 5:20a.m. and crews were believed to have knocked down the fire fairly quickly. The diner is located at 161 Main Street in Bloomsburg. A number of crews responded to the scene, and there are no injuries reported. No word on any damage to the restaurant and more information is expected to be released today.
Former mission trip participant calls Uganda attacks unsettling
UNDATED -- Lindsey Bingaman left for Uganda in late 2008, and returned in mid-2009, working for a not-for-profit called Cure International. Bingaman worked with kids who had ailments such as cleft palate, club foot, bent legs and more. The Selinsgrove native, who now lives in Philadelphia, lived in Kampala for that time and says she is familiar with the bombed areas, and is shocked it was a terror target. She says the capital city is an area that is very open to Western influence.
She calls the attack unsettling because, in her mind, it seems like one of the safest places in east Africa. Six local residents, part of a mission group, continue to recover following Sunday's bombing. More information is available online at www.wkok.com.
Clausi questions treasurer
SUNBURY-- Northumberland County’s first deputy treasurer has officially resigned, but the details into the issue are still unclear. Shari Benick was accused of misappropriating funds that totaled about $1,500. Tuesday, at the Northumberland County Commissioner’s meeting, Commissioner Vinny Clausi attempted to get answers from treasurer Ron Chamberlain.
He said he wants to know what is going on in the treasurer’s office and believes that the office is in "shambles" and that it’s a "disgrace what is going on in the county." He stated firmly that it is time to start telling people the truth.
Commissioner Frank Sawicki, in disagreement with the open discussion, called for an executive session to discuss the personnel involved and asked Chamberlain to attend with his attorney.
In the middle of the executive meeting Clausi returned aggravated and said that he only wanted the truth and did not care to hear what was being discussed. After the session, Chamberlain stated that he would not comment on the details of the investigation publicly.
Resident says scam artist threatened to send bomb\
SUNBURY -- A local woman received a bomb threat after refusing to comply with the demands of a scam artist. State troopers say the Rockefeller Township woman initially got a phone call from a person who said a check for an undisclosed amount of money was on the way.
The caller was purportedly from the "Consumer Global Network," and instructed the woman to cash the check, and send the money back. The angered caller threatened to send a bomb when the 48-year-old woman refused. The investigation will continue into the incident reported Tuesday at about 11:15 a.m. (Matt Farrand)
Property taken from vehicles parked in Shamokin Dam
SHAMOKIN DAM -- Shamokin Dam Police are appealing to the public after property was taken from parked cars early this week. Police say five unlocked vehicles were entered while parked in the Gunther and Kessler Developments late Sunday night into early Monday morning.
There are no suspects at the current time, but police say they've recovered some of the stolen items. They include a digital camera, a satellite radio, and numerous audio discs.
Police are requesting calls both from anyone else who may have had their vehicle entered, and anyone who may have seen suspicious activity Sunday night or Monday morning in the borough. the number to call is 743-2671. (Matt Farrand)
Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner Dead at 80
The Yankees say owner George Steinbrenner has died. He was 80.
Spokesman Howard Rubenstein said he died Tuesday morning. He had a heart attack, was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, Fla., and died at about 6:30 a.m, a person close to the owner told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not disclosed those details.
According to the Tampa Tribune, emergency crews responded to Steinbrenner's Florida home Monday night and took him to the hospital.
Steinbrenner, who celebrated his birthday July 4, had been in fragile health for several years.
Flags were immediately lowered to half-staff at Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees' spring training complex. The Yankees says many employees there were in tears.
Steinbrenner has owned the Yankees since 1973 and the team has won seven World Series titles since he took the helm.
The death comes two days after the team's beloved public-address announcer Bob Sheppard died at 99.
Just call it "the Y"
SUNBURY -- Many people already call the YMCA, "the Y," but now it's official. This week, YMCA nationally unveiled a new branding initiative aimed at helping people understand the impact of "the Y" on the community. Bonnie Wassmer, Executive Director at the Sunbury Y, says many think they are still a "gym and swim" organization. She says the Y evolves with the times, and currently they are the leading childcare providers in the country,
Wassmer says with a new strategy, comes a new logo. The logo will say "the Y," with a large modern-looking 'Y.' The letters YMCA will still be in the local, but in a smaller capacity.
Wassmer says they have five colors schemes to choose from, so it will give them flexibility when redoing logos on the outside of the building, on the middle of the gym floor, at the pool and elsewhere. Local Y's have five years to comply with the change, and Wassmer says in Sunbury they will begin to phase in the new look. (Sara Bartlett)
Pharmacy thieves caught in Danville
DANVILLE -- Police say they caught two Danville thieves after one was taken to Geisinger Medical Center. Two 16-year-olds are charged with stealing a cough and cold medicine from a pharmacy along Route 11 in Danville. The two then each took eight of the tablets. One of the teens was taken to the hospital for an overdose. Both teens escaped major injury, but are facing charges of retail theft and criminal conspiracy.
A series of 'guest bartending' events to raise money for Seth and Alex
SELINSGROVE – More fundraisers are planned to raise money for Seth and Alex of Selinsgrove High School. On July 24th, a Splash Hop will be held at the Selinsgrove Pool from 6 to 10 p.m. featuring free refreshments and music from our sister station 94KX. Everyone is encouraged to attend for $5.00 with proceeds going to the Seth and Alex Fund.
A series of guest bartending events are planned for Friday nights through the end of the summer at Bot’s Tavern in Selinsgrove. Owner Rick Schuck is also a coach for the Selinsgrove Seals and wanted to do something to help. He says everyone who attends will be charged a $4.00 cover charge and all tips collected by the bartenders will go to the Seth and Alex fund. There will be complementary appetizers served and live music or free music from the jukebox at all the Friday night events. Some of the celebrity bartenders include coaches Dave Hess and Steve Briggs, Maureen and Chelsea Pagana and our own Drew Kelly and Ali Stevens on Friday July 23rd. (Ali Stevens)
Upgrading pollution control at PPL’s coal-fired plant in Washingtonville
WASHINGTONVILLE – Work will start this fall on an upgraded emissions control system at the PPL coal-fired plant in Washingtonville. PPL spokesperson Teri MacBride says the $18-million project will include a new auxiliary boiler, which will make the plant more environmentally friendly and eliminate ground-level haze that sometimes forms around the plant. Also, four silos holding tons of filtering material will be erected at the plant.
MacBride says people may be concerned with the high price-tag of the project, but it won’t impact PPL customers, since the project is a PPL Generation project and not PPL Electric. Local unionized laborers will be used for installation. (Ali Stevens)
Danville High School principal to retire
DANVILLE -- After more than 16 years, Danville High School's principal is retiring. 60-year-old Craig Burger put in his resignation at the beginning of the month and his retirement is expected to take effect at the end of the summer. The school board will accept his resignation at the next school board meeting, and the position is already being advertised. Burger came to the Danville School District after working in the Lewisburg and Mifflinburg Area School Districts. He became principal at Danville in 2005.
8th Annual Cavalcade of Champions is this weekend in Lewisburg
LEWISBURG – Saturday is the Annual Cavalcade of Champions Drum & Bugle Corps Competition, which is held at Christy Mathewson Memorial Stadium at Bucknell University at 7 p.m. Cavalcade committee member, John Yingling, says it’s an event that the whole family can enjoy.
The competing corps this year includes the Bushwackers of Harrison, New Jersey, the Connecticut Hurricanes of Derby, the Empire Statesman of Rochester, New York and Pennsylvania’s Reading Buccaneers. You can hear more from Yingling and Cavalcade Chairman Graham Showalter on WKOK’s Leaders and Lawmakers program Thursday at 3 p.m. and also online at www.wkok.com.
Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment
NEW TRIPOLI, Pa. (AP) - The National Weather Service is sending a survey team to investigate whether damage in eastern Pennsylvania came from straight-line winds or a tornado. Several homes were damaged and dozens of trees were uprooted or sheared off along a nearly one-mile path in New Tripoli just before 4 a.m. Wednesday. No injuries were reported, but most homes in the Lehigh County community lost power as toppling trees took power lines with them. At last four homes had damage primarily to their roofs from wind or trees, and the metal roofs of two barns were also blown off.
WEST TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - The Delaware River Basin Commission has agreed to hold hearings in northeast Pennsylvania on whether to strengthen or weaken its moratorium on drilling for natural gas in the river basin. More than 500 people attended the commission's meeting Wednesday in West Trenton, New Jersey. Landowners argue that they should be able to lease the mineral rights to their land. Environmentalists say the process of drilling for natural gas, known as hydraulic fracturing or fracking, could pollute groundwater. The agency has legal authority over water quality and quantity issues in the Delaware River basin areas of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. The vast Marcellus Shale formation and its lucrative natural gas deposits underlie much of the covered region. The drilling moratorium is in effect until the commission adopts gas drilling regulations.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - One of America's most enduring superheroes has begun a cross-country trek in Philadelphia. In the pages of DC Comics' latest issue of Superman, which hit stands Wednesday, the Man of Steel embarks on a yearlong journey on foot from the City of Brotherly Love. For all his powers, though, he still needs a lesson in geography. The 500 block of South 48th Street is described as the city's "South Side." It's actually the University City section of west Philadelphia. The flub has generated some good-natured ribbing from locals, and DC Comics co-publisher Dan DiDio says that's OK. He says that means people are reading the comic and there's a sense of area pride. Superman travels to Detroit for the second installment of the 12-issue "Grounded" series.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate in 2006 is suing the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, the Pennsylvania House Democratic caucus and seven people over a successful effort to get him thrown off the ballot. Carl Romanelli filed the lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in Scranton, alleging the work to challenge his nominating petitions violated his constitutional rights. Romanelli claims the defendants used taxpayer-funded resources to mount a "Herculean" effort to have him disqualified in the election. Democrat Bob Casey went on to defeat incumbent Republican Sen. Rick Santorum that year. The defendants include Rep. Bill DeWeese; former Rep. Mike Veon; Democratic House aides Bob Caton and Karen Steiner; and former Democratic House aides Mike Manzo, Jeff Foreman and Brett Cott.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Republican Pat Toomey and Democrat Joe Sestak are running even in a new poll in Pennsylvania's closely watched race for an open U.S. Senate seat. The Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday shows both men at 43 percent. It is the Connecticut school's first post-primary survey in the race. The numbers changed little since Quinnipiac released a May 13 poll that showed Toomey with 42 percent to Sestak's 40 percent. In the new poll, just 12 percent say they're undecided. Independent voters in the poll favor Toomey, 44 percent to 35 percent. The telephone poll of 1,367 Pennsylvania voters was conducted during the six days that ended Sunday. The sampling error margin is plus or minus 2.7 percentage points. The election is Nov. 2.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Updates on the latest in business:
Dow: + 3.70 (10,366.72)
S&P 500: - 0.17 (1,095.17)
NASDAQ: + 7.81 (2,249.84)
BP says relief well on hold for test of new cap
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - BP says it temporarily halted drilling on a relief well meant to permanently plug its Gulf of Mexico oil leak while it prepares to test a temporary cap on the well. Kent Wells, a senior vice president in the company, said at a Wednesday morning news briefing they were delaying drilling by up to 48 hours on the well that is supposed to reach the broken one underground and plug it with mud and cement. Wells said it was a precaution. It was the latest delay for BP after it postponed testing of a new cap on top of the well by 24 hours late Tuesday. The cap is a stopgap measure designed to keep the oil in the well or funnel it to ships until the relief well is done.
Spain's premier vows to press on with austerity
MADRID (AP) - Spain's prime minister says his government will press on with harsh austerity cuts and labor reform policies aimed at slashing the country's budget deficit. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who spoke in Parliament at the annual State of the Nation debate, said it had been "a difficult, black year" but added the government would not deviate from implementing measures including cutting civil service pay five percent. Zapatero also defended on Wednesday constitutional reforms aimed at granting northeastern Catalonia greater regional autonomy, insisting it would not splinter Spain as the opposition claims. In the first quarter of this year Spain limped out of nearly two years of recession with unemployment at over 20 percent, the highest in the 16-nation eurozone.
Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn Wednesday:
Midday Big 4
5-6-9-7
Midday Number
3-0-0
Midday Quinto
6-3-0-4-6
Treasure Hunt
04-14-16-25-28
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Pa. lawmaker looks into 'Kate Plus 8' work permits
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A Pennsylvania state lawmaker is questioning the legality of work permits issued to Kate Gosselin's sextuplets for the reality show "Kate Plus 8." Rep. Thomas Murt says state law allows children under 7 to work in movies, but not television. Gosselin's sextuplets are 6. Murt asked for an explanation in letters sent Tuesday to the state attorney general and labor secretary. State labor officials said previously that TV producers should have obtained child work permits for the TLC show's predecessor, "Jon & Kate Plus 8." But no penalties were imposed. Spokesmen for the attorney general's office and labor secretary did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Bristol Palin, Levi Johnston say they're engaged
NEW YORK (AP) - Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston say they're engaged and hope to get married within six weeks in Alaska. Palin, the daughter of 2008 vice-presidential candidate and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, is featured on the cover of Us Weekly with Johnston, holding their 18-month-old son, Tripp. Palin and Johnston tell the magazine they reconnected while working out a custody plan and became engaged two weeks ago. Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, said in a statement on NBC's "Today" show Tuesday that they want what's best for their children and that Bristol believes in "redemption and forgiveness." Representatives for Palin did not immediately return messages from The Associated Press seeking comment. Johnston recently acknowledged telling lies about the Palin family after he and Bristol broke up last year. He says he's apologized.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)