Thursday, July 15, 2010
2008 firing warranted, according to new investigation
SUNBURY – Results of an investigation released this week show a former Northumberland County employee stole nearly $40,000 while working as an account clerk in the county’s tax claim bureau. Linda Gilligbauer was terminated in December 2008 after the funds went missing, but was never charged with theft. Now, a report released by a State College arbitrator finds that the county had every right to terminate Gilligbauer and that she is responsible for the missing funds.
A criminal investigation is still open in the county district attorney’s office, but Commissioner Vinny Clausi says he would like the DA to take a closer look at it following the new report. He says he would also like District Attorney Tony Rosini to turn the case over to the state Attorney General.
Prior to her termination, Gilligbauer had been with the county for seventeen years, with duties including the preparation of daily deposits, filing out deposit slips and working with tax lien certifications. It is alleged that Gilligbauer would conceal funds and not deposit correct amounts of money. The report concludes in saying that evidence proves Gilligbauer is responsible for the missing funds. (Sara Bartlett)
Route 61 open again following Kulpmont fire
KULPMONT -- Route 61 in Kulpmont is once again open to through traffic. The roadway was closed as crews worked to demolish a building that was destroyed by fire early Thursday morning.
When crews arrived on the scene just after midnight, flames and heavy smoke were seen pouring from Pappy Baluta and Sons Plumbing and Heating, as well as two apartments above in the 900 block of Chestnut Street.
Residents and businesses on the same block were evacuated after the roof collapsed, as the destroyed building was in danger of collapsing itself. More than 100 firefighters from all over the Valley were called to the scene. No injuries reported. The blaze is not suspicious, but the investigation into the cause will continue. (Sara Bartlett)
Ground broken on energy efficient duplex in Lewisburg
LEWISBURG -- Ground was broken Wednesday on an ultra-energy efficient housing duplex in Lewisburg. The lot in the 1300 block of Market Street was cleared following a fire, and now the Union County Housing Authority will provide a duplex with living room, kitchen and bedroom. Housing Authority Executive Director Jere Engle says the homes are for those 55-years-old and older who are looking to downsize their living space. It is an affordable housing option, and will be available to those who make less than 80% of the area median income. In Union County, that is less than $38,000.
Pete Vargo, of Nu-Tech Energy Solutions of Turbotville, is helping with the project and says the duplex will look contemporary, and be up to 45% more efficient than an Energy Star home. Some of the notable parts of the home include no wood in the exterior walls. They consist of solid foam and metal studs. In addition, there is a heat pump water heater, which will only cost about $200 a year to heat the home. Also, the windows have three panes of glass, which doubles the efficiency in the home.
Vargo says the house will be low maintenance, with very easy-to-use energy systems. Engle says he hopes the house serves as a model for other homes that could be built in the county. He says they hope to have the duplex constructed by October. (Sara Bartlett)
Sidewalk Chalk Festival in Lewisburg
LEWISBURG -- Lewisburg's Sidewalk Chalk Festival is Friday. All are invited to show their best artwork downtown. Registration is free and starts at 5:30 in front of Brushstrokes at 340 Market Street. Categories for judging will be under 13-years-old and over 13-years-old and there will be prizes for three winners in each category. Along with the festival, there will be musical entertainment, face painting and balloon art. The Sidewalk Chalk Festival is one the Lewisburg Arts Council's five major annual events downtown.
Vintage aircraft to fly at weekend air show
SELINSGROVE – Parachute tandem jumps, skyrides and an air show are just some of the features this Saturday at the Penn Valley Airport for the Heritage Aviation Airshow and Exhibit. Jim Taylor is manager at the airport and says there will be many planes to see on Saturday, including a number of World War II planes that will fly into the airport and land on site.
There will be food venders on the scene and a state police helicopter on display and an all you can eat breakfast to benefit the Experimental Aircraft Association. The event is free, but there is a $3.00 parking fee that will benefit the local Boy Scouts. Everyone is encouraged to attend. (Ali Stevens)
Lewisburg Superintendent talks remodeling
LEWISBURG— Many different options are still being considered in the plans for changes to the Lewisburg School District’s buildings. Superintendent Dr. Mark DiRocco talked about them on Thursday's On the Mark program. The board is waiting on plans from architectural firms before making final decisions, waiting to compare costs and benefits of each plan.
The district will have to take into consideration enrollment, says Dr. DiRocco, look at which plan would be most feasible to provide for increasing amounts of children. The board will hear the results of the feasibility study at a board meeting in August or September before making any final decisions.
Dr. DiRocco’s interview can be heard on the On the Mark program from Thursday, July 15th.
Phillips to serve EconomicsPennsylvania as senior advisor
SELINSGROVE – Retiring State Representative Merle Phillips (R-108th, Sunbury) will become a senior advisor for EconomicsPennsylvania. The not for profit economic education and financial literacy organization, most famous for the Stock Market Game, made the announcement today about Phillips new position.
Phillips is a founding member of the EconomicsPennsylvania Susquehanna Valley Regional Advisory Board and has been actively engaged in education initiatives for students across the area. Economics Pennsylvania President and CEO Fritz Heinemann says Phillips has been one of their most involved, engaged and enthusiastic volunteers for the past 10 years. He was presented with the Adam Smith Award for Distinguished Leadership by Economics Pennsylvania in 2002. (Ali Stevens)
Summer Seals Day Camp to hold fundraiser
SELINSGROVE -- A local day camp is providing some extra help for kids in the Selinsgrove Area School District. Summer Seals Day Camp Director Ryan McGuire says 30 children going into 4th and 5th grade are selected by teachers and guidance counselors to participate in the six week camp. The camp is free for kids selected and it is completely run on donations. It provides kids a lunch each day, as well as books, a t-shirt and educational fieldtrips.
A car wash fundraiser will be held tomorrow (Friday) for the day camp kids. Money raised will help the camp purchase educational items, and be able to afford the fieldtrips.
The camp is in its fourth year and McGuire says it provides children with extra scholastic help they need to return to school in the fall, while also having fun and socializing with classmates. More information is available online at www.summerseals.org.
National media focuses on local bombing victim
SELINSGROVE -- The parents of a local victim of the Uganda terror bombing appeared Wednesday on cable network MSNBC, and say it may take longer than expected for their son to return to the United States. Tim Bingaman of Selinsgrove says 18-year-old Kris Sledge may face some complications because of the swelling of the area around his eye socket.
Bingaman says he hopes to visit his son in a Kenyan hospital, and is currently trying to get an emergency visa to travel there. Meantime, Debbie Bingaman says her son understood of the potential danger of this summer's mission trip to Uganda, but was devoted to it all the same.
Christ Community United Methodist Church sent 15 missionaries to help at a church in Uganda. They were nearing the end of their mission trip when the Somali terrorist bomb injured half a dozen members of the group at a restaurant in Kampala. The pastor of the Ugandan church that hosted the local group was killed in the blast. (Matt Farrand)
I-80 slowdown after crashes
BLOOMSBURG -- Delays on I-80 west in Columbia County backed up traffic for much of the afternoon Wednesday. PennDOT says there were still delays long after single lane traffic again began to flow through crash sites between Lightstreet and Buckhorn.
At their peak, there were delays of up to 13 miles between Lightstreet and Nescopeck following the Wednesday morning crashes of two tractor trailers. Traffic was rerouted through the Town of Bloomsburg during the midday hours. (Matt Farrand)
Cleanup continues after fire at Bloomsburg Diner
BLOOMSBURG -- The Bloomsburg Diner will remain closed through Friday after a Wednesday morning fire. Food on the grill apparently caught fire at the East Main Street eatery just after 5:00a.m. yesterday.
Crews had the flames out quickly, and there were no injuries reported. There was no dollar estimate of damage, but owner John Sikaoias was insured. (Matt Farrand)
Extradition process continues
MILTON -- Local authorities are still waiting for the extradition of a man who will be charged with killing a New Berlin yoga master. 33-year-old Joel Snider of St. Louis, Missouri was picked up in Baltimore, County, Maryland as the only suspect in the shooting death of Swami Sudharman at the Integral Yoga Center.
Pennsylvania State Police spokesman Matt Burrows says suspects are often transferred from state to state without much notice prior to their arrival in the county where they will be charged. Snider faces an open count of homicide for the July 5th shooting, and was reportedly fighting extradition to Pennsylvania.
Meantime, classes at the Integral Yoga Center of New Berlin are expected to resume Monday. One of Sudharman's children will teach his classes, while other instructors will resume their respective classes. An announcement regarding the future of the center is expected following classes next Saturday. (Matt Farrand)
One woman injured after a cow runs onto Route 54
DELAWARE TOWNSHIP – One woman was injured early this morning after a cow ran onto Route 54 in front of a vehicle. The accident took place around 1:15 a.m. just west of I-180 in Delaware Township, Northumberland County. The driver of the vehicle was transported to Muncy Valley Hospital. No other details are available at this time. (Ali Stevens)
Pool kerfluffle in Middleburg
MIDDLEBURG – A Paxtonville teen charged with a fatal crash that left two teens from Midd West High School dead, will remain free on bail, but will no longer be allowed at the Middleburg pool. The Daily Item reports 18-year-old Patrick Sullivan was recently removed from the pool where one of the victim's, 14-year-old Kylie Hummel, sister works as a lifeguard.
Sullivan was apparently upsetting Kasey Hummel and was asked to leave, but he resisted and demanded to know why he couldn’t go to a public pool. District Attorney Michael Piecuch sought to have Sullivan’s bail revoked, but the judge gave Sullivan a warning and told him he wasn’t allowed at the pool.
Sullivan is charged with two counts of homicide by vehicle and involuntary manslaughter for the crash March 19th that killed 16-year-old Jacob Kemble of Paxtonville and 14-year-old Kylie Hummel of Middleburg. He is represented by attorney Graham Showalter and is free on $50,000 bail awaiting trial.
Marino asks Carney for more debates
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, "The congressman visits every county in the district multiple times a year and holds town hall meetings throughout the region...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.
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
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A newspaper says two Pittsburgh-area television stations are pulling a commercial attacking the voting record of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Joe Sestak. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Thursday that Sestak had complained about the accuracy of the ad sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It began airing Monday and says Sestak voted "with Nancy Pelosi 100 percent of the time" and for "a government takeover of health care." Sestak's campaign called both statements false and protested to 16 stations that are airing it. A letter to the campaign from stations WPGH and WPMY says the ad will be discontinued because "it is not true that Sestak voted with Pelosi 100 percent of the time." The chamber's ad is independent of Sestak's opponent, former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Coast Guard says it has not made a decision about whether to allow duck boat tours to resume in Philadelphia after an accident that killed two people on the Delaware River. Coast Guard Capt. Todd Gatlin says officials aren't even close to a decision on whether to ban the ducks from the river or let the tours resume. He says the agency will likely be meeting with city officials and the duck boat operators after the National Transportation Safety Board finishes its onsite investigation. Last week, a duck boat with 37 people aboard became disabled in the river and was struck by a barge. The duck boat capsized and sank, killing two Hungarian tourists.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Motorists on the Pennsylvania Turnpike are in store for higher tolls come January. The turnpike commission said Wednesday that people paying with cash will see a 10 percent increase, while E-ZPass customers will pay 3 percent more. It'll be the first time that E-ZPass drivers will pay less than others for the same trip. The new rates are scheduled to take effect Jan. 2. Tolls went up 3 percent six months ago after rising 25 percent in January 2009.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The state Department of Environmental Protection is trying to find out what started a fire at a natural gas well pad in northeastern Pennsylvania. Local fire crews and company workers put out Tuesday night's blaze at the Chesapeake Energy site in Auburn Township, Susquehanna County, after about two hours. State officials said Wednesday there were no injuries and no evacuations. Department secretary John Hanger says there does not appear to be any "significant environmental contamination." The well was drilling into the Marcellus Shale formation underground. The DEP says the fire occurred at a production unit where a valve failed and leaked natural gas. The site is closed while repairs are made and the state finishes its investigation.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The mate piloting the tug in last week's deadly duck boat crash in Philadelphia is off the water while authorities investigate. Defense lawyer Frank DeSimone represents the mate and tells The Associated Press he is not working. DeSimone says he instructed him to invoke his Fifth Amendment and not discuss the crash with federal investigators. DeSimone declined to identify the client or describe his emotions. K-Sea Transportation Partners confirms the mate has been "relieved of his duties" on the tug. Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board hopes to test another duck boat on the Delaware River this week as part of the investigation. Witnesses say the tug pushed a barge into the stalled tourist boat, killing two Hungarian tourists.
GOLDSBORO, Pa. (AP) - Police say the former treasurer at a central Pennsylvania fire company embezzled more than $116,000 over the past seven years. Miles Hummer was charged Wednesday with receiving stolen property and several counts of theft. Court records indicate the 70-year-old Harrisburg resident recently suffered a stroke. The alleged theft came to light after the Goldsboro Fire Co. appointed a new treasurer. Hummer is also owner of Goldsboro Marina. It's not clear if he's represented by an attorney.
Update on the latest in business:
Dow: - 7.41 (10,359.31)
S&P 500: + 1.31 (1,096.48)
NASDAQ: - 0.76 (2,249.08)
Mortgage rates remain at lowest level in decades
WASHINGTON (AP) - Mortgage rates were unchanged this week at the lowest point in decades, but it hasn't been enough to jump-start the housing market. Government-sponsored mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the average rate for 30-year fixed loans this week was 4.57 percent. That's the same as a week earlier and the lowest since Freddie Mac began tracking rates in 1971. Rates have fallen since the spring. Investors, concerned with the European debt crisis, have poured money into the safety of Treasury bonds. Treasury yields have fallen and so have mortgage rates, which tend to track yields on U.S. debt. However, low rates have yet to fuel home sales and have sparked only a modest increase in refinancing activity.
Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn Thursday:
Big 4 2-6-7-2
Daily Number 6-1-4
Quinto 0-6-9-2-3
Treasure Hunt: 01-08-10-19-27
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Wedding Gift: Groom gives bride-to-be $250K ticket
ST. LOUIS (AP) - One Missouri groom gave his bride-to-be a perfect token of his love: a $250,000-winning lottery ticket. Robert Russell surprised his betrothed, 30-year-old Tracie Rogers, with the early wedding gift. The scratch card surprised them both with its bounty. The Missouri Lottery says Rogers and Russell plan to use their winnings to pay off a house. Thirty-three-year-old Rogers says that will be one less burden for them to contend with as they begin married life.
Authorities in Belarus disperse pillow fight
MINSK, Belarus (AP) - In Belarus, an authoritarian, former Soviet nation, even a pillow fight can be seen as a threat to national security. On Thursday, club-wielding police dispersed about 400 pillow-wielding youths who gathered in Minsk, the capital, to humorously commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald. It stopped an invasion of German Catholic crusaders in Eastern Europe 600 years ago. Some 50 of the youths were detained. Authorities often crack down on rallies and protests in Belarus, a country regarded by many as medieval in its suppression of opposition and independent media. The U.S. and some European countries have dubbed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko as "Europe's last dictator." Officials refused to comment on the detentions.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)