Monday, July 26, 2010
30-year-old in prison after sexual relationship with teen
PENN TOWNSHIP -- A Selinsgrove man is in prison after having a sexual relationship with a teen girl. Police say 30-year-old Brian Wagner had sex with a 15-year-old girl over a two week period this month. The incidents happened at Wagner's Fair Oak Road residence in Penn Township.
Wagner is in Snyder County Prison on a probation violation, and is charged on seven counts including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, indecent assault and corruption of minors. (Sara Bartlett)
Candidate for the 85th District responds to questions about campaign finance reports
UNDATED – The Democratic candidate for the 85th District is questioning his opponent's financial records. Trey Casimir says online financial reports of Fred Keller showed major irregularities, that include no income and a debt of more than $41,000 in the second reporting cycle. However, going into the third reporting cycle, Keller's income showed more than $41,000, with $3,500 in expenditures. In a release Casimir says "after all the noise Keller's campaign made about Maurice Brubaker's status as an accountant, you would think they would be more careful about their addition and subtraction."
Keller tells us he has contacted the Department of State and errors in the finance reports have been corrected. He says he is glad to go over finance reports with anyone, and that they are filed as public record at the Snyder County Courthouse. (Ali Stevens)
Public invited to meeting about proposed off highway vehicle park
SHAMOKIN -- A public information session will be held tomorrow to discuss the off highway vehicle park proposed in Coal Township. The master plan will be explained, and the public is welcome to bring their opinions and questions to the session.
The master plans include the park on 6,000 acres of county-owned property. It would be open to motorized vehicles, such as ATVs, as well as non-motorized vehicles such as bicycles. In addition, there would be hunting and camping opportunities, as well as trails for hiking. The meeting is the first of two public sessions to talk about the park. All are invited at 6:30p.m. in the Shamokin Area Junior-Senior High School auditorium on State Street. (Sara Bartlett)
The 6th year for Ashley’s Auction to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network
SELINSGROVE – This will be the sixth year for Ashley’s Auction, which has raised more than $35,000 in five years for the Children’s Miracle Network. Ashley Brubaker was treated at Janet Weis Children’s Hospital when she was just 6-months-old, diagnosed with autism, mild cerebral palsy and severe anxiety disorder. Now as an adult, she is in her sixth year of raising money for the hospital through her silent auction.
Ashley works with her mother, Deb Brubaker to compile the silent auction that stretches from one end of the Susquehanna Valley Mall to the other. Deb Brubaker says this is the perfect project for Ashley since she can send emails to donors from the home, but has also given Ashley the confidence to go out into the community and make more contacts in the area. There are hundreds of items on the auction each year, which are stored at the Brubaker’s home in Snyder County. Her husband, Myron, has expanded their shed to store the items and it takes six trucks to bring all of the items to the auction on the day of the event.
The auction is Saturday from 10 to 3p.m. at the Susquehanna Valley Mall. There are trips on this year’s auction, hand-crafted furniture, tickets, gift certificates and countless sports items, items for the home and much more. For a complete list, go to www.wkok.com, and click on the 94KX Cares for Kids Radiothon banner. Last year, Ashley Brubaker raised $13,000 in her auction. This year she wants to top that. (Ali Stevens)
Man critically injured in a motorcycle crash July 4th has died
DANVILLE – A Catawissa man, who was critically injured in a motorcycle crash on July 4th, has died from his injuries. 25-year-old Shawn Richendrfer was pronounced dead on Sunday at Geisinger Medical Center. He was taken to the hospital following a crash on Route 42 in Columbia County, where he lost control of his motorcycle rounding a curve and collided with some trees. Richendrfer is one of several deadly victims involved in motorcycle crashes this summer in the Central Susquehanna Valley. (Ali Stevens)
Travelers Advisory: From the WKOK Road Report
SUNBURY -- Bridgework starts today at 7am on the Route 61/Shamokin Creek bridge near Sunbury. The bridge (near Zimmerman Motors, Market Street Sunbury) will be closed for two weeks.
The truck detour will use Reagan Street to connect to the Snydertown Road and cars may use 11th Street The detour then uses the Snydertown Road and Black Mill Road. The bridge may reopen by Friday, August 6th.
Domestic incident in Mifflinburg…one person is hospitalized
MIFFLINBURG – Police continue to investigate a stabbing in Mifflinburg last night, which turned out to be self-inflicted injuries. One person was allegedly stabbed, but police discovered the stab wounds were self-inflicted.
Police were investigating at two locations in the borough including 396 Thompson Street and 419 Chestnut Street. One male suspect was taken into custody after that incident around 9:30 p.m. The people involved have not been identified. The injured person was taken to Evangelical Community Hospital for treatment and then transferred to Geisinger Medical Center. (Ali Stevens)
More storms affect The Valley
UNDATED -- Some strong storms moved across the Central Susquehanna Valley Sunday leaving minor damage. Sunday afternoon's storms delivered up to a half an inch of rain in parts of our area. One rain gauge in Schuylkill County measured over one inch. There was spotty damage in our region with a few trees down and scattered power outages.
On Saturday, more than 1,000 PPL Electric Utilities customers in Lycoming County, along with more than 800 in Columbia County spent much of the night without power. Columbia County Communications says a line of thunderstorms at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday knocked limbs off of scores of trees, taking power lines with them.
Arson fires cause thousands in property damage
SUNBURY – Still being investigated are the intentionally set fires that damaged a Sunbury garage with a vehicle inside, a boat parked at a fire station, and a brush fire may have done tens of thousands of dollar worth of damage. The fires first reported shortly before 4:00 a.m. Saturday are still being investigated, and damage is still being totaled up.
Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Norman Fedder says the fire at 844 Edison Avenue was one of three arson fires reported. The property is owned by Lynette Sheets of Sunbury, and occupied by tenant Patricia Hunter.
A vehicle inside the garage was heavily damaged, along with equipment used by a lawn care company. Another fire was started roughly at the same time in a boat parked at the Rescue Hose Company. A brush fire was also reported in the 900 block of Edison Avenue. (Matt Farrand)
Fan theft prompts citations
BEAVER SPRINGS -- Saturday's hot weather may have served as a catalyst for a retail theft. State troopers say 42-year-old Melissa Koser and 24-year-old Geoffrey Koser, both of Beavertown, are being cited after allegedly removing three electric fans from a sidewalk sale, and not paying for them. The fans were on display in front of the store on Route 522. (Matt Farrand)
Peacemakers named by Center for Nonviolent Living
MILTON -- Two local residents are being honored for their commitment to non-violence and social justice. Than Mitchell and Therese Miller are being recognized with Peacemaker Awards by The Center for Nonviolent Living.
Mitchell is the long time co-host of WKOK's On The Mark program. Miller is active locally with the Society of Friends, or the Quakers. Mitchell and Miller are being honored at the 8th Annual Peacemakers Picnic. It is scheduled for (Sunday) afternoon 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the North Picnic Pavilion, at Central Oak Heights in West Milton. (Matt Farrand)
Kathryn's Kloset gives to those in need
SHAMOKIN DAM -- A Shamokin Dam church is doing their part for the community by giving out goods to those in need. Kathryn's Kloset is a program originally based in Baltimore, and is a program of Diakon Lutheran Ministries. Last year, St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Shamokin Dam became a partner and now runs a local branch of the program.
Lisa Yeager is the coordinator and says she is personally committed to the program. Yeager, who is disabled, was injured on the job over a dozen years ago. She says since then, she has had an outpour of community support and helping hands, and she wanted to do her part to help and give back. She says Kathryn's Kloset is her chance to do just that.
Laundry detergent and softener, cleaning supplies, and books are among the items that are collected and given out to local churches, food pantries, nursing homes, women's shelters, homeless shelters and more. Yeager says she hopes Kathryn's Kloset continues to grow, so they can help more and more people.
Every few months, volunteers from St. Matthews go to Baltimore to get the items. Yeager says volunteers are always needed to help drive or unload the truck. For more information about Kathryn's Kloset e-mail jmlvay@ptd.net. (Sara Bartlett)
Professor explains underemployment rate
SUNBURY – Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate is currently 9.5%, and is included in what’s known as the underemployment rate. Bucknell University Professor of Economics and International Relations Steven Stamos says the underemployment rate also includes people working part time looking for full time work.
He says it also includes people working full time but earning less than poverty level income, and a variety of people who’ve dropped out of the labor force. Stamos says the underemployment rate is now at about 16%.
He believes most who receive unemployment compensation really want to find work, though some may find it more practical to continue to receive benefits, if all they can find are minimum wage jobs. Professor Stamos’ entire comments can be heard online at www.wkok.com in Thursday’s edition of our On The Mark program. (Matt Farrand)
DiRocco gets huge raise as contract is renewed
LEWISBURG – Directors of the Lewisburg Area School District like what they see from Superintendent Dr. Mark DiRocco, so he has received a contract extension and a big raise. The board moved to retain the services of Dr. DiRocco for an additional five years as superintendent and CEO of the district.
Starting next year, his salary will increase over $30,000 to $154,000 annually. He currently earns about $ 123,000. The new agreement is a five-year extension.
Dr. DiRocco has been a proponent of a series of long-term academic goals for the district, called Vision 20-20, and more recently began guiding the district through a facilities renovation project, which could conclude in a major facelift for Lewisburg area public schools. (Matt Farrand)
Fishing expert talks about the smallmouth bass population in the Susquehanna
SUNBURY – A local fishing expert says the smallmouth bass population is dwindling and more needs to be done to find out why. Ken Maurer is a professional guide on the Susquehanna River, owns Southside Bait and Tackle in Sunbury and is a columnist in The Daily Item.
Maurer says there is still a good population of 'smallies' and some big ones, but there’s not as many fish as there were 10 to 15 years ago. And he says the quality of the river and lack of studies has an impact on the population. Maurer says studies on the river should have been done 5 to 10 years ago that they are just now starting.
He believes pharmaceuticals making their way into the river, has impacted the small-mouth population. Maurer says male smallmouth are being found with eggs, which is called fish inter-sexing. He says this happens because things like birth control pills make their way into the water.
You can learn more about the decline of the small mouth population and the status of the Susquehanna River with Ken Maurer, who was a recent guest on WKOK’s On The Mark program. Listen online to Thursday On The Mark at www.wkok.com. (Ali Stevens)
Latest Pennsylvania news, lottery, business and entertainment
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A district judge says he's heard enough evidence to send public corruption charges against Rep. Bill DeWeese to a county court for trial. Linglestown District Judge William Wenner made the ruling Monday after listening to testimony for part of the day. The case revolves around the role campaign work played in the offices of the Greene County Democrat. DeWeese's preliminary hearing began Monday morning with testimony from former employees. DeWeese is a veteran lawmaker who's been speaker, majority leader and whip.
GRANTVILLE, Pa. (AP) - A central Pennsylvania jockey remains hospitalized after the horse he was riding fell during a race. Officials at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course say 22-year-old Craig Gibbs is in the intensive care unit at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Gibbs was injured Saturday when the horse he was aboard, Smokin Queenie, fell during a race at the track in Grantville, about 15 miles northeast of Harrisburg. Gibbs has finished in the money 83 times with 30 wins in 271 races this year.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A lawyer for the pilot of the tug pushing a barge that sank a duck boat in Philadelphia fears his client could face felony charges under federal law. Lawyer Frank DeSimone says he hopes someday to have his client speak with investigators about the July 7 crash, despite his advice to date to remain silent. DeSimone says his client feels terrible about the deaths of two Hungarian students aboard the tour boat. But he says prosecutors need only accuse his client of simple negligence to bring involuntary manslaughter charges under federal law. State law typically requires an extreme negligence finding. The client has not been identified by name. Also Monday, officials in New Jersey released a recording of a 911 call reporting the collision from that side of the Delaware River.
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - Authorities have identified a man whose body was discovered at the base of a northeastern Pennsylvania dam. Luzerne County Coroner John Corcoran says 44-year-old Thomas Zinga Jr., of Jenkins Township, died Saturday afternoon. Corcoran says Zinga fell from the dam at the Mill Creek Reservoir. An autopsy showed Zinga sustained multiple traumatic injuries in the fall. Police are conducting interviews and Corcoran says he will not release a cause of death until the investigation is complete. The dam is owned by the Pennsylvania American Water Company. A water company spokeswoman says there are gates at company-owned dam access points.
WAYMART, Pa. (AP) - The National Weather Service is confirming that no fewer than three tornados tore through northeastern Pennsylvania on Friday night, toppling trees and damaging some buildings as well as cutting power to thousands of residents. Forecasters said Sunday an EF-2 tornado with wind speeds up to 115 to 125 mph touched down near Honesdale in Wayne County and traveled into Pike County. A smaller EF-1 tornado was confirmed touching down in Susquehanna County and heading into Wayne County near Pleasant Mount. Another EF-1 was active near Hawley in Wayne County and Lackawaxen in Pike County. No injuries were reported. PPL spokeswoman Martha Herron said about 4,300 customers lost power. Brian Wrightson, emergency services director for the American Red Cross of Lackawanna County, says 50 to 80 properties had some damage and 14 people were displaced.
NEW HOPE, Pa. (AP) - The state's newest wine and spirits store is bright, modern and airy, but it's not just another pretty space. The alcohol emporium in New Hope is part of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board's effort to improve its image amid calls for privatization. Over the past few months, the board has unveiled a new retail website and trained employees in customer service. It also installed wine vending machines in supermarkets and used consumer surveys to design stores. But critics say those initiatives aim to deflect calls for privatizing the state monopoly on liquor and wine. They argue that customers pay more for fewer choices and less convenience under Pennsylvania's antiquated system.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Updates on the latest in business:
Dow: 10,522.40, up 97.78
S&P 500: 1,114.38, up 11.72
NASDAQ: 2,294.70, up 25.23
NEW YORK (AP) - Stock prices have posted modest gains today. With the rise, the Dow industrials average has moved back into the black for the year.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Commerce Department says sales of new homes rose nearly 24 percent last month. At the same time, figures for May, April and March were all revised down.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A source says Tony Hayward will step down as BP's chief executive in October and will be offered a job with the company's joint venture in Russia. BP's board is meeting today in London.
NEW YORK (AP) - Certain landline and cell phones have been unable to complete calls in part of New York because of a malfunction in Verizon's network. A Communications spokeswoman says the company hopes to fix the problem this afternoon.
WASHINGTON (AP) - New government rules announced today mean that iPhone owners will be able to legally unlock their devices so they can run software that hasn't been given Apple's blessing. The rules, however, won't stop Apple from continuing its practice of disabling jailbroken phones with software upgrades.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn Monday:
Mega Millions
Estimated jackpot: $24 million
Midday Big 4
8-5-1-5
Midday Number
1-5-4
Midday Quinto
4-7-5-6-6
Powerball
Estimated jackpot: $67 million
Treasure Hunt
02-17-19-25-28
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn Sunday:
Big 4
6-3-9-2
Cash 5
25-28-37-40-43
Daily Number
7-8-7
Evening Quinto
6-7-7-3-9
Midday Big 4
6-4-6-2
Midday Number
5-2-0
Midday Quinto
2-3-5-9-2
Treasure Hunt
08-10-21-29-30
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
OBAMA ON "THE VIEW"
NEW YORK (AP) -- Only a president could get Barbara Walters to interrupt her recuperation from heart surgery to return to "The View" for one day. Barack Obama will become the first sitting president to be a guest on a daytime talk show this Thursday. Vice President Biden was on the show last April. After the interview, Walters will continue her recuperation. She still plans on returning when the show starts its new season in September.
PIGEON POOP CANCELS KINGS OF LEON CONCERT
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Kings of Leon fans in St. Louis can blame pigeons for missing a chance to see the band in concert. The band canceled the show after they kept getting bombarded by pigeon poop. They could stand it for only three songs. But when Jared Followill was hit in the cheek and some of the poop got near his mouth, that was the last straw. A member of their management company says "it's not only disgusting, it's a toxic health hazard." Fans are getting a full refund.
STARBUCKS BABY
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - It was an order to go at a Colorado Starbucks. But it wasn't a latte or a Frappuccino. It was a baby. Police in Colorado Springs say a 42-year-old woman walked into the restroom at the coffee shop and gave birth. The woman walked out with the newborn without telling anyone. Someone noticed blood in the bathroom and called for help. Paramedics found the woman and newborn outside the Starbucks. Both mother and baby are reported to be in good condition.
Boy Scouts celebrate 100 years with DC parade
WASHINGTON (AP) - Thousands of Boy Scouts are in Washington to march down Constitution Avenue to celebrate a century of scouting. As many as 10,000 people are expected to take part in a parade at 1 p.m. Eastern time Sunday along the National Mall. Organizers say it will be the biggest gathering of scouts in the nation's capital since 1937 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt invited the Boy Scouts to hold the first national jamboree on the National Mall. The Boy Scouts also will be setting up a traveling attraction on the mall. Visitors can try out a ropes course and other scouting experiences through an IMAX-like dome theater and a traveling museum.
Gay Lutheran pastors join church roster
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Seven pastors who were barred from serving in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America because it required gay clergy to be celibate have been welcomed into the denomination. A rite of reception service was held Sunday at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in San Francisco. The nation's largest Lutheran denomination voted last year to lift the policy requiring celibacy, so its churches can now hire noncelibate gay clergy who are in committed relationships. Melissa Ramirez Cooper, a spokeswoman for the ELCA, says the rite of reception was developed specifically to welcome gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender pastors. She says two more rite of reception services are scheduled for September in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and another will follow in Chicago.
Jordan-Lettuce Lady
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) - An animal rights activist has caused a stir in Jordan's capital by covering herself in lettuce in a quirky attempt to persuade Middle Eastern meat lovers to go vegetarian. Crowds quickly gathered to gawk at the lettuce lady, but police were not amused. Officers briefly arrested the Jordanian activist, Amina Tarek, and a colleague from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The pair stood in a square along one of Amman's trendiest streets and held a placard reading "Let vegetarianism grow on you." Tarek says she wanted Jordanians "to turn over a new leaf." Police held them for three hours, saying they had not obtained permission for Sunday's protest. The activists say they had approval.
New Zealand-16-Story Survival
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - A 15-year-old New Zealand boy has survived a 16-story plunge from the balcony of his family's apartment onto a concrete floor. New Zealand media reported Monday that the boy was playing on a balcony before he fell, dropping through the roof of a parking garage onto the concrete. He was in stable condition at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital with a broken wrist, a broken rib, gashed leg and internal injuries, the New Zealand Herald reported. The newspaper said the garage roof - made of sheet iron and filled with insulation - may have broken his fall. "God must have been with him. He's got an angel looking after him, that's for sure," housekeeper Kaa Wehi, who was working in the building at the time, told the newspaper.
Boy Scouts-100 years
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The Boy Scouts of America is preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary with a national jamboree in Virginia. More than 46,000 Boy Scouts, leaders, staff and volunteers from around the world are expected at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree, which starts Monday. Organizers also expect around 250,000 visitors. Scouts ages 12 to 18 will spend 10 days doing everything from archery and fishing to robotics and testing their own DNA. The group has held the event at the Fort A.P. Hill Army base every four years since 1981. It skipped a year so the event could mark the organization's 100th anniversary. The Boy Scouts have held a national jamboree since 1937. Organizers plan to move the event to a permanent site in West Virginia in 2013.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)