Friday,
July 30, 2010
Tim
Bowers resigns as NorCo solicitor, plans ‘D-A’ run
SUNBURY – Looks
like the Montour County D-A could have some competition next year.
Attorney Tim Bowers, currently the Northumberland County solicitor,
announced his resignation from that job and said he plans to seek
public office in Montour County.
Bowers lives in
Sunbury but has—or will soon—move to Montour County. He declined to
elaborate on what public office he may seek, but he is widely
rumored as a candidate for District Attorney next year. Bowers would
only say in his letter of resignation, that there is significant
interest in having me pursue a public opportunity. Asked if he
was running for D-A, Bowers would not comment.
Bowers was
appointed Northumberland County solicitor in April of this year and
replaced Vincent Rovito. Bowers resignation is effective September 3rd.
Robert Buehner, the Montour County District Attorney, has not yet
announced his reelection intentions and has not returned a call from
the WKOK newsroom. (Mark Lawrence)
Delays
continue at Route 11/54 signal, more repairs coming
DANVILLE -- The
traffic signal at the Route 54 and Route 11 intersection in Danville
may look like it is functioning properly, but those who travel
through it frequently may notice a delay. Wednesday, a contractor
doing work at the intersection accidentally cut the main line to the
traffic signals.
It caused backups
and police were in the road directing traffic much of the day.
Danville Police Chief Eric Gill tells us the whole system has to be
rewired. PennDOT doesn't allow temporary replacement of traffic
signals. The rewiring work will be done in the upcoming weeks.
Gill says at that time, police would again have to direct traffic,
but they hope to do that later in the evening.
For now, the signal
is working, but Gill says there may be a one to two minute delay, as
the lights in each direction are set to change after the maximum
time regardless of how many vehicles are waiting. (Sara Bartlett)
Solicitor says Mahoning Township sewer project is by the books
DANVILLE -- The
Mahoning Township solicitor is responding to claims by eight
property owners that they overcharged for a recent sewer project.
Attorney Rick Shoch says when a new sewer line was installed along
Red Lane, there were three other simultaneous projects happening in
the township.
He said the
engineering firm involved combined the costs of all three projects,
but after resident's voiced concerns, Shoch says that firm sent a
breakdown of the costs for each project. Last week, Red Lane
resident Bob Bomboy told us Red Lane residents were being
overcharged. He said they were being made to pay for the other
projects.
Shoch says the
residents were told in advance that the costs would be high and they
have worked out an agreement with Bomboy and others. The township
did offer a long term payment plan for residents who couldn’t foot
the cost of the sewer connections.
In addition, he
adds that the Mahoning Township Municipal Authority has footed the
bill for nearly $10,000 in additional work that was never passed
along to Red Lane residents. (Sara Bartlett)
River
enthusiasts encouraged to join paddle
UNDATED -- A
12-mile paddle down the Susquehanna River is coming up soon in the
Valley. Canoe and kayak enthusiasts are invited to paddle from
Milton State Park to Shikellamy State Park. Mark Cox is the
coordinator of the second annual paddle between the parks. He says
experienced boaters and first timers are both welcome.
Last year, there
were 60 kayakers and canoeists that took part, and Cox says they
came from all over Pennsylvania. The paddle is sponsored by Friends
of Milton State Park and Friends of Shikellamy State Park. When
finished, participants can enjoy lunch at Shikellamy State Park.
The paddle will
begin at 8:00a.m. Saturday, August 7th. It is $25 for individuals
over 18, and $15 for those under 18. To register for paddle between
the parks you can e-mail shikstatepark@verizon.net, or call
286-4974. (Sara Bartlett)
Penn
State has the annual ‘quarterback question’
HUMMELS WHARF – The
Penn State Nittany Lions are now practicing for the fall season and
as is occasionally the much talked about question: Who will be the
starting quarterback for the Lions?
Steve Jones, the
‘voice of the Nittany Lions,’ the broadcast announcer on the Penn
State Radio Network, told WKOK, the race is down to four hopefuls,
Robert Bolden, Kevin Newsome, Paul Jones and Matt McGloin. Jones
said the quarterback decision is completely up in the air and he
said a wise coach wouldn’t even hint at a starter until the first
game is a week away.
Jones appeared at
the annual Penn State Kick-off meet and greet for the sponsors who
support all of the Sunbury Broadcasting Corporation sports
broadcasts. Jones said Penn State has a chance to have a great year,
but will have a tough time on the road at Iowa, Minnesota and Ohio
State. Newsradio 1070 WKOK has its first Penn State game of the
season five weeks from now, on Saturday, September 4th
with Youngstown State visiting Happy Valley.
National Night Out around the Valley
UNDATED -- Local
law enforcement is gearing up for Tuesday's National Night Out.
Many communities in the Valley are holding evening events. The
night is aimed to heighten awareness of crime and drug abuse,
generate support of local anti-crime programs and strengthen the
police-community partnership.
- In Lewisburg,
from 5:00p.m.-8:00p.m. in Lewisburg Area Recreation Park on St. Mary
Street there will be free swimming and food, pony rides, petting
zoo, sports for kids, skate demonstrations, and a range of police,
fire and emergency service personnel will be in attendance.
- Milton's National
Night Out will take place in Brown Avenue Park from
6:00p.m.-9:00p.m. There will be free food, as well as free
swimming. The search and rescue dogs will be there, along with
police personnel. Something new this year is the DUI course, where
participants can simulate driving drunk to show how dangerous and
deadly it can be. There will also be raffles and giveaways.
- In Montour
County, Danville Police will host the night at Sunnybrook Park
starting at 5:00p.m. Swimming will be free all day, and at night
there will be games and prizes. Also, at the Exchange Pool swimming
will also be free and there will be a number of activities also
starting at 5:00p.m.
- In Sunbury,
National Night Out events will take place in Cameron Park from
5:00p.m.-9:00p.m. Free food and drink will be available and
National Guard members, firefighters and police will all be on hand.
State House
hopeful says PFA issue brought up by state party leaders
SUNBURY – Democrat George Zalar says the voters
are best equipped to determine whether the Protection From Abuse
order issued against his Republican opponent is a serious campaign
issue. Zalar appeared on our Leaders & Lawmakers program, and says
it was state Democratic leaders that brought up the issue of the
18-year-old PFA against Republican Kurt Masser.
Masser admitted to grabbing and kicking his now
ex-wife Paula, and held a recent news conference to take
responsibility for the incident and attribute it to marriage at a
young age, and the pressures of adulthood. Meantime, Zaler regrets
that party officials brought the issue back to life.
Coal Township Supervisor Zalar and Northumberland
County Commissioner Masser each hope to fill the seat in the state
house being vacated by Democrat Bob Belfanti (D-107th, Mount
Carmel), who is retiring. You can hear Zalar’s comments in their
entirety from Thursday’s Leaders & Lawmakers program online at
www.wkok.com (Matt Farrand)
Bombing survivor
talks about her experience
SELINSGROVE -- It's a scene that replays in Lori
Ssebulime's mind over and over. The Selinsgrove resident was one of
six church missionaries in Uganda July 11th when a bomb went off.
She says she doesn't remember the actually explosion, but remembers
seeing grey smoke, bodies on the ground and hearing screams.
The events that followed included a trip to the
hospital, trying to find the five others in the group, hearing news
that three of their Ugandan friends had died, including the pastor
of the church that the group was working with.
While the other group members, Pam and Thomas
Kramer of Winfield, Joanne Kerstetter of Selinsgrove and her
granddaughter Emily Kerstetter of Maryland and Kris Sledge of
Selinsgrove remained in the hospital, Ssebulime went back to see the
devastation at the restaurant site where she met with the FBI,
Ugandan Police and U.S. Embassy, where she heard more about what was
suspected to be a suicide bomber.
She says it made her blood run cold to know that
the group could have been sitting with, even talking to, a person
that knew he was about to let a bomb go off. The U.S. Department of
State flew Ssebulime's brother to Uganda and had him accompany her
on the plane trip home.
Upon returning to her Selinsgrove house, she says
she feels blessed. She says sometimes she doesn't know what to pray
for, but she knows that people in the community were praying for the
missionaries. She calls the community amazing for all of their
support, and reiterates how grateful she is for the kindness and
prayers.
While in Uganda, the group was building a fence
around a school. Ssebulime says the mission isn't done. She says the
group would go back to Uganda with no questions asked. Emily
Kerstetter remains in a South African hospital receiving surgery on
her leg. Kris Sledge and Joanne Kerstetter and in U.S. hospitals.
Sledge is recovering from deep wounds and a broken
leg, while Kerstetter is recovering from facial wounds, hearing loss
and a broken arm. Thomas and Pam Kramer have returned home with
their injuries, and Pam is facing more surgery. You can read more
about the group and their mission online at our website wkok.com.
(Sara Bartlett)
Watsontown
solider dies in Colorado accident
FORT CARSON, CO -- A U.S. Army soldier from
Watsontown died after an accident in Fort Carson, Colorado.
23-year-old Specialist Terry Ryan II drowned while trying to
retrieve a boat on a reservoir Sunday morning. Ryan's body was found
about an hour after he drowned. He was taken to Evans Army Community
Hospital and pronounced dead.
Ryan, who joined the Army in 2007, was part of the
204th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry, and was a motor transport operator. He served in Iraq from
August 2008 to August 2009. There, he earned medals including an
Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal and two Army
Commendation Medals.
Ryan was a father to a son and daughter, and is
survived by his parents, sister, two grandmothers and many aunts and
uncles. A viewing will be held at Cronrath-Grenoble Funeral Home in
Watsontown Tuesday from 5:00p.m.-8:00p.m. A funeral will be held
Wednesday at 11:00a.m. in the same location, and a burial with full
military honors will follow at Green Lawn Memorial Park in
Montgomery. (Sara Bartlett)
New heath center
to open next month
SELINSGROVE – The former St. Pius X church
building on University Avenue has been transformed into a new health
center, thanks to a partnership between Geisinger Medical Center and
Susquehanna University. The building will soon serve as the new
student health center for Susquehanna, but will also serve the
greater Selinsgrove Community.
Carol Tevis, director of the Children’s Miracle
Network at Geisinger Medical Center says key specialty care services
will be provided at the clinic along with pediatric care. The
16,000-square-foot facility will expand the space, hours of
operation and number of practitioners and services currently
available at Susquehanna’s existing student health center.
Tevis says CMN dollars allowed for this project to
happen with a grant to get the project going. The new clinic is
expected to open in middle or late September. It will be open Monday
through Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m. for pediatric urgent care services. (Ali Stevens)
Joblessness
rising in The Valley
UNDATED -- Unemployment rates in the Valley's
surrounding counties all rose from May to June. Montour County
remains at the lowest unemployment with 7.2%, up from 7% in May.
Both Union and Snyder Counties rose .3%, and are now at 9.8% and
9.4% respectively.
Northumberland County remains at the highest
unemployment rate at 10.2%, up from 10% in May. June's national
unemployment rate is 9.5%, while the rate in Pennsylvania is 9.2%.
(Sara Bartlett)
Raising money
for Milton fire victims
MILTON – A fundraiser is being held on Saturday to
raise money for the victims of a devastating fire on Front Street in
Milton in early July. Wayne Reich is administrator at the Milton
Moose and tells us they wanted to raise money for the victims of the
fire that destroyed a dry cleaning business and an apartment
building and will host a chicken barbeque.
Reich says there were several people impacted by
the fire, including the owner of Vogel’s Dry Cleaners, a resident
living in an apartment above the dry cleaners and four families
living in the apartment building. The chicken barbeque is Saturday
at the Milton Moose Family Center.
Chicken will be served starting at noon. The
chicken is $8.00 and includes a half-chicken, macaroni salad, baked
beans, coleslaw and a roll. Donations will also be accepted the day
of the event. You can also contact the Moose to reserve your chicken
in advance, since dinners are selling fast. (Ali Stevens)
State police
investigate a burglary at a home in Beaver Springs
BEAVER SPRINGS – State police are investigating a
burglary at a home in Beaver Springs sometime this week. Troopers
say someone entered the home along Route 522 and removed a lock box
containing important papers such as a birth certificate, bank
statements and a title to a vehicle.
Also removed was about $1,000 in cash. Anyone with
information on the incident, taking place between Tuesday morning
and Thursday morning is asked to contact State Police at
Selinsgrove. (Ali Stevens)
Mifflinburg man
charged with aggravated assault on two police officers
MIFFLINBURG – A Mifflinburg man has been charged
with aggravated assault and other counts after police say he almost
hit two police officers with his vehicle. 23-year-old Milford Hoover
was witnesses squealing his tires and speeding through Mifflinburg
and police were called to the scene.
Hoover then allegedly put the car in reverse and
nearly hit two officers who had their guns drawn. Hoover eventually
got out the vehicle and surrendered following the incident on July
11th. Police say Hoover had just broken up with a girlfriend prior
to the incident. (Ali Stevens)
Latest
Pennsylvania news, business, lottery and entertainment
HARRISBURG, Pa.
(AP) - Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge is contributing his
consulting services to an organization that consists of many of the
businesses involved in drilling for natural gas in the massive
Marcellus Shale formation. The Marcellus Shale Coalition announced
Friday that the two-term Republican governor and former U.S.
Homeland Security secretary had agreed to serve as strategic
adviser. A coalition spokesman says Ridge's communications and
policy groups will be paid $75,000 a month for help in such areas as
public outreach, education and coalition building.
CLEARFIELD, Pa.
(AP) - A central Pennsylvania man has been convicted for a third
time of killing his teenage romantic rival in 1997. A Clearfield
County judge immediately sentenced 28-year-old Andrew Callahan to
life in prison after Thursday's verdict. The Pennsylvania Superior
Court had overturned Callahan's two previous convictions in the
killing of 16-year-old Micah Pollock on Nov. 5, 1997. The appeals
court cited improper jury instructions in both decisions. Callahan
and Pollock were classmates at Glendale High School in Flinton,
about 90 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Callahan has claimed a gun
accidentally discharged while the two were hunting. But prosecutors
say Callahan killed Pollock over jealousy that Pollock was dating
Callahan's ex-girlfriend.
DRUMORE, Pa.
(AP) - Emergency crews in central Pennsylvania have been looking for
a 19 year-old man who went missing after diving into the Susquehanna
River. Pennsylvania State Police say the teenager was diving off a
cliff with friends in southern Lancaster County around 6 p.m.
Thursday. Officials say he never resurfaced. Dive teams were
called in to search the water and canines were searching on the
ground. It happened at a popular gathering spot near the Ferncliff
Wildflower and Wildlife Preserve, where the 20- to 30-foot cliffs
offer dramatic views of the river. Crews are expected to resume the
search Friday.
SEWICKLEY, Pa. (AP) - Officials in Allegheny
County say a sewage plant employee became faint and died while
working in a 30-foot hole, and three other people who tried to
rescue him were overcome by an unknown gas and had to be
hospitalized. Sewickley Borough Manager Kevin Flannery identified
the dead worker as 31-year-old Jack Hogan of Baden. Flannery says
Hogan was hired in June, and his wife had a baby about eight weeks
ago. Flannery says Hogan was working in the hole and fell back into
it as he was trying to climb out yesterday afternoon. All three
people who tried to help were overcome by fumes. The origin of the
fumes isn't clear, but Flannery says emergency workers did detect a
small amount of methane gas when they arrived. The plant is owned by
the borough and is still in operation. Construction will continue
Monday on a $5 million upgrade that Hogan was working on with the
others.
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (AP) - A central Pennsylvania man
will spend five to 11 years in prison for what authorities say was a
drunken boating crash that killed a 12-year-old girl. A Clinton
County judge sentenced 52-year-old John Englert II of Mill Hall
yesterday, just over a year after the fatal accident. Prosecutors
say Englert's blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal
limit for driving when his boat collided with another on the
Susquehanna River in Lock Haven. Bellefonte Middle School student
Valerie Heidt of Howard died in the crash. Englert pleaded no
contest earlier this month to homicide by watercraft while under the
influence.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated
Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Updates on the latest in business:
Dow: 10,494.67, up
27.51
S&P 500: 1,106.26,
up 4.73
NASDAQ: 2,263.75,
up 12.06
Stocks down...GDP
estimates, revisions...Obama in auto country
NEW YORK (AP) -
Stocks have pared earlier losses. The key averages remain in
negative territory.
WASHINGTON (AP) -
The government has been fine-tuning estimates of where the economy
has been. Growth was stronger than thought in the first quarter and
weaker in the second. Growth in the April-to-June quarter is said to
have expanded at an annual rate of 2.4 percent.
DETROIT (AP) -
Speaking in the heart of the nation's auto-producing area, President
Barack Obama today hailed his efforts to restructure the industry.
Speaking at a Chrysler plant, where a second shift was recently
added, Obama said the industry is "growing stronger".
BILOXI, Miss. (AP)
- BP's incoming CEO is saying that it's time for a "scaleback" of
the massive effort to clean up the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. At the
same time, Bob Dudley stressed the commitment to make things right
is intact.
WASHINGTON
(AP) - A bill aimed at improving air safety has won final approval
in Congress and is headed to President Barack Obama's desk. The
legislation was developed in response to the crash of a commuter jet
near Buffalo last year that killed 50 people.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn
Friday:
Mega Millions
Estimated
jackpot: $33 million
Midday Big 4
4-5-4-9
Midday Number
3-9-4
Midday Quinto
2-1-3-0-2
Powerball
Estimated
jackpot: $85 million
Treasure Hunt
14-17-19-24-30
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Reaction
to Ellen leaving Idol
LOS ANGELES (AP) --
Ryan Seacrest will be missing Ellen DeGeneres on "American Idol."
Seacrest tweets that he spoke to DeGeneres last night. He called her
"one of the kindest and most talented people in Hollywood." Simon
Cowell tells the Hollywood Reporter that he grew to "really, really
like" DeGeneres in her one season on Idol. He says he has "huge
respect for her because she's always been in control of her own
destiny." DeGeneres says she quit Idol because she couldn't handle
criticizing the contestants and because being a judge while hosting
her own talk show was too much work.
Should
Obama have gone on 'The View?'
UNDATED (AP) --
Rosie O'Donnell and Sarah Palin agree on one thing: they don't think
President Obama should've appeared on "The View." O'Donnell told her
Sirius-XM radio listeners that she doesn't think sitting presidents
should do "fluffy daytime TV shows." She says Oprah might've been
more appropriate. Palin tweeted that Obama had "lots of time to chat
on 'The View,"' but no time to visit what she called the "porous
US/Mexican border" to help those she says are "risking life to
secure us."
Sandra
Bullock wants out of Gulf restoration video
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -
A spokeswoman for Sandra Bullock says the actress wants her parts of
a video promoting Gulf Coast restoration removed until she learns
whether oil companies influenced it. The statement Thursday came
after the website DeSmogBlog called the campaign an industry push to
get support for drilling and taxpayer money to repair wetland damage
caused by the BP oil spill. Women of the Storm, a New Orleans
group that produced the video, lists America's Wetland Foundation as
a partner. The foundation lists BP and other oil companies as
sponsors on its website. Anne Milling, founder of Women of the
Storm, says the foundation provided experts and information. But she
says the video was not funded by oil companies.
Jerusalem dinner
expands kosher menu
JERUSALEM (AP) - The organizers of a unique
six-hour eating marathon in Jerusalem want diners to know two things
about locusts: First, they taste great stir-fried, and second,
they're kosher. When 240 observant Jews sat down to the 18-course
dinner last week, they were served creatures that seemed unlikely
candidates to be eaten under the Bible's Jewish dietary laws. Dishes
included sparrows, doves, pheasants, deer, roasted elk and grilled
cow udders. A cadre of rabbis and academics explained each course to
the diners. They also discussed long-running debates over the kosher
status of some creatures, such as swordfish, which was also served.
Organizers of the dinner say it was meant to show that the list of
permissible foods for Jews throughout history is longer and stranger
than most people think.
Chelsea's
Wedding
RHINEBECK, N.Y. (AP) - Wedding experts say Chelsea
Clinton's gala this weekend could run upwards of $2 million to $3
million. That compares to the roughly $24,000 most American
newlyweds spend on their special day. Details have been notoriously
difficult to pry loose, but industry insiders have gathered enough
intelligence to estimate some of the costs of Saturday's wedding.
Clinton, the daughter of former President Bill Clinton and Secretary
of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, is marrying investment banker Marc
Mezvinsky. The most expensive item? Catering, estimated at $750,000
by Brides magazine deputy editor Sally Kilbridge. Toilets could run
about $15,000 to $20,000.
Chelsea's
Wedding-Security
RHINEBECK, N.Y. (AP) - Chelsea Clinton's wedding
along the Hudson River will be under a no-fly zone. The Federal
Aviation Administration says local airspace will be restricted from
3 p.m. Saturday to 3:30 a.m. Sunday. Clinton, the daughter of former
President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton, will wed investment banker Marc Mezvinsky on Saturday
evening in Rhinebeck. That's about 90 miles north of New York City.
FAA spokesman Jim Peters said Thursday that decisions to restrict
air space are made in consultation with other federal agencies. He
could not confirm whether the Secret Service requested this one. The
FAA website says the restriction will be in place for "VIP (Very
Important Person) Movement," but did not elaborate.
CHEESEBURGER-GAS
TANK
ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) - Fast food won't make your
car go fast. That's what a South Carolina woman has learned the hard
way. The 30-year-old woman filed a complaint with police after a
cheeseburger was stuffed into her gas tank. The Herald of Rock Hill
reports the woman took her car to a mechanic when it suddenly
stopped running. According to police, there was a cheeseburger and
pickle inside the car's gas tank. The repair bill was about $1,000.
SAGGY PANTS
NEW YORK (AP) - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg
isn't going to play fashion cop. His honor says he agrees with a
judge who threw out a case against a Bronx man for wearing saggy
pants. The guy's drawers were showing and he was given a ticket by a
police officer. The case was tossed out of court by a judge, who
ruled the officer appeared to be making a style decision. Mayor
Bloomberg says the government has no business telling people what
they can wear.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated
Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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