Fire damages a home in Shamokin

SHAMOKIN – A house fire caused heavy damage in Shamokin last evening. The blaze at 449 South Harrison Street was reported around 9:40p.m. The first floor of the home was damage according to early reports from the Northumberland County 9-1-1 Center.

They tell us, the Shamokin, Coal Township, Ralpho Township, Kulpmont and Mt. Carmel fire departments were involved in the firefight. Crews from about four other volunteer fire companies were involved in a standby capacity. Authorities say they know of no injuries and the crews were finished at the scene around 2:30a.m.

Accident in Riverside injures one person

RIVERSIDE – One person was injured in a crash in Riverside Friday afternoon. State police say 19-year-old Kevin Bingaman of Selinsgrove lost control of his vehicle on Sunbury Road and skidded into a vehicle driven by 29-year-old Joshua Kovaschetz of Sunbury.

A passenger is Kovaschetz’s vehicle, Walter Dees of Paxinos, was injured in the crash and taken to Geisinger Medical Center for treatment. No other injuries were reported in the crash around 5:15 Friday afternoon in Riverside. (Ali Stevens)

Draft of school goal chart released

LEWISBURG – While Lewisburg Area School District residents continue to evaluate a master facilities plan, a kind of organizational chart is emerging of what will be taught in those facilities. Superintendent Dr. Mark DiRocco calls the Learning Framework a way to show how intervention, accelerated learning programs, and exams fit in to the overall goals of the district.

Dr. DiRocco says it could be an aid to parents considering a move to the district. Making sure students perform at grade level or better will remain part of the plan, whether or not the federal government renews the No Child Left Behind Act, a mandate that imposes the same goal. Dr. DiRocco says accelerated learning programs can be applied to almost all students. The Learning Framework will be posted on line, when complete. (Matt Farrand)

Belfanti hopes federal funds could help snow removal

HARRISBURG – State Reprehensive Bob Belfanti (D-107th, Mount Carmel) is hoping for some federal funds in his district following this week’s snowstorm. He says federal disaster assistance would help municipalities that were forced to go outside of their budgets to remove the snow.

The governor declared a statewide disaster emergency February 6th to enable state, county and municipal governments to respond effectively to the storm. Until a federal disaster emergency is declared, no FEMA funding will be available, but if a federal disaster is declared FEMA funding would be available for emergency work.

Northumberland County Transportation Director will resign

SUNBURY – Northumberland County Commissioner Vinny Clausi tells us the county’s Transportation Director will resign on Monday. Dennis Hepler had a meeting with the commissioners Tuesday after it was discovered that Hepler overcharged the Area Agency on Aging and PennDOT’s Shared-Ride Program for the past several months.

Hepler admitted to the double-charging for transporting senior citizens and claims he did it in an effort to recoup some of the money his department lost during the past year through a contract with a local cab company.

Hepler claims Clausi encouraged him to enter into the contract with Shamokin Yellow Cab Company, but he says he didn’t budget for it, so he felt he needed to make up the money by double-charging the agency. The overcharge of $15,000 is not expected to lead to criminal charges. (Ali Stevens)

Former MLB pitching star to receive an award from Economics Pennsylvania

SELINSGROVE – Economics Pennsylvania has announced that former major league pitching star Mike Mussina will receive the annual “Adam Smith Award For Distinguished Leadership.” Fritz Heinemann is president and CEO of Economics Pennsylvania and says each year, they choose someone with a strong interest in young people who serves as a role model for their organization.

Mussina was with the Baltimore Orioles from 1991 to 2000 and then pitched for the New York Yankees from 2001 to 2008. In 2000, Mussina established the Mike Mussina Foundation to benefit children and children’s charities.

Former recipients of the Economics Pennsylvania award includes State Representatives Russ Fairchild and Merle Phillips, former Bucknell president Gary Sojka and Selinsgrove Olympian Kelli Smith, just to name a few.

Tickets for the February 25th luncheon featuring Mike Mussina and Pittsburgh Steelers Star Linebacker Andy Russell are $75 each, with the event at Tedd’s on the Hill. Proceeds from the luncheon support Economics Pennsylvania programs. (Ali Stevens)

Volunteer firefighter sentenced for arson

BLOOMSBURG – A former volunteer firefighter from Orangeville has been sentenced to up to 42 years behind bars for a series of arson fires last spring. Colton Barrett was in Columbia County Court Thursday and was also ordered to pay nearly $800,000 in restitution.

One of the fires at a farmhouse in Fishing Creek Township left an elderly couple seriously injured with major burns. Police say Barrett set the fires using flares, matches or gasoline. Barrett was also sentenced last year to three years in prison for burglarizing several fire companies in the area. (Ali Stevens)

Elysburg resident wants to run for the 107th

ELYSBURG – A Elysburg resident wants to run for state representative of the 107th district, which is currently held by the retiring Bob Belfanti (D-107th, Mount Carmel). 59-year-old Ted Yeager is running as a Democrat. Yeager graduated from Southern Columbia in 1968, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Wilkes College and a master’s degree from Elmira College.

Yeager spent 27 years teaching social studies in the Danville School District. Yeager is chairman of the Municipal Authority for Ralpho Township and has served on the Ralpho Township Library Board, the Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech Authority and the Elysburg Rotary Club.

He will face off against Kulpmont Mayor Myron Turlis and Coal Township Commissioner George Zalar. The lone Republican candidate is Northumberland County Commissioner Kurt Masser. (Ali Stevens)

Local nurse going on medical mission trip to Bolivia

LEWISBURG – A local nurse will head to Bolivia in a few months to help with surgeries for children born with cleft palates and cleft lips. Vicki Eberhart of Winfield works at SUN Orthopedic and says she has always enjoyed doing mission work, and knows that cleft palates and lips are a big problem in Bolivia. Eberhart says surgery can repair a child’s mouth, which allows them to eat properly and get the nutrition they need.

To help with expenses for the April trip, a fundraiser is being held Saturday at the Towne Tavern in Lewisburg. Guest bartenders at the fundraiser include local doctor Thomas Dominick and retired Major League baseball player Steve Kline. All are invited to the fundraiser Saturday from 7:00-10:00p.m.

Bright future of the House of Hope Susquehanna Valley on Roundtable this weekend

RIVERSIDE – For most of this century, the House of Hope Susquehanna Valley has been helping teen girls get their lives back on track. The house has been open in the Riverside area for more than 4-years and they were doing non-resident counseling before that. Over twenty girls have called the house their home for a year or so and have graduated.

The house has a bright future too—according to the guests on this weekend’s Roundtable program. Susan McDowell, the founder of the program, and Alex Poirier, the executive director. They and a student at the house—Emily—from Northumberland, discuss the mortgage burning they had last summer, and the need to serve more girls (and eventually…guys) in The Valley.

You can hear Roundtable (Sunday) on Eagle 107 (107.3FM) at 6a.m., 100.9 (100.9FM), The Valley, at 6a.m., Newsradio 1070 WKOK (1070AM) at 9a.m., Talkradio 1380 WMLP (1380AM), 11a.m., 94KX WQKX (94.1FM) at 11p.m., and anytime, at www.wkok.com.

Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, lottery, business and entertainment

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The second week of the trial for a former state lawmaker and three aides has ended with the second prosecution witness still on the stand. Defense attorneys spent Friday cross-examining Jeff Foreman, who was chief of staff to defendant Mike Veon until 2006 and spent about two decades working in the Legislature. Foreman has been telling the jury what he knows about the alleged use of the General Assembly's employees, equipment and cash to wage campaigns. Also Friday, the presiding judge conducted a hearing into whether dozens of defense subpoenas issued to current and former state lawmakers and employees will be thrown out. Veon was the No. 2 ranking House Democrat. He's on trial with three former aides for theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A western Pennsylvania lawmaker frustrated with continuing power outages from last weekend's snowstorm called for an investigation into the emergency response to the wintry weather. State Rep. Peter Daley of Washington County said Friday he plans to call a hearing to get answers about how some residents of southwestern Pennsylvania could go without power for more than a week. Daley says his office has received many calls from angry residents who want answers. He'll invite representatives from power and water companies along with government and emergency planning agencies serving Washington, Greene and Fayette counties. The hearing will be scheduled within a few weeks. By Friday afternoon, Allegheny Energy still had 12,000 customers without power. In the Philadelphia area, Peco had 11,000 without power following Wednesday's blizzard.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's state Senate leaders say a commission that will look for ways for state government to save money is ready to meet. Senator Republican leader Dominic Pileggi of Delaware County and Senate Democratic leader Robert Mellow of Lackawanna County said Friday they have appointed members of the commission. They say the Government Management and Cost Study Commission is to hold its first meeting Feb. 19. The Senate created the commission by approval of a resolution Dec. 16. Under the resolution, the commission is to report its findings to the Senate by June 30.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A published report says the wife of the late congressman John Murtha is being urged to run for the House seat that he held for nearly four decades. Murtha spokesman Matthew Mazonkey told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review in a story published Friday that many people have called his office to suggest that Joyce Murtha would be the perfect successor to her husband. Several other potential candidates for Murtha's seat in western Pennsylvania's coal and steel country have surfaced even before Gov. Ed Rendell sets a date for a special election. If Joyce Murtha decides to run, she would be following in the footsteps of 46 other women who have served in the U.S. House or Senate as the direct successors to their late husbands.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - A Penn State student is being treated for what the school calls a probable case of bacterial meningitis. The school said Friday the unidentified student lives in a campus residence hall and is being treated at Mount Nittany Medical Center. The university says friends and close contacts of the student have been called and offered medication. Meningococcal meningitis is a contagious and potentially fatal infection of the central nervous system. It is typically not transmitted by routine contact, but is spread by saliva or close, prolonged contact with an infected person.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Retail relief...Commissioner's new contract...Lower crude

NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks managed to recover from their worst losses after investors grew concerned about China's latest effort to tighten credit. The Dow fell 45 points to 10,099. The S&P was down 3 points, while the Nasdaq gained 6 points.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Gains from general merchandise stores helped to fuel last month's stronger than expected retail sales. Excluding auto sales, the Commerce Department says retail sales were up 0.6 percent. Sales at specialty clothing stores were also higher.

NEW YORK (AP) - Crude oil futures prices settled lower on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The near-month contract for the benchmark grade fell $1.15 to end the week at $74.13 a barrel.

NEW YORK (AP) - NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has been given a new five-year contract running until March 2015. His contract had been due to expire in September. One owner says Goodell's compensation will remain unchanged.

MIAMI (AP) - A federal judge in Miami has ordered the acquittal of two former employees of disgraced financier Allen Stanford on charges that they illegally shredded thousands of company documents. The judge cited insufficient evidence in the case against the ex-Stanford employees. The order came on the second day of jury deliberations.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers

The winning numbers in Friday evening's drawing of the Pennsylvania Lottery's "Cash 5" game were: 03-15-33-38-40

The winning numbers in Friday evening's drawing of the Pennsylvania Lottery's "Big 4" game were: 9-0-7-3

The winning numbers in Friday evening's drawing of the Pennsylvania Lottery's "Super 7" game were: 02-06-12-19-33-45-47-54-60-63-69

The winning numbers in Friday evening's drawing of the Pennsylvania Lottery's "Evening Quinto" game were: 1-0-3-2-2

The winning numbers in Friday evening's drawing of the Pennsylvania Lottery's "Daily Number" game were: 7-5-5

These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn on Friday: Midday Big 4 5-7-0-3

Midday Number 5-8-8

Midday Quinto 4-9-8-2-1

Treasure Hunt 05-14-17-20-29

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Entertainment and people News

'We Are the World' debuts, worldwide airing set

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Producers of the revamped "We Are the World" say the full seven-minute version of the music video will air simultaneously on 53 domestic and international channels Saturday. The worldwide simulcast is set for 2 p.m. Eastern. A three-minute version of the video made its world premiere Friday during NBC's coverage of the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics. The video, filmed by Oscar winner Paul Haggis, shows some of the 85 artists who gathered in Los Angeles this month to re-record the charity anthem. Fans can download the song online. All proceeds will benefit earthquake recovery efforts in Haiti.

Madonna wins village battle

BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP) -- Madonna has won a battle over land with Malawi villagers. Madonna wants to build a school for girls on the land. Some of the villagers have lived there for three generations. Madonna paid the villagers about $115,000 for their homes and land, but many don't want to move. The government, however, has told them they have to move to other government land.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Newsradio 1070 WKOK Sports Scores and Schedule 

Shikellamy Wrestling - Shikellamy vs. Council Rock South - 8:45 am

Shikellamy Wrestling - Shikellamy at Team Tournament - 12:45 pm/2:45 pm (if necessary)

Penn State Basketball - Michigan State at Penn State - Noon (if no wrestling)

Shikellamy Basketball - Montoursville at Shikellamy - 2:30 pm (on WKOK.com if wrestling)

High School Wrestling

Shikellamy beats Council Rock North 29 to 28 in the first consolation round of the PIAA Class AAA Team Tournament. The Braves return to Hershey this morning and coverage of wrestling begins at 8:45 a.m. here on WKOK. The Braves lost to Canon-McMillan 31 to 30 in the afternoon quarterfinals yesterday. This after beating Cathedral Prep 38 to 23 in the first round.

High School Girls Basketball

Central Columbia 55 Warrior Run 36
Danville 54 Southern Columbia 43
Greenwood 53 East Juniata 31
Juniata Mennonite 42 Northumberland Christian 31
Line Mountain 55 Millersburg 47
Milton 47 Montoursville 24
Mifflinburg 45 Selinsgrove 39
Shikellamy 61 Jersey Shore 25
Shamokin 56 Midd West 22
Sunbury Christian 48 New Covenant 24

High School Boys Basketball

Line Mountain 62 Meadowbrook Christian 53
Loyalsock 82 Warrior Run 16
Northumberland Christian 35 Juniata Mennonite 21
Shikellamy 66 Milton 38
Sunbury Christian 33 New Covenant 30

SU Women’s Basketball Falls at Nationally Ranked Scranton, 67–48

SCRANTON, Pa. — Susquehanna University's sophomore guard/forward Jessica Zigarelli (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills Regional) tallied her third double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds, but visiting Susquehanna fell to nationally ranked No. 16 The University of Scranton, 67–48, in a Landmark Conference women’s basketball game at the Long Center on Feb. 12.

Susquehanna Men’s Basketball Drops Conference Matchup at Scranton, 87–76