Saturday, March 6, 2010

Kriner admits stealing Milton harvest and alumni money

SUNBURY – A Milton man has pleaded guilty to stealing about $20,000 from two non-profit organizations. Dale Kriner was treasurer of the Milton Harvest Festival and the Milton Area High School Alumni Association when he took the money from the two organizations. Kriner apologized in Northumberland County Court Friday and says he takes full responsibility for what happened.

Police says Kriner took the money after falling victim to a scam on the Internet where he sent money to a Nigerian man who claimed he needed to return to Pennsylvania. Police say between April of 2008 and December of 2009, Kriner made several money transfers from the two organizations into his personal account. Kriner is set to be sentenced in May. (Ali Stevens)

Lark charged in sewer theft

NORTHUMBERLAND – Charges have been filed against a former Northumberland Sewer Authority clerk for stealing nearly $300,000 from the Authority over a five-year period. 48-year-old Cynthia Lark of Northumberland is charged on a number of counts including theft and forgery.

Police say while in charge of accounting duties, Lark would transfer money from the Authority’s account to a payroll account. She would then write herself checks for more than her authorized pay and forge signatures of the Authority’s president and treasurer. A Northumberland Borough employee discovered the forgery and contacted authorities.

Lark turned herself in and is free on $20,000 bail. She will have a preliminary hearing next week. Lark resigned from her position at the Authority and as a member of the Northumberland Borough Council this week. (Sara Bartlett)

Billtown man says he’s ‘unfit’ for murder sentencing

MIDDLEBURG – A Williamsport man says he is “mentally unfit” to be sentenced for a deadly shooting in Monroe Township, Snyder County. The Daily Item reports 26-year-old Abdul Malik Saeed Walker was scheduled to be sentenced to a 10 to 20-year prison term after pleading no-contest to third degree homicide and burglary.

The charges are in connection to the shooting death of 19-year-old Steven Rodriguez over stolen marijuana. Walker’s cousin, 27-year-old David Cannie Jr. admitted to shooting Rodriguez in the chest and was sentenced to up to 60-years in prison last week. President Judge Harold Woelfel Jr. postponed sentencing for Walker to allow for a psychiatric examination to determine Walker’s competency. (Ali Stevens)

Cable boxes do not monitor viewing habits

SUNBURY – Service Electric Cablevision customers can view whatever they choose in confidence that their privacy is not being violated. The company is not monitoring your viewing habits according to local Division Manager Dwight Walter.

He says the boxes customers receive only collect data for billing purposes. He also talked about franchise fees, new tuners and digital technology while appearing on Thursday’s edition of (WKOK’s) On The Mark program. You can download Walter’s entire comments online from www.wkok.com (Matt Farrand)

S-U DiRT team to restore homes in Atlanta

SELINSGROVE – Rather than basking in the sun on a beach, more than half a dozen Susquehanna University students plan to spend their spring break helping rebuild flood-damaged neighborhoods in the Atlanta area. They are members of SU’s Disaster Relief Team, and include junior Chelsey Bennett.

The creative writing major says they will be working with other community groups on a variety of tasks. Bennett says damage from the disaster was comparable to that from Hurricane Katrina, but received only a fraction of the news coverage.

Students and chaperones will be working with students from other colleges, and will assemble at an Atlanta area church. Assignments could include everything from working in animal shelters to rebuilding homes. The group known as DiRT will head south Saturday morning, and expects to return on Friday. Eight people died in Atlanta area flooding last September. (Matt Farrand)

Influenza cautions still advised in spite of H1N1 fizzle

LEWISBURG – Emergency rooms and school nurses saw a spike in flu cases during the fall and early winter of 2009. Many of them were of the H1N1 strain. But did the so-called swine flu fizzle? Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention think so, and credit publicity and widespread distribution of the vaccine.

Evangelical Community Hospital’s Infection Control Practitioner Paula Roseth agrees, and says the number of cases has leveled off to nearly nothing in the last couple of months. Roseth is somewhat optimistic that the worst is over, but warns that flu season traditionally lasts until May, and anti-flu precautions should be taken in the meantime. (Matt Farrand)

One case dismissed, one going to court in restaurant theft

LEWISBURG – A Mifflinburg woman waived her right to a preliminary hearing and a Watsontown woman had her case dismissed following theft from a Lewisburg restaurant. 22-year-old Aeron Fox of Mifflinburg and 45-year-old Kathy Clayton of Watsontown were facing felony charges after stealing more than $25,000 from the Country Cupboard Restaurant while they worked as waitresses last December.

Fox, who admitted to stealing more than $21,000, waived her charges on to court. Clayton, charged with taking more than $5,800, claims her transfers were for legitimate purposes, and District Judge Leo Armbruster dismissed her case. (Sara Bartlett)

Education, safe driving and our heritage—on Roundtable

SUNBURY – Three local critical issues are discussed on Roundtable this weekend when we again host the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce. This is one of their monthly programs and we talk about their efforts to affect early education funding, distracted driving limits and the work to procure a heritage park in this region.

Alison Stevenson from SEDA-COG tells us, the state heritage park program works to celebrate the history of certain regions. Our region’s history involving the confluence of the Susquehanna River is the topic of the Middle Susquehanna Heritage Park. She talks about the confluence of industries, cultures and of course, geography.

While the idea was gaining momentum, she says the state’s budget currently receives no funding and they are hopeful funding would be restored to heritage areas in the years ahead. On Roundtable, we find out more about the heritage park discussion, and the chamber’s work on distracted driving and promote early education funding.

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.

$1.5 million for Shikellamy State Park

SUNBURY – Renovations at Shikellamy State Park are closer to reality thanks to $1.5 million in state spending. As expected, Governor Ed Rendell announced the release of the money today. It will be used for improvements to the marina building. The additional money will hopefully be used to complete the design phase of the project this year, allowing work on research, education and conference facilities to start in 2011.

DCNR and the Susquehanna River Heartland Coalition are spearheading this project for Environmental Studies. The renovated facility will also serve as new offices for the Shikellamy State Park and Marina staff. More information about this project is posted at www.srhces.org.

Do you…ZUMBA?

SUNBURY – ZUMBA is the latest exercise craze and there are some special events planned to get more people involved in the newest craze. What exactly is ZUMBA? It’s a combination of aerobics and dancing, featuring hip-hop, salsa and belly dancing. Health experts say one hour of ZUMBA has the potential to burn 1,000 calories.

A ZUMBA-thon is being held at the Milton YMCA on Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. The Sunbury YMCA also has a ZUMBA-thon planned for Saturday, March 27th with registration at 8:30 and then ZUMBA will take place from 9 to 12 that day. You can learn more about ZUMBA and other programs at the Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA at www.gsvymca.org.

Hit and run trucker caught

SHAMOKIN – The truck driver that struck a fire hydrant and traffic light in Shamokin and kept on driving has been charged by police. The driver from Ontario, Canada, 51-year-old Joseph Colosimo, turned right onto Market Street from Sunbury Street around 6:20 p.m. Wednesday and struck the traffic signal and hydrant.

Colosimo was pulled over along Route 901 in Locust Gap several minutes later. The crash caused extensive damage to the traffic light, which had to be replaced. No injuries were reported. (Ali Stevens)

Help for Danville-area fire company

WASHINGTON – The Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Company has been awarded a grant of over $25,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The money will provide assistance to the company helping them get the necessary tools and resources to perform their job. Also in our area, the Catawissa Hose Company Number One was awarded over $70,000.

Congressman wants to cut Medicare prescription drug costs

UNDATED – Congressman Chris Carney (D-10th, Dimock) wants to cut Medicare prescription drugs costs for both seniors and taxpayers. Carney is a co-sponsor of a bill introduced this week that would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate prescription drug prices on behalf of Medicare Part D beneficiaries for the first time. Carney says the potential savings is $156-billion over 10 years.

Carney says the Medicare Part D program, which benefits 28 million seniors, accounted for more than $50-billion worth of prescription drugs in 2009. But, he says the federal government has been barred from negotiating rates with the pharmaceutical industry since the program’s inception in 2004. Carney claims there is clear evidence that negotiating rates will save money and the legislation has been co-sponsored by 61 members of the house. (Ali Stevens)

Controller officially kicks off his campaign for state house

SUNBURY – Northumberland County Controller Chuck Erdman officially kicked off his campaign for the 108th District State House seat on Thursday night in Northumberland. Erdman and about 75 supporters gathered at the Townside at the Savoy for a campaign kickoff event.

At the event, Erdman introduced his campaign team, which includes Northumberland County Register and Recorder May Zimmerman and Preston “Lin” Davis of Milton as campaign co-chairs. Erdman told those who gathered that, “Our state needs to change.”

He said he’s running for the seat being vacated by Merle Phillips (R-108th, Sunbury) because he thinks he can make the difference and lead by example. Erdman says a conservative leader is needed to create jobs, cut taxes and reform Harrisburg. (Ali Stevens

Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. (AP) - Authorities in Georgia say Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is being investigated in an allegation of sexual assault. Police say the incident occurred early Friday in a nightclub in Milledgeville, about 85 miles southeast of Atlanta. The player owns a home nearby. The player and some of his friends were seen visiting some local restaurants and bars earlier Thursday night. Separately, Roethlisberger has been sued by a woman who claims he raped her in 2008 at a Lake Tahoe hotel. The Steelers star denies those allegations and has asked for counter-damages. Agent Ryan Tollner says that "given the prior accusation against Ben, we are skeptical of motive, but we will continue to cooperate with everyone involved."

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania attorney general's office is done putting on its case in the theft, conspiracy and conflict-of-interest trial of a former state representative and three former legislative aides. Prosecution testimony wrapped up Friday after five weeks with investigators being quizzed by defense attorneys about financial records those investigators generated and displayed for jurors. Defendants Mike Veon, Brett Cott, Annamarie Perretta-Rosepink and Steve Keefer are expected to begin calling their own witnesses on Monday. Veon's attorney says he wants to know why a prosecution list of alleged bonuses for campaign work didn't include some people on a list of campaign volunteers, and why some people who got supposed campaign bonuses weren't on that list. Veon is the former No. 2 ranking House Democrat. He lost re-election in 2006.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - President Barack Obama is coming to the Philadelphia area as part of his pitch for health care reform. The White House announced Friday that Obama will speak at Arcadia University in Glenside on Monday morning. The president has been trying to rally congressional support to push through legislation that would overhaul the health insurance system. He has called for an up-or-down vote in the coming weeks. This event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in the Hospitality Room of Arcadia's Kuch Recreation and Athletic Center.

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

Stocks rise...GM dealers saved...Borrowing picks up

NEW YORK (AP) - It was a solid showing for stocks today. The Dow rose 122 to 10,566. The S&P gained nearly 16 points and the Nasdaq added 34 points.

NEW YORK (AP) - General Motors will reinstate more than half the dealerships it targeted to drop from its network. GM executives say about 600 dealerships will get letters from the automaker giving them the option to retain their ties.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Economists say it appears last month's severe winter storms didn't have that much of an impact on the job market after all. The Labor Department says the jobless rate held steady at 9.7 percent and employers cut 36,000 jobs.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Consumer borrowing saw a modest rise in January after a record streak of declines. The Federal Reserve says an increase in auto loans countered weakness in credit card borrowing.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Two New York City police officers charged with robbing about $1 million of perfume from a New Jersey warehouse have been ordered held without bail. Three other defendants are ordered held as well. A total of eight people have been charged in connection with the case.

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

Sports

Shik girls continue march to state tourney

MILTON – In high school girl’s basketball, the Lady Braves of Shikellamy added a District 4, Class Triple A championship to the Heartland Conference championship they won earlier this year with a 56-48 victory over Shamokin last night in Milton.

The Braves are 21 and 4 this year and were led by Kelly Bickel with 23, Dana Reeves with 19 and the Braves never trailed in the game. Next, against they play an as-yet-undermined team in the first round of the PIAA Triple state tournament late next week.

Wolfe and Myers advance in wrestling

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Two wrestlers from our area advanced into this morning semi-final round at the P-I-A-A Triple A northeast regional tournament at Bethlehem Freedom High School. Myles Wolfe of Shikellamy won by default and he will face Andy Moore of Parkland. Spencer Myers of Selinsgrove pinned Taylor Newcomer of Wallenpaupack and he will take on Brook Gosh of Blue Mountain.

All the other wrestlers from both schools are still alive in the consolation bracket. In the team race, Parkland is in first place, Blue Mountain Second and the Braves are in 9th. The first round of consolations gets underway at 9:30 and the semi-finals are at 11a.m. The wrestling finals will be on Newsradio 1070 WKOK tonight at 6:30p.m. and on www.wkok.com.

Sports scores

High School Girls Basketball

District 4 Class AAA Final Shikellamy 56 Shamokin 48

High School Boys Basketball

District 4 Class AAA Final Danville 61 Mifflinburg 58

District 3 Class Single A Final Reading Central Catholic 51 Greenwood 32

Class A Sayre 62, Montgomery 46

Hollywood and People News

Pres. Obama appears on AMW

NEW YORK – President Obama helps John Walsh mark tonight's 1,000th episode of "America's Most Wanted" on Fox. Among the topics Walsh and the president talk about are crime-fighting initiatives and the impact the show has had in its 22 years and 1000 episodes. Plus, Walsh looks at some more cases. "Cops" is earlier on Fox.

Oscar producers promise ample fun and no rain

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The president of the film academy and the producers of Sunday's Oscar ceremony promise it won't rain on the Academy Awards. Producers Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic and president Tom Sherak gathered on the red carpet outside the Kodak Theatre for a brief news conference Friday about the big show. Sherak said definitively it will not rain at Oscar time. Mechanic quipped it would "rain humor." And Shankman said that when you produce the Oscars, there's no one you can't call, so "I just called God." The men also announced a new round of presenters: Tom Hanks, Robin Williams, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Jessica Parker, Demi Moore, Zoe Saldana and Pedro Almodovar will appear on the show.

Edward Steichen fashion photo exhibit hits Florida

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - More than 200 celebrity and fashion photos by one of the 20th century's most influential photographers are on view in an exhibit that started out in Europe. "Edward Steichen: In High Fashion, the Conde Nast years, 1923-1937," is showing at the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale through April 11. It features images of actresses and models wearing fashion's finest clothing, many of them looking straight into the camera under dramatic lighting. The photos are drawn from Steichen's years as chief photographer for "Vogue" and "Vanity Fair" magazines. The magazines were published by Conde Nast. Many of the black-and-white original vintage prints are of celebrities of the day.