Thursday, March 13, 2008
Escrow checks OK again in Northumberland tax office
NORTHUMBERLAND – Third party tax payments are again acceptable in Northumberland Borough. Tax collector James Snyder says checks from escrow accounts are again OK if the taxpayer personally brings or sends them in. Snyder is currently collecting borough taxes, but drew the attention of state legislators last year when refusing for a time to accept escrow checks for Shikellamy District school taxes. Snyder reportedly blamed escrow agents for complicating tax collection by sending in multiple checks, with varying amounts, for mixes of properties. (Matt Farrand)
Odor sends students outside their school
SHAMOKIN – About 1,000 elementary students were evacuated yesterday in Shamokin due to a foul odor. The Shamokin Area School District reports the odor came from the west side of the elementary school around 7:30 Wednesday morning near the cafeteria. Students were taken to the gymnasium in the Middle-High School, which is right next to the elementary school, and remained there for about two hours. The school was ventilated and an unused pulper line was identified as the cause of the odor. No students were reported to be sick following the discharge of the line. (Ali Stevens)
Lady Bison to play in the NCAA tournament
LEWISBURG – The lady Bison have a few days off after winning the Patriot League Tournament yesterday and clinching their spot in the NCAA tournament. Ryan Unger is the broadcast voice of the women’s basketball team and says it was a six-hour bus trip home from Worcester (woos-ter) Massachusetts last night, after the Bison beat top-seeded Holy Cross. He says the entire team is thrilled to be playing in the “Big Dance”. And who will the Bison be facing off against in the first round of the NCAA Tournament? They will most likely have to play against Connecticut or Tennessee, with the Bison taking the last seed at 16.
Unger is also looking forward to being the voice of the game, saying many broadcasters before him didn’t get the opportunity and he is honored to be a part of it and looks forward to traveling to one of the top seeded schools for the broadcast. (Ali Stevens)
PIAA Swimming and Diving Championship draws thousands
LEWISBURG – Over 5,000 people are expected to pack the Central Susquehanna Valley during the five day PIAA swimming and diving championship at Bucknell University. Athletes from 205 high schools from all over the state will compete. Executive Director of the Susquehanna Valley Visitors’ Bureau, Andrew Miller, says they, along with the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership and the PIAA have worked with hotels and restaurants to get ready for the rush of people.
Aquatics Director at Bucknell, Pam Armold, says the event not only highlights the region, but also the University, and is a showcase for Bucknell’s natatorium facilities. Before coming to Lewisburg, the event was held in State College. Bucknell will also host the championship in 2009, and plans to put in a bid to host the event in years to come. This year’s championship will continue until Saturday. For information, schedules and results go online to www.piaa.org. (Sara Bartlett)
Port Trevorton woman dead after Snyder County crash
UNION TWP— A Port Trevorton woman is dead after a crash in Snyder County yesterday afternoon. State Police in Selinsgrove say that 30-year old, Jennifer Walter, was traveling along Verdilla Road in Union Township around 4:15 p.m., when she overcompensated a turn in the roadway and swerved several times.
That’s when police say her vehicle struck two trees before finally coming to a stop. Walter was pronounced dead at the scene. Two juvenile passengers, ages 8 and 2, were unharmed. Police say Walter was not wearing a seatbelt. (Sara Lauver)
Union County residents having no problem with new touch screen votes
LEWISBURG— The Union County elections office is still giving free demonstrations of the new touch screen voting machines and election official, Kim Zerbe, says residents are adjusting to the new system very well. She says demonstrations are available at the elections office and occasionally, election officials will take the machines out into the public.
Zerbe also says the office has been receiving some calls from residents wishing to change party affiliations before the spring primary election. She reminds residents that the deadline to make any changes is March 24th. http://www.voteunioncounty.com/ General Information: 570-524-3891 or 570-524-8682. (Sara Lauver)
Cultivating Community meetings ask for community input
LAURELTON—There were some mixed emotions about the future of Union County as the Cultivating Community Project planning committee shared their ideas with nearly 50 residents. One resident, Charles Ruckle of Vicksburg, shared some of his concerns on the planned growth tiers, where growth would be directed to certain areas of the county in an effort to preserve farmland, forests and other natural resources.
But other residents like Renda Shivel, of Millmont, say they want to hear more about the details in the plan because something has to be done. The planning committee held a meeting for the public last night at the Hartley Township Community Center in Laurelton.
Director of the committee, Shawn McLaughlin, says the plan is still very broad-based, but he is glad that people are so interested in the process and hopes that they continue to give their input as it moves forward. You can get more information at www.cultivatingcommunities.net. (Sara Lauver)
Suspect sought in attempted Selinsgrove sex assault
SELINSGROVE – Selinsgrove police are investigating an attempted sexual assault, late Sunday near Orange and Chestnut Streets. Their suspect is reportedly described as a thin white male between 18 and 24 years old, with blond or light brown hair. Anyone with information about the attempted assault reported Sunday between 11:35pm and 11:45 pm should call Selinsgrove borough Police at 374-8655. (Matt Farrand)
Sunbury’s new Police Chief settling in nicely
SUNBURY – Recently appointed Sunbury Police Chief Steven Mazzeo is getting settled into his new town and his new position. He says so Sunbury has proved to be a pleasant place to live and work, and he has found the Police Department to be well motivated. Mazzeo, who is a former Police Chief in Easton, says he does not see unfavorable aspects, whether it is crime, drugs or gangs in Sunbury that can’t be fixed.
Mazzeo says he has already taken interim steps as Chief by instituting a foot patrol in the city, and the department is also working to enhance basic security for the police facility. Mazzeo was originally hired as a patrolman and then was promoted to Chief in February after the resignation of former Chief Tim Bremigen. (Sara Bartlett)
Fight prompts numerous charges and jail time for Northumberland woman
NORTHUMBERLAND – A Northumberland women is in jail after getting into a fight with her grandmother. On Sunday, 30-year-old Shannon McGuigan allegedly knocked her 77-year-old grandmother to the floor after getting into an argument.
Northumberland Police took McGuigan into custody and charged her will simple assault, harassment and recklessly endangering another person. She was arraigned before District Justice Robert Bolton and sent to Northumberland County Prison on $25,000 bail. McGuigan will face a preliminary hearing next week in Sunbury. (Sara Bartlett)
GOP Congressional debate to be aired on WKOK, Eagle 107, wkok.com
SELINSGROVE – The two GOP candidates vying for the 10th District Congressional seat will square off Monday in a debate. Chris Hackett and Dan Meuser will debate national and local issues during a one-hour forum hosted by the Susquehanna University College Republicans.
Moderators, including WKOK’s Mark Lawrence, as well as a representative from The Daily Item and the SU College Republicans will each chose questions to present to the candidates. Citing the importance of the race, SU College Republican Chairman Mike Ubbens says they want to give the community a chance to listen to what each candidate has to say, and then make an educated decision on April 22nd.
Both Hackett and Meuser will try to unseat incumbent Democrat Chris Carney for the position. The debate will take place Monday at 7:30p.m. in the Isaacs Auditorium on the Susquehanna University campus. The public is invited to attend. (Sara Bartlett)
All 3 Bucknell chaplains on national group's board
LEWISBURG, Pa. (AP) - All three chaplains at Bucknell University are now board members of the National Association of College and University Chaplains. The head of religious life at Bucknell is the Rev. Ian Oliver, who holds the title of university chaplain and is a minister of the United Church of Christ. The university also has a Catholic chaplain, Rev. Michael Letteer, and a Jewish chaplain, Rabbi Serena Fujita.
The university announced Wednesday that Letteer was recently named to the board of the national chaplains' group. Fujita is the president and Oliver is serving a five-year term as membership secretary for the organization. Oliver says it's quite an honor to have three of the national group's 17 board members be from Bucknell.
Gala is hailed a major success for a local hospital
LEWISBURG – The 2008 Evangelical Gala raised $65,000 this year, which will pay for a new infant security system at the hospital. Last year, the gala raised $47,000 for the hospital, so this year’s total is $18,000 more. Co-chair of the event, Ann Madison, says the event was a success because of the people who planned it, with a great group of enthusiastic women on the committee.
The infant security system works by putting an electronic band on a newborn’s ankle and if the baby gets too close to a door leading out of the maternity ward, the hospital is locked down immediately. Madison says the system has been purchased and is already up and running at Evangelical Community Hospital. (Ali Stevens)
Watershed journal looking for new submissions
SUNBURY – Submissions are now being accepted for the second issue of Watershed: The Journal of the Susquehanna. The annually released journal includes written works that promote environmental awareness of the Susquehanna River watershed, as well as taking a look at the region’s culture, history, literature and art. Four types of writings may be submitted.
They include nonfiction articles, up to 4,000 words, on the environment, history of culture of the region. Short fiction stories up to 5,000 words. Personal essays up to 5,000 words, that may be autobiographical or other, but must be rooted in a Susquehanna region experience. And, up to five poems may also be submitted. For photographers, up to five black and white photographs may be sent in for consideration in the journal.
E-mail submissions are suggested; with the subject line specifying which genre of writing is being presented. For more information or to submit your writings and pictures send the works to Bloomsburg University professor and Editor of the Journal, Jerry Wemple, at river@bloom.edu. The second edition of Watershed: The Journal of the Susquehanna is slated for publication in January 2009. (Sara Bartlett)
Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - State Sen. Vincent Fumo says a federal indictment -- not his health -- prompted his decision to retire. Fumo says it isn't fair to ask people to vote for him while he's preparing for a trial on federal corruption charges. He says he had a lot of time to think about it while he was in a hospital for a week recovering from a heart attack. He was released from the hospital Sunday. The Philadelphia Democrat says he will retire at the end of the year, when his term ends. He says he's staying on till then at Gov. Ed Rendell's insistence. Rendell spoke to reporters after Fumo. He says Fumo has been instrumental in passing many bills. He says Pennsylvania wouldn't have health insurance that covers all children if not for Fumo.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A billion-dollar-plus plan to help uninsured Pennsylvania adults get state-subsidized health coverage has taken a big step forward in the state House. House members voted 114-81 in favor of the plan after a nine-hour debate yesterday (Wednesday). Backers promoted the measure as the next logical step to follow recent state laws that cover children and pay prescription costs for the elderly. The sponsor, Luzerne County Democratic Rep. Todd Eachus, says it's nearly impossible to survive in modern society without health insurance. But GOP leader Sam Smith says he is concerned about the price tag, which is expected to reach $1.1 billion by 2012-13. The amendment still needs a final House vote and faces an uncertain fate in the Senate.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Thursday in the Pennsylvania State Lottery:
THURSDAY MIDDAY Daily Number 7-6-3
Big 4 5-0-7-3
Treasure Hunt 8-11-17-20-26
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
NEW YORK (AP) - New details are emerging about the call girl at the center of the prostitution scandal engulfing New York's governor. A newspaper report identifies her as a 22-year-old aspiring musician from Manhattan. The New York Times reports the real name of the woman -- identified, as "Kristen" in court papers – is Ashley Alexandra Dupre. Authorities allege that Governor Eliot Spitzer paid more than $4,000 for the services of prostitutes. New York attorney Don Buchwald confirms that he represents Dupre, the same woman in the Times story, but that's all he'll say. Dupre briefly spoke to the Times about the Spitzer scandal. She told the paper she doesn't "want to be thought of as a monster." She says, "This has been a very difficult time. It's complicated." Dupre declined to comment when asked by the Times when she first met Spitzer and how many times they had been together.
SAN MARINO, Calif. (AP) - Helen and Jerry Stathatos have a honey of a house. There are so many bees living inside the walls of their L.A. home they have honey dripping down walls. Recently, bee removal expert Dustin Mackey made a house call. He says the place smells so sweet; it's like being inside a jar of honey. But the homeowners have decided not to evict their insect squatters. They learned there could be millions of bees in the house and contractors would have to tear down walls to get to them. Mackey says the family has been living with their bees for about 20 years without a problem.
MUNICH, Germany (AP) - Authorities in Munich, Germany, have a bone to pick with a traveler -- human bones. The 62-year-old woman and her 63-year-old friend were stopped at the airport, after a human skeleton was found in her luggage. According to police, the woman told them the bones were the remains of her brother, who died 11 years ago in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She says his last wish was to be buried in Italy. Police say the travelers had the appropriate paperwork from Brazilian authorities. So, they were allowed to continue onto Naples, with the skeleton.