Saturday, March 13, 2010
Wind and water weather watch is posted for The Valley
UNDATED – Parts of The Valley could experience some flooding this weekend. Heavy rains, combined with snowmelt (to our north and west) and saturated ground—are the ingredients for a flooding potential.
Flood watches are posted through the Central Susquehanna Valley and creeks and streams are already rising. Today, an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain is expected with more possible in some areas.
Currently, the river at Sunbury is at about 13 feet and rising slowly. The river’s north and west branches have both risen several feet since yesterday. At Danville, Bloomsburg, Lewisburg and Milton, continued rises in the Susquehanna River are expected, but all crests are expected a few feet below flood stages. Flood watches are posted in our region, but flood warnings are up in the western half of Pennsylvania.
At Sunbury, the river is expected to crest at about 21.7 feet on Monday, below the 24’ flood stage, but nearly high enough to close Route 11 between Northumberland and Shamokin Dam. Additionally today, high winds could have an impact. Wind speeds are anticipated at 25 to 40 miles per hour. As of 5a.m. Saturday, our area received ¼” to ¾” of rain. (Mark Lawrence)
Union County streams, Susquehanna River to rise
LEWISBURG – Minor flooding is expected this weekend in Union County, and the National Weather Service has thus issued a flood watch for small streams and the Susquehanna River. Union County Emergency Management Coordinator Michelle Troup says the two-and-a-half to three inches of rain expected will have an effect on local waterways.
Troup says Penns Creek will rise to 6.8’ by Saturday night, but will likely stay more than a foot below flood stage. Likewise, the Susquehanna River at Lewisburg will remain about 2’ below flood stage, but is expected to crest at about 14’ Saturday night.
As of 6:30 p.m. Friday, Penns Creek was at about 3.5’, but rising slowly. The Susquehanna River at Lewisburg was also rising slowly, and was measured at about 4.5’ Friday evening. The Central Susquehanna does not currently face the same flood risks as the western portion of the state, as most local snow has already melted. Troup says residents of flood prone areas should remain alert for rising waters. (Matt Farrand)
Back to Washington for woman accused of kidnapping
MILTON – Following an extradition hearing in Northumberland County, a Milton woman has been ordered back to her home state of Washington. 48-year-old Jill Haugen could face felony kidnapping there for bringing her two sons to this area nearly twelve years ago. The boys’ father was awarded custody of them, and Haugen then fled to this area, and was considered a fugitive.
She was arrested in Milton in December and has been in jail since. Haugen claims she was a victim of domestic abuse, which is why she fled. The boys’ father was present at Friday’s hearing. Haugen will be sent back to Washington State next week. (Sara Bartlett)
Chaplain says Islam has tradition of peace
SUNBURY – It would be a mistake to characterize Islam as a violent faith. That’s the view of a local chaplain who says things were different at one time. The Reverend Dr. Karl Polm-Faudre says Muslims were victims of widespread violence during the middle Ages. He says the Christian crusades killed thousand of innocent Muslims, if for nothing more than different teachings or style of worship.
Dr. Polm-Faudre is a chaplain and Director of Education Research and Outreach for Geisinger Medical Center and hopes mainstream Americans take a broader view of Islam and its holiest book. He says the Koran has more references to Christian figures such as Jesus and Mary than the New Testament. Dr. Polm-Faudre was a guest on Thursday’s On The Mark program, which you can hear in its entirety online at www.wkok.com (Matt Farrand)
Secretary of the DEP talks about drilling in the Marcellus Shale
HARRISBURG – The Marcellus Shale drilling was a topic Friday on WKOK’s On The Mark Program. We spoke with Secretary of the State Department of Environmental Protection, John Hanger, who gave us a snapshot of drilling growth in the Marcellus Shale.
He says the first wells were applied for in 2005 and there were less than 10. Hanger says the DEP has since permitted more than 3,000 wells through February of 2010 and about 1,100 have already been drilled in the state.
Hanger said a severance tax is desperately needed in Pennsylvania and it’s ‘insane’ that the legislature continues to let millions of dollars in revenue leave the state. He says if they can pay a tax in Alaska, having to pay a tax in Pennsylvania won’t keep them from wanting to drill in the Marcellus Shale. You can hear more from Hanger from WKOK’s Friday On The Mark Program online at www.wkok.com. (Ali Stevens)
An annual report on the successes and future challenges of a local chamber
SELINSGROVE – At Thursday’s annual meeting, the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce presented an annual report on the successes and future challenges the area faces. Joe Cipriani of Keystone Forging is Chairman of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and presented a number of recent local accomplishments at the annual meeting.
Cipriani presented some chamber business statistics from last year saying that the chamber has achieved an 83 percent retention rate, welcomed 73 new members in 2009. Cipriani says the chamber welcomed over 40 new businesses to the valley through ribbon cutting events and the chamber hosted over 90 events creating networking and business development opportunities across the valley.
Cipriani also talked about the completion of the construction phase of the Pawling Station Business Park in Snyder County. They are actively marketing these sites to multiple prospective buyers.
When it comes to future challenges, Cipriani cited preserving the environment and quality of life in the area, promoting economic development and growth in the region, preserving the private enterprise system and continual strategic thinking in the years ahead. (Ali Stevens)
Bartos promises jobs to 107th District
COAL TWP – An aide to retiring State Representative Bob Belfanti (D-107th, Mount Carmel) says his campaign for state house is going well. Steve Bartos, who serves as the renewable and alternative energy coordinator, is one of four Democrats seeking the position. He says his main message is simple: to bring jobs to the area.
Bartos says he will create 400 jobs in the region by 2012, and the recently announced 100 employees to be hired for the new 3D glasses manufacturing plant in Shamokin, is a down payment to that promise.
Also running on the Democratic ticket are Coal Township Commissioner George Zalar, Kulpmont Mayor Myron Turlis and Chairman of the Ralpho Township Municipal Authority Ted Yeager. Republican candidates are Northumberland County Commissioner Kurt Masser and former chairman of the Mount Carmel Township Board of Supervisors Sam Scicchitano. (Sara Bartlett)
Young Women’s Future Symposium
LEWISBURG – A career symposium for about 100 high school girls will be held Tuesday at Bucknell University. Junior Achievement will host their annual Young Women’s Futures Symposium on Tuesday at the Elaine Langone Center on the campus of Bucknell University.
Joyce Hendricks is chairperson for the event and says the event is a symposium for girls in 10th and 11th grade who aren’t quite sure what they want to do or what their future holds. The girls will experience various workshops and seminars including choosing the right career for their personality and presenting themselves with confidence in the workplace.
Businesswomen from across the valley will volunteer their day to help direct the girls for a successful future.
The event is sponsored by Northumberland National Bank, Junior Achievement, the Pennsylvania Credit Union Foundation, the Early Care and Education Community Engagement Team of Union and Snyder County and the Susquehanna Education Foundation. (Ali Stevens)
The Milton Cultural Festival—for the first time ever—again—on Roundtable
SUNBURY – The Milton Cultural Festival isn’t a household name, but this year’s inaugural event is going to a party to remember—so says one of the organizers George Venios of Milton. The community activist and historian tells us, the festival, which is the former Fiesta de Mayo, is going to be a celebration of all cultures in the region.
The Milton Cultural Festival will take place May 8th in Milton and has grown from about one square block—to two. Venios and a panel of organizers of the Milton Cultural Festival are on an encore broadcast of Roundtable this weekend. Organizers talk about the festival and seek support and sponsorship for the event. You can get more information about the festival at www.miltonculturalfestival.org. 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
Union County flood watch
STATE COLLEGE – The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for small streams and the Susquehanna River in Union County. Minor flooding is forecast. As of noon Friday Penns Creek was at 3.48’, and the creek is forecast to crest 6.8’ by Sunday morning, which is a foot below the 8-foot flood stage.
The Susquehanna River at Lewisburg is around 4.05’, and is predicted to crest at 14.5’ Sunday morning. That is 3.5’ below the flood stage level of 18’. Emergency Management officials will be monitoring the situation, and those living near Penns Creek or the River should also monitor the rising level of water. More information here.
Spring flooding in Pennsylvania
UNDATED – With steady rain expected throughout Pennsylvania this weekend, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency is reminding residents to monitor water levels. Although our area is expecting less rain, PEMA Director Robert French says there are some flood warnings.
French says those across the state in more flood prone areas should always be ready, just in case, with an emergency kit including with water, batteries, flashlight and a radio. AccuWeather says rain can be heavy at times, especially into Saturday morning, which could push steams out of their banks. For more information on flood preparedness you can go online to www.readypa.org. (Sara Bartlett)
Shik school debt carries uncertain tax consequences
SUNBURY – The Shikellamy School District hopes plans to finance improvements at district buildings will not be derailed by a spike in energy prices, or other unforeseen expense. The school board approved issuing a total of $3 million dollars in bonds Thursday night.
That includes $2.6 million dollars for energy saving projects experts say will pay for themselves. However, Business Manager David Sinopoli says the tax consequences of the new debt are still uncertain, as is the exact impact it will have on finances.
Sinopoli says the next step is to sit down with a financial advisor and decide whether the district will start to pay down the debt in the upcoming budget year, or after savings from the long-term project start to be noticed. Sinopoli hopes energy savings realized from better lighting, and conversion from oil to natural gas heat in district buildings will prevent having to raise taxes.
Work on some of the project is expected to start this year. Replacement of a boiler installed when the CW Rice Middle School was built in the 1950’s is among projects to be financed. $400,000 of Thursday’s bond issue will cover other improvements across the district, including improvements to security and interiors at some school buildings. (Matt Farrand)
PPL: Power line will improve service in our area
BERWICK – A new PPL power line will cross Northumberland County. Three possible routes for the 12-mile power line were announced last year, and it was announced Thursday that the new line will cross the Susquehanna River in an area about two miles south of Dalmatia.
The line will connect an existing line east of Dalmatia to another existing line near Richfield, Snyder County. A new substation will also be built near Meiserville. The new line and substation will improve service for customers in Northumberland, Snyder and Juniata Counties.
There will be two public meetings to discuss the project. The first will be held Wednesday, March 24th at 5:00p.m. at the St. Thomas Independent Brethren Christ Church in Mount Pleasant Mills. The second is Thursday March 25th at 5:00p.m. at Hickory Corners and Community Fire Company in Dalmatia. (Sara Bartlett)
GSVCC hosts Maryland gov and gives annual awards
SELINSGROVE – The Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual meeting Thursday at Susquehanna University. Several awards were given including the 2009 Business of the Year Award, which went to Mifflinburg Bank & Trust, founded in 1872 and has since expanded to employ 80 people at five local branches.
The Small Business of the Year Award went to Keystone Mobile Shredding of Williamsport, founded by Rick and Karen Metz in August of 2002.
The Karen L. Hackman Star of Excellence Volunteer of the Year Award went to Judi Karr, director of public relations and marketing at Nottingham Village in Northumberland. Karr is a volunteer on the chamber’s special events committee and serves as a member of the Chamber Ambassador Team, along with many other volunteer positions.
The Dan Foss Heritage Award was given to Charlie Benner, chairman of the Governmental Relations Committee for the Snyder County Farm Bureau. The award is given to someone with outstanding commitment and leadership within the chamber.
The guest speaker at the annual meeting was former Maryland Governor, Bob Ehrlich, who spoke about the importance of small business in political decision- making. WKOK has audio excerpts from Ehrlich and the award recipients in newscasts later today and tomorrow morning. (Ali Stevens)
100 new jobs coming to Shamokin
SHAMOKIN – A Shamokin production plant is expecting to add 100 new employees thanks to a partnership with a 3D glasses company. D/E Associates, Inc will soon begin manufacturing a new kind of 3D glasses for the big screen and home high definition TV market. Co-Owner of D/E, George DeLellis, says this is the first product of its kind in the United States, and it’s in a market that is booming.
He says they will work hard to keep up with the demand of the new product. DeLellis says in recent years, overseas competition has eroded D/E’s market share and profit margins, and he hopes this new production will help out the company, bringing more jobs to the region. He says after adding equipment and ramping up the facility, they should have 100 new employees by the end of the year.
DeLellis says they will begin production on a limited scale next week. According to D/E’s partner company, 3D Global Glasses LLC, there are 2 million TVs that are 3D ready in the U.S., and an additional 25 million are expected to be sold by the end of the year. (Sara Bartlett)
Grant could help fix Penns Creek sewer plant
PENNS CREEK – Snyder County is onboard with applying for a state grant that could bring in money to fix the wastewater treatment plant in Penns Creek. Snyder County Commissioners say the community development block grant would be a great help to the project, but it is a competitive grant, but it is a competitive grant throughout the state. The grant would be worth $500,000.
The plant are required by DEP. Changes would include upgrades to take out organic compounds in order to meet new DEP requirements. The Snyder County Commissioners have already allocated about $50,000 to be used in early work at the plant, and there are other loans and grants that could be obtained. The process of getting the CDBG grant could take nearly a year. (Sara Bartlett)
Cemetery vandal to stand trial
BLOOMSBURG – A Wilburton man has been ordered to stand trial after police say he vandalized a cemetery in Centralia, causing more than $8,000 in damages. 19-year-old David Pavloski is charged along with three teen girls for toppling about 65 tombstones at the Odd Fellows Cemetery in December.
Officials say some of the tombstones were more than 100 years old and are irreplaceable. Pavloski was in court Wednesday and gave up his right to a preliminary hearing. He is locked up in the Columbia County Prison on other charges. The teen girls will face their charges in juvenile court. (Ali Stevens)
Candidate didn’t quit
SUNBURY – A Sunbury man who was expected to be on the Republican ballot for the 108th legislative district says he didn’t “quit”. Stanley Geiswhite tells us the State Department disregarded 100 signatures he obtained for technicalities that he should have been permitted to fix.
He says he was told to go back to all 100 people and get them to sign a new petition. Geiswhite say it took until Sunday night to get all the signatures needed and he had no time to correct the problems the State Department identified to meet this week’s deadline.
Geiswhite says the process is designed by lawyers and not for “the common man” and he will know better in the future. (Ali Stevens)
Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:
PITTSBURGH (AP) - A combination of melting snow and rain has many state residents bracing for possible flooding. The National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for several western Pennsylvania counties as several days of rain and melting snow threaten to send rivers and streams over their banks. A state of emergency is in effect in Pittsburgh, where the Ohio River could reach flood stage by Sunday morning. The weather service has issued flood warnings for Seward on the Conemaugh River and for Confluence, Connellsville and Sutersville on the Youghiogheny River. A flood warning has been issued through 6 a.m. Saturday for several counties along the Maryland border. More than two inches of rain is expected to fall in eastern Pennsylvania.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell is asking the federal government to help pay for more than $50 million in cleanup costs stemming from last month's record-breaking, back-to-back snowstorms. Rendell sent a letter Friday to President Barack Obama asking for disaster assistance. The money would help reimburse 27 counties hit hard by the storms of Feb. 5-6 and Feb. 9-10. Eligible expenses include overtime, equipment rentals, materials, search and rescue operations, and opening and operating shelters. The governor wrote that he might make additional requests as more information is gathered from other counties. It's not known when the president will decide on Rendell's request.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Jurors in the public corruption case of a former Pennsylvania state lawmaker and three of his ex-aides went home Friday without reaching a verdict. Dauphin County Judge Richard Lewis dismissed the eight-woman, four-man panel late Friday afternoon following less than two hours of deliberations. The jurors are considering theft, conspiracy and conflict-of-interest charges against former Beaver County Rep. Mike Veon and ex-legislative aides Brett Cott, Steve Keefer and Annamarie Perretta-Rosepink. The jury is scheduled to resume deliberations Monday morning. Testimony in the case lasted nearly six weeks.
ATLANTA (AP) - An attorney for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has hired a private investigator to look into a sexual assault allegation made by a 20-year-old Georgia college student. Police in the college town of Milledgeville continue to investigate, but have released little information since the accusation was made a week ago. The private investigator, Charles Mittelstadt, on Friday contacted a lawyer for the club where the woman says the assault took place. Photos have surfaced online of Roethlisberger smiling alongside the officer who wrote the initial incident report. But the police chief dismissed the photos, saying they were taken much earlier in the evening. The two-time Super Bowl winner hasn't been charged, and his lawyer says no sexual assault occurred.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Updates on the latest in business
Stocks slip...Slow mortgage relief...Oil drops....
NEW YORK (AP) – Friday Stocks ended narrowly mixed. The Dow gained nearly 13 points to 10,625. The S&P lost a fraction to 1,150, while the Nasdaq shed nearly a point to 2,368.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration's mortgage relief plan has helped only about 16 percent of borrowers who signed up since its launch last year. Hundreds of thousands of otherhomeowners remain in limbo.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Some reason for optimism was seen in February retail sales. The trade enjoyed the biggest month advance since November.
NEW YORK (AP) - Oil prices ended the week lower. Benchmark crude for April delivery dropped 87 cents to settle at $81.24 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
FREEPORT, Maine (AP) - L.L. Bean says sales fell in 2009 for a second straight year, but the company managed to beat its own projections. The company also said online sales beat catalog orders for the first time.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The winning numbers in Friday evening's drawing of the Pennsylvania Lottery's "Evening Quinto" game were:
3-2-4-3-4
Winning numbers drawn in PA 'Super 7' game
05-06-13-14-24-37-43-45-46-61-76
Winning numbers drawn in PA 'Big 4' game
6-4-0-0
Winning numbers drawn in PA 'Cash 5' game
02-03-13-17-28
Winning numbers drawn in PA 'Daily Number' game
4-8-2
Midday Big 4
3-1-4-6
Midday Number
6-6-6
Midday Quinto
0-3-8-0-2
Treasure Hunt
04-05-08-14-17
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
South Park' begins 14th season by taking on Tiger
NEW YORK (AP) - Golf clubs in hands or not, the kids of "South Park" are ready to take on Tiger Woods.
No subject is sacred for creators of the Comedy Central cartoon . So for the opening of its 14th season on Wednesday, the troubled golfer encounters Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman in their animated Colorado town.
Matt Stone, who makes the series with partner Trey Parker, says it's such a juicy topic they could have made a Tiger-centric season. He says sex addiction, the intersection of powerful men and willing women, strange stories and bad public relations all give them fodder. Stone wasn't revealing many details, in part because the two were still writing. The show is airing its 200th episode next month.
Strong ratings for Leno's return to late-night
NEW YORK (AP) - After a smashing return, Jay Leno appears headed to a battle with David Letterman for late-night television supremacy. The Nielsen Co. says Leno averaged 5.6 million viewers last week, his first back at NBC's "The Tonight Show" following the ill-fated prime time experiment. Letterman had 3.7 million at CBS. Leno took advantage of curiosity over his return and a strong lineup of guests, including Olympic stars and Sarah Palin. It was a half-million more than he averaged his last season at "Tonight." It's been much closer the second week. Through four nights, Leno is averaging 4.3 million viewers and Letterman has 4 million. Considering Leno usually beat Letterman by a million and a half during their last season of competition, that's a sign of erosion for NBC's late-night franchise. Letterman consistently beat Conan O'Brien after O'Brien took over last year.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Sports
HERSHEY – The state championship wrestling finals continued Friday in Hershey. In Class AA, Line Mountain freshman Zain Retherford will advance in the Class AA championships, after defeating Nick Roberts of North Star. Also moving on Lewisburg junior Nathaniel Brown, after defeating Lewendo Teague of Sharon.
In Class AAA, Selinsgrove’s Spencer Myers has advanced in the wrestling tournament. Stay tuned to Newsradio 1070 WKOK this evening at 6:30pm for more wrestling coverage.
UNDATED (AP) – The New Jersey Devils beat the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins for the fifth straight time, 3-1 last night. The Devils have outscored Pittsburgh 16-3 during the run and pulled within two points of the Penguins for first place in the Atlantic Division with 17 games to play.
LeBron James had 23 points, 10 assists and six rebounds in his return from a two-game absence, and the Cleveland Cavaliers won for the 14th time in their last 19 road games with a 100-95 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers last night. James, the league's leading scorer, recorded his 26th double-double.
C.J. McCollum scored 20 points to lead Lehigh to the Patriot League title and its first NCAA tournament in six years in a 74-59 win over Lafayette. The Mountain Hawks are going to the tournament for the fourth time in team history.
An attorney for Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has hired a private investigator to look into a sexual assault allegation made by a 20-year-old Georgia college student. Police in the college town of Milledgeville continue to investigate, but have released little information since the accusation was made a week ago.
The Philadelphia Eagles have signed free agent wide receiver Hank Baskett to a one-year contract. The Eagles released Baskett last September after three seasons in Philadelphia. He then signed with Indianapolis, where he was primarily a special teams player.
The Philadelphia Phillies planned to play two split-squad spring training games in Florida on Friday, but both were rained out. The game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte and the game against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland were canceled.
Friday's game between the Braves and the Pittsburgh Pirates was eventually rained out after three innings as well.
There's been a major upset in the Mountain West Conference semifinal. San Diego State stunned eighth-ranked New Mexico 72-69, ending the Lobos' 15-game winning streak and, in all likelihood, their hopes for a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament.
The Washington Redskins believe they've beefed up their running game with the signing of Larry Johnson to an incentive-laden, three-year deal that could be worth as much as $12 million. Johnson is a two-time Pro Bowl pick who has run for 6,219 yards and 55 touchdowns in eight NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)