Saturday, March 29, 2008
Belfanti: Danville site off the drawing board; no halfway house
DANVILLE – The State Department of Corrections has pulled its plan to place a halfway house on the campus of the Danville State Hospital. State Representative Bob Belfanti confirmed Friday that after talking with Director of the State Bureau of Community Corrections, Paul O’Connor, plans for the Danville site are off the drawing board. The decision comes just days after over 200 residents packed Danville’s Borough Hall to express their opposition. Montour County Commissioner Trevor Finn says the perseverance paid off. He says this shows that when the people of Montour County, and surrounding areas, stand together they can accomplish anything.
Representative Belfanti says it was the unanimous opposition of elected officials from state, county and local levels that also made the DOC withdrawal their proposal. Many residents said their safety would be in jeopardy if the halfway house came to PA’s smallest county, and also feared a rise in crime. Belfani said that Montour County has already given enough and a halfway house would do no one in the area, or surrounding communities any good. (Sara Bartlett)
LifeFlight called for Trevorton woman after Route 522 crash
MIDDLECREEK TWP— A Trevorton woman was taken to the hospital by helicopter after a two-vehicle crash in Snyder County yesterday afternoon. State Police in Selinsgrove say that 20-year old, Kimberly Buganza, was taken by LifeFlight helicopter to Geisinger Medical Center after the crash along Route 522 in Middlecreek Township. The crash happened just before 4 p.m. Police say Buganza was traveling east along Route 522 when her vehicle crossed the centerline of the roadway and struck another vehicle head-on. 75-year old, Cletus Clotfelter of Middleburg, was the driver of that second vehicle. He was not injured in the crash. A nursing supervisor at Geisinger tells us that a condition on Buganza is not being released at this time. (Sara Lauver)
Fire was accidental at Mount Carmel residence
MOUNT CARMEL— A structure fire along the 300 block of West Cherry Street in Mount Carmel last night is said to be accidental. Mount Carmel Police say the fire was reported at 344 West Cherry Street in the borough around 9pm. Police say a mattress that was covering a heating grate in the residence caused the blaze. There are reports of extensive damages to the home located at 344 West Cherry Street. Police say smoke and water damages were reported at the nearby residence of 346 West Cherry Street as well. Crews were on the scene for nearly three hours and no injuries were reported. (Sara Lauver)
Doctor accused of negligence files response to claim
SUNBURY -- Officials can say little about a lawsuit filed by the estate of a man who committed suicide more than two years ago while being held in the Northumberland County Prison, or about the filing by a psychiatrist who evaluated him. Northumberland County Commissioner Frank Sawicki says it’s a pending legal matter, and he can’t comment on it. Likewise, Warden Ralph Reisch chooses not to comment.
At issue is the response filed by a psychiatrist previously accused of negligence. Dr. Frederick Maue was employed by the Northumberland County prison and is a third-party defendant in a suit filed by the estate of Ryan Francis, who hung himself in a cell in March of 2006. The original suit claims Maue and the staff at the prison were negligent. Meantime, Maue claims Francis’s death is the result of the prison staff and the administration, which ignored his remarks that Francis should be on a suicide watch.
Maue previously claimed Francis was the most suicidal inmate he had come across in years of work there. His answer to the complaint was filed March 18th in Middle District Court. Ryan Francis was brought to the county prison after causing a disturbance at the funeral of his girlfriend, who was among five people killed in a fire in Trevorton on February 28th, 2006. His mother and half-brother also died in the fire. He was unable to post bail and committed suicide two days after his arrest in March. (Ali Stevens)
Milton man faces charges of animal cruelty
MILTON – Additional details are emerging after Thursday’s seizure of 17 pit bulls from a Milton apartment. Milton Police say officials needed self-contained breathing units when they first entered the two-bedroom apartment due to the excrement on the floors. A 37-year-old Milton man is in custody, however his name has not been released. The tenant is being charged with animal cruelty, criminal mischief, and a number of borough Ordinance violations.
The animals are now in the care of officials at the Northumberland County Animal Rescue Center, though their condition is not known. Police say the 3rd floor apartment on Broadway Street sustained heavy damage. (Matt Farrand)
Bill Clinton campaigns in "Billtown"
HARRISBURG – America’s 42nd President will visit Williamsport Saturday on behalf of the woman who wants to become the 44th President. The Hillary Clinton for President campaign says husband Bill Clinton will host a “Solutions for America” event at Lycoming College. It is scheduled for 3:30pm. The rallies are considered signature events for the campaign, and this one will feature Representative Tim Holden. It follows a morning appearance at a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Girardville. (Matt Farrand)
Here is the
latest Pennsylvania news from The Associated Press:
SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - A plea bargain from a reputed mob boss
could mean he's agreed to testify against Mount Airy Casino Resort
owner Louis DeNaples.
A spokesman for DeNaples says 62-year-old William D'Elia
(DEEL'-ee-ah) is getting a sweetheart deal from prosecutors.
D'Elia pleaded guilty in federal court in Scranton to money
laundering conspiracy and witness tampering charges. D'Elia will be
sentenced on the two counts in June. He faces up to 30 years in
prison and a $750,000 fine.
D'Elia had been charged in May 2006 with laundering hundreds of
thousands of dollars in drug proceeds. Five months later, he was
accused of trying to arrange to have a witness in the case killed.
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Barack Obama's campaign is getting a boost in
Pennsylvania. Senator Bob Casey endorsed Obama.
It's a move that could help the presidential candidate make
inroads with white working-class voters in a state where he trails
Hillary Rodham Clinton in the polls. Pennsylvania's April 22nd
primary will allocate 158 delegates.
Casey is a first-term senator and the son of a popular former
governor of the state. Casey is Catholic and, like his father, is
known for his opposition to abortion and support of gun rights.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - As Chelsea Clinton was campaigning for her
mother at Lehigh Valley Hospital, someone asked if her mother would
be a better president than her father was.
Chelsea Clinton laughed at first -- then said if elected, she
thinks Hillary Rodham Clinton will be better than former President
Bill Clinton. Her father mentioned the remark at an appearance in
North Carolina later Friday. He added: "And I agree," getting
laughter from the crowd.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A former Pennsylvania State Police
corporal is accused of lying during an arbitrator's hearing into
his firing.
Laurence Fisher of Potter County is facing charges of perjury
and false swearing following his arrest and bail arraignment
Thursday in Galeton.
The 44-year-old was fired in October 2006 for violating the
department's code of conduct.
The criminal charges relate to a January 2007 arbitration
hearing at which he allegedly denied under oath that he had been
read his Miranda rights during an internal affairs interview in
2004.
The state police says Fisher insisted he hadn't been read his
rights even after a tape recording of the interview was played.
The department says Fisher claimed the audiotape was a fake.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Here are the winning numbers selected Friday in the Pennsylvania State Lottery:
FRIDAY NIGHT
Daily Number
1-8-3
Big 4
1-4-7-8
FRIDAY MIDDAY
Daily Number
9-4-5
Big 4
5-7-8-8
Treasure Hunt
6-7-16-26-29