Monday, March 31, 2008

A doctor’s office…in shock in Snyder County

SHAMOKIN DAM – It’s still unclear exactly how much damage was done to a well-known area clinic after both a Sunday night fire, and the rekindle of that fire Monday afternoon.  Firefighters initially called the amount of damage done to the Shamokin Dam Health Center “moderate to severe.”  Community Liaison Candie Beiler says there is more fire and water damage at the multi-disciplinary facility than they first thought.  And because of the rekindle, Beiler says, “It’s getting worse.”

Beiler says staff members are in shock, but assistance offers are coming from community members, including offers of temporary space for the clinic that serves several thousand clients.  The fire could be electrical and nature, and renovations were reportedly being done at the building that houses the office of Dr. Michael Dunigan. Patients can call the office number to get information or to reschedule appointments. That number is 743-4333. The office is closed until further notice but patients can call that number and leave a message with the answering service. (Staff)

Celebrating 25 years of the Children’s Miracle Network at GMC

DANVILLE – 25 years ago, the Children’s Miracle Network came to Geisinger Medical Center.  Yesterday, an anniversary celebration was held at the hospital, featuring children helped by CMN over the past 25 years.  The Children’s Miracle Network is able to provide needed equipment and other items for the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital at Geisinger.  They have fundraising events each year including their annual telethon and our sister station, 94KX’s Cares for Kids Radiothon. 

All of the money raised from donations pays for cutting edge medical equipment, research and treatment for seriously ill children.  More than 100 people turned out at the celebration, including families of children helped by the hospital, doctors and therapists who have treated the children and members of the media who have told the children’s stories over the years.  (Ali Stevens)

Crash early this morning injures a man from Montgomery

TREVORTON – A crash early this morning on Route 890 near Trevorton injured a man from Montgomery.  State police say 30-year-old Randy Wolfe traveled off the road and struck a ditch and a tree.  The vehicle rolled over and landed on its passenger side.  Wolfe was taken to Sunbury Community Hospital where he was treated and released. Troopers say DUI charges are pending against Wolfe following an investigation.  (Ali Stevens)

Business in Herndon burglarized this morning

HERNDON – Someone broke into a business in Herndon early this morning.  State police say someone forced open the door at Zerby Motors off of Route 147 around 1 a.m.   Once inside several items were taken.  The alarm was activated and the suspect was able to get away before police arrived on scene.  Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call State Police at Stonington.  (Ali Stevens)

College hazing the topic of discussion on the SU campus

SELINSGROVE – It’s something that is growing in popularity on college campuses and it will be the topic of an upcoming panel.  “Hazing on College Campuses: Urban Legend vs. Reality” will be presented by Susquehanna University and the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way this Thursday on the SU Campus.  Topics to be discussed include hazing practices at colleges and what many campus communities are doing about the issue. 

Panel members include Dr. Roy Baker, the Director for Center and Fraternity and Sorority Life at Penn State, Dr. Barry Jackson, Director of Peer Awareness With Students at Bloomsburg University, Brian Sevard, a senior student athlete at Susquehanna University and Nikki Tobias, the Assistant Director of Residence Life at SU.

The talk is free and open to the public.  It will be held Thursday from 7-9p.m. at SU’s Isaac Auditorium in Seibert Hall. 

Several people injured in a crash on route 405 Saturday night

MILTON – A Turbotville man is in serious condition at Geisinger Medical Center following a crash on Route 405 that injured several people.  Troopers say 47-year-old David Shaffer crashed into the back of a vehicle driven by 51-year-old Debra McCoy of Watsontown.  Shaffer was taken to Geisinger Medical Center and remains hospitalized in serious condition. DUI charges are also pending against him following results of a blood alcohol test.  McCoy and her five passengers, including three kids, were taken to Evangelical Community Hospital.  They were all treated and released.  (Ali Stevens) 

Montour joins Union County with crime victim notification system

DANVILLE – Montour County has joined sixteen other counties in Pennsylvania in implementing a crime victim notification system.  The PA SAVIN system will alert participating Montour County citizens by phone and e-mail if a particular inmate is released from custody.  Montour County now joins Union County in obtaining the system.  The system is for any resident who signs up, but is particularly valuable for victims to use as a coping method. 

Clinton campaigns for Clinton in “Billtown”

WILLIAMSPORT – Bill Clinton says talk that his wife Hillary ought to drop out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination is out of line. The 42nd US President spoke on her behalf Saturday at Lycoming College.

Barbara Sundin of Lewisburg is a long time supporter and was among the more than 2,000 on hand. She says she’s been a fan of Clinton since the early 1990’s, and his charisma helped her convince her husband to switch party affiliation to Democrat.

Sundin is the Treasurer of the Union county democratic committee, but she says she personally supports Hilary Clinton and cites her experience working inside the Washington community. She notes though opponent Barack Obama is skilled as an orator, the notion that he can change Washington DC from the “inside” is a “naïve position.” (Matt Farrand)

Three-vehicle crash closes portion of Old Berwick Road Saturday night

SOUTH CENTRE TWP— A portion of Old Berwick Road in Columbia County’s South Centre Township was closed for nearly two hours Saturday night, after a crash involving three vehicles. State Police in Bloomsburg say an officer from the South Centre Police Department was on the way to a different accident around 6p.m. when he saw 18-year-old, David Nolte of Bloomsburg, coming towards him at a high rate of speed.

State Police say Nolte was trying to outrun the officer when he rear-ended the vehicle driven by 21-year-old, Lonnie Lee Gordner Jr. of Nescopeck. Nolte’s vehicle then collided head-on with another vehicle driven by 65-year-old, Gerard Owens of Berwick.

Police say all three drivers and one passenger, 48-year-old Paula Novak, were injured and taken to area hospitals. No conditions are available at this time. They ask anyone with any information regarding the crash to contact State Police in Bloomsburg. (Sara Lauver)

No halfway house in Montour County; Commissioners happy

DANVILLE – Members of the community are still reacting to the decision by the State Department of Corrections to pull its plan to place a halfway house in Montour County. State Representative Bob Belfanti confirmed Friday that plans for the site on the Danville State Hospital grounds are off the drawing board.

Area residents and elected officials from state, county and local levels have been very vocal in recent weeks about their opposition to the plans. Montour County Commissioner, Jack Gerst, says everyone worked really hard during the past month to make this happen. He says there was a huge threat and there is still a threat to the other counties where the state is trying to establish plans for the facilities.

He says there is a lot of movement to bring these houses into the area because Governor Ed Rendell wants to empty the prisons, due to the fact that they are overcrowded. Montour County Commissioner Trevor Finn says the decision shows that when the people of Montour County, and surrounding areas, stand together they can accomplish anything.

The decision to nix plans for the halfway house in Danville came just days after nearly 200 residents voiced their opposition at a meeting in the borough’s town hall. Many residents said their safety would be in jeopardy if the halfway house came to PA’s smallest county. They also feared an increase in crime. (Staff)

Woman in critical condition after Friday’s crash

MIDDLECREEK TWP— A Trevorton woman is listed in critical condition after an accident in Snyder County Friday afternoon. State Police in Selinsgrove say that 20-year old, Kimberly Buganza, was taken by LifeFlight helicopter to Geisinger Medical Center.

The crash happened along Route 522 in Middlecreek Township. Police say Buganza was traveling east 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 and he was not injured. (Sara Lauver)

Torch accidentally causes fire at Elysburg business

ELYSBURG— A fire at Jeff’s Auto Body and Recycling Center in Northumberland County consumed nearly 100 vehicles yesterday afternoon. Dispatchers say the fire call came in around noon and about 40 firefighters were on the scene. The Daily Item reports that a trespasser using a cutting torch accidentally sparked the blaze at the business along Snydertown Road in Shamokin Township.

Reports say officials know who the trespasser is, but it’s not known at this time whether charges will be filed. Crews from five area fire companies responded to the scene and were there for over three hours. Jeffrey Kurtz of Paxinos owns the business, which has a salvage yard of nearly 1,500 vehicles.

There are no estimates on damages at this time, but reports say that Kurtz is not insured for the loss. Fire crews from Stonington, Upper Augusta Township, Riverside, Elysburg and Overlook responded. (Sara Lauver)

Local issues finish week mostly lower

NEW YORK – Changes are expected in local banking this week. The deal that will see Hermitage based FNB Corp take control of State College based Omega Financial is expected to close April 1st. Omega shareholders will get slightly more than two shares of FNB stock for each share of Omega stock they hold.

Omega will be known as the Omega Division of FNB. No other plans have been announced to date. Both Omega and FNB stock finished trading Friday on a down note. In fact, most local bank stocks enter the new week after retreating, as Sovreign, M&T, and Susquehanna Bancshares all lost. But West Milton Bancorp continues to rebound, up more than 8.0 percent, and will open this week at 45.75.

ConAgra Foods announced Thursday that it is selling its commodities trading group for $2.1 billion to the Ospraie Special Opportunities Fund. The company will focus on its core consumer foods business to free up operating capital. Conagra also increased its earnings outlook for the full year, and finished the week at more than 24 dollars per share after two days of strong gains.

Other stocks of local interest: Food retailer Weis Markets enters the new week at 34.67 after a positive day Friday, gaining 1.4%, Sara Lee enters the new week after gaining a fraction to 13.66, and Community Health Systems was up nearly 1.5%. But Utility PPL corp was down more than one percent to 45.92. (Matt Farrand)

Accident causes lift to crash into home causing damages

WEST BUFFALO TWP— An accident involving a tractor-trailer truck and a cherry picker caused damages to a home in Union County Saturday morning. State Police in Milton say that 41-year-old, John Lauver of Liverpool, was driving his truck northbound along Forest Hill Road in West Buffalo Township just before 5:30am.

That’s when Lauver failed to stop at the intersection of Route 192 and his truck hit a tree, causing it to jackknife. The truck then crashed into a cherry picker that was parked outside of a residence along Gast Road. The impact from the crash caused the lift to be pushed into the “Kapp” residence, causing extensive damages to one side of the home. Police say the lift was totaled. No word on injuries and no estimate on damages. (Sara Lauver)

Slow food is served up…on Roundtable

SUNBURY – Our 1-hour public affairs program, Roundtable, over the weekend focused on two local, inexpensive options for enjoying local food and slow-cooked meals. A Community Supported Agriculture program was discussed on the show—that’s when local consumers contract with a local farmer for produce.

Also on the show, Slow food, as the name implies, involve more locally available foods and preparing meals in a more traditional fashion. Three guests on the program talk about the ‘Buy Fresh Buy Local effort, the six local CSA’s, the ‘buylocalPA’ website and how you can enjoy this consumer trend. The Local Action Network was also on this show. You can hear Roundtable anytime at www.wkok.com.

Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Truckers who are upset over high diesel fuel prices are on their way to the Pennsylvania Capitol to protest.  Organizers of the protest have assembled a convoy that's making its way to downtown Harrisburg. The truckers are scheduled to rally on the Capitol steps at 10 a.m.  But State Police Trooper Karl Schmidhamer says the convoy isn't causing any major traffic problems on the highways at this hour - just residual backlogs.  Schmidhamer says the convoy left the Gables Truck Stop on Interstate 81 in West Hanover Township with 75 big trucks and about 20 other vehicles at around 8 a.m.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A new proposal is being introduced in the House and Senate to overhaul the way the state's gambling regulatory agency is set up.  It calls for the attorney general's office to handle background investigations of prospective casino owners, employees and vendors, instead of a division of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.  The proposal also would bar convicted felons from owning a casino and bar people with ties to organized crime from working in the industry.  The Senate bill's sponsor, Republican Jeffrey Piccola of Dauphin County, says the current law on slot-machine gambling is flawed in ways that have proven embarrassing to Pennsylvania.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A lawsuit against the operator of a Web site designed to help people search for unclaimed money in their name says it's deceptive and misleading.  The Pennsylvania Attorney General's office sued a Massachusetts man in Commonwealth Court on Friday, saying he and his businesses deceived consumers, violated reporting requirements and didn't deliver what they promised.  State investigators put the names of cartoon characters like Batman and other made-up people through the site at www.unclaimedmoney.us.com. In each instance, the attorney general's office says they were told multiple sources of unclaimed money were available.  The defendants could not immediately be reached for comment.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's truck drivers are urging lawmakers in Harrisburg to cut state taxes on fuel.  More than 100 truckers and others rallied on the steps of the Capitol on Monday as some drivers circled the block in the truck cabs and honked their horns.  Protest organizer Mark Kirsch says truckers are getting squeezed by high diesel fuel costs, while consumers are also seeing higher prices at the pump and in their home heating bills.  Kirsch is an independent truck driver from Myerstown in Lebanon County.  Fuel taxes in Pennsylvania amount to 32 cents a gallon for gasoline and 38 cents a gallon for diesel.  State Transportation Department spokesman Rich Kirkpatrick says the state needs the revenue from those taxes to repair its roads and bridges.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Monday in the midday Pennsylvania State Lottery drawing:

 Daily Number

     0-1-1

 Big 4

     0-4-0-4

 Treasure Hunt

     9-11-23-28-30

     (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)