Sunday, April 20, 2008
Five-year-old injured in farm vehicle crash
RIVERSIDE – The investigation into a farm vehicle crash that injured a five-year-old will continue. State Police say the five-year-old and a three-year-old were riding on a tractor driven by 34-year-old Dennis Lehman of the Danville area, along Boyd Station Road in Rush Township, Montour County. Neither child were wearing seat belts, and the five-year-old fell off the vehicle after the tractor left the road and struck an embankment.
He was taken to Geisinger Medical Center for treatment. The three year old was not injured in the 10:30 a.m. accident. (Matt Farrand)
Driver sought after Snyder County hit and run
MT PLEASANT MILLS – Authorities are looking for the driver of an SUV who fled the scene of an accident Saturday at about 11:45 a.m. State Police describe the driver as a white male in his 40’s with dirty blonde hair arranged in a ponytail, who failed to stop at a stop sign at Oriental Road and Route 104 in Chapman Township, Snyder County. The green Jeep Cherokee struck a vehicle driven by 52-year-old Cynthia Seiders of Pine Grove.
Neither Seiders nor her passenger, 55-year-old George Seiders were injured. Troopers say half the front bumper fell off of the SUV that fled the scene. Anyone with information is asked to call State Police at 374-8145. (Matt Farrand)
Former Katie’s Kleeners owner passes away at 72
NORTHUMBERLAND – Friends, family and community members are noting the passing of a local business figure, as William V. Pakuta died Friday at the age of 72. He is remembered as a member of the chamber of commerce, chairman of the United Fund and the owner of a dry cleaning business that he ran with his wife. Bill and Kathryn Pakuta ran Katie’s Kleeners in Sunbury for many years, and had a variety of other interests. Pakuta was a member of St. Monica’s Church in Sunbury, where there will be a memorial service Wednesday at 11:00 a.m.
Funeral arrangements are through the Olley-Gotlub Funeral Home in Sunbury. (Matt Farrand)
“Blue” beats “White” 27-14
STATE COLLEGE – In a game heard on Newsradio 1070, WKOK, Penn State football players finally got back to the game Saturday after an off-season full of talk about suspensions and coach Joe Paterno's future. The Nittany Lions donned their pads and helmets for the annual spring scrimmage. About 73,000 fans filled Beaver Stadium to watch the practice game. Quarterbacks Daryll Clark and Pat Devlin each tried to make an impression, however, it's unclear who will be chosen to lead the offense.
Fans also got their first glimpse at running back Stephfon Green, who redshirted last year. He didn't waste any time getting into the action, eluding a tackle and darting down the left sideline for a 57-yard touchdown.
Area woman dies after two-vehicle crash
ELYSBURG – A Shamokin woman is dead after a two-vehicle crash in Northumberland County Friday morning. State Police say 27-year-old Nicole Sheriff was driving on Route 54, near Elysburg, when she crossed the centerline of the highway. Her vehicle struck another vehicle nearly head-on. Sheriff was flown to Geisinger Medical Center and succumbed to her injuries Friday.
The driver of the second vehicle involved in the crash was 46-year-old Shaun Recla of Danville. Recla was also taken to Geisinger, where he was treated and released. Route 54 was closed for about an hour and a half following that crash in Rush Township around 5:45 Friday morning. (WKOK)
Teen leads police on chase in stolen car
LEWISBURG— An area teen led police on a high-speed chase in a stolen car in Union County last night. The Daily Item reports that an unnamed 16-year-old male from Winfield, led officers on the chase after police attempted to pull him over for faulty equipment. The incident started along Route 15 in Lewisburg and ended when the teen lost control of the car and crashed at the Route 405 intersection.
East Buffalo Township police say the teen did not have a valid driver’s license and it was discovered that he had stolen the car just minutes before the chase occurred. The incident occurred around 10 last night. The teen was taken to Evangelical Community hospital for minor injuries. (Sara Lauver)
Lycoming College welcomes Barack Obama
WILLIAMSPORT – U.S. Senator Bob Casey welcomed Barack Obama to Lycoming College in Williamsport Friday. Over 2,000 supporters greeted Obama. Obama spoke and then took questions from the audience.
The democratic presidential hopeful first responded to those who question why he is running so early in his career, and he answered with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, saying it’s the ‘fierce urgency of now.’ He says America cannot wait to fix schools, healthcare, the economy and the war.
Obama spoke about gradually pulling troops from Iraq, investing in energy efficient technology like wind, solar and bio-diesel and his stance on registering illegal immigrants so that they can become legal citizens. He also answered questions about paying for higher education and a revision of ‘No Child Left Behind.’
Obama ended by saying he has faith in the Democratic Party and whatever differences he has with Senator Hillary Clinton, they pale in comparison to those of Senator John McCain. From Williamsport, Obama went to a rally in Philadelphia. Saturday he will speak in Lancaster, then on the steps of the state capitol in Harrisburg. (Sara Bartlett)
Thousands of Obama supporters come out to Williamsport
WILLIAMSPORT – It was a big day in Williamsport…that was an often-heard phrase as hundreds waited outside of Lycoming College’s Lamade Auditorium to hear democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama speak.
Lewisburg resident Selicia Swartz was a volunteer at the event, and says she was excited to be involved, she said she just turned 18 and it’s fun to get involved, help support jobs and the economy and get behind a candidate she can support.
Some drove as far as Annapolis, Maryland and Reading for the event. Obama showed his usual confidence and laid back character, sometimes even coming into the audience to let those with questions use his microphone. The speech was sold out, with over 2,000 people in attendance. (Sara Bartlett)
University searches for successor to coach Pat Flannery
LEWISBURG – Bucknell Head Coach Pat Flannery will leave the Bison with a record of 234 wins and 178 losses, including 125 wins in the Patriot League. But he will be most notably remembered for guiding the team to consecutive Patriot League men’s basketball championships.
“Voice of the Bison” Doug Birdsong says it’s an achievement unlikely to be duplicated any time soon. The Bison defeated both the Universities of Kansas and Arkansas in their NCAA Division I tournament appearances.
Friday it was announced that Coach Flannery is stepping down from the head coaching position effective July 1st. He will remain with the University in a fundraising capacity. Flannery’s career coaching the Bison is the most successful coaching career in Patriot League history. University president Brian Mitchell says a search for a successor is underway. (Matt Farrand)
Conference to be held on post-traumatic stress disorder
DANVILLE— It was first pinpointed in Vietnam War veterans, and today, post-traumatic stress disorder is affecting many. Dr. Joseph Boscarino, with Geisinger Health Systems, says the disorder can be seen in anyone who has suffered traumatically in the past. He says that includes soldiers coming home from the Iraq War, or even someone who had a troubled childhood.
Boscarino says more research needs to be done, but progress is being made. Boscarino has been researching the disorder for nearly 30 years. He say Geisinger Medical Center will host a national conference next month, which will address the disorder and those who have been affected by it. (WPGM)
Merrill Linn Conservancy hosts day of free events
LEWISBURG – Celebrate Earth Day this weekend with the Merrill Linn Land & Waterways Conservancy’s Caring for Communities. The 5th annual event to be held Sunday puts the spotlight on agriculture, wildlife and music.
All of the events are free and include workshops for kids, bluebird house building, live bat presentations, string music, Celtic and Appalachian flute music and talks about honeybees. Lunch and snacks will also be served and the day will round down with a performance by Larry Lawson and the Lawson and Disorder Trio.
The event will be held Sunday outside of Lewisburg on the Dale/Engle/Walker property on Strawbridge Road, off of Route 192 from 1:00p.m.-5:00p.m. Everyone is encouraged to attend this free event. (Sara Bartlett)
Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - He may not have a contract beyond this year, but Penn State coach Joe Paterno says he doesn't think that's affecting recruiting. And he says he thinks the team had "a heck of a year recruiting." One notable blue chip who got away this year was Jeannette quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who signed with Big Ten rival Ohio State.
But Paterno says he remains optimistic about the future. Paterno spoke with reporters before the annual Blue-White spring scrimmage. It was his first meeting with reporters since the university president said the school and Paterno agree that a contract isn't necessary for a man entering his 43rd season on the sideline. The two sides plan to meet at the end of each season, as usual, to discuss the future. Paterno's current deal ends after the 2008 campaign.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Former major league baseball player John Marzano has died. Police say the 45-year-old was found dead at his home in Philadelphia on Saturday. The cause was not immediately clear, however reports indicate he may have fallen down a flight of stairs after a heart attack. Marzano was a Philadelphia native who had been working for Major League Baseball's Web site, where he co-hosted a show on weekday mornings. Previously, he had been an analyst for the Philadelphia Phillies on Comcast SportsNet. Marzano had played in the big leagues for the Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners before retiring in 1998. He also played in the minors for the Phillies and the Cleveland Indians.
DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Barack Obama rode a shiny blue train car on a whistle-stop tour through the Pennsylvania countryside Saturday. Stopping four times between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Obama made a symbolic pitch for supporters to get onboard with his campaign. He portrayed rival Hillary Rodham Clinton as a typical Washington politician who uses slash-and-burn tactics and can't be trusted to say what she believes. In contrast, Obama argued he was "somebody you can trust, somebody you can have confidence in.” Polls show Clinton leading in the state, which holds its primary Tuesday.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Saturday night in the Pennsylvania State Lottery:
SATURDAY NIGHT
Daily Number 7-7-2
Big 4 1-8-6-9
The winning numbers drawn Saturday night in Powerball are: 13-19-24-33-39
Powerball: 8M Estimated jackpot: $111.4 million.
Power Play: 3
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)