Monday, April 28, 2008
3 injured in Mt. Carmel Township crash
MT CARMEL TWP. – Three persons are reportedly being treated for injuries sustained in a two-vehicle crash on Route 54. Northumberland County Communications reports the crash was near the co-generation plant in Mt Carmel Township Monday afternoon after 4:00 p.m. Two were transported by Advised Life Support Units to Geisinger medical Center, and one was taken by Basic Life Support. No other information is available at the current time. (Matt Farrand)
YouTube clip of Bucknell disturbance draws more than 1,700 views
LEWISBURG – More than 1,700 have seen a video posted on the YouTube sharing site of an early Saturday morning disturbance involving Bucknell University students. About 300 students were at what the clip describes as a keg party on St Catherine’s Street. Police were called to disperse the crowd but met with resistance. Director of Media Relations Tom Evelyn says the University will use the material from YouTube in their investigation. They will also continue to work with local authorities to find out what really happened.
Lewisburg Police, as well as offices from East Buffalo Township, Milton, Union County, Sunbury, Northumberland, Middleburg, Watsontown and Selinsgrove were called in along with State Police and the Union and Northumberland County Sheriffs. Several University students were arrested for disorderly conduct and failure to disperse. A number of police vehicles were also damaged. The incident was cleared by 2 a.m. and almost 40 officers were involved. Ten years ago, more than 30 were arrested in a similar incident on St Catherine’s street. (Matt Farrand)
Snyder County fire ruled arson
PERRY TWP – Charges will be filed in the upcoming days against a homeowner who set fire to his Perry Township home. Snyder County District Attorney Mike Sholley says arson and related charges will be filed against 47-year-old Wayne Roemer, who allegedly started the fire in his living room Monday morning around 2:50. A coroner was called to the scene to look for Roemer in the home, but he was later found hiding in the woods. No one else was reportedly in the home that was destroyed, causing $150,000 in damages. Sholley says Roemer has been admitted to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation.
Numerous crews including Middleburg, Fremont, Freeburg, Richfield, Shamokin Dam, Port Trevorton, East Salem and Liverpool responded to the scene. (Sara Bartlett)
Local judge remembers Eleanor Kuhns
SUNBURY – It was three years ago when Eleanor Kuhns asked Judge Barry Feudale if he would speak at her funeral. Kuhns had been ill, but Feudale says she still acted like normal “Ellie.” She had a stroke and heart attack last Monday and was taken to Geisinger Medical Center, where she passed away Sunday. Feudale says he visited Kuhns in the hospital, and although she wasn’t responsive, there was a time that she squeezed his hand.
Kuhns, the first female Commissioner in Northumberland County and a Commissioner in Coal Township, was well known as someone who spoke out about the fiscal status in the county. Feudale describes her as fiscally prudent ever since he helped appoint her to the position in 1993. He says she sometimes had it tough, but would stand her ground.
Kuhns was 82 when she passed away. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced soon, where Judge Feudale will give the eulogy. (Sara Bartlett)
County Controller remembers Eleanor Kuhns
SUNBURY – Northumberland County Commissioners have asked that flags be flown half-staff this week in honor of former county Commissioner Eleanor Kuhns. Kuhns passed away Sunday at the age of 82. The first woman Commissioner in Northumberland County, Kuhns was well known locally for her outspoken support for sound budget practices. County Controller Chuck Erdman says she showed up more than any other citizen to voice her opinions at the Commissioner meetings.
Erdman says Eleanor, or Ellie, as she was called, was passionate about getting the county to be run efficiently and effectively. She encouraged the county to revise their spending methods, and most recently fought a series of pay raises for certain court employees. Kuhns suffered a stoke and heart attack last week and was taken to Geisinger Medical Center where she passed away Sunday morning. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the next day. (Sara Bartlett)
Art and Wine auction raises over $8,000
SUNBURY – Over $8,000 was raised at the Sunbury Area Red Cross’ annual Art and Wine Auction. The event was held at Spyglass Ridge Winery in Sunbury Friday night. The auction included jewelry, watercolors, prints and more all donated by area residents and businesses. Samples of Spyglass’ wines were also available. The total of $8168.50 all goes to the Sunbury Area Red Cross. This is their biggest fundraiser. (Sara Bartlett)
Young boy remains in critical following a tractor accident
RUSH TOWNSHIP – A five-year-old boy remains in critical condition at Geisinger Medical Center following a farm accident on April 19th. Trenis Lehman, son of Dennis Lehman was hurt after being thrown from a tractor on his family farm in Rush Township. Dennis was driving the tractor. Trenis is reportedly the brother of a toddler killed on the same farm, in a truck accident several weeks earlier. (Ali Stevens)
State Police investigate Watsontown burglary
WATSONTOWN – State Police are investigating a burglary Sunday morning at a Watsontown building supply company. Central Builders, Inc was broken into sometime between 8:00a.m. and 8:30a.m. Police say an unknown person smashed a double pane window to gain entry to the building. Once inside, the person removed a set of keys and ransacked many desks. Damage is estimated at $500 and anyone with information is asked to contact Milton State Police. (Sara Bartlett)
Eleanor Kuhns has died; she was a Northumberland County leader
COAL TOWNSHIP – The taxpayers in Northumberland County have lost an advocate. Eleanor Kuhns of Coal Township, who was at one point an appointed Northumberland County Commissioner, died Sunday. She was known locally for her outspoken support for sound budget practices in Northumberland County.
She was frequently at county commissioners meetings encouraging the commissioners to revise their spending methods. She also was a Coal Township commissioner. She most recently fought a series of pay raises for certain court employees and would often contact WKOK encouraging us to further scrutinize county business.
She attended a political rally last week and afterward—suffered a stroke and a heart attack. She died yesterday. Eleanor Kuhns, who was the first ever female Northumberland County Commissioner in 1993, was 82-years-old. Funeral services are being arranged.
Some baby bottles are safer than others…a specialist weighs in
UNDATED— Along with the recent Earth Day, awareness is being raised about the potential dangers of plastics. So how can this affect your child? A lactation specialist at Geisinger Medical Center, Diane Hertzog, says chemicals such as BPA and PVC are being used in plastic baby bottles.
She says the chemicals are released from the bottles when they are warmed up. Hertzog says the chemicals have an estrogen effect, therefore, exposing children to more hormones than they need. She says even baby formulas contain chemicals from cow’s milk, so that just adds to the chemical exposure found in the plastic bottles.
Hertzog suggests breastfeeding as the simplest solution to the problem, but says even then, mothers need to be aware of the plastic bags they buy to store their milk. She notes that not every woman can breastfeed, and says the best bottles are made of high-density polyethylene.
She says the worst; display the recycling symbol of number 7. For more information, go to www.ewg.org/babysafe. There you will find the Environmental Working Group’s guide to baby-safe bottles and formulas. (Sara Lauver)
Senator Corman writes legislation to change constitutional rule
HARRISBURG— The State Senate recently passed legislation written by Senator Jake Corman (R-34, Benner Township, Centre County) that would amend the state constitution to change the Lieutenant governor succession rule. Corman says Senate Bill 822 would enact a change that is needed. The bill would allow a lieutenant governor who assumes the governorship to name a new Lieutenant Governor.
That nominee would have to be confirmed by the Senate. Corman says that allowing a Governor to choose his or her Lt. Governor would let them work together to fulfill the goals of the administration. Constitutional amendments must pass both chambers in two consecutive sessions, then go before voters in referendum. The bill is now before the House for consideration. (Sara Lauver)
Area auto businesses hit by alleged fraudulent business practices
MILTON— State Police in Milton are investigating an alleged fraudulent business practice, after two area businesses filed reports. Police say that the company in question, Boltek International Inc., is based out of Luzerne County and allegedly took money from two area businesses without returning any services.
CPR Auto Repair in Mifflinburg and BZ Motors in Lewisburg, both reported that they paid Boltek International for auto repair paint booths that were never received.
Police say no refunds were given, and between the two companies, nearly $70,000 is reported in losses. Boltek International is a supplier of European technology spray booth equipment. State Police are continuing to investigate and they ask anyone with information to contact them. (Sara Lauver)
Two hit and run accidents in Columbia County
BLOOMSBURG— Police are investigating two area hit and run crashes in Columbia County over the weekend.
State Police in Bloomsburg say they were dispatched to the scene of a hit and run along Route 42 in the borough of Millville Saturday morning. Police say a witness reported seeing an unknown driver in a blue, older model, Dodge van.
Reports say the van struck the side mirror of another vehicle that was parked along the roadway. The incident happened around 9 a.m. The driver then fled the scene at a high rate of speed and continued driving north on Route 42.
Meanwhile, on Friday night, State Police in Bloomsburg say another hit and run crash occurred just north of Route 487 in the borough of Benton. The crash occurred around 5:45 p.m., when the unknown driver lost control of his pickup truck along PP&L Road.
Police say the 2001 Ford pickup truck hit a tree and rolled onto its roof before the driver fled the scene. State Police continue to investigate both of these incidents. They ask anyone with information to contact them. (Sara Lauver)
Local stocks enter week mixed in advance of economic data
NEW YORK -- It’ll be a busy week on the economic calendar, as figures will be released that some believe will confirm the extent of an economic slowdown. They include April auto and truck sales as well as personal income and personal spending data for March.
Analysts expect personal income to be down slightly, but personal spending to be up when figures are released Thursday. Meantime, big retailers Target and Wal-Mart finished the week up a fraction, but food retailer Weis Markets settled more than a percentage point lower at 33.29.
Food producer Sara Lee gained a fraction Friday to 14.07, but Conagra enters the new week down slightly at 22.91. Banking stocks of local interest head into the new week mostly higher. Sovereign Bancorp rebounded after hitting a 52-week low Thursday and gained more than 7.0% Friday and settle at 7.65. Fulton Financial, M&T Bank, FNB Corp and MidPenn Bancorp all advanced.
Susquehanna Bancshares lost more than 1.1% Friday to close at 20.79. PPL Corp will release first quarter 2008 earnings Friday, May 2nd. The utility recently revised year-end earnings for 2007 down to $3.35 per share after again looking at the value of its natural gas distribution and propane businesses. (Matt Farrand)
Lewisburg resident new regional community relations director at PPL
BLOOMSBURG – PPL has named a new regional community relations director. Lewisburg resident Teri MacBride will be in charge of the Bloomsburg, Sunbury, Danville and Shamokin areas. She will work with her predecessors Joe Scopelliti, who was recently named manager of community relations for PPL’s Susquehanna plant in Berwick and Rod Keller, who retired in 2006.
MacBride has previously worked with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, as well as spent time in the Peace Corps. She also serves on many boards in Lewisburg including the League of Women Voters, the Slifer House Museum and the Merrill W. Linn Land and Waterways Conservancy. (Sara Bartlett)
Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - Luzerne County Prison Warden Gene Fischi is facing a one-week suspension without pay. Monday's action by the county prison board is in response to no-bid purchasing of food for the prison kitchen. Fischi says he's surprised and considers himself a scapegoat. A report from the county solicitor says the man who was county manager and chief clerk in 2006 told prison officials to buy food in smaller orders. That got around a requirement that purchases over $10,000 be put out to competitive bids. The report says the county manager ordered prison officials to buy the food from a business owned by a friend of his. Since 2006, the prison has spent more than $900,000 on no-bid purchases from that vendor.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - A friend of the man who survived a 500-foot plunge into a Pennsylvania strip mine is accused of pushing the victim over the edge. Authorities say 23-year-old Richard D. George of Tamaqua confessed to police that he pushed 23-year-old Nathan Bowman, also of Tamaqua. George was sent to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail. He's charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and other offenses. Authorities says the two got into an argument before George pushed Bowman.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A bill unanimously approved by state senators today would allow more people to remove minor offenses from their record. Under the bill, a person who has remained crime free for five years would be able to ask the court to get a past summary offense expunged. The bill goes to the House for consideration. The idea behind the bill is to give people with otherwise no criminal history an opportunity to present a clean background when seeking employment. Summary offenses can include retail theft, disorderly conduct, harassment, trespassing and public drunkenness. The bill does not cover misdemeanors or felonies. Under current law, people have to be dead or at least 70 years old to get their record expunged.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Monday in the midday Pennsylvania State Lottery drawing:
Daily Number
1-8-2
Big 4
0-7-1-2
Treasure Hunt
6-8-16-25-27
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)