Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Explicit images okay as evidence against Harclerode
LEWISBURG – The judge hearing child pornography charges against 72-year-old Jack Harclerode is ruling that more than 270 explicit images found on a computer may be used against the retired Bucknell University professor. Judge Louise Knight ruled against a motion to suppress evidence on the grounds that a warrant used by police to search Harclerode’s home was invalid. Harclerode is free on $100,000 bail.
He will also appear at a preliminary hearing May 8th on separate sex charges pertaining to encounters with a young boy over a three-year period, allegedly in the retired professor’s office on the University campus. (Matt Farrand)
Friends and family gather to honor the late Eleanor Kuhns
SHAMOKIN – Family and friends remembered Eleanor Kuhns as she was laid to rest Wednesday. Kuhns passed away Sunday at the age of 82. Regional Coordinator for Congressman Chris Carney, Sue Mathias, attended the service at St. Patrick’s Church in Trevorton, and says Elli was very active in making sure the Congressman heard her voice, sometimes calling him to pass on advice.
Kuhns, the first woman commissioner in Northumberland County, also served as a Coal Township commissioner, was a member of the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union and the president of the local chapter of the Alliance for Retired Americans. She was buried at the Northumberland Memorial Park in Stonington, where Judge Barry Feudale gave the eulogy. (Sheri Rippon)
$100,000 goal set for Line Mountain’s Relay for Life
MANDATA – Line Mountain Relay for Life has a goal of more than $103,000. The Relay is set for Friday at noon at Line Mountain Junior/Senior High School and Stacy Howerter is excited to co-chair the event with her Aunt Joyce again this year.
This year at the Relay on Saturday, the annual Penny Walk will once again take place. This is the kids chance to take to the track for the relay event. Last year, more than 90 children participated and raised close to $1,900 to fight cancer.
The theme of this year’s walk is “Down on the Farm” and all events will focus on animals and other farm related topics. There will be a luminaria ceremony on Friday night and a Survivor Lap in the evening. The public is encouraged to attend. (Ali Stevens)
Mustang raffle is new this year at Sunbury Fireman’s Fair
SUNBURY – Someone will be driving away in a new 2008 Ford Mustang by the end of Sunbury’s Fireman’s Fair this Saturday. 300 people registered for the giveaway, which is new this year at the fair. Chairman of the event, Dan Lehman, says all proceeds from the event go towards the purchase of new equipment for the six fire companies and fire police in Sunbury.
There will be all kinds of food, including chicken barbeque, as well as different craft vendors and tractor rides. There will also be a fire truck displaying equipment, where kids can use a fire hose, and the popular firefighters challenge. The Fireman’s Fair is Saturday from 10:00a.m.-7:00p.m. in Cameron Park. (Sara Bartlett)
State Representatives learn more on Chesapeake Bay efforts
WILLIAMSPORT— In an effort to learn more about program operations associated with cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay, a public hearing was held in Williamsport. The hearing, by the House Republican Policy Committee, focused on the impact of new mandates for wastewater plants. State Representative, Steve Cappelli, said the impact is estimated to be nearly one billion dollars statewide and noted that no federal or state monies have been pledged to subsidize the mandated improvements. He says, environmental and political aspects aside, the nutrient management reduction is the single most, significant financial challenge ever to face Northcentral Pennsylvania.
PA Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Marel Raub, says that even after 28 years of restoration projects, low levels of oysters and blue crabs still exist and dead zones are still appearing. She says there are excess nitrogen and phosphorous components coming into the Bay, leading to algae blooms. These algae blooms block out the sunlight, harming aquatic plants. And when the alga dies, it robs the system of oxygen needed for animal life in the Bay.
Members of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation were on hand to discuss the Fair Share for Clean Water Plan, which would help finance some of costs associated with mandates, created to reduce the nitrogen and phosphorous levels in the Bay.
State Representatives David Millard and Adam Harris were also present to hear testimony on these efforts. (Sara Lauver)
Why drug dealers come to this area
SUNBURY – Montour County District Attorney Bob Beuhner doesn’t think that the number of drug dealers and gang members are rapidly rising in the area, but does say they do see good reasons to move here, as oppose to a big city. He says troublemakers may see Central PA as an untapped area for drug sales. Also, access to public housing and being located near interstates is another reason they may relocate here.
In Montour County, authorities try to combat it by making sure every criminal incident, even a disorderly conduct for yelling on a street corner, is addressed to let them know that any kind of criminal behavior won’t be tolerated. Beuhner was a recent guest on On The Mark this week, which you can download in full online at wkok.com (Sara Bartlett)
Grandson charged with stealing from grandmother
BEAVER SPRINGS – A Middleburg man has been charged with stealing money from his grandmother. State police say 22-year-old Bruce Aderhold took checks from his grandmother in Beaver Springs and wrote them out to himself. The theft wasn’t discovered until his grandmother noticed $600 missing from her checking account. Aderhold will be charged with theft and forgery for the incidents taking place between April 22nd and the 24th. (Ali Stevens)
Thursday is the 50th Anniversary of Law Day
SUNBURY – The 50th celebration of Law Day is Thursday, May 1st. It’s an annual day to recognize the principle of government under law. Chairman of the Northumberland County Legal Journal Michael Apfelbaum says local students are invited to court to learn more about the legal system, part of a presentation put on by the Bar Association. However, due to busy court schedules faced by county judges on Thursday, Northumberland County Court officials say the 50th Anniversary recognition ceremony will be held Friday at 10:00 a.m. at the courthouse
The presentation usually includes a video and discussion of the importance of law to society. (Matt Farrand)Sunbury ‘hitman’ case headed to court
SUNBURY – Charges will go to court for the Sunbury woman accused of trying to hire someone to kill her boyfriend. In a preliminary hearing Tuesday, 28-year-old Christeen Smith said she wasn’t going to follow through with any plans to kill her 46-year-old boyfriend, Donald Ellis of Sunbury. Last week Smith allegedly told her estranged husband that she wanted to hire someone to kill Ellis.
Her husband told police and set up Smith to solicit an undercover State Trooper, where she told him of her plans and offered him $500 to do the killing. District Justice Carl Rice ruled that charges of criminal solicitation, aggravated assault and terroristic threats will all move on to court. Smith remains locked up in Northumberland County Prison on $100,000 bail. (Sara Bartlett)
Milton area house fire ruled accidental
MILTON – 31-year-old Terry Rager and his girlfriend April DeWalt of Old Farm Lane near Milton will be staying with relatives for a time. An afternoon fire Tuesday caused damage to their one-story wood frame home, doing damage mostly to the basement area. Milton Fire Chief Sam Shaffer explains that a florescent light fell onto mattresses as renovation work was being done, setting them on fire.
State Police Fire Marshal Norman Fedder says the fire was accidental in nature and did around $35,000 in damages. No injuries were reported. Milton, White Deer and Montgomery fire departments responded to the scene, as did the Upper Northumberland County Red Cross. (Matt Farrand)Sewer Authority working on corrective action plan…after overloads reported
SELINSGROVE— The Department of Environmental Protection has placed a 90-day moratorium on any new sewer permits being issued in the municipalities served by the Eastern Snyder County Regional Authority. That would temporarily limit new development in Monroe and Penn Townships.
Manager of the Authority, John Arbromitus, says a report recently showed that too much sewage was entering the treatment plant, exceeding their permitted limits. He says State regulations are clear once an overload occurs. That’s what led to the temporary suspension of any new sewer connections in the municipalities.
Arbromitus says a consulting engineer is currently working on a corrective action plan for submission to the DEP. He says they hope to submit the plan within a 30-day period, instead of waiting out the 90-day deadline. This matter affects the boroughs of Selinsgrove and Shamokin Dam, as well as both Monroe and Penn Townships. Development already underway in the municipalities should be able to continue. (Sara Lauver)
Church burglarized in Mifflinburg
MIFFLINBURG – State police say cash was stolen from a church near Mifflinburg. Sometime between Tuesday of last week and this Sunday, someone entered the United Pentecostal Church on Buffalo Road in Mifflinburg and stole a lap top computer and $100 in cash from a cash box. Anyone with information on the theft is asked to call State Police at Milton. (Ali Stevens)
Citigroup stock sale weighs on banks of local interest
NEW YORK – Subprime mortgage problems and a second consecutive quarterly loss is prompting Citigroup to raise $3 billion dollars through a sale of stock. Citigroup fell nearly 2.0% after their intentions were announced Tuesday.
A comparable retreat among banking stocks of local interest followed. Sovereign Bancorp lost more than 2.0% to 7.52. M&T Bank lost 1.4% to 93.62. FNB Corp, Susquehanna Bancshares, and Fulton Financial each lost a fraction.
Monroe Marketplace developer Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust gained a fraction, and local food producers finished the day higher. Conagra gained 1.6% to 23.12, and Sara Lee gained 2.7% to 14.51. Food retailer Weis Markets lost 2.4% to 31.22, but is still off its 52-week low hit intraday Monday. Sunoco Logistics gained a fraction and PPL Corp retreated to 48.30. (Matt Farrand)
Rock wall facility hosts party for 80-year-old climber
MILTON – Peggy Falls of Milton is celebrating her 80th birthday by showing a middle school class how to climb a rock wall. Peggy is a foster grandparent for a class of specially challenged students at Milton Middle School and started indoor rock climbing in January. Falls works out at the Milton Rock Gym and says the exercise is making her stronger.
Peggy says it took eight weeks of practice to get all the way to the top of the 28-foot exercise wall in a single climb. She now scales the wall easily and several times per session. Peggy’s class was on hand Tuesday as well as relatives who flew in from as far away as Seattle. The Milton Rock Gym occupies the former site of a department store on South Front Street. (Matt Farrand)
Kulpmont man jailed for selling drugs from his home
KULPMONT – A Kulpmont man is in jail after several thousand dollars and various narcotics were found in his home. 28-year-old Charles Picarella was taken into custody Sunday after the Northumberland-Montour County Task Force executed a narcotics search. Picarella is charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver marijuana, Vicodan and drug paraphernalia.
Picarella was arraigned in front of District Justice Michael Mychak and is in Northumberland County Prison on $10,000 bail. During the arrest, the Task Force also intercepted phone calls to Picarella’s cell phone from people looking to buy narcotics and later that evening police took into custody several people who came in person to pick up the drugs from Picarella. (Sara Bartlett)
The fabridam inflation process is underway
SUNBURY – The slow inflation of the fabridam is underway and Lake Augusta is…going up. The ‘pleasure boating’ season starts soon on the Susquehanna River, according to Frank Nanna, park manager Shikellamy State Park complex. He said the slow inflation starts this week and the dam should be fully inflated in two weeks.
As for the Shikellamy State Park Marina complex, Nanna says a lot is happening. The dock installation starts next month and he has high hopes for a successful year. He told us, the slow inflation of the fabridam takes about two weeks. Docks installation begins May 12 and rented boat slips will be ready after May 23rd. He says the goal is to keep the fabridam inflated through all of September and into October.
Teaching the importance of safe and sober driving
BEAVER SPRINGS – Nearly 250 DUI arrests are made each year in Snyder County and Saturday will honor the victims in fatal DUI crashes. Snyder County DUI Awareness Day is sponsored by the Snyder County DUI Program, the Pennsylvania DUI Association and the Ashley and Erika Foundation, which is named after two middle school girls killed in a DUI accident.
The day will be filled with events including a DUI victims memorial, a mock DUI crash with a Life Flight helicopter on the scene and a press conference with Snyder County DA Mike Sholley and the county Commissioners speaking.
The event runs from 9:30a.m. to 3:00p.m. Saturday at the West Snyder Middle School in Beaver Springs. Everyone is invited to attend the event, which is sponsored by the Snyder County DUI Program, the Pennsylvania DUI Association and the Ashley and Erika Foundation. (Sara Bartlett)
Injuries and damage after car drives into house
HERNDON – A Herndon man was injured Tuesday morning after he ran his car into a house. It happened around 9:45a.m. when Roland Romberger drove into a home off of Route 225 just outside of Herndon. Romberger was taken to Geisinger Medical Center. Officials say there was structural damage to the home, whose owner has not been identified. Crews were on the scene cleaning up for more than an hour. (Sara Bartlett)
No final decision on five-member committee in Snyder County
MIDDLEBURG— The Snyder County Commissioners still haven’t appointed members to a five-person committee that will review candidates to fill the position of EMA Director. At their weekly meeting today, commissioners tossed around ideas and names of potential members for that committee.
Commissioner Joe Kantz says they are taking extra time and consideration into putting together the group, because they want to be thorough in their search for a new director.
The committee would work with county commissioners in creating a final job description and then reviewing applications of candidates that are submitted. Kantz says they will be making calls to possible committee members this week, and they hope to have the final committee in place very shortly. (Sara Lauver)
Burn ban lifted in Northumberland County
SUNBURY – The recent rainfall combined with anticipated rain has prompted Northumberland County Commissioners to lift the burn ban in the county. While safety conditions for outdoor burning have improved, the Department of Public safety still urges residents to use caution when burning. (Sara Bartlett)
Head on collision in Shamokin Township
SHAMOKIN TWP – Two injuries were reported after a crash Sunday morning in Shamokin Township, Northumberland County. The crash occurred around 8:50a.m when 41-year-old William O’Donnell, of Bethel, was rounding a curve on Hosta Road and driving over the centerline.
At the same time 29-year-old Nicole Belgio was rounding the same curve and the two vehicles hit head on. Belgio and a 16-year-old passenger in O’Donnell’s car were taken to Geisinger Medical Center with unknown injuries. O’Donnell was not injured; he will be charged with failure to drive on the correct side of the road. (Sara Bartlett)
Two people injured in a crash on Route 225 in Northumberland County this morning
DORNSIFE – Two people were injured in a crash early Monday morning in Lower Mahanoy Township, Northumberland County. State police say 35-year-old Christopher Oxenrider was driving on Mahantango Creek Road and failed to stop at a stop sign at Route 225.
Oxenrider struck a vehicle driven by 40-year-old Teresa Hughes of Dornsife, who was heading north on Route 225. Hughes was treated and released from Geisinger Medical Center. Oxenrider was treated and released from Sunbury Hospital. The investigation into the crash continues.
Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A deadline to submit bids for groups that want to run the Pennsylvania Turnpike is being pushed back several days. Gov. Ed Rendell's spokesman Chuck Ardo says the delay is "in anticipation of getting a better price by doing so." He says the bids are now expected to be submitted within a matter of days - not weeks or months. Rendell's staff announced the guidelines for bidders on April 16, and said they wanted to have bids in hand near the end of April. The goal is to raise billions for transportation costs through a long-term lease of the turnpike system. It would also pre-empt a law introducing tolls to Interstate 80. Rendell plans to submit the best bid to the Legislature for its consideration.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A Three Mile Island nuclear plant security guard has been suspended for being inattentive on the job. Plant spokesman Ralph DeSantis won't elaborate on what led to the guard's suspension on Tuesday and won't identify the man. DeSantis says a plant supervisor discovered the guard wasn't paying attention in the afternoon. DeSantis says no security breach or safety problem occurred as a result of the incident. He says the suspension will remain in effect pending an investigation. Federal rules require critical nuclear plant employees to be attentive at all times.
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - Wilkes University is trying to stand out in a crowded college marketplace. So it's targeting northeastern Pennsylvania teens with ads singling out eight prospective freshmen by name. The ads on billboards, pizza boxes and gas pumps feature things like students' hobbies and accomplishments, their hopes and dreams, their likes and dislikes, even their nicknames. Applicants featured in the ads must consent to have their names used. One example: "Hey Kristen Pecka. Only your closest friends at Central Catholic call you Pecka-lecka-lecka. Choose Wilkes University and add 2,362 more people to that list."
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - State Senator Vincent Fumo says he was exaggerating when he said that his fellow legislators might vote to legalize slavery if given the chance to cast secret ballots. The Philadelphia Democrat made the comments yesterday during a committee hearing on a Republican-sponsored bill to amend the state Constitution. The amendment would outlaw same-sex marriages and civil unions. Fumo says he had only wanted to make the point that it is wrong to take away the rights of some citizens, even if done by a majority vote of a legislative body. Fumo is a staunch defender of gay rights. The Senate Appropriations Committee could vote on the gay marriage measure as early as Monday.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Wednesday in the midday Pennsylvania State Lottery drawing:
Daily Number
9-9-3
Big 4
7-8-5-2
Treasure Hunt
5-11-22-23-30
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)