Saturday, May 3, 2008
A Sunbury man is jailed, charged with assaulting a woman this morning
SUNBURY – A Sunbury man, 35-year-old Franklin Charles of South Second Street, is charged with simple assault and harassment, after an attack on a woman Saturday. Sunbury police tell WKOK news; they were called to the home at around 3:30a.m.
Charles allegedly argued with, and then assaulted the victim by hitting her in the head. She was injured in the incident according to police. Charles is in the Northumberland County prison; being held on a probation violation detainer, he’ll face arraignment and a hearing at a later date.
Road rage suspect with firearm allegedly threatens father, son
HUMMELS WHARF – A Selinsgrove man is accused of pulling a gun on a father and son in what state police describe as road rage. 55-year-old Donald Parker faces a number of charges after allegedly following 23-year-old Aaron Moore of Northumberland and 42-year-old Lewis Moore of Sunbury to the Susquehanna Valley Mall parking lot off Routes 11 & 15. Troopers say Parker was driving behind the Moores and had to brake hard when they turned from the strip onto Mill Road. Horn blowing and a gesture by driver Aaron Moore followed.
Parker then allegedly followed the men to the mall, displayed a loaded semi-automatic pistol and pointed it at the two men, before putting it down and charging Aaron Moore. State Police took Parker into custody around noon Friday; and he’ll face charges that include stalking, harassment and terrorist threats. Parker was arraigned before district judge John Robinson, and is out on $15,000 bail and on the condition that he surrender all of his firearms to the Snyder County Sheriff. (Matt Farrand)
Beavertown man gives false name to police
MIDDLEBURG – A Beavertown man is in Northumberland County Prison after lying to police about his identity. State Police at Selinsgrove say they stopped along Route 522 near Royers Bridge in Snyder County around 4:00p.m. Friday to investigate two vehicles on the side of the road. 19-year-old Joseph Rubendall was the operator of one of vehicles, and police determined it did not have insurance or a valid inspection. When asked, Rubendall provided police with a fictitious name. He was taken to the police station where his real identity was determined, and he was placed in jail due to an outstanding bench warrant. The investigation into the incident continues. (Sara Bartlett)
An 83-year-old woman has died after being kidnapped by her Mount Carmel son
POTTSVILLE, Pa. (AP) - The Schuylkill County coroner says an 83-year-old woman's death is due to cardiogenic shock caused by her being abducted from a nursing home. But the coroner's office lists Ruth Ann Netchel's manner of death as "pending investigation," rather than as a natural death or a homicide.
Police say Netchel was still attached to medical devices when her son, 58-year-old Robert Netchel of Mount Carmel, took her from the Schuylkill Center Nursing Home on Wednesday. She died Thursday at a hospital.
Netchel's son was charged with felony counts of kidnapping, aggravated assault and unlawful restraint. It was not immediately clear if he would face additional charges. He’s jailed, $50,000 bail. The motive for the kidnapping has not been disclosed.
Retired Bucknell professor waives right to jury in porn charges
LEWISBURG – A retired Bucknell University professor has waived his right to a jury trial in connection with the discovery of 249 child pornographic images allegedly found on his computer. Jury selection was previously set for Monday for 72-year-old Jack Harclerode, but a ruling will now be made by Judge Louise Knight in Union County Court. The images, reportedly depicting boys under the age of 18, were found on Harclerode’s computer at his Lewisburg home, after police obtained a search warrant while investigating. His trial for these charges will be June 23rd.
Harclerode also faces additional charges in Union County after another victim stepped forward last month alleging sexual abuse over a three-year period in the professor’s office on the University campus. He will face a preliminary hearing on these charges next week.
And in Columbia County, Harclerode faces sentencing after pleading guilty to molesting a young boy at a campground two years ago. For these charges, he will be sentenced in June and could face up to five years in prison. (Sara Bartlett)
Quarterly earnings up 33% higher than year ago
NEW YORK – One of our state biggest utilities posted quarterly earnings Friday. PPL Corp netted 69 cents per share, up 33% percent from the same quarter a year ago. The company credits its operations overseas, and special items. However, the utility says first quarter earnings from ongoing operations fell 6.0% mostly due to expiration of synthetic fuel tax credits at the end of 2007, and lower profits from domestic power plants. PPL stock was up a fraction Friday, to 48.50.
Other stocks of local interest were mixed. MidPenn Bancorp and pipeline operator Sunoco Logistics gained a fraction, Weis Markets gained more than 1.6% to 30.89, and Sovreign Bancorp gained more than 3.2 percent and is back up to more than $8 per share. Other banking stocks of local interest retreated, as did the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, Sara Lee and Conagra. Community Health Systems lost a fraction and enters the new week at 36.13. (Matt Farrand)
Could you lift 40 pounds at once? Tracker 5 knows!
SUNBURY – A new computerized device at Sunbury Community Hospital can not only help employers assign appropriate jobs to employees, but also see if they’re faking injuries or prolonging recovery from real ones. It’s official name is the “Tracker 5 Functional Capacity Evaluation System,” and it’s being used in the Occupational Health and Wellness Department. Certified facilitator Kimberly Eaton says the system measures how efficiently a potential employees lifts, grips or pulls things. Stronger employees can then be assigned more physical jobs.
Most of the measurement is done electronically and evaluated on a laptop. It’s useful for pre-employment screening or after an on the job injury. Eaton says back injuries are the most common. They’re also the most likely linger as a problem, if only in the mind of the employee. Eaton says a malingerer, or anyone who holds back on the test, usually can’t hold back consistently, thus the Tracker 5 can find them out. (Matt Farrand)
A modern farmer talks about eating locally grown food
SUNBURY – Things happen pretty fast on the Beaver Run Farm in the Turbotville area. Becky Forman, a co-owner of the farm says, for example, chickens are processed Thursday and are sold Friday. She said you can buy fresher, local produce at area farm markets.
She says you can even go to the farm and see how animals are raised—and this means a lot to people who love good food and love locally grown, healthful foods. She is on a panel discussion this Sunday on Roundtable, talking about the Buy Fresh, Buy Local effort in our region. We also discuss the Local Action Network, and organic foods. . You can hear Roundtable Sunday on:
n Eagle 107 (107.3FM) at 6a.m.
n 100.9, The Valley, at 6a.m.
n WKOK at 9a.m.
n Talkradio 1380 WMLP, 11a.m.
n 94KX at 11p.m.
And anytime, at www.wkok.com
Friday morning crash shut down I-80 west
DANVILLE – Interstate 80 westbound was shut down for about 5 hours Friday morning following a crash near the Danville exit involving two tractor-trailers. State police say a trucker from Missouri, 37-year-old Michael Baron, was traveling east on the Interstate and crossed through the center median into westbound traffic. Hit vehicle hit a tractor-trailer driven by 64-year-old Rogelio Ocasio of Florida. One rig overturned on a portion of the westbound side of the road and the other struck guide rails at about 1:15 am.
Westbound I-80 was not fully reopened to traffic until about 1:30 p.m. Ocasio was treated and released from Geisinger Medical Center with what were described as moderate injuries. (Ali Stevens)
Bucknell students charged, one with felony, after block party
LEWISBURG – Three Bucknell University students are facing charges after an early morning disturbance Saturday on St. Catherine Street in Lewisburg. 22-year-old Kendrick Luse, of Connecticut is the only student charged with a felony riot count, as well as failure to disperse and disorderly conduct. Police say Luse was the instigator, who caused the rest of the crowd to react. Luse will face a preliminary hearing in the upcoming weeks.
22-year-old Alexander Mackinger of Rhode Island was charged with misdemeanor counts of failure to disperse and disorderly conduct. And, 21-year-old Patrick Stummer of New York was cited with disorderly conduct. Over 300 students gathered at the off-campus party around 12:30a.m. Saturday, prompting officers from eleven police departments to break-up the crowds. (Sara Bartlett)
Charges filed against Paxinos woman involved in fatal DUI crash
SHAMOKIN – Felony charges have been filed against a Paxinos woman after she caused a crash that killed an unborn child. The News Item reports 47-year-old Jean Cordell was arraigned Thursday in front of District Justice John Gembic on charges including aggravated assault of an unborn child, DUI, careless driving and other traffic violations.
Cordell was driving under the influence of alcohol last September along Snydertown Road in Shamokin Township when she attempted to make a turn in front of another vehicle. The two vehicles collided and hit a third vehicle driven by 42-year-old Leann Drumheller. In Drumheller’s car was her 17-year-old daughter who was reportedly 26 weeks pregnant at the time. All involved sustained injuries; the teen was taken to Bloomsburg Hospital where labor was induced and the baby was stillborn and pronounced dead.
The aggravated assault charges against Cordell are felonies, which could carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. (Sara Bartlett)
I-80 reopen after crash that injured a Florida man
DANVILLE – Interstate 80 westbound was shut down early this morning following a crash near the Danville exit around 1:15 a.m. involving two tractor-trailers. State police say a trucker from Missouri, 37-year-old Michael Baron, was traveling east on the Interstate and crossed through the center median into westbound traffic, hitting a trucker from Florida, 64-year-old Rogelio Ocasio. One rig overturned on a portion of the westbound side of the road and the other struck guide rails.
Westbound I-80 was closed at the accident site until about 6:45 this morning, when one lane reopened for traffic. The accident was all clear after morning drive time. Ocasio was taken to Geisinger Medical Center with moderate injuries and was treated and released. (Ali Stevens)
Susquehanna Valley Community College steering committee meets
MILTON – There’s interest and there’s support, but now the Susquehanna Valley Community Education Project needs leadership. The group looking to build a community college in the area held its first steering committee meeting Thursday.
Around 25 people, including county commissioners, medical and professional officials, University representatives and community members gathered to learn more about the project. Steve Connolley is a member of the planning committee and says the first meeting validated many of the committee’s original ideas for the college.
New ideas were also brought to the table, such as making sure the college has a flexible curriculum that could be reevaluated to become relevant to jobs in the area, as well as instilling the idea that the college consists largely of vocational, technical and industry supported programs, and is the next step from a high school setting. Although some funding has been obtained, the committee is continually looking for more. They also plan to move forward after a feasibility study is complete next month. (Sara Bartlett)
PPL Electric officials call lack of decision “disappointing”
ALLENTOWN – Officials with PPL Electric Utilities are disappointed by Thursday’s lack of action on a rate plan they proposed. The state’s Public Utility Commission did not vote on the proposal that would have allowed PPL to accept higher advance payments from customers this summer; and considered those optional payments credit toward higher rates that are certain to arrive in 2010.
Critics called the plan a way to sneak in a rate increase. The utility asserts that legal experts have already said the plan is worthy of approval, including some with the PUC. It is generally thought that higher consumer and business electric bills will start to arrive once rate caps expire at the end of 2009. The PUC decided to indefinitely postpone a vote on the plan in early April. (Matt Farrand)
PPL to release earnings Friday
NEW YORK – Utility PPL Corp. plans to release quarterly earnings this morning. A conference call is planned for before the market opens. Chair, president and CEO James Miller and other executives will discuss results for the quarter. PPL stock hit a 52-week high in January at more than $55 per share, and has drifted lower since, closing Thursday at 48.26.
Banks of local interest followed the Dow and other indices higher, as Sovreign Bancorp gained more than 6.0%, Fulton Financial, Susquehanna Bancshares and FNB Corp each gained more than 5.0% and M&T Bank gained more than 4.0% to close at 87.40.
However, MidPenn Bancorp dropped more than 2.0% to close at 23.30. Food retailer Weis Markets is still trading near its 52-week low, closing Thursday at 30.22, but food producers Sara Lee and Conagra finished the day higher. Oil and gas producer Chesapeake Energy hit a 52-week high this week, but closed down more than 1.0% Thursday at 50.93. (Matt Farrand)
Evangelical Community Hospital welcomes new COO
LEWISBURG – Richard Smith Jr. thinks Evangelical Community Hospital is a beacon in the area. Smith was recently named Evan’s new Chief Operations Officer. He says he is going to build on Evan’s already great foundation to further the hospital.
Smith says Evan has every capability to grow as new healthcare technologies emerge and evolve. He says as COO he will not only oversee day-to-day operations, but also assist CEO Michael O’Keefe as a liaison in the community.
Smith says at Evan they want to be there for the community whether they are sick or not, and will continue to hold prevention seminars. Smith is a native of Baltimore, and most recently served as the Vice President of Physician Services and Development at Mercy Health Partners in Scranton. (Sara Bartlett)
Motorcycle Run held to benefit the annual Danville Kids Fishing Derby
DANVILLE – The annual Danville Kids Fishing Derby is coming up later this month and a fundraiser to assist with the costs of the derby is set for Saturday. The 6th annual “Kids Fishin’ for Fun” motorcycle benefit-run and fish fry will start at Washies Fire Company in Danville.
Jack Lee, president of the sportsmen’s group called Montour County Sportsmen Working for Kids says they raise and stock about 6,000 trout a year for stocking in the area and they are completely non-profit, so fundraising is needed.
Lee says following the more than 80 mile motorcycle run through Montour, Columbia, Northumberland and Sullivan Counties, there will be a fish fry meal provided to all the riders. The Kids Fishing Derby will take place on May 17th on Mahoning Creek behind Danville Middle School. (Ali Stevens)
Three charged with Sunbury business burglary
SUNBURY – Three 18-year-olds have been charged with burglary after breaking into a Sunbury business. State Police at Stonington say Matt Buckles and Corey Kline of Coal Township, and Christina Wert of Mount Carmel broke into the Max E. Baslick Company building in Upper Augusta Township the night of March 19th. All three were arraigned Thursday in front of District Justice Carl Rice.
Buckles and Kline were recommitted to Northumberland County Prison. Buckles was previously there for a March 22nd burglary at the same location and Kline was previously there for an unrelated incident. They are both being held on $50,000 bail. Wert was released after the arraignment on $20,000 bail. All three have a preliminary hearing in the coming weeks. (Sara Bartlett)
Northumberland/Point Township History Day this weekend
NORTHUMBERLAND – There are many historical and cultural activities to participate in Saturday at the 6th annual Northumberland/ Point Township History Day. Whether your interests lie in crafts, war history or food, there is something for everyone. Co-Chair of History Day, Dave Ramsey, says the event spans a long period of time; from pre-history to recent historical events as the Vietnam Way.
The day will include buggy rides, crafts and games, strolling musicians, needlepoint and quilt displays, storytellers and more. Point Township resident Glenda Strauss will be showing off her research and photographs of old farms and barns in the area. Secretary of History Day, Dana Ramsey will be doing Native American cooking at a hearth-style fireplace.
Organizers of History Day appeared recently on Roundtable, which you can download online at wkok.com. They say the importance of the event is to pass along historical information so that it doesn’t get lost in generations ahead. History Day takes place at King Street Park in Northumberland Saturday from 10:00a.m. -5:00p.m. (Sara Bartlett)
Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania state legislators flew to foreign lands, cheered on pro sports teams from the stands and even paid some criminal defense legal bills last year. They did it for free, thanks to gifts and perks from corporations and businesses. State house member Adam Harris, whose district includes several Snyder County townships, and the borough of Middleburg, enjoyed one overseas free trip. Harris and three other house members went on a six-day journey in February 2007 to Ireland and Poland to meet with government officials, tour economic development sites and view the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz.
Overall, state lawmakers collected about $22,000 in gifts and $89,000 in subsidized travel in 2007 according to an Associated Press analysis of their annual Statement of Financial Interests forms at the State Ethics Commission. Free or partially free travel also took house and senate members to Taiwan, Mexico, Las Vegas and beyond. They reaped free tickets to watch Penn State's football team and NASCAR races in the Poconos, not to mention the Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies and 76ers. Ski passes were covered and greens fees were gratis.
The trip was
funded by the Taxpayers Network, an organization based in Green Bay,
Wis. David Steffen, its director of external affairs, said its
public policy initiatives include global trade, economic development
and taxation issues. "The schedule that we were on, other than
dinnertime, we were pretty much meeting with somebody somewhere,"
said Rep. Brian Ellis, R-Butler. He was joined on the trip by Rep.
C. Adam Harris (R-82nd, Mifflintown) and Rep. Dan
Frankel, D-Allegheny. Most lawmakers reported no gifts or travel.
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Several family members of the 40 passengers and crew who died on hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 say they're fed up with controversies surrounding the design of a national memorial. The families of four victims held a news conference in Pittsburgh. They say it's time to get on with developing the memorial near Shanksville, where the hijacked airliner crashed during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The plane was the only one of four hijacked that day that terrorists were unable to crash into a building. A government inquiry determined the plane crashed as the passengers attempted to wrest control from the four hijackers. The planned memorial has been dogged by some critics who say its crescent-shaped design and other features call to mind Islam or subtly include the hijackers alongside the passengers and crew.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Friday in the Pennsylvania State Lottery:
FRIDAY NIGHT
Daily Number
5-3-5
Big 4
0-6-1-5
FRIDAY MIDDAY
Daily Number
1-0-0
Big 4
2-0-5-7
Treasure Hunt
3-8-9-14-18
The winning
numbers drawn Friday in the "Pennsylvania Cash 5" game were:
05-14-23-27-41.
The winning
numbers drawn Friday in the "Pennsylvania Match 6 Lotto" game were:
04-07-18-19-32-47.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)