Sunbury man driving away in new Mustang

SUNBURY – Ray Herb of Sunbury is driving away in a new 2008 Mustang after being the big raffle winner at the Sunbury Fireman’s Fair Saturday.  Herb was picked out off 300 entries as the winner, and it couldn’t have come at a better time since it is his birthday and the first day of his retirement.  Herb will pick up his new wheels today at Sunbury Motors.

The fair also held a money raffle, where Joyce Heimbach of Sunbury walked away with $500.  The annual Sunbury Fireman’s Fair raises money for Sunbury’s six fire companies and fire police, and is held each year in Cameron Park. (Sara Bartlett)     

Local stocks enter new week after mixed results Friday

NEW YORK – Thursday will see a couple of reliable economic indicators released. A 0.4% increase is expected in wholesale inventories for March. The prior month saw an increase of more than one percent. Weekly unemployment figures will also be released Thursday

PPL posted quarterly earnings last week. PPL Corp netted 69 cents per share, up 33% percent from the same quarter a year ago. The company credits its operations overseas. 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.

Local stocks enter the new week after mixed results Friday. 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. (Matt Farrand)

The pros and cons of Lasik surgery, Part 1 

DANVILLE – The Food and Drug Administration has been asked to give clearer warnings for Lasik eye surgery following testimony from patients who claimed to be worse off following the elective surgery. WKOK’s Ali Stevens talked with a local doctor about the topic and this is part one of a two-part series on Refractive Surgery.

About 700,000Americans a year undergo Lasik eye surgery, which makes wearing glasses and contact lenses obsolete. However, recent news stories have painted the surgery as a risky decision that could mean a future with eye pain and blurred vision.

Dr. Kendall Dobbins is a Refractive Surgeon at Geisinger Medical Center and says those wanting Lasik need to have pre-operative council. He says the biggest issue that is going to give you a sense of how good of a candidate you are is how good of a preoperative exam you have. He says that’s the single most determining factor in what kind of success you will have with the surgery.

Dr. Dobbins says there are definitely risks associated with Lasik, but pre-operative consultations can eliminate some of those risks by determining whether or not you are even a candidate for the surgery and if you are a candidate, determining what kind of surgery should be done.

Dr. Dobbins also talked about a new procedure now available at Geisinger that makes Lasik safer. In the past, a blade was used to create a flap on the eye for correction. Now, the new equipment called IntraLase, uses a laser to make the incision.

The surgeon also responded to the recent negative publicity surrounding Lasik. He says when you look at the number of patients that have Lasik Surgery over decades, proportionally it’s a handful of patients who are dissatisfied.

On the other hand, Dr. Dobbins says the patient’s complaints need to be addressed and that it is certainly reasonable for the FDA panel to look at the complaints. He thinks reasonable recommendations have been made following the hearings.

Tomorrow on Part-Two of our two part series, Dr. Dobbins will talk about patients talking with their surgeon and asking important questions, long-term problems for those who have already had Lasik, what kind of clinic to look for when getting Lasik and the costs associated with the procedure. (Ali Stevens)

Snyder County plant site of fatal accident

MIDDLEBURG – A Millmont man is dead after an accident at a cement plant in Snyder County. State Police say a five-ton bucket of cement fell from an overhead lift, striking 49-year-old Ray Doan Jr. Troopers say he was operating the lift and a steel ring on the unit broke.

He was taken by LifeFlight to Geisinger Medical Center from the Advance Concrete Plant in Centre Township at about 9:50 Friday morning, and was later pronounced dead. State Police say Doan was struck about the head. (Matt Farrand)

Fight reported along Market Street, Sunbury

SUNBURY – Sunbury police say a local man faces a disorderly conduct charge after repeatedly fighting with another man early Sunday morning on Market Street. They claim George Sweitzer IV repeatedly fought with another man in the area of the 600-block, with subsequent altercations nearby.

State troopers and police from Selinsgrove, Northumberland and Point Township assisted Sunbury Police with tie incident after about 2:15 a.m. Sweitzer was cited but not jailed. Assault charges and others were dropped. The other man was not charged. (Matt Farrand)

The past was present in Northumberland Saturday

NORTHUMBERLAND – History came alive in Northumberland Saturday as hundreds of people visited King Street Park, looked inside two historic churches and walked to some of the communities’ oldest homes. The Northumberland/Point Township History Day committee presented the event; there were dozens of displays and activities for families.

During his remarks, John Deppen of Northumberland, who portrays the Civil War General Winfield Scott Hancock, talked of the local involvement in the civil war. Deppen said in 1861, a local attorney James Taggart volunteered for the union cause and raised a local regiment.

The local unit served at Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and other battlefields. Captain Taggart was one of the very first to fall in battle from Northumberland. He died in July of 1862. The History Day activities attracted more displays and participants this year and included more vendors with food and other products. More maps of Northumberland’s historic homes walk were printed and distributed during the event.

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)

83-year-old woman dies after kidnapping by 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.

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 anytime, at www.wkok.com

Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell used the occasion of a memorial service for police officers who died in the line of duty to urge lawmakers to enact gun laws giving law enforcement greater protection.  Rendell said Monday the Legislature should "suck it in, do the right thing" and pass laws to curb gun violence.  He was among those who addressed the 15th annual memorial service of the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police. The ceremony outside the state Capitol honored four officers, including three who died last year.  Rendell and others noted that on Saturday, Philadelphia Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski became the latest of about 700 officers to die in the line of duty in Pennsylvania when he was shot while responding to a bank robbery.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The stage is set for the full Pennsylvania Senate to vote on a constitutional amendment that would outlaw same-sex marriage and civil unions in Pennsylvania.  The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the measure in an 18-8 vote Monday, and officials say a vote in the full Senate is likely on Wednesday. Proponents say it will protect marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and stop  a judge from opening the door to civil unions between gays and lesbians.  They also say it will not take away any rights, such as health-care benefits, that gays enjoy now. Opponents say it will enshrine discrimination in the state Constitution and relegate gays to second-class citizens while threatening some of the rights they have now, such as adopting children.

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

 Daily Number

     2-1-6

 Big 4

     1-5-9-6

 Treasure Hunt

     4-5-12-23-26 

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