Monday, May 12, 2008
Six picked up in Mount Carmel drug investigation
MOUNT CARMEL – Six people were taken into custody Saturday for heroin sales and related charges in Mount Carmel. The News Item reports Mount Carmel Police were assisting Children and Youth Services with an investigation of a West 3rd Street home being rented by 23-year-old Heather Smith. Once inside, several people fled throughout the home. They were apprehended, as were residents found hiding in a locked room. After being taken to the police station, Smith received a call from 25-year-old Krystal Klinger and her husband David Klinger, of Kulpmont. They were allegedly looking for someone to pick up heroin and cocaine from Reading, PA.
Smith was charged with narcotics violations and was taken to Northumberland County Prison. David Klinger is also in Northumberland County Prison on a probation warrant and Krystal Klinger faces charges of resisting arrest, simple assault and disorderly conduct. Three others face charges of possession with intent to deliver heroin including 25-year-old Daniel Joraskie Jr. of Mount Carmel, 23-year-old Marc Harvey of Bloomsburg and 19-year-old Alexa Murin of Kulpmont. (Sara Bartlett)
Warning: Do not mix cleaning agents
MIFFLINBURG – More than 60 suicides have been reported in Japan during the last month, involving people inhaling toxic gas created when common detergents and other products are mixed. The deaths underscore the danger of using more than one cleaning product in the same bucket, or on the same surface at the same time. Penn State Cooperative Extension educator Norm Conrad is based in Union County, and explains cleaning agents containing ammonia or bleach do a good job by themselves, but should never be combined. Conrad notes that volunteers mopping up after Hurricane Katrina had to be trained in proper use of cleaning products.
If cleaners containing bleach and ammonia are accidentally mixed, Conrad says it’s important to ventilate the area as soon as possible. And call 9-1-1 if you feel overcome. In early May, police in Japan evacuated more than 300 people from their homes after a neighbor mixed household detergent and other chemicals to commit suicide. Three men were also found dead in a car Monday morning in Japan, having mixed cleaners to produce toxic hydrogen sulfide gas. (Matt Farrand)Selinsgrove man arrested on rape charges
HUMMELS WHARF – A man from the Selinsgrove area is behind bars, charged with raping an 18-year-old woman in Snyder County. State troopers say 18-year-old Jordan Younkin of North Old Trail is charged with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, aggravated assault and indecent assault.
Troopers say the incident happened last Wednesday night at the back of a store in Hummels Wharf, near the Old Trail. Younkin was arraigned in front of on-call magistrate Leo Armbruster and jailed on $25,000 bail. He’ll face a hearing next Tuesday.
Teen hit by a car on Route 405
POINT TOWNSHIP – A teenager from Milton was hit by a car Sunday afternoon in West Chillisquaque Township, Northumberland County. State police say the teen ran out in front of a car on 405 at Hidden Paradise Road. The 16-year-old girl sustained moderate injuries and was taken to Geisinger Medical Center. She has not been identified due to her age. The driver of the vehicle from Watsontown was not injured. (Ali Stevens)
Rendell receives honorary doctorate from SU
SELINSGROVE – Susquehanna University’s 150th graduating class is enjoying its newly conferred degrees. President L. Jay Lemons led commencement exercises Sunday at the Garrett Sports Complex Sunday before more than 4,500 parents, friends and alumni. The class of 2008 was addressed by governor Ed Rendell. The Governor received an honorary Doctorate of Public Service from the university.
The University noted Rendell’s achievements in spearheading the first minimum wage increase in the state in nearly a decade, making lower-priced prescription drugs available to more residents, and encouraging more full-day kindergarten programs statewide. (Matt Farrand)
WKOK’s Matt Farrand chats with Gov. Ed Rendell
SELINSGROVE – WKOK’s Matt Farrand chatted with Ed Rendell Sunday afternoon, prior to the governor’s address to graduates, parents and friends of Susquehanna University. Their talk covered a range of topics. Rendell expects Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to continue to compete for the Democratic presidential nomination for a while yet.
The Governor advises not counting either of them out, and notes presumptive nominee John McCain was counted out in GOP circles a year ago. Pennsylvania Democrats supported Hillary Clinton, who received the support of Rendell, and also congressman Chris Carney.
The governor also says the Commonwealth is lucky in that the government is running a budget surplus, unlike Ohio, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Florida and California, which are running multi-million dollar budget deficits.
Rendell is optimistic for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2008, in spite of their giving up their first round draft picks. He says the addition of kick returner Deshawn Jackson, who should be able to give the Eagles offense better field position. “The Gov” again plans to provide analysis of Eagles games on the Comcast network in 2008. (Matt Farrand)
People buying one-cent stamps today
SELINSGROVE— Today’s the first day for the latest postage hike. The cost of mailing a letter goes up a cent to 42 cents. Supervisor of the Selinsgrove Post Office, Paul Lower, says they had a rush of people over the weekend buying Forever stamps. Lower says Forever stamps remain valid at the price you paid for them, regardless of rate increases. That means they would remain valid at the 41-cent mark.
However, when the rate goes up, so does the price of Forever stamps. Lower says 1-cent stamps are available for those who want to use up their old 41-cent stamps. The rate boost is part of what’s expected to be an annual price adjustment by the Postal Service. New regulations make it easier to raise rates as long as they don’t exceed the rate of inflation. Rates are to be adjusted each May. (Sara Lauver/AP)
Area woman suffers major injuries after Northumberland County crash
UPPER AUGUSTA TWP— A Sunbury woman is listed in serious condition after a two-vehicle crash in Northumberland County Saturday morning. State Police in Stonington say that 54-year-old Elizabeth Snyder was traveling southbound along Route 147 in Upper Augusta Township, when her vehicle collided with the vehicle driven by 58-year-old MaryEllen Brocavich, also of Sunbury.
Police say Brocavich was pulling out onto Route 147 from Ridge Road just before 7 a.m. That’s when Snyder’s vehicle traveled into the northbound lane, and the vehicles crashed head-on. Snyder was taken to Geisinger Medical Center with major injuries and is reported in serious condition today. Police say Brocavich suffered minor injuries, but no condition report was available. (Sara Lauver)
Police investigate break-in at Sunbury business
UPPER AUGUSTA TWP— Police are investigating a recent break-in at a business near Sunbury. State Police in Stonington say that sometime between April 25th and May 1st, a person or persons broke into the business, located along Sawmill Road in Upper Augusta Township.
Police say the burglar made off with 250 feet of wire, a stainless steel fender from a tractor-trailer and three 10-foot aluminum tubes. State Police continue to investigate this burglary and they ask anyone with information to contact them. (Sara Lauver)
Fiesta de Mayo celebrates with food and music
MILTON— Thousands of area residents took part in the first local Fiesta de Mayo held in Milton Saturday. Pastor of Congregacion Menonita Shalom, Joe Rosa, was one of the organizers of the event. He says the church had a lot of local support and many people wanted to take part in the festival.
Rosa says the event is a good way to bring the community together and allow people to experience a bit of Latino culture. The festival included food stands serving hot tamales from Mexico, bread pudding from Puerto Rico and a popular favorite, tacos.
Rosa says there was a great turnout and some of the food stands even sold out before the day was over. The day also included singers and dancers performing traditional Latin songs. He says their first year was a successful one and he’s already looking forward to next year. (Sara Lauver/Sherri Rippon)
Why are food prices going up so sharply?
SUNBURY – Why food prices are on the increase—and what does the public need to know about farming…those are the questions asked and answered on this weekend’s Roundtable program. Three guests on the program with experience in farming talk about food prices rising. The guests say food prices are higher primarily because of higher transportation costs and higher costs for labor.
Guy Temple, Mike Schrey and Charlie Benner are three of the members of the Agriculture Committee of the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce. We discuss changing facing of agriculture and how many people today have a more direct connection with farming. You can hear Roundtable anytime, at www.wkok.com.
Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell says he's happy with the bids for a 75-year lease of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. He says they're not as high as would have been expected nine months ago, when business conditions were better, but they're good for present times. Preliminary bids came in so close to each other that at least some of the bidders have been given five more days to sweeten the pot. Rendell says the highest bid that came in by Friday's deadline and all other bids that were at least 90 percent of that have until the end of the week to submit a best and final offer.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A state senator says a last-minute veto threat from Gov. Ed Rendell has derailed a proposed compromise on legislation to ban smoking in most public places in Pennsylvania. Rendell issued the threat Monday, saying he will veto any bill that pre-empts a stronger ban enacted by the city of Philadelphia. Sen. Chuck McIlhinney, who wrote the compromise bill, said a joint House-Senate committee was ready to vote on his bill, which would have stopped local governments from passing their own laws on smoking. However, McIlhinney said a majority on the committee fell apart after Rendell's veto threat made one member, Sen. Robert Mellow, reconsider. McIlhinney said he hopes a revised bill can be ready as soon as Tuesday.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Monday in the midday Pennsylvania State Lottery drawing:
Daily Number 4-1-0
Big 4 6-6-6-8
Treasure Hunt 2-8-12-21-30