Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Hartleton house destroyed by blaze

HARTLETON -- Fire destroyed a home in Hartleton Tuesday morning.  The blaze started around 10:30a.m. at 301 Main Street.  Union County 911 tells us no injuries were reported.  Crews from Mifflinburg, Lewisburg and tankers from Snyder County assisted at the scene.  They were clear by about 1:45p.m.  The investigation into what caused the fire will continue. (Sara Bartlett)

Crews fight fire in Snyder County silo

MIDDLEBURG – Firefighters were called to the scene of a silo fire early Tuesday morning in Snyder County.  The silo, on a farm at New Berlin Road in Franklin Township, is owned by Kenneth Smith and sustained minor damage.  The farm is located off of Route 104 outside of Middleburg. 

The blaze broke out around 6:45a.m. and crews were on the scene for about four hours.  Firefighters from Middleburg and Kreamer were called to the scene along with ladder trucks from Selinsgrove and Mifflinburg.  The investigation continues.  No injuries were reported. (Ali Stevens)

State Representative talks about severance tax for natural gas drilling

UNDATED -- A natural gas tax is now necessary in Pennsylvania.  State Representative Merle Phillips (R-108th, Sunbury) says he is ready to vote in favor of a severance tax for Marcellus Shale gas extraction, but personally thinks it should be imposed after a company has made their investment back.  Phillips spoke about the issue Tuesday on our On The Mark program.  He says, in his opinion is that businesses should not be taxed until they recoup money. 

As part of the budget agreement, lawmakers will have to pass a gas extraction tax by October 1st. Phillips talks more about the severance tax and other issues on our On The Mark program.  You can download the entire show online at www.wkok.com. (Sara Bartlett) 

Substantial grant kicks off fundraising for Project 2017 in Milton

MILTON – A local bank has contributed a substantial grant to The Improved Milton Experience as they kick off fundraising for Project 2017 in Milton.  TIME has received a $50,000 donation from Milton Savings Bank Deb Owens is Main Street Manager for TIME.

 Owens says the project is called Project 2017 because that is when they are celebrating Milton’s bicentennial and hope the work will be done and in place for the celebration.  She says they are excited to place a 4-sided Victorian street clock in the downtown and are also burying the power lines underground and doing new streetscapes with new sidewalks and lighting.  The goal for the project is $500,000. 

They have a number of fundraisers planned where area businesses can get involved purchasing plaques and signs. They will have a community meeting next week, where businesses that have helped TIME in the past will be informed about their plans for Project 2017.  (Ali Stevens)

Candidate for governor visits Penn Tech

WILLIAMSPORT -- A candidate for Governor was in Williamsport Tuesday.  Democrat Dan Onorato visited Pennsylvania College of Technology to tour their Marcellus Shale job training program.  Onorato discussed how workforce training for Marcellus Shale jobs could lead to rapid economic revival.  He backs a severance tax on Marcellus Shale drilling that is competitive with other states.  Onorato will take on Republican Tom Corbett in the general election. (Sara Bartlett)    

Two men charged after separate assaults in Northumberland County

MILTON – State police say two men were charged after separate assaults in Northumberland County.  Last night, 20-year-old Brian Byers of McEwensville was charged with assaulting a Dewart woman at a home on Turbot Avenue in Dewart.  Byers was placed in the Northumberland County Prison on a probation violation.  He is charged with simple assault, harassment, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

On Saturday, 19-year-old Michael Harlon Jr. of Milton was charged with assaulting a woman by pushing her at a home on Old Farm Lane in Milton and then damaging the windshield and passenger side mirror on her car.  State police say damages to the vehicle totaled $250.  Harlon was charged with harassment, criminal mischief and under-aged drinking.  (Ali Stevens)

Driver of a tractor trailer hospitalized after I-80 crash

TURBOTVILLE – The driver of a tractor trailer was ejected from his vehicle after a crash on Interstate 80 in Lewis Township, Northumberland County.  State police say 35-year-old Devinder Sian struck the rear of another tractor trailer stopped in front of him around 5:25 p.m Monday afternoon. Troopers say the entire cab of Sian’s tractor trailer was torn open from the impact. 

Sian was flown to Geisinger Medical Center and is listed in fair condition today.  The westbound lanes of Interstate 80 were closed for about an hour following the crash and the right lane remained closed for several hours until the wreckage was cleared.  Sian will be cited for multiple traffic violations.  The driver of the other tractor trailer was not injured.  (Ali Stevens)

Man pleads guilty to failing to help a man shot while turkey hunting

DANVILLE – A Danville man has pleaded guilty to failing to help a man who was shot by his nephew while turkey hunting in Montour County.  75-year-old Samuel Kelly was in court Monday and says he did what his nephew told him to do and leave the scene of the shooting.  During the Memorial Day shooting, Jeff Blue was hospitalized with pellet wounds.  Kelly’s nephew, 45-year-old Michael Kelly was later arrested and charged with shooting Blue in the chest and head while turkey hunting on Montour Ridge. 

The Press Enterprise reports Samuel Kelly faces two years in prison when he is sentenced for not calling for help for Blue.  His nephew Michael had a prior felony conviction barring him from possessing weapons.  He is charged with assault, reckless endangerment and a gun offense.  (Ali Stevens)

Two people injured in a crash last evening

DALMATIA – Two people from Herndon were injured in a crash last evening on Route 225 in Lower Mahanoy Township, Northumberland County. State police say a 17-year-old from Herndon turned in front of another vehicle driven by 65-year-old Roy Dunning Jr.

Dunning and his passenger, 66-year-old Sandra Dunning sustained unknown injuries in the crash. They were both taken to Geisinger Medical Center for treatment around 6:30 p.m. The teen driver, who was not identified by troopers, was not injured in the crash, but will be cited for failing to yield to oncoming traffic. (Ali Stevens)

Installation of Bishop McFadden will take place tomorrow in Harrisburg

HARRISBURG – The Installation of the Most Reverend Joseph McFadden as the 10th Bishop of Harrisburg will take place tomorrow (Wednesday) at 2 p.m. and you might be able to watch it on TV. Father Peter Hahn, Pastor of St. Leo the Great parish in Lancaster will offer commentary and insight into the Installation ceremony during a live broadcast of the event on the Pennsylvania Cable Network. More information can be found at www.pnctv.com. (Ali Stevens)

Warehouse owner faces fine, jail time after fire

DANVILLE -- A portion of the former Cabinet Industries building in Danville burned a week ago. Now its owner has to pay a fine and go to jail. Owner Gib Spradlin was charged with contempt for court for violating an order issued by Danville officials in April to stop demolition work on the Water Street building. He was reportedly removing piping from the building with a blowtorch when the fire started.

A judge in Montour County Court ordered Spradlin to pay court costs, fined him $1,000 fine and ordered him to spend 30 days in jail. Heavy smoke from the fire prompted fire officials to suggest Danville residents close their windows as the firefight continued into the late afternoon hours. (Matt Farrand)

Celebrating 200 years in Beavertown

BEAVERTOWN – Beavertown is about to celebrate its bicentennial. But in addition to its longevity, there’s plenty that’s unique about the Snyder County borough that was founded in 1810. Beavertown Mayor Bill Wagner says the community of less than 1,000 residents can boast a historical society and a veteran’s memorial park. Wagner also continues to serve as mayor without drawing a paycheck, as he has for 40 years.

Beavertown bicentennial events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday include a display of artifacts, photos and documents covering 200 years of history at the Rescue Hose Fire Hall. The big celebration begins at noon on Sunday, then runs all day and includes games and a community picnic at the Firefighters Carnival Grounds. It concludes at 9:00 p.m. with the singing of “Happy Birthday” to the borough. (Matt Farrand)

Historical Society to conduct walking tours

SUNBURY -- While enjoying the Sunbury River Festival this weekend, all are welcome to take a walking tour through the city. Hosted by Northumberland Historical Society Director Cindy Inkrote, the 30-minute tour will look at the buildings, businesses and architecture of the city, along with what has changed downtown.

This is the first year the Historical Society will do walking tours at the River Festival. Tours will take place Saturday from 10:00a.m. to noon. All who are interested should come to the SRI booth between those times. The booth will be located in Cameron Park. More information at www.sunburyriverfestival.com. (Sara Bartlett)

Four injured in Route 61 crash

ELYSBURG -- Four people were injured in a crash early this morning on Route 61 in Ralpho Township, Northumberland County. Police say the accident took place just before 1:30 a.m. when Joe Vesnefski of Shamokin was traveling at a high rate of speed and lost control of his vehicle, striking two trees near the intersection with Badman's Hill Road.

Several people were trapped inside the vehicle and the front of the vehicle was on fire. Emergency crews were able to douse the fire and keep it from spreading into the vehicle. The victims were freed from the car after more than 20 minutes.

Two passengers, Steven and Matthew Valanoski of Coal Township, were taken to Geisinger Medical Center and are listed in serious condition. Vesnefski is listed in fair condition at Geisinger. Another passenger, identified as Julieann Gusik of Catawissa, was taken to Geisinger, but her condition is not available. (Ali Stevens)

Teen in serious condition after a fall from a roof

BLOOMSBURG -- A 14-year-old boy is listed in serious condition at Geisinger Medical Center after falling from a roof. Police say Corey Lindsay fell two stories off the roof of a downtown building in Bloomsburg and landed in an enclosed entryway between two buildings. Firefighters used a ladder truck and bucket to rescue Lindsay on Sunday night around 10 p.m. It is not yet clear why the boy was on the roof and how he fell. (Ali Stevens)

Van was stolen from a home in Sunbury

SUNBURY – Police are investigating after a van was stolen from a home in Sunbury. The van was parked at a home in the 200 block of Race Street last night. The van is a white work van with “Hoagland’s Home Improvements” printed on the side. The owner of the van, Britt Hoagland, is offering a $600 reward for return of the van or information leading to the van's location.

Hoagland says all of his home improvement tools and contracts are inside the van. Anyone with information on the missing van should contact the number printed on the side of the van, which is 988-1709 or contact Sunbury Police. (Ali Stevens)

Learning more about Diabetes during “Stop Diabetes Month”

SUNBURY – This month, the stations of Sunbury Broadcasting Corporation have teamed up with Sunbury Community Hospital to help stop Diabetes through a series of news stories, local events and fundraisers. In part one of our series on Diabetes, we spoke with a local doctor about the prevalence of Diabetes in the Central Susquehanna Valley.

Dr. Bradley Starks is a family physician with Community Care of Northumberland and says Diabetes is very common in this area. He says the disease is largely inherited and obesity increases the risk. In Type 1 Diabetes your immune system attacks the pancreas, destroying its function to produce insulin.

With Type 2 Diabetes, the cells in the body become resistant to insulin and the cells cannot use it for metabolic activities. Treatment includes a special diet and an increase in exercise. Those with more severe cases also receive insulin injections.

Diabetes can cause problems with your eyes, kidneys and circulation and can put you more at risk for heart attack or stroke. Tune in this week as we continue our series on Diabetes for Stop Diabetes Month. Next we will talk with a dietician who works with patients on controlling their disease through a special diet plan. For more information on Stop Diabetes Month, go to our website at www.wkok.com. (Ali Stevens)

Middleburg man sent to prison after an assault

MIDDLEBURG – A Middleburg man is behind bars, charged with assaulting a woman in the borough last night. State police say 30-year-old Donald Stover Jr. is charged with simple assault, terroristic threats and harassment. Bail was denied for Stover at his arraignment before District Judge John Robinson. He was sent to the Snyder County Prison. (Ali Stevens)

Latest Pennsylvania news, business and entertainment

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The state's Department of Environmental Protection has fined a natural gas drilling company nearly $100,000 for a wastewater spill that contaminated a southwestern Pennsylvania watershed.  The DEP on Tuesday announced the $97,350 fine against Atlas Resources. Environmental officials say Atlas allowed hydraulic fracturing fluids used to drill in the Marcellus Shale to overfill a wastewater pit and contaminate a tributary of Dunkle Run in Washington County.  DEP officials say the spill happened in early December 2009. Environmental officials say Atlas corrected the problem but failed to  report it to the DEP.  Atlas Energy says the spill had no negative environmental consequences and the company has stepped up monitoring in response.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A Pennsylvania appellate court is siding with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. in a lawsuit over advertising that the company ran in Rolling Stone magazine in 2007.  The state Commonwealth Court's Tuesday decision overturned a Philadelphia judge who ordered Reynolds to pay a $302,000 fine or pay for an anti-smoking ad in a Pennsylvania edition of the magazine.  At issue was a fold-out Camel ad promoting independent record labels that was placed next to illustrations produced by the magazine.  The court concludes that the Reynolds ad contained no cartoons and Reynolds had no control over the placement of the magazine's illustrations.  A spokesman for state Attorney General Tom Corbett says his office is weighing whether to appeal.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The president of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh says he'll step down at the end of the 2012-2013 academic year.  President Jared Cohon announced the move Tuesday, after the school's board of trustees extended his contract by a year. Cohon came to CMU in 1997 and has the third- longest tenure as president of the school.  The private research school has about 11,000 students.  The university has not released terms of Cohon's contract, but the Chronicle of Higher Education listed his total compensation at $733,220 as recently as the 2007-08 school year.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania legislators accepted at least $67,000 in gifts from special interests last year. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Sunday that tickets to the Superbowl and Philadelphia Phillies games, and travel to destinations as distant as Rwanda are among the freebies that lawmakers listed in statements of financial interest filed with the state Ethics Commission. The value of last year's giving was less than the $93,000 in gifts that lawmakers reported in 2005 - the year that they voted in the middle of the night to give themselves generous pay raises. That set off a powerful voter backlash that resulted in the defeat of many incumbents and the passage of a new lobbyist disclosure law in 2006 that imposed strict limits on gifts and hospitality.

NARBERTH, Pa. (AP) - A suburban Philadelphia school district accused of spying on students through cameras in school-issued laptop computers has adopted new policies governing laptops and use of other technology. The measures approved unanimously by the Lower Merion School District board at its meeting Monday night had been recommended by a task force of parents, students, administrators and members of the community. A federal judge in May ordered expanded and transparent policies on the use of laptops implemented before the school year begins next month. One provision says the district will remotely access a student laptop only with written consent from students and/or their parents or guardians. Two students have filed suit alleging that their privacy was violated by use of the surveillance technology.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania legislators accepted at least $67,000 in gifts from special interests last year. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Sunday that tickets to the Superbowl and Philadelphia Phillies games, and travel to destinations as distant as Rwanda are among the freebies that lawmakers listed in statements of financial interest filed with the state Ethics Commission. The value of last year's giving was less than the $93,000 in gifts that lawmakers reported in 2005 - the year that they voted in the middle of the night to give themselves generous pay raises. That set off a powerful voter backlash that resulted in the defeat of many incumbents and the passage of a new lobbyist disclosure law in 2006 that imposed strict limits on gifts and hospitality.

PITTSBURGH(AP) - A Pittsburgh city councilman says he wants to ban Marcellus Shale drilling in the city. Councilman Doug Shields said Monday that he will introduce legislation to ban such drilling in Pittsburgh. Shields said that Pittsburgh's Community Protection from Natural Gas Extraction Ordinance will be introduced Tuesday. Shields says the purpose of the legislation is to protect the community from polluted rivers and other hazards that many have attributed to Marcellus Shale drilling in other parts of the state. Shields says he wants to retain the city's "right to local self-government."

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Updates on the latest in business:

Dow: 10,405.85, up 103.84

S&P 500: 1,092.54, up 13.16

NASDAQ: 2,209.44, up 27.57

Stocks surge...Oil higher...GM recall...BP to stop handling claims

NEW YORK (AP) - Wall Street has regained its enthusiasm for stocks. All the major indexes have been up about 1.5 percent, with the Dow ahead more than 150 points in early afternoon trading. Investors are reacting to a big jump in industrial production, a slight improvement in the housing market and some upbeat earnings reports.

NEW YORK (AP) - Oil prices are higher for the first time in five trading sessions, as stock prices climb on better economic news. Benchmark crude rose more than a dollar to over $76 a barrel in midday trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.  

WASHINGTON (AP) - General Motors is recalling nearly 250,000 crossover vehicles worldwide to inspect seat belts that could be damaged and not latch. GM says it doesn't know of any cases where the second row seat belts failed to perform properly in a crash. The recall affects 2009-2010 models of the Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - BP plans to stop processing claims from people and businesses hurt by the Gulf oil spill as it prepares to transfer that role to a government-appointed administrator. The company says it will stop accepting new claims after tomorrow. BP says it's paid roughly $368 million to individuals and businesses, including about $102 million so far in August.

GENEVA (AP) - The European Union is weighing whether to appeal a World Trade Organization ruling that condemned the bloc for illegally collecting tariffs on billions of dollars worth of high-tech goods from the U.S., Japan and Taiwan. The WTO verdict found that the 27-nation union broke trade rules by levying duties on flat-panel computer monitors, cable and satellite boxes, and combination printer-scanners.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn Tuesday:

 Mega Millions

     Estimated jackpot: $64 million

 Midday Big 4

     7-1-4-1

Midday Number

     3-0-5

Midday Quinto

     4-3-2-7-6

Powerball

     Estimated jackpot: $64 million

 Treasure Hunt

     10-11-16-23-25

     (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Young 'Lion King' thespian gets blood transplant

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. (AP) - An 11-year-old girl with leukemia who played young Nala in "The Lion King" on Broadway has undergone a potentially lifesaving procedure in New York.  Shannon Tavarez received an umbilical-cord blood transplant Tuesday at Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park, on Long Island.  The procedure was performed as an alternative to a bone marrow transplant. Her doctor said they were unable to find a perfect bone marrow match for Shannon.  A family friend says Shannon will remain in the hospital under observation while physicians ensure that her body does not reject the blood transplant. The actress was forced to quit the show in April. Cast members held a bone marrow donor registration drive for her last month.

Picasso show draws huge crowds to NYC's Met Museum

NEW YORK (AP) - Pablo Picasso is as popular as ever.  An exhibition of 300 works by the Spanish modernist drew more than 700,000 people to The Metropolitan Museum of Art between April 19 and Aug. 15. That makes it the most highly attended show since 2001.  The museum announced Tuesday that "Picasso in The Metropolitan Museum of Art" was the seventh-most attended show since it began tracking exhibition attendance 50 years ago. It averaged 6,700 visitors per day.  The smash show featured paintings, drawings, sculptures and ceramics by the artist, who died in 1973.  "Seated Harlequin" from 1901 and "The Actor" from 1904-1905 were among the masterpieces on view during the 17-week exhibition.

Wrong Hat

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - Don't wear a Florida Gators cap to an Arkansas Hogs news conference. That's the lesson Renee Gork has learned. The KAKS radio personality says she's been fired after she was sporting a Gators cap at a news conference with Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino. He even commented about her headgear. Gork, who's a Florida graduate, says she grabbed the hat without thinking because it was raining. She says she's written an apology to the university and Petrino. KAKS officials aren't commenting. But general manager Dan Storrs confirms Gork is no longer working at the station. He tells the AP they support the Razorbacks 100 percent.

Court halts Calif. gay marriages pending appeal

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Same-sex weddings in California are on hold indefinitely after a federal appeals court blocked them while it considers the constitutionality of the state's gay marriage ban. The decision, issued Monday by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, trumps Judge Vaughn Walker's order that would have allowed gay marriages to begin on Wednesday. Walker had previously ruled that the ban, known as Proposition 8, violated the constitutional rights of gays and lesbians, who he said should not face discrimination based on "moral and religious views." The appeals court won't take up the case until December, but ordered Proposition 8 sponsors to address whether they have standing to try to have Walker's ruling overturned. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and California Attorney General Jerry Brown, the original defendants in the case, support same-sex marriage and have refused to defend Proposition 8 in court.

DOT proposes installing seatbelts in motorcoaches

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal transportation officials are proposing that motorcoach operators be required to install seatbelts in their buses for the first time. Under a regulation proposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation on Monday, operators would have three years to install lap-shoulder belts. Seatbelts can reduce deaths in motorcoach rollover accidents by an estimated 77 percent. The lack of seatbelts has been cited by

investigators as a factor in several fatal accidents. Nine people were killed and 43 injured in a January 2008 crash near Mexican Hat, Utah. The bus' roof was sheared off and everyone aboard ejected except for the driver, who was wearing the only seatbelt on the bus, and one man who was pinned between two seats.

Holy month, hot days mean football nights in Mich.

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - A Michigan high school football team is holding preseason practices in the middle of the night to help its Muslim players practice both faith and football. The predominantly Muslim squad from Dearborn says the nocturnal regimen is a way for players to eat while observing the holy month of daytime fasting known as Ramadan. The August heat also played a factor in Fordson High coach Fouad Zaban's proposal to reverse the clock for practices. Cutting practice wasn't an option at football-crazy Fordson, which is coming off a one-loss season. But nobody wanted to lessen the significance of Ramadan in the Detroit suburb widely known as the capital of Arab-America.

Mindset List

MILWAUKEE (AP) - For students entering college this fall, e-mail is too slow, phones have never had cords and the computers they used as kids are in museums now. The Class of 2014 thinks of Clint Eastwood more as a sensitive director than as Dirty Harry. Few incoming freshmen know how to write in cursive or have ever worn a wristwatch. These are among the 75 items on this year's Beloit College Mindset List. The compilation released Tuesday is assembled each year by officials at this private school of about 1,400 in southern Wisconsin. List co-creators Ron Nief and Tom McBride say the list reminds teachers that cultural references familiar to them might draw blank stares from college freshmen.

Wrong hat worn

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - Don't wear a Florida Gators cap to an Arkansas Hogs news conference. That's the lesson Renee Gork has learned. The KAKS radio personality says she's been fired after she was sporting a Gators cap at a news conference with Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino. He even commented about her headgear. Gork, who's a Florida graduate, says she grabbed the hat without thinking because it was raining. She says she's written an apology to the university and Petrino. KAKS officials aren't commenting. But general manager Dan Storrs confirms Gork is no longer working at the station. He tells the AP they support the Razorbacks 100 percent.