Saturday, August 21, 2010
Route 405 closed at Route 44 due to a house fire in Dewart
DEWART – A house fire closed the intersection of Routes 405 and 44 in Dewart this morning. The fire started around 4:45 a.m. in a home west of the intersection. Crews from Northumberland, Union and Lycoming Counties were called to the scene.
Union County 9-1-1, which dispatches for upper Northumberland County crews, says volunteers were summoned to a fully involved structure fire. No injuries reported. The investigation continues into what caused that fire this morning. We will update this story when more information is available. (Ali Stevens)
Sunbury River Festival I: What's happening today at Sunbury River Festival?
SUNBURY -- Most of the same old favorites will surround this year's Sunbury River Festival, but folks who come out today from 9am to 6pm may notice some new things as well. For starters, much of the festival will be surrounding Cameron Park this year, allowing people to walk through the park and for the entertainment.
This year, tie-dye t-shirts will also be for sale, with proceeds going to Sunbury Revitalization Inc. There will also be River Festival mugs for sale. New this year will be a woodcarving station, where a carver will be using a chain saw whittling large pieces of wood into different shapes.
The cardboard boat regatta begins at 4pm at the Shikellamy State Park Marina. The civil war encampment has a new location this year as well. It will be in the churchyard at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church. The car cruise-in today is from 9 to 3. More information at www.sunburyriverfestival.com.
Sunbury River Festival II: Creativity "a must" at Cardboard Boat Regatta
SUNBURY -- Not all Sunbury River Festivals events are in or around Cameron Park. The fourth annual Cardboard Boat Regatta is planned for the Shikellamy State Park Marina for Saturday, with registration starting at 3:00 p.m.
Participants are asked to build boats, preferably some time in advance, out of cardboard and tape, float it in the river and race against two others. There are prizes for fastest times, most spirited, best sinking and others. The event is considered a showcase of creativity for local residents of all ages. The first cardboard boats hit the water at 4:00 p.m. (Matt Farrand)
Gubernatorial candidate tours Selinsgrove company
SELINSGROVE – Republican Gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett visited Lewisburg and Selinsgrove Friday to talk about the importance of creating and keeping well-paying jobs in Pennsylvania. He toured Playworld Systems in Lewisburg before stopping in Selinsgrove to tour L/B Water Service.
Corbett said it’s time for businesses like L/B Water Service to have someone on their side in Harrisburg. He says for far too long, state government has been an adversary to job growth. Corbett says if elected, his administration will focus on three tried and true principles that include fiscal discipline, limited government and free enterprise.
Corbett told a crowd of about 50 supporters in Selinsgrove that one of the central problems in Harrisburg isn’t a revenue problem but a spending problem. He believes now is the time for a governor who puts the interests of all Pennsylvanians ahead of Harrisburg special interests.
He has three primary points to improve the economic and business climate including tax reform and reducing the corporate net income tax, regulatory reform and cutting through red tape inhibiting growth, and legal reform by limiting excessive and frivolous lawsuits. (Ali Stevens)
Three items from the WKOK Road Report:
SUNBURY -- Here are three of the travelers advisors posted in WKOK's Road Report. PennDOT closes the intersection of Market and 11th Street in Sunbury Monday. The 10-day detour will allow the department to remove and upgrade of the existing curb ramps and installation of new concrete signal pole foundations. Monday to September 2 is the tentative time frame for that work.
Additionally, Norfolk Southern Railroad closes Market Street 3rd Street Monday. They are planning to rebuild the crossing at Market Street (Route 61) in downtown Sunbury Monday through Aug. 27. Market Street will be closed at that location and traffic will be detoured.
In Danville this week, paving continues on Route 11. Now through September 3, there will be night paving and daytime work there will be flagging and motorists should expect delays.
Arrest in 2008 vehicle theft
SHAMOKIN -- A stolen vehicle case has been solved, more than two and half years since the theft was first reported. State troopers say Alfons Keefer of Shamokin faces charges, after towing and storing a "4X4" dual wheel silver truck because of a conflict with Shamokin Police. Troopers say the vehicle was stored at a towing company since February of 2008.
The victim was described as a resident of Beaver Valley Avenue, Shamokin. Keefer faces a number of charges, including felony theft and receiving stolen property a felony. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for September 17th. State troopers they worked closely with Shamokin Police to crack the case, and countless interviews were involved. (Matt Farrand)
Bloom Road bridge is open to traffic
DANVILLE -- The Bloom Road bridge is now open to traffic in Mahoning Township, Montour County. PennDOT says the new bridge over a tributary to Sechler Run just east of the Frosty Valley Country Club opened to traffic today and a detour was lifted. Final paving at the bridge will take place sometime in September, but a detour will not be needed and normal traffic patterns will continue. (Ali Stevens)
Construction continues on Route 11 next week in Montour County
DANVILLE -- PennDOT continues to work on a four-mile resurfacing project along Route 11 in Montour County, from the Northumberland County line through Danville to Clinic Road. Night work is set for this Sunday into Monday and Monday into Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
When that work is done, the last couple of weeks in August, contractors will be working on route 11 from the American Legion to the Route 54 intersection. Work is expected to be complete in September. You can get more information at WKOK's Road Report at www.wkok.com. (Ali Stevens)
Part two in a series of Roundtable interviews…this weekend on Roundtable
SUNBURY – Our Roundtable program goes on the road this weekend for part two of our series of interviews on the Geisinger REAL program. The program involves intensive education, treatment and contact with a family that has one or more children with obesity.
There are three guests in the interview, Dr. Margaret Rukstalis—a clinical investigator, Dr. William Cochran—the vice chair of the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital, and Nicole Quinlan, a pediatric psychologist. They discuss the preventable disease, which stem from obesity including many social and mental health issues.
The REAL program is underway at Geisinger and works with families to change behaviors. It also works with the entire family to make them aware of their role in children’s health. You can hear the Part one of our series at www.wkok.com.
You can hear this weekend’s Roundtable (Sunday) on Eagle 107 (107.3FM) at 6a.m., 100.9 (100.9FM), The Valley, at 6a.m., Newsradio 1070 WKOK (1070AM) at 9a.m., Talkradio 1380 WMLP (1380AM), 11a.m. 94KX WQKX (94.1FM) at 11p.m., and anytime, at www.wkok.com
Bookstore owner tapped as Mifflinburg Elm Street Manager
MIFFLINBURG – The owner of the Page After Page bookstore in Vicksburg has been selected as the new Elm Street Manager in Mifflinburg. The job will go to Murrie Zlotziver, whose job it will be to oversee the historic district in Mifflinburg, making sure buildings are up to code and the character of the area is maintained.
The Standard Journal reports the designated areas for the Elm Street project include Market and Green Streets, where several historic buildings are located. The Elm Street program is paid for by a five-year state grant. Zlotziver plans to assemble a neighborhood committee to meet monthly and decide on goals and objectives for the project. (Ali Stevens)
Sunbury man still critical following a crash earlier this week
POINT TOWNSHIP – A Sunbury man remains in critical condition at Geisinger Medical Center following a crash earlier this week in Point Township. Police say 56-year-old Mark Hagy crossed into oncoming traffic and sideswiped a pickup truck on Route 11 at Redman Acres Road just after 11:30 Wednesday morning.
Hagy was trapped in his vehicle and had to be rescued. He was then transported to Geisinger Medical Center where he remains hospitalized in critical condition. The other motorist in the crash, 27-year-old Skyler Ashley of Sunbury, was not seriously injured. (Ali Stevens)
Shamokin native expected to named NorCo solicitor
SUNBURY – An attorney and Shamokin native is expected to get the job of solicitor in Northumberland County. The News Item reports Commissioner Vinny Clausi said Thursday that he will put Frank Garrigan Jr.’s name up for nomination at the August 31st meeting.
Garrigan, who recently returned to the area after working for 10 years as an attorney in the Chicago area, is expected to start the new job on September 1st. If approved, Garrigan will be the fourth county solicitor in a 12-month span.
Hugh Jones resigned before being appointed as a district judge in September of 2009. Vincent Rovito then took over the office, but resigned in April to dedicate himself to his private practice. Attorney Tim Bowers of Danville resigned on July 29th after only two months on the job, saying he was going to run for office in Montour County. His resignation is effective September 3rd. (Ali Stevens)
Latest Pennsylvania news, business, lottery and entertainment
TUNKHANNOCK, Pa. (AP) - Authorities say a pilot trying to familiarize himself with his new plane had to ditch in the Susquehanna River in northeast Pennsylvania after experiencing engine trouble. Officials say both men aboard escaped with only minor injuries, but endured tense moments as water filled the cockpit. Tunkhannock Community Ambulance Association Chief Michael Henn identifies the survivors as owner William Earnest and fellow pilot Steven Gay, both of Tunkhannock. The crash occurred near Skyhaven Airport in Tunkhannock, about 20 miles west of Scranton. Henn says Earnest was flying and tried to reach the shoreline. He says the single-engine Piper landed upright but soon overturned, leaving the men belted upside down before they could free themselves.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A state panel has approved regulations that establish temperature, ventilation and lighting guidelines for Pennsylvania's commercial dog kennels. The Independent Regulatory Review Commission voted 3-1 on Thursday to approve the rules, which apply to kennels that sell more than 60 dogs per year or sell to pet stores or dealers. Commercial kennels must adequately ventilate cages and monitor temperatures around the clock. Breeders must consult a veterinarian if temperatures become excessive. Commission members and animal rights activists say the legislature still has to address an inconsistency in the rules. They say there's a loophole in the law's wire floor ban that allows nursing dogs to stand on wire for months at time. The rules are expected to take effect next summer to allow kennels time to renovate.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Stocks lower...Jobless woes continue...2nd Iowa farm tied to salmonella outbreak
NEW YORK (AP) - With little reason for investors to buy, stocks headed into the weekend moderately lower. No reports came out today to offset yesterday's news that economic growth remains slow. The Dow lost 57 1/2 points, while the S&P was down nearly 4 points. The Nasdaq rose less than a point.
WASHINGTON (AP) - It's another sign the pace of job growth has slowed. The jobless rate fell in 18 states and the District of Columbia last month -- fewer than in the previous 3 months. It dropped in more than 30 states in June. The rate went up in 14 states and stayed the same in 18.
WASHINGTON (AP) - A second Iowa farm is now been tied to a salmonella outbreak that has caused more than 1,000 people to get sick. Hillandale Farms says it's recalling eggs after lab tests confirmed they're associated with illnesses. The company did not say if it's linked to another farm that recalled 380 million eggs earlier this week.
BERLIN (AP) - Air traffic officials in Europe say flights will be back to normal tomorrow, after a regional system outage today sharply limited flights around much of northern Europe today. Passengers on some 700 flights were stuck in delays that lingered into the evening.
NEW YORK (AP) - Smart phones appeared to be recession-proof, but the economic slowdown is even hitting them now. Manufacturers are having trouble building enough smart phones because makers of the chips that handle everything from memory to touch-screen controllers rolled back production last year and are scrambling to play catch up.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn Friday:
Big 4
5-8-2-9
Cash 5
06-09-17-22-32
Daily Number
2-3-6
Evening Quinto
7-1-0-1-0
Mega Millions
04-13-20-29-48, Mega Ball: 36
Megaplier
4
Midday Big 4
7-9-0-0
Midday Number
9-1-9
Midday Quinto
9-5-6-7-7
Treasure Hunt
07-18-19-26-29
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
70 years on, Britain remembers 'the few'
LONDON (AP) - Vintage World War II fighter planes will fly over London to pay tribute to "the few" - pilots who defended the country from German attack during the Battle of Britain. Between July and October 1940, Royal Air Force fighter squadrons battled German bombers that pounded Britain's cities and airfields as preparation for a planned invasion. Friday marks the 70th anniversary of Prime Minister Winston Churchill's rousing House of Commons speech in which he said of the air crews that "never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." Actor Robert Hardy will read the speech at a ceremony attended by Churchill's granddaughter and Battle of Britain veterans, followed by a fly over of Spitfire and Hurricane fighters.
Swift vs. West at MTV awards?
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- If it happens, it would be as big as Michael Jackson kissing his new bride Lisa Marie Presley, or Britney kissing Madonna. Chelsea Handler would like to see Taylor Swift come face to face with Kanye West at the MTV VMAs next month. Handler is hosting the show and would like to make it happen. Handler tells Ryan Seacrest on his radio show that she will "try to think of something clever to do with them, because that would be really fun." The last time they were on the show together, West interrupted Swift's acceptance speech.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)