Sunday, August 29, 2010
Crash detour, triathlon back up highway traffic
NORTHUMBERLAND – Traffic slowed to a crawl in and around Northumberland Borough Sunday due to a crash that closed Route 11, and the use of local roads by Riverstock Triathlon participants.
PennDOT does not expect the cleanup of the crash near Tedd's Landing to be completed until at least 12:00 noon, and motorists are advised to avoid the area. Triathlon related delays should be fewer as the race progresses. (Matt Farrand)
Rekindles bring firefighters to Blue Hill
SHAMOKIN DAM – Firefighters dealt with hot spots into Sunday afternoon after a dozen fires broke out Saturday night because of a fireworks display. The fireworks were ignited from the Shikellamy Overlook on the eve of Sunday's Riverstock Triathlon.
Union Township firefighters were dispatched to the Blue Hill area by Union County Communications to watch for, and put out, rekindles. Officials told Newsradio 1070 WKOK, the fires were not actually a major threat to property and the woodland, but would be factor if the triathlon group applies for a permit next year.
Most of the Saturday night fires were clearly visible from parts of Sunbury and Northumberland, and by boaters watching from the Susquehanna River. (Matt Farrand)
Route 11 detoured through Sunbury after crash
SHAMOKIN DAM -- An Ontario, Canada truck driver was injured in a crash that closed route 11 between Northumberland Borough and Shamokin Dam in both directions for hours on Sunday. 24-year-old Wilhelm Klassen sustained minor injuries in the 3:30 a.m. crash and was taken to Geisinger Medical Center.
State troopers say he lost control of the vehicle southbound about a quarter of a mile north of Tedd's Landing. The truck struck and embankment and rolled over.
A motorist in a car that was behind the truck collided with the trailer after the initial accident. 22-year-old Alexander Bush of Florida was not injured.
PennDOT kept the road closed into the afternoon hours for the cleanup. The truck had hauled tomatoes but was virtually empty at the time. (Matt Farrand)
Fireworks touch off Blue Hill blazes
SHAMOKIN DAM – While The Valley enjoyed one of the larges fireworks display, parts of the Blue Hill mountain were set ablaze. At least a dozen small fires broke out—and three major fires had to be extinguished.
The fireworks coincided with today’s Riverstock Triathlon. Winfield volunteer firefighters, Shamokin Dam and others were already on standby slowly brought the fires under control.
The display began at 8pm and it wasn’t until midnight the last of the smoldering areas was out. officials today WKOK, the fires were not actually a major threat to property and the woodland, but would be factor if the triathlon group applies for a permit next year.
Most of the incidental fires were clearly visible from most parts of Sunbury and Northumberland, and the many boaters watching the fireworks from the Susquehanna River. No injuries were reported.
Tomato wreck blocks busy highway
SHAMOKIN DAM – Two drivers were hurt, Route 11 is closed near Shamokin Dam and there is a big clean-up underway, after a crash today. It happened between Northumberland and Shamokin Dam around 3:30 a.m. and the road has closed in both directions since.
Troopers say the crash involved a tomato truck and a car. Only minor injuries were reported. One of the vehicles involved rolled over and an ongoing cleanup effort is underway.
Fire police in both Snyder and Northumberland Counties are directing traffic away from the scene and through Sunbury via Routes 61 and 147.
Officials note that the truck was mostly empty, but the cleanup could last into the late morning hours. (Matt Farrand)
Fatal wreck discovered six hours after crash
SELINSGROVE – One person died in a crash that was not found until six hours after it happened. 51-year-old Michael Curry of Richfield died in the single vehicle accident along Route 35, about a quarter of a mile west of Route 104 in Snyder County's Perry Township.
Homeowners in the area say they heard a loud noise at about 1:00 a.m. Saturday. However, the accident was not discovered until nearly 7:00 a.m. Curry's vehicle struck an embankment and a large stump before rolling onto its roof. Curry was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene by a deputy county coroner. (Matt Farrand)
Motorist injured in chain reaction crash
HUMMEL'S WHARF -- A Bloomsburg motorist will be cited after a chain reaction crash near the Susquehanna Valley Mall. State troopers say the car driven by 55-year-old Virginia Cichoskie hit an SUV, which was stopped at a red signal, which in turn hit a pickup truck.
All three drivers were wearing safety belts. However, Cichoskie was taken to Sunbury Community Hospital, where she was treated and released for minor injuries. Cichoskie will be cited for following other vehicles too closely following the accident along Routes 11 & 15, reported shortly after 4:00 p.m. (Matt Farrand)
Roundtable has a coaches Roundtable—four noted local coaches interviewed
SUNBURY – The Roundtable discussion this weekend focuses on the changes in high school football from recent decades—to today. Our guests are Dick Purnell, Dick Hort, Ray Pottios, Phil Lockcuff and Dave Six. All are local, noted, successful high school coaches.
Pottios and Lockcuff agreed that fewer local high school football players are recruited for football these days, but there is an increase in other athletes who are recruited and wrestling is still heavily recruited.
The coaches also speak out against having high school athletes focus too much on one sport and they also discuss the pressure students receive from parents. You can hear 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
Atlas man still critical after being hit by car
ATLAS -- An Atlas man is still hospitalized after being struck by a car Friday night. A nursing supervisor at Geisinger Medical Center says 80-year-old Philip Steinbacher remains in critical condition.
Steinbacher was attempting to cross Route 61 at Mulberry Street just after 8:00p.m. when he was hit by the vehicle, driven by a 22-year-old from Mount Carmel. The motorist reportedly tried to swerve and avoid Steinbacher, but was not able to. (Sara Bartlett)
Mercersburg man injured in Snyder County crash
BEAVERTOWN -- A Mercersburg man was injured in a crash this (Saturday) morning. Around 2:00a.m., 28-year-old Shane Metcalfe was driving on Route 522 in Beaver Township, Snyder County when he attempted to pass another car and lost control of his vehicle.
He hit a ditch and a fence, then rolled over before coming to rest. Metcalfe sustained moderate injuries and was taken to Geisinger Medical Center. He will be cited for careless driving. (Sara Bartlett)
Point Township assault Saturday
NORTHUMBERLAND – A man from Maryland is jailed after a violent incident at a local campground. Point Township police tell us 45-year-old Gregory White of Thurmont, Maryland is facing simple assault and other charges. They say he assaulted a woman around 1:30 this morning at the Splash Magic Campground.
New Bucknell President snips ribbon at downtown bookstore
LEWISBURG – Bucknell University President John Bravman cut an orange and blue ribbon Friday, and officially opened the Barnes & Noble in downtown Lewisburg. Dozens of officials responsible for coordinating, building and financing the $10 million dollar project were on hand for the grand opening.
The store will serve as the student bookstore for Bucknell University, and is decorated with images of students from long ago such as Baseball Hall of Fame member Christy Mathewson. Lewisburg Mayor Judy Wagner calls the sense of history contained within the renovated walls an impressive reminder of the borough’s past.
Austin Burke, secretary of the state Department of Community and Economic Development acknowledged the role the university played in the $10 million dollar project. He described the university as an “anchor institution” for the community.
Bucknell University students also attended, including senior Brad Brown of Milton, who says it’s an exciting new beginning both for his fellow students and the downtown area. Barnes & Noble will manage the store which was paid for largely by state and local grants. The store has been open to the public since late June. (Matt Farrand)
Route 11 roadwork to continue through next week
DANVILLE -- Motorists are noticing some lengthy backups as construction continues along Route 11 in Danville. Extensive repairing and paving roadwork has been underway. More than half-hour delays have been reported, as motorists go through flaggers and lane changes. Michael Hess, Safety Press Officer at PennDOT, says now the Route 11 and 54 intersection is open to two lanes so that should help with traffic flow.
Still, there is paving continuing on Route 11. Hess says to ease delays; they will try to do as much night work as they can, though day work is in the plans too. Work on Route 11 in Danville is expected to continue through September 3rd. For updates you can go to our Road Report page online at www.wkok.com. (Sara Bartlett)
Teen in custody after leading police on chase in Selinsgrove
SELINSGROVE -- A juvenile will be charged as an adult after leading police on a chase through Selinsgrove in a stolen vehicle. Selinsgrove Police say around 2:20a.m. Friday they were making a routine traffic stop when the vehicle fled. The vehicle was driven by 17-year-old Edwin Alequin Jr. of Reading.
Alequin led police on a chase through Selinsgrove, crashing into an embankment at University Ave. and 18th Street. He then put the vehicle in reverse, hitting a police car. The vehicle chase ended at the Pine Meadows Apartment complex. That's when Alequin and another person fled the scene on foot. Police found Alequin hiding in an apartment. It was found that he was driving a stolen vehicle.
Alequin was arraigned before District Judge Jeffrey Mensch and is in Snyder County Prison on $50,000 bail. He faces a number of charges including felony aggravated assault, receiving stolen property and fleeing and eluding police.
Selinsgrove State Police were assisted by State Police from Lewistown and Stonington, along with a helicopter from Montoursville. Selinsgrove, Shamokin Dam and Sunbury Police also assisted. Police are still searching for the person that fled the vehicle with Alequin. Anyone with information is asked to call 374-8145. (Sara Bartlett)
Abundant frosh at S-U
SELINSGROVE – It’s a record breaking freshman class preparing to start classes at Susquehanna University. More than 640 first-year students were welcomed to campus on Thursday, with close to 2,300 students expected to start classes on Monday, which is about a 4% increase over last year.
This is Susquehanna University’s 153rd academic year and applications were up 5% over the last year. Admissions director Chris Markle says the community works hard to make the students feel welcome when they arrive in Selinsgrove.
New students will be introduced to the community on Saturday through the 18th annual SU GIVE day of volunteerism. Hundreds of students, faculty and staff will be placed at dozens of off-campus sites throughout the region, including hospitals, retirement homes, parks, churches and animal shelters to do volunteer work. (Ali Stevens)
New Bucknell Prez snips ribbon at downtown bookstore
LEWISBURG – Bucknell University President John Bravman cut an orange and blue ribbon Friday afternoon, and officially opened the downtown Barnes & Noble, that will also serve as the student bookstore.
Dozens of community members responsible for coordinating, building and financing the $10 million dollar project were on hand for the start of what is being billed as a grand opening weekend.
Bucknell University students also attended, including Brad Brown. The senior from Milton called the day an exciting one, and says the new store give students another reason to go to an already vibrant downtown area. Barnes & Noble will manage the store, which was paid for largely by state and local grants. (Matt Farrand)
Shikellamy marina main launch closed for triathlon Sunday
SUNBURY – Weekend boaters bound for Lake Augusta are reminded Shikellamy State Park’s main boat launching area will be closed Sunday to accommodate for the Riverstock Triathlon. The main launch near the park office will remain closed until at least 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Alternate launch facilities are available at the Hanover Street boat launch in Northumberland, and the point boat launch ramp next to Northumberland Sewer Plant. Fireworks are also scheduled at the park Saturday night. Visitors can view the fireworks from the main marina park area. (Ali Stevens)
Six people charged in a drug bust will face their charges in court
SHAMOKIN – Six people charged with drug offenses have waived their rights to a preliminary hearing and will face charges against them in court. The six people were charged during a drug bust on July 22nd in the Shamokin Area.
They include 29-year-old Boyd Lahr, an inmate at the Northumberland County Prison, 38-year-old Heidi Rugh of Shamokin, 36-year old Alba Wehr of Coal Township, 21-year-old Rodney Cossari of Kulpmont, 24-year-old Jonathan Gregory of Coal Township and 22-year-old Christina Hepner of Shamokin. 14 people were arrested in that drug bust. (Ali Stevens)
One day in jail for a man who threatened a health care worker
DANVILLE – A man who threatened a Geisinger Health Plan employee in Danville will have to spend 24 hours in prison and a year on probation. 64-year-old William Noble of Tunkhannock is accused of calling an employee on May 14th and after getting upset, told the person that he was going to visit the office and said, “somebody is going to die.”
Noble pleaded guilty to making terroristic threats. Noble was on the phone with GHP for two hours that day and claims that he “just blew up” that day. The employee took the threat seriously and called police and the building was locked down. Noble was arrested at his home in Tunkhannock. He must report to the Montour County Prison today to serve his 24-hour sentence. (Ali Stevens)
Major rate hike approved for Danville sewer customers
DANVILLE -- A more than 60 percent increase in sewer rates was approved by the Danville Municipal Authority this week. Effective October 1st, sewer rates in Danville will increase 62 to 63 percent for homes and businesses due to a state-ordered $24-million upgrade of the Danville sewage treatment plant.
Increases for residential customers are expected to be about $107, while businesses can expect a $164 increase. Restaurants will have an increase of more than $214. Upgrades at the sewer plant are expected to cost about $18-million. (Ali Stevens)
Sunbury's skyline changed Thursday
SUNBURY -- What was said to be the tallest structure in Sunbury was brought down Thursday. Salvage and demolition crews imploded two smoke stacks and a boiler house at the Knight-Celotex property. One structure was 250' tall, the other 180' tall. John Koehler of Winchester Blasting Services in Knoxville, Tennessee says the demolition was challenging, but it went well.
He says it was difficult to control that much force, since there was steel in the structure that was an inch and a half thick. He says that takes a lot of energy, but the smoke stacks and building flattened exactly how they envisioned. The structures have quite a history, originally being built in 1898 as a textile mill. In 1955 it was most known as a board mill. The plant was shut down in Fall 2008.
Bruce Rea, of Scrap Trading, LLC says the property does have a future. Moran Industries of Watsontown plans to buy the property and develop it into a logistics site. They may use the railway perhaps for Marcellus Shale or other gas industry business. (Sara Bartlett)
Northumberland County Courthouse air test results
SUNBURY -- Air quality test results in the Northumberland County Courthouse have come back saying the air is safe. Chief Clerk Kymberley Best says that means the work environment in the courthouse is safe, and air-scrubbing fans will be uninstalled.
Best says test results for surface bacteria will be in next week. The issue started about four months ago when six employees in the Register and Recorder's office suffered respiratory problems. All six of the employees have filed workmen's compensation claims.
Best says she understands concerns, but they are doing their best to find out the source of the employees' illnesses. She says they are relieved to find out that the air quality is in normal limits, and will wait for the surface test results to take further action. (Sara Bartlett)
Superintendent miffed by "Race to the Top" award decision
LEWISBURG -- The superintendent of the Lewisburg Area School district says he's disappointed that Pennsylvania was not among states to be awarded a portion of more than $4.3 billion dollars in federal money for education. Dr. Mark DiRocco says he's perplexed that the "Race to the Top" grants were awarded on a competitive basis.
Dr. DiRocco says the decision was made by the federal Department of Education, and notes that they already have established protocol that could have equitably distributed money to every district in the nation. Governor Ed Rendell expressed similar disappointment after nine other states and the District of Columbia were awarded the second round of "Race to the Top" grants last week.
Meantime, the failure of Congress to pass a measure that would have given the commonwealth $250 million dollars to subsidize education is causing some districts to again look at their annual budgets. However, Dr. DiRocco says the Lewisburg District made up for the expected $28,000 shortfall by not hiring an additional elementary school teacher originally in the 2010-2011 budget. (Matt Farrand)
High school home game fee waived by university
LEWISBURG -- The Lewisburg Area High School football team is getting a break from the high cost of using Bucknell's Christy Mathewson Memorial Stadium. The Green Dragons will continue to use the university's field as its site for home games, but will only have to cover costs as needed for security and traffic control.
The university had previously charged the district $1,000 per home game for use of the stadium. Booster clubs will also be allowed to make money through the sale of food at stadium concession stands for the first time. Superintendent Dr. Mark DiRocco credits Bucknell for approaching the district with the revised plan. The school board approved it Thursday night. (Matt Farrand)
New Berlin teen charged with selling pot prior to deadly Mifflinburg shooting
MIFFLINBURG -- A New Berlin woman has been charged for supplying marijuana to teens shortly before a deadly shooting in Mifflinburg. 18-year-old Kali Kenton admitted to police that she sold one gram of marijuana to both 17-year-old Anthony Hernandez and a 16-year-old boy May 8th. Shortly after, Hernandez was shot and killed by 18-year-old Alexander Shoemaker of Mifflinburg.
Police say around 1:15a.m., Kenton went to 733 Walbash Road after receiving a call from the 16-year-old. She sold the marijuana to the teens and then left the residence. It was around 1:25a.m. that police were called to the scene for a report of a shooting.
Hernandez was taken to the hospital where he later died of a single gunshot wound to the chest. Shoemaker has been charged with the shooting and could face up to seven years in prison is found guilty.
Kenton also told police later in the day May 8th, that friends visited her at her New Berlin home and returned drug paraphernalia that was used by the teen boys.
She later destroyed all of the items according to police. Kenton faces two felony charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. She also faces misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance and corruption of minors. (Sara Bartlett)
A rate increase request, filed by PPL, is advancing
ALLENTOWN – It won’t be until this fall that we know how much PPL’s electric rates will be going up but we know they will be going up. PPL and the state Public Utility Commission have reached a private, tentative agreement on the proposed increases in distribution rates. The amount of the increase on which the two sides now agree, is not yet being disclosed.
PPL was seeking an approximately $7 per month increase in the average residential rate. While the utility and the PUC have a tentative agreement, it still needs to be approved by an administrative law judge and the full commission.
PPL’s distribution division wants the rate increase to offset the nearly one billion dollars in system improvements they’ve made in the past five years. In addition, they say they will continue improvements totaling $1.5 billion in the future.
This rate increase, which will take effect next year, comes on the heels of a 30% increase in residential generation rates, which took effect in the beginning of 2010.
Judge Ranck to be remembered in Northumberland County Court
SUNBURY -- A special session of Northumberland County court will be held next week to honor the late Judge Samuel Ranck. In accordance with tradition, President Judge Robert Sacavage appointed a memorial committee of the Northumberland County Bar Association to prepare a resolution that will be presented at the services.
Members of the Bar and court-related personnel will also offer recollections of the judge, who served more than 30 years on the bench. Ranck died last month at the age of 82. His family will attend during the ceremony Tuesday, August 31st at 11:30a.m. The public is invited to attend in courtroom one at the Northumberland County Courthouse. (Sara Bartlett)
Golf Tourney a huge success
LEWISBURG -- Though no one made a hole-in-one to win a new car, the Evangelical Community Hospital golf classic was a huge success. Last week's event raised more than $30,000 for Evan's pre-hospital services. Nearly 230 golfers played and participated in a silent auction, along with many contests. This is the 24th year for the golf tournament. (Sara Bartlett)
Professor seeking study participants
LEWISBURG -- An assistant professor of psychology at Bucknell University is looking for volunteers. Ruth Tincoff is conducting a study on just how babies understand and how they connect words with their meanings. She is seeking local families with babies who are 4 months to 2-years-old. Appointments will take about a half-hour and will be arranged at the family's convenience.
The study includes two parts. The first, parents sitting with their child as they watch a video. The second, parents playing games with their child while they act out words such as 'sit' and 'hug.' Tincoff is looking at cognitive skills and a child's ability to adapt to information their parents give them. Anyone interested in participating in the study is asked to call 577-1828. (Sara Bartlett)
Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - A former NFL lineman convicted of accepting a payoff while working as a northeastern Pennsylvania county commissioner has won a delay in serving his two-year federal prison sentence and may be getting a shorter commute for visitors. Former Luzerne County commissioner Greg Skrepenak was scheduled to report to prison Monday to begin serving his sentence. But U.S. District Judge Richard Conaboy on Friday said he can report Sept. 16, and he said he would recommend that prison officials send Skrepenak to a minimum-security camp in Wayne County, about an hour from Wilkes-Barre. Defense attorney Peter Moses said the later start date will let his client address family and personal matters and a closer location would let him maintain contact with his children and the community. Skrepenak played six seasons in the NFL for the Raiders and Panthers.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Last week Gov. Ed Rendell signed three more death warrants, but don't expect the inmates to be executed any time soon. Rendell, a death penalty supporter, has signed 113 execution warrants during his two terms. But it appears highly likely he will leave office in a little over four months without seeing any of them carried out. Since Pennsylvania reinstated the death penalty in the 1970s, only three men have been put to death, and all had given up their appeals. The state's last contested execution occurred in 1962, even though the commonwealth currently has about 215 men and five women awaiting execution, including 50 who were sentenced back in the 1980s. Despite the lack of executions and the continual flow of inmates sentenced to death by county courts, the number of inmates awaiting capital punishment is on a gradual decline. At one point the Corrections Department housed nearly 250 condemned inmates, but their ranks have been thinned by appeals court and trial court reversals, resentencings to life in prison and deaths by natural causes and suicide. But Pennsylvania still has the fourth-largest death row in the nation.
BENSALEM, Pa. (AP) - Another parent has been accused of leaving his children in the car while gambling at a suburban Philadelphia casino a week after the state gambling board said the casino was not doing enough about the problem. Bensalem police say it's the sixth time this summer that parents have left children in the car while playing slots or table games at the Parx Casino. Parx Casino officials have said they have taken steps such as adding more parking lot patrols during busy times. They say players involved in such incidents are permanently banned from the casino. Bensalem public safety director Fred Harran says state lawmakers should set a five-year mandatory minimum jail sentence for such parents. He says police are doing their best, but they cannot enforce common sense.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A Pennsylvania agency says it's considering enforcement action after 41 of 74 companies drilling for Marcellus shale natural gas missed a deadline to report their wells' production. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said Friday that it will contact the companies that missed the Aug. 15 deadline and pursue whatever enforcement action it deems necessary. Nine of the 41 companies submitted reports after the deadline. DEP Secretary John Hanger says he's troubled by the level of noncompliance. A new state law forces gas companies to report production totals every six months. Those reports, and a list of the companies that didn't report, are being posted on the agency's website.
HERSHEY, Pa. (AP) - Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin says the national debt is one of country's biggest challenges and that it's immoral to mortgage the nation's future with excessive borrowing. Her remarks came during a 40-minute speech Friday to the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Family Institute in a sold-out hotel ballroom in Hershey. It was a fundraising banquet for the group, which championsnschool choice and has battled access to abortion, gambling and same-sex marriage. Her remarks largely dealt with social issues such as abortion, but she also says she wants to see more women enter politics and strong support for Israel as a U.S. ally. The former Alaska governor is also expected to be a featured speaker Saturday in Washington at television host Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally on the Washington Mall.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Update on the latest in business:
New vessels aim to strengthen Great Lakes research
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Two new research vessels being built for the U.S. Geological Survey's Great Lakes Science Center are expected to help strengthen the agency's research on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. The boats are due to be completed in September 2011. They'll replace the two oldest research vessels in the agency's Great Lakes fleet: The Sandusky, Ohio-based R/V Musky II and the Oswego, N.Y.-based R/V Kaho. Russell Strach directs the Ann Arbor-based Great Lakes Science Center. He says the new roughly 65-foot vessels will be modern floating labs better suited for studying Great Lakes fisheries than the old boats. The vessels will be built by Cleveland-based Great Lakes Towing Co. under an $8.2 million contract that's funded by federal stimulus money.
Chevron: Most oil removed from Utah leak site
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A Chevron spokesman says very little of the 33,000 gallons of oil that spilled into a Salt Lake City creek in June remains in the area. Spokesman Dan Johnson tells the Desert News for a story published Saturday that crews have identified and removed most of the visible oil at Red Butte Creek, and "hand-washing" operations have ceased. Johnson says the bulk of the cleanup effort has focused on the actual spill site, where 1,250 tons of oil-stained soil has been removed. Plans also call for re-contouring the ground where the oil seeped from a 10-inch diameter pipe on June 11 spill.
Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn Saturday:
Big 4
1-2-3-0
Daily Number
5-6-1
Evening Quinto
5-7-0-1-1
Midday Big 4
6-1-1-0
Midday Number
4-1-7
Midday Quinto
7-0-0-9-1
Treasure Hunt
16-20-21-23-24
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Numbers confirm it: Summer was a scorcher
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New numbers confirm what the sweaty brows of Northeasterners have been saying for months: The summer of 2010 was a record-breaking scorcher. Preliminary figures from the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University show 28 cities from Washington, D.C., to Caribou, Maine, set record highs for average temperature from March through August. The records are expected to stand, as the remaining days of August are forecast to be hot. Art DeGaetano of the climate center says the average temperature during spring and summer in Manhattan's Central Park is up by 5 degrees, to 67.5. Scorching temperatures and high humidity made it feel like at least 100 degrees in other parts of the country, prompting heat advisories in 18 states. But the unrelenting heat is unusual in places like Burlington, Vt., and Portland, Maine.
Ono to mark John Lennon's 70th birthday in Iceland
NEW YORK (AP) - Yoko Ono is planning a series of events in Iceland to mark what would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday. The artist and peace campaigner will light the Imagine Peace Tower illuminated memorial, located on the island of Vioey near the Icelandic capital Reykjavik, on Oct. 9. A special performance by the Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band will follow the ceremony. Lennon's widow is also expected to present awards from the Lennon Ono Grant for Peace, created to honor the former Beatle's peace activism. Lennon was fatally shot outside the couple's Manhattan apartment building on Dec. 8, 1980.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)