Commissioners, judge settle on court budget

SUNBURY – Northumberland County Commissioners, and President Judge Robert Sacavage announced an agreement Monday to effectively end a dispute over the county court budget that had lingered from the end of 2009.  The courts will now get about $2.9 million dollars for 2010.  The figure is about $100,000 more than amount originally proposed for operating expenses.  The judge had sought legal action against the commissioners to reinstate the $600,000 they had initially cut. 

The commissioners also agreed to pay legal fees for both sides incurred during the dispute, totaling about $50,000.  The agreement had apparently been worked out over the weekend, through negations involving Commissioner Vinny Clausi and two court department staffers.

Rep. John Murtha of Pa. dies at 77

WASHINGTON (AP) - A spokesman says Democratic Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, a retired Marine Corps officer who became an outspoken critic of the Iraq war, has died. He was 77.  He had been suffering complications from gallbladder surgery.  In 1974, Murtha became the first combat veteran of the Vietnam War elected to Congress. He wielded considerable clout for two decades as a leader of the House subcommittee that oversees Pentagon spending. But frustration over the Iraq war led him to call for an immediate pullout of U.S. troops in 2005. 

Murtha's congressional career was clouded by questions about his ethics - from the Abscam corruption probe in 1980 to more recent investigations into the special interest spending known as earmarks and the raising of cash for election campaigns.

More snow is on the way

UNDATED – AccuWeather says our next winter storm will start late Tuesday afternoon or evening and about four to eight inches of snow is predicted. The forecast indicates that areas to our south and east will get more snow, with twelve-inch accumulations possible.

Non-profit organization in search of crutches and canes for Haiti victims

MILTON – A non-profit organization wanting to help the victims in Haiti following the earthquake came up with a unique contribution that others may not know is very much needed.  Tim Wagner is campaign manager for the “Help Haiti Walk On” initiative.  Walk On is a non-profit group that helps individuals with assistance in purchasing medical equipment and providing financial assistance related to medical hospitalization.  The local group decided they wanted to do something to help those injured in the earthquake in Haiti.

Wagner says there are a number of amputations being done to help the victims of the quake and they will need canes and crutches while they are healing, before they can be fitted for prosthetics.  Wagner says they are asking residents to donate canes and crutches to the cause.

The collection sites identified so far include the West End Fire Company in Laurelton and the Middlecreek Area Community Center in Beaver Springs.  More sites will be identified soon.  The walk on foundation can also be found online at walkonfoundation.com and on Facebook too.  (Ali Stevens)