Wednesday,
March 10, 2010
Security laid off in NorCo
SUNBURY – Eight
Northumberland County security guards have been notified that their
services are no longer needed. Northumberland County Chief Clerk
Kymberley Best tells us the security guards were laid off in a cost
cutting measure with local company, Allied Barton, taking over the
job. Best says outsourcing Allied Barton will save the county about
$60,000 a year.
The eight
workers were notified Tuesday that they will be out of a job at the
end of March, but Best says they can apply to work for Allied
Barton, although there are no job guarantees. Allied Barton will
take over security detail in Northumberland County April 1st,
with jobs such as guarding the doors at the county courthouse. (Ali
Stevens)
Lark’s preliminary hearing delayed
SUNBURY – The
preliminary hearing for a Northumberland woman accused of stealing
nearly $300,000 from the Northumberland Borough Sewer Authority has
been delayed. Cynthia Lark’s attorney asked for a continuance,
which was granted by District Judge Robert Bolton. This delays the
hearing until April 7th.
An investigation
into the misuse of funds found that Lark, the Authority’s former
clerk and a former member of the borough council, was putting
additional money on her paycheck, and forging signatures of the
Authority’s president and accountant.
The theft was
nearly $300,000 over a 5-year period. She stepped down from both
positions last week, and is free on $20,000 bail. (Sara Bartlett)
Washingtonville farm shed fire ruled accidental
WASHINGTONVILLE
– A fire Saturday night that destroyed a shed, pen and workshop at a
farm near Washingtonville has been ruled accidental in nature.
State Police Fire Marshal Norman Fedder says the fire started in a
garage in the area of a battery charger on the Ralph Snook property
at 1626 Continental Boulevard.
Three hogs were
killed in the fire and some farm equipment was destroyed. The fire
started around 10 :00p.m. on Saturday and took crews from
Washingtonville, Millville, Riverside, Valley Township and Warrior
Run about one hour to bring it under control. Damage is estimated
at $35,000 and Fedder says Snook is not insured. (Ali Stevens)
Lewisburg fire cause undetermined
LEWISBURG – The
cause of a fire that destroyed a Lewisburg home and left a family of
seven homeless has been ruled undetermined in origin. A state
police fire marshal says the blaze that broke out around 3:30p.m.
Sunday at 83 Whitetail Lane originated in the garage area where
there was a stand up freezer and spread to the home. Because of the
amount of damage, no cause could be determined. The home is owned
by Edwin Martin. Damage is estimated at $115,000. (Sara Bartlett)
Changes coming to the 570 area code
HARRISBURG –
Changes are on the way for those in the “570” area code as the last
phone numbers available will soon be gone. Jennifer Kocher of the
Public Utility Commission tells us public hearings have been held to
get public input on what to do when all the numbers in the “570”area
code are taken.
Kocher explains
one of the options being considered is called an overlay, which
means once the “570” area code numbers are all taken, any new
numbers that would be issued would have a different area code.
The other option
is a “geographic split” and that would take the “570” area code and
split it, with one section retaining the “570” area code and another
section getting a new area code. There are currently four options
on how the area would be split and the PUC would have to choose one
option.
The final public
hearing will take place at the end of March in Lock Haven. You can
learn more about the “570” area code changes on the Public Utility
Commission’s website at
www.puc.state.pa.us. (Ali Stevens)
Sunbury horse found safe
SUNBURY – The
owner of a horse missing since Monday night tells us the horse has
been found safe and is doing well. The 1,800-pound mare bolted
though a fence along Mile Run Road south of Sunbury and a neighbor
about a mile away found the horse Tuesday.
The owner tells
us the neighbor, who found the mare, heard about the missing horse
on our sister station 94KX and contacted State Police. The neighbor
brought the horse in and kept the mare safe. The horse named “John
Quill” has been returned to the owner and is said to be doing very
well today.
A
local “biggest loser” competition
LEWISBURG – If
you’ve seen the television show The Biggest Loser, an upcoming event
in Lewisburg may grab your interest. The Flock of Friends Relay for
Life team is holding a fun competition to raise money for the relay
and offer a cash prize to the winner. Organizer Tara Michaels says
for $30.00 all are welcome to enter the weight loss competition.
Michaels says
they have teamed up with the Lewisburg Area Recreation Authority,
and included in the fee are classes and activities, as well as
confidential body measurements and weigh-ins each week to keep
everyone on track of their goals.
The winner of
the competition will win half of the registration money, and the
other half will be donated to Relay for Life. All are invited to
participate. The competition begins next month, but
pre-registration is encouraged. For more information or to register
you can e-mail michaels@dejazzd.com, call 522-8334, or go online to
www.golara.org. (Sara Bartlett)
Moving forward with elementary school construction
DANVILLE – The
Danville School Board has moved forward on construction of a new
elementary school. The board voted unanimously on Tuesday to award
contracts to five low bidders, totaling $18-million. Contracts were
awarded for general construction, electrical work, heating and
air-conditioning, plumbing and fire protection. Construction on the
elementary school is expected to begin early next month. The total
cost of the project could reach almost $23-million according to
school officials. (Ali Stevens)
Cow rescued
WINFIELD –
Firefighters from the Union Township Fire Department and William
Cameron Engine Company were able to rescue a cow that fell into the
deep end of a swimming pool in the Winfield area Tuesday afternoon.
The Standard-Journal reports the cow fell into a pool at 305 Amish
Road in Union Township while the homeowner was mowing the grass.
Vince Powell
called 911 when he discovered the large cow suspended in the pool,
caught in a cover, which had been over the pool. The rescue workers
were able to guide the cow into the shallow end using the pool cover
and then used a backhoe to pull the animal out of the water to
safety. The cow had apparently wandered onto the Powell property
from a nearby farm. (Ali Stevens)
Port Trevorton woman injured when her
bike is struck by a car
PORT TREVORTON – A Port Trevorton woman was taken
to Geisinger Medical Center with moderate injuries after a car while
riding her bicycle struck her. State police say 23-year-old Christie
Martin was riding her bike down a driveway and tried to turn onto
Routes 11 and 15 near Ferry Hill Road.
Troopers say a passing motorists struck her Monday
morning. Martin was transported to Geisinger Medical Center with
moderate injuries, but her condition is not known. The driver from
Port Trevorton was not injured and will not be charged for the
incident. (Ali Stevens)
Unofficial
candidate list outlines races to watch
HARRISBURG – Candidates running for the State
House or the US Congress had until Tuesday afternoon to file
petitions with the Department of State. An unofficial candidates
list was revised late in the day. Local election officials stress
that petitions filed have yet to be evaluated and certified, a task
that won’t be completed until the 29th of the month.
Two Republicans and four Democrats are among
candidates who are looking to succeed retiring Democrat Bob Belfanti
(D-107th, Mount Carmel). Kurt Masser of Ralpho Township and Sam
Scicchitano will vie for the GOP nomination.
Democrats in search of their party’s 107th
District nomination include Myron Turlis of Kulpmont, George Zalar
of Coal Township, Ted Yeager of Ralpho Township and alternative
energy promoter Steve Bartos. The Mount Carmel Democrat is on
Belfanti’s staff. Republican Michael Engle was among names heard
early, but apparently did not file.
There will likely be a Republican primary to see
who will succeed the retiring Merle Phillips (R-108th, Sunbury). His
legislative aide Lynda Schlegel-Culver is on the candidate list, as
is Northumberland County Controller Chuck Erdman, and former county
commissioner Sam Deitrick.
Stanley Geiswhite of Sunbury and Ken Snyder were
names talked of earlier, but were not on the list supplied late
Tuesday by the Department of State. Antonio Michetti of Jordan
Township remains the lone Democrat.
Meantime, Three Republicans are vying for the
nomination that they hope will see them win the state house seat
held for years by the retiring Russ Fairchild (R-85th, Winfield).
Maurice Brubaker and Betsy Snook of East Buffalo Township, as well
as Fred Keller of Middlecreek Township have filed. Trey Casimir of
Lewisburg is the lone Democrat.
And a couple of republicans whose names were
mentioned early for the 10th District GOP congressional nomination
did not apparently have enough support to file. Steven Solieri of
Lake Ariel and Pike County’s Ted Yale were not on the candidates
list.
However, Republicans Malcolm Derk, Tom Marino and
David Madeira were. They will likely be in a May primary, and the
winner among them will face incumbent Democrat Chris Carney (D-10th,
Dimock), who is running without a challenge from his party. (Matt
Farrand)
Woman who hired
hitman seeks shorter sentence
SUNBURY – A woman expected to serve up to 17 ½
years behind bars for trying to hire someone to kill her
ex-boyfriend will not be granted a lesser sentence. 30-year-old
Christeen Smith filed a post-sentence motion in Northumberland
County for a reduced sentence from the one she received several
weeks ago.
President Judge Robert Sacavage denied the request
and also will not allow her to withdraw her guilty plea to
aggravated assault. Smith pleaded guilty in exchange for charges of
criminal solicitation of homicide and terroristic threats being
dropped against her. Smith was arrested in April of 2008 when police
say she tried to hire an undercover state trooper to kill Donald
Ellis of Sunbury. (Ali Stevens)
Local attorney
kicks off campaign for 108th seat
HERNDON – Local Attorney Antonio Michetti has
kicked off his campaign for the 108th State House Seat currently
held by State Representative Merle Phillips (R-108th, Sunbury). The
Democrat says he has received hundreds of signatures from supporters
in Snyder and Northumberland counties. Petitions are due today
(Tuesday) for those interested in running.
Michetti is the lone Democrat in the race.
Republicans running include Northumberland County Controller Chuck
Erdman, former Northumberland County Commissioner Sam Deitrick,
Wood-Mode employee Stanley Geiswhite, Representative Phillip’s
legislative aide Lynda Schlegel-Culver and Riverside resident Ken
Snyder.
Safety changes
in Winfield will improve Rt. 15
SUNBURY – Road projects to enhance safety along
Route 15 near Winfield will get underway this summer. Union Township
Supervisor Billy Allred says they have committed to PennDOT that two
intersections with Route 15, at Seven Kitchens Road and Reitz
Avenue, will be reconfigured.
He says the two roads will be combined into a new
road in between the original roads. They are also purchasing a small
plot of lane along the railroad to construct the road. Allred says
it will make a much safer driving area. Allred says the
reconfiguration is consistent with the planned bridge in the CSVT
project and will be paid for through safety funds issued by the
federal government.
Other road projects in that area include road
widening, creating a turning lane and adding shoulders to the area
of Route 15 near the Route 304 intersection. Construction is
expected to begin this summer. Traffic will be able to get through
during the work, with only one lane being closed at a time. (Sara
Bartlett)
Bucknell
volunteers fight local hunger
LEWISBURG – Bucknell University hosted their
annual Empty Bowls program Tuesday. The program is a fundraiser,
with proceeds going to Community Harvest; a free meal served to
community members in need each weekday in the Milton area.
Poppy Goforth, Director Community Service at
Bucknell, says Empty Bowls is their biggest fundraiser, with each
participant giving $10.00. They get a bowl; made by Bucknell
students, and can eat from a soup buffet. Gretchen Heuges, Director
of the Craft Center at Bucknell, oversaw the making of over 300
bowls for the event.
She says Empty Bowls merges art and creativity
with the great cause of fighting local hunger. Bucknell volunteers
serve the free Community Harvest meal every Monday at St. Andrew’s
United Methodist Church in Milton from 4:30-7:30p.m. Goforth says
they generally serve about 200 people each week. (Sara Bartlett)
Centralia
residents claim fraud
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - The few remaining residents
of Centralia claim in court papers that a “massive fraud” is being
perpetrated against the town by parties seeking to grab the mineral
rights to millions of dollars worth of coal.
In a filing Monday, four property owners and the
borough asked a state appeals court to block Pennsylvania officials
from seizing their homes. The state condemned the homes in the early
1990’s but only recently moved to oust the remaining holdouts.
Centralia all but ceased to exist in the 1980’s as
the 48-year-old underground mine fire spread underneath homes and
businesses. More than 1,000 people moved out. The holdouts say they
have evidence that the fire isn't a threat and may never have
endangered the town.
More theft
charges against Norry woman
NORTHUMBERLAND – Point Township police have filed
more charges against a woman already facing charges of felony
burglary and theft. 40-year-old Kristin Bowersox was arraigned last
week after she was accused of stealing $180 from a client while
working as a personal care attendant for the Visiting Nursing
Association.
Bowersox was suspended for also stealing $400 from
another client two months ago. Bowersox apparently admitted to
keeping the $400 given to her by the client. Bowersox was released
on bail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before District
Judge Robert Bolton on Wednesday. (Ali Stevens)
Latest
Pennsylvania news, business and entertainment
STROUDSBURG, Pa.
(AP) - The wife of a veteran Pennsylvania lawmaker killed in a
head-on crash in the Poconos has testified at the vehicular homicide
and drunken driving trial of the man charged in his death. Mary
Edith Rhoades suffered broken ribs, a punctured lung, a shattered
knee and other injuries in the 2008 crash that killed her husband,
Sen. James Rhoades. She says 46-year-old Thomas Senavitis crossed
over the center line and slammed into their Cadillac with his pickup
truck. She testified that her husband, asked by a paramedic right
after the crash to name of the president of the United States, was
unable to do so. She says, "I knew something was very wrong then."
Rhoades died the following day. Police say Senavitis had a
blood-alcohol level more than four times the legal limit for
driving.
HARRISBURG, Pa.
(AP) - Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner wants Gov. Ed
Rendell to extend the already-expired application period for
residential property tax cuts financed by taxes on slot-machine
gambling. Wagner said Wednesday he has asked Rendell to issue an
executive order extending the deadline for this year's "homestead
exclusion" program to April 15. He says he wants homeowners who are
confused about the program to have extra time to apply. Doug Hill
of the Pennsylvania County Commissioners Association says he doubts
the governor could order a change in the March 1 deadline because it
is clearly spelled out in state law. Hill noted the tax cut is
called an exclusion because it excludes a portion of a property's
value from taxation.
WINDSOR HEIGHTS,
Iowa (AP) - Former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum says he was once a
"pro-life fraud" who only gave lip service to the abortion issue.
Now he's calling himself a national anti-abortion leader. The
former Pennsylvania lawmaker told the Iowa Christian Alliance on
Tuesday night that he's grown to welcome attacks on his conservative
views on abortion. The Roman Catholic says conservatives must be
rallied by the Obama administration. He argues that liberals have
already launched attacks on religious and social conservatives. The
speech is part of Santorum's second swing through Iowa. Religious
conservatives play a key role in the Iowa precinct caucuses that
traditionally launch the presidential nominating season. They were
key in former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's caucus win in 2008.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The man who was the
top-ranking Democrat in the state House of Representatives until a
little more than a year ago will not be testifying in the Harrisburg
public-corruption trial. Attorney Bill Costopoulos declined to say
whether Rep. Bill DeWeese had invoked his Fifth Amendment right
against self-incrimination. he said only that DeWeese will not be a
witness in the trial of three former legislative aides and Mike Veon
– the No. 2 ranking leader until late 2006. DeWeese was himself
charged in December as a result of the same investigation. His name
has arisen repeatedly during the trial of Veon and the others. Bryan
Walk, attorney for defendant Brett Cott, said DeWeese had been at
the top of the defense's witness wish list.
WINDSOR HEIGHTS, Iowa (AP) - Former Republican
Sen. Rick Santorum is telling Iowa evangelicals that he was once a
"pro-life fraud" who only gave lip service to the abortion issue.
Now he's calling himself a national anti-abortion leader. The former
Pennsylvania lawmaker told the Iowa Christian Alliance on Tuesday
night that he's come to welcome attacks on his conservative views on
abortion. Santorum says conservatives must be rallied by the Obama
administration. He argues that liberals have already launched
attacks on religious and social conservatives. The speech is part of
Santorum's second swing through Iowa. Religious conservatives play a
key role in the Iowa precinct caucuses that traditionally launch the
presidential nominating season.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A suburban Philadelphia woman
who called herself JihadJane online has been charged with using the
Internet to recruit jihadist fighters and help terrorists overseas.
Authorities say the case shows how terror groups are looking to
recruit Americans to help carry out their goals. A federal
indictment charges Colleen LaRose with agreeing to kill a Swedish
citizen on orders from the terrorists and traveling to Europe to
carry out the killing. It doesn't say whether the Swede was killed.
A U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity says LaRose
targeted a Swedish cartoonist and discussed her plans with at least
one person apprehended in Ireland today. The official wasn't
authorized to discuss details of the investigation. LaRose has been
in custody since Oct. 15. She was in court the next day but didn't
enter a plea. Her federal public defender won't comment.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A state conduct board has
conceded that it never investigated any of the complaints made
against a disgraced former judge accused of taking kickbacks to
place juveniles in for-profit detention centers. The Pennsylvania
Judicial Conduct Board says it received four complaints about former
Luzerne County Judge Michael Conahan in 2004, 2006 and 2008, but
failed to conduct interviews or review any documents related to the
complaints. The Legal Intelligencer of Philadelphia reports that the
board made the admission in response to questions posed by a state
panel investigating the so-called "kids for cash" scandal. Conahan
and another former Luzerne County judge are charged in federal court
with racketeering.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's Democratic
primary for U.S. Senate is no longer a two-man race. Nominating
petitions that were due today revealed a third contestant -- Joseph
Vodvarka, a spring manufacturer from western Pennsylvania. Like his
primary opponents - Sen. Arlen Specter and U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak -
Vodvarka had to gather the signatures of at least 2,000 Democratic
voters to qualify for the May 18 primary ballot. Vodvarka has not
held public office before. He advocates smaller government, lower
taxes and making English the national language. On the Republican
side, former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey and Johnstown activist Peg Luksik
both filed petitions. The gubernatorial race produced no surprises.
Filing petitions on time were Democrats Jack Wagner, Dan Onorato,
Joe Hoeffel and Anthony Williams and Republicans Tom Corbett and Sam
Rohrer.
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (AP) - A woman charged in a
central Pennsylvania boat crash on the Susquehanna River that killed
a teenage girl last summer has pleaded guilty to charges in the case
and agreed to testify against her co-defendant. Barbara Hummer
pleaded guilty Monday in Clinton County to criminal conspiracy to
make false statements to police and obstruction of the
administration of law. Authorities said she will testify against
51-year-old John Englert II, who faces charges including involuntary
manslaughter and homicide by watercraft. Twelve-year-old Valerie
Heidt of Howard was killed July 10 when two boats collided near Lock
Haven. Authorities allege that Hummer and Englert conspired before
police arrived to say Hummer was operating the boat. Englert was
granted a delay in his trial Monday to allow the defense to line up
expert witnesses.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Federal economic stimulus
money soon will start providing rebates to Pennsylvanians on the
purchase of new, Energy Star-rated hot-water heaters, furnaces and
boilers. Gov. Ed Rendell said Tuesday that applications for rebates
are expected to become available in April on the state's stimulus
Web site, www.recovery.pa.gov. Rendell says the $11 million rebate
program could benefit more than 30,000 Pennsylvania households and
provide long-term energy savings. The rebates will be worth $100 to
$500. The higher the equipment's efficiency rating, the larger the
rebate. The rebates only apply to non-electric residential heating
equipment. Rebates on electrical appliances may be available through
regulated electric utility companies.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated
Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Updates on the latest in business
Dow: 10,575.12, up 10.74
S&P 500: 1,146.53, up 6.08
NASDAQ: 2,359.23,
up
18.55
NEW YORK (AP) - Technology and financial shares are leading the
market so far today. More stocks are higher than lower.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Labor Department says unemployment rose in 30
states in January. That's somewhat better than December, when 43
states reported higher unemployment rates.
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is making a campaign-style
effort to push for an overhaul of the nation's medical system. He's
to speak today in suburban St. Louis and then travel to northeastern
Ohio on Monday.
HARRISON, N.Y. (AP) - A New
York police official says Toyota wants a Prius that was involved in
a crash - but his department is "not prepared to release it just
yet." The driver told police that the 2005 Prius inexplicably
lurched down a driveway and into a stone wall yesterday.
NEW YORK (AP) - A judge says New York City can keep the "Tavern on
the Green" name for the famed restaurant building in Central Park
that's been forced to close because of financial problems. Debt
holders of the bankrupt restaurant had sought to stop the city from
using the name in the future. It closed on New Year's Eve.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated
Press. All Rights Reserved.)
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn on
Wednesday:
Daily Number: 9-5-8
Big 4: 0-3-8-6
Quinto: 0-0-8-1-4
Treasure Hunt: 01-06-13-23-28
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
3-D boosts box office worldwide to record $30 bln
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The appeal of 3-D movies helped boost movie
ticket sales to a record $29.9 billion worldwide in 2009. That's
according to the Motion Picture Association of America. The jump of
nearly 8 percent was driven by a rise in ticket prices and the first
increase in attendance in the U.S. and Canada in two years. There
were 20 movies released in 3-D last year, less than 4 percent of the
total. But they accounted for 11 percent of the $10.6 billion in
ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada, representing almost all of the
increase from a year ago.
'Lost Boys' actor
Corey Haim dead in Burbank at 38
BURBANK, Calif. (AP) - The Los Angeles coroner's office says "The
Lost Boys" actor Corey Haim is dead at 38. Coroner's Lt. Cheryl
MacWillie said Wednesday that Haim died at 2:15 a.m. at Providence
St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. She said an autopsy will
determine the cause of death and there are no other details.
Canadian-born Haim became a teen heartthrob with the 1986 film
"Lucas" and 1987's "The Lost Boys." His first role was in the 1984
hit "Firstborn," in which he played a young child caught up in a
family war. He then appeared in the 1985 television movie "A Time to
Live." In recent years, he appeared in the A&E reality TV show "The
Two Coreys" with his friend Corey Feldman. It was canceled in 2008
after two seasons.
Rooftop Figures
NEW YORK (AP) - Those aren't jumpers -- they're art. The NYPD is
worried an art display could trigger 911 calls. Life-size figures
will soon be gazing down from buildings near a midtown Manhattan
park. Police officials are concerned that some might mistake the
sculptures for suicidal people poised to leap. The work is by Antony
Gormley and was first displayed in London a few years ago.
3-D TV come to
you soon
NEW YORK (AP) - Want 3-D? That will be 3-Gs,
please. If you are looking to be the first to get your hands on the
new line of 3-D TV sets - be prepared to pay dearly for those
bragging rights. Samsung and Panasonic say the 3-D units will be in
stores this week - and the cost will be about three grand. Samsung
is offering two 3-D sets - a 46-inch model comes with two pairs of
special glasses to provide the effect and a 3-D Blu-ray layer.
Panasonic will have its units in stores today. While moviegoers have
been embracing the recent releases of 3-D films like "Alice in
Wonderland" and "Avatar," it's unclear whether TV viewers will be as
smitten with the technology. For now, there are few programming
options for the added dimension of depth - and there is still the
problem of having to don those goofy glasses to watch a 3-D set.
Final Four to be
shown in 3-D
NEW YORK (AP) - College basketball's Final Four
will be shown in 3-D in movie theaters around the country. CBS
announced that the men's basketball national semifinals on April 3
and the championship game two days later will be broadcast in 3-D in
up to 100 theaters. TV networks have been experimenting with airing
sports events in 3-D in theaters, and ESPN is planning to launch an
entire 3-D channel. CBS College Sports Network announcers Dave Ryan
and Steve Lappas will call the special 3-D Final Four broadcast.
Restaurant
serves up...human breast milk
NEW YORK (AP) - How's this for a gourmet treat?
It's cheese made from human breast milk. Manhattan chef Daniel
Angerer posted his recipe for "mommy milk cheese" on his blog. He
owns the Klee Brasserie with his wife, Lori Mason. The breast milk
cheese is encrusted with maple caramelized pumpkin and Concord
grapes. Angerer says they had an overabundance of milk for their
newborn, Arabella Caroline. So, when the couple ran out of room in
their small freezer, Angerer decided to experiment.
Barker donates
$2.5 million to create PETA offices
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Bob Barker has donated $2.5
million to help the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals open
a new location in Los Angeles. The retired game show host and spay
and neuter champion will cut the ribbon Wednesday at the Bob Barker
Building on Sunset Boulevard and Alvarado Street. PETA President
Ingrid E. Newkirk says Barker could have just given the group a
refrigerator but instead he paid for an entire building to be
renovated. The building will be home to the group's media,
marketing, youth outreach and campaign departments. The 86-year-old
Barker delivered his spay and neuter message on "The Price Is Right"
for a quarter century. Since he retired in June of 2008, he has
taken his activism on the road, promoting freedom for whales, an end
to the fur trade and other causes.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated
Press. All Rights Reserved.)