Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Northumberland County Commissioner Vinny Clausi asks sheriff to apologize

SUNBURY – Northumberland County Commissioners are firing back at the employees of the sheriff’s office. The commissioners have filed a court motion demanding that the sheriff’s employees move forward with their potential lawsuit—or withdrawal their initial court filing.

Last week, the sheriff’s department employees threatened to sue Commissioner Vinny Clausi for defamation of character after Clausi alleged that two sheriff department employees looked at pornography on county computers. Now the employees and their attorney will have to move forward with their suit or drop the matter.

Clausi also made a motion at Tuesday’s meeting for the solicitor to send a letter to sheriff Chad Reiner asking him to apologize to the Northumberland County cleaning crew, who Reiner previously said could have been the ones on the county computer.  Solicitor Vincent Rovito says it’s the sheriff’s responsibility to clear the air. 

Clausi says the commissioners and the sheriff know the names of the two employees who were looking at the material online, but those names have not been released. Clausi says he invited the sheriff to the meeting, but the sheriff did not show up.  A call to sheriff Reiner has not been returned. (Sara Bartlett) 

Mifflinburg farmer wins bear fight

MIFFLINBURG - A Mifflinburg farmer has won his battle against the state game commission. Following an hour-long hearing in the office of magistrate Jeff Mensch, the case against farmer John Nolt was dismissed.

He was challenging a citation for killing a 400-pound black bear, which was menacing his farm and neighboring properties. Nolt, of Buffalo Township, shot the bear Oct. 5 on a neighbor's property.

His attorney says he was cited for not giving the game commission adequate time to deal with the animal but he said the bear had been killing calves, goats and chickens for at least six months and resumed killing even after it was trapped and released.  About 30 people attended the hearing today.  Nolt faced a $168 fine if convicted and could have lost his hunting privileges.

Education foundation thriving in Lewisburg

LEWISBURG – A local educational foundation is raising thousands of dollars to advance the Lewisburg Area School District. There are almost 200 education foundations in Pennsylvania, but few in our area. An exception is the Green Dragon Foundation, a not-for-profit independent organization that raises private funds for projects in the Lewisburg Area School District. 

Foundation President Brooks Gronlund says the funds raised don’t replace the funding in the budget, they just provide more than is currently being earmarked. Gronlund says that both the District Superintendent Mark DiRocco and School Board President Kathy Swope are advising members of the Foundation, and help keep the funding in line with the district’s Vision 20/20 initiative. 

Some of the programs the Foundation would like to help fund include a multi-sports complex, arts alive, summer scholars, a swimming pool and tennis courts.  At next Thursday’s school board meeting, the Foundation will present a check for their first completed goal, which helps fund 21^st century classrooms for Kelly Elementary School.  For more information you can go to www.greendragonfoundation.org. (Sara Bartlett)  

Local professor talks about the economic outlook in 2010

LEWISBURG – A lot of folks around the world are hoping 2010 is a little better than 2009, however, a local professor says that may not be the case if changes aren’t made.  Stephen Stamos, a professor of economics and international relations at Bucknell University, was a recent guest on our On The Mark program and said we need to learn from mistakes made in the past. 

He says it we don’t learn from mistakes made in the past 20 years, or even the past 2 years, how can we get up everyday and go about our work, and our leaders go about their work, without some idea of where the country is going and how to get where we want to be. 

He talks about the problem of underemployment, where some people are working their job and another person’s job that has been eliminated due to downsizing.  He says that this can’t help open up jobs for unemployed workers. You can learn more about the state of the economy from Professor Stamos from our Tuesday On the Mark program online at www.wkok.com. 

Groundbreaking ceremony set for Wednesday for the Sunbury Riverfront Project

SUNBURY – The city of Sunbury is having a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday for the trail enhancement portion of the Sunbury Riverfront Project.  This includes new curbing, walkways and lighting along with a central park plaza at Front and Market Streets and the addition of gardens and soft lighting through Merle Phillips Park.  The ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Merle Phillips Park and Congressman Chris Carney (D-10^th, Dimock) will be in attendance along with other local officials. 

The second phase of the Riverfront Project calls for a major bank stabilization effort to eliminate erosion of the shoreline.  This includes the installation of riprap and repair and restoration of the deteriorated wall that serves as a buffer for the main city floodwall.  Another part of the Riverfront project, which will be bid in February, is an amphitheater, fishing pier, daytime boat docking facility and a service road to assure access to the newly improved riverfront.  (Ali Stevens)

Two cases of animal cruelty in Union County

LEWISBURG – State police have investigated two cases of animal cruelty in the Mifflinburg area.  Sometime between December 26^th and December 31^st, someone shot and killed five chickens at a property on Dietrich Road in the Mifflinburg area.  The investigation continues.

Another animal cruelty case involving a dog was reported on Gast Road in West Buffalo Township between December 28^th and January 2^nd.  State police say 38-year-old Gary Degroat traveled out of town and left his one-year-old golden retriever chained to a plywood box in his yard.  Temperatures dropped into the low teens and after five days, state police were contacted. 

The dog was found shivering and shaking uncontrollably.  The dog had wrapped his chain around a tree and couldn’t reach the plywood box.  A frozen blanket was found lying in the snow and there was no food for the dog.  Also the dog’s water was frozen solid.  The dog was taken to the Animal Emergency Shelter in Watsontown.  Degroat was charged with cruelty to animals.  (Ali Stevens)

Protecting yourself and others during a very cold week

LEWISBURG – As the cold weather grips Central Pennsylvania this week, the American Red Cross is urging everyone to be safe and prepared.  Annie Smith is Red Cross Disaster Services Coordinator and says you need to be safe when trying to keep warm in your home.  Smith says you don’t want to get creative using any type of heat sources. 

You shouldn’t open the oven door and turn it to 400 degrees to heat a room and make sure space heaters are safe and up to date with no open flames.  She says people should always be a good neighbor and check on the elderly this week. 

Smith says the elderly have a different tolerance for cold weather and might not be as strong as others.  She says to make sure they are heating their homes properly and help them insulate the home with plastic on the inside of windows or other items to eliminate drafts.

Smith also says instead of turning the thermostat above 68 degrees, dress in layers to stay warm in the home to keep your bill from climbing dramatically in the winter.  Also use heavy curtains to keep cold air out and make sure heat vents aren’t blocked by furniture.  (Ali Stevens)

Search ends in Coal Township after a person turns up safely

COAL TOWNSHIP – A search was underway in Coal Township overnight, but the person they were looking for apparently turned up safe this morning.  Coal Township police were searching for a person in a rural wooded area near Ranshaw that was reported missing.  Emergency dispatchers say the person was located around 8 this morning without the help of police or fire personnel.  The person is said to be doing okay and has not been identified.  (Ali Stevens)

Officers elected in Selinsgrove at the borough council meeting

SELINSGROVE – Officers were elected at Monday night’s borough council meeting in Selinsgrove.  Carol Handlan was re-elected as president of the borough council and Erik Viker was chosen as Vice President.  John Bickhart was re-appointed as borough manager and secretary and also re-appointed were Sharon Badman as treasurer, Attorney Bob Cravitz as solicitor and John Coukart as borough engineer. 

Committee assignments were also made with Dorothy Anderson selected as chairperson of the finance and budget committee, Shane Hendricks chairperson of the public facilities and services committee, Pete Carroll chairperson of borough administration, Brian Farrell chairperson of community activities and public affairs, Margaret Siro chairperson of personnel management and Erik Viker chairperson of Public Safety.  (Ali Stevens)

Vandalism reported at an auto dealership in Milton

Persing returns as mayor of Sunbury

SUNBURY – David Persing is once again mayor of Sunbury, after taking the oath of office Monday night. Persing served as mayor from the late 1980’s until four years ago, and now says attracting business and jobs back to the city will not be easy in view of today’s economic challenges.

District Magisterial Judge Robert Bolton, who also administered the oath of office to incoming Council Members Joe Bartello and Todd Snyder, swore in the returning mayor. Bartello says he prepared for his first term on council by attending meetings and observing how things worked at city hall.

Snyder also did his homework and says Sunbury faces stiff competition from other municipalities with the same problems. Departmental assignments were also approved. James Eister will remain in charge of Parks and Recreation, Kevin Troup will return to Streets and Public Works.

New council members Bartello and Snyder will respectively be in charge of Public Safety and Finance. Meantime, Mayor Persing's first official act was to administer the oath of office to Sunbury Fire Chief Dean Weirick. (Matt Farrand)

Elected officials sworn in across the Commonwealth, including Union County

LEWISBURG – Elected officials across the state are being officially sworn into office today. In Union County, the former Snyder County district attorney officially took office as Union-Snyder County judge. His son and daughter were on hand to help the new judge put on his official robe for him for the first time. President Judge Harold Woelfel handled the ceremony and says Sholley is a man of integrity, something every judge needs.

Now that Sholley is a judge, it’s time to find a district attorney in Snyder County, something that will be done immediately. Letters of interest are being accepted and then interviews will be done and the judges hope to have a new Snyder County district attorney selected by the end of January.

Judge Louise Knight, whom Sholley replaced, will now serve as senior judge on a part-time basis. Other elected officials sworn in included Union County District Judge Leo Armbruster, Sheriff Chad Ritter and Coroner Wanda Walters. (Ali Stevens)

Candidates sought to fill Sholley’s term as district attorney

LEWISBURG – Send in your resume if you’d like to serve as district attorney for Snyder County. Applicants have until noon on January 11th to apply. They’re looking for a candidate to fill the unexpired term of former DA Michael Sholley, who was sworn in Monday as Union Snyder judge.

President Judge Harold Woelfel Jr. of the Court of Common Pleas, and judge Sholley will review resumes. Interviews will be on the 19th of the month, in the judge’s chambers in Lewisburg. The address is: Union County Courthouse, Judge’s Chambers, 103 South Second Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837. (Matt Farrand)

NorCo leaders sworn-in

SUNBURY – Newly elected office holders in Northumberland County were sworn-in Monday. They include county controller Chuck Erdman, coroner James Kelley and register and recorder Mary Zimmerman. The ceremony was held in the courthouse, and office holders gave brief remarks regarding their positions.

In addition, Samuel Dietrick and George Dorko were sworn in as jury commissioners. Kathleen Wolfe-Strausser was sworn in as prothonotary and clerk of courts.

Million-dollar ticket sold in Snyder County.

MIDDLETOWN – One of the million-dollar winning tickets in Saturday’s Millionaire Raffle drawing was sold in Snyder County. A release issued Monday by the Pennsylvania Lottery says it was sold at the Giant Market in Monroe Marketplace. The winner’s name is not yet known.

Other top winning tickets were sold in Adams, Blair and Cumberland Counties. Each retailer also gets a $5,000 selling bonus. Top prizes in the game must be claimed by presenting a winning ticket at Pennsylvania Lottery headquarters or one of seven regional offices. (Matt Farrand)

Elysburg crash under investigation

ELYSBURG – Police are investigating and early Monday morning accident in Paxinos. Ralpho Township Police tell us 19-year-old Joseph Drost of Coal Township was traveling north on Bottle Road when he lost control of his vehicle on a curve, crossed the road and struck an embankment. The vehicle flipped over and skidded against a utility pole.

Drost was trapped in the vehicle for about 15 minutes before being rescued by Elysburg Fire and Rescue personnel. Drost was taken to Shamokin Area Community Hospital for evaluation. The extent of his injuries is not known following that crash around 4:30 a.m. on Monday. (Ali Stevens)

Bike thief gets jail time

SUNBURY – A Sunbury man pled guilty to stealing bicycles from a local homeless shelter and will now serve nearly two years in prison. 18-year-old Matthew Hollister was in court Monday. He’s charged with taking the bicycles in July from Haven Ministries.

In addition to Hollister, three juveniles were charged with stealing the bicycles. The group was connected to stealing many bikes in the city over the summer. Hollister will serve 23 and a half months in prison, will have to pay $300 in restitution to Haven Ministries and complete 20 hours of community service.

Cause undetermined for blaze that destroyed Northumberland Borough garage

NORTHUMBERLAND – Fire that destroyed a garage in Northumberland Sunday morning has been ruled undetermined in origin. The blaze began after 9:00a.m. at 217 King Street. 38-year-old Adam Klock, who is insured for the structure, owns the property. A state police fire marshal says because of the extent of damage no cause could be determined. Damage is estimated at $44,000.

Union County Rail Trail project still a “go”

LEWISBURG – Lewisburg Area Recreation Authority’s Chairman of the Board of Directors says Union County’s Rail Trail project is a go. Trey Casimir was a recent guest on our On The Mark program and says the $3.7 million PennDOT grant is for construction, which must start by the end of September.

Opposition to the project has come mostly from residents whose land abuts the proposed rail trail. Casimir says many are worried that even though they are covered under the PA rail trail statute, they may be susceptible to frivolous lawsuits.

Other concerns among abutting landowners includes privacy and safety issues, as well as damage to crops and animals. Casimir says these are valid concerns and LARA plans to work during and after construction to make sure the project is safe and doesn’t affect landowners’ property.

Once construction is done, LARA is in charge of maintenance, and Casimir says they anticipate they will have to buy a large piece of equipment that can mow and trim branches and trees. Last month, LARA asked Union County Commissioners to take over the project. While the decision is still being made, Commissioners John Showers and John Mathias have expressed that they are for it, while Commissioner Preston Boop is against it.

Senator comments on a state Supreme Court decision regarding “payless paydays”

HARRISBURG – State Senator John Gordner (R-27th, Bloomsburg) says he is pleased with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court opinion made last week that concluded that Governor Ed Rendell is not required by law to institute furloughs or “payless paydays” in the event of a budget impasse.

Chief Justice Ronald Castille concluded that the state constitution did not prohibit the Commonwealth from continuing to pay all employees if a budget isn’t passed by July 1st. Senator Gordner says this decision by The Supreme Court is vindication for thousands of state workers who were used as “pawns” by Governor Rendell during the budget process.

He went on to say that any decision to furlough workers is solely at the discretion of the Governor and is not required by law. Governor Rendell had argued that he was required by the state constitution to furlough state employees if the budget isn’t passed on time. Many workers went several weeks without receiving a paycheck this summer due to the budget impasse. (Ali Stevens)

Police search for a driver after a vehicle overturns on Route 125

COAL TOWNSHIP – Police were searching for the driver of a car that was found on its roof along Route 125 near Coal Township Sunday night. Police tell us the accident took place around 6:45 p.m. at Route 125 and Point Breeze Road outside Gowen City. When police arrived on the scene, they found a car lying on its roof on the right side of the road. The driver and any possible occupants fled the scene and police were searching the area for information. (Ali Stevens)

Latest Pennsylvania news, lottery business and entertainment

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has sent the table games bill back to the Senate, setting the stage for the appointment of a conference committee to hammer out a compromise.  The House voted 189-to-2 on Tuesday to reject the current version of the bill. That's a move toward consideration of a deal worked out in recent weeks by legislative leaders.  The House-Senate conference committee could meet Tuesday afternoon, after which the Senate would vote on the deal.  Terms of the leaders' deal haven't been disclosed publicly, and it's unclear whether it'll pass muster with rank- and-file lawmakers.  Gov. Ed Rendell says revenue from table games is needed to avert the layoffs of nearly 1,000 state workers.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Cash grants that are expected to help 600,000 low-income families pay their winter heating bills in Pennsylvania are being increased.  Gov. Ed Rendell said Tuesday that the grants provided through the federally funded LIHEAP program are being increased by $100 to an average of $326 for the current season.  He says this year's program also is being extended by nearly three weeks to April 2.  At a Capitol news conference, Rendell credited the changes to efficient management of the program.  Rendell said that if Congress releases additional contingency funds for the program, the state could increase grants for the most vulnerable households, including senior citizens, young children and people with disabilities.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Former state Rep. Mike Veon's lawyers say they'll need more time to sort through records provided to them by prosecutors as his trial date nears.  Veon's attorneys on Tuesday filed a motion asking Dauphin County Judge Richard Lewis to push back the Jan. 19 scheduled start of his trial.  His lawyers say they're trying to organize and understand about 67,000 documents, many provided by the attorney general's office in recent weeks.  Veon and three former House Democratic aides are accused of illegally diverting state workers and legislative resources for campaigning and other purposes. Seven co-defendants are expected to plead guilty Wednesday, and an eighth was acquitted of all charges last month.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Legislative leaders are trying to pass a bill legalizing games like blackjack and poker at Pennsylvania casinos. The goal is to use the taxes on the casinos to deal with a budget crunch. Gov. Ed Rendell says if such a bill isn't on the way to his desk by the end of the week, he'll need to lay off nearly 1,000 state workers. He says the state prison system and the Department of Public Welfare will see the bulk of the job cuts. Legislative leaders plan to brief their rank-and-file members on progress in their negotiations on Tuesday.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The new mayor of Pennsylvania's capital city says without urgent action, there won't be money to plow the streets when it snows. Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson said in her inaugural address Monday that the city can't allow that to happen. Without getting into specifics, Thompson said she will make the tough decisions required to stabilize the city's budget. Thompson was the City Council president when she upset longtime Mayor Stephen Reed in last year's Democratic primary. She won 55 percent of the vote in the general election to beat Republican candidate Nevin Mindlin.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania State Police say at least six people were killed on the state's highways during the four-day New Year's holiday travel period. State police say all but one of the victims were not wearing seat belts, and four died in crashes that involved drivers who were legally drunk. Two victims died in a single crash in southeastern Pennsylvania, while one person died in each of four other crashes scattered across the state. Overall, state troopers responded to more than 1,100 crashes during the period between Thursday and Sunday. That does not include other crashes handled by hundreds of local police departments.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The economic downturn and relaxed eligibility requirements are increasing participation in Pennsylvania's food stamp program. The Department of Public Welfare says more than 709,000 households received assistance through the state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in November. That's a 30 percent increase over two years ago. While economic forces are responsible for some of that increase, Department of Public Welfare spokeswoman Stacey Witalec says more people are eligible since the program's income limit was raised for the first time in about 20 years. A family of four can now earn $35,292 and still be eligible for benefits. The previous limit was under $29,000.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - State employees and visitors can again buy food and coffee in the Capitol cafeteria in Harrisburg. The privately run eatery at the state Capitol opened its doors Monday morning after being shut down for more than two weeks for a cleanup. State inspectors had found mouse droppings and other health hazards. Philadelphia-based Aramark Corp. holds the contract to operate the cafeteria on the ground floor of the statehouse. Officials acknowledged that the cafeteria had not been inspected for four years, even though state law requires annual inspections. They say for the next six months there'll be monthly inspections of the cafeteria.

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

Updates on the latest in business

Dow: 10,572.02, down –11.94

S&P 500: 1,136.52, up 3.53

NASDAQ: 2,038.71, up .29

NEW YORK (AP) - Stock prices have been mostly backtracking today. The market had some trouble keeping momentum going after yesterday's strong gains.

DETROIT (AP) - Both Ford and Chrysler both saw sharp sales declines in 2009, but each claimed to have momentum going into this year. Chrysler's December sales were up 36 percent over November. Ford reported a 33 percent increase in December sales thanks to strong demand for cars like the Ford Fusion and the Escape crossover.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Pending home sales fell 16 percent in November. A tax incentive for first-time homebuyers was to expire at the end of November, but Congress pushed back the date and broadened the program with a new credit for buyers who relocate.

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

Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers

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

 Midday Big 4

     4-8-2-5

 Midday Number

     8-8-5

 Midday Quinto

     5-0-1-6-8

 Treasure Hunt

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

Big 4 0-0-3-4

Cash 5 08-12-25-27-38

Daily Number 2-7-4

Evening Quinto 4-3-3-2-6

Midday Big 4 2-2-9-2

Midday Number 0-1-7

Midday Quinto 3-5-5-1-4

Mix and Match 13-12-03-18-01

Treasure Hunt 08-20-21-23-27

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

Viewers return to TV Sunday after holidays

NEW YORK (AP) - At the holiday season's end, people returned to television for some football, some news and a few laughs.  Three of the four most-watched programs in prime-time television last week were on Sunday night, each distinctly different and on different networks. There was NBC's telecast of the NFL game between the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals, the return of "Desperate Housewives" on ABC and "60 Minutes" on CBS.  An estimated 65 percent of the homes in the U.S. had TVs on at some point Sunday evening. The Nielsen Co. says that's the highest level since before Christmas. That level dipped below 50 percent on New Year's Eve.

ESPN, Discovery push third dimension for TV

NEW YORK (AP) - Two major cable networks - ESPN and Discovery - will beam 3-D entertainment into peoples' homes for the first time.  Riding one of the next big waves in consumer electronics, Disney Co.-owned ESPN says it will have a 3-D channel for broadcasting live sports events in time for the FIFA World Cup soccer match on June 11.  The channel will not operate 24 hours a day, but plans at least 85 live events in its first year.  Separately, Discovery Communications Inc., which owns Discovery, TLC and other cable channels, says it will partner with Imax Corp. and Sony Corp. to bring out its own full-time 3-D network. The companies did not say which shows it will air on the new channel, but it plans a launch in 2011.

Sandra Bullock makes movie history

NJ gay marriage advocates want lawmakers to vote

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - About 150 clergy of various faiths have sent New Jersey lawmakers a letter asking them to legalize gay marriage before Democratic Gov. John Corzine leaves office this month. Social conservatives, including the New Jersey Catholic Conference and Orthodox Jewish rabbis who usually avoid statewide political issues, have led the opposition to the bill. Corzine has said he would sign a bill to legalize gay marriage. But he's to be replaced on Jan. 19 by Gov.-elect Chris Christie, a Republican who says he'd veto the bill. Last month, the legislation's Senate sponsor, sensing he didn't have enough support from colleagues to pass it, asked the Assembly to pass it first, but the Assembly speaker deferred back to the Senate. New Jersey has a civil unions law, which gives couples the benefits of marriage but not the title.

THEATER FOR HARD TIMES

NEW YORK (AP) - It's a ticket for tough times. A New York theater is offering five-buck tickets to anyone on food stamps or Medicaid. Full price tickets at the Jewish Theater of New York go for $50. The hard times deal is for the production of "Press 93 For Kosher Jewish Girls In Krakow." The play opens later this month.

Unhappy Workers

WASHINGTON (AP) - A research group says job satisfaction is the lowest its been since the group began studying it 22 years ago. The Conference Board says only 45 percent of Americans say they're satisfied with their work. That's down from 49 percent in 2008, and 61 percent in 1987. The deep recession gets part of the blame, because it's become harder for some people to find challenging and suitable jobs. Another reason is that fewer people find their jobs interesting. Also, worker incomes have not kept up with inflation, and the soaring cost of health insurance keeps eating into take-home pay. The Conference Board says the report "says something troubling about work in America." Economists warn that lower job satisfaction could stifle innovation, thus hurting competitiveness and productivity.

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