Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Chamberlain-Roup to be named Snyder County Commissioner

MIDDLEBURG – WKOK News has learned that Peggy Chamberlain-Roup of Selinsgrove will be named Snyder County Commissioner, filling the term of Democrat Richard “Bud” Bickhart, who resigned for health reasons effective January 29^th.  Judge Harold Woelfel and Judge Michael Sholley reviewed several applications, considered recommendations from the Snyder County Democratic Committee and are expected to write an order naming Chamberlain-Roup. 

The committee had recommended Steve Hoffman as their choice.  Bickhart announced his decision to step aside in early January.  (Matt Farrand) 

Aide looks to replace retiring boss

SUNBURY – State Representative Merle Phillips (R-108^th, Sunbury) is retiring and his legislative aide is hoping to take over the job.  Lynda Schlegel-Culver announced that she is a candidate for the 108^th legislative district.  Culver has worked for Phillips for 21 years and says he supported and encouraged her decision to run for the position. 

Culver has worked closely on projects important to the valley, including the Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway Project, efforts to stop tolling on Interstate 80 and riverfront plans in Sunbury.  She lives in Rockefeller Township with her husband and a son. 

Schlegel-Culver joins the Republican race with Sam Deitrick, former Northumberland County Commissioner, Northumberland County Controller Chuck Erdman, and Wood Mode employee Stanley Geiswhite.  The only declared Democratic candidate is Antonio Michetti, an attorney in Trevorton.  (Ali Stevens)

Erdman reacts

SUNBURY – Northumberland County Controller Chuck Erdman has issued a statement regarding State Representative Merle Phillip’s (R-108^th, Sunbury) endorsement of his legislative aide as his replacement in the 108^th District.  Phillips has announced that he is endorsing Linda Schlegel Culver for the job, who made her announcement official. 

Following the announcement, Erdman said he was not surprised by Merle’s decision to endorse Lynda Culver.  Erdman says it is honorable for Phillips to stand by someone who has been employed with him for so many years.  Erdman adds that both Phillips and Culver have supported him in his runs for county controller and he looks forward to their support again May 19^th, if he should win the primary.  (Ali Stevens)

Suspicious house fire?

SUNBURY – Fire crews were called to a fire at an abandoned home in Sunbury overnight.  The fire started shortly before 1:00a.m. at 313 Packer Street, which is boarded up.  Sunbury Police tell us fire crews were able to bring the fire under control rather quickly, with damage described as moderate.  A fire marshal will investigate the cause of the fire.  Crews were on the scene until about two this morning.  No injuries were reported.  (Ali Stevens)

Pair gets jail time in cemetery vandalism

DANVILLE (AP) – Two Danville women have been sentenced to jail time for their role in the vandalism of cemeteries where more than 75 tombstones were knocked over.  20-year-olds Alicia Auman and Laurie Jones were sentenced Tuesday to up to 23 months in prison for the vandalism incidents in April.

They were ordered to pay restitution to businesses whose signs were damaged and must work 300 hours of community service, including time in Montour County cemeteries that were vandalized.  Auman was sentenced to at least 90 days in jail on conspiracy and criminal mischief charges.  Jones was sentenced to at least 60 days for corruption of minors.  Attorneys for both women say their clients are remorseful.

Senator takes on PA Lottery

HARRISBURG – Senate Appropriation’s Committee budget hearings are underway at the state capital in Harrisburg and the impact of expanded gaming on the state lottery fund was immediately called into question by State Senator John Gordner (R-27^th, Berwick).

Gordner is a Senate Appropriations committee member and says last year’s budget projected almost an 8 percent increase in lottery sales, but this year’s budget is now saying in the current year that lottery sales will decrease by about 2 percent. 

Gordner says that is close to a 10% swing based upon projections from last year to this year.  Senator Gordner said he feared that the implementation of gambling would have a negative impact on lottery revenues.  However, administration officials have put the blame on the state’s economy. 

Construction season around the corner

HERNDON – With spring right around the corner, PennDOT is gearing up for their spring construction projects.  They announced a couple of area projects beginning in March in Northumberland County.

A resurfacing project will get started the week of March 1^st along Sunbury Street and Snydertown Road from Snydertown to Paxinos.  The contractor will be restricting traffic to a single lane in the work zone from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays with flaggers directing traffic.  The $2.6-million project is paid for through federal stimulus funding and will be completed by late August.

Starting the week of March 8^th a bridge along Route 225 near the community of Red Cross will be replaced. Work at the bridge over Schwaben Creek in Jackson Township will include tree removal and utility relocations. 

First dem announces for 108th

HERNDON – The first Democrat has announced his intentions to run for the seat being vacated for the retiring Merle Phillips (R-108th, Sunbury). Attorney Antonio Michetti, of Herndon, announced he will make a run for the 108th District seat. Michetti calls himself someone who will challenge Harrisburg to make much needed legislative reform.

He also says if elected he would focus on revitalizing local infrastructure. As a RN, Michetti also says he has a better understanding of the community’s healthcare needs. Michetti joins the race with three Republicans: Northumberland County Controller Chuck Erdman, former Northumberland County Commissioner Sam Deitrick and Wood-Mode employee Stanley Geiswhite of Sunbury.

Snow cleanup in Sunbury

SUNBURY – The City of Sunbury continues their snow removal and is asking for vehicles to be moved starting Wednesday. All vehicles must be moved between the hours of 7:00a.m. and 3:00p.m. on 12th Street from Market Street to the hospital, Edison Avenue from St. John to Reagan Street and Susquehanna Avenue from Reagan to Front Streets.

ACLU talks sexting and putting teens on 'Megan's Law List'

UNDATED – District Attorneys across the state are working hard to cut back on “sexting” amongst high school students. However, a staff attorney with the state American Civil Liberties Union says the punishment for offenders is too harsh.

An example of “sexting” is teens taking inappropriate pictures of themselves and then sending them to people. Valerie Burch of the ACLU in Harrisburg says they filed for an injunction against the District Attorney of Wyoming County for threatening teen girls that sent topless photos of themselves, which were sent to classmates. The offenders now face felony child pornography offenses.

Burch says a felony offense for “sexting” is “over the top” and will ruin the rest of a teenager’s life. Burch was a guest on Tuesday’s On The Mark program talking about “sexting” and many other topics. You can listen to the program online at www.wkok.com. (Ali Stevens)

Snyder County’s new DA promises youth focus

MIDDLEBURG – Selinsgrove resident Michael Piecuch was sworn in as Snyder County District Attorney today (Tuesday). He takes over for former DA Mike Sholley, who is now Union-Snyder County Judge. Sholley, along with Judge Harold Woelfel and Judge Louise Knight presided over the ceremony Tuesday morning at the Snyder County Courthouse.

Piecuch, who was joined by his wife and daughter, says he is looking forward to taking over district attorney duties. He says he has experience working with DA’s from all over and is excited to bring that here to Snyder County.

Piecuch says he wants to continue practices already in place in the court system, including drug and DUI treatment court, as well as a youth aid panel that is aimed to reduce recidivism. Piecuch is also the Director and Legal Resource Prosecutor for the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute. He will finish out this term as Snyder County DA, which ends in 2012.

Locals try to block new bar in downtown Lewisburg

LEWISBURG – A boutique-style pub on Lewisburg’s Market Street is one step closer to opening. Borough Council approved the transfer of Tedd Biernstein’s liquor license from East Buffalo Township Tuesday night. The public hearing on the matter also brought out Market Street neighbors who say there is already too much noise, trash and parking problems near the site of the former card store.

But the current owner of Buffalo Bill’s on Route 15 says all that can be worked out, and he plans to meet with them to do just that. Biernstein says the pub will seat less than 30 patrons, and feature products brewed in small batches, often by Pennsylvania based microbreweries.

Council members Trey Casimir and Mike Molesevich plan to visit the site at 235 Market Street, and look for the problems that were brought up in the hearing. The license transfer was approved in spite of two dissenting votes. (Matt Farrand)

Lewisburg council grants extension to Rite Aid 

LEWISBURG – Lewisburg Borough Council is agreeing to extend a 90-day approval window for a developer of a Rite Aid drug store at the site of a former dairy. The 30-day extension given the Benderson Development Company, LLC Tuesday night follows original approval granted in November for use of the property at Routes 15 and 192.

Attorney Graham Showalter says the extra month will give them more time to get everything in place. He says the burden is now on the developer to get the store built.

Showalter is assisting Benderson and says it’s a shame the project wasn’t completed three years ago. The recession, the heavy debt load carried by the Rite Aid Corporation and the appeal of a property easement filed by a neighbor to the Bechtel’s Dairy site all slowed down the project. (Matt Farrand)

Lewisburg group: Save the 'Gateway to Lewisburg'

LEWISBURG – The future of the Lewisburg Area High School building won’t be known until the school board decides it. However, a committee concerned with the quality of life in the surrounding area hopes the Lewisburg Area School District will keep the school building in use for the reason it was originally built.

The Bull Run Neighborhood Committee recently decided to formally support its use as a school; because of the activity it brings to the nearby downtown. Selling the building, using it as office space or keeping it in use as a school of some sort are among the options now being evaluated by residents and the board, as they sift through more than a dozen facilities plans before the Lewisburg Area School District.

Committee member and Lewisburg Mayor Judy Wagner says the school at Routes 45 and 15 is a gateway for downtown Lewisburg, and has a direct impact on the first impression visitors have of the borough. (Matt Farrand)

Viruses…more than just a computer hassle

SUNBURY – Those that make their business fixing computers have a lot of customers lately. Bill Geise, of Geise Associates in Sunbury, says that’s thanks to a rash of virus attacks that have been more prominent on home and business computers.

Geise says unfortunately viruses are part of a multi-million dollar industry of gaining access to people’s personal information. Geise says the best thing to do to try and prevent a virus is to get a good quality virus protection, but he says, you get what you pay for.

Geise says if you think you have a virus, if the computer is running slow or if there is a blue screen, it is best to take the machine to a professional before the virus destroys data. He also says it is important to back up your data, and if you haven’t, make sure to tell a professional to do it when you take it in to be fixed. (Sara Bartlett)

Celebrity Waiter night to benefit Camp Cadet

LEWISBURG – A popular fundraiser is coming up next week to raise money for Camp Cadet, the annual camp for children interested in learning more about law enforcement. Trooper Matt Burrows helps organize and run the summer camp each year and says he looks forward to their February fundraiser at Applebee’s in Lewisburg.

The event features state and local police officers working at Applebee’s for the night with all tips collected going to Camp Cadet. Burrows says they are already preparing for this year’s camp at Susquehanna University June 20th-25th. He says they are now in the process of accepting applications from prospective campers.

The website to download an application is www.svlecc.com, which is short for Susquehanna Valley Law Enforcement Camp Cadet. The camp is for boys and girls ages 12 to 15 and is free for campers. Celebrity server night is Thursday, February 24th at Applebee’s in Lewisburg from 5 to 9 p.m. A 5K race will also be held on May 8th at the Lewisburg Penitentiary. Applications for the 5K can also be found on the Camp Cadet website. (Ali Stevens)

Donated food presented to Ronald McDonald House

DANVILLE – The Danville Ronald McDonald House received more than $20,000 worth of donated food and other items from the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Tuesday. Today is the day that Pennsylvania Farm Bureau says the average American family has earned enough money since the start of the year to pay for their food for the entire year.

Ronald McDonald House Development Manager Ann Blugis says Food Check-Out Day is also the day that the Farm Bureau delivers donated food and other products to five locations statewide. Blugis says the contributions are important to the successful operation of the house that provides a living space for families of critically ill children treated at Geisinger Medical Center.

This is the 12th year the Farm Bureau has donated food and other products to the Ronald McDonald houses across the state. Last year’s donations were valued at more than $16,000 and today’s donations totaled more than $20,000.

Pot plants found in burned out home

SHAMOKIN – While firefighters were putting out a blaze that damaged a home in Shamokin late Friday night, police discovered more than 45 marijuana plants in the home. The News Item reports 47 plants were removed by police from a home at 449 S. Harrison Street in Shamokin.

The fire at the home started around 9:40 p.m. Police say the pot plants belong to 37-year-old Christopher Elliott and his son, who have not been located since the fire, which was ruled accidental and electrical in nature. So far no charges have been filed. An adjoining home sustained minor damage in the fire. (Ali Stevens)

Latest Pennsylvania news, business and entertainment

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty says he'll run for state Senate and drop out of the Pennsylvania gubernatorial race.  Doherty told the Times-Tribune of Scranton on Wednesday that he wants to fill the void that Sen. Robert Mellow will leave. He's scheduled to make a formal announcement Thursday.  Last week, the Senate's veteran Lackawanna County Democrat announced he won't seek re-election.  Doherty, a Democrat, has been Scranton's mayor since 2002. He is in office through 2013.  Doherty's fundraising in the Democratic gubernatorial primary race had lagged well behind the other three candidates.  The race to replace Mellow as the Democratic Senate nominee is crowded with potential candidates, including state Rep. Jim Wansacz and Scranton School Director Chris Phillips.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A legislative aide who helped recruit fellow staffers to work on political campaigns says the payment of taxpayer-funded bonuses between 2004 and 2006 dramatically increased the ranks of volunteers.  Eric Webb testified for the prosecution Wednesday in the trial of former House Democratic Whip Mike Veon and three staffers.  They're charged with theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest.  Webb described spreadsheets of volunteers that he kept at the request of his superiors in the House Democratic caucus. He said he graded the best volunteers as "rock stars" and said the resulting bonuses brought growing numbers of volunteers from 2004 to 2006.  He says he received a bonus equal to one-quarter of his pay and wondered how soon the attorney general's office would find out about the bonus program.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. (AP) - A central Pennsylvania man is charged with murder in the home-invasion beating death of his adopted mother.  Police say 38-year-old Marcus Wallace broke into Consuella Wallace's Chambersburg apartment and attacked her December 10,leaving her in a coma. Marcus Wallace was charged with murder Tuesday following his mother's death on Feb. 9. Franklin County Coroner Jeffrey Conner says 70-year-old Consuella Wallace died of blunt force head trauma.  Marcus Wallace was already facing charges including aggravated assault for the alleged attack. He has been in custody since his arrest in Pittsburgh in mid-December on an unrelated assault charge.  It was not immediately clear if Wallace had an attorney. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's beer-sales law is among the nation's most restrictive and is proving near-impossible to change. But a state senator said Tuesday that he will try again to loosen it, this time allowing six-pack sales by beer distributors, groceries and conveniences stores. Similar legislation pressed by Sen. John Rafferty of Montgomery County collapsed in the last two-year legislative term amid feuding between taverns, distributors, brewers and others. That bill would have allowed six-pack sales by distributors, which currently only sell cases and kegs. Pennsylvania's law currently only allows six-pack sales in places where a patron can also drink beer. But over the past year, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has approved a number of liquor licenses for grocery stories that have dining areas.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A former top Pennsylvania House Democratic staff aide says he and two others met with Attorney General Tom Corbett shortly after news broke that employees of the Legislature had received bonuses. Former director of staffing and administration Scott Brubaker testified Tuesday that Corbett was told about legitimate bonuses, but not about rewards handed out for campaign work. Brubaker is the third witness to appear in the Dauphin County Court trial of former House Democratic Whip Mike Veon and three of his former aides. Brubaker says the February 2007 meeting in Corbett's office also included two other House Democratic staff aides, Mike Manzo and lawyer Reizdan Moore. Both Manzo and Brubaker have pleaded guilty to charges brought by Corbett in the case. Manzo testified earlier.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pittsburgh officials say they are changing how emergency calls are handled after a man died waiting for an ambulance in his home during a snowstorm despite repeated 911 calls. Public Safety Director Michael Huss apologized Tuesday to relatives of 50-year-old Curtis Mitchell. Mitchell and his wife, Sharon Edge, started calling 911 on Friday, Feb. 5, when a storm dumped two feet of snow on the city. But an ambulance could not make it to their home due to heavy snow. Edge says emergency workers asked the couple if they could walk four blocks to reach the ambulance, but he was in too much pain. He died Sunday morning, Feb. 7. Huss called the handling of the situation "unacceptable." He said EMS protocol is going to change so that every call will now have a first responder arriving at the person's door.

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

Updates on the latest in business

Dow: 10,309.24, up 40.43

S&P 500: 1,099.51, up 4.64

NASDAQ: 2,226.29, up 12.10

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Federal Reserve predicts unemployment will stay high over the next two years. It says recession-scarred Americans will remain cautious, allowing for only a moderate-paced economic recovery.

TOKYO (AP) - Toyota is looking into complaints of power steering problems with its popular Corolla compact, considering a recall as one option. That could mark a fresh blow to the world's largest automaker, grappling with a series of safety lapses involving sticking gas pedals and braking problems.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is hailing the one-year-old economic stimulus law for fending off the risk of another Great Depression and keeping up to 2 million people on the job. Even so, he noted that millions are still out of work, saying to them "it doesn't yet feel like much of a recovery."

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

Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers Wednesday:

Daily Number: 8-8-5

Big 4: 0-5-8-6

Quinto: 1-9-7-6-0

Treasure Hunt: 06-08-10-19-24

Tiger to end months of silence on Friday

MARANA, Ariz. (AP) - Tiger Woods will end nearly three months of silence Friday when he speaks publicly for the first time since his middle-of-the-night car accident sparked stunning revelations of infidelity.  However, his agent said Woods will not take any questions from a small group of media.  "This is not a press conference," Mark Steinberg said Wednesday.  It will be Woods' first public appearance since Nov. 27, when he crashed his SUV into a tree outside his Florida home. Woods' only comments since then have been made through his Web site. Steinberg said Woods is to speak at 11 a.m. Friday from the clubhouse at the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., home of the PGA Tour.

Ratings

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Winter Olympics are being watched by huge numbers of people, as expected, but "American Idol" isn't too far behind. The opening ceremony of the Olympics was the top-rated show of the week with nearly 33 million viewers. The primetime coverage on Sunday and Saturday ranked third and fourth. But Tuesday's "American Idol" is in second and the Wednesday episode is fifth.  "NCIS" is sixth, followed by "NCIS: Los Angeles." "Two and a Half Men," "The Big Bang Theory" and "The Mentalist" round out the top ten.

Robin Hood arrested
 

167 Iowa faith leaders back gay marriage

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - More than 160 faith leaders in Iowa have voiced their support for same-sex marriage and are criticizing opponents who cite the Bible in raising objections. Members of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa held a Statehouse news conference Tuesday to present a letter they sent to all 150 legislators outlining their position. It says many faith traditions affirm that "where there is love, the sacred is in our midst." It goes on to say, "This belief is the same for couples comprised of a man and a woman, two women or two men." Speakers said they wanted to counter arguments by people who rely on the Bible to back up their views. The Iowa Supreme Court last spring struck down a state law banning gay marriage. The Legislature has been pushed to begin the lengthy process of putting a constitutional amendment before voters that would overturn that ruling. But most Democrats, who dominate both chambers, have declined to act.

British bishops urge 'carbon fast' for Lent

LONDON (AP) - Several prominent Anglican British bishops are urging Christians to keep their carbon consumption in check during Lent, which starts on this Ash Wednesday. The 40-day period of penitence before Easter typically sees observant Catholics, Anglicans, and Orthodox Christians give up meat, alcohol or chocolates. This initiative aims to convince those observing Lent to try a day without an iPod or mobile phone to reduce their use of electricity, and thus trim the amount of carbon dioxide spewed into the atmosphere. London Bishop Richard Chartres says the poorest people in developing countries are the hardest hit by man-made climate change. He says the "Carbon Fast" is "an opportunity to demonstrate the love of God in a practical way."

Flap-jack 500 will be next...

LIBERAL, Kan. (AP) - A southwest Kansas phys Ed teacher has the fastest pancake on two legs and on two continents. Cheryl Bevis wins the annual trans-Atlantic pancake race. Each year on Shrove Tuesday, the women of Liberal, Kan. and Olney, England, run a 415-yard course, frying pan and pancake in hand. This year, Bevis beat all comers with a time of 63 seconds. The best English time was 67 seconds. Bevis is now a three-time winner, making her ineligible to compete again. Legend has it that the race began in 1455 when an Olney housewife ran to Shrove Tuesday church services still carrying a pancake in a frying pan. Liberal got into the act in 1950.

by Jamie Friar

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