Thursday, March 4, 2010

Local attorney fires back at commissioner

SUNBURY – Northumberland Attorney Gregory Stuck is responding to a countersuit filed by Northumberland County Commissioner Vinny Clausi against Stuck and former sheriff’s deputies Joe Jones and Michael Boris.  Clausi says the multimillion-dollar suit is the result of a ‘frivolous and baseless lawsuit’ the three defendants filed against him in January claiming that the Commissioner made defamatory remarks against the sheriff’s department. 

Attorney Stuck says the lawsuit filed by Clausi is ‘ridiculous’ and is a ‘blatant attempt to resolve the suit filed against Clausi without his dirty laundry being shown to the public.’  Stuck also wonders why he is named in Clausi’s suit, when he is not part of the original lawsuit filed against Clausi. 

Clausi alleged that pornography was viewed in the sheriff’s department under the computer log-in names of Jones and Boris, but never claimed that they were the ones who were looking at it.  A suit filed by Stuck claims that Clausi did accuse and defame the two deputies, who were recently fired.  (Ali Stevens)

Jail time for man accused of stabbing

SUNBURY – A Sunbury man accused of a stabbing in the city has been sentenced to up to nine years in prison.  26-year-old Manuel Molina was in court Wednesday on a number of charges including attempted homicide for an incident last January where he stabbed a 40-year-old Sunbury man in the abdomen and back during an altercation at a home on Reagan Street. 

The victim survived but was in the hospital in critical condition for several weeks.  Molina says his actions were in self-defense.  Northumberland County President Judge Robert Sacavage sentenced Molina to 4 ½ to nine years in prison.

Dancing to raise money for local summer camp

LEWISBURG – Dancers are welcome to the annual dance-a-thon to raise money for summer camp at the Donald Heiter Community Center in Lewisburg.  Jane Kessler is a Youth Programmer at the center, and says Saturday there will be different kinds of dance music from 11:00a.m.-midnight.  The first hour is a mommy and me hour, featuring the chicken dance and hokey pokey. 

There will also be a reggae, disco, county, ballroom and swing hour, along with a Michael Jackson hour.  All of the proceeds from the annual event will go to help put on the summer camp at the center.  Kessler says money can be raised for the dance-a-thon, or a donation can be made at the door.  A minimum donation of $25.00 is encouraged.

There will be door prizes each hour, and all who dance are entered to win a grand prize at the end of the event, held at the Heiter Center.  For more information you can call 524-5000. (Sara Bartlett)

Canned food drive supports local organization

LEWISBURG – A canned food drive is getting underway to help support the Lewisburg Food Bank and the Lewisburg/Milton Meals on Wheels program.  Stacy Drum is Meals on Wheels Volunteer Coordinator at Riverwoods in Lewisburg and says they are holding a canned food drive during the Feinstein Foundation’s campaign to fight hunger. 

The Feinstein Challenge is a yearly project where the national organization gives money to agencies and organizations that are trying to prevent hunger.  Any can goods donated will generate a donation to the Meals on Wheels program through the Feinstein Challenge. 

Drum says they need the public to help by donating canned goods or monetary donations, which can be dropped off at the Riverwoods Senior Living Community in Lewisburg between now and March 26^th.  The Meals on Wheels program, which is a United Way agency supported by the Union County and Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way’s, currently serves about 95 individuals with hot meals delivered weekdays. 

Harclerode pleads guilty to sex with minor

LEWISBURG – Former Bucknell University professor, 74-year-old Jack Harclerode, pleaded guilty Wednesday to eleven counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. Harclerode agreed to the deal after a two-hour hearing in Union County Court. The plea involves three years of indecent contact in the 1990’s involving a Milton boy who was under 16 when the incidents began.

Harclerode will face 5-10 years in jail. The victim was not present in court. Union County District Attorney Pete Johnson says the Commonwealth is pleased with the maximum 10-year sentence and that a plea agreement has been reached so that the victim could avoid testifying and seeing Harclerode in court.

In exchange for the guilty plea, Harclerode will not be able to withdraw the plea unless he can demonstrate that someone coerced him into pleading guilty. Harclerode was recently found guilty on counts of having child pornography on his computer. He will be resentenced for that when he is sentenced for this case.

He is in jail currently for a case in Columbia County where he is accused of touching another boy inappropriately. He was sentenced to up to 30 months in prison for that incident, and his Union County sentence will run consecutive to the one he is currently serving.

Shamokin Dam officials support sports park

SHAMOKIN DAM – The Shamokin Dam borough officials say they support plans to develop a tract of land along the west bank of the Susquehanna River for a “Sports Park.” The land is located within the Shamokin Dam borough near the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge. Some of the land is privately owned and will have to be taken by eminent domain.

SEDA-COG has studied the use and potential of the area surrounding Lake Augusta and devised a potential plan for the “Sports Park” which would include a boat house for rowers, river access, reconstruction of a portion of the canal and a visitor’s center and park.

Borough officials in Shamokin Dam say they support the efforts of State Representative Merle Phillips (R-108th, Sunbury) for the acquisition and development of the land as an addition to the Shikellamy State Park. The next step is to form a joint planning committee of elected officials and representatives from Shamokin Dam, SEDA-COG and others to being and guide the planning and development of the land. (Ali Stevens)

Lower ticket prices for Oscar night broadcast party

LEWISBURG – This is the third year that Lewisburg’s Campus Theater will host a fundraising party to watch the annual Academy Awards broadcast. Patrons enjoy gourmet food, drink and a walk on a red carpet. Executive Director Mary Bannon says recreating a Hollywood premiere is still a hit among movie buffs.

Admission to Sunday’s Red Carpet Party is now only $45 per person, reduced in deference to the local economy. Bannon says some of the event’s luxury items have been scaled back, but the basic fun will remain the same, and also include a limo ride, paparazzi photos and an interview by a celebrity correspondent. Tickets are still available at box office of the Campus Theater, or by logging onto www.campustheater.org (Matt Farrand)

Sunbury’s Love-N-Care Street Fair planning to be begin

SUNBURY – Planning for the 38th annual Love-N-Care Street Fair in Sunbury will soon get underway. This year’s fair will be held on June 12th. The Love-N-Care committee plans to have their first meeting next week, and will begin to discuss vendors and entertainment.

They are looking for volunteers and donations. Proceeds benefit the Mary Derr Rockefeller Auxiliary and the Sunbury area Health Foundation.  More information is available online at www.lovencarestreetfair.org. (Sara Bartlett)

Tractor-trailer clips traffic light, hydrant

SHAMOKIN – Traffic at a busy intersection in Shamokin was slowed down for a time Wednesday evening, after a tractor-trailer clipped a traffic signal and a fire hydrant. Northumberland County Communications says the incident happened at the intersection of Sunbury and Market Streets, that’s along Route 61.

Damage to the hydrant was minimal, but the truck brought down wires and lights, then continued on its way. The PPL was called to fix lights, and the tractor-trailer was reportedly pulled over along Route 61 shortly after the 6:20 p.m. accident. (Matt Farrand)

Trevorton man charged with sexual assault

SUNBURY – A Trevorton man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy. 69-year-old Willett Earnest is charged with numerous counts for allegedly allowing the boy to drive his car to convince him to engage in sex acts. Earnest reportedly tried to assault the boy and touched him inappropriately, but the boy was able to fight him off.

Earnest was arraigned last month and sent to the Northumberland County Prison, but is now free on bail and waived all charges against him onto court last week. Police say Earnest assaulted the boy at his home on December 27th. (Ali Stevens)

Shik star is a 1,000 pointer

SUNBURY – Shikellamy High School’s Kelly Bickel scored her 1,000th career point Tuesday night. Bickel helped her team beat Midd West 56 to 31 in the District Four Class AAA (triple A) semifinal. The Shikellamy High School girls now advance to the state tournament for the first time in their careers. Bickel says she was well rested for the big game and was ready to get 1,000 points.

And what are Bickel’s plans for the future when she graduates this spring? Bickel hopes to go to Lock Haven University and continue playing basketball. Next up, the top-seeded Braves will meet the Shamokin girls. Shikellamy plays Shamokin Friday night at 6pm in Milton. (Ali Stevens)

State Rep candidate holds meet and greet

MIFFLINBURG – A Republican running for state representative in the 85th district seat is holding an event Thursday in Mifflinburg. Public accountant and small business owner Maurice Brubaker is holding the meet and greet and petition signing from 6:00-8:30p.m. at the Carriage Corner Restaurant.

All are invited. Brubaker is making a run for the seat held by retiring State Representative Russ Fairchild (R-85th, Winfield), along with Republicans Betsy Snook and Fred Keller, and Democrat Trey Casimir.

Latest Pennsylvania news, lottery, business and entertainment

MIAMI (AP) - The U.S. Department of Education has named 16 finalists in the first round of its "Race to the Top" competition, which will deliver $4.35 billion in school reform grants.  Selected Thursday from a pool of 41 applicants are: Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Tennessee. The winners will be chosen in April. The grants are designed to reward and spur states to lift student achievement by developing strong standards, getting high-quality teachers in the classroom, and turning around low-performing schools.  The money is part of President Barack Obama's economic stimulus law.  A second round of applications will be accepted in June.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania gambling regulators have fined the resort casino in the Poconos $100,000 over underage gambling violations.  The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced the fine Thursday. The board says gamblers between the ages of 17 and 20 were caught playing slot machines six times at Mount Airy last year. In four of those cases the casino didn't report the violations.  As part of an agreement with regulators Mount Airy has also purchased eight electronic scanning devices to check customer driver's licenses and other identification cards.  Mount Airy vice president Matthew Magda says the casino will work to prevent future incidents and report them if they happen.  In the last two years regulators have fined Pennsylvania casinos nine times totaling $332,500 over underage gambling.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium is closed because of a power outage. Zoo spokeswoman Tracy Gray says the zoo will remain closed Thursday because it will likely take most of the day to fix the problem.  Gray says no animals have been harmed and no injuries have been reported from a power line that has been downed. It wasn't immediately clear what caused the line to come down.  Crews from Duquesne Light have been at the zoo trying to fix the problem.

CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. (AP) - John Strohmeyer, a newspaper editor who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1972 for his editorials on race relations in Bethlehem, Pa., has died. He was 85.  Strohmeyer died Wednesday of heart failure at his winter home in Crystal River, Fla.  He edited the former Bethlehem Globe-Times newspaper from 1956 to 1984, winning journalism's highest honor for his editorial campaign to reduce racial tensions in Bethlehem.  Later, he wrote books on the decline of the steel industry and the development of the Alaskan oil industry. He also taught at Lehigh University and the University of Alaska.  He's survived by his wife, a son, a daughter and eight grandchildren. His first wife died in 2000, and a son died in 1998.  Funeral arrangements are pending.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A former campaign coordinator for Democrats in the Pennsylvania House says using the Legislature's taxpayer-supplied blast e-mail system saved his candidates more than $1 million. Dan Wiedemer told jurors in the public corruption case of a former state lawmaker and three ex-aides that the blast e-mails were only part of the public resources commandeered to run elections while he served as executive director of the House Democratic Campaign Committee. He says the election efforts in 2006 alone were also bolstered by more than 50 opposition research reports generated by state workers. Wiedemer says those types of reports can cost more than $2,500 apiece to purchase from private vendors. Wiedemer is the latest witness to testify in the 4 1/2-week-old criminal trial of former Rep. Mike Veon and three former aides.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A new poll shows Pennsylvania voters are wary of the candidates vying to succeed Gov. Ed Rendell. The Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday showed 49 percent of Republican voters are undecided about whom to support in the May 18 primary. State Attorney General Tom Corbett is favored by 43 percent of voters and state Rep. Sam Rohrer by 5 percent. Among Democrats, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato appears to hold a slim lead with 16 percent. That contrasts with state Auditor General Jack Wagner at 11 percent, former U.S. Rep. Joe Hoeffel at 10 percent and state Sen. Anthony Williams at 2 percent. The survey of 649 Democrats and 605 Republicans was conducted in the week ending Sunday. The sampling error margin was plus or minus 4 percentage points.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Allentown council members have voted unanimously to ban people from using hand-held cell phones and similar devices to phone, text or browse while driving in the eastern Pennsylvania city. The measure approved 7-0 would go into effect 10 days after a signature by Mayor Ed Pawlowski, who supports the bill. Offenders could be fined $150 to $300, and a violation would be a primary traffic offense, meaning police could use it as a reason to pull over a motorist. Skateboards, inline skaters and bicyclists would also be barred from using cell phones while riding. Exceptions would be made in cases of emergency, and hands-free devices would be exempt. Philadelphia, Erie and Harrisburg have passed similar bans.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter hopes to close next year's budget shortage through a soda tax and fees for trash pickup. Aides say the two-cents-an-ounce sweet-drink tax will raise $77 million a year and address the city's high obesity rate, especially among children. The $300-per-year trash fee is expected to yield $108 million annually. Residents can offset the fees through a recycling program that offers rewards of $100 to $400 a year based on neighborhood totals. Nutter is to deliver his budget plan to the City Council on Thursday.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (AP) - A central Pennsylvania jury deliberated for only half an hour Wednesday before convicting a man of raping two university students a year ago. Twenty-four-year-old Domenique Wilson of Philadelphia was convicted of more than three dozen charges including rape, indecent deviate sexual intercourse and unlawful restraint. He was charged in the February 2009 attack on three Lock Haven students, two of whom were raped repeatedly at knifepoint. The victims and their families said in a statement that they were grateful that justice had been served in the case. Outside the courtroom, the defendant said he was innocent and the trial had been unfair. Wilson, who once played for the university's basketball team, is scheduled for sentencing June 7. He is awaiting trial in a separate rape case in Philadelphia.

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

Updates on the latest in business

Dow: 10,422.45, up 25.69

S&P 500: 1,120.52, up 1.73

NASDAQ: 2,285.88, up 5.20

NEW YORK (AP) - Early stock gains ebbed today after an unexpected drop in pending home sales. The trading day begin in a positive direction on news of stronger than expected sales figures from the nation's retailers. In afternoon trading the major indexes were up, but only slightly.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A better-than expected report on jobless claims is raising hope about tomorrow's unemployment figures. A Labor Department report shows claims dropped last week after two straight weeks of unexpected increases. But economists expect tomorrow's report will show last month's unemployment rate grew slightly to 9.8 percent.

WASHINGTON (AP) -There's some encouraging business news today, fresh evidence that the economy is steadily growing. Retail sales, factory orders and productivity are up and jobless claims are down. One discouraging note: pending home sales fell sharply last   month to its lowest reading since April.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A jobs bill probably won't get to President Barack Obama until next week. The House is expected to pass the legislation today, but the Senate is working on some unfinished business. Some economists say the bill could create about 250,000 new jobs.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says many Americans are concerned that they'll be priced out of the health insurance market. Sebelius met today with top insurance executives over proposed double-digit rate hikes. She says the hikes top the list of reasons why Congress must pass health care reform quickly.

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

Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers

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

 Midday Big 4

     5-1-5-3

 Midday Number

     0-9-6

 Midday Quinto

     0-3-3-3-9

 Treasure Hunt

     01-16-18-19-21

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

Big 4 0-7-4-7

Cash 5 02-05-08-35-41

Daily Number 7-2-0

Evening Quinto 2-8-1-1-0

Megaplier 3

Midday Big 4 5-5-7-3

Midday Number 0-7-9

Midday Quinto 3-5-3-5-6

Powerball 07-09-14-45-49, Powerball: 23, Power Play: 4

Treasure Hunt 03-12-20-23-27

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

Sarah Palin pitching TV show about Alaska

NEW YORK (AP) - Fox News Channel may not be Sarah Palin's only foray into television.  The former vice presidential candidate has been pitching an idea for a show about Alaska to network executives. She's teamed with Mark Burnett, one of television's busiest producers. Burnett is best known for his "Survivor" series on CBS.  Three broadcast executives, who spoke on condition of anonymity because their networks don't publicly discuss story pitches, said Thursday that Palin was meeting with officials at ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox this week. The meetings were first reported by Entertainment Weekly.  Palin started work earlier this year as an analyst at Fox News. The former Alaska governor also appeared telling jokes this week on NBC's "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno.

Bullock, Bridges other nominees join Oscar crew

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Academy Awards front-runners Sandra Bullock and Jeff Bridges and at least four other nominees are hitting the Oscar stage as presenters.  Joining Bridges and Bullock as Oscar presenters will be fellow acting nominees Matt Damon, Anna Kendrick and Carey Mulligan and directing contender Quentin Tarantino.  Bridges is the best-actor favorite for "Crazy Heart" at Sunday's show, and Bullock is widely expected to win best actress for "The Blind Side." Mulligan also is nominated for best actress for "An Education." Damon is up for supporting actor  in "Invictus," andKendrick is up for supporting actress for "Up in the Air."  Tarantino is nominated for "Inglourious Basterds."

Nude snow woman

RAHWAY, N.J. (AP) - It was a snow woman -- and a naked snow woman and that. Maria Conneran and her family sculpted Venus de Milo outside their New Jersey home. Police got at least one complaint about the frosty babe. Conneran's mother Elisa Gonzalez says their snow sculpture was "curvaceous, bodacious and bootylicious." While police appreciate the talent involved, officers asked the family to cover up the naked snow woman. The ice hottie was given a green bikini top and a blue sarong bottom. But in the face of warming temperatures, the family has taken down their cold cutie.

Shakira honored at UN labor agency

GENEVA (AP) - Shakira has received a medal from the U.N. labor agency for her work to help impoverished children. The 33-year-old Colombian pop star has worked as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador. Her Barefoot foundation provides nutrition to more than 6,000 children in Colombia, and she is member of the ALAS foundation that advocates for children across Latin America. At a small ceremony Wednesday in Geneva, U.N. labor chief Juan Somavia called Shakira a "true ambassador for children and young people, for quality education and social justice." Shakira said in a statement Thursday that social, economic and environmental policies must focus on children and their education. Shakira also spoke last month with President Barack Obama about U.S. policy on children.

Jonas Brothers join up with Rick Warren for Easter service

LAKE FOREST, Calif. (AP) - The Jonas Brothers will be busy on Easter Sunday. The Rev. Rick Warren, pastor of California's Saddleback Church, has told his congregation that the pop group will perform at a special Easter service in Angels Stadium in Anaheim marking the megachurch's 30th anniversary. Warren said the three brothers are "followers of Jesus Christ" and wear purity rings reflecting their pledge to remain sexually pure until marriage. A spokeswoman for Warren says the April 4 service will be broadcast live online. Warren and his wife Kay founded Saddleback Church, which has grown to become one of the most influential evangelical congregations in the country.

Singapore renews 'gum ban'

SINGAPORE (AP) - Officials in Singapore don't want anything gumming up the works -- so they're keeping a ban on chewing gum. The city-state banned gum sales in 1992. A government official tells parliament the ban will remain in effect to avoid gum-related vandalism and litter. And here's something to chew on: punishment for even minor crimes such as vandalism in Singapore can include caning. And drug smugglers are often hanged there.