Thursday, July 17, 2008
CSVT put into “hibernation,” for now
SELINSGROVE – The Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway project is going into a state of “hibernation”. PennDOT and the Federal Highway Administration announced their decision at a meeting at Susquehanna University Thursday afternoon. PennDOT Public Information Officer, Rick Mason, explains that hibernation means the project will be alive but inactive. The project design will be brought to a logical completion and then set aside until further funds are identified. Rising inflation and the transportation-funding crisis contributed to the decision.
The alternatives to hibernation were stopping the project all together or redirecting all SEDA-COG allocated funds to the throughway. Existing offers to property owners affected by the throughway will stand but no new offers will be made until the project resumes. (Lindsey Bingaman)
Job fair attracts prospective Target employees
SELINSGROVE – Dozens of applicants in search of positions with Target are keeping the PA CareerLink office in Selinsgrove a busy place. Over 1,100 sales, food service and office personnel positions could be offered as the corporation staffs stores in Hummel’s Wharf and Muncy. Fittingly, the office was decked out in red, the company color, for the first day of the Target job fair. CareerLink is being used to accept applications, conduct interviews and give prospective employees a preview of what the company all about.
One of dozens of applicants describes the process as starting with paperwork and continuing with as many as two interviews. Management prospects will get the word in about a week. Other staff will need to apply in August. Target is looking to open their Snyder County store in October, and a store in Muncy later this month. Construction on the Target Distribution Center in Gregg Township is expected to resume later this year. The job fair at CareerLink continues Friday and Saturday. (Matt Farrand)
Danville mom faces trial for allegedly selling marijuana
DANVILLE – A Danville woman is facing trial after police say she sold drugs to a police informant while her young child was in the car. The Press Enterprise reports 23-year-old Ryan Ferguson waived her right to a preliminary hearing on Tuesday on charges of drug possession, criminal conspiracy and endangering the welfare of a child. Her fiancé, 26-year-old Matthew Kipple of Danville, was also charged in the incident and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for later this month. Kipple is behind bars in Montour County on $100,000 bail.
Police say Ferguson and Kipple took part in an arranged drug sale on June 12th in a parking lot on Route 11, while their six-month old daughter sat in the car. (Ali Stevens)
Man charged with threatening Penn Township couple at home
SELINSGROVE – A Selinsgrove man is in custody after allegedly entering a residence in Penn Township and threatening the lives of a man and a woman who live there. State Police say 20-year-old Christopher Allen Biddinger also caused property damage in the early Wednesday morning incident. The residents escaped to a neighbor and called Troopers.
State Police say Biddinger is now in the Snyder County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail after being picked up late in the morning Thursday. He faces burglary, assault, harassment and terroristic threat charges and was arraigned before District Magistrate John Robinson. (Matt Farrand)
Northumberland site of Gubin’s sold
NORTHUMBERLAND – The building that used to house both Gubin’s Clothing Store and a neighboring building has been sold. The two buildings are under contract according to Ann Moyer and a closing is set for the end of the month. Moyer could not disclose the buyer. The current owner is Joann Snyder of Sunbury and the listing price for the buildings is $70,000.
The building that housed the Gubin’s store was built in 1897 to house Gubin’s men’s clothing and later expanded to women’s wear and shoes. The store closed for business in March of this year after Snyder’s husband, Charles Snyder, passed away in September of 2007. He started working at Gubin’s in 1958 as a stock-boy and then ran the store from the early 1980’s until his death. (Ali Stevens)
Sunbury PD to enforce sex offender ordinance
SUNBURY – Sunbury’s Police Chief, Stephen Mazzeo, says his department will enforce an ordinance in the city that prohibits registered sex offenders from living or loitering within 1,000 feet of areas where children gather. However, Mazzeo says taking action against convicted sex offenders, can be tricky. He says that the Megan’s state Law has been modified so many times, that he is not sure if modifications are needed in the ordinance. But, he says his department will continue to utilize the ordinance at this time.
Mazzeo was informed of the ordinance after some citizens complained at this week’s city council meeting that a convicted sex offender was seen at a city playground. He says one arrest has been made and another is being investigated. A warrant was issued this week for the arrest of 20-year old, Bryan Reed, for failing to register a new address within 48 hours of moving last year. Mazzeo says it is vital for citizens to participate and be active members of their community, by reporting any information they may have on any crime. He says together, they can ensure a safer community. (Sara Lauver)
Man on the run since January captured
WATSONTOWN— An area fugitive is in custody after a national warrant was issued for his arrest earlier this year. Police in Watsontown say 29-year-old, Shannon Faircloth of New Columbia, was taken into custody by the Union County Sheriff’s Office early Thursday morning. The arrest stems from an incident in early January, when Faircloth allegedly broke into his girlfriend’s apartment and destroyed her furniture and other belongings.
He had been on the run since that incident and is facing felony charges of burglary, criminal trespass and criminal mischief. Police continue to investigate and additional charges may be filed against those who were harboring Faircloth at the time of his capture. (Sara Lauver)
The ‘No Hole in the Wall Gang’ opposes Sunbury floodwall openings
SUNBURY – Voters in the City of Sunbury face a ballot question this fall: Should openings be made in the current floodwall to access the Susquehanna River for recreation, though access could be provided without cutting openings.
Architect Stan Seiple is against the “holes in the wall,” as some call them. He says new openings are not needed, as an enhanced driveway and ramp could be built over the top for pedestrians to access the riverside of the wall and the amphitheater.
Seiple says as many as 5,000 residents could be at risk if high water bursts through one of the closeable holes. Seiple and other members of Sunbury Citizens for Better Government have been collecting signatures and are responsible for putting the question before voters this fall.
Seiple notes the notion that closeable holes in the wall would enhance the view for those driving by, saying that a 100-foot portal would only provide a view for a couple of seconds. The Riverfront Project also includes the construction of an amphitheater, walking trail, observation decks and a number of boat docks.
Meantime, Mayor Jesse Woodring says he is not aware of this kind of referendum appearing on the November ballot. He believes the county would have contacted him and the city would have been able to respond if that was to happen. County officials say the ballot question will appear on the fall ballot in Sunbury. (Matt Farrand)
Green Technologies the Focus of a Bucknell Symposium
LEWISBURG – Small and medium sized business owners had the opportunity Wednesday to learn more about green building technologies, products and projects during a symposium at Bucknell University in Lewisburg. The 2nd Annual conference was held by Bucknell’s Small Business Development Center and School of Engineering.
The symposium featured presentations from experts from the fields of architecture, marketing, and engineering, as well as vendors who displayed their green building products and services.
Keynote speaker Jacquelyn Ottman says the opportunity exists for designing green buildings and the products that go with them. The event was part of an effort by Bucknell to establish a new program on sustainable building design and operation within its curriculum and research activities. (Terry Diener)
“Build green” breakfast seminar planned
DANVILLE – Homes and businesses use about 40% of the nation’s energy, and advocates want homeowners and business owners to use less. A breakfast seminar to explain the advantages of “building green” is planned for Thursday from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Henry Hood Center for Health Research at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.
It is sponsored by SEDA-COG’s Energy Resource Center. The Center for Health Research is considered one of the region’s top examples of an energy efficient building, and an optional tour will be available after the formal program. (Matt Farrand)
Beautification; the theme at latest SPARC meeting
SUNBURY – Beautification was the theme of this month’s SPARC meeting. Member, Bob Lagerman, announced that the first phase of the Elm Street project will begin in the 1200 and 1300 blocks of the city. He says they expect to start early next year and will begin putting in new sidewalks, install new light fixtures and plant lots of trees in the area.
This would be the first phase in what Lagerman says is a 5-phase project for the historic Hill neighborhood. Member, John Shipman, says that $30,000 has already been earmarked for the estimated 50 to 55-thousand dollar Gateway project at North Front Street.
More funding is needed, but Shipman says they hope to secure the final amount in the next few months and would like to begin the project before winter of this year. The Gateway Project will adorn the North Front Street entrance to the city with a huge “Welcome to Sunbury” sign, along with additional landscaping. SPARC also decided to look into ways to smooth traffic flow in and around Cameron Park.
The committee is looking into suggestions made by Penn State landscape architecture students, who did a study as part of the Master Plan for Sunbury’s Community Development Project. SPARC is focusing particularly on implementing ideas to eliminate thru-traffic from 2nd Street near Cameron Park, and enforcing a traffic pattern that would take vehicles in a one-way direction around the park.
Members also discussed changes being made to the sidewalks and tree line within the Park and the idea of parallel parking along portions of Market Street. SPARC decided to contact and discuss their concepts with PennDOT before moving forward. (Sara Lauver)
3,000 golf balls taken
MILTON – A Danville man says he recently discovered that 3,000 golf balls were taken from his business. State Police in Milton say the victim believes the theft happened some time earlier this month. It was discovered after taking inventory at the Cooper Township business in Montour County. The golf balls are worth about $750. (Matt Farrand)
Gasoline cans theft targets
MILTON – Gasoline cans, either full or empty are apparent targets of thieves. State Police in Milton say a 65-year-old woman from Montandon reported a gas can was taken from her trailer’s porch Tuesday or Wednesday. She says the can was worth $10, and the 3.5 gallons fuel inside was worth $17.
State Police in Stonington say a 5-gallon metal gas and a 1-gallon plastic can were taken from shed on Mile Post Road in Upper Augusta Township. A suspect or suspects cut a metal lock to gain entry. Losses estimated at $55. (Matt Farrand)
Certain Lean Pockets pulled by Giant Foods
CARLISLE – As part of a manufacturer’s recall, Giant Food Stores and Martin’s Food Markets have removed frozen Lean Pockets Spinach Artichoke Chicken Sandwiches from shelves. Nestle USA announced a voluntary recall of the 9 ounce packages because they may contain pieces of plastic.
The sandwiches in question have a UPC Codes of #4369508326 with a “best before” date of November 2009. Consumers who have purchased the Lean Pockets Spinach Artichoke Chicken Sandwiches are urged to return them to the store for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Nestle USA at 1-800-350-5016. (Terry Diener)
Selinsgrove Schools kick day care kids to the curb
SELINSGROVE – The Selinsgrove School Board has decided to cancel bussing for students in the borough that go to daycare, leaving many working parents scrambling to find a way to get their child to school or get them picked up after school.
School Board President Eric Rowe says all-day kindergarten changed the bussing schedule because there are assigned seats in the morning and afternoon and kids are no longer finished school at noon. There is a meeting being planned for later this month for parents and daycare providers to talk about the problem with transportation coordinator Pete Carroll, however the date for the meeting hasn’t been announced.
Meanwhile, local daycares are providing parents with a survey letter from Sharitz Bus Service, who is looking into providing bus service to the daycares for a small fee, however this would all depend on how many parents respond saying they need the service. (Ali Stevens)
Water main break in Norry has been fixed
NORTHUMBERLAND – A handful of Pennsylvania American Water Company customers in Northumberland Borough were without water for a time yesterday. Susan Turcmanovich with PAWC says there was an 8-inch main break in the area of Susquehanna and Strawbridge Roads.
She says eight customers were affected until repairs could be made. The water main break was about three miles from where the company put a 750,000-gallon storage tank into service in June, but Turcmanovich says the break had nothing to do with that tank. Water service in that area was back to normal by 9:30 p.m.
Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese says he's confident he'll be vindicated in the legislative bonus investigation and intends to remain leader of the House Democratic caucus. DeWeese said Wednesday he feels the grand jury reports issued last week show his response to the scandal has been appropriate. He says he hopes to run as speaker with a Democratic majority. Last week state prosecutors charged his former chief of staff and a trusted former lieutenant with misappropriating public money to wage campaigns and enrich themselves. Ten other caucus officials also were charged.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Administrators of Pennsylvania's state-owned university system say they need to fill a roughly $32 million budget gap for the 2008-09 school year. Officials delivered the news Wednesday to the finance committee of the State System of Higher Education's governing board. Associate vice chancellor Lois Johnson says the $1.4 billion education and general budget for the 14 universities is higher than originally estimated. Johnson says that's due partly to higher-than-expected inflation and utility costs. The universities also received a smaller boost in state aid than they had requested. The committee was supposed to recommend new tuition rates but delayed its consideration because its chairman was absent. The full board is expected to consider the committee's recommendation Thursday.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A candidate viewed as a threat to Democrat Bob Casey in Pennsylvania's 2006 Senate race wants help from the state's highest court because legislative officials arrested on corruption charges were allegedly involved in knocking him off the ballot. Former Green Party candidate Carl Romanelli and his lawyer are seeking to avoid paying more than $80,000 in legal costs. They cited grand jury allegations that state House Democratic operatives directed as many as 30 taxpayer-paid employees in reviewing Romanelli's petition signatures in the challenge that ended his candidacy. Political strategists believed Romanelli's candidacy would siphon votes away from Casey, a son of the late governor. Casey spokesman Larry Smar said the senator was not aware of any illegal activity surrounding the Romanelli ballot challenge.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - New figures show the number of Pennsylvania homeowners who fell behind on their mortgage payments last month is surging. The rate of increase in foreclosure activity in Pennsylvania last month also outpaced activity nationally. That's according to figures from RealtyTrac, which tracks default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions. A total of 4,060 Pennsylvania homes received at least one foreclosure-related filing last month, or about one in every 1,343 households. The numbers represented an increase of nearly 80 percent over June 2007, and an increase of 26 percent over May. Still, the overall Pennsylvania rate remains well below the national average. Nationally, foreclosure filings jumped more than 53 percent from June 2007 to last month. But it dipped 3.4 percent from May to June for a rate of one in every 501 households.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Thursday in the midday Pennsylvania State Lottery drawing:
Daily Number 5-2-5
Big 4 4-7-8-7
Treasure Hunt 8-12-14-18-27
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
EMMY NOMINATIONS ARE THIS MORNING
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris are getting up way before dawn. Actually, their alarms probably went off at midnight, Los Angeles time. Harris and Chenoweth will be announcing the Emmy nominations this morning at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Putting those two together at the podium is a challenge since she's 4-11 and he's 6-1. She'll look a little taller because they're having her stand on a box.
KID COP
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Pint-sized patrolman Landon Wilburn is on the beat. The 11-year-old Louisville, Kentucky, kid is tired of speeders in his neighborhood. So, he's taking aim at the lead-foot drivers with his radar gun. Landon wears a reflective vest and a bicycle helmet. He points his Hot Wheels speed gun at cars as they whiz by and records just how fast they're going. One neighbor tells The Courier-Journal some of the speeders slam on their brakes when they see the kid cop with the toy speed gun. City officials say they'll consider the neighborhood for speed bumps.
Fake Pedestrians
CHICAGO (AP) - Some cities and towns are sending plainclothes police officers walking into traffic -- to catch drivers who refuse to stop when they're supposed to. In Chicago, a lot of drivers don't seem to know that they have to stop whenever someone steps off the curb into a crosswalk. Officer Grace Delgado, wearing bright pink and orange, posed as a pedestrian on a busy street while fellow officers waited for drivers to barrel past her. They stopped 78 vehicles in just two hours -- and those were just the ones who kept moving after Delgado had already walked four or five feet into the road. One driver said he had seen her, but didn't know about the law. Another knew about the law but didn't see the pedestrian. The number of pedestrian traffic deaths in the U.S. has dropped, though it still stood at 4,800 in 2006, the most recent year for which numbers are available. And there's a concern that the numbers could climb again, particularly as the elderly population skyrockets.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)