An advocate for Bucknell, Evan Community Hospital and Lewisburg has died

LEWISBURG – Bucknell’s Vice President for External Relations, Charles Pollock, has died after a battle with cancer. He passed away Wednesday afternoon at the age of 59.  Pollock was a 1970 graduate of Bucknell University and worked at Bucknell as assistant to the President, Vice President for Student Affairs and most recently as Vice President for External Relations at the University.

Pollock was also Vice Chair of the board of directors at Evangelical Community Hospital.  Hospital CEO Michael O’Keefe says Pollock exhibited great leadership and vision as a member of the board and with strategic planning efforts.  He adds that Pollock was a truly great individual, a fine gentleman, very insightful and had a great sense of humor. 

Karen Hackman is president of the board of directors at Evan Hospital and says Pollock’s efforts never ceased.  She said, “Charlie was the kind of person you wanted on your team, the kind of person that you wanted as a friend and the kind of person you trusted and respected. 

Pollock was also the Chair of the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership board of directors.  Linda Sterling says he was one of the founding members of the group.  She says Pollock had a real strong sense of organization and was the guy that really pulled the board together and kept the board going in the right direction.  She says Pollock always reminded them to plan carefully and to look back on what they accomplished. 

As an undergraduate at Bucknell, Pollock majored in English with a concentration in theater.  He was married to Gayle Pollock, who serves part-time as Bucknell’s senior associate director of admissions.  (Ali Stevens)

Job layoffs announced at Wood Mode

KREAMER – Wood-Mode has announced more job cuts from their plant in Kreamer.  As a result of the mortgage related continuing decline in the housing and remodeling industry, they have to downsize their workforce.  The cabinet company says they are adjusting their workforce by laying off 120 employees to accommodate the overall reduction in sales volume.  All employees affected by the layoff have been notified. 

Director of Human Resources, Tom Morgensen says workers affected came from all shifts and were notified at 5:30, 7:30 and 9 this morning.  This is the first layoff since November of 2007.  The plant employed 1,830 workers before today’s layoff, bringing the total now to just over 1,700.  Morgensen says in the past two years, cabinet sales have dropped 20 to 25 percent.  (Ali Stevens)

Over 1,000 PPL customers without power overnight in Snyder County

SELINSGROVE – Over 1,100 PPL customers in Snyder County were without power overnight after the top of an electric pole broke near Sunbury Generation.  PPL spokesman Don Stringfellow says they intended to interrupt the power for a brief period of time while the pole was being fixed.  Customers affected included those on 11&15, the Old Trail, in Shamokin Dam and Hummels Wharf, and a few in Selinsgrove.  Power was restored to customers by 1:00 this afternoon. (Sara Bartlett)    

Mosquito spraying tonight in Montour County

Two inmates at the NorCo Prison charged with assaulting another prisoner

SUNBURY – Two Coal Township men, who are inmates at the Northumberland County Prison,  are charged with assaulting a prisoner who was reportedly a witness against them in a criminal case.  66-year-old Walter Hyde and 24-year-old Vincent Matteo, were charged with retaliation against a witness, riot, simple assault and disorderly conduct.  Police say the men assaulted a 21-year-old Shamokin inmate.  The man claims they beat him up because he was a witness against them in an upcoming case.  The victim was in the prison for a parole violation. Hyde and Matteo are serving time for drug-related crimes.  Hyde and Matteo were arraigned on Monday before District Justice Carl Rice and bail was set at $20,000.  A preliminary hearing will be held in August.  (Ali Stevens)

Campaign 2008: Area reactions to McCain’s visit in Wilkes Barre

WILKES BARRE – Some area leaders and residents attended a town hall meeting in Wilkes Barre yesterday, as Republican Presidential candidate, John McCain, spoke on various topics. Lewisburg resident and attorney, Graham Showalter, was one in the crowd at the Kirby Center event. He says he believes in McCain’s energy plans.

He says we should be energy independent and we (the United States) have the will power and the intelligence to do so. Showalter says we need the direction and vision of somebody like Senator John McCain to make it happen. Meanwhile, Snyder County Commissioner, Joe Kantz, also made the trip to Wilkes Barre to hear the Presidential hopeful speak.

Kantz says he was very pleased with the remarks he heard during McCain’s speech. He says “we’re not always going to agree on everything and I think that’s clear,” but he adds, “Things that are really important like the war in Iraq, fighting terrorism, keeping the country safe, and working toward making the economy better are all things that are important to him (McCain).”

Kantz says he could sense the candidate’s sincerity in what he said during that speech. McCain discussed everything from the Iraq war to oil prices. He spent the day campaigning throughout Pennsylvania. (Sheri Rippon/Sara Lauver)

Campaign 2008 II: John McCain speaks to a group in Wilkes-Barre this morning

WILKES-BARRE – Presidential candidate, John McCain, spoke to a large group in Wilkes-Barre today at a town hall meeting. The republican says the cost of oil and gasoline is "on everybody's mind in this room.” He reminded those in attendance that as soon as President Bush announced that the moratorium would be lifted on offshore drilling, the price of a barrel of oil went down $10.00.

He says as soon as we get the oil offshore, it’s not only going to help us with our supply, but it’s also going to impact the futures market, which is “out of sight”. McCain also talked about the Iraqi people, who he says are working to take back over the security of the country.

He says there is more corruption in Afghanistan then Iraq and things are progressing. He says they will eventually withdraw troops, but now is not the time. McCain is expected to announce a running mate soon, but did not do so in Wilkes-Barre today. (Ali Stevens)

Suspect grabs cash and runs from an area business truck; Police investigate

WEST MILTON – State Police are looking for someone who stole hundreds of dollars from an area business in Union County a few weeks ago. State Police in Milton say that between 10 and 10:30 a.m. on July 12th, a Sunbury area business was the victim.

An employee was collecting money from a convenience store in West Milton, when someone entered his truck and stole a bag containing $600 in cash. Police say the suspect then fled the scene. State Police continue to investigate and ask anyone with information to contact them. (Sara Lauver)

State Police investigate burglary at Union County business

GREGG TWP – State Police report a burglary at the White Deer Treatment Center store in Union County’s Greg Township. State Police in Milton say it happened around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday morning and four juveniles, ages 14 through 17, are to blame. Police say the suspects smashed a window in the building and then stole nearly $600 in merchandise. No other details were reported. (Sara Lauver)

Lightning touched off a fire in the Herndon area today

HERNDON – A fire, which started with a lightning strike, damaged a private school in the Herndon area this morning. The blaze hit the St. Louis de Montfort Academy around 2:20a.m. Two caretakers were in the building at the time and they used cell phones to call 9-1-1—because the telephones and fire alarm system were knocked out by the lightning strike.

According to Herndon’s 2nd Assistant Fire Chief John Hinkley, the fire was contained the attic and was put out quickly. There were no students at the school at the time—he said students are on summer break. Hinkley said Herndon’s new tanker truck was today used for its first fire call, and it worked flawlessly. There were no injuries.

The St. Louis school structure is a large mansion like structure, measuring about 75’ across the front. The building sustained fire damage to the attic and a minimal amount of smoke and water damage in the lower floors. The school is a private Catholic high school for boys. About 20 students are in the school during the academic year.

Sunbury Councilman says floodwall referendum may be too late

SUNBURY – Although voters in Sunbury will see a question on their ballot this fall regarding openings in the floodwall, City Councilman John Shipman says the timing is off on the referendum. Speaking this week on ‘On The Mark,’ Shipman says the project has been going on for eight years, and the process is basically over. He says the referendum may not even be binding.

Some residents have expressed concerns about openings in the wall; Shipman says those residents have had many chances to give their input and opinions during several public meetings. In addition, the plans for the floodwall, as part of the Riverfront Project, now include only one opening in the wall, as opposed to the original four. The opening would be located at Market and Front Streets and be about 65-feet in width.

You can hear all of John Shipman’s comments by downloading ‘On The Mark’ online at wkok.com. You can also voice your opinions about the topic by calling the live telephone talk show weekday mornings from 9:00-10:00a.m. (Sara Bartlett)

Local dealership says Ford Motor Company wants more small cars

SUNBURY – The Ford Motor Company is shifting away from trucks and SUV’s and manufacturing more small cars during the current gas crisis. Ford is expected to announce changes to several North American assembly plants from trucks to cars.

Tom Mertz is the owner of Sunbury Motors in Sunbury and says there will now be four major plants manufacturing cars instead of trucks and SUVs. Mertz says Ford’s Chief Executive made important decisions years ago about the company’s future products.

On a local level, Mertz says they are still able to sell trucks, because the demand for trucks is still there. However he admits that sales on SUV’s such as the Explorer, are slumping. Two cars, the Focus and the Fusion, are picking up in sales though due to gas mileage of about 28 miles a gallon.

According to the New York Times, for at least a decade, 60 percent of Ford’s sales in the US came from trucks and SUVs. These numbers are now shifting rapidly due to gas prices. Ford is set to announce plans to unveil its new direction on Thursday along with quarterly earnings. (Ali Stevens)

Mine reclamation projects coming to the Coal Region from federal funds

SUNBURY – One billion dollars was earmarked to Pennsylvania by the Federal Government for mine reclamation projects in the state and $250-million will be coming to Northumberland County. Amanda Kozak is Grants Manager in the county.

Kozak says a meeting was held in March to identify the projects needed in the Coal Region and the next step will be evaluation. Projects include prevention acid mine drainage, addressing vertical rock high walls and open stripping pits and the infiltration of surface waters into mines.

83 percent of available funds were identified for the Anthracite Coal Region. The money is allocated by state and federal agencies, including representatives of the DEP. The announcement was made at this weeks Northumberland County Commissioner’s Meeting. (Ali Stevens)

Mothman makes an appearance at Nature and Arts Festival this weekend

MILLERSBURG – The 15th annual Nature and Arts Festival hosted by the Ned Smith Center will take place Friday and Saturday in Millersburg. John Laskowski is the Chairman of the festival and says it grows every year. He says last year nearly 4,800 people attended. Laskowski says there are activities for all ages, including interactive workshops, musical entertainment and crafts. He will also be doing a demonstration on moths.

Attendees are encouraged to walk through the Center’s nature exhibit as well. The festival takes place beginning at 6:00p.m. Friday and at 9:00a.m. Saturday in MYO Park along the Susquehanna River in Millersburg. For more information and a complete schedule go online to www.nedsmithcenter.org. (Sara Bartlett)

Italian influences on classical music; topic of book by local author

SELINSGROVE – A book signing will be held this weekend with one area author who has recently published his third book. History buff and former Snyder County Commissioner, Guy Graybill, will be signing copies of his book titled, “Bravo! Greatness of Italian Music.”

Graybill says the book addresses the complete 1,000-year-old story of how Italian geniuses and musicians impacted the world of classical music. He says music has been a passion of his since childhood, and some of his research came from records he has collected over the years.

Graybill says the book is also filled with old pictures that were collected throughout his research. The book signing will take place Saturday from 11a.m. to 3p.m. at the Books Etc. store, located in next to Wal-Mart, along Routes 11 and 15 in Hummels Wharf. (Sara Lauver)

State Police investigate stolen debit card

NEW COLUMBIA – State Police are investigating a recent theft involving a debit card. State Police in Milton say that sometime on June 30th, a known suspect, who’s name has not been released, stole a debit card from a woman’s purse in New Columbia and then used it to make his own purchases.

The victim, from Pittston, realized her card was missing at a later date and then reported the loss. Police say they know who the male suspect is, but no arrests have been made at this time. That investigation continues. (Sara Lauver)

Teen bicyclist injured in a crash in Paxinos

PAXINOS – A 17-year-old boy was injured yesterday when he steered his bicycle into a car in Paxinos. State police say the teen was traveling in front of the car on Old Reading Road near Hollow Road in Shamokin Township around 9p.m.

When the car tried to pass the bike, the teen reportedly veered left into the vehicle. The 17-year-old was taken to Geisinger Medical Center with unknown injuries. Troopers say he was not wearing a bicycle helmet. The driver of the car, a 17-year-old from Coal Township, was not injured. The investigation will continue. (Ali Stevens)