Wednesday, July 30, 200
200-lb. bear safely rescued after roaming through Lewisburg
LEWISBURG – A 200-pound adult male bear is safe and sound after a stroll through Lewisburg Wednesday. The bear was first reported on the 400 block of Market Street sitting in a tree. Once Union County sheriffs and Lewisburg Police surrounded the tree, the bear hopped down and ran down 5th Street, nesting again in a tree on St. Anthony Street next to the William Cameron Fire Company. When the Pennsylvania Game Commission arrived, it took nearly two hours and two tranquilizer shots to get the bear down. Wildlife Conservation Officer Kristoffer Krebs says it’s a challenging operation in a residential area. One reason is because there are so many people around and the bear gets energized.
Krebs, who works mainly out of Lycoming County, says this type of incident is not too typical, especially in Union County, although the bear population is rising in the area.
The bear had an ear tag, which means it had been previously caught, but Krebs couldn’t say exactly where. Krebs suspected the bear would be knocked out for a good period of time from the tranquilizers. It will be taken to Lycoming County and safely put back into the woods. Although onlookers said another bear might have been spotted in the Lewisburg area, police did not confirm whether there was another one roaming around. State Police, Northumberland Police and Milton Fire Department also assisted at the scene. (Sara Bartlett)
GMC construction site steelwork complete
DANVILLE – An American flag flies from atop the completed steelwork at what will be the Hospital for Advanced Medicine at Geisinger Medical Center. President and CEO Glenn Steele Jr. says though the services it will deliver are more important in the long run, the progress is nice to see. Groundbreaking was completed a little over a year ago for the facility that will feature more private rooms for patients, more operating room space and flexibility for changes expected in medical technology during the years ahead. (Matt Farrand)
Beavertown man charged with assaulting a Danville couple
DANVILLE – A Beavertown man is facing charges after state police say he assaulted a Danville couple in Montour County. 33-year-old Robert Reich is accused of repeatedly punching a 37-year-old man, who sustained a concussion and broken nose and had to get stitches. Troopers say he also threw a woman from the top of his vehicle. She was not injured. The incident took place on Sunday night at a home on Center Road in Liberty Township. Charges were filed at District Justice Marvin Shrawder’s office in Danville. (Ali Stevens)
Northumberland County’s unemployment rate highest since October of 2004
SUNBURY – Northumberland County’s unemployment rate is one of the highest in the state, according to the latest figures from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. Only seven counties in Pennsylvania have a higher rate, with Northumberland County reaching 6.5 percent in June. That’s the highest rate for Northumberland County since October of 2004. The national unemployment rate is 5.5 percent, which is also at the highest level since October of 2004.
Unemployment rates in neighboring counties include 5.9 percent in Union County, 5.5 percent in Snyder County and 5.8 percent in Columbia County.
Danville man to go to the court on drug related charges
DANVILLE – A Danville man will go to court on three drug-related charges after police say he sold drugs to an undercover informant while his baby was in the car. 26-year-old Matthew Kipple waived his right to a preliminary hearing on charges including delivery of a controlled substance, drug possession and endangering the welfare of a child. Police say Kipple and his 23-year-old fiancé, Ryan Ferguson, allegedly sold marijuana to an informant on June 12th, while their six-month-old daughter was in the car. Ferguson faces similar charges and waived her hearing too. Kipple is locked up in the Montour County Prison on $100,000 bail. (Ali Stevens)
Commissioners approve $60,000 for court position
SUNBURY – Northumberland County Commissioners have approved a position that would now be the highest paying job in the county. A Hearing Officer in the county’s Domestic Relations office will now make $61,074. Philip Bower, who has held the position for two years, recently turned in his resignation letter and now the county is searching for someone to fill the job. President Judge Robert Sacavage ask the board to considering raising the salary from the low 40’s to attract a well qualified person for the position. Sacavage says unlike other employers in the county, this position would prohibit the employer from doing any outside jobs to make money. Sacavage said the new salary would hopefully help keep someone in the position, as they have had four people at the position in eight years.
County Controller Chuck Erdman voted ‘no’ saying he didn’t feel comfortable with such a large increase. He said he would approve a salary in the mid-50’s, which is closer to what other employees, including attorneys and public defenders, are paid. Commissioner Kurt Masser sided with Erdman and gave the second ‘no’ vote.
Chairman Frank Sawicki voted ‘yes’, as did Commissioner Vinny Clausi who said he did his research and the $60,000 salary is appropriate. The hearing officer will hear nearly 600 custody cases a year, among their many other fulltime duties. Sacavage says they hope to fill the position by August 8th. (Sara Bartlett)
A man in our area—on the run from lawmen—is under arrest
MILTON – U.S. Marshals busted a wanted fugitive in Milton Monday. 22-year-old Troy Preston is wanted in Florida for drug trafficking. He was said to be potentially violent—but was picked up without incident at a location along Industrial Park Road.
The U.S. Marshals service said an arrest warrant was issued in Lake County, Florida May 15th, accusing Preston conspiracy to distribute more than 25-pounds of marijuana. Then the Marshals got a tip Preston was in the Watsontown-Milton areas. Preston was arraigned in front of magistrate John Gembic; he’s jailed, in lieu of $30,000 bail. He’ll face extradition proceedings.
Mifflinburg swears in a new mayor
MIFFLINBURG—The town of Mifflinburg has a new mayor. The borough chose and swore Dale Walize into office Tuesday night. He won 4 to 1 over Paul Dupios in a roll call vote at a Mifflinburg Borough Council meeting. Walize said he chose to run to for mayor because he feels connected to the town and has respect for the borough.
He is the general manager at the Lewisburg Hotel and has been a resident of Mifflinburg for 9 years. As mayor, he hopes to maintain the town’s peaceful environment and promote it as a place to visit. Walize was appointed to replace Dave Gutelius who stepped down a year and a half before his term expired. (Lindsey Bingaman)
Millheim bank struck by armed robbers
MILLHEIM – Police are searching for two males suspected of robbing the Mifflinburg Bank and Trust in Millheim early Tuesday morning. Around 8:30a.m., the two males entered the bank and allegedly threatened three tellers with pepper spray and told them to lie on the floor.
The two men then reportedly tied the tellers’ hands together and took and undisclosed amount of money before fleeing. They drove west on Route 45 in what police believe was a silver Ford truck. One male is said to be in his 40’s while the other in his 20’s.
They are described as black males, wearing blue jeans, a white t-shirt, green and yellow construction vests, a yellow hardhat and sunglasses. Anyone with information is asked to call the Rockview Police Station at 814-355-7545. (Sara Bartlett)
State Attorney General Files Charges Against a Paxinos Man
HARRISBURG - Agents from the Attorney General's Environmental Crimes Section have filed criminal charges against a Northumberland County man who is accused of illegally dumping and burying demolition waste and construction waste.
Attorney General Tom Corbett says 29-year old Kenneth Snyder of Paxinos is accused of dumping several tractor-trailer loads of demolition waste on a property located in Coal Township. According to the criminal complaint, Snyder had been contracted to haul demolition waste from a work site in Lycoming County to a landfill.
Instead of transporting the waste to the landfill, Snyder allegedly dumped two truckloads of the material at the Coal Township site, where it was discovered on March 30th of last year during an inspection by the Department of Environmental Protection.
Snyder is charged with two counts of unlawful conduct under the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act, including dumping or depositing solid waste without a permit and transporting waste to a facility that is not permitted to accept waste.
Both of those charges are third-degree misdemeanors which are each punishable by up to one year in prison and fines of $1,000 to $25,000. The criminal charges were filed before Shamokin Magisterial District Judge John Gembic, who will schedule a hearing date for Snyder. (Terry Diener)
Crash claims life in upper Northumberland County
MILTON – A crash near Milton late Tuesday morning is responsible for the death of a Northumberland County man. State Police say 88-year-old Charles R. Meachum of West Chillisquaque Township drove off Housels Run Road and into a utility pole. He was taken to Evangelical Community Hospital where he later succumbed to injuries received in the 10:40 am crash. Troopers note Meachum was wearing a seatbelt. (Matt Farrand)
Rider rescued after ATV goes over embankment in Mount Carmel
MOUNT CARMEL (AP) – A man was rescued early Tuesday morning after his ATV plunged over a mountainside near Mount Carmel. Northumberland County 911 says crews were dispatched around 2:30a.m. to rescue the 32-year-old.
The man, who has not been identified, reportedly suffered head and arm injures. He was taken by ambulance to a Shamokin parking lot where Life Flight then took him to Geisinger Medical Center. No word yet on his condition.
Woman pleads guilty to locking adopted children in their rooms
SUNBURY – A Watsontown woman has pleaded guilty to locking two adopted children in their rooms. 66-year-old Nancy Reynolds was in Northumberland County Court in Sunbury on Monday and plead guilty to endangering the welfare of children. Police say she, her husband and their 28-year-old son, were accused of locking the 12 and 14-year-old inside bedrooms at a home on Route 54 from 6p.m. until 8:30a.m.
The two children eventually ran away after the incidents from March to June of 2007. The children are now in foster care. The husband, Wayne Reynolds and son, Wayne Reynolds II, have not yet been to court. Nancy Reynolds was placed on probation for two years and received a $300 fine. (Ali Stevens)
No bid Pharmacy contract in Northumberland County did have termination policy
SUNBURY – Northumberland County Commissioner Chairman Frank Sawicki says there are no “no-out” contracts with businesses in the county. Specifically regarding the contract that the county signed with three Coal Township area pharmacies in June, Sawicki says there is a cancellation policy, and he read that when he signed it.
In the contract, termination is acceptable for five reasons, one including a cancellation within 60 days of signing. After that, and barring no other reason listed, a contract is effective for five years. Commissioner Vinny Clausi had previously said that the contract did have a “no-out,” although Chief Clerk Rose Marquardt said the only contract that is binding and signed is the one with the termination policy.
The contract has been heavily debated recently after Northumberland based pharmaceutical company, Synergy Systems, accused the Commissioners of not giving their business a chance to work with the county through a bid process. Sawicki said the county is not required to put out a bid, but he says they did so anyway and decided to remain with the same pharmacies they had been working with for years. (Sara Bartlett)
More employee parking soon at Geisinger Medical Center
DANVILE – Geisinger Medical Center says they will open a new employee parking lot on Monday with more than 500 parking spaces. The 575-space is located along Red Lane, east of the Foss Home and has been under construction since spring.
They also have plans for more than 300 more parking spaces in a lot off Red Lane and Powdermill Road near the Lifeflight helicopter hangar. The work is expected to wrap up in that lot in November. That will bring more than 900 total new employee parking spaces in addition to the 3,400 already available. (Ali Stevens)
Stroh Alley renovations to move ahead
SUNBURY – Plans will move ahead for the renovation of Stroh Alley in Sunbury. City Council found the cost to be too expensive to put out a bid to contractors for the work, so at Monday’s meeting they decided to make it a “force account” project. SEDA-COG’s Chief of Community Development, Bill Siegel, says this means local city workers will be hired to do the job, and will be paid from the Community Development Block Grant funds.
The project will consist of two phases. The first is removing the steel canopy that hangs over Stroh Alley. Siegel says the city will solicit bids and sell the salvaged steel. The revenues will then be put back into the CSBG fund.
Siegel says this will refund a portion of the demolition. The second phase of the project includes upgrading Stroh Alley with brick walkways, planters, better lighting and improving the overall appearance of the area. Siegel says they hope to move forward on the project as soon as possible. (Sara Bartlett)
Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign continues
UNDATED – There are many people in the Valley who are trying to raise awareness about the Buy Fresh, Buy Local campaign. Steve Forman owns Beaver Run Farms, a family farm outside of Turbotville that humanely raises pork, and free-range chickens.
Forman says with the slumping economy it’s time that people rethink how and where we get food. He says it just doesn’t make sense to get food that has to travel hundreds of miles. Local farmer’s markets and roadside stands are good sources for locally grown food.
Also, Community-Supported Agriculture, or CSAs as they are known, are one way to eat and buy local. Many farms offer programs where people can pick up foods directly from their local farmer. Members of CSA are usually provided with food for up to 25 weeks out of the year during the growing season. They can pay for the food, or work on the farm for the food.
And, it’s not just farmers who are supporting the campaign. Emma Renninger is the Co-owner of Emma’s Food for Life restaurant in Selinsgrove and says she tries to put as many local ingredients as she can in her meals. You can find a list of farms, farmers markets, CSAs and restaurants that use locally grown food in our area online at www.buylocalpa.com. (Sara Bartlett)
Expert hopes for 150 bushel per acre local corn yield
SELINSGROVE – Investors who put up $15 each to “adopt” an acre of local corn, could earn a small profit at harvest time. Charlie Benner coordinates the Adopt-an-Acre program for the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce and says conditions improved as the growing season progressed.
There were concerns about the amount of rain earlier in the year, but they have apparently eased. An anonymous local farmer maintains the acre. Benner says a secret to making money on the farm is by keeping expenses low whenever possible.
“Farmer Brown” saved money by planting high quality seed, practicing sound conservation measures, and applied no-till plowing with a minimum amount of spraying. Whether or not investors made any money will be announced in November. Benner hopes the acre will produce 150 bushels at a good price, though corn prices in major commodity markets are off their highs of late June. (Matt Farrand)
Former Selinsgrove High School graduate is heading to Beijing to compete in the Olympics
SELINSGROVE – A Selinsgrove High School graduate is going to compete in the Olympics in Beijing starting on August 8th. Keli Smith will be on the USA Olympic Field Hockey team and her mom, Sharon Smith of Selinsgrove, is getting ready to take a trip to Beijing with her husband and daughter, Kara. They are excited to see Kelli play and to travel to another country.
Keli is currently in California practicing and getting ready for the games. It’s a special year for the USA field hockey team because they haven’t qualified for the Olympics since the Atlanta games. The games will be televised at 6:30 a.m. on MSNBC. Keli Smith is a 1997 graduate of Selinsgrove High School and is 29. She graduated from University of Maryland, where she also competed in Field Hockey. (Ali Stevens)
Independent jazz series begins this week
LEWISBURG – A Lewisburg bookstore owner is developing a side career, as a producer of jazz concerts. Murrie Zlotziver plans the first of a series this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at the XIMREI Gallery on Market Street. Each will feature a different style of jazz.
All venues will include the highly regarded trio of Gregg Burgess, Steve Mitchell and Andy Seal. The owner of Page After Page considers the trio underutilized locally. Zlotziver calls the series a form of community outreach. Upcoming shows will highlight Latin Jazz, Swing, Be-bop and American standards. (Matt Farrand)
State Funds to help Some Local Fairs
HARRISBURG – Some fairs in several counties in the Central Susquehanna Valley will be getting money from the state. Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff chairs the Fair Advisory Board, which handed out more than $620,000 across Pennsylvania on Tuesday for maintenance and improvement projects. The Advisory Board oversees part of the larger, $3.9 million Pennsylvania Fair Fund.
Funds handed out in our region include, Bloomsburg Fair--$16,000 to replace the Industrial Building roof. Montour Delong Community Fair--$4,000 to construct milk house and milking area. Beaver Community Fair--$8,000 to reconstruct the outdoor horse arena. McClure Bean Soup Fair--$2,100 to repair and paint the stage floor. (Terry Diener)
Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:
SHENANDOAH, Pa. (AP) - About 150 people gathered Tuesday evening for a candlelight vigil in Shenandoah that featured impassioned calls for racial unity two weeks after the beating death of a Mexican immigrant. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund held the memorial for 25-year-old Luis Eduardo Ramirez Zavala. He died July 14, two days after the assault. Resident Lou Ann Pleva said she wanted to offer Hispanics "an official welcome to this town." Jose Perez shouted from the crowd that Pleva was "the only one." He later said he has lived in Shenandoah for seven years but has not felt included by white residents of the small Pennsylvania coal town. Three teenagers were charged Friday in the death of the farmhand and factory worker, who was in the country illegally.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation's largest labor organization says it wants to help Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama correct some of the most persistent rumors about him. So, the AFL-CIO has mailed 600,000 fliers to union voters in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. The union wants voters to know that the Illinois senator was born in the U.S., occasionally wears a flag pin, puts his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance and is not a Muslim. The flier shows him being sworn into the Senate with a family Bible and not the Quran, as rumored. The AFL-CIO endorsed Obama last month, freeing the organization and its 56 unions to spend some of its $200 million war chest on his campaign.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Wednesday in the midday Pennsylvania State Lottery drawing:
Daily Number 9-7-7
Big 4 7-9-8-9
Treasure Hunt 1-2-16-22-28
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Bush turns pre-Olympic spotlight on Chinese human rights
WHITE HOUSE (AP) - President Bush is turning up the heat on China as he prepares to attend next week's opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. As China's foreign minister met with Bush's national security adviser at the White House, the president conferred with five Chinese freedom activists -- assuring them that he'll tell China's leaders that "human rights and religious freedom should not be denied to anyone." One of the activists, the Reverend Bob Fu, says Bush pledged to tell President Hu Jintao that China has nothing to fear from its peace-loving Christians. The White House says Bush also dropped in on the meeting with China's foreign minister and told him that the Olympics are an opportunity for China "to demonstrate compassion on human rights and freedom."
Little League-Instant Replay
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) - While the major leagues are still deciding, instant replay is coming to Little League. Replay will be used starting at this year's Little League World Series to look at home runs and other close plays at the outfield fence. The plan is to use replay on an experimental basis, then review its use after this year's tournament. Dennis Lewin, the chairman of the Little League Board of Directors, says replay will be used to overturn an obvious wrong.
Fast Food Ban
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Los Angeles City Council has approved a one-year moratorium on new fast-food restaurants in a low-income area of the city. The moratorium unanimously approved Tuesday is a bid to attract restaurants that offer healthier food choices to residents in a 32-square-mile area of South Los Angeles. Councilwoman Jan Perry says residents at five public meetings expressed concern with the proliferation of fast-food outlets in a community plagued by above-average rates of obesity. Nearly three-quarters of the restaurants in South L.A. serve fast food. That's a higher percentage than other parts of the city but the restaurant industry says the moratorium won't help bring in alternatives.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)