Sunday, August 8, 2010
Missing person found after search
DANVILLE -- The search for a missing person on the Susquehanna River in the Danville area concluded without further incident at about 7:45 a.m. Sunday. However, little information is being provided by officials, other than the search began at about 4:00 a.m, and that the person was found.
A Pennsylvania State Police helicopter was reportedly being prepared for the search, and Danville Police coordinated the effort from the Washies Playground area. Neither the circumstances of the search nor the condition of the person when found were immediately released. (Matt Farrand)
Cherokee Pharmaceutical plant to be reacquired by Merck & Co.
RIVERSIDE -- The Cherokee Pharmaceutical plant in Riverside is being acquired by its previous owner. Merck & Co. will apparently buy back the plant it had sold to PRWT of Philadelphia in 2008.
Terms were not disclosed, nor was a timetable for closing the deal released. Northumberland County Commissioner Vinny Clausi says it's good news for employees of the plant that began producing pharmaceutical ingredients in the 1950's, in that the larger company would have more money to spend on the plant and its workforce.
Clausi notes that the county granted the plant a Keystone Opportunity Zone designation, which exempted it from property taxes for 10 years, in exchange for annual payments of about $25,000 to Riverside Borough.
Meantime, Merck confirms that the current workforce of more than 450 will be maintained, and that a contract with 270 union members will be renegotiated. The current union contract expired in April and has been extended, pending the sale. (Matt Farrand)
Fire call to Sunbury garage
SUNBURY -- Firefighters made quick work of a Sunday morning garage fire in Sunbury. The blaze at 7th and Packer Streets was called in at about 5:55 a.m.
Initial reports indicated it was spreading from the garage, however there was no indication of whether a residence was also involved. Northumberland County Communications reports all but one unit was clear from the scene by about 6:45 a.m. (Matt Farrand)
Motorcycle rider hurt in upper Northumberland County crash
MILTON -- State troopers are investigating another crash involving a motorcycle, and injuries to its rider. Union County Communications says the solo rider was flown to Geisinger Medical Center following the crash at Route 405 and Housels Run Road Saturday night.
Emergency personnel from Lewisburg and Milton also responded to the 11:00 p.m. crash near a campground along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. The crash is most recent of several to have injured or killed riders in the area.
You'll find reports by WKOK's Ali Stevens, covering motorcycle safety tips and PennDOT's safety initiative online at www.wkok.com. (Matt Farrand)
A mental health update this weekend on Roundtable
DANVILLE -- Roundtable this weekend is a mental health update. Dr. Stephen Paolucci and Dr. Susan Paolucci are on the show talking about new medicines, new treatments and the new advertisements for psychotropic drugs you can see these days.
Dr. Susan Paolucci told us, that prompt patients to ask their family doctors about the drugs they’ve seen advertised on TV. She said advertising helps reduce the stigma of mental health issues, but it can also oversimplify the complexity of mental health treatment.
The Paolucci’s are both are Geisinger psychiatrists and they discuss mental illnesses and treatments on Roundtable this weekend. You can hear the entire Mental Health Update on Roundtable this weekend.
The interview airs Sunday on Eagle 107 (107.3 FM) at 6:00 AM, 100.9 the Valley at 6:00 AM, Newsradio 1070 WKOK (1070 AM) at 9 AM, Talkradio 1380 WMLP (1380AM) at 11 AM, 94KX WQKX (94.1 FM) at 11 PM and anytime at www.wkok.com.
Motorist injured when hit by car she was driving
FREEBURG – A Freeburg motorist was injured by her own car, when she left it in gear after a minor accident, and was run over when she got out. 61-year-old Diane Kinslow was taken to Geisinger Medical Center via Life Flight, then treated and released.
Kinslow apparently got out of the vehicle while it was in reverse after clipping the mirror of a parked car on Market Street in Middleburg. She then tripped and was struck by the car while pursuing it down the street.
Market Street in Middleburg was closed for a time Friday night following the 9:20 p.m. accident. (Matt Farrand)
Assault leads to probation for Sunbury man
SUNBURY -- A Sunbury man was sentenced to two and a half years probation after assaulting teen girl. 27-year-old Thomas Miller appeared before Northumberland County Judge William Harvey Wiest Friday. He pleaded no contest to indecent assault for an incident in October 2008 involving a 19-year-old Sunbury woman.
The assault occurred in Miller's home. In addition to Miller's probation, he was also ordered to have no contact with the woman and to refrain from entering bars or consuming alcohol. He will also have to register under the Megan's Law mandates for the next 10 years. (Sara Bartlett)
Man injured in Thursday crash released from GMC
SUNBURY -- An Elysburg man injured in a Thursday morning crash near Sunbury's Oaklyn Elementary School is now out of Geisinger Medical Center. A nursing supervisor says 30-year-old Roy Schlesinger was released Friday.
Police say Schlesinger struck a tree with his pickup truck just south of the school along Route 61. He'll be cited for the crash that drew a big emergency response and slowed traffic in the area for more than an hour Thursday morning. (Sara Bartlett)
To pay or not to pay local school directors
SUNBURY – Should we pay school board members a salary or a stipend? That was among the questions which came up during Friday’s On The Mark (OTM) program. School directors currently serve without compensation.
Former Selinsgrove board member Cindy O’Hora said, ‘no’ to the question, saying the community is best served by unpaid board members. She says money would draw in corrupt people more interested in lining their own pockets. OTM co-host Ben Reichley says a little incentive could improve performance, and attract people with business backgrounds.
Citizen involvement in local issues, and governor Ed Rendell’s recent visit to tout highway bridge repairs were among the other topics from Friday’s show. It can be heard in its entirety online at www.wkok.com (Matt Farrand)
Citizens take action, have impact
SUNBURY – Citizens in a number of local communities are taking action and speaking out on a variety of issues. Among them, “Option C,” an alternate plan for school construction which is being considered by the Lewisburg Area School District.
Additionally, Northumberland borough’s sidewalk ordinance is being examined by borough council after residents complained about spotty enforcement. Appearing on our On The Mark program as a co-host, Mike Molesevich of Molesevich Environmental says ideas that spring from individuals or groups of citizens are signs of a healthy democracy.
Molesevich is also a member of Lewisburg Borough Council and encourages change from the ground up. Molesevich is an occasional contributor to WKOK’s On The Mark program. His comments from Friday’s program can be heard in their entirety at www.wkok.com (Matt Farrand)
Man in jail after assaulting 9-year-old boy
SHAMOKIN -- A Shamokin man is in jail after sexually assaulting a child. Police say Russell Carl would sleep alone with a 9-year-old boy, while he lived in a home with the boy's mother and another child.
Carl allegedly had the boy touch him inappropriately and also gave him cigarettes and marijuana.
Carl faces numerous counts including rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and indecent assault. He is in Northumberland County Prison on $100,000 bail. (Sara Bartlett)
Phone scams more frequent, police urging caution
SELINSGROVE -- Selinsgrove State Police are warning residents of possible scams going on throughout the region. Police say recently they have received numerous complaints from individuals who have gotten calls saying they have won sweepstakes, but they must send money to collect their prize. Police are strongly urging the public to be suspicious of any notifications such as this by phone. (Sara Bartlett)
Geisinger outpatient clinic is closed as a precaution after mold is discovered
DANVILLE – Geisinger Medical Center has temporarily closed an outpatient facility in Danville after mold was discovered. The hemodialysis unit on Justin Drive was closed yesterday and will remain closed indefinitely while repairs are made. Officials at Geisinger say this could take several weeks.
The unit will be cleaned and repaired and dialysis patients scheduled to receive treatment at the Justin Drive location will now be seen at the dialysis unit on the main campus of Geisinger in Danville.
Geisinger says the recently constructed dialysis unit passed all Department of Health inspections prior to being opened to patients in June. The mold appears to have arisen from water leakage caused by faulty nylon fittings, which have since been replaced. (Ali Stevens)
Latest Pennsylvania news, business update, lottery numbers and entertainment
SALINA, Pa. (AP) - Authorities in western Pennsylvania say two bodies have been removed from the wreckage of a twin-engine plane that crashed into a house, narrowly missing a man sleeping on a couch with his dog. Westmoreland County spokesman Dan Stevens says the bodies were found after the plane was unearthed from the wreckage of the home on Route 286 in Bell Township in a rural section of the county about 90 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Stevens says officials believe only two people were aboard the aircraft. He says the county coroner is trying to identify the victims, and sex and other information would be withheld. The Federal Aviation Administration said the BE58 Beech Baron took off from Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe, Pa., at 9:08 a.m. Saturday and crashed 11 minutes later, setting the house on fire.
READING, Pa. (AP) - Police in eastern Pennsylvania are trying to find out who shot a man to death during a melee that erupted as a crowd left a bar. The Berks County Coroner's office says 31-year-old Anthony Monsegur of Reading was shot four times shortly before 2 a.m. Friday outside Frank's Place in Reading. Witnesses said a large fight had erupted at the time of the shooting. Police said 50 to 100 people were standing around the victim. Officers said the gunman stuffed the weapon into his waistband and was last seen running from the scene.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The first debate between the Republican and Democrat running for Pennsylvania governor is scheduled Sept. 27. Aides to Republican Tom Corbett and Democrat Dan Onorato said Friday that the candidates plan to attend a debate at an annual Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry dinner in Hershey. Former ABC News anchor Ted Koppel will moderate. The election is Nov. 2. Also invited to debate are the two candidates for U.S. Senate, Joe Sestak and Pat Toomey. Neither has accepted the invitation yet.
PENNDEL, Pa. (AP) - A counselor at the Pennsylvania facility where an autistic man died after being left in a hot van has been arrested on drug charges. Bristol Township police say 34-year-old Uron Brinson of Trenton, N.J., sold $5,000 worth of cocaine in the parking lot of Woods Services on Friday to a police informant. Police say Brinson also sold $1,120 in cocaine on July 26 in the parking lot of the special needs organization in Bucks County. The 12-year employee at Woods Services is being held on $200,000 cash bail. It couldn't immediately be determined if he has an attorney. Bryan Nevins, a 20-year-old Woods Services resident with autism, died July 24 inside a van on a 97-degree day. Another counselor is charged in his death.
Update on the latest in business:
AP source: Ousted HP CEO settles with accuser
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A person familiar with the sexual harassment allegations against ousted Hewlett-Packard Co. CEO Mark Hurd tells The Associated Press that Hurd has settled the matter with his accuser. This person says Hurd agreed to pay the woman, but wouldn't reveal the size of the payment. The settlement was between Hurd and his accuser and did not involve a payment from HP, this person said. This person requested anonymity because of not being authorized to speak publicly about the issue. The deal was reached Thursday, a day before HP's stunning announcement that Hurd was resigning over falsified expense reports connected to his meetings with the woman, who worked as a greeter and organizer for HP events. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier on the settlement.
Apple iPhone executive leaves company
CUPERTINO, California (AP) - An Apple Inc. executive whose responsibilities include iPhone hardware is leaving the company in the wake of antenna problems with the newest version of the smart phone. Apple was forced to offer a free fix after consumers complained and numerous media outlets reported a problem with dropped calls. Mark Papermaster, Apple's senior vice president of iPhone and iPod hardware engineering, is leaving the company, according to Apple spokesman Steve Dowling. Dowling wouldn't comment beyond a brief statement or say whether Papermaster was fired or is leaving voluntarily. Papermaster's departure comes weeks after Apple announced it will give free protective cases to buyers of its latest iPhone model to alleviate the so-called "death grip" problem: holding the phone with a bare hand can muffle the wireless signal.
Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn Saturday:
Big 4
7-7-0-4
Cash 5
01-05-19-31-36
Daily Number
5-3-9
Evening Quinto
4-0-6-9-9
Midday Big 4
2-7-8-4
Midday Number
6-0-6
Midday Quinto
3-0-8-4-1
Powerball
04-22-26-31-52, Powerball: 30, Power Play: 5
Treasure Hunt
05-12-15-17-29
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Zsa Zsa Gabor hospitalized until at least Monday
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Doctors want to keep Zsa Zsa Gabor hospitalized a few more days as the 93-year-old actress continues to recover from a broken hip. Gabor's husband, Prince Frederic von Anhalt, said Saturday that Gabor suffered a "setback" that will keep her in doctors' care until at least Monday. She had been scheduled to go home Saturday afternoon. Von Anhalt declined to discuss details of Gabor's condition. Gabor broke her hip July 17 as she was lifting herself from bed into a wheel chair that tipped over. The Hungarian-born actress' condition began to deteriorate after hip-replacement surgery days later.
Police probe death during Finnish sauna contest
HELSINKI (AP) - Organizers say police are investigating the death of a Russian finalist at the annual Sauna World Championships in Finland. They say Vladimir Ladyzhenskiy died late Saturday during the contest in southern Finland, while his Finnish rival Timo Kaukonen was rushed to a hospital. Contest spokesman Ossi Arvela says police are investigating the death but that "all rules were followed." The contestants must submit a medical certificate before competing. Both middle-aged men were seen to have severe burns on their bodies and were given first aid after they collapsed. Rules in the competition require the sauna to be heated to 230 degrees Fahrenheit. Water is added to the stove every 30 seconds and the last person to remain in the sauna wins.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)