Wednesday, August 10, 2010
Freon leak prompts nuke plant alert
BERWICK -- The Susquehanna Steam Electric Station declared an alert Tuesday because of an uncontrolled freon leak. The nuclear power plant near Berwick continues to operate at full power and officials at the plant say there is no need for public concern or any action outside the plant.
The Alert is the second lowest of four Nuclear Regulator Commission emergency categories and calls for no action by the general public. It states that a problem has occurred that may affect plant safety and has the potential to be more serious. An Alert also calls for an extensive media, government and emergency management notification.
PPL's Joe Scopelletti says the freon is leaking in the Unit 1 reactor building and is part of a chiller system. It is part of a plant safety system, which is used to cool equipment. A back up system is being used to cool the equipment now while the freon leak is found, stopped and the building vented.
Scopelletti says the Alert does not require public action and there were no injuries at the plant. He said 9:22am incident is being handled in a routine fashion and PPL will keep the public up to date on the Alert at the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station. The alert sounded at 9:22am and is still in effect this afternoon.
New Shik super excited about 'first day of school'
SUNBURY – Robin Musto, the new superintendent in the Shikellamy School District, has been on the job for a little more than a week and says she is looking forward to the start of the school year. Musto feels strongly about state testing and says the scores will improve.
Musto says they haven’t received their formal scores yet, but informal scores show that the Shikellamy District has made adequate yearly progress in all areas this year, which is a great sign. Musto feels the state testing is good because it makes students accountable in reading, writing and math and they want students to leave school knowing how to do those things.
She also wants to help students find their way into careers through school. Musto says she wants to help kids know what fields they want to get into so they can make better course selection in school to guide them on a career path.
Musto says she has visited all the schools in the district and feels the high school and elementary schools are in great shape. She says in the future, improvements will need to be made to facilities on the Middle School level.
Musto comes to the Shikellamy School District from Lycoming County, where she spent most of her educational career. She will be moving to Northumberland in a few weeks and looks forward to greeting students outside of the school buildings as they arrive at school for the day. (Ali Stevens)
Marino reacts to Carney claim
CLARKS SUMMIT -- Democrat Chris Carney (D-10th, Dimock) claims his Republican opponent took advantage of the time he annually spends on active duty in the US Navy, when he noted that the congressman's name was not on a list of co-sponsors of a bill that would prohibit the use of taxpayer money for abortions.
Carney says Tom Marino unfairly linked him with the issue at a time when he was not permitted to respond, and near the date his wife was to undergo surgery for breast cancer. However, Marino says Carney is lying because he knew about the bill before leaving for Washington. He says Carney received several emails about the bill and chose not to be a part of it.
Also, Marino doesn’t think Carney needed to use his service in the military and his wife’s cancer as an excuse. He says he respects anyone who serves in the military, but that shouldn’t be used in his explanation.
Also, Marino says he is a two-time cancer survivor and is offended that Carney would even bring up his wife’s breast cancer as an excuse for not sponsoring a bill. Marino says they did not know of Jennifer Carney’s condition when they made their initial claim. (Matt Farrand)
Trial begins for a man charged with stealing his ex-wife’s safe
SUNBURY – A man accused of stealing his ex-wife’s safe and refusing to tell police where the safe was located is finally going to trial in Northumberland County. The trial for Robert Yoncuski will get underway today in Northumberland County. The 60-year-old from Shamokin was accused in August of 2004 of stealing a safe from the home of his estranged wife, 57-year-old Donna Deitrick of Shamokin.
Deitrick claimed the safe contained $300,000 in cash and $500,000 in jewelry and coins. Yoncuski was charged with burglary and theft, but refused to tell where the safe was located. He was then sent to jail for four months for contempt of court. Yoncuski was released only when he agreed to show authorities where the safe was located, which was in Dornsife.
Few valuables were found in the safe when it was recovered. Judge Thomas James of Columbia County will be handling the trial in Sunbury because the Northumberland County judges had to recuse themselves because they were involved with the couple’s bitter divorce. (Ali Stevens)
Catawissa woman charged with leaving her young children home alone
CATAWISSA – A Catawissa woman is accused of leaving her 5-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son home alone for several hours. Police say 21-year-old Aigner Gladden has been charged with two counts each of endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person.
The two children apparently crossed through traffic to make their way into the Catawissa borough building after being left alone for three hours. Gladden says she went to meet with a therapist. (Ali Stevens)
More details out on home invasion in Sunbury last month
SUNBURY -- More details have been released by Sunbury Police regarding a home invasion in the city at the end of July. Police say they are searching for 52-year-old Steven Willard of Sunbury, who is accused of walking into the home of Timothy Williams in the 200 block of Pine Street on July 31st.
Police say Willard confronted Williams with a handgun and demanded money and threatened to kill him. Williams apparently grabbed at the weapon and the two men struggled, with the gun firing into the kitchen floor. Willard then fled the home. Police are now searching for Willard and anyone with information is asked to call Sunbury police. (Ali Stevens)
Selinsgrove police investigate a mugging from last night near Sassafras Street
SELINSGROVE – Selinsgrove police are investigating a mugging last night in the borough. Police tell us a 19-year-old man got out of his vehicle at a convenience store on Market Street at Sassafras Street when he was attacked. Police say two men knocked the victim to the ground and held him down while they checked for money and other valuables.
Police say the victim sustained multiple cuts and abrasions to the face and head. The suspects fled the scene on foot. The men are described as a black male and a white male, approximately 18 to 20-years-old. Anyone with information concerning this incident around 9:30 last night is asked to contact Selinsgrove Police and the information will remain confidential. (Ali Stevens)
Latest Pennsylvania news, business update, lottery numbers and entertainment
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Additional remains of a World War II flying ace are scheduled to return to the Johnstown area from Florida, where the pilot was killed in a plane crash in 1942. Lt. Col. Boyd "Buzz" Wagner was the youngest Army lieutenant colonel at the time and a hero of dogfights in the Philippines before he crashed in stormy weather near Eglin Air Force Base in Florida on Nov. 29, 1942. He was given a hero's burial in January 1943 at Grandview Cemetery in Westmont, a picturesque borough overlooking Johnstown. But a researcher learned in 2008 that not all of Wagner's remains were recovered. DNA tests confirmed that additional remains dug up at the crash site belonged to Wagner, and they will be returned for burial in Westmont on Thursday. An interment ceremony will be held Oct. 23.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Authorities are trying to locate a woman who reported throwing a newborn and two young children into the Delaware River from the Ben Franklin Bridge. The Coast Guard says in a statement that it's seeking information on the whereabouts of a woman identified as Michelle "Shelly" Perez, of Camden, N.J. Officials still don't know if the report is legitimate, but crews are searching the river, which forms the border between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Authorities got a call around 4 a.m. from a nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia. The nurse said Perez told her she had given birth and thrown the baby into the water. The Coast Guard says Perez then told another nurse she had also thrown her 4-year-old and 2-year-old children into the river.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's governor says he now hopes fewer than 200 state employees will have to be laid off under this year's budget. Gov. Ed Rendell initially estimated last month that as many as 1,000 state workers would have to be laid off. But Rendell said Monday that more employees than expected are choosing to retire. He also says the state's hiring freeze has helped to reduce the number. The governor's administration says the exact number of layoffs will not be available until next week. Rendell spokeswoman Amy Kelchner says the governor will meet with legislative leaders on Wednesday. Afterward, Kelchner says, staffers will meet to discuss the specifics of which agencies will see layoffs and how many.
Update on the latest in business:
Dow: -65.92
S&P 500: -7.59
NASDAQ: -27.55
Wholesale inventories up in June but sales drop
WASHINGTON (AP) - Inventories at the wholesale level edged up slightly in June but sales fell by the largest amount in 15 months. The Commerce Department says wholesale inventories rose 0.1 percent in June. Sales fell 0.7 percent. It marked the second straight drop in sales, providing further evidence that the economy was slowing in the spring. Businesses helped drive the early stages of the recovery last year by building up their stocks after slashing them during the recession. The worry is that if consumer demand falters, business could cut back on their inventory restocking and deal a blow to manufacturing production.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Pennsylvania lottery numbers
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn Tuesday:
Midday Big 4
6-3-2-0
Midday Number
5-0-0
Midday Quinto
5-4-3-6-9
Treasure Hunt
01-12-18-22-25
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Ex-agent insists Naomi Campbell is lying about gem
LEIDSCHENDAM, Netherlands (AP) - Naomi Campbell's former agent is denying fabricating her testimony that the fashion model acknowledged receiving diamonds from former Liberian President Charles Taylor, who is on trial for war crimes. Carole White says she was present in 1997 when Campbell told the man who headed the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund the diamonds came from Taylor, who is accused of trading in conflict diamonds in exchange for supporting rebels in Sierra Leone. Campbell testified earlier she did not know the source or value of the stones she received. Taylor's lawyer Courtenay Griffiths accused White of lying to help her case against her former client, whom she is suing for millions of dollars. White told the court Tuesday her account was true.
Levi Johnston to run for office
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - The 20-year-old father of Sarah Palin's grandson Tripp will star in a reality show where he runs for office in Wasilla, Alaska, where Palin got her political start. His manager, Tank Jones, says Levi Johnston is serious about running either for mayor or City Council. He insists "this is not a joke." Asked whether people would take Johnston's run seriously with TV cameras rolling, Jones says "people questioned Jesus Christ" so he doesn't care about "mere mortals questioning Levi Johnston."
Donations need for Scarlett O'Hara's dresses
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Scarlett O'Hara's dresses are nearly in tatters, so donations are being requested to fix them up. O'Hara's green curtain dress, green velvet gown, burgundy ball gown, blue velvet night gown and her wedding dress are at the University of Texas in Austin. They want to put them on display for the 75th anniversary of "Gone With the Wind" in 2014, but the dresses are in too bad shape. The university says it'll take $30,000 to fix them.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Selinsgrove police investigate a mugging from last night near Sassafras Street
SELINSGROVE – Selinsgrove police are investigating a mugging last night in the borough. Police tell us a 19-year-old man got out of his vehicle at a convenience store on Market Street at Sassafras Street when he was attacked. Police say two men knocked the victim to the ground and held him down while they checked for money and other valuables.
Police say the victim sustained multiple cuts and abrasions to the face and head. The suspects fled the scene on foot. The men are described as a black male and a white male, approximately 18 to 20-years-old. Anyone with information concerning this incident around 9:30 last night is asked to contact Selinsgrove Police and the information will remain confidential. (Ali Stevens)
Sunbury Administrators job not needed and council agreed
SUNBURY – Mayor David Persing asked for and got permission to the fire Sunbury's first ever the City Administrator. After a 3-2 vote last night, the job will be eliminated in next year's budget and Stuart Graybill will be let go.
The mayor said the job doesn’t warrant the salary and benefits it carries. Sunbury’s Mayor says once the city puts it’s comprehensive plan in place, there will be the need for a person to manage that plan.
Persing says he had nothing personal to say about Graybill’s job ability. Graybill’s contract states that if his job is eliminated for no just cause, he is entitled to four months of pay. If his job is kept past August of 20-10, Sunbury City Council would have to budget a part or the entire salary in next year’s spending plan.
Firefighters aggressively fight heat and flames at a blaze in Danville
DANVILLE – Firefighters from several counties continued to battle flames late into the afternoon Monday in Danville. The fire was at the former Cabinet Industries plant on Water Street. A garage on the property caught fire around 2 pm, and reports indicate a spark from a tool used to cut pipes, touched off the blaze.
Firefighters said the hot temperatures did affect several of the volunteers who were taken off the fire line because of exhaustion. Units from throughout Montour County, with assistance from Columbia, Northumberland and Union Counties answered the alarm. No injuries were reported.
Heavy equipment is being brought in to raze the damaged portion of the former Cabinet Industries plant in the 400 block of Water Street in Danville. Unaffected was the main brick structure that fronts Water Street and recently housed both a gym and a dry cleaning business. Several streets in and around Market Street and Railroad Street are affected. Traffic was tied up in that area and several local streets were closed. (Terry Diener)
Stolen drug patches lead to several Snyder County Arrests
BEAVER SPRINGS – Three people including a juvenile have been arrested by Selinsgrove State Police after 50 Fentanyl drug patches were stolen from a Snyder County residence last month. Investigators say 18-year-old Ricky Steffen of Mount Pleasant Mills and 36-year-old Brandi Baumgardner of Beaver Springs are charged as adults.
An unidentified juvenile are charged in connection with a burglary at a home on Center Avenue in Beaver Springs on July 19th. State police say Steffen and Baumgardner were arraigned Tuesday before District Justice Willis Savidge on conspiracy to commit burglary and related charges.
Steffen posted bail and was released from prison while Baumgardner was locked up after failing to post bail. The juvenile will face charges in juvenile court. Drug abusers are using the painkilling patches to absorb large doses the drug though the skin over the course of a few days. (Terry Diener)
Marino claim draws ire of Carney
CLARKS SUMMIT -- Democrat Chris Carney (D-10th, Dimock) claims his Republican opponent took advantage of the time he annually spends on active duty in the US Navy, when he noted that the congressman's name was not on a list of co-sponsors of a bill that would prohibit the use of taxpayer money for abortions.
Carney says Tom Marino unfairly linked him with the issue at a time when he was not permitted to respond, and near the date his wife was to undergo surgery for breast cancer. Carney says part of the problem is that he's leading Marino when it comes to fund raising, so he probably can't run the kind of campaign he'd like. Carney says Marino needs to fabricate issues to get media attention.
Following Carney's telephone news conference on Monday, a statement from Marino's campaign expressed disappointment that the incumbent congressman would use his wife's cancer in the campaign. They also say they did not know of her condition when they made their initial claim. (Matt Farrand)
Counterfeit $20's passed at local store
SUNBURY -- Some counterfeit money was recently passed at a local convenience store. State police at Stonington say it happened last month at the A-Plus Sunoco mini mart along Route 890 in Sunbury. A shift supervisor discovered the funny $20-dollar bills while counting receipts for a bank deposit. Police say a test marker revealed the counterfeits. It's not known who passed along the bills or the exact date the incident occurred. (Terry Diener)
Some rings and cash taken from a residence in Snyder County
ADAMS TOWNSHIP – Several rings and two $100-dollar bills were taken from a residence recently in Adams Township Snyder County. Selinsgrove state police say it happened at a home along Sawmill Road between August 1st and August 8th. Two class rings, two wedding bands and one engagement ring were among the items stolen and state police continue their investigation. (Terry Diener)
Two stolen golf carts from Snyder County have been recovered
MIFFLIN COUNTY - State police at Selinsgrove are hoping someone steps forward with information on two golf carts stolen from a local course, and found in another county. Two carts were taken sometime between July 30th and August 7th from Indian Run Golf Course in West Beaver Township, Snyder County.
Those carts have been recovered at a shale pit along Treaster Valley Road in Mifflin Country. Anyone with information is asked to call Selinsgrove State Police. (Terry Diener)
Investigation continues after multiple military vehicles collide
MILLERSTOWN -- The investigation continues after a convoy of military vehicles were involved in a crash in Juniata County. Five Army National Guard Stryker vehicles were involved in the crash Friday on Route 322 near Millerstown.
Eight people were transported to local hospitals following the crash. Officials say an unsecured jack from one of the vehicles, which caused a convoy of 13 vehicles to start swerving. Several of the vehicles collided. None of the injured motorists have been identified. (Ali Stevens)
Danville police are out with details on their big search Sunday
DANVILLE – More information is coming out about the extensive search for a missing person in Danville Sunday morning. Danville police Chief Eric Gill tells us today, that a woman was reported missing around 5am Sunday and police were concerned about her safety.
Gill said a mental health issue was a factor in their concern for the missing woman. Danville police had help from Danville and Southside volunteer fire fighters. A state police helicopter also assisted in the search. The search started around 5am and the person was found okay around 8am.
Sunbury garage fire: suspicious
SUNBURY -- Sunbury police are investigating a suspicious garage fire in Sunbury Sunday morning. Firefighters were able to quickly douse the fire in a garage at 7th and Packer Streets just before 6 a.m. A state police fire marshal was called to the scene to investigate and damage was reported to be heavy.
Police are investigating a series of arsons in the city. Police say firefighters have been busy with a number of fires in the last two weeks including a garage fire in the 800 block of Edison Avenue and a brush fire in the same area on July 24th. No word from the fire marshal yet on how the Sunbury fire started. (Ali Stevens)
Work on Route 61 in Sunbury is now complete
SUNBURY -- Work on the bridge crossing Shamokin Creek on Route 61 in Sunbury is now complete. The bridge was reopened to traffic on Saturday and the detour was lifted. The bridge had been closed for about two weeks for painting, sending motorists on a lengthy detour. Traffic is now back to normal on Route 61 near Zimmerman Motors in Sunbury. (Ali Stevens)
Latest Pennsylvania news, business and entertainment
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - All the third-party candidates in Pennsylvania who are seeking to be listed on the November ballot for governor and U.S. Senate are being challenged. The challenges were filed in Common-wealth Court yesterday - the deadline for contesting candidates who are not Republicans or Democrats. In the race to succeed Sen. Arlen Specter, challenges were filed against the petitions of Green Party member Mel Packer and the Libertarian Party's Douglas Jamison. Libertarian Marakay Rogers and Tea Party candidate John Krupa were challenged in the campaign to succeed Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell, who will step down in January. All four candidates had collected at least the 19,082 signatures required for statewide candidates. The challengers will seek to disqualify enough signatures to keep them off the ballot.
SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - Former President Bill Clinton is heading to northeastern Pennsylvania to stump for Democratic Senate candidate Joe Sestak. Clinton is scheduled to be in Scranton today to attend a Sestak rally at Scranton High School. He's also slated to attend a fundraiser for congressional hopeful John Callahan in Salisbury Township. Polls show Sestak locked in a tight race with his Republican opponent, Pat Toomey. They are seeking the seat held by Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter. Clinton had tried to get Sestak to drop his primary challenge of Specter by offering him an unpaid presidential advisory position. Sestak turned Clinton down and then defeated Specter. In the 1990s, Sestak worked in the Clinton administration as director for defense policy on the National Security Council.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's insurance commissioner is taking a job in the Obama administration. Gov. Ed Rendell said yesterday that Joel Ario will help roll out a crucial function of the new national health care law. He'll direct the creation of the competitive marketplaces where individuals and small businesses can shop for a health insurance plan. The so-called health insurance exchanges are to take effect in each state in 2014. Ario's job is in the new Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. Joel Ario was Oregon's top insurance regulator before Rendell appointed him in 2007. He'll be replaced by executive deputy general counsel Robert Pratter on Aug. 30. In Pennsylvania, Ario opposed the merger of two large health insurers and battled with insurers over issues related to competition and rate increases.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania environmental regulators say they will tap the expertise of a Texas company to help control blowouts and other accidents at natural gas wells. Environmental Secretary John Hanger announced yesterday that the state will use Cudd Well Control to assist with emergency response. He says the Houston-based company is opening an office in Bradford County, in the heart of Marcellus shale country. Previously, crews had to fly in from Texas to help deal with accidents at Pennsylvania well sites. On June 3, a well blowout in Clearfield County spewed gas and wastewater for 16 hours until a crew arrived from out of state to bring it under control. Hanger says Cudd's presence in Pennsylvania means that emergency crews will be no more than five hours from any natural gas well in the state.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania State Police say they have nearly 300 trooper positions vacant and they don't know when they'll have the money to graduate a new cadet class because of state budget cuts. State police funding has been cut $9.1 million this year and the training of any new officers is on hold. Lt. Myra Taylor, a state police spokeswoman, says the force is waiting for the go-ahead to train a new cadet class. Taylor says Commissioner Frank Pawlowski is working with Gov. Ed Rendell's office to try to find the money to fund more training. She says there are 299 vacant trooper positions in a force of 4,677. The force provides police coverage for more than 80 percent of Pennsylvania.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-Morning BusinessMinute
NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks rose in advance of today's Federal Reserve meeting. The Dow was up 45 points to 10,698. The S&P gained 6 points, while the Nasdaq added 17 points.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation's central bank is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged at today's meeting. The Fed's official statement will be scoured for any other changes that would be aimed at giving the economic recovery a boost.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Labor Department this morning reports on second-quarter productivity. Analysts expect a gain of just 0.1 percent. That would be down from the rate of 2.8 percent seen in the prior quarter. Also due today, a reading on wholesale inventories for June.
WASHINGTON (AP) - House Democrats are convening an emergency session today to pass a bill aimed at saving hundreds of thousands of teachers and other public workers from unemployment. The one-day session also may address lax border security - with passage of a $600 million bill to increase surveillance along the U.S.-Mexican border. Both bills have cleared the Senate.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - BlackBerry services can continue in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom today is citing "positive developments" with the device's Canadian maker toward finding a compromise about security concerns. That means the ban threatened on Friday has been staved off--at least temporarily.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Clinton: Islam can't justify aid team's deaths
WASHINGTON (AP) - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says there's no Islamic justification for the murders of 10 members of a civilian medical aid team in Afghanistan. The Taliban claimed responsibility and alleged that the six Americans, two Afghans, one Briton and a German had tried to convert Muslims to Christianity. Mission agencies that supported the victims denied that, and Clinton called the Taliban charge a "transparent attempt to justify the unjustifiable by making false accusations." She told reporters at the State Department, "The Quran teaches that taking one innocent life is like killing all humanity." But Clinton said, "Terror has no religion, and these acts are rejected by people all over the world, including by countless Muslims."
Muslim groups ask Pawlenty to reverse on mosque
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Several Muslim groups are asking Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty to withdraw comments opposing the building of a mosque near ground zero. The Real Clear Politics website quoted Pawlenty on Friday as calling the proposed mosque and cultural center "inappropriate." The site also quoted Pawlenty calling the site sacred ground that shouldn't have images or activities that "degrade or disrespect" it. The Muslim groups sent Pawlenty a letter Monday saying the Sept. 11 attacks were a tragedy for all Americans. They said denying Muslims the right to build a cultural or religious center is unpatriotic. Pawlenty spokesman Bruce Gordon says New York is a big place and a different location should be found for the mosque.
Pop-Tart Store
One of Kellogg Co.'s most popular brands is popping up in Times Square at Pop-Tart World, with more than 3,000 square feet dedicated to toaster pastries. Customers will be able to eat Pop-Tart "sushi," order a customized pastry or create a custom box filled with a mix of their favorite flavors. At the store, opening Tuesday, they can suggest new types of Pop-Tarts, select a Pop-Tart T-shirt made by specialty artists or get "frosted" and "wrapped in foil" by a light show. It's the first Kellogg store that focuses on one product to cash in on its dedicated following, and the company hopes to make it a fixture in Times Square, where two candy makers already have stand-alone emporiums, the Hershey store and Mars Inc.'s M&M's World.
STRIPPERS PROTEST CHURCH
WARSAW, Ohio (AP) - Strippers are going to an Ohio church. Not to pray -- but to protest. Dancers in bikinis were outside the New Beginnings Ministries in Warsaw Sunday. Church members have been protesting at the Foxhole strip club for four years. Club owner Tommy George says they're fed up and returned the favor over weekend. Dancer Gina Hughes says church members have called the dancers home wreckers. But she says they work to support their families. Pastor Bill Dunfee says the strippers' protest has only strengthened the congregation's resolve.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)