Wednesday, August 13, 2008
More information released on a police chase in Point Township
POINT TOWNSHIP – Police have released more details about a chase and crash Wednesday morning in Point Township. Around 1:20 a.m., a 17-year-old from Selinsgrove apparently passed an officer on Ridge Road with his high-beams on. When police tried to stop him, the driver took off, traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour. The teen then crashed his car in a soybean field along Route 147 behind Mertz Meats.
Police say the 17-year-old was trapped in the vehicle and had to be rescued, after it rolled more than 10 times. The driver was flown to Geisinger Medical Center, where he was treated and then sent to a detention facility in Snyder County. The vehicle the teen was driving was allegedly stolen from a dealership on Routes 11 and 15 in Monroe Township late last night. (Ali Stevens)
Passengers hurt in collision of bus and truck
DERRY TWP – Minor to moderate injures are reported among 8 of 11 passengers of a bus that failed to come to a complete stop at the intersection of Routes 54 and 254, hitting a three-axle dump truck. State Police in Milton say the driver and passengers of the bus were from the Williamsport area, and range in age from three to 67. The truck was driven by 51-year-old Thomas Neitz of Milton, who was not injured, and left the scene after it was determined he was not needed.
Troopers say Neitz returned after hearing that some were injured. Danville and Turbotville ambulance helped get the injured to treatment, and Washingtonville Fire and Fire Police helped out at the scene. (Matt Farrand)
DUI crash early this morning near Milton
MILTON – State police are investigating a DUI crash from early Wednesday morning near Milton. Troopers say 31-year-old Tracie Bergenstock of Milton drove off of the right side of Route 642 in East Chillisquaque Township and struck a utility pole. She was taken to Evangelical Community Hospital for minor injuries and refused a blood test. Bergenstock will be charged with DUI and other offenses for that accident around 2:15 a.m. (Ali Stevens)
Sunbury Rotary Club drafts petition for reactivating the CSVT project
SUNBURY – The Sunbury Rotary Club is drafting a petition for the reactivation of the Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation Project, which PennDOT recently put into ‘hibernation’ mode. Club member and Coordinator Dick Eyster, says if the project is not restore it will be a huge detriment to the region, making it unsafe on the Routes 11/15 corridor and hurting the area’s economic development.
The petition will debut during the Sunbury River Festival, where the Rotary Club will set up at Front and Market Streets. Eyster says they encourage everyone, from all parts of the Valley, to sign it. He says it’s not just a Sunbury project; it’s a regional project. Eyster says they will circulate the petition around communities and organizations for at least six weeks to gather as many signatures as possible. Once that is accomplished, he says they will personally present it in Harrisburg to Governor Rendell and the Department of Transportation. (Sara Bartlett)
An Evening in the Garden at Sunbury River Festival
SUNBURY – Another highlight of the Sunbury River Festival will take place Thursday evening. ‘An Evening in the Garden’ gives a chance for people to take a stroll through the garden of Sunbury resident James Hoegh. Those in attendance will get to see a Japanese-style garden, Pennsylvania plants, waterfalls and fishponds. Community Relations Liaison for Phoenix Rehabilitation Services in Sunbury, Brandee Hoffman, says it’s not just the garden that will draw people. They also have massages and dessert.
The staff at Phoenix Rehabilitation helps with the event, which is now in its second year at the River Festival. ‘An Evening in the Garden’ takes place tonight from 7:00-9:30p.m. Tickets are $6.00 and can be purchased in advance by calling 286-0100. There was also be a limited number tonight at the garden, located at 333 North 11th Street. All of the proceeds from the event go to Sunbury Revitalization Inc. (Sara Bartlett)
Bloomsburg Theater Ensemble kicks off 31st season
BLOOMSBURG – The Bloomsburg Theater Ensemble will kick off their 31st season next month with a production of “The Miracle Worker,” a story about the life of Helen Keller. BTE ensemble member Jerry Stropnicky says the play is still very current in dealing with issues of caring for someone with disabilities. Stropnicky says they are proud to start off a new season, especially since the theater recently wasn’t doing so well. A few years ago the theater was in financial trouble, but survived with the help of the community.
Other productions this season include “A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” which will run during the winter holiday season. You can find a full list of performances online at www.bte.org. (Sara Bartlett)
Restaurant in Watsontown hit by a drunk driver
WATSONTOWN – Police say a drunk driver steered his vehicle into a brick pillar and light pole at the Watson Inn in Watsontown. 18-year-old John Everitt of Allenwood hit the restaurant around 5 a.m. on Sunday. Everitt was arrested on the scene by police, who observed the accident. He was taken to Evangelical Community Hospital for a blood test. The brick pillar that supports the front of the restaurant was knocked off its foundation, but no other major damage was reported. (Ali Stevens)
Blind Chitlin Kahunas concert to be held at Shikellamy Overlook
SUNBURY – The final concert held by the Friends of Shikellamy State Park will be Thursday night. The show will feature local blues/funk band, Blind Chitlin Kahunas playing at the Shikellamy Overlook. There will also be wine and cheese tasting, as well other snacks and beverages to purchase. The public is welcome to this free event which will be held from 6:00-9:00p.m. tomorrow. (Sara Bartlett)
Design plans on Danville School Project will go forward
DANVILLE – An engineering team has received the okay from Danville School Directors to move ahead with design plans to renovate and expand three elementary buildings. The board vote was 5-to-1 to go forward on the estimated $40 million project involving Danville, Riverside, and Mahoning Cooper Schools. Director Megan Raup, who continues to support a consolidation plan, voted no on the project.
Steve Schooley cast what he said was a non-vote when he simply said “Present” when asked to vote. Schooley said he cannot give his support to the direction the district is heading. And he also feels the District will need to address problems at the Middle and High Schools in the future.
Danville Resident Greg Cole told directors that they have not made clear to the public, associated costs with the expansions and renovations, such as energy and maintenance. Business manager Richard Snodgrass said figures will be made available at the next public meeting. He also said it will be at least a year before ground is even broken on the project, and it will be four-to-five years before completion. (Terry Diener)
Cardboard boat race to benefit rowing club
SUNBURY – The second annual Cardboard Boat Race is planned for Saturday afternoon at the Shikellamy State Park Marina. It’s part of Sunbury River Festival 2008 and benefits the Central PA Rowing Association. Race Coordinator Roni Ciavarella says this year’s competition should be a great deal of fun, if last year’s was any indication.
She several boats sank, which added to the fun. Corrugated cardboard, duct tape, glue, paint and caulking for the seams are the only materials allowed. Ciavarella says there will be several competitive divisions, including corporate and youth. If there are a great number of entries each category may be run in a series of heats.
Registration is at 3:00 p.m., and races start at 4:00 pm Saturday. Ciavarella says there’s still time to enter and build a boat, though most entrants need about five hours to come up with a design that’s river-worthy. Registration is $100 per boats, and more information is available by calling 337-3058 or logging on to www.rowpa.org (Matt Farrand)
Selinsgrove bussing decision could be made this week
SELINSGROVE – A final decision could be made this week about bus transportation of school age students to and from day care in the Selinsgrove School District. The Transportation Committee meets Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in the Middle School, and may decide whether or not to continue the practice in the upcoming a school year.
Inconvenienced parents of children in day care are annoyed by the proposals and made their thoughts known at a meeting in July. Superintendent Dr. Fredrick Johnson and Board President Eric Rowe said at the time they’d consider all the complaints before making a decision. (Matt Farrand)
Fatal fire in Sunbury
SUNBURY – Northumberland County Coroner James Kelley says 70-year-old Barbara Kunkel who died in a Sunbury house fire early Tuesday morning. Kunkel’s body was found at around 1:15a.m. in a rear bedroom of the double rental home at 127 North 4th Street. The fire heavily damaged the home and a neighboring home. Kelley returned to the scene around 9:30 a.m. He says State Police Fire Marshal will continue to investigate.
Sellers of natural gas rights should be wary
LEWISBURG – Get a good attorney if you’re following up on ads encouraging the sale of natural gas rights on your property. That’s the message of the founder and director of the Pennsylvania Sierra Club. Jeff Schmidt says property owners risk a great deal when they sign away their claim to what lies underneath. Geologists believe billions of cubic feet of natural gas are locked in shale in Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio.
Schmidt says developers often gain the right to build roads, clear-cut woodlands and set up transmission lines from unwary property owners. Schmidt was the latest speaker in a series of “On Topic” luncheons hosted by Molesevich Environmental and Newsradio 1070 WKOK. His talk also covered environmentally conscious legislation now before the state Senate. Schmidt will also be on an upcoming segment of WKOK’s Leaders & Lawmakers. (Matt Farrand)
Two local bars charged by the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement
WILLIAMSPORT – Two bars in the area have been charged by the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement for different violations.
At the Dirty Bird Bar in Danville, checks were reportedly issued on three different occasions for purchase of alcohol, but the checks were returned for insufficient funds. The incidents took place in March and April. The bar faces a $50 to $1,000 fine for issuing bad checks.
At Danley’s Hotel in Sunbury, bar employees are accused of serving visibly intoxicated patrons. They are also charged with selling to minors and to possessing gabling devices at the bar. The bar faces a fine of up to $5,000 for the charges against them. (Ali Stevens)
Zerbe Township gets new police chief
TREVORTON – Zerbe Township has a new police chief. The News Item reports former Shamokin City Police Detective Robert John was appointed Monday. John has been a police officer for 23 years and a detective for 11 years.
He joins Zerbe Township at a time when there were no police officers in the area, after the resignation of part-time officer Mark Botts three months ago. John replaces Degg Stark who resigned at the beginning of the year. (Sara Bartlett)
Dale/Engle/Walker House hosts Rural Heritage Days
LEWISBURG – Rural Heritage Days begins today outside of Lewisburg. Held at the Dale/Engle/Walker House, the four-day event offers a chance for all ages to see what life was like in years past. Today’s events are geared toward kids, with activities such as hands-on exhibits, old-fashioned games and pony cart rides, from noon to 4:00p.m. There will also be a demonstration of old-time spinning with an Angora rabbit.
Chair of the event committee, Jeannette Lasansky, says tomorrow there will be a presentation titled “Whatever Did They Wear.” It is an 18th century fashion show with period music. Friday there will be a wagon ride and tour to the 19th Century Grove’s Mill. It is $6.00 for the ride. All other activities are free. There are also all day activities Saturday. The Dale/Engle/Walker House is located on Strawbridge Road. For more information call 524-8666. (Sara Bartlett)
Orangeville fire destroys a barn, killing 30 chickens
ORANGEVILLE – A state police fire marshal will investigate after lightening apparently sparked a fire that destroyed a barn in the Orangeville area Monday afternoon. About 30 chickens were killed in the blaze at a barn owned by Gene and Kathy Barrett.
Dogs and horses housed in the barn were rescued, but some cats were unaccounted for. According to the Press Enterprise, Kathy Barrett is an Animal Control Officer and the barn was intended to be a startup no-kill animal shelter. The barn on Stoney Brook Road was destroyed, despite three lightening rods on the roof. (Ali Stevens)
Bench warrant issued for a Sunbury man charged with sexual assault of girl
DANVILLE – A bench warrant has been issued for a Sunbury man accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. 46-year-old Mark Nash, formerly of Milton, failed to appear in Montour County Court yesterday. Nash is accused of sexually assaulting the young teen in Valley Township in May of 2007. Prosecutors asked for the bench warrant, saying Nash has had no contact with his lawyer. (Ali Stevens)
Lewisburg woman taken to the hospital following a crash
LEWISBURG – A Lewisburg woman was taken to Evangelical Community Hospital following a crash on Hospital Drive near Colonel John Kelly Road yesterday. State police say just before 10a.m., 33-year-old Melissa Hollenbach was speeding on Hospital Drive and lost control on a curve.
The vehicle struck an embankment and flipped onto the driver’s side. Hollenbach had to be freed from the vehicle and was treated and released from Evan. She will be charged with speeding and causing an accident. (Ali Stevens)
Shamokin-Coal Township Sewer Authority fined by DEP
WILLIAMSPORT – The Shamokin-Coal Township Joint Sewer Authority has been fined after illegally dumping nearly 112,000 gallons of sewage into Shamokin Creek for a period of three days. The Department of Environmental Protection issued the $2,400 fine after discovering the activity in June.
DEP says the Sewer Authority was illegally discharging at the overflow points during dry weather conditions. The fine was paid to the Clean Water Fund, which is used to pay for cleanups across the state. (Sara Bartlett)
Megan’s Law violator sent to jail
SUNBURY – A Sunbury man, who is a registered sex offender, is in prison after failing to register his new address after moving. In May, 34-year-old Walter Tyson moved from Church Street to Susquehanna Avenue in the city and did not register his address within the required 48 hours for a registered sex offender. He was arraigned before District Justice Robert Bolton on a felony count of Megan’s Law violation and placed in Northumberland County Prison on $60,000 bail. (Sara Bartlett)
Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) - Nicholas Cruz' trip to the Little League World Series in South Williamsport is an all expense-paid dream come true. For the grandmother of Guam's shortstop, it's a huge, unexpected expense. But Mary Jane Cruz is determined to see Nicholas play ball. And she and other families of team members hope to sell enough $6 chicken and rib dinner plates at a market to help pay for plane tickets from the Western Pacific island to central Pennsylvania. Airfare from Guam is $1,400 per person. A 12-day hotel stay amounts to about $1,500 per room. While the children take the spotlight, it's the coaches, parents and other family members who pay the biggest toll to get to the annual 10-day celebration of youth baseball. The first pitch in the 2008 World Series is Friday.
GRATERFORD, Pa. (AP) - Lawyers for Pennsylvania mass murderer George Banks are once again asking a judge to spare his life. Banks killed 13 people, including five of his own children, in a 1982 shooting rampage in Wilkes-Barre. A hearing scheduled to begin Thursday will determine whether Banks is too mentally ill to be executed. The hearing will be held at the southeastern Pennsylvania prison where Banks has sat on death row for the past 25 years. A Luzerne County judge ruled in February 2006 that Banks couldn't be put to death, saying he was delusional, psychotic and had no capacity to assist in his own defense. But the state Supreme Court overturned the ruling and ordered a second competency hearing for Banks.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The chief executive officer of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia will lead Pennsylvania's State Board of Education. Gov. Ed Rendell announced the appointment of Joseph Torsella as board chairman Wednesday. Torsella joined the board as a member after he was confirmed by the state Senate in April. The 22-member board sets state education policy and regulations for K-12 public schools and higher education. Torsella succeeds Karl Girton, who resigned from the board earlier this month after Rendell asked him to give up his post as chairman.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A state judge has upheld Gov. Ed Rendell's authority to furlough most state employees when a state budget is not passed on time. Commonwealth Court Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt rejected arguments by three state-employee unions that mass furloughs could be averted during a budget impasse by continuing to pay state employees with unappropriated money in the state treasury. Leavitt said that's barred by the state constitution and that the governor's options are limited to furloughing employees or requiring them to work without pay until a budget is passed. David Fillman, director of the Council 13 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, says an appeal is likely.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Wednesday in the midday Pennsylvania State Lottery drawing:
Daily Number 3-9-0
Big 4 0-5-9-2
Treasure Hunt 2-4-10-14-30
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)