Thursday, August 14, 2008

Bipartisan group of state senators opposed to I-80 tolling plan

HARRISBURG – Ten state senators have formed a bipartisan committee opposed to the Interstate 80 tolling plan.  The group wrote a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to express their continued opposition to the tolling plan, now that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and PennDOT recently submitted an application to seek federal approval to toll the Interstate. 

Some of the specific concerns cited by the senators including a negative economic impact on business and industry along the I-80 corridor, increased transportation costs and the impact on future economic development in the area.  A copy of the letter from the senators is posted on Senator John Gordner’s website at www.senatorgordner.com.  (Ali Stevens)

Trevorton teen goes to court; accused of sending threats to businesses

SUNBURY – A 17-year-old charged with sending bomb threats to numerous Coal Township area businesses in July will undergo mental evaluations.  The Trevorton teen was in court Wednesday, where a judge ordered him to complete 30 to 45 days of evaluations to see if he is competent to stand trial.  If found competent, and tried as an adult, he could face up to seven years in prison and $15,000 in fines. (Sara Bartlett) 

Man charged with stabbing his 17-year-old brother will go to trial

SHAMOKIN – A Shamokin man accused of stabbing his teen brother will go to trial on several charges against him.  19-year-old Casey King had charges of aggravated and simple assault, reckless endangerment and DUI waived on to court Tuesday.  The charges relate to an August 3^rd incident where police say King stabbed his 17-year-old brother with a pocketknife at his home on Spruce Street in Shamokin.  King will be formally arraigned on October 1^st at the Northumberland County Courthouse.  (Ali Stevens)

Northumberland County Conservation District hosts programs for local farmers

SUNBURY – The Northumberland County Conservation District is holding their annual meetings for area farmers this month.  Called ‘Twilight Meetings,’ Education Coordinator for the Conservation District, Jackie Lucas, says they will cover many topics including weed control, biodeisel options on the farm and how to keep bees for pollinating.  Manager of Penn State Farm Operations, Glen Cauffman, will also present a speech entitled ‘Tractors Without Tankers.’  There will be two meetings, one on August 26^th at the Paul Kieffer Farm in Dornsife at 5:45p.m. and one on the 28^th at Boyd Station in Danville at 5:00p.m.  Cost is $5.00.  Pre-registration is required and you can do so by calling 286-7114. (Sara Bartlett)

Fire in a dumpster at a local convenience store investigated as arson

SELINSGROVE – State police want to know who set fire to a dumpster at a convenience store in Monroe Township, Snyder County.  Around 3:30 a.m. on July 13^th someone backed up to a dumpster at the Sheetz store in Selinsgrove and set the dumpster on fire before fleeing the scene.  The investigation continues.  (Ali Stevens)

The annual Central Susquehanna Valley Heart Walk is just a month away

ELYSBURG – It will soon be time once again for the annual Central Susquehanna Valley Heart Walk at Knoebel’s Grove in Elysburg.  This year’s Heart Walk is Sunday, September 14^th at 1 p.m. with registration at noon.  Hundreds of walkers are expected, but more are still needed to help raise money for the American Heart Association.  One of this year’s co-chair’s, Diane Harlow, wellness coordinator at Geisinger Medical Center, who says prevention and treatment are key with cardiac disease and the American Heart Association provides the funding for the research to help with that. 

The fundraising goal for this year’s Heart Walk is $174,000.  The event promotes physical activity and heart-healthy living in a fun, family environment.  It is a national event and this year, more than one-million walkers will participate in about 500 walks nationwide.  To find out more, you can call 877-584-8146 or log onto www.americanheart.org. (Ali Stevens)

The environmental impacts of burning waste coal

UNDATED – It’s something that the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Governor Ed Rendell support, but something Director of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sierra Club, Jeff Schmidt, calls the single biggest danger from energy use.  It’s the burning of waste coal, and Schmidt says there are many environmental downsides.  He says it’s not energy efficient, and there is a higher volume of waste material after the burning process is done.  And, if those waste materials aren’t disposed of properly, there could be a long-term threat to groundwater.  

Schmidt says Pennsylvania generates well over 50% our electricity from burning coal, which makes us one of the biggest emitters of toxins.  They not only include mercury, but lead, arsenic, chromium and dioxide.  Schmidt says there are many alternatives to burning waste coal that we are not adequately tapping into.  On a more local level, he says becoming more energy efficient doesn’t have to mean making drastic changes; it’s all about using energy wisely.  Schmidt will talk more about this topic and other topics on an upcoming Leaders & Lawmakers program. (Sara Bartlett)

Two charged with a vandalism spree at the Great Stream Commons Complex

LEWISBURG – Two people have been charged in connection with a vandalism spree involving heavy equipment at the Great Stream Commons Complex in Gregg Township, Union County. 19-year-old Randy Beamer of Allenwood was arraigned yesterday on charges of criminal mischief and vandalism. His accomplice, Jonathan Weigel, whose address and age are not yet known, will be arraigned today.

Beamer and Weigel are accused of driving construction vehicles on the grounds of a future Target Distribution Center late Wednesday night. A scrapper pan was driven over a ravine and a roller was flipped onto its side. The vandalism caused heavy damage to the land and area fields, with damage estimated at close to a million dollars. (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)

Passengers hurt in collision of bus and truck

WASHINGTONVILLE – Most of the passengers on a bus—were injured yesterday—when the bus hit a truck near Washingtonville. 8 of the 11 passengers sustained minor-to-moderate injures when the accident happened Wednesday around 9a.m. Troopers say the bus ran into the back of a truck at the intersection of Routes 54 and 254, and hit a truck already stopped.

State Police in Milton say the bus driver and passengers 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. Danville and Turbotville ambulance helped get the injured to treatment. Washingtonville Fire and Fire-Police also helped out at the scene. (Matt Farrand)

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)

An Evening in the Garden at Sunbury River Festival

SUNBURY – Another highlight of the Sunbury River Festival will take place this 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. More details at www.sunburyriverfestival.com. (Sara Bartlett)

`Plate number conferred for stolen truck

SELINSGROVE – There are no suspects in the theft of an 18-foot flatbed truck from a landscaping business in Snyder County. State Police in Selinsgrove say the 1988 Chevrolet has a rusty white cab and wooden bed, and license number YGG 1294.

It was taken from the business along Route 204 in Penn Township some time between Saturday afternoon and Tuesday morning. Troopers request a call to their Selinsgrove barracks at 374-8145 if you have information. (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)

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)

Blind Chitlin Kahunas concert to be held at Shikellamy Overlook

SUNBURY – The final concert held by the Friends of Shikellamy State Park will be tonight. 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)