Saturday, August 14, 2010

Fuel oil clean up continues in Shamokin

SHAMOKIN -- Details are forthcoming, but Shamokin fire and emergency crews are on the scene of a fuel oil spill. Northumberland County Communications says the 3:35 a.m. spill of about 25 gallons was reported in the 600 block of West Gowen Street. The fuel reportedly leaked from a container of some sort. There are no reported injuries or evacuations involved. (Matt Farrand)

The death of Ted Silker is in the news today

DANVILLE – A very busy local community volunteer has died. Ted Silker of Winfield passed away yesterday after suffering a stroke earlier this week. He had an eventful life lately with the Kiwanis Clubs of Shamokin, the Ambassador Committee of the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Susquehanna Valley Toastmaster’s clubs.

Ted was a marketing and advertising consultant and was the 2007 winner of the Karen L. Hackman Star of Excellence Award. The Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce gives that out each year. Word is Ted apparently had a stroke this week while attending a Kiwanis club meeting. He died at Geisinger Medical Center Friday. Ted Silker was 56-years-old.

Man captured in LyCo

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT -- A man who was on the run in the South Williamsport area drew a large emergency response including a number of police from The Valley Friday. The man was caught just before 6:00p.m. Police say his name won’t be disclosed as a mental health issue was a factor in the incident.

Earlier, police told us, the man, who may have been armed, fled the scene of a domestic dispute just before 3:00p.m. The incident happened in the area of Sulfur Springs Road (Rt. 554). The man reportedly fled into the woods.

State and local police, a Special Emergency Response Team and a police helicopter were all on the lookout for the man. Locally, crews from Union and Snyder County responded. Police say there were no injuries involved and there was never any threat to the public. (Sara Bartlett)

Volunteers can help with United Way’s fall campaign

UNDATED -- Local United Ways are looking for volunteers for their upcoming fall campaign. Keri Albright, President and CEO of the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way says the volunteers would be 'loaned executives.'

They would visit and make calls to workplaces that participate in United Way fundraising. A lot of the money the United Way raises is from workplace campaigns, and there are too many workplaces for the staff to cover, thus the need for volunteers.

Albright says volunteers will talk with employees at workplaces who have fundraising efforts with the United Way. The commitment is 4-6 hours a month for 3-4 months. Typically 'loaned executives' come from workplaces, but this year, Albright says they are reaching out to those who are unemployed or retired, but want to still stay connected to the community.

The United Way will provide all of the information needed for those who wish to volunteer. Anyone interested can call the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way at 988-0993 or the Union County United Way at 523-8929. (Sara Bartlett)

Business and education—the chamber’s perspective on Roundtable

SUNBURY – The Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce is back on Roundtable this weekend. This month we discuss the critical connection between business and education. Chad Cohrs is the new superintendent of the Selinsgrove Area School District and he tells us schools today have to prepare students for more than just a job.

Cohrs says they have to prepare students to have basic literacy skills, communication and interpersonal skills and prepare them for jobs that don’t event exist yet. He said the schools definitely need the input of the chamber of commerce.

Roundtable focuses on the chamber’s and business’s effort to affect education and curricula. We also discuss the efforts of the business world to affect education. The chamber has a business and education committee. You can hear Roundtable (Sunday) on:

• · Eagle 107 (107.3FM) at 6a.m.
• · 100.9 (100.9FM), The Valley, at 6a.m.
• · Newsradio 1070 WKOK (1070AM) at 9a.m.
• · Talkradio 1380 WMLP (1380AM), 11a.m.
• · 94KX WQKX (94.1FM) at 11p.m.
• · And anytime, at www.wkok.com

Judge Woelfel stepping down

MIDDLEBURG – Snyder Union County President Judge will resign at the end of the year to work in a part-time capacity. Judge Harold Woelfel Jr. has decided to step down and says he and his wife mulled it over for quite some time, but felt now was the time to do it.

However, the judge still plans to work, on a part-time basis and will apply for senior judge status. Judge Woelfel says newly elected judge Mike Sholley will be just fine in the role of President Judge and has agreed to allow Judge Woelfel continue to oversee the DUI and drug treatment courts.

Commissioner Joe Kantz says the announcement came as a surprise, but he says the people Judge Woelfel has appointed recently, including District Attorney Michael Piecuch, and County Commissioner Peggy Chamberlain Roup, have helped with this transition. (Ali Stevens)

Portion of federal healthcare bill could hurt mobility companies

UNDATED -- A local company isn't pleased with a clause in the new federal healthcare bill. President and Owner of Susquehanna Valley Mobility Services, Aaron Lauver, says a portion of the bill would eliminate the first month purchase option for power wheelchairs.

This means, instead of going through Medicare to match a client with a power wheelchair for them to purchase the chair would be a rental. Also, if a client were to get moved to a nursing home, or have a short stay in the hospital, the chair would be taken away.

Lauver says the change would be bad for his Milton company and others too. Companies would have to purchase power wheelchairs for clients and then wait 13 months to be reimbursed. This may make it difficult for mobility companies to secure the upfront costs. Lauver says they are trying to keep this from being implemented.

The elimination of the first month purchase option for power wheelchairs would go into effect January 2011. Lauver says there is a strong possibility, and it is hoped, that this clause will be delayed. (Sara Bartlett)

Steamed or roasted corn and much more in Northumberland today

NORTHUMBERLAND –There will be plenty to enjoy today at the annual Corn Festival in Northumberland. Noelle Long is an organizer for the event and says there will be steamed or roasted corn available along with beef brisket sandwiches, crab cake sandwiches and homemade ice cream.

Aside from the food, there will be live music throughout the day in King Street Park from 11 to 5 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend. The money raised from the event will benefit the annual History Day event in Northumberland that is held each year in May. More information about the festival is here: http://site.accessnorthumberland.com/Community_Events.html\. (Ali Stevens)

Latest Pennsylvania news, business, lottery and entertainment

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Gov. David Paterson says hydraulic fracturing of natural gas wells in New York's part of the four-state Marcellus Shale region won't be allowed without "overwhelming evidence that nothing will happen" to harm clean water supplies. In an interview Friday with Syracuse radio WSYR's Jim Reith; Paterson said the controversy over natural gas drilling is "obviously a clash between a very lucrative profit-making opportunity and a very serious public safety hazard." He said a decision on issuing gas drilling permits will be based on scientific evidence showing hydraulic fracturing is safe. Permits have been on hold for two years in New York while regulators complete a review. Hydraulic fracturing uses chemical-laced water at high pressure to fracture gas-rich shale. Opponents say it threatens water supplies but the industry says it's been used safely for decades.

POWELL, Pa. (AP) - State environmental officials say three drinking water wells in northeastern Pennsylvania have been found to be polluted with methane gas. The Department of Environmental Protection says the discovery was made after a lid blew off one of the wells last week. The wells are in Bradford County, near a Chesapeake Energy gas well. Department spokesman Dan Spadoni says Chesapeake Energy notified the DEP last week that bubbling could be heard in three drinking wells in Monroe Township. The DEP investigated and has been meeting with the company. The company is also supplying the affected families with drinking water and installed a methane monitor.

HARRSIBURG, Pa. (AP) - The first negative TV ad of the general election campaign against Pennsylvania Senate candidate Pat Toomey is going on the air. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee says the ad portrays the Republican as a champion of Wall Street and the derivatives that toppled some financial institutions. Toomey is in a close race against Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak. The ad's attempt to link Toomey to the troublesome derivatives is questionable, as is its claim that he wrote a law while in Congress that weakened oversight of Wall Street. In the 1980s, Toomey traded currency and interest-rate swaps for two New York banks, but not the credit default swaps that insured mortgage securities.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Tom Corbett is putting wheels on his campaign for governor. Corbett's campaign says the Republican will tour northern Pennsylvania by bus today. Corbett, the state attorney general, plans to visit six counties during the one-day tour, with stops in Wellsboro, Coudersport, Smethport, Pittsfield, Emporium, Kersey and St. Marys. Corbett faces Democrat Dan Onorato, the elected executive of Allegheny County, in the Nov. 2 election.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Stocks drop...GM filing expected...Oil prices slip

NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks failed to stop a losing streak in Friday's trading. The Dow dropped 17 points to 10,393. The S&P was down 4 points, while the Nasdaq fell 17 points. It was the fourth straight session decline.

DETROIT (AP) - A source says General Motors is likely to file paperwork next week outlining its plan to offer stock to the public. After the filing, a stock sale, or IPO, typically takes place about three months later.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - A federal official says a 36-foot-long crack in the Upper Big Branch mine floor didn't contribute to an explosion that killed 29 men. That contrasts with Massey Energy's claim that the crack may have caused the blast.

UNDATED (AP) - Oil prices continued slipping after falling more than $5 in the first four trading sessions of the week. Benchmark crude for September delivery fell 35 cents to settle at $75.39 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, its lowest level in a month.

NEW YORK (AP) - The company behind magicJack has another product ready to roll-out: free phone calls from computers, smart phones and iPads. The software will be available next week for Windows and Mac computers. Versions for mobile devices will follow in the next month or so.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The head of the AFL-CIO says union and private-sector workers should unite and confront the nation's "job-cutters." AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka says when unions negotiate better pay and benefits "every worker in America gets a chance at a better deal." His remarks at a downtown Los Angeles rally Friday came at a time when public union wages and compensation, especially pensions, have been under scrutiny in economically troubled California. Trumka says union workers are building the middle class, not living privileged lives. He says it's time for public and private workers to "come together and face the job-cutters." He says public and private-sector workers are "stronger together."

NEW YORK (AP) - The CEO of U.S. News & World Report will take over the same job at New York's Daily News. Both publications are owned by Mortimer Zuckerman. Zuckerman announced the appointment of U.S. News head William Holiber to the top job at the Daily News in a memo to the staff Friday. He says Holiber will retain his current responsibilities at U.S. News. Zuckerman says current Daily News CEO Marc Kramer is leaving to pursue other opportunities. Last month, Martin Dunn stepped down as editor in chief of the Daily News. A Daily News spokeswoman said the paper had no comment beyond the memo. Holiber was in charge of U.S. News when it downsized from weekly to monthly publication in 2008.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn Friday:

Big 4

5-1-0-7

Cash 5

10-18-28-37-42

Daily Number

6-9-8

Evening Quinto

0-8-5-5-2

Mega Millions

06-17-24-43-55, Mega Ball: 36

Megaplier

4

Midday Big 4

3-2-2-8

Midday Number

1-1-4

Midday Quinto

5-7-3-5-3

Treasure Hunt

07-08-16-21-25

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Publicist says Gabor returning to hospital

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Zsa Zsa Gabor's publicist says the actress is being returned to a Los Angeles hospital because of complications in her recuperation from a broken hip. Publicist John Blanchette says an ambulance was at her home Friday to take Gabor to the emergency room. Blanchette says Gabor's husband told him that the 93-year-old actress is bleeding and in a lot of pain. But the publicist says he doesn't know the exact nature of the complications. Gabor broke her hip July 17, had hip-replacement surgery and was sent home from the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center on Wednesday.

Rapper Foxy Brown indicted for NY court violation

NEW YORK (AP) - Rapper Foxy Brown has been indicted on charges of violating an order of protection stemming from a 2007 confrontation with her neighbor in New York City. Prosecutors say Brown violated the order in July by screaming at neighbor Arlene Raymond before bending over, baring her buttocks at Raymond and showing her underwear while shouting an obscenity. The 31-year-old Brown was issued the order of protection after pleading guilty in 2008 to menacing Raymond with her cell phone. The two had been in a dispute over Brown blasting her car stereo outside their Brooklyn building. The indictment announced Friday charges Brown, whose real name is Inga Marchand, with criminal contempt in the second degree. She could face up to one year in jail. A lawyer for Brown did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Calif. says Bell got $3M in illegal property taxes

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The tiny Southern California city of Bell, which is already under scrutiny for giving its officials huge salaries, may have to return $3 million in illegal property taxes. State Controller John Chiang said Friday that an audit found that for at least three years, the Los Angeles suburb has been charging higher-than-allowed property taxes for its pension obligations. Chiang has ordered the tax rate to be reduced as quickly as possible and says it might cut the bill on a $275,000 home by $250 a year. Interim city manager Pedro Carillo says he's working to put a resolution lowering the tax rate before the City Council on Monday. Carillo says it's not clear yet whether the excess money will be returned to property owners. It could go to the state.

Three Fla. kids buy plane tickets, fly alone to Tenn.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Three Florida children bought tickets with baby-sitting money and flew to Nashville, Tenn., on Southwest Airlines - unbeknownst to their parents. Fifteen-year-old Bridget Brown had $700 saved and asked a 13-year-old friend where he wanted to go. The friend, Bobby Nolan III, suggested Nashville. Together with Brown's 11-year-old brother, the three took a taxicab to Jacksonville International Airport and bought three tickets at the counter. The children say no one asked them for identification. They called their parents from Nashville and immediately flew home. Southwest Airlines says the company's minor policy covers children ages five through 11 traveling alone, and that the Two older companions in this case accompanied 11-year-old.

US Muslims prep for Islamic holiday - around 9/11

NEW YORK (AP) - A joyous Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan has the potential for misunderstandings or worse in the United States. Eid al-Fitr falls around September 11 this year. Muslim leaders fear that their festive gatherings could be misinterpreted as a celebration of the 2001 terrorist strikes. The exact date of the holiday is not yet known. Muslims follow a lunar calendar, so the holiday could fall anywhere from Thursday, September 9, to Saturday, Sept. 11. Traditionally, Muslims exchange gifts, hold parties and fill mosques to overflowing. American Muslim groups are contacting law enforcement, civil rights officials and interfaith leaders to alert them to the overlap and the possible trouble it could cause.