Thursday, September 2, 2010

Accused yoga master killer back in Union County

LEWISBURG -- The man accused of killing yoga teacher Swami Sudharman is back in Union County.  33-year-old Joel Snider of St. Louis, Missouri was extradited from Maryland and appeared at the Union County Courthouse Thursday.  Snider is facing homicide charges following the July 5th shooting of 70-year-old Sudharman at his Integral Yoga Center in New Berlin. 

Following the incident, details of Snider's methodical plan started to be revealed, including e-mails to another yoga teacher detailing the killing Snider was about to undertake.  Snider is being held in Union County Prison, and will appear in court next week.  Union County District Attorney Pete Johnson has recused himself from the case, due to his friendship with Sudharman.  A state prosecutor may take over the case. (Sara Bartlett)

Expansion in the works for Selinsgrove Borough

SELINSGROVE -- The borough building in Selinsgrove will be expanded.  A feasibility study was completed recently and it was determined that renovation and expansion would cost $3.2 million for the 40-year-old building at the corner of Pine and High Streets.  The building also houses the Selinsgrove Community Library.  This week, the borough and the library came to an agreement to share the design costs associated with expansion. 

Borough Manager John Bickhart says the concept is to expand the front of the building to connect with the Selinsgrove Commons, which is the lot used for downtown events and festivals at the corner of Market and Pine Streets.  Once the project is complete, the building and Commons will be linked together on the same property, which is currently divided by an alley and parking lot.

E.I. Associates of Harrisburg will design the project at a cost of about $143,000.  The borough is exploring several financing options including borrowing reserve funds already in place, bond issues and bank loans.  No decision has been made.  The library plans to raise the money through fundraisers and corporate donations. 

The current schedule for the project is the design phase, getting underway now and taking about 6 months.  The bidding phase is expected to get started after that and construction is scheduled to get underway in the Spring of 2011.  Construction will take about a year to complete.  (Ali Stevens)

SU's film series will focus on sustainable living

SELINSGROVE -- 'A Sustainable Future' is the theme for the 2010-2011 academic year at Susquehanna University.  Kathy Straub, Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, came up with the theme, and says the university has already started many activities to reflect it. 

The dining halls use recyclable napkins and cleaning products with no chemicals.  Also, the director of dining services is using more and more locally grown foods.  In addition to the university's car share program, they will begin a bike share program on campus.  

In connection with the theme, the university is also having a film series free and open to the public.  The films begins Thursday with the showing of Food Inc.  Straub says there are 13 films to follow through December.  Films include ones about the coffee industry, over fishing, carbon footprints and where food comes from. 

There will be discussions following each film, and on some occasions, the filmmakers will take part.  All of the films will be shown at 7:30p.m. on campus.  For a complete list and more information on Susquehanna University's 'Sustainable Future' theme, go to www.susqu.edu. (Sara Bartlett)  

McAlisterville man jailed after sexually assaulting toddler

LIVERPOOL -- Charges have been filed against a McAlisterville man, accused of sexually assaulting a 2-year-old girl in Liverpool.  24-year-old William Gibson was arraigned on Tuesday on charges of aggravated indecent assault, endangering the welfare of a child and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child. 

State Police say Gibson assaulted the 2-year-old on May 11th at a home on North Front Street in Liverpool.  Gibson was sent to the Juniata County Prison on $20,000 bail, where he was already being held on unrelated criminal charges.  (Ali Stevens)

More details released about a stabbing in Bloomsburg this week

BLOOMSBURG -- Police have released more information about a stabbing in Bloomsburg this week.  43-year-old Wendy Green is behind bars in the Columbia County Prison, charged with stabbing 59-year-old Martin Simons on Wednesday morning.  Police say Green claimed Simons stabbed himself in the stomach during an argument, but police say Green did the stabbing. 

Simons was taken to Bloomsburg Hospital and then transported to Geisinger Medical Center, where he was treated and released.  Simons and Green had apparently been drinking at a bar prior to the incident at Simon's apartment around 3:20 a.m.  

Green is charged with aggravated assault and simple assault and bail was set at $25,000. The Press Enterprise reports Simons must also report to the Columbia County Prison on Friday to serve a 30-day sentence for repeat drunken driving.  (Ali Stevens)

DA hopes Youth of Accountability Program will deter career criminals

SELINSGROVE – Certain young lawbreakers in Snyder County could soon be offered an alternative to the traditional court system. District Attorney Michael Piecuch plans to launch a Youth Accountability Program this month.

Piecuch says the program will both free up the juvenile court system and discourage young offenders from becoming repeat offenders. It consists of a panel community volunteers guided by probation officers, which would direct first time, non-violent offenders toward making restitution, counseling and community service.

Piecuch says the volunteers are vital to the program, which has already seen success in Union County. Youth Accountability Program participants must admit involvement in the incident, then enter into a contract. If the contract is satisfied, then the juvenile’s record is cleared. Parental cooperation is also required. (Matt Farrand)

Detective hired in Northumberland County

SUNBURY -- A detective has been hired in Northumberland County. Andrew Orzehowski's hiring was approved Tuesday by the Northumberland County Salary Board following DA Tony Rosini's recommendation. Orzehowski, who is from just outside of Sunbury, was most recently a state trooper at the Stonington barracks.

He has 25 years of law enforcement experience. Rosini says Orzehowski was initially hired to assist Sunbury Police with incidents in the Northumberland County Prison. Rosini says there have been reports of gang members in the prison.

He said Sunbury Police have limited manpower, a detective could help expedite the filing of charges. A county detective has countywide jurisdiction, and can assist other police departments. Orzehowski will start September 13th with a salary of $31,585. (Sara Bartlett)

Democratic candidate listed as Republican on absentee ballots

UNDATED -- About 40 local U.S. military members have received incorrect absentee ballots for Northumberland County. Antonio Michetti, Democratic candidate for the 108th legislative district, says his name was listed under 'Republican' on the ballots.

Michetti says he contacted the Northumberland County Elections Office about the error and they indicated they would mail new, corrected forms to military members who requested absentee ballots. Michetti says he wants every vote to count, especially those serving our country. He also says he notified his opponent, Republican Lynda Schlegel-Culver. (Sara Bartlett)

Selinsgrove building company lays off employees

SELINSGROVE -- About ten people remain employed at Penn Lyon Homes in Selinsgrove, following layoffs. The modular homebuilder, like many in the housing market, is struggling in the down economy. 82 employees were laid off and those remaining are office employees.

There have been rumors that the business may close, but neither Snyder County Commissioners nor officials from the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce who we contacted this week could confirm. The company was set to celebrate their 30th anniversary next year. (Sara Bartlett)

One person in custody after Bloomsburg stabbing

BLOOMSBURG – Police are investigating an early Wednesday morning stabbing in Bloomsburg. The incident happened around 3:20am in the 500 block of East 4th street. Bloomsburg police tell us Wendy Green of Bloomsburg stabbed Martin Simmons of Bloomsburg in the abdomen during a domestic dispute.

Green was arrested and will be arraigned this morning before District Judge Craig Long of Catawissa. Simmons was taken to Bloomsburg Hospital and then transported to Geisinger Medical Center. His condition is not yet available. (Ali Stevens)

Toys R Us is coming to the Susquehanna Valley Mall

SELINSGROVE – Toys R Us will be locating in the Susquehanna Valley Mall for the holiday shopping season. The store will be located near Boscov’s at the former Kay Bee Toys location. Toys R Us will be a temporary holiday tenant, but sources say they could stay longer if they are successful in their new location.

Currently the closest Toys R Us is located at the Lycoming Mall, and there is a toy story in Lewisburg (The Purple Platypus). The new Toys R Us store is expected to open at the Susquehanna Valley Mall sometime in September. (Ali Stevens)

Major injury reported in two-vehicle collision

LEWISBURG – A Lewisburg man is hospitalized after a Monday afternoon crash involving a car and a motorcycle. Geisinger Medical Center reports 52-year-old Dennis Sampsell is in fair condition after being ejected from his motorcycle when it was struck by a car at Colonel John Kelly and JPM Roads.

State troopers say 78-year-old Max Yost of Milton did not stop at a stop sign, and struck Sampsell who sustained a leg injury when he landed in the eastbound lane of Colonel John Kelly Road. Sampsell was initially reported as driving a car. Yost will be cited for not stopping at the stop sign. (Matt Farrand)

President of Marcellus Shale Coalition says PA needs competitive severance tax

UNDATED -- The Marcellus Shale Coalition, a gas industry group, formed two years ago in Washington County, is an organization that works with partners all over Pennsylvania to encourage responsible natural gas drilling. President and Executive Director of the Coalition, Kathryn Klaber was a guest on On The Mark Tuesday.

She talks about having a competitive severance tax for drilling in the Marcellus Shale region. She says other states that have a severance tax, have key components to that tax. Klaber calls Pennsylvania 'a shining star' in the gas industry and wants to make sure there isn't a tax put in place that makes it overly punitive for companies to do business here.

The Coalition also works with businesses that see opportunities to work alongside the gas drilling companies, and looks at cost effective ways that the extracted gas could be used. You can hear more from Klaber by downloading Tuesday's On The Mark at www.wkok.com. (Sara Bartlett)

PennDOT says they underestimated Danville traffic volume 

DANVILLE – Following many complaints about heavy traffic in Danville while paving work was underway during the day on Route 11 at Route 54, PennDOT has admitted they should have done things differently. Dave Serra is the project engineer and was a guest on WKOK’s On The Mark program.

He says traffic on Route 11 north from Burger King to Route 54 was very heavy due to the left turning lane. Serra says that left turn lane was the one causing all the problems. He says contractors should have run the signal manually by opening up the control box and allowing a longer time for traffic to get through at the turn lane.

Motorists in Danville reported 20 to 45 minute delays while the project was ongoing. The paving project continues, however PennDOT says the work will all be done at night and no daytime work is planned. You can hear more from PennDOT and project engineer Dave Serra from WKOK’s Wednesday On The Mark program online at www.wkok.com. (Ali Stevens)

Art and Karen Bowen to head up United Way’s campaign

SELINSGROVE – Art and Karen Bowen of Bowen Agency Realtors have been selected as the campaign chairs for the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way’s annual campaign. The campaign will soon get underway. Karen Bowen has been on the United Way board for about nine years and says she and her husband Art learned early on from their parents about the importance of giving back.

Karen and Art talked about why they feel strongly about giving to the United Way, saying that giving helps so many organizations locally that affect all of us. In addition, you can make one gift and allocate the money to one agency or spread your gift to all 30 agencies equally. Despite the tough economy, Art and Karen are optimistic about their fundraising efforts and remind folks that the money raised goes to help the people here in the Valley.

The United Way campaign will get underway in mid-September and many “loaned executives” will be visiting area businesses to educate employees about payroll deductions to support the United Way. To find out more about the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way go to www.gsvuw.org.

Woman released from hospital after Dewart fire

DEWART- A Dewart woman and her husband are now both out of hospitals after a fire heavily damaged their home on the morning of August 21st. Geisinger Medical Center says 79-year-old Helen Yordy was released August 29th, after being admitted in critical condition.

Her husband, 74-year-old Russell Yordy, sustained a back fracture and suffered from smoke inhalation, but was released from Lehigh Valley Hospital the day after the fire. The couple jumped from the second story of their home to escape the blaze at their home near Routes 405 and 44 in Dewart. The fire was considered accidental in nature, and property damage was estimated at about $300,000. (Matt Farrand)

Latest Pennsylvania news, lottery, business and entertainment

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Hilton Hotels & Resorts has pulled its name from the landmark Pittsburgh hotel that is one of the first things motorists see as they enter the city through the Fort Pitt Tunnels. A Hilton spokesman says the owner, Shubh Hotels Pittsburgh LLC, committed unspecified violations of its franchise agreement. Shubh two weeks ago changed managers, hiring Dallas-based Prism Hotels and Resorts to jump start the hotel after financial and construction problems in recent years.   Workers walked off a $25 million renovation job in May 2009 after contractor P.J. Dick Inc. said Shubh stopped paying. Shubh has been restructuring its finances and that work recently resumed.  The hotel has been a Hilton since it opened in 1959. With 700 rooms it is the city's largest hotel.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The mean streets of the City of Brotherly Love are once again coming to a television near you.  "Wreck Chasers" is a reality show about the city's notoriously aggressive tow truck drivers.  It's shooting in Philadelphia and is slated to premiere in late October on the TLC network.  Production crews are following several drivers with one as-yet-unidentified Philadelphia towing company as they race to beat the competition to wrecks.  Jim Kowats, the show's executive producer, says filming started in May.  The show is the second series currently focusing on the trials and tribulations of Philadelphia motorists.  "Parking Wars," in its third season on the A&E cable network, features Philadelphia Parking Authority employees at work.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - A key industry group is renewing its criticism of strict water quality standards developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to curb mountaintop removal coal mining.  The National Mining Association said Thursday that the EPA used bad science to develop the standards it introduced April 1. Among other things, the organization says the study underpinning the standards violated EPA guidelines by relying on field data rather than laboratory findings.  The EPA policy is aimed at sharply reduce the practice of filling valleys with waste from mountaintop removal and other types of surface mines in West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia and Tennessee. The practice is considered highly  efficient by mine operators, but terribly destructive by environmentalists.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A group of motorcyclists has begun its second annual ride tracing the intended path of Flight 93 had it not been hijacked during the 2001 terror attacks.  Riders left from Newark, N.J., on Thursday and plan to arrive in San Francisco on Sept. 11. The ride was organized by the relatives of Louis Nacke, who was one of 40 passengers and crew who died in the crash.  Flight 93 crashed in a Pennsylvania field Sept. 11, 2001, after being commandeered by terrorists.  Nacke's cousin, Patrick White, said Thursday that he hopes the ride will raise awareness of the heroes of Flight 93 and help raise money for the permanent memorial being built in Pennsylvania.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Dauphin County commissioners have authorized a lawsuit to force local officials in the state capital to pay part of the debt for a costly incinerator overhaul that has threatened to drag the city into bankruptcy. The action yesterday by Dauphin County commissioners means the trustees of a 2007 bond issue that financed upgrades to the Harrisburg incinerator can sue to force the city treasurer to pay nearly $35 million in debt due by Dec. 1. The county has paid more than $3.4 million toward the estimated $288 million incinerator debt to avert a default and is trying to recover those payments from the city and the authority that owns the incinerator. City officials are seeking temporary relief and the mayor has said she favors sale or lease of city assets, higher trash disposal fees for nonresidents and debt forgiveness or restructuring.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Dan Onorato says Republican rival Tom Corbett sees only the industry's side in the debate over natural-gas drilling in Pennsylvania. Onorato told reporters yesterday that Corbett's opposition to a new severance tax on drilling over the Marcellus Shale formation underscores the hands-off approach he advocates for dealing with the industry. Onorato favors imposing the tax to shore up funding for environmental enforcement, maintain local infrastructure and preserve open space. Campaign spokesman Kevin Harley says Corbett views the drilling rush as a means of generating other economic activity, not as a direct source of revenue. Harley said a new tax might drive the industry out of Pennsylvania. The Legislature plans to consider a Marcellus Shale tax when it convenes later this month.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Four new TV ads in Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate campaign began airing in the past week. The latest ad, sponsored by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, started yesterday in the race between Democrat Joe Sestak and Republican Pat Toomey. That ad and another by the Sestak campaign attack Toomey's statements that he favors eliminating corporate taxes and allowing younger workers to deposit a portion of the Social Security payroll tax they pay into private investment accounts. Meanwhile, two other Washington-based groups, Club for Growth and Crossroads, are airing ads criticizing Sestak. The Crossroads ad singles out Sestak's support for the part of the new federal health care law that expands public coverage for the poor but cuts Medicare reimbursements and raises taxes on employers that don't provide employee health insurance.

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

Updates on the latest in business:

Dow: 10,320.10, up 50.63

S&P 500: 1,090.10, up 9.81

NASDAQ: 2,200.01, up 23.17

Stocks rise...Consumers spend a bit...3Par winner emerges

NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks have been firm today on some better economic reports. Investors are also positioning ahead of the monthly unemployment report, due tomorrow morning.

NEW YORK (AP) - Consumers did a little more shopping last month, amid deep discounts and tax-free holidays. A retailers trade group says its monthly sales index was up 3.2 percent in August, better than July and also better than expected.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Labor Department says new claims for jobless benefits fell by 6,000 to 472,000. The report suggests that there are fewer mass layoffs being seen.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told a panel investigating the financial crisis that regulators must be ready to shutter the largest institutions if they threaten to bring down the financial system. Bernanke told panel members, if there's one single lesson from the financial crisis, is that "the too-big-to-fail problem must be solved."

SEATTLE (AP) - There may finally be a winner in the bidding for 3Par. Dell has decided to walk away from the bidding contest with rival Hewlett-Packard. HP's bid was for $33 a share, or nearly $2.1 billion for the data storage provider. 

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

Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers

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

 Mega Millions

     Estimated jackpot: $16 million

 Midday Big 4

     6-9-2-9

Midday Number

     0-2-5

Midday Quinto

     6-7-9-8-1

Powerball

     Estimated jackpot: $47 million

 Treasure Hunt

     03-10-14-19-26

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

Big 4

0-9-2-4

Cash 5

11-14-21-30-40

Daily Number

2-8-2

Evening Quinto

1-4-6-2-8

Midday Big 4

2-8-4-7

Midday Number

5-6-0

Midday Quinto

6-9-3-9-5

Powerball

17-20-21-40-51, Powerball: 19, Power Play: 3

Treasure Hunt

04-10-13-15-23

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

Kate Gosselin's link to hostage situation

SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) -- "Kate Plus 8" is one of the shows that drove James Lee to take three hostages at the Discovery Channel's headquarters, where he was eventually killed by members of a SWAT team. Lee had said he hated "Kate Plus 8" and "19 Kids and Counting" because he felt they promoted population growth. He wrote on his website that "humans are the most destructive, filthy, pollutive creatures around and are wrecking what's left of the planet with their false morals and breeding cultures." He also didn't like Discovery's environmental programming like "Planet Green," which he said was more about making money than solving environmental problems.

Who's not dancing with the stars

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Would you want to see Sylvester Stallone do a sexy tango on "Dancing With the Stars?" Too bad. He turned them down. The Hollywood Reporter says Stallone was one of several celebrities who rejected the chance to dance on TV. It happens every year. Not everyone says yes. This year, The Hollywood Reporter says Tim Allen, Suzanne Somers, the guy who created Facebook Mark Zuckerberg and Condoleezza Rice said thanks, but no thanks.

Happy 90210 Day!

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Today is a day that will come around only once. Ever. It's 90210 Day, a date that mirrors the zip code for Beverly Hills. The first Taste of Beverly Hills will help celebrate with host by Larry King and a performance by Natasha Bedingfield. Some of the best restaurants in Beverly Hills will be feeding the crowd. Meanwhile, over the Paley Center in Los Angeles, episodes of the original "Beverly Hills 90210" and the recent remake will be screened all day.

Pigging out

SPARKS, Nev. (AP) - Talk about pigging out: Joey Chestnut has eaten his way to another ribs-eating title in Nevada.  The 26-year-old San Jose, Calif., man ate 8 pounds of pork ribs in 12 minutes to win the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off's eating competition Wednesday night in Sparks.  America's No. 1 professional eater, Chestnut holds world eating records for ribs, steak, asparagus, hot dogs and hamburgers. It was his fourth win in five years in the Nugget's competition.  Pat Bertoletti of Chicago, who beat Chestnut last year, finished second by devouring 6.9 pounds of ribs.  Chestnut slid the meat off each bone with his hands and ate it  in a ball, while Bertoletti bit off the bone each time.

American Samoa-Plastic Bags

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (AP) - American Samoa will make it illegal for stores to hand out plastic bags once a new law takes effect early next year. Gov. Togiola Tulafono signed the ban into law last week. He says the measure is a step in the right direction toward protecting the natural beauty of American Samoa and its native land and sea creatures. Advocates of the law say plastic bags litter the landscape, fill streams and pollute the ocean. They say marine life can become entangled in the bags, which take 500 to 1,000 years to decompose. The law takes effect Feb. 23. It exempts shopping bags produced entirely from nonpetroleum-based biodegradable plastic and compostable plastic bags.

Plastic bags survive vote in California

SACREMENTO -- Plastic bags will remain in grocery. The San Francisco Chronicle reports, the California legislature failed to approve bans on single-use plastic bags as the two-year legislative session came to a close Tuesday night. The author of the bag ban said intense industry lobbying and an aggressive public campaign that included heavy television, radio and newspaper advertising, led to the bill's defeat. "It was really an unprecedented effort on their part, and at the end of the day, they ended up the winners on this," Brownley said. "I think this was their battleground, and they feared if it went forward in California, it would go forward in the rest of the U.S."

Methodist survey aims to stop membership decline

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The United Methodist Church, seeking to stop a decline in membership, has surveyed nearly all of its 33,000 U.S. congregations to find out what works. Church leaders say they found that successful congregations have several things in common: active lay leadership, inspirational pastors, a mix of traditional and contemporary worship services, and small groups and programs, such as Bible studies and activities geared toward youth. One of the successful churches is St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, whose 6,200 members can choose between traditional and contemporary services. Its senior pastor says, "Worship is like going to a mall ... When you have variety, people can go where they like."

Neil young prepares new album

BURBANK, Calif. (AP) - Neil Young is bringing "Le Noise." That's the name of his next album, due out on September 28. It's a collaboration with producer Daniel Lanois, whom Young has known for years but with whom Young has never recorded. Lanois says there are no overdubs and there's no band. He describes the ound as "a man on a stool and me doing a nice job on the recording."

Honest Kid Golfer

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Zach Nash was shocked when he discovered he had one too many golf clubs in his bag two hours after winning a junior Wisconsin PGA tournament. But rules are rules, and the 14-year-old from southern Wisconsin made a decision that might surprise some people: He disqualified himself and surrendered his medal. The Wisconsin PGA plans to present it to runner-up Dane Reinhardt. Nash said Wednesday he wouldn't have been able to live with himself if he'd kept the medal from the Aug. 11 tournament. Golf prides itself on honesty and players calling penalties on themselves. One of Nash's golf mentors, Chris Wood, says many adults would have justified keeping the medal by saying they didn't use the extra club. He says he's proud of Nash for being honest.

Swing Sets Removed

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Elementary school playgrounds in one West Virginia county are losing their swing sets. Swings are being removed from Cabell County schools in southern West Virginia in part because of lawsuits over injuries. Cabell County schools safety manager Tim Stewart said Wednesday that many parents are accusing him of being un-American, but he says the cost of maintaining a safe surface is too expensive. Stewart says a lawsuit in the past year involved a youngster who broke his arm jumping off a swing like Superman. It was settled for $20,000. Other equipment such as monkey bars will remain. Stewart says the schools are able to maintain the proper protection underneath them.

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