Wednesday, August 20, 2008

A traffic fatality along Plum Creek Road near Sunbury today

SUNBURY – One person was killed early this morning in a crash in Rockefeller Township, Northumberland County. State troopers at Stonington tell us, 20-year-old David Rouse of 872 Plum Creek Road died that crash around 3:40a.m.

Northumberland County 9-1-1 told us, the crash happened near the intersection of Plum Creek and Carroll Roads. Troopers say the driver was traveling at an apparent high rate of speed, went off the road on a curve, hit a pole and ended up in a field.

David Rouse of rural Sunbury was pronounced dead on the scene by the Northumberland County coroner. State police investigated and had assistance from Sunbury police, Stonington Fire Company and Sunbury’s Friendship Fire Company. PPL and Verizon were also called in to repair the pole. (Ali Stevens)

Republican Congressional candidate Chris Hackett on the throughway project

NORTHUMBERLAND – Republican Congressional candidate Chris Hackett attended the Northumberland Borough Council meeting Tuesday night. The Central Susquehanna Transportation Project was the main topic of conversation. Hackett said he could not guarantee funding for the project but would work with area legislator and PennDOT to find additional funding for the throughway.

Hackett spoke out against tolling Interstate 80 because of its harmful economic impact. He also said, if elected, two of his major priorities would be to control irresponsible spending in Congress and to find practical energy solutions that would not draw from the food supply. Hackett and his wife will be touring through the district on bike next week. He’s trying to unseat democrat Chris Carney (D-10th, Dimock) (Lindsey Bingaman)

Sunbury’s river front project was discussed at the NorCo commissioner’s meeting

SUNBURY—Northumberland County commissioner Vinni Clausi would like the county to get a slice of Sunbury’s $1 million Growing Greener grant. The grant is earmarked for the rip-rap (or large stones), which will be used to help stabilize Sunbury’s riverbank.

Clausi complained at the commissioners meeting Tuesday that the county should dip into Sunbury’s grant and give some money to Milton and other riverside communities. Clausi argued, the project is controversial said the money could have been better spent in other communities.

But Commissioner Chair Frank Sawicki said the county is just a ‘pass-through’ agency and the county can’t stake a claim in the money. He also said Sunbury qualifies as a Northumberland County community, and the riverbank which will be preserved is also in Northumberland County. The decision to regarding the grant was made by a previous commissioners board—that Clausi was not part of.

Garage fire heavily damages East Buffalo Township home

EAST BUFFALO TWP – It’s been less than a year that Elizabeth and Anthony Cooper and their five children have lived at 2337 Furnace Road in East Buffalo Township. The home was heavily damaged by fire Tuesday morning around 11:30. Elizabeth Cooper says she was in her kitchen with four of her children, ages 8, 11, 13 and 15, when she heard scratching noises coming from the attached garage.

When she opened the garage door she saw flames and immediately yelled fire. She, the four children, and a kitten all escaped the home without injury. She then dialed 911 from outside. Tony Cooper, who is the Executive Director of Riverwoods, was out of the home with the couple’s 17-year-old son at the time of the blaze.

William Cameron Fire Captain Steve Leauber was first on the scene, and says crews stayed into the afternoon hours dousing the home with water. Elizabeth Cooper says they are insured, but worries more about keepsakes and pictures in the home. She also says she is thankful no one was injured and that it didn’t happen at night.

A car parked next to the home was also destroyed. Assisting William Cameron at the scene were Mifflinburg, New Berlin, Milton, New Columbia and Winfield fire crews, along with local police and the Red Cross. No word yet on what started the fire, and a State Police Fire Marshal will continue the investigation. (Sara Bartlett)

Home invasion reported in Watsontown

WATSONTOWN – Watsontown Police are searching for two males involved in a home invasion early Tuesday morning in the city. Around 4:45a.m., police say two males entered a home on Main Street, woke up four occupants and demanded money.

The suspects had two knives and a handgun, and one suspect reportedly “pistol whipped” a male occupant. The victim was treated and released for minor injuries at Evangelical Community Hospital. The suspects then allegedly held a knife to a 17-year-old female’s throat. She was not injured. The occupants say they gave the two men money before they left the home.

The first suspect is described as a dark-skinned male, in his 20’s with short dark hair. The second suspect is described as a white male, in his 20’s wearing a ball cap and a red bandana over his face. Watsontown Police were assisted by Milton and State Police with the incident. They ask anyone with information to call 538-2773. (Sara Bartlett)

Hearing set for a man charged with shooting a gun in his home near his mother

SELINSGROVE – A preliminary hearing has been set for tomorrow (Thursday) for William Ludwig, the man accused of shooting a gun in his Selinsgrove home, grazing the arm of his 81-year-old mother. The 61-year-old Ludwig is scheduled to be in court before District Justice John Robinson on charges including attempted homicide, aggravated and simple assault and terroristic threats.

Ludwig was reportedly drinking in excess Sunday and when his mother confronted him about it, Ludwig fired a .357 magnum revolver in her direction. Two children were inside the home at the time, but were not injured. Ludwig is jailed on $150,000 bail. (Ali Stevens)

More discussion on the CSVT project’s “hibernation” status

SELINSGROVE – PennDOT is providing more answers on their decision to place the Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation project into hibernation status. PennDOT spokesman Rick Mason says PennDOT is facing a “financial perfect storm.”

Mason says they are looking at runaway inflation that they’ve never seen before and a bridge crisis, with 6,000 identified as structurally deficient, more than any other state in the country. Mason says they would have to identify about $400 million to build CSVT, which is not feasible at this time and they don’t want to promise something they can’t provide.

He did offer a suggestion for getting federal funding for the project. Mason says our best home is to continue to work with the legislators to get the CSVT corridor into the Appalachian Development Highway System. Mason says other area projects have been supported that way including Route 15 north of Williamsport.

However, others who are already part of the Appalachian Development Highway System may not be happy about giving away $400 million to another project. Mason says Pennsylvania is already allocated a certain amount of funds, so it shouldn’t bother other states. It may however bother other municipalities in the state. (Ali Stevens)

A matching grant can be obtained by Economics Pennsylvania…with your help

SELINSGROVE – When you think of Economics Pennsylvania, many people think of the “Stock Market Game,” however there are many other programs provided by the organization. Economics Pennsylvania is looking to raise $50,000 to pay for these important programs, which will soon get underway once again when school begins.

Almost all of the programs provided by Economics Pennsylvania are free to the teachers and the students. President and CEO, Fritz Heinemann says currently, $45,000 has been raised, with only $5,000 left to raise. As an incentive for taking part in the fundraiser, you will receive a ticket to win an autographed Pittsburgh Steelers helmet by Andy Russell, Jack Ham and Jack Lambert. To find out more about Economics Pennsylvania, you can go to www.economicspa.org. (Ali Stevens)

Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment:

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's auditor general is calling for a reduction in the number of legislators on the board that oversees the state's student-loan agency. Auditor General Jack Wagner's audit says the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency has spent too much of its money on its internal operations -- including perks for board members and employees -- and not enough on financial aid for students. Sixteen of the board's 20 members are legislators. Wagner says the number of lawmakers should be cut in half and more seats given to people who have expertise in higher education and finance.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A commercial pilot who believes he's on a terrorist watch list is suing the federal government to save his job. Erich Scherfen is a New Jersey native and Gulf War veteran who says he has no criminal record or ties to terrorists. Scherfen said he believes he and his wife, a naturalized citizen from Pakistan, are on the list because of their Muslim faith. The Schuylkill County couple says they've repeatedly been subjected to questioning and delays at airports. Scherfen was suspended by the airline he works for in April. He faces losing his job unless he's removed from the list by Sept. 1. The couple are being aided by the American Civil Liberties Union. The request for emergency relief was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell has nominated a veteran environmental lobbyist to serve as Pennsylvania's top environmental protection official. Rendell announced his choice of John Hanger on Tuesday, along with the appointment of James Cawley to be chairman of the state Public Utility Commission. For the past 10 years, Hanger has been president and chief executive of Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future, a group also known as PennFuture.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania Supreme Court says Gov. Ed Rendell misused his line-item veto powers three years ago. The unanimous high court decision issued Tuesday says Rendell can't veto language in an budget bill without also vetoing the money authorized by the bill. It's a reversal from a Commonwealth Court ruling in 2006 that said the governor used the veto appropriately. The latest court opinion says the governor can't issue "language only" disapprovals.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Appalachian Trail is getting something new along its 2,175-mile route from Georgia to Maine – a highway underpass in south-central Pennsylvania. The trail crosses Wertzville Road in Cumberland County's Middlesex Township in a slight depression, with rises on both sides that hide approaching traffic. So, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is building an underpass to make the crossing safer. It's the first highway underpass on the trail, according to Karen Lutz, Middle Atlantic regional director for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. The conservancy five years ago identified 30 highway crossings where safety is a concern. Two others are in Pennsylvania, at Route 30 in Franklin County and at Route 248 in Lehigh County. Lutz said the Wertzville Road crossing is the most dangerous of the three, and many hikers avoid the section of trail.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - A northeastern Pennsylvania nonprofit health care network plans to sell to a for-profit company. The Wyoming Valley Health Care System has 3,200 employees. Its properties include Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. The system announced Tuesday that it has signed a nonbinding letter of intent to sell to Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems Inc. There was no immediate word on the sale price. CHS owns Sunbury Community Hospital and Berwick Hospital Center.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Tuesday in the Pennsylvania State Lottery:

TUESDAY NIGHT Daily Number 8-0-1

Big 4 0-3-4-6

TUESDAY MIDDAY Daily Number 8-1-3

Big 4 5-1-0-4

Treasure Hunt 3-21-24-25-30

The winning numbers drawn Tuesday in the "Pennsylvania Cash 5" game were: 05-31-32-39-43.

The winning numbers drawn Tuesday in the "Pennsylvania Match 6 Lotto" game were: 04-05-10-23-29-33.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

3 BABIES-3 CARS

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) - New mom, Carrie Sippel, blames it on the full moon. She says the moon does crazy things -- like causing three mothers to give birth in their cars. Sippel is of them. Firefighters in the Rochester, New York, area were forced play midwife three times Monday morning. Fire officials note roadside deliveries are unusual enough, but to have three in a matter of hours is remarkable.

Quiet Cars

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Electric and hybrid vehicles may be better for the environment, but the California Legislature says they're bad for the blind. It has passed a bill to ensure that the vehicles make enough noise to be heard by visually impaired people about to cross a street. The measure would establish a committee to study the issue and recommend ways the vehicles could make more noise. The state Department of Motor Vehicles says more than 300,000 of the vehicles are on state roads. Officials say they don't keep statistics on pedestrian accidents involving those vehicles. The bill has been sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has not taken a position.

AARP-Discrimination

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - AARP, the national advocacy group for older Americans, is being accused of age discrimination. Bonita Brady, a 63-year-old from Michigan, says the group passed her over for a series of jobs because she was too old, despite excellent job reviews. She joined AARP in Chicago in 1996 as a health representative. She also worked for AARP in Washington before moving to the Lansing office in 2007. Brady says she lost her job in a reorganization and was passed over for nine vacancies. She sued last week in federal court in Michigan and is seeking more than $25,000. A message seeking comment was left with AARP lawyer Julie Badel in Chicago.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)