August 19, 2011

MAHANOY CITY – Seven people are temporarily homeless after fire damaged four row homes late last night in Schuylkill County. The fire was reported just before eleven p.m. in the 300 block of East Pine Street in Mahanoy City. Assistant Fire Chief Sean Macleary tells us crews arrived to find flames shooting from the third floor window of a home at 326 East Pine Street. All occupants of that home were out when crews arrived however Mahanoy City police helped two elderly residents, of a neighboring home at 328 East Pine Street, escape. The fire caused damage to 326 Pine Street and smoke and water damage to three other homes. Chief Macleary says there were no injuries. The fire is being called an accidental blaze as an over loaded electrical outlet is thought to be the cause.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

AVIS – Victims of a fire in Avis in Clinton County are being helped by area residents. Only a few hours after a fire in the apartment building left 17 people homeless, phones began ringing off the hook Wednesday as local residents inquired how and where to make donations for the families. The families involved in the fire lost everything when the blaze quickly spread through the six apartments on East Central Avenue. The fire was caused by an overheated deep fryer and caused $300,000 in damages. Anyone desiring to make donations may drop items off at the American Rescue Workers at Howard and Allegheny streets in Jersey Shore. Those dropping off items should be sure to make the donations for the fire victims. Those not able to take their donations to the center should call 814-359-8893 and make arrangements to have their donations picked up. The ages of those affected by the fire ranged from three to 57-years-old. One of the fire victims is a pregnant young woman expecting soon and the fire destroyed all of the baby items she had purchased for her newborn.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

MUNCY – In Lycoming County a pedestrian reportedly suffered serious injuries when struck by a vehicle in the first block of North Main Street in Muncy Thursday afternoon. The accident happened just after one p.m. Muncy police have not returned calls regarding the incident. It was reported that the victim initially was taken to Muncy Valley Hospital and then flown to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. And a person was hit by a vehicle in downtown Williamsport last evening. That happened just after seven p.m. at the intersection of West Fourth and Elmira Streets.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

DEER LAKE – A motorcyclist severely hurt in a crash yesterday afternoon in Schuylkill County.  State Police say 43-year old Joanne Westerman of Baltimore, Maryland slammed her motorcycle into the back of a truck driven by 60-year old Marvin Faust of Andreas as he was waiting to turn onto Coal Mountain Road off of Route 61 in West Brunswick Township around 12:30 yesterday afternoon.  Westerman, who was wearing a helmet, was taken by medical helicopter to Lehigh Valley Medical Center.  Faust and a passenger were not hurt in the crash.
John Callahan (WGRC)

MIFFLINBURG – Counselors will be available today at the Mifflinburg Middle School Library for those dealing with the tragic loss of an 18-year-old girl who died in a crash Wednesday night in Union County. Counselors will be on hand today from nine a.m. till noon at the School for those remembering Emily Kunkel of Mifflinburg who was killed when the car she was riding in crashed on Sportsmen’s Club Road in West Buffalo Township, Wednesday evening. The driver of the car 19-year-old Christopher Libby of Mifflinburg was injured in the crash and was flown to Geisinger Medical Center where he remains in serious condition. State Police at Milton are continuing their investigation into the crash.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

HAMBURG - A 67-year-old New Ringgold man died Wednesday after he collapsed at the Berks County plant where he was employed. The Republican Herald reports, Kurt Shellhammer was working at the Glen-Gery facility on a light fixture when he collapsed about 3 p.m. He was taken to St. Joseph's Medical Center, Reading, where he was pronounced dead. The Berks County Coroner's Office did an autopsy Thursday evening, but they are still waiting on some tests to provide a definitive cause. It is thought Shellhammer may have been electrocuted while working on the light fixture. The pathologist doing the autopsy says they are 95-percent sure the death was electrical related.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

BELLEFONTE — The man accused of setting fire to two State College police cars and the State College Marine Corps Recruitment Office last summer pleaded guilty Thursday. Twenty-two-year-old Mason Worley, of Souderton, reached an agreement with the District Attorney’s Office under which he pleaded to felony charges of arson and reckless burning, and a misdemeanor count of institutional vandalism. The Centre Daily Times reports, the agreement calls for him to be sentenced to 11 1/ 2 to 23 1/ 2 months in county jail, followed by seven years of probation and restitution. Worley is scheduled for sentencing October 11th.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

BERWICK — A 45-year-old Berwick man is being charged with unlawful contact with a minor and criminal use of a telephone when he exposed himself on a Web camera and sent inappropriate pictures to a person he thought was a 13-year-old girl. The young girl; however turned out to be an undercover police officer. On Thursday morning agents searched Park Henry’s home on East Seventh Street in Berwick, and took him into custody. Henry allegedly sent the pictures to an agent with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Child Victim Crime Unit between February and April. He is jailed in the Columbia County Prison on $50,000 bail.

DANVILLE – Governor Tom Corbett had words of praise for a local food processor Thursday night. The Governor attended a celebration of 90 years in business of the Furman Foods Company, headquartered in Point Township, Northumberland County. The Governor said he was “proud of the way Furman’s represented Pennsylvania with their products sold at supermarkets all across the country.” Corbett spoke to a dinner crowd of about 120 at the Frosty Valley Country Club near Danville. Furman’s employs nearly 250 people including third and fourth generation family members. The company was started in 1921 by John and Emma Furman.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - About seven years after it first was proposed, a wind energy project in northern Lycoming County has gotten the green light to move forward. On Thursday, the Lycoming County Planning Commission approved land development plans for a 30-turbine wind farm proposed by Laurel Hill Wind Energy in Jackson and McIntyre townships. The turbines are to be built on a seven-mile stretch of the Laurel Hill ridge. When first proposed, the project received vigorous opposition by a group of residents living in the area. A lengthy county zoning process was needed as the project was proposed in a resource protection zone and needed a special exception. The Sun Gazette reports, after the county changed its zoning ordinance to allow wind energy projects in resource protection zones by right, the project ended up making its way through the court system. The plans approved Thursday pares the proposed project down from 35 turbines approved in the preliminary plans due to new technology which allows for more electricity to be made by fewer wind turbines. While the Planning Commission gave the approval for the project there were still residents at the meeting opposed to the project, one vowing to sue the Commission and Laurel Hill Wind Energy.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

BELLEFONTE - This is a very exciting year for the Bellefonte Arts and Crafts Fair. The fair is moving to Talleyrand Park and welcomes everyone today and tomorrow as it celebrates its 28th year.  Shoppers and browsers can park for free at Bellefonte Area High School or Faith United Methodist Church and take the free shuttle bus to and from the fair. Artists will offer pottery, custom-made jewelry, painting, photography and many more unique crafts and art. A full line-up of free entertainment is offered, and there are free children's activities.
(WGRC)

MINERSVILLE - Firefighters from around the county will arrive in Minersville Sunday for the 57th annual Schuylkill County Firefighters Convention. This year will honor the 19th anniversary of 9/11 as well as all community firefighters. The event is hosted by the Minersville fire departments. The convention will run until August 27th.
(WPPA)

MOUNT CARMEL – The Anthracite Steam Fire Company will pay $6,000 to finalize design plans to apply for a grant for an addition to its firehouse. The chief of the company told Mount Carmel Borough Council members Thursday night the company wants to expand into the town park to build an addition to the existing firehouse to accommodate a large ladder truck. The council agreed Thursday to meet with fire company officials Monday to view and discuss blueprints.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - The gas is beginning to flow through pipelines in North Central Pennsylvania from the Marcellus Shale. A report released by the Department of Environmental Protection this week shows that the Marcellus Shale Drilling Industry has increased production of Natural gas by 60 percent through the first six months of this year, over the last six months of 2010. So far this year, the 1,632 working wells in the state have produced 432 billion cubic feet of natural gas.  Bradford, Susquehanna and Tioga Counties lead the way in gas production so far.  
(WGRC)

ALLENTOWN - Electricity customers who purchase their power from PPL Electric Utilities will likely see their rates drop a bit after September 1st. While the final price to compare for PPL won't be finalized until Monday, company officials have indicated they expect the generation rate to go down from the current 8.77 cents per kilowatt-hour to about 8.66 cents. The rate, which includes generation and some transmission charges, accounts for two-thirds of the typical customer's total bill. The rate announced by the utility not only sets the price its default customers will pay, but also sets the "price to compare" for customers who actively shop for lower energy rates from competitive suppliers. The reason for the rate drop is due to the competitive market and other electric companies offering lower rate prices.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

HARRISBURG – There is some good news on the Pennsylvania job front. More people were working during the month of July compared to the previous month of June. Pennsylvania’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.8 percent in July, up from 7.6 percent in June. The state’s unemployment rate was below the U.S. rate of 9.1 percent in July, and has been below the U.S. rate for 39 consecutive months. Pennsylvania’s July unemployment rate was down eight tenths of a percentage point from July a year ago.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)