September 29, 2011

HARRISBURG - The incident period for Tropical Storm Lee is still open, according to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.  That means that people can still register in the declared counties for damages suffered during Tropical Storm Lee’s incident period (which includes damage from this week’s flooding).  Also, government entities should continue to collect and report their public infrastructure damages to their respective counties.  PEMA will be sending a letter to President Obama in the next day or two requesting public assistance damages during Tropical Storm Lee’s incident period.  Flood victims are encouraged to register for assistance by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or via the website www.disasterassistance.com.  Businesses should also register for Small Business Administration  loans by the same method.  After registering with FEMA, residents are encouraged to visit a Disaster Recovery Center .  DRC staff can answer specific questions and assess as to what assistance is available for a particular situation.  
(WGRC)

PINE GROVE – While some residents in Pine Grove and Tremont in Schuylkill County evacuated their homes Tuesday night due to flooding, PennDOT is reminding drivers not to go through water crossing roadways. Just before four this morning a water rescue was called out for a motorist stranded in flood waters along route 61 near Massers Restaurant in Shamokin Township. The National Weather Service says our region received another two-plus inches of rain yesterday on ground that is already too saturated to hold it, causing localized flooding. Much of the WGRC listening area is under a flood advisory. On a positive note only between a quarter and half of an inch of rain is possible today with the rain tapering off overnight into Friday.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

BLOOMSBURG — The town of Bloomsburg wants a straight answer from federal leaders about its chances of getting $3.5 million to design flood protection. Mayor Dan Knorr tells the Press Enterprise, "We've had plenty of assurance that 'Oh, yeah we'll work on that, but with the Lee flood, "we're starting to lose patience now and pushing harder." Congressman Lou Barletta and Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey all say they support the project. But Knorr and other Town officials say the town needs more than just promises. Historic flooding caused more than $50 million of damage to the industries that would have been protected by the system of levees and walls the Army Corps of Engineers has sketched out. Flood protection is "absolutely critical for the long-term interests" of Rieter Automotive's plant and its 660 jobs. The company had 5 to 6 feet of water on its production floor earlier this month, losing tens of millions of dollars in equipment and product. Flood Protection Authority Chairman Ed Edwards is trying to organize a meeting of all the area's federal lawmakers, local officials and industry leaders. The aim is to find a way to get floodwall design moving.
(WGRC)

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT – A weather–related crash last evening in Lycoming County claims the life of a Paxinos man. The crash happened just before six p.m. on Route 15 just south of the lookout in Armstrong Township. Police say 22-year-old David Stefanovige was headed south on Route 15 and lost control of his vehicle during a rain storm and was hit broadside by another vehicle driven by 62-year-old Philip Reck of York. Stefanovige died at the scene. Police say Reck suffered moderate injuries. The crash closed Route 15 for about three hours.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

PORT ROYAL – A 70-year-old woman was injured in a crash in Juniata County. That crash happened just after eight Wednesday morning on the William Penn Highway near its intersection with Gill Road in Walker Township. Police say Sarah Walters suffered severe injuries when her car went off the highway hit a tree and then overturned. Walters had to be cut free from the wreckage. Police are continuing their investigation into the crash.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

PAXINOS - Emergency crews responded to a home along Dogwood Road south of Paxinos Wednesday afternoon for a report of a boy believed to have been struck by lightning. Ralpho Township Police were at the scene and provided a police escort for an ambulance that transported Logan Williams, to Geisinger Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition Wednesday night. The boy was reportedly hit by lightning around 3 p.m. as strong thunderstorms were moving through the area.
(WGRC)

ROCKVIEW - A spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections say an inmate who escaped from the State Prison at Rockview Tuesday night has been caught near Easton, where he was originally from. Thirty-four-year-old Franklin Barndt, was caught around 10:30 Wednesday morning by state police and Easton city police. He was arrested with his wife, Takesha Barndt. Barndt will be charged with escape. Barndt had walked away from the forestry camp on the grounds of the prison Tuesday.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

MOUNT CARMEL - Mount Carmel Township police said arrests are pending from a traffic stop on Sunday that reportedly involved members of the Mount Carmel Area High School football team. Chief Brian Hollenbush, tells the News Item an investigation is ongoing and he’s waiting on blood tests before filing any charges. Mount Carmel Area head football coach Carmen DeFrancesco, says all of the team's starters are available for Friday's game against Montoursville and that no players had been removed from the team at this point but declined further comment. The Red Tornadoes are off to a 4-0 start this season.
(WGRC)

LEWISBURG – Two young men from Lewisburg have been charged with felony burglary following a break-in at an apartment in Lewisburg, back in June. Police say the break-in was reported to police June 7th at 634 St. Catherine Street. The victim told police several items including a laptop computer had been taken from his apartment after he had left that morning. Police say 20-year-old Tracy Warner and 19-year-old Darius Durham had been doing work in the area and had broken into the apartment stealing the items. The items were recovered when the two hosted an underage drinking party at a South Water Street apartment. Both men are facing burglary, theft and related charges and additional charges stemming from the drinking party.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

LEWISBURG – A Clearfield County man who’s been charged with felony burglary for breaking into a New Columbia business in August is also being charged now with breaking into a Lewisburg business. Police say 20-year-old Nathaniel Salter of Hawk Run broke into the PA Distribution building four times in August each time using the company computer to view pornography. He is also accused of stealing several items from the New Columbia business. He’s also accused of breaking into the U.S. Supply in Lewisburg between August 30th and September 19th where he stole a cash register and other items and again used that company’s computer.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

HARTLETON – Two Milton men have been charged with felony theft and related charges after stealing a golf-cart from a farm in Hartleton and driving it to Mifflinburg. Police say 23-year-ol Jovan Gettings and 22-year-old Bryan Stinson stole the golf-cart from the Donald Long farm during the early morning hours of July 26th . Police say a man had reported that he almost hit the golf-cart head-on while he was headed toward Hartleton. The golf-cart was recovered in Mifflinburg and both men have allegedly admitted to police that they took the cart from the farm and went for a ride to Mifflinburg.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

SUNBURY — Pennsylvania’s ninth Veterans Court will call Northumberland County home when it starts Tuesday in Sunbury. The Court is set up specifically to help treat former military members who’ve run into trouble with the law. A ceremonial session will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Courthouse in Sunbury, presided over by Judge Charles Saylor, who was part of a team that worked a year and half to get the program in place. The program follows the treatment court model set up for DUI and drug violators, but would match veterans who are facing charges to other veterans who’ve volunteered and are trained as mentors.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - A $419,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to hire, preserve and rehire police officers has been awarded to Williamsport. The Sun Gazette reports, Police Chief Gregory Foresman says the department made an application for the grant along with Mayor Gabriel Campana's support. Foresman said if the city approves the grant it would be used to make sure the budgeted-for complement of 52 officers is kept.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - The official ribbon cutting was held yesterday for the new Kohl’s Department store in the city of Williamsport. Dignitaries, store officials and shoppers stopped at the new store on West Third and William Streets early yesterday morning as the ribbon was cut and the store officially opened.  The department store is the centerpiece of the city’s downtown revitalization project, and it’s hoped other businesses will spring up around it. The store has employed 130 people.
(WGRC)

POTTSVILLE - The Fairlane Village Mall in Schuylkill County will look a little bit different than it does today, come spring. Construction has begun on the site where a Kohl's department store will be coming to Pottsville. The store is being built on the former value city site, and is expected to be ready by spring of 2012. Kohl's is already taking applications for employment at the Pottsville location.
(WPPA)

DANVILLE — School Directors in the Danville School District have some big decision to make regarding the flooded Danville Middle School. The Daily Item reports, repairing Danville Middle School could cost twice what is covered by the district’s insurance, but renovating the flood-ravaged building remains the least expensive option. The cost of building a new school is between 45 and 57 million dollars, not an option at this point. Restoring the Middle School to pre-flood conditions would cost about $4 million, a price tag that includes new flooring throughout the building, ceiling tiles, ventilators and boilers, walls, an auditorium and gymnasium. About $800,000 has been spent cleaning the middle school. The school board has reviewed several options, but does not intend to decide until October 11th what it will do.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT — Merck and Company has agreed to settle for $1.5 million, without admitting liability, allegations it violated five federal pollution laws at its plants in Riverside and West Point in Montgomery County. The government Wednesday filed a 93-page lawsuit against the pharmaceutical manufacturer detailing the allegations at both plants. Merck denies the allegations but with the government agrees settlement of the claims without further litigation is in the public interest. The agreement states Merck has cooperated in the investigation and has taken numerous corrective actions. Merck officials tell the Daily Item the alleged violations were procedural and that there was no environmental impact.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - Water and sewer bills have been bumped up, starting January first, for customers of the Williamsport Municipal Water and Sanitary Authorities. The Sun Gazette reports, on Wednesday, the authorities' boards adopted resolutions that raise the rates to $4.95 per thousand gallons for water and $10.60 per thousand gallons for sewerage. Translated, for residential consumers with water meter readings of 5,000 gallons per quarter, the new bill for water and sewer will be about $78 per quarter. Presently, those consumers pay $67 per quarter.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT – In Lycoming County the Woodward Township Water and Sewer Authority agreed to transfer ownership of its sewage collection system to the Williamsport Sanitary Authority at its meeting Wednesday night. The city authority now processes the township's sewage through its west wastewater treatment plant and also maintains the township's sewage collection. Under an agreement the township will become a separate rate district within the customer base of the Williamsport Sanitary Authority, and monthly sewage rates for the district will be set at the township's current rates. The Sun Gazette reports, the transfer is seen as a way to provide a more efficient operation for the township, and closing of the transfer is hoped to be completed on or before November 15th.
(WGRC)

LOCK HAVEN - With an ever-increasing number of tri-axle trucks serving the natural gas industry going up and down curvy, mountainous roads, traffic safety was the main topic of Tuesday's Clinton County Natural Gas Task Force meeting. The Lock Haven Express reports, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, told the gathering the firm has hired Quality Carriers to oversee its water logistics management from an office on Reach Road in Williamsport. Quality Carriers is the only firm in North America that employs the automated Water Order Management System, which monitors each of the trucks that haul under the company with a GPS system. The firm also uses a system that monitors drivers concerning the number accidents they have been in, any spills they may have been involved in and whether they have followed safety procedures. Through the company's command center and use of GPS tracking systems, if there is an accident the center can contact authorities and pinpoint where the mishap occurred. Anadarko officials say the company is currently just monitoring the water trucks that serve Anadarko's wells, but it may expand in the future for the rest of the industry, including sand and stone trucks.
(WGRC)

MOUNT CARMEL - The Department of Environmental Protection will be spraying for mosquitoes this evening in residential areas of Mount Carmel Borough, Northumberland County. If it rains, the spraying will be rescheduled. As a result of recent flooding, high populations of adult mosquitoes capable of transmitting the West Nile virus have been detected near these areas of the county. Mosquito samples in 58 counties have been identified with the West Nile virus so far this year, and four human cases have been confirmed.
(WGRC)

LEWISTOWN – Nearly 100 individuals have registered already for the first ever Mifflin-Juniata Walk to End Alzheimer's, which will be held beginning at 9 a.m. this Saturday at Derry Township Community Park in Lewistown. The purpose of the walk, which is held by the Alzheimer's Association, is to raise awareness about Alzheimer's disease and to provide the community with help and support. The goal of the walk is to have 100 walkers, 10 teams, and to raise $10,000 towards Alzheimer’s education and support programs. So far 13 teams have registered, and about $4,100 has been raised. All of the funds from the walk will go toward the Alzheimer's Association.
(WGRC)