December 30, 2011

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN – Two injured in a crash this morning in Schuylkill County.  State Police say 18-year old Joshua Sophy of Orwigsburg was driving along Route 443 in North Manheim Township just before 8:30 this morning when his vehicle collided head on with one driven by 53-year old Michael Kurchock of Port Carbon.  Police say both drivers were injured in the collision and taken to West Reading Hospital.  Sophy will be cited for the accident.
John Callahan (WGRC)

DUBOIS - A Penn State student from Centre County is dead after a crash Tuesday afternoon. State Police say 19-year old Gabriella Sicard of State College died at Altoona Regional Medical Center after the crash along westbound I-80 in Clearfield County. Police tell the Centre Daily Times, Sicard was passing a tractor trailer when she lost control of her car while moving back into the travel lane in front of the truck.  Her car hit a guard rail, veered back onto the highway, and collided with the truck before going back off the road and rolling over.  The truck driver from Ohio was not hurt.  Both were wearing seat belts.
(WGRC)

WATERVILLE – A 25-year-old Montoursville man was taken to Jersey Shore Hospital following a crash Wednesday in Lycoming County. The crash happened around seven a.m. on Route 44 near Waterville. Police say Jeremy Mitchell suffered moderate injuries when the truck he was a passenger in went off the roadway hit a tree and snapped off a utility pole before going down over a small embankment. The driver of the truck, 28-year-old Harold Beach of Hughesville wasn’t hurt.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

SHAMOKIN - Route 61 was reopened to traffic at Shamokin just before two p.m. Thursday following an oil spill earlier in the day. The roadway was closed between the Market and Shamokin streets for nearly three hours after motor oil from a truck leaked onto the road. Reports say the oil pan plug loosened and fell, causing the leak about 11 a.m. Thursday. Emergency personnel estimated about 10 gallons of motor oil leaked. It was spread in the southbound lane of Route 61 between Market and Shamokin streets.
(WGRC)

SAINT CLAIR – State Police need your help after an odd find Wednesday in Schuylkill County. State police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating the discovery of 13 tombstones found in East Norwegian Township. Of the 13, only six have been transcribed so far. The names on the stones are Robert D. Phelger 1875-1951, Frank 1866-1910, Loretta A. Buries 1900-1945, Harry J. Johnson 1887-1924, Mary A. Rote 1888-1933 and William E. Gramley 1886-1948. Police say as the other stones are transcribed, the names will be released. The stones are about 500 to 700 pounds apiece. Police believe the tombstones may be from Clinton County. Anyone with information as to what cemetery the tombstones are from or who may have been in possession of the stones is asked to contact state police at Schuylkill Haven at 570-593-2000.
(WGRC)

SNOW SHOE – A Snow Shoe man is locked up in the Centre County jail for a robbery at the Dollar General Store in Snow Shoe late Wednesday afternoon. Police have arrested 23-year-old Jared Fye and charged him with the robbery around five p.m. Wednesday evening at the store in where he pulled out a gun and got away with around $350 in cash. Police say Fye was spotted in the area of the store prior to the robbery and further investigation led police to his identity. Jim Diehl (WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - After arresting alleged drug dealer 23-year-old Dolores Coleman on Thursday morning, city police preformed a search warrant at her Campbell Street apartment, where they took into custody a 23-year-old man who allegedly had on him 33 bags of marijuana and 35 bags of crack cocaine. Investigators allege Coleman, sold various quantities of crack cocaine to a confidential informant on four occasions between December 15th and Wednesday December 28th. The two are now jailed in the Lycoming County Prison on $25,000 bail each.
(WGRC)

TROUT RUN - A Trout Run man has been charged with endangering the welfare of children, simple assault, and related charges following an incident Monday.  State police say Jason Cortright struck a 46-year-old woman in the arm with a dog toy, and then threw a knife at a 12-year-old girl during an incident at a Gamble Township home. The knife stuck in the wall above the girl’s head. No one was seriously hurt.
(WGRC)

BLOOMSBURG – It’s been a long year-end for those folks devastated by flooding in September, especially those in Columbia County. AGAPE Love from above in Bloomsburg has been the go-to organization for flood victims since late August and early September. The organization has doled out thousands of dollars to those in need. But so much more is needed. Eileen Chapman Executive Director of AGAPE says there continues to be a need for financial assistance as well as that of furniture and supplies. One thing she says AGAPE does not need is clothing. She says if you drive through the Bloomsburg area it now looks as if nothing has happened, however many flood victims are still not in their homes and are waiting for the interior of their home to dry out properly before putting up dry wall installing carpeting and related interior work. Chapman says after the first of the year AGAPE will be looking for volunteers again to help families do interior work in their homes in the hopes of returning before the Spring-time arrives.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

MIDDLEBURG - For the first time in four years, taxes will be raised for Snyder County residents. The 1-mill tax increase approved unanimously by the Snyder County commissioners Thursday equals about 42 cents more per week, or $22 for a year, for the average taxpayer. The $15.6 million budget is $525,000 more than in 2011. The commissioners also approved a 2 percent salary adjustment, or cost-of-living increase, for county employees. While decreased state revenue is a major reason for the tax hike, the Daily Item reports the commissioners said badly needed infrastructure projects at the courthouse, which have not been completed in 20 years, are something they felt they did not have a choice but to complete next year.
(WGRC)

LEWISTOWN - The Mifflin County Commissioners on Thursday adopted the county's 2012 general fund budget that will see taxes remain at their current levels. By a 3-0 vote, the commissioners approved the $23 million spending plan that had been on display in the courthouse for the past several weeks.
(WGRC)

POTTSVILLE - Pottsville City Council approved their 2012 spending plan Thursday afternoon, with a property tax increase. The Republican Herald reports the budget, just over $8-million dollars, includes a six-tenths of a mill increase. Officials say the tax increase was necessary to cover rising healthcare costs, but they are looking at other possible alternatives to cover the city's 61 full time employees.
(WPPA)

SHAMOKIN DAM – So far none of the Sears or K-mart stores in our region are on the list for closure as the Sears Holding Company looks to cut its losses by closing some 100 to 120 stores nationwide. The company issued a list Thursday of 79 of the stores it plans to close as a cost cutting measure. This list released Thursday represents 79 of the 100 to 120 store closings that were announced Tuesday. However the company says additional closings will be coming.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

HARRISBURG - The Penn State bowl season is typically a hyped-up affair, with scrambling to snatch up tickets and travel deals, no matter where the game will be played. Not so much this year. The Patriot-News reports, Blue-and-white fans say Monday's TicketCity Bowl against the Houston Cougars fails to entice them to fork out the money to travel to Dallas and pay for hotel rooms. The distance coupled with the fact that the Ticket City Bowl is not as lucrative a bowl as most Penn State fans think the Nittany Lions should have gotten have put a damper on the bowl game fuss. Those facts, plus the scandal swirling around allegations that Jerry Sandusky sexually assaulted 10 boys and the fallout affecting Penn State’s beloved Joe Pa has painted the otherwise festive time in shades of dismal gray.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

HARRISBURG - State and local police say they will be diligent over the holiday weekend in looking for aggressive drivers and those who may be drinking and driving. DUI Roving patrols are scheduled through the weekend, especially with the New Year’s Eve festivities going on throughout the area. Police also report they will be looking for drivers who are speeding, tailgating, and aggressively driving. Drivers are reminded to keep it at a safe speed, do not drink and drive and always buckle up.
(WGRC)