January 20, 2012

SUNBURY – In Northumberland County, a Coal Township couple was found guilty by an all-female jury on counts of delivering crack cocaine more than four years ago. After five hours of deliberation, the all-female jury found 45-year old Cornell Delvalle, guilty on five counts each of possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine and delivery of crack cocaine, four counts of criminal use of a communications facility, and two counts of criminal conspiracy. His wife, 35-year old Diane Delvalle, was found guilty of two counts of possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and criminal conspiracy in connection with the incidents in 2007. The News-Item reports, the couple will be sentenced in 90 days and were recommitted to Northumberland County Prison after county President Judge Robert Sacavage raised the bail for both.
(WGRC)

LEWISBURG – A burglary charge against a man accused of killing a Union County yoga instructor is dropped, making a death sentence unlikely.  Joel Snider, the man accused of killing yoga instructor Sudharman in New Berlin in 2010, had that burglary charge against him dismissed by President Judge Michael Sholley.  With that charge dropped Snider is unlikely to get a death sentence at his upcoming trial if convicted.  The Daily Item reports, state prosecutor Frank Fina will appeal Sholley’s ruling.  Sholley based the ruling on the defenses argument that since the public had access to the building where Sudharman lived and also taught yoga and the prosecution was unable to narrow Sudharman’s time of death, the crime of burglary should be dismissed.  The burglary charge was an aggravating circumstance that made a death sentence possible.
(WGRC)

LEMONT - Police filed additional charges today against a Centre County man and woman after they found more than 30 grams of marijuana in their home.  Tyler Marlatt and Fatima Ghoul are already jailed on charges stemming from what police called a drug deal gone awry that led to a fatal stabbing Monday night in Lemont.  Police charged Marlatt on Tuesday with the murder of 20-year old Tyler Struble, who they said tried to get out of paying about $20 for marijuana.  Marlatt allegedly stabbed Struble in the neck in the backyard of Struble’s home.  The Centre Daily Times reports, Ghoul was charged with felony drug and robbery counts stemming from the alleged failed drug deal outside the home she shares with Marlatt on Southgate Drive in State College.
(WGRC)

UNDATED – A winter weather storm is making its way closer to ‘Pennsylvania’s Heartland’.  Sunshine is forecast for today, but the National Weather Service says 4-6 inches of snow is on the way beginning tonight and lasting into early Saturday morning. Penn State Campus Weather's Somara Theodore says totals should stay within about 2-4 inches.  She says the storm system should clear out by noontime.
(WGRC)

SHAMOKIN – Northumberland County’s Pregnancy Care Center has found a new home.  Next Friday the Shamokin-based center will officially purchase the former Electrical Union Building at the corner of South Market and Pine Streets in Shamokin.  Executive Director Margie Conrad says the price of $77,000 was right.  Conrad says, for the past year and a half, the ministry has been using the former South Second Street parsonage of Calvary Bible Fellowship Church.  Conrad expects the actual move to take place next month and she says they’ll need some volunteer help with the move.  Any interested can call the center at 570-648-2600.
Don Casteline (WGRC)

MONTGOMERY – A Lycoming County manufacturing plant will close its doors within the year.  The Springs Window Fashions plant along Route-405 in Montgomery employs about 150 people.  According to reports, company officials notified employees yesterday that the company will shift their operation to other facilities in Wisconsin and Mexico.  Springs Window Fashions will keep its customer service operation in Lycoming County.
(WGRC)

MOUNT CARMEL – There are new plans to open a farmer’s market in eastern Northumberland County.  According to the News-Item, John Miller of Mahanoy City and a partner, from Allentown, plan to open the market this spring.  It will be housed at the former Bi-Lo grocery store near Mount Carmel.  The report says the men already have commitments from more than 40-vendors, and more are welcome to join.
(WGRC)

REEDSVILLE – A Schuylkill County business loses one of its buildings in a Thursday afternoon fire.  Flames consumed a small office building owned by Pioneer Pole Buildings, along Route-183 in Cressona.  Reports say no one was injured and the company’s other structures were not damaged.  A malfunctioning wood stove is believed to have sparked the flames around 1 o’clock.  The owners are insured for the loss.
(WGRC)

FRACKVILLE – A Schuylkill County fire has been ruled an arson.  Fire investigators have determined someone sparked the flames which damaged an apartment and the former Enhancements Salon along North Lehigh Avenue in Frackville early Wednesday morning.  The Republican Herald reports crews contained the damage to primarily one room. 
(WGRC)

DANVILLE – A Montour County woman will be cited for driving her car into a Danville bank building.  Seventy-four-year old Elaine Gretschel, of Danville, caused damage to the rear of the FNB Bank’s main office yesterday.  According to the Press Enterprise, Gretschel told police her foot slipped off the brake and onto the gas pedal.  Gretschel reportedly failed a driver evaluation after damaging a house and utility pole in November.  The woman has been appealing that decision.
(WGRC)

LEWISTOWN --  Two former Mifflin County school buildings will be sold at auction.  According to the Sentinel, the Mifflin County School Board took action during last night’s meeting to sell the former Armagh Elementary School and former Buchanan Elementary School.  The buildings were among several closed at the end of the last school year.  Three of the school board members abstained from the Armagh Elementary vote saying they may have interest.
(WGRC)

STATE COLLEGE – This morning’s meeting of the Penn State Board of Trustees will draw a lot of attention.  Today’s gathering will be the first regular meeting of the group since the Jerry Sandusky scandal broke in November.  Media reports say many alumni are traveling to ‘Happy Valley’ to confront the board,  many of whom want to them to resign.  The Board has been criticized for its handling of the sex abuse scandal and for how it handled the firing of coach Joe Paterno.
(WGRC)

STATE COLLEGE – The State College Elks Lodge may soon be forced to shut its doors.  The club’s tenuous financial situation was discussed during a special meeting last night.  A spokesperson tells the Centre Daily Times the club will likely have to liquidate its assets.  The lodge owns the golf course and country club outside of Boalsburg.  No comment has yet been given regarding last night’s meeting.
(WGRC)

BEAVER SPRINGS – State Police in Perry County say a man died while cutting down trees.  Troopers say 66-year old Carlo Romig, of Beaver Springs, was struck by a falling tree yesterday.  The accident happened in an area near Pfautz Valley Road.
(WGRC)

BLOOMSBURG – A man faces charges for stealing cash from a Columbia County motel.  Police say 32-year old Kevin Blunck allegedly smashed an office window and stole more than $1,300 while staying at the Tennytown Motel near Bloomsburg.  Blunck fled following the Wednesday afternoon incident.  Police later found him in possession of drugs.
(WGRC)

SPRING GLEN – A Schuylkill County man is charged with attempted homicide.  On Wednesday night, State Police say 25-year old Joshua Thurman attacked his girlfriend, 33-year old Natalie Barr, with a box cutter slicing her throat on the front porch of their home on Schoolhouse Road in Spring Glen.  The attack continued until a neighbor intervened.  Barr was treated and released from a hospital.  Thurman was charged with attempted homicide, possession of drug paraphernalia and several related charges.  He is jailed unable to post $250,000 bail.
John Callahan (WGRC)

ROCKVIEW – A man has been sentenced to serve additional prison time for escaping from a Rockview forestry camp in Centre County.  Thirty-four year old Franklin Barndt was in the final year of his drug-related prison sentence when he decided to escape last September.  Authorities say he met up with his girlfriend and traveled across the state before they tracked him down.  The Centre Daily Times reports Barndt now returns to state prison to serve one to two years following yesterday’s sentencing.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - Police in Lycoming County are investigating a burglary at a business. Police said it happened over the weekend at K and W Tire on Lycoming Creek Road near Williamsport. Troopers said the burglar stole nearly $1,700 and a power tool. Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to call state police in Lycoming County.

HARRISBURG — Governor Tom Corbett is planning to sign newly passed legislation designed to provide an emergency response plan and accurate GPS coordinates for each Marcellus Shale well site in Pennsylvania.  The bill, which passed the Senate unanimously this week, is the second Marcellus Shale-related bill to go to Corbett's desk. The Associated Press reports, it passed the House last month.
(WGRC)