January 30, 2012

MCELHATTAN – The identity of a man hit and killed by a train last week in Clinton County has been released.  State Police say it was 43-year old Willie Wilson of McElhattan who was hit and killed by a train last Thursday night just after 8. The incident happened in the area of 1597 Youngdale Road in Wayne Township.  Police ruled Wilson’s death accidental.
(WGRC)

MOUNT CARMEL – A Northumberland County fire ruled undetermined in origin.  A Mt. Carmel man who is hearing impaired escaped his burning home after smelling smoke early Sunday morning.  30-year old Paul Ventilli, of 409 West Olive Street, was not hurt in the blaze that tore through the second floor of his home shortly after 4 a.m. State Police Fire Marshal, Trooper Norman Fedder investigated and was unable to find where or how the fire started and ruled the fire undetermined in origin at this time.  The fire did an estimated $230,000 in damage.  Ventilli does have insurance.
(WGRC)

PINE GROVE - A 60-year-old New Jersey man died Sunday when his SUV went off Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County. The crash happened around 7:30 last night in Pine Grove Township. Police say Vincent Sposato of Passiac, New Jersey died at the scene of the crash when his vehicle went off the highway into a ditch, hit a tree and rolled over.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

MUNCY VALLEY – A Centre County man is dead following a crash in Sullivan County. The crash happened around 4:30 Sunday afternoon at the intersection of Route 220 and Route 42 in Davidson Township. Police say 23-year-old Michael Bricks Jr. of Philipsburg collided with a tractor trailer driven by 35-year-old Mark Galentine of Montoursville. Bricks died at the scene of the crash. Galentine was not injured.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

TURBOTVILLE – An 18-year-old Watsontown girl was hurt in a crash Sunday night near Turbotville. The crash happened just after ten p.m. on Comly Road in Lewis Township, Northumberland County. Police say Emily Michaud lost control of her car on a curve, went off the roadway and hit a tree rolling the car onto its roof. Michaud was taken to Geisinger Medical Center where she remains in fair condition.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

DANVILLE – Two from Washington State were injured in a crash on Interstate 80 in Montour County early Sunday morning. The crash happened around 1:30 a.m. on the Interstate in Valley Township. Police say 20-year-old Kaila Sewald-Borgman of Tacoma, Washington and 20-year-old Keisha Johnson of Lakewood, Washington both suffered moderate injuries when their SUV left the highway and rolled several times coming to rest on its roof. Another passenger in the vehicle was not hurt.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

HYNER - Two from Renovo in Clinton County were sent to the hospital with serious injuries after a rock slide crashed through their car Friday morning. Police say 62-year-old John Francis, was driving on Route 120, about three miles east of Renovo, in Chapman Township, when rocks fell from the hillside onto his car, at around 10:35 a.m. The rocks broke through windshield and struck both John and a passenger, 58-year-old Sandy Francis. The car then went off the road and hit the guiderail. Both were eventually taken to Geisinger Medical Center where they both remain in serious condition. The incident closed Route 120 for about three-and-a-half hours.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

STATE COLLEGE – Five people were hit by taxi cabs Sunday in State College. Two people were taken to the hospital after being struck by a taxi shortly after midnight at the intersection of South Pugh Street and East Fairmount Avenue. Police did not release the identities of the two taken to the hospital. A third person with that group of people was struck but wasn’t injured. Then around two a.m., two pedestrians were struck by a taxi when they crossed a street against the pedestrian signal at East College Avenue and South Garner Street. No one was injured in that incident.
(WGRC)

MOUNT CARMEL - A Mt. Carmel man who is hearing impaired escaped his burning home after smelling smoke early Sunday morning. Paul Ventilli, of 409 West Olive Street, was not hurt in the blaze that tore through the second floor of his home shortly after 4 a.m. The fire at the rear of Ventilli’s home was brought under control in about a half-hour. Fire damage was kept to the second floor, where the fire originated. An attic and a large two-bay garage suffered some heat, smoke and water damage. The News Item reports, no injuries were reported, and an investigation into the case of the fire is underway.
(WGRC)

MILTON – A kitchen fire displaces two adults and three children Saturday night in Milton. The fire was reported around ten p.m. at 29 Poplar Street. One fire fighter was taken to Evangelical Community Hospital in Lewisburg for observation. The family is being helped by the American Red Cross
(WGRC)

FOREST HILL – Police are continuing their investigation into a robbery at a General Store in Union County. That happened just after seven Saturday night at the Forest Hill General Store along Route 192 in West Buffalo Township. Police say two employees were forced by gunpoint to hand over a bank bag of money during the robbery. The robber forced the women to try and open the cash register but when the one clerk couldn’t, she then handed the bandit the bank bag. Both women were held at gun point while another robber stood lookout outside the side entrance of the store. The gunman is believed to be in his 30’s. Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call state police, Milton.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

BELLVILLE – Police in Mifflin County are looking for the bandits that broke into several cabins sometime Friday. Police say six cabins were broken into along Eleven Spring Trail in Menno Township. The thief got away with miscellaneous tools, chainsaws ammunition and in one case a moped. Anyone with information on the break-ins is asked to call state police, Lewistown.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

TREMONT – Police in Schuylkill County are reminding residents in the Borough of Tremont to be sure they lock the doors of their homes if they are not planning to be home following a rash of recent burglaries. The latest happened late Saturday night or early Sunday morning at a home on South Crescent Street. There the bandits took several items including three gold and one silver watch, several rings and over $120 in cash and change.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

MONTOURSVILLE - Montoursville police arrested seven juveniles following two vehicles thefts and an attempt to take a third vehicle January 7th. Police say the minors, ranging from 12 to 16 entered the unlocked vehicles and took them for a joy ride. The juveniles returned two of the vehicles but were chased off by a citizen when they tried to take a third vehicle. The seven juveniles were petitioned into the juvenile court on felony theft and conspiracy charges. Police again remind residents to lock their vehicles when not in them.
(WGRC)

PORT TREVORTON – In Snyder County a Port Trevorton man became part of an online scam in mid-December. State troopers say the man was asked to cash $8700 in postal money orders, and wire a major part of it to unknown individuals. The 55-year-old was encouraged to keep a small part of the money after buying several items at local stores and then rate their service. Troopers say the scam artists were wired hundreds of dollars before the money orders were determined to be fake.
(WGRC)

LEWISTOWN - Lewistown Police are warning of a scam that victimized a local business that resulted in the loss of over a $1,000. Police report that a business received a call from a man who said he was from “Western Union”. The man stated that the business needed to wire over a $1,000 to a location to keep continuing the use of the Western Union service. The business owner wired the money and then received another call from the man demanding more money.  The business owner became suspicious and contacted Western Union directly and was told that they do not call business and the situation was a scam. Police have determined that the scam originated out of Florida and are continuing their investigation.
(WGRC)

KISTLER – A Mount Union man is in the Mifflin County jail facing assault charges. Police have arrested 18-year-old Michael Atherton following an incident Wednesday afternoon at a home in Kistler. Police say Atherton and another man became involved in an argument when Atherton picked up a pair of scissors and charged the man. A woman at the home intervened and suffered minor injuries trying to break up the scuffle.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

SUNBURY – Two illegal aliens are in the hands of Immigration officials after a traffic stop in Sunbury over the weekend. A man from Mexico and a man from Honduras were picked up just before midnight Friday following the stop at 3rd Street and Raspberry Avenue. State Police say 27-year-old Israel Cruz and 26-year-old Marco Servellon failed to provide immigration papers when questioned by troopers. A records check showed a 31-year-old man from Honduras was not a threat to public safety or national security and he was released.
(WGRC)

BELLEFONTE - The attorney for Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State football coach charged with sexually abusing 10 boys, filed a motion Thursday in Centre County Court to allow Sandusky to visit his 11 grandchildren at his Lamont home. His attorney, Joe Amendola also asked Centre County Court to allow Sandusky to communicate with them by mail, phone, email, texting and computer. According to the motion, Sandusky’s grandchildren are sad they can’t see or talk with him, and their parents wish for visits with him. The motion also requested permission for Sandusky to leave his home, with the prior approval of the Centre County Probation Department, in order to assist his defense team. Under the terms of his current bail, Sandusky is forbidden from having contact with individuals under 18. He’s also confined to his house in an in-home detention program with electronic monitoring. A hearing on the motion is scheduled for 10 a.m. on February 10th.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT — One of three illegal aliens from Mexico taken into custody in Buckhorn last month has been indicted by federal prosecutors for illegal re-entry into the United States. The Press Enterprise reports, a grand jury on Thursday indicted Jose Arroyo-Solis for unlawfully entering the country after previously being deported and being found in Columbia County on December 19th. Arroyo-Solis was driving a Ford pickup truck pulling a trailer that was pulled over by Hemlock Township Police for having illegally tinted windows. He and two passengers, Diego Armando Arroyo-Solis and Jesus Solano-Rocha, were all turned over to immigration authorities as being in the country illegally. An arrest warrant was issued for Arroyo-Solis for prosecution in U.S. Middle District court.
(WGRC)

LEWISTOWN - Giant Food Stores, Martin's Food Markets and Weis Markets have removed several varieties of Aunt Jemima frozen pancakes from store shelves after a recall due to a possible cross-contamination with soy products The affected Aunt Jemima products include: buttermilk pancakes, low-fat buttermilk pancakes, oatmeal pancakes, home-style pancakes, confetti pancakes and whole grain pancakes. There have been no reports of illness and the products are safe to consume for individuals who do not suffer from a soy allergy. Consumers looking for additional information on the recall may call Pinnacle Foods Group at 1-888-299-7646.
(WGRC)

DANVILLE - Directors of the Danville Area School District approved the preliminary budget for the 2012-2013 school year last week. The preliminary budget is currently about $32 million; Board President Allan Schappert tells the Daily Item the budget is just a bit higher than last year’s budget. Danville area is waiting to hear what state subsidies will be available from Harrisburg. Until then they cannot say for certain if there will be a real estate tax increase this year. Earlier this month, the board did not commit to staying within a two percent tax increase for the year. Pennsylvania required school districts to determine if they would stay within a two percent real estate tax increase earlier than previous years due to 2012 being an election year.
(WGRC)

BLOOMSBURG — Landowners whose properties were damaged in the 2011 flood can appeal to Columbia County to have their property taxes reduced. County officials tell the Press Enterprise, so far about 200 owners from the Benton area to Berwick to Bloomsburg to Catawissa have appealed for reductions because of damage. Once repairs are done, the properties will be reassessed. Even those who have repaired their homes can receive a tax reduction for the time their house was damaged. For more information residents should contact the Columbia County tax assessment office.
(WGRC)

BURNHAM - It may not be spring just yet, but that hasn't stopped a certain flower from making its way to the Juniata Valley. The American Cancer Society's Daffodil Days, an annual fundraising campaign, kicked off in Mifflin and Juniata counties Friday during a special luncheon at the O.I.P. in Burnham. The fundraiser, which historically coincides with the coming of spring, will run from March 19 to 25. Daffodil orders may be placed until February 21, with the flowers being delivered during the fourth week in March. The goal for this year's campaign is to raise just over $22,000. Last year, the campaign raised about $21,000 out of a $19,000, goal. To place an order for Daffodil Days, call the ACS at (888) 227-5445. For more information about the ACS visit cancer.org.
(WGRC)

LEWISBURG – One the highlights of the winter and the Heart of Lewisburg Ice Festival, the 14th Annual Chocolate Lover’s Festival will again be held this year in the ballroom of the Lewisburg Hotel on Saturday evening, February 4th from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. This popular event is the largest fund raiser for the Donald L. Heiter Community Center in Lewisburg. The Chocolate Lover’s Festival features an Amateur Chocolate Competition, Professional Dessert Display, appetizers, music and “all you can eat chocolate.” Admission is limited and tickets can only be purchased online at www.donaldheiter.org.
(WGRC)

SCRANTON - Today, former Lackawanna County Commissioners Bob Cordaro and AJ Munchak are scheduled to be in a federal courtroom for sentencing on theft and bribery charges. A judge is expected to sentence the pair to long prison terms for their June convictions on criminal indictments in March of 2010. A federal jury found the ex-commissioners guilty of receiving bribes, and demanding contractors pay them tens of thousands of dollars in return for contracts with Lackawanna County.
(WNEP)

PITTSBURGH — New legislation in Pennsylvania could help the state compete with Ohio and West Virginia for a huge petrochemical refinery by offering millions of dollars in tax breaks for big businesses. The bill would expand Keystone Opportunity Zones, which grant broad tax cuts and exemptions to spur economic development. Businesses that invest at least $1 billion and create at least 400 permanent, full-time jobs would get an extra five years of tax breaks - 15 years in all - under provisions in the bill. The bill is moving toward passage as state officials court Shell Oil Company which plans to spend as much as $4 billion to build a plant known as an "ethane cracker" to process natural gas from the region and turn it into such products as plastics. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports, legislation awaits a vote by the House Appropriations Committee, and leaders plan to bring it up when they resume work next month. Shell officials have said they plan to announce their site choice in the next month or two.
(WGRC)

PHILADELPHIA - Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum spent time with his daughter Sunday morning, but planned to be back on the campaign trail Sunday afternoon.  3-year-old Isabella Santorum has a rare genetic disorder and was admitted to Children's Hospital in Philadelphia Saturday night. Santorum says his daughter was not expected to survive her first year of life because of the condition characterized by the presence of an extra chromosome. Late last week his campaign said he was returning to Philadelphia Saturday to rest, do his taxes, and be with his family.
(WGRC)

HARRISBURG - With the signing of House Bill 1458, Governor Tom Corbett today made sure Pennsylvania is in compliance with new rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, dealing with commercial driver's license holders. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration amended the federal regulations to require CDL holders to provide a current copy of their Medical Examiner's Certificate to their state driver licensing agency, if their type of commercial driving requires a physical exam. PennDOT officials say the Medical Examiner's Certificate is being linked to a CDL to ensure that only medically qualified drivers are operating commercial vehicles.
(WGRC)

HARRISBURG— A Chester County entrepreneur won the endorsement Saturday from Pennsylvania's Republican Party in what could be a bruising, four-way primary election for the nomination to contest Democrat Bob Casey's re-election bid for U.S. Senate. The endorsement was won by Steve Welch after an extraordinary show of power by Governor Tom Corbett, who began calling state party officials to tell them of his support for Welch less than two weeks ago. The party followed suit, even though Welch had finished third in a series of straw votes earlier in January and despite pressure from some quarters, such as Tea Party-aligned groups, not to endorse anyone. The Associated Press reports, the  campaign of Tom Smith, a former coal industry executive from Armstrong County, called it a "week full of negative attacks, arm-twisting and backroom deals," and pasted Welch with the label of "a self-professed moderate with a record of supporting liberal Democrats. Sam Rohrer, a former nine-term state House member from Berks County who lost to the party-endorsed Corbett in the 2010 gubernatorial primary, said the unusual pressure exerted by Corbett on state committee members won Welch the endorsement, but would prove damaging to the party. In other statewide races, Republicans endorsed Cumberland County District Attorney Dave Freed for attorney general, Allegheny County state Rep. John Maher for auditor general and Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughan for treasurer. Rohrer, Smith and Cumberland County lawyer Mark Scaringi say they will run for U.S. Senate without the endorsement. It was not immediately clear whether Washington County entrepreneur Tim Burns, who had led the pack in the straw votes, would keep running. On Friday, a campaign spokesman said Burns was not considering suggestions by Corbett that he run for a U.S. House seat instead.
(WGRC)

WASHINGTON D.C. – Congressman Tom Marino, last Monday introduced the One Subject at a Time Act that he says will "change business as usual in Washington." Marino said the aim of the bill is to make representatives and senators more accountable by ensuring Congress only passes laws that stand on their own merit. One of the biggest problems in Washington is the longtime practice of attaching unrelated bills together in order to get a favorite measure passed. Marion says his bill would ensure openness and transparency and for all representatives and senators to become more accountable by conducting up-and-down votes on one issue at a time. His bill would also put an end to the deals and trades that legislators engage in to secure sufficient votes for pieces of legislation. The One Subject at a Time Act requires that all titles describe what a bill will actually do and that the legislation cover only one general issue at a time. In this way, Congress and the public will be well aware of the "one subject" on which they are voting and an issue can be fully vetted and considered on its own merits.