February 1, 2012

BEAVER SPRINGS – A woman dies after a crash in Snyder County this morning.  Rescue crews rushed out to the scene of the crash along Route 235 in Spring Township around 9 this morning.  Police say 76-year old Nancy Frye of Beaver Springs went off the roadway, overcorrected, and hit a parked car and then a house.  Frye was taken to Evangelical Community Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
(WGRC)

MOUNT CARMEL – A fire in Northumberland County Sunday is now ruled accidental.  State Police Fire Marshal, Trooper Norman Fedder continued his investigation into the fire at 409 West Olive Street in Mount Carmel that was reported just after 4 Sunday morning.  He found that the fire was caused by arcing in a junction box that heated up combustible material near the box causing it to ignite.  30-year old Paul Ventilli owns the home and was able to get outside after smelling smoke.  The fire did about $230,000 in damage.  Ventilli does have insurance.
(WGRC)

MUNCY – Fire crews in Lycoming County rushed out to battle a fire at a restaurant this morning. The fire was reported just before eight a.m. at 27 Route 442 at the landmark Hull’s Landing Restaurant at the intersection of Route 405 and 442 in Muncy Creek Township. When crews arrived on the scene they reported smoke and flames shooting from the roof of the structure. Crews remained on the scene of that fire until around nine a.m.  The Sun-Gazette reports, the fire was under control in about 15 minutes and is believed to be accidental.  The fire did an estimated $5,000 in damage.
(WGRC)

LOCK HAVEN - A Centre County woman waived her homicide by vehicle charges on to court yesterday.  32-year old Tera Confer of Howard, waived the right to a preliminary hearing in Clinton County on multiple felony charges including homicide by vehicle. The Express reports, Confer was released on $7,500 unsecured bail pending further legal action. The criminal counts were filed in the aftermath of a crash last November on Route 150 near Beech Creek that killed 53-year old Jerry Marshal of Lock Haven.
(WGRC)

WEST MILTON – A man scares off would be robbers with a machete in Union County.  State Police say two black men gained entry to a home at 310 Broad Street in West Milton around one o’ clock Sunday morning by kicking in the back door.  A man inside the home brandished a machete at the burglars and they fled.  The would be robbers were said to be in their 20s.  Police did not release the identities of the four men inside the home when the break in occurred.   Anyone with information about this break-in is asked to call State Police at Milton.
John Callahan (WGRC)

THOMPSONTOWN – A Liverpool woman was hurt in a pedestrian crash in Juniata County, last night. The crash happened just after nine p.m. on Route 333 in Thompsontown. Police say 76-year-old Joseph Brown was driving a van on Route 333 and didn’t see 44-year-old Tina Wright crossing the roadway. Police say Wright was taken to Lewistown Hospital with major injuries.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

MIFFLINTOWN - The second day of a homicide trial in Juniata County ended with the prosecution resting its case and the defense re-issuing a motion to suppress a statement their client allegedly gave to police. The Sentinel reports, President Judge Kathy A. Morrow denied the motion. Smith is charged with one count of criminal homicide and the jury will have to decide if she is guilty of first or third degree murder, voluntary or involuntary manslaughter in the death of her son-in-law Michael Hockenberry. Hockenberry, died of a gun-shot wound to the head on September 15, 2010, at his home on Cedar Street in Mifflintown. At Tuesday’s testimony the defense focused on Smith’s alleged written statement to police and contended police had already determined Smith had shot Hockenberry and were trying to solicit a confession. Police however say Smith changed her story several times before finally admitting she shot Hockenberry in the side of the head. Also Tuesday the prosecution called a number of scientific experts to testify about different forensic fields. A ballistics expert testified that the bullet which killed Hockenberry matched that as the bullets fired from a gun Smith allegedly admitted bringing with her from Arizona. Testimony is expected to resume today with Smith's attorneys calling a half-dozen witnesses.
(WGRC)

MIDDLEBURG - A man, who took close to $400,000 from a dozen victims who were trying to buy vehicles from him, pleaded guilty to several felony theft counts Tuesday just before opening arguments were set to begin at his jury trial in Snyder County Court. 40-year-old Kurt Keiper of Middleburg was accused of stealing money since 2008 from a dozen people who had purchased vehicles that his company, Summit Transport, never delivered. Keiper faces sentencing in Snyder County Court April 5th.
(WGRC)

WILKES-BARRE - A Coaldale woman is on her way to a federal prison after being sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Wilkes-Barre for participating in a drug-trafficking ring in Schuylkill County. The Republican Herald reports, 22-year-old Brianna Koschak, must spend 16 months in a federal prison in a sentence handed down by Senior U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo.  Koschak pleaded guilty on April 18, 2011, to conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine. A federal grand jury indicted Koschak and nine other people, on October 7, 2008, alleging that all participated in the drug-trafficking ring starting in April 2008 and continuing until that October. All 10 members of the conspiracy have pleaded guilty to various charges.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - A Williamsport man who is the prime suspect in an armed robbery that happened in late October at the Timberland Apartments on West Edwin Street was arrested Tuesday at a restaurant in the city. The Sun Gazette reports, 21-year-old Raheem Marcer-Ruley faces charges of robbery, theft, and related counts. Police charged Marcer-Ruley for allegedly robbing a woman after he forced his way into her apartment at gunpoint about 1:30 a.m. on October 27th and took a Wii gaming system, a DVD player, and cellphone. He’s now jailed on $75,000 in the Lycoming County Prison.
(WGRC)

STATE COLLEGE - Authorities in Centre County are looking for a man wanted in connection to several crimes, including rape and aggravated assault. Ferguson Township police are seeking information on the whereabouts of 22-year-old Fahron Rosemond. He’s described as standing five-foot-nine; thin build, with black hair in cornrows and several tattoos on his arms and neck. Police said Rosemond is wanted in connection to an aggravated assault case in Ferguson Township, as well as a warrant on rape charges in Bellefonte. Anyone with information on Rosemond’s whereabouts is urged to call police.
(WGRC)

HARRISBURG - Prosecutors in the Jerry Sandusky child sex-abuse case asked Tuesday to have jurors brought in from another Pennsylvania county, a day after disclosing in court records they would tell the former Penn State assistant coach the names of his 10 alleged victims. The attorney general's office argued in a court motion that pretrial publicity and Penn State's prominent role in its local community mean Sandusky's criminal trial warrant the use of jurors from outside the State College area. Sandusky's lawyer said he would fight the proposal. In another other court filing, made late Monday, prosecutors said the alleged victims' names will be delivered to Sandusky's lawyer by the close of business Friday. Sandusky’s lawyers made a court motion to have the victim’s names released to them last week in Centre County.
(WGRC)

STATE COLLEGE - Three pedestrians struck by a taxi Sunday shortly after midnight in State College were cited for walking out in front of the vehicle. The Centre Daily Times reports, two of the three suffered moderate injuries and were taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center. Police say the three were looking at their cell phones when they walked into the cab. About two hours later, two other pedestrians were struck by a taxi but no serious injuries were reported in that incident and no charges filed.
(WGRC)

DALMATIA - Police in central Pennsylvania are returning stolen items to their rightful owners. Officers recovered a large number of items taken by a burglary ring operating in Northumberland, Union, Schuylkill, Clinton, Lycoming and Centre counties. Items stolen include ATVs, snow plows, guns, vehicles and lawn and garden equipment. Many of the burglaries happened at unoccupied cabins in state forest and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is also involved in the investigation. Police said they have suspects, but no one has been arrested yet. The investigation continues.
Jim Diehl (WGRC w/ WNEP)

SAINT CLAIR - Two people were taken to a hospital after a four-vehicle crash Tuesday morning at Route 61 and West Russell Street near Saint Clair in Schuylkill County. The Republican Herald reports, the crash happened just before seven a.m. as a tractor-trailer driven by 54-year-old Randall Speilman, of Berlinville, rear-ended a pick-up truck driven by 46-year-old Robert Beaver, of Girardville, flipping the truck several times. After hitting the pickup truck, Speilman's rig continued on crossing over the median and hitting a Jeep driven by 28-year-old Melvin Fishburn, of Pottsville, and a car driven by 49-year-old Jeffrey Mandel, of Orwigsburg. Police said two people suffered nonlife-threatening injuries and were taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-East. Route 61 was closed in both directions for more than an hour while the investigation was conducted and vehicles removed.
(WGRC)

SUNBURY - Two Northumberland County Prison commanders have been suspended without pay pending today's prison board vote on whether to eliminate their positions. Commissioner Stephen Bridy, the prison board chairman, tells the Daily Item, the decision to suspend the two revolved around spending cuts and that the two did nothing wrong. Presently, the warden, two commanders, a lieutenant and up to two sergeants oversee nine corrections officers during the first shift. Bridy says, "We shouldn't need six people to manage nine."  The cuts will save Northumberland County nearly $103,000 a year in salary and benefits.
(WGRC)

BELLEFONTE — Centre County commissioners on Tuesday gave tentative approval to an amended 2012 budget that includes a $2 million increase for a planned 911 improvement project. The Centre Daily Times reports, the board unanimously approved the tentative $82 million spending plan with a $7.6 million fund balance. The budget was originally approved in December, but the board, with two new members, reopened the spending plan after it was seated in January. The $2 million for the 911 project is the biggest change. That money will come from the fund balance which is essentially the county’s reserves. The budget carries no tax increase for Centre County residents.
(WGRC)

MIFFLINTOWN - Juniata County has received a $154,000 grant to update security in its government buildings. On Tuesday, the commissioners approved the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency grant, which requires a 25-percent match of funds or in-kind from the county. The Sentinel reports, the county had a short window of time to apply for the grant, and the members of the Criminal Justice Advisory Board wrote the proposals based on recommendations from the U.S. Marshals' security report.
(WGRC)

SUNBURY – A Catholic School in Sunbury had a very special visitor during classes Tuesday. The Bishop of the Harrisburg Diocese, Bishop Joseph McFadden visited 131 Catholic school students at St. Monica School. The Bishop visited each classroom and spoke to the pupils during Catholic Schools Week.
(WGRC)

JERSEY SHORE - The Jersey Shore Area School Board decided to go forward with a bond process to fund a building project using a wraparound payment structure during a special school meeting Tuesday. The 7-1 vote also appointed Public Financial Management as financial adviser and Rhoads&Sinon as bond counsel. In order to fund renovations at Jersey Shore Elementary, the district would apply for two separate bonds - one for $10 million, the other for any other costs.
(WGRC)

SELINSGROVE - Susquehanna University's endowment grew by 26 percent in 2011, topping the 19 percent average in a national study of college endowment. Meanwhile, Bucknell University's endowment posted a 17 percent gain in 2011. The Daily Item reports, the two universities are among 823 public and private schools that participated in a joint survey by the National Association of College and University Business Officers and the Commonfund Institute. The annual survey covered a 12-month period ending June 30, 2011, and offered evidence that campus endowments are continuing to rebound from the recession though not yet reaching the heights many did before the economic downturn.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - Lycoming County Commissioners will vote on whether they will approve applying for an $85,000 grant to help finance the Brodart project at Thursday's meeting. The Sun Gazette reports the grant would be used for the project that looks to develop housing for the area.
(WGRC)

BLOOMSBURG — A group of Bloomsburg residents have ended a fight to keep students out of the Lion's Gate apartments in Scott Township, reaching a deal with the complex's developers that involves no money exchanging hands. In return for the residents dropping two lawsuits, Lion's Gate has agreed it won't seek up to $2.5 million in damages from those residents. The Press Enterprise reports, Lion's Gate had alleged the lawsuits and comments made by residents and Scott Township officials had scared away potential tenants who otherwise may have leased apartments at the complex off Central Road, costing it profit. The uproar from residents also caused one lender of the project to pull the plug on financing for the housing project. During the property fight residents insisted an influx of students would bring rowdy parties and litter and lower property values. Meanwhile, Lion's Gate's battle with Scott Township is not over. The developers have lawsuits pending against the township, including one in federal court that asks a judge to affirm once and for all that students should be permitted there.
(WGRC)

FAIRPOINT – In Clinton County the Bald Eagle Township supervisors are concerned over a proposed water withdrawal site just off Clinton County's second most heavily traveled road. A water pumping station is proposed by Select Energy to withdraw up to 1 million gallons of water from Bald Eagle Creek along Hogan Boulevard. Select Energy reportedly has applied for a water withdrawal permit from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission. That permit shows Select would have up to 180 tanker trucks enter and leave the site. That's based on pumping 1 million gallons of water daily. The Express reports, township officials first heard of the proposal last month and expressed numerous concerns over it, especially its impact on traffic safety. Those concerns were echoed by the Clinton County Planning Commission earlier this month which suggested the company produce a land-development plan to address storm-water management and soil erosion, along with a traffic study.
(WGRC)

LAPORTE — In Sullivan County a pipeline operator assured federal regulators it would minimize using eminent domain against private landowners if given approval to lay a 39-mile natural gas pipeline near Laporte, in the pristine Endless Mountains. Yet the company was readying condemnation papers against dozens of landowners even as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission was considering its application for the $250 million MARC 1 pipeline. Within two days of winning approval, Central New York Oil&Gas Company went to court to condemn nearly half the properties along the pipeline's route, angering landowners who are now fighting the company in court. Eminent domain would give the company the right to excavate and lay the 30-inch diameter pipeline on private property. Landowners would not lose their properties and would be compensated. Some of the landowners say the company steamrolled them by refusing to negotiate in good faith on either monetary compensation or the pipeline's route. Residents are fighting the pipeline on two fronts: challenging the eminent domain proceedings in court and appealing the approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
(WGRC)

MILTON - Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA, Milton Branch was awarded one of seven HEROES grants from UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group company, for a youth-led project that addresses childhood obesity. Grants of up to $1,000 each were awarded to programs that demonstrate a clear understanding of the health risks associated with childhood obesity and propose creative solutions that can be effectively implemented. Projects will culminate on Global Youth Service Day in April. Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA, Milton Branch received a grant to support its weekly TGIF program and to purchase aquatic basketball hoops for its indoor pool and pamphlets outlining nutrition and exercise recommendations for kids.
(WGRC)

HARRISBURG - More than one-half billion dollars in federal assistance has been doled out in supporting the commonwealth's recovery from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency made that announcement. The agencies say additional aid is forthcoming as Public Assistance grants are now being obligated to repair or replace taxpayer-owned infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, utilities, schools, and similar facilities. There are an estimated 6,000 projects that could result in additional federal funding of more than $200 million.
(WGRC)

HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania high school students are invited to enter a PennDOT contest aimed at discouraging distracted driving. Students can submit a 30-second radio public service announcement and the winning announcement will be professionally produced and sent to the student's local media market. Distracted driving poses a serious safety risk to drivers of all ages, and particularly to relatively inexperienced drivers. According to PennDOT, in 2010 there were nearly 14,300 crashes statewide involving drivers who were distracted or were using a hand-held cell phone. Approximately 37 percent of those crashes involved a driver who was 16 to 25 years old. To enter the contest, high school sophomores, juniors and seniors should submit recorded scripts in MP3 or MP4 format. Students may also submit written scripts. Entries may be submitted by email to RA-penndotpress@pa.gov. Entries must be received or postmarked by March 23.
(WGRC)