February 3, 2012

MIFFLINTOWN - A Juniata County jury on Friday found Brenda Smith guilty of first degree murder in the September 2010 death of her son-in-law, Michael Hockenberry.  Deliberations began at 1:15 this afternoon and last less than 4 hours.  The Sentinel reports, in the fifth day of the trial, the panel heard closing statements from the prosecution and defense, and instructions from the judge before entering into deliberations. Smith said on the stand yesterday she believed Hockenberry was physically and mentally abusive to her daughter.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT – Three men arrested in Lycoming County on burglary charges after they invaded a home last night.  Williamsport Police say 21-year old Darryl Worley, 24-year old Davon Grissom and 23-year old Stanley Morgan broke into the home of Ross Weaver on Arch Street in Williamsport just before 11 last night while he and three others were inside.  At least two of the men had guns as they ransacked the home and made off with a safe, the cell phones of Weaver and three friends that were visiting, and a backpack.  The robbers were apprehended after a traffic stop.  Their car was impounded and searched.  Police found almost $1500 in cash, the cell phones and the backpack stolen from Weaver’s home inside the car.  The three await arraignment on the charges.
John Callahan (WGRC)

AUBURN – An arsonist is responsible for a garage fire in Schuylkill County yesterday morning.  A fire marshal investigated the garage fire at the rear of 434 Market Street in Auburn that was reported just after Midnight yesterday.  He found that the fire was intentionally set.  The garage and contents were destroyed.  The loss is estimated at more than $25,000.  No injuries were reported.
John Callahan (WGRC)

LEWISTOWN – Police in Mifflin County arrested a 43-year old man on several counts of indecent assault.  Lewistown Police say Eddie Greer of Lewistown has been charged with several counts of indecent assault that allegedly involve a 13-year old girl.  An investigation revealed that the girl reported she was the victim of assaults by Greer that took place in Lewistown in 2010 and 2011.  Greer is now jailed in in lieu of $35,000 bail.
John Callahan (WGRC)

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT – A man accused of sexual assault is charged in Lycoming County.  South Williamsport police say they charged 38-year old Stanley Bennett with rape, indecent assault and several related counts.  He is accused of the sexual assault of a juvenile female that happened on January 1st at a home in South Williamsport.  Bennett was already in the Lycoming County Prison on unrelated charges.  His bail for these charges is set at $75,000.
John Callahan (WGRC)

LOCK HAVEN – A Clinton County man has been arrested on dozens of felony charges for allegedly assaulting a little girl during a two-year period. Lock Haven police say 23-year old Gary Eggler of Lock Haven, surrendered to them yesterday.  The Express reports, the arrest came as a result of a referral from the Clinton County Children and Youth Services Department.  The first incident occurred in 2002 when the girl was 5 years old.  Eggler was arraigned and released on $75,000 monetary signature bail.
(WGRC)

RAMSEY – In Lycoming County, the state is investigating several spills of brine water and diesel fuel at a Pennsylvania General Energy Company well pad in the Pine Creek Valley, which may have contaminated at least one family's nearby water well.  According to Dan Spadoni of the state Department of Environmental Protection, the regulatory agency was notified of three violations at what is known as PGE's 729C Well Pad in Cummings Township.
(WGRC)

UNDATED – A pair of Schuylkill County convenience store robberies have authorities investigating today. 

Frackville State Police say a man, holding a handgun, demanded cash from the clerk at the Frackville Exxon/Unimart around 3:15 this morning.  Police say the man made off with an unknown amount of money.  The suspect is described as being dark-skinned, 6-feet tall, with a medium build.  He was wearing a red ski mask and black jacket at the time of the holdup.

About an hour earlier, reports say a man also wearing a red ski mask and black jacket demanded money from a clerk at the Turkey Hill Minit Mart on Route-309 in Hometown.  Rush Township Police are investigating.
Don Casteline (WGRC)

DANVILLE – An area man faces charges in Montour County for the alleged abuse of a baby.  According to the Daily Item, 23-year old Robert Altieri, of Bloomsburg, allegedly caused rib fractures to the infant.  Authorities say both Altieri and his girlfriend, Ruth Kingston, initially lied to them about the cause of the injuries.  Altieri has since confessed to the late December incident. 
(WGRC)

BELLEFONTE – In Centre County, a vehicle goes up in flames while a home is saved.  The car fire began as a woman reportedly tried to start the engine around 12:30 yesterday afternoon on the 400-block of Valley View Road in Benner Township.  Authorities tell the Centre Daily Times that a passer-by stopped and put chains on the car to drag it out of the garage, saving the structure from fire damage.  Bellefonte firefighters worked at the scene.  No one was hurt during the incident.
(WGRC)

THOMPSONTOWN – A Liverpool resident has died from injuries suffered when struck by a van earlier this week in Juniata County.  Lewistown State Police say 44-year old Tina Wright was hit while crossing Route-333 in Thompsontown after 9 o’clock Tuesday night.  The driver of the van told police he didn’t see Wright crossing the road in the dark until it was too late.  
Don Casteline (WGRC)

BLOOMSBURG – Columbia County officials hope to make the streets safer in Bloomsburg.  Complaints from pedestrians have prompted Bloomsburg officials to speak with PennDOT.  According to The Press Enterprise, the mayor hopes to pinpoint ways to make signals more ‘friendly to walkers’.  The public is being invited to submit suggestions to the police department.  The meeting between town officials and PennDOT is reportedly expected to happen within the next few weeks.
(WGRC)

MIFFLINTOWN – A woman spent most of the day yesterday defending herself from homicide charges in Juniata County.  Fifty-six year old Brenda Smith allegedly shot and killed her son-in-law, Michael Hockenberry, while at his Cedar Street home in Mifflintown in September.  The Sentinel reports Smith’s testimony wrapped up around 6:30 Thursday evening.  Smith testified that she believed the victim was physically and mentally abusing her daughter.  Proceedings are expected to resume today.
(WGRC)

POTTSVILLE – The armed robbery of a Schuylkill County pharmacy has led to a guilty plea nearly one year later.  Thirty-three year old Michael Garvey, of Shenandoah, entered the plea in Schuylkill County Court yesterday.  According to the Republican-Herald, Garvey admitted yesterday to stealing prescription drugs from the Rite-Aid along South Main Street in Shenandoah last February. 
(WGRC)

IOWA – Legal troubles now have a greater hold on a former Penn State wrestler.  Twenty-two year old Andrew Long has not been a part of the team since August, when charges were filed in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 55-year old woman.  According to the Centre Daily Times, Long now faces new charges in Iowa where he is accused of assault, and public intoxication at an Ames store earlier this week.
(WGRC)

MONTOURSVILLE – Officials are still working to determine exactly what caused a sewer main break in Lycoming County.  Reports say the leak allowed nearly 2-million gallons of raw sewage to leak into Loyalsock Creek, a major tributary of the Susquehanna River.  The damage happened while a contractor was working to complete demolition of a railroad bridge near Montoursville.  Crews are continuing work to repair the damaged main.  The Department of Environmental Protection is investigating.  A D-E-P spokesman says most of the leaked sewage has already washed downstream, so far with no reports of any problems.
(WGRC)

SUNBURY – The ongoing dispute over a position eliminated from the Northumberland County District Attorney’s office continued on Thursday.  Commissioner Vinny Clausi fired back against a grievance which states that the union’s contract has been violated by the elimination of the position held by John Muncer, of Sunbury.  The News Item reports D-A Tony Rosini supports the grievance contending that the layoff changes the general working conditions of his office, which he agrees violates the contract.  Clausi is quoted as saying he is appalled that Rosini is supporting the grievance, and adds that Rosini is the only one who voted to against the layoff. 
(WGRC)

HARRISBURG — An entrepreneur from southwestern Pennsylvania is dropping out of the race for U.S. Senate now that the Republican Party has endorsed another candidate. Tim Burns made the announcement in a statement Thursday. Burns had been the favorite among GOP state committee voters during nonbinding caucus balloting in January, but he lost the party's endorsement last weekend after Gov. Tom Corbett decided to back Steve Welch of Chester County. The Associated Press reports, Welch is now running in an at-least four-way contest for the Republican nomination to challenge Democrat Bob Casey's re-election bid. In his statement, Burns says he looks forward to working with Corbett in the future to advance the party and country. Burns' campaign has previously said he wasn't interested Corbett's suggestion that he run for U.S. House.
(WGRC)

ELYSBURG – Republican Kurt Masser, of Elysburg, plans to serve another term in the State House of Representatives.  Masser announced yesterday that he will seek re-election.  The Daily Item reports Democrat Ted Yeager will oppose Masser for the seat.
(WGRC)

MIFFLINBURG – Police have now released the names of the men involved in a gunpoint robbery of the Forest Hill General Store in Union County. Police say 31-year-old Jeffery Stahl, of Mifflinburg, along with 44-year-old Michael Gulli of West Milton, are charged with the armed robbery around 7:30 Saturday’s night at the store along Route 192 in Union County’s West Buffalo Township. Police say two employees stepped outside the store to take a break when Gulli forced the women back inside the store at gunpoint demanding money from the cash register. When the employees couldn’t open it they handed over a bank bag with around $400 in cash. Police say both Stahl and Gulli then drove to Williamsport to buy drugs. Both are jailed in the Union County Jail on $100,000 bail.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

LEWISTOWN - Police in Mifflin County are investigating the disappearance of a Lewistown man.  45-year old Robert Samuel Rickabaugh Junior was living at the Shelter on Depot Street in Lewistown.  He left there on January 4th.  The shelter has not seen or heard from Rickabaugh since.  Rickabaugh’s brother has not heard from him since the January 19th.  Rickabaugh stands six feet one inch tall and has brown eyes. Lewistown Police ask anyone who knows the whereabouts of Rickabaugh to contact them.
(WGRC)