February 7, 2012

HARRISBURG - Gov. Tom Corbett is proposing a hold-the-line budget of $27.1 billion, with no tax increases, deep cuts to higher education assistance and a range of cost-saving measures in services for the poor and disabled.  Corbett unveiled his budget Tuesday as the state grapples with lackluster tax collections and higher costs for debt, health care and pensions. Cuts would be widespread across state agencies.  Perhaps most glaring is a proposed reduction of more than $250 million, or about 20 percent, for the State System of Higher Education, Penn State, The University of Pittsburgh and Temple Public schools would see a small reduction while Corbett would cut an asset tax that businesses pay .  The Associated Press reports, Corbett would also institute hundreds of millions of dollars in cost-saving measures to offset a rising tab for services for the poor, elderly and disabled.
(WGRC)

CLINTONDALE – A house fire reported this morning in Clinton County.  Fire crews were called to 120 Fishing Creek Road in Porter Township around 10:30 this morning.  A fire authority tells us the fire started in the area of a chimney behind the flue and spread up the side of the house.  He says the home is repairable but the family renting the home will have to stay somewhere else while the home is repaired.  No injuries were reported but a cat did perish in the fire.  Several fire crews from Centre County also helped battle the blaze.  A state police fire marshal is investigating.  Crews remained on the scene until around 1:30 this afternoon.
John Callahan (WGRC)

JERSEY SHORE - A woman from Lycoming County is accused of sexually assaulting a young boy. According to court records, 35-year old Teri Mann of Jersey Shore was caring for the 12-year-old boy in her home last October when the molestation allegedly happened.  She is locked up in the Lycoming County jail on $75,000 bail, charged with rape of a child, sexual assault and a number of related crimes.
(WNEP)

RIVERSIDE – A young woman is hurt in a one car crash this morning in Northumberland County.  State Police say 21-year old Andrea Dietz of Danville suffered moderate injuries in the crash that happened just before 11 this morning.  Her car drifted into a guard rail in the narrows along Route 54 in Rush Township.  She overcorrected and slammed into the rock embankment on the opposite side of the roadway.  Dietz was taken to Geisinger Medical Center for treatment of her injuries.
John Callahan (WGRC)

BERWICK - A man from Luzerne County was arrested today and charged with attempted murder for a stabbing and robbery last year in Columbia County. Police said in January 2011, 39-year old Kim Roquet of Shickshinny stabbed and robbed a worker at Decker's Scrap Yard on Canal Street in Berwick. The worker suffered life-threatening injuries, but has since recovered. He was able to identify a photograph of Roquet as the man who attacked him.  Roquet is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and robbery.
(WNEP)

BELLEFONTE – Two men are sought by police in Centre County for an attempted robbery.  State Police say two men smashed the glass door at the Quick Mart on East College Avenue in Bellefonte just before Midnight last night. They fled after setting off the store’s alarm system but not before being caught on surveillance video.  Police say one man was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, the other a dark jacket and blue baseball cap.  Anyone with information about this attempted robbery is asked to call State Police at Rockview.
John Callahan (WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT – The Lycoming College Campus Activities Board will host the contemporary Christian band Tim Be Told on Sunday, February 12th, at 8 p.m. in the College’s Recreation Center in Williamsport. The performance is free and open to the public. Tim Be Told combines elements of pop, rock and soul.  Their current tour is in support of their latest recording, “Humanity.” More information on the band can be found at  timbetold.com.
(WGRC)

UNDATED – A Snyder County teen is dead after his truck is struck by a tractor-trailer in Perry County.  Newport State Police say 18-year old Jeremiah Ulmer, of Selinsgrove, drove out into the path of the tractor trailer traveling along Routes-11 and 15 after 9 o’clock last night.  Troopers say Ulmer was pronounced dead at the scene.  The New York trucker was not injured.
Don Casteline (WGRC)

SUNBURY – A man pleads no contest to theft charges just before a jury was to be selected for his Northumberland County trial on Monday.  Bryan Wolfe was the council president in Northumberland borough when he was accused of stealing from the borough by receiving checks for software programs he never actually purchased for the borough.  He was charged with the crime in June 2010.  Wolfe was also charged on similar counts in Snyder County for stealing more than $170, 000 from his employer there. Wolfe will serve 4 to 18 months in jail to run concurrently with his sentence in the Snyder County case.  Wolfe has already made full restitution to Northumberland borough.
John Callahan (WGRC)

HARRISBURG – A long-time Pennsylvania House Democrat has been convicted of felony conspiracy and theft charges.  Reports say a 5-year long investigation led to the verdict against 61-year old Representative Bill DeWeese.  On the third day of deliberations the jury said DeWeese did use taxpayer money for political purposes.  An appeal of the decision is expected.  DeWeese tells reporters he plans to keep his House seat.
(WGRC)

SELINSGROVE – Concerned residents gathered to talk about a plan to eliminate teaching positions from the Selinsgrove School District in Snyder County.  Last night a public meeting was held to discuss hefty cuts aimed at offsetting a 2.3-mill property tax increase needed to offset current spending levels.  According to the Daily Item, school officials are proposing to cut 15 teachers from the middle and high school.  The Item reports School Board President Paul Spiegel Junior as saying that there are “very few alternatives”.
(WGRC)

BELLEFONTE – Crews worked for hours to control a Centre County wildfire.  Flames sparked around 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon as garbage was burned in a wooded area, in Benner Township near Fillmore.  According to the Centre Daily Times an aerosol can ignited leading to the scorching of brush across nearly 15 acres of land. Bellefonte’s Fire Chief says area crews managed to have the fire under control around 4:30 yesterday.
(WGRC)

WAYNE TOWNSHIP – A Schuylkill County man is in stable condition this morning following a high-speed crash.  State Police say D-U-I charges are pending against 33-year old Jason Tucci, of Pine Grove.  Troopers say his car bounded off Route-443 after 2 o’clock Monday morning.  The car struck a tree and rolled into a drainage ditch.  Tucci continues to be treated at Lehigh Valley Hospital this morning.
Don Casteline (WGRC)

HARTLEY TOWNSHIP – One person was taken to the hospital following a late-night accident in Union County.  Dispatchers tell us the accident happened after 11pm at the intersection of Patty Mountain and Creek Roads in Hartley Township.  One vehicle was involved, and the extent of the injuries is not yet known.
Don Casteline (WGRC)

BERWICK – Authorities have raided a Columbia County meth lab.  Although no one was there when they arrived, State Police worked to gather evidence and clean-up the drug lab set up in a room at the Red Maple Inn, along Route-11 near Berwick.  The Press Enterprise reports police worked at the scene throughout Monday afternoon.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT – Four women have been arraigned on retail theft charges in Lycoming County.  The women allegedly tried to steal numerous items from the Lycoming Mall in December, but were discovered by security who then notified police.  The Sun-Gazette reports the arraigned was held yesterday for 21-year old Dominique Mathis, 25-year old Jamie Wright, 27-year old Ashley Diggs and 19-year old Gabrielle Wright.  
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - A woman was hurt Monday morning when her car collided with a fire truck in Lycoming County. It happened just before 11 this morning on Arch Street in Williamsport.  The Old Lycoming Township fire truck was being moved from Williamsport Bureau of Fire Headquarters when it collided with the car. WNEP reports the driver of the car was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. No one on the truck was hurt. The fire engine was towed from the scene to be checked for damage. Arch Street in Williamsport was closed for about an hour after the crash.
(WGRC/WNEP)

TAMAQUA - Two possible suspects in the robberies of convenient stores in Schuylkill and Carbon Counties were arrested Monday on unrelated charges stemming from a car chase Sunday night.  18-year old Jose Nunez of Hazleton, and 18-year old Tysheed Hargrove were taken into custody after the car chase that began near Tamaqua ended in Carbon County.  The Republican Herald reports, both men are locked up on $100,000 bail each. Authorities say other charges are pending against both Nunez and Hargrove, possibly for three convenience store robberies in Schuylkill County and one in Carbon County. The description of the bandit was similar for all four robberies.
(WGRC)

HARRISBURG - Legislation speeding toward votes in the state Legislature would require Pennsylvania's booming natural gas industry to pay an estimated $190 million in fees in the first year.  Senator Joe Scarnati said Monday that the fee amount would rise as more wells are drilled. The Associated Press reports, the proposed compromise was agreed to by the Legislature's Republican leaders and fellow Republican Gov. Tom Corbett, without input from Democrats.  Scarnati says he's hoping for a Monday night Senate vote, while House officials say that chamber could vote as early as Tuesday. Under the bill, the impact fee would rise and fall with the price of natural gas and inflation. Counties would have the option to impose it, but a critical mass of municipalities could override a refusal.
(WGRC)

HOWARD – A Centre County fire company will receive a new fire truck through mostly federal grant money.  Congressman Glenn Thompson tells the Lock Haven Express that the truck heading to the Howard Fire Company is valued at approximately $275,000.  The grant will cover nearly $200,000 of the purchase price.  The new tanker is compliant with current safety standards.
(WGRC)