February 13, 2012

POTTS GROVE – A fire that severely damaged a barn in Montour County last night has been ruled arson. The fire around 7:30 last night at the intersection of Pottsgrove and Rine Roads in Liberty Township caused around $100,000 in damages to the barn, hay and equipment stored inside the building owned by Neil Jenkins. Fire Marshal Trooper Norm Fedder says the fire was intentionally set to items inside the barn. Anyone with information on the fire is asked to call state police, Milton.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

BEAVER SPRINGS — Police are continuing their investigation into a crash Saturday in Snyder County which sent two people to Geisinger Medical Center. Twenty-five-year-old Rodger Secrest of McClure remains in critical condition, while 46-year-old Ellen Knepp of McClure is in fair condition. State troopers say Secrest was driving on Route 522 near Beaver Springs and crossed the center of the highway hitting Knepp’s vehicle.
(WGRC)

BLOOMSBURG — Bloomsburg police are still looking for possible witnesses to a deadly crash last month in Bloomsburg. Police say the January 8th crash claimed the life of 20-year-old Colton Eyer of Millville. Police say Eyer was speeding when he lost control of his car in front of Kessler’s Garage along Millville Road and slammed into a parked car. Police ask any witnesses to the crash should call Bloomsburg Town Police.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

BELLEFONTE - A Centre County jury will hear the child sex abuse case against Jerry Sandusky. Senior Judge John Cleland this morning denied prosecutors’ request to bring in out-of-county jurors. Prosecutors had argued that the intense publicity surrounding the case and residents’ deep connection to Penn State would taint a potential jury pool. Sandusky and his attorney argued they want an in-county jury and disagreed with the prosecution’s rationale. The judge however admitted that jury selection may present some challenges, and “if, after a reasonable attempt it is apparent that a jury cannot be selected within a reasonable time,” then he would reconsider his ruling. Cleland also ruled that the former Penn State assistant coach can see most of his grandchildren while he awaits trial.
 (WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - A soldier learned his punishment Monday for sexually abusing a three-year-old girl while he was on leave last year. 38-year-old Richard Lafayette, was stationed in Afghanistan last year when prosecutors said he started an online relationship with a woman in Williamsport. That relationship eventually turned sexual and involved a three-year-old girl. A judge sentenced Lafayette to seven-and-a-half to 15 years in state prison. The woman, Samantha Mathers of Williamsport still faces charges.   
(WNEP)

MILTON - A man from Northumberland County could spend close to two years behind bars after pleading guilty to stealing almost $25,000 from the Milton American Legion post. Wayne Brown pleaded guilty Monday at the Northumberland County Courthouse to stealing almost $25,000 from the Milton American Legion Post 71 which he managed.  Brown was sentenced to four and a half to 23 months behind bars. He also has to pay back all of the money he stole.
(WNEP)

HARRISBURG - State Rep. Mark Cohen of Philadelphia, has asked the House of Representatives to reconsider a non-binding resolution passed last month that declares 2012 the "Year of the Bible" in Pennsylvania. The resolution passed on a 193-0 vote on January 24th. The resolution says in part: "The House of Representatives declares 2012 as the "Year of the Bible" in Pennsylvania in recognition of both the formative influence of the Bible on our Commonwealth and nation and our national need to study and apply the teachings of the Holy Scriptures." In the weeks since, that vote has drawn the condemnation from a variety of groups who believe it is a violation of America's time-honored separation of church and state. Cohen held a Capitol press conference today in which he and other lawmakers apologized for not paying closer attention to the agenda, and vowed to work hard to wipe the vote from the record. Joining Cohen were leaders of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, the American Civil Liberties Union and American Atheists.
(WGRC)

HARRISBURG – While most people try to avoid home improvement projects in the winter, a pair of bald eagles on the Susquehanna River between Perry and Dauphin Counties got some much needed help recently from a team of Pennsylvania Game Commission land managers with a very important and timely renovation project. A sycamore tree on Haldeman Island has been used by at least three mated pairs as a nesting site since 1989. About two weeks ago, one of the limbs supporting the nest collapsed under the weight of the nest. On Friday, Gamer Commission Land maintenance workers built a platform to encourage the bald eagles to reuse this nest site. The site played a key role in the recovery of bald eagles in Pennsylvania.  In the 1980s, it was one of two locations used for reintroduction of eagles to Pennsylvania and the nest site has been used every year since 1990, producing 40 young bald eagles.
(WGRC)

MUNCY – A Lycoming County man is dead after a crash yesterday afternoon.  State Police say 47-year old Brian Gresh of Muncy was driving along Muncy Exchange Road in Muncy Creek Township when his pick-up left the roadway.  The truck hit an embankment and rolled over ejecting Gresh.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.  The accident happened Saturday afternoon just before 3:30.
John Callahan (WGRC)

BEURYS LAKE – Two men injured in a crash this morning in Schuylkill County.  State Police say 37-year old William Wagner of Hegins was driving along Route 901 in Barry Township near Deep Creek Road around 5:30 this morning.  His vehicle collided with another driven by 56-year old Joseph Maley of Pottsville.  Wagner was seriously hurt and flown to Geisinger Medical Center.  Maley suffered what police say was a moderate injury.  He was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center South.
John Callahan (WGRC)

MILESBURG – A teen severely hurt in a Centre County crash.  State Police say 17-year old Kyra Smith of Bellefonte was driving along Route 144 in Boggs Township just after 5 Saturday afternoon when her car began to slide on the snowy roadway. Smith overcorrected and the car spun off the road and into a building.  The vehicle glanced off the building and spun back onto the road where is stopped.  Smith suffered what police say were major injuries.  She was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center for treatment.
John Callahan (WGRC)

BLACK FOREST – A snowmobile and pick-up collide in Lycoming County.  A man riding a snowmobile was seriously injured Sunday morning when the vehicle and a pickup truck collided on state forest land along Manor Fork Road, about a mile south of Black Forest, in Brown Township.  Fire Chief Jerry Farley tells the Sun-Gazette, it is believed the victim is in his 50s and was staying in a cabin in the area. The victim was flown to Geisinger Medical Center.  The state Bureau of Forestry was investigating the crash.
(WGRC)

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MACKEYVILLE – Two hurt in a crash in Clinton County.  Police say 34-year old Sabrina Mackenzie of Mackeyville was driving a pick-up truck along Fairground Road in Lamar Township last Thursday afternoon when she overcorrected after drifting off the roadway hitting a utility pole.  Mackenzie and her passenger, 39-year old Arthur Mackenzie, suffered moderate injuries in the crash.  They were both taken to Lock Haven Hospital. 
John Callahan (WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT – A shooting reported last night in Lycoming County.  Williamsport police charged a woman with shooting her estranged husband Sunday outside his Memorial Avenue home.  Captain Raymond Kontz of the Williamsport Police Department, said Shakira Brooks had an ongoing dispute with her husband over property. He said that after confronting him Sunday morning, she shot him twice in the stomach area.  The husband, whose name has not been released, is expected to recover.  Shakira Brooks is being held on weapons, and assault charges. The woman`s cousin, Joshua Cobb is also behind bars. Police said he gave Shakira Brooks a stolen handgun used in the shooting.

(WNEP)

MOORESBURG – A suspicious fire severely damages a barn in Montour County last night.  Fire crews were called to a barn fire at the intersection of Pottsgrove and Rine Roads in Liberty Township around 7:30 last night.  The Daily Item reports,  fire officials consider the fire suspicious.  A fire marshal will investigate today.  The barn owned by Neil Jenkins was heavily damaged and a combine, hay and other supplies were lost to the blaze.  animals housed in the barn were led to safety.
(WGRC)

MADISONBURG - A building destroyed by fire at a campground in Centre County yesterday afternoon.  The fire destroyed a lodge on the grounds of the Krislund Camp and Conference Center off of Route 445 near Madisonburg.  Miles Township Fire Chief Brad Miller tells the Centre Daily Times, a fire marshal will investigate to try and determine a cause today.  There were no injuries.  The fire was reported just after 2:30 yesterday afternoon.  A group had stayed at the lodge on Saturday night but had vacated Sunday morning.  Miller said members of that group were still on the camp’s grounds Sunday afternoon.  They saw the fire and called 9-1-1.  Krislund Camp was established in 1963 as a ministry of the Huntingdon and Northumberland presbyteries.
(WGRC)

FREIDENSBURG – A home heavily damaged by fire in Schuylkill County.  Fire crews rushed out to a house fire at 1565 Long Run Drive in Wayne Township just after 11 Saturday night.  Smoke and flames were showing when crews arrived.  A fire marshal investigated and found that the fire started on the second floor of the home but was unable to determine exactly how it was ignited.  The damage estimate is $300,000.  The Larsen family was not home at the time of the blaze.  They are now staying with relatives.
John Callahan (WGRC)

SALLADASBURG – Thousands of dollars worth of items stolen in Lycoming County.  State Police say between December and February 4th someone entered a residence along Seneca Drive in Salladasburg through a window and stole the contents of a strong box after forcing it open.  They also made off with items from two storage sheds outside the home.  The value of the items taken is estimated to be more than $5800.
John Callahan (WGRC)

LOCK HAVEN - A Clinton County man will serve 13 to 30 years in state prison for sexually abusing two youngsters over 100 times over 4-years.  48-year old Jeffrey Glossner of Renovo was convicted of the crimes last August.  The Express reports, Glossner is considered a violent sexual predator and must register under Megan’s Law for the rest of his life when he is released from prison.
(WGRC)

BLOOMSBURG – In Columbia County, Bloomsburg University has asked the Bloomsburg Area School District if it wants to partner up on athletic fields that would be built on upper campus, the district's superintendent told the school board last week.  Superintendent Coz Curry told the board he was approached by a university official who proposed some sort of collaboration between the university and district for the fields.  The Bloomsburg University Foundation owns 44 acres along Arbutus Park Road in Scott Township.  Possibilities mentioned for the property were three softball fields, a football field, a track and an indoor athletic center.  Curry tells the Press Enterprise, the university official mentioned fall 2014 as a possible target date for field use.
(WGRC)

BLOOMSBURG — A Columbia County manufacturer adds workers.  Business boomed in North America last year for the company that runs the automotive-carpet plant in Bloomsburg, and the local operation has added more than 100 workers.   Autoneum reported that from 2010 to 2011, North American sales rose nearly 24 percent when measured in local currency.   At the end of 2010, 588 employees worked at Autoneum, formerly Rieter Automotive. Spokesman Jim Nemeth tells the Press Enterprise, today around 700 people work at the plant.
(WGRC)

HARRISBURG - Suspects convicted twice of copper thefts would face harsher penalties under legislation approved last week by the state House.  State House Bill 2032 would make it a third-degree felony for someone convicted of a second or third theft, regardless of the amount stolen. A conviction would carry a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and, possibly, a $15,000 fine.
(WGRC)