February 20, 2012

NEW BERLIN – A crash this morning in Union County sends a Snyder County man to the hospital with head injuries. The crash happened around 10:30 this morning at the intersection of Market and Vine Streets in the Borough of New Berlin. Witnesses at the scene say a vehicle driven by 45-year-old Tracy Qi of Belle Meade, New Jersey was headed west on Market Street when she failed to stop at a stop sign and T-boned a Jeep driven by 57-year-old Jerry Boyer of Kreamer. Boyer’s Jeep went rolling onto its side, and Boyer was thrown and trapped under the vehicle. Boyer was flown to Geisinger Medical Center. Qi suffered minor injuries while a 14-year-old in her vehicle suffered minor injuries.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

LAPORTE – A Milford man is jailed after hitting a man intentionally with his car in Sullivan County. That happened around 4:30 Sunday afternoon along Route 487 near Connells Dam Road in Cherry Township. The 31-year-old victim from Laporte suffered a leg injury when 48-year-old Stanley Okolowskie purposely drove his car up an embankment and hit the victim. Okolowski is being charged with aggravated assault and is jailed on $25,000 bail.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

JERSEY SHORE - A second suspect has been sent to jail in connection with a recent string of home burglaries in the Jersey Shore area of Lycoming County. Police say 19-year-old Zachary Schrieber, of Linden, has been charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, and theft. He allegedly burglarized four different homes between January 14 and January 31. Co-defendant 19-year-old Lindsey Stewart, is suspected of assisting Schrieber on his alleged burglary spree. Both are jailed in the Lycoming County Prison.
(WGRC)

POTTSVILLE - A child sex offender was placed behind bars after trying to run from Sheriffs Deputies, Friday in Pottsville. Andrew Bakerofskie of Girardville did not want to return to prison on Friday after having his bail revoked, so he ran away from the sheriff's deputy escorting him back. Bakerofskie escaped from custody for about 10 minutes before authorities caught him within three blocks of the Schuylkill County Courthouse, where his bail hearing had been held. The escape charge will be in addition to, the seven sex-related charges to which Bakerofskie pleaded guilty on December 21st.
(WPPA)

UNIVERSITY PARK - The sound of blasting was heard on Penn State University's main campus today as construction crews started working on a new ice hockey rink. Blasts are taking place twice a day for the next six weeks, Monday through Friday, near the intersection of Curtain Road and University Drive. University officials said the disturbance will be minimal, but there may be temporary traffic delays.
(WGRC)

SUNBURY – In Northumberland County, Shikellamy School District Superintendent Robin Musto unexpectedly took a leave of absence after alerting school board members by email Saturday. School Board member Tom Michaels tells the Daily Item, Musto cited medical reasons for the leave and told the directors she will be available by phone if need be, but she won't return to her district office until at least March 19th.  The board meets on Thursday, and Michaels said he expects district business manager Dave Sinopoli to assume Musto's duties until she returns.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT – Police are looking for a man who tried to abduct a child in Lycoming County.  State Police say a man described as being in his 50s with a dark very full beard wearing a dark hat, dark coat and sunglasses is accused of trying to abduct an 8-year old girl at the K-Mart store on East Third Street in Loyalsock Township yesterday afternoon around 3.  Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call State Police at Montoursville.
John Callahan (WGRC)

JERSEY SHORE - Police in Lycoming County are seeking help finding the man behind a home invasion. Police believe the man broke into a home in the 1100 block of Allegheny Street in Jersey Shore on Friday night, attacked a woman and rummaged through her purse. She was able to lock herself in the bathroom and call police. Anyone with information on this robbery, should call Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police.
(WNEP)

MILESBURG – A business robbed in Centre County.   Troopers are investigating a robbery at B and B Market along Eagle Valley Road in Boggs Township that happened around 3 Friday afternoon.  Police say a man handed a note to the clerk saying to place money on the counter and that he had a weapon.  The robber then fled with an unknown amount of cash.  The man is described as being in his mid-20s with a full beard.  He was wearing a black hoodie with red sleeves and blue jeans.  He had a white rag over his face at the time of the robbery.  Anyone with information on this robbery should contact State Police at Rockview.
John Callahan (WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT – Police take a man into custody after catching him trying to break into a business in Lycoming County.  Troopers responded to a burglar alarm at Smokes to Go on East Third Street in Loyalsock Township just after 6:30 on the morning of February 7th.  When they arrived, they found 29-year old Steven Long of Williamsport using a hammer and screwdriver in an attempt to gain access to the business.  Long was arrested and jailed charged with attempted burglary.
John Callahan (WGRC)

AUBURN – A fire is intentionally set in Schuylkill County.  A fire marshal says a fire at 412 Washington Street in Auburn just before 11:30 Saturday night was the work of an arsonist.  The fire on the porch of the vacant home did about $3,000 in damage.  This is the second arson fire in Auburn since February 2nd when a garage at 6th and Pair Alley was destroyed.  Anyone with information about these fires is asked to call State Police at Frackville and residents are reminded to be vigilant for any suspicious activity.
John Callahan (WGRC)

UNDATED – Seismic devices stolen from several Lycoming County townships.  State Police are investigating the thefts of 44 Geospace seismic measuring devices stolen from several Lycoming County townships including Upper Fairfield, Muncy Creek and Wolf.  The devices belong to Tesla Exploration.  They were taken between January 2nd and February 2nd.  
John Callahan (WGRC)

ORWIGSBURG – A man seriously hurt in a D-U-I crash in Schuylkill County this morning.  State Police say 22-year old Bryan Noll was driving along Route 443 in West Brunswick Township around 2 this morning when he drifted off the road and hit an embankment.  His car then slammed into a parked car and rolled onto its roof ejecting Noll into a field.  Noll was flown to Lehigh Valley Medical Center with what police say were serious injuries.  Police continue to investigate and believe Noll was under the influence at the time of the crash.
John Callahan (WGRC) 

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN – A man is arrested on suspicion of D-U-I after a crash yesterday morning in Schuylkill County.  Troopers say 25-year old Jared Kleckner of Orwigsburg was driving along West Adamsdale Road in Schuykill Haven yesterday morning just before 2:30 when his car went off of the road; hit some rocks and then rolled onto its roof.  Kleckner suffered a minor injury.  He submitted to field sobriety tests by police and was arrested and taken to Schuylkill Medical Center South for blood testing.
John Callahan (WGRC)

MONTANDON – A woman hurt in a crash in Northumberland County.  Troopers say an unidentified 25-year old woman from Danville was hurt when she crashed while driving at a high rate of speed along Route 405 in West Chillisquaque Township just after 1:30 yesterday morning.  Police say her car went off the roadway, hit an embankment and then a stone wall.  The vehicle then flipped onto its roof back on the roadway and slid for about 150 feet before stopping.  The woman was taken to Geisinger Medical Center for treatment of injuries.  Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash.
John Callahan (WGRC)

BELLEFONTE – A man passes out after huffing while driving in Centre County.  Police say 22-year old Brian Hazlewood of Montoursville was driving along I-99 in Spring Township around 1 o’clock Friday afternoon when he passed out behind the wheel.  His car drifted into the median; went across the opposing lanes of traffic; through a fence and then slammed into a tree.  Police discovered Hazlewood had been huffing propane as he drove causing him to pass out.  He was charged with D-U-I and related offenses.
John Callahan (WGRC)

SUNBURY – Two women hurt in a Northumberland County head on crash.  State Police say 52-year old Darlene Jones of Sunbury was driving along Route 61 in Sunbury around 8 Friday night when her car drifted into a guard rail and then into the oncoming lane where it hit an S-U-V driven by 64-year old Marie Rethemeyer of Sunbury.  Both drivers were hurt.  Jones was taken to Sunbury Hospital and Rethemeyer to Geisinger Medical Center.
John Callahan (WGRC)

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN – Three people are hurt in a crash in Schuylkill County.  Troopers say 84-year old Catherine Silvestri of Ashland pulled out onto the Gordon Naugle Trail in North Manheim Township around 2:30 Saturday afternoon and into the path of a car driven by 40-year old William Harrington of Shenandoah.  Harrington and his 8-year old son suffered moderate injuries in the collision and were taken to Schuylkill Medical Center East.  Silvestri had a minor injury.  Both drivers will be cited.
John Callahan (WGRC)

SHENANDOAH – A fugitive taken into custody in Schuylkill County.  State Police say 21-year old Lilliana Jimenez-Colon of Shenandoah was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation at West and Arlington Streets in Shenandoah on Friday afternoon.  Jimenez-Colon was found to be wanted in Snyder County.  She is locked up awaiting transport to Snyder County to face the charges against her.
John Callahan (WGRC)

SAINT CLAIR - Having a major crimes task force will benefit police departments in Schuylkill County that choose to participate, according to the heads of several departments. Saint Clair Police Chief Michael Carey suggested the task force to District Attorney Karen Noon, her staff and several police officials during a recent meeting designed to share crime-fighting ideas. The Republican Herald reports, according to Carey, if formed, the team would be comprised of officers from many local departments and be available to assist in the investigation of major incidents such as homicides, robberies, sexual assaults or other crimes.
(WGRC)

UNIVERSITY PARK - After months of scandal, Penn State students showed the world a different side of the university.  In its 40 years, Penn State`s annual dance marathon, known as THON, has raised tens of millions to fight pediatric cancer.  After nearly two days on their feet, hundreds of Penn State student dancers finally got a chance to rest as THON 2012 ended yesterday afternoon.  Students raised more than $10.6 million for the Four Diamonds Fund to benefit children with cancer, shattering last year`s record.
(WNEP)