February 21, 2012

HUBLERSBURG – Two houses are a total loss a third damaged during a fire this morning in Centre County. The fire was reported around eight a.m. along Sand Ridge Road in Walker Township. Walker Township Assistant Fire Chief Joe Shaffer tells us when his crews arrived on scene the first home was partially collapsed and the second home fully involved in flames while a third home was just starting to catch fire. Shaffer says two families are homeless however he was unsure of how many people lived in the two homes. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time and a state police fire marshal was called to investigate. Shaffer says two cats perished in the fire. There were no injuries to either family members or firefighters.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

MILLMONT – A state police fire marshal says he cannot tell what started a fire that destroyed property in Union County Saturday morning. Trooper Norman Fedder says the fire that caused $250,000 in damages to a shed garage and home of 71-year-old George Bowen along Bowen Lane near Millmont, in Lewis Township. Fedder says the fire reported around 6:30 Saturday morning started in the shed and then spread into a garage and Bowen’s home. Fedder says due to the amount of damage the cause of the blaze could not be determined. 
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

KULPMONT — In Northumberland County, the driver of a Jeep was taken to Geisinger Medical Center this morning with leg injuries after he fell asleep and crashed head-on into a Charter Tour bus this morning on Route 61 in Kulpmont. Police say 23-year-old Andrew Kowaleski of Kulpmont hit the bus with his Jeep. We are told at least four of the 19 passengers on the bus suffered minor bumps and bruises. The crash happened just before ten this morning at the intersection of Fifth and Chestnut Street which is Route 61 in Kulpmont.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

MIFFLINBURG – A Milton man is jailed in the Union County Prison after stealing over $20,000 from the Mifflinburg Hotel where he worked as manager. Mifflinburg Police today charged 56-year-old David Burns with numerous theft counts after he made numerous personal purchases on a hotel credit card between October 2012 and October 2011.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

 MONTOURSVILLE – A special meeting was held last night in the Borough of Montoursville to discuss several topics related to flood recovery efforts, a proposed levee project and repairs to Mill Street. Council debated the merits of rebuilding Mill Street as it was prior to last September's floods, or possibly create a new alternate route. In the end, the only thing decided was to have another meeting with the Lycoming County Planning and Community Development office, the Williamsport Regional Airport Authority and council members to gather more information. As the flood cleanup efforts are coming to an end, the borough is focusing on reconstruction projects with federal and state money. The Sun Gazette reports, the discussion also turned to the Army Corps of Engineers plans for a borough levee system and how the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will step in after the Corps deemed the project unfeasible.
(WGRC)

STATE COLLEGE — Administrators in the State College Area School District are recommending about $1.28 million in cuts, including about $400,000 worth of technology and $600,000 worth of staff positions through attrition. The plan would also raise taxes by 2.7 percent, which equals about a $70 increase for the average homeowner.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT – The Williamsport Area School Board meeting scheduled for tonight is being moved to the Jackson Elementary School’s multi-purpose room and will begin at 6pm.  Among the items on the agenda tonight is a discussion on possible staff cuts which may need to take place to lop off money from a proposed budget which contains a $5.4 million dollar deficit. School officials are looking at evaluating staffing needs in the district and enrollment in specific curriculums. Officials say reduced staffing could save the district more than $3 million dollars.
(WGRC)

SELINSGROVE - In Snyder County, a restructuring plan that trims $700,000 from the Selinsgrove Area School District's budget by eliminating 15 teaching positions will be put to a vote tonight.  The school board is scheduled to meet at 7 tonight in the middle school multi-purpose room and discuss the proposal to reduce a projected $1 million shortfall in the tentative $36.29 million 2012-13 budget. The spending plan also includes a 2.3-mill property tax increase that would raise the average property owner's tax bill by $62. The Daily Item reports, the proposed tax increase is expected to generate $562,000 in additional revenue. While laying off teachers and raising taxes, the school board is planning to give raises to administrators.  Those pay increases will be 50 percent lower than those written into their contracts.
(WGRC)

SHENANDOAH – A woman hurt in a Schuylkill County fire last night. Fire fighters were called to 318-320 West Centre Street in Shenandoah at around 6:30 last nigtht and found fire at the rear of the building.  A woman living there suffered burns and was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital.  Firefighters quickly contained the fire before it could spread to adjoining structures. The Republican Herald reports, the cause of the fire is under investigation.
(WGRC)

ORVISTON - Fire destroyed a house in Centre County. The cause of the fire at the two-story home of Dave Weaver at 1411 Orviston Mountain Road in Curtin Township is still unknown. Mark Ott with the Howard Fire Company tells the Centre Daily Times, the fire was reported just before 4:30 Sunday afternoon.  The home was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived.  Ott said water supply was a problem, and the fire rekindled when water was running low. Crews ended up damming a creek behind the house to have water. No injuries were reported.  Weaver is staying with family.
(WGRC)

MAHANOY CITY - An 18-year-old Schuylkill County man was jailed after he seriously injured his brother in an altercation.  Mahanoy City Police arrested Jacob Schopfer at 1305 East Pine Street in Mahanoy City and charged him with felony aggravated assault and related counts. Schopfer was involved in an argument with his sister when his brother Donald intervened.  He shoved Donald into a window breaking it.  Donald Schopfer was badly cut on the back of his head.  The Republican Herald reports, Jacob Schopfer was arraigned and jailed in lieu of $50,000 bail.
(WGRC)

DANVILLE - The Pennsylvania Superior Court has reversed a Montour County judge's ruling to suppress the confession of a Danville man who is charged with sexually assaulting a young girl. The suspect, 26-year old Brandon Mowrer, twice signed forms indicating he understood he had a right to an attorney and a right to remain silent, but confessed to police officers anyway. The Daily Item reports, that confession may now be used against Mowrer at his trial. A trial date has not been set.
(WGRC)

LIVERPOOL – State Police are looking who randomly fired a gun at a church in Juniata County. That happened sometime between 4:30 Saturday afternoon and 8:30 Sunday morning at the Bible Baptist Church located along Route 104 just north of Liverpool. Police say the bullet from the gun was recovered. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call State Police, Lewistown.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

STATE COLLEGE – In Centre County, State College police are investigating a burglary reported Sunday morning at 245 East Hamilton Ave.  Police said items valued more than $6,500 were taken from the residence.  Police tell the Centre Daily Times, someone used a credit card stolen from that residence to charge $1,000 worth of merchandise at the North Atherton Street Walmart.
(WGRC)

BIG MINE RUN – A Mount Carmel man wanted by Union County authorities was picked up during a police checkpoint in Schuylkill County Monday morning. Police picked up 35-year-old John Long during a stop in the village of Big Mine Run in Butler Township. Troopers from the Frackville barracks say Long was jailed in the Schuylkill County Jail to await extradition to Union County after police found he was wanted in Union County, and was also driving on a suspended license and had numerous other violations on his driving record.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

WEST MILTON – A woman is hurt in a Union County crash.  Troopers say 43-year old Lisa Bower of White Deer was driving along Route 642 in Kelly Township just before Midnight last night when she went off the roadway.  Bower’s car went over a cement curb and railroad tracks, then into a ditch were the car overturned onto its driver’s side.  Bower suffered what police say was a moderate injury. She was taken to Geisinger Medical Center.  Bower will be cited for the accident.
John Callahan (WGRC)

DANVILLE - Two people were hurt yesterday in a three-vehicle crash in Montour County caused by a woman lighting a cigarette.   Police say 68-year old Shirley Marks of Northumberland was driving on Route 11 in front of the CVS plaza in Danville about noon yesterday when she rear-ended a car driven by 74-year old John Eitzler of Danville, who was stopped for traffic. The Press Enterprise reports, the impact pushed Eitzler’s care into a van driven by 34-year old Shannon Halteman of Bloomsburg. Eitzler and Halteman's passenger, Lisa Kobal of Bloomsburg, suffered minor injuries and were taken to Geisinger Medical Center.  Marks said she was trying to light a cigarette and forgot to look up for traffic causing the accident.
(WGRC)

ARISTES - A drunken Schuylkill County man was speeding when he crashed, hitting trees and splitting his car in two before it erupted in flames in Columbia County.   Police say 47- year old Ronald Shoup, was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital for treatment after the crash the night of January 6th. Shoup told police he had five or six drinks at a bar before the crash.  Police tell the Press-Enterprise he was speeding when his car went off Aristes-Ringtown Road in Conyngham Township hitting a drainage ditch, then some trees before splitting in half and catching fire.  Shoup had a blood alcohol content almost three times over the legal limit. He faces charges of D-U-I and traffic offenses.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT – Coming up this Sunday, Susquehanna Health will unveil its new Susquehanna Tower at a public open house from noon to 5 pm at Williamsport Regional Medical Center, located at 700 High Street in Williamsport. Those who attend will have an unprecedented insider’s view of the tower as they participate in self-guided tours to see the expanded emergency department, joint replacement and spine unit, five new surgical suites including a cardiac operating room, large therapy gym for orthopedic patients, multimedia conference area and imaging center. The event will also feature Wii Fit stations, airbrush face painters for the kids, plus refreshments and giveaways. Designed for efficiency and patient safety, the 242,000 square foot expansion marks the largest of all renovation projects to date in Susquehanna Health’s $250 million construction initiative named Project 2012.
(WGRC)

DANVILLE - It was 1976 when then 30-year-old Vince Papale, a substitute schoolteacher from Delaware County, walked onto the Philadelphia Eagles playing field for an open tryout. Against all odds, he made the team. For the next three seasons, Papale earned a reputation for his ferocious tackles and aggressive play. Papale’s story was so impressive that in 2006 it was made into the major motion picture “Invincible.” But one of the biggest hits Papale sustained was when he was diagnosed with colon cancer. Now a spokesperson for cancer awareness, he will share the story of his emotional journey on the road to recovery at Geisinger Medical Center’s Janet Weis Children’s Hospital and, Henry Hood Center for Health Research on March 3rd between 11:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. While at Geisinger, Papale will tour the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital, host a book signing and attend a community health fair.
(WGRC)

SUNBURY - Another try at Pennsylvania's legislative redistricting will be unveiled during a public meeting Wednesday in Harrisburg, but it's likely too late for any real change in how lines are drawn to matter in this year's elections.  The 2011 Legislative Reapportionment Commission will meet at 1 p.m. in the main Capitol to consider adopting the new plan after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in January tossed out the redrawn district maps, saying numerous splits of municipalities were not absolutely necessary. The Daily Item reports, a federal judge ruled this month that Pennsylvania's 2001 legislative district maps should be used in this year's elections because the cycle is too far along to develop and approve a revised plan.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - Susquehanna Health has earned the largest customer incentive to date from PPL Electric Utilities for making energy-efficient improvements to help the health care system save energy and money. The $500,000 incentive will be used to reduce the utility expense in the current fiscal year. Rita Spangler, vice president of Facility Development at Susquehanna Health tells the Sun-Gazette, in 2010, Susquehanna Health installed a 1,900-kilowatt combined heat and power system cogenerator unit at Williamsport Regional Medical Center, which saved more than 10 million kilowatt hours of electricity in 2011.
(WGRC)

WEST MILTON - The developers proposing to build a $30 million generator in Union County running on fuel derived from rubber tires withdrew their application with the state, saying they've changed their plans and didn't want the state to make a ruling based on outdated information.  They plan to resubmit a plan in March. A spokesman for Media X Creative LLC tells the Daily Item, changes in the White Deer Energy Project are to a cogeneration system and will require filing more information with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.  The project team asked DEP to suspend its technical review, which began in December, until the team receives and reviews the additional information.
(WGRC)