WGRC Christian Radio

NORTHUMBERLAND - A Northumberland County woman is charged with theft and forgery for stealing over a quarter of a million dollars from her employer. Police say 48-year old Cynthia Lark of Northumberland is accused of taking just over $294,000 while working for the Northumberland Sewer Authority in the bourough of Northumberland by forging authorized signatures on sewer authority checks made out to her. She's alleged to have done this for the past five years. The thefts came to light when another person was assigned to Lark's job while she was away. Lark was charged today with theft, forgery and related charges. She was arraigned with bail set at $20,000. Lark has been cooperating with authorities during the investigation.
John Callahan (WGRC)   

STATE COLLEGE - We now know the identities of the three men said to be involved in several armed robberies that have taken place in Centre County. State College Police Chief Thomas King says during these robberies, the suspects displayed various weapons including pistols and assault rifles. King gave credit to the task force that was set up just last week to deal with the problem. The Centre Daily Times reports those arrested just after Midnight Tuesday are, 21-year old Maksim Illarionov of State College, 23-year old Dmitriy Litvinov of Boalsburg and 28-year old Alexei Semionov of Brooklyn.
Jim Diehl/John Callahan (WGRC)   

WILLIAMSPORT - Earlier this week, Williamsport Mayor Gabriel Campana addressed the media concerning safety in the city on the heels of four shootings in the city last Saturday. While Council and the Mayor don't see eye to eye on what's best for the city, Councilwoman Gerry Fausnaught spoke up at last night's city Council meeting to address the mayor's comments to the media.     She said: "As a member of City Council and one of your elected representatives, I would like the citizens of Williamsport to know that I will only place blame for the criminal activities that occur in our community on those who commit the crimes.  As a community leader, I believe that open dialog, not blame games, is the bedrock of good government.  We need to come together as city residents and neighbors to find reasonable, community-based solutions to the criminal issues that unfortunately affect all too many communities throughout our state and our country.  The answers can not come from government alone and Williamsport deserves more than finger pointing from its leaders. "
(WRAK)

WILLIAMSPORT - With Census Day on April 1, 2010 just a few short weeks away, the United States Census Bureau is recruiting workers to fill various positions. The Williamsport Office of the US Census will hold testing sessions in 11 counties on Saturday, March 6 to give people maximum opportunity to take the first step toward possible employment.  Tests will be given at various locations in Columbia, Lycoming, Northumberland, Montour, Snyder, Sullivan, and Union counties. Anyone interested may pre-register by calling 1-866-861-2010 toll free or 570-974-2320.  A practice test is available online at www. 2010census jobs.gov
(WRAK)

HARRISBURG - Representative Merle Phillips has announced that $1.5 million in state funding has been released for Shikellamy State Park. The money is from the 2009-10 capital budget and will be used for improvements to the Shikellamy State Park Marina Building. Phillips says they have waited quite a while for this money to be released, and Phillips says he's grateful to the administration for realizing how important this project is to the local community and to its tourism industry.
John Callahan (WGRC)

HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania is the top-ranked large state - and ranks third overall - for the speed with which its Department of Transportation started and delivered projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, according to a Congressional committee. The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's latest ranking of the states showed Pennsylvania climbed from No. 6 to No. 3 and is the highest ranked large state. The committee has paid close attention to how the states have managed the $27 billion in highway and bridge recovery funds allocated by the Recovery Act.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - A fatal fire in Lycoming County yesterday morning was ruled accidental. Fire crews were called out shortly before five yesterday morning to a working structure fire in Williamsport at 215 Germania Street. County Coroner Charles Kiessling says 57-year old Linda Mayer died in the blaze. Fire chief Dean Heinbach, with quite an amount of emotion, said it's the first fatal fire since he became chief. He says the fire started in a space between the basement and first floor due to an electrical wiring problem and spread quickly. The damage estimate is $47,000.
(WGRC/WRAK)  

WILLIAMSPORT - In Lycoming County jurors found a former school teacher guilty on most counts related to child sex charges, Thursday. 42-year-old Leon Bodle, who worked at Williamsport Area School District, taught at Sugar Valley Rural Charter School in Loganton and substituted at Montoursville and Muncy school districts, was found guilty of 37 of 41 counts. Sentencing is scheduled for 11 a.m. June 24th before Judge Marc Lovecchio. Bodle will undergo an assessment to determine if he is a sexually violent predator. Bodle is accused of sending sexualy explicit messages to young girls through the computer.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

DANVILLE - A 22-year-old Philadelphia man will spend up to 18 years in state prison for his actions during what prosecutors described as the largest riot in the history of the North Central Secure Treatment Unit in Danville. Blaine Twyman was found guilty in December of four felony counts of aggravated assault, and related counts. He did not show up for the jury trial and was apprehended in February in Lackawanna County. Before sentencing, Twyman said he skipped the trial because when he was at jury selection, he became convinced he would not receive a fair trial.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

TAMAQUA - A 24-year-old Tamaqua man who struck and fatally injured another man with a car Friday night in Schuylkill County was driving without a license and had no insurance. Police say the violations by David Ems are the latest in a long list of driving-related offenses on his record.     Police say Ems struck and critically injured 54-year-old William Steele of Tamaqua just before nine p.m. in the 300 block of East Union Street. Steele was flown to St. Luke's Hospital, Bethlehem, where he died a short time after being taken off life support Wednesday. Police say a homicide by vehicle charge is unlikely because another traffic offense such as DUI, careless driving or speeding needs to be proven to hold up the more serious charge.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

LEWISBRUG - A Philadelphia man has been charged in Union County with supplying heroin brought back to Union County by others and distributed. Seven drugs related counts have been filed against 23-year-old Marcos Castillo following a grand jury investigation into a drug distribution ring here in Central Pennsylvania. Police say Castillo would provide heroin to several local people between January and December 2007.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

MAINVILLE - In Columbia County police say a man here had sex with his horses, and invited two other men to take part, make videos and photograph the acts. 46-year-old Curtis Armstrong, confessed to bestiality and possessing child pornography after his wife reported finding photos of underage girls on the family computer. When police seized the computer, they recovered 174 images and two video files of Armstrong, and two other men with his horses. The Press Enterprise reports, Armstrong appeared before a judge Wednesday, and released on bail.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

CENTRALIA - A teen already facing charges for allegedly stealing a Knoebels golf cart and pilfering from the old Conyngham  Township Police station is now accused of toppling stones in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Centralia. 19-year-old David Pavolski of Wilberton and three teenage girls were riding around in Pavloski's pickup the day after Christmas when they stopped at the cemetery. Police say the four damaged 64 tombstones, and about five or six of those were destroyed beyond repair, causing about five thousand dollars in damages. Pavloski allegedly confessed to the crime after he was locked up in Columbia County Prison on the other charges.    He was brought before a judge yesterday on the vandalism charges and then sent back to jail. The girls ages 17, 14, and 13, all of Wilburton - will face charges in juvenile court.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

LOCUST TOWNSHIP - In Columbia County, a police chief in Locust Township has decided to call it quits. Police Chief Jeff Sutton has resigned and agreed to forgo about $5,000 worth of unused time off. In an agreement with Locust Township Sutton requested the Township purge any disciplinary records and pending or prior investigations from Sutton's file. It also stipulates officials won't discuss the deal or Sutton's employment with anyone. The 48-year-old Sutton was also on paid leave for part of the last month. Sutton says he's leaving for personal reasons, with plans to pursue a job in the private sector.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

MOUNT CARMEL - An ambulance company in Northumberland County closes. American Hose Ambulance Company has closed down after Special Event EMS pulled its services from the company. Special Event provided Advanced Life Services to American Hose for only seven months. Although American Hose will no longer be providing ALS or basic life support services for Mount Carmel, residents should not be worried. AREA Services, which acts as secondary provider, will be available for borough residents in the event of an emergency. The News Item reports, the service closed down at 4 p.m. Thursday, putting 15 people out a job.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - The Pennsylvania House Commerce Committee will hold the second in a series of several public hearings on economic development from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 11 in Mary Lindsay Welch Honors Hall, Lycoming College, Williamsport. Economic Development and Job Creation is the premise of this series of hearings. Subsequent hearings will follow throughout the year in other regions of the state. In January, the committee held its first hearing of the series in the southwest in Somerset County. 
(WGRC)