WGRC Christian Radio

WILLIAMSPORT - Fire officials say a fire Monday evening in Williamsport was intentionally set. The fire at the vacant two-and-a-half story, double home at 628-630 Fifth Avenue was set on the first floor of an enclosed rear porch of the home around seven last night. The flames spread to the kitchen area and into the second floor and attic area of the home owned by Mark Mann. Mann recently purchased the home and reportedly was making renovations. The fire was contained to the 630 side of the home. Damages estimates are set at $40-thousand dollars. Mann is insured for the loss.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

BELLEFONTE - A Centre County man convicted of sex crimes is sentenced to serve at least 60 years in jail. 43-year old Richard Loner of Port Matilda was found guilty last September of sexually assaulting an 11-year old mentally challenged girl on several occassions during the summer of 2008. He has also been deemed a sexually violent predator. Loner was sentenced today to 60 to 123 years behind bars. He will have to register as a Megan's Law Offender for the rest of his life should he be released from prison.
John Callahan (WGRC)

CENTRE HALL - A Bellefonte teen was struck by a vehicle while walking along Route 45 in Centre County. That happened Monday night just after ten p.m.  Police say 18-year-old Tyler Struble was walking along the highway when he stepped into the path of a car driven by 31-year-old David Rummel of Spring Mills. Rummel tried to avoid hitting Struble but couldn't.  Struble was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center then flown to Geisinger with what police call leg injuries. Police say they plan to file charges against Struble.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

LOCK HAVEN - The jury trial for a Clinton County man accused of homicide by watercraft in the death of a 12-year-old girl on the Susquehanna River last July might not be held until June. 51-year old John E. Englert II, of Mill Hall, attended Monday's hearing on the homicide case, and a suppression hearing that followed in short order in connection with an unrelated drunk-driving arrest on October 30th. The Express reports, Englert faces 37 criminal offenses for the July 10th crash that killed Valerie Heidt, a Bellefonte Middle School student from Hublersburg, who was a passenger in the other boat. 41-year old Barbara Hummer, Englert's co-defendant, pleaded guilty yesterday and will testify against Englert under a plea agreement. Englert remains jailed on $750,000 bail.
John Callahan (WGRC)

NEWPORT - State police at Newport have identified a man who died Sunday night following a crash is Perry County's Miller Township. 53 year old Steven Sweger of Harrisburg died from a heart attack which caused the crash in the 1900 block of Newport road. Sweger's vehicle left the roadway and struck a parked vehicle. He was taken to Harrisburg Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
(WFYY)
 
LEWISBURG  - Calling it an effort to enhance care to area residents and prevent duplication of services, Evangelical Hospital is urging area residents to support their local ambulance companies. Instead of ambulance companies contracting with the hospital for EMT services, Evan now supplies paramedics to accompany local ambulance personnel on 911 calls. Hospital officials say that means a higher quality of care delivered more efficiently to residents. Plus residents will no longer need 2 memberships to be covered.
(WFYY)

BERWICK - Officials with PPL are not releasing many more details on an accident yesterday at the nuclear power plant near Berwick that sent a worker to the hospital. Today PPL spokesman Joe Scopelleti says the worker was preparing a pipe for welding when he was injured and was flown to a hospital for treatment. Beyond that, Scopelliti says no new information can be released. The worker was helping with re-fueling at the plant when the accident happened Monday afternoon.
(WFYY)

WILLIAMSPORT - Although saying the city of Williamsport is not in dire straights, Mayor Gabriel Campana admitted that it's challenging times for the city. He attended the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities meeting yesterday in Harrisburg and told reporters this morning that cutting costs will more than likely come to his Administration, including within the police department. He says that not all retirements expected will be filled, while on a positive note, he says there is unprecedented growth coming to the city through a new hotel and national restaurants. Several viable options, adopted and presented by PLCM, would provide local governments with help addressing pressing needs for new revenue sources: The County and Municipal Property Tax Relief Act, A local share of a Sales Tax Expansion, A Local Option Liquor Sales Tax, and reimbursements for Tax-exempt Property.
(WRAK)

HARRISBURG - The presidents of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO and the Pennsylvania State Education Association today signaled the beginning of a new, stronger bond when they signed a historic agreement to allow for greater solidarity and advocacy on behalf of working Pennsylvanians. William George, president of Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, the state's largest union, and Jim Testerman, president of the PSEA, the state's largest school employee union, signed the labor solidarity partnership agreement today at a Harrisburg news conference.
(WGRC)

AUBURN - Two people were flown to the Lehigh Valley Medical Center following a crash in Schuylkill County late last night. The crash happened around 11:30 last night along Meadow Drive in South Manheim Township. Police say 20-year-old Alicia Anthony of Auburn was speeding when she lost control of her vehicle rolling it several time into a pole barn and embankment. Neither Anthony nor her passenger 21-year-old Paul Zuk also of Auburn were wearing seat belts. Police say both suffered serious injuries.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

BELLEFONTE - An escaped prison inmate from Centre County was picked up Monday in Williamsport. Police have been looking for 21-year-old Zachariah Johnson after he fled from a work release program on February 19th. Police say Kyle Horn and Ebinoseta Osagie both 18-year-olds were helping hide Johnson from police. The three were seen in a vehicle in Williamsport and led police on a short chase, when their vehicle crashed into a parked vehicle. Police immediately arrested Ebinoseta Osagie, at the scene of the crash, and the other two after a short foot chase. Police say they found marijuana on Johnson and also in the vehicle he was in. All three were taken back to Centre County and jailed facing numerous felony charges.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - A high-speed chase ended late Monday afternoon when police flattened one of the tires of a minivan driven by a woman wanted on a felony warrant. Around 5:30 p.m. the woman driving the vehicle and the two men riding as passengers were caught just west of the city's downtown. Daysha Norris of Linden led police on a chase that spanned close to 10 miles and included speeds of about 100 mph on some highway stretches. Norris is wanted on a Dauphin County felony theft warrant.  
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

HECKSCHERVILLE - A man with several drug warrants against him is picked up at work in Schuuylkill County. Troopers say they took 32-year old Aaron Vandaley of Pottsville into custody around eight yesterday morning at his workplace in the Highridge Industrial Park in Foster Township. Vandaley was wanted on a slew of drug related charges. He was arraigned and is locked up after being unable to post $25,000 cash bail.
John Callahan (WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - In Lycoming County Police are investigating the theft of over $19-hundred dollars. That happened Friday around 4:30 p.m. Police say 36-year-old Francine Meltzer had the cash taken from her. Anyone with information is asked to call state police, Montoursville.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)    

STROUDSBURG - Jury selection is expected today for the driver of a truck that crashed into Senator James Rhodes in Monroe County causing injuries to Rhodes which eventually claimed his life. Senator James Rhoades, died following a car crash near Brodheadsville, after his vehicle collided with a truck driven by Thomas Senavitis. Senavitis, is charged with vehicular homicide. His trial is expected to start this week.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

BERWICK - A worker helping with refueling at the nuclear plant near Berwick was flown to a hospital after an accident Monday afternoon. Work on the job has stopped while PPL officials investigate the mishap, said plant spokesman Joseph Scopelliti. No further details were released.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

JERSEY SHORE - In Lycoming County quick work by firefighters in Jersey Shore saved a home from being destroyed by fire. The fire inside 210 Marion Street, was confined to one room. Firefighters were called out around 4:30 p.m. to the home of Gordon Stewart when fire began in a bedroom garbage can and spread to an adjacent wall, dresser and curtains. No injuries were reported, and the home is insured.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - A vacant home in Williamsport caught fire Monday night. The vacant double home at 628-630 Fifth Avenue caught fire just before seven p.m. Firefighters say there were no injuries and confirmed the house was vacant. Smoke was seen billowing out of the attic of the 2 1/2-story home. Work was being done to the home which has been unoccupied since 2008.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

LEWISBURG - Five children from Union County have brighter futures thanks to a free, residential school located in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The Milton Hershey School is looking for more local students, ages 4-15, to benefit from this terrific opportunity. Representatives from the School will be at the Country Cupboard in Lewisburg today  from 5:30-7 p.m. for an informal get-together for parents and children to learn more about Milton Hershey School. The event includes a brief presentation and a time for questions. In addition, an evening meal will be served. There is no cost to attend the event and no registration is required to attend the Opportunity Fair. Milton Hershey, founder of the Hershey Chocolate Company, and his wife Catherine, founded the Milton Hershey School in 1909. They had no children of their own and wanted to help orphan boys in need get a good education. Today, the school, located on more than 10,000 acres in Hershey, serves boys and girls from 4 years of age through their 12th grade graduation, who are in social and financial need.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

DANVILLE - Geisinger Health System is no longer screening hospital visitors for swine flu, and it has lifted visitation restrictions that had been in place for sick people and children for more than four months. All entrances at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre have been re-opened to the public because the local volume of swine-flu cases is very low, and an emergence of seasonal influenza has not been seen. Visitation restrictions will remain in place for RSV, a respiratory virus. RSV restrictions mandate that no one under age 5 can visit any in-patient area. The restriction will be enforced until RSV season concludes as determined by the Department of Infection Control.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

LEWISTOWN - A former Mifflin County Regional Police Department chief of police was hired by the Lewistown Borough Council on Monday evening to assist the municipality in establishing the new Lewistown Borough Police Department. The council approved William Herkert for the job by a 5-to-2 vote. Lewistown Borough has opted to end ties with MCRPD, which is its current police service, when contracts expire at the end of this year and form its own police department. Herkert and the regional police department came under public scrutiny in 2008 when Herkert was fired from his position as chief of the Regional Police. Prior to his termination, Herkert received support from some members of the borough council. Herkert will be hired as a part-time employee at a salary of $58-thousand dollars a year.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

LEWISBURG - Three candidates for the Republican nomination in the 10th Congressional District say incumbent Democrat Chris Carney is out of touch with his constituents. Businessman David Madeira, Snyder County Commissioner Malcolm Derk and former U.S. Attorney Tom Marino told an audience of about 55 Monday night that they believe Carney's voting record doesn't represent the Republican-leaning district. A fourth invited Republican candidate, Queens College accounting professor Steven Solieri, did not appear. The two-hour forum at Bucknell University's Langone Center was sponsored by the Susquehanna Valley Conservatives group.
(WGRC)

HARRISBURG - A bipartisan group of mayors and local officials from across the Commonwealth, representing the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities, rallied-in the State Capitol Monday, to call for support of new revenue options for local government. The economic downturn and soaring personnel costs combined with an outdated local tax structure have generated an unprecedented fiscal crisis at the local level. All levels of local government are faced with increasing property taxes and user fees, cutting services and decreasing their workforce to make ends meet. The group rallied for passage of the County and Municipal Property Tax Relief Act. It allows for a 1% county option sales tax. One half of the revenue would be used to alleviate property taxes at the school district level. One quarter would go to the county and the final quarter would be shared among the municipalities in the county. The group also supports a local share of a sales tax expansion, a local liquor sales tax, and reimbursement for tax-exempt property. The Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization established in 1900 as an advocate for Pennsylvania's 3rd class cities.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)