WGRC Christian Radio

STATE COLLEGE -- Another person has been charged for involvement in a Centre County assault. Police say 18-year old Andy Rodriguez, of State College, was part of the group that attacked a Penn State student last month.  The 23-year old victim was treated at the hospital. Police say the group unsuccessfully tried to take the student's backpack, but Rodriguez did steal an ipod. The Centre Daily Times reports that 3 others have already been charged including Jamar and Bernard Smack. They are former State College standout athletes.  Jamar now plays basketball at Bloomsburg, while his brother is a member of the Shippensburg football team.
(WGRC)

STATE COLLEGE - In Centre County, the State College Police are attempting to identify two individuals who are considered persons of interest in the July 18th arson involving a police vehicle that was intentionally set on fire to the rear of the State College Municipal Building. The individuals were described as being white males in their late teens.  One male had dark hair and was wearing a gray t-shirt, tan shorts, and dark sneakers.  The other male had lighter hair and was wearing a gray t-shirt, camouflage shorts, and white sneakers.  Photos of those young men have been placed on the State College Police website at statecollegepa.us
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - An S-C-I Muncy inmate gets additional prison time at the Lycoming County facility for two assaults on staff.  40-year old Verna Waller was charged for spitting on a corrections officer in 2006. That case was delayed several times by questions regarding Waller's competency. The second incident happened this past March when Waller hurled a food tray at, and then moved aggressively toward a corrections officer.  Waller was given an additional one to four years for the incidents.
John Callahan (WGRC)

MILL HALL - In Clinton County, the Community Pool at Mill Hall has been repeatedly broken into recently, and a reward is now offered to help find the thieves. Pool Manager Michelle Peters tells the Express, a $100 reward has been posted for information that leads to arrests. The facility at Mill Hall Community Park was broken into at least five times over a period of three weeks. Candy and soda have been stolen and now damage has been done.  After Peters discovered the fourth break-in, which took place last Thursday night, steps were taken to improve security. On Sunday, the thieves took a hatchet to the front door, wrecking the lock and door handle and leaving dangerous metal shards behind. The thefts and damage now total about $1,000.
John Callahan (WGRC)

NUMIDIA - A church burglarized in Columbia County. Locust Township Police report that two men were seen going into St. Paul's Lutheran Church on Ringtown Mountain Road in Numidia around 5:30 this morning. The witness who lives near the church waited for a short time and the men came out of the church carrying items. The witness yelled at the thieves and one of them dropped a brass alter bible holder before they fled the area on foot toward Route 42. A photo of the burglars can be viewed online at facebook dot com slash locust pd. Several other items are missing from the church. The Locust Township Police Department's officer's association is offering a $200 reward for information leading to the arrest of these burglars.
John Callahan (WGRC)

POTTSVILLE - The Shenandoah woman facing a hate crime charge in connection with a February barroom brawl asked a Schuylkill County judge yesterday to dismiss all charges against her. 37-year old Miriam Malave, who already is headed to state prison as the result of her role in a fight in September where she is accused of stabbing a woman, said nothing during the five-minute hearing before Judge D. Michael Stine, who promised a prompt ruling on her request. Malave's three sons have also been charged in the barroom brawl incident. Miriam Malave allegedly yelled, quote..."All the whites will die tonight", during the fight.
John Callahan (WGRC)

MILLERSTOWN - A 480-pound bear was killed Monday night when it was hit by a pickup truck on Routes 22/322 in Millerstown, Perry County. Police tell the Patriot News, the bear was hit around 10 p.m. when it ran onto the road in front of a heavy duty pick-up truck driven by an Armstrong County man.  He was wearing a seat belt and was not injured, but his truck had to be towed.
John Callahan (WGRC)

ALLENTOWN - The Diocese of Allentown no longer holds the keys for six former Roman Catholic churches in Schuylkill County. While parishioners were adjusting to the loss of 32 county churches in July 2008, most of their former churches were put up for sale. The six churches sold so far, according to Allentown Diocese Communications Director Matt Kerr, are Immaculate Conception Churc in Kelayres; Assumption BVM Church, Mahanoy City; Our Lady of Siluva Church in Maizeville; St. Barbara Church, Minersville; St. Boniface Church in Saint Clair; and St. Bertha Church, Tuscarora. Another church sale in Mahanoy City has not been finalized.
(WGRC)

HARRISBURG - State Representative Rick Mirabito, announced the Williamsport Sanitary Authority and Duboistown Borough have been approved for low-interest Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority loans to improve their sewage systems. Williamsport Sanitary Authority has been approved for an almost $4.5 million Pennvest loan to bring the facility into compliance with the state's Chesapeake Bay Nutrient Reduction Strategy. The system serves as the regional treatment facility for Williamsport and seven surrounding communities. The project, which is expected to create 20 jobs, involves improvements at the West Plant. Duboistown Borough has been approved for a just over $2.5 million Pennvest loan to address discharges of untreated sewage into the surrounding area and Mosquito Creek.  The project is expected to create 15 jobs.
(WGRC)

HARRISBURG  - More than 186,000 volunteers cleaned 19,373 miles of roads, trails and shorelines in Pennsylvania during the Great American Cleanup of PA, which ran from March 1st to May 31st. PennDOT Secretary Allen Biehler said he thanks everyone who gave of their time to improve the state's environment and appearance. During the cleanup, 12 million pounds of trash was collected, with 3.7 million pounds being collected by PennDOT's Adopt-A-Highway program volunteers.
(WGRC)

WATSONTOWN -- Authorities in Northumberland County continue to investigate the death of an elderly man. The body of 81-year old William Hill was found Saturday night inside his home at 5 Vincent Avenue in Watsontown. Police tell The Daily Item that Hill was found partially clothed and partially covered by a carpet.  Investigators also say drag marks and a broken wooden clothes rack were also found near the man's body.
Don Casteline (WGRC)

LEWISTOWN -- A woman's threats lock down a Mifflin County hospital. State Police say 35-year old Crystal Zong, of McVeytown, called the Lewistown Hospital around 11:30 last night threatening to hurt someone if she wasn't admitted for alcohol treatment. Police say Zong was taken into custody and jailed in lieu of 10-thousand dollars straight bail.
Don Casteline (WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT -- State Police in Lycoming County continue to investigate a foiled armed robbery attempt. Troopers say a man brandished a knife when demanding that an 18-year old store clerk open the safe at the Kwik Fill along Lycoming Creek Road. The alleged incident happened around 10 o'clock Friday night. Police say the clerk scuffled with the suspect who eventually fled on foot.  The teenage clerk was taken to Williamsport Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. 
Don Casteline (WGRC)

BEAVER SPRINGS -- A Snyder County man faces theft related charges for stealing and using a woman's debit card. Selinsgrove State Police say 33-year old Martin Lynn, of Beavertown, was caught using the stolen card on convenience store surveillance cameras during the Memorial Day weekend. Lynn allegedly used the card to take more than 400-dollars from 29-year old Michele Delawder, of Beaver Springs.
Don Casteline (WGRC)
    
DETURKSVILLE -- A Schuylkill County official is cleared of wrongdoing following a lengthy investigation. The Republican Herald reports Washington Township Supervisor Randy Stump will not face any charges. The more than 6-month long investigation aimed to determine if Stump used township money for personal and business purchases. 
(WGRC)

LEWISTOWN - The future of a pair of Mifflin County Libraries has been extended for the moment. On Monday the Mifflin County Library Board of Trustees opted to keep libraries in Allensville and Milroy open into next year.  The Sentinel reports that a proposal to close the libraries this year was being considered following the recent reduction of state funding. Currently those libraries are only able to be open for 20 hours per week, the minimum allowed in order to receive any state funding.
Don Casteline (WGRC)

SHENANDOAH -- A third man will stand trial for the March shooting death of a Schuylkill County man. According to the Republican Herald, 19-year old Jahmal Ollivirre, of Reading, has waived his right to a preliminary hearing.  He and two others are charged in connection with the robbery and killing of 24-year old Bruce Forker of Shenandoah. All three defendants continue to be jailed without bail.
(WGRC)

DANVILLE -- A Danville man has waived his right to a preliminary hearing and will face charges in Montour County Court for allegedly shooting another hunter with a pellet gun on Bald Top Mountain. Reports say 44-year old Michael Kelly apologized to the victim for the Memorial Day accident. Prosecutors say Kelly is a convicted felon and should have never had the pellet gun. The victim, 52-year old Jeff Blue told reporters that he accepted Kelly's apology. Kelly's uncle, 75-year old Samuel Kelly, also faces charges for failing to help Blue at the time of the incident.
Don Casteline (WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - Cabin break-ins lead to prison time for a Lycoming County man. 49-year old James Mull of Montoursville pleaded guilty to multiple burglary charges for a series of break ins back in January. Mull stole several guns from cabins in Upper Fairfield Township and then sold them to support a heroin habit. He was sentenced yesterday to 2 to 4 years in state prison.
John Callahan (WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - A Lycoming County man ends up in state prison for insisting he was his brother, even under oath. 21-year old Ryan Lynn of Williamsport was stopped by police for erratic driving. He told police he was 23-year old Robert J. Lynn Junior. The older Lynn had a bench warrant out for his arrest and the younger Lynn was taken to jail on that warrant where he continued to say he was Robert Lynn even though a jail employee recongnized him as Ryan Lynn. At his arraignment Ryan Lynn continued to insist he was Robert Lynn even with his probation officer present. Ryan Lynn was sentenced to 2 to 5 years in state prison for false swearing and related new counts along with violating the previous conditions of his probation for prior incidents.
John Callahan (WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT -- The City of Williamsport and the Newberry Community Partnership have showcased plans for an improvement and facade program. Yesterday the 272-thousand dollar face lift for Newberry was showcased. Improvements have already begun and will include new trees, lighting as well as other amenities.  The West Fourth Street project is expected to be complete by mid-October.
(WGRC/WRAK)

DANVILLE -- An effort to bring artificial turf to Danville is trying to gain a foothold. Danville School Director Dawn Gill chairs the community group working to bring artifical turf to Ironmen Stadium.  She tells the Press Enterprise that their goal is to raise about 1-million dollars over the next several years. Gill says they hope to avoid using taxpayer money for the potential project. Athletic Director Ron Kanaskie says artifical turf would allow the field to get used more heavily.
Don Casteline (WGRC)