WGRC Christian Radio

POTTSVILLE - Schuylkill County District Attorney James Goodman said today he will seek the death penalty against the Berks County man charged with fatally shooting a Shenandoah man in March. Goodman tells the Republican Herald, he will seek the law's ultimate sanction against 30-year old Julius Enoe of Reading, whom state police at Frackville allege killed 24-year old Bruce Forker on March 16th in the victim's home. 29-year old Damon Ennett of Freeland, and 19-year old Jahmal Ollivirre of Reading, also are charged in connection with Forker's death.
John Callahan (WGRC)   

BELLEFONTE - A Texas man charged in a drunken driving crash on Interstate 99 in Centre County last year that led to the death of a Lycoming County athlete will stand trial on the charges. 37-year-old Shayne Breaux, of La Porte, Texas, will stand trial on homicide by vehicle while DUI, involuntary manslaughter and a long list of related charges in connection with the crash November 17th that claimed the life of 24-year-old Brock Choate of Montoursville, a former standout Loyalsock High School football player who went on to play at the University of Maryland. State police say Breaux was driving with a blood alcohol level of over three times the legal limit when the SUV crashed and rolled over. Choate was thrown from the vehicle and then run over by a tractor trailer. Judge Carmine Prestia said yesterday at Breaux's preliminary hearing that there was enough evidence for him to stand trial. Choate worked with Breaux in the gas drilling industry.
Jim Diehl/John Callahan (WGRC)   

AVIS - A Jersey Shore woman is hurt after her car clips a camper last Friday in Clinton County. Troopers say 31-year old Stephanie Gharet of Jersey Shore was driving along Route 220 in Pine Creek Township around 2:30 Friday morning when her pick-up clipped a camper being towed by a truck driven by a Minnesota man as it passed her. Gharet swerved onto the berm after the impact, then overcorrected causing her car to roll several times in the median, stopping back on the highway on its side. Gharet suffered a moderate injury and was taken to Jersey Shore Hospital. She was a wearing a seat belt. Police say alcohol was a contributing factor. They continue to investigate.
John Callahan (WGRC)    

BELLEFONTE - In Centre County, a Bellefonte man accused of holding a man hostage while robbing the Penns Valley Pharmacy was released from jail Wednesday under strict supervision, so he can get treatment for the arthritis that his attorney said causes him a great amount of pain. 28-year old Colin McAtee, waived his right to a preliminary hearing on robbery and assault charges. He was arrested shortly after the July 12th holdup. Police tell the Centre Daily Times, McAtee waited until he saw 71-year-old Patrick Kelly walk into the store, along Route 45, and followed him, held a butcher knife to Kelly's throat and demanded Fentanyl and OxyContin from the pharmacists. McAtee later told police he did it because someone stole his Fentanyl prescription out of his car the week before, and he needed more medication. Under the conditions of his release, McAtee will stay with his parents in Bellefonte and someone else will have to pick up his prescriptions since he is not allowed to go inside a pharmacy.
John Callahan (WGRC)

SUNBURY -- A Paxinos man began work yesterday as Northumberland County's new deputy treasurer. Reports say Kevin Gilroy will take over the county's treasurer duties when Ronald Chamberlain steps aside at the end of the month. Chamberlain recommended Gilroy for the position.
(WGRC)

HARRISBURG  - The Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education today approved a $1.5 billion budget, which includes a $250 tuition increase and dedicated funding for environmental/science initiatives and greater opportunities for students to study abroad and engage in research. The 2010-11 budget also calls for expanding educational opportunities in high need and currently underserved regions of Pennsylvania, as well as enhanced student services in areas including registration and financial aid. The new annual tuition rate for full-time, resident undergraduate students beginning this fall will be $5,804 - the lowest rate among all four-year colleges and universities in Pennsylvania.
(WGRC)

CENTRE HALL -- A number of downed utility poles has a stretch of Route-45 closed in Centre County. PennDOT officials say the road is shut down in both directions between Route-144 near Centre Hall and Route-322 at Oak Hall. That portion of Route-45 is expected to be closed through much of the day.  Motorists are asked to use Route-144, Route-322 and Brush Valley Road as alternatives.
Don Casteline (WGRC)

NORTHUMBERLAND -- It was an unusual site along a Northumberland roadway. A cement mixer drum fell off a truck and onto Duke Street around 8 o'clock Tuesday night. No one was injured but police say a pair of vehicles were struck by the 4-thousand pound tank. Police tell The Daily Item that the mixer drum began to work its way loose on the truck bed after a road sign sliced one of the straps which was holding the tank in place.
Don Casteline (WGRC)

POTTSVILLE -- A Schuylkill County charter school will not open this September. Last night the Pottsville Area School Board rejected the charter submitted for the Gillingham Charter School. The Republican Herald reports the board cited a lack of community interest and an under-developed curriculum and instructional program for the charter. Had it been approved it would have been the first charter school in the county.
Don Casteline (WGRC)

MIFFLINTOWN -- Despite some disagreement, Juniata County Commissioners have voted that a 3-percent raise be given to their elected officials. The decision was reached during a special public meeting Wednesday in Mifflintown. The Sentinel reports Commissioner Teresa O'Neal voted against the 3-percent increase for 2011 through 2017.  O'Neal had presented a motion that would have frozen salaries through 2013 before granting raises.
Don Casteline (WGRC)

POTTSVILLE -- In Schuylkill County, officials are bracing for tough cutbacks in 2011.  Commissioners discussed the financial situation at yesterday's public meeting. According to the Republican Herald, County Administrator Mark Scarbinsky says more than 3-million dollars is expected to be used this year from the county's surplus fund. While spending cuts were made this year, Commissioner Frank Staudenmeier says greater painful cuts may come next year.
Don Casteline (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)

SNYDERTOWN -- A Snyder County man has a seizure sending his van into three other vehicles in Northumberland County. Stonington State Police say 49-year old Nicholas Panarese, of Middleburg, had a seizure as he was driving along Snydertown Road after 4:30 Wednesday afternoon. The drivers of the other vehicles were not hurt.
Don Casteline (WGRC)

ELYSBURG -- A Montgomery County man remains in serious condition this morning after being injured in a motorcycle accident that killed his wife in Northumberland County. Thomas Latshaw, of East Greenville, continues to be treated at the Geisinger Medical Center for injuries he suffered when his motorcycle collided with a car at the entrance of Knoebels Amusement Resort, near Elysburg, on Sunday. Latshaw's wife, Beverly, died following the impact.  Neither were wearing helmets.
Don Casteline (WGRC)

VALLEY TOWNSHIP -- A Montour County woman remains in serious condition this morning after being hurt in a weekend crash. Twenty-two year old Tanya Anspach, of Washingtonville, was driving her car through the intersection of Route-54 and McCracken Road last Friday night when an S-U-V turned into her path. Anspach remains at Geisinger.
Don Casteline (WGRC)

WATSONTOWN -- In Northumberland County, an autopsy has determined that an elderly Watsontown man died from natural causes. Police tell The Daily Item that other circumstances remain suspicious, surrounding the death of 81-year old William Hill. Authorities are looking for the individual or individuals who were with Hill when he died Saturday night in his Vincent Avenue home. Among the things found at the scene were drag marks, a number of phone messages and a broken wooden clothes rack.
(WGRC)

UNDATED -- The mystery continues as to why honeybees continue to disappear by the millions in Pennsylvania and across the United States. The bees serve a vital role in our food supply and President of the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers' Association Lee Miller says the decline has to be halted as beekeepers have lost about a third of their bees each of the last few years. Miller says the bees produce honey and also pollinate a variety of crops. Insecticides used by fruit and vegetable growers is among the potential causes being investigated. Miller says cooperation between those who keep bees and those who study them is the key to finding the cause for the massive decline.
(WGRC/Keystone State News)

DANVILLE -- It took more than two decades but Danville baseball is heading to the state championships. Danville captured the Region 5 tournament title with a 16-6 win over Valley View yesterday. The state tournament begins next week in Boyertown.
(WGRC)