WGRC Christian Radio

MIDDLEBURG – A home burglarized in Snyder County.  State Police are investigating a burglary at a home along West Ridge Road in Franklin Township.  The crime happened between May 20th and yesterday.  The thieves made off with a clothes dryer, a flat screen television and numerous collectible Hess Trucks.  Anyone with information about this burglary should call State Police at Selinsgrove.
John Callahan (WGRC) 

DANVILLE — In Montour County, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Commonwealth recently provided a $3.17 million grant to the Danville Area School District to repair or replace damaged buildings and equipment to the Danville Middle school caused by the effects of Tropical Storm Lee.  The grant represents a 75 percent federal share and a 25 percent Commonwealth share of the project costs.  The school experienced heavy flooding throughout the facility with more than 90,000 square feet flooded extensively throughout the first floor.  The Daily Item reports, more than $1 million of the grant has been allocated for mitigation projects,  designed to alleviate future damages to the middle school.
(WGRC)

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission today issued for comment a settlement with Windstream Pennsylvania that includes a $15,000 civil penalty and an agreement to change its billing practice.  The Commission voted 5-0 to issue the settlement for comment, which stemmed from a May 2011 informal investigation by the PUC’s Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement into Windstream’s practice of “no proration” billing. At that time, Windstream did not pro-rate charges for fractional periods and instead billed customers for an entire cycle when those customers discontinued or changed service. I&E staff alleged that the practice violates the state’s Public Utility Code, PUC regulations, Federal Communication Commission regulations and Windstream’s tariff.  According to the proposed settlement, the company will pay a $15,000 civil penalty and discontinue full-month billing and implement billing proration in Pennsylvania. Under the settlement, Windstream does not admit any wrongdoing.  Interested parties have 20 days to comment. Further direction on how to file comments can be found in the Commission Order.
(WGRC)

BELLEFONTE — The jury has been picked. Eight people with Penn State ties will sit on the jury to determine the fate of Jerry Sandusky, whose defensive coaching strategies helped bring football glory, but whose arrest and trial have tarnished the university’s image. Despite skepticism it would be impossible to find a jury here, the 16th and final juror was picked by 3 p.m. Wednesday. At least four days had been set aside for it, but it only took two days. The Centre Daily Times reports, the 12 jurors who will hear the case and render a verdict consist of seven women and five men. The four alternates, who won’t participate in deliberations, consist of one man and three women. Defense attorney Joe Amendola said he thought the jury selection process was “fair” but declined to answer further questions because of a gag order forbidding him to speak about the case. Trial is scheduled to start with opening statements at 8:30 a.m. Monday.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - A state police forensic scientist testified in Lycoming County Court Wednesday that blood found on a pair of socks recovered in 24-year-old Shacoor Trapp's Maple Street home in Williamsport was a match to Tiffany Nixon, the victim he allegedly stabbed, choked and shot in the early morning hours of May 29, 2011. Trapp is on trial for attempted homicide and numerous other charges in the attack that investigators say left Nixon in critical condition. Wednesday marked the second day in the trial before Judge Marc Lovecchio. Prosecution witnesses finished their testimony Wednesday. Testimony focused on how police came to know Trapp could have been the alleged suspect and how police eventually found Trapp and took him into custody. Additional defense witnesses are expected to testify today. The three-day trial is scheduled to be handed over to the jury today.
(WGRC)

TREMONT - State police are continuing their search for a man who robbed the Miners Bank on Wednesday in Tremont, Schuylkill County along with the driver of the getaway car. Police said the heist happened around 11:30 a.m. at the bank at 29 East Main Street. Police say a man entered the bank, did not display a weapon but demanded money from the tellers. After getting the cash the man exited the bank and walked south across Main Street between two houses to an alley that runs parallel to Route 209, between Good Springs Road and Union Street. The man then got into a dark-colored mid-size vehicle that was being driven by another man and both fled the scene. The robber is described as a black man, about 6 feet 2 inches tall with a medium build, scruffy facial hair and between the ages of 30 and 35. There was no description of the driver of the getaway car other than that he was also a black man. Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call state police, Schuylkill Haven.  
(WGRC)

WEST MILTON – Three people from West Milton were involved in a two vehicle crash involving a motorcycle which sent two people to the hospital. The crash happened around 7:30 last evening on Route 642 and 5th Street in West Milton. Police say a truck driven by 34-year-old Jason Wolfe pulled out in front of the motorcycle driven by 23-year-old Evan Upright. Upright was able to lay the motorbike down on the highway both he and his passenger 20-year-old Brittany Upright were taken to Evangelical Hospital in Lewisburg with injuries. Police say the Upright’s were wearing helmets at the time of the crash. Wolfe was not hurt but will be cited for the crash.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

CANTON - A man from Canton was killed early Wednesday morning when he lost control of his pick-up truck. State police said 45-year-old Timothy Ward was driving along Route 414 near Canton about 4:30 a.m. when his truck went off the road on a curve. The truck went into a ditch and rolled. Troopers said Ward was not wearing a seatbelt.
(WNEP)

WILLIAMSPORT – A passenger in a car involved in a two vehicle crash in Lycoming County was taken to a hospital with moderate injuries. Police say 92-year-old David Strasburg of Cogan Station suffered those injuries when the car he was a passenger in collided with an SUV just before four Monday afternoon on Northway Road in Eldred Township. Police say the driver of the car Strasburg was in, 84-year-old Jane Strasburg, failed to stop and rear-ended the SUV. Jane Strasburg and the driver of the SUV suffered minor injuries.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

SPRING MILLS - Police are investigating an incident in Gregg Township, Centre County in which two dead deer were dragged from a field and placed near the mailbox of a 64- year-old woman’s home on Penns Valley Road. Anyone with information about the incident, which took place on Tuesday between 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., is asked to call state police, Rockview.
(WGRC)

BERWICK - Unit 1 at the Susquehanna nuclear power plant near Berwick, resumed generating electricity for customers early this morning after a scheduled refueling and maintenance outage. The plant also says it has found no turbine blade cracks on Unit 2, which was shut down May 30 for inspection based on the discovery of cracks on some Unit 1 turbine blades, which were replaced during the just-completed outage. Diagnostic equipment on the turbines of both Susquehanna units will be used to validate the suspected causes currently under engineering review. During the Unit 1 scheduled outage, which began March 31, workers completed hundreds of maintenance tasks and upgrades, replaced about 40 percent of the uranium fuel, and replaced turbine blades where indications of cracks were found during an inspection.
(WGRC)

McCLURE - It's a tradition on the last day of school at West Beaver Elementary School in Snyder County for the teachers to form a "chute" as students get on their buses at the end of the day. Teachers stand in rows on two sides and students run through as the teachers applaud and shout accolades for a good year and wishes for a safe summer. Today that will happen again. And it will be the last time. West Beaver Elementary School in McClure is one of two schools in the Midd-West School District closing its doors due largely to budget cuts from the state. Perry-West Perry Elementary School in the eastern end of the school district will close after today as well. Staff and parents at the McClure school organized a farewell event Wednesday for West Beaver. Balloons, bubbles, dancing, laughter, pictures and tears were among the various activities on the lawn of the school.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT – The State Senate Law and Justice Committee&State House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Corrections will hold a public hearing to discuss the current Pennsylvania State Police complement throughout Northeastern and central Pennsylvania. The hearing will be held this afternoon at one o’clock in the Mountain Laurel Room, Professional Development Center Building on the Pennsylvania College of Technology Campus, in Williamsport. The hearing will include testimony from law enforcement officials and a question-and-answer session with Committee members to discuss the impact of moving the State Police Aviation Unit from the Williamsport Regional Airport to the Hazleton Municipal Airport.
(WGRC)

SUNBURY - Summer does not officially start for a few more weeks, but Wednesday children in one part of Northumberland County took a cool dip to mark the start of the summer season. More than 100 children and parents took a swim as the Sunbury Community Pool opened for the season. Admission was free for opening day as the staff grilled hot dogs. The kids said they look forward to going to the pool to hang out with their friends, and of course, go down the water slides. Many of the kids said they had a half day of school and walked to the pool after class. The pool will be open every day until the end of August.
(WNEP)

SUNBURY — Mayor David Persing and the City Council have sifted through a lengthy Columbia County landlord-tenant ordinance, and after more than six months, they are set to adopt a policy of their own. Persing and the council met with former Berwick borough manager Shane Pepe in January to discuss the controversial ordinance, which sent Berwick to court on at least one occasion. The ordinance addresses convicted drug dealers and anyone convicted twice of selling drugs will not be allowed to rent in Sunbury. The meeting on the ordinance will be held Monday at Sunbury City Council headquarters. Landlords in Sunbury and those with questions about the new ordinance are urged to attend the meeting.
(WGRC)

COAL TOWNSHIP – A Coal Township ordinance banning residents from owning select farm and wild animals as pets took effect in March. Owners were given 90 days to find a new home for their soon-to-be-exiled animals. The full ban kicks in today and that means any chickens or goats or monkeys will be kicked out of the municipality. The ban has riled some residents who feel wronged by an ordinance they believe to be unfair. When township commissioners voted in March to approve an extended ban on animals, an official said about one dozen residents were raising chickens in residential zones; half of whom had been subject to complaints. The ordinance is not subject to a grandfather clause, which only applies to zoning ordinances.
(WGRC)

SUNBURY - There will be no further filing in federal court in a lawsuit against the Northumberland County Prison, the warden announced Wednesday. A final inspection was held in the last week of April and the case will still be under the court's review until the end of July, but Lewisburg Prison Project agreed to file nothing further, said Warden Roy Johnson during his report at the 10-minute prison board meeting Wednesday morning. It was announced May 12 that the prison earned a certificate of accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care for its compliance with the organization's standards for health service in jail. The suit was prompted by Lewisburg Prison Project on behalf of inmates who complained of inadequate health care and unsafe housing conditions. A $1.5 million settlement was reached in 2010, and the county upgraded the building and improved health care by hiring Prime Care Medical of Harrisburg.
(WGRC)

DANVILLE – One of Pennsylvania’s largest health information sharing organizations, Keystone Health Information Exchange announced Wednesday that 11 Golden Living skilled nursing facilities in northeast and central Pennsylvania will be the first post-acute healthcare facilities participating in the Health Information Exchange network. Golden Living is one of the largest providers of nursing home services in the country, with 37 Golden Living Centers in Pennsylvania and more than 300 nationwide. The Keystone Health Information Exchange is a secure network that links doctors, hospitals and other healthcare professionals in a 31-county region of Pennsylvania and provides them with secure access to patient-consented health information, including laboratory and test results, treatment histories, and medication and allergy lists. Of the eleven nursing centers taking part in the information exchange program three are located in WGRC’s listening area they include; the Mansion Nursing Center in Sunbury, the William Penn Nursing facility in Lewistown, and the York Terrace nursing home in Pottsville.
(WGRC)

DANVILLE – The Annual Celebrate Life! Cancer Survivors Day, will be held at Geisinger Medical Center’s main campus in Danville this Saturday. The event begins at eleven a.m. and runs till two p.m. Cancer survivors and their families will join Geisinger physicians and staff to “Celebrate Life!” The afternoon will feature lunch, entertainment, games, camaraderie between survivors and the medical staff who care for them.
(WGRC)

BURNHAM - Friends, family and fellow cancer survivors will gather for the 19th annual Mifflin-Juniata Relay For Life during the weekend of June 9 at Derry Township Community Park in Burnham. The theme of this year's event is "Celebrating More Birthdays", and the goal is to raise $160,000. The theme this year means that support for the American Cancer Society is being raised so that more people can celebrate more birthdays, cancer free. The American Cancer Society reports, about 11 million cancer survivors are living in the U.S. today. This is made possible in part through events like Relay For Life, which raise funding for cancer treatment and research. To register for the Mifflin-Juniata Relay For Life, visit relayforlife.org/pamifflinjuniata.
(WGRC)

DANVILLE – The state Secretary of Revenue will visit Montour County today to discuss the Governor’s proposed budget for 2012-2013. Dan Meuser will address members of the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce at 8 a.m. today at the Danville Elks on Montour Boulevard. Meuser will discuss the proposed budget and also the Department of Revenue’s initiatives for 2012.
(WGRC)

ELKRIDGE, MARYLAND - A Lock Haven man is one of five suspects arrested Monday night in Elkridge, Md., after officers, acting on an anonymous tip, raided a Holiday Inn hotel room and discovered what appeared to be a methamphetamine lab. Howard County Police identified the Clinton County man as 22-year-old Spencer Smith of Lock Haven. Police arrested the men after a caller reported a strange odor inside a room at a Holiday Inn Express about 10:40 p.m. Monday. The men range in age from 20 to 34. The Lock Haven Express reports, Smith was allegedly working for a company in the area, climbing cell phone towers.
(WGRC)

BERWICK - The $4 million, two-mile resurfacing of Route 11 through Berwick starts this weekend. Contractor Barletta Materials&Construction plans to reconstruct the block of Market Street between Front Street (Route 11 North) and Second Street (Route 11 South) beginning this weekend and to be completed on or before Friday, June 15th. This work will begin at midnight on Friday and continue around the clock. A short, signed detour will be implemented. There will also be times where Market Street at the intersection with Second Street will be closed to traffic. A signed detour using Third and Mulberry streets will be set up.
(WGRC)

POTTSVILLE – A Pottsville business is looking to double its workforce by year’s end. Telecommunications On Demand and Great American Power plans to expand from 80 employees to 160 employees by December. Great American Power buys its electricity from multiple sources and sells it to customers through telemarketing. Overall the company has 180 employees, 80 in Pottsville. Anyone interested in applying for the jobs can visit Careerlink or email a resume to jobs@tcdemand.com.
(WPPA)

HARRISBURG - A broad agreement to phase in a block grant system for seven county-run human services programs during the next two years was announced Tuesday by the Corbett administration and the statewide association representing county commissioners. The agreement marks a major advance for Governor Tom Corbett's proposal to combine state funding for the seven programs while negotiations intensify over the final state budget for fiscal 2012-13. But still unresolved is how much state aid for the human services block grant next year will be less than currently provided for all seven programs. The seven programs include community mental health and mental disability services, the human services development fund, homeless assistance, child welfare grants, the Behavioral Health Services Initiative and Act 152 drug and alcohol treatment programs. Corbett proposed a $168 million, or 20 percent cut, for these programs under the block grant approach in his budget in February. The majority Republican House and Senate caucuses are negotiating spending levels for the county human services programs and education. A $27.6 billion state budget bill approved by the Senate last month would restore $84 million for the county human services programs. Meanwhile, a number of county commissioners urged lawmakers to keep state funding whole at the $168 million level through a block grant phase-in.
(WGRC)

HARRISBURG — The secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection used the first three pages of a written statement Wednesday rebutting concerns of nearly two dozen agency retirees, those who suggested that the Susquehanna River, ought to be declared impaired. In short, the Daily Item reports, DEP Secretary Michael Krancer says they were all wet. Krancer still says there is not enough scientifically based data to place the river on a list of impaired waterways. Krancer did say however that the DEP has hired Hunter Carrick a professor from Central Michigan University to conduct a study this summer on algae and nutrients in the river to determine what is causing the drop in small mouth bass populations and the occurrence of lesions and black spots on bass caught in the river. Krancer says the DEP has also requested the complete monitoring records from the U.S. Geological Survey for portions of the river where bass populations have exhibited the problems.
(WGRC)