WGRC Christian Radio

BELLEFONTE — In Centre County, the afternoon session of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse trial began with the first witness for the prosecution, a 28-year-old man who allegedly was abused by the former Penn State assistant football coach.  The man, known in court documents as alleged victim No. four, said he was an elementary school student when he met Jerry Sandusky through The Second Mile.  He then spoke of what Sandusky did to him over the course of time.  Eventually, after about five years, he said he tried to distance himself from Sandusky by not answering his phone calls or hiding when Sandusky showed up at his home.  The prosecution also showed a letter Sandusky allegedly had written to the young man.
(WGRC/Centre Daily Times))

BEAVERTOWN – A church broken into in Snyder County.  State Police are investigating a break-in overnight at Beaver Lutheran Church along Route 522 near Beavertown.  The culprits used a pry bar to force open the back door of the church.  Once inside, an office door was kicked in and the thieves looked through drawers and cabinets and made off with about $328.  Anyone with information on this burglary is asked to call State Police at Selinsgrove.
John Callahan (WGRC)

HUMMELS WHARF - A former employee of a now closed Snyder County pet store is charged with stealing from the business.  State police have charged 26-year old Jennifer Black of Manchester in York County, a former employee at the now-closed SuperPets store in Hummels Wharf with allegedly stealing just over $17,000.  Police say Black faked returns and then pocketing the proceeds between April 2010 and February 2011.  The Daily Item reports, the allegations came to light when the store's general manager noticed that Black had been involved in a suspicious number of return transactions involving high-priced merchandise. Troopers have charged her with theft and receiving stolen property.
(WGRC)

BELLEFONTE — The jury in the Jerry Sandusky case arrived just after eight this morning in two small buses and entered the courthouse through a side door. Earlier this morning, boxes of evidence were hauled into the Centre County courthouse in advance of the opening of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse trial. In addition to boxes, a hockey stick, a snow board and several sets of golf clubs were taken into the courthouse. Sandusky, his wife Dottie and Joe Amendola entered the courtroom around eight a.m. The lead prosecutor in Jerry Sandusky's child sexual abuse trial showed pictures of the alleged victims to jurors during opening statements of the former Penn State assistant football coach's trial on Monday morning. Sandusky sat quietly at the defense table and looked to his right at a video screen at times while Senior Deputy Attorney General Joseph McGettigan outlined the allegations, which led to the ouster of longtime football coach Joe Paterno. The Associated Press reports, some of the allegations read aloud by McGettigan were graphic. Sandusky hunched slightly in his seat at the defense table as Judge John Cleland outlined the charges to the jurors. The trial is to last about three weeks. The 68-year-old Sandusky has maintained his innocence. Meanwhile, NBC news issued a national report this morning citing legal sources who said more charges are likely and could include former Penn State President Graham Spanier. The report said investigators have "major new evidence" including emails exchanged in 2001 by Spanier and university officials Gary Schultz and Tim Curley, both already facing charges of perjury and failure to report a crime. Spanier has sued Penn State in an attempt to get copies of those emails. Investigators told NBC the emails show that Spanier and Schultz decided it would be "humane" to Sandusky to not involve legal authorities.
(WGRC with the Centre Daily Times and AP)

McCLURE - A one-vehicle crash claimed the life of a Lewistown man Saturday on Guss Road in Decatur Township. Police say the crash happened just after five p.m. Police say 29-year-old Ricky Rhodes Jr. lost control of his vehicle on a curve. After crossing both lanes, the vehicle hit an embankment, rolled onto its roof and slid a short distance before coming to rest. Rhodes was partially ejected from his vehicle and died at the scene.
(WGRC)

TAMAQUA - A Palo Alto man was killed Friday when the motorcycle he was driving collided with a tractor-trailer on Route 309 in West Penn Township in Schuylkill County. The crash occurred just before one p.m. on Route 309, just south of Tamaqua near the borough line. Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Lawrence Neff identified the victim as 34-year-old Adam Kauffman. Kauffman struck the rear of a tractor trailer stopped to make a turn. He was thrown from his motorcycle and was struck by another semi.
(WGRC)

LIVERPOOL – The driver of a vehicle involved in a crash on Routes 11 and 15 in Buffalo Township Perry County was flown from the scene of the crash with what police called major injuries. The crash happened around 8:30 Friday night in the area of Route 34 of Routes 11 and 15. Police say the vehicle was headed south when it hit a sign in the middle of the highway and crossed over into the northbound lanes. The vehicle then hit guardrails as it swerved back into the southbound lanes causing the vehicle to roll several times ejecting the driver. Police say the driver of the vehicle was flown to Hershey Medical Center from the scene. Police have not identified the driver as they await notification of next of kin.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

BLAIN – A Burnham man was injured and flown to Hershey Medical Center following a crash in Perry County. The crash happened just after eleven Saturday morning on Big Spring Road in Jackson Township. Police say 38-year-old Ryan Kauffman suffered major injuries in the crash when he tried to pass two slow moving trucks. He lost control of his vehicle and traveled through a yard before slamming into a tree. Kauffman remains in fair condition at Hershey.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

NEWPORT – Two from Newport suffered injuries in a motorcycle crash Sunday afternoon in Perry County. The crash happened just before Two p.m. on State Park Road in Centre Township. Police say 45-year-old Dale Kasper and his passenger 42-year-old Jane Kasper were hurt when they crested a hill on their motorbike and came across a car. Dale Kasper laid the cycle down and that’s when Jane Kasper rolled under the car. Police say Dale Kasper suffered minor injuries. Jane Kasper was taken to Harrisburg Hospital with moderate injuries.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

LEWISTOWN - Lewistown Police Department is investigating a tractor trailer crash that may have been the result of a heart attack. It happened just before noon Friday along East Charles Street in Lewistown. Police say the rig driven by 53-year-old Leroy Heuston, of Roaring Spring, was traveling on East Charles Street toward Lewistown when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a guide rail. The vehicle continued to roll partially over and was found suspended in the trees above Rec Park. Heuston was flown to Hershey Medical Center. Charles Street was closed in both directions for three hours while emergency crews worked to clean up the scene. Police believe Heuston was suffering a possible heart attack just prior to the accident, based on preliminary investigation information. Heuston remains in serious but stable condition at Hershey Medical Center.
(WGRC)

SLABTOWN - Quick action by firefighters prevented flames from spreading through a two-story duplex in Locust Township in Columbia County Township late Friday afternoon. The fire climbed an outside wall and entered the walls of the home of 47-year-old Dan McCloskey, along West Lake Glory Road. "It could have been worse," said Numidia fire Chief Jack Mack while he and other firefighters investigated the damage. No injuries were reported, but several firefighters were treated at the scene for heat exhaustion. The McCloskey's were not at home when the fire started. The cause of the fire is under investigation.  
(WGRC)

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - A 46-year-old Schuylkill Haven man is in critical condition after he was injured during a fight late Saturday night. Thomas Elliott was flown by helicopter to the Lehigh Valley Hospital with severe head trauma. Schuylkill Haven police were called out around 11:30 p.m. about a man lying on the sidewalk, unconscious outside the D&D Bar on St. John Street in Schuylkill Haven.  Police say Elliot was assaulted by 43-year-old Lee Fidler also of Schuylkill Haven, allegedly over a long-time debt. Witnesses say Elliot started the brawl that led to his injuries. Fidler and several witnesses were detained for questioning, and Fidler was later released. No arrests have yet been made and criminal charges are pending additional investigation.
(WGRC)

MONTOURSVILLE - A shopper at the Lowe's home improvement store in Montoursville, had to take a trip to the hospital on Sunday afternoon, following a freak accident in which a bullet apparently exploded in her purse as she was in the store. Montoursville police say the 56-year-old Williamsport woman did not have a gun in her purse or on her. Police say something must have hit the primer of one of the gun shells. The bullet stayed in the purse, but its casing put a hole in the purse and caused a minor leg wound. The incident occurred about 2 p.m. The woman went to the Williamsport Regional Medical Center for treatment. The woman was later discharged.
(WGRC)

MILTON — A 39-year-old fifth-grader teacher in the Milton Area School District sent sexually explicit text messages to a 15-year-old Union County girl, and wrote that if she told anyone, “You’ll regret it,” according to the state’s Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit. Edward Jackson Jr., a Baugher Elementary School teacher, was arrested Friday at his home at 855 Montour Street, by state officials and Milton troopers and charged with one count of unlawful contact with a minor and one count of criminal use of a telephone. The third-degree felonies are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.
(WGRC)

POTTSVILLE – Fifty-two-year-old Jeffery Thomas of Sunbury, did not sexually molest a boy at either his Northumberland County home or at a Butler Township church camp, a Schuylkill County jury ruled Friday. The Republican Herald reports, the jury of six men and six women found him not guilty of four counts of indecent assault and two of corruption of minors. The jurors deliberated approximately one hour before reaching their verdict to end the two-day trial presided over by Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin in Pottsville. State police at Stonington had charged Thomas with indecently assaulting the boy, who is now 15, in October 2009 at the defendant's apartment and in July 2010 at Camp Beulah near Helfenstein.
(WGRC)

BLOOMSBURG — A former office manager accused of embezzling nearly $13,000 in patient funds at Millville Health Care Center was allowed to enter Columbia County's ARD probation program as a first offender.  The Press Enterprise reports, 29-year-old Ashley Houseknecht, of Millville, must also pay back the money discovered missing last year. Houseknecht was fired when charged in March with taking cash deposits put into patient accounts by family members. The center conducted an audit after payment discrepancies were first uncovered in April 2010.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - A West Fourth Street, Williamsport man has been jailed on charges of allegedly stealing $30,000 worth of jewelry and collectible coins from a woman's Armstrong Township on Route 15, in Lycoming County. In addition to charges of burglary, theft and receiving stolen property, 30-year-old Steven Long, faces an additional misdemeanor charge of false reports to law enforcement. Police allege Long stole the jewelry and coins from the home at 1080 Route 15 on April 24th. Long initially implicated the victim in the case, claiming that the victim schemed to file a false claim with her insurance company and that she "gave" the jewelry and coins to Long. The Sun Gazette reports, Police later determined that Long's version was bogus. Long is jailed in the Lycoming County Jail on $50,000.
(WGRC)

REEDSVILLE – Police in Mifflin County are looking for the perpetrators that stole two sets of metal steps from a campground some time Saturday. The stairs were located at KV Railroad Drive near Reedsville. Police say the metal staircases included, one with about a dozen steps the other had about five steps, and were extremely heavy possibly needing a machine to move the stairs. If anyone has any information on who may have taken the stairs they are asked to call Mifflin County regional Police.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

BEECH CREEK – A Mill Hall man was jailed after breaking into another man’s home in Clinton County and assaulting the man. State Police say that happened just before nine Wednesday night at the home at 129 Fairview Street in Beech Creek Borough. Police have charged 32-year-old Galen Glossner with burglary and assault after breaking into the home and punching, and kicking the victim inside his residence.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

BELLEFONTE – The man at the center of one of the biggest college football scandals goes to court today. State College attorney Joe Amendola is the one drawing up a master defense for Jerry Sandusky’s showdown in a Centre County courtroom to counter allegations from the state Attorney General’s Office that he’s a pedophile who sexually abused young boys for more than 10 years. Last December Amendola said, “This goes beyond the Penn State-Miami game. ... This is the game of his life.” Opening statements are scheduled to start at 8:30 this morning at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte. Senior Judge John Cleland, from McKean County, will preside.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Two McAdoo men convicted of harassing Sarah Palin's Alaska lawyers were sentenced Friday to time served and five years' probation, with the proceedings briefly halted after a short outburst in court by one of them. During his sentencing in U.S. District Court in Anchorage, 20-year-old Shawn Christy said the judge's order that he live up to six months in a Pennsylvania community re-entry program was "ridiculous." His father, 48-year-old Craig Christy, was ordered to perform community service. The Republican Herald reports, the Christy’s pleaded guilty in January to making harassing phone calls to Palin's attorneys. Attorney John Tiemessen testified that the men's calls threatened Palin and attorneys. Both Christy’s apologized Friday. In Friday's sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Burgess ordered Shawn Christy to spend up to six months at the Scranton residential facility, where a bed will become available in mid-July. Christy wanted to return to his parent's home, where he had been living until his arrest last year.
(WGRC)

DUBOISTOWN - Traffic between Duboistown and Williamsport will be detoured over the next couple of months as work continues to progress on the new Duboistown Bridge project. The existing bridge will close today and traffic will be detoured to Maynard Street as the contractor begins construction on the south approach to the new bridge as well as replacement of the bridge deck on the Brook Street Bridge over Mosquito Creek. That detour will be in effect until Mid-August at which time a new set of traffic patterns will be in place. The new bridge is expected to be open in November.
(WGRC)

SUNBURY — A portion of Mile Post Road will be closing this week in Upper Augusta Township, Northumberland County.  PennDOT says Mile Post Road will close Wednesday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. between Shikellamy Avenue and Mount Pleasant Road. A crew will be replacing a large pipe under the road to improve drainage in the area. A detour will be in place. The work should only take one day, depending on weather conditions.
(WGRC)

MIFFLINTOWN - Over the next week or so, motorists in the area of the Juniata River Bridge project linking Mifflin and Mifflintown may encounter some delays on weekdays as beams are trucked in and work on the roundabout gets under way. The beams started to arrive recently from Roaring Spring for the state Route 35 River Bridge Project. Because the beams must be backed into the work site, drivers may encounter delays of up to 15 minutes on state Route 75 and William Penn Highway. Additional beams are expected to arrive today and possibly Tuesday and Wednesday. The beam delivery will have a Pennsylvania State Police escort.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - More than 100 men, women and children gathered outside the Federal Building Friday afternoon in Williamsport to show their disapproval of a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services mandate, which requires nearly all employers to provide health plans that include coverage for contraceptives, sterilizations and abortion-inducing drugs. With the people waving American flags and singing patriotic songs such as America the Beautiful, it almost seemed like a holiday celebration. The only exception was, people held to the passing cars on West Third Street. Some of the drivers honked and gave thumbs up as they continued driving. Friday was chosen for the protest because it marked the 223rd anniversary of the day James Madison introduced the Bill of Rights to the First Congress. It also is a few weeks before Supreme Court is expected to rule on the Affordable Care Act, sometime at the end of the month.
(WGRC)

LEWISTOWN - The 19th annual Mifflin-Juniata Relay For Life kicked off under beautiful blue skies on Saturday morning at Derry Township Community Park. Friends, family and cancer survivors gathered at the 24-hour event to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Fifty-nine registered teams participated in this year's event and raised almost $147,000 for cancer research.
(WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - Tom Szulanczyk has been named the new executive director of the Northcentral Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross. Szulanczyk will do double-duty as the head of both the local chapter and the Union County chapter based in Lewisburg. He took over the post on June 1 as part of an organization-wide restructuring. Former chapter executive director Kathy Stine will stay with the chapter as disaster response specialist.
(WGRC)

DANVILLE - Montour County's Emergency Management Agency is working with the East Central PA Regional Task Force to stage a mock terror drill tomorrow. The events, which will include a school shooting and a vehicle borne explosive, are aimed at testing the response that would be required. A consultant will evaluate the drill and Montour County hopes to learn from and implement any needed changes. County E-M-A head Walt Peters is asking people to stay away from the exercise sites.
(WPGM)

DANVILLE — Thousands of Geisinger employees may be entitled to thousands of dollars in back-pay for the past three years if a nurse can convince a federal judge Geisinger cheated them out of overtime pay. William Bordell, a long-time licensed practical nurse from the Shamokin area who remains employed by Geisinger, recently sued the health system in federal court, claiming its method of calculating overtime for employees is illegal under Pennsylvania law. The lawsuit says Geisinger's "8/80" compensation system schedules some employees for six days of work one week and four days another week during a two-week pay period. But it fails to pay them time-and-a-half for the hours they put in beyond 40 hours during the week in which they work six days. The Press Enterprise reports, Geisinger defends its payment system and claims the 8/80 method is authorized by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and is commonly used by the nation's health care employers. David Cohen, a Philadelphia lawyer who filed the suit on behalf of Bordell, says while it is legal under federal law and in some states, he said it is not legal in Pennsylvania. Cohen is attempting to turn Bordell's claim into a class-action suit that would allow other Geisinger employees to become eligible for back-pay.
(WGRC)

BLOOMSBURG — Bloomsburg University plans to purchase 64 acres in Scott Township for $1.65 million. In the short term, the school wants to put three athletic fields there. But the Press Enterprise reports, University President David Soltz said that long term, "it's a logical place" for student housing. That's something Scott Township, where most of the land is situated, has said it doesn't want. The purchase must still be approved by the State System of Higher Education's board at its next meeting later this month. The land is located east along the south side of Arbutus Park Road nearly to its intersection with Lightstreet Road. The University will begin a review of its campus master plan this year, which guides the use of university land. Representatives from Bloomsburg, Scott Township and Columbia County all will sit on the steering committee.
(WGRC)

BLOOMSB URG - The newly renovated Coal Mine exhibit at the Children's Museum in Bloomsburg is ready for visitors to explore, discover and interact with.  The Museum will hold a special opening event Tuesday, June 12th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with free admission, special music by singer-song writer Van Wagner, refreshments, and the gift shop will feature a limited supply of special Coal Mine Exhibit souvenirs. Coal mine artifacts of more than 100 years old will be on display. Children can take part in the Museum's "Name-the-Mine-Mule" contest. The Museum is located at 2 West 7th Street in Bloomsburg.
(WGRC)

HARRISBURG – Beginning today, Pennsylvania hunting and furtaker licenses for the 2012-13 seasons will go on sale. Licenses will be available through the Game Commission’s Pennsylvania Automated License System, over-the-counter at all Game Commission region offices and the Harrisburg headquarters, as well as the more than 600 in-state and out-of-state issuing agents. For the 2012-13 license year, all fees are the same as they have been since 1999. There is a 70-cent transaction fee attached to the purchase of each license and permit, which is paid directly to Active Outdoors, the Nashville-based company that runs Pennsylvania Automated License System. Also, an application for the regular round of antlerless deer licenses for residents begins July 9th.
(WGRC)

HARRISBURG — The five-member panel that's handling the once-a-decade task of redrawing the boundaries of Pennsylvania's legislative districts has finalized a second plan. The Legislative Reapportionment Commission met Friday in Harrisburg and approved the latest plan more than four months after the state Supreme Court struck down its first one. The court said that one split too many municipalities and assembled too many poorly shaped districts. However, Senate Democratic leader Jay Costa says he's disappointed in the new Republican-drawn Senate districts and didn't rule out another Supreme Court challenge. The new plan moves the Pittsburgh-area seat of recently resigned and jailed Republican Jane Orie across the state to a growing area in northeastern Pennsylvania. But Costa says it also contains a number of unnecessary county splits for political purposes.
(WGRC)