WGRC Christian Radio

SUMMIT HILL - An elderly woman from Schuylkill County was killed this morning in a one car crash. The crash happened about 9 a.m. in Summit Hill in Lehigh County. The Lehigh County coroner said 82-year old Margaret Doughty of Tamaqua was seriously injured and later died at the hospital. Police are investigating the crash.
(WNEP)   

FORKSVILLE - A Lancaster County man was injured when he was hit by a vehicle in Sullivan County last night. Police say 59-year-old Christopher Wren of Marietta was walking along Route 87 near Forksville when he was hit by a mirror of a passing vehicle. The impact pushed Wren off the roadway where he landed under a guard rail face first. He was taken to Geisinger Medical Center but there is no condition report available.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)
   
SOUTH AVIS - In Clinton County, a 15-year-old boy was flown to Geisinger Medical Center, last night after he apparently fell about 10 feet from a rope into Pine Creek near the Black Bridge in South Avis.
The boy's identity has not been released. Emergency workers reported the teen was hanging onto the rope when he fell, first hitting some rocks and then landing unconscious in the creek. The Express reports, he was quickly pulled from the creek by his brother and other young people who were swimming with him. His injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
John Callahan (WGRC w/WNEP)   
   
POTTSVILLE - Schuylkill County Controller Melinda Kantner must file two state-mandated financial reports by October 1st, a county judge ruled Friday. Judge Charles Miller granted the first portion of a petition for writ of mandamus filed against Kantner last week by the county commissioners. The ruling forces Kantner to submit financial reports to the state Department of Community and Economic Development and the Court of Common Pleas within the next four weeks. The Republican Herald reports, the second portion of the petition - which would require Kantner to fully cooperate with the county's external auditor and turn over any and all relevant financial documents - has not yet been ruled on.
John Callahan (WGRC)

BELLEFONTE - Labor Day weekend travelers can take a moment to rejuvenate through a safety break this holiday weekend. PennDOT District 2 announces a safety coffee break center will be in service at the Interstate 80 westbound rest area in Centre County. Volunteers from the Bellefonte Area Fine Arts Boosters will staff the rest area at mile marker 146 in the westbound lanes. The rest area is located west of Snow Shoe Exit 147. The "Safety Break - Free Coffee" center will be in place from 6 p.m. Friday,  until Monday, September 6th. Hours of operation at the center will depend upon available volunteers and supplies.
(WGRC)
   
WILLIAMSPORT  - Weather permitting, the Department of Environmental Protection's West Nile Virus Program will apply treatments the evening of Wednesday, September 8th, in portions of Mount Carmel Township in Northumberland County to control adult mosquito populations. A rain date is set for Thursday, September 9th
(WGRC)

LEWISTOWN - The driver of a black SUV that crashed at the Walnut Street exit of U.S. 322 West in Lewistown was killed early Thursday morning. 61-year-old Johnny Clark, of Allentown, was pronounced dead at the scene by Mifflin County Coroner, Daniel Lynch. An investigation determined Clark's vehicle went through a guard rail, down over an embankment and landed on its roof. Clark was pinned inside the vehicle. An investigation into the crash will continue.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

BARNESVILLE - A 75-year-old Lebanon man was seriously hurt when the motorcycle he was driving crashed Thursday afternoon in Ryan Township, Schuylkill County. Clarence Neuin was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital, where he remains in critical condition. The crash happened just before one Thursday afternoon on Route 54 near the entrance to Lakeside Ballroom. Police say Neuin lost control of his cycle on a curve went off the road and rolled over.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

SUNBURY - In Northumberland County residents of the Chestnut Towers High Rise were evacuated last evening after a gunman holed up in one of the apartments. Around eight p.m. the emotionally disturbed man locked himself in one of the apartments and fire one shot from a gun. The gunfire hurt no one. Sunbury Police along with Shamokin Dam police, state troopers from Stonington, and a swat team entered the building, and evacuated residents. The man was taken into custody without further incident and taken for a mental evaluation. One Sunbury police officer received a non-life threatening injury during the scuffle with the gunman and one resident of the facility was taken to a hospital with a medical condition. The investigation into the incident is continuing.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

LEWISBURG - The man accused of killing a New Berlin Yoga instructor is back in Central Pennsylvania facing murder charges. 33-year-old Joel Snider of St. Louis, was brought back to Lewisburg  Thursday afternoon from Baltimore County, Maryland where he was fighting extradition. Snyder is accused of shooting 70-year-old Sudharman at the Integral Yoga Center on Market Street in New Berlin. His body was found July5th. Police say Snider laid out an elaborate murder plot was laid out in e-mails sent to a yoga instructor in Virginia.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

POTTSVILLE - Two of three men charged with killing a Shenandoah man in March in his home each had their hearing continued Thursday in Schuylkill County Court. 30-year-old Damon Ennet, of Freeland, and 19-year-old Jahmal Ollivirre, of Reading, will not go on trial for the murder of Bruce Forker until at least December as the result of Judge Jacqueline Russell continuing their trial. Ennet and Ollivirre each face the same charges: one count each of criminal homicide, robbery, and related counts in the death of 24-year-old Bruce Forker on March 16th. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against the third defendant, 32-year-old Julius Enoe, of Reading, who they allege fired the fatal shot. All three are in prison while awaiting trial.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

WILKES-BARRE - Two Shenandoah-area men charged by federal prosecutors with a hate crime in connection with the July 2008 death of an illegal Mexican immigrant will be tried in Scranton instead of Wilkes-Barre. 20-year-old Derrick Donchak and 18-year-old Brandon Piekarsky will be tried in October in Courtroom 1 of the William Nealon Federal Building and United States Courthouse. Senior U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo made that ruling Thursday but did not explain the reason for the change. The trial is scheduled to start 9:30 a.m. October 4th. Both are charged in the beating of 25-year-old Luis Ramirez July 12th, 2008 and later died at Geisinger Medical Center.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

MUNCY - It was an emotional testimony yesterday in a District Judge's courtroom in Lycoming County, as two young women testified to the sexual abuse they were allegedly subjected to by an area couple already convicted of sexual abuse of minors. The victims allege the abuse happened in 2003/2004 and say Amber Barto and her husband, Greg of Route 405 in Muncy abused them while using drugs and alcohol to entice the girls. Amber Barto sent her charges on to court yesterday, while all 15 charges against her husband Greg, were bound over for trial.
(WRAK)

POTTSVILLE - A Shenandoah man admitted Thursday in Schuylkill County Court that he tried to rob the Burger King restaurant in January in his hometown, but forgot to bring a pen with which to write the holdup note. 28-year-old Jack Egner, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, and related counts of the Burger King on Main Street in Shenandoah January 15th. Judge Jacqueline L. Russell, who accepted Egner's plea, did not immediately sentence him. Instead, she ordered preparation of a presentence investigation and said she would schedule Egner's sentencing for a future date.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

BARNESVILLE - Police in Schuylkill County are investigating a burglary. That happened sometime between 3:30 and eleven p.m. Thursday at the home of 50-year-old George Mammarella in Barnesville. Police say the bandit got inside the home through a garage window and broke glass on a kitchen door to get inside the house. Once inside the thieves stole over $1,000 dollars in cash and prescription medications.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

POTTSVILLE - In Schuylkill County a man was arrested Thursday in Pottsville on drug charges. Pottsville police arrested 31-year-old Jose Rivera Jr. on numerous drug charges and sent to the Schuylkill County Prison on $100,000 bail. Police say they caught Rivera with $4,000 worth of cocaine, heroin and other drug items in a parking lot at the rear of 512 North Centre Street.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - Heart attack patients visiting Susquehanna Health's Williamsport Regional Medical Center can count on a facility with a mortality rate that's better than 90 percent of the hospitals in America. Plus, readmission rates were less than 5 percent respectively for cardiac patients, individuals seeking spine operations and those having knee and hip replacement procedures. Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania is recognizing Williamsport Regional Medical Center with three separate, distinctions for excellence in cardiac care and the two orthopedic categories. The hospital has been named among the nation's Blue Distinction Centers® respectively for "Cardiac Care," "Spine Surgery," and "Knee and Hip Replacement."  Dr. George Manchester, Chief Medical Officer of Susquehanna Health says, "At Susquehanna Health we place a strong focus on safety and quality for our patients. Patients expect and deserve it and our physicians and employee service partners help us to provide it. These recognitions certainly validate the efforts we make every day to keep our patients safe and to provide excellent clinical care." 
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

LEWISBURG - Union County will act as a pass-through for a $10.5 million dollar grant to be used by Bucknell University to buy and redevelop properties in downtown Lewisburg. Bucknell has given the guarantee that the county will incur no costs in funneling the grant. The Daily Item reports the money is going to redevelop the Bull Run Gateway neighborhood, a nine-square-block area to be called University Village. About 43.5 million dollars is going toward the $10 Barnes and Noble and Bucknell Bookstore on Market Street.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

LEWISTOWN - If the Mifflin County Housing Authority and Kish Bank are able to secure enough funding, there may be some life yet in the old Hotel Lewistown. On Thursday, the Mifflin County Commissioners gave their approval to authorize a letter in support of an effort by the authority and the local lending institution, to partner in an effort to bring the condemned facility back up to code and open 22 units for individuals 55 years of age or older, as well as an additional six units to be used for transitional housing. The Sentinel reports, multiple funding sources will be sought for the project, which  will take just under $5 million to bring the building up to current standards and renovate the units.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

DANVILLE - An indoor paintball and recreation center may be coming to Danville. The Press Enterprise reports, Samuel Hess and Jean LeValley hope to open Eagle Indoor Paintball in the former TRW building by fall. The two Bloomsburg-area men plan to offer two paintball courses of 100 feet by 120 feet each, and an area for foosball, pool tables and video games. The paintball courses will feature artificial turf and inflatable barriers which can be moved to alter the course configuration. A zoning hearing has been scheduled for a special exception to zone the building recreational. It is now zoned for manufacturing. The hearing is set for September 15th.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

HOWARD - The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources held a ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony Thursday, for the new Nature Inn at the Bald Eagle State Park, near Howard, in Centre County. The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle, with its modern, 16-room  accommodations, is a first-of-its-kind facility for Pennsylvania's award-winning state park system. DCNR Secretary John Quigley was joined by representatives of the Pennsylvania Tourism Office, Audubon Pennsylvania, and the innkeeper. A public tour was given to several attendees following the ceremony.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

BLOOMSBURG - Columbia County bridge construction to be completed today. The $1.4 million rehabilitation of the Route 42 Bridge over Route 11 in Montour Township, just west of Bloomsburg in Columbia County, is nearing completion. The bridge will be opened to unrestricted traffic flow by late this afternoon. The project will be complete other than some cleanup work and seeding, and is wrapping up on schedule.
(WGRC)