WGRC Christian Radio

BELLEFONTE - The Centre County District Attorney filed a motion today to discontinue the appeal of a Digital Collegian photographer charged in the aftermath of Penn State's football victory over Ohio State in October 2008. District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller filed a motion to discontinue the appeal filed last year in the case of Michael Felleter for failure to disperse and disorderly conduct during the out of control revelry that happened after the football game. Felleter was a photographer for the Digital Collegian and was functioning in that capacity at the time. Former District Attorney Michael Madeira was pushing to have charges re-filed against Felleter through the appeals process after the charges had been dismissed in an earlier court ruling. This discontinuance terminates the case against Felleter.
John Callahan (WGRC)

JACKSONVILLE - A woman is charged with D-U-I after leaving the scene of a Centre County crash. Troopers say 28-year old Rachel Palischak of Lock Haven was driving along Route 26 in Marion Township at the intersection with Hublersburg Ridge Road when she passed several stopped vehicles that were waiting for another car to make a turn just before five yesterday afternoon. Palischak hit the turning car driven by 60-year old David Miller of Blanchard, causing it to spin into an embankment. Palischak continued driving on Jacksonville Road until her car became disabled about four miles later still on the roadway. Palischak was found to be under the influence. Miller and his passenger, 62-year old Diane Miller, suffered minor injuries. Palischak wasn't hurt. All were wearing seat belts.
John Callahan (WGRC)

BLOOMSBURG - A former Columbia County teacher pleaded guilty Thursday morning to sex charges. 45-year old Brian Fish of Berwick pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault.  In September police said Fish inappropriately touched a 14-year-old boy on the front porch of Fish's house in Berwick. In court today Fish claimed the boy looked troubled, looked like he was up to no good and he just wanted to help him. Fish will be sentenced at a later date.
(WNEP)

SHAMOKIN - A New Jersey company has teamed with a Northumberland County company to produce a new line of 3D glasses for use in movie theaters worldwide. 3D Global Glasses LLC and D&E Associates officials tell the News Item today that 50 workers should be employed soon and as many as 100 workers will be hired by year's end, if not sooner, at D&E, an assembly plant just a few blocks off Market Street in the heart of Shamokin. The new product line is believed to be the first of its kind in the United States and will be completely recyclable. D&E has been in continuous operation for more than 40 years, but due to the recent economic downturn and direct competition from China in the electronic and manufacturing markets, D&E had suffered its worst slump in sales in its history and had considered closing its doors.
John Callahan (WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - State Representative Rick Mirabito, hosted a House Commerce Committee hearing in Williamsport today to discuss ways to improve the economies of rural Pennsylvania communities.
Mirabito says many young people leave the smaller cities and rural areas in search of something better.
He says rural Pennsylvanians are not looking for a hand out, but for a helping hand to give small businesses the support they need to grow and create jobs. At the hearing, representatives from Lycoming County businesses, non profits and local and state government agencies testified about what is needed to improve the county's economy and create jobs.
(WGRC)

ALLENTOWN - PPL Electric Utilities today announced the route for a new 69-kilovolt power line and the location of a new substation to improve service for customers in Northumberland, Snyder and Juniata counties. The work is needed to strengthen the transmission and distribution systems in the area of the Susquehanna Valley between Richfield and Dalmatia. Three possible routes for the 11 to 12-mile power line were announced late last year and open houses were held in early December to get public input.
The new power line will connect an existing line east of Dalmatia in Northumberland County to another existing line near the Richfield area in Snyder and Juniata counties. The line, a slightly modified version of a route formerly identified as Route A, will cross the Susquehanna River in a single span in an area about two miles south of Dalmatia. A new substation will be built along the new line, south of Meiserville.
(WGRC)

PINE GROVE - A 34-year-old Pine Grove man suffered injuries in a crash in Schuylkill County early this morning. The crash happened around four a.m. on Dad Burnham's Road in Washington Township. Police say Corey Lewis went off the roadway on a curve and slammed into a tree head-on with his pick-up truck. Police say Lewis suffered major injuries in the crash.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

PORT ROYAL - A Port Royal man was taken to the hospital following a crash in Juniata County Tuesday afternoon. The crash happened around two p.m. on Route 35 at Locust Grove Road
in Milford Township. Police say a van driven by 88-year-old John Guss was hit while crossing Route 35 by a truck driven by 43-year-old Shane Shetron of Mifflin. Guss was taken to Lewistown Hospital with what police call moderate injuries. Shetron suffered minor injuries.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - A Williamsport woman is being charged with endangering the welfare of children and purchasing alcohol for minors. On January 15th, Police say 38-year-old Jennifer Moore purchased alcohol for her 17-year-old daughter and her 16-year-old friend. Both teens girls had infant children which were also at Moore's home. Moore left the apartment on Federal Avenue and the two teens got drunk and were possibly sexually assaulted. When Moore returned home she found the teens passed out and tried to hide any evidence of alcohol, before having the 16-year-old taken to the hospital. Moore will face a hearing on the charges before District Judge James Carn.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)    

SHENANDOAH - In Schuylkill County, Shenandoah police on Wednesday arrested a man in connection with a February 17th fight at M&T Bar on South Main Street and filed identical charges against two other men. The fight has already landed 36-year-old Miriam Malave, of Shenandoah, in Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $25,000 straight cash bail. On Wednesday, Malave's stepson, 18-year-old Michael Berdecia, of Gordon, was brought beofre a judge on a list of assault charges and jailed on $25-thosuand dollars bail. Shenandoah police also obtained arrest warrants for Malave's two sons, Danny and Richard Malave. The two face the same offenses as Berdecia. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Richard or Danny Malave contact Shenandoah Police.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

CATAWISSA - A man who along with three teenage girls that caused eight thousand dollars in damage to tombstones at the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Centralia in December, sent his charges on to Columbia County Court Wednesday. 19-year-old David Pavloski of Wilberton was apologetic during his hearing for causing the destruction. The girls - ages 17, 14, and 13, all of Wilburton - will face charges in juvenile court. Pavloski confessed to the crime after he was locked up in Columbia County Prison on other charges. He was returned to the jail yesterday for lack of bail.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

LOCK HAVEN -A Jersey Shore man has pleaded guilty to computer theft in Clinton County. The Express reports Timothy Worrell, formerly an employee of Keystone Central School District, has pleaded guilty to computer theft and identification theft in connection with a "network breach" at local schools last October, in which teachers' e-mail accounts were illegally accessed. Worrell was charged with 11 misdemeanor counts of identification theft and four felony counts of unlawful use of a computer, but pleaded guilty to two counts in connection with the case. Worrell is looking at six to 14 months behind bars in Clinton County when he is sentenced April 19th.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

LOCK HAVEN - A Clinton County bar operator sighted by the Bureau of Liquor Enforcement for having a gambling device. Cork's Place owner 49-year old Jeffrey Corson of Lock Haven is charged for possessing or operating a gambling device for having a slot machine at the establishment on East Bald Eagle Street in Lock Haven last month. The device was discovered during an open inspection for gambling at the bar this past December.
John Callahan (WGRC)

MONTANDON - An A-T-V stolen in Northumberland County. Troopers say someone made off with a dark blue 2001 Yamaha Raptor-66R, all terrain vehicle, from a trailer home on Jacob Street in Modern Way Trailer Court in West Chillisquaque Township near Montandon between seven Monday night and ten Tuesday morning. Anyone with information is asked to call Milton State Police.
John Callahan (WGRC)

TAMAQUA - Vandals armed with cans of spray paint went on a graffiti spree in Tamaqua, damaging about 16 homes, six vehicles, a borough garage, a district court office, and numerous new and used vehicles at a car dealership. Tamaqua Police, say green and gold spray paint was used to damage homes and vehicles on Schuylkill Avenue, Hazle Street, Arlington Street and Market Street in the borough. Police said the vandals also sprayed graffiti on nine vehicles at Rottet Motors, on South Greenwood Street. Police said evidence captured by video surveillance cameras at Rottet Motors and at the Turkey Hill Minit Market on the east side of borough hall is being used in the investigation.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

SUNBURY - To trim expenses, Northumberland County is laying off eight security guards and hiring a firm to provide protection. The Daily Item reports, the county will save about $56,000 a year replacing the guards with Allied Barton Security Services, of the Philadelphia area. Under the one-year contract, the county will pay Allied Barton $193,000 for security services. Ron Yeager, the county's security director, will remain on the job to supervise work at the Administration Building and other county offices. The five full-time and three part-time guards who work at the entrances of several county-owned buildings, received notice Tuesday that their jobs would be terminated March 31st. Other cost reducing efforts are being hashed around by Northumberland County as well including switching from PPL to another company offering a fixed rate for electricity and reviewing phone and utility bills for savings.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

PENNS CREEK - The village of Penns Creek in Snyder County is facing a $1.5 million project to fix its sewage treatment plant. The Penns Creek Municipal Authority was mandated by the Department of Environmental Protection last summer to fix a problem that is causing high levels of suspended solids to be dumped into Penn Creek. The current wastewater system will need to be replaced by a new single sludge treatment facility. The deadline to comply with DEP regulations is December 30, 2011. Snyder County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously agreed that the county would be the applicant for a $500,000 competitive grant through the state's Community Development and Block Grant program. An application will be submitted in May. Meanwhile, the Sewer authority is also looking at bank loans and other financing to fund the project. A public hearing on the project will be held at 7 p.m. March 25th at the Penns Creek Fire Hall.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

HARRISBURG - Centre County state Representative Scott Conklin said his bill designed to curtail dating violence among teens was debated yesterday in the House of Representatives and is now poised for a final vote. Conklin's legislation would integrate teen dating violence education into middle and high school programs, and would require school districts to develop an anti-dating violence policy.
(WGRC)