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AM=Altoona Mirror, CDT=Centre Daily Times, SJ=Milton Standard-Journal, DI=Daily Item, CS=Carlisle Sentinel, NI=News Item, LS=Lewistown Sentinel, PCT=Perry County Times, PN=Patriot News

Lewistown Police investigate disappearance of local man (2-3-2012)
A search for 45-y/o Robert Rickabaugh, Jr. has begun after the man’s brother told Lewistown Police he has not heard from him since Jan. 25th. Rickabaugh was living at the Depot St. Shelter & left on Jan. 4th with the Shelter having no further contact with him after then. Rickabaugh has been entered into the National Police Files as a missing person & is described as 6'1" white male with brown eyes. Lewistown Police request any information on his whereabouts be phoned in at 248-0607.

Accused murderer spends the day on the stand in J.-Co. trial (2-3-2012)
(LS) Brenda Smith, who is defending a 1st degree murder charge, was on the witness stand most of yesterday testifying in her own defense. Smith told the jury she believed her daugher had become withdrawn over recent years due to mental & physical abuse by Micahel Hockenberry, her son-in-law, whom she is accused of fatally shooting on Sept. of 2010. Smith told the jury of bruises she saw on her daughter on more than one occasion & of Hockenberry's frequent angry outburts from a bad temper. The is expected to hear closing arugument today & begin deliberations soon after.

Accused robbers of area business arraigned this week (2-3-2012)
(SJ) A pair of Union Co. men have been charged with multiple counts of robbery & related offenses for their role in a holdup that occurred last weekend at the Forest Hill Store. Appearing before District Judge Jeffrey Mensch was 31-y/o Jeffrey Stahl, of Mifflinburg. Following the arraignment, Stahl was locked up in the Union Co. Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail. He has been charged with 2 counts of robbery & one count each of theft by unlawful staking or disposition, receiving stolen property & simple assault.

Beaver Springs woman dies in Snyder Co. car crash (2-2-2012)
Yesterday morning following a 1-vehicle crash, 76-y/o Nancy Frye of Beaver Springs died after she succumbed to her injuries. Frye was driving on Rt. 235 in Spring Twp., Snyder Co., near Beaver Springs, around 9am when she traveled off of the road, struck a parked car & then a house. Frye was taken to Evangelical Community Hospital & was pronounced dead there about an hour & a half after the crash. Rt. 235 was closed for about an hour while crews remained on the scene.

Jury deliberation expected today in Juniata Co. murder trial (2-2-2012)
(LS) After the defense attorney for accused muderer, Brenda Smith, tried to convince the jury of his client's threatened state, President Judge Kathy Morrow told the jury in the Juniata Co. murder trial to expect to deliberate the decision today. Smith is accused of 1st degree murder of her son-in-law, Michael Hockenberry in 2010. Smith's lawyer, Don Zagurskie, told the jury how Smith felt threatened by Hockenberry, who "had another side" to his personality. In a heated argument, Zagurskie said Smith was hit in the head by a wooden TV tray before she retreated to a bedroom to get a gun that would eventually be used in Hockenberry's death.

Cong. Thompson could face opposition in next election (2-2-2012)
Charles Dumas, a professor in PSU’s School of Theatre, is collecting signatures to appear on the ballot opposing US Rep. Glenn Thompson for the seat in the 5th Congressional District. Dumas, a Democrat, has until Feb. 16 to gather the 1,000 signatures that would place him on the April 24 primary election ballot. The 66-y/o has lived in State College for 17 years with his wife & is a visiting professor at the University of the Free State in South Africa, holds a political science degree from the State University of NY, & a law degree from Yale.

Defense to call witnesses today in murder trial (2-1-2012)
(LS) In the Juniata Co. 1st-degree murder trial of 56-y/o Brenda Smith, county DA Cory Snook rested the prosecution's case in Mifflintown. Smith's defense attorney, Don Zagurskie, began an intense cross-examination of the lead investigator in the case, trying to prove that the death of Smith's son-in-law, Michael Hockenberry, was a suicide. Zagurskie also twice attempted to have the court supress a written statement Smith gave to authorities but that was denied by President Judge Kathy Morrow. Today the trial continues with Zagurskie expected to call a host of witnesses for the defense.

Penn State to pay for Paterno memorial (2-1-2012)
(CDT) The PSU athletic department will pay the bill for the 3 days of public mourning events held last week for former head football coach Joe Paterno. The university hasn’t yet calculated how much it cost to use & staff the facilities. Once those costs are computed, the athletic department, which has its own budget & supports itself, will bear the costs. The Paternos will pay for costs from the funeral home. The costs will not be paid with tuition or public money. The events started with 2 days of private & public viewings last week that were attended by more than 40,000 people.

Local United Way in the home stretch for funding goal (2-1-2012)
The 2012 fund-raising campaign of the United Way of Mifflin-Juniata began last September & ends March 15 with a goal of raising $600,000-$25,000 more than last year–for local nonprofit groups. To date the annual campaign has raised $487,401 or 81% of its goal. United Way Executive Director Marie Mulvihill is cautiously optimistic about meeting the goal as employees of local companies are being asked to donate a portion of their paychecks to the cause, additional mailings are being sent to remind donors to send in their contributions & others are encourage to support the 2nd annual Walk for Warmth on February 11. Donations can be made to the United Way of Mifflin-Juniata by calling 248-9636.

Testimony heard in 1st degree murder case in J.-Co. (1-31-2012)
(LS) Yesterday, testimony was heard in Juniata Co. Court from the wife of Jason Hockenberry, who was slain by her mother in Sept. of 2010. County DA Cory Snook gave opening statements while the defense opted to give opening statements later in the trial. In the testimony, Carolyn Hockenberry told how her husband was killed after an argument with her mother, 56-y/o Brenda Smith. It was revealed that Smith told police she had shot Hockenberry but had first said he had taken his own life. She said she killed her son-in-law so he would leave her daugher alone. It was said Hockenberry was abusive to Smith's daughter. The trial continues today

Shelter resident charged with sexual assault of another man (1-31-2012)
(LS) Lewistown Police have charged 23-y/o Dennis Groff of Lewistown with sexual assault after he allegedly exposed himself to another man who was a live-in at the Juniata Shelter Services in Lewistown. Police say Groff invited the victim to an upstairs bathroom around midnight on Jan. 20 to smoke a cigarette. There, apparently intoxicated, Groff said he exposed himself & the victim willingly engaged in oral sex. However after about 10 min., Groff was told to stop, but did not comply. Groff is being held on $75,000 bail at the county prison & will be in court today.

Paterno family to sell DVDs of JoePa’s memorial for charity (1-31-2012)
(CDT) The family of the late Joe Paterno said they’ll be selling copies of the coach’s memorial service & donating the proceeds to charity. A statement yesterday from son Scott Paterno said numerous media outlets have expressed an interest in selling copies of the emotional public memorial service that drew about 12,000 people to a campus arena last week. The family said they’ll soon launch a website where copies can be purchased on DVD. The family said any money generated by the sales would go to charity. Joe Paterno died Jan. 22 from lung cancer, a little more than 2 months after he was fired from PSU in the wake of a child sex abuse scandal involving a former assistant coach. Paterno was never charged in the scandal.

Mifflintown businessman to challenge incumbent House Rep. (1-30-2012)
(LS) Republican State Rep. Adam Harris will face off against a fellow Republican in the run for the 82nd District seat for the April Primary. Petitions have been circulating for 41-y/o Jim knepp to be placed on the April 24th primary ballot. Knepp told reporters that he is for working families, seniors, & veterans. He also wants to zero in on education by providing more attention to school districts trying to meet mandates. Harris is currently seeking to run for a 5th term.

Annual Seven Mountains Klondike Derby draws hundreds of scouts (1-30-2012)
(CDT) The air at Seven Mountains Scout Camp was filled with smoke from campfires & chants shouted by each of the roughly 100 groups of Cub & Boy Scouts attending the annual Juniata Valley Council Klondike Derby. Scouts hauled sleds—modeled after Alaskan dog sleds, but without the dogs—along muddy paths that twisted through the woods. They stopped along the way at various stations designed to test their Scouting skills & problem-solving abilities. Paul Fagley, derby chairman, said teaching teamwork—& other values—to the boys is an important part of the derby, adding that "it’s very much like what (Joe Paterno) taught—life lessons.”

Police file simple assault charges against Mt. Union man (1-30-2012)
State Police charged 18-y/o Michael Atherton, Jr. of Mount Union with simple assault after an incident that escalated into an altercation with Samuel Atherton at a Kistler residence last week. Michael got into a verbal argument with Samuel that ended up with fists being thrown & Michael grabbing a pair of scissors, threatening to stab Samuel. As Michael charged Samuel with the scissors, 48-y/o Sheila Worthy of Mount Union tried to stop him by stepping in front of the pair. After a struggle, she sustained a cut on her right hand. Michael was arrested & charged before being incarcerated in the Mifflin Co. Prison on $10,000 bail.

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