NEWS

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

Regional Police board, chief “lawyer up” for public hearing (10-10-2008)
(LS) After its 2nd public meeting last night Mifflin Co. residents still do not know the allegations that have been made against Regional Police chief William Herkert. Those answers will come, however, at a public hearing at a time & location to be determined. Both Herkert & his attorney were at last night’s meeting & after the Lewistown Sentinel exercised its use of the state’s Right To Know laws, the board revealed they have been getting legal council from a Philadelphia law firm. The board, however, continues to meet without an actual solicitor.

Escaped inmate from Centre Co. still being sought (10-10-2008)
(CDT) An inmate who escaped from a work detail between 2:30 & 4:30pm Wednesday is still missing. State Police are looking for 19-y/o Dylan Maughmer who was doing garden work near the election office area of the courthouse Willowbank Annex in Bellefonte, but did not report as required at 4pm. Maughmer is from the Petersburg area of Huntingdon Co., & has been arrested 3 times this year for drug-related offenses. He is 6', 180 lbs. with brown eyes & hair, fair complexion, & slender build.

Judge reduces bail to $1 in child rape case (10-10-2008)
(CS) A West Pennsboro man arrested in March on charges of raping a child had his bail reduced to $1 this week based on a defendant’s right to a speedy trial. Cumberland Co. President Judge Edgar Bayley issued the order Tuesday reducing bail for Kenneth Clark from $500,000 to $1, on the condition that Clark not have contact with his accuser or any member of her family. The Cumberland Co. DA disagreed with Bayley’s interpretation & filed a motion for reconsideration Wednesday.

Request made to spruce-up the county’s playgrounds (10-10-2008)
(LS) The Mifflin/Juniata United Way has asked the Mifflin Co. Commissioners to pass a resolution allowing for a grant that would be applied to toward the costs of playground repairs within the county. The county’s planning commission would be the entity applying for the grant money, which would also go toward developing youth programs in about a dozen locations county-wide.

Fall Festival held this weekend for young cancer victim (10-10-2008)
(SJ) The spirit of Kelsey Kuhns, a brave young lady who passed away in 2005 following a lengthy battle with cancer, will be alive this weekend in Mifflinburg as the community comes together for Kelsey’s Fall Festival. The event will be held tomorrow from 11am-7pm on the grounds of the Mifflinburg VFW. It’s designed to raise money for programs that aid children battling cancer. Kelsey’s mother, Tina, said the sale of kettle-cooked apple butter, for $6 per quart, is one of the highlights of the festival. The event will also feature numerous homemade baked goods, kettle-cooked chicken corn & ham & bean soups, hay rides, games & entertainment

Road work completion on Centre Hall Mt. delayed by a day (10-10-2008)
PennDOT is advising motorists that the work that is being done this week along Rt. 144 between Centre Hall & Pleasant Gap will not be completed on schedule. Originally, the work was to have wrapped up today, however the contractor has indicated the work will extend into Monday of next week. Crews have been paving the road under conditions of traffic so drivers need to be looking for flaggers, lane closures, & delays between 7am-6pm.

Public interest rises as Regional Police board meets tonight (10-9-2008)
(LS) After 2 meetings where the public has turned out to voice concerns, the 2nd Regional Police meeting will convene tonight at 5:30pm at the police headquarters in Yeagertown. By now, a lot of interest has been generated over the placing of Chief William Herkert on administrative leave during an investigation by the police board. Tonight’s meeting could resolve the future of the police chief & reveal if the board, who has allegedly operated without a solicitor since the first of the year, will retain a legal firm from Philadelphia for its services.

State grant monies awarded to 2 Mifflin Co. townships (10-9-2008)
Rep. Kerry Benninghoff announced yesterday that the DEP is slated to award the 2 townships with grants totaling $5,637. The grant money will be used to reimburse half of the townships’ eligible expenses for performing sewage enforcement provisions of the PA Sewage Facilities Act. Brown Twp. will be receiving $1,152 while Armagh Twp. will receive $4,485. The Sewage Facilities Act requires local agencies to administer a permitting program for the installation of septic systems.

County Elections Board announces changes in polling places (10-9-2008)
As voters cast ballots in the Nov. 4 General Elections, there will be 2 changes in polling places announced yesterday by the Director of Elections, Nancy Laub. Derry-East will now vote at the Moose Family Center Bowling Alley, located at 80 Brady Lane. Construction at the PA National Guard building is the reason for this change. Accessibility issues have necessitated a change for Derry-North voters who have voted at the Vira UMC. Instead, voters will now cast ballots at Wilt’s Garage at 643 Dry Valley Rd.

Man admits he caused the death of his 2-y/o step-daughter (10-9-2008)
(LS) James Jumper of Belleville could be confined to a prison cell for as long as 40 years, if a judge decides, for causing the death of Gianna Page in January. Jumper, saying his unemployed state was creating stress & causing arguments in his family relationship, told the court he did not know what caused him to push the child down a flight of stairs–not once, but on 2 different occasions–over a 2 day period. After pleading guilty to 3rd Degree murder, a judge will decide how long he will serve in state prison.

Early morning traffic stop results in burglary arrest (10-9-2008)
State Police have arrested 25-y/o Corey Stine of McAlisterville & 49-y/o Terry Smith of Port Royal after they pair was stopped for multiple traffic violations around 1:30 this morning in Juniata Co. Police discovered, upon further investigation, both had committed a burglary at the Lost Creek Golf Club after they found various food items & over 100 gallons of fuel oil in the back of their truck. The club’s Snack Shop manager confirmed the stolen goods after being summoned by police to identify the items stolen.

Bicentennial Birthday Bash in Boalsburg this Saturday (10-9-2008)
(CDT) Boalsburg will kick off its 200th anniversary celebration Saturday with an array of festivities including a birthday bash with a large cake, music, figures from Boalsburg's history & crafts. Everything will take place on the Village Diamond. Festivities begin at noon & will wrap up at 4pm. The streets leading to the square will close at 11am. This is the 1st in a series of planned events to celebrate 2 centuries of community in Boalsburg. Other activities will take place throughout the year, culminating in a 2-day celebration on Memorial Day weekend.

Police board presented with formal letter of request (10-8-2008)
(LS) Momentum is building on the part of concerned citizens as the next public meeting by the Regional police board nears. Now a letter formally requesting 3 representatives to be placed on the agenda for tomorrow night’s 5:30pm meeting has been sent to board members. The 3 were chosen from Monday night’s town hall where 50 or so met to discuss the board’s decision to place Chief William Herkert on administrative leave. Local Chamber president, Jim Tunall, wrote the letter that was formally sent to all of the police board members.

Benninghoff introduces higher education tax credit bill (10-8-2008)
Penn State University students or their parents could receive a $1,500 state personal income tax credit under legislation introduced this week by Rep. Kerry Benninghoff. Benninghoff’s legislation would allow students or parents of students attending state schools of higher education or state-related schools of higher education to apply for a $1,500 state personal income tax credit. State schools include the 14 universities that make up the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. State-related schools include Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University, Lincoln University & any of those schools’ branch campuses.

Sen. Spector defends bail-out vote in local town halls (10-8-2008)
(CDT) PA’s senior senator said yesterday at town hall meetings in Mifflintown & State College that he understands Americans’ frustration with the $700 billion economic bailout plan he voted for last week, but said he was facing “2 evils” when he voted for it. “Vote ‘aye’ on a bad situation, or vote ‘no’ and face potential disaster,” Specter said. Specter said he would have wanted to debate the issue & clean up the bill, but he was faced with an emergency situation.

Regional Police on the lookout for a police imposter (10-8-2008)
Yesterday morning police were contacted by Monica Joyce in Milroy saying she was confronted, in the TLC Pharmacy’s parking lot in Belleville, about speeding by a male who was driving a dark grey newer model Ford pick-up. The suspect displayed a badge in order to get driver information from Joyce. The man was described as 5' 9", 180 lbs., in his early 40s with dark brown hair. Anonymous tips can be phoned in at 248-1900 x613.

Energy-saving upgrades at the MJCTC to be”budget neutral” (10-8-2008)
(LS) Even though an overhaul of energy use at the Mifflin-Juniata Career Technology Center would negate having to spend over a million & a half dollars over a 15 year period, the energy savings the CTC would realize would equal the amount spent. That’s the conclusion the school’s joint operations committee came to last night in their meeting in Lewistown. Using the PPL Energy A+ program, the school would begin replacing their antiquated heating/cooling system with one more efficient. The move would save money overall in spite of the expected spike in electrical rates.

Monroe Marketplace officially opens today in Snyder Co. (10-8-2008)
(DI) While construction workers and landscapers hustled to complete their work outside, store workers and vendors at the new Target store in Monroe Marketplace were putting the final touches on the interior of the huge facility. This morning, officials of PA Real Estate Investment Trust & the site developer joined local & state officials in cutting the ribbon to open the mall in Selinsgrove. Several stores, including Kohl’s, Best Buy & the Red Robin restaurant, already have opened, and, in addition to Target’s opening earlier today, Giant Foods will open its grocery store.

Citizens call for right to know by police board in town hall (10-7-2008)
(LS) At the Brooklyn Fire Hall last night, some 50 or more concerned citizens held the town hall meeting to voice concerns they felt were not adequately provided by a recent public meeting from the Mifflin Co. Regional Police board. The concern was over the fate of Chief William Herkert, who was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the police board. Right to Know laws & the state’s Sunshine Act were brought up routinely in regards to deciding on the chief’s employment. Representatives from last night’s meeting were chosen to represent the group when the police board meets tomorrow night at 5:30pm, possibly to decide on action to be taken against Herkert.

Investigation continues on a Snyder Co. fatal shooting (10-7-2008)
(DI) Snyder Co. DA Michael Sholley said Monday the state police are still working on the case in which 39-y/o Kathleen Day, of near Middleburg, shot 22-y/o David Vazquez in the back with a gun on Sept. 13. Day told a TV reporter that she & Vazquez, a former New York City native resident who had been living with her for a few weeks, were leaving the house to go groundhog hunting when the gun she was carrying accidentally fired. Police are investigating to determine if the shooting was accidental or whether criminal charges should be filed.

Sen. Arlen Spector holds town meeting in Selinsgrove (10-7-2008)
(NI) The 78-year-old veteran Republican senator stopped by to “hear what you folks are thinking about.” The 60 or more attendees were mostly worried about the economy, pork barrel spending & the election. The senator noted that he’s been working to increase scholarship aid, specifically with the Pell grant, increasing the amount from $2,400 to $4,000 as well as fighting to drop student loan interest rates. On the economic bail out, Spector called the stimulus plan a “bitter pill to swallow”, saying, “We had no choice. The plan was not evaluated,” He added, “but if we hadn’t voted for it, the consequences could have been catastrophic.”

Mifflinburg man claiming to be stabbed is arrested (10-7-2008)
(DI) State police have arrested 42-y/o Mark Hannah of Mifflinburg who had claimed he was beaten & stabbed last month in State College. Police allege that Hannah actually was stabbed 3 times during a break-in earlier that day at the home of Carson Sampsell of Mifflinburg. Sampsell & his friends discovered an intruder wearing a garbage bag on his torso, with the arms and neck cut out, when they returned to his house. Sampsell got a knife from the kitchen & his friends grabbed golf clubs. Hannah was struck by a golf club near his head or neck. When Sampsell saw Hannah reach toward his waistband, he stabbed him 3 times in the back. Hannah told State College police that he was stabbed on a street while looking for a friend who was having car trouble, but police said security cameras in the area did not show an attack.

Crash in Perry Co. injures 2 (10-7-2008)
(CS) Sheri Noell, of Elliottsburg, was driving in Spring Twp. Monday morning when she pulled out from a stop sign at the intersection of routes 274 & 74. hitting the side of a vehicle driven by Melissa Kohr of Blain. The impact caused Noell to spin & pushed Kohr onto the shoulder. Kohr & one of her 2 passengers, were taken to Holy Spirit Hospital with minor injuries.

Proposal by State Theatre to sell alcohol opposed by borough (10-7-2008)
(CDT) By a 4-3 vote, State College Borough Council voted yesterday to oppose the nonprofit State Theatre's desire to sell alcohol. Counsil will submit a letter of disapproval to the theater’s board of directors, urging it not to apply for a performing-arts liquor license. The performing-arts licenses are issued by the state Liquor Control Board, & the Borough Council would have no authority over the license. The license would allow the sale of beer, wine & liquor beginning 2 hours before & ending 1 hour after performances.

Town meeting organized over police chief concerns (10-6-2008)
(LS) Some concerned Mifflin Co. citizens who feel were not given enough time to voice their feelings over actions by the Mifflin Co. Regional Police board of directors will have their chance tonight. The Regional Police chief, William Herkert, was placed on administrative leave with pay over 2 weeks ago but not much more has been made known. After a lengthy public board meeting last Thursday, no action was taken on Herkert, but instead a 2nd meeting has been scheduled for this Thursday. Tonight’s town hall meeting, will start at 7pm at the Brooklyn Fire Hall & will be led by Rev. Bernard Carpenter of the Bethel AME Church.

Alcohol a factor in a Friday Juniata Co. crash (10-6-2008)
Kevin Adams of Port Royal will be facing DUI charges as well as drug charges in Dauphin Co. after being released from the Hershey Medical Center. Adams was injured in the crash near Rt. 75 as he was westbound on old US 22/322 late Friday night at a high rate of speed. He rear-ended a vehicle driven by Abby Nace of Mifflintown, causing her vehicle to spin out of control & sheer off a utility pole. Adams’ car spun into a tree, then came to rest blocking both travel lanes. Once at the hospital, drugs & drug paraphernalia was found in Adams’ clothing.

Voter registration deadline for Nov. election is today (10-6-2008)
Registration forms are available at municipal government buildings, libraries & banks, among other places, or they can be obtained at the elections office in the Mifflin Co. Courthouse on Wayne St. Registration forms may also be downloaded at www.votespa.com, where further information about registering to vote in PA can also be found. Centre Co. voters face a decision in the month ahead whether to alter a policy on what constitutes proper dress inside polling places. There, the county's policy now requires polling place officials to ask voters to remove political buttons inside polling places.

Students to put fitness where their foot is (10-6-2008)
(LS) Wednesday morning, foot traffic in the Lewistown area will increase as students participate in the “Walking School Bus”. Some of the traffic will also come from feet that are pumping a bike to school. IVHS students will step off to school at 7:30am at the Burnham Burger King on both the soles of their feet & their bikes, while later at 9am, Sacred Heart School students will walk through downtown Lewistown on their way to the high school. This to bring attention to both physical fitness & school safety on school routes.

Police alerted to Aaronsburg drinking party by mother (10-6-2008)
(CDT) There are 8 facing charges after police responded to the report of that underage party at an Appletree Alley residence in Aaronsburg early Saturday morning. Police said a mother retrieved her child & her child's friend from the party after the child called her. The mother then called state police & told them there were many other juveniles at the party, some of them unresponsive. Police have charged 21-y/o Justin Leggett, of Aaronsburg, with corruption of minors & furnishing alcohol to minors. An 18-y/o & 6 other juveniles are also charged with underage drinking.

Convicted son of Irwin’s Country Tinware owner in more trouble (10-6-2008)
(DI) Alvin Ray Hoover of Mount Pleasant Mills, who's serving nearly 2 years in Snyder Co. jail for burning down his parents furniture business last year is in more legal trouble after he allegedly punched a 50-y/o inmate Thursday & knocked out 3 of his teeth. Hoover is accused of hitting a fellow inmate in the face during an argument in the jail. Hoover began serving the 23-month sentence at the jail in late July after he pleaded guilty, but mentally ill, to arson for setting fire to Irvin’s Country Tinware, owned by his parents, last year.

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