Numidia Domestic

It appears that a 22 – year old Numidia man wanted to end his life using “Suicide by Cop.” That... after Christopher Cooper got drunk and ended up in a domestic dispute with girlfriend Jennifer Beishline.... and squeezed off three rounds from a .380 caliber pistol into a field. Locust Township Police Chief Allen Breach says officers were called who subdued Cooper. He is now in the Columbia County Prison charged with reckless endangerment... public drunkenness... terroristic threats and disorderly conduct..

BU Fire

A scare... and an initial report of a structure fire at the Hartline Science Center on the Bloomsburg University campus late Monday morning. Bloomsburg fire men were called to what turned out to be a fire in one of the chemical labs on the 2^nd floor... so says deputy chief Scott McBride. Students and faculty inside the building were evacuated for about 20 minutes while smoke was cleared from the building. There were no injuries...

Power Outage

Pennsylvania Power and Light has restored power to an area from Berwick's west side to Mifflinville... just over a thousand subscribers in all. The juice was lost just before 6:30 Monday morning when a transformer exploded at a sub station at the corner of Ber-Vaughn Park Road and Orange Street. The lack of electricity also knocked out traffic lights, but it appears they were the first to come on after the initial explosion. Columbia County dispatch says fire companies were not needed at the scene... and PPL crews had the power restored in short order.

Aggressive Driving

Dozens of police departments... and officers... from across the area were recently recognized for their crackdown's on aggressive drivers. For example... in Columbia County, over the past five years, 196 aggressive driving accidents were reported and investigated. PennDOT's David Thompson says that is due to the volume of traffic. Money to crack down on aggressive driving initially comes from the federal government... funneled through PennDOT to the local department.

Senior Fraud

The on going target for scammers these days is the elderly. That word from Kathy Lynn who runs the Columbia – Montour Office of Aging. Ms. Lynn says senior citizens can lose thousands of dollars quickly. One instance, for example, is through medical alert devices... or news that a relative is in trouble in a foreign country and needs bail money to get home. Ms. Lynn warns... never give out vital information over the phone to someone you don't know... such as checking account numbers... a social security number and date of birth.

VFW Convention

The state Veterans of Foreign Wars convention wrapped up their annual convention over the weekend near Harrisburg. State commander Ruth Fairchild says the organization is working to help its members deal with a host of issues that have come to light since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began. And Ms. Fairchild says the needs of today's vets are vastly different than those of World War Two or Vietnam.

PPL Unit 2

Operators at the PPL Steam Electric Station in Salem Township... north of Berwick... have reconnected the Unit 1 reactor to the regional electric grid. The unit coming back on line over the weekend after completing improvements that will take care of turbine issues experience over the past several years. In a new release... a plant spokesperson says operators will continue to monitor the performance of the turbines on both Unit 1 and 2.

Berwick Man Arrested

A Berwick man is being held after he was arrested with a number of robbery-related charges. A Berwick Police Department news release says Tanner Hess and an unnamed teenager pranked Mitchell Hummel while they were on their way home from a carnival in East Berwick earlier this month... allegedly making off with Hummel's wallet containing a couple of hundred dollars in cash. Police say Hess was charged at the start of the weekend with criminal conspiracy to commit robbery.... unlawful restraint and criminal conspiracy to commit theft. The unnamed juvenile will face similar charges.

Rice Twp.

Rice Township supervisors... between Hazleton and Wilkes – Barre... will voter later this month to decertify their volunteer their fire department. The decision to do so came at the start of the weekend. Supervisors charge that firemen are not adequately trained... some don't have licenses to operate apparatus... and didn't dismiss a member after that person was found guilty of DUI. If the ordinance to decertify is okay later this month... fire protection would come from neighboring Wright Township.

Hanover Fire

A family from Hanover Township near Wilkes – Barre are assessing the damage to their home. It seems an electrical problem at the home on Holly Street started the fire Saturday night... which eventually gutted the home. The only person inside was a 17 – year old teenager. He escaped the flames by jumping through a window.

I-80 Work

Road work continues on that on – going bridge project spanning the Susquehanna River on Interstate 80. PennDOT say starting this week there will be rolling roadblocks in the eastbound lane to slow traffic in order to set new concrete beams on one of the bridges being reconstructed. The move will effect traffic... eastbound... from the Lightstreet to the Berwick exit. To avoid the backup's expected.... you can use an alternate... such as Route 11... to get to your destination.

Shavertown McDonald's

The owners of more than a dozen McDonald's Restaurants in the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valley are being sued by a former employee for the way she was paid. Natalie Gunshannon says her pay for working at a Shavertown McDonald's was not by check, but by a payroll debit card which carried high fees. Now... Gunshannon has filed a class action lawsuit against franchise owners Albert and Carol Mueller of Clarks Summit. The Mueller's are accused of violating the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Act and unlawfully boosting profits with the payroll card scheme.

The Berwick Area Relay For Life continues today at Berwick High School.  Teams started walking yesterday afternoon at 3:00 PM, and they’ll continue today until 3:00 PM.  Stop by to support the fight against cancer.

Boy Scout Troop 9 is hosting a US Flag retirement ceremony today at the Orangeville Public Library at 301 Mill Street in Orangeville.

The Columbia Valley Moose will continue their indoor yard sale today.  And the Mifflinville Town Yard Sale is happening today too.

The Free Saturday Trains program at Christ Memorial Episcopal Church in Danville is open as usual today, and the train display at the Columbia Mall is open this afternoon from Noon to 4:00 PM.

Today it’s a muddy fundraiser for the Kidsburg 2.0 committee…at the annual Braveheart Mud Run and Music Fest.  It’s taking place at the Irish Valley Motocross Park.

The Children’s Museum is hosting Father’s, Uncle’s and Grandpa’s Day today.  There will be special make-and-take crafts along with story time.  The Children’s Museum is located on West 7^th Street in Bloomsburg.

The Millville Valley Grange is hosting a strawberry social today from Noon to 6:00 PM.  They’ll have several strawberry dishes and sandwiches available.  The grange is located on State Street in Millville.

The Sugarloaf Memorial Schoolhouse in Benton is hosting their annual Strawberry Festival and Arts and Crafts Show today from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  The festival features all things strawberry, a baking contests, and a 5k walk/run.  There will be children’s games and crafts.

Cub Scout Packs 67 and 71 and Boy Scout Troop 67 are hosting a spaghetti dinner tonight from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Grove Building on Ringtown Mountain Road in Numedia.

Top Gun Promotions presents a pro wrestling event tonight at the Nescopeck AM Vets at 6:00 PM.  Seats at the door are $12.00.  Proceeds benefit the MS Society.

The Potts Grove Fire Company is hosting their monthly all you can eat breakfast and brunch buffet tomorrow from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM.  The fire hall is located off Route 642 between Danville and Milton.

The Bloomsburg Public Library Diners Club invites you to dine at the Turkey Hill Brewing Company Pub and Grille for a meal tomorrow night between 4:00 to 9:00 PM.  If you print out a voucher and take it with you 20% of your check will go to benefit the library.  The vouchers are available on the library’s website…link up on the community organizations page.

Wagon Fatality

A Millville woman is dead after she was tossed from a two wheel, horse drawn cart last night in Pine Township. State Police at Bloomsburg say 58 – year old David Craver and his wife, Linda... also 58... were riding on a private, dirt lane... when the horse pulling the cart went over a steep embankment.

Linda Craver was thrown from the cart and died. She was pronounced dead at the scene.... while her husband was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries.

Northumberland Fatal

State Police are still investigating a crash Wednesday between a pick up truck and a big rig on Route 147 in Point Township. It happened at midday. They say 19 – year old Ryan Showers of Northumberland lost control of his truck... crossed the center line and slammed head on into the 18 – wheeler which came to rest next to a home. Showers was pronounced dead at the scene...

Drug Sales

A Berwick man is jailed after he was busted on drug charges earlier this week. Michael Hamilton was arrested after cops discovered a meth making lab in the bed room in his home in exchange for heroine. Berwick Police Chief Kenneth Strish says nothing ever surprises him. Chief Strish says his department is doing it's job so well... the meth makers are moving their operations to communities outside Berwick

Vets Memorial

The wraps were taken off... at this week's Bloomsburg Town Council meeting... of the proposed veterans memorial on Market Street.... in the town park. Council Vice – Chair Diane Levan is spearheading the effort... with the help of Peters Consultants. Some of the financing will come from benches with plaques.... paid for by veterans families.... as well as through the sale of paving bricks which will encircle the memorial. Levan says no parking spaces along Market Street will be taken for the project... and no trees will be removed. Still no timetable established for the monument's construction.

State Budget

A $28.3 - billion state budget is closer to becoming a reality. The state house giving their okay to the proposed spending plan on Wednesday. House Majority leader Mike Turzai of Allegheny County says the plan includes a $500 – million dollar boost without a tax increase. The measure will be on the desks of the state senate today... so they can begin making changes. However, the proposal must be to Governor Corbett by the end of the month.

Murder Suspects

Three people wanted in connection with the shooting death of a Pottsville man this week have been captured in Philadelphia. Schuylkill County authorities say the trio is responsible for the death of 19 – year old Elijah Carraway. The shooting happened Tuesday night... and investigators believe it was over drugs. The three suspects will be extradited back to Schuylkill County to face homicide charges.

Commencement

The Hazleton Area High School's Class of 2013 won't be getting their diplomas tonight as planned. Rather... the threat of bad weather has changed commencement to tomorrow night at 6 O'clock. It's scheduled to be held outdoors on the high school campus... but in case of rain... the ceremonies will be held in the high school gym.

Sandusky Costs

The legal bills related to the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal keep piling up for Penn State. A university website updated this week showed the total bill as of the end of March at more than $45.8 million, covering legal fees along with consulting work and other associated costs. Sandusky was convicted last summer on 48 of 50 counts stemming from having sex with teenage boys.

WHLM Sports

Loyalsock Baseball

The Loyalsock High School baseball team is set to go up against West Champion Beaver Friday afternoon as the two teams meet at Penn State. Loyalsock advanced after they captured the Class Double A Eastern Regional at Bloomsburg University earlier this week.

PHL Phillies

The Minnesota Twins were on top of their game Wednesday night... as they defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4 to 3.... in Minneapolis. The final game of their series is Thursday night. Catch all the action on the WHLM Stations... beginning with the pre – game show tonight at 7:35.

Other Thursday night games...

The Pittsburgh Pirates downed the San Francisco Giants 12 to 8.... the New York Mets defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 5 – 1... and the New York Yankees outlasted Oakland 5 to 2...

US Open

The top professional golfers in the world will tee off Thursday in the 113^th U-S Open at the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore... near Philadelphia.

Stanley Cup

It took three overtime periods, but the Chicago Blackhawks skated past the Boston Bruins 4 to 3 last night. Now... Chicago take the lead in the Stanley Cup Series... one game to none

Berwick Community Watch

Trying to keep an eye on your neighbors... and the community... that's the underlying theme of the Berwick Area Community Watch. The group met Tuesday night for the second time last night at City Hall... and the group's Jay Jarrett said there has been a lot of response stemming from the initial meeting last month. Folks attending Tuesday night's meeting had an eye opening experience as they watched a program dealing with the sights and smells of Meth.

Red Cross CEO

He spent two days on the road... going from chapter to chapter across Northeast Pennsylvania. Eight weeks into the job and that's what Peter Brown... the Regional CEO of the American Red Cross... spent the early part of his week. One of those stops was in Bloomsburg on Tuesday.... where he talked about the area he covers... and how to respond in times of disaster. Brown's territory is spread out from Susquehanna and Wyoming County on the north.... south to Berks County... with the Berwick, Bloomsburg and Danville chapters sandwiched in the middle.

Autoneum Noise

Bloomsburg Town government has received two complaints of noise coming from the area of Autoneum factory on West 5^th Street. The complaints coming in after 11 O'clock at night.... and Mayor Dan Knorr says the carpet company is trying to figure out where it's coming from. Autoneum is also working with code enforcement on the issue. But, Mayor Knorr went on to say that it hasn't reached the decibel threshold violating code laws. The code enforcement office is on top of the situation, but no one can pinpoint the origin of the noise.

Bloomsburg Town Council

For the first time in eight years... Dan Knorr won't be a part of Bloomsburg Town Council... or Mayor come June 21^st. That will be his last day in office after accepting a job offer in Danville Borough Government. Mayor Knorr presided over his last council meeting last night... and during his Mayor's update telling council members he appreciated their support during his five years in the town's top job.

Mr. Knorr will become Danville's Administrator of Governmental Affairs... which initially pays $43,000 a year. Bloomsburg Council Vice – Chair Diane Levan will take over for Knorr until a person is found to fill out his unexpired term.

Hemlock Township

Is Hemlock Township... west of Bloomsburg... on your route of travel. If it is... you may see more police presence than usual. Township police have received funding from the state earmarked to reduce the amount of aggressive driving. Target areas will be on Mall Boulevard... as well Millville Road.  The aggressive driving campaign runs through the end of September.

I-81 Fatal

A Hazleton woman is dead after her car was struck by a tractor – trailer on Interstate 81 over the weekend in Lebanon County. State Police say 29 – year old Amy Joyce died early Sunday morning when her disabled car was stuck by an 18 – wheeler driven by an Ocala, Florida man. Although she was in her car... apparently awaiting help.... Ms. Joyce was not wearing her seat belt.

BU Sports Camps

Now that school districts have shut down for the summer... the Bloomsburg University Sports Department is offering week long camps for kids. Starting later this week a wrestling camp for dad and junior... so says sports operations director Kevin Wood. Next week... a baseball camp. For a full rundown on camps to be held this summer... just go to www.BUcamps.com.

Mighty John

Headed out to a yard sale this weekend... you're not alone. But, there are some folks looking for certain items... such as vinyl recordings. Appearing on a recent edition of the WHLM Morning Buzz... Mighty John Marshall who runs a web site known as www.moneymusic.com says there are categories of music which are highly collectable... such as Rock 'n' Roll and Bluegrass. Although the vinyl recordings are out there on three different formats..... music... such as that on Compact Disk are not high in demand.

Bail Request

A Pottsville man remains in the Schuylkill County Jail after his application for a chance in bond was rejected. 21 – year old Keshon Canyon wanted to have his $75,000 straight cash bail changed to $75,000 unsecured bail. The Judge and the Schuylkill County D-A didn't agree. Canyon faces a long list of charges stemming from a January 14th incident in Pottsville.

Berwick Drug Bust

A Berwick man is in the Columbia County Prison... after police allegedly found meth – making materials at his home on Orange Street. Michael Hamilton telling police he exchanged space to make the meth for heroin... to which he's addicted. Hamilton is facing several drug charges.

Hospital Merger

Another Pennsylvania hospital will now be under the guidance of Danville – based Geisinger Health Systems. This time it's the Lewistown Hospital with directors there approving a merger with Geisinger.  Discussions have been going on between the two health care providers for about a year. Now... the proposed merger must get an okay from the State Attorney General's office... as well as the State Department of Health.