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Issue Home February 20, 2008 Site Home

HEADLINES:
Into The Future At Blue Ridge
Boy Scouts, FBLA, Technology

Clifford To Lease Property
Courthouse Report
Fire & Ambulance Cos. Receive State Grants
March Jurors Drawn
County To Receive Recycling Grant
Gibson Barracks Report Compiled By Melinda Darrow
Crop Insurance Deadline

 

Into The Future At Blue Ridge
By Ted Brewster

Computers at the ready, the Blue Ridge School Board launched itself part way into the paperless future at its meeting on February 11. Each board member and all the administrators – everybody at the table – had a laptop open throughout the meeting. There were a few paper copies of the agenda and supporting materials for observers, but the key players used only the computers to keep track of what was going on. Board President Priscinda Gaughan had forgotten her glasses, so she had to squint as she read each item on the agenda from her screen.

Otherwise, the meeting was fairly routine. Among the usual personnel items, the board accepted letters of intent to retire from Jane Wilmet and Deborah Pease, under the current incentive program. Christina Mansfield was accepted as a substitute for the Homework Club in the Middle School.

Holly Haynes' resignation as JV track coach was accepted. When the usual list of coaching and activity positions came up, one of the new board members, Laurie Brown-Bonner asked for an explanation. Superintendent Robert McNamara remarked that the schools were "short of coaches" for all of the various athletic programs. "[We] don't have people stepping up to do those programs," he said. Board member Lon Fisher commended the coaches for the time-consuming effort they apply that, according to Mr. McNamara, often doesn't pay as much as a dollar per hour for all of the extra time they spend.

Elementary School Principal Matthew Button backed up his librarian's request to employ Carole Carey for about four weeks over the summer to help catch up on cataloging. Mr. McNamara said that "our [library] inventory is the second oldest in the [region covered by the] IU." He said the libraries need a "more modern selection for our students." The board agreed.

The board also approved a $4,000 raise for Business Manager Loren Small. The salary increase was in recognition of his completion of a master's degree in school business administration. Mr. Small is one of the first to be awarded a degree in this discipline. He was instrumental in developing the program for school business managers.

After considering the proposal for about a month, the board approved the extension of the athletic co-sponsorship with the Susquehanna Community School District to the junior high level. The original program was intended to beef up the roster of players for Susquehanna football, and became an exchange program: Blue Ridge sends football players to Susquehanna, and Susquehanna sends soccer players to Blue Ridge.

There is some concern among board members and in the community, that the extension of the program will add stress for the younger players, and that there will be scheduling difficulties because of the organizations of the two schools; Susquehanna does not have a middle school. Ms. Brown-Bonner was concerned in particular about late returns from games as far away as Delaware Valley. Mr. McNamara said that Blue Ridge had been playing in that conference for a long time; "Unfortunately, that's where we live," he said, referring the rural nature of the school districts in this area. He also noted that athletes are held to strict eligibility standards in academics. He said, "The system works." Blue Ridge also hopes to increase the level of play on the girls' soccer teams with a larger group of students to work with.

In the end, the measure passed over the objections of Ms. Brown-Bonner and Joel Whitehead.

At the workshop a couple weeks before, the board discussed what to do with some $1.6 million in surplus left at the end of the last fiscal year. Mr. Small had suggested moving some to a special debt service account and another chunk to the capital reserve fund, which is used for major maintenance in the physical plant. Roughly $700,000 had to be moved somewhere in order to maintain a general fund surplus within state guidelines. At the workshop Mr. Fisher suggested moving more to debt service and less to the capital reserve.

The proposal on the table now was to move $400,000 to debt service and $300,000 to the capital reserve. Alan Hall, former school board President, was recognized to speak to this issue. He told the board that, by adding another $50,000 to the debt service account (leaving $250,000 for capital reserves), the debt service fund could be brought to about $1 million by the end of this year, which would give the board the opportunity to cut taxes in the 2009-2010 budget by "at least one mill." When he was still serving on the board, Mr. Hall had said many times that his goal was to begin to cut property tax rates as the construction debt was paid off. The district still owes about $10 million on those bonds.

The board decided to stick with the split of $400,000 to debt service and $300,000 to capital reserve, with the understanding that further adjustments could be made at a later date, perhaps at the beginning of the next fiscal year, in July.

High School Principal John Manchester reported that the National Honor Society induction is scheduled for March 12. He said the Society had finished its district-wide collection for local troops in Iraq and will be packaging them for shipment. He also reported receipt of a letter of thanks from the Red Cross. The High School generally runs two blood drives each year. The last one collected 58 pints, exceeding the goal of 54, which, the Red Cross said, benefited some 174 patients.

Middle School Principal Matthew Nebzydoski reported on a visit he and some of his teachers made to Preston Area School, part of the Wayne Highlands School District. Preston, smaller, but roughly comparable to Blue Ridge demographically, has consistently scored high on the state standardized tests known as the PSSA. The PSSA being one of Mr. Nebzydoski's primary interests, he said the two schools each came away from the visit with information from trading tips and techniques.

Mr. McNamara reported that the governor's new budget allows for only a 1.78% increase in school funding. But he reminded board members that the legislature has yet to act on it, and he hopes for an improvement, especially in the "small-school assistance" program, which was cut from the budget but may be reinstated.

And finally, the board was thanked for its support of the Artist in Residence program in the kindergarten. Mr. Button particularly thanked the teachers, Peg Glezen and Billye Kersey Kubiak, the artist in question, for their efforts. Ms. Brown-Bonner asked why the program was restricted to the kindergarten, and was told that teachers in the other grades felt that it would be too disruptive to their schedules and all the other work they need to accomplish.

Since all of the computers were connected to the Internet during the meeting, one wonders what board members and administrators were really doing with the machines. Share the entertainment at a workshop scheduled for February 25 at 7:30 p.m.; the board will be treated to a presentation on Board Roles and Responsibilities developed by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. The workshop will be preceded at 7:00 p.m. by committee meetings, all in the cafeteria in the Elementary School.

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Boy Scouts, FBLA, Technology
By Melinda Darrow

The February 11 meeting of the Montrose Area School Board was unusually well attended, at least in the beginning. A local Boy Scout troop was there; their attendance satisfied a service requirement, necessary for one of their badges. The boys were very well behaved throughout the proceeding. Also in attendance were officers from the new Montrose FBLA club, which was publicly recognized by Mr. Ognosky and the board. The club has apparently been something the district has been working toward for years, and a willingness to start it was one of the interview questions asked of applicants for a recent business education position. Twenty students expressed interest in membership, fifteen attended a recent competition at Keystone College, and three students placed. Chris Stevens took first place in a new competition, and is scheduled to attend states. Ashley Palmer and Cortney Griffiths came in third in their area of study. Also at the meeting were other club officers: Mike Stevens, Bruce Gowe, and Chelsea Hall. The students (and their advisor) all received certificates of recognition, and shook the hands of the board and administration around the table.

Buses and bus safety were once again topics of discussion throughout the evening. The request for students to sign up for an activity bus was explained. Currently the district runs three activity buses, but sometimes these buses become full. It is very important that students sign up because it helps the district decide if another bus is needed for that evening. They are also trying to discourage students who are not involved in after school activities from staying after school, hanging out downtown, and using the bus service as a ride home. The activity bus is for the use of students utilizing school activities.

The matter of a bus safety program was brought up again. It was answered that administration is still looking for age appropriate materials for some of the children. Many materials are either geared toward very little children or teenagers; there is a lack of middle-grades appropriate resources. It was recommended that a transportation meeting be scheduled with this as an agenda item.

The Technology Steering committee gave a report regarding a new system with which to run the district's scheduling, grades, etc. The district had been having problems with edunet, which it was using, and had narrowed the field of potential replacements down to two – mms or csiu. Two districts already using these programs were visited, and mms chosen. It was stated that this system will allow for web-based course registration and schedules available via e-mail, and it will provide for parents the ability to receive confidential notices, view their children's cafeteria transaction histories, and even place restrictions on what their children can do with their lunch accounts. It is hoped, and was approved at the meeting, that the new system be at least partially implemented (for scheduling purposes) in the very near future.

Mr. Caterson continues to spearhead a movement to form an energy use committee, which idea he discussed during the work session. It is hoped that this committee, which already has a few interested members, will involve not just school personnel but students and community members. Mr. Caterson has been recently interviewed by the Meteor Chronicle, which asked how green the district was. He proposed that becoming more efficient would not involve a lot of capital investment, but would require more of a change in the way things were done. Suggestions he mentioned included changing outdoor lights from incandescent to LED, and maybe reducing the number of lights used.

Keeping with the green theme, Mr. Adams spoke of the recycling club at his school. They want to step up their program, and begin recycling rigid plastics. Some places offer an incentive program, providing a reduced fee for hauling things to the recycling center.

Mr. Ognosky spoke of a recent visit he made to the Elk Lake emotional support program. He met with students there and discussed what they liked about the program. The district would like to bring some of its students back to the district next year, in its own emotional support program, and is making preparations to do so. The next step, he said, will be to match Montrose staff with their corresponding Elk Lake counterparts, for more information.

Mr. Tallarico announced the dates of some of the high school's end of year events. Graduation is now looking like it will be moved to the next available Saturday, which would be June 14. Based on that, the 7th would be Academic Awards night, and the 8th baccalaureate and senior night. The senior trip would be the 9th through 12th, to Virginia Beach. The prom is scheduled for April 16 at the Summit in New Milford. The school is hoping to run its bi-yearly fake accident scenario prior to this prom date, in order to encourage students to make wise decisions through prom season and the end of the year.

The district achieved its five-year middlestate certification. Suggestions were made regarding ways in which the district should improve, however, and twice a year it is required to submit reports on its progress.

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Clifford To Lease Property
By Stephanie Everett

Despite snowy roads, Clifford Township supervisors met Tuesday evening, February 12 for their monthly meeting.

In reviewing January expenditures, council discovered some discrepancies in the records. Randolph LaCroix is to review the Treasurer’s Report.

Council is still waiting to hear from the Susquehanna County Housing and Redevelopment Authority regarding a sidewalk grant. A decision is to be made by February 22.

June 23 is the completion deadline for upcoming spring road work.

Council voted to lease Clifford’s municipal property to Chesapeake Energy, a natural gas drilling company. Chesapeake has offered the township $750/acre to lease its 14-acre property. The well will likely be located near the ballfield. Paul Peterson, township solicitor, will meet with Stan Mutz of Chesapeake Energy to negotiate the lease.

A public hearing is to be scheduled to revise the Clifford Township Subdivision Ordinance.

As a way to honor the late John Tellep, community member and firefighter, Council named July 24 “John Tellep Day.”

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Courthouse Report
Compiled By Lauren P. Ficarro

DEEDS

John N. and Marilyn Cavanaugh to John and Theresa Ludwig, in New Milford Township for $166,000.00.

Millington H. Delia to Millington H. Delia (Family Trust), in Silver Lake Township for one dollar.

Andrew J. and Alice Ewonishon to Andrew J. and Alice Ewonishon, in Herrick Township for one dollar.

Randy May to Brian and Terri Mockaitis, in Jackson Township for $10,000.00.

Anna Sterchak to Joseph and Ronald Sterchak, in Forest City for one dollar.

Miles E. Krause, Jr. to Miles E. Krause, Jr. and Koni Worth, in New Milford Township for one dollar.

Mabel A. and Richard J. Sheldon to Richard J. and Frances J. Sheldon, in Thompson and Jackson Townships for one dollar.

Ruth M. June to Richard J. and Frances J. Sheldon, in Thompson Township for one dollar.

Mabel A. Sheldon to Richard J. and Frances J. Sheldon, in Thompson and Jackson Townships for one dollar.

Marcene G. Phillips (Estate) to Lawson Fox, in Susquehanna for $65,000.00.

Helen M. Taft to Carol A. Gregory, in Thompson Township for one dollar.

Bremer Hof Owners, Inc. to Jeffrey B. and Judith Belorit, in Herrick Township for $2,495.00.

Bremer Hof Owners, Inc. to William G., Karen M., William C., Jonathan and Sean Deady, in Herrick Township for $2,495.00.

Bremer Hof Owners, Inc. to Francis V. and Catherine M. Curran, in Herrick Township for $3,495.00.

Bremer Hof Owners, Inc. to Richard D. and Cynthia A. Ball, in Herrick Township for $2,995.00.

Neilton Dias (AKA) Nealton Dias to Neilton Dias, in Lathrop Township for one dollar.

Peter and Angelina Pisauro to Paul and David A. Pisauro, in Herrick Township for one dollar.

Peter and Angelina Pisauro to Paul and David A. Pisauro, in Herrick Township for one dollar.

Peter and Angelina Pisauro to Peter, III and Lynne Anne Pisauro, in Herrick Township for one dollar.

Peter, Jr. and Angelina Pisauro to Peter, III, Paul and David A. Pisauro and Lynne Anne Perruso, in Herrick Township for one dollar.

Peter and Angelina Pisauro to Paul and David A. Pisauro, in Herrick Township for one dollar.

Bruce McNaught and Nancy K. Wottrich to Christina Christensen, in Bridgewater Township for $432.00.

William W. Rozell (Est AKA) William Wayne Rozell, Sr. (Est) to William W. Rozell, Jr., in Brooklyn Township for one dollar.

Leonard J. Rozell (Est AKA) James Rozell to Luke Jason Rozell, in Brooklyn Township for one dollar.

Duncan and Cecilia Cameron to Duncan Cameron, in Dimock Township for one dollar.

Erna Dzelzkalns to Andrew J. and Ruth K. Smithson, in Rush Township for one dollar.

Judith S. Simpson and Glenn A. Scott to Judith S. Simpson, in New Milford Township for one dollar.

Matthew J. and Kate Taylor to Joseph Taylor, in New Milford Township for one dollar.

Susan Ann and James A. Sager to Rory A., Jr. and Deborah Maginley, in New Milford Township for one dollar.

Ronald M. and Janice L. Zory to Timothy Clark Brister, in Herrick Township for $20,000.00.

DIVORCES

Duane A. Woodruff vs. Tina M. Woodruff, both of New Milford, married 1991.

Eric Fish of Hop Bottom vs. Mary Ellen Fish of Binghamton, PA, married 1997.

Robert P. McNeish of Johnson City, NY vs. Barbara R. Fish of Carbondale, married 1976.

Connie J. Allison of New Milford vs. Steven M. Allison of Summerfield, FL, married 2004.

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Fire & Ambulance Cos. Receive State Grants

Rep. Sandra Major (R-Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming) announced that 34 volunteer fire and ambulance service companies have received more than $500,000 under the Volunteer Fire Co. Volunteer Ambulance Service grant program.

"Firefighters and ambulance crews are constantly working to enhance public safety and protect individuals and their livelihoods," said Major. "Awards like these do much more than enable improvements, they express our gratitude and serve as a reminder of our commitment to the vital role that emergency responders play in our society."

The grants range from $9,000 to more than $39,000. The following volunteer companies within the 111th Legislative District received grant awards totaling $575,869 from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA):

Clifford Fire Company, $23,340; Forest City Fire Company, $19,676; Harford Fire Company, $19,000; Hop Bottom Fire Company, $20,517; Springville Fire Department Inc., $19,000; Susquehanna Fire Department Inc., $19,000; Thompson Fire Company, $19,000; Union Dale Fire Company, $21,480; United Fire Company, $19,000; Great Bend Fire Company, $19,000; Hallstead Fire Company, $19,000; Silver Lake Fire Company, $19,000; Snake Creek Volunteer Fire Company, $19,000; Clifford Ambulance Service, $9,969; Harford Ambulance Service, $19,000; Silver Lake Ambulance Service, $9,969; Susquehanna Ambulance Service, $9,969; Thompson Ambulance Services, $9,969; Montrose Minutemen, $9,969; Browndale Fire Company, $20,240; Equinunk Fire Company, $19,000; Pleasant Mount Fire Company, $19,000; Northern Wayne Fire Department, $19,000; Northern Wayne Ambulance, $9,969; Lake Carey Fire Company, $19,000; Lake Winola Fire Company, $22,100; Meshoppen Fire Company, $20,550; Nicholson Fire Company, $20,240; Triton Hose Company No. 1, $19,930; Factoryville Fire Company, $22,100; Mehoopany Ambulance, $9,969; Lake Winola Ambulance, $9,969; Tunkhannock Ambulance, $9,969; Pleasant Mount Ambulance, $9,969.

Grants are used to improve and enhance capabilities of vital emergency preparedness services such as construction or renovation of a unit's station, the purchase or repair of equipment, training or debt reduction.

The program is administered by PEMA with the application process handled through the office of the Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner.

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March Jurors Drawn

Following is the list of names drawn to serve as Petit and Traverse jurors, to appear in the Court of Common Pleas, Susquehanna County Courthouse, on the third day of March, at 8:30 a.m.

Apolacon Twp.: Salvatore Crisafi, Edwin Deffler, Donald J. Griffin, Archibald Johnson, Steven Noyes.

Ararat Twp.: Jessie Lyman Thorn, Debra Wolfe.

Auburn Twp.: Barbara Bach, Lise Berger, Danielle Carter, W. Cobb, Anna Hibbard, Evelyn McCarthy, James H. Murray, Jane Overfield, Robert G. Rogers, Corey Wallace.

Bridgewater Twp.: Patrick Burke, Arlene Catlin, Frank Cooke, Terry Darde, Marion Darrow, Debra Detweiler, Randy Franklin, Fred Howell, Sara Lotten, Denise Sellers, Timothy Stevens, Steven Stranburg, Kenneth Taylor, Ward Travis.

Brooklyn Twp.: Ida Chidester, Chad Hollenbeck, Karen Hower, Dawn Pellew, Ellen Robbins.

Choconut Twp.: Robert Ellis, Robert Neely.

Clifford Twp.: Nicholas Butcher, Patricia Carrube, James Locker, Mary McAllister, George Meade, Mary Shipsky, Lois Todd.

Dimock Twp.: Ellen Allen, Thomas Charles, Martha Cuomo, Jennifer Gates, Ellen Hibbard, Kenneth Landes, Gary Shields, Christa Strickland.

Forest City 1W: Mary Burik, Gail Ferrer, William Paulin, Blanche Trusky.

Forest City 2W: Edward Burke, Susan Hardman-Zimmerman, Ruth Jones, Helen Marsicano, Joann Matarese, Karen Sosnowski.

Forest Lake Twp.: Pamela Grick, Richard Hitchcock, Dennis Nagy, Sharon Welch.

Franklin Twp.: Arthur Bolles, Duane Heeman, Robert Pratt, Helen Viteritto.

Gibson Twp.: Joyce Decker, John Lynch, Betty Walburn.

Great Bend Boro: Lynda Davis.

Great Bend Twp.: Patrick Bollinger, Susan Decker, Donald Franks, Bonnie Gordon, Brenda Rudock, Lucy Sherman, Russell Tiffany.

Hallstead Boro: Elaine Fancher, Curtis Ross, Evelyn Wood.

Harford Twp.: Chris Shuster, Retha Spickerman.

Harmony Twp.: Donna Herbert.

Herrick Twp.: Anthony Harvatine.

Jackson Twp.: Ramiro Gonzalez, Robert Hager, Don Kotowski, Lenore Monks, Verna Salada.

Jessup Twp.: Kellie Hibbard, Vincent Labzentis, Theora Myers, Mary Tiffany.

Lanesboro Boro: Helen Bentler, Sharon Delaney, Sharon Glover, Phyllis Oropallo, Marguerite Price.

Lathrop Twp.: Teresa Fornicola, Catherine Helms, Mae Nowalk, Noel Peet, Paul Stizza, Mary Patricia Webster.

Lenox Twp.: Joseph Bomersheim, Norman Breese, Adeline Fallon, Carl Jennings, Marie Kraft, Jennifer Krieg, Anthony Neri.

Liberty Twp.: Nick Johnson, Michael Lee, Joyce Potter, Rodney Thompson, Laurie Weeks.

Little Meadows Boro: Gary Bussom, Cheryl Purtell.

Middletown Twp.: Galen Rockefeller.

Montrose Boro 1W: Michael Considine, Carmella Dinallo, Florence Downer,  Carolyn Warner.

Montrose Boro 2W: Theodore Rounds, Lynn Senick, Ann Zosh.

New Milford Twp.: Deborah Bell, Donna Biesecker, Angela Guzy, Kelli Hawk, Amy Steinberg, William Tennant, Robert Welch.

Oakland Boro: Jason Chamberlain, Durland Drake, John French, Wilmer W. Hoopes III, James Kimble.

Oakland Twp.: Robert Edwards, Sarah Wormuth.

Rush Twp.: Alberta Newhart, Billie Snell, Tina Warner.

Silver Lake Twp.: Dawn Bennett, Roland Dube, Lynn Hadaway, Rosalind Hammer, Richard Hester, Catherine Rogers, Andrea Shoemaker, Vicki Sjostrom, James Smith, Douglas Todd, Brenda Turner.

Springville Twp.: Sarah Boner, Steven Edwards, Janet Guenter, Kevin Murray, Mary Norton, Kenny Sherman, Sean Simmons.

Susquehanna Boro 1W: Ronald Crawford, Paulette Mayhew, Judith Smalasz, Eugene Trynoski.

Susquehanna Boro 2W: Gail Hankey, Liese Stein.

Thompson Boro: Theresa Sheldon.

Thompson Twp.: Kevin Callender.

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County To Receive Recycling Grant

Reps. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) and Sandra Major (R-Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming) announced that Susquehanna County will receive a state grant under the County Recycling Coordinator Grant Program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

The $26,363 DEP grant will be used to reimburse 50 percent of the county recycling coordinator's salary and expenses.

"Employing this coordinator benefits the county and its communities by helping to manage our recycling programs," said Pickett. "I'm pleased to see that the state financially supports Susquehanna County's recycling efforts."

"Recycling helps conserve and protect valuable resources, protects the environment and helps reduce landfill space," Major said.

The Recycling Coordinator Grant Program was established under Act 101 of 1988. The law mandates recycling in Pennsylvania's larger municipalities, requires counties to develop municipal waste management plans, and provides for grants to offset expenses.

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Gibson Barracks Report Compiled By Melinda Darrow

IDENTITY THEFT

One or more unknown persons obtained the credit information of Anthony Landon of Hallstead, and made purchases totaling $188.85 using his account. The investigation is continuing pending a computer trace.

DUI

On January 31, at around 11:20 p.m., Amanda Kilmer was southbound on SR 0011, when she lost control of her vehicle while negotiating a left-hand curve. Kilmer tried to compensate, but exited the roadway off the east berm, striking an earthen embankment. She was transported via EMS to Wilson Hospital for treatment, where she was submitted to a blood alcohol test for suspected DUI. The investigation is continuing.

THEFT

On February 2, Melinda Butler was the cashier on duty at Flynn's Stone Castle in Rush Township. The gas station/minimart is owned by Francis Flynn of Montrose. Butler left the store prior to the end of her shift, after which it was discovered that both the cash from the register and cash and checks from a lock box in the store office were missing. Over $8,500 in cash and checks were stolen. Troopers from PSP Gibson are looking for Melinda Butler and her boyfriend, Herman Burris.

THEFT/CRIMINAL TRESPASS

Unknown offender(s) entered onto property owned by the Pennsylvania American Water Company located off of Steam Hollow Road in Susquehanna. Once on the property the perpetrator(s) gained entry to a storage trailer by cutting off a lock that secured the doors of the trailer. Items from this trailer were then removed, and the perpetrator(s) fled the scene.

CRASH

On February 5, at 5:50 p.m., Randy Konstas of Montrose was traveling south on SR 29 in Dimock Twp. on a foggy afternoon. Konstas exited the roadway to the east of the travel lanes, impacted a utility pole, and his vehicle overturned. Konstas suffered injuries from the crash and was transported to Endless Mountains Health Systems prior to police response to the scene.

CRASH

On February 7, at around 5:05 p.m., William Repsher of Wyalusing was traveling north on SR 267 when he encountered ice on the roadway. Repsher lost control of his vehicle, which traveled off the roadway on the east side and struck an embankment. The vehicle rolled over onto its passenger side and then struck a mailbox before coming to a rest facing west.

COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ACCIDENT

On February 10, at 9:20 a.m., Stephanie Herman of Montrose was traveling east, downhill, on snow covered Michael's Hill Rd. in Dimock. Herman attempted to slow down and enter the driveway leading to her home, but due to snowy conditions continued to slide straight past it. Her vehicle picked up speed as it slid approximately 200 yards, where it stopped after striking a Freightliner truck tractor driven by Timothy Sickler of Wyalusing head-on. Sickler's truck had been stopped on the one-lane roadway awaiting Dimock Township plow/cinder trucks so that it could continue uphill and westbound on T449.

CRASH

On February 10, at around 1:38 p.m., Dustin Sheridan was traveling west on SR 706 just as a heavy snow squall began. As Sheridan was negotiating a slight downhill right curve in the roadway, he lost control of his vehicle, which slid across the road and struck a utility pole on the north side of the road. The pole was sheared in half and was in the road, along with the attached guide wires.

CRASH

On February 9, at around 4:03 p.m., Karl Haynes of Bear, DE was traveling north on Interstate 81 near New Milford Borough. His vehicle was traveling north in the left lane when, for unknown reasons, it crossed over into the right lane and off of the roadway, striking an embankment. The vehicle rolled onto its roof where it slid approximately 150' before coming to a final rest on the right shoulder. Both operator and passenger were wearing their seatbelts.

CRASH

On February 9, at around 11:19 p.m., Rodney Jones of Fayetteville, NY, Krista Huey of Auburn, NY, and Michael Fowler of Nashua, NH were all traveling northbound on Interstate 81 in Great Bend Twp. Jones lost control of his vehicle, which began a clockwise rotation and impacted with a series of guardrails. As this was occurring, Huey's vehicle struck the rear of the rotating vehicle, beginning its own counter-clockwise rotation and traveling onto the grass median. Fowler traveled through the debris field of Jones' Grand Prix, and received damage to the rear undercarriage of his Honda Accord. No operator or passenger was injured during this collision; all were wearing seat belts.

CRASH

On February 9, at around 11:40 p.m., Daulat Khan of Baltimore, MD was traveling northbound on I 81 when control was lost on the snow covered road. Khan's vehicle exited the roadway off of the east berm, struck a guide rail with its front end, spun approximately 180 degrees clockwise, traveled approximately 50 feet, and came to rest facing south on the shoulder. Khan was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured.

BURGLARY

On February 5, at around 3:30 a.m., unknown perpetrator(s) smashed the glass out of a rear door of the Parkview Bar in New Milford, entered the premises, and then fled the scene without taking anything.

HIT AND RUN

On January 27, at around 12:01 a.m., Christopher Bishop was attempting to turn onto 2nd street from West Main St. in Susquehanna Depot. Bishop failed to negotiate the turn and went onto the sidewalk, striking a legally parked vehicle, then fleeing the scene back toward Oakland Borough. Bishop stated, when interviewed at his residence, that he was going to return in the morning and give his information to the owner of Unit 2.

DUI

On February 3, at around 10:30 p.m., Francis Hood was traveling west on SR 706. At this time a truck with a semi-trailer, driven by Ralph Bunnell of Montrose, had begun to back up in order to get into the parking lot behind the township building. The semi-trailer of the truck was over the double yellow line when Hood arrived on the scene. Bunnell stopped his vehicle and flashed his lights to gain the attention of Hood, but the latter failed to notice how the truck was situated and did not slow down. Hood's vehicle struck the forward trailer tire of Bunnell's vehicle, caused the smaller vehicle to spin counterclockwise, strike the rear trailer tire, and impact with a guide wire, before rolling over and off of the road to the north. Hood climbed out of the passenger window, and was transported to the Endless Mountain Health Systems for treatment. He had been consuming alcohol and blood was drawn to determine his BAC.

THEFT-FRAUD

Maleah Walters of South Montrose, PA discovered that over $300 in transactions were completed on her credit card without her authorization. The investigation is ongoing at this time.

THEFT

On February 10, at around 1:30 p.m., Patricia Arnold had her wallet taken out of her purse during a church function at the United Methodist Community Church in Great Bend. Approximately $60, a driver's license, and several credit cards were stolen; the credit cards were then used in Vestal and Johnson City for an approximate total of $452 in charges.

CRASH

On February 9, at around 10:15 p.m., Christopher Rosetti was traveling northbound on Interstate 81 in Great Bend Twp. during a snow storm. Rosetti lost control of his vehicle, which began a clockwise rotation across the travel lanes before exiting to the right-hand shoulder and impacting with an embankment. The vehicle then began a rollover maneuver towards the driver's side, completing one revolution before coming to rest partly uprighted. Rosetti was transported to Wilson Hospital in New York by Great Bend ambulance for medical treatment and examination

THEFT BY UNLAWFUL TAKING

Jessie Fenton and Timothy Bartkus, of Springville and Montrose respectively, are accused of going to Snake Creek Marine in Franklin Township on January 31 in Fenton's truck. The two then allegedly removed engine blocks, crank shafts, and windshield frames from a scrap hopper located on the property without consent from the owner. The following day at around 6 a.m., they proceeded to sell the stolen items at Gary Underhill's scrap metal for $280.30. Charges were filed on February 7 at District Court 34-3-01 against both men for Theft by Unlawful Taking, Criminal Conspiracy, and Criminal Trespass.

CRASH

On February 12, at around 4:00 p.m., Lucas Baker was traveling north on SR 2001 just south of SR 268 in Auburn Twp. A snowstorm was occurring at the time, and Baker was pulling a small trailer loaded with a large fuel oil tank. Due to the vehicle's speed and the weather conditions, Baker lost control of his Ford F150 and drove off of the left side of the roadway, striking a tree. The fuel tank was overturned, and an unknown amount of diesel fuel was spilled along the roadside. DEP was notified of the spill.

CRASH

On February 10, at around 1:35 a.m., Dustin Tomkins was traveling north on SR0029 in Liberty when the right side of his vehicle exited the slush covered roadway and struck a guard rail off the east berm. The Toyota Tacoma then traveled approximately 1/10 of a mile north, where it slid off of the roadway from the west berm and rolled over, while traveling approximately 175' in a northwesterly direction. Tomkins, with the assistance of other people, moved the vehicle across the roadway from its point of rest into a private roadway. He then fled the scene.

CRASH

On February 12, at around 2:08 p.m., Kevin Bandru was exiting SR 81 at Exit #219 in New Milford Twp. when he lost control of his vehicle while negotiating a right curve in the roadway. His vehicle rotated clockwise approximately 180 degrees, the left rear of the vehicle impacting a concrete barrier on the south side of the ramp. The Chevrolet Malibu then slid on top of the concrete barrier and came to a final rest facing north, with the rear of the vehicle still resting atop the barrier.

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Crop Insurance Deadline

Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff reminded Pennsylvania farmers to finalize crop insurance decisions for 2008 spring-planted crops by the March 17 deadline.

“Crop insurance is an indispensable tool for protecting Pennsylvania agriculture,” Wolff said. “Crop price instability, the rising cost of production, and adverse weather can damage a farmer’s bottom line, making it essential that they have a way to recover financially and start preparing for the next growing season.”

Unlike previous years, producers collecting federal disaster payments must be enrolled in a crop insurance plan, or the non-insured crop assistance program through Farm Service Agency. Producers who do not have crop insurance on the damaged crop will be unable to receive federal assistance for disasters leading to full or partial crop failure.

“In the past, many producers depended on the funds they received from federal disaster payments to recover from devastating losses,” said Wolff. “Now those funds will only be available to producers enrolled in a crop insurance plan, making it essential that all Pennsylvania farmers get policies to help protect their livelihoods and the vitality of Pennsylvania agriculture.”

In the past five years, $140 million in crop insurance loss payments have been paid to producers that participated in crop insurance.

Producers should contact their local crop insurance agent before March 17 to purchase insurance. A list of agents can be found at www.rma.usda.gov.

For more information on Pennsylvania’s crop insurance program, call 717-705-9511 or visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us/cropinsurance.

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