“Despite suffering his own injuries in the crash, Tpr. Bieber exhibited the finest qualities of a Pennsylvania state trooper when he made the welfare of others his priority,” Pawlowski said. “The Commendation Medal is awarded to Department personnel for conspicuously significant achievement.”

The commissioner said the SUV, driven by 16-year-old William C. Page, was traveling north on Warrensville Road in Loyalsock Township around 8:15 p.m. on Jan. 25 when it went out of control, crossed into the southbound lane and struck Bieber’s southbound cruiser. Page was thrown from the SUV as it flipped onto its side. Page’s brother, 15-year-old Cordell Page, was trapped in the vehicle.

Bieber remained conscious after the crash, but his radio was disabled and his driver’s side door was jammed shut. He used his personal cell phone to summon emergency medical personnel and contact his station. He then crawled out of the driver’s side window.

Noticing that the SUV’s engine compartment had caught fire, Bieber pulled William Page away from the vehicle. He also saw that Cordell Page was unconscious and trapped in the SUV. Bieber tried to get a fire extinguisher out of his patrol car, but was thwarted because of damage to the vehicle. Meanwhile, Cpl. Robert Brown of the Montoursville station’s Forensic Services Unit arrived at the scene in a Forensic Services Unit van. Brown retrieved an extinguisher from the van and put out the fire.

Bieber, Brown and an unidentified passerby attempted unsuccessfully to free Cordell Page from the SUV. The troopers stayed with the injured youth until he was extricated by rescue service personnel who responded to the scene.

The Page brothers were flown to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville and admitted to the intensive care unit. Cordell Page later died of his injuries. Bieber was transported by vehicle to Williamsport Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries.

“Tpr. Bieber never wavered from his path of duty,” Pawlowski said. “Both he and Cpl. Brown took immediate, decisive action to deal with the situation.”

Bieber and his wife, Tpr. Angela L. Bieber of Troop F, Montoursville, live in Muncy. They have two children: Kylie, 3, and Nathan, 1.

Bieber was nominated for Department recognition by Lt. Randy M. Devine, commander of the Patrol Section at Troop F, Montoursville.

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“There is no question that the material was deliberately discharged from a tanker truck with a hose into a privately owned field,” said DEP North-central Regional Director Nels Taber. “The brown, gravy-like material was dumped within 250 feet of the Deer Crossing Inn’s drinking water well and even closer to Lycoming Creek.”

DEP emergency response program staff investigated on Friday after receiving a complaint and noted that the material had a strong chlorine odor. Samples were collected but the results have not yet been received.

Because rain was forecast and the material was fairly close to a creek and drinking water well, DEP used special funds to hire a contractor, Eagle Towing and Recovery, to clean up the material. It took three large tri-axle dump trucks to haul material, along with some topsoil, to the Wayne Township Landfill in Clinton County for proper disposal.

“DEP is asking that if anyone has any information about this incident, or saw any suspicious activity near the Deer Crossing Inn that night, to please call us,” Taber said. “We want to apprehend the individuals responsible for this brazen act and make sure that they are prosecuted. This cleanup has cost state taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars.”

Anyone with information should call Tony Martinelli with the department’s Bureau of Investigations at 570-220-3110.

For more information, call 570-327-3659 or visit www.depweb.state.pa.us.

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Post Source : Pa Virtual Charter School Recognized as Top Student Support Services Program from Pottstown Newspaper-

The winning ticket was sold at Stop-N-Go Mini Market, Inc., 777 New Holland Ave., Lancaster.

“The Lottery never likes to see a prize expire, so we’re hoping the winning ticket-holder comes forward,” said Lottery Executive Director Ed Trees. “Anyone who bought a Powerball ticket from the Stop-N-Go Mini Market in Lancaster for the May 2009 drawing should check their ticket because this $50,000 prize will expire in less than two weeks.”

The soon-to-expire Powerball ticket matched four of five drawn numbers, 01-23-42-51-59, the Powerball, 20, and purchased Power Play for a $50,000 prize, less 25 percent federal withholding.

The Pennsylvania Lottery encourages the holder of the winning ticket to sign the back of the ticket, call the Lottery at 717-702-8146 and file a claim within the next two weeks at Lottery headquarters in Middletown, Dauphin County, or at any of Lottery’s seven area offices. Claims may be filed at headquarters Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., and from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at area Lottery offices.

Because the prize expires on a Sunday, the last chance to file a claim in person will be Friday, May 28 at 4 p.m. at Lottery headquarters or 4:30 p.m. at an area Lottery office. For a claim received through the mail, it must be postmarked by Saturday, May 29.

Unclaimed, expired lottery prizes remain in the Lottery Fund and are used to support programs benefiting older Pennsylvanians.

How to Play Powerball: To play Powerball, players pay $1 and select five white balls from the first set of 59 numbers plus a single red ball, the Powerball, from a second set of 39 numbers. Players may select their own numbers using a Powerball play slip, or they may opt for computer-selected quick picks. Players must match all five numbers drawn plus the Powerball number to win the jackpot. There also are eight additional ways for players to win a cash prize. Drawings are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Powerball features an option called Power Play. For an extra $1 per Powerball play (game), players can multiply their Powerball prizes by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times the original prize amount for all prizes EXCEPT the jackpot. Prizes can multiply up to $1 million.

About the Pennsylvania Lottery: The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery that designates all its proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since its inception 38 years ago, the Pennsylvania Lottery has contributed more than $19.2 billion to programs that include property tax and rent rebates; free and reduced-fare transit; the low-cost prescription drug programs PACE and PACENET; long-term living services; and the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, including more than 600 full- and part-time senior centers throughout the state. The Pennsylvania Lottery reminds its players to play responsibly. Players must be 18 or older.

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I am returning herewith, without my approval, Senate Bill 81, Printer’s Number 1862, entitled “AN ACT amending the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), known as the Liquor Code, further defining for the definition of “eligible entity” and adding definitions; further providing for general powers of the board, for wine marketing and for Sunday retail sales by Pennsylvania Liquor Stores; and, in licenses and regulations relating to liquor, alcohol and malt and brewed beverages, further providing for interlocking businesses prohibited, for number and kinds of licenses allowed same licensee, for unlawful acts relative to liquor, malt and brewed beverages and licenses issued and for limited wineries.”

Senate Bill 81 makes several amendments to the Liquor Code. Among these is a provision that would prohibit a Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) store from sharing an interior connection with another business, unless that other business prohibits the consumption of alcohol on its premises. Furthermore, any store that currently has such a connection to business that does allow consumption of alcohol on its premises must cease to operate by January 31, 2015 at the latest, unless it changes its policy of allowing the consumption of alcoholic beverages on its premises. In short, no PLCB store may be connected interiorly to a “bring your own bottle” or “BYOB” establishment.

To prohibit such an arrangement between a responsible business owner and the PLCB impedes the modernization of alcohol sales in our Commonwealth. Pennsylvania has been criticized as having one of the most outdated and arcane state-run alcohol sales regimes. In order to further bring Pennsylvania’s liquor sales practices into the 21st century, we need to encourage innovative PLCB programs and foster new and novel, progressive yet responsible ways to reach customers more easily, not stifle or statutorily prohibit efforts toward modernization.

Some members of the General Assembly may believe that there is a need to limit the location or number of PLCB stores that share space with a BYOB establishment, or limit the interior distance between the PLCB store and the BYOB establishment so as to not disenfranchise neighboring licensed establishments. However, to ban them outright moves us away from innovative sales options of the PLCB.

Furthermore, to disallow a BYOB establishment to operate with a PLCB store under the same roof, while there is no similar bar to setting up a BYOB establishment next door to a PLCB store –where they may even share a common wall but a separate entrance– is a distinction without a difference. There is no more of a competitive edge for a BYOB that shares a roof with a PLCB store than there is for one that is directly next door. In fact, it is entirely possible that a BYOB establishment and a PLCB store connected via interior passageway could be further away from each other than the BYOB establishment and the PLCB store that exist side-by-side.

Another illogical consequence of signing this bill would be to preclude the opening of BYOB establishment in the same mall where a PLCB retail outlet is located, even if their locations were at opposite ends of the mall complex. Again, restrictions of this sort inhibit the ability of the PLCB to respond to the interests of the consumer marketplace.

If the General Assembly wishes enact legislation to ensure the appropriate implementation of this new model of PLCB sales, I would consider legislation to that grants the PLCB regulatory authority over this aspect of PLCB operations.

For the reasons set forth above, I must withhold my signature from Senate Bill 81, Printer’s Number 1862.

Sincerely,
Edward G. Rendell, Governor

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“Now, more than ever, it is important for families to discuss Internet safety, as warmer weather brings changes in school schedules and family activities,’” Corbett said. “As spring quickly gives way to summer vacation season, online predators are hoping that more teens will be home alone for longer periods of time and may be spending more time on-line chatting with their friends, playing games or just exploring the Internet.”

Corbett identified the defendants recently arrested by the Child Predator Unit as:

* Josef Graf, age 70, 133 N. Rt. 88, Charleroi, Washington County.
* Donald J. Ferrenberg, age 26, 124 State Route 271, Ligonier, Westmoreland County.
* Terry Lynn Hackenberg, age 46, 93 Park Road, Jersey Shore, Lycoming County.
* Bryan Neal McLean, age 44, 212 Sunset Ave., Hanover, York County.
* Joshua D. Baer, age 31, 319 Watson Park Blvd., Lehighton, Carbon County.
* David T. Martin, age 40, 120 Coates Ave., Elkland, Tioga County.

“We know that spring and summer trigger a jump in the number of incidents involving Internet predators,” Corbett said.  “Last year, our Child Predator Unit arrested 32 people during the spring and summer months, including men from every corner of Pennsylvania and from as far away as Texas, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey and Ohio, all trying to use the Internet to sexually victimize children.”

Corbett noted that the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit has arrested 258 online predators since it was created in January 2005.  To date, the unit has a 100% conviction rate.

Recent arrests highlight dangers

Corbett said that circumstances involved in recent arrests across the state highlight the threat posed by online predators and the many different ways they operate.  In each of these recent cases, suspects communicated with undercover agents from the Child Predator Unit who were using the online profiles of 13 and 14-year old girls.

According to the criminal complaint, Josef Graf, who is 70 years old, initially identified himself as a much younger man.  Graf allegedly used an Internet chat room to sexually proposition what he believed was a 13-year old girl, telling her, “I want to see you naked” and urging her to travel to Pittsburgh for sex.

David T. Martin, from Tioga County, allegedly urged a young teen to meet him for sex and told her that he wanted to sign and date her underwear on the day he took her virginity.

Donald J. Ferrenberg is charged with sending a nude webcam video during his first online conversation with what he thought was a 13-year old.

Terry Lynn Hackenberg allegedly approached what he believed was a young girl in an Internet chat room, asking her to “play” with him sexually and using a computer webcam to expose himself.

Bryan Neal McLean, a 44-year old from Hanover, is accused of sending computer webcam videos that showed him masturbating in front of his computer.

Joshua D. Baer, who went by the screen name “I love busty women 27,” allegedly sent what he called “naughty” pictures during his chats with what he believed was a 14-year old girl, including photos of his genitals.

Corbett said that all of the suspects are charged with various counts of unlawful contact with a minor and criminal use of a computer, felony charges which are punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.

All of the defendants will be prosecuted in the counties where they were arrested.

Ferrenberg and Graf will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General William F. Caye II of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit.

Baer, Hackenberg, Martin and McLean will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit.

Internet Safety
Corbett urged parents to talk regularly with kids about being safe on the Internet and to stress the importance of telling a trusted adult if someone does something inappropriate online, including:

* Sexual discussions.
* Sending explicit photos or videos.
* Sending links to pornography.
* Trying to arrange face-to-face meetings.

Additionally, Corbett said parents and other caregivers should also monitor how kids are using the Internet, including:

* Checking the websites they use frequently.
* Searching the social networking sites they visit.
* Asking them to show you their online profiles on FaceBook, MySpace and other websites and discussing the items they may be posting online.

Corbett added that parents and kids need to understand that safety concerns now extend beyond home computers.

“Many cell phones and game systems can be used to send and receive messages or photos and can also be used to access websites,” Corbett said.  “The same safety rules need to be applied to all of these devices.”

Corbett said that parents should also emphasize that kids should not share personal information online, like full names, ages, addresses, phone numbers and school information, and should be especially cautious about strangers who approach them online.

Suspected internet predators can be reported to the Attorney General’s Office by clicking on the “Report a Predator” link, located on the front page of the Attorney General’s website, or by calling the toll-free Child Predator Hotline at 1-800-385-1044.

(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

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