MIDSTATE NEWS

NEWS FROM HARRISBURG, CUMBERLAND, DAUPHIN, YORK & MORE

Injuries reported in Perry County accident

by The Patriot-News

Wednesday July 23, 2008, 10:36 PM

State police at Newport are investigating an injury accident at about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday on Route 34 at the site of a new bridge under construction over Shermans Creek in Shermans Dale in Perry County.

The Life Lion Helicopter was called to airlift at least one of the injured, police said. The road was closed for about 45 minutes.

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Family turns toddler's death into a cause

by NANCY ESHELMAN, Of The Patriot-News

Wednesday July 23, 2008, 9:38 PM

Sometimes, by sheer will, people climb from the abyss of tragedy determined to prevent others from falling into the same pit. The Dougherty family of Swatara Twp. has summoned that determination. Their inspiration is Warren, a curly haired, blue-eyed joy who was, too briefly, the sunshine in their lives.

Jeff and Vicky Dougherty are parents to Brittany, 19, and Mary, 9. When Warren was born in April 2006, "everybody was so excited to have a boy in the family," Jeff Dougherty said.

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Silver Spring Twp. to seek funds to fix streets

by CHRIS A. COUROGEN, Of The Patriot-News

Wednesday July 23, 2008, 9:20 PM

Silver Spring Township supervisors voted Wednesday night to begin legal action aimed at resolving ongoing complaints about unfinished streets in a township development.

In an unanimous 5-0 vote, the supervisors approved a recommendation from township attorney Steve Stine to begin proceedings to collect on a $549,000 performance bond to complete the paving of streets in the development.

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Audio: Mayor Reed on incinerator, parking, schools and more

by The Patrot-News

Wednesday July 23, 2008, 7:18 PM

Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed talked about the incinerator, city finances, the possible effect of the parking lease on city property values, an overview of city projects and the possibility of a new stadium for the Harrisburg Senators, with the editorial board of The Patriot-News.

Here, in audio form, is the complete interview.

The mayor says the City Council has
disclosed no information on the financial health of the incinerator and speculates about its eventual sale.

The state of city schools is improving, Reed says. Eventually, he says,
control should and will be returned to an elected board.

Reed asserts that the proposed lease of city parking facilities will cut property taxes and raise housing values.

The mayor gives an overview of continuing projects in the city: Part 1 and Part 2.

In anticipation of state funding for a new baseball stadium on City Island, bids have been let, Reed says.

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Reed sees hope in school test scores

by JOHN LUCIEW, Of The Patriot-News

Wednesday July 23, 2008, 5:00 PM

Christine Baker, The Patriot-NewsMayor Stephen R. Reed says fewer students are failing standard tests than at any time since the city took over the schools eight years ago.

Harrisburg School District's student failure rates on state assessment test dipped below 50 percent this year, the first time since control of the district was seized under Pennsylvania's Empowerment Act in 2000.

The district's failure rates had been as high as 68 percent when the state handed control of the city schools to Mayor Stephen R. Reed. Reed trumpeted the newly released test results today as showing encouraging signs for the 9,700-student city schools, which have been on the state's academic watch list for nearly a decade.

"We are making progress in the district, just not quite at the pace I would like," Reed told the Patriot-News editorial board during a wide-ranging interview in which he also predicted the eventual return of city schools to an elected board and hinted at progress towards stadium renovations for the Harrisburg Senators.

For more on this story, see Thursday's edition of The Patriot-News.

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Lower Paxton man charged with possession of child porn

by T.W. BURGER, Of The Patriot-News

Wednesday July 23, 2008, 4:38 PM

Lower Paxton Twp. Police have charged Tony M. Guzzo, 45, of the 4900 block of Haverford Road, with possession of child pornography.

Local police in the company of state troopers searched Guzzo's home on July 8 as part of a state police program monitoring groups or persons who share child pornography online. Guzzo was charged before District Magistrate Joseph S. Lindsey and released on $100,000 unsecured bail. His preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. Sept. 26.

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Weather service issues hazardous outlook for midstate

by The Patriot-News

Wednesday July 23, 2008, 4:07 PM

The National Weather Service at State College issued a hazardous weather outlook at 2:23 p.m. for most counties in central Pennsylvania for the rest of today.

Thunderstorms are moving northeast across these counties that could lead to very heavy rain locally. Between 2 to 3 inches is forecast.

The weather service warns that this amount of rainfall could cause significant ponding of water throughout the area.

Small streams could approach bank full today and overnight, according to the weather service.

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