Last quarter saw history in making

By Tricia Pursell
The Daily Item

January 02, 2009 04:00 am

— Editor's note: This is the fourth of four stories on the top headlines of 2008.
The Susquehanna Valley saw national history being made in its backyard during the last three months of 2008.
In October, the country's crumbling economy was brought home to local residents, as three area housing manufacturers were forced to make a large number of layoffs.
Early in the month, an announcement was made that fuel prices and a national credit crunch would cause the loss of jobs in December for 325 workers at the Fleetwood Enterprises plant in Paxinos. Production of the plant's recreational vehicles was moved to facilities in Decatur, Ind. More than 700 workers were employed at the plant in 2005.
Less than a week later, two more layoff announcements were made on the same day.
More than 200 workers would be laid off from Wood-Mode in Kreamer. The workers were given a one-day notice.
And more than 100 would lose their jobs at Crest Homes on Dec. 15. The employees were notified that the plant would close because of the "worsening economic condition and declining home orders."
In November, Crest Homes employees built their last home for one of their fellow employees, Mike Bennett, who became disabled after suffering a head injury during his second deployment to Iraq.
There was a little light at the end of the tunnel, however. That light was a 125-acre strip mall by the name of Monroe Marketplace. The grand opening was held Oct. 8, drawing hundreds of people to the $65 million site off Routes 11-15. It was the largest retail-based real estate project in Snyder County in 30 years.
The marketplace would stimulate the economy by adding 240 full-time and 1,100 part-time jobs and broaden the tax base for Snyder County, Monroe Township and the Selinsgrove Area School District.
The county still is determining the amount of revenue it will receive from the marketplace. "The stores have been measured; notices will be going out shortly," said Kimbra Napier, county assessor. "It will definitely be on the tax rolls for the spring billing."
The Selinsgrove Area School District will receive an annual $366,200 in real estate taxes from the development, according to Business Manager Jeffrey Hummel. The money, he said, will help finance the construction projects at the elementary and high schools.
Also in October, it was announced that the Lewisburg Penitentiary would transform into a super maximum-security institution by January. Lewisburg will be the only federal penitentiary in the country to be dedicated solely as a special management facility, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The institution will house inmates who have been problematic in other federal institutions.
In November, history was made when United States voters elected their first black president. On Nov. 4, in an overwhelming victory over Sen. John McCain, Sen. Barack Obama was elected into office.
The election was a culmination of visits to the area by candidates and their families, including Obama, Bill and Chelsea Clinton, Joe Biden, and Sarah Palin.
On Dec. 4, in an oddly coincidental and apparently accidental shooting, Blaine Spickler was killed just three months after his daughter, Charity, was slain. The shooting took place near Middlecreek Antique Machinery Association grounds, where, after Charity's death, her relatives reflected on their last gathering as a family.
In a further twist, a short distance from the shooting site is the Snyder County Jail, where Roderick Sims -- Charity's alleged killer and father of three of her children -- is being held. He appeared in court the next day for a preliminary hearing in that case.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is in charge of the investigation into Blaine Spickler's death in the hunting accident.
Also in December, the Snyder County commissioners were faced with a tough decision to help salvage the Boscov's Department Store in Hummels Wharf. The Boscov's chain filed for bankruptcy during the summer. The commissioners, along with those from six other Pennsylvania counties, were asked by the state to provide $5 million collateral through Community Development Block Grant money. Several weeks later, the Snyder County board voted 2-1 to not support the loan guarantee. State officials are continuing their effort to encourage the commissioners to change their minds.
Northumberland County faced some tough times as well during the last few months of 2008.
Three county employees -- the board of elections director, a deputy in the prothonotary's office and a clerk in the tax claims bureau -- were fired amid allegations of missing money. A criminal investigation is continuing into the loss of $40,000 from the tax claims bureau.
The Northumberland County commissioners also found themselves fighting unauthorized overtime pay for a maintenance worker at the Northumberland County Prison. During the same month, two corrections officers resigned amid allegations they had sex with female inmates, and two other corrections officers resigned amid allegations of sexual contact with female prisoners.

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