Republican candidate Pat Toomey maintains a 9 percentage point lead over incumbent Arlen Specter in the race for Specter’s U.S. Senate seat, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters.
Rasmussen’s numbers show Toomey leading Specter 49 percent to 40 percent. Five percent of respondees like some other candidate and seven percent are undecided. Last month, Toomey led Specter 47 to 38 percent.
Meanwhile, Specter holds a solid lead over his Democratic opponent, Congressman Joe Sestak. But Sestak runs more competitively with Toomey this month, trailing the Republican by just five points, 42 percent to 37 percent.
The health care vote might be the deciding factor in the November election: Specter carries 86 of those who Strongly Favor the plan. Toomey carries 84 percent of those who Strongly Oppose it.
Overall, 14 percent of Pennsylvania voters have a very favorable view of Specter, while 34 percent regard him very unfavorably. Sestak is viewed very favorably by 10 percent and very unfavorably by 11 percent. For Toomey, very favorables total 17 percent and very unfavorables 11 percent.
Masser steps down from Election Board role
As part of the normal process, Northumberland County Commissioner Kurt Masser, a Republican candidate for 107th Legislative District, has stepped down as a member of the county Board of Elections.
The vacancy will be filled by either President Judge Robert B. Sacavage or the two other board of elections members, Commissioners Frank Sawicki and Vinny Clausi.
Election board members routinely step down when they are candidates to avoid any conflict of interest.
Snyder County seeks volunteers
The Snyder County Commissioners are "looking for a few good volunteers," said recently-appointed Commissioner Peggy Chamberlain Roup.
As part of the nine-member board for the Snyder County Planning Commission, volunteers will decide to approve or deny recommendations from the county planning director, and vote to approve or deny requests for sub-divisions and land development plans. According to Snyder County Commissioner Chairman Joe Kantz, the board may also be included in the development of a county’s comprehensive plan.
Planning Commission terms are four years. The board meets monthly in the basement meeting room at the county courthouse.
The Children & Youth Advisory Board meets bimonthly to decide on items that benefit the lives of children who are under supervision in the county’s foster parent system, Kantz said. All money used by the board is from private donations.
Children & Youth board terms are three years. There are 12 members on the board.
A third, the Snyder County Higher Education Board, helps with financing bonds for Susquehanna University. Terms are for five years. The board meets annually, and additionally for any issues involving bond issues. The board consists of five members.
Those interested in joining the boards may contact the commissioners at the Snyder County Courthouse.
Sewer Authority’s Loss Will Exceed Insurance
Northumberland Sewer Authority Chairman Jack Fasold said the authority’s monetary loss due to apparent payroll check forgeries will likely well exceed its $250,000 theft insurance.
A forensic audit is not finalized.
Meanwhile, more than 60 people applied for the Authority’s office manager position formerly held by accused forgerer Cynthia Lark, Fasold said.
The field has been narrowed to less than 10, he said Tuesday.
Lark was dismissed from her position, according to Authority Solicitor Gene Brosius, when fake payroll checks were discovered in her recent illness-related absence.
On March 5, police charged her with multiple forgery and theft charges dating back to 2005 and involving nearly $300,000. Lark, however, began work at the authority in 2001and, Fasold said, the authority’s loss will be considerably greater than $300,000.
The job may be filled at the authority’s next meeting – 4:30 p.m. Monday in the Kiwanis Building near Liberty Splashland. The meeting is open to the public
News
STREET TALK: Poll pegs Toomey's lead at 9 points over Specter
- News
-
-
Buyer: Pine Meadow must be vacated
With only five days to go before a federal public housing contract runs out, Ramon Margary occupies one of two of 100 apartments yet to be vacated at Pine Meadow.
-
Care home's $68G fine in limbo
A hearing was canceled Friday to determine if the president of a corporation, that was convicted of stealing money from a resident of a Selinsgrove personal care home, is liable to pay its $68,000 fine.
-
Group offers weapons against cyber crime
With increased budget pressures forcing more police departments to consider placing every available officer on patrol as much as possible, a nonprofit organization is providing funding to make the case that it makes sense to continue efforts to try to identify sexual predators online.
-
Ex-chief clerk fights to keep lawsuit alive
Kymberley Best, the fired Northumberland County chief clerk, is willing to dismiss one count of her federal lawsuit but opposes a defense motion to dismiss the entire case.
-
Judge sets May trial date for Sandusky abuse case
BELLEFONTE — A judge said today he would decide soon whether to grant former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky greater freedom — and visits from his young grandchildren — while he awaits trial on child sex-abuse charges, but prosecutors countered that Sandusky's home is not a safe place for children.
-
Lewisburg schools face cuts in personnel, programs
LEWISBURG -- Superintendent Mark DiRocco told the Lewisburg school board Thursday night that a proposed block grant system of school budget funding will run the district short of cash that will have to be made up through personnel and program cuts. Lewisburg's proposed 2012-13 budget stands at $28.6 million, with no less but also no more money coming from Harrisburg. "Even a neutral budget is problematic," DiRocco said.
-
Mom: Keller's response left her cold
LEWISBURG -- Like many people, Elise Nicol is concerned about Marcellus Shale and the industry's effects on Pennsylvania's environment. The Lewisburg mother of two cares about it enough that she sent an email to state Rep. Fred Keller, R-85 of Kreamer, asking him to oppose House Bill 1950, which passed the General Assembly on Wednesday.
-
Point Township authority concerned by sewer plant violations
NORTHUMBERLAND -- Point Township Sewer Authority members Thursday night expressed concerns about a Feb. 3 letter sent to the Northumberland Sewer Authority by the state's Department of Environmental Protection saying that the borough authority has violated the Clean Streams Act.
-
Persing truck fee idea stalls
SUNBURY -- While Pennsylvania has passed legislation allowing communities to collect impact fees in 35 counties, Northumberland County is not one of them, and business leaders and lawmakers do not think Sunbury Mayor David Persing's plan to try to do his own version of an impact fee will pass muster.
-
Barber draws a crowd
DANVILLE -- The talk can be spirited at times, ranging from hunting to sports to home repairs. "You hear all kinds of stories," Gene Koehler, of Riverside, said Thursday as he waited for a haircut at The Masters barbershop, 209 Mill St. No appointment is necessary. Customers can just walk in.
-
State board approves table games at Valley Forge casino
VALLEY FORGE — A casino resort scheduled to open this spring in the Philadelphia suburb of Valley Forge has been approved for table games.
-
Doctors telling more adults: Get out and exercise
ATLANTA — A new study shows more and more U.S. adults are being told by their doctor to get off their duffs and exercise. A government survey found nearly 33 percent of adults who saw a doctor in the previous year said they were told to exercise. That was up from about 23 percent in 2000.
- More News Headlines
-
