The Daily Item, Sunbury, PA

News

August 28, 2008

$5,000 taken in drug raid returned

Judge orders police to give money back

MIFFLINBURG -- A Union County judge has ordered Mifflinburg police to return $5,000 seized from a Mifflinburg woman's home in May during a search for drugs.

Rose W. Zechman, 45, of 515 N. Third St., Mifflinburg, was able to prove the cash she kept in a locked safe at her home was legally obtained from an insurance settlement following a vehicle accident.

The cash was seized from Zechman's home after the arrest of her daughter, Kristy Aurand, on May 13.

Northumberland-Montour Drug Task Force members had been investigating Aurand, and on May 13, they arrested her following a felony traffic stop in Sunbury.

While in custody, Aurand told police that her mother was holding 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of marijuana at her home, according to a criminal complaint filed by Mifflinburg police. Armed with the information, police went to Zechman's house to secure it while officers obtained a search warrant.

Police allegedly found four bags of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in three rooms of the home and about $5,000 in cash inside the safe. Zechman was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.

She denies knowing the drugs were in the home, which she shared with Aurand at the time, but doesn't blame her daughter for leading cops to her house.

"She never told the police officer the drugs were mine," Zechman said.

Zechman's attorney, Michael Rudinski, of Williamsport, filed a motion in Union County for the return of the money she said was received from the insurance settlement.

"I had receipts," Zechman said.

Zechman still faces misdemeanor drug charges.

Text Only
News
  • Lewisburg schools face cuts in personnel, programs

    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.

    February 10, 2012

  • Mom: Keller's response left her cold

    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.

    February 10, 2012

  • Point Township authority concerned by sewer plant violations

    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.

    February 10, 2012

  • Persing truck fee idea stalls

    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.

    February 10, 2012

  • Barber draws a crowd

    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.

    February 10, 2012

  • 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.

     

    February 9, 2012

  • 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.

    February 9, 2012

  • Former Northumberland County judge and three others die in Florida crash

    EVERGLADES CITY, Fla. -- A former Northumberland County judge was one of four people killed Wednesday afternoon when their car collided with a van at an intersection, according to the Naples News. The victims were identified as James J. Rosini, 66, William J. Rosini, 68, Patricia C. Rosini, 65, all of Coal Township, Pa., and Deborah A. Korbich, 59, of Elysburg, Pa.

    February 9, 2012

  • Warden demotes four bosses

    SUNBURY -- Northumberland County Prison Warden Roy Johnson was able to trim about $135,000 in expenses by demoting four supervisors. He said Wednesday that he found a way to cut costs without laying off any staff. "I cut out 120 hours of supervisors' pay each week, but I need to fill the correction officer positions," Johnson said.

    February 9, 2012

  • DJ pumps up audience

    Every Tuesday evening, Richard Grogg can be found spinning tunes at possibly the most well-attended dance in Snyder County. A resident at the Selinsgrove Center since 1988, the 57-year-old said the thing he likes most about selecting and playing music is "making people happy." "Some people come up and ask for requests," he said.

    February 9, 2012

  • Agency closes adult center

    PENNS CREEK -- Union and Snyder County caregivers have had to look farther and wider for another program that can offer respite because the Agency on Aging can no longer afford to provide the service. The adult daily living center at the Penns Creek Adult Resource Center was a helpful program each week to about eight adults from the area dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia. But it closed Dec. 30.

    February 9, 2012

  • New Berlin pushes to acquire school

    NEW BERLIN -- The Borough Council sold the property where the New Berlin Elementary School is to the precursor of the Mifflinburg Area School District for $1 back in 1950. It was deeded to the district for construction of a school.

    February 9, 2012

The Daily Marquee
Local Video
Stocks
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.