Police: Rage Room owner torched business after fight with father

A candidate for Salem Township supervisor allegedly used gasoline and matches to set fire to his own business Thursday night during a dispute with his stepfather, who’s a current township supervisor.

Authorities said Friday that Michael A. Beck, 31, of 242 Main St., Salem Township, was on the run after allegedly setting fire to his Rage Room business at 247 Main St. in Salem.

Beck’s girlfriend, Madalyn Fisher, called 911 about 9:10 p.m. to report that Beck and his stepfather, Malcolm Plevyak, the owner of nearby MP Metals, had gotten into an argument.

Body discovered in North Centre Twp.

NORTH CENTRE TWP. — A body was discovered off Moore Road in North Centre Township in a small stream early Thursday, according to the Columbia County Coroner.

Briar Creek Township Police, State Police from Bloomsburg, the coroner and Columbia County District Attorney's Office are investigating the death.

The spot where the body was found was near the northern edge of the Brookside trailer court off of Ridge Road.

We'll have more information as it's available. 

 

PPL: Power outage may last until midnight

BRIAR CREEK TWP. — Monday morning’s fatal tanker truck crash knocked out power to 1,288 PPL customers, and most of them were still without power as of the evening.

PPL was estimating it would take until midnight to restore power to the 1,032 who still didn’t have it as of 7:30 p.m., said spokeswoman Alana Roberts.

Electric company staff weren’t able to reach the downed wires until between 6 and 7 p.m., she said.

Police seek public's help to find alleged machete attacker

BERWICK —  A 41-year-old man slashed another man with a machete, then escaped with the weapon, say police.
Now officers are asking for the public’s help in finding Marlon I. Melendez-Reyes. Anyone who sees him should call 9-1-1, said

Detective Greg Martin. However, police warned the public not to approach him.

“We believe he’s armed, extremely dangerous, and prone to violence,” Martin said.

The alleged attack took place at 9:15 p.m. Sunday night, Martin said.

Fire sweeps through Karen Gronsky School of Dance

DANVILLE — An early Monday morning fire swept through the Karen Gronsky School of Dance, destroying the dance studio and sending neighbors fleeing into the street.

“We just had our recital at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds Saturday. It was the first time in one and half years we could perform, so we had a big high,” Gronsky said. “And now this.

“But we’ll survive. No one was injured. That’s what’s important. We’ll get through this.”

The fire in the three-story brick building at 160 Center St. was reported around 3 a.m.

Teen Star competition Top 12 finalists announced

The 11th annual First Columbia Bank & Trust Co.’s Teen Star singing competition on Wednesday announced its 12 finalists. They include the second- and third-place finishers from last year, as well as two other Top 12 finishers, and the third-place winner from 2019.

The contest is open to high school freshmen through seniors who permanently reside in Columbia County or the Danville Area School District. It follows a format similar to the TV’s “American Idol.”

Fire breaks out at landmark home

SALEM TWP. — Fire broke out at a landmark field stone house on East Front Street here early Thursday morning, but solid construction and a quick response by firefighters saved most of the building.

The 4-bedroom home at 925 E. Second St., owned by Delores “Dolly” Sorce, was up for sale for $499,900, according to real estate listings.

Sorce had moved out, said Fire Chief Lee Smith, but she still had some items stored inside, including a Mercedes in the side section of the “L”-shaped garage.

Ad blimp floats away

SCOTT TWP. — An advertising blimp broke loose from a car dealership in Scott Township on Wednesday around noon, first tangling in nearby trees and then floating away as workers tried to recover it.

The blimp, bearing Bloomsburg Chevrolet's logo on its side, has advertised the dealership along Central Road for years. But somehow on Wednesday it slipped its mooring and began to drift away. After it tangled into trees, workers were able to partially free it. But soon it escaped their grasp again, this time floating high into the sky.

Police seek hit-and-run driver in boy’s death

CAMBRA — A 7-year-old boy on a bicycle was struck by a pickup and killed near his driveway Friday evening while three of his siblings watched from their front yard.

State Police say the driver of a dark-colored pickup fled after striking and killing Gabriel Michael Bierly just before sunset Friday.

After hitting Gabriel, the man drove another 350 yards with Gabriel’s bicycle stuck to the front of his pickup, according to Dawn Bierly, Gabriel’s grandmother.

“He knew he hit him,” Dawn Bierly said of the driver.

Talen agrees to donate Montour Preserve, stop coal burning and dumping at Montour plant

WASHINGTONVILLE — Talen Energy plans to donate the Montour Preserve to a nonprofit or local government and to stop burning coal at its plant north of Danville by 2025 as part of an agreement to address reported pollution from an ash dump adjacent to its 49-year-old power plant near here, according to a press release.

Talen signed the agreement with the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, which put out the press release on Tuesday.

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