The Top Stories of 2013
We published more than 420 breaking news stories on the web in 2013. Here were the 10 most popular, as measured by the number of visits readers paid to each on PressEnterpriseOnline.com:
Deadly fire in Danville traced to hot/cold wrap
DANVILLE -- A smoldering hot/cold neck wrap that had been in a microwave caused a fire at 11 Cross St. that killed a man here last week, the fire chief said Tuesday.
The wrap was removed from the microwave in the house's kitchen and placed on the porch where the fire likely started, said Danville Fire Chief Don Lutz.
A fire marshal ruled the fire accidental.
The blaze claimed the life of 88-year-old Eugene Yohn, who was unable to escape his home on Dec. 23.
His wife, Doris, and dog were able to make it out the front door unharmed.
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Man throws girlfriend into wall, cops say
SCOTT TWP. -- A man choked and beat his girlfriend during an early-morning dispute Saturday, then tossed her into a wall hard enough to punch a hole in it, police say.
When officers arrived, Marvin Jones, 58, tried to blame girlfriend Felicia Coohean - saying she had actually thrown him into the wall at the Old Berwick Road trailer the two share.
Man threatened to shoot bank employees, cops say
SCOTT TWP -- A man walked into a bank branch here and threatened to "shoot everyone" after learning he had no money left to withdraw from his accounts, police say.
George P. Levandowski, 60, Nescopeck, was "out of control," yelling, and refusing to leave the PNC branch near the entrance to Scott Town Plaza on Friday afternoon, police say.
Bank employees called the police, and Levandowski was charged with making terroristic threats.
A reporter is busy fleshing out the details of the incident. Check back for more on the story.
Longtime state legislator dies
SUNBURY -- Merle Phillips, who served as a state representative for 30 years, died Monday morning after a trip to the emergency room, said state Rep. Linda Schlegel Culver, a longtime employee and friend.
Phillips, 85, had been battling blood cancer for three years after retiring from his state seat, she said.
He had become weaker and more tired lately, she said, and was taken to the hospital Monday morning.
Phillips served as state representative for parts of Northumberland and Snyder counties from 1980 until 2010, when Schlegel Culver took over the seat.
House fire breaks out near Benton
BENTON TWP. -- A family trying to help a stray dog saw the hunting cabin they were staying in burn down Friday morning.
Randy Brendle found a loose Rottweiler during a jog on Upper Raven Creek Road on Friday morning. He returned to the cabin at 1096 Upper Raven Creek Road where he and Josey Brendle are staying.
They planned to calll the SPCA or a dog officer, but when they couldn't get reception on their cell phones, they tied the dog to their kitchen table and went down to a neighbor's house to make a call.
Retired police chief dies while shoveling snow
BLOOMSBURG -- Retired Bloomsburg Police Chief Larry Smith died in his driveway Monday morning while shoveling snow, officials said.
Smith, 80, served as the town chief for 21 years, retiring from the force in May 2001 in his late 60s.
His wife found him around 9:40 a.m., and medics were called, but he could not be saved, officials said.
Smith, who was on the Bloomsburg force for 35 years, more recently worked part-time for the Columbia County sheriff's office, guarding the entrance to the county courthouse after metal detectors were set up to check visitors to the building.
Police seek theft suspect (W/PHOTOS)
BLOOMSBURG -- Police are looking for a woman who allegedly pocketed about $50 worth of incense oils from a shop on Main Street Nov. 26.
The woman was in Subterrium Rising around 4 p.m. that day. Cameras caught her taking several bottles of essential oils and walking out of the shop at 64 E. Main St., without paying, Town Officer Melanie Readler said.
The woman walked out to a waiting vehicle, which then drove off, police said.
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Police seek suspect in Berwick robbery
BERWICK -- Police are seeking the public's help in finding Jason Adamo, 36, a suspect in a Christmas Eve robbery at 619 N. Mulberry St.
Adamo's last known address was 807 W. Front St., Berwick. He did not show any weapons during the attack, although an accomplice, who has been arrested, claimed to have had some, police said.
Police Chief Kenneth Strish, said this was a targeted attack; the general public shouldn't fear a similar intrusion. But if anyone sees Adamo, who has a history of narcotics possession, they should call county dispatchers at 570-784-6300 or 9-1-1, he said.