Man allegedly steals $82G that was to pay for wife's surgery

BERWICK -- A man cashed almost $82,000 in insurance checks that were supposed to go toward his estranged wife's surgery, then spent the money with his new girlfriend, police said. The purchases made by Michael Remaley, 28, and Beth Ann Sample, 29, include reptiles, tattoos, televisions and used cars, said his wife, Linda Remaley. They've both been charged with felonies in connection to the theft. In the mean time, Mrs. Remaley is now fending off efforts by Geisinger Medical Center to collect $83,041.60 for two emergency surgeries performed in January.

BU: Some students may have mumps

BLOOMSBURG -- University officials are warning students and employees that some students have been experiencing possible symptoms of mumps over the past two weeks. Those already vaccinated against mumps run a low risk of getting the disease, which often triggers swollen glands in front of and below the ear, headache, fever, and earache. Anyone who develops the symptoms should seek medical care, the university cautioned. BU also advised students to check with their doctor's office to see if they have been vaccinated.

Fire destroys home

WASHINGTONVILLE -- Steven Beiler's neighbor came running to his farm in the pre-dawn darkness to tell him a house nearby was burning down. The two men hurried to the home along DeGreen Road. Flames and heavy smoke were pouring out onto the front porch. They tried the doors to see if they could get inside. "Felt you had to do something. But it was too smoky, and the doors were locked," the Amish farmer said. Fire trucks and tankers soon arrived from Washingtonville, Danville and Valley and Mahoning townships, joined by fire tankers from Millville and Watsontown.

Foot chase ends in water rescue

SOUTH CENTRE -- A police officer says he just meant to question a man accused of urinating in public, but the suspect fled, jumped in the chilly Susquehanna, and ended up having to be rescued as hypothermia set in. Stephen Whitenight's body temperature had dropped to 90 degrees by the time firefighters and police brought him to shore. The incident began around 12:15 p.m. Sunday. A resident at the trailer park on Fort Jenkins Lane called to report that a strange man had parked in a vacant lot at the park and urinated in front of the caller's children, said South Centre Ptlm. Paul Kelly.

Police: 42 bags of heroin found in bust

By SUSAN SCHWARTZ Press Enterprise Writer BERWICK -- Police say they found 42 bags of heroin, two handguns and $1,755 during a search Friday, and now a 26-year-old woman is in jail. Kasandra Fenton was sent to Columbia County Prison after she was unable to post $25,000 in cash. Officers searched 511 LaSalle St. as the culmination of a lengthy investigation with the Columbia County Drug Task Force into heroin sales centered there, said Police Chief Kenneth Strish. In addition to heroin, they also allegedly found prescription medication, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Cops: Teacher tried suicide by car crash

SCOTT TWP. -- A former Berwick teacher tried to kill herself in a drunken car wreck, taking aim for a telephone pole on Old Berwick Road earlier this fall, police say. Kristen Jane Trivelpiece had already lost custody of her children after a half-dozen alcohol-fueled domestic feuds with her ex-boyfriend. She had resigned her job as third-grade teacher at Salem Elementary after a lengthy sabbatical to deal with her personal problems.

Fire leaves 9 homeless

HUNTINGTON MILLS -- A mom was home with her young children Wednesday when her 5-year-old son began shouting about a fire in an electrical cord upstairs, officials say. She ran up the steps in hopes of putting it out, but flames were already spreading in the second-floor bedroom. She grabbed the kids and headed outside. In all, three adults and six kids were left homeless after flames broke out in the house along Route 239 in this Luzerne County village, officials said. Fire officials did not release any names, saying the family are "private people" who did not want their names in the press.

Pages