Crash closes Front Street in Berwick

BERWICK -- A Nescopeck woman who crashed her car into a two-story building downtown said her shoes are to blame, police say. Mary D. Bartko, 58, was driving a silver 2007 Pontiac sedan north on West Front Street in the right-hand lane around 2:30 p.m. when her sandal got tangled up with the gas pedal, she told police. That caused her to accelerate and lose control of the car near Dunkin Donuts, according to police. Bartko's car jumped the right curb, taking out a 15-foot flowering pear tree and sending it flying 65 feet along the curb.

The PE Sneak Peek: Sept. 9

Here's a look at the stories that are keeping our reporters busy Monday: * A driver accused of striking and killing a bicyclist has his day in court. * A main local thoroughfare is closed to traffic for a bad crash downtown. Check back for details. * A former cop is in court to be sentenced in a road rage case. * Plus, a couple's bad night in the bars ends with the guy going to jail. Look for these stories and more in tomorrow's edition of the Press Enterprise.

Man assaulted woman and her unborn child, police say

SCOTT TWP. -- A Bloomsburg man has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend and her unborn child in a fight over cigarettes. Douglas William Beachel, 37, of 2706 Old Berwick Road, allegedly punched pregnant girlfriend Charlene Mowery in the face Wednesday and dragged her off their porch when she refused to give him a cigarette. Police charged him with one count of simple assault with Mowery listed as the victim and one with her unborn child listed as victim.

Man charged with hurting his grandma was trying to help, she says

BERWICK -- A woman whose grandson allegedly grabbed her arms so hard they bled says he was only trying to help her evict a squatter, and she wants the charges dropped. Sandra Kinney says her grandson, Joseph Kinney III, 25, isn't the problem -- it's the female squatter in her house who is causing trouble. Kinney says Carissa Beck, who went to school with her grandson, has been showing up and staying at her house, uninvited, for the last four months. She's called the police and had her forcibly removed several times, but Beck keeps returning.

$1M Powerball ticket bought in Berwick

BERWICK -- Somebody struck it rich Wednesday with a Powerball ticket bought here, the state lottery says. The $1 million ticket was purchased at Fresh N Quik at 906 Market St. The store gets $5,000 for selling the ticket. The lottery did not identify the winner. A second million-dollar winner was sold in Braddock, Allegheny County. The winners matched all five white balls, 02-09-26-45-47, but not the red Powerball 11. The prizes are subject to a 25 percent federal tax. Powerball winners have one year to claim their money.

Report: J.C. Penney dumps Martha Stewart

NEW YORK (AP) -- J.C. Penney Co. is reportedly dumping the Martha Stewart brand, after sales of the home maven's goods didn't live up to expectations. The move reported by the New York Post follows a year and half three-way legal battle with rival Macy's and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. over a partnership with the home designer. Emails seeking comment from Martha Stewart and J.C. Penney on the newspaper report were not immediately returned.

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