Police walk in on bubbling meth pot

BERWICK -- Four suspects tried to run when police busted a meth operation in Berwick this morning, but their flight failed, officers say. A mother and son were among the total of six defendants taken into custody before 8 a.m. at 530 W. Front St. Police found four pots of meth in the freezer in the apartment, including one that was still bubbling, according to charges. The suspects: * Deb Hoskins, 52; * her son, Kenneth McCollum, 33; * James Eveland, 24; * Levi Whitesell, 30; * Ron Scharpnick, 33; * Kelly Bromley, 29.

Tips lead to meth labs in Salem, Catawissa area

SALEM TWP -- Two people were arrested Tuesday after probation officers got a tip that they were making methamphetamine together, officials said. Scott P. Trivelpiece, 54, of 47 Mill Road, was already on probation for drug possession after police found he was carrying meth May 21, said Don Coleman, chief adult probation officer. Trivelpiece signed his probation rules just last week, which included giving probation officers permission to search his house, Coleman said.

High School football fan? Get in on the action

High school football fan? We'll keep you filled in on all the Friday-night action this fall with our new feature, PE Extra Points. Want game newsflashes in your email inbox? We'll give them to you. Want an updated scoreboard to check all the action from around the area? We'll have that for you, too. To sign up, just head on over to subscribe.PEExtraPoints.com, give us your email address, and check the box to subscribe.

Truck bursts into flames; 2 dead

RUSH TOWNSHIP -- Two people were killed Monday when their pickup truck flipped over and burst into flames, officials said. The pair were trapped inside the burning truck, which crashed along Rushtown Road just before 11:30 a.m., said Elysburg Fire Chief Dennis Kroh. The truck, which appeared to be an older Dodge, was fully involved in flames when rescuers arrived, the chief said.

Judge delays ruling on Penn State football recruit

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- A judge has delayed ruling on a request to remove ex-Penn State recruit Zayd Issah from a program that could spare him a criminal record in a counterfeit cash case. The Patriot-News reports that Dauphin County Judge Todd Hoover on Wednesday deferred action until Nov. 26 on a request by prosecutors to remove the once-touted 18-year-old recruit from the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program.

The PE Sneak Peek: Aug 21

Here's a look at the stories that are keeping our reporters busy Wednesday: * He still says he's innocent, but a businessman is headed for jail over a car deal. See our online report to find out what the judge gave him. * A former local doctor faces big Medicare charges in Michigan. And his bail is huge -- $9 million. * A teenager turned a bottle of pills over to school officials, seeking help. Today he goes to court.

Bound for jail, car mechanic claims 'vendetta' by local cops

BLOOMSBURG -- A car mechanic decried his convictions for crimes involving deceptive business practices as part of a "vendetta" against him. Ron Whispell denounced the charges as payback for a lawsuit he filed against a fire company whose members included policemen. Whispell proclaimed his innocence Wednesday at his sentencing. He also slammed his victim, Danyelle Pontius. Whispell, 49, could have gotten several years in prison. However, he had no criminal history, and a judge imposed a lighter sentence -- two to 23 months, plus $3,200 in fines.

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