State briefs
Excuse rejected YORK, Pa. (AP) – Although many York County taxpayers got just one side of a two-sided form when they filed personal property tax refund requests, county officials said that’s no excuse.
County solicitor David Craun said that because of a copying error, some taxpayers received refund applications in 1996 that were missing the backside of the two-sided page.
The missing page told taxpayers to attach canceled checks, receipts and other documents showing that they had paid the tax.
Taxpayers who did not include the required documents got a rejection of their refund claims earlier this month.
“Our position is, the documentation wasn’t attached,” Craun said. “Once you start making deviations or make exceptions, you run into a gray problem.”
But the county is being unreasonable in its decision, according to a tax group that wants residents to get the refunds.
About 1,600 people received rejection letters, and 137 have filed a court appeal.
Storeowner arrested
SHAMOKIN, Pa. (AP) – The owner of a video store has been arrested and charged with selling marijuana by concealing it in videotapes, police said.
After the arrest, police placed a sign on the door reading, “This drug operation is closed courtesy of the Northumberland-Montour Drug Task Force and your local police department.”
Fellow business owners watched Tuesday as police arrested David B. Smith, the owner of a Hollywood Video store. Police said they have also arrested Edgar Perez in connection with the case.
Smith and Perez were arraigned Tuesday night before a district justice in Mount Carmel. Smith faces charges including delivery of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver.
Perez faces similar charges.
Shamokin Police Cpl. Edwin Griffiths said an informant contacted police about a drug operation at the video store.
The informant and Perez then went to the video store and returned with a tape and a small amount of marijuana, police said. Police then searched the store and made the arrests.
The men were being held in Northumberland County Prison on $6,000 bail each.
Suspect leaves state
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – A man charged with killing a 17-year-old boy on the street Tuesday, possibly in a dispute over a girl, may have fled the state, police said.
Police said that Wiley Patterson Jr. is wanted in the shooting death of Anthony Richardson Jr.
But police said Wednesday that Patterson may have fled to Virginia.
Police had received a tip that Patterson, 18, was hiding out with a friend.
Authorities then searched a Susquehanna Township apartment complex, but found nothing.
Patterson is accused of killing Richardson and shooting at two other teen-agers in car. Richardson was pronounced dead at the scene.
One other passenger suffered back injuries, officials said.
BC-PA-Eastern Pa Briefs,440 News in brief from eastern Pennsylvania poescrallpw
MINERSVILLE, Pa. (AP) – Six firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion following a fire that damaged three row homes and left the occupants homeless, officials said.
The fire started just after 7 p.m. Tuesday in one of the homes, according to Minersville Fire Chief Eric Eichenberg.
The flames soon spread to adjoining homes.
Rescue crews said that the six firefighters suffered from heat exhaustion while battling the blaze.
Two were taken to hospitals in Pottsville as a precaution.
There were no other injuries.
Dogs go to breeders
SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) – Forty-eight beagles from Calvert Preclinical Laboratories will not be going to a humane society or private homes.
The Olyphant-based pharmaceutical laboratory was targeted by the animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The company had briefly discussed offering the dogs for adoption.
But attorneys for the company later decided against it.
It is too difficult for people to properly care for lab animals, said Calvert veterinarian Bart Spainhour.
“There could be tremendous liability in giving these dogs to someone untrained in handling laboratory animals,” he said.
But Jim Rickert, executive director of the Humane Society of Lackawanna County, said he thinks lawsuits over animal adoption are rare.
“Shelters would be out of business if that sort of risk were real,” Rickert said.
Calvert’s dogs will be given to a breeding facility, Spainhour said.
Man sentenced
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) – A man who pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated assault for repeatedly stabbing his wife with a screwdriver has been sentenced to up to eight years in jail, despite pleas from his wife.
A Lehigh County judge on Wednesday sentenced Steven D’Amico to 16 months to eight years in prison for the assault. D’Amico wept as he said he loved his wife and wanted to get treatment.
“I will never lay a hand on my wife again,” he said.
Jodi D’Amico, his wife of eight years, cried and said Steven D’Amico was a caring husband and a good father to their three children.
She had gotten a protection-from-abuse order against her husband and moved out of the house shortly before the assault.
In November, she returned to her home to put her daughter on the school bus and get medication and clothing.
While she was back at the home, prosecutors said, her husband came home, punched her in the face and stabbed her more than 20 times with a screwdriver.