News for 3/8/13

Director of Ethics                                                               3 8 13

 Penn State has named Regis W. Becker as its first director of University ethics and compliance.

 According to a statement from the University, Becker will oversee all compliance issues throughout the University and develop Penn State’s first comprehensive program of institutional ethics.

 He is currently the chief compliance officer for PPG industries, where he has led the firm’s global ethics and compliance program since 2009. Becker’s prior experience includes work as an FBI agent, work as a detective in the Allegheny County district attorney’s white collar crime unit, and as a corporate security director. 

Joyner

Dave Joyner is the lowest paid athletic director in the Big Ten. This is according to data released by the USA Today on Wednesday Night. Joyner's Salary of $396,000 ranks dead last in the conference salaries, not including Northwestern, whose salaries were not released because they are a private institution. Wisconsin's Barry Alvarez Ranked first in the big ten with an annual salary of $1.23 million. 

The highest paid AD in the country is Vanderbilt's David Williams, who also serves as the university's general counsel and is a tenured law professor. His salary is just under $3.24 million.   

Drug Sweep

An early morning drug sweep yesterday in Huntingdon County captured 25 of the 29 people they say were involved in a massive heroin ring, while the other 4, 2 of them local, remain at large.

 The two local men who are still on the run are Anthony Riskus of Huntingdon and Terrance Trice of Mount Union. They were allegedly part of an organization that distributed more than 3000 bags of heroin per week over the past three years with an estimated street value of more than 14 million dollars. 

Evidence and testimony regarding the alleged heroin dealing was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury in 2011, which identified the ring leader of the organization as Curtis Koehler, who moved to Huntington from the Lehigh Valley after the organization, which was full of individuals he recruited, became established and profitable. 

More than 45 Law enforcement officers were involved in the sweep they’re calling Operation Spellbound.

Philipsburg Robery

 Two Clearfield County men are behind bars in connection with robberies at two convenience stores in downtown Philipsburg.

 According to WJAC-TV, Monroe Bell of Grassflat confessed to the robberies yesterday telling police that he needed money for his drug habit. Bell is charged with robbing a Philipsburg Mini Mart in October and a tobacco store in Philipsburg in December.

 Police said Bell not only confessed to the robberies, but gave them the clothing he was wearing during the crimes, which matched what was seen on the stores surveillance cameras.      

 Jason McGonical, also of Grassflat, is accused of helping Bell with the hold up of the tobacco store where $900 worth of cash and cigarettes were stolen.

Road Work

The State College Borough Public Works Tree Crew will be removing a tree on the 500 block of West College Avenue today. The Work will take place between 7 and 3. 

Work will require the crew to temporarily close the right lane. Motorists and pedestrians are asked to use caution when traveling through the work are and be aware that minor delays are possible. Appropriate work zone signs will alert motorists and pedestrians of the immediate work area. 

Exploration U

 The State College Area School district will be hosting Exploration U on Tuesday March 19, from 6-8 pm at the South High School Cafeteria.

 The program will be designed to introduce youth and families to new concepts in science as well as celebrate what teachers and students have been working on in and out of the classroom.

 Admission and parking for the program are free.