CBS 21 Community

Have you ever thought about what you'll do when you retire? Sure, its a long way off for a lot of us. But I can already picture myself on a sunny island somewhere, sipping on some icy drink I can't pronounce, and listening to steel drum music with my wife by side...

Then of course, there's the other 51 weeks out of the year...!

Part of me believes I'll still be right here in Central Pennsylvania, probably riding around the yard on my old lawn tractor, sipping a Yuengling and yelling at the grandkids.

Hopefully, I'll have some friends like these guys to hang out with, too.

Meet a few members of the Environmental Alliance of Senior Involvement. Recently, I got an email from Russ Martin (he's the tall one in the back), inviting me to spend some time with his group of buddies.

Tom Russell also came along for the trip.

When we met along the Yellow Breeches in New Cumberland Borough Park, the guys were already preparing a little science experiment.

About once a week, this group of friends gets together at a local creek to collect samples of the water. They'll test for levels of things, like oxygen, alkalinity, and pH.

The way they explain it, fish like the oxygen. Also, a good alkaline level in the water means that the stream is able to counteract the acid that enters the stream through acid rain.

If they find something out-of-the-ordinary, they'll report it to the PA Department of Environmental Protection to investigate.

Below, on the right, wearing the red shirt is Homer Foster. The guys kept refering to Homer as our "guest of honor" for this particular outing. Homer recently turned 100 years old, and continues to be an active volunteer with the group.

In his words, he says he's living proof that "You're never too old to volunteer," then explaining how staying active keeps him feeling young. "I miss it when we can't get out. I lived in the country, and I was a deer hunter. I like to get out in the woods. I enjoy it."

Thanks again to Russ, Art, Harv, Homer, and the rest of the gang for letting Tom and I tag along to see what they do...

...and if you ask me, not a bad way to spend your retirement!

-- Mike

You saw it LIVE on CBS 21 News... Now check out these photos of local firefighters shaving their heads and facial hair for the Saint Baldrick's Foundation...

Myself and CBS 21 Photojournalist Frank Krepps getting ready to go LIVE outside the CBS 21 Studios in Harrisburg.

Chief Mark Simpson of the Camp Hill Fire Department was first in the chair. He raised nearly $2,000, which will help fund childhood cancer research.

The Chief shows he's more than happy to sport his new, sleek look!

Asst. Chief Trever Rentzel with the Manchester Union Fire Company may look a little nervous as our barber, Danny, eyes up his head of hair...

But its all for show... Trever has been shaving his head for St. Baldrick's for years!

Ryan Rodgers with Manchester Union Fire Company is the main organizer of the annual St. Baldrick's event at the York Expo Center. More than 100 firefighters will shave it all off on Sunday, April 13th, raising tens of thousands of dollars.

As you can see, he leads by example... shaving his head LIVE on CBS 21 News at 5:30...!

All of the previous shavings built up to our Grand Finale... Deputy Chief Dan Soulier of the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire raised more than $3,000 for St. Baldrick's...

...And his prize handlebar mustache sold for a whopping $1,500...!  On the right is the owner of Tara Station, an Irish Pub located in downtown Harrisburg. His pledge to buy the Chief's mustache came with a condition... The mustache will be framed and hung above the bar for all to enjoy...!

Jaime Novinger of Service 1st Restoration and Remodeling also sponsored Chief Soulier, and happily shaves his head as a reward.

And here is the final result...! A clean slate, primed for growing!

Thanks to all the firefighters who made our CBS 21 St. Baldrick's Shaving Day a success!

-- Mike 

Now you can watch many of the CBS 21 Stylish Statement news and movie segments online...! Here's the link...

http://www.whptv.com/content/stylishstatement/default.aspx

There are also more pictures on the "photos" section of CBS 21 Community.

CBS 21 News is teaming up with local high school students to make Prom safer, and more stylish than ever this year...! Here are some photos taken during our recent Stylish Statement shoots across the area...

Millersburg senior Brett Derr looks over a news script with Halifax sophomore Stacey Geyer. CBS 21 Photojournalist Garth Millen zooms in... as Brett and Stacey prepare to tell us about a State Police DUI Checkpoint.

Allison Mione of Williams Valley H.S. reports from a State Police DUI Checkpoint along Route 209. A special thanks to Troopers with PSP Lykens for their cooperation. 

Upper Dauphin's Alayna Peters explains the consequences of DUI.

I offer Halifax Area High School student Sage Spini some last-minute tips before he files a CBS 21 Traffic Alert from beautiful downtown Halifax.

Upper Dauphin's Nicole Schade surveys traffic through the Elizabethville.

Anja Nace of Millersburg Area High School also files a traffic report from her own town square. Her report will also include potentially life-saving tips for fellow teenagers heading to Prom.

Williams Valley's Evan Welker says traffic is heavier-than-usual heading into Wiconisco on Prom night.

Halifax's Fernando Vega is all business as he stands next to a hearse.  Its a somber background for his Exclusive interview with the Dauphin County Coroner.

Kylie Manning of Millersburg wants to look over the script one last time.

Kelly Baker talks about the Coroner's grim encounters with teen DUI accidents.

UDA's Kelly Schreffler doesn't want her friends to end up in one of these.

Prom Reporter Jenny Kaufman of Halifax is ready to deliver Breaking News from the State Police Barracks.

Williams Valley's Dylan Smith delivers the sad news about a Prom Night accident.

Ashley Fisher from Upper Dauphin wraps up her report.

Our Special Edition CBS 21 Newscast will be shown as part of the Stylish Statement Prom Fashion show... and you're invited! Its your chance to see local students model the newest 2008 Prom gowns and tux designs... months before you'll see them anywhere else!

Here are some pictures of last year's Fashion Show...

Hope to see you at this year's big show...! Here's the info:

Thanks to the more than 300 people who attended this year's show! What a success!

Special thanks to our parnter schools:

Halifax Area High School

Williams Valley High School

Millersburg Area High School

Upper Dauphin Area High School

*** CBS 21 News is looking to add more partner schools for future editions of Stylish Statement. For more information, email Mike Parker... michaelparker@clearchannel.com

We recently reported a story about a local family who's outdoor Christmas decorations were ransacked and damaged... But it wasn't just a simple case of vandalism.

                                           You tell 'em, Sherry!

Every year, Dovelle Smith spends three days decorating his home with Christmas spirit.

But as you can see in the picture below, not everybody appreciates the timing of it. The culprit made his or her message quite clear. The hand-painted note left on the Smith's front yard says "It's not even Thanksgiving yet"... followed by an expletive.

While I think anyone with any class can agree, this was not an appropriate, acceptable, or even sane way to react to the Christmas display.

But, in discussing this story with some others in the community, I've been surprised to hear how many people think that the vandals have a point, even though they made it the wrong way.

What do YOU think?

Is it wrong to decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving even arrives?

I'll start by offering MY answer.

No. I love the Christmas season, and the decorations. I love the sights, the lights, the songs, the smells... And while I'll probably never have an elaborate outdoor display like the Smiths, my home is already decorated for Christmas inside. (No tree yet! We're not crazy!) But I've always loved the feeling of being around Christmas stuff, and my wife is a great decorator. So, last week, yes, two weeks before Thanksgiving... we broke out the decorations.

Now, let's hear what YOU think...!

-- Mike

(Want to see the whole story?... Here's the link: www.whptv.com/mostpopular/story.aspx?content_id=27589257-281e-482d-90ed-a53deca8f26a )

     Sometimes it takes a face to really connect people to a story... In this case, that face has a long, brown snout and a big black nose.

This Whitetail Deer fawn was rescued earlier this summer in Dauphin County, after its mother became the victim of poachers. The large doe was found shot, and left to die in a field. This fawn, still too young to fend for itself, was found still living with the adult doe corpse.

The Dauphin County fawn was rescued, and taken to the Red Creek Wildlife Center in Schuylkill County. While there are a number of wildlife rehabilitators licensed and regulated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, there are very few with the knowledge or facilities to care for fawns.

At Red Creek, the fawn was kept in a large pen with several other fawns that were rescued from other parts of the state. Some are also victims of poaching, others are orphaned when an adult doe becomes a roadkill.

While our CBS 21 News cameras were able to get up-close-and-personal with these fawns for a few minutes, don't mistake their natural curiosity for tameness. The fawns are still very wild. Throughout their rehabilitation, the small deer will only be in contact with one human on a regular basis. While an incoming fawn is given vaccinations, and food during its stay at Red Creek, their handler makes every effort to reserve unnatural interaction, or signs of affection.

In other words.......... NO PETTING!!!

Personal attachment is reserved for other species at the Wildlife Center... Here, operator Peggy Hentz holds a turtle that came in recently.

One turtle had a badly-damaged shell, caused by someone carving initials into it with a knife. Other turtles may be hit by cars, or farm equipment.

This Sulcata Tortoise is native to Africa, but ended up at Red Creek when someone made a poor decision to keep the massive reptile as a pet. It likely outgrew its intended living space, and was set free. A tortoise like this could not survive a Pennsylvania winter if it were not rescued.

Believe it... This amazing Turkey Vulture was also kept as a pet, before being abandoned.

You've probably never seen a Bard Owl in the first place... Let alone, this one that came to the Wildlife Center missing an eye!

And these beautiful red-tailed hawks are in various stages of recovery. Most of the birds will eventually be released back into the wild. Unfortunately, some of the hawks have never honed their natural hunting skills, and will have to rely on people to feed them for the rest of their lives. One hawk, not shown here, was rendered flightless after being shot.

                                   Okay... Remember the fawns?

Last Saturday, after more than a month at Red Creek Wildlife Center, the small deer weighing up to 50 pounds each, were released back into the wild. (Photo by Lynn Dierwechter)

Rescuers don't like to divulge the location of the release, but tell CBS 21 News that these two doe and five bucks will find a new chance at life in the northern "big woods" areas of Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lynn Dierwechter)

The last picture is the toughest to see... But its the perfect end to our story. Peggy says as they drove away from the release point, the small doe rescued from Dauphin County seemed to turn its head one last time before disappearing into its new home.

I'd like to think it was saying "thanks."

For the video coverage of this story as seen on CBS 21 News, use the following link...

http://www.whptv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=125667@video.whptv.com

For more on the Red Creek Wildlife Center, use this one...

http://redcreekwildlifecenter.com/

Until next time... -- Mike

He catches largemouth bass like it's going out-of-style... And quite frankly, Dave Romeo proves that he's the man in this CBS 21 News interview...

Dave Romeo of Mount Joy Township, Lancaster County holds the Guiness World Record for the most bass ever caught and recorded in a single season. Check it out... According to the 1987 Guiness Book, Dave caught 3,001 bass in just 77 days. The record is still in tact.

On Tuesday, photojournalist Garth Millen and I along for a morning of fishing at a pond in Mount Joy Township.

It didn't take long to see what this guy is made of. Check out the monster 19-inch bass Dave caught using a bright yellow spinner bait!

After Dave catches each bass, he measures it for length, and releases it back into the pond.

Sure, that four-pounder would look great in a frying pan, but Dave likes to think his catch-and-release approach will accomplish two things: He has the chance to catch the bass again, and the larger fish will continue to breed more big fish for the future.

To keep accurate records, Dave carries a counter. In 25 years of fishing, he's caught bass in the triple digits 8 different times!... Today, he was only on number 16... Rough day!

Before leaving each pond, Dave fills out a journal of his latest catches. Location, species, length, etc... He's been doing this since 1981.

Last Saturday, Dave reached the milestone of catching his 25,000th bass since he began recording. But now, he's setting his sights on new record.

In 25 years, Dave's average for catching bass in a season has gone up and down. His first few years as an inexperienced angler on the pond have held him back considerably. (He only caught 39 bass his entire first season!)

Now, he's working extra hard to catch another 200 or bass this year, so his average over a true quarter century of time will be slightly above 1,000 bass caught per season.

He's almost there.

I wonder if he'll get a new license plate?...

It might not surprise you that Dave is a motivational speaker by trade, and uses his bass fishing experience as a motivator for others.

Best of luck, Dave!

Until next time,

-- Mike

The City of Harrisburg is selling McCormick's Island for $110,000 to the Central PA Conservancy. The new buyers were kind enough to invite me and CBS 21 News Photojournalist Garth Millen along for a tour of the recently-acquired 100-acre island in the Susquehanna River...

Here we are loading up onto a small boat beneath the Interstate 81 bridge. The bridge actually crosses the northern-most tip of the Island. Check it out next time you cross shores.

With the river levels pretty low these days, we had to cruise down river about three-quarters-of-a-mile to reach an access on the island.

Garth takes some video along the way. On our 20-minute trip, we spotted several snapping turtles relaxing on river rocks. McCormick's Island is also neighbor to Wade Island, known for hosting several species of endangered birds.

Look!... There's Mayor Reed in a Kayak!... Just kidding.

We arrive on the island, towards the southern tip. On the right is Jonathan, our boat operator. Garth thinks... 'Hey, my mom would love those purple flowers!"

One of the the things you'll notice on the island is the amount of litter... And I mean some OLD stuff. I think I was twelve when they stopped putting those black plastic bottoms on 2-liter soda bottles!

The Conservancy says most of the trash isn't actually left by people visiting McCormick's Island. Instead, bottles like these are carried downstream by flood waters. Already, the Conservancy members have removed several boat loads of garbage from the island.

Here is the work that's being done to blaze a new walking trail on the island. Much of the work is being headed up by 18-year-old David Heath, a recent Carlisle High School graduate. He plans to attend Penn State University in the Fall, majoring in Civil Engineering. he says he'd like to use his education to help improve McCormick's Island.

Thanks for checking in... Until next time... -- Mike

The next time you find yourself complaining about your own workplace conditions, think about THESE guys. Here are some photos taken at a new coal mine in Dauphin County...

Williamstown Mine Number One sits atop Big Lick Mountain above Williamstown. Miners like this are using a type of equipment not normally used to mine Anthracite coal.

The mine opened in mid-April, but it will not be in full operation until late Summer. Until the miners dig deep enough into the mountain, they'll be able to sit up as the operate the machinery. But its a luxury that won't last long...

Eventually, the miners will spend their entire work day inside the mine, almost lying down. The vein of coal being mined is only about four-feet tall, so standing up is not an option inside the cramped space.

The equipment being used is not normally used to mine Anthracite coal, because Anthracite veins are usually very steep. In some cases, the're almost vertical. However, the vein of coal on Big Lick Mountain sits at a much lesser degree, which allows for this type of gear, normally used to mine Bituminous coal, to be used.

The machines that the miners are operating are linked to each other like a train. And at the very front is a grinding machine fitted with a number of large, carbide-tipped drill bits like this.

The coal is then transported outside of the mine on a long conveyer belt.

Coal is then loaded into a dump truck, and taken to a nearby processing facility. There it will dry out a bit, and be sorted into various sizes, before being sold to local customers and steel mills across the country.

This is another view from outside of the mine. When it reaches full operation, 20 to 23 people will be employed at Williamstown Mine Number One.

Seen here, there are four entrances into the mine. Only two are used for access to the coal vein. The other two are used for ventilation. The large orange pipe feeds fresh air into the mine. Air is then filtered out of the mine through another opening.

Eventually, miners will dig more than 2,000 feet into the mountain. The vein itself is about six miles wide, with an estimated 12 to 14 Million tons of Anthracite coal. That's enough to mine for the next 30 to 40 years.

To see the story with video, just click on the link below!

http://www.whptv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=124231@video.whptv.com&navCatId=626

Hope you enjoyed it!... Thanks for stopping by!

-- Mike