Local News-Thursday, August 31st

The Flood of 2006 is still fresh in everyone's mind, and there is potential for heavy rain this weekend from Tropical Storm Ernesto. The American Red Cross is reminding all residents to be prepared. Tim Firestone, Director of Emergency Services for the local Red Cross chapter reminds residents that while flooding could pose a threat, individuals and families can do a great deal to help themselves. Firestone also said that residents should make a kit with emergency supplies, make a plan in case flooding occurs and stay informed by listening to local radio stations in the event that watches and warnings are issued. If flooding does happen, be prepared to seek shelter as soon as possible. Should the need arise for assistance, contact local authorities immediately.

Porter Township and Cressona Borough were honored during Wednesday's Schuylkill County Commissioners meeting for improvement in their recycling efforts. Schuylkill County Solid Waste and Recycling Coordinator Dan Grow said Porter Township had the most improvement in collection tonnage and Cressona has the second most improvement over last year. Jerry Bender accepted a certificate and a check for just over $520.00 on behalf of Porter Township and Lyle Frehafer accepted a certificate and check of just of $504.00 on behalf of Cressona. Also honored during the fourth annual recycling site sponsor awards were four commercial sites that had improved collection tonnage. They were Boyer's Food Markets in McAdoo and Orwigsburg, Midway Super Market in Valley View, Redner's Warehouse Market and the county Works Department. They all received certificates for their efforts. In a related matter, The Solid Waste department was authorized to apply for a performance grant amounting to $321,116.00 based on the county's 2005 recycling effort. The grant is an increase of just over $100-Thousand Dollars and 3,200 tons above last year's performance grant.

Schuylkill County will soon create a new position in the County Elections Bureau to manage and supervise the programming of the touch screen voting machines. County Administrator William Reppy advised the Commissioners Wednesday that a vacant Clerk position in the Election Bureau will be eliminated and a new Supervisor of Elections position will be created. Reppy said someone with an associate's degree in information technology would bring a higher level of skill sets to the bureau in preparing and programming the machines for each election. Reppy said the person will also do some of the clerical duties that were in the old position but their primary responsibility will be election equipment. Reppy said Diebold will remain involved in the process but someone from the county's side is needed to manage and supervise the programming of the machines.

A local hospital has received a grant to help track hospital-acquired infections. A check was presented in the amount of $48-thousand-dollars to the Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council and the Highmark Foundation for software to accurately track infections among the hospital's patient population. Hospital CEO John Simodejka said that the MedMined Data Mining Surveillance service will significantly aid the hospital's infection control management program, and can ultimately reduce costs because of shortened hospital stays and provide better care for their patients. Prior to the implementation of the new system, collecting data about infections was done manually by hospital personnel. Hospital-acquired and community-acquired infections are not a new phenomenon in health care. In 2004, Pennsylvania reported 11-thousand cases of hospital-acquired infections. In 2005, that number increased to 21-thousand. Marc Volavka, Executive Director of the health care council, said those numbers most likely increased due to more accurate tracking. Pottsville Hospital is one of 11 Pennsylvania hospitals to receive the grant.

Residents of the Hegins area are being warned of possible "gypsy" activity. Township police report that a man attempted to distract an elderly resident last week by drawing her from her home. After the man left, the woman discovered a small safe from the home. Police warn that gypsies typically work in groups and target older citizens. They attempt to distract them while others enter homes and rummage for valuables. Citizens who see suspicious activity should contact police at once.

A Tower City man received his sentence for assaulting his then pregnant wife last year. Mark Zimmerman apologized to his wife in Schuylkill County Court yesterday after he received a 1 to 2 year state prison term, with credit for time served for pushing his wife Sandra through a plate glass door at their home in October, 2005. According to the Pottsville Republican and Herald, Zimmerman pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats and related charges. An earlier charge of attempted homicide had been withdrawn.
Zimmerman will also have to pay court costs and a $500 dollar fine in the incident.

The Commissioners also gave the Department approval to conduct the 7th annual Schuylkill County Watershed Awards with a maximum award to be $3,000.00 to any one organization. The awards presentation will be done at the Conservation District’s Board of Directors meeting on September 19th.

State News-Thursday, August 31st

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Census Bureau says the Philadelphia metro area is ranked 20th nationwide in terms of commuting time to work-- averaging 27-point-nine minutes each way. At the top of the list is Cumberland County, New Jersey, with 39-point-six minutes. Five years ago, the Census Bureau considered that part of the Philadelphia metro area. But now, enough Cumberland County workers are staying within the county that the Census Bureau has declared it to be its own metro area. In the nation as a whole, the average commute takes 25-point-one minutes each way. The Census Bureau says more than three-quarters of American workers drive alone to work, but the commuting times also include those who carpool, those who take mass transit and the two-and-a-half percent who walk to work.

HAMPTON, Va. (AP) - Philadelphia 76ers star Allen Iverson has been hit with a multi-million-dollar lawsuit. It's amid claims he helped hire a security team that allegedly assaulted four people at a nightclub in his hometown of Hampton, Virginia, last year. The four plaintiffs claim they were assaulted by members of a security team known as "The Horsemen," a group they say was hired by Iverson, his business manager and promotional company. Two of the men named in the lawsuit as assailants faced criminal charges. Iverson's attorney and agent did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A proposed overhaul of state coal-mining safety laws has languished in Harrisburg as legislators try to bridge disagreements between the administration of Governor Ed Rendell, mine workers and mine owners. A two-month-old federal law requires improvements in how mine owners respond to accidents. That law is designed to address concerns that arose in the wake of January's Sago Mine accident in West Virginia, in which 12 miners died. But state mining regulations, which are designed to prevent accidents, remain stuck in the 1960s, when most of them were written. The state Legislature will have an election-shortened fall session, which may leave little time to bring the sides together, a Senate aide says. But state Department of Environmental Protection officials,whose own proposal has been introduced into legislation, say a new law should not wait on whether the union and mine owners can agree.

RANSHAW, Pa. (AP) - The president of a Northumberland County fire company says the remains of the burned-out firehouse will be knocked down and a new firehouse built. Brady Fire Company President Tom Sayles says the accidental blaze at the firehouse in Ranshaw inspired the community to pull together. For now, the fire truck and ambulance are kept in a storage building next to the old firehouse. Sayles says it's unclear where the new firehouse will be built.

National and International News-Thursday, August 31st

WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) - Coastal residents in the Carolinas are bracing for a stronger Tropical Storm Ernesto but they're still more worried about the possible flooding than the wind. The storm has 50-mile-per-hour winds and is packing some much-needed rain for the parched mid-Atlantic.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Looking toward the Nine-Eleven anniversary and the November congressional elections, President Bush defends his war strategy again today. This time he addresses the American Legion. Bush says the U-S can't abandon the cause of freedom over extremism.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Food and Drug Administration says some of the prescription drugs ordered from a Canadian pharmacy over the Internet are bogus. The Canadian company, Mediplan Global Health,says the drugs are fine and accuses the government of trying scare away its customers.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A former follower says Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs probably won't recognize the authority of the court at his extradition hearing in Las Vegas, Nevada, today. Officials want to prosecute him first in Utah, then in Arizona, on charges of arranging marriages of underage girls to older men.

BIG TIMBER, Mont. (AP) - A rapidly growing wildfire in Montana has prompted officials to urge residents of two southern towns to evacuate. The blaze nearly doubled in size yesterday to 80-thousand acres. Weather conditions in California and Washington-state are helping firefighters in those states.

National and International News-Thursday

WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) - Coastal residents in the Carolinas are bracing for a stronger Tropical Storm Ernesto but they're still more worried about the possible flooding than the wind. The storm has 50-mile-per-hour winds and is packing some much-needed rain for the parched mid-Atlantic.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Looking toward the Nine-Eleven anniversary and the November congressional elections, President Bush defends his war strategy again today. This time he addresses the American Legion. Bush says the U-S can't abandon the cause of freedom over extremism.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Food and Drug Administration says some of the prescription drugs ordered from a Canadian pharmacy over the Internet are bogus. The Canadian company, Mediplan Global Health,says the drugs are fine and accuses the government of trying scare away its customers.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A former follower says Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs probably won't recognize the authority of the court at his extradition hearing in Las Vegas, Nevada, today. Officials want to prosecute him first in Utah, then in Arizona, on charges of arranging marriages of underage girls to older men.

BIG TIMBER, Mont. (AP) - A rapidly growing wildfire in Montana has prompted officials to urge residents of two southern towns to evacuate. The blaze nearly doubled in size yesterday to 80-thousand acres. Weather conditions in California and Washington-state are helping firefighters in those states.

Fire destroys barn in Wayne Township

Fire destroyed a barn in Wayne Township Tuesday afternoon.

Firefighters responded to the scene around 5pm on Route 443 to a storage barn owned by Pioneer Pole Building, which contained various building materials and tools.

The blaze rolled for well over an hour until it was extinguished. Water had to be trucked in to fight the fire. Emergency crews were on scene for several hours to control hotspots.

State Attorney General presents new program to protect elderly

The state Attorney General was in Schuylkill County yesterday to introduce a new program to protect the elderly from abuse.

Attorney General Tom Corbett was accompanied by local officials in presenting the program at the Tamaqua Hi-Rise Tuesday.

Schuylkill County has already addressed the growing problem of elder abuse, forming a task force in 2005. The group includes officials from local government, social services and the legal community. The additional services to be offered by the Attorney General's office will help prosecute those who prey on the elderly, a significant part of the county’s population.

Crimes against the elderly include physical and emotional abuse, as well as a host of financial scams.

Upper Schuylkill Homecoming this weekend

It will be a time to come home to northern Schuylkill County this weekend.

Upper Schuylkill's homecoming weekend begins Friday, and runs through Labor Day, with a jazz reception Friday evening at the Smith Mansion in Mahanoy City. Later that evening, a screening of the documentary “Hard Coal: Last of the Bootleg Miners” will be held at the Mahanoy City Elks Lodge.

Upper Schuylkill Executive Director Patty Rader explains that the Pennsylvania Tourism Board approached the group about developing a homecoming weekend that centers around the Ashland Mummers ABA parade on Saturday.

The weekend continues at various locations in the six communities comprising Upper Schuylkill. Saturday is US Homecoming Day, culminating with the 106th edition of the Ashland Mummers ABA parade. Sunday and Monday also promises numerous activities for everyone. Their slogan says "Everybody and their Mother will be there."

Tickets are necessary for some of the events. Information on the Upper Schuylkill Homecoming is available by calling 773-1688, and on-line at upperschuylkill.com.

Donaldson woman injured in one vehicle crash

A Donaldson woman was hurt following a one vehicle crash Tuesday morning in Pine Grove Township.

53-year-old Yvonne Page was headed north on Lover’s Lane, near Sweet Arrow Lake Road when she lost control on the wet roadway. Her car spun out and struck a tree.

Page was taken to Pottsville Hospital for treatment. The crash happened after 10am yesterday.

Orwigsburg man charged with making false reports

An Orwigsburg man is facing a host of charges by Hamburg State Police stemming from an incident last month.

Officials say that 33-year-old Ted Books came to the Hamburg barracks to provide information about a hit and run investigation that happened in June. Books provided details about the crash, but indicated that someone else took his car and committed the hit and run.

Police determined that Books was involved in crash and that he lied to police. He was charged yesterday with filing false reports, reckless driving and related offenses.

Woman charged with baby neglect makes plea deal

A former Tamaqua woman who reportedly neglected her child while she and the child's father played computer games has settled her case in Schuylkill County Court.

Kristine Achey, who now lives in Allentown, agreed to do 30 hours of community service and completes a year of probation in the ARD program on child endangerment charges. Once her sentence is completed, Achey's criminal record will be expunged.

Achey and Joseph Arcand were turned in to police after two instances where the infant was malnourished and was brought to Gnaden Huetten Hospital in Lehighton in 2005. The couple were reportedly given instruction how to properly feed and care for the child after the first incident. But, the child was taken back to the hospital at five months of age, for the same reason.

The child is reported to be in good health, in the care of his grandparents.

Cope pleads guilty

A woman who allegedly prostituted teenage girls for drugs has pleaded guilty on some charges, but had others dropped in a plea deal in Schuylkill County Court.

41-year-old Lisa Cope, formerly of Brockton, was charged with numerous counts of soliciting two girls for sex in return for cocaine in 2004 and 2005. Cope reportedly pleaded guilty to corruption of minors, in return for dropping more serious charges of prostitution, sexual exploitation of children and endangering the welfare of children.

Cope was arrested in May of last year after she reportedly bartered a 14 and 15-year old girl with drug dealers on at least two dozen occasions. Cope also reportedly shared the drugs with the teens at least two times.

As part of the plea bargain, County Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin sentenced Cope to time served, and five years probation.

State News-Wednesday

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - At least 20 people with financial interests in slot-machine gambling in Pennsylvania also serve on the boards of public agencies or large nonprofit institutions. Most of these people have stakes in groups seeking licenses to open slots parlors. A few others who serve on such boards have interests in firms already approved to distribute slot machines. Some of the board members were appointees of Governor Ed Rendell or legislative leaders. Such a reach into civic society and government has some casino opponents like the Philadelphia-based Neighbors Allied for the Best Riverfront wondering whether their efforts to protect their neighborhoods are in vain. The Pennsylvania Partnership Group, an investor group in the proposed Riverwalk casino in Philadelphia, says it is proud of its members record of public service. And it says that their slots interest does not compromise their ability to serve in the public interest.

STROUDSBURG, Pa. (AP) - A mother who set a house fire that killed her two toddlers was sentenced to 12 to 30 years in prison. Samantha Hirt, who had a prior history of mental illness, had pleaded guilty but mentally ill to third-degree murder in June. She said she doesn't recall setting the February 2004 fire that killed her three-year-old daughter, Sarah, and two-year-old son, Matthew. Hirt initially told police she was in another part of the house and unable to reach the children.

LANDENBERG, Pa. (AP) - There is extensive damage in Chester County from a storm that touched down in New Garden Township. A National Weather Service meteorologist says it looks like the storm was a tornado, but that determination won't be made until someone from the agency visits the scene. Heavy winds ripped roofs from buildings and sent tree branches across roads in the afternoon storm, which did extensive damage to the area's mushroom farmers.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A judge refused a request to order unannounced candidates for mayor of Philadelphia to follow campaign-finance limits. The judge didn't explain his one-sentence decision, which was a setback for the good-government group the Committee of Seventy. City law says mayoral candidates may not accept more than 25-hundred dollars from an individual or 10-thousand dollars from a business partnership or political committee. But several people have been acting like candidates and raising money for a campaign without declaring that they are running. The Committee of Seventy was asking the judge to issue a summary judgment ordering them to also follow the contribution limits.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Sovereign Bancorp is reviewing its security procedures following the theft of three laptop computers in Massachusetts that might contain customers' personal data. A spokesman for the Philadelphia-based parent of Sovereign Bank says customers were "upset and concerned" about the situation. Sovereign has offered to help them set up new accounts. Sovereign won't say exactly how many customers were potentially affected, but says it was less than one percent of its customers.The thrift operates 800 branches in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions.

National and International News-Wednesday

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A bomb explosion at a wholesale market center in Baghdad has killed at least two-dozen people and wounded dozens more. Three police officers are dead in another bombing. Earlier, a bicycle bombing in a city south of the capital killed 12 people outside an army recruiting center.

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Hearings get under way at Camp Pendleton, California, today for the first of eight servicemen charged in the death of a 52-year-old Iraqi. Witnesses say the man was dragged out of his house, tied up and then shot. The hearings will determine whether the seven Marines and one sailor are court-martialed.

KEY LARGO, Fla. (AP) - A weakened Tropical Storm Ernesto is dumping a lot of rain on southern Florida but has not brought the destructive winds that had been feared. Forecasters caution that it could become a hurricane again as it moves into the Atlantic later in the week, menacing Georgia and the Carolinas.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - President Bush heads back out on the campaign trail today after helping New Orleans commemorate the Hurricane Katrina anniversary yesterday. Bush will be headlining fund-raisers in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Memphis, Tennessee.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation's biggest lobby for seniors says companies would do well to keep the needs of older workers in mind. A-A-R-P's list of best employers for workers over 50 includes a number of medical centers but also Volkswagen. It rates such things as flexible scheduling and phased retirement.

Child endangerment in Klingerstown

State police are investigating a case of child endangerment involving an explosive device in Klingerstown on Sunday.

Troopers report that Jared and Pamela Miller left an undetonated M-80 in a drawer at their home. A 5-year-old girl found the device and lit the fuse. The device exploded, causing severe damage to her hand.

The girl was taken to Hershey Medical Center for treatment. The investigation continues.

Pottsville man accused of not paying bill for resort stay

A Pottsville man is accused of living it up at West Virginia's Greenbrier resort and leaving a bill totaling more than ten-thousand dollars.

West Virginia State Police have issued an arrest warrant charging 32-year-old Kyle Quandel, of Pottsville, with obtaining goods under false pretenses.

Police allege that Quandel and a guest, Jason Wesnoski, age and address unknown, spent seven days at the resort in White Sulphur Springs in May.

The criminal complaint filed says the bill included more than four-thousand dollars for dinner, more than one-thousand dollars for The Greenbrier Spa/Salon, and 178 dollars for the resort's Falconry Academy.

The complaint says when Quandel attempted to pay his credit card was declined. The complaint says Wesnoski then allegedly paid with another credit card.

The Greenbrier's head of security, Jim Rohan, told police Wesnoski's grandmother contacted him, said the credit card was hers and stopped payment of the bill. Rohan said Quandel was contacted by e-mail and denied owing any money because his credit card was not used.

Zimmerman has hearing in beating death

The case of an Orwigsburg man who killed his wife with a baseball bat in July is headed to county court.

A hearing was held for Jeffrey Zimmerman yesterday at the office of Magisterial District Judge James Ferrier. Zimmerman is accused of beating his wife, Cindy, to death at her parents home in Orwigsburg on July 6th.

According to the Pottsville Republican and Herald, testimony given by Orwigsburg Police Sgt. John Koury indicated that he heard Zimmerman admit to his mother that he killed his wife.

Following the proceeding, Ferrier directed that charges of criminal homicide, aggravated assault and related counts be bound over for Schuylkill County Court. Zimmerman remains in Schuylkill County Prison without bail.

Accident in Pottsville

One woman suffered minor injuries after a two vehicle crash in Pottsville on Sunday.

Pottsville police say that a car driven by Cathy Thygesen was heading north on Route 61 made a left turn in front of a southbound car driven by Esther Seidel of Pottsville. Seidel's car hit Thygesen's vehicle.

According to witnesses, both vehicles may have gone through red lights.

A passenger in Thygesen's vehicle, April Green of Orwigsburg, was treated at Pottsville Hospital.

The investigation is continuing.

Two excape with minor injuries after crash

Two people avoided serious injury following a crash in Rush Township Monday morning.

Township police say that 33-year-old Michelle Kanger, of Ginthers, was headed south on Lincoln Drive, from Route 309 toward Hometown when she left the roadway and struck a utility pole. The impact forced the car across the road and down an embankment onto the railroad tracks some 50 feet below. The car ended up on its roof.

Kanger and her 6-year-old daughter were able to escape from the vehicle with minor injuries. They were treated at St. Luke's/Miners Memorial Medical Center, then released. Rescue workers helped the pair to climb up the embankment to safety.

The crash happened around 7:30am Monday.

State police investigate criminal mischief

Frackville State Police are investigating two cases of criminal mischief in Middleport last week.

Troopers now say that sometime between Wednesday night and Thursday, someone threw rocks at the front windshield of Ronald McClure's vehicle on Coal Street, cracking the windshield. Later that evening, an individual smashed the driver's door window of the pickup truck owned by William Seigenfuse.

Police are continuing their investigation.

State police concentrating enforcement for Labor Day

If you plan on drinking and driving this Labor Day weekend, state police will be looking for you.

State Police Commissioner Jeffrey Miller said that troopers, along with municipal police, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other agencies are participating in a campaign with a simple message: "Drunk driving: Over the limit, under arrest".

The state has received federal funding to provide 500 hours of overtime to each troop for DUI enforcement through October.

Statistics indicate that during last year's Labor Day holiday driving period, 12 people were killed and 353 were injured in 665 crashes investigated by state police. Sixty-five of them were alcohol-related, including two of the fatal crashes, and 226 were charged with driving under the influence.

The Labor Day driving period runs September 1st through 4th.

State News-Tuesday

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia police are looking for the 26-year-old son of a state lawmaker who's been missing since he was abducted at gunpoint on Saturday night. The kidnapping victim is Shamari Taylor, whose father, Representative John Myers, has been a vocal advocate for gun-control legislation. Police say seven to ten masked men in four vehicles grabbed him and a female companion. She was released the next morning but he's still missing. But that's not all that's happened to Taylor's family. On Sunday night, Taylor's 56-year-old mother and 21-year-old sister were wounded by gunfire -- with the mother shot in the head. Police say both are expected to survive. Myers' spokeswoman says the lawmaker has been married to his wife, Joyce, for more than 20 years and that Taylor is his son from a previous relationship.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A detention hearing is scheduled today for a University of Pennsylvania professor accused of bringing child porn into the country. Authorities say marketing professor Scott Ward had a video that showed him in sex acts with boys. Ward was arrested after an airport security check on Sunday as he flew in to Washington Dulles International Airport from Brazil. Court papers say Ward drew the attention of federal agents because of his unusual number of trips to Thailand. Ward had been charged with child-sex crimes in Montgomery County twice before. Once he was acquitted and another time he paid a fine and got probation.

BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The F-B-I has released the plane that was flying from Philadelphia to Houston when a threatening note caused an unscheduled stop yesterday in Tennessee. The plane eventually continued on to Houston, though it wasn't known how many of the 56 passengers stayed with the flight. Authorities say no bomb has been found on U-S Airways Flight 3-4-4-1. Earlier, the passengers were taken into the terminal at the Tri-Cities Regional Airport in eastern Tennessee to be questioned by the F-B-I.

National and International News-Tuesday

MIAMI (AP) - Officials in Florida's Broward and Miami-Dade counties say people who live in mobile homes or damaged residences should get out ahead of Tropical Storm Ernesto because such dwellings won't be safe. Forecasters say the storm could reach hurricane strength by the time it hits as early as tonight.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former FEMA Director Michael Brown, who lost his job because of Hurricane Katrina, says a lack of candor about the federal response is his biggest regret. He tells N-B-C's "Today"show, "There was no plan." He also says he couldn't get the money authorized for proper catastrophic planning.

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - Prosecutors are promising to keep up the search for the killer of JonBenet Ramsey. Meanwhile, the aunt of the slain girl tells C-B-S she's not surprised that John Karr's public confession to being with JonBenet when she died didn't hold up. She says he could be "quite disturbed."

WASHINGTON (AP) - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says the government needs more access to airline passenger information. In an article published today in the Washington Post, Chertoff says it's the only way to identify potential hijackers. He says you can't stop someone you don't know exists.

WESTPORT, N.Y. (AP) - State police investigators are working today to try to find the cause of a deadly Greyhound bus crash in northern New York. The Montreal-bound bus went off the Adirondack Northway and landed on its roof. The driver and four passengers were killed. I-87 remains closed in the area.

School is back in session

The summer is gone, and school is back in session.

While the calendar many not signal it, summer vacation has ended for many area school districts. With the start of school, state police are urging motorists to slow down and use extra caution while driving.

Drivers are reminded that yellow flashing lights on the bus indicate the bus is getting ready to stop. Red flashing lights and a stop signal arm indicates that the bus has stopped and children are getting on and off the bus. Motorists should stop at least 10 feet before reaching the bus, and may not proceed until the flashing signal lights are no longer activated. Fines and points are severe for violations.

From all of us here at WPPA/T-102 News, have a great, and safe, first day of school.

Two dead in crash near Hazleton

Two people are dead from a fiery rollover crash in Luzerne County.

Police say it happened around 1 a-m this morning on West Butler Drive
in Butler Township, near Freeland and Hazleton. Police say a car
driven by 25-year-old Jeremy Welch of Drums ran off the road and
into grass and trees, then rolled several times and caught fire.

Welch was pronounced dead at the scene along with his passenger,
23-year-old Marissa Tait, also of Drums.

Saturday afternoon domestic dispute results in arrest

A Frackville man is in Schuylkill County prison following a domestic dispute Saturday in the borough.

Frackville police say that 51-year-old David Martin and 39-year-old Lisa Pennington were fighting at their Center Street home Saturday afternoon. Martin physically assaulted Pennington about the face, neck and arms.

Borough police took Martin into custody and remanded him to Schuylkill County Prison.

Two vehicle crash

No one was injured following a two-vehicle crash in Pine Grove Township Thursday.

State police at Schuylkill Haven just reported that Ernest Reiter of Pine Grove was northbound on State Route 125 and failed to see the Ford Explorer driven by Roland Miller, also of Pine Grove. Reiter's car struck Miller's vehicle broadside, then spun out, striking a pole.

Neither driver was injured, but both vehicles were heavily damaged. The crash happened around noon Thursday.

Motorcycle crash in Wayne Township

An Auburn man was hurt following a motorcycle crash Saturday in Wayne Township.

47-year-old Gary Keefer was eastbound on Blue Mountain Road and lost control of his motorcycle and traveled through the intersection, ending up facing in a southeast direction.

Keefer was not hurt, but his bike was moderately damaged and had to be towed from the scene.

Minersville celebrates 175th Anniversary

A little bit of rain failed to dampen the celebration of Minersville's 175th Anniversary.

Bands, floats, local and state dignitaries, including Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll participated in the anniversary parade, with revelers lining Sunbury Street for the hour-long parade.

WBRE Sportscaster, and Orwigsburg native Phil Schoener was the parade's grand marshal, to honor Minersville’s rich heritage. Happy Birthday Minersville!

State News-Monday

HOUSTON (AP) - A Lafayette College student whose luggage contained a stick of dynamite is to appear before a federal magistrate in Houston today. Twenty-one-year-old Howard McFarland Fish had gotten off a flight from Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Friday when the explosive was found in his luggage at a security check in Houston. Fish told authorities he works in mining and often handles explosives. There isn't any indication of terrorism, but the discovery highlighted concerns that there's a weak link in aviation security.The concern is that security at airports abroad might not be as good as that in the United States.

MARSHALLS CREEK, Pa. (AP) - In Monroe County, the owner of a trucking company is accused of killing an employee who had come to his home to discuss a dispute over worker's compensation and medical bills. Two other employees told police that the three of them went to the Jackson Township home of 34-year-old Ray Anthony Velez on Friday afternoon to discuss the ongoing dispute. Police say anargument ensued and Velez pulled a sawed-off shotgun out of his desk and fatally shot Armando Guardiola of New York City. Velez told the Pocono Record as he was led out of court before dawn Saturday that the shooting was self-defense. Police say Velez initially told investigators that it was an accident. Velez is charged with criminal homicide and possessing and using a prohibited offensive weapon.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Police seized more than a million dollars in cash along with guns and drugs after pulling over a pickup truck in a traffic stop near Harrisburg. A 31-year-old man from upstate New York and a 20-year-old man from nearby Cornwall Island, Ontario, were pulled over before dawn today on Interstate 81 in Susquehanna Township. Trooper Greg Miller says he became suspicious because of statements made by the men and alterations to the truck and the dual-axle flatbed trailer it was towing. Police say the men consented to a search of the truck and the trailer -- and a drug-sniffing dog indicated the presence of controlled substances. Police took the trailer to headquarters, where they found the one-point-one million dollars in cash, plus 20 pounds of marijuana and a variety of guns.

National and International News-Monday

LES CAYES, Haiti (AP) - Tropical Storm Ernesto is blamed for at least one death in Haiti and is swirling toward Cuba, where officials have ramped up emergency preparations. The National Hurricane Center in Miami expects Ernesto to return to hurricane strength before it reaches the Gulf of Mexico.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (AP) - Preparations are under way at the Kennedy Space Center to bring space shuttle Atlantis back inside. NASA managers have an eye on Tropical Storm Ernesto. If it turns away from Florida, they may still try a launch tomorrow.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A car packed with explosives slammed into a checkpoint outside the Interior Ministry in Baghdad today. At least14 people were killed and more than 40 wounded. Many of them are Iraqi police officers.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal investigators will transcribe the pilots' last words from the cockpit voice recorder and download other crucial information from the commuter jet that crashed in Kentucky yesterday. They want to know how the Comair flight ended up on a runway too short for a commercial jet. Forty-nine people died.

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - A retired public defender considered a D-N-A specialist is one of the lawyers who will represent John Karr at his first Colorado court hearing today. Karr says he was with child beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey when she died, but he hasn't been formally charged.

WPPA/T102 NEWS Saturday

Local News

Judge denies trial request for Tamaqua man

Robert Yates is not entitled to a new trial on charges he shot and seriously injured a 10-year-old female relative, a Schuylkill County judge decided Friday. According to the Pottsville Republican and Herald, in an eight-page opinion, President Judge William E. Baldwin ruled Yates, received effective legal representation in spite of his being convicted and receiving a 6- to 12-year state prison sentence. "The defendant has failed to meet his burden of showing that his counsel was ineffective," Baldwin wrote. A county jury convicted Yates on Jan. 19 of aggravated assault with serious bodily injury, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, simple assault, simple assault with a deadly weapon and recklessly endangering another person. Baldwin sentenced him Feb. 16. Tamaqua police charged Yates with shooting the girl with a .380-caliber pistol on Aug. 4, 2004, as she slept on a love seat in her home. The shot struck her in the head, causing blindness in her right eye and other serious injuries, police said. Yates, who is serving his sentence at State Correctional Institution/Camp Hill, claimed that Chief Public Defender Harry A. Rubright, who represented him before and at the trial, failed to negotiate adequately a plea agreement on his behalf and should have called a ballistics expert to boost his case during the trial. Baldwin rejected both claims, ruling Yates failed to meet his burden of proving Rubright was ineffective. Also, Baldwin rejected Yates' claim that the county court discriminated against him because the deadlines for negotiated pleas prevented him from negotiating one.

Two Countains Arrested on Drug Charges

Two Schuylkill County men were arrested Friday on drug charges. According to the Pottsville Republican and Herald, Paul D. Eiler, of Mahanoy City, was arrested by borough police after a traffic stop early Friday morning led to a search warrant of his home Friday afternoon. Inside the home, police found drugs, drug paraphernalia, cash and other items. Eiler was arrested by Mahanoy City police Patrolman Timothy M. Wirtz and charged with felony possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $2,000 straight cash bail on traffic charges and $2,000 on drug charges. A traffic stop by Wirtz and Officer Melissa Johnson around 2:30 a.m. led not only to the search warrant, but resulted in Eiler being charged with driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, DUI, possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Also Friday, Cass-Foster police arrested a 53-year-old Foster Township man and charged him with allegedly selling drugs. Edward J. Hunt Jr. was arrested by Patrolman Jeffrey Bowers and charged after an investigation spurred by a complaint received by the department. Bowers said Hunt's arrest by his department and state police was the result of an investigation that began when complaints were received that the man was selling drugs from inside his home.Bowers charged Hunt with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, corruption of minors, a violation of the Uniform Firearms Act and possession of small amount of marijuana. He was also arraigned before Ferrier.Bowers said Cass-Foster police ask that anyone with information on illegal activity contact them at 544-5631, while Mahanoy City residents with suspicions of such activity can call police at 773-2310. All information will remain confidential.

Haven Man Dies Due To Fall

A 48-year-old borough man was found dead behind his apartment building Friday morning, police said. Schuylkill Haven police said Robert Eiler of 35 E. Main St., 2nd Floor Rear, was pronounced dead at the scene by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner John Harley. Police said a toxicology test will be done to determine if the man had alcohol or drugs in his system. Police believe that on Thursday night or early Friday morning, Eiler fell off the roof near his apartment and died from the fall. Police said that Eiler has been known to enter his apartment by using the stairwell of an adjacent building and then going onto his roof and to his apartment window. Police said there was nothing suspicious about the death and that it is being considered accidental.

John Pott Memorial restored

After spending some time in a parking lot, the John Pott memorial stone has been put back in its place near Arch and Center streets. According to the Pottsville Republican and Herald, the monument was taken down as part of the sewer project, but was slated to be repaired as a small bicentennial project before the sewer authority discovered it was in the way, according to Mayor John D.W. Reiley. As DOLI Construction Corp. wrapped up construction efforts in that area, workers re-erected the monument. Although the monument is back where it belongs, more improvements will become visible in the coming weeks. A small foot path leading to the monument is already visible, and landscaping is under way. City officials are also exploring the option of enhancing the area with lighting. However, officials haven't yet found a source of power to light the area. PPL Electric Utilities Corp. wouldn't grant the city permission to tap into the main power source, Reiley said, but accenting the monument isn't something officials have given up on.

Blue Mtn. energy initiative helps district save thousands

The Blue Mountain School District is working to promote environmental protection. Jeffrey E. Ritschel, district supervisor of buildings and grounds, and his assistant, Richard Wanamaker, gave a short presentation Thursday outlining benefits of Blue Mountain's Energy Management Program. According to the Pottsville Republican and Herald, from May 2005 through April 2006, the district estimates a cost-avoidance of more than $250,000 and actual monetary savings of more than $19,000. Blue Mountain School District was the first in Northeastern Pennsylvania to be considered for this program by Energy Education Incorporated — a consulting group that operates out of Wichita Falls, Texas. Ritschel attributed the savings to increased awareness by the school district about energy waste and improved conscientiousness of Blue Mountain faculty and staff. In only one year, Ritschel and Wanamaker pointed out that the amount of energy saved by the school district is equivalent to more than 3 million pounds of prevented carbon dioxide emissions, 295 cars being removed from the highway, or 612 acres of trees being planted.

State News From The AP

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The demand for the latest meningitis vaccine is rising among college students, and colleges and universities are learning that the vaccine is harder to find. The vaccine, called Menactra, prevents a form of bacterial meningitis and is recommended for students living in dorms. Its manufacturer, Sanofi Pasteur, is struggling to keep up with the need, some students and colleges have found the vaccine harder to find. In 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that more than eight (m) million U-S children get vaccinated. Several states have enacted laws in recent years requiring the vaccine for college students. In Pennsylvania, college students living in dorms must either be vaccinated or sign a waiver saying that they chose not to get it and understand the risks.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann picked up an endorsement today from the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association. The endorsement, announced outside the union's headquarters in Harrisburg, comes amid continuing tensions between the union and Democratic Governor Ed Rendell over his plan to have civilians take over certain jobs that troopers now perform. Bruce Edwards, president of the troopers' union, said the endorsement is not payback for its problems with Rendell. He said the union's board unanimously approved the endorsement because union leaders feel Swann will be more sensitive to its concerns. A Rendell campaign spokesman said the number of state troopers currently authorized represent the largest complement in the state's history. Dan Fee said 401 additional troopers have been authorized since Rendell took office in 2003, pushing the total to maximum of 43-hundred-and-ten allowed by law.

CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago's State Street may still be a great street, as the song says. But news that Carson Pirie Scott is leaving after more than a century is just the latest reminder that State Street is changing. Owner Bon-Ton Stores in York, Pennsylvania, yesterday announced that Carson Pirie will close its State Street store by March due to lagging sales and rising operating costs. The Carson Pirie building was designed by famed architect Louis H. Sullivan in the late 19th century and is designated a National Historic Landmark. The building is owned by Joseph Freed and Associates. That company says it plans to convert 250-thousand square feet in the building into new retail space on the lower level, first and second floors. The third through seventh floors will offer 350-thousand square feet of new office, school and entertainment space.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - The Penn Traffic Company is recalling all sizes of Food Club spring water from P and C and Big M stores in four states because of high levels of bromate. Bob Chapman, president and C-E-O of the company, says there's no health risk in drinking the water, but that it doesn't meet F-D-A regulations. Chapman says the Food Club water was sold at 61 P and C stores in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania and 45 Big M supermarkets. Chapman said Penn Traffic decided to recall the water after tests showed bromate levels in some of the water higher than federal limits. Bromate is a chemical created during the disinfection process. The company says the affected water was produced between June 27th and August fourth. The remaining stock of Food Club water was pulled from store shelves. The company could not say how much water was affected.

National News From The AP

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - The National Hurricane Center is keeping its eye on Tropical Storm Ernesto. It formed yesterday over the Caribbean and is moving toward Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Ernesto could develop into the first hurricane of the 2006 Atlantic season by early next week.

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - D-N-A evidence has emerged as an early battleground in the case against John Karr. His public defender says any samples taken could not have been legally obtained. D-N-A is considered a potential key to solving the 1996 slaying of six-year-old JonBenet Ramsey.

HOUSTON (AP) - One college student has a lot of explaining to do after a stick of dynamite was found in his checked luggage. Transportation Security Administration officials say that was just one of seven incidents yesterday that caused U-S flights to be diverted, evacuated, searched or delayed.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A new review finds families of Army soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan are being given accurate information on how their loved ones died. The review ordered by the Army secretary shows that out of the roughly two-thousand deaths, the error rate is under one percent.

NEW YORK (AP) - At least five people are recovering from gunshot wounds after a motorist went on a shooting rampage in New York City. Police say it happened last night in Queens. The shooter apparently targeted victims at random. At least one person is in critical condition. Police are questioning a "person of interest."

KHONDAB, Iran (AP) - An Iranian heavy-water production plant is now officially in operation -- even amid U-N demands that Iran stop that activity. Iran's president today officially inaugurated the plant. It's the first time an Iranian president has officially visited the site. The announcement comes just days before a U-N deadline for Iran to stop uranium enrichment.

DOVER, Del. (AP) - Most of the two-dozen people who've been treated for headaches and nausea in the aftermath of a leak at a chemical plant in Delaware have been released from a hospital. And a state official says he's been told that the leak from a rail car has stopped. Nearby residents were told to stay indoors, and some traffic was diverted away from the area.

KISUMU, Kenya (AP) - It's the country where his father grew up herding goats. Today, Senator Barack Obama is being greeted by thousands of well-wishers lining the roads in Kenya, as he visits his late father's rural village. He's also planning on drawing attention to the AIDS epidemic in Africa by being publicly tested for AIDS.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - What was he thinking? A Connecticut man is wondering that about his 21-year-old son, who he says made a "stupid" mistake by bringing a stick of dynamite onto a flight from South America. Dogs sniffed-out the explosive during a stop in Houston, and the college student now faces federal charges.

UNDATED (AP) - The discovery of dynamite in luggage was just one of a half-dozen security scares on planes across the U-S yesterday. A flight from England to Chicago instead landed in Maine, where passengers say a man was then handcuffed and placed in a police car. And a man who disrupted a U-S Airways flight before being subdued by an air marshal will undergo a mental evaluation.

CHICAGO (AP) - What could a little boy have said that caused a United Airlines flight to be delayed? Whatever it was, a government official says it's clear that the boy "didn't want to fly." It's one of seven security-related incidents on flights to, from or within the U-S yesterday. Authorities don't think any of them involved terrorism.

NEW YORK (AP) - Northwest Airlines planes are still flying, after a judge in New York blocked flight attendants from carrying out a planned series of strikes. The judge says he needs time to examine the case. Northwest is operating under bankruptcy protection, and says labor action could kill it.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A free flight to Las Vegas with exotic dancers -- it's among the goodies a State Department worker allegedly took from a jewelry company executive. Prosecutors say he was bribed to help speed the firm's visa process.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A lawsuit against Arnold Schwarzenegger has been settled. The libel lawsuit was filed by a former British T-V personality who claimed she had been groped by Schwarzenegger during an interview six years ago, and that she was later defamed by his aides during his campaign for governor.

WPPA / T-102 RADIO NEWS / Thursday

08/24/06 OVERSIZE LOADS ARE ON THE MOVE TODAY ON AREA ROADS.


SCH. PRODUCTS OF CRESSONA WILL BE MOVING OVERSIZE LOADS TODAY.2 LOADS WILL BE LEAVING AT 7 AND 2 LOADS WILL BE LEAVING AT 9AM. MOTORIST CAN EXPECT DELAYS AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF ROUTE 901 AND ROUTE 183 AND AGAIN AT ROUTE 183 AND ROUTE 61. THE LOADS WILL BE TRAVELLING SOUTH ON ROUTE 61 TO 78 WEST AND TO 81 NORTH TO 80 WEST.


08/24/06 TAMAQUA MAN FACES CHARGES AFTER A WEDNESDAY MORNING INCIDENT IN THE BOROUGH

A 28 YEAR OLD TAMAQUA MAN FACES CHARGES FOLLOWING AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING . ACCORDING TO POLICE PAUL DERR 31 OF EAT UNION STREET REPORTED THAT HIS MOTHER CALLED HIM AROUND 1 AM AND SAID THAT MATTHEW DERR 28 IF HUNTER STREET WAS COMING TO HIS HOME. AROUND 6:30 AM POLICE SAY PAUL DERR DISCOVERED THAT A VEHICLE OWNED BY HIS MOTHER HAD TWO PUNCTURED TIRES AND THAT HIS VEHICLE HAD A PUCTURED TIRE AND VULGARITY WRITTEN ON THE WINDOW. MATTHEW DERR WILL FACE CHARGES OF CRIMINAL MISCHIEF TO VEHICLES BEFORE DISTRICT JUDGE STEPHEN BAYER.

08/24/06 COUNTY REVISES PUBLIC RECORDS POLICY

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WILLIAM REPPY ANNOUNCED SEVERAL REVISED POLICIES AT THE COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION WEDNESDAY , ONE OF WHICH AFFECTS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. REPPY SUBMITTED AN UPDATED OPEN RECORDS POLICY THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE A PROVISION REQUIRING INFORMATION REQUEST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING. WHEN QUESTIONED EARLIER THIS MONTH ABOUT THE POLICY CHANGES ,REPPY SAID HE WOULD FAVOR A PROCEDURE THAT MANDATES WRITTEN RECORD REQUESTS. HOWEVER THE PEOPLE AND LOCATIONS TO WHICH THOSE REQUESTS WOULD BE SUBMITTED HAVE CHANGED. COMMISSIONER MANTURS GALLAGHER SAID SHE WILL REVIEW THE POLICY BEFORE VOTING TO APPROVE IT AT AN AUGUST 30TH BOARD MEETING. THE COMMISSIONERS ALSO DISCUSSED THREE OTHER POLICIES THAT WILL BE VOTED ON INCLUDING A POLICY REGARDING AN OCCUPATION ILLNESS OR INJURY PROBATIONARY PERIOD,A POLICY ON GIVING REFERENCES FOR CURRENT OR FORMER EMPLOYEES AND A POLICY REGARDING RETIREMENT HEALTH BENEFITS.THE GUDELINES ON PROVIDING REFERENCES FOR CURRENT OR FORMER EMPLOYEES ACCORDING TO REPPY ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE COUNTY FROM LAWSUITS. AS PART OF THE GUIDELINES ALL INQUIRIES INTO AN EMPLOYEES WORK HISTORY MUST GO THROUGH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AND CERTAIN INFORMATION WILL BE DEVULGED, INCLUDING WORK HISTORY AND POSITION HELD.


08/24/06 LACK OF LIFEGUARDS CLOSES CITY POOL EARLIER THAN EXPECTED

THE SUMMER SWIM SEASON AT THE JFK POOL COMPLEX ENDED ON A HIGH NOTE TUESDAY NIGHT AS 707 TEENS ATTENDED A SPLASH PARTY , HOWEVER THERE WAS CONFUSION AMONG CITY OFFICALS AND RESIDENTS WHEN THE POOL DIDN’T REOPEN WEDNESDAY. ACCORDING TO THE POTTSVILLE REPUBLICAN CITY ADMINISTRATOR THOMAS PALAMAR AND MAYOR JOHN D W REILEY WERE BOTH UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE POOL WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULE TO REMAIN OPEN UNTILL SUNDAY. THE REASON FOR THE PREMATURE CLOSING ACCORDING TO POOL MANAGER MISSY WHITAKER THERE WAS NO OTHER CHOICE THAN TO CLOSE THE POOL DUE TO THE LACK OF LIFEGUARDS.ONLY TWO LIGEGUARDS WERE AVAILABLE TO WORK FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK AND STATE LAW REQUIRES A MINIMUM OF FOUR LIFEGUARDS FOR A POOL THAT SIZE. CITY OFFICALS SAID PUBLIC SAFETY SHOULD COME FIRST BUT THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION CAUSED SOME CONFUSION.THIS YEARS CLOSING HAS ALREADY PROMPTED CITY OFFICALS AND POOL MANAGEMENT TO START THINKING OF SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM FROM HAPPENING NEXT YEAR. WHITAKER SAID ALTHOUGH THE POOL CLOSED A FEW DAYS EARLIER THE SEASON WAS A SUCCESS AND THE POOL DIDN’T HAVE TO CLOSE FOR A FULL DAY ALL SEASON.

WPPA / T-102 RADIO NEWS / Wednesday

08/23/06 LOCAL HOSE COMPANIES RECIEVES GRANT


CONGRESSMAN TIM HOLDEN ON TUESDAY PRESENTED TWO GRANTS TO TWO LOCAL FIRE COMPANIES.A GRANT FOR $53,200 WAS AWARDED TO THE GOOD INTENT HOSE CO.#1 IN LLEWEYLN FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITYS ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTER GRANT PROGRAM AND A $38,000 GRANT TO THE NEW MINERSVILLE HOSE CO. IN MINERSVILLE. THE FEDERAL GRANT WAS AWARDED UNDER THE ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY THE US FIRE ADMINISTRATION, A DIVISION OF THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE DIRECTORATE OF THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO AWARD ONE YEAR GRANTS DIRECTLY TO FIRE DEPARTMENTS TO ENHANCE THEIR ABILITIES WITH RESPECT TO FIRE AND FIRE RELATED HAZARDS.


08/23/06 TWO VEHICLE CRASH ON ROUTE 209 MONDAY AFTERNOON RESULTS IN INJURY.

STATE POLICE AT SCH. HAVEN REPORT THAT ON MONDAY AFTERNNOON TWO VEHICLES, ONE DRIVEN BY 21 YEAR OLD STEVEN MOORE OF TOWER CITY AND THE OTHER DRIVEN BY ROBIN GONZALES 54 ALSO OF TOWER CITY WERE EXITING NORTHBOUND INTERSTATE 81 INTENDING TO TRAVEL SOUTH ON ROUTE 209. BOTH VEHICLES WERE STOPPED FOR A STOP SIGN AT ROUTE 209. MOORES VEHICLE WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND GONZALES. GONZALES TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKES , BUT DID NOT PULL OUT DUE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC.ACCORDING TO REPORTS MOORE ASSUMED GONZALES WAS PULLING OUT IMMEDIATELY AND ACCELERATED DRIVING INTO THE REAR OF GONZALES VEHICLE. ALL INVOLVED WERE WEARING THEIR SEATBELTS.A PASSENGER IN GONZALES VEHICLE,58 YEAR OLD JORGE GONZALES WAS TRANSPORTED TO POTTSVILLE HOSPITAL FOT UNKNOWN INJURIES.


08/23/06 SHENADOAH MAN ARRESTED FOLLOWING FIGHT

A SHENADOAH MAN WAS CHARGED WITH DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND PUBLIC DRUNKENESS WHILE POLICE QUESTIONED HIM ABOUT HIS INVOLEMENT IN A FIGHT OUTSIDE A TURKEY HILL MINIT MARKET ON MAIN STREET EARLY MONDAY ACCORDING TO REPORTS POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE TURKEY HILL PARKING LOT FOR A REPORT OF TWO MEN FIGHTING. UPON ARRIVAL THE POLICE FOUND ONLY ONE OF THE TWO ,22 YEAR OLD JEFFREY D. CAPIGA OF FERGUSON STREET IN SHENADOAH AND THE CLERK AT THE TURKEY HILL STATED THAT CAPIGA STARTED THE FIGHT. POLICE TOLD CAPIGA TO GO HOME BUT BECAME DISORDERLY AND REFUSED TO LEAVE AND HAD TO BE HAMDCUFFED AND TAKEN INTO POLICE CUSTODY.


08/23/06 TEEN INJURED WHILE SKATEBOARDING

A FIFTEEN YEAR OLD SHENADOAH HEIGHTS BOY WAS FLOWN TO LEHIGH VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER TUESDAY AFTERNOON AFTER HE SLIPPED ON HIS SKATEBOARD AND PUT HIS ARM THROUGH A WINDOW. ACCORDING TO WEST MAHANOY TOWNSHIP POLICE ,RAYMOND KOSTOWSKIE WAS RIDING HIS SKATEBOARD ON A SCH. AVENUE SIDEWALK, SLIPPED AND ACCIDENTLY PUT HIS RIGHT ARM THROUGH THE WINDOW OF A FORMER GARAGE AT 90-96 SCH. AVENUE.


08/23/08 SCH.TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM WORKERS APPROVED A THREE YEAR CONTACT MONDAY NIGHT,23 DAYS AFTER A PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT WAS REACHED. ACCORDING TO THE POTTSVILLE REPUBLICAN A TOP OFFICAIAL WITH THE REDCO GROUP,THE POTTSVILLE BASED MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT’S OVERSEEING THE COUNTYS TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND UNION OFFICALS DECLINED TO DISCLOSE CONTRACT DETAILS.ACCORDING TO TERI HENNING GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION, WITH A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PUBLIC MONEY GOING TOWARD THE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES THE RECORDS SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO PUBLIC SCRUTINY. HENNING SAID THE ENTITY EXIST IN LARGE PART BASED ON PUBLIC FUNDING. AS PART OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RIGHT TO KNOW ACT CERTAIN RECORDS OF THE STATE AND ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, AS WELL AS OTHER AGENCIES PERFORMING ESSENTIAL GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTIONS, ARE REQUIRED TO BE OPEN FOR EXAMINATION BY CITIZENS OF THE STATE.VIRGINA SCHENK THE RECO GROUPS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER SAID A NEWS RELEASE WOULD BE ISSUED AND DECLINED TO COMMENT.AS FOR THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT SCHENK SAID IT’S A PRIVATE AGREEMENT. ERIC COOKSON CHAPTER PRESIDENT OF THE 1201 LOCAL SERVICES EMPLOYMENT INTERNATIONAL SAID IT WAS A HARD FIGHT BUT WE GOT WHAT WE WANTED ,EACH SIDE DIDN’T WANT TO GIVE IN AND WE REACHED A HAPPY MEDIUM.


COUNTY RESTAURANT KICKS THE HABIT

ANOTHER BIG CITY TREND MAKES ITS WAY TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. AMATO’S ITALIAN GRILL, ROUTE 61 NEAR SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, HAS GONE SMOKE FREE. OWNER DANNY AMATO SAYS THEY POLLED REGULAR CUSTOMERS BEFORE MAKING THE DECISION AND THE RESPONSE WAS GOOD……

TEENS KICIN’ NICOTINE WILL BE ON HAND TODAY (WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23) AT 10AM TO HELP CELEBRATE THE RESTAURANTS NEW SMOKE FREE STATUS.

WPPA / T-102 RADIO NEWS / Tuesday

4 IDENTIFIED IN WEEKEND CRASH

STATE POLICE FRACKVILLE HAVE IDENTIFED THE FOUR PEOPLE INVOLVED IN A DELANO CRASH SUNDAY. OFFICERS SAY 20 YEAR OLD LORI KAUFFMAN, POTTSVILLE, WAS TRAVELLING SOUTH ON LOFTY ROAD, JUST NORTH OF DELANO, WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF HER 1995 JEEP CHEROKEE. SHE ROLLED THE VEHICLE ONTO ITS SIDE, COMING TO REST IN THE MIDDLE OF BOTH LANES OF TRAFFIC. KAUFFMAN WAS EJECTED FROM THE SUV. KAUFFMAN AND PASSENGER 20 YEAR OLD CRISTINA PETROZINO, PORT CARBON WERE FLOWN TO THE LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL CENTER. 26 YEAR OLD FRANCIS VILCHECK, POTTSVILLE AND 22 YEAR OLD MARK SHELLHAMMER, MIDDLEPORT, SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. POLICE SAY AN INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING. CHARGES ARE PENDING AGAINST KAUFFMAN.

MAN CHARED WITH DEFRAUDING LOCAL MARKET

A POTTSVILLE MAN WAS CHARGED OVER THE WEEKEND AFTER STATE POLICE IN SCHUYLKILL HAVEN ACCUSE HIM OF CASHING TWO COUNTERFEIT CHECKS TOTALING OVER $1,000 AT THE RED & WHITE MARKET, SCHUYLKILL HAVEN. 47 YEAR OLD ALVIN WASHINGTON, WHO IS BEING HELD IN THE SCHUYLKILL COUNT PRISON ON UNRELATED CHARGES, IS CHARGED WITH FORGERY, THEFT AND OTHER CHARGES. TROOOPER SAY THE INCIDENT OCCURRED IN MAY OF THIS YEAR.

AREA TEENS KICKIN’ NICOTINE

TEENAGERS FROM TEENS KICKIN NICOTINE WILL BE JOINING AMATO’S ITALIAN GRILL TO CELEBRATE THE RESTAURANT BECOMING A SMOKE FREE ESTABLESHMENT. THE EVENT WILL BE HELD THIS WEDNESDAY, 10 AM, AT AMATO’S ROUTE 61, SCHUYLKILL HAVEN. RESTAURANT AND BAR WORKERS ARE TYPICALLY EXPOSED TO TWIDCE AS MUCH SECOND HAND SMOKE AS MOST OFFICER WORKERS AND ACCORDING TO THE TEENS, THEY ARE 50% MORE LIKELY TO DIE OF LUNG CANCER.

MINERSVILLE TO CELBRATE!

THE BORO OF MINERSVILLE WILL COMMEMORATE ITS 175TH ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEKEND! THE CELEBRATORY PARADE WILL BEGIN THIS SATURDAY AT 1PM AND IS EXPECTED TO BE MORE THAN AN HOUR LONG. THE DAY FEATURES LOCAL BANDS, ANTIQUE FIRE APPARATUS, VENDORS AND MORE. PARADE COORDIANTOR BOB LLEWLLYN SAYS THE DAY FEATURES MANY INTERSTING PEOPLE. WPPA AND T-102 SPORTS AFFILATE PHIL SHOENER WILL BE AN HONORARY MASTER OF CEREMONIES

SCHUYLKILL PRODUCTS ON THE MOVE

SCHUYLKILL PRODUCTS WILL MOVE OVER SIZED LOADS. A COMPANY SPOKESPERSON SAYS TWO LOADS WILL LEAVE TODAY AT 7AM, TWO AT 9AM AND TWO AT 11AM; WEDNESDAY TWO LEAVING AT 7AM AND 9 AM AND TWO LEAVING THURSDAY AT 7AM. MOTORISTS WILL EXPERIENCE DELAYS AT THE INTERSECTION OF ROUTES 901 AND 183 AND ROUTES 183 AND 61 IN THE CRESSONA AREA.

PENNDOT LINE PAINTING

PENNDOT REMINDS MOTORISTS TO USE CAUTION WHILE TRAVELING ROUTE 61 IN THE ORWIGSBURG AREA THIS WEEK. CREWS WILL BE PAINTING NEW LANE MARKINGS IN THE AREA OF RED CHURCH. TRAFIC WILL BE REDUCED TO A SINGLE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION NEAR BRICK HILL ROAD, LIBERTY STREET AND GREENVIEW STREET. OFFICIALS SAY THE WORK MAY TAKE UNTIL AUGUST 25 TO COMPLETE.

ARGALL SPONSORS IDENTITY THEFT SEMINAR

IDENTITY THEFT IS A SERIOUS CRIME AND NOW COUNTY RESIDENTS CAN LEARN HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST IT. REP DAVID ARGALL WILL HOST AN IDENTITY THEFT SEMINAR WEDNESDAY, SEPT 6 AT 6:30PM IN THE CAFETERIA OF SCHUYLKILL VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, LEESPORT. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES VALUABLE INFORMATION TO PROTECT LOCAL FAMILIES AND SENIORS FROM FALLING VICTIM TO THIS CRIME. CONTACT ONE OF AR
GALL’S DISTRICT OFFICES, IN TAMAQUA 668-1240 OR ORWIGSBURG 366-2735 TO REGISTER.


HELMETS TO HARD HATS INITIATIVE PREPARES FORMER MILITARY MEMBERS FOR CONSTRUCTION JOBS

IN AN EFFORT TO SUPPORT PENNSYLVANIA’S SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN RETURNING HOME, GOV. ED RENDELL RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A $200,000 GRANT TO THE HELMETS TO HARDHATS INITIATIVE, WHICH PROVIDES TRAINING FOR JOBS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. IN LESS THAN A YEAR, MORE THAN 4,500 MILITARY CANDIDATES HAVE REGISTERED FOR THIS PROGRAM. MORE INFORMATION ON THE INITIATIVE IS AVAILABLE ON LINE AT HELMETS TO HARDHATS –DOT- ORG.

WPPA / T-102 RADIO NEWS / Monday

ONE DEAD IN WEEKEND CRASH…

35 YEAR OLD DENNIS MANJONE, NUREMBURG WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD FOLLOWNG A CRASH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING ALONG ROUTE 924 NEAR RINGTOWN. STATE POLICE SAID MANJONE WAS TRAVELING SOUTH WHILE TRYING TO PASS A VEHICLE DRIVEN BY 59 YEAR OLD THOMAS GIBBONS, RINGTOWN, IN A NO PASSING ZONE. HE STRUCK THE DRIVER SIDE OF GIBBONS FORD TRUCK FORCING IT OFF THE ROADWAY INTO A POND. GIBBONS WAS ABLE TO CRAWL OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND GET HELP FROM NEIGHBORS. MANJONE SKIDDED OUT OF CONTROL CROSSING THE SOUTHBOUND LANE, ROLLING SERVAL TIMES BEFORE COMING TO REST ON THE DRIVER SIDE. MANJONE, WHO WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE, WAS LIFE FLIGHTED TO THE GEISNER MEDICAL CENTER IN DANVILLE, WHERE HE WAS LATER PRONOUNCED DEAD DUE TO BLUNT FORCE HEAD INJURIES RECEIVED IN THE CRASH.

WEEKEND CRASHES CLAIM THREE LIVES THRU OUT COUNTY…

58 YEAR OLD MICHEAL METTLEY, TOWER CITY WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD HOURS AFTER AN ATV ACCIDENT IN PORTER TOWNSHIP. STATE POLICE SAID THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED LATE FRIDAY NITE AS METTLEY WAS RIDING ALONG KALMIA ROAD; HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE, TRAVELING OFF THE ROAD AND STRIKING A LARGE PILE OF ROCKS.

IN A SECOND ACCIDENT, EARLY SATURDAY MORNING, IN HEIGNS TOWNSHIP, 22 YEAR OLD SHANNON SULLIVAN, PINE GROVE LOST HER LIFE. SULLIVAN WAS A PASSENGER IN A VEHILCE DRIVEN BY NEIL HATTFIELD, 22, TREMONT. HATFIELD FAILED TO STOP AT THE INTERSECION OF GAP STREET AND SCHWENKS ROAD. THE VEHICLE CROSSED GAP STREET, STRUCK A ROCK EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED ONTO ITS ROOF. SULLIVAN WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE AN AUTOPSY HAS BEEN ORDERED. HATFIELD WAS TAKEN TO THE HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER FOR TREATMENT.

35 YEAR OLD DENNIS MANJONE OF NUREMBURG WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD FOLOWING A CRASH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING ALONG ROUTE 924 NER RINGTOWN. MANJONE WAS ATTEMTPING TO PASS A VEHILCE DRIVEN BY 59 YEAR OLD THOMAS GIBBONS, RINGTOWN, IN A NO PASSING ZONE. HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE, ROLLING IT SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS EJECTED. MANJONE DIED OF HEAD INJURIES RECEIVED IN THAT CRASH.



OVER-SIZED LOADS TO CAUSE DELAYS:

SCHUYLKILL PRODUCTS WILL BE MOVING OVER-SIZED LOADS THIS WEEK. MOTORISTS CAN EXPECT DELAYS AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF ROUTE 901 AND 183 AND ROUTES 183 AND 61 IN THE CRESSONA AREA. LOADS WILL BE TRAVELING SOUTH ON ROUTE 61 TO 78 WEST TO BRADFORD COUNTY. PLAN YOUR TRAVEL ACCORDINGLY…

THOSE LOADS MOVE
TODAY TWO LEAVING AT 7AM AND TWO AT 9AM
TUESDAY TWO LEAVING AT 7AM; TWO AT 9AM AND TWO AT 11AM
WEDNESDAY TWO LEAVING AT 7AM AND TWO AT 9AM
WEDNESDAY TWO LEAVING AT 7AM AND TWO AT 9AM
THURSDAY TWO LEAVING AT 7AM


MORE TRAFFIC DELAYS…

COUNTY DRIVERS CAN EXPECT ROAD DELAYS THRU OUT THE DAY TODAY!! PENNDOT REPORTS LINE PAINTING WILL BE DONE TODAY ALONG ROUTE 61 BETWEEN ROUTE 443 AND THE RED CHURCH, NEAR ORWIGSBURG. DRIVERS WILL FIND SINGLE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION AS CREWS REMOVE AND REPLACE ROAD MARKINGS. THE NEW MARKINGS WILL SHOW DESIGNATED LEFT TURN LANES AT BRICK HILL ROAD, LIBERTY STREET AND GREEN VIEW DRIVE. DELAYS ARE EXPECT ALL DAY.

DUI STATISTICS:

THE NORTH CENTRAL HIGHWAY SAFETY NETWORK HAS RELEASED STATISTICS FROM A DUI SOBRIETY CHECKPONT HELD AUGUST 18 IN SCHUYLKILL HAVEN. THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 1,637 VEHICLES CONTACTED, 4 WERE DETAINED AND 1 OPERATOR WAS TESTED FOR DUI. THERE WAS ONE ADULT DUI ARREST. THERE WERE 34 OTHER TRAFFIC ARRESTS, 4 SEATBELT CITATIONS AND 14 WARNINGS ISSUED. SIX DEPARTMENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE CHECKPOINT. ROVING DUI PATROLS WILL BE HELD NOW THRU AUG 27 ALONG ROUTES 61, 183, 901, 209, 309, 443, 895, 125 AND 54. THE NETWORK REMINDS YOU IF YOU SUSPECT A DRUNK DRIVER DIAL 9-1-1. TO REPORT UNDERAGE DRINKING CALL 1-888-UNDER21.

WPPA/T102 NEWS Saturday 8/19/06

Schuylkill County Traffic Alerts For Next Week

Schuylkill Products Inc. has announced it will move oversized loads Monday through Thursday. Spokeswoman April Quandel said two loads will leave at 7 and 9 a.m. Monday; two will leave at 7, 9 and 11 a.m. Tuesday; two will leave at 7 and 9 a.m. Wednesday and two will leave at 7 a.m. Thursday. Motorists can expect delays at Routes 901 and 183 and again at routes 183 and 61.

PennDot is asking motorists to use caution on Monday August 21st while traveling on Route 61 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Crews will be painting new lane markings in the areas of Brick Hill Road, Liberty Street, and Greenview Street. Traffic will be reduced to a single lane in each direction as the work is being completed and it may take up until August 25th to complete the painting.

Contract still not official Union hasn't voted on STS agreement

Bus drivers and mechanics at the Schuylkill Transportation System have been working under a tentative contract for 19 days, but a union official says a vote to ratify the contract isn’t expected until “next week.” James Whitehead, secretary/treasurer for the Service Employment International Union Local 1201, said the 42 members were being notified Thursday about a ratification meeting. According to the Pottsville Republican and Herald, Union officials, based in Philadelphia, had previously said a vote would be held the week after the union and The ReDCo Group, Pottsville — the management firm overseeing the county’s public transportation operations — reached a compromise July 31. Labor and management were negotiating under a 30-day contract extension after their previous three-year contract expired June 30. The union and the ReDCo Group reached a deal July 31, but members need to vote on whether to accept or reject the new three-year contract.

The Tamaqua Train Station is losing a tenant

Gertrude Hawk Chocolates, which has more than 70 stores in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, will not renew its lease at the Tamaqua train station. According to the Pottsville Republican and Herald, Lisa Philips, public relations manager for Gertrude Hawk Chocolates, said the size of the borough is "not working out for us." In a press release, Philips said that with the emergence of large discount stores, "Gertrude Hawk Chocolates regretfully can no longer complete profitably in many smaller town environments." The store plans to close sometime after Labor Day, Philips said. The Gertrude Hawk train station outlet is open four days a week and is closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. After the station was renovated, all of its spaces filled with tenants, including a restaurant, gift shop and the Gertrude Hawk store, whose departure will leave an opening.

Retirees plan breakfast to honor former school workers.

The Schuylkill County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees met Friday morning to discuss an upcoming event to honor recent retirees. According to the Pottsville and Herald, a breakfast event titled "We Don't Have to Go Back to School Breakfast Buffet" is planned for Sept. 15 at the Pottsville Club, 201 S. 26th St., Pottsville. Retirees from the 2005-06 school year will be the honored guests for the event and treated to a free breakfast. All retirees are invited to attend for a $10 charge. The event is designed to allow retirees to share school experiences in a social setting. The local PASR chapter receives funding from local businesses that sponsor the chapter’s events. The event will begin with registration and introductions at 9 a.m. and breakfast will begin at 10 a.m. Attendees will have time to interact at 11 a.m. and new retirees will be recognized at that time, with the event ending at noon. Retirees invited to attend include teachers, aides, secretaries, custodians, cafeteria workers, administrators, business office personnel, vocational-technical personnel and teamsters. Those interested in attending the event must register by Sept. 8, and registration inquiries can be directed to chapter treasurer Anna Stinner, 622-3468. The state organization of PASR provides services and benefits to retirees and is the third-largest school retiree association in the nation. For more information about PASR, visit www.pasr.org

MOSQUITO SPRAYING SET FOR NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY

Treatments to control adult mosquitoes will take place Monday in Northumberland County, where sampling by local officials and the Department of Environmental Protection have shown mosquito populations that potentially can carry the West Nile virus. Weather conditions permitting, DEP and the county will use a truck-mounted ultra-low volume unit to mist residential and recreational areas in Coal Township and Kulpmont Borough in the evening hours. The unit will dispense fine aerosol droplets of Biomist 3+15 at a rate of 0.75 ounces per acre. The mist stays aloft and kills mosquitoes on contact. DEP personnel will conduct the spraying. Certain species of mosquitoes carry West Nile virus, which, when transmitted to people, can cause West Nile encephalitis, an infection that can result in an inflammation of the brain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all residents of areas where virus activity has been identified are at risk of getting West Nile encephalitis; people over 50 have the highest risk of severe disease. There have been four confirmed human case of the virus in Pennsylvania so far this year.

Argall Sponsors Identity Theft Seminar

Rep. David Argall (R-Schuylkill/Berks) is inviting local residents to join him for an identity theft seminar on Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at Schuylkill Valley Elementary School. The seminar, which Argall is hosting in cooperation with state Attorney General Tom Corbett's office, the Northern Berks Regional Police Department and the Hamburg Police Department, will cover topics such as avoiding identity theft, how identity theft happens, suggestions to help prevent identity theft and why senior citizens are targeted for identity theft. Identity theft occurs when someone else uses your personal information, such as your name, Social Security number, credit card information or other identifying information, without your permission. These thieves use this information to commit fraud and other crimes under disguise of your identity. Identity theft is a serious crime. Unlike other crimes, victims must first prove they are in fact a victim and then they are often faced with time consuming and costly measures to restore their good name and credit. Victims of identity theft may lose job opportunities or be refused loans, credit cards and mortgages. Schuylkill Valley Elementary School is located at 62 Ashley Way in Leesport. To make a reservation for the identity theft seminar, please contact one of Argall's district offices located at North Third Street, Hamburg, phone (610) 562-3411; 237 West Broad Street, Tamaqua; phone (570) 668-1240; 61; or 209 North Warren Street, Orwigsburg, phone (570) 366-2735.

Program on Chronic Wasting Offered

A fatal disease that affects deer will be the focus of the second session of a three-part series on the connections between the health of wildlife and humans. PPL will hold the program from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31 at the Susquehanna Energy Information Center of its Riverlands preserve. The topic for the discussion is chronic wasting disease. There is no treatment for this disease, which affects deer and is not presently a problem in Pennsylvania. The session will address the effects on deer populations and hunting if the disease were to become established here. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Susquehanna Riverlands preserve at 570-542-2306. The Susquehanna Riverlands, along Route 11 about seven miles north of Berwick, is operated by PPL in conjunction with its Susquehanna nuclear power plant in Salem Township. The preserve, encompassing 1,200 acres on both the east and west banks of the Susquehanna River, has been providing the residents of north central Pennsylvania with quality recreation, fishing and environmental education since 1980. PPL is hosting this program as part of PPL Project Earth, an initiative through which the company educates the public about energy resources and the environment. For more information, visit www.pplprojectearth.com or write to pplpreserves@pplweb.com.

Latest Pennsylvania News

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - State Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak says Pennsylvania students have made good progress in math and reading over the last four years. Zahorchak says the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment test results for 2005-2006 show that increasing state education spending under Governor Ed Rendell is paying off for struggling schools. The scores show mixed results from the previous year, with fifth-grade math and reading scores and eighth grade math scores declining, but other areas showing improvement. Zahorchak says any one-year declines aren't steep enough to cause him any concern. The math and reading tests are required for students in grades three through eight, and also in eleventh grade.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann's first television advertisement will air in western Pennsylvania on Monday, two weeks earlier than expected. Campaign spokesman Leonardo Alcivar won't say how much the ad cost. But he says the campaign was able to accelerate its advertising schedule because it has been "overperforming" for the past several months, based partly on recent fundraising -- including a campaign appearance by President Bush on Wednesday. The 30-second spot has been posted on Swann's campaign Web site. Governor Ed Rendell has held a double-digit lead over Swann in recent polls and also enjoys a substantial fundraising advantage. As of early June, Rendell had nearly 14 (m) million dollars on hand for the race's final months, while Swann had more than three (m) million dollars in the bank.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Ronald H. Brown Charter School in Harrisburg is notifying the families of its 400 students that it won't be opening Monday. The 30 teachers and 15 other staff members were informed Thursday of a Commonwealth Court ruling that leaves the six-year-old alternative school with no funding. The uncertainty began last school year when the Harrisburg School District declined to renew the Ronald H. Brown school's five-year charter. The board cited financial, academic and staffing inadequacies, and the state Charter School Appeals Board upheld the decision in May. Yesterday, Commonwealth Court Judge Dan Pellegrini denied a request by the school for a stay. Most of the students probably will return to their home school districts. That would mean the Harrisburg district would gain up to 240 children in kindergarten through eighth grade.

ERIE, Pa. (AP) - The surgeon and other doctors that have worked to save the racehorse Barbaro will now try to save an Erie Zoo polar bear with a broken leg. On Thursday, doctors who examined the seven-year-old bear,
Alcor, thought he would have to be euthanized, because they didn't believe surgery could fix two broken bones just above his right paw. But today, zoo officials said a team led by Barbaro surgeon Doctor Dean Richardson will try to fix the bear's leg at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, where Barbaro was treated. Barbaro, the Kentucky Derby winner, suffered life-threatening injuries when he broke three bones above and below his right rear ankle at the start of the Preakness in May. The horse continues to recover from that surgery and laminitis, which is affecting his left rear hoof.

READING, Pa. (AP) - Reading police Officer Scott Wertz will be profiled on Fox Television's "America's Most Wanted" program. Wertz was fatally shot August sixth by a suspect officers were pursuing. Fox says a segment on Wertz will run during the "In the Line of Duty" portion of the show scheduled to air at 9 o'clock tonight (Saturday). Wertz and another officer were chasing a suspect when that man turned and fired, hitting Wertz twice in the chest. The 40-year-old, nine-year city police veteran left a wife and two children. Twenty-four-year-old Cletus Rivera of Reading is being held in the Berks County Prison without bail on a charge of first-degree murder.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A scuffle broke out yesterday between campaign volunteers counting signatures to determine whether Green Party candidate Carl Romanelli can appear on the November ballot for U-S senator. About six people filled out police reports after the minor fight in a state Capitol office building was broken up and police summoned. Democrats have challenged the validity of some of the signatures on Romanelli's petition, fearing that the Green Party candidate could siphon votes away from Democrat Bob Casey as he tries to unseat incumbent Republican Senator Rick Santorum. The fight broke out early on the fifth day of counting, although witnesses disputed who started it and who broke it up. No charges are expected to be filed. Counting could last until Labor Day.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Former U.S. Treasury Secretary and Alcoa C-E-O Paul O'Neill will be in Pittsburgh this morning (Saturday) when he speaks at the graduate ceremony at Chatham College. O'Neill headed Alcoa for 22 years before joining Presdient Bush's cabinet as treasury secretary early in Bush's first term. The president then fired O'Neill when he overhauled his economic team in 2002. Chatham's commencement begins at ten o'clock.

HUNTINGDON, Pa. (AP) - Police in Huntingdon County say an escaped convict apprehended last week had the driver's license of a man whose body was found along a rural road this week. The remains of 43-year-old Carl W. Ryder of Amberson were found Wednesday, six days after escaped convict Scott North was captured by police. An autopsy confirmed Ryder's identity. North is from Fannettsburg. He was pulled over August 10th after leaving a Shirleysburg bar. Trooper Warren Rhyner, who had been on the lookout for the vehicle, said he smelled alcohol. North handed over Ryder's license, and the trooper noticed that North did not look like the man in the photo. North said he had undergone plastic surgery since the picture was taken. When Rhyner told North to get out of the car, North fled at speeds of about 100 miles per hour before police were able to stop him by deflating his tires. State police say the cause and manner of Ryder's death are under investigation. Franklin County Jail Warden John Wetzel says North was serving time for theft, burglary and nonpayment of support. He walked away during lunch from a work release job August second.

NATIONAL NEWS

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) - Hezbollah fighters battled an Israeli commando force deep inside Lebanon today. Hezbollah says its guerrillas foiled the raid. Israel says one of its military officers was killed and two others hurt, but says the force completed its mission.

JERUSALEM (AP) - Palestinian militants shot and killed an Israeli soldier today in the West Bank's Jordan Valley. The Israeli army says the militants fired on a force in the area, killing the soldier. In a separate West Bank incident, Israeli soldiers arrested the Palestinian deputy prime minister in a raid on his house.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - At least 13 people are dead in Iraq today in scattered violence. Four soldiers were killed and four more wounded by a roadside bomb south of Baghdad. Seven pilgrims heading to a Shiite religious rally were killed last night in a Sunni neighborhood in Baghdad.

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - The man suspected in the murder of six-year-old Colorado beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey will be brought back to the U-S from Thailand tomorrow. U-S officials are continuing to investigate John Karr's claims of involvement.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Military maneuvers are going on in about half of Iran's 30 provinces today. State television reports the maneuvers are aimed at introducing the country's new defensive doctrine. Iran is under international pressure for its nuclear program and support for Hezbollah in Lebanon.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A federal judge has rejected arguments that a Ten Commandments monument outside an Oklahoma courthouse promotes Christianity at the expense of other religions. The judge ruled the monument can stay in place.

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) - Firefighters battling wildfires in Wyoming are having some luck. Calm, cooler weather has allowed them to get a handle on the 18-square-mile wildfire that had been threatening hundreds of homes. Wildfires are also burning in Texas, Utah, Nevada and Oklahoma.

CHICAGO (AP) - Immigration officers don't plan to enter a Chicago church where a single mother is seeking sanctuary rather than be deported to Mexico. Thirty-one-year-old Elvira Arellano (ah-ray-YAH'-noh) has been living in the Methodist church since Tuesday. Officials say she'll be apprehended "at an appropriate time and place."

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) - Police in Indiana think they have a description of the person responsible for a wave of highway vehicle shootings. So far, police have not released descriptions of the suspect or a pickup he was driving. Three more cars were damaged yesterday but no one was hurt. A total of 13 attacks have been reported.

KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) - A Wisconsin man is recovering from minor injuries after being trapped waist-deep in chocolate yesterday. Darmin Garcia works for a chocolate company and got stuck in a vat. He says he felt like he weighed 900 pounds, and says he doesn't really have a taste for chocolate anymore.

TORONTO (AP) - Some of the world's leading AIDS experts are accusing the government of South Africa of ignoring the epidemic and promoting inadequate prevention methods. The comments came in Canada Friday at the close of the 16th annual International AIDS Conference. South Africa insists it has stepped up its care.

NEW YORK (AP) - Oil prices are once again on the rise. Light, sweet crude for September delivery settled at 71-dollars, 14 cents a barrel Friday, up one-dollar, eight cents from Thursday. Oil traders are watching weather patterns for potential hurricanes that could send prices up even further.

WPPA / T-102 RADIO NEWS / Friday

08/18/06 TWO VEHICLE CRASH IN PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP

ACCORDING TO STATE POLICE AT SCH. HAVEN A TWO VEHICLE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AROUND 11PM TUESDAY NIGHT ON CAMP ROAD IN PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP.35 YEAR OLD CHRISTOPHER MCGRATH OF PINE GROVE WAS TRAVELING WEST ON ROUTE 895 AND AS HE MADE A LEFT TURN ONTO CAMP ROAD AND PRECEDED TO TURN INTO THE PATH OF A VEHICLE DRIVEN BY 24 YEAR OLD BRENDA MARTIN ALSO OF PINE GROVE. THE IMPACT OCCURRED IN THE EASTBOUND LANE OF TRAVEL.AFTER IMPACT MCGRATHS VEHICLE TURNED IN A COUNTERCLOCKWISE MOTION AND CAME TO A FINAL REST OFF THE HIGHWAY ON THE EASTBOUND SIDE OF THE ROAD WHILE MARTINS VEHICLE CONTINUES FORWARD AFTER IMPACT COMING TO REST IN A WOODED AREA AFTER STRIKING SEVERAL TREES AND SHRUBS. MCGRATH AND A 1 YEAR OLD CHILD WERE TRANSPOTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES. PASSENGERS IN BOTH VEHICLES WERE WEARING THEIR SEATBELTS, AND BOTH VEHICLES SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE AND HAD TO BE TOWED FROM THE SCENE.


08/18/06 CONSRUCTION ITEMS STOLEN IN PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP

STATE POLICE AT SCH. HAVEN ARE INVESTIGATING A BURGLARY THAT OCCURRED ON ROUTE 443 IN PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP SOMETIME BETWEEN SATURDAY AUG 12TH AND MONDAY AUG. 14TH. ACCORDING TO REPORTS SOMEONE ENTER A HOME IN THE AREA OF TRUMBO ROAD AND REMOVED ITEMS OWNED BY SUPERIOR 3 CONSTRUCTION. AMONG THE ITEMS WERE A WET SAW VALUED , A MITER SAW , 4 LOCK AND DEAD BOLT SETS, AND 6STEPLADDERS .ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL STATE POLICE AT 593-2000.


08/18/06 WIND FARM IS IN THE WORKS FOR SCH. COUNTY

THE FIRST OF 13 78 METER TALL WINDMILLS WILL BE ERECTED AT LOCUST RIDGE WIND FARM IN MAHANOY TOWNSHIP IN EARLY SEPTEMBER.ACCORDING TO THE POTTSVILLE REPUBLICAN 12 OTHER WINDMILLS WILL BE PUT UP BY THANKSGIVING. JOSEPH GREEN SENIOR PROJECT DEVELOPER OF THE WIND FARM SAID THAT THESE WILL BE THE LARGEST AND SOME OF THE FIRST TO BE BUILT IN SCH. COUNTY.EARLIER IN THE MONTH, MINERSVILLE BOROUGH RECEIVED A 30FT. TALL WIND TURBINE, A 3.7 KILOWATT UNIT, THROUGH A STATE GRANT TO FEED POWER TO THE BOROUGH SWIMMING POOL.GREEN CAME UP WITH THE PLAN TO START THE WINDMILL FARM IN MAHANOY TOWNSHIP TWO YEARS AGO. GREEN ALSO SAID THE POWER GENERATED WILL BE SOLD TO A UTILITY.THE PROJECT IS BEING FUNDED BY WIND ENERGY MARKETER AND DEVELOPER COMMUNITY ENERGY INC. OF WAYNE PA. IN FEBRUARY THE SCH. COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISION APPROVED A VARIANCE TO ALLOW THE PROJECT TO OPERATE ON 1,038 ACRES ZONED CONSERVATION/RESIDENTIAL. ACCORDING TO GREEN THE WIND FARM WILL ACTUALY BE LOCATED ON 25 ACRES. A PERMANENT METERORLOGICAL TEST TOWER WILL ALSO BE ERECTED WITH THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LONG TERM METEOROLOGICAL TEST DATA TO DETERMINE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE LOCUST RIDGE WIND FARM TURBINES.


08/18/06 GOVERNOR TO ATTEND PIG ROAST

GOV. ED RENDELL HAS ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL BE ATTENDING U.S. REP. T. TIM HOLDENS ANNUAL PIG ROAST TODAY. THE EVENT TAKES PLACE FROM 4 TO 10PM, WITH RENDELL ARIVING AT 6:15 AT THE ST.CLAIR FISH AND GAME GROUNDS ON LAWTON STREET. FOR TICKETS CALL 622-0519.

WPPA / T-102 RADIO NEWS / Friday

08/18/06 TWO VEHICLE CRASH IN PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP

ACCORDING TO STATE POLICE AT SCH. HAVEN A TWO VEHICLE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AROUND 11PM TUESDAY NIGHT ON CAMP ROAD IN PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP.35 YEAR OLD CHRISTOPHER MCGRATH OF PINE GROVE WAS TRAVELING WEST ON ROUTE 895 AND AS HE MADE A LEFT TURN ONTO CAMP ROAD AND PRECEDED TO TURN INTO THE PATH OF A VEHICLE DRIVEN BY 24 YEAR OLD BRENDA MARTIN ALSO OF PINE GROVE. THE IMPACT OCCURRED IN THE EASTBOUND LANE OF TRAVEL.AFTER IMPACT MCGRATHS VEHICLE TURNED IN A COUNTERCLOCKWISE MOTION AND CAME TO A FINAL REST OFF THE HIGHWAY ON THE EASTBOUND SIDE OF THE ROAD WHILE MARTINS VEHICLE CONTINUES FORWARD AFTER IMPACT COMING TO REST IN A WOODED AREA AFTER STRIKING SEVERAL TREES AND SHRUBS. MCGRATH AND A 1 YEAR OLD CHILD WERE TRANSPOTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES. PASSENGERS IN BOTH VEHICLES WERE WEARING THEIR SEATBELTS, AND BOTH VEHICLES SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE AND HAD TO BE TOWED FROM THE SCENE.


08/18/06 CONSRUCTION ITEMS STOLEN IN PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP

STATE POLICE AT SCH. HAVEN ARE INVESTIGATING A BURGLARY THAT OCCURRED ON ROUTE 443 IN PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP SOMETIME BETWEEN SATURDAY AUG 12TH AND MONDAY AUG. 14TH. ACCORDING TO REPORTS SOMEONE ENTER A HOME IN THE AREA OF TRUMBO ROAD AND REMOVED ITEMS OWNED BY SUPERIOR 3 CONSTRUCTION. AMONG THE ITEMS WERE A WET SAW VALUED , A MITER SAW , 4 LOCK AND DEAD BOLT SETS, AND 6STEPLADDERS .ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL STATE POLICE AT 593-2000.


08/18/06 WIND FARM IS IN THE WORKS FOR SCH. COUNTY

THE FIRST OF 13 78 METER TALL WINDMILLS WILL BE ERECTED AT LOCUST RIDGE WIND FARM IN MAHANOY TOWNSHIP IN EARLY SEPTEMBER.ACCORDING TO THE POTTSVILLE REPUBLICAN 12 OTHER WINDMILLS WILL BE PUT UP BY THANKSGIVING. JOSEPH GREEN SENIOR PROJECT DEVELOPER OF THE WIND FARM SAID THAT THESE WILL BE THE LARGEST AND SOME OF THE FIRST TO BE BUILT IN SCH. COUNTY.EARLIER IN THE MONTH, MINERSVILLE BOROUGH RECEIVED A 30FT. TALL WIND TURBINE, A 3.7 KILOWATT UNIT, THROUGH A STATE GRANT TO FEED POWER TO THE BOROUGH SWIMMING POOL.GREEN CAME UP WITH THE PLAN TO START THE WINDMILL FARM IN MAHANOY TOWNSHIP TWO YEARS AGO. GREEN ALSO SAID THE POWER GENERATED WILL BE SOLD TO A UTILITY.THE PROJECT IS BEING FUNDED BY WIND ENERGY MARKETER AND DEVELOPER COMMUNITY ENERGY INC. OF WAYNE PA. IN FEBRUARY THE SCH. COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISION APPROVED A VARIANCE TO ALLOW THE PROJECT TO OPERATE ON 1,038 ACRES ZONED CONSERVATION/RESIDENTIAL. ACCORDING TO GREEN THE WIND FARM WILL ACTUALY BE LOCATED ON 25 ACRES. A PERMANENT METERORLOGICAL TEST TOWER WILL ALSO BE ERECTED WITH THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LONG TERM METEOROLOGICAL TEST DATA TO DETERMINE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE LOCUST RIDGE WIND FARM TURBINES.


08/18/06 GOVERNOR TO ATTEND PIG ROAST

GOV. ED RENDELL HAS ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL BE ATTENDING U.S. REP. T. TIM HOLDENS ANNUAL PIG ROAST TODAY. THE EVENT TAKES PLACE FROM 4 TO 10PM, WITH RENDELL ARIVING AT 6:15 AT THE ST.CLAIR FISH AND GAME GROUNDS ON LAWTON STREET. FOR TICKETS CALL 622-0519.

WPPA / T-102 RADIO NEWS / Thursday

08/17/06 JUVENILE ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES

OFFICERS OF THE POTTSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND POTTSVILLE HOUSING AUTHORITY WERE CALLED TUESDAY NIGHT TO THE AREA OF 800 NORTH 2ND STREET ,PROPERTY WHICH IS OWNED BY THE POTTSVILLE HOUSING AUTHORITYFOR A DISTURBANCE INVOLVING A JUVENILE.UPON RESPONING TO THE AREA POLICE OBSERVED A JUVENILE ARGUING IN THE 700 BLOCK OF NORTH 2ND STREET. AS POLICE APPROACHED THE JUVENILE HE REACHED INTO HIS POCKET AND THREW A RED TUBULAR OBJECT AND A WHITE IN COLOR TUBULAR OBJECT AGAINST A FENCE. AFTER FURTHER INVESTAGATION THE ITEMS LOCATED ON THE GROUND WERE AN M AND M CONTAINER CONTAINING 1.1 GRAMS OF COCAINE AND AN ADVIL CONTAINER CONTAING ANOTHER 1.1 GRAMS OF COCAINE . UPON SEARCHING THE JUVENILE POLICE FOUND A BAGGIE CONTAING. 4 GRAMS OF COCAINE WHICH TOTALED TO 2.7 GRAMS OF CRACK COCAINE. THE JUVENILE WAS PLACED UNDER ARREST AND CHARGED WITH FELONY POSSESION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER COCAINE AND MISDEMEANOR POSSESION OF COCAINE. HE WAS ARRAIGNED BEFORE DISTRICT JUDGE DAVID PLACHKO AND COMMITED TO SC COUNTY PRISON UNABLE TO POST $20,000 STRAIGHT CASH BAIL.


08/17/06 A POTTSVILLE WOMAN FACES CRIMINAL MISCHIEF CHARGES

AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED IN THE BOROUGH OF GIRARDVILLE MONDAY IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY STATE POLICE AT FRACKVILLE. ACCORDING TO REPORTS TROOPERS SAY THAT RHONDA HEIDLEBAUGH 23 OF POTTSVILLE WENT TO THE HOME OF DIANE HEIDLEBAUGH 56 OF WEST MAIN STREET AND WAS TOLD TO LEAVE. HOWEVER RHONDA HEIDLEBAUGH PRECEDED TO SMASH A WINDOW BEFORE FLEEING THE SCENE. HEIDLEBAUGH WILL FACE CHARGES OF CRIMINAL MISCHIEF BEFORE DISTRICT JUDGE BERNADETTE NAHAS.


08/17/06 POTTSVILLE AREA SCHOOL BOARD REVEALS ITS SIX YEAR EDUCATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE DISTRICT

THE POTTSVILLE AREA SCHOOL BOARD WEDNESDAY EVENING ANNOUNCED ITS SIX YEAR EDUCATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE DISTRICT. THE 22 PAGE PLAN AVAIABLE FOR REVIEW UNTILL SEPT.20 AT THE DISTRICTS ACADEMIC CENTER,OUTLINES GOALS BOARD MEMBERS HOPE TO ACHIEVE BEFORE ADOPTING THE NEXT STRATEGIC PLAN IN SIX YEARS. ON SEPT.20TH THE BOARD WILL VOTE TO ADOPT THE PLAN AND SEND IT TO THE STAE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR FINAL APPROVAL. THE PLAN INCLUDES A FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE GOAL THAT REQUIRES ALL STUDENTS TO LEARN HOW TO BECOME EDUCATED CONSUMERS AND RESPONSIBLE CHILCARE PROVIDERS AND WOULD ALSO INCLUDE A KNOWLEDGE OF BASIC LIFE SKILLS. ANOTHER GOAL DEALS WITH ONLINE GRADE REPORTING ,A SIGN THAT THE DISTRICT IS WORKING TO STAY UP TO SPEED WITH TECHNOLOGICAL ISSUES. A WORLD LANGUAGE GOAL STATES THAT ALL STUDENTS WILL BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND BECOME EDUCATED ABOUT OTHER CULTURES. THE BOARD ALSO ANNOUNCED THE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH RATES FOR THE 2006-2007 SCHOOL YEAR WILL NOT INCREASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH A RECOMMENDATION BY LISA ECKLEY DISTRICT FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR.


08/17/06 APARTMENT FIRE IN PINE GROVE LEAVES 4 HOMELESS

A FIRE THAT COMPLETELY GUTTED AN APARTMENT UNIT IN PINE GROVE WEDNESDAY LEFT A FAMILY OF FOUR TEMPORARILY HOMELESS.ACCORDING TO THE POTTSVILLE REPUBLICAN EIGHT FIRE COMPANIES WERE CALLED TO THE 22 LAUREL STREET SCENE OF THE TWO ALARM FIRE THAT REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.DAVID SATTIZAHN ,PINE GROVE HOSE , HOOK AND LADDER FIRE CHIEF SAID THE FLAMES STARTED IN THE KITCHEN AREA OF THE APARTMENT WHERE KATHERINE WEWER AND HER HUSBAND AND TWO CHILDREN RESIDED. A REAR DETACHED APARTMENT WAS LARGELY UNAFFECTED BY THE BLAZE. ACCORDING TO SATTIZAHN HE RECEIVED THE CALL WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND FIREFIGHTERS WERE ON THE SCENE WITHIN MINUTES.WEWER SAID SHE WAS COOKING WITH GREASE ON THE STOVEAND 15 TO 20 MINUTES LATER THE FIRE STARTED. SATTIZAHN WHO CALLED THE APARTMENT UNIT UNLIVABLE AND SAID THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING AMERICAN RED CROSS ASSISTANCE.