Local News-Wednesday, Sept. 20th

The Schuylkill County DA's office is getting tough on people who did not show up for their court appearances. With the September court term now completed, DA Jim Goodman said that more than 60 people did not appear in court as scheduled. Now, bench warrants have been issued to find these individuals. New procedures have been put in place to track the offenders down. If a wanted person is stopped for a traffic violation, law enforcement officials can run their identification through the National Crime Information Center to see if there are outstanding warrants for failing to appear in court. But the no-shows are being given one last chance. Goodman said that the defendants have until Friday, September 29th to turn themselves in voluntarily by appearing in person at the DA's office, or by calling 570-628-1361. Once a defendant is picked up on a warrant, they will be taken to Schuylkill County Prison. A hearing would then be held within 72 hours to determine what bail should be set.

A problem spot for trucks in Cressona claimed another victim last night. A truck filled with batteries got stuck under the railroad bridge at Legion Plaza again yesterday because it failed to clear the underpass. State police say that 55-year-old William Walker of Ontario, Canada was northbound on Route 183 when the trailer became wedged under the bridge, tearing the top of the trailer open. The bridge clearance is 11 feet, 8 inches. Flashing lights are in place to warn drivers of the approaching underpass, but trucks get stuck all too frequently. The mess took several hours to clean up, diverting traffic through Beckville.

State police are investigating the death of an Orwigsburg man yesterday. Troopers say that 81-year-old Leroy Hoffman was found dead, pinned under a lawn mower at his Greenview Road home in West Brunswick Township around 4pm. Authorities say that they are unsure if Hoffman's death was caused by the accident, or if he died of natural causes.

A Port Carbon man suffered minor injuries in a one vehicle crash in South Manheim Township yesterday afternoon. 60-year-old Paul Shollenberger was traveling west on Route 895 and lost control of his car. He went into the eastbound lane and struck a speed limit sign, then a tree.
His car was severely damaged. He was treated by EMS personnel at the scene.

A Shenandoah woman faces charges of driving under the influence following a crash early Tuesday morning in Union Township. Frackville troopers say that they responded to the motor vehicle crash on Shenandoah Road around 2am. They found that 21-year-old Amy Usewicz lost control trying to avoid a deer and went down a small embankment. Police arrested Usewicz after they suspected she was driving under the influence. She was taken to Pottsville Hospital for a blood test to determine her blood alcohol content. Charges are pending the results of those tests.

State lawmakers are still wrestling with how to implement Governor Ed Rendell's plan to increase the number of children covered by state-subsidized health insurance. The funding was approved in the new state budget more than two months ago. Representatives from the insurance industry, child-advocacy groups and the Rendell administration testified yesterday before a Senate panel on legislation that would establish guidelines for the Cover All Kids program. It calls for the state to provide health insurance at reduced rates to children whose families make too much money to qualify for existing programs. Senator Vincent Hughes of Philadelphia, Chairman of the Senate Health and Welfare said that legislators promised the Governor that the deal will be done by the October recess. The state hopes to begin offering the benefits in January. Fifteen thousand children are expected to enroll in the program's first year. That number is expected to increase to nearly 70-thousand within five years.