WPPA/T102 NEWS Saturday September 2, 2006

Rendell orders state of emergency

Tropical Storm Ernesto is making for a miserable start to the Labor Day weekend. So much so that Governor Ed Rendell has declared a state of emergency as a precautionary measure. Several inches of rain are expected to fall through late this evening. The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Watch for Schuylkill County through this evening. The expected rains are not near the magnitude of the June flood, but, the ground is soaked from that past week's rains, and could pose a chance for localized flooding.

Upper Schuylkill homecoming underway

The rains from Tropical Storm Ernesto are affecting our area, but it won't dampen the activities of the Upper Schuylkill Homecoming weekend. The six communities which make up the organization are pushing ahead with their weekend activities, centered around tonight's Ashland Mummers ABA parade tonight. This morning, a breakfast and farmers market is being held in the Ringtown Valley, one of Schuylkill County's agricultural gems. The event also features the music of Jay Smar. The parade is scheduled to step off tonight at 7pm. At this time, we understand that all of the events are still on schedule. If we receive any schedule changes, we'll be sure to pass them on to you. Or, if you'd like to contact the Upper Schuylkill Downtown office, call 773-1688. Its good to come home to Upper Schuylkill county this Labor Day weekend.

Drug bust nets 10 in northern Schuylkill

A year-long investigation into drug activity in northern Schuylkill County has resulted in the arrest of nine people. The cooperative effort by Butler Township and Ashland borough police, along with the Pennsylvania State Police, ended with the arrests of individuals on various drug charges Friday morning. Those arrested for various drug offenses were: 33-year-old Eric Pennington, and 24-year-old Jillian Yackera of Girardville. 22-year-old Justin Ladick, 28-year-old Gary Bolich, 55-year-old Richard Harris, 24-year-old Kristen Overkott, 41-year-old Lewis Dietrick , all from Ashland. 44-year-old Ted Pennypacker of Lavelle and a 17-year-old juvenile from Ashland. All individuals were arraigned by Magisterial District Judges yesterday.

Drug bust in Branch Township

State police picked up a Llewellyn man on drug charges Thursday afternoon. Troopers executed a warrant at the home of William Schilbe (shill-buh) after 5pm. They found approximately 20 pounds of marijuana, over 12-hundred-dollars in cash and five pot plants growing inside the home. Schilbe was charged with a host of drug offenses and arraigned. He was taken to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of 10-thousand-dollars bail. The investigation is still in progress, and additional charges may be filed against Schilbe at a later date. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for later this month.

Assault in Mount Carbon

A Pottsville woman is in Schuylkill County prison following an incident early Friday morning. State police report that 22-year-old Nicole Stiles and 25-year-old Thomas Noel, both of Pottsville, were arguing at Goodfella's Café around 1am. The fracas carried out into the parking lot, where Stiles struck Noel numerous times about the face and head, resulting in minor injuries. Stiles was taken into custody, and an arraignment held via videoconference from the Schuylkill County Prison with District Judge James Ferrier. She was unable to post $1-thousand-dollars bail, and was detained at the county prison.

State News

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Hispanic activists and the American Civil Liberties Union are enjoying a temporary victory after the city of Hazleton agreed to delay enforcing a law that targets illegal immigrants. Hazleton, a city of about 31-thousand people, approved a law in July to impose one-thousand-dollar fines on landlords who rent to illegal immigrants. The law also denies business permits to companies that give them jobs and makes English the city's official language. Hispanic groups and the A-C-L-U sued to overturn the law. They say the constitution gives the federal government exclusive power to regulate immigration. They also say the city's ordinance is discriminatory and unworkable, and could foster discrimination against Hispanics who come to the U.S. legally. The city says it delayed enforcement only because it's working on a replacement ordinance that it believes will stand up better in court.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Coca-Cola Company says it has reached an agreement to buy a controlling interest in the brand's Philadelphia bottling operation, one of the largest manufacturing employers in the city. Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company is the nation's fourth-largest Coke bottler. It was purchased in 1983 by J. Bruce Llewellyn and other investors. The local bottler is also among the nation's largest African-American-owned businesses, with 12-hundred employees and 540 (M) million dollars in annual revenue. The company has one plant in northeast Philadelphia and another in Marlton, New Jersey. Atlanta-based Coca-Cola did not disclose the terms of the deal. But it says it already owns 31 percent of the company. Coca-Cola would purchase Llewellyn's stake by early 2009, subject to regulatory approval. Coca-Cola bottlers are typically independent.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The chief executive of the investment group that owns Philadelphia's two major dailies has taken the title of publisher. Brian Tierney, CEO of Philadelphia Media Holdings LLC, takes over from Joe Natoli as publisher of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News and Philly.com. Last month, Natoli resigned to become a finance executive at the University of Miami. Tierney has decided not to hire a replacement for Natoli. Before buying the papers, Tierney and other investors had signed a pledge not to interfere with editorial policies or decisions of the publisher. He says he will respect the pledge. Tierney also says he will work to improve the papers. Inquirer editor Amanda Bennett said she and other editors had encouraged Tierney to serve as publisher.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Mayor Bob O'Connor, who learned he had a rare form of brain cancer only seven months into his term, has died. He was 61. A spokesman says O'Connor died at about 8:55 p.m., with family members present, at U-P-M-C Shadyside hospital. He was being treated after having been diagnosed with a rare form of primary central nervous system lymphoma in July.

National News

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Fourteen people are dead in Iraq after their minivan was ambushed while heading to the Shiite holy city of Karbala (KAHR'-bah-lah). Victims include 13 Muslim pilgrims from Pakistan and India. Iraqi police say they were all shot and had their belongings stolen.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration says progress is being made in Iraq, but a new Pentagon report details growing violence. The report to Congress says sectarian violence is widespread and illegal militias are becoming more entrenched, especially in Baghdad neighborhoods.

LONDON (AP) - Police in London have arrested 14 people on suspicion they're involved in training and recruiting for acts of terrorism. Police say the arrests are not linked to last month's alleged plot to bomb U-S bound passenger jets or last summer's attacks on London's mass transit.

UNDATED (AP) - Ernesto may be only a tropical depression now but it's still wreaking havoc on the East Coast. Thousands are without power and flash flood watches are in effect from Virginia to New York. Off Mexico's West Coast, Hurricane John is losing steam as it heads out to sea.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is closing its doors for a two-year renovation project. Thousands of exhibits and artifacts, including the Star-Spangled Banner, the first ladies' evening gowns and Oscar the Grouch are headed for storage. The famed museum in the nation's capital closes Tuesday.


(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-09-02-06 0550EDT