Local News-Monday, Nov. 13th

A massive blaze destroys a landmark building and leaves authorities searching for a missing woman in Orwigsburg. In a story we first told you about early Saturday morning, a raging inferno leveled the building at 126 West Market Street in Orwigsburg that at one time was home to the Orpheum Theatre. The building housed several apartments and a portion was being renovated. Firefighters from several dozen companies were called in to fight the blaze before 5am. State and local fire officials spent the day Sunday inspecting the scene to determine a cause, and are reportedly looking for an unidentified woman who has yet to be accounted for. Seven people were left homeless in the fire. The investigation will resume today.

An Ashland man was killed in a crash Saturday morning near Aristes. The crash occurred on State Route 2006, the Aristes-Ringtown Road before 2am. 22-year-old Michael Kahler lost control of his pickup truck and hit several trees on the driver’s side. The truck caught fire after impact. State police at Bloomsburg say that Kahler was killed, and his passenger, 21-year-old Julie Hetherington of Ringtown was seriously injured. She was Life-Flighted to Geisinger Medical Center for treatment.

A tractor trailer caught fire while traveling on Interstate 81 Friday afternoon. The rig, driven by David Dial of Copperas Cove, Texas, was southbound on the Interstate in Delano Township when the rear of the trailer caught fire. Dial was able to pull off to the side of the highway and disconnect the trailer to prevent further damage. Both southbound lanes of I-81 were closed down for about an hour while firefighters put the fire out, and a portion of the road remained closed for cleanup. The incident occurred around 3pm Friday afternoon.

A Philadelphia man is under arrest for bringing drugs into the State Correctional Institution at Mahanoy. 26-year-old Devin Latimore reportedly brought ten balloons containing marijuana to the prison and passed them on to an inmate he was visiting. Prison officials caught the inmate attempting to swallow the pot-filled balloons. Latimore is charged with possessing contraband, possession of a contolled substance with intent to deliver and other drug related offenses. He was taken to Schuylkill County Prison and arraigned via video conference. Bail was set at $25-thousand-dollars. A preliminary hearing is set for November 20th. The investigation is continuing.

A two-vehicle crash left two people hurt Saturday afternoon in Wayne Township. Schuylkill Haven State Police report that Charles Killian of Auburn was westbound on Route 443 when he failed to yield to a red light at the intersection with Route 183. His pickup truck collided with a car driven by Michael Milillo of Schuylkill Haven, which was northbound on Route 183. Killian was not hurt. Milillo was treated at Pottsville Hospital. His 11-year-old passenger was flown to Geisinger Medical Center for treatment of head injuries.

The Schuylkill United Way is moving closer to its campaign goal. With time drawing short, the organization is sitting at just over $811-thousand-dollars, or about 89 percent of its $915-thousand-dollar goal as of Friday according to campaign officials. The "Good to Be Home" campaign kicked off in September to raise funds that support Schuylkill United Way’s 16-member-agencies. There is still time to make your pledge by calling the United Way offices at 622-6421. All monies raised stay here in Schuylkill County.