Local News-Tuesday, Nov. 14th

A Monday morning fire in Shenandoah Heights leaves 4 homeless. The blaze on Schuylkill Avenue destroyed everything inside the home, according to the Pottsville Republican. The fire reportedly started in the chimney of the home, and quickly spread. The Brooks Bryn family were left homeless, and an adjoining home, which was vacant, was also destroyed. Firefighters reportedly were hampered in their efforts by wind and rain. The fire occurred around 10am Monday.

State and local fire officials continued their investigation into the cause of the blaze that destroyed the former Orpheum Theatre in Orwigsburg yesterday. The early Saturday fire displaced 7 people and leveled the building on Market Street. The investigation into the cause and to locate a woman who is still missing was halted at nightfall. Officials say that the unidentified woman may have been in the building when the fire hit, but are not absolutely certain that she was there at that time. Investigators expected to continue their work today. A water boil advisory is in effect for Orwigsburg residents. Trucks are being asked to avoid using Route 443 West near the fire scene and to seek alternate routes while the cleanup continues.

Its budget time in the City of Pottsville. City Administrator Tom Palamar announced that the budget process is underway for next fiscal year. The first reading of the city budget will be held Thursday, November 30th at 8:30am. Tim Yingling, acting Executive Director of the Greater Pottsville Sewer Authority, provided an update about the reports of sewer gas smell and other problems being experienced by residents on Mahantongo Street, Oak Road and Howard Avenue. Several weeks ago, a packed house of angry citizens addressed the Sewer Authority and city officials about the problem. Representatives of the authority and the city visited most of the problem homes to help find solutions. A representative of SC Force, a group of concerned citizens opposed to the proposed Blythe Township construction landfill asked city council to support their fight. A public hearing on the landfill will be held on December 5th at the DHH Lengel Middle School.

Ashland Police arrested a borough man on firearms and drug charges. Officers were called to a Walnut Street home Friday night for a report of a man with a gun threatening to harm his brother. 30-year-old Michael Klinger was armed with two handguns and was leaving the scene when police arrived. Klinger was apprehended a short time later and recovered two loaded guns, and some cocaine. Charges against Klinger include carrying firearms without a license, cocaine possession, simple assault and terroristic threats. He is lodged in Schuylkill County Prison, being unable to post the required $50-thousand-dollars bail.

The court case against a former Nativity teacher and coach may be delayed until next year. The attorney for Daniel Shields is requesting that his case be deferred until March, 2007. Shields is accused of aggravated indecent assault, corruption of minors and other charges after he allegedly secretly videotaped female students in the locker room at the school between November, 2004 and May, 2005. The Pottsville Republican reports that Shields' attorney, Emmanuel Dimitriou, is asking Schuylkill County Court to continue the case from the December criminal court term until March of next year. The request will be considered later this week. The Court has turned down Shields' attorney's request to exclude the videotapes of the girls from evidence. Those tapes were taken from Shields home by two former Nativity students and turned over to police.

A Minersville man is under arrest after attacking a police officer. Minersville police report that 40-year-old Joseph DeFalco was drunk Sunday morning, throwing beer cans and causing a disturbance. DeFalco reportedly grabbed a butcher knife and charged at a borough police officer. He was taken into custody after a brief struggle with police. DeFalco was arraigned and taken to county prison on $25-thousand-dollars bail.

A Schuylkill County lawmakers plan to reform the state's Workers Compensation system has been signed into law. Outgoing Representative Bob Allen, chairman of the House Labor Relations Committee developed the legislation to reduce cost of workers comp insurance to make it more efficient. Highlights of House Bill 2738 include requiring mediation in Workers Comp cases to avoid costly litigation and to establish an Uninsured Employers Guaranty Fund to give benefits to injured workers whose employers didn't carry the required coverage. A study of Pennsylvania's workers comp law found that the costs associated with claims in the state were higher than other states.