Local News-Wednesday, Nov. 22nd-UPDATED 2PM

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A Shenandoah man is facing aggravated assault and other charges after an incident Tuesday afternoon in the city. Pottsville Police were called to the area of Progress Avenue, near the Pottsville Post Office. 24-year-old Jarrid Finneran got into an argument with his 17-year-old girlfriend. He threw her out into traffic in front of a car operated by Michael Mazzuca. Finneran then jumped in front of a tractor-trailer. Both Finneran and the girl were taken to the hospital. He will be charged in both incidents once he’s released from the hospital.

Property taxes will not be increased next year under the $42.6 Million Dollar 2007 Preliminary General Fund Budget adopted by the County Commissioners during Wednesday’s board meeting. County Administrator William Reppy said the budget reflects a lot of hard work by everybody involved. The County’s real estate millage remains at 11.98 mills. In other Business, the Commissioners authorized the issuance of a general obligation note in the amount of $750-thousand-dollars to purchase the building occupied by the Communications and 911 Center located in Pottsville. The Schuylkill County Commissioners approved the issuance of bonds for expansion of a company in the Tidewood East Industrial Park in Tamaqua during their board meeting Wednesday.

The Schuylkill County Industrial Development Authority had asked for a resolution for the issuance of Tax Exempt Bonds for Highwood USA amounting to $5.3-million-dollars. The company is seeking the money to construct an addition to its present plant and the purchase of new machinery and equipment. The Company manufactures synthetic wood products which closely simulates the color and grain and natural wood.
In a related matter, the Commissioners adopted a resolution re-designating SEDCO as the Industrial Development Organization to represent to county for the purposes of the Industrial Development Assistance law. SEDCO and other organizations like it are charged with promoting the development and expansion of business, industry and commerce in their respective counties in the Commonwealth.

The Alcoa plant in Cressona will see a change in hands next year. The aluminum extruder will be under the management of Norwegian-based Orkla ASA, and will be operated under the company's SAPA subsidiary. The joint venture with Orkla is part of Alcoa's downsizing of their soft-alloy business, according to the Pottsville Republican. Three of the soft-alloy production facilities, not including Cressona, will be sold. The plant employs about 1-thousand-employees. The deal is expected to take effect in March, 2007. The local plant was reopened by Alcoa executives and operated as Cressona Aluminum. The plant changed ownership several times until it was purchased by Alcoa several years ago. Alcoa plans to cut 67-hundred jobs worldwide over the next year. It's part of the Pittsburgh-based alumimnum maker's plan to maximize profits.

A former priest who served at a parish in Schuylkill Haven will do time in prison on a host of charges. Schuylkill County President Judge William Baldwin sentenced 59-year-old Reverend Ronald Yarrosh to serve 4 to 10 years for possessing pornography and parole and probation violations, according to the Pottsville Republican. Yarrosh pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of children, theft and receiving stolen property in April, 2005. His original sentence was 3 to 23 months, with 10 years probation. Violations of the terms of his probation warranted the stiffer sentence. Yarrosh served as a priest at St. Ambrose Church, Schuylkill Haven.

A New Jersey man is under arrest after attempting to bring drugs and a gun into the State Correctional Institution at Mahanoy Sunday. State police report that Victor Galarza of Jersey City, New Jersey came to the prison with a 9 millimeter handgun, reportedly stolen, and a small quantity of marijuana. Galarza was arraigned on charges and taken to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post the required bail.

Two county men have been promoted by the Pennsylvania State Police. Edward Hoke, of Norwegian Township was promoted to Lieutenant and appointed him as implementation manager for the Incident Information Management System in Harrisburg. Hoke has been with the State Police since 1987, having served at several barracks and in various capacities since his enlistment. Michael Sadusky of Schuylkill Haven was promoted to the rank of Corporal. The promotions were announced by State Police Commissioner Jeffrey Miller.

Four county fire companies received funds from the federal government through the office of Congressman Tim Holden. In a whirlwind of presentation ceremonies Tuesday, Holden presented grants to the Liberty Fire Company, Schuylkill Haven, Goodwill Hose Company in Cumbola, Volunteer Fire Company Number One in Coaldale and Columbia Hose in Shenandoah. The monies were funded by the Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, a part of the US Department for Homeland Security. The monies will be used for various projects at the respective companies.