Local News-Saturday, Dec. 9th

The Pottsville Crimson Tide have a date with destiny. A return trip to the Triple A state finals. The Tide’s “won’t quit” attitude garnered them a hard-fought victory over District 3 champion Red Land Patriots 17 to 7 at Blue Mountain last night. The three-time District 11 champion will face the winner of the Western Final. That battle pits Thomas Jefferson against General McClane this afternoon in the Pittsburgh area. The state championship will be decided at Hersheypark Stadium Friday night at 7pm. Complete coverage will be heard here on WPPA/T-102.

Three people were hurt in a crash last night outside Pottsville. Police from Branch-Reilly Township were called to the scene on the Pottsville/Minersville Highway around 9 o’clock. The Pottsville Republican indicates that a passenger, Shenna Smith of Orwigsburg, began arguing with the driver of the car, who has not been identified. The vehicle skidded across the roadway, went up an embankment and rolled over. The driver was taken to Geisinger Medical Center. A rear passenger, Chad Evans of Landingville walked to Pottsville from the scene, but then came back to the scene and was taken to Pottsville Hospital. Smith was also treated for her injuries. A fourth passenger, Zach Emenhizer, was not hurt.

The House has passed a measure that would extend a multibillion program to clean up abandoned coal mines. The measure, part of a larger bill, would reauthorize the reclamation program for 15 years at a cost of 5 (B) billion dollars. Pennsylvania, which has the most acres of abandoned mines, would get 1 (B) billion dollars for cleanup during the course of the program. It now moves to the Senate, where it faces an uncertain future. Nationwide, more than 3-point-6 (M) million people live less than a mile from an abandoned coal mine. The price tag to clean up the worst sites is 8-point-5 (B) billion dollars.

A group of concerned residents in Orwigsburg are working hard to refurbish a borough landmark. The Orwigsburg Memorial, which was dedicated in July, 1950, has served many purposes through the years, as a gymnasium and host to numerous community and regional events. A partnership between the Orwigsburg Lions Club and the borough has developed to begin cleanup and renovations, but the endeavor takes a significant amount of money. A fundraiser and awareness event is being held tonight evening at the Orwigsburg Memorial. East Coast Pro Wrestling will take to the ring for an evening of entertainment beginning at 7:30pm. General admission tickets are $12, with ringside seating priced at $20. Come support a great cause at the Orwigsburg Memorial tonight.

DEP has issued orders to extinguish fires at a coal operation in Northumberland County. The directive ordered Gilberton Coal Company to begin work within five days to extinguish all fires burning on a 93 acre patch being mined and reclaimed in Coal Township. Smoke from the fires and odors from burning compost, which was approved for use to help with reclamation, have created quality-of-life issues for residents who live in the villages of Excelsior and Ranshaw. The site was being mined and reclaimed by Split Vein Coal Company, under a lease with Gilberton Coal. That lease has since been terminated. A fire originally ignited in the compost material at the site in July, 2005. Local fire departments and a contractor tried to put out the fire, but it has sparked up on several occasions since then.

Schuylkill Products Inc. of Cressona will be moving oversized loads again next week. Motorist should be aware that beginning on Monday, 2 oversize loads will leave the plant on Route 901, the Gordon Nagle Trail at 9am. Delays can be expected on Route 61 south to Interstate 78. The beams are being transported to a job site in Lycoming County. Stay tuned to WPPA all next week for updated information.