Year in Review-2006

Here are some of the stories that made headlines in 2006:

By far, the biggest news story was the flood of 2006. For several days in late June, the heavens opened up and dumped more than a foot of rain on the county, reeking havoc on communities and causing millions of dollars in damage. Some of the communities which were hardest hit included Port Carbon, Gilberton, Schuylkill Haven and Landingville. Even the highest elevations were not spared damage. Major sink holes opened up on area roadways due to the flooding. Not since the Agnes flood of 1972 has such devastation taken place. Homes were destroyed, businesses wiped out and lives changed forever. Schuylkill County was declared a federal disaster area, and teams of support personnel from federal and state emergency agencies set up shop in the county for more than a month. In spite of all of the damage, thankfully, no lives were lost during the June flood.

Several major fires were at the top of the news in 2006. Among the most devastating blazes in 2006 were the fire that destroyed several businesses in Shenandoah in January, the destruction of the Cressona Textile Waste plant in March, and the Orpheum Theatre fire in November. On January 3rd, 3 businesses were destroyed on Main Street, including the tax collector's office. No one was injured in the blaze. The businesses are under reconstruction at this time. On March 26th, over a million dollars damage was done during a massive inferno at Cressona Textile Waste on Front Street. While suspicious people were reported seen leaving the building at the time of the early morning fire, no cause has yet been found. A former movie theatre and landmark in Orwigsburg went up in flames on November 11th, claiming two lives. The Orpheum Theatre, which had been converted into apartments, was ravaged by flames. Carol LaTorre, who lived on the second floor, was found in the rubble of the fire. Jacqueline Richman died a few days ago. In northern Schuylkill County, row home fires were sporadic during 2006. Due to the close proximity of homes constructed during the coal mining heyday, one property igniting leads to another.

It was not politics as usual during the mid-term elections of 2006. A long-time incumbent legislator was ousted in the May primary and newcomer took his place. The ill-fated pay raise in Harrisburg was the number one issue on voters minds this year. Representative Bob Allen, who served the 125th District for nearly two decades, was defeated by Schuylkill County Controller Gary Hornberger in May. But, newcomer Tim Seip, a social worker from Washington Township, won in November. Incumbents Neal Goodman and Dave Argall won re-election, but the pay raise theme was clearly evident in the campaign. In the state House and Senate, Democrats will be in the majority, by the narrowest of margins, when work resumes in January.
Governor Ed Rendell won an easy re-election over NFL Hall-of-Famer Lynn Swann, the Republican challenger. On the national scene, Congressman Tim Holden won a return trip to Washington. His opponent, Republican Matthew Wertz, dropped out of the race over a month before the election. Finally, Mr. Casey goes to Washington. State Treasurer Bob Casey won the junior Senator's seat from the Commonwealth, soundly defeating conservative Rick Santorum. Santorum was criticized for his support of President Bush, and the voters spoke their displeasure by voting him out.
A Donaldson man lost his life in a mining accident at the Buck Mountain Slope Mine near the village of Joliett on October 23rd.

Dale Reightler was one of 7 men working in the mine when a suspected explosion occurred. The other miners were able to leave the mine uninjured. Federal and state mine inspectors entered the shaft the following day to determine an exact cause of the accident. Several supervisors had their mining permits suspended as a result. Federal and state officials say that numerous safety improvements and controls must be made at the mine in the interest of safety. The region is dotted with underground mines. Their job is dangerous, dirty and difficult, and we are all the better for their hard work. Early in January, 12 men died in an accident at the Sago Mine in West Virginia.

The old adage “you can’t get there from here” held some truth this year, as motorists navigated area roadways. During the year, we received phone calls from hundreds of listeners who were stuck in traffic on Route 61. The north-south artery continues to push hundreds of thousands of cars from Northumberland all the way to Berks County. The stretch of 61 from north of the Cressona Mall through Schuylkill Haven continues to be a bottleneck, not only during morning and afternoon rush hours, but just about any time of the day. Discussions continue among the state and local leaders to find a solution to the problem. If and when that issue is resolved is anybody’s guess. Along Route 183, nary a week went by when we didn’t report another truck getting stuck under the Reading and Northern Railroad bridge in Cressona. The 11 foot, 8 inch underpass has seen 22 trucks and tractor-trailers become wedged under the bridge. Not only were vehicles and the bridge damaged, but it caused traffic nightmares. State, local and railroad officials have formulated a plan to warn truckers of the impending bridge. To date, bright yellow paint has been put on the sides of the bridge. Other improvements are expected in the spring.