Local News-Friday, Jan. 5th

A Thursday evening fire heavily damaged a portion of a North Manheim business. Crews from Schuylkill Haven, Orwigsburg and surrounding communities battled the blaze at Keystoker, Incorporated, a manufacturer of heating equipment, for several hours. A portion of the roof collapsed at the facility due to the fire. Schuylkill County EMA officials were called to the scene because of flammable gasses which are used at the plant. No one was injured. Some fire personnel were on the scene around 3am this morning.

A pickup truck and a fire truck were involved in a minor collision last night, while the emergency vehicle was en route to the fire at Keystoker, Incorporated. The fire truck, operated by Keith Sibbett of Pottsville, was southbound on Route 61, when a truck, operated by 40-year-old John Lynch of Cressona, failed to stop at the Connor’s Crossing jughandle. Lynch’s truck hit the fire truck. Both vehicles had minor damage. Lynch was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

The attorney for an Orwigsburg man who is accused of murdering his wife is asking the Schuylkill County Court to exclude some evidence in the case. Attorney James Conville, representing 47-year-old Jeffrey Zimmerman, asked President Judge William Baldwin to have photos of Zimmerman’s wife Cindy kept from jurors in his murder case. The Pottsville Republican reports that Conville believes the photos, which are extremely graphic, would prejudice his client. Zimmerman reportedly murdered Cindy Zimmerman at her parents home in July, 2006. Conville also requested that burglary and criminal trespass charges be dropped against his client. Prosecutors reportedly will not seek the death penalty for Zimmerman. Both sides in the case will have two weeks to file briefs as to why they feel the pictures should be included or excluded in the case.

A Schuylkill Haven woman suffered minor injuries in a Wednesday evening crash in Branch Township. Schuylkill Haven troopers report that Kelly Wolfe was headed east on Route 901. Due to construction work to repair drainage patterns, a patch of ice formed on the road, where Wolfe lost control. Her car rolled onto its roof on an embankment, then back on to its wheels. Wolfe had a leg injury, and a passenger, Amy Shade, of Cressona, was not hurt. The crash occurred after 9pm Wednesday.

A car flipped onto its roof in the borough of Orwigsburg Thursday morning, but no one was hurt. Andrew Ball’s car drifted toward the center of Market Street. When he tried to overcompensate, he struck a parked car owned by Maryann Marks of Port Carbon and rolled onto its roof. Ball was not hurt. The accident forced Market Street to be closed for a short time Thursday morning.