Local News-Tuesday, Feb. 6th

Its so cold, it can take your breath away. That’s one of the phrases you’ll hear when walking on area streets as we are firmly entrenched in the deepest cold spell of the winter. While real air temperatures are in single digits this morning, when you factor in the gusting winds, it feels like its 15 degrees below zero. The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill Advisory until 11am. For the second day in a row, many area schools are on a delayed opening today, in order to allow for some warming before the kids get on the bus or have to walk to school. Remember, allow sufficient time for your car to warm up, and dress in layers when you go out this morning.

President Bush's budget proposal rescinds a low-interest loan for a plant in Schuylkill County.
The plant is designed to convert waste coal into zero-sulfur diesel fuel and home-heating oil. The government promised the 100 million dollar loan in 2003. Lawmakers and John Rich, the president of Waste Management and Processors Incorporated are scrambling to determine the implications for the 800 (m) million dollar project. Representative Tim Holden, whose district encompasses the site of the proposed plant, says rescinding the loan doesn't make sense. He notes that the president said in his State of the Union address that the nation needs to become energy independent.

PPL Electric customers set a new winter record yesterday. As frigid temps strengthened their grip on central and eastern Pennsylvania, customers used an estimated 7,318 megawatts of electricity between 8 and 9am Monday. That usage tops the previous record of 7,274 megawatts, set during a one-hour period on Dec. 20th, 2004. Officials of PPL Electric Utilities anticipate that high electricity use will continue until conditions moderate later in the week.

Oversized beams will be moving to a construction project in neighboring Northumberland County this week. Schuylkill Products, Cressona, will move two oversized loads today, at 11am. Drivers can expect delays on Routes 901 and 183, to Route 61. They will travel south on 61 to Interstate 78, with their ultimate destination being a construction project in Shamokin.

The oily film that caused several crashes on Route 61, south of Frackville, over the past week is gone, for now. The area in question was the scene of a half-dozen accidents since late January, and efforts to absorb the stuff appear to be working, but the cold temperatures are also keeping it down. The Pottsville Republican indicates that as long as there is cold weather, the oil will not rise to the road surface. Officials believe that it may reappear when temperatures moderate. Drivers are asked to use caution when driving on that stretch of Route 61, south of Frackville.

Pottsville police have identified the driver of Sunday night’s accident in the city. Benjamin Riegel of West Norwegian street was southbound on Route 61 at the Mauch Chunk Street intersection when he hit the telephone pole head on. Riegel was taken via life flight to Geisinger Hospital in Danville. The investigation continues.