Local News - Saturday Mar. 24

Cardinal Brennan to close

After months of study and consideration, the Diocese of Allentown has announced its decision regarding Cardinal Brennan High School. It will close at the end of the year. Bishop Edward Cullen, the Diocese's highest official, made the announcement in a letter sent to parents, citing studies by consultants and officials that the school faces significant financial and enrollment challenges. According to WNEP, Cullen said that the students would receive a warm welcome at Marian Catholic in Hometown or at Nativity BVM in Pottsville. Seventh and eighth grade students will have the opportunity for schooling at Trinity Academy in Shenandoah.

Two Alleged Shooter's Arraigned

Two 19-year-old Pottsville men charged with going on a shooting spree of vehicles and homes in the city's Fifth Ward last month appeared in district court Friday afternoon for their preliminary hearings. According to the Republican and Herald, Alex J. Bulino, and Jonathan W. Kline, both remain in Schuylkill County Prison and were escorted to the Pottsville office of Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley. Bulino waived his right to a hearing on five separate complaints and will have to appear in county court. In connection with the shooting spree that occurred during the early morning hours of Feb. 19, Pottsville Police Detective Steven Guers charged the man with criminal mischief, recklessly endangering another person, possessing instruments of crime, disorderly conduct, criminal conspiracy and discharging a firearm into an occupied structure. Reiley denied a request for a bail reduction on the charges and remanded Bulino to prison under the original bond of $20,000 straight cash. Reiley continued bail of 10 percent of $10,000 in the four other cases against Bulino. They included:a burglary at VG’s X-Sport Shop at 439 Harrison St., Pottsville; the theft of the .22-caliber rifle used in the shooting spree; an incident involving underage drinking in the 500 block of Fairview Street; and the theft of a BMX-style bicycle.In connection with the shooting spree, Guers charged Kline with criminal mischief, recklessly endangering another person, possessing instruments of crime, disorderly conduct, criminal conspiracy and discharging a weapon into an occupied structure. After a brief hearing, Reiley ordered charges against Kline on two separate complaints held for county court. The judge maintained the $20,000 amount, but said Kline will now be allowed to post 10 percent instead of the full amount. The second complaint against Kline stems from the theft at VG’s X-Sport Shop. In that case, Guers charged the man with burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property, criminal conspiracy and corruption of minors. Police Capt. Ronald Moser said a teenager faces charges of criminal mischief, criminal conspiracy, discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, recklessly endangering another person, possessing instruments of crime and disorderly conduct. Moser said the teen will be processed through county juvenile authorities. Guers said Kline, Bulino and the juvenile used a stolen sawed-off .22-caliber rifle to shoot out windows in six vehicles and four homes, three of which were occupied. Police said all three admitted to committing the random crimes and that they did so for fun.

Stand off in Lansford

A police standoff ended in Lansford, Carbon County yesterday after a man with a gun barricaded himself in a Kline Alley home. Shots were fired inside and outside of the home by 37-year-old Lee Walck at his home around 3:30am Friday morning, bringing police to the scene. Police were forced to cordon off a two block radius surrounding the home. A tense standoff ensued with state and local police, until Walck finally surrendered peacefully around 9am. No one else was home at the time. Because the home was very close to the Panther Valley Middle School, the school was closed, along with Our Lady of Angels School. Walck was arraigned yesterday afternoon for a variety of offenses. It is not yet known why Walck began shooting.

Cressona Textile fire still unsolved one year later

One year later, and still no arrests in the Cressona Textile Waste fire. It was early Sunday morning, March 26th, when neighbors near the Front Street factory reported seeing flames from the loading dock. When it was over more than 24 hours later, the building lay in total ruin. The cause was deemed suspicious. WPPA News spoke with State Police Fire Marshal John Burns of the Frackville Barracks, and he said that the investigation is still active, but no arrests have been made. He declined to elaborate about any specifics in the case. Owner Lee Winstian (win-steen) has posted a reward for information leading to the arrest of the people who started the fire that caused more than $1.5 million dollars in damage. His company continues to operate from another location in the Cressona area.

Break in at R&D Coal

Thieves took tools and equipment from a coal mining operation in Tremont Township earlier this week. State police say that someone broke into a garage and storage shed at the R&D Coal Company between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Rolls of coiled copper and various equipment was stolen. The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information should call 593-2000.

Double crash in Blythe Township

A New Ringgold man was involved in two crashes on Mountain Road Thursday night. Todd Daldos was driving north, lost control on a right curve and hit the oncoming car operated by Charles Kadingo of Orwigsburg. Daldos' car continued on and struck a second vehicle driven by Francis Kane of Schuylkill Haven a short distance down the road. No one was injured, but Daldos was arrested for drunk driving. Charges are pending blood alcohol test results.

Crash in Pottsville

A Pottsville woman's car was heavily damaged in a two vehicle crash outside of the city last night. Shelby Miske (miss-kee) was pulling her van from the Rite Aid parking lot on Mill Creek Avenue and struct a pickup operated by Amy Dillman. Miske's van was heavily damaged, while Dillman's truck had moderate damage. Neither were hurt. Pottsville Police are continuing their investigation.

STS reminds seniors about free rides

The Schuylkill Transportation System is reminding senior citizens about free rides on system busses. All county residents over the age of 65, with proper identification, can ride free all day compliments of the Pennsylvania Lottery and the Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services. STS staff will be available to register all seniors interested in freetransportation from 10:30 AM to noon on several dates in April. Seniors who are able to show proof of age will receive their bus passes right away at these registrations. For a complete list, log on to wpparadio.com, or call STS toll free at 800-832-3322.

Smoke Free Rally Set

In recognition of National Kick Butts Day, North Central Pennsylvania's BUSTED! teens kickin' nicotine will lead an impressive 2007 regional Kick Butts Day event, "MISSION POSSIBLE II: SMOKE-FREE PENNSYLVANIA" on Wednesday, March 28 from 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM at the Bloomsburg Town Park. The program highlights will include presentations made by keynote speaker Brian Roth, Vice President of Grassroots for Ignite National (www.ignitegeneration.org) headquartered in Washington D.C.; Marisa Cooper, a senior at Shenandoah Valley High School, the President of North Central Pennsylvania's BUSTED! teens kickin' nicotine and Claude Renninger, the Mayor of Bloomsburg. The purpose of this event is to generate awareness and create change for Pennsylvania - motivating people in our communities to live healthy, tobacco-free lifestyles and support clean indoor air legislation. North Central Pennsylvania's BUSTED! teens kickin' nicotine MISSION is to collect 2,500 letters in support of smoke-free workplace legislation and to hand deliver them to their area legislators in April. More than 10 schools with over 200 students will be participating. They include Danville High School, Shikellamy School District, Bloomsburg Middle School, Tri-Valley Jr./Sr. High School in Hegins, North Schuylkill Jr./Sr. High School in Ashland, All Saints Catholic School in Pottsville, Selinsgrove Area High School, Shenandoah Valley High School in Shenandoah, Hope Academy in Danville, Milton High School, and student board of directors from Hazleton's Serento Gardens. This event is made possible by Clinical Outcomes Group Inc. with funding through the Pennsylvania Department of Health; Wood-Mode, Inc. in Kreamer; Weis Markets; Wal-Mart in Selinsgrove; GIANT; Tulpehocken Mountain Spring Water; DJ Ray Productions and the Schuylkill County Tobacco-Free Youth Coalition. For more information, call Angela Morgan, KBD Committee Member from Clinical Outcomes Group Inc. at 1-800-264-1290. In case of inclement weather, this event will be held at the Bloomsburg YMCA, 30 East Seventh Street. The public is invited to join our youth in their MISSION to make Pennsylvania SMOKE-FREE.