Local News-Monday, June 18th

Schuylkill Products will be moving oversized beams this week, causing delays for motorists.
At 7 and 9am today through Thursday, beams will leave the Schuylkill Products’ plant. Traffic slowdowns are expected at the intersections of Route 901 and 183, and again at Routes 183 and 61. The loads will travel south on Route 61 to Interstate 78 West. The beams are bound for a construction site at South Williamsport in Lycoming County.

Pottsville police took a Philadelphia man into custody early Friday on three felony warrants for the possession and delivery of cocaine in Pottsville in late 2005. Pottsville Police Captain Ronald Moser tells the Republican Herald 41-year-old Terrel Worthem, formerly of Pottsville, was brought before District Judge David Plachko, in Port Carbon, around 3 a.m. Friday.
Worthem was committed to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $75-thousand dollars bail.
Worthem was picked up in Philadelphia after police there made a traffic stop and found he was wanted in Pottsville.

Governor Ed Rendell plans to be in Schuylkill County tomorrow for the opening of the new Locust Ridge Wind Farm. The 13 electric-generating wind turbines are near Mahanoy City. Rendell is to be there along with community members, wind energy customers and supporters and various government officials. In other energy news, proposals by Governor Ed Rendell to expand the use of alternative energy and fuels and encourage conservation are scheduled for votes in the House of Representatives this week. The bills, however, likely face a much longer road in the Senate. For one, some senators wonder whether it is necessary to introduce a tax on electricity usage to fund alternative energy and conservation programs. And they have questions about whether an ethanol fuel requirement will hurt ranchers who use corn for feed and create more smog than convetional fuels. Together, the bills comprise the biggest parts of Rendell's "Energy Independence Strategy," first unveiled in February. The overarching goals are to counter rising fuel and electricity prices and help create homegrown industries.

A Schuylkill Haven man was moderately injured following a crash in East Brunswick Township Sunday afternoon. State police say that 83-year-old John Hale was approaching the intersection near Smith's Country Inn around 4pm, when he lost control on a left curve. His car rolled over and came to rest on its roof on the roadway. Hale was wearing his seatbelt. His car sustained moderate damage.

State police are continuing an investigation into a rock throwing incident on Route 61 Saturday.
David George of Orwigsburg was northbound on 61, near the Palo Alto split, when someone threw a rock at the windshield of his Dodge Charger, cracking it. No one was injured, but troopers are looking for the person who threw the rock. Call them with information at the Schuylkill Haven barracks…593-2000.

One person was hurt in a two vehicle crash in Schuylkill Township Saturday afternoon. Frackville state police say that 29-year-old Michael Dannenfelser of Brockton was driving south on Route 209, and stopped at the intersection of Catawissa Street. 21-year-old Megan Skripko of Middleport, was following behind was unable to stop in time and crashed her Nissan into the rear of Dannenfelser's car. Dannenfelser had three passengers in his car. 31-year-old Traci Dannenfelser had minor injuries, and was taken by Tamaqua EMS to St. Luke’s Hospital. The crash happened just before 3pm.

A Bethel man suffered injuries in a motorcycle crash Saturday afternoon in Pine Grove Township. Schuylkill Haven state police say that 23-year-old Joshua Wentzel was driving on State Route 501, when for some unknown reason, he lost control of his Kawasaki motorcycle. Wentzel was thrown from the bike after it hit the guiderails. The cycle damaged 24 feet of guiderails. Wentzel was not wearing a helmet, and had to be life-flighted to Geisinger Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. The crash happened at 1:45pm Saturday.

A New Jersey woman escaped injury in an incident yesterday afternoon in New Castle Township. 28-year-old Kelly McNulty of Edison, New Jersey, was following a tractor-trailer on Interstate 81 near mile marker 124, when the truck blew a tire. McNulty tried to avoid a crash, and her car spun onto the median and struck an embankment. She was not hurt, but her car had moderate damage. The crash happened around 1pm Sunday.

An area business organization is the winner of an award from the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce received an honorable mention from the organization in their 23rd Annual Award for Communications Excellence competition.
This year's ACE competition drew 192 entries from chambers throughout the U.S. and Canada. The Awards for Communications Excellence (ACE) is an annual competition that recognizes excellence in all areas of chamber of commerce communications. ACE continues to be the vehicle for the chamber community to promote effective chamber communications as well as highlight initiatives, introduce events and inform members.