Local News-Thursday, June 14th

An Andreas man is dead following a two-vehicle crash in East Penn Township Tuesday. 18-year-old Chad Muffley was traveling west on Ben Salem Road around 3pm, when he passed another car in a no-passing zone. The Republican and Herald reports that Muffley lost control of his car and spun counterclockwise. His car struck a Jeep driven by Cindy Whitehead, also of Andreas. Both were taken to Gnadden Huetten Hospital in Lehighton, where Muffley was pronounced dead on arrival. Whitehead was then taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital for treatment of her injuries. Whitehead's husband, a passenger in the car, was not hurt. Reports indicate that Muffley was not wearing his seatbelt.

A Pottsville woman was arrested on drug charges earlier this week by Pottsville police drug agents. On Monday, 31-year-old Kimberly Martin was picked up on three drug related warrants, for selling heroin and cocaine. Martin was contacted by a police confidential informant in mid-May to buy heroin at a city home. A second buy took place the following week, with Martin selling the informant heroin. The three warrants were executed by city police, and following arraignment, Martin was taken to Schuylkill County Prison, in lieu of $45-thousand-dollars, percentage bail.

A Pottsville child who was riding her bicycle was hit by a car Wednesday evening in East Norwegian Township. According to Schuylkill Haven State Police, the child was riding her bike on McCord Avenue, when she failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Caroline Avenue. A car driven by 21-year-old Jessica Schultz of Pottsville was unable to avoid the child and her car struck the bicycle, throwing the girl onto the windshield of Schultz's car. The girl was taken to Pottsville Hospital for treatment of her injuries. The crash happened before 8pm yesterday.

A household name in food and consumer products will open a distribution center at the Highridge Business Park later this fall. Sara Lee US Foods, and their partner Total Logistics Control of Zeeland, Michigan, officially announced the cold storage and northeastern distribution center construction project yesterday. Company officials, and local dignitaries attended the outdoor event in the shadow of the 182-thousand-square foot frame already well under construction. The $24-million-dollar building will service the northeastern part of the United States for Sara Lee, and will be run by TLC. One hundred twenty-three full time jobs will be created by the project. Larry Rogers, Vice President of Logistics for Sara Lee, said they had several sites to choose from, and the decision was not an easy one. The Tippmann Group of Fort Wayne, Indiana is the site consultant, developer and general contractor for the project, and have done similar jobs with Sara Lee before. Senior Vice President Steve Tippmann told WPPA/T102 News why the Schuylkill site was such a good fit, because economic development officials from Schuylkill County have the latitude to get the job done. The Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation, with assistance from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, were instrumental in putting the deal together at Highridge.

Three individuals and two organizations were honored at the Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards presentation during their Second Wednesday breakfast meeting held at the Schuylkill Country Club. Leslie Wagner, Director of Development at the Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic was named Business Woman of the Year. Walter Meck of Fessler Knitting, Orwigsburg, was named Businessman of the Year. Wayne Herring Sr. of Preferred Warranty was named Entrepreneur of the Year. Community Volunteers in Action was honored as Non-Profit Organization of the Year, and Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. was named For-Profit Organization of the year. Clark will retire on June 29th and will move to Michigan sometime this summer to be closer to family and friends.

Today is Flag Day in the United States. On June 14th, 1777, the Continental Congress proposed that the new United States adopt a national flag instead of using the British Union Jack. The 13 stars on the field of blue represented the original colonies. The first official Flag Day was observed in Philadelphia on June 14th, 1893, but it was not until 1949 that President Harry Truman proclaimed this day as the national day to honor the American flag. Honor our country today by flying the red, white and blue proudly.