Today's News-Friday, July 27th

While a West Reading man, who is serving time for killing an Orwigsburg man in 2004, will stay in prison while awaiting a new trial. We reported to you yesterday that Desmond Hammond will get a new trial, as part of a ruling from President Judge William Baldwin. Hammond was found guilty by a jury in 2005 for third-degree murder in the death of Clinton Hallick.
According to the Republican and Herald, prosecutors are expected to appeal Baldwin’s new trial ruling to the state court. The judge stated that Hammond did not receive effective representation during his original trial.

A Pottsville man was hurt in an incident last night. City officers say that Raymond Zweizig was arguing with Brandon Starr of Seneca Street about him putting trash in a dumpster on Zweizig's property. Starr got into his car, and Zweizig grabbed the wheel while the car was moving slowly. Zweizig slipped and he was injured by the rolling car. He was taken to Good Sam hospital for treatment. The investigation continues.

A group of teenagers are coming to Pottsville in early August to roll up their sleeves and get dirty to help the community. The 20 kids, named Darryl's Army, after Pastor Darryl Duer , the group is part of the New Dover Methodist Church in Edison, New Jersey. The teens will come to the city to paint, cleanup and beautify the northern corridor of the city as part of the Elm Street Project. Michael McGeever, Elm Street coordinator, said that this hard working group of young people will be here for a week, and will be housed at the Blue Mountain Christian Retreat in Berks County. However, while they are here in Pottsville, they will need to be fed each day. McGeever is asking businesses in Pottsville and the surrounding area to step up and provide donations to feed the boys and girls while they are working to better downtown Pottsville.
It won’t be all work and no play while Darryl’s Army is in the city. They will be the guests of the city at a splash party at JFK Pool and will be treated to a movie at the Sovereign Majestic Theatre, among other amenities. If you’d like to donate, contact McGeever at 622-1995.

A long-time employee of the Schuylkill Transportation System has been promoted by the The ReDCo Group. STS announced yesterday that Michael Micko has been promoted to Vice President for Public Transportation, responsible for overall management of the Schuylkill Transportation System. He replaces Dennis Zahora, who left the post recently. Micko, a public transit veteran with 32 years of experience in SchuylkillCounty, has worked for STS over the last 25 years. He most recently served as STS Director of Operations. STS, a division of the ReDCo Group, provides public transportation services all over Schuylkill County's 778 square-mile area. Each month about 11,000 riders use shared-ride van services and 20,000 riders use the fixed-routebus system to get to their destinations.

A Pottsville man was hurt in a motorcycle and car crash in Pottsville late Wednesday night.
City police responded to the corner of Route 61 and East Norwegian Street, where 45-year-old Ruth Smillie was attempting to make a left turn onto southbound Route 61. Her car collided with a motorcycle operated by 39-year-old William Horning Jr. Smillie told police that she did not see Horning as he attempted to cross 61. Horning, who was not wearing a helmet, had to be flown to Lehigh Valley Medical Center. Smillie's car had minor damage.

A Pottsville woman was almost hit by a car while crossing a city street Wednesday afternoon.
City police say that around 3:30pm, 89-year-old Viola Gaumer was crossing in the middle of the block on Laurel Boulevard. Dustin Dean of Pottsville was driving east on the street when he had to swerve to miss hitting Gaumer, who admitted that she did not look both ways. Gaumer reportedly was startled by the car and fell to the street, suffering minor injuries. She was taken to Pottsville Hospital for treatment.

The Schuylkill County Commissioners approved the purchase of 176 acres of agricultural easements to prevent future development of the farmland. Earle and Laverne Otto will receive $25,400 for 25.4 acres of land they own in Wayne Township. Ina & Craig Luckenbill and Connie Wright will receive $58,600 for 58.6 acres also in Wayne Township. Lyndon & Dianne Hepler will receive $92,480 for 92.48 acres of land in Eldred Township. The County's land preservation program is designed to preserve the most productive farmland by purchasing perpetual agricultural conservation easements which prevents future development of the land. The County pays farmland owners $1,000 per acre but is considering increasing that amount in the future. The County provides a 50-50 match from funds from the State's Growing Greener Program and has between $250- to $300-thousand-dollars left in county funds for the program. At last week's Commissioners work session Chairman Frank Staudenmeier said the county will be applying for more funding to continue purchasing easements. Almost 8-thousand- acres are now under the county program.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (AP) - A retired NASA executive expects there will be congressional hearings after today's release of a report on astronaut health. A space agency official confirms the study contains allegations of "heavy use of alcohol" before launch, but stresses they haven't been confirmed.

SEATTLE (AP) - A doctor who missed his flight in Seattle and allegedly phoned in bomb threats to get the plane to return is due at a federal detention hearing today. He's been charged with making a false threat against an aircraft. Officials say he called 9-1-1 three times, until the plane was sent back.

CAPITOL HILL (AP) - A package of security measures recommended by the Nine-Eleven Commission goes to the House today for approval. The Senate O-K'd the measure last night. High-risk states and cities would get more federal money and air and sea cargo would get
more thorough screening.

BAGHDAD (AP) - Local Iraqi officials say nine people are dead and nearly two-dozen wounded from fighting between joint U-S and Iraqi forces and Shiite militiamen south of Baghdad. Separately, the military says another U-S soldier has been killed in fighting, raising the two-day U-S death toll to eight.

NEW YORK (AP) - Investors are nervously eyeing Wall Street this morning following yesterday's nose-dive. Worries over the U-S mortgage and corporate-lending markets are blamed. Asian markets have dropped today, investors pulling out of what are viewed as
riskier assets.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is to appear in Philadelphia today. He's to speak before the AmericanLegislative Exchange Council. That's the same gathering of state lawmakers that President Bush spoke to yesterday. Huckabee is seeking the Republican Party's nomination for president next year.

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Eagles coach Andy Reid's oldest son,24-year-old Garrett Reid, will serve at least three days in jail after pleading guilty to drug and traffic offenses. His 22-year-old brother, Britt Reid, arrested in a separate case the same day, has opted to go to trial on drug and weapons charges. Police say hewaved a handgun at another motorist.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta says he will appeal a decison from a federal judge striking down his city'scrackdown on illegal immigrants. The law would fine landlords whorent to illegal immigrants and deny business permits to companies that give them jobs. A number of towns nationwide have passed laws modeled on Hazleton's.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A 21-year-old art student will stand trial for allegedly spray painting graffiti throughout Pittsburgh. It caused some 577-thousand dollars worth of damage. Daniel Montano of Highland Park waived a preliminary hearing yesterday. A police officer says he caught Montano with paint-spattered hands finishing a so-called tag on a garage door.

ERIE, Pa. (AP) - Three boys are very happy to be high and dry today. The three had a narrow escape yesterday from the raging waters inside a large concrete pipe that carries a creek under the streets of Erie. One of the boys was rescued at the entrance of the Mill Creek Tube, but the other two were carried inside by therushing water.