Today's News-Monday, July 30th

Schuylkill Haven State Police are continuing their investigation into an armed robbery yesterday afternoon. Troopers say that around 2:25pm, a white male entered the Hess Express on Route 61 near Orwigsburg, pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at the attendant and demanded money from the register. He left with an undetermined amount of cash and fled on foot. The man is suspected to be in his mid 20’s, between 5 feet 7 and 5 feet 9 inches tall, slender to medium build. He was wearing a white baseball cap, a tan or cream colored shirt, baggy shorts and black sneakers. Anyone who has seen this man should immediately call Schuylkill Haven State Police, at 593-2000.

The 2007 edition of the Schuylkill County Fair got underway in Summit Station yesterday.
The day opened with events in the horse show ring along Route 895, and vendors continued to set up for Preview Day. The gates opened at 5pm Sunday evening to an overcast sky.
A local favorite, The Shoreliners, opened the entertainment portion with a mix of traditional favorites, oldies and the ever-popular polka as a steady stream of visitors came through the gates. The King and Queen contest was held, with three men and three women vying for the title. After a question-and-answer session, the judges awarded first prize to the husband-and-wife team of Bob and Carolyn Archer of Pine Grove. The remainder of the evening's entertainment, the VIH Rhythm and Blues Band, and the Schuylkill Senior Idol contestants, were unable to perform due to a severe electrical storm that passed through the area. While rains at the fairgrounds were not heavy by any means, lightning presented a significant safety risk to the performers and visitors. At 7:45pm, the Schuylkill County Fair closed down for the night. Those that were in attendance had "bushels of fun" at the Schuylkill County Fair.

A crowd of visitors enjoyed food, fellowship and ethnic heritage yesterday at Ukranian Seminary Day in Primrose Sunday. The 73rd Ukranian Seminary Day, sponsored by the churches of the Southern Anthracite Deanery of the Ukranian Church, celebrated the heritage of the faith, and helped to raise monies for St. Josaphat Seminary in Washington, DC. The school trains men for the Ukranian priesthood. Metropolitan Archbishop Stefan Soroka, the head of the Ukranian Catholic Church in America, explains that the local parishes play a sigificant role in the success of the Seminary. Ethnic foods, such as halupki, halushki and many other traditional dishes were available, as well as entertainment and games, drew a large crowd to the picnic grove at St. Nicholas Church in Primrose Sunday.

Several vehicles were vandalized at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary on Friday afternoon. Sometime between 1:30 and 4:30pm, an unknown thief broke into a truck owned by Malcolm Cook of Great Falls, Virginia, who was visiting the sanctuary. A GPS system and various children’s DVD's were stolen, with a value of just over $1-thousand-dollars. An electronic road atlas system belonging to Oswaldo Giolli of Douglassville was also taken, valued at nearly $700 dollars. Hamburg state police are investigating.

A water main break in Minersville caused problems last night. Emergency responders were called to a business to pump water out of a basement. According to the Republican and Herald, officials believe that a broken main caused the ground outside of the business to soften, and a fire truck got stuck. It took about a half hour to free it. A Minersville man crossing the street had minor injuries when he fell into a sinkhole. Borough officials blocked the affected streets off last night.

CAMP DAVID, Md. (AP) - A final day of meetings today between new British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and President Bush take place at Camp David. The leaders hope some private time together will build a good rapport. The leaders plan a midday news conference.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - As a Taliban deadline for the lives of 22 South Koreans expired an Afghan governor pleaded with the militants for an extension. The Taliban want some of its fighters released in exchange for the hostages. The governor says militants did not reject his plea outright.

UNDATED (AP) - Corruption in Iraq amounts to a "second insurgency." That's what the latest audit report to Congress says about reconstruction efforts. And a report from Oxfam and other
relief agencies says nearly a third of the Iraqi population needs immediate emergency aid including water, sanitation, food and shelter.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) - Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman has died. Media reports cite his daughter as saying he died today at his home in Faro, Sweden. Bergman was widely regarded as one of the great masters of modern cinema. He was 89-years-old.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Food and Drug Administration examines the risks and benefits of the diabetes drug Avandia today. Health advisers will look at whether the heart risks associated with the drug should force it to be pulled from the market or only used in select patients.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Carnegie Museum of Natural History's display of dinosaurs and artifacts of ancient cultures is nationally renowned. But as impressive - if not more so - is the 97
percent of the museum's collection tucked away in an inconspicuous building in the city's East End.

ERIE, Pa. (AP) - A sleek, 19-ton armored vehicle designed for speed rather than strength has kept an Erie infantry out of Iraq. But after months of intensive training on the Stryker at Fort
Indiantown Gap's mock villages, the First Battalion's 112th Infantry is expecting to be deployed to Iraq in the next year.

JOHNSTOWN (AP) - Pennsylvania schools are on a construction binge that puts them first in the nation for long-term debt, even as student enrollment declines. The construction, paid for mostly through property taxes, is a political red flag that has seen some school boards voted out and others defending multimillion dollar projects.

ERIE, Pa. (AP) - Seven years after the idea was pitched, the 44 (m) million dollar Bayfront Convention Center in Erie is finally opening this week. Overlooking the lake and with a breathtaking view of Presque Isle Bay and Dobbins Landing, the convention center will host on Thursday its first event.

SHANKSVILLE, Pa. (AP) - A judge has transferred more than 600-thousand dollars from a county-run trust fund to the families of those killed in Flight 93 on September 11th, 2001. The judge ordered the transfer on Friday at the request of the county and the families.