Today's News-Thursday, August 16th

Two men are under arrest on a host of charges following a tense chase yesterday in Pottsville and Minersville. Police report that two men, 27-year-old Albert Modica of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and 27-year-old Joseph Colorusso of North Arlington, New Jersey reportedly stole a Saturn Outlook in the Garden State following a home break-in and headed toward Pennsylvania. The General Motors On-Star network notified local officials that the stolen car was located in the Mount Hope section of Pottsville. Modica, who was driving, rammed a Pottsville police car in an attempt to escape. Colorusso was taken into custody, but Modica fled on foot and an all-out dragnet was issued for his capture. Within an hour, Modica was spotted near the Westwood Dunkin' Donuts and other law enforcement called in to intensify the search along the Pottsville/Minersville highway. Modica, being cornered, entered a home on High and North Third Streets, where he was captured. Pottsville Police Chief Joseph Murton credited all of the police officers involved in the chase, including city Mayor John Reiley, who was a spotter in the Mazzucca Enterprises helicopter, and other citizens who helped to capture the men. Modica and Colorusso were charged with numerous felonies and were taken to Schuylkill County Prison.

A Lake Hauto woman died in a crash yesterday in Rush Township. Police report that 18-year-old Allen Petrey of Grier City was headed west on Route 54 toward Hometown when his car collided with a Chevy Cobalt driven by 80-year-old Margaret Shober head-on. Shober was trapped in the vehicle and had to be removed by emergency responders. She was taken via ambulance to St. Luke's Miners Memorial Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
The crash happened around 6pm last night.

A police officer, involved in the search for a felon near Minersville, crashed into a car yesterday.
Robert Phillips was driving a county police vehicle, in pursuit of Albert Modica, had his lights flashing and siren activated when he reached the intersection of Rout 901 and Seltzer Road, when the car crashed into the vehicle driven by 70-year-old Dorothy Slish. Phillips was taken to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center as a precaution. Slish was not hurt. The crash happened Wednesday morning.

Schuylkill County will soon be seeking bids to remove asbestos recently discovered in the county-owned 1912 building in Schuylkill Haven. County Budget analyst and purchasing manager Mark Catranis asked the Commissioners for permission to seek bids during Wednesday's work session. In an interview after the meeting, Catranis said the building which is located next to Rest Haven, was locked down after the discovery of what he said was a small amount of asbestos and no one is allowed inside until the problem is resolved. Catranis said a review by an abatement contractor determined asbestos pipe wrap will need to be removed from exposed pipes on the 1st, 2nd & 3rd floors, along a tunnel to the east of the building, and insulation above a corrugated ceiling in a section of the basement. The county has used the unheated building for many years to store records. Those records were transferred to a heated facility the county recently purchased on Laurel Street in Pottsville, near the Court House.

Residents for and against a proposed duck farm in Washington Township had a chance to comment on the project last night. The Department of Enviromental Protection held the hearing last night, according to the Republican and Herald. Dale and Regina Stoltzfus of Pine Grove are developing some farmland into the farm that would raise Pekin ducks for a Berks County duck processor. A group of concerned residents have been vocal in their objections about their health and safety if the farm is allowed to be built. Among the issues are the construction of a manure lagoon and its effects on water supplies and the possible odors that may eminate from the site. All of the testimony given will be made part of the permanent record of the application. The Stoltzfus family has received some of the local approvals necessary to continue on with the duck farm project, but additional approvals are required before the project moves ahead.

New computers and new employees topped the agenda at Wednesday night's Pottsville Area School Board meeting. The computers costing 1 thousand 9 hundred 14 dollars and 50 cents will begin being used in August as the new school year begins. Also new to the schools will be several fall sports coaches. These include water polo head coach Vicki Fisher and assistant coach Sue Pierdon, Girls' Tennis head coach Joel Geisinger, and Girls' Soccer assistant coach Denise Alvarez. Boys' Basketball head coach David Mullaney was also appointed. Several school board members announced their retirements as they will not be appearing on the ballot for re-election in November. Peggy Yeager is retiring after 12 years of service, while Agnes Reiley and Patrick Murphy are leaving the board after 20 years.

State police are looking for the driver of a red pickup truck who was involved in a hit-and-run last night in West Brunswick Township. The truck was northbound on Coal Mountain Road and crossed the center line, sideswiping the mirror of an ambulance driven by Floyd Kimmel of Schuylkill Haven. The unidentified truck driver fled the scene. A passenger in the ambulance, Dale Hurst of Pine Grove, nor Kimmel, were hurt. Schuylkill Haven state police continue the investigation.

One community's effort to raise money for development of a recreational area is set for Saturday. Island FEST in Schuylkill Haven, which has been in the planning stages for nearly a year, is set to begin at 1pm on the Island. The effort is a project to raise funds for the Schuylkill Haven Island Park Project, a dream for many in the borough for more than 30 years. The day will feature musical groups to suit all tastes and ages, plus games, food of all kinds and other acts. The gates open at 12noon, and the event runs from 1pm till 10pm. Admission is just $5 per person, with ages 4 and under free! Island FEST will be held rain or shine.

LIMA, Peru (AP) - Officials in Peru say the death toll from last night's 7.9-magnitude earthquake has climbed past 300. Floors of one hospital in the quake zone are covered with bodies. The quake shook Lima for more than two minutes and the region has been rocked
by a number of strong aftershocks.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) - Tropical Storm Erin is pounding the Texas coast with heavy rain. Meanwhile, Hurricane Dean has formed in the Atlantic, becoming the first hurricane of the Atlantic season. The storm could close in on the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean by tomorrow.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - More than a tenth of North Korea's crops have reportedly been swept away by massive flooding. Water reached up to six and a-half feet high in the impoverished country's capital city. Outside governments and aid organizations are considering ways to help.

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, HOUSTON (AP) - NASA says it is "cautiously optimistic" repairs won't be needed on a gouge on the belly of shuttle Endeavour. To be sure, engineers are running one last test and double-checking data. A decision is expected today.

TOKYO (AP) - Asian stocks have closed at their lowest levels in months, and European stocks appear to be following. One analyst says there's uncertainty over how much impact U.S. loan problems will have on corporate earnings and Asia's regional economy.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A gunfight at a youth basketball game in North Philadelphia has killed a 17-year-old boy and left an 18-year-old wounded. Police near the recreation center heard the
shots and arrested a young man carrying a pistol as he attempted to flee. Investigators said at least nine shots were fired. The tournament was attended by several hundred spectators.

MONROEVILLE, Pa. (AP) - Authorities have identified a 16-year-old girl who was fatally stabbed in Monroeville. Police say Demi Cuccia was found outside some townhouses last night. Police say they believe she was stabbed by a 19-year-old male friend who then tried to kill himself. Police say they found him about 25 feet away in a parking area.

NEW YORK (AP) - A federal judge says the city of New York is within its rights in suing out-of-state gun dealers in a New York court. The judge says the dealers knowingly helped criminals
terrorize New Yorkers, bringing them under jurisdiciton of New York courts. The city is suing more than 25 shops from Pennsylvania, Georgia, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge Michael Thomas Joyce of Erie has been indicted on federal charges of mail fraud and money laundering. It involves insurance payments Joyce received after a car accident. Federal prosecutors accuse Joyce of filing false information to insurance companies to get more than $400,000 in settlements.

MOUNT POCONO, Pa. (AP) - In the Poconos, Mount Airy Casino Resort is to take delivery of its slot machines today. Developers of the casino in Paradise Township, Monroe County, say they're on track to open for business this fall.