Today's News-Thursday, August 9th

Six vehicles were involved in a chain reaction crash yesterday morning on foggy Interstate 81 in Frailey Township. Around 6:45am, a traffic backlog developed near mile marker 109 on the Interstate due to numerous crashes farther south on the road. Four cars were stopped in the left lane. A car operated by Danielle Makara of Zion Grove failed to see the car driven by Jennifer Collins of Jonestown, and rear ended it. The impact forced a chain reaction crash with cars operated by William George of Archbald, Lindsey Artz of Hegins and Christine Knecht of West Hazleton. A car driven by Jason Lex of Ringtown struck Makara's car in the rear end. Several of the motorists and their passengers had minor injuries. The southbound lane of I-81 was closed for about two hours for cleanup.

A Girardville man will stand trial on charges that he ran a woman over with his truck, killing her, in June of this year. 42-year-old Joseph Cress had a preliminary hearing before District Judge Bernadette Nahas yesterday, according to the Republican and Herald. Cress is charged with running over 45-year-old Roseann Barrett of Girardville with his truck in the early morning hours of June 15th near Girardville. Cress and Barrett were at a bar in Girardville and left around 3:30am. When Barrett refused Cress's physical advances, they began to argue. When she left the truck, she fell out and Cress began to drive off, running over her. He is charged with criminal homicide, aggravated and simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. After two hours of testimony, it was determined that the case should be passed on to Schuylkill County Court.

The investigation continues into a burglary at a Washington Township home yesterday afternoon. No one was home at George Ankenbrandt’s house at 59 Moyers Station Road when someone entered through a basement door. While it is undetermined exactly what was taken, several coins and lottery tickets were stolen. While the burglar was inside, Ankenbrandt returned home. The thief took off in an unknown make and model vehicle. Schuylkill Haven state police are looking for the burglar.

With the oppressive heat and humidity we've experienced recently, PPL Electric Utilities are urging customers to conserve energy. The weather is pushing demand for electricity in the mid-Atlantic region to near record levels. PPL Electric Utilities President David DeCampli said that the company reduced voltage in its distribution network yesterday to protect power reserves. Customers are asked to shift their usage of major appliances to early morning or evening hours when demand for electricity is lower. Appliances that are not being used should be turned off when not in use. And customers should adjust air conditioning units a few degrees higher if health permits. More ideas for conserving energy can be found at http://www.pplelectric.com/.

If you are the owner of a small business, and suffered losses due to flooding last November, an important deadline is looming to apply for help. The US Small Business Administration reminds businesses that Economic Injury Disaster Loans are still available to small businesses that were affected by severe storms and flooding on November 16 and 17th, 2006. Small businesses may apply for loans up to $1.5 million dollars if they suffered substantial economic injury from the disaster. The working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits. Small businesses in Schuylkill, Carbon and 6 other surrounding counties are eligible to apply. The interest rate is 4 percent, with a maximum term of 30 years. The SBA determines the amount of economic injury, and the terms are based on each individual borrower. The deadline to apply is September 11th, 2007. To obtain a loan packet, call the Small Business Administration at 800-659-2955.

Continued development at commercial sites in Schuylkill County have prompted officials to make some improvements to traffic signals. According to officials from SEDCO, traffic control signals at Keystone Boulevard and Route 901 in Foster Township and on Route 209 and Rausch Creek Road have been converted to LED technology from the traditional incandescent lighting.
According to officials from ECON Opportunities, the company who made the changes, LED traffic signals can save up to 90 percent of the energy consumed by traditional lighting, and can extend the life of the lights by several years. Before year's end, three new signals are slated for installation at the northern end of the Highridge Business Park, two in Cass Township and one inButler Township.

Schuylkill Haven state police are investigating a burglary at a home in Tremont yesterday. Someone entered the home of Robert Madenford, 39 Birch Street by removing an air conditioner from a window and crawled through. Once inside, the burglar took $2-thousand-dollars and fled. Anyone with information about this burglary should call 593-2000.

If you like your cars loud and flashy, then tonight's festivities for the Great Pottsville Cruise are right up your alley. The annual rite of summer, the Great Pottsville Cruise, kicks off four days of activity starting today. At 6pm tonight, the Generation X Sound Off and Car Show will be held at the Yorkville Coney Island on West Market Street. Organizer Dave Clews said that the men and women who will present their cars for display and competition go to great lengths to customize their vehicles, from ornate paint jobs to high tech electronic equipment. Friday night, it's the Annual Sock Hop at Pine View Acres from 9pm till midnight with music from the Mudflaps. On Saturday, visitors and car aficionados will be able to Cruise into downtown Pottsville at two locations; At Jerry's Classic Car Museum during the afternoon and on North Centre Street at Coney Island from 6 to 9pm. Sunday is the biggest day of the cruise, with breakfast at Yorkville Hose, through the midday and afternoon. The cruise rolls out at 4pm, and the day ends with fireworks at Veteran's Stadium. Funds raised from the cruise come right back to the community, helping various organizations and projects.

HUNTINGTON, Utah (AP) - Rescue crews in Utah are hoping to punch through to 6 trapped coal miners by sometime tomorrow. The men haven't been heard from since Monday and it's not known if they're still alive. Holes are being drilled into the mountain to try to get food and air to them.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - People in the Los Angeles area have had a frightening wakeup. The region was rattled by a sizable earthquake early today. No injuries are reported from the 4.5 shaker, which knocked things off shelves. One man says there were two quick jerks. Then it stopped.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan's embattled President Pervez Musharraf is considering declaring a state of emergency, giving himself broad new powers. A government spokesman cites, among other things, comments by U.S. presidential candidate Barak Obama raising the possibility of a unilateral strike against terrorists in Pakistan.

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, HOUSTON (AP) - In the words of Mission Control, "class is in session." That announcement last night after space shuttle Endeavour reached orbit. One of the seven astronauts on board is former teacher Barbara Morgan. She'll be talking to school kids during the mission.

ROME (AP) - Luciano Pavarotti's manager confirms the legendary tenor has been
hospitalized in his hometown in Italy. Pavarotti underwent surgery last year for pancreatic cancer. An Italian newspaper reports he came down with pneumonia during a seaside vacation with his family.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Senator Bob Casey says a good argument could be made that U.S. troops are winning in Iraq. Speaking from Baghdad, Casey said yesterday it is the Iraqi political leaders who are not doing their job. Casey is on his first trip to Iraq. He says he's been telling Iraqi leaders that Americans are troubled by the lack of progress by the country's politicians.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The lawyer for the longtime wife of a man who took a second wife in Morocco says his client is about to be charged in his death. Lawyer Brian McMonagle says 47-year-old Myra Morton of Whitpain Township, Montgomery County, will turn herself
in at 9 a.m. today. Morton's husband, Jereleigh Morton, was shot in his bed early Sunday.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A female prison guard has been released from a hospital in Philadelphia after being treated for back, neck and facial injuries. Authorities say she was attacked last night at the House of Correction in the city's Holmesburg section. Coincidentally, a federal court hearing is scheduled today on prison overcrowding in Philadelphia.

LATROBE, Pa. (AP) - The bankrupt Le-Nature's plant near Latrobe is to be auctioned off today. Grocery store chain Giant Eagle, with a bid of 20 million dollars, has emerged as the what's known as a "stalking horse" in the auction. That means the company's bid is
a target other bidders must exceed if they want to buy the plant.

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - Nurses at Community Medical Center in Scranton have voted 209-117 in favor of union representation. An official with the National Labor Relations Board says the board will certify a union to represent the nurses on August 15th unless medical center officials file an objection. CMC officials say they haven't decided whether to challenge the vote.