Today's News - Saturday Sept. 15

POTTSVILLE - Music is in the air this evening at the Schuylkill County Council for the Arts, with the Yuengling Music Festival. A celebration of all types of jazz and blues from some of the areas finest await festival goers. Scheduled to appear are Mr.Z and the Nightshift, Richie Molinaro and Mr. Lou, The Gary MacCready Ensemble and Ken Mettam and Friends. Macready, is a Minersville native with three albums to his credit. For more information on tonight's show at the Schuylkill County Arts Center in Pottsville, call 622-ARTT.

POTTSVILLE - A movie based on a sensational murder trial in neighboring Lebanon County in the 1870's made its debut in Pottsville last night. The Blue Eyed Six, a story about six men who purchased an insurance policy on a man, only to have him killed later for the insurance money, will be presented at the Sovereign Majestic Theatre through Sunday. The true story was made into a stage play and documentary by Pennsylvania Historic Dramas. A portion of the film was shot at the Schuylkill County Prison. It made its debut earlier this year. The filmmakers, Brian and Bruce Kreider, are hoping to get the film more exposure at other film festivals. Showtimes for the Blue Eyed Six at the Sovereign Majestic are this evening at 8pm, and a Sunday matinee at 2pm.

ASHLAND - A northern Schuylkill County community has declared a drought emergency. Steve Ulceski, Ashland Borough Manager, announced the emergency yesterday, after their reservoir dropped to 10 and a half feet, or 60 percent of capacity. The declaration means that mandatory water restrictions are in effect until further notice. Ashland is the second community in the county to issue such a declaration. Orwigsburg implemented the drought emergency last month. Schuylkill County is still under a drought watch.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - State police have released the names of two teenagers involved in a crash Thursday night. Troopers yesterday said that 17-year-old Bradley Wolfe was at the wheel of a Toyota 4-Runner which crashed on Newswanger Road near Rock, Washington Township before 8 Thursday night. Wolfe was pronounced dead after the crash. His passenger, 17-year-old Timothy Thomas of Schuylkill Haven had to be LifeFlighted to Geisinger Medical Center. He is reported to be in fair condition. State police indicate that neither of the boys were wearing their seatbelts.

PINE GROVE - State police have announced the arrest of a Pine Grove man from a hit and run accident last month near Pine Grove. The accident took place on August 18th on State Route 30-02, where 46-year-old Frederick Colbert was east bound, struck a 17-year-old pedestrian and did not stop to help. Troopers say that they received information linking Colbert to the accident, which led to his arrest on Thursday. He is charged with fleeing the scene of an accident involving death or serious injury, and other violations. Additional charges in the case are pending.

POTTSVILLE - With one week into the 2008 campaign, the Schuylkill United Way is a quarter of the way to their goal. This year's effort, "We Are...Community Strong", has a goal of $1 million dollars. Officials at the United Way report that they have pledges and contributions totaling $248 thousand, 37 dollars so far. The campaign runs until mid November. To contribute to the Schuylkill United Way, call 622-6421, or log onto schuylkillunitedway-dot-org.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - The American flag is a symbol of our freedom. But many people don't know the proper way to care for, or dispose of them when they become tattered and worn. A ceremony in Schuylkill Haven Sunday will provide an opportunity to "retire" Old Glory in a fitting and proper way. Schuylkill Memorial Park is holding their second annual flag retirement ceremony at the cemetery Sunday afternoon at 2pm. The Flag Code is a set of guidelines for properly flying, caring for and disposing of the Stars and Stripes. There are many misconceptions about how the flag should be cared for. One fallacy is that if an American flag touches the ground, that it should be retired. According to ushistory-dot-org, if the flag does touch the ground, it may be laundered, but only by hand. If a flag becomes tattered, faded and shows excessive wear, it should be retired by a ceremony like the one being held Sunday. The program will include music, readings and the retirement ceremony, where flags will be burned in a solemn ceremony. Visitors to this free-of-charge event can bring their own flags for proper retirement.

DETROIT (AP) - Talks will continue today between the United Auto Workers union and General Motors. Bargainers are taking a break after extending their talks beyond a midnight strike deadline. Health-care costs are a key issue.

WHITE HOUSE (AP) - President Bush's radio address today focuses on Iraq. He says Iraq is making crucial progress, even though an administration report card to Congress shows Iraq's government is not meeting key security and political benchmarks. Democrats have seized on the report and will try to limit the Iraq mission.

BAGHDAD (AP) - An Al-Qaida front group says more Sunni leaders who cooperate with the U.S. and the Iraqi government will be targeted for death. The warning comes in the wake of the assassination of the leader of a Sunni revolt against the terror movement. Separately, the group has announced a new offensive.

BAGHDAD (AP) - It's still legal, but buying liquor in predominantly Muslim Iraq is becoming more and more problematic. With the rise of religious parties, the trade has come under severe pressure. Liquor stores are closed for the holy month of Ramadan but customers did stock up in advance.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Contraband underwear is reported at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp. There's an investigation into how two prisoners came to be wearing Under Armour briefs. One of them also had a Speedo bathing suit. The military says the items were not issued.

HOUSTON (AP) - The Atlantic season's ninth named storm, Tropical Storm Ingrid, is well out to sea and no threat to land with its nearly 40-mile-an-hour winds. Utility crews are still working to restore power to some 60-thousand homes and businesses in Texas and Louisiana knocked out by Hurricane Humberto.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush is expected to announce a nominee next week to replace Alberto Gonzales as attorney general. Yesterday was Gonzales' final day on the job at the Justice Department. He left amid investigations into whether he broke the law and lied to Congress about White House political dealings. He denies any wrongdoing.

ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) - The Utah trial of polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs is on hold for the weekend after emotional testimony from his accuser. The woman described the terror and despair she felt when she was forced to get married at 14. Jeffs is charged with rape as an accomplice and could get life in prison.

LAS VEGAS (AP) - O.J. Simpson is having another run-in with the law. Police in Las Vegas say Simpson is under investigation in an alleged armed robbery involving his sports memorabilia. Simpson says he went to a hotel room to recover items he believed had been stolen from him and says there were no guns.

RENO, Nev. (AP) - The Reno National Championship Air Races have had a third fatal crash in four days. Two airplanes clipped wings yesterday, killing one pilot and injuring another. The dead man was five-time defending champion Gary Hubler. The races will resume today as scheduled.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Carol Channing's stolen signature dress from the stage production of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" has been recovered. The shimmery number she wore in the musical was found last night in a bag abandoned in a Hollywood park. It had been stolen from her hotel. The dress is to be part of a Smithsonian exhibit.

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Even though security has been increased, migrants trying to cross into Arizona from Mexico are dying at what could be a record pace. A border county medical examiner in Arizona says 181 deaths in the area so far put this year ahead of the record pace set two years ago.

NEW YORK (AP) - An assistant director of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says a street performer playing a drum apparently startled one of the horses that pulls carriages around New York's Central Park. The horse died after breaking loose and running into a tree.