Today's News-Thursday, September 13th

Fire extensively damaged a fire company in Schuylkill Haven yesterday. Schuylkill Hose Company #2, at the corner of East Union and South St. Peter Streets caught fire after 3pm. Company Chief Jim Reed tells us what happened:
REED
The 30 year old cinderblock and brick building housed two fire engines and a hazardous materials response trailer, which were all destroyed, as well as other firefighting gear. The remainder of the two story structure had smoke and water damage. Explosions from air packs and other combustibles also accelerated the fire. It was contained within half an hour.
Damage estimates exceed a million dollars. Area fire companies have offered equipment and trucks to Schuylkill Hose, one of three companies in the borough. No one was injured. State Police Fire Marshal John Burns was investigating the scene yesterday afternoon.

Representatives from Gladstone Partners, developers of the proposed cargo airport in a portion of Schuylkill County were guest speakers at the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce’s 2nd Wednesday breakfast meeting held at the River Inn Wednesday. Attorney Robert Powell, a partner in the group, said he was glad to have the opportunity to come to Schuylkill County to talk about the project:
POWELL 1
Powell also commented on the study group being formed by the four counties within the boundaries of the proposed airport:
POWELL 2
He said his group has hired the best and brightest to study the proposal and his group will continue to work with the FAA, the state and with regional and local authorities to get the necessary permits and he is sure they can accommodate everyone. Powell said their engineers are working around the clock to complete their plan for the facility to submit to the FAA by December of this year. He said they are hoping for construction to begin on the 13-thousand foot runway in the summer of 2008. Powell said the airport would alleviate cargo congestion at major airports in New York and New Jersey.

A New York man was convicted of firing a gun at a home in Tamaqua last year, but was found not guilty of another charge. The Republican and Herald reports that 26-year-old Kareem Mills was found guilty of reckless endangerment, aggravated assault and related counts, but not guilty of attempted homicide and burglary. Mills went to his former girlfriend’s home in Tamaqua last year and fired shots inside of the apartment. Three people, including a child were inside the home at the time. Mills will spend at least 6 ½ years in state prison. Sentencing is scheduled for November 1st.

A fire in Pottsville left 5 people homeless Wednesday afternoon. Pottsville firefighters were called to a home in the 300 block of North 12th Street. An overheated fan is believed to have started the fire. One Pottsville firefighter suffered burns. A number of pets were rescued from the home, but several are unaccounted for. The first floor was completely destroyed, with smoke and heat damage to the second and third floors, according to officials.

A Lebanon County company is planning to build a plant in our area, and will receive some financial help from a bond issue. State Representative Tim Seip announced that a $7-million-dollar tax-exempt bond issue will allow Solar Innovations of Myerstown to build a 193-thousand-square foot facility in Pine Grove Township. The financing comes from the Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority. The project is in cooperation with the Schuylkill County Industrial Development Authority. PEDFA provides tax-exempt and taxable bonds to be used to pay for up to 100 percent of costs to finance land, building, equipment and other projects.

A movie based on a sensational murder trial in neighboring Lebanon County in the 1870’s makes its debut in Pottsville this weekend. 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 from Friday through Sunday. The true story was made into a stage play and documentary by Pennsylvania Historic Dramas. One of the actors, Michael Lazorchik, tells WPPA/T102 News about the significance of the story:
LAZORCHIK
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 Friday and Saturday at 8pm, and Sunday at 2pm.

HOUSTON (AP) - Parts of Texas and Louisiana are getting heavy rain and high winds from Hurricane Humberto. The Category One storm crashed ashore early this morning bringing with
it 80-mile-per-hour winds. Forecasters think if will weaken as it moves inland but could cause flash floods.

WHITE HOUSE (AP) - It's expected President Bush will be asking for patience tonight over progress in Iraq. The president is to address the nation from the Oval Office. Aides say he'll endorse an end to the surge by next July, provided that conditions allow. Skeptical Democrats want to change the mission away from combat.

BAGHDAD (AP) - U.S. military officials think Iran provided Shiite extremists with the 240-millimeter rocket used to attack the headquarters compound of the American military in Iraq Tuesday. One person died and 11 more were hurt during the strike on Camp Victory.

PADANG, Indonesia (AP) - A third powerful earthquake has jolted Indonesia in less than 24 hours. The latest quake measured 6.2. Two earlier, more powerful quakes collapsed buildings, homes and a mosque. They're blamed in at least nine deaths but rescue crews are digging through the rubble looking for more possible victims.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A government report says applicants for home mortgages were rejected at a slightly higher rate last year than the year before. The overall denial rate was 29 percent, up from 27 percent in 2005. The report also finds minority applicants were denied more often than whites.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Construction on a link between two of Pittsburgh's busiest highways begins Monday. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is spending 7.9 million dollars to link from southbound Route 28 to Interstate 279.

ERIE, Pa. (AP) - An Erie County man will spend two to four years in prison for not reporting the condition of his infant grandsons, one of whom starved to death in his Waterford Township home. Judge William Cunningham sentenced 56-year-old Larry Peace yesterday.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Pittsburgh Marathon will make a comeback, just not in time for the city's 250th birthday celebration next year. An Allegheny County spokesman there isn't enough time to organize it properly by next May.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture is giving a food bank 550 pounds of breast meat from 272 Canada geese that were euthanized at an Allegheny County park in July. The geese were gassed to help control their population at the 3,000-acre North Park.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A 17-year-old boy accidentally shot himself in the leg while standing in line at a McDonald's restaurant in downtown Pittsburgh. He now faces an illegal weapons charge. Police say the boy was fiddling with the pistol tucked in his waistband when it fired.