Today's News-Tuesday, September 18th

Pottsville's two hospitals made a major announcement yesterday. The Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic and Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center announced Monday morning that they plan to study their options to see if they should consolidate operations under a common local parent entity. WPPA/T102 News met with the chief executives of both hospitals yesterday. Pottsville Hospital CEO John Simodejka tells us how the healthcare facilities administration arrived at this point:
SIMODEJKA 1
The two hospitals will undergo a review process, which may take as long as 6 to 9 months to complete, to study all facets of both hospitals to determine if consolidating the hospitals' operations under one parent makes sense for all involved. Good Samaritan CEO Bernard Koval explains some of the process:
KOVAL 1
The two executives met with the staffs of both hospitals yesterday to discuss the announcement. They both stressed that the long process began yesterday, and that issues of staffing, services and other matters have not been decided upon whatsoever. The Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic was founded in 1895, and operates a 200-bed facility with over 1-thousand employees. They also operate a nursing school. Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center traces its roots to 1920, and operates 159-beds and nearly 900 employees. During the review, no announcements will be made about the study's progress.

A Monday evening crash leaves one dead and one injured. Around 5:45pm, a motorcycle operated by 49-year-old David Zerbe of Ashland was driving northbound in the passing lane of Route 61 near Mount Carbon. Cars driven by Donna Wabby of Pottsville and Christine Bokunewicz of Shenandoah were also in the passing lane. A white car attempted to make an illegal left turn, rather than using the jughandle. Wabby and Bokunewicz's cars had to stop quickly, but Zerbe lost control of the motorcycle and began to slide, striking the back of Wabby’s Ford Explorer. Zerbe was thrown from the motorcycle. Bokunewicz’s car was damaged by flying debris. Zerbe was flown to the hospital for treatment and later died. He was not wearing a helmet. Wabby complained of back pain. Bonukewicz was not hurt. The woman who attempted to make the illegal turn stayed at the scene briefly, then left. State police at Schuylkill Haven are looking for her.

A Pottsville man is charged with stealing electricity from a public utility. Schuylkill Haven state police say that between the end of August and yesterday, 49-year-old Mark Omlor is accused of bypassing an electric meter owned by PPL Electric Utilities and using the electricity without permission. Troopers estimate that damages to the meter and wires, along with stolen electricity exceeds $1-thousand-dollars. Charges were filed with District Judge James Ferrier's office.

A hit and run crash occurred in Blythe Township Sunday evening. 30-year-old Lyndell Ricard of Kaska was hauling a motorcycle trailer on Route 209 and stopped, attempting to turn left onto James Street. An unknown woman, driving a black Oldsmobile failed to see Ricard's vehicle and struck it in the rear end. The car fled the scene on Route 209 at a high rate of speed. Frackville state police are looking for the driver of the car. Anyone with information on the crash should call 874-5300.

A Pottsville man faces drunk driving charges. Last night, Timmy S. Killian was driving on Route 443 near Blue Mountain High School when he was stopped by state police. Troopers suspected that he was driving under the influence. He was placed under arrest. The incident occurred just after 6pm Monday.

Nearly a week has passed since a fire ravaged a Schuylkill Haven fire company. The cause is yet to be determined. Cleanup at Schuylkill Hose Number 2 on Union Street continues by the members who saw their fire house and equipment heavily damaged by the fire last Wednesday. A 1994 engine that was out on a backup call in Pottsville is believed to be the source of the fire that caused a million dollars in damage. But, state police fire investigators and insurance inspectors have not completed their investigation. The Schuylkill Haven community and fire companies from neighboring communities have banded together to aid Schuylkill Hose as they slowly recover from the devastating fire. Monetary donations for the company are being collected on a daily basis at the office of Edward Jones Investments in Schuylkill Haven.

The Mayor of Mount Carbon has pleaded not guilty to charges that he was involved in an altercation at an establishment in the borough last month. The Republican and Herald reports that 24-year-old Jeffrey Dunkel pleaded not guilty to charges of harassment and criminal mischief. The incident, which happened in the early morning hours of August 11th at Goodfella' Café, had Dunkel confronting 45 year old Nelson Sims, who allegedly had inappropriate contact with two women at the bar. One of the women was Dunkel' girlfriend. Dunkel reportedly hit Sims, and punched his car. Sims, who will have his preliminary hearing in October, is charged with open lewdness, disorderly conduct, carrying a firearm without a license and other counts. Sims was jailed after the initial arraignment, then posted bail and was released.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A man charged with O.J. Simpson in an alleged asino-hotel robbery says the Las Vegas hotel room dispute seemed lke a setup. The man tells ABC's "Good Morning America" Simpson my have been tricked, because the memorabilia dealer who tipped
him off also recorded everything on tape.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A fourth straight month of falling food costs helped bring wholesale prices down last month by the biggest amount in 10 months. The government says wholesale prices fell by 1.4 percent in August. The decline was helped along by a plunge in the
price of gasoline and other energy products.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Federal Reserve is considered likely to cut interest rates today. An apparently slowing economy and a credit crunch linked with the housing market slump are seen as reasons for the move.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - It's a signal many homeowners may be in trouble. The California company RealtyTrac is reporting that the number of foreclosure filings reported in the U.S. last month more than doubled from the year before. It jumped 36 percent from July.

DETROIT (AP) - Experts say billions of dollars are at stake in contract negotiations between the United Auto Workers and General Motors. Talks are set to resume today. Both sides say progress has been made, but that the talks have been slowed by complex issues such as retiree health care.

ERIE, Pa. (AP) - Erie County District Attorney Brad Foulk says he could decide this week whether to file criminal charges against a former Mercyhurst College volleyball player who gave birth in her apartment. An autopsy showed the baby suffocated shortly after it
was born.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pittsburgh Republican mayoral candidate Mark DeSantis says he'll appoint an ethics compliance officer if he's elected. DeSantis' promise is an attack on Democratic incumbent Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, who was questioned by the city's Ethics Hearing Board.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - One of the owners of Pittsburgh's well-known Robert Wholey & Co. Fish Market says he'll run for Congress against Republican U.S. Representative Tim Murphy. Dan Wholey plans to run in the Democratic primary against Bethany Hafer.

APOLLO, Pa. (AP) - A federal agency is recommending that former Armstrong County nuclear plant workers become eligible for government aid for their illnesses. If approved, many workers would be entitled to $150,000 each if they have one of 22 cancers.

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. (AP) - State officials say a Montgomery County metal tubing manufacturer has been fined more than $36,000 for a chemical release. Superior Tube officials have blamed an equipment malfunction for the July 10th problem at their Collegeville
facility.