Today's News-Wednesday, September 12th

The case of a convicted sex offender who failed to appear at his trial has taken another turn.
Russell Rehrig of Allentown was convicted of raping three children by a jury last week, but was out on bail and never showed up for the trial. A snafu in the Schuylkill County Clerk of Courts office was originally thought to have been the reason that Rehrig was able to get out on a reduced bail. Now, the Judge in the case has weighed in as to what may have happened.
The Republican and Herald reports that President Judge William Baldwin accepts responsibility for a misunderstanding with the Clerk of Courts office, where only $15-hundred dollars bail was paid for Rehrig's release. Baldwin said that the wording of the bail order was not as clear as it should have been. In the meantime, an all out search is being conducted for Rehrig, who was reported to have been seen in the Allentown area since his conviction in absentia. Law enforcement officials from Schuylkill and Lehigh counties continue to follow up on all leads to bring him to justice. Rehrig faces a very long term prison sentence for sexually assaulting the children on numerous occasions in 2004 and 2005.

A number of communities across the region observed the 6th anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attacks yesterday. In Schuylkill Haven, a Community Remembrance Service was held at the Church of the Nazarene. The church sanctuary was full, as members of the greater Schuylkill Haven clergy read scriptures with the theme of peace, and various musical pieces were offered. Pastor Rose Hoffman of the Nazarene Church explains why she organizes the annual event:
HOFFMAN 1
She was thrilled with the turnout:
HOFFMAN 2
Officials from the borough fire department were in attendance for the observance. A color guard from the Robert E Baker Post 38 presented the colors and concluded the evening with a firing squad salute to honor those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001.

Pottsville area employers expect to hire at a steady pace during the fourth quarter of 2007, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey. The hiring firm, in their 4th Quarter Outlook, says that 30 percent of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees, while 10 percent expect to reduce their payrolls. Another 53 percent expect to maintain their current staff levels and 7% are not certain of their hiring plans. Manpower spokesperson Irene Kadziela said that hiring intentions among area employers are more modest than in the third quarter, when 33 percent of the companies interviewed intended to add employees, and none planned to
reduce staff levels. She indicates that employer confidence about hiring is stronger as compared to one year ago. For the fourth quarter of 2006, 23 percent of companies surveyed planned to boost staff levels and 10 percent expected to reduce payrolls. For the coming quarter, job prospects appear best in Durable Goods Manufacturing, Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing and Services. Employers in Construction plan to reduce staffing levels, while those in Wholesale/Retail Trade voice mixed hiring intentions. Overall, hiring plans have been weaker throughout 2007 versus 2006. Among the 14-thousand U.S. employers surveyed, 27 percent foresee an increase in hiring activity, and 9 percent expect a decline in staff levels from October to December.

The Tamaqua division of the Schuylkill United Way kicked off their portion of the 2008 "We Are…Community Strong" campaign on Monday. Tamaqua chairman Todd Miller welcomed a group of supporters to their division kickoff, with a goal of $135-thousand-dollars, as part of the county’s $1-million dollar campaign goal. During the kickoff breakfast, the video "We Are Community Strong" was rolled out to show what the monies that are contributed to Schuylkill United Way do for the 16 member agencies and their constituents. The campaign runs through mid-November. Funds raised in the Schuylkill United Way campaign stays right here in the county. To give to the county effort, call Schuylkill United Way at 622-6421, or visit their website at schuylkillunitedway-dot-org.

A city restaurant was the victim of a theft yesterday. John Chen, owner of the Alleluia Christian Chinese restaurant on West Market Street reported that a tip jar located at the checkout counter was taken by an unidentified man last evening. The white middle aged male walked off with about $30 dollars. Chen was reportedly in the kitchen of the restaurant when the theft took place, according to Pottsville police.

The trial for a man accused of attempted murder is in it's second day in Schuylkill County.
Yesterday, Kelly Dalessio testified that she had known without looking that ex-boyfriend 26-year-old Kareem Mills of New York City came to her Tamaqua apartment on the evening of March 13, 2006 and fired a shot through a kitchen window, then broke into her apartment with the revolver. Tamaqua police charged Mills with attempted homicide, and related counts.
His trial before a jury and county Judge Charles M. Miller is scheduled to resume this morning with prosecutors continuing their case. The defense claims Mills only went to the apartment to retrieve items he had left there prior.

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - A strong earthquake has rocked Indonesia. Authorities issued a tsunami alert after the quake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.9 caused buildings to sway in the capital, Jakarta.

WHITE HOUSE (AP) - President Bush will speak to the nation tomorrow night to announce that as many as 30,000 troops could be coming home from Iraq by next summer. White House officials say the president will endorse the recommendations of the top general and top diplomat in Iraq.

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) - Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama says all U.S combat brigades should be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of next year. Obama will give a campaign speech in Iowa today, saying "there is no military solution in Iraq and there never was."

WASHINGTON (AP) - Another sentencing today in connection with the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. The chief of staff for former Ohio Congressman Bob Ney has cooperated in the probe and federal prosecutors say the strongest punishment Neil Volz should get is house arrest.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A wild scene in an Ohio courtroom yesterday, as a defendant in a wheelchair started kicking his court-appointed lawyer and had to be subdued with a stun gun. A
deputy was accidentally shocked during the scuffle. The defendant is accused of robbing parishioners at a Catholic church during Mass.

DONORA, Pa. (AP) - State police and the Washington County Coroner are investigating what they are calling the suspicious deaths of two people in Donora last night. Authorities confirm a
47-year-old man and 40-year-old woman were found dead in an apartment.

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) - A Lancaster County man is free after six years in state prison for two sexual assaults. That's because another inmate recently acknowledged committing the assaults.
Charles Dubbs of Elizabethtown was freed following an emergency hearing.

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (AP) - The attorney for a Chester County man accused of shooting his wife in the head says he did so in the heat of passion. The lawyer for 47-year-old Michael Sheller says his client should be convicted of voluntary manslaughter, not first-degree murder.

ELIZABETH, Pa. (AP) - A fire chief has died while responding to a suspicious blaze in an abandoned bar near his home in Elizabeth Borough, a tiny suburb south of Pittsburgh. Authorities say it appears that 56-year-old Fire Chief Leonard Bailey had a heart attack.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A faculty group at the University of Pittsburgh wants to ban smoking within 15 feet of the main entrances of buildings on campus. The Pitt proposal would still
allow outdoor smoking and designate certain areas for smokers.