Today's News-Friday, November 16th

Pottsville police drug investigators arrested two city residents on numerous drug offenses last night. Sher-Ray Mealing and Bienvenido DeJesus of 218 West Market Street were found to have crack cocaine, pot and other paraphernalia in their apartment. The items were seized under a search warrant. Police learned that the cocaine came from New York. Both were arraigned on charges and lodged in Schuylkill County Prison on $25-thousand-dollars bail. They face additional charges. Agents from the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force participated in the arrest and search, along with Pottsville police.

Enough beds to house prison inmates eligible for the county's work release program remain at a premium. At Wednesday's prison board meeting, the county adult probation and parole department reported that all the thirty two beds available at the prison are filled by inmates with employment and 16 inmates eligible for the program are awaiting space. Chairman Judge William Baldwin indicated that more than the 16 could be taken into the program if space permitted. A controversial proposal to build a $2-point7-million dollar prison pre-release center near the State Correctional facility in Frackville that would house up to 90 nonviolent inmates has been touted as a way to alleviate overcrowding at the county prison. The current Republican majority commissioners claimed the plan was outdated and would cause a tax increase. However, a Democrat majority will take over in January that favors building the facility. Democrat commissioner Mantura Gallagher and commissioner elect, Sheriff Frank McAndrew told WPPA/T-102 News during their campaign for office that if elected they would vote to build the pre-release center. Before the facility could be built, an agreement would be needed with the state Department of Corrections and a $3-million dollar loan would be necessary from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Supporters said the loan could be paid back with probation supervision funds provided by the county court. Supporters also say that even with county approval it may not be possible to move forward with the projects until the summer or fall of 2008.

The Commissioners awarded a contract Wednesday for the removal and disposal of asbestos discovered at the 1912 building in Schuylkill Haven. The contract was awarded to Sargent Enterprises Inc of Jim Thorpe for $66,824. The Commissioners also awarded a contract to Merrick's Hydro-Lazing & Water Blasting, Hazleton for $167,500 for a bridge rehabilitation project in Tamaqua. In other business, the commissioners authorized a three year agreement with Reading Elevator Service Inc, Reading to provide maintenance for court house elevators at a cost of $572 per month. Bids for dietary equipment and resident furniture for Rest Haven Nursing home were opened during the meeting. A contract for the furniture is expected to be awarded at the November 28th board meeting while the dietary equipment contract will be awarded at the December 12th meeting. Approval was granted to seek bids for cleaning the court house complex for one, two and three year periods. Bids will be opened December 5th and awarded December 12th. The commissioners authorized entering into a sub-recipient agreement with the Borough of Minersville for the demolition of properties at 219-221 Lewis Street. The total cost of the project is $23,449 of which the county’s share will be 50% of the cost. Also approved was a lease amendment for the Drug and Alcohol Executive Commission and St. John's Church to increase the utility portion of rent at 912 Howard Avenue from $700 to $1,100 per month.

Traffic was snarled early Friday afternoon when another tractor trailer rig became wedged under the Cressona railroad bridge on Route 183. A few minutes after 2pm, Kirk Washington was driving his rig north when his trailer became lodged under the 11 foot, 8 inch underpass. The top of the trailer hit the bridge. Washington was not hurt, but state police say that he will be cited in the crash. Traffic was tied up for about an hour for cleanup and removal of the truck.

He may have a funny sounding last name that kids have trouble pronouncing, but his illustrations in children’s books keep the kids mesmerized. Ralph Masiello, known to kids as the Icky Bug Man, is visiting the county as "Educator In Residence" at the Blue Mountain Elementary Schools Thursday and today. Masiello has illustrated many well-known books, including the highly acclaimed "The Flag We Love" and the Alphabet Book series with author Jerry Pallotta. WPPA/T102 News asked why kids don’t read as much as they should:

MASIELLO

Funding for the Educators-In-Residence program is provided by the Blue Mountain Eagle Foundation, with contributions through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program.

The Internal Revenue Service is looking for 23 Schuylkill County residents who have unclaimed tax refunds. The checks, totaling more than $12 thousand five hundred dollars, are sitting uncashed because of bad addresses or other information, making them undeliverable. In Pennsylvania nearly 33-hundred- taxpayers are due nearly $2.7 million, an average of $826 statewide. In some cases, a taxpayer has more than one refund waiting. The "Where’s My Refund?" tool on IRS.gov enables taxpayers to check the status of their refunds. A taxpayer must submit his or her social security number, filing status and amount of refund shown on their 2006 return. The tool will provide the status of their refund and in some cases provide instructions on how to resolve delivery problems. Taxpayers can access a telephone version of “Where’s My Refund?” by calling 1-800-829-1954.

An area domestic violence organization has been honored as one of the best in the nation.
Schuylkill Women In Crisis was honored as one of the top three domestic violence organizations in the nation by the National Network to End Domestic Violence. The private, non profit group was honored with the Spirit of Advocacy Award. Schuylkill Women in Crisis is observing its 25th Anniversary.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Allentown's mayor says a new strategic housing plan will help reclaim center city neighborhoods from blight. The plan is the work of former Philadelphia housing director John Kromer, now at the University of Pennsylvania's Fells Institute of Government. Mayor Ed Pawlowski says Allentown will go after exploitative investors, negligent and absentee owners, and disruptive tenants. The first step is an ordinance being introduced Wednesday to require city inspections to make sure any code violations are corrected before a residential property is sold. The city will consider requiring absentee property owners to have local agents responsible for fixing violations.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A lawsuit filed by a Philadelphia woman accuses tax-software makers of overcharging consumers who pay to file their taxes online. Plaintiff Stacie Byers is seeking class-action status for the suit. Her lawyers say if that's approved, they could be representing tens of millions of people. The Internal Revenue Service has agreed not to develop its own electronic-filing program. In exchange, private companies have agreed to allow taxpayers making less than $52,000 a year to file electronic returns free of charge. The private companies say they've saved the IRS the huge cost of handling the returns. A lawyer for the plaintiff says the companies' fees for taxpayers making over $52,000 a year amount to "a tax on tax-filing."

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Penn State says the two football players charged with assault Thursday won't travel with the team to Saturday's regular-season finale at Michigan State. Defensive tackle Chris Baker and backup linebacker Navorro Bowman are accused of participating in a campus fight last month. Authorities say a man was bloodied after being kicked and punched in the fight. Baker's lawyer says her client wasn't involved. Bowman's lawyer says her client acted in self-defense. Baker and Bowman were arraigned today on charges including felony aggravated assault, simple assault, disorderly conduct, summary harassment and stalking. They were released on their own recognizance.

BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) - As expected, Austin Scott has waived his arraignment on rape and other charges. The suspended Penn State running back's waiver of Thursday's hearing was faxed to the Centre County Courthouse on Wednesday. It included a not guilty plea. A court official says the move was expected because about 90 percent of defendants waive their arraignments. The 22-year-old man is accused of attacking a female student in his campus apartment on Oct. 5. He has said the acts were consensual. Scott remains enrolled at Penn State and continues to attend classes.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The head of the baseball players' union says he's "saddened" at the indictment of Barry Bonds on perjury and obstruction of justice charges in the steroid scandal. Donald Fehr (feer) notes prosecutors must prove their case. A lawyer for Bonds' personal trainer says the charges are "out of left field."

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton says opponents are attacking her because she's ahead, not because she's a woman. Clinton came under fire from her two major challengers at a debate in Las Vegas last night. She accused them of mudslinging.

WASHINGTON (AP) - In the midst of skyrocketing foreclosures, the House has passed legislation aimed at reining in lenders who deal in risky mortgages. The bill would force lenders to determine if borrowers can actually repay and fine them for steering people toward risky subprime loans.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - An Oregon crab boat operator says he's suing over losses related to the oil spill in San Francisco Bay. The attorney who filed the suit estimates the oil spill has cost Bay area fishermen more than 100 million dollars and predicts more legal action.

LAKEPORT, Calif. (AP) - In a case that has brought cries of racism, a judge has granted a change of venue in the murder trial of a black California man. A homeowner shot and killed two of Renato Hughes' alleged robbery accomplices but it's Hughes who faces a murder charge under a rarely used legal doctrine.