Today's News-Thursday, November 8th

The Schuylkill Haven police department will be getting a new home, after borough council approved leasing space in a former factory on Parkway and Columbia Streets. The Republican and Herald indicates that the department, which has been housed at Borough Hall on Main Street, will lease a 35-hundred square foot space in the former Walk In Shoe Company, which is owned by Evans Delivery. Haven police will have offices, a cell and other space available to them on the second floor of the building, along with room for a Mayor's office. They have been sharing space in the former train station, which was converted into a borough hall years ago, and the space was very tight as the police force grew to an eight-member complement. The 20-year-lease also has a 10-year option built into the agreement.

A Schuylkill Haven man is charged with harassment from an incident in New Ringgold early Wednesday. State police say Tara Belsak entered the New Ringgold Inn and Bar and got into an argument with Barron Belsak. He reportedly grabbed her by the hair and threw her to the ground, then kicked her in the head when she was on the ground. Barron Belsak was charged with harassment.

Two teenage burglars were caught in the act in Morea Tuesday night. State Police report two teens were taken into custody when a home owner discovered them in her house. 62-year old Nancy Medved of Lower Street in Morea discovered 18-year old Corey Maikranz and a 15-year old boy, both from Morea in her house just before ten o'clock. Police say they gained entry by forcing open a rear window on the home. Maikranz was charged with burglary and related counts and placed in the Schuylkill County prison in lieu of $20,000. The 15-year old was placed in detention by Schuylkill County juvenile authorities.

A man from Drums, Luzerne County, is facing a host of charges following incidents in Rush Township earlier this week. Rush Township police now say that 24-year-old Mark Colasurdo was drunk and knocking on doors at homes on Route 309, looking for a ride. Officers found him walking along the road. He reportedly threw 7 bags of what was suspected to be cocaine on the road, which were recovered by police. Colasurdo also threw a backpack over a cliff. Police recovered a pot pipe from the bag. He will face charges of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, disorderly conduct and related offenses.

State police are continuing their investigation into vandalism and theft at a North Manheim Township business earlier this week. Sometime between Saturday and Monday, unknown individuals stole copper pipe from Tobash Home Heating Incorporated on Route 61, and also damaged two locks while committing the crime. The copper was valued at over $1-thousand-dollars. Anyone with information should contact state police at Schuylkill Haven, 593-2000.

Six underage drinkers face charges from an incident earlier this week in Rush Township. The group was found to be consuming beverages under age at a Lynwood Street home before midnight Monday. Apprehended were two 17 years old boys from Tamaqua, a 17 year old boy from Hometown, 19-year-old Aaron Gill and 20-year-old George Zubey of Hometown, and 20-year-old Amanda Dibuo of New Ringgold. Charges are to be filed in the office of District Judge Stephen Bayer.

This weekend, we pause to honor our veterans, with several activities planned for our area.
The Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic has scheduled a special Veterans Appreciation Breakfast on Saturday morning, from 7:30 to 9:30 at the School of Nursing. The event is open to all Veterans, as well as those currently serving in th military. To register, call 621-5047.
At noon, the Medal of Honor monument will be dedicated at Joulwan Park on Pottsville's East Side. The ceremony will pay tribute the 15 soldiers who were awarded the nation's highest military honor for valor. Pottsville native General George Joulwan, former Supreme Commander of NATO, will offer remarks. Saturday night is the Veterans Day Dinner Dance at Pine View Acres from 6:30 to 10-pm. Tickets are $25 each.

P-P-L Electric Utilities announced yesterday that it has become the first major electric utility in Pennsylvania to track and display daily electricity use information for all of its customers. Customers can now view how much electricity they used for each day on the company's Energy Analyzer Web page at pplelectric dot com. The information is possible because of investments the company has made in advanced meters in recent years. Daily use information is just one of the many features on the Energy Analyzer. The Web tool also lets customers analyze their homes in great detail, gives them customized energy-saving tips and estimates of potential savings, and helps them make the best decisions for their home and budget.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A new report says veterans make up one in four homeless people in the United States, though they are only 11 percent of the general adult population. The Alliance to End Homelessness, a public education nonprofit, based the findings of its report on numbers from Veterans Affairs and the Census Bureau. Daniel Tooth is the director of veterans affairs for Lancaster County, (Pennsylvania). He says the greater number of people with mental health problems from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will create a major increase in the number of homeless vets.

CLEARFIELD, Pa. (AP) - A plan to install tollbooths on Interstate 80 drew pointed criticism during one of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission's first public meetings on the proposal. State lawmakers in July approved putting as many as 10 tollbooths on I-80 and speeding up planned turnpike toll increases. The goal is to raise money for highway, bridge and mass transit projects. But those attending a meeting last night in Clearfield gave the plan a tepid response. Nearly every speaker at the hour-plus session expressed misgivings about the proposal. Some accused the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and state transportation department of mismanagement. Others said they thought residents along the corridor should have been consulted.

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - Lackawanna County election officials have finished counting votes following a long delay caused by the use of paper ballots. The count was finished at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Officials have until 5 p.m. Thursday to certify the results. The county used paper ballots for the first time in 70 years because officials were unable to get certification of the county's electronic voting machines.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) - A plan to replace blacktop with cobblestones, modern streetlights with reproduction gas lights and make other improvements on a historic Bethlehem block has stalled in City Council. Whether the $36,000 plan can be brought before the council again after a 2-2 deadlock Wednesday is unclear. The Bethlehem Historic District Association proposed the plan to fix up a block with some of Bethlehem's earliest buildings. Association president Charles Lyman said the beautified block would become a model. Others have questions, however. Councilman Joseph Leeson Jr. says the plan is expensive, wonders if it is too much of a burden on private property owners, and fears a favorable vote implies the city might foot some of the bill.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) - A Nancy Run firefighter says a baby's cries were all that guided him when a baby sitter begged him to save a 3-month-old boy from a burning home. Deputy Chief Jamie Hauze says he couldn't see when he raced into a bedroom filled with black smoke from a kitchen fire Wednesday in a Bethlehem Township house. But he heard a wail from a bassinet, scooped up the baby and hurried outside. The 24-year-old Hauze, and 3-month-old Joseph James Maffea, are fine after treatment for smoke inhalation at St. Luke's Hospital-Fountain Hill. Hauze says he is glad the baby made himself heard, because "with all the smoke, you couldn't see a thing in there. I'm glad he's OK."

STOWE, Pa. (AP) - A Birdsboro truck driver is dead following an accident at a concrete company in Montgomery County. Police say a crane from Thackray Crane Rental, of Philadelphia, fell over and crushed the cab of an 18-wheeler at Universal Concrete. Coroner Jeanne Ottinger says 51-year-old Ronald Kennedy died despite resuscitation efforts en route to Pottstown Memorial Medical Center following the Wednesday accident. An autopsy indicates he died of asphyxiation and trauma. Detective Sgt. Steve Ziegler of the West Pottsgrove Police says operator David Gring told investigators the back of the crane lifted up as he loaded the boom and the machine toppled over. Ziegler says the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration will investigate.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Senator Arlen Specter says a recent move by US Airways smacks of "extortion." Specter is referring to a report in The Philadelphia Inquirer. The newspaper reported that the airline might decide against a proposed regular flight from Philadelphia to Beijing if the city's airport moved some of Delta Air Lines' domestic flights into the
international terminal. US Airways CEO Doug Parker says space at the international terminal is too tight as it is and customers will suffer if things get squeezed any more. Specter is also angry about the airline's decision to cut nearly 40 percent of its flights at the Pittsburgh International Airport by January and eliminate 450 jobs.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan's leader appears to be ignoring President Bush's blunt device to restore democracy. Four people who spoke out against emergency rule have been arrested for treason. Pakistan's opposition claims hundreds of its members were rounded up overnight.

LAS VEGAS (AP) - O.J. Simpson is due in court in Las Vegas today. He's facing charges in connection with a hotel room robbery that could send him to prison for life. Simpson says he and some friends were trying to retrieve stolen memorabilia. Prosecutors say at least one of them had a gun.

BAGHDAD (AP) - A roadside bomb has claimed the life of another U.S. soldier in Iraq. At least 3,859 Americans have died there since the war began. The loss of more than 850 Americans this year makes it the worst year of the war, although casualties have declined since a troop buildup.

UNDATED (AP) - Another Chinese toy is being pulled from shelves. It's called Aqua Dots. Millions of sets have been sold in the U.S. for arts and crafts projects. But it turns out, if they're
swallowed, they can produce the equivalent of a "date rape" drug. At least two children in the U.S. have been sickened.

MIAMI (AP) - Jennifer Lopez and hubby Marc Anthony are expecting their first child. Lopez confirmed the rumors at a concert last night in Miami. Anthony kissed her belly and said, "I didn't know she was going to talk." The 39-year-old Lopez didn't say when she's due.