Today's News-Wednesday, November 21st

Twenty one was not a lucky number for a Utah truck driver who passed through our area yesterday. She was the 21st victim who crashed her truck at the Cressona railroad underpass this year. Lulah Schaal of Orem, Utah was hauling a load of aluminum powder on Route 183 when the top of her trailer was peeled back when it didn't clear the underpass, which is 11 foot 8 inches high. As is the normally the case, trucks get wedged under the bridge. This time, it passed right through. The load did not spill, but given the nature of the cargo, a number of hours had to pass following the noon crash until the truck’s contents could be removed.
The driver was not hurt. This is the second crash in less than a week.

A Schuylkill Haven man escaped injury in a one-car crash in Berks County Monday morning.
Hamburg state police now say that Scott Ritzman was southbound on Route 183 when a large tree limb, weighted down by snow, fell on the hood and windshield of his car. He lost control of the car and it struck a tree. Ritzman was wearing his seatbelt. The crash happened around 6:20am.

Two men have pleaded guilty in the accidental shooting death of a Schuylkill Haven man earlier this year. Marty Shappell of Port Carbon and William Kistler of Cressona both entered their pleas of reckless endangerment, and Kistler an additional charge of simple assault, in the death of Leon Wessner. Their pleas were heard by Judge D Michael Stine, according to the Republican and Herald. The three men were traveling to work in Florida, when Shappell handed a loaded pistol to Kistler in the rear passenger's seat. The gun when off, striking Wessner. He later died at Geisinger Medical Center. The men were not sentenced by Judge Stine. He ordered a pre-sentencing investigation for the pair.

A Bradford County man with roots in our area pleaded guilty to raping a 9 year old girl.
33-year-old Michael Golden, formerly of Tamaqua, pleaded guilty to rape of a child, statutory sexual assault, terroristic threats and other offenses against the child. Golden was sent to prison while his sentencing investigation continues, according to the Republican and Herald. He faces as much as 100 years in prison, and stipulations under Megan's Law for sexual offenders.

Today is one of the busiest travel days of the year, as people make their Thanksgiving trek by car and air. Record gas prices may force people to shorten or cancel trips, but Triple A is still expecting record volumes of people taking an extended weekend for the holiday. Pennsylvania State and local police, are reminding motorists that extra enforcement patrol will be out, watching for speeders, aggressive and drunk drivers. The extra patrols will be in effect from today through Sunday. We encourage everyone to have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving, and to drive carefully.

Did you know Pennsylvania has a state song? Most people don't. But that is being changed due to a Winfield Union County Pastor and his efforts to bring awareness to the anthem. The song is simply title "Pennsylvania." Pastor John Thornbury of the Winfield Baptist Church came across the song and urged state lawmakers, Merle Phillips and Russ Fairchild to do something more to promote the song. So they did and yesterday a resolution was passed proclaiming November 25th through the 30th as 'Sing Pennsylvania Week.' Phillips says he hopes schools, service organizations and state residents will come to love our state song.

PASONG

The Winfield Baptist Church Choir had the honor of singing the song before the House of Representatives yesterday.

The November general election is one step closer to certification. The first part of the process was completed today, according to Betty Dries, Schuylkill County Election Bureau Director.
Anyone wishing to petition the Court of Common Please for a recount has until close of business Monday to do so. If none are received, the vote will be proclaimed officially certified.

NEW YORK (AP) - Lines are building at airports as travelers set off for their Thanksgiving destinations. And more than 31 million are expected to take to the roads, despite the price of gasoline being nearly 85-cents-a-gallon more than it was this time last year. A spokeswoman for Triple-A says roads could get tricky this evening, with travelers competing with commuters.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The busiest travel day of the year is here and a coffee company is hoping to make the ride a little easier. Maxwell House is paying the fares of drivers exiting the
Pennsylvania Turnpike at the Monroeville exit near Pittsburgh and the Valley Forge Interchange near Philadelphia. The promotion runs from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. today.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia election officials are expected to formally name incumbent City Councilman Jack Kelly the winner today in his re-election battle against challenger David Oh. Two weeks after the November 6th balloting, the unofficial count has Kelly, an at-large Republican, holding a slim 123-vote lead over Democratic challenger David Oh.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A Pittsburgh bridge that crosses the Allegheny River is reopening after a 27 million dollar facelift. About 7,000 cars a day had used the 31st Street Bridge before it was closed for repairs in February 2006. The improvements included replacing and widening the bridge, adding decorative lighting and painting the bridge.

UNIONTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Fayette County police and animal control officers are investigating how a Uniontown home became overrun with dozens of live and dead animals. Officials found 27 cats, rabbits and other animals living at the home as well as nine dead animals. Police say the home owned by Tim and Joyce Swaney was littered with garbage and filth.

NEW YORK (AP) - A Philadelphia Phillies infielder has been named the National League MVP for the second straight year. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins gets the award after batting .296 with 30 homers, 94 RBIs and 41 steals for the NL East champs this year. Rollins becomes the fifth Phillie to win the award, one year after teammate Ryan Howard took the honor.

UNDATED (AP) - Passengers trying to get away for Thanksgiving haven't run into big problems, yet, at the airports. A spokeswoman for the agency that runs Reagan National and Dulles International airports near Washington says a few departures have been delayed,
but nothing out of the ordinary.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Labor Department reports fewer people signed up for jobless benefits last week. The news is considered a sign that most companies aren't resorting to large-scale layoffs. Meanwhile, the Dow has dropped, in part because of continued concerns about the mortgage market.

UNDATED (AP) - A surprise could be brewing in the Republican race in Iowa. An ABC News-Washington Post telephone poll shows former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee in a virtual tie with Mitt Romney. Rudy Giuliani still leads most national polls, but the Iowa poll shows him fourth.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf could take an oath as a civilian president by Saturday. A senior official says Musharraf could quit as chief of Pakistan's army and be sworn in for a new five-year term. Musharraf has been under pressure since he suspended the constitution earlier this month.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Two nationwide retailers have agreed to stop selling lead-laden children's jewelry. New York's attorney general say discount retailer Big Lots and Michaels Stores will immediately discontinue sales of the jewelry at stores across the country.