Today's News-Saturday, December 29th

Hamburg state police are looking for two men who robbed a bank branch in Shartlesville yesterday evening before closing time. Around 5:50pm, two white men, wearing black ski masks and dark coats, entered the National Penn Bank branch, with one jumping over the counter. Cash was taken from the teller drawers and bank vault, and the robbers fled in a dark colored Jeep Cherokee on I-78 into Dauphin County. Two tellers were injured during the robbery. Anyone with information about the bank heist should call Hamburg State Police at 484-660-1011.

Surrounded by family and friends, 14 people were sworn in to various county offices during ceremonies Friday at the Courthouse. County Judges Jacqueline Russell and William Baldwin received the oath of office first, followed by the three County Commissioners, two District Justices and seven row office heads. For the first time in over 30-years, the County Commissioners office will be headed by a Democratic majority. Newly elected Commissioner Frank McAndrew said he is looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead. Fellow Democrat Mantura Gallagher said she has lofty goals for the county in 2008. Republican Frank Staudenmeier, who now becomes the Minority Commissioner said he confident the three commissioners will work together for the betterment of the county. First time county officeholder Malinda Kantner also took the oath of office and said she is ready to get down to business as the new County Controller. The County Commissioners next meeting is January 7th at 10am in the Commissioners board room for their annual reorganization. A board meeting will be held two days later on January 9th.

Police have concluded their investigation in the death of a man in Cumbola Thursday evening.
State police were called to the Water Street home after 6pm, where the body of 39-year-old Brian Culver was found. Troopers now say that he took his own life, based on evidence at the scene and interviews with family members.

Three persons are locked up in the county jail following a knifepoint robbery of three juveniles Thursday. Pottsville police say that the teens reported that two men, now identified as Vincent Mozloom, Mark Butler, and a woman, Tammy Wert, robbed them at knifepoint, after inviting them back to a home on Seventh Street after meeting up with them at the Pottsville Diner.
Reports indicate that Butler took the money, nearly $150 dollars from the boys, while Mozloom locked the door to prevent them from leaving. Butler also reportedly told the teens he would kill them if they told police. They were released. Mozloom, Butler and Wert were picked up by police, arraigned and taken to jail. Another woman, Tiffany Haller, was not directly involved in the robbery, but was given some of the money they took. She will be charged with receiving stolen property.

Quick action from a retired New York police officer helped local officials nab an escaped prisoner yesterday afternoon in the city. The Republican and Herald reports that Auburn police were transporting 26-year-old William Nichols, Schuylkill Haven, after his arrest in South Manheim Township, and were stopped at the intersection of Norwegian Street and Route 61. Nichols slipped from the handcuffs and kicked out the window of the police car, then fled on foot around the A-Plus mini market. He attempted to break into Roy Finocchio's car. The Shenandoah man, a retired New York police officer, chased and tackled Nichols, detaining him for police.
Nichols, in addition to the probation violation and related offenses, is also facing escape charges.

Just a few days remain in the year 2007. There are big plans to ring in the new year in downtown Pottsville. "Through The Eyes of Winter Carnival…Maroons are our Champions" is the theme for Pottsville’s 2008 new year's celebration. The events, beginning Monday night at 6pm in and around downtown Pottsville, will roll right into the Greater Winter Carnival celebration. Carnival has been going strong for 40 years. Horse and carriage rides, a meet and greet with the Winter Carnival candidates, historical displays and more will dot the landscape at Sovereign Bank, the Sovereign Majestic Theatre and the Schuylkill County Historical Society. The festivities move to Garfield Square for the raising of the Yuengling bottle at the stroke of midnight. Winter Carnival runs throughout the month of January, with a lot of the favorite events that everyone has come to enjoy, and the 2008 edition is sure to please even more. For a complete look at all of the Winter Carnival events, log on to ww.schuylkill.com/wintercarnival.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A top high school basketball prospect from Chester is playing out the season under the watchful eye of bodyguards, amid fears of retaliation over a slaying near his violent hometown. Tyreke Evans, a two-time state player of the year, was driving when a cousin in the vehicle allegedly shot and killed a 19-year-old approaching on foot. Police say 18-year-old Evans, hearing gunshots, ducked down before speeding off to his mother's house. Evans has not been charged, but his tie to the November 25th slaying has marred the final year of his carefully orchestrated prep career just as he moves toward college and an anticipated NBA berth. Several bodyguards joined Evans on the bench during a holiday tournament this week at Widener University, while police stationed extra security officers in the crowd.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The 87-year-old founder of Comcast Corporation has entered into a new agreement with the cable company under which his beneficiaries will be paid his 2007 salary for each of the five years after his death. A Securities and Exchange Commission filing says the new agreement with Ralph Roberts takes effect on January 1st. It replaces the current compensation deal, which expires next week. Roberts sits on the board of directors and is chairman of the executive and finance committee at the Philadelphia company. In 2006, Roberts was paid a salary of $1.8 million. His full 2007 salary and benefits will be disclosed when the company files its proxy statement next year. The new agreement also gives beneficiaries any unpaid annual performance-based cash bonus after his death, health and welfare benefits for his spouse, among other perks.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Federal prosecutors have dismissed 43 of 84 criminal counts against former Allegheny County Coroner Doctor Cyril Wecht. In a document filed yesterday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Stallings says some of the charges against 76-year-old Wecht are being dismissed to "streamline" the case. Stallings says the government is not seeking to dismiss any of the four schemes to defraud. Wecht is accused of using his public office and staff to benefit his multimillion-dollar private pathology practice before resigning as coroner in January 2006. His trial is scheduled to begin on January 28th. Jury selection starts January 10th.

KENNESAW, Ga. (AP) - Chocolate was first used around 1900 B.C. -- seven centuries earlier than previously thought. Kennesaw State University Professor Terry Powis says nearly 4,000 years ago, residents of Central America probably served chocolate as a cold beverage with different flavors. The assistant professor of anthropology spent three weeks in a Chiapas, Mexico lab gathering samples from ceramic jars and bowls that date from 1,900 B.C. to 1,500 B.C. He used sandpaper to lightly scrape residue from the pottery. Powdery samples were sent to the Hershey Foods Technical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Scientists confirmed the existence of key chocolate chemicals such as theobromine and caffeine. The research from Powis' team appeared in the December edition of "Antiquity."

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania Supreme Court says a political activist lacks the legal standing in his bid to force the auditor general to audit the Legislature's spending. The court says discretion over whether to audit the General Assembly lies with Auditor General Jack Wagner. The court says that if activist Gene Stilp doesn't like it, his recourse "like that of all citizens, is at the ballot box." The unanimous decision says a lower court erred when it granted legal standing to Stilp to sue. That lower court, Commonwealth Court, then ruled against Stilp. The Supreme Court says Stilp doesn't have the right to sue, so it's not addressing whether his underlying claim has merit.

Its another change in what you can and can't take on the airplane with you. The Transportation Department says air travelers won't be able to pack loose non-rechargeable lithium batteries in their checked luggage, starting January 1st. The aim is to prevent unintentional short-circuiting and help reduce the risk of fires. Passengers can still check baggage with lithium batteries if they're installed in electronic devices, such as cameras, cell phones and laptop computers. If the batteries are in plastic bags or their original packaging, they may be in carry-on baggage. The limit is two batteries per passenger. Earlier this month, the National Transportation Safety Board said it could not rule out lithium batteries as the source of a cargo plane fire at Philadelphia International Airport last year.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The state's highest court says the merger of telephone giants Verizon and MCI can stay intact because regulators properly considered all viewpoints. The state Supreme Court reversed a lower court's ruling last February that the Public Utility Commission failed to protect rate payers when it approved the merger. The court released its unanimous decision yesterday. Verizon is Pennsylvania's largest telephone company with about 6 million lines. MCI and Verizon applied for state approval of their merger in March 2005. The merger was completed in January 2006.

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - Outgoing Lackawanna County controller John Mellow is vowing to lock himself in his office and continue working until law enforcement makes him leave. Mellow is disputing the legitimacy of his successor. He says the county administrative code disqualifies Controller-elect Ken McDowell from taking over on January 7th because he is not eligible. McDowell currently collects taxes for Lackawanna County, the city of Scranton and the Scranton School District through an entity known as the Single Tax Office. The county administrative code says that "no person holding any other public office" can serve as controller until he or she has been out of office for a year. But an attorney for McDowell's transition team says McDowell's title of tax collector is not listed in the general code for Pennsylvania counties.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Police in Upper Darby have charged a 19-year-old man with killing a taxi driver who was found slain on Christmas Eve. Police say Ramir Steve fatally shot 42-year-old Gregory Cunningham of Clifton Heights during a botched robbery attempt. Authorities say Steve only ended up taking Cunningham's cell phone -- not the $700 in his pocket. They also say Steve used the cab's two-way radio to report that Cunningham would not be showing up for his next assignment. Authorities say Steve's brother provided information in the case. They also recovered a gun at Steve's home in Upper Darby. Steve was arrested in Philadelphia on Thursday and arraigned yesterday. He is being held without bail.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A top high school basketball prospect from Chester is playing out the season under the watchful eye of bodyguards, amid fears of retaliation over a slaying near his violent hometown. Tyreke Evans, a two-time state player of the year, was driving when a cousin in the vehicle allegedly shot and killed a 19-year-old approaching on foot. Police say 18-year-old Evans, hearing gunshots, ducked down before speeding off to his mother's house. Evans has not been charged, but his tie to the November 25th slaying has marred the final year of his carefully orchestrated prep career just as he moves toward college and an anticipated NBA berth. Several bodyguards joined Evans on the bench during a holiday tournament this week at Widener University, while police stationed extra security officers in the crowd.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The 87-year-old founder of Comcast Corporation has entered into a new agreement with the cable company under which his beneficiaries will be paid his 2007 salary for each of the five years after his death. A Securities and Exchange Commission filing says the new agreement with Ralph Roberts takes effect on January 1st. It replaces the current compensation deal, which expires next week. Roberts sits on the board of directors and is chairman of the executive and finance committee at the Philadelphia company. In 2006, Roberts was paid a salary of $1.8 million. His full 2007 salary and benefits will be disclosed when the company files its proxy statement next year. The new agreement also gives beneficiaries any unpaid annual performance-based cash bonus after his death, health and welfare benefits for his spouse, among other perks.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Federal prosecutors have dismissed 43 of 84 criminal counts against former Allegheny County Coroner Doctor Cyril Wecht. In a document filed yesterday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Stallings says some of the charges against 76-year-old Wecht are being dismissed to "streamline" the case. Stallings says the government is not seeking to dismiss any of the four schemes to defraud. Wecht is accused of using his public office and staff to benefit his multimillion-dollar private pathology practice before resigning as coroner in January 2006. His trial is scheduled to begin on January 28th. Jury selection starts January 10th.

KENNESAW, Ga. (AP) - Chocolate was first used around 1900 B.C. -- seven centuries earlier than previously thought. Kennesaw State University Professor Terry Powis says nearly 4,000 years ago, residents of Central America probably served chocolate as a cold beverage with different flavors. The assistant professor of anthropology spent three weeks in a Chiapas, Mexico lab gathering samples from ceramic jars and bowls that date from 1,900 B.C. to 1,500 B.C. He used sandpaper to lightly scrape residue from the pottery. Powdery samples were sent to the Hershey Foods Technical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Scientists confirmed the existence of key chocolate chemicals such as theobromine and caffeine. The research from Powis' team appeared in the December edition of "Antiquity."

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania Supreme Court says a political activist lacks the legal standing in his bid to force the auditor general to audit the Legislature's spending. The court says discretion over whether to audit the General Assembly lies with Auditor General Jack Wagner. The court says that if activist Gene Stilp doesn't like it, his recourse "like that of all citizens, is at the ballot box." The unanimous decision says a lower court erred when it granted legal standing to Stilp to sue. That lower court, Commonwealth Court, then ruled against Stilp. The Supreme Court says Stilp doesn't have the right to sue, so it's not addressing whether his underlying claim has merit.

Its another change in what you can and can't take on the airplane with you. The Transportation Department says air travelers won't be able to pack loose non-rechargeable lithium batteries in their checked luggage, starting January 1st. The aim is to prevent unintentional short-circuiting and help reduce the risk of fires. Passengers can still check baggage with lithium batteries if they're installed in electronic devices, such as cameras, cell phones and laptop computers. If the batteries are in plastic bags or their original packaging, they may be in carry-on baggage. The limit is two batteries per passenger. Earlier this month, the National Transportation Safety Board said it could not rule out lithium batteries as the source of a cargo plane fire at Philadelphia International Airport last year.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The state's highest court says the merger of telephone giants Verizon and MCI can stay intact because regulators properly considered all viewpoints. The state Supreme Court reversed a lower court's ruling last February that the Public Utility Commission failed to protect rate payers when it approved the merger. The court released its unanimous decision yesterday. Verizon is Pennsylvania's largest telephone company with about 6 million lines. MCI and Verizon applied for state approval of their merger in March 2005. The merger was completed in January 2006.

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - Outgoing Lackawanna County controller John Mellow is vowing to lock himself in his office and continue working until law enforcement makes him leave. Mellow is disputing the legitimacy of his successor. He says the county administrative code disqualifies Controller-elect Ken McDowell from taking over on January 7th because he is not eligible. McDowell currently collects taxes for Lackawanna County, the city of Scranton and the Scranton School District through an entity known as the Single Tax Office. The county administrative code says that "no person holding any other public office" can serve as controller until he or she has been out of office for a year. But an attorney for McDowell's transition team says McDowell's title of tax collector is not listed in the general code for Pennsylvania counties.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Police in Upper Darby have charged a 19-year-old man with killing a taxi driver who was found slain on Christmas Eve. Police say Ramir Steve fatally shot 42-year-old Gregory Cunningham of Clifton Heights during a botched robbery attempt. Authorities say Steve only ended up taking Cunningham's cell phone -- not the $700 in his pocket. They also say Steve used the cab's two-way radio to report that Cunningham would not be showing up for his next assignment. Authorities say Steve's brother provided information in the case. They also recovered a gun at Steve's home in Upper Darby. Steve was arrested in Philadelphia on Thursday and arraigned yesterday. He is being held without bail.

NEW YORK (AP) - A break in the TV and movie writers strike. David Letterman's production company has struck a deal that will allow him to return to the airwaves next Wednesday with a full writing staff. Rivals Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel also plan to be back on the air, but without writers.

DENISON, Iowa (AP) - The campaign clock is ticking in Iowa and presidential candidates are on the trail there for a final weekend before Thursday's caucuses. It's shaping up as a battle between former governors Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney for the Republican nod. Polls show Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards in a virtual tie among Democrats.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Thousands of supporters of assassinated Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto are rioting again today. Meantime, the country's election commission says it will meet Monday to discuss next month's elections in light of her death. And an Islamic militant group is denying government allegations it's to blame.

UNDATED (AP) - A winter storm in the Great Lakes region is tying up airports and causing fender benders on the highways. Parts of Michigan are expecting about eight inches of snow. In Wisconsin, the Green Bay Packers are asking for volunteers to help dig out the stadium ahead of tomorrow's game with the Detroit Lions.

GARLAND, Texas (AP) - A six-year-old girl in Texas may lose Hannah Montana concert tickets she won in an essay contest. Organizers say her winning entry lied when it said her father was
killed in Iraq. The girl's mother has admitted the claim was bogus. She's told a Dallas TV station they did "whatever we could to win."