Today's News-Saturday January 5, 2008

HECKSCHERVILLE - Fire heavily damaged a home in Heckscherville Friday morning. According to the Republican and Herald, firefighters from Cass Township and surrounding communities were called to the home of 48 Cherry Valley Road, Mr. and Mrs. John Withelder and their 14-year-old daughter and 16 -year-old son, at 11:36 a.m. Upon arrival, firefighters were met with flames and heavy smoke coming from the unattached two-story home. Robert Ryan, chief of Heckscherville's Clover Fire Company, said Trooper John F. Burns investigated the scene and officials determined the fire started in an upstairs bathroom. However, due to the amount of damage to the upstairs of the home, finding an exact cause could not be done. Firefighters were able to knock down the flames in about 20 minutes, but spent more than 1½ hours completely extinguishing the blaze. Ryan said no one was home at the time and that the fire was called in by a neighbor who saw flames and smoke coming through the roof. Firefighters said they were called just before noon and saw the smoke from their station, less than a half mile away from the fire.

POTTSVILLE - Pottsville must change the way it calculates its police pensions, a Schuylkill County judge ruled Friday in a case that sets a statewide precedent. As reported by the Republican and Herald, in a six-page opinion and order, Judge D. Michael Stine ruled state law bars the city from calculating pension benefits based on the average of a police officer's last 12 monthly salaries. Stine ruled the city must use one of two ways provided in the state Third Class City Code to calculate pensions paid to its retired police officers, and that the 12-month average is not permitted by that law. The ruling is a victory for Capt. Ronald Gontarchick and Cpl. Marlin Reed, who had worked more than 31 and 28 years, respectively, before each retired in March 2003. The pair sued the city in June 2003 after council granted their requests for pension benefits but decided to calculate them based on the average of their last 12 monthly salaries instead of their last month's salary. The officers and the city agreed this would result in lower pension payments to each officer, Stine wrote. The city had the case transferred to U.S. District Court in July 2003, but the federal court transferred it back after determining the issue involved a state law and was one of first impression, meaning it had not been decided.

GIRARDVILLE - Following a brief reorganization, Girardville borough council conducted its regular monthly meeting Thursday evening. According to the Republican and Herald, all current officers, appointees and chairmanships remained status quo, but council approved the appointment of a newcomer to the borough to the previously vacant position of emergency management coordinator. Ralph J. Hoagland, West Main Street, will officially be named to the position pending receipt of a written letter of interest. In other business, council was approached by St. Patrick's Day Parade Chairman Edward Burns on behalf of the borough's Ancient Order of Hibernians Jack Kehoe Div. 1 regarding permitting vendors at the annual parade. Last year, council approved an ordinance which required vendors to pay $25 for permits to sell products during the parade. This year, Burns asked council to consider amending the ordinance to take into consideration the number of points of sale, carts or tables, where the vendor is selling products. He asked council for a higher price tag on the permit to discourage an overabundance of outside vendors. Council gave solicitor Eric Mika permission to review the present ordinance and bring recommendations to the February meeting. Burns said after the meeting that because of the date of the Easter holiday this year the parade date will be moved to March 29.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mike Huckabee are looking to parlay victories in Iowa into momentum in New Hampshire. Huckabee is pushing his tax-overhaul plan to independent-minded voters in the state. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are pushing distinctly different paths to the White House for New Hampshire Democrats ahead of Tuesday's primary. Clinton says she's the candidate who's ready to lead. Obama says he could build bridges and forge a new majority in Washington.

WASHINGTON (AP) - With joblessness at a two-year high, houses not selling and the credit crunch continuing, President Bush is said to be considering tax cuts to stimulate the economy. December's five-percent unemployment sent Wall Street into a nosedive. The Dow fell nearly 257 points.

DALLAS (AP) - Officials say up to three American Airlines jets will be outfitted this spring with laser technology being developed to protect planes from missiles fired by terrorists. They say the system won't be tested on passenger flights but are designed to show how well the technology holds up under real world situations.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Three-thousand Southern California residents have been ordered to evacuate amid flash-flood warnings prompted by heavy rain. There's fear of mudslides in parts of Mailibu and Los Angeles burned by recent wildfires. The massive storm is also bringing high winds and snow to the northern part of the state, where more than a million people are without power.

MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. (AP) - A Michigan man is charged with pouring a bottle of rubbing alcohol on his girlfriend and setting her on fire in a jealous rage three days before Christmas. Police used a Global Positioning System to track down a cell-phone the 34-year-old suspect had with him while hiding in an attic.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The troubles are continuing to mount for pop star Britney Spears. A California court has granted sole custody of her children to ex-husband Kevin Federline following a stand-off over the matter Thursday at her house. Spears was taken to a hospital where she's reportedly undergoing a psychological evaluation.

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel is getting ready for next week's high-profile visit from President Bush. Bush will be the first American president to visit the country since Bill Clinton's journey there a decade ago. Jerusalem is spending almost $400,000 to spruce itself up for the three-day presidential stay that begins Wednesday.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - The top U.S. diplomat for Africa is trying to broker a peaceful end to a dispute over presidential election results in Kenya. He met today with Kenya's opposition leader and has requested a sit down with the country's president. Some 300 people have been killed in violence since since last week's contested vote.

FULLERTON, Calif. (AP) - A California man's revenge act for almost being run over on a bike trail has landed him a felony charge. Police say Warren Wilson has acknowledged digging nearly 50 holes along a park trail. Police say some of the bicycle riders were flipped over their handlebars when they hit the holes, but no one was seriously hurt. Wilson is charged with vandalism.

VAIL, Colo. (AP) - An avalanche has claimed the life of a 27-year-old skier near a Colorado resort. The man was pulled from the snow after about 10 to 20 minutes, but police say he couldn't be revived. It's the 14th avalanche death in the U.S. this year.

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. (AP) - Investigators in Georgia are questioning a "person of interest" in connection with the disappearance of a 24-year-old hiker who vanished from a state park New Year's Day. Police say the man was seen with Meredith Emerson several times that day. Her car was found abandoned Wednesday.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A federal court has thrown out a challenge to a Texas state law that allows school children to pray during a daily minute of silence in school. A North Texas couple claims their child was told to keep quiet because the minute "is a time for prayer." A judge says the observance isn't intended to advance religion.

TORONTO (AP) - An 85-year-old Canadian man is losing his license and his car for a week after police say he was caught driving 100 miles-an-hour on his way to the bank. The man is having his driving privileges revoked under a new Canadian law that was aimed at younger drivers. Police say the man is the oldest person arrested under the new rules so far.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Golden Globes awards show will go on later this month even if Hollywood's stars are planning a boycott. The actors union says its members are expected to snub the awards in a show of support of the ongoing Hollywood writers strike.