Today's News-Thursday, January 10th

Day one of the Giving is Living campaign was a huge success, thanks to all of you! The American Red Cross blood drives that dotted northeast Pennsylvania kicked off yesterday at several locations, including the Fairlane Village Mall in Pottsville. And the results show that people really care about helping others. WPPA and T102 are among the 25 media partners spearheading the effort to gather much needed blood supplies. Margie McQuillin of the Northeast blood services comments on the astounding results:

McQUILLIN

Today, the bloodmobile stops at Jerusalem Lutheran Church in Schuylkill Haven. So, if your able, roll up your sleeves and give blood this today, because someone needs blood every two seconds in this country. Thank you to all who helped to save a live by giving blood.

The unsolved death of a Schuylkill Haven boy 22 years ago has taken a new turn. State police have continued to work the case in the death of David Wellington Reed, who disappeared in August, 1985 from his home. His remains were located near the Island in Schuylkill Haven four months later. The cause of death was not able to be determined officially by Pathologist Dr. Richard Bindie at that time, but was termed suspicious. New information uncovered by the state police, and the request of former County Coroner David Dutcavich to have the body exhumed, prompted County Court Judge Jacqueline Russell to order the body be studied again, since technological advances may help to determine if Reed was the victim of a homicide. The Republican and Herald reports that remaining family members, state police and new Coroner Joseph Lipsett all support the exhumation. State police are expected to hold a press briefing about the case shortly.

The investigation continues into a four-vehicle crash in Cumbola Monday. The crash happened around 5:30pm at the intersection of Water Street and Route 209, where a Nissan Sentra was traveling south on Route 209 and slowed for a stopped vehicle making a left turn. That vehicle was rear-ended by a Dodge Caravan. The van was struck head on by a Jeep Cherokee. Another pickup truck was also involved. The identities of the drivers have not yet been released, but the van’s operator was life-flighted to Lehigh Valley Hospital.

Acting County Administrator Darlene Dolzani was promoted to County Administrator during Wednesday's County Commissioners work session. Dolzani has served as Acting Administrator since William Reppy resigned. Her salary was set at $75,455 during the salary board meeting that followed the work session. Dolzani said she is honored by the promotion…..

Dolzani ( 0676)……

In other business, Tara Shappell of Saint Clair was promoted to 9-1-1 Training Supervisor at a salary of $19.24 per hour. Scott Krater, 9-1-1 Center Director said the position had been left vacant and unfunded since a 2005 resignation. In another promotion, Kris Fessler of Orwigsburg becomes a supervisor on the 3 to 11 shift at a salary of $16.62 per hour.
Krater told the Commissioners that the 9-1-1- center received over 100-thousand calls during 2007. He said 60-thousand were 9-1-1 calls and the remainder was service calls for things like traffic stops and DUI patrols.

A Pottsville man who came close to execution seven years ago after seeking to end his appeals of a double homicide conviction has been granted a new trial. U.S. District Judge Sylvia Rambo cited an ineffective lawyer at trial. She overturned the first-degree murder conviction and death sentence of 39-year-old Daniel Saranchak. Saranchak was convicted of killing his grandmother and uncle as they slept in their home in 1993 near the village of Cumbola.

Eighth-grader Tim Hauck said he knew by the look on his friend's face that the other teenager meant to hurt as many people as he could. The 13-year-old was wearing a dark trench coat and listening to his MP3 player when he burst into an English class Wednesday morning at Antietam Middle-Senior High School near Reading and began slashing at students with a knife. He also overturned desks, threw books and lighted firecrackers. Police say the boy he had come to the Berks County school with a propane torch, gasoline and lantern fluid, and had left a note for his mother that said: "Mom, I'm so sorry. I love you. Goodbye." Three students suffered relatively minor stab wounds in the attack. Police say students tried to subdue their classmate, and school officials ultimately stopped him. The boy is expected to face juvenile charges that have yet to be determined.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - What is expected to be a lengthy hearing on a proposed $1.3 billion multistate power line continues today in West Virginia. Greensburg, Pa.-based Allegheny Energy must convince the state Public Service Commission that the line is necessary before it can proceed. Opponents of the project started pecking away at it yesterday.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A man accused of killing a Philadelphia police officer during a doughnut-store robbery is due in court today. Officer Chuck Cassidy was shot when he walked in on the October 31st robbery. He died the next day. Today's preliminary hearing is for 21-year-old John Lewis, also known as "Jordan." He was arrested several days later at a homeless shelter in Florida.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - A district judge has dismissed a traffic ticket issued to a rookie police officer who ran a red light, causing a crash that killed a child. Brett Guth was fired by the
City Council following the May 30th crash, which killed 4-year-old Daviay Legrand and left a 21-year-old man with two broken legs. Furious residents later massed at the crash scene and threw debris at police.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - An Allegheny County Health Department laboratory designed to fight bioterrorism in the 21st century has been derailed by early 20th century plumbing. The $5 million lab in Pittsburgh was finished in mid-December, but officials can't get a city occupancy permit because the new building doesn't have enough water pressure for its fire sprinkler system.

CLARION, Pa. (AP) - A veteran state lawmaker from Clarion County says he'll retire at the end of the year. Republican state Rep. Fred McIlhattan represents all of Clarion County and parts of
Armstrong County. The 63-year-old lawmaker has served six terms in the House. Before that, he was the mayor of Knox and a three-term Clarion County commissioner.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) - Barack Obama is picking up the endorsement of John Kerry. That's according to a person close to Kerry, the Democrats' 2004 presidential nominee. The source says Kerry plans to announce his support today at a rally in South Carolina. The person says Kerry will argue that Obama can best unite the country, and that he can create transformational change.

UNDATED (AP) - Bill Richardson is dropping his bid to become the nation's first Hispanic president. Two people close to the New Mexico governor say he's planning to end his run for the Democratic presidential nod today. The move follows a pair of disappointing showings in Iowa and New Hampshire.

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - President Bush is predicting a Mideast peace treaty will be completed by the time he leaves office next year. And he's named an Air Force general to oversee negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. The announcement came as Bush met with Palestinian leaders in the West Bank. Lieutenant General William Fraser will monitor progress on a U.S.-backed peace plan.

NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks are moving lower in early trading, giving up a part of the gains they saw late in the day yesterday. A profit warning from Capital One Financial is renewing concerns about the credit crisis. And retailers are providing December sales numbers that are a bit weaker than expected.

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) - A stretch of a Florida interstate is still closed following yesterday's 70-car pile-up that left four people dead and dozens more hurt. Officials say dense fog and smoke from a brush fire have seriously limited visibility in the area.