Today's News-Wednesday, January 16th

A Schuylkill County business has been charged for its involvement in a multi-million dollar fraud scheme that lasted more than a decade. The Associated Press reports that Schuylkill Products Incorporated in Cressona, pocketed at least $45 million in federal highway money as part of a scheme to gain contracts for highway and bridge construction. The fraud took place from 1994 to 2007. Prosecutors say employees of Schuylkill Products Inc. and a subsidiary used a minority-owned business as a front to win contracts. The federal government requires that at least 10 percent of the money budgeted for highway and bridge construction each year is awarded to minority-owned contractors. The government alleges that Schuylkill Products and its subsidiary CDS Engineers got a Connecticut business, Marikina Construction, to act as a front, but did the work themselves. Dennis Campbell, a former Schuylkill Products Vice President, has been charged with conspiracy, and is reportedly cooperating with federal authorities in the case. Schuylkill Products has been in business for more than 50 years.

Senator Jim Rhoades is pursuing measures to limit when homeowner's property can be reassessed, and to curb property tax increases. Currently, Pennsylvania’s Real Estate Assessment Law precludes a taxing body from appealing a property's assessed value following a purchase. However, when the purchase price of a property is dramatically different than its assessed value, a local government can argue to increase the assessed value of the property, which translates to a property tax increase for the homeowner. Rhoades, a Schuylkill County Republican, states that the move could ensure that any property tax increases after reassessment are based on actual improvements on the property, not just the sale value. Under current law, local governments can appeal a property's assessed value following a countywide reassessment. The measure would limit local taxing districts to appeal an assessment only if a property is subdivided or when improvements are added or removed. Rhoades said that no matter how you package it, its still an tax increase for homeowners:
RHOADES
The bill would apply to counties with populations under 210-thousand-people. Fifty-one of the state’s 67 counties would be covered.

A Minersville man is in jail following his arrest for drug possession. 23-year-old Joshua Harkins was picked up by Cass/Foster Township police and the county DA's drug task force after a three month investigation.
Controlled buys of drugs from Harkins through a confidential informant led to the arrest. A search of Harkins' Sunbury Road home uncovered marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He lives there with his girlfriend, Brooke Evitts and two children. Charges are pending against Evitts. Harkins is charged with various drug offenses, and was taken to county prison after he didn’t post bail.

An Orwigsburg man escaped injury in a one vehicle crash yesterday in North Manheim Township. William Weist was traveling south on Route 61, and turned on to Greenview Road. He was unable to negotiate the turn and struck a utility pole. Weist was wearing his seatbelt and wasn't hurt. His car had to be towed from the scene.

State Representative Dave Argall has announced grants for volunteer fire and ambulance companies in his district. All 41 of the organizations in his 124th District will receive a share of the $738-thousand dollar pie.
The monies can be used for construction or renovation of facilities, purchasing or repairing equipment and debt reduction. The program offers a maximum grant of $30-thousand-dollars for fire companies and $20- thousand for volunteer ambulance organizations, which is doubled from last year.

A trio of teens are accused of a vandalism spree last fall that caused more than $4,000 in damage to a cemetery fence and several road signs. Authorities say 18-year-old Timothy Smith of Girardville, 18-year-old Ryan Houser of Locustdale and 19-year-old Samuel Leach of Ashland have been charged with vandalism and criminal conspiracy among other charges. Police say the three rammed the fence at St. Ignatius Cemetery in Centralia, forcing open the gate and causing damage. The three also drove through Centralia knocking down and driving over several PennDOT signs back in late September.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell has delivered a warning to top legislators that it's going to be a tough budget year. Legislative leaders met with Rendell at his offices for almost an hour on Tuesday, during which he raised the subject of the budget and the slowing economy. He says spending will have to be
restrained, but no taxes raised.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania House of Representatives wants a special commission to look at how the state funds its system of public education. The House voted Tuesday to establish the Joint Legislative Commission on Public School Finance. A study in November put the cost at about $5 billion more than is currently being spent.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Mine owners and workers aren't saying yet whether they support a new coal-mining bill that is headed to the state Senate. The 230-plus-page bill received unanimous approval from a state Senate committee on Tuesday and is being endorsed by Gov. Ed Rendell and House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese. The bill would include a slew of new safety measures.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Two more central Pennsylvania Republicans say they will try to round up signatures to run for the U.S. House seat being vacated by retiring Rep. John Peterson. Fifty-year-old Daniel Klees, of College Township, and 25-year-old Craig Lucas, of Union Township, say they plan to circulate
nominating petitions.

BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) - A Centre County man accused of raping a woman almost 200 times over the course of a year faces a preliminary hearing today. He is 29-year-old Roy Chamberlin of Centre Hall. Authorities say Chamberlin relied upon the woman's fear to prevent her from calling police. She didn't come forward
until Chamberlin was in jail on unrelated charges.

SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt (AP) - President Bush has wrapped up his Mideast visit with a pledge to return to the region and remain engaged in the peace process. He said at an appearance with Egypt's president that he's still optimistic a deal can be reached between Israelis and Palestinians.

NEW YORK (AP) - Wall Street is bracing for another day of losses. In addition to disappointing technology earnings and a dim outlook, Asian markets plunged today on speculation the U.S. economy is sliding into a recession. Stocks in Europe also are lower.

DETROIT (AP) - Mitt Romney is celebrating his first-place finish in the Michigan primary. Exit polls show his economic message aimed at Detroit's suburbs paid off. The state's been hard hit by the declining auto industry. He tells NBC's "Today Show" the victory is a good start, but made no predictions on results in other
states.

RICHMOND, Calif. (AP) - A Lesbian deacon in the Presbyterian church in the San Francisco Bay area is trying for a third time to join the clergy. A regional church body voted last night in support of Lisa Larges' application, despite the denomination's long-standing ban on openly gay ministers.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Despite a ban on the film "The Kite Runner" in Afghanistan, it's for sale there at U.S. military bases. The Afghan government fears the movie could trigger unrest. It highlights ethnic tensions during the country's 1990s civil war and has a scene depicting the rape of a young boy.