Today's News-Wednesday, January 23rd

Several people were injured in a crash near Deer Lake yesterday afternoon. After 4pm, 85-year-old Mark Brensinger of Hamburg was traveling north on Route 61 when he struck a car driven by Corey Freed of Orwigsburg, who was attempting to turn onto Laurel Boulevard. Brensinger's car continued on and struck a car driven by Alisha Hartranft of Hamburg, which was southbound on the highway. The Brensinger vehicle hit the guiderail, lost its front tire, crossed the road again and hit a utility pole. The car went down an embankment and struck the basement of a home, landing upside down. Brensinger was life-flighted to Lehigh Valley Hospital. Hartranft and her passenger, Megan Hartranft had minor injuries. Freed was not hurt. A fourth car, driven by Joshua Price of Orwigsburg, was damaged by flying debris from the crash. Lanes of travel on Route 61 were shut down for a time for cleanup. The investigation continues.

A Lancaster County man died in a crash yesterday in Tremont Township. Police say 21-year-old Joshua Manley of Denver, PA was driving south on Route 125, apparently speeding when the car went off the roadway, hitting a guide-wire post and then slamming into a large tree. Manley was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Coroner Diane Zimmerman. Manley's passenger, Sean McFadden of Terre Hill was flown to Geisinger Medical Center for treatment. He was reported to be in fair condition by hospital personnel late last night. Police say that the two were not wearing their seatbelts.

A Tamaqua man was severely hurt when he was struck by a car early Tuesday. Derek Bade, age 20, was removing groceries from his car on Spruce Street around 4am when he was struck by a car driven by Chanita Guerrero of Tamaqua. The impact pushed Bade's car up against a building, pinning him underneath it. Emergency personnel prepared Bade for air transport to St. Luke's Hospital. Guerrero was given a blood alcohol test, suspecting that she was driving under the influence. State and Tamaqua police conducted an accident reconstruction at sunrise yesterday, and their investigation continues.

Tamaqua police are investigating a break-in at a borough fire company over the weekend. Thieves forcibly entered the Citizens Fire Company on Rowe Street, and took more than $4-thousand-dollars from the office and a vending machine Saturday morning. If anyone has information about the theft, call Tamaqua police at 668-5000.

The saga of the Pottsville Maroons and the stolen championship is receiving more notoriety, this time from an HBO film crew. The pay-channel sports crew was filming for a piece on Inside the NFL about the 1925 NFL Champions that will air on January 30th at 10pm. The Republican and Herald indicates that the film crew shot interviews with Dr. Jack Dolbin, who played for the Denver Broncos, and Pottsville head football coach Kevin Keating. ESPN sportswriter David Fleming wrote "Breaker Boys: The NFL's Greatest Team and the Stolen 1925 Championship" about the team, and has spearheaded an effort to have the team's championship restored by the NFL owners. An online petition drive has been signed by more than 10-thousand-people to date for the reconsideration.

Participants in the 2007 election have some unfinished business to complete. Betty Dries, Schuylkill County Election Bureau Director, reminds all candidates and candidate committees from the 2007 General Election that Annual Expense Reports must be filed with the bureau by January 31st. If there are any questions, contact the bureau at 628-1467.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Northampton County District Attorney John
Morganelli is expected to announce that he's seeking the Democratic
nomination for state attorney general. Morganelli has an event
scheduled Wednesday afternoon in the state Capitol Rotunda, where
the announcement is expected.

BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) - Software systems engineer Tim Wilson is
running for the state House of Representatives. Wilson is the
second Democrat seeking the Democratic nomination for the seat of
state Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, of Bellefonte. Wilson is 33 years old
and from Spring Township. The district covers parts of Centre and
Mifflin counties.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter is
ordering a complete review of policy on the use of deadly force by
police. Three people have been fatally injured by police gunfire
since New Year's in Philadelphia. Current policy says police may
use firearms only if all other means fail.

ALBION, Pa. (AP) - Two employees at a western Pennsylvania state
prison from which a convicted murderer escaped have been fired. A
spokeswoman for the State Correctional Institution at Albion says
two other employees have been suspended for 30 days without pay.
Malcolm Kysor got away on Nov. 25 and remains at large.

BEAVER FALLS, Pa. (AP) - A Beaver Falls couple is accused of
animal cruelty after their emaciated and burned dog was euthanized.
Officials say Ronald and Rebecca Tomko brought their Great Dane
named Tank to the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society in Pittsburgh
on Jan. 7. An official there says the burns were possibly caused by
a chemical.

TOKYO (AP) - The Fed's big, emergency interest-rate cut has been
good news for Asian markets, which rebounded today from a two-day
plunge based on U.S. recession fears. But European markets slipped
in early trading and U.S. futures suggest the Dow will open down a
bit.

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) - Leading economists are expressing
mixed opinions about whether a U.S. recession could spread around
the world. At the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, economists
do say the overall forecast for the global economy this year is
gloomy.

BAGHDAD (AP) - A drive-by shooting at a checkpoint in central
Baghdad has killed eight Iraqi soldiers and wounded two. The attack
in the heart of Baghdad is seen as an example of the challenges
still faced by Iraqi forces trying to take over their own security
matters.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) - A cousin of missing Marine Cesar
Laurean (SEH'-sahr LOHR'-ee-uhn) says he visited relatives in
Mexico last week. Laurean is wanted in the slaying of a pregnant
colleague. The cousin says Laurean left without saying where he was
headed.

NEW YORK (AP) - Actor Mel Gibson says the death of
Oscar-nominated "Brokeback Mountain" star Heath Ledger is a
"tragic loss." Gibson says he had high hopes for Ledger, whose
body was found in a New York apartment with sleeping pills nearby.
An autopsy is scheduled today.