Today's News-Monday, February 11th

A blinding snow squall Sunday morning led to a 68-car pileup along Interstate 81, killing at least one motorist and injuring several dozen. Officials say 24-year-old Theresa Berrocal died when her car became wedged underneath a tractor-trailer. About 35 people were injured. At least 24 people whose cars were not drivable were placed in shelters. Lt. Jason Zoshak of Hazleton Township Fire and Rescue says the storm created whiteout conditions along the highway near Hazleton at the time of the 2 p.m. crash. Eighteen people were taken to Hazleton General Hospital where most were taken for minor injuries. Some of the uninjured motorists were taken to the American Red Cross building in West Hazleton. The northbound lanes of the interstate were shut down for more than five hours and motorists were detoured onto side roads, leading to several miles of jammed traffic.

The fire that took the lives of two people in West Mahanoy Township late Friday has been ruled accidental.
State police fire investigators say that James Caufield and Geraldine Hartz died in the fire at 73 Raven Run Road, due to a kerosene heater. The fire began in the middle room of the first floor of the home. Damages to the property are in excess of $35-thousand-dollars. Cadaver dogs had to be brought in to locate the victims of the Friday night blaze.

A Barnesville man's garage was broken into early Sunday morning. Troopers from the Frackville barracks of the Pennsylvania State Police report that around 3am, unknown persons forcibly entered the garage on Hillside Drive in Barnesville owned by Jim Gallery. After entry, the thieves took several items. Their value was not released. The investigation continues.

A New Philadelphia man is charged with criminal mischief following an incident Saturday afternoon. State police say that 19-year-old Peter Dunchick broke a window at a warehouse at 191 Valley Street, New Philadelphia. The property is owned by Stanley Babcock of Pottsville. Troopers say that Dunchick and several of his friends were filming themselves with the intent of putting the footage on the "YouTube" internet site. The incident happened around 3:45 Saturday afternoon.

A Schuylkill Haven man is in jail following an incident Friday night. Two Schuylkill Haven state police troopers were responding to an incident at Renninger’s Haven, when 20-year-old David Natale Jr. became angry and physically confronted the troopers. Following an altercation, Natale was taken into custody.
He is charged with resisting arrest, obstructing justice, purchasing and possession of alcoholic beverages and other offenses. Following arraignment, Natale was taken to Schuylkill County Prison, being unable to post bail.

A Harrisburg man was arrested on several charges during a traffic crash last night in Foster Township. 27-year-old Shalimar Peters was northbound on Interstate 81 when he lost control of his car. It veered off into a cluster of trees. Peters showed signs of intoxication and was taken to the Frackville State Police barracks for a breath test. He was above the legal limit. Peters was charged with DUI and driving with a suspended license.

A Barnesville man's garage was broken into early Sunday morning. Troopers from the Frackville barracks of the Pennsylvania State Police report that around 3am, unknown persons forcibly entered the garage on Hillside Drive in Barnesville owned by Jim Gallery. After entry, the thieves took several items. Their value was not released. The investigation continues.

READING, Pa. (AP) - State police say high winds blew a 60-foot tree onto a sport utility vehicle in Berks County, killing a man and critically injuring his wife. The Chevrolet Trailblazer was traveling at about 50 mph on Woodside Avenue just south of Topton in Longswamp Township. Police at the Reading station say the tree fell directly onto the vehicle's roof, causing "massive damage to the occupant area." The SUV veered to the berm and came to rest against another tree after the accident, which happened just before 3:30 p.m. yesterday. Forty-eight-year-old Dean Derr, of Kutztown, was pronounced dead of massive head injury at the scene. Forty-nine-year-old Cynthia Derr was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital in critical condition.

EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. (AP) - Investigators say carbon monoxide poisoning killed four men found dead in a home in the Poconos. Police in Winona Lakes say emergency crews were called to the home around 5 p.m. Friday after a family member found them unresponsive. Investigators found high levels of carbon monoxide in the house. The house had no electricity and a gas-powered generator was running in the basement.
Authorities say the four had been working to clean up the vacant house, owned by Hopkins' family, so he could move into it. Police identified the men as 19-year-old Michael Hopkins, 20-year-old Andrew Larson, 19-year-old Michael McGovern Jr., and 19-year-old Salvatore Facciponte. Monroe County Coroner Dave Thomas ruled the deaths accidental.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Swimming at state park beaches in Pennsylvania soon will be at your own risk.
Starting this summer, the Bureau of State Parks is getting rid of lifeguards at all beaches except at Presque Isle State Park on Lake Erie. State officials say the move will save about $800,000, eliminate the challenge of hiring enough life guards and allow beaches to be open longer. Lifeguards will remain on duty at park swimming pools. The state has been moving toward getting rid of beach guards since 1998, when it started open swims at some beaches. Several parks did away with lifeguards the next year, mostly because they
couldn't hire enough. By last year, 23 state parks had unguarded beaches. Now, another 15 beaches will be unguarded this summer.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - TV producers are expecting writers to be back on the job as early as Wednesday. Writers Guild leaders are backing a tentative deal to end a three-month-old walkout and are asking their members to vote on the contract offer. Membership meetings will be held on both coasts tomorrow.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq (AP) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates is publicly endorsing a pause in the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq this summer. The comments come after an Iraq
meeting with top U.S. commander David Petraeus. Gates says the final decision on a pause lies with President Bush.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former Senator John Edwards is receiving renewed interest in the 2008 Democratic presidential race. Edwards' former rivals Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama are
seeking his endorsement. Clinton has already visited Edwards in North Carolina. Obama, fresh off a win in the Maine caucuses, will meet with the former senator today.

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - East Timor's president is hospitalized in critical condition after being shot during what officials call a failed coup attempt. Jose Ramos Horta was taken in an induced coma to a northern
Australian hospital after being shot at his home in East Timor's capital. The country's prime minister escaped a separate attack.

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, Houston (AP) - NASA says no changes are in store for a spacewalk today, despite a last-minute switch in the crew for medical reasons. The spacewalk was pushed back a day after a German astronaut was pulled because of an undisclosed illness. Astronauts are installing a lab on the international space station.