Today's News-Saturday February 2, 2008

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Officials of MBC Development, LP of Schuylkill Haven announced today that the company has entered into an agreement with LT Connections, formerly known as D.A. Fehr Inc., to build and lease a new distribution center in the Highridge Business Park. The new plumbing supply facility will include 100,000 square feet of warehouse space with an additional 5,000 square feet of office space on a 13.1 acre parcel. The project will create from 10 to 15 new jobs, with total employment on site rising to about 42. LT Connections will move its entire operation from its Long Run Road location in Friedensburg to the new location in Highridge. MBC Development LP is an affiliate of Miller Bros. Construction Inc. (MBCI). At present, MBCI is approaching completion of another project in the Highridge Business Park - a 350,000 square foot manufacturing facility for Jeld-Wen Windows & Doors. The LT Connections project is the eighth industrial real estate development project in the region undertaken by MBC Development in the past three years and the fifth in Schuylkill County. The firm has four other industrial sites approved for immediate construction in Schuylkill County. MBC Development, based in Schuylkill Haven, specializes in the acquisition, renovation, rehabilitation and leasing of commercial and industrial properties in eastern and central Pennsylvania.

POTTSVILLE - The Schuylkill Transportation System (STS) put out a reminder to riders in Schuylkill and Luzerne Counties that a bus to the Hometown Farmers' Market is available all year - even in the winter months. Riders from Pottsville or Hazelton can reach the Farmers' Market in Hometownat 10:05 AM by boarding the STS Route 45 bus on Wednesday morning. Hazletonriders are able to board the Route 45 bus via a Hazleton Public Transit-to-STS connection in McAdoo. According to STS Vice-president, Mike Micko, "The Route 45 bus operatesMonday through Friday from our Pottsville terminal to a connection with Hazleton Public Transit in McAdoo. On Wednesday morning, we redirect and stop at the Hometown Farmers' Market. Riders from Hazleton can shop at the farmers market or stay on the bus to get to the Schuylkill Mall, Fairlane Mall or other shopping opportunities in Pottsville. On the return trip the bus stops at the Hometown Farmers' Market at 1:05 PM,giving riders three hours shopping time. System-wide route schedules are available online at http://www.go-sts.com/. STS, a division of the ReDCo Group, provides public transportation services all over Schuylkill County's 778 square-mile area. Each month about 11,000 riders use shared-ride van services and 18,000 riders use the fixed-route bus system to get to their destinations.

TOWER CITY - A Tower City potato farm and processor is receiving some expansion funding from the state of Pennsylvania. Tallman Farms LLC is receiving a $200-thousand-dollar agriculture loan to renovate their potato washing line, install a third packaging line and make additional improvements to their plant through the state's First Industries Fund program, Governor Rendell announced Friday. The program helps agricultural and tourism businesses thrive through investment. It combines grants, loans and other resources, and has provided for more than $2.5 billion dollars in assistance for more than 24-hundred projects around the state.

BOYERTOWN - National Penn Bancshares, Inc. announced that it has completed the merger of KNBT Bancorp, Inc. with and into National Penn Bancshares, Inc. as of close of business Friday. In addition, KNBT's banking subsidiary, Keystone Nazareth Bank & Trust Company, is being merged into National Penn's banking subsidiary, National Penn Bank, effective February 2, 2008. As a result of the National Penn/KNBT merger, each share of KNBTcommon stock has been converted into the right to receive 1.03 sharesof National Penn common stock. Based on this exchange ratio National Penn and KNBT shareholders immediately prior to the merger will own approximately 65% and 35% of the combined company, respectively, afterthe merger is complete. With the completion of the merger, National Penn is the 5th largest Pennsylvania-based bank holding company, with approximately $8.9 billion in assets and 140 offices in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. As a division of National Penn Bank, KNBT will retain its name in the six Pennsylvania counties where KNBT currently operates - Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Luzerne, Schuylkill and Monroe counties - and National Penn community offices in Lehigh and Northampton counties will be rebranded under the KNBT name.

POTTSVILLE - A Pottsville man was arrested after an incident Friday morning in the city. Officers were taking 19 year old Vincent Meyer to his 3rd Street home after he was found to be drinking underage. Prior to being dropped off at his home, Meyer kicked out the rear passenger side window of the police car. Meyer, in addition to underage drinking, was charged with institutional vandalism, criminal mischief and other offenses. He was lodged in Schuylkill County Prision, being unable to post bail.

PINE GROVE - A fire that caused extensive damage to a home in Pine Grove was deliberately set. State Police Fire Marshal John Burns reports that the blaze at 15 East Pottsville Street, owned by Pamela Kramer and Vivian Noecker, burned on Thursday morning. The fire gutted the second floor bathroom and caused extensive damage to the second floor. Damages are estimated at $60 thousand dollars. No injuries were reported. The investigation continues. Contact Pine Grove police or Frackville police with information.

UNDATED (AP) - Four-hundred passengers stranded on two Amtrak trains in deep snow in Northern California are expected to be safely on their way soon. Officials are using a heavy crane to remove a snow plow blocking the tracks. Amtrak says the trains have heating and electricity the passengers are being fed.

MOUNT AIRY, N.C. (AP) - Six people have been killed in the crash of a twin-engine plane yesterday as it tried to land amid low fog at a small airport in North Carolina. The plane had taken off from Georgia and was headed for a Virginia hunting resort near the airport. The FAA is investigating.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The economy is losing more jobs that it's creating, for the first time in four years. A labor report shows America lost 17,000 jobs last month. One economist calls the figures a sign that the economy is "on thin ice."

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush is proposing cuts in funding for things like teaching hospitals and medical research as part of his 2009 budget. However, the spending plan could still make for a record deficit with increased funding for the Pentagon and a 150-billion-dollar economic stimulus plan. Bush submits his budget package to Congress Monday.

BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraqi police say two mentally disabled women who blew themselves up in two crowded Baghdad pet markets yesterday may not have known they were on a deadly mission. At least 99 people were killed. Relatives are burying loved ones today.

VANDALIA, Ohio (AP) - Hundreds of mourners are expected today at the Ohio funeral of a pregnant Marine who police think was murdered by a fellow Marine she had accused of rape. The remains of Maria Lauterbach were found buried in Ceasar Laurean's back yard last month. Authorities think he's fled to Mexico.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A 40-year-old spokesman for Florida's child welfare agency has been charged with soliciting teens to create child porn. Authorities think at least one of the children was in state custody at the time. Al Zimmerman was fired after police arrested him.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A Los Angeles city councilman is proposing an ordinance to create a buffer zone between celebrities and swarming paparazzi. The measure would require photographers to stay at least several feet away from their celebrity targets to create a "personal safety zone." It doesn't specify penalties.

NEW YORK (AP) - Super Sunday is still a day away, but New York City has already planned a victory parade for its Giants. The parade would coincide with New York's Super Tuesday presidential primary next week. Mayor Michael Bloomberg is refusing to talk about the plans because he doesn't want to "jinx" the Giants' chances of beating the Patriots tomorrow.

OCALA, Fla. (AP) - Actor Wesley Snipes has been convicted of three misdemeanor counts of failing to file taxes. But a Florida jury has acquitted the action star of more serious charges of federal tax-fraud and conspiracy. Snipes still faces up to three years in prison for failing to file taxes for five years from 1999 to 2004.

DENVER (AP) - Republican Mitt Romney is concentrating his campaign efforts on the Midwest and the South ahead of the upcoming Super Tuesday vote. The White House contender spent Friday in Colorado and will attend Saturday's funeral for Mormon church President Gordon Hinckley in Utah.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A California court has granted the father of Britney Spears limited legal control over his troubled daughter's life. Spears is hospitalized in Los Angeles for a psychiatric evaluation. Her family has also cut Sam Lufti out of her life with a restraining order. Lufti was often seen escorting Spears and sometimes speaking on her behalf.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Ten current and former female inmates from a Michigan state prison have been awarded 15-and-a-half million dollars over claims that male prison workers raped and sexually abused them. One of the inmates thanked a jury Friday for "believing" in them. Three of the inmates are serving life terms.