Today's News-Tuesday, February 12th

The winter of 2007-2008 has been relatively mild. But wintry weather returns to the area today. The brutal cold we experienced yesterday will be replaced with a wintry mix today. The snow is moving from the southeast, and is expected to reach our area later this morning, with sleet and freezing rain mixed in as temperatures aloft warm the atmosphere. Ground temps are expected to be in the mid-20’s throughout.
Travel problems could certainly result as the mix continues throughout the day and evening. The storm is expected to wind up with freezing rain Wednesday morning. Stay tuned for weather updates throughout the day.

A Hegins woman died in a crash yesterday afternoon on Route 25. Hegins police report that 80-year-old Dr. Donald Malick and his wife Dorothy, age 79 were traveling west, when he fell asleep at the wheel of the vehicle. The car crossed over Route 25 and sheared off a utility pole, then rolled over. Dorothy Malick was thrown into the backseat of the car. She suffered head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by a Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner. Police say that Dr. Malick was taken to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. The crash happened around 4pm Monday.

At last night's Pottsville City Council meeting, a resolution was approved to allow the restaurant P&T Phase II to receive a liquor license transfer from an establishment in another township. Because only one liquor license is allowed per 3-thousand people, the transfer was an important asset for Phase II. The Council Chambers was full of young ladies, trying to make a difference in their community. Girl Scout Troop 1324 explained to council that in an attempt to gain the Bronze Award, which is the highest award in the Junior level of Girl Scouts, they had to come up with a way to link the community and make it a better place. The girls also sang a song titled, "This City is Your City" and jumped at the opportunity to perform it on Pottsville's local television channel. City Administrator Thomas Palamar presented the idea of a stump grinding proposal. All over the city, shade trees are being taken down for numerous resaons and not being replaced. Because the removal of the stumps can be a pricey task, this program would charge the city by the hour to remove the stumps, thus keeping the city safe and well-kept. The council decided to create a three-year contract with Frontier Communications, involving the city's phone services. This will save Pottsville about $620 dollars a month and was well accepted.
(Allie Raring)

A Tamaqua businessman is throwing his hat into the ring for the Republican nomination for state legislature in April. Ending several weeks of speculation, John Schickram formally announced his intention to seek the 124th District seat, currently held by Dave Argall. In a press release, Schickram says that his platform includes eliminating property taxes for homeowners, controlling spending in Harrisburg and addressing environmental problems in the district. Schickram is no stranger to the county political scene, having sought the House seat before, as well as waging a write-in campaign for Schuylkill County Commissioner last November. Schickram owns several businesses in the Tamaqua area. He is a Vietnam Veteran and a former Rush Township supervisor.

There is an update to report on the vandalism at the Minersville train restoration site last week. We originally reported that a caboose had windows smashed during the weekend of February 2nd and 3rd. Robert Kimmel, project manager, told WPPA/T102 News yesterday that in fact, the Jersey Central Private Car number 98 had windows and doors heavily damaged, and other vandalism done. Kimmel said that whoever is doing the vandalism are becoming more daring, and those working on the restoration project want to see them caught. A reward is being offered for any information leading to their apprehension. The Minersville police are continuing their investigation.

Washington Township received funds for recreation projects last night from the office of State Representative Tim Seip. A check for $64-thousand-600 dollars will help the township purchase 11 acres of land on Ball Park Lane for active recreation. A check for $10-thousand-dollars was also presented to prepare a master site development plan for the 12 acre Washington Township recreation park. Those funds came through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Those checks were presented by Seip's Chief of Staff Brian Tobin at last night's township supervisors meeting.

A bill sponsored by Schuylkill County’s state senator to help senior citizens with their heating bills has moved out of committee. Senator Jim Rhoades made the announcement yesterday:
RHOADES
Senate Bill 1248 will provide senior citizens who are eligible for the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program with home heating fuel rebates. Senior citizens would apply for a rebate to be used to offset the cost of home heating fuels. The amount of the rebates will be based on the availability of unused funds remaining in the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program. According to Rhoades, over $80 million is available right now.
The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

A teenage boy and girl were found to be drinking under age on Friday night, according to Port Carbon police.
18-year-old Andrew Colna of Mechanicsville and a 16-year-old Schuylkill Haven girl were found at Center and Wood Streets around 10pm. They will receive citations for the charges.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Lawmakers broke out cheering as the state House of Representatives unanimously passed an open-records bill. The House made some changes to a bill passed by the Senate to address concerns about unintended consequences. If the Senate agrees, the bill could be on Gov. Ed Rendell's desk as early as today.

WHITE DEER, Pa. (AP) - Eight federal prison inmates had to be taken to hospitals after a fight broke out at a federal prison in Union County. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons says no guards were hurt in the melee yesterday at Allenwood Federal Prison's medium-security facility. A spokeswoman says the prison
will remain locked down during the investigation.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A 34-year-old Philadelphia man has managed to take in a $100,000-a-year, all-cash income. Alton Coles, also known as "Ace Capone," says he did it on the up-and-up. He has an inner-city barber shop, water-ice stand and day care center. He's also worked as a rap promoter. Coles is on trial in federal court, accused of selling $25 million of crack and powder cocaine.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Allegheny County district attorney says he will investigate the fatal shooting of a 64-year-old Coraopolis man by a county police officer last week. Stephen Zappala says he expects police to hand over the file on the shooting of Gary Dennison today. Police say Dennison was shot and killed early
Saturday in Moon Township after he refused to stop his car for officers.

FARRELL, Pa. (AP) - An 18-year-old Sharon man is charged with Mercer County's only homicide last year. Police say Brian Burks was arrested Saturday near Pittsburgh after eluding authorities since the Dec. 15 shooting in Farrell. Burks is accused of killing 21-year-old Prince Butler during an argument. He was arraigned
Monday in Farrell on a homicide charge.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Polls are opening this morning in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. where voters have their chance to weigh in on the 2008 presidential race. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has all but conceded the three Democratic primaries to Senator Barack Obama. GOP front-runner Senator John McCain is also expected to sweep over Mike Huckabee.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration is set to unveil another plan to help homeowners who are facing foreclosure. The program called Project Lifeline will allow borrowers to delay foreclosure by 30 days so they can work out more affordable terms. The offer would be extended to borrowers who are way behind on all types of mortgages.

BAGHDAD (AP) - Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's office condemns the kidnapping of two CBS journalists in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Iraqi police say an intensive search is under way for the two men, who were abducted Sunday. CBS is not identifying them.

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) - The city council in Berkeley, California, may be doing an about-face after declaring Marine recruiters would be "uninvited and unwelcome" intruders if they chose to stay in their downtown office. The council is set to consider another resolution today rescinding an earlier letter.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The nation's fire marshals say some novelty cigarette lighters are no laughing matter. A fire marshals group is backing an effort to ban the lighters. The lighters can look like anything from cell phones to butterflies and the group maintains they look too much like toys. A handful of states are
considering banning them.