Today's News-Tuesday, February 26th

Fire damaged a house in Friedensburg yesterday morning, leaving a family of four displaced from their home. Firefighters were called to the blaze at 1390 Long Run Road around 10am. The home is occupied by the James Gordon family. Reports indicate that a neighbor spotted the fire on the kitchen side of the home. There is no estimate of damage, nor a cause of the fire as yet. The Gordon's were not home at the time of the fire.

An Oneida man was hurt in a one vehicle crash in East Union Township yesterday morning. Frackville state police report that Walter Kuchinsky was driving south on Nuremberg Road. It is not clear why his car left the road, but his car struck a utility pole. Kuchinsky was life-flighted to Geisinger Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. The crash happened just before noon Monday.

State police are investigating a weekend theft from a business in Mahanoy Township. Troopers indicate that between Saturday and Monday, unknown thieves cut a lock off of a lock box in the office of New Tilapia Company on Yatesville Road. More than $25-hundred-dollars in cash and two checks made out to the company were taken. The investigation continues.

Three people from Northumberland County are in Schuylkill County Prison after they reportedly took items from the Hometown Farmers Market. The Republican and Herald reports that Rush Township police arrested Rachel Geise and Harry Wheary the Third of Shamokin, and Anthony Calladine of Coal Township Sunday night. Police found more than 300 DVD's, phones, jewelry and other items hidden near an exit door at the market. The thieves were identified by surveillance video. A search of an apartment in Shamokin uncovered other stolen merchandise. Geise and a 17 year old female were found inside of a vehicle at the market. They denied having anything to do with the thefts, but were stopped later in Mahanoy City. Additional thefts took place on two other occasions. Wheary and Caladine were charged with burglary and related offenses. Geise was charged with criminal conspiracy. The minor female also faces charges through juvenile authorities. Another unidentified man is also implicated in the thefts. After arraignment, Wheary, Caladine and Geise were lodged in Schuylkill County Prison.

Two Schuylkill County legislators have come to the aid of the Schuylkill Alliance for Healthcare Access, securing some much needed funding to keep the operation open.
Representatives Tim Seip and Neal Goodman secured $20-thousand-dollars to allow the organization, to remain open while they await receipt of promised federal, state and other grant funding. The Alliance, in operation since 2003, works with healthcare providers to get people who don't have insurance, basic health care services, at reduced cost.

A Milton man was hurt in a crash Monday afternoon in Hubley Township. According to Schuylkill Haven state police, Timothy Buehler was driving east on State Route 25 and fell asleep at the wheel of his Chevy Astro Van. His car struck the guiderail and traveled about 75 feet before coming to rest against a tree. Buehler was trapped for about 45 minutes before rescue personnel could free him. He was transported to Geisinger Medical Center for treatment via Life Flight.

A gun club in Valley View was burglarized last week. Schuylkill Haven state police now say that the Valley View Gun Club was broken into by smashing the main door of the property. Liquor was taken in the theft. Troopers are continuing the investigation.

Former official charged in township embezzlement dies

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - A former official charged in the embezzlement of $2.5 million from Lower Macungie Township has died. Lehigh County District Attorney James Martin says 73-year-old Margaret Szulborski died Saturday at her home. Her attorney, Philip Lauer, says the grandmother of 12 and great-grandmother of four has been battling brain cancer. She underwent surgery in August 2007. Szulborski was charged with stealing millions from a sewer fund she controlled when she worked for the township from 1999 to March 2006. In a February 2007 response to a township lawsuit, she acknowledged stealing sewer connection fees. She had said she planned a defense of insanity, or mental infirmity. County Judge Kelly Banach, Chief Deputy District Attorney Steven Luksa and Lauer had planned to visit Szulborski next month to gauge her condition. Martin says her death ends the criminal case over the missing funds.

Man who ran over motorcyclist after leaving bar faces prison

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (AP) - A man who ran over a motorcyclist with his pickup truck after leaving a Bucks County bar faces 1 to 7 years in state prison. Thirty-five-year-old Paul Spaeth, of Middletown Township, was sentenced Monday. He pleaded guilty to hit and run and other charges. County Judge Rea Boylan says he must pay a $1,000 fine and undergo drug and alcohol treatment. Investigators say Spaeth had left a bar about 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 28 when he ran over motorcyclist Jesse Cartlidge. Cartlidge is a 24-year-old Levittown musician who had just left the same bar. Prosecutor Robert James says Cartlidge was dragged more than 600 feet. He was in intensive care for three weeks, had eight surgeries, and is still recovering. Spaeth acknowledges that he drove to Philadelphia, abandoned his truck and took a train home after the crash. He surrendered to police the next day.

Williamsport's most-wanted list gets quick results

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) - A north-central Pennsylvania city that tried releasing a list of the 25 most wanted fugitives has gotten quick results. Williamsport police say 33-year-old Terrence Starling, also known as "Tank," turned himself in Monday after hearing his name was on the list. Starling, who's charged with aggravated assault, says he's innoncent and didn't know there was a warrant out for him. Starling is accused of beating another man with a metal baseball bat in 2005. Police have also captured an 18-year-old woman accused of stealing a sport utility vehicle from an acquaintance. Williamsport Mayor Gabe Campana got the idea for the most wanted list after seeing a similar list in Philadelphia. It was released last week.

Indicted Scranton housing director suspended

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - The indicted executive director of the Scranton Housing Authority has been suspended. The authority's board voted unanimously Monday to suspend David Baker while the case works its way through the courts. He will still get his salary of more than $104,000 a year plus benefits. The vote also made Gary Pelucacci the acting executive director. He has been Baker's assistant for the 12 1/2years Baker has held the job. The indictment charges that Baker illegally misapplied federal money intended to fund low-income housing. He is charged with obstruction, wire fraud, theft of federal funds and other offenses. Baker didn't attend Monday's meeting and hasn't returned phone calls from reporters seeking his side of the story.

Temple U. beating outside Jewish frat is called a hate crime

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Officials at Temple University say an attack outside the former house of a Jewish fraternity was a hate crime. Four Temple students are charged in the Feb. 15 attack, during which they allegedly used anti-Semitic slurs. University officials say the victim, who isn't a Temple student, was seriously hurt in the beating. The four students are suspended. School officials say they are awaiting results of the police investigation before deciding whether to expel them. The attack happened outside a building that just to house the Temple chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi, an international Jewish fraternity. Alpha Epsilon Pi recently moved to a new fraternity house.

Lack of full slate won't affect Clinton's share of Pa. delegates

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton fell at least 10 candidates short of fielding a full slate for the 103 delegate slots to be allocated in Pennsylvania's primary. Sen. Barack Obama has a full slate, but that disparity has more symbolic than substantive impact. Some Clinton detractors have suggested that the shortfall reflects her campaign's overconfidence or lack of a strategy beyond the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday contests. But the state party's leader says if Clinton wins more delegate slots than she has candidates in any district, it won't matter. Executive Director Mary Isenhour says the state committee would fill them with additional Clinton-pledged delegates when it meets in June.

Fired Philly news anchor's cop-assault charges reduced

NEW YORK (AP) - Charges have been downgraded for a former Philadelphia TV news anchor accused of hitting a New York City police officer. Prosecutors reduced the felony assault charges against 35-year-old Alycia Lane to misdemeanors. Authorities say the plainclothes officer's injuries weren't serious enough for the felony charge. Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Dina Douglas told Lane on Monday that the charges will be dismissed if she is not arrested in the next six months. Lane also made the news in reports that she e-mailed bikini shots of herself to a married NFL Network anchor. And she tearfully discussed her divorce with "Dr. Phil" McGraw. Lane has been fired and says she is unsure about her next career move.

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) - Musical diplomacy in North Korea where the New York Philharmonic is playing a historic concert in a country that considers the U.S. the enemy. The Philharmonic is the first major American cultural group to perform in the country.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A mortgage research firm says the home foreclosure rate jumped 57 percent in January. RealtyTrac Incorporated says there was one foreclosure filing for every 534 homes.

WASHINGTON (AP) - If the housing and credit crunches aren't enough, a look a decade into the future suggests health care costs will have people feeling faint. By 2017, the 4 trillion dollar cost will translate to one of every $5 spent.

GREENSBORO, Ga. (AP) - In a land where segregation once ruled, one east Georgia county will try separation by gender in the fall. Educators hope it will improve rock-bottom test scores and reduce teen pregnancy and discipline problems.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A senior general says there will probably be about 8,000 more troops in Iraq after the surge than when it began. And the Army's chief of staff goes before Senators today as lawmakers vote on a proposal to cut Iraq war funding. The vote is expected to fail.