Today's News-Monday, March 17th

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY!

WPPA Sports is an award-winner, twice! The Associated Press has awarded WPPA Sports 2 2007 Broadcast News Awards for special sports programming.
Travis Sparks earned a Sports Feature Award for his "Pennsylvania Derby Recap", and Dave and Marge Smith, for NASCAR News. Congratulations to Marge, Dave and Travis on their awards! First, second and third place will be announced at the annual Associated Press banquet in April in Pittsburgh.

A Pottsville man and woman were arrested after a scuffle in the city Saturday morning. Pottsville police were called to 723 West Arch Street after 1:30am, where they found 35-year-old James Evans, and 24-year-old Crystal Kowalick in a domestic dispute. Evans had a laceration and redness on his neck, and Kowalick had a bloody nose from the altercation. Both were arrested for simple assault and arraigned. They were taken to Schuylkill County Prison.

A traffic stop leads to the apprehension of a Shenandoah man in this country illegally. frackville state police observed 20-year-old Ramiro Olallo going through a stop sign on Chestnut Street in Shenandoah Saturday afternoon. Olallo's vehicle almost collided with another car, which was traveling east on Route 54. Olallo couldn't provide a license or identification. He was taken to the Frackville barracks for processing, where officials found that he was in the country illegally. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a detainer against Olallo. He was taken to Schuylkill County Prison to await further processing.

Two Shenandoah men were arrested on various drug charges, from two Separate investigations. borough police say that 43-year-old David Murphy was picked up this past Tuesday on two counts of illegally selling prescription drugs. murphy allegedly sold Valium and Percocet that was prescribed to him. He made the deals in February to an undercover informant. Murphy was out of jail on bail when he was arrested, from a drug arrest in October, 2007. Murphy is locked up in Schuylkill County Prison. Wednesday, Shenandoah police arrested 29-year-old John Schropp, Shenandoah Heights. He was charged with delivering and possession of a controlled substance. Schropp reportedly sold heroin to a police informant in the borough in December, 2007 and January, of this year. He is also lodged in Schuylkill County Prison.

Frackville state police apprehended a Shenandoah man who apparently is in the U.S. illegally. During a traffic stop Saturday, police questioned 30-year-old Alejandro Escoredo. During the interview, he produced a fraudulent international driver's license and social security number. Further investigation discovered Escoredo was in the country illegally. Immigration officials issued a detainer on him, and he was taken to Schuylkill County Prison, while awaiting further processing.

A Hegins man was injured in a one vehicle crash on State Route 25 Sunday morning. 21-year-old Douglas Wehnke was driving his Volkswagen Jetta and lost control while trying to avoid a car trying to pass him. Wehnke's car when down an embankment and struck several tree stumps, causing extensive damage to his car. He was taken to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center for treatment. Schuylkill Haven state police will cite Wehnke for several traffic violations. Troopers are looking for information about the car that passed Wehnke's. The crash took place after 7am yesterday.

Thieves took equipment from a wind farm in Mahanoy Township. Sometime between the beginning of the month and last Friday, a site supervisor at the Iberdrola Renewable Energy wind farm discovered that 600 feet of copper wire was removed from that location. Frackville state police are investigating.

Two people from New York escaped injury in a Sunday afternoon crash on Interstate 81. 19-year-old Stefanie Famolaro was driving north on the Interstate near mile marker 127 in the right lane. She lost control of her SUV and traveled across the road, sliding sideways. The car hit the guiderail on the passenger's side. Famolaro nor her passenger were hurt in the crash that happened around 2pm.

A Cumbola man was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Maryland during a traffic stop late last week. Frackville state police say that 25-year-old Michael Stewart was stopped on Route 54 in Mahanoy Township for an equipment violation. A records check indicated that he was wanted by Carroll County, Maryland police on an outstanding charge. Stewart was arraigned as a fugitive and remanded to Schuylkill County Prison to await extradition to Maryland.

Pottsville Cruise Committee chairman Jerry Enders received an unusual call last week from California. It was Jay Leno! Leno called Enders to thank him for sending pictures of a classic car that the Tonight Show host purchased at an auction several years ago. Enders also included information about the Great Pottsville Cruise. During their conversation, Jay Leno offered VIP tickets to a taping of the Tonight Show to be chanced off in conjunction with the Cruise. The Pottsville Cruise Committee is considering a special drawing for the TV tickets and photo op with Leno. Stay tuned for details.

The Annual Pottsville Easter Egg Hunt drew hundreds of children yesterday. The event, sponsored by the Pottsville Recreation Commission was held at Alumni Field under the veil of a cloudy sky and a cold wind. The Easter Bunny stopped by for a visit, and led the throng of children under the age of 8 to hunt more than 4 thousand prize eggs. The kids were treated to pizza and drinks after the hunt, and each child received a chocolate bunny as a gift for participating.

Eighteen World Class gymnasts from 9 countries awed fans gathered at Martz Hall Saturday night at the Friendship Classic sponsored by the Pottsville Gymnastics Training Center. Samantha Wertz has the story:



CELEBRITY PATHOLOGIST TRIAL
Closing arguments to begin in federal fraud trial of celebrity
pathologist

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Closing arguments are scheduled today
in the federal fraud trial of celebrity pathologist Cyril Wecht. Wecht is charged with using his former Allegheny County coroner's staff and resources to help him with his lucrative practice as an expert witness in dozens of high-profile cases over the years. A conviction on any of the charges could damage Wecht's reputation and effectively end the 76-year-old doctor's career in the courtroom. The government called 44 witnesses during the seven-week trial. The defense did not put on any. Wecht's attorneys have argued that the indictment is a laundry list of administrative peccadilloes, not federal crimes.

NAKED RAMPAGE
Naked man causes thousands in damage to Pa. hotel, store

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) - Authorities in Lancaster County say a naked man ran amok and did tens of thousands of dollars damage to a hotel and store. West Lampeter Township police say they were first called to the Willow Valley Resort on Friday. They say some office space was trashed and a forklift was driven into an interior wall, also damaging an overhead sewer pipe. Police were later called to Darrenkamp's Market, where the 300-pound pizza oven was thrown to the floor, as well as three scales valued at about $7,000 each. A market official says a $90,000 meat-wrapping machine, several soda coolers and the windshield of a delivery truck also were damaged. Police charged 28-year-old Nicholas Hadzick with risking a catastrophe, criminal mischief, open lewdness and related counts. He was being held in Lancaster County Prison on $200,000 bail.

FOSTER CARE
Report: Fewer Pa. children in foster care

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Officials say the number of Pennsylvania children in foster care has dropped more than 11 percent since 2002 -- and they credit in part efforts to provide more at-home services to families. State Department of Public Welfare spokeswoman Anne Bale told The Morning Call of Allentown that the number of children in placement has fallen from 37,941 in 2002 to 33,689 in 2007, a decrease of 11.2 percent. Pam Buehrle, executive director of Lehigh County's Children and Youth Services agency, says the agency provides parenting education, counseling and programs to resolve parent-child conflicts. It also helps people find housing or get drug or alcohol treatment. Nationally, the re-entry rate into foster care after a child is reunited with family is about 15 percent -- and officials would like to bring that number closer to zero.

STAY IN SCHOOL SUMMIT
Harrisburg schools looking to reduce dropout rate

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Harrisburg school officials, parents and community members are scheduled to huddle today in an effort to come up with innovative ways to keep kids in school. Mayor Stephen Reed and schools superintendent Gerald Kohn are among those slated to speak at the "Stay in School Summit" at Harrisburg Area Community College. There also will be discussion sessions to explore causes and solutions for the high percentage of students who drop out.

NAME THE MASCOT
Williamsport Crosscutters looking to name mascot

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) - The Williamsport Crosscutters now have a mascot -- but they still need a name for it. Crosscutters spokesman Gabe Sinicropi says fans will handle the task in a "Name the Mascot" contest. The fan who picks the winning name will get a 2008 Crosscutters general admission season ticket and the opportunity to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on opening night June 20th.

Well-known Pa. defense attorney dead of cancer at 74

READING, Pa. (AP) - A noted Reading defense attorney has lost his battle with cancer. Emmanuel Dimitriou's colleagues said he died Saturday of cancer. He was 74. Dimitriou served as Berks County’s first public defender. He was selected for the post in 1964. Despite his illness, Dimitriou continued working and was defending a Lancaster County man when he was hospitalized Monday. His client, Warren Trent, was accused of killing his former girlfriend. The Lancaster judge in the case declared a mistrial after Dimitriou became too ill to continue.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - News of the bargain-priced buyout of investment bank Bear Stearns by rival JPMorgan Chase is sinking overseas trading. Some Asian markets dipped more than five percent. European shares have also opened lower.

BAGHDAD (AP) - Vice President Dick Cheney has reaffirmed U.S. support for the Iraqis as they continue down what he calls a "difficult but historic route to democracy." Cheney is visiting Iraq today and had an hour-long meeting with the prime minister.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York Lieutenant Governor David Paterson will drop the lieutenant from his title today. Paterson will formally take over for Governor Eliot Spitzer. Spitzer officially resigns today after being accused of spending tens of thousands of dollars on prostitutes.

ATLANTA (AP) - People who work in downtown Atlanta are being urged to stay home today as the city continues the cleanup from Friday night's tornado. A police spokeswoman says more than 150 traffic lights are still out.

FERNDALE, Mich. (AP) - It's St. Patrick's Day, and in Ferndale, Michigan, they're celebrating by singing "Danny Boy" -- over and over again. A cafe is hosting a 50-hour marathon to set a world record. Six church choirs have been among those taking part.