Today's News-Saturday, March 22nd

POTTSVILLE - In rambling, contradictory statements, a Pottsville man with a history of public drunkenness admitted to shooting only one of two teens whose bodies were found stacked in his apartment building's basement for more than two weeks, according to court papers released Friday. As reported in today's Republican and Herald, Pottsville police citing "numerous false statements" and contrary physical evidence, however, Norman E. "Ed" Nickle, 53, was arraigned early Friday on two counts of criminal homicide in the deaths of Joshua Brian Yevak, 19, whose last known address was 917 Davis Ave., Pottsville, and Cayla Turner, 17, of 210 W. Market St., Port Carbon. Nickle was committed to Schuylkill County Prison without bail. He also faces two counts each of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, abuse of a corpse and crimes committed with a firearm, and one count of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. After first denying involvement, Nickle said his shotgun went off and struck Yevak, 19, as he tried to take the weapon from the teen inside his 700 N. 13th St. home on March 4, Pottsville police Lt. Richard Wojcie-chowsky said. "I shot him," Nickle said, according to the court papers. Schuylkill County Coroner Joseph Lipsett said Yevak and Turner were each shot twice. Lipsett said Schuylkill County pathologist Dr. Richard P. Bindie will conduct an autopsy today and the second on Monday. Nickle told police that he dragged Yevak and Turner into the basement of the building and covered them with a blanket so he "didn't have to look at them every time he used the washer and dryer." Nickle was taken into custody for questioning shortly after the bodies were discovered about 4 p.m. Thursday. In Wojciechowsky's Affidavit of Probable Cause, Nickle changes his story several times before finally stating "I'm done," refusing to answer any more questions and asking to "go see the judge" or "go to the lockup."

POTTSVILLE - The Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement is filing charges against two Pottsville bars. According to the Republican and Herald, Strikers Pub, 2501 West End Ave., is being charged for allegedly permitting the sale of alcoholic beverages to a 20-year-old female on Jan. 24. Lazmat Inc. Stadium Bar, 337 Peacock St., is also being charged for allegedly permitting the sale of alcoholic beverages to a 20-year-old female on Jan. 24. The Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement's District Enforcement Office No. 9, Allentown, announced the charges Friday in press releases. The charges will be brought before an administrative law judge who has the authority to impose penalties ranging from $50 to $1,000 for minor offenses and up to $5,000 for more serious offenses, according to the press release. The Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement accuses the bars of violating Section 493(1) of the Pennsylvania Liquor Code by selling, furnishing and/or giving or permitting the sale, furnishing or giving of alcoholic beverages to a minor. The judge can impose a license suspension or revocation based on the severity of the charge brought or mandate training in an effort to educate them on the requirements of being a licensee, reads the press release.

BAGHDAD (AP) - The U.S. military says three American soldiers and two Iraqi civilians have been killed in a roadside bombing northwest of Baghdad. At least 3,996 Americans have died in Iraq since the war started.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - Vice President Cheney and Saudi King Abdullah have discussed ways to stabilize the energy market. President Bush wants OPEC to boost production but it's unclear if that came up. Cheney has also spoken with other Saudi officials on a range of Mideast topics.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Germany, Japan, Brazil and India could get a shot at becoming members of the U.N.'s Security Council. A proposal suggests boosting the number of council members from 15 to 22. Under the proposal, the 192-member nations would be left with the task of picking who fills the new slots.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Both the State Department and Congress will be looking into unauthorized viewing of the presidential candidates' private passport information. Two companies that provide workers for the department say those responsible have been fired or otherwise punished.

WHITE HOUSE (AP) - The White House has told a federal judge that possibly missing e-mails at the center of a lawsuit may be gone for good because hard drives have been destroyed. The White House says a regular replacement program involves the destruction of older drives.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - A statement by Bill Clinton apparently questioning Barack Obama's patriotism has drawn the ire of a retired Air Force general. Merrill McPeak, a co-chairman of Obama's presidential campaign, compares Clinton to 1950s communist-hunting Senator Joseph McCarthy.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Abandoned by his deputies, the police chief of a Mexican border town has fled to the U.S. and wants asylum. Emilio Perez, the chief of Palomas, Mexico, says he needs protection. His Mexico town is racked by smuggling-related violence.

UNDATED (AP) - Southern Ohio is doing flood cleanup while the northern part of the state is bracing for more snow today. There's also flooding in Missouri and Arkansas. In a town in eastern Missouri, the Army Corps of Engineers says it's "100 percent confident" a levee will hold against a 40-foot river crest.

CHICAGO (AP) - The price of grain isn't anywhere near this high but two sisters from Virginia have sold a single corn flake on eBay for $1,350. The flake is shaped like the state of Illinois and was purchased by the owner of a trivia Web site.

HOUSTON (AP) - Astronauts aboard the international space station have one last spacewalk scheduled tonight. A laser-tipped boom being left behind by the shuttle will be attached to the orbiting lab. It'll be used by the next shuttle to inspect its heat shield.

TOWNSEND, Tenn. (AP) - Two men and two teenagers reported missing after going caving in Tennessee have been rescued in good shape. They were found at the bottom of a vertical drop that's basically a waterfall. The four were inexperienced at caving and were too tired to climb out.

DENVER (AP) - Dozens of cases of salmonella poisoning have been linked to municipal water in a town in southern Colorado. Bottled water is being brought in and officials say it could be three weeks before the regular supply is up to snuff. Seven people are hospitalized.

BEIJING (AP) - People familiar with the situation say the Chinese government has thrown a monkey wrench into plans for live Olympic broadcasts from Tiananmen Square. The telecasts might be barred because of nervousness over unrest among Tibetans and fear of protests in the square.

MIAMI (AP) - Unreleased Beatles recordings dating back to 1962 are the object of a suit by lawyers for the group. The company that protects the Beatles musical legacy says they're bootlegs and the firm that has them has no right to release them.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Another short Hollywood marriage hits the rocks. Pamela Anderson's new husband of two months agrees in court papers that the marriage to the "Baywatch" actress should be annulled. Both parties mention fraud but the documents don't elaborate.