Primary Election Results and Today's News-Wednesday, April 23rd

Unofficial Totals:
Schuylkill County

President: Democratic

Hillary Clinton 15,355
Barack Obama 5,517
Write Ins 197

President: Republican

John McCain 9,760
Ron Paul 1,833
Mike Huckabee 1,478
Write Ins 1,049

State Totals:

Hillary Clinton 1,236,399
Barack Obama 1,022,377

John Mc Cain 572,234
Ron Paul 125,558
Mike Huckabee 89,644

State Representative

123rd

Neal Goodman 9079
Write Ins 42

124th

Dave Argall 3845
John Schickram 1353
Write Ins 12

Bill Mackey 3694
Write Ins 125

125th

Tim Seip 6039
Write Ins 53

Gary Hornberger 2969
James McGovern 2071
Write Ins 45

Senate 29th District

Jim Rhoades 12971 (R)
PJ Symons 17264 (D)

Hillary Clinton will press on in the Democratic presidential sweepstakes after a convincing win in Pennsylvania yesterday. The eyes of the world were on the Keystone State yesterday as the former First Lady carried Schuylkill County and the majority of the state's 67 counties. In unofficial totals, Clinton picked up more than 15-thousand votes, compared to just over 55-hundred for Barack Obama. Statewide, Clinton’s margin of victory was just over 210-thousand-votes, or about 10 percent. Pre-election polling pegged her margin of victory at just over 7 percent. On the Republican side, John McCain continued to build momentum with an overwhelming victory over Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul. Huckabee dropped out of the race earlier this year.
(Chaz Hepler)

Schuylkill County voters have spoken for their respective party's representatives in Harrisburg in yesterday’s primary election. In the 123rd District, incumbent Neal Goodman ran unopposed in the Democratic Primary. There were no Republican opponents on the ballot. In the 124th District, Democrat Bill Mackey was unopposed, however on the Republican ticket, incumbent Dave Argall was challenged by John Schickram. Argall getting his parties nod, by about 25-hundred-votes in Schuylkill County. He will face Mackey in the November Election. In the 125th, Democrat Tim Seip ran unopposed. He will face former County Controller Gary Hornberger who trimmed political newcomer James McGovern in the Republican Primary. In the race for State Senator in Schuylkill County, both parties candidates ran unopposed meaning Democrat Peter "PJ" Symons will seek the seat held by incumbent Republican Senator James Rhoades in the November election.
(Chaz Hepler)

A record 36-thousand-voters took part in Tuesday's Pennsylvania primary in Schuylkill County. Forty-three percent turnout is a record, according to Betty Dries, County Election Bureau Director. But the long lines that were predicted did not materialize, and the unofficial final results were posted just after 11pm. The first machines were brought to the STS building in St. Clair just after 8:20pm, from Palo Alto's Second Ward.
(Jay Levan)

Incumbent Congressman Tim Holden will face Toni Gihooley in November. Both ran unopposed on their respective party tickets yesterday. Holden, a St. Clair Democrat, is looking to return to Washington for another two year term. Gilhooley, of Dauphin County, is a retired state police trooper and a human resources consultant. The Republican is a newcomer on the state political scene.
(Jay Levan)

Two men and two women were elected to the Republican State Committee in Tuesday's primary. Mary Beth Dougherty, a Councilwoman from Girardville, was the top vote getter. Scott Thomas of Pottsville, Maria Casey of Minersville and George Moyer rounded out the slate. Republican voters had to pick two men and two women from the field of eight candidates.
(Chaz Hepler)

Diane Bowman was the top vote getter for delegate to the Democratic National Convention. Bowman was followed by Brad Koplinsky, Peggy Grove and Barry Bogarde for the opportunity to represent the 17th District at the Democratic National Convention. Stephen Dorko defeated Dwight Green as the alternate on the Democratic side, both are committed to Hillary Clinton. On the Republican Ticket, Schuylkill County Treasurer Jackie McGovern will join John McNalley the Third and Dan Daub for the 17th District at the Republican National Convention. Jeanne C. Noll will represent as the alternate.
(Chaz Hepler)

An unidentified body that was found near Goody's Mini Golf in West Mahanoy Township in April of 2006 has now been identified. State police report that Marianne DeMartin of Marlton, New Jersey was reported missing by her parents on September 25, 2005 after she returned from a business trip in Baltimore on September 23rd. In January of this year, troopers from Frackville and New Jersey authorities had a suspect in custody with ties to the disappearance in Schuylkill County. Dental records were obtained and lead to the positive identification of the body. Yesterday, the Burlington County, New Jersey, prosecutor's office arrested and charged Alex James Crow of Medford, New Jersey with the murder of Marianne DeMartin. Schuylkill County Coroner Joseph Lipsett has issued a death certificate ruling the death a homicide based on the joint investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police, Evesham Township Police Department, and the Burlington County Prosecutors Office. Members of the Schuylkill County District Attorney's Office also assisted in this investigation.
(Chaz Hepler)

Cass Foster Township police raided an underage drinking party last night in Black Heath. Around 9pm, officers responded to a complaint of ATV riding and underage drinking in the area of High Road and Pine Hill. Three underage drinkers were arrested. A female fled on an ATV. Charges of corrupting the morals of minors and related offenses are pending against an adult that was present at the party. Additional charges will be made as the investigation continues.

A world renowned expert on the environment spoke at Penn State Schuylkill last night. Allie Raring has more:

DR RICHARD ALLEY (click to listen)

Three statewide cabinet positions garnered minimal attention during Tuesday's election. Incumbent Attorney General Tom Corbett, a Republican, was uncontested. He will face off against John Morganelli of Northhampton County in November. Democratic Auditor General Jack Wagner had no challengers in the primary. His opponent will be Chet Beiler of Lancaster County. incumbent state Treasurer Robin Weismann is not seeking election. Tom Ellis, a Republican from Montgomery County will be challenged by venture capitalist Rob McCord of Montgomery County. He defeated three challengers by an overwhelming margin, and spent a significant amount of money to gain face recognition among Pennsylvania's voters.

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) - A 60-year-old man who fled a halfway house in Cambria County has turned himself in. State police had been looking for Jerome Wilson Slacum after he signed out of the Community Corrections Center in Johnstown around noon on Friday and failed to return. Slacum is being held at Cambria County Prison.

INDIANA, Pa. (AP) - S&T Bank has named Todd Brice as its new chief executive. Brice had been president and chief operating officer and replaces James Miller, who is retiring. The regional bank's parent company, S&T Bancorp, says the bank also named Ed Hauck chief operating officer in addition to his current role as senior executive vice president of retail banking.

EBENSBURG, Pa. (AP) - A volunteer firefighter has pleaded guilty to setting five fires in Cambria County. Charles Edward Shenego was serving with the Lower Yoder Volunteer Fire Company when the fires broke out at a vacant house, in trash and recycling bins and near a garage last spring and summer.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Hillary Rodham Clinton hangs on in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. After her 10-point win over Barack Obama in Pennsylvania, Clinton told supporters that Americans "deserve a president who doesn't quit." The contest now goes on to North Carolina, where Obama is favored, and Indiana, where the race is close.

WASHINGTON (AP) - What were the keys to Hillary Rodham Clinton's Pennsylvania victory? She won the votes of blue-collar workers, women and white men in an election where the economy was the dominant concern. Barack Obama was favored by blacks, the affluent and voters who recently switched to the Democratic Party.

SINGAPORE (AP) - The price of oil has steadied a bit in overnight trading after nearly reaching the $120 a barrel mark yesterday. It's been hovering around $118.

SAN ANGELO, Texas (AP) - By week's end, more than 400 children from the polygamist ranch in Texas could be scattered across the state in foster care facilities. Adults who are fighting accusations of abuse within the sect are giving DNA samples to untangle complicated family trees.

MIAMI (AP) - Doctors say a Vietnamese girl with a 16-pound tumor on her face could suffocate unless it's removed. They plan to excise it in an operation next week in Miami. The tumor's been growing for 12 years and the girl has never been able to attend school.