Today's News-Friday, April 11th

One of 5 people that were flown from a crash on Interstate 81 yesterday has died. Just before five p.m. a chain reaction collision closed the south bound lanes of the interstate as a tractor trailer failed to slow down for traffic congestion from an earlier crash. The driver of the rig from Georgia slammed into the rear of a minivan with three people from Ontario Canada and then into two other rigs driven by Mark Hibsham of Myerstown and Glenn Teichberg of Bloomsburg. Neither Hibsham nor Teichberg were hurt. The driver of the 18-wheeler from Georgia and the four from Ontario were flown from the scene to various hospitals for treatment. Frackville state police now report that one of the passengers in the van has died. Police have not identified those flown from the crash. The southbound lanes of the Interstate were closed for several hours due to that crash.
(WGRC)

A blown truck tire caused an accident on Interstate 81 yesterday afternoon. Neil Valiant of Hazleton was southbound on the Interstate when the left front tire blew out. The truck traveled across both lanes of the highway and rolled over. Valiant had minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

A tractor trailer crash on the Frackville grade yesterday morning snarled traffic. Frackville state police say that Gariba Halid of Quebec, Canada lost control of his rig on Route 61 south, and flipped on its side, spilling a load of metal blocks across the road. Halid was treated at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. State police believe that Halid was going too fast, and the load on the rig shifted. Traffic was down to one lane for most of the day for cleanup.

A Pottsville man accused of a double murder will have his preliminary hearing continued. The court proceeding against Norman Nickle was scheduled to take place at the Schuylkill County Courthouse this afternoon. That has now been postponed until May 12th. The Republican and Herald reports that attorneys from the Commonwealth, who will prosecute the case, requested the delay. Nickle is accused of shooting 17 year old Cayla Turner of Port Carbon and 19 year old Joshua Yevak at his home in March. He is charged with criminal homicide and related counts.

A New York man was found dead behind the wheel of a truck last night. Frackville state police say that 60-year-old Charles Britton of Chittenango, New York was discovered in his rig on Industrial Road in West Mahanoy Township. His body was transported to St. Catherine's Medical Center where he was pronounced dead of natural causes around 10:30pm.

The 25th Annual Schuylkill County Fair has announced its entertainment lineup. This year's theme is "From the Past, In the Present, Looking to the Future". Charlie Kerschner, CEK Entertainment, said the lineup has something for everyone. Sunday opens with the music of Dan and Galla. Monday, an area favorite returns with the country rock of Abilene. Schuylkill countians will remember them as a headliner at The Alley in the 1970's. Tuesday, the oldies will rock the stage with the Fabulous Greaseband. Mid week Wednesday entertainment features the gospel group, The Hoppers. Elvis tribute artist and Pittston native Shawn Klush takes the stage on Thursday night. Friday, it's the country sounds of San Antonio Rose and country star Mark Chestnutt. Saturday, the 2008 Schuylkill County Idol winner will open the evening, and Davy Jones of the Monkees will close the fair. Jones holds the single night record for attendance at the Fair. The fair is scheduled for July 27th through August 2nd at the fairgrounds in Summit Station.

Third grade students at John S. Clarke Elementary have a big assignment awaiting them next week. They will help to decide how much money will be donated to 5 different Pottsville area charities, through the Karen's Heroes program. The program, in its 9th year, is dedicated to the memory of Karen Chattin Ney, an elementary teacher at John S. Clarke, who died of cancer. Chairwoman Anita Dwyer, a fellow teacher and friend of Ney's, explains:

DWYER (click here to listen)

Third graders will listen to presentations from the charities in the morning each day, Monday through Friday, and then decide how much money each of them will receive. Each student'svote is worth $5. A total of $15-hundred dollars will be doled out. Dwyer said that Ney was a truly special teacher:

DWYER (click to listen)

The presentations begin Monday.

Winners of the 2007 phone directory recycling program and contest sponsored by the County Office of Solid Waste were announced during Wednesday's County Commissioners board meeting. Nikki Kline, a 4th grade student at the Academy of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mahanoy City was the first place winner with Gabby Smith, a 6th grade student at the same school placing second. Tird place went to Tyler Zimerofsky a third grade student at Saint Stephen's Regional School Port Carbon. School winners include Academy of the Blessed Virgin Mary first place. Saint Stephen Regional, second place and Blue Mountain Elementary Cressona School placed third. Winners received certificates and checks ranging from $75.00 to $150.00. The Office of Solid Waste said over 15-thousand used phone directories were collected for a total recycled tonnage of 12.4 tons.

Three new businesses were welcomed to Pottsville Thursday by a delegation of PADCO members. The businesses are Dollar Surplus at 2221 West Market Street, Family Dollar at 1013 West Market Street and DiCello Chiropractic at 1825 West Market Street. Doctor Christina DiCello is a graduate of Pottsville Area High School who moved back to the area about two years ago and opened her office in July of 2007:

DiCello (click here to listen)

Each business was presented with a box of gifts from local merchants.

New York City officer charged in Berks County bank robbery

READING, Pa. (AP) - Police in Berks County say a New York City transit officer made off with $113,000 in an armed bank heist but was arrested a few blocks away. Muhlenberg Township police say 21-year-old rookie officer Christian Torres had his New York Police Department badge and ID card on him when he was arrested. Police say a bag of cash was found on the front seat. Police say Torres was off work and used a personal handgun when he forced Sovereign Bank employees to take him to the vault yesterday morning. They say Torres fled but was quickly pulled over by police responding to a silent alarm. The Jamaica, N.Y., resident was charged with robbery, assault, a weapons count and other charges. He was sent to the Berks County Prison in lieu of $500,000 bail. New York police say he joined the transit division in January after starting at the police academy in July.

Pa. lawmakers hear testimony on same-sex marriage amendment

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Pittsburgh says married people form the backbone of society. Bishop David Zubik was testifying yesterday on a proposed state constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Supporters say the legislation would bolster an existing statutory ban on same-sex marriages in Pennsylvania. But opponents say it would be tantamount to institutionalized discrimination. City Council President Douglas Shields calls the proposed legislation wrong for Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania. He says it would trump legislation passed in the city 12 years ago that grants domestic partnership rights.

Pa. casino agency says it seeks more transparency

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board says it wants to make its licensing process more transparent. The agency says a regulation given preliminary approval would allow disclosure of as much information as is legally possible during public licensing hearings. The board has been accused of acting with too much secrecy in awarding 11 slot-machine gambling licenses in 2006. Under the new regulation, gaming control board members would be permitted to ask applicants questions at public hearings about matters otherwise considered confidential. The applicant would then have the option to either answer the question in public, or request that the matter be aired at a confidential hearing.

Study highlights turnpike lease benefits

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A new private study says Pennsylvania should change its plan to add tolls to Interstate 80 and should pursue a private lease for the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The Reason Foundation policy brief says the toll income should be used to rebuild the interstate. It also says truck-only lanes should be added to let longer and heavier tractor-trailers use the roadway. The turnpike, however, says the new study is using incorrect expense numbers. A House Democratic study last month criticized the idea of leasing the turnpike. But the foundation says that study was flawed because it didn't factor in a private company's ability to operate the roadway more efficiently. The foundation calls the turnpike one of the country's least efficient toll roads.

Philadelphia mayor signs 5 gun control laws

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has signed five gun control bills approved by the City Council despite the lack of state approval for the measures. One of the bills would require reporting lost or stolen guns. Another would impose a limit of one handgun purchase per month - an attempt to slow the proliferation of straw purchases in Philadelphia. State lawmakers were given the sole power to regulate Pennsylvania gun sales in a 1974 law. But City Council members asked Commonwealth Court in March to let them adopt local gun control measures. They say loose state firearms laws are wreaking havoc on Philadelphia streets.

Feds oppose competency hearing for Erie collar-bomb suspect

ERIE, Pa. (AP) - Federal prosecutors say a co-defendant in the collar-bomb death of a pizza deliveryman who robbed a bank might be feigning mental incompetence to delay his trial. Prosecutors say 54-year-old Kenneth Barnes talked about acting "crazy" with a family member who regularly visited him in jail. Barnes and 59-year-old Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong were indicted in July on charges of bank robbery, conspiracy and a firearms violation in the August 2003 robbery of a PNC Bank near Erie. They have pleaded not guilty. Forty-six-year-old pizza deliveryman Brian Wells told police he was forced at gunpoint to wear a time bomb around his neck and rob the bank. As officers waited for the bomb squad to arrive, the device exploded, killing Wells. Barnes' attorneys last month asked for a competency hearing, saying their client was mentally unfit to stand trial. A hearing is scheduled April 17 on the issue. Diehl-Armstrong, who has bipolar disorder, has been evaluated by a psychiatrist. She is serving seven to 20 years in state prison after pleading guilty but mentally ill to killing her boyfriend. Prosecutors say she feared he would tell authorities about the bank
robbery plot.

Former presidential candidate Romney still running, perhaps for VP nod

BOSTON (AP) - Mitt Romney has already said he'd accept if presumptive GOP nominee John McCain invited him to be his running mate. But campaigning for McCain in Lancaster yesterday, the former Massachusetts governor sidestepped the question of whether he would be a good vice presidential candidate. Romney said McCain has a lot of great people to choose from. Speaking to a Republican group last night, Romney got some of his strongest applause when he defended President Bush. He says Bush has kept the nation safe -- and McCain would do the same.

Deal for Pittsburgh-area GM plant falls through

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. (AP) - A General Motors spokesman says the auto maker will talk today to Pittsburgh-area employees following the collapse of talks about a sale of its West Mifflin plant. GM spokesman Dan Flores confirmed that talks with Allegheny Holdings about the sale have broken off. The head of the local United Auto Workers says employees found out yesterday that the deal with the private investment group had fallen through, jeopardizing about 200 manufacturing jobs. Allegheny Holdings says on its Web site that its senior lender wouldn't continue the terms of the original commitment and wouldn't renew the loan commitment that expired March 28. Plans to close the plant in 2007 were postponed while talks with Allegheny Holdings continued.

Pa. man headed for trial on homicide charge

SELINSGROVE, Pa. (AP) - A Snyder County man has been ordered to stand trial on charges of killing his girlfriend's stepfather with a hunting rifle last month. Judge Willis Savidge ruled at a preliminary hearing yesterday that there is enough evidence against 26-year-old Travis Graham for the case to proceed. Graham is accused of shooting 46-year old Jeffrey Stock in the abdomen as he sat on his porch in West Perry Township on March 22nd. Stock died on the way to Lewistown Hospital. Snyder County District Attorney Michael Sholley has said Graham later tried to destroy the gun by melting it with a torch, but investigators found the damaged weapon and scope.

DENVER (AP) - Frontier Airlines is joining fellow carriers ATA Airlines, Skybus and Aloha in filing for bankruptcy. But unlike those companies, Frontier plans to continue service during its reorganization. It blames a problem with a credit-card processing company.

ATLANTA (AP) - Another day of frustration is in store for passengers of American Airlines. The carrier has grounded 570 more flights today as it continues to comply with government orders to inspect its planes for faulty wiring. American has canceled more than 3,000 flights this week.

MORELIA, Mexico (AP) - Marine Corporal Cesar Laurean has told police that he slept in fields and survived by eating fruit during a three-month manhunt that ended last night in Mexico. Laurean is charged with killing pregnant Marine Maria Lauterbach. Her remains were found in his North Carolina backyard in January.

WASHINGTON (AP) - White House meetings that included Vice President Cheney and other top officials approved the use of harsh interrogation techniques on terror suspects. The ACLU is calling for a congressional investigation into the sessions.

BAGHDAD (AP) - The U.S. military says it's going to continue to hold Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein until it reviews an Iraqi order for his release. An Iraqi judicial committee has dismissed terrorism-related allegations against Hussein, who's been in custody for the past two years.