Today's News-Monday, April 14th

State police are investigating vandalism at a cemetery in New Castle Township last night. Four suspects are being sought for damaging tombstones at St. Mary's Cemetery in Arnots Addition. Two white males, a Korean male and a white female are suspected in the incident. They were wearing black hooded sweatshirts, and are purported to be under 16 years of age. Anyone with information should contact Frackville state police at 874-5300.

A Pottsville man was injured in a high speed crash late Friday night in Branch Township. Schuylkill Haven state police report that 23-year-old William Zeth was driving south on Route 209 at a high rate of speed and lost control. His Jeep Cherokee went across Sunday Drive, sheared off a utility pole, hit a wooden fence and spun across the road. Zeth was taken to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center for treatment. State police suspect that he was driving under the influence. Charges are pending.

A Shenandoah couple were arrested Friday on drug charges. 20-year-old Brandon Rosado and 24-year-old Jennifer Green, both of White Street, were charged with possession with intent to deliver drugs and related offenses. A search of their apartment by Shenandoah police uncovered several bags of cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. An ongoing investigation of the couple and undercover purchases of cocaine by a confidential information led to the arrest. Rosado and Green are incarcerated in the Schuylkill County Prison.

Demolition work of blighted properties in Pottsville has been delayed. The former Going My Way bar and an adjoining apartment building at 521 and 523 North Centre Street have been marked for demolition, with monies from the Elm Street program. The buildings were scheduled to come down beginning today. Mike McGeever, Elm Street manager tells WPPA News that they are waiting for the results of asbestos testing and to get rid of rodents at the properties. Demolition is expected to commence next week instead. Plus, the Pottsville Fire Department will use the buildings for training on Wednesday.
McGeever said that no disruption of traffic is expected during the week long project.

A Schuylkill County building supply company is set to expand. MRD Lumber Company, which currently does business in Schuylkill and Lehigh counties, has announced plans to build a distribution and manufacturing facility in Bethel Township, Berks County. The company's administrative offices will also move there, as well as the main warehouse for the company. MRD sells custom millwork products, along with building materials and lumber. The expansion is expected to be completed later this year.

Over 200 young boys and girls lifted their voices at SongFest Saturday night. Jay Levan has more:

SONGFEST (click here for the story)

GRANTHAM, Pa. (AP) - Hillary Rodham Clinton says the "potential for life" begins at conception. She and presidential rival Barack Obama answered questions about faith and religion in both their personal lives and the public arena during a Compassion Forum yesterday at Messiah College in Cumberland County. Obama says it's "very hard to know" when life begins. Both said people of faith have a right to bring their religious convictions to public life.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Judges, homeowner advocates and attorneys for lenders plan to meet again in Philadelphia to work on a plan to prevent mortgage foreclosures. The goal of the meeting today is to provide counseling for homeowners in default on their mortgages. Those borrowers would then work out a way of dealing with the default through court-supervised conferences with lenders' attorneys.

FARRELL, Pa. (AP) - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie says it is closing a church in Mercer County. Officials say St. Ann's in Farrell will close in June because of dwindling membership and a declining number of priests. The church will merge with Our Lady of Fatima about a block away. The number of parish families has dropped from 172 to 130 since 2003 and officials say they don't have a priest to serve the church.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A section of a road in the heart of Pittsburgh's East Liberty neighborhood will be closed for the filming of a movie. The city public works department says Highland Avenue will be closed from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday between Penn Avenue and Baum Boulevard. The DreamWorks Pictures romantic comedy, "She's Out of My League," has been filming in and around
Pittsburgh in recent weeks.

READING, Pa. (AP) - A landmark in Reading is turning 100, and plans are taking shape to restore it. Dozens of volunteers have been sprucing up the Pagoda in anticipation of a $15 million renovation project expected to start this year. A century ago, William Witman Sr. was inspired to build the Pagoda atop Mount Penn in Reading after receiving a photograph of a similar structure from a friend who had traveled abroad.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The struggling U.S. economy has Americans keeping their wallets in their pockets. The Commerce Department reports retail sales posted only a small increase last month after a big drop in February. The report may add to concerns that Americans are cutting back on spending so much that the economy is in danger of recession. But on Wall Street, stocks aren't showing much direction so far this morning.

BAGHDAD (AP) - A kidnapped British journalist who worked for CBS News has been rescued by Iraqi troops after two months in captivity. Richard Butler was found during an Iraqi military sweep in the southern city of Basra. Butler has been shown on Iraqi state television saying he's looking forward to seeing his family and his friends.

SDEROT, Israel (AP) - Former President Jimmy Carter is calling Palestinian attacks on Israel a "despicable crime" and says he hopes there will be a cease-fire between the two sides "soon." Carter has met with officials in southern Israel near Gaza and is planning on meeting the leader of Hamas in Syria, despite Israeli objections.

MUSCAT, Oman (AP) - No major disruptions are expected during the Olympic torch relay through the streets of Oman's capital city. The Middle Eastern nation says any attempt to disrupt today's torch run will be severely dealt with. Anti-China protesters have demonstrated during the torch's appearances in Paris, London and San Francisco.

NEW YORK (AP) - "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling is in a New York City courthouse to testify about her copyright infringement lawsuit against a publisher that wants to put out a Harry Potter encyclopedia. The showdown over the "Harry Potter Lexicon" is expected to last most of the week.