Today's News-Monday, May 5th

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO!

(HEGINS TOWNSHIP)-A Pitman man died in a crash early Sunday morning in Hegins Township. After 5am, 19-year-old Matthew Charkaway was traveling south on Route 25 and failed to negotiate a curve in the road. His truck traveled along the shoulder of the road, sideswiped a tree and continued on, when it struck an embankment and rolled over. Charakaway was not wearing a seatbelt and was partially ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

(BRANCHDALE)- A Branchdale man was jailed following an incident in Branch Township early Friday. Schuylkill Haven state police now say that 27-year-old Travis Szilagyi and 34-year-old Liza Welikonich were involved in a domestic dispute at a home in Branchdale. Szilagyi allegedly struck and kicked Welikonich, causing injuries to her face, which required medical treatment. Szilagyi was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault.

(CASS TOWNSHIP)-State police are investigating an attempted break in at a construction site in Cass Township. Friday night or early Saturday, unknown vandals cut the locks off of three construction trailers owned by Miller Brothers. No items were taken. Troopers are investigating.

(WEST BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIP)-A Scranton man was injured in a crash on Route 61 Sunday morning. Marcelino Sanchez-Marrero was driving south on 61 in West Brunswick Township before 7am and rear-ended a car driven by Clair Ginder of Walnutport, which was stopped at the intersection of Route 61 and Rolling Mill Road. Marrero had minor injuries, and was taken to Reading Hospital for treatment.

(UPPER TULPEHOCKEN TOWNSHIP)-A Pottsville man escaped injury in a two vehicle accident in Berks County Saturday morning. Hamburg state police say that 49-year-old Michael Damore and his four juvenile passengers were traveling east on old Route 22, near the intersection of Route 183 in Upper Tulpehocken Township when he failed to stop at the intersection. His truck was hit by a van driven by 77-year-old Erwin Koch Jr. Koch, and his passenger, Janice Koch, suffered chest and neck injuries and were taken to Reading Hospital for treatment. Two of Damore's passengers had minor injuries. He will be cited in the crash for traffic violations.

(BLYTHE TOWNSHIP)-A Wilkes Barre man escaped injury in a crash Friday evening in Blythe Township. 45-year-old James Mudlock was driving a tractor trailer through Cumbola when he took evasive action to avoid an oncoming vehicle and lost control of the rig. Mudlock's truck struck a stop sign, guiderail and utility pole, then went down an embankment. The utility pole ended up on top of the tractor trailer. Mudlock walked away from the crash.

(DOWNTOWN POTTSVILLE)-A partly cloudy Sunday afternoon paved the way for a great time at Pottsville's American Way Fair. Several blocks of Centre Street were blocked off so families could enjoy games, rides and foods of all kinds at the annual spring event. The American Way Fair was started three decades ago to provide families an opportunity to enjoy a block party without having to leave the city. Musical entertainment was provided by the Pottsville High School band and the Fabulous Greaseband, an area favorite, as crowds shuffled in and out of Pottsville to sample some early spring fun.

(GIRARDVILLE)- A man is in jail following an incident at a Girardville home Sunday morning. Troopers from the Frackville state police barracks report that 45-year-old Michael Spina and 49-year-old Donna Pearson of Hazleton got into an argument at Spina's home. Spina allegedly punched and injured Pearson. She was treated at St. Catherine's Medical Center. Spina was arraigned on several counts, including simple assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and harassment. He was unable to make bail, and remained in the county prison.
The incident happened after 1am Sunday.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Legislators face a crowded agenda when they return to the state Capitol today. The list includes health insurance and alternative fuels proposals. The Legislature also must negotiate and pass a budget for the new fiscal year that's less than two months away. Last year's budget negotiations spilled into mid-July and with a one-day furlough of more than 20,000 state employees.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - One man is charged and authorities are seeking another in the killing of a Philadelphia police officer shot with an assault rifle while responding to a bank robbery. Police are searching for 33-year-old Eric Floyd, who is believed to have escaped from a halfway house in Berks County. A third man was shot and killed by police.

WEST NEWTON, Pa. (AP) - Nearly two dozen cars from two freight trains derailed in an accident in Westmoreland County, but no injuries are reported. CSX says a train was heading west from New Castle to Chicago when it jumped the track about 20 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, derailing about 10 cars. A second CSX train heading east crashed into it, derailing about a dozen cars.

WINDGAP, Pa. (AP) - Authorities say a recycling plant worker was killed when a metal sorting tray fell on top of him. The Northampton County coroner says 60-year-old William Edwards was working on a machine used to recycle steel when the accident happened at RPM Recycling. Coroner Zachary Lysek says a weld broke free and the tray then hit Edwards in the head around 9:30 a.m.
Saturday.

POTTSVILLE - Rubi Nicholas, the Pottsville native dubbed the "Funniest Mom in America" has written a children's book. The Pottsville Republican reports, the first part of a series, "My Mom's Not Cool" is due in book stores on Wednesday, just in time for Mother's Day. The 18-page book will retail for $12.95. Nicholas has planned three book signing dates in Pottsville for June. Part of the proceeds will go to charities supporting children and women's health. Nicholas has already written "My Dad's Not Cool," the second book in what she's calling the"Not Cool" series. She hopes to have it published by Father's Day 2009. Rubi Nicholas won Nick at Nite's "Funniest Mom in America" Award in 2006.

TOWSON, Md. (AP) - A York County, Pa., man is scheduled to go on trial today on charges he posed as an armored car guard to steal $72,000 in deposits from a Target store in Baltimore County, Maryland. Thirty-eight-year-old Robert Flanagan previously worked for the company, allegedly kept his uniform, and attempted several similar thefts at area retailers on the morning of the Target
heist.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - After dinner last night in Indiana for Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, it's back to North Carolina today for the Democratic presidential candidates. Both states hold primaries tomorrow. Whatever the outcome, both Clinton and Obama say they'll be continuing their campaigns.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The National Weather Service is planning an aerial survey today of the destruction caused by last week's Arkansas tornadoes. Meteorologists have confirmed at least 10 tornadoes were spawned. They're blamed for the deaths of seven people and for damaging or destroying about 400 homes.

CHICAGO (AP) - A task force of physicians is making specific recommendations about who should not get treatment in the event of a flu pandemic or some other major health care disaster. Those on the list include the very elderly, seriously injured trauma victims, severely burned patients and those with severe dementia. One legal expert calls it a "minefield" that likely violates discrimination laws.

AMSTETTEN, Austria (AP) - A lawyer says he's preparing an insanity defense for the Austrian man who allegedly imprisoned his daughter for 24 years and fathered seven children with her. The attorney says he believes 73-year-old suspect Josef Fritzl has a mental disorder and "didn't choose" to do what's alleged.

DALLAS (AP) - The Dallas Stars will be waking up happy hockey players, but it may not be until a bit later today. They eliminated the San Jose Sharks from the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 2-1 victory, but it took four overtimes to do it. That's the equivalent of second game and then some. The game ended early this morning. The Stars play the Detroit Red Wings next.