Today's News-Saturday, May 3rd

(POTTSVILLE)- Governor Ed Rendell made a trip to Pottsville to talk about healthcare Friday to wrap up Cover the Uninsured Week. Rendell addressed a crowd of about 60 people at the offices of the Schuylkill Alliance for Healthcare Access. The Governor's Prescription for Pennsylvania is intended to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have some form of coverage. The state House has already passed two pieces of legislation to help cover about half of the state’s 700-thousand uninsured. The ABC program can cover businesses and individuals with basic health coverage. Rendell cites that people are losing their coverage from their employers at an alarming rate, because premiums are skyrocketing:

RENDELL (click to listen)

Insurance reforms are also being implemented to help with the problem. Now, Rendell is calling on the state Senate to finish the job. The costs would be borne by additional taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products. The Schuylkill Alliance for Healthcare Access is an agency that helps people to access doctors at a reduced cost, when they can't afford health insurance, or don't qualify for state insurance programs.
(Jay Levan)

(POTTSVILLE)-An 83-year-old woman died Thursday, less than 24 hours after her son allegedly kidnapped her from a Pottsville nursing home. According to the Republican and Herald, Schuylkill County Coroner Joseph Lipsett said Ruth Ann Netchel, 83, died at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, where she was taken after being found by police at her son’s Mount Carmel home. Lipsett said forensic pathologist Dr. Richard P. Bindie conducted an autopsy Friday night on Ruth Netchel and determined that the immediate cause of death was cardiogenic shock "precipitated by abduction from the nursing home." Lipsett also said, however, that he will not immediately make the official manner-of-death determination. State police Trooper Chad Smith of the Schuylkill Haven station arrested Robert Netchel, 58, on Thursday and charged him with one count of felony kidnapping and four counts of felony aggravated assault, as well as four misdemeanor counts each of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person and one misdemeanor count of unlawful restraint. Robert Netchel was committed to Schuylkill County Prison on $50,000 straight cash bail set by Magisterial District Judge Bernadette J. Nahas, Frackville. A corrections officer at the prison said Robert Netchel was released on bail Friday. Sgt. Craig Stine, commander of the Schuylkill Haven station, said Friday night troopers were waiting to review the incident with the coroner's office to see if further investigation is needed into Ruth Netchel's death or whether Robert Netchel will face additional charges.
(Chaz Hepler/Republican Herald)

(CRESSONA) - The spirit of volunteerism was alive during Thursday night's Senior Corps RSVP Appreciation Dinner. The organization, part of the county's Office of Senior Services, employs men and women, 55 years and older, to help in a wide array of voluntary help to senior citizens. During the past year, over 400 volunteers gave more than 53-thousand-hours of their time to help others, by giving rides to doctor appointments, to environmental projects, to pen palling with middle school students. About 280 people attended the dinner. RSVP Executive Director Carol Bowen said that so many things wouldn't be accomplished without the volunteers:

BOWEN (click to listen)

Years of Service Awards, the President's Volunteer Service Awards and other recognitions were handed out during the dinner. If you are 55 or older, and would like to volunteer, contact Bowen at 622-3103.
(Jay Levan)

(NORWEGIAN TOWNSHIP)- There is a celebration of Schuylkill County's rich cultural and ethnic heritage taking place today at Fairlane Village Mall. As a way of bringing all Schuylkill countians together, a group of community and civic leaders came up with the idea of "Celebrate Schuylkill." Food, music, movies, displays and much more are planned for the event, from 11am till 5pm at Fairlane Village. Mall Marketing Director Heather Stine explains:

STINE (click to listen)

Schuylkill County is a melting pot of races and ethnicities. Celebrate Schuylkill hopes to capitalize on the mixed bag, coming from all corners of the county. Celebrate Schuylkill is a partnership between Schuylkill County’s VISION, the Chamber of Commerce, Visitor's Bureau, the Council for the Arts and Fairlane Village Mall. Come Celebrate Schuylkill today, beginning at 11am.
(Jay Levan)

(POTTSVILLE)-The 2008 American Way Street Fair is scheduled tomorrow from 1 to 6 in the city. The event will begin with a concert from the Pottsville High School Band from 1 – 2. There will be a variety of food vendors, carnival type rides and many different performing acts throughout the day. Such as Magician Clive Allen, B.T. Express, and the Fabulous Grease Band will culminate the entertainment line up from 5 – 6. Also participating in the event will be various city and county dignitaries and the winter carnival royalty. Bring the family to downtown Pottsville and enjoy the American Way Fair tomorrow.
(Chaz Hepler)

(MAHANOY CITY)-William Mooney was sentenced yesterday to 5 to 10 years in a state correctional facility for operating a methamphetamine lab in the borough of Mahanoy City. As a result of a combined investigation between the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force and Mahanoy City Police on December 10, 2007 which yielded items consistent with that of meth production in Monney’s 613 W. Mahanoy St. home. Mooney was also sentenced to a 1 – 2 year sentence for charges of possessing instruments of crime, stalking and resisting arrest from February 5, 2007 as well. In the drug case District Attorney James Goodman praised the work of the County Drug task force and the Frackville and Mahanoy City police departments for their work in the investigation. As well as a local Pharmacist for their alertness in beginning the inquiry into Mooney’s operation. If anyone has any information about drug activity in their neighborhoods you can call the DA's Drug Task Force at 1-800-414-1406. All calls will remain confidential.
(Chaz Hepler)

(MILL CREEK)- 289 members of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce attended an annual luncheon Thursday to celebrate the Chamber's 90th year of service to the business community. Dr. Terry Madonna, Professor of Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College and nationally recognized political pollster was guest speaker. Madonna spoke about this year's presidential race. He said the country is in for a wild time over the next six-months. The Chamber also presented its annual awards. Diana Gabardi received the Woman of the Year award. Albert Evans Jr. was named Man of the Year. The Entrepreneur of the Year Award went to Rodger Wehbe. Boyers Food Markets was the recipient of the For-Profit Company of the Year award and the Schuylkill YMCA received the non-profit organization of the year award. The Schuylkill Chamber's 90th anniversary was marked with citations from the state Senate and the County Commissioners.
(Les Blankenhorn)

(UNDATED)- When celebrating Cinco De Mayo this year, it's important to drink responsibly and always use a designated driver.

CINCO (click to listen)

State Police will devote extra attention to safe truck travel during the month of May. State Police Commissioner Jeffrey Miller says trained motor carrier personnel will be used statewide to help identify drivers who are driving while too tired and those who are not wearing a seatbelt. Miller says only 65-percent of truckers wear a seatbelt nationwide. He says not buckling up when driving a commercial vehicle is a primary violation and can lead to being pulled over by police.

ERIE, Pa. (AP) - A 10-year-old girl who broke another girl's hip at an Erie County school playground admits she pulled 10-year-old Rikki Triana off a set of monkey bars and stomped her hip. The girl's admission is the equivalent to a guilty plea. She is charged with aggravated assault.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A federal judge will not delay the retrial of celebrity pathologist Cyril Wecht on charges of fraud and theft. In April, a jury deadlocked on charges the former Allegheny County Coroner used his county staff and resources to benefit his multimillion dollar private practice. A retrial is set for May 27.

ERIE, Pa. (AP) - A 70-year-old man will go to jail for four years and five months for an armed bank robbery that he carried off to try to pay his gambling debt. Attorneys say Donald Cesare lost more than $15,000 at casinos in 2007, a debt that prompted him to rob an Erie bank in November. He stole more than $6,000.

ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) - Police say a straight-A business student at Penn State-Altoona told them he has been selling cocaine to finance his college education. Twenty-year-old Michael Conforti has been charged with drug dealing. Conforti says his mother's poor credit rating prevented him from getting student loans.

GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) - Excela Health and Conemaugh Health Systems are in business to provide medical equipment, supplies and respiratory care products to medical facilities. The networks consolidated their independent medical equipment companies to create MedCare Equipment Company.

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - President Bush is using his weekly radio address to defend his administration's handling of the nation's economy. Bush today said advisers "saw the economic slowdown coming." He continues to predict that tax rebate checks will provide a short-term economic boost.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats say more is needed than rebate checks to help the economy. Indiana Congressman Andre Carson, speaking in the party's weekly radio address, touted a second economic stimulus package and legislation that he says "will help more Americans avoid foreclosure."

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) - Turkey's military says more than 150 Kurdish rebels were killed in a cross-border air raid in northern Iraq earlier this week. A military statement says Turkish warplanes successfully hit all rebel targets in an air operation which ended early yesterday.

PRAIA DA LUZ, Portugal (AP) - A year after Madeleine McCann vanished from a resort in southern Portugal, police say they are still gathering evidence into the British girl's disappearance. Police have named McCann's parents and a local man as formal suspects in the case. Police have not decided whether to file
charges.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Big Brown is the big name in a full 20-horse field for this afternoon's Kentucky Derby. Favorites rarely win the Derby, as only three have done so since 1979. Another challenge facing Big Brown is overcoming a starting position on the far outside.