Today's News- Thursday, May 15th

The Schuylkill County Commissioners Wednesday lifted the county-wide ban on outdoor burning that went into effect on Aril 26th. The lifting of the ban was recommended by County Emergency Coordinator Art Kaplan, after his discussion with DCNR. Both agencies agreed that the recent rainfall, the leaf cover on the trees and continued vigilance and caution of the public when conducting open burning minimizes the threat of wildfires. In other business, Schuylkill Community Action received approval to acquire a housing and redevelopment assistance program grant of $425-Thousand Dollars. The funding is designed to eliminate vacant, blighted structures while providing affordable housing opportunities for low-to-moderate income individuals and families. The money will be used to demolish 12-blighted structures while providing 9-units of new residential construction. No county funds are required.

The Schuylkill County Commissioners conducted their bi-monthly board meeting at Tamaqua Area High School Wednesday. Each year, the Commissioners hold a board meeting at the high school of the winner of the Schuylkill County Football Foundation and Hall of Fame's selection of the year's Outstanding Athlete. The 2008 award winner was Travers Schmidt, who said its an honor to be recognized for both athletics and academics:

Schmidt

The Cornell-bound Senior said he hopes the traveling trophy, that stays in the outstanding athlete's school for a year, will be an incentive for underclassmen to excel in academics and athletics:

Schmidt

Tamaqua Athletic Director Mike Hromyak said the school was honored by the Commissioner's recognition:

Hromyak

A Williamstown man has been charged with several counts of exposing himself.
Lykens state police say that 27-year-old Shawn Bentzel exposed himself on several occasions at a convenience store in Williamstown over the past several months. Bentzel entered the Dayton Market, and while paying for his groceries, exposed himself to store clerks. He is charged with 3 counts of indecent exposure, open lewdness and related offenses. State police are looking for anyone else who may have come in contact with Bentzel. Contact them at 717-362-8700.

A Pottsville woman was injured in a three vehicle crash in the city Tuesday.
City police say that 62-year-old John Wagner Sr. of Orwigsburg was driving at the intersection of 12th and Market Street and failed to stop at the traffic light. His truck hit a van driven by 70-year-old Harriet Pfeffer of Pottsville. The force of the impact ejected Pfeffer from the vehicle. The van then struck a Jeep driven by Amanda Morgan of Pottsville, then hit a telegraph pole and a porch at 1116 West Market Street. Pfeffer suffered head injuries and was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment.

A bill sponsored by state legislator Neal Goodman would protect watersheds from possible contamination from landfills. The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee passed the move that would increase protection for state watersheds from being contaminated by landfill pollutants.
Goodman said that new municipal or residual waste landfills could not be located within 25-hundred feet of a watershed, and would establish that existing landfill owners would assume responsibility for damages when its within the 25-hundred foot perimeter of a water supply. Goodman said the bill would address controversial landfill applications, like the BRADS landfill in Blythe Township. That application was turned down by DEP in April, but was appealed by the township earlier this week.

Charges against a Mount Carmel man who removed his mother from a Pottsville nursing home may be re-filed. Robert Netchel took his mother from Schuylkill Center on May 1st. She was found at his Mount Carmel home later that day, but she passed away at Good Samaritan Hospital a day later. The Republican and Herald reports that charges against Netchel were dropped Tuesday, but will be re-filed at the DA's office to possibly include involuntary manslaughter. The investigation continues into the case. Original charges included felony kidnapping and aggravated assault. Several misdemeanor counts were also included in the original filing.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's fiscal watchdog says he wants to save money, but not if it means risking lives. Auditor General Jack Wagner says he's urging the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to reverse a decision to remove lifeguards from all but one of its state park beaches. The
department has eliminated lifeguards in 22 state parks since 1999.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A research company says the number of homes facing foreclosure in Pennsylvania rose more than one-third in April, compared to the same month last year. RealtyTrac says a total of 3,266 Pennsylvania homes received at least one foreclosure-related filing in April. That's up 37 percent from April 2007 and up nearly 13 percent from March.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The state Gaming Control Board has postponed a public hearing on financing plans for Pittsburgh's casino. Majestic Star Casino officials say they need more time before a hearing because they're still negotiating a financial package with lenders. Casino officials say they hope to finalize the package by Monday. The hearing had been scheduled for Wednesday.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pittsburgh Public Schools is selling 20 vacant buildings because officials say the district can't afford to pay $1.5 million a year to maintain them. Two companies have appraised the buildings at $7 million, although Allegheny County's property assessment Web site says they are worth about $25 million total. It's unclear how much the buildings will fetch on the open market.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Customs agents have seized more than two dozen potentially harmful giant beetles in a package being mailed to Philadelphia. The beetles, some the size of a child's hand, were found after postal workers heard the insects making scratching noises. Authorities say the large bugs arrived last week from Taiwan at a postal facility in Mohnton, about 50 miles northwest of
Philadelphia.