Today's News- Thursday, May 1st

A Mount Carmel man is accused of trying to kidnap his mother from a Pottsville nursing home yesterday afternoon. Schuylkill Haven state police were called to Schuylkill Center after 5pm Wednesday, where 58-year-old Robert Netchel removed his mother, 83-year-old Ruth Ann Netchel from the facility against her will. Troopers say that Mrs. Netchel was not dressed for the weather and had medical devices attached to her when she was taken away in her son’s car. Three nursing home employees were reportedly dragged along with Mrs. Netchel. She was found at her son's home in Mt. Carmel a short time later and was transported to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center for treatment. Robert Netchel was charged with kidnapping, aggravated and simple assault and unlawful restraint. He was arraigned and taken to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $50-thousand-dollars bail.

A Schuylkill County woman was released on $25-thousand-dollars unsecured bail Tuesday following her preliminary arraignment on multiple charges relating to a crash in Tamaqua that permanently injured a 20-year-old pedestrian. 20-year old Chanita Guerrero appeared for arraignment on charges including felony, aggravated assault by vehicle while D-U-I and other related counts. Guerrero is also charged with summary offenses including driving with a suspended registration, driving an uninsured and unregistered vehicle. The Republican Herald reports the crash happened just after 4 a.m. at Spruce and Hunter Streets in Tamaqua on January 22nd. According to court documents, a vehicle operated by Guerrero struck Derek Bade, as he was unloading groceries from his car. Bade's leg was severed in the incident. Due to the felony charge, a warrant was issued for Guerrero's arrest. She turned herself in to Tamaqua police.

Career opportunities in the logistics and transportation industry are being highlighted today at the Schuylkill Technology Center Airport Campus. The "Get Going" road show is being hosted by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Logistics and Transportation Partnership, to recruit employees in the field.
The Schuylkill County event is one of five being sponsored in northeastern Pennsylvania. The program runs from 10am till 5pm today. Information available today includes educational opportunities, funding for programs and employers who are looking for new recruits. The Schuylkill Technology Center at the county airport offers training for truck drivers. There is a growing demand for these specialties. The public is encouraged to attend the program today.

Three men were detained for being in this country illegally on Tuesday. Frackville state police came upon the trio at a disabled vehicle along Interstate 81 in Kline Township. None of the men had valid drivers licenses, and are in the U.S. illegally. Juan and Armondo Velazquez Solis, and Rojo Nava-Efrain were all taken to the Schuylkill County Prison after a detainer was issued by immigration officials. They are awaiting deportation.

A Girardville man has pleaded guilty to killing a woman in Butler Township last year. 43-year-old Joseph Cress made his plea in Schuylkill County Court yesterday, according to the Republican and Herald. Cress was charged with criminal homicide and related counts in the death of Roseann Barrett. Cress ran Barrett over with his truck on June 15, 2007 after she refused his advances after leaving a bar together. She fell out of the truck, and Cress drove off over top of her. She died from those injuries. The extent of Cress's guilt will be determined at a hearing on May 20th.

A man was injured at a Morea Road manufacturing plant yesterday. According to the Republican and Herald, the unidentified man was working at the International Bedding Corporation facility when he was shot in the head with a nail gun. Company officials say the man was constructing a wooden frame when he bent down and his partner's nail gun went off accidentally, putting a nail in the top of his head. Emergency crews responded, and the man was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital for treatment. The individual was working at the IBC plant as a temporary employee.

The Price was Right for a New Philadelphia woman during a game show appearance aired on CBS-TV last night. Denise Dunchick walked away with over $82-thousand-dollars in cash and prizes on the Price is Right Million Dollar Spectacular. The show was taped a week ago. Congratulations, Denise.

Rising prices at the supermarket are a challenge for families trying to make ends meet. But, a nutritionist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences has a few tips that could make a dent in your food bill. More from Chuck Gill:

GILL

WASHINGTON (AP) - A bill awaiting President Bush's signature designates a National Heritage Area in a 175-mile corridor spanning parts of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The House of Representatives voted Tuesday to grant the designation to the so-called Journey Through Hallowed Ground. Supporters say it would boost tourism in an area stretching from Monticello to Gettysburg.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey says his department is going to have fewer specialists and more police on patrol duty. For a start, Ramsey says he's assigned a 135-officer narcotics strike force to more general crime fighting. The former Washington police chief says officers can become overspecialized. The announcement is to be made today.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A group of Allegheny County bar and restaurant owners has amended its lawsuit that seeks to repeal the county's new 10-percent tax on alcoholic drinks. Friends Against Counterproductive Taxation and various business owners are seeking class-action status on behalf of all licensed liquor establishments in the county. County Executive Dan Onorato championed the tax.

LATROBE, Pa. (AP) - About 350 union steelworkers are on strike at Latrobe Specialty Steel Co. United Steelworkers Local 1537 says members are unhappy with a three-year contract proposal by the company. Their last contract expired just after midnight and they hit the picket lines. Company officials have not returned a call for comment, but a security guard at the plant says workers are
walking a picket line.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - A northeastern Pennsylvania college is putting prospective students in a personalized ad campaign in an effort to get them to enroll. Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre has taken seven applicants this year and plastered their names on billboards, pizza boxes and gas pumps and even in commercials airing on cable channels MTV, VH-1 and Comedy Central.