Today's News- Wednesday, June 18th

Schuylkill Products Incorporated is advising motorists of delays today due to oversized loads. Starting at 7 o'clock, two loads will be leaving and traveling south Route 61 to I-78 West to I-81 north, finally delivering to I-80 East in Blakeslee. Local delays will occur at the intersections of Route 901 and Route 183 and also at Route 183 and Route 61.

The Shamokin man who died in a mining accident Monday resulted from the roof collapsed. That's the preliminary finding from state and federal mine inspectors, who were at the Harmony Mine in Mount Carmel Township yesterday to determine what happened, as 45-year-old Robert Carey died.
Rescue workers from the mine retrieved Carey after he was pinned down by debris. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Northumberland County Coroner James Kelley ruled his death accidental. The mine, owned by UAE Coal Corporation, has been in operation since 1990. Mine inspectors say that they company has a good compliance record. The investigation continues, and the mine is expected to remain closed for at least another week.

With the high price of gas on everyone's minds, the Schuylkill Transportation System is offering an alternative tomorrow....Dump the Pump. The county transportation system is participating with the American Public Transportation Association for the third annual Dump the Pump day, to boost ridership, save gasoline and reduce greenhouse gases. STS Vice President for Public Transportation Mike Micko tells us more:

MICKO

Riders on the system Thursday can get an all day bus pass on the STS fixed routes for just a dollar! Studies say that households with two workers, and one car, that use public transportation save $62-hundred dollars every year, compared to households without access to public transportation. Dump the Pump Thursday...save some money and help the environment. For more information, call STS toll free at 1-800-832-3322.

The North Schuylkill school board has responded to a suit seeking an injunction against the closure of the Ringtown Elementary school. With the hearing scheduled in Schuylkill County Court tomorrow, district officials have formally responded to the action by a group of concerned parents who don't want their children moved to the new elementary building at Fountain Springs. According to the Republican and Herald, the district says that a motion they passed on May 8th to transfer the students from the Ringtown school did not mean that the building would be closed, and that the injunction sought by parents is "premature". The district went on to say that they are looking at other alternatives for voluntary and involuntary transfer of students, some 140 in all, from one building to another. A public hearing on the matter is scheduled for July 10th. In 2004, the district passed a resolution indicating that they would maintain the Ringtown building, no matter what new facilities would be constructed for students in kindergarten through 6th grade. That resolution was rescinded in May. The state school code indicates that 90 days must elapse before any changes are made, after the July meeting. State school officials indicate that a waiver could be sought to shorten that time period.

Residents of Schuylkill County are being urged to give the gift of life by donating blood. Currently the supply of blood is critically low for negative R-H types-such as O-negative. All current and new donors must be at least 16-years-old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health. To schedule an appointment today, contact the Northeastern Pennsylvania region of the Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE LIFE.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Philadelphia School Reform Commission is about to vote on the fate of 38 private managers of city public schools. Some 18,000 city children attend the 38 schools run by outside managers. A recommendation was made last week to take away some schools from the outside groups.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pittsburgh will recognize long-term commitments of unmarried partners, allowing both gay and straight couples to share employee benefits. The bill passed Tuesday in a
7-1 vote. Residents who are not too closely related to be considered married are eligible to show evidence of their relationship.

GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) - Seton Hill University will soon be home to a new medical school. University President Dr. Joanne Boyle announced Tuesday that the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine will invest $4 million to open a branch of its school at Seton Hill. The new program will open in the fall of 2009.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A citizens' group has decided not to file an appeal to continue its yearslong battle to stop the Barnes Foundation's Impressionist art collection from leaving Montgomery
County for downtown Philadelphia. Attorneys say the case was effectively over when Montgomery County dropped its appeal.

ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) - Former President Jimmy Carter took his wife, Rosalynn, out to a ballgame in Altoona. The former first couple caught the Double-A Altoona Curve's 4-3 win Tuesday night over
Reading at Blair County Ballpark, watching from a skybox. His presence wasn't announced to the 5,500 fans there.

WHITE HOUSE (AP) - President Bush wants Congress to lift the ban on offshore oil and gas drilling that's been in place since 1981. Bush says the drilling could eventually yield 18 billion barrels of oil. He says with gasoline prices over $4 a gallon, American families want help from Washington.

NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks have started the day headed downward, while oil prices again head up. Light, sweet crude rose 38 cents in premarket trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It's above $134 a barrel.

GULFPORT, Ill. (AP) - Flooding is moving downstream along the Mississippi after two more levees were breached in western Illinois this morning. Residents of the small town of Meyer have been
evacuated. Officials are monitoring levees in other Mississippi River towns in Illinois and Missouri.

WASHINGTON (AP) - NBC Washington Bureau Chief Tim Russert is being remembered at a private funeral this morning. Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain are among those at the service. The "Meet the Press" host died of a heart attack last week. Russert was 58.

BOSTON (AP) - Boston has another champion this morning, but street clelebrations ended up with some fans behind bars. The Celtics won their 17th NBA title with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers last night. Outside Boston's Banknorth Garden afterward, police says things got rowdy and they arrested 30 people.