Today's News-Friday, July 25, 2008

NEW THIS AFTERNOON THREE SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN CHARGED IN THE BEATING DEATH OF 25-YEAR OLD LUIS RAMIREZ…

16-YEAR OLD BRANDON PIEKARSKY AND 17-YEAR OLD COLLIN WALSH HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH ONE COUNT EACH OF CRIMINAL HOMICIDE – AGGRAVATED ASSAULT – ETHNIC INTIMIDATION ALONG WITH OTHER MULTIPLE FELONY CHARGES. 18-YEAR OLD DERRICK DONCHAK FACES ONE COUNT EACH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT – ETHNIC INTIMIDATION – HINDERING APPREHENSION – SELLING AND/OR FURNISHING LIQUOR TO MINORS ALONG WITH OTHER MULTIPLE FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR CHARGES. PIEKARSKY AND WALSH ARE BEHIND BARS AT THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON UNTIL THEIR PRELIMINARY HEARING. DONCHACK IS TO BE HELD UNTIL HE CAN POST 10-PERCENT OF HIS 75-THOUSAND DOLLAR BAIL. ALL THREE SUSPECTS ARE SCHEDULED TO APPEAR BEFORE JUDGE ANTHONY KILKER IN SHENANDOAH ON AUGUST 4TH.

The Drama continues to unfold in one Schuylkill County borough. In an impromptu borough council meeting the motion was made, by a 5 to 1 vote to reinstate Police Chief Dave Mattson. This most recent suspension comes from an order from Mayor Chris Morrison, saying Mattson was "insubordinate". The dynamics between Mattson and Morrison stems from department scheduling issues. Borough officers are taking this issue before the state Labor Relations Board in Harrisburg on August 19th.

ATV accident injuries New Ringgold man

A New Ringgold man was seriously injured in an ATV accident near New Ringgold last night. Frackville state police say that 54-year-old Joseph Ray was riding an ATV on Pine Valley Road when he lost control and struck a pole, causing the vehicle to spin. Ray was thrown onto a stone parking lot. He was partially pinned under the bike. He was MedEvac'd to Lehigh Valley Hospital where he remains in critical condition this morning, suffering from severe head trauma. Troopers say Ray was not wearing a helmet. The crash happened around 9pm Thursday night.

Crash injuries Shenandoah man

A Shenandoah man suffers injury in a crash in northern Schuylkill County Wednesday afternoon. David Yashinsky was attempting to pass another vehicle on Route 924 when he lost control of his Chevy Cavalier, traveled across a lawn and struck a tree. His car came to rest on top of a small embankment. Yashinsky was taken to Pottsville Hospital for treatment. He'll be cited by state police for traveling at an unsafe speed.

Court date changed in meth trial

Court proceedings against five people accused of running a methamphetamine ring have been delayed several months. The federal case was slated to get underway Monday in Harrisburg against three Georgia men, an Indiana resident and an Argentinian native. They are accused of distributing 500 grams of meth in Schuylkill and five other Pennsylvania counties. Police seized 23 pounds of the drug during the investigation. The defendants requested a delay until October. Jesus Barrios and Esperanza Ferrer are on supervised release from jail. Carlos Cegledi, Francisco Barios and Ramon Ferrer remain in prison until the trial.

PA use of seatbelts garners more money from federal government

PennDOT has received a $28 million dollar grant from the federal government for increased seatbelt usage by Pennsylvania drivers. The state was among five states to qualify for the Safety Belt Performance Grant, for having more than 85 percent seatbelt usage over the past two years. $14-million-dollars will be used to install rumble strips on 25-hundred miles of state roads to alert motorists of fixed objects to reduce crashes. Other funds will be used to make other improvements, and $1-million dollars will go to PennDOT's Smooth Operator aggressive driving initiative.

Haven area woman hurt in Berks Crash

A Schuylkill Haven woman was hurt in a Berks county crash Wednesday afternoon. 22-year-old Lauren Kressley was driving south on Route 183 when she lost control of her vehicle on the wet road. Her car spun into the path of a truck operated by 40-year-old Michael Shafer of Schuylkill Haven. Kressley was taken to Pottsville Hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. Shafer wasn't hurt. Charges are pending against Kressley. place in June of this year.



Nader plans to ask Pa. Supreme Court to reopen ballot access case; cites Dem bonus charges

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Ralph Nader says he'll ask the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to reopen a case stemming from a successful effort to remove him from the ballot in the 2004
presidential race. Nader says his case should be re-examined in light of political corruption charges against Democratic state legislative officials who allegedly helped organize a legal challenge that knocked him out of the race. The Supreme Court in 2006 upheld a lower court order for Nader and his running mate to pay $81,000 in court costs in the case. Nader is fighting that judgment. A grand jury alleges that as many as 50 taxpayer-paid legislative employees reviewed signatures on Nader's petitions in an effort to disqualify him from the ballot.

Tennessee mom accused of poisoning baby in Pittsburgh sent to state mental hospital

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A mother accused in Pittsburgh of deliberately injecting her 4-month-old son with salt water will be sent to a state mental hospital. Officials say 21-year-old Amber Brewington suffers from severe depression and is being tested for Munchausen by Proxy syndrome. The Tennessee woman appeared in court via videoconference Thursday for a competency hearing. Allegheny County Judge Jeffrey Manning ordered that Brewington
be sent to Mayview State Hospital for no more than 90 days. Psychiatrist Christine Martone testified that Brewington needs to be tested for Munchausen, a syndrome in which a caregiver fakes or induces illness in others to generate sympathy. Martone says Brewington also has a borderline personality disorder and admits to having suicidal thoughts.

Pa. woman accused of ripping baby from womb found competent despite psychiatrist testimony

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A suburban Pittsburgh woman accused of cutting an infant from a slain woman's womb has been found mentally competent by a judge to assist in her defense.
Allegheny County Judge Jeffrey Manning said at a competency hearing Thursday for Andrea-Curry Demus that a preliminary hearing in her case can proceed. A psychiatrist testified at the hearing that the woman is a paranoid schizophrenic who is a danger to herself. Thirty-eight-year-old Curry-Demus, of Wilkinsburg, is charged with homicide, kidnapping and related offenses in the death of 18-year-old Kia Johnson, of McKeesport. Authorities say Curry-Demus tried to pass off Johnson's newborn son as her own last week.

Police: Pa. trooper sought sex with girls 8 and 10

MEDIA, Pa. (AP) - Authorities say a Pennsylvania state trooper tried to solicit sex with 8- and 10-year-old girls and planned to bring candy and toys to their meeting. Officials say 39-year-old Cpl. Albert Silveri III initiated conversations online with an undercover officer posing as the
girls' mother. Silveri was arrested at his suburban Philadelphia home after police traced the America Online account to him. Authorities say the sexually explicit communications took place
over several months on a state-issued laptop found in his vehicle. He is being held on $250,000 bail at the Delaware County Prison on charges that include solicitation of child rape. It's not clear
if he has an attorney.

1-year-old Pa. girl dies after attacked by family dog, police later shot and kill animal

ERIE, Pa. (AP) - A 1-year-old girl is dead after being attacked by her family dog in a Millcreek Township cemetery. A spokeswoman at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh says the child died after being brought there from Hamot Medical Center in Erie. The girl's mother is being treated at Hamot Medical Center for injuries sustained trying to protect her daughter in the attack.
Police followed the dog into a nearby neighborhood and shot and killed it. Authorities say the attack happened Thursday morning at the Laurel Hill Cemetery. Officials have not released the name of the mother or child. Millcreek Township police say they are still investigating the
attack.

Gambler linked to disgraced referee gets NY prison sentence for scandal that rocked NBA

NEW YORK (AP) - Two former classmates of disgraced referee Tim Donaghy will spend over a year in prison for their roles in the betting scandal that rocked the NBA. James Battista, a professional gambler, was sentenced in New York on Thursday to 15 months in prison for making bets based on inside tips. His co-defendant, Thomas Martino, got a one-year sentence for paying the referee thousands of dollars for the tips. Both defendants apologized in court on Thursday. The three men attended high school together in Springfield, Pa. Donaghy, a resident of Bradenton, Fla., will be sentenced on July 29. He pleaded guilty last year to charges he conspired to engage in wire fraud and transmitted betting information through interstate commerce.

UNDATED (AP) - Both presidential candidates will be meeting with international leaders today. Democrat Barack Obama sits down in France with President Sarkozy. Republican John McCain is slated to meet the Dalai Lama in Aspen, Colorado.

NEW YORK (AP) - Wall Street investors are looking to end the week on a positive note following yesterday's steep losses. The Dow dropped 283 points, erasing gains of nearly 170 points Tuesday and Wednesday.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - A three-yard wide hole has forced a Qantas jetliner to make an emergency landing in the Philippines. Passengers report hearing a loud bang and the jumbo jet started to descend. An airport official in Manila says part of the cabin floor gave way and part of the ceiling collapsed.

PHOENIX (AP) - One man is in critical condition after police say he was shot by a former student at a Phoenix community college. Two bystanders were also shot. Police say the shooting stems from a dispute between suspect Ryan Smith and the man who was critically wounded.

HARLINGEN, Texas (AP) - Things are getting back to normal in South Texas now that Hurricane Dolly has largely dissipated. Businesses have reopened in the area as the cleanup from the storm continues. Officials are warning of downed power lines. A man was electrocuted on the Mexican side of the border.