Today's News-Saturday, July 5th

FRACKVILLE — The younger residents of the borough should have a safe place to swim by next season. A baby pool is being installed near the adult pool at the Memorial Park Complex, Pine and Hickory streets.Although it will be completed within the next three weeks, it won't be ready for use until 2009. According to the Republican and Herald, the borough is using its own work force to complete the project and is saving more than double the price a contractor would have cost. Little swimmers will wade in a 24 by 24 foot pool with three sides at 18 inches deep and one side at a zero entrance level off the sidewalk when it debuts next season. The baby pool is being constructed 120 feet north of the present adult pool in the swimming area of the complex. The improved swimming area will complement the $53,000 truss roof being constructed on the concession stand and comfort station. A few blocks away, the streetscape project continues another part of the borough. A $146,000 Safe Routes to School federal grant program administered by PennDOT is being used to replace sidewalks and curbing on both sides of Lehigh Avenue from Oak and Chestnut streets. Lighting is also being installed at a projected cost of $72,000. A $66,500 grant from the USDA will be used to defray the cost of lighting.

POTTSVILLE - A Pottsville man is charged with pointing a gun at people in the city early Friday. Pottsville PD were called to a North 13th Street home at 5am, where 32 year old Samuel Correll was pointing a 22 caliber handgun at Angela Cody and Edward Burke. He was taken into custody without incident. Correll is charged with simple assault, reckless endangerment and other offenses.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - A 23 year old death case of a Schuylkill Haven boy is now a homicide. Schuylkill County Coroner Joseph Lipsett changed the manner of death of David Reed, based on an autopsy of his remains conducted earlier this year by three anthropologists. Reed's body was found in a wooded area in Cressona, but how he died remained unknown. State police believe that Reed's killer is still alive, but are keeping mum on who that person might be. Authorities are still following up on leads.

WEST MAHANOY TOWNSHIP - Early Thursday morning, drug traffickers were picked up in Frackville. Agents from the DA's Drug Task Force went to Granny's Motel, where they found bags of crack cocaine and heroin. Heriberto Marin, another man and a juvenile male were in the motel room, and were taken into custody on various drug charges. The DA's office was assisted by police from Frackville, Butler Township and West Mahanoy Township.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) - A wildfire in Santa Barbara County, California, has prompted evacuation orders for more than 5,000 homes this morning. The fire has been growing rapidly in an area that hasn't burned in 50 years.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) - Fire officials in northern Iowa's Charles City say a dozen people suffered mostly minor injuries during a mishap at last night's Fourth of July fireworks celebration. In Riverside, Ohio, police say a man lost part of a leg when fireworks blew up inside his SUV parked outside a bar.

NEW YORK (AP) - Millions of people around New York City got to see the largest fireworks display in the country last night. Some rain doused celebrants in Washington ahead of a Fourth of July concert headlined by Huey Lewis and the News and Jerry Lee Lewis.

WHITE HOUSE (AP) - President Bush has used the Fourth of July to welcome 76 new Americans at a naturalization ceremony in Virginia. Last night it was fireworks in Washington. And today he heads to Japan for his final G-Eight summit.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Jesse Helms, who served five terms in the
U.S. Senate representing North Carolina, has died. The 86-year-old lawmaker made his name opposing civil rights legislation. He died quietly yesterday at a convalescent home in Raleigh.

UNDATED (AP) - Democrat Barack Obama is staying on the campaign trail this holiday weekend. He's scheduled another appearance in Butte, Montana, today, before heading back to the swing state of Missouri for the second time this week. Republican John McCain's schedule has him spending the holiday weekend at his Arizona ranch.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - Authorities say the lone survivor of last Sunday's mid-air collision of two medical helicopters in Flagstaff, Arizona, has died. The six others on board were killed in the crash. Thirty-six-year-old James Taylor was a registered nurse on a helicopter ferrying a patient from the Grand Canyon.

CHICAGO (AP) - United Airlines is thinking about charging for snacks. It's going to test the idea on selected flights starting next month, selling chips, cookies, candy and trail mix for $3 a bag. Passengers will still get pretzels for free.

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - New video from this week's daring rescue of 15 hostages in Colombia shows just how cleverly government troops hoodwinked the rebels. Colombian officials modeled the rescue attempt after two previous hostage handovers brokered by the pro-rebel president of Venezuela.

TORONTO (AP) - A Canadian court has ordered the Immigration and Refugee Board to reconsider its rejection of a U.S. Army deserter's request for asylum. The ruling could affect the cases of dozens more American service members who've fled to Canada to avoid fighting in Iraq.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) - There's word from Afghanistan that 10 Taliban militants have been killed. The roadside bomb they were trying to plant blew up prematurely.