Today's News-Thursday, July 17th

Schuylkill County doesn't know yet if the damage to Rest Haven's 1912 building from a fire last weekend will be covered by insurance, but the transfer of utilities will be covered. County Administrator Darlene Dolzani talks about the damage:

DOLZANI

Commissioner Chairwoman Mantura Gallagher praised everyone who assisted at the fire scene and those who volunteered their services. The fire reportedly started in the basement of the building, but the cause has not yet been determined by the State Police Fire Marshal.

A fire that destroyed a Sheppton home has been ruled accidental. The blaze at 941 Center Street, owned by Modesta Tejada, sustained severe fire, smoke and water damage Wednesday. State police fire marshal Michael Kowalick says the fire started in a second floor laundry room. The dryer vent was full of lint and overheated. Damages are estimated to be about $75-thousand-dollars.

A Hometown woman who took money from the Tamaqua PTO was sentenced in county court Wednesday. 35-year-old Melissa Gensure was given 5 years probation and must repay over $28 thousand dollars in restitution for her crimes. She also must complete one thousand hours of community service. According to the Republican and Herald, Gensure pleaded guilty in May on counts of theft, forgery and related offenses after she took money as treasurer of the Tamaqua Elementary PTO between 2004 and 2006.

Improvements to Interstate 81 will begin next Monday, causing traffic delays. Patching, shoulder reconstruction and other improvements will slow traffic between Exit 119 at Highridge and Exit 107 at Route 209. The project is expected to take until November to be completed, weather permitting.

The County Commissioners Wednesday were advised by the County Solicitor not to respond to questions by the county controller about items not on the agenda at their work sessions. During the public comment portion of the meeting, Controller Melinda Kantner questioned why the county is paying a waste disposal company for use and transport of containers filled with debris taken from the county owned 1912 building. She believes it should be the responsibility of the company cleaning out the building. The debris is dumped at the landfill at no charge. County Solicitor Eric Mika told her that many of the items she brings up are not on the agenda and, according to the county code, can't been discussed. He accused the Controller of either “grandstanding” or trying to “redefine the role of the County Controller”. Kantner has been using the public participation portion of the meetings to address issues with the Commissioners, after being rebuffed in questioning department heads when they appear at the meetings. During the Salary board meeting, which Kantner sits on, she complained that she only received the agenda the day before the meeting, and had no knowledge of the appointment of Michael Stine as Chief Public Defender. Chairwoman Mantura Gallagher reminded Kantner to call the Commissioners if she had any questions.

When someone is having a stroke, time is of the essence. A partnership between Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic and Geisinger Medical Center may help save lives. Both hospitals unveiled a telemedicine system Wednesday, where stroke specialists from Geisinger can assess a patient's condition via video link between Pottsville and Danville. Geisinger Stroke Program Director Dr. Robert Felberg says time is of the essence when stroke symptoms arise:

FELBERG

The $35-thousand-dollar system, paid for by Pottsville Hospital, provides for quick treatment. Hospital CEO John Simodejka said the telemedicine program, can also save money in addition to lives.

SIMODEJKA

Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic treats about 300 stroke related cases a year.

The Schuylkill County Prison board continues to look for ways to solve overtime problems. An out-of-state prisoner is adding to those costs. Warden Eugene Berdanier told the board that two officers are providing round the clock duty on a prisoner hospitalized with a self inflected injury. The unidentified man requires that kind of coverage because of the nature of his crimes, which is racking up costs. The county hopes to recoup some of the expenses from the state of Maryland.
The prisoner was transferred here to face local charges. He'll be returned to Maryland as soon as he is discharged from the hospital.

Pottsville School Board met last night for their regular meeting. Allie Raring has more:

RARING

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Terry Murray has been hired as the new coach of the Los Angeles Kings. Murray coached the Philadelphia Flyers to the Stanley Cup finals 11 years ago. He has been an assistant coach with the Flyers since the 2003-04 season.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - At the All-Star break, it adds up to a typical Pittsburgh Pirates season: The hitting is much better than expected, the pitching much worse. Despite a few encouraging signs, the Pirates - as usual - need a major turnaround to avoid a losing season.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Temple men's basketball coach has signed Fran Dunphy a two-year contract extension. It will keep him at the school through the end of the 2013-14 season. Dunphy led the Owls to a 21-13 record and an Atlantic 10 championship last season,
giving Temple its first NCAA tournament berth in seven years.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Allegheny County Controller Mark Flaherty says the Pittsburgh Steelers may have to reimburse taxpayers for public money used to build Heinz Field if the team is sold. The new stadium opened in 2001 with the Steelers contributing about $76.5 million and state and county taxpayers paying $281 million.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A middle distance runner from Pennsylvania has been honored as national high school athlete of the year. Chanelle Price from Easton Area High is the first female track and field winner since world champion sprinter Allyson Felix in 2003.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - At least 10 insurgents are dead after Afghan and NATO-led troops called in airstrikes while targeting a cell in western Afghanistan today. The militant group is suspected in a series of kidnappings, and may have had at least 15 hostages.

JERUSALEM (AP) - Thousands are mourning one of the two Israeli soldiers returned in a prisoner exchange with Hezbollah guerrillas yesterday. A funeral was held for Ehud Goldwasser, whose remains were returned in exchange for five Lebanese prisoners and the remains of some 200 of Arab fighters.

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - Pope Benedict is preaching a message of conservation to hundreds of thousands of Catholic pilgrims in Australia today. The pope is in Sydney for the Roman Catholic
church's youth festival, which lasts through the weekend.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Police in the District of Columbia will start registering residents for handguns today, now that the district's 32-year-old ban has been lifted. Residents can also register guns they've had illegally under a six-month amnesty period.

SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) - Police in Shreveport, Louisiana, say they have video of a bar brawl featuring actors Josh Brolin and Jeffrey Wright. The actors, along with four others who were arrested, just finished shooting Oliver Stone's "W.", a movie loosely based on the life of President Bush.