Today's News-Wednesday, August 13th, 2008

ATV accident in East Norwegian Township

A man was injured in an ATV accident yesterday afternoon in East Norwegian Township. Reports indicate that the 62-year-old unidentified man was found near a riding trail on coal lands near Diehners Hill. The man was flown from the scene for treatment at Lehigh Valley Hospital. A female rider, on a separate ATV, was not hurt. More details as they become available.

Arson damages home in New Philadelphia

A Monday night fire that damaged a home in New Philadelphia has been ruled arson. State police Fire Marshal John Burns indicates that firefighters from New Philadelphia were dispatched to a fire at a vacant duplex at 45 Wiggan Street, owned by Karen Fergel-Merva. The fire reportedly started on the second floor, and was intentionally set. Damages are estimated at $25-hundred dollars. There were no injuries.

Three escape injury in two vehicle crash in Wayne Township

Three people escaped injury in a two vehicle crash last night in Wayne Township. Schuylkill Haven state police report that 71-year-old Igor Yefimov of Auburn was attempting to make a wide right turn at the intersection of Route 183 and Municipal Road, and turned into the path a Ford Thunderbird, driven by 63-year-old Larry Nagle of Tremont, which was headed south. The cars collided. Damages to both vehicles required towing. Both drivers and a passenger in Yefimov's car weren't hurt. The crash happened after 9pm Tuesday night.

Gilberton man sentenced for role in death of another

A Gilberton man was sentenced yesterday in Schuylkill County Court for his role in the death of a man in 2007. 41-year-old Vincent Bloss, found guilty of simple assault in June, will serve 1 to 2 years in jail. Bloss was involved in a fight with 60-year-old Frank Jackowiak over a Little League baseball matter. Jackowiak died of injuries from the fight at Hershey Medical Center. The Republican and Herald reports that Bloss had been found not guilty of more serious charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment. In addition to the prison sentence, Bloss was ordered to pay court costs, $20-thousand-dollars to the Crime Victims Compensation Board, $15-thousand-dollars for Jackowiak's hospital bills and expense reimbursement to his widow. Bloss's attorney asked to have his sentence served at the Schuylkill County Prison so he could participate in the work release program.

Produce month in Pennsylvania

Governor Rendell proclaimed August as "Produce Month" to recognize Pennsylvania's role as a top producer of fresh fruits and vegetables. And an expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences says new technology could enhance the state's position in the marketplace. More from reporter Gary Abdullah:

ABDULLAH

Closing arguments scheduled in Reading cop death case

Closing arguments are scheduled Wednesday on whether a man convicted of killing a Reading policeman should get the death penalty. A psychologist testifying on behalf of 26-year-old Cletus Rivera says the killer had a troubled childhood and now has attention-deficit disorder and depression. A psychiatrist testifying for the prosecution says Rivera didn't have any psychological impairment at the time he killed 40-year-old Patrolman Scott Wertz. Rivera killed Wertz on Aug. 6, 2006, and was convicted of first-degree murder on Friday. If jurors can't agree on whether he deserves the death penalty, he automatically gets a life sentence with no chance for parole.

McCain says all Americans back Georgia in struggle

YORK, Pa. (AP) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain has told the president of Georgia that all Americans back his country's efforts to thwart military attacks from Russia.
McCain told voters in York, Pa., that he spoke Tuesday morning with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili. McCain said, "I told him that I know I speak for every American
when I said to him, today, we are all Georgians." McCain said Saakashvili asked him to express his thanks to Americans. McCain said Russian leaders must realize that because of their
invasion of Georgia, they risk "the benefits they enjoy from being part of the civilized world."

Play of the Day: McCain's conservatism in a word

YORK, Pa. (AP) - Politicians often give long answers to short questions. Republican presidential candidate John McCain did the opposite while campaigning in York. The woman asked McCain if he could be -- in her words -- "a passionate and forceful leader with a conservative agenda to fight the lure of socialistic programs." McCain's one-word answer: "Yes." McCain's one-word answer surprised his inquisitor and got him deafening applause from the 2,000 people at the York Expo Center. McCain has long struggled to reassure conservatives, who disliked his stands on campaign finance restrictions, immigration policy and other issues. He has fielded similar questions at meetings, and tends to answer them the same way: "Yes."

Pa. attorney general sues telemarketers

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A Baltimore company is accused of violating Pennsylvania's "do not call" law. Attorney General Tom Corbett says Baltimore-based Direct Leadsource is the biggest single violator of the law since it took effect in 2002 -- with more than half a million calls.
Corbett says the company used a telephone center in India to call more than a half-million calls to Pennsylvania consumers to market mortgage loans. Corbett's office filed a consumer-protection lawsuit against the firm Tuesday. He says Direct Leadsource isn't licensed to sell such
loans and isn't registered as a telemarketer in Pennsylvania.

Advocates question Pa. school enrollment policies

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A legal advocacy group for public school students is asking the state to examine enrollment policies in some Pennsylvania school districts. The Education Law Center says in hundreds of cases, new students' enrollment is delayed a month or longer.
Law center co-director Janet Stotland says some families have encountered problems proving their children can legally enroll in school because they're being asked to provide more documentation than the law requires. State Education Department spokesman Michael Race says the agency is reviewing the law center's concerns, but has no immediate comment.

Comcast, MGM to launch action movie VOD channel

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Comcast and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer say they're teaming up to introduce a video-on-demand channel featuring action movies and TV shows. Comcast already has a hit with a similar channel called FEARnet, which features horror movies and thrillers, in collaboration with Lionsgate and Sony Pictures Television. FEARnet is also available on mobile phones. Philadelphia-based Comcast says the "Impact" channel will have 25 to 30 titles every month - and about 200 a year. But it will tap into MGM's library of over 1,000 action movies and TV shows, including many in high-definition format. Movies include those in the James Bond franchise, Rocky and RoboCop. Programming will be grouped into categories such as
thrillers, crime, war films, martial arts, westerns and espionage. Most movies will be free.

DA: Wiretaps used in major drug bust in Pottstown

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Authorities say they have broken up a major cocaine and marijuana ring in Pottstown involving more than two dozen people. Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman says the bust came after police used wiretaps to snoop on the alleged ring leader's cell phone calls. Authorities have been making arrests in the case since July 26. They have also seized 500 grams of cocaine, six guns, a marijuana growing operation, more than $26,000 in cash and seven vehicles - including a 2002 Maserati. Fifteen of the 25 defendants were arraigned Tuesday. Three were previously arraigned, and warrants have been issued for the
remaining seven.

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) -The head of Georgia's national security council says about 50 Russian tanks have entered the strategic city of Gori despite a cease-fire agreement. He claims the tanks entered the city this morning, roughly eight hours after Georgia accepted a cease-fire previously agreed to by Russia.

TRIPOLI, Lebanon (AP) - Lebanese security officials say 18 are dead and another 40 wounded after a roadside bomb targeted a bus carrying civilians and members of the military. It's thought that the attack in the northern city of Tripoli is the work of al-Qaida inspired militants.

BEIJING (AP) - Michael Phelps has now won five gold medals in the Olympics, and he's set five world records while doing it. His quest to win eight gold medals in a single Olympics is alive and
well. Phelps has 11 gold medals, the most for any Olympian.

BEIJING (AP) - Up to eight Tibet activists staging a protest near the main Olympics venue have been detained by police in Beijing, as has a British TV reporter who was nearby. The protest at a Chinese park is the largest seen so far during the Olympics.

SAN DIEGO (AP) - The commander of a Navy squadron that provides the president and the defense secretary the airborne ability to command the country's nuclear weapons has been relieved of duty. Commander Shawn Bentley was removed from the job only three months
after taking it. The loss of confidence stems from an undisclosed personal matter.