Today's News- Friday, September 12th, 2008

Rehrig begins to serve sentence…

The address for 52-year-old Russell Rehrig for the remainder of his life will be a state prison after a hearing yesterday. 52-year-old Russell Rehrig, a convicted sex offender was captured a week ago in Atlantic City following a year on the run. President Judge William Baldwin chastised Rehrig for his actions during a bench warrant hearing, and said that many of his opportunities to appeal the guilty verdict and sentence were already past. Rehrig can pursue one final appeal to Superior Court, and he will pursue that:

REHRIG

Christopher Reidlinger was Rehrig’s public defender at trial. He begins his 42 to 84 year sentence at a state prison for raping and sexually assaulting three children in Tamaqua and Allentown in 2004 and 2005.

Coaldale man dies from injuries in crash

A Coaldale man has died from injuries suffered in a crash on Wednesday afternoon in Ryan Township. State police report that James Hatmaker was pronounced dead at Lehigh Valley Hospital Thursday morning. Cause of death was blunt force head trauma, suffered in the accident. The other driver, Tara Lindsey of Berwick was not hurt.

Two injured in explosion at party in Norwegian Township

Two Pottsville men were injured by flying glass from an explosion at a bush party in Norwegian Township last weekend. Schuylkill Haven state police are investigating the incident. Justin Putlock and Nathaniel Hassara were at the party when someone dropped a match into a bottle containing gun powder. Both men suffered cuts to their arms and faces. If you have information that might aid state police in the case, contact them at 593-2000.

Y’s to join forces

Two area agencies are beginning to operate jointly. The Schuylkill YMCA and YWCA are coming together to expand their programs and services. Wayne Stump, CEO of the organizations explains:

STUMP

Discussions to join the organizations began several years ago with the opening of the Y Discovery daycare program. They will continue to offer services at the YWCA location on South Centre Street in Pottsville, along with the new YMCA headquarters at the former Pottsville Armory, which is scheduled to open in October.

Crash injures Middleport man Thursday

A Middleport man was injured in a crash early Thursday on the Burma Road in East Norwegian Township. 36-year-old Jason Setlock’s car went off the road into a ditch and went airborne, hitting a utility pole. Setlock hit the windshield, then left the vehicle. He was found lying in the woods about 500 feet from the scene of the crash. Police suspect that Setlock was driving under the influence. He was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center East for treatment and blood alcohol tests. Charges may be filed after results are received.

Alcohol may be involved in Port Carbon crash

A New Philadelphia man crashed his car into a tree last night in Port Carbon. Borough police say that 31-year-old Gerald Murphy apparently oversteered his car when it slid across the road and hit the tree on East Washington Street. Murphy was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center South for a blood alcohol test. Charges are pending.


Philadelphia police gather for viewing for officer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Police officers and others are already gathering for a viewing Friday for the third Philadelphia police officer killed in the last ten months. Hundreds of fellow officers, friends and family members lined up for a Thursday evening viewing at a funeral home for 40-year-old Officer Isabel Nazario. The Friday morning viewing is at the Cathedral Basilica of
Saints Peter and Paul. A funeral mass is scheduled at noon. Officials say Nazario's body will be flown on Saturday to her native Puerto Rico for burial. Nazario was an 18-year veteran of the Philadelphia police force. She was killed last Friday when the patrol car in which she was
riding was struck by a stolen vehicle. Her partner, Officer Terry Tull, was seriously injured and it isn't clear whether he'll be able to attend the funeral.

Philly mayor says bad economy means spending cuts

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter says the slow economy could mean a city revenue shortfall of up to $450 million over five years. Nutter went before the City Council on Thursday to say that the nation's economic problems have come to Philadelphia's doorstep. He says all departments are being ordered to cut spending, some as much as 10 percent. And Nutter says layoffs are also possible. The trimming comes just three months after approval of the mayor's $4 billion budget. He says everything is on the table, including possible changes in tax reduction plans. Nutter expects to unveil changes by the end of October.

BASKETBALL SHOOTING

2 killed in Philadelphia basketball court shooting

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Police say two people are dead after shooting broke out at a West Philadelphia basketball court. Police say at least three others are hospitalized with gunshot
wounds. Investigators are seeking at least two suspects who fled on foot. Officials say the gunfire erupted about 10:30 p.m. at the basketball court at McAlpin playground in Philadelphia's Mantua section. The cause of the shooting is still being investigated.

US Transportation Dept. rejecting I-80 tolls

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The federal government is rejecting Pennsylvania's plan to add tolls to Interstate 80. Gov. Ed Rendell said at a Capitol news conference Thursday afternoon that Transportation Secretary Mary Peters told him the proposal doesn't meet technical and statutory requirements. The decision puts new focus on Rendell's alternative plan to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike as a way to raise money for other transportation needs. The lease proposal faces stiff opposition in the Legislature.

Pa. says 75 dams at greatest risk in heavy rain

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has updated its list of "dams of special concern." Those 75 dams have the greatest risk of causing problems in heavy rains. The agency distributed the list to emergency planners last week before Tropical Storm Hanna. DEP spokesman Tom Rathbun says most dams on the list have
spillways that aren't considered adequate to handle worst-case levels of rainfall. The rest are on the list for other reasons, such as ongoing construction or rehabilitation, seepage problems or
doubts about stability. Emergency plans for the dams are on file at municipal and county
offices and should be available for public inspection.

Rendell urged to release home heating money

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania utility industry officials and consumer groups want Gov. Ed Rendell to release $10 million in state money to supplement federal home heating assistance for the poor this winter. The groups issued their pleas in testimony to state utility
regulators Thursday during a hearing on energy and home heating prices. The supplemental home heating assistance was included in a $650 million package the governor signed in July to improve conservation and encourage alternative energy and fuels. The legislation calls for the state to set aside $10 million in home heating assistance annually over four years. But Michael Love of the Energy Association of Pennsylvania says that money can be spent only if Rendell declares an energy emergency.

HOUSTON (AP) - The National Weather Service is warning residents of Galveston, Texas they could "face certain death" if they don't evacuate. At latest report, the center of Hurricane Ike was about 230 miles southeast of Galveston and moving toward the upper Texas coast at about 13 miles-per-hour. Top winds are near 105 miles-per-hour and forecasters say it could strengthen before making landfall early tomorrow.

HOUSTON (AP) - The oil and gas industry are closely watching Hurricane Ike. It's on a path heading straight toward the nation's biggest complex of refineries and petrochemical plants. The worries sent wholesale gasoline prices soaring yesterday, and one convenience store chain is asking customers in 11 state to limit purchases to 10 gallons.

UNDATED (AP) - A new report says one in every 416 households received a foreclosure filing last month. RealtyTrac says filings increased 12 percent over July. But the pace of the increases has slowed somewhat.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Shares of Lehman Brothers are edging lower in premarket electronic trading this morning. Executives are racing to put together a sale of the embattled investment bank before it loses any more market value and confidence.

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska (AP) - Sarah Palin says her credentials are enough to be president. In her first television interview since John McCain chose her as his running mate, the Republican vice presidential candidate said her qualifications are "about reform
of government" and "putting government back on the side of
people."