Today's News-Saturday, September 20th, 2008

Fire at West Brunswick Facility

Firefighters from three counties were summoned to Precision Air in West Brunswick Township around 2 a.m. this morning for what they originally thought was a fire in multiple tractor trailers. Upon their arrival the incident was upgraded to a fire in a commercial structure. Precision Air is known for manufacturing filters for furnaces and air conditioning units and is located at 2033 West Market Street in West Brunswick Township. Crews were still on the scene this morning WPPA News will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

Ashland man sent to prison for 5 years on drug charges

An Ashland man will spend five years in a federal prison after being sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court in Scranton for participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy. According to the Republican and Herald, Eugene Klinger, who pleaded guilty in July 2007 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana, helped bring all three drugs into Schuylkill County from 2005 to 2007, according to federal prosecutors. While Klinger and four co-conspirators imported all three drugs to the county, methamphetamine was the primary one that also resulted in the imposition of the mandatory five-year prison term. Klinger and his co-conspirators obtained drugs from suppliers in California and Nevada, had them shipped in Federal Express packages and distributed them in Dauphin, Philadelphia and Schuylkill counties, according to the indictment that was handed down against them Jan. 16, 2007 by a grand jury. The federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania State Police and local police in Schuylkill County participated in the investigation. The other defendants named are Michael Klinger, David Ricciardo, Michael Lawson and Dan McDonald. The investigation is continuing.

Woman charged with assault

An Auburn woman was arrested by state police late Thursday night after she assaulted a man. Troopers from the Schuylkill Haven barracks say that 32-year-old Sheila Jo Leininger and 51-year-old Jeffrey Parker got into a verbal argument that turned physical. Parker suffered injury to his pelvis during the fight and was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South for treatment. Leininger was charged with aggravated and simple assault. Bail was set at $75 thousand dollars, ten percent bail. Parker will be charged with harrassment.

Kaplan honored with state award

The coordinator of the Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency has received an award from his peers across the state. Art Kaplan, Frackville, is the winner of the Harry Robidoux Award for Excellence in Emergency Management by the Keystone Emergency Management Association. The award recognizes one county coordinator every other year, who exhibits "all that is good and right in Emergency Management in Pennsylvania." Kaplan was honored for his lifelong service to the community, both in his professional and personal life. The award is named for the late Harry Robidoux, a former Schuylkill County resident who served as Monroe County Emergency Management Coordinator.

Measure to reduce overcrowding in state prisons passes state Senate

The state Senate has approved a bill that's intended to reduce overcrowding in our state prisons and rein in spending on our correctional system. Howard Ondick has this report:

ONDICK

NEW YORK (AP) - A lawyer for Lehman Brothers says the sale of its investment banking and trading businesses to Barclays is "a good match economically." Harvey Miller says it will save
thousands of jobs. A bankruptcy judge approved the plan early this morning.

UNDATED (AP) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain has been rather silent on the government financial rescue plan. He does say the Federal Reserve should stop bailing out failed companies. Democrat Barack Obama says he supports the rescue plan.

WASHINGTON (AP) - John McCain opened the campaign spending spigot wide last month. He raised 47.5 million dollars and spent 41 million. Barack Obama raised a record 66 million dollars and spent 55 million.

STERLING, Va. (AP) - Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden says worshipping at "the shrine of deregulation," is part of the cause of the financial meltdown. Speaking in Virginia, he says it's time to end "the cowboy mentality of the Bush-McCain era."

PARIS (AP) - A French customer who bought a possibly toxic recliner made in China says it's stunning to realize that a comfortable chair is really "a bomb under your butt." Customers
have complained of allergic rashes and infections. An anti-mold chemical is being blamed.