Today's News-Saturday, September 5th, 2008

School time added, accommodations made for Piekarsky

A deal has been made to afford Brandon Piekarsky more homebound instruction time and other accommodations. Piekarsky, a Shenandoah Valley senior who is one of three charged in the beating death of Luis Ramirez, was offered only an hour of homebound instruction by the district. Tammey Piekarsky filed suit against the district in county court to improve the package. A preliminary injunction hearing today before Judge John Domalakes sought to resolve that dispute. During a recess, both parties hammered out a deal that was agreeable to both parties. Piekarsky’s attorney, Fred Fanelli, felt the increased hours were fair:

FANELLI

Michael O’Pake acknowledged the same:

O’PAKE

In addition, a computer with internet access will be provided. Several other minor issues were also resolved. The same deal will be offered to Colin Walsh, the other accused who is still in school. The changes will take effect immediately.

Forth Charged In Shenandoah Beating

Schuylkill County prosecutors filed juvenile-court charges Friday against a fourth teenager allegedly involved in the fatal beating of a Mexican immigrant in July in Shenandoah. According to the Republican and Herald, the youth has been charged with aggravated assault, ethnic intimidation, hindering apprehension or prosecution, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and purchase, consumption, possession or transportation of alcoholic beverages. The most serious punishment the teenager could receive is confinement in a juvenile treatment facility until he turns 21 years old. An adjudication hearing has not been set at this time.

County to implement flex heating system and lighting

The Schuylkill County Commissioners Wednesday approved a $1.9 Million dollar heating and lighting plan for four county owned buildings. County Engineer Lisa Mahall received approval for the county to enter into a performance-based energy savings agreement with McClure Company of Harrisburg, a subsidiary of PPL Energy Services. The plan also includes retrofitting the lighting systems to save electricity. Total savings over a 15-year period are estimated at between $3.2 and $3.6 Million Dollars. The county had been negotiating with Honeywell International to change the heating systems and lighting but coal was not part of their plan. Honeywell has since pulled its proposal.

United Way sets their goal

The Schuylkill United Way welcomed their new campaign and a lofty goal yesterday. After surpassing the $1 million dollar mark, a $1.05 million dollar target has been set for the new year. Jeanne Boyer Porter, general campaign chair, is excited for the coming weeks. Boyer Porter is a co-owner of Boyer's Food Markets and this year has a bit of the local grocery store chain with it as the theme is "Giving Makes You Feel So Good." The campaign runs until November 14th and is looking to top last year's goal of over one million, 21 thousand dollars. For more information call 622-6421 or check out the web site, http://www.schuylkillunitedway.org/.

Detox Center to Open In Pottsville

A detoxification center has been established on South Centre Street, Pottsville, to replace a Firetree Ltd. facility that recently closed in Wernersville, the nonprofit company announced Friday. As reported in the Republican and Herald, Conewago Place, located at 202-204 S. Centre St., is a 14-bed center with services including short-term, inpatient and non-hospital detoxification, 24-hour observation, monitoring and care and specialized professional and medical consultation. Clients referred or accepted are adults experiencing acute physical or psychological distress associated with drug and alcohol use. Residents have been opposed to the center, citing concerns about it operating in a residential area.

SAXTON, Pa. (AP) - The Seton Co. says it will close its western Pennsylvania plant by the end of the year, putting some 200 employees out of work. The plant makes leather products for auto interiors. The company blames higher costs and decreased domestic vehicle production.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - All lanes of Pittsburgh's Birgminham Bridge will reopen Monday morning after a section collapsed in February. While the bridge will be open to cars and buses, southbound trucks must still follow a detour. Northbound traffic will be unrestricted.

BEAVER, Pa. (AP) - A western Pennsylvania trucker linked to arson by his truck's global positioning device will spend up to 10 years in prison. Thomas Reinhardt, of New Brighton, was sentenced after pleading guilty to arson and causing a catastrophe before a Beaver County judge. Reinhardt initially told police he was at a Butler County rest stop when the April 5 fire broke out. But GPS records from his trucking company showed his rig was parked near his house.

BEAVER, Pa. (AP) - A western Pennsylvania senator's wife charged with stealing from the nonprofit agency she headed is accused of failing to pay credit card charges. Midland Funding LLC, an assignee of Bank of America, sued Darla LaValle, of Rochester, claiming that she won't pay nearly $8,200. The wife of Beaver County Democrat Gerald LaValle was charged last month with stealing thousands of dollars from Voluntary Action Center.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - An appellate court has refused to dismiss federal fraud and theft charges against pathologist Cyril Wecht. Wecht is accused of using his former Allegheny County coroner's
staff to benefit his multimillion-dollar private business.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) - Tropical Storm Hanna is ashore over tourist beaches on the North-South Carolina border. Heavy rain is forecast all the way up the Eastern Seaboard. But the experts are looking ahead to Ike. The Category 3 hurricane could slam Florida.

MOSCOW (AP) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says his country has shown it's a "nation to be reckoned with" after the short war against neighboring Georgia. He says that Russia was forced to act to save lives.

UNDATED (AP) - John McCain and running mate Sarah Palin take team GOP into two hotly contested states today, appearing in Colorado and New Mexico. Democrat Barack Obama continues to ask what the GOP has done for the middle class. He'll appear today in Indiana.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House isn't happy with part of a new book by Bob Woodward. Woodward says President Bush was slow to react to escalating violence in Iraq. The White House counters that Bush's military buildup was responsible for a downturn in the
violence.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former Silver State Bank customers will be doing business with Nevada State Bank or National Bank of Arizona come Monday. The failed Silver State Bank has been shut down. Federal regulators say the problem was soured loans, mainly in commercial real estate and land development.