Today's News- Friday, October 3rd, 2008

SHAMOKIN - Police in Northumberland County are looking for a Monroe County teen that assaulted a guard at the Northwestern Academy over night and escaped. Just before two this morning 17-year-old Kyle Ball of Pocono Lake hit staff member Gene McGovern with a flashlight over the head, knocking him unconscious and taking his keys. Ball then fled from the juvenile detention center and was last seen trying to hitch a ride near the Wal-Mart Super Center toward Kulpmont. Ball is described as a white teen, last seen wearing dark blue sweat pants a white T-shirt, with a white shirt wrapped around his head. and multi-colored shoes. He was being held at Northwestern's Big Mountain facility on parole violations stemming from theft charges. A state Police helicopter and canine units along with local police are combed the area looking for Ball. It's believed he may have stolen a tan, Ford Escort and fled the area. Anyone coming in contact with Ball is asked to call 9-1-1.

Water boil advisory lifted in Tamaqua

Customers of the Tamaqua Water Authority no longer have to boil their water. A water main break earlier this week prompted the precautionary measure. Repairs were made, and the boil advisory was lifted Thursday. As a reminder, fire hydrant flushing will take place during the daytime hours Monday through Friday of next week in Tamaqua. Residents may see low water pressure and slight discoloration of the water during that period.

Deadline fast approaching for voter registration

The Schuylkill County Voter Registration bureau will have extended hours Monday to accomodate last minute registrations to vote in the November election. Bureau Director Betty Dries says their office on North Centre Street in Pottsville will be open until 8pm. Registration applications can be downloaded from the county's website at www.co.schuylkill.pa.us, but they must be received by Monday. Absentee ballot applications can also be obtained from the site or the Voter Registration office. Those applications must be sent in by October 28th in order to vote by absentee ballot. For any questions, call 628-1467.

Sex offender taken into custody for failing to register with Megan's Law

A convicted sex offender was nabbed by state and local police for failing to register under Megan's Law. Daishin Wolfhawk, also known as John Joseph Lentini was taken into custody in Pottsville earlier this week. Wolfhawk failed to register as a sex offender in 2005 through 2007 and did not report his change of address as required. He was arraigned and committed to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of bail. Authorities took custody of Daishin and Melissa Wolfhawk's daughter at birth in 2005 due to Wolfhawk's criminal past and the risks he posed to her children.

Two in custody for robbery in Shenandoah

Two males were apprehended yesterday in Shenandoah in connection with a robbery at a borough store. The Republican and Herald reports that 19-year-old Warren Frey and a 16 year old are charged with robbery, theft, receiving stolen property and other counts for allegedly robbing Gualtier's Beer Store on Coal Street Wednesday night. The pair reportedly entered the store, made a purchase and left the store, returning later and removing cash from the register. One of the men reportedly threatened the clerk when she tried to thwart their robbery. Frey was arrainged and taken to Schuylkill County Prison. The juvenile was taken into custody by juvenile officials. A detention hearing is scheduled for today.

Obama campaign in Philly area at Abington High School

ABINGTON, Pa. (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is bringing his campaign to the Philadelphia area. Obama will be at Abington High School at 11 a.m. this morning , and more than 5,000 people are expected to pack the school's football stadium for the "Obama for President" rally. Obama is expected to talk about the financial crisis facing the
country and how he plans to work for middle-class families. His appearance comes one day after the vice presidential debate.

Darkening Pa. revenue picture prompts worries, fear of tax hikes and program cuts

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania state government is facing its biggest first-quarter shortfall in at least two decades, which could force Gov. Ed Rendell and legislators to cut programs, raise taxes or dip into reserves - or do all three. Senate Appropriations Chairman Gibson Armstrong says if lawmakers don't cut programs now, it'll just exacerbate the problems later. The Revenue Department reported this week that the state government's revenue collection in the July-September quarter was behind the official revenue estimate by $281.4 million, or 4.7 percent. That's the largest first-quarter shortfall against projections since at least 1988, based on a review of available Revenue Department reports by The Associated Press.
Armstrong has scheduled a committee hearing for Monday to get an assessment from the Rendell administration and economists on Pennsylvania's darkening revenue performance and outlook amid a slumping national economy.

2 charged in Pa. student-loan bribery probe

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's attorney general has filed bribery charges against a former purchasing agent at the state's student loan agency and a print shop owner. Attorney General Tom Corbett says the two men were charged in an ongoing investigation into alleged bribery and bid manipulation for printing work and supplies at the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency. Daniel Snyder of DRS Printing Services is accused of giving more
than $30,000 in payments and other gifts to the loan agency's purchasing agent Kyle Andrew Becker. Corbett says Becker gave Snyder inside information about other competitors' bids in return for the alleged bribes. The loan agency's officials say Becker resigned in May 2007 as
it conducted an internal investigation.

Pa. Presbyterian minister cleared in gay marriage

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A Presbyterian church panel in Pittsburgh has cleared a minister of violating church law by officiating at what members call the 'purported marriage ceremony' of two women. Thursday's ruling concludes that the Rev. Janet Edwards could not have committed the offense because neither the church nor the state of Pennsylvania recognizes gay marriage.
The decision by the nine-member judicial commission of the Pittsburgh Presbytery was unanimous. Edwards' attorneys say she did nothing wrong by performing the 2005 ceremony.
But the Rev. James Evans, moderator of the prosecuting committee, says Edwards defied the church's understanding of marriage.

Pa. man wanted in strangling death found in Va.

READING, Pa. (AP) - Police in Virginia have captured a Pennsylvania man wanted in the strangling death of a woman whose body was found the trunk of a car. Berks County District Attorney John Adams said Thursday that 32-year-old Julio Lastra was found in Prince George County, Virginia. Police have been looking for Lastra since he fled on foot from a
traffic stop in suburban Harrisburg a week ago. The body of 41-year-old Marisol Rivera of Frystown was found in the trunk of the car. Police say Rivera was the sister of Lastra's ex-girlfriend. Police say Lastra also stole a car that was later found abandoned in Baltimore.

SPCA cites eastern Pa. kennel owner with cruelty

EMMAUS, Pa. (AP) - A kennel owner in eastern Pennsylvania faces two counts of cruelty to animals after SPCA officials removed dozens of dogs and cats for immediate medical care.
Derbe Eckhart is the owner of Almost Heaven Kennels in Upper Milford Township. An officer with the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has cited him for keeping animals in unsanitary conditions and failing to provide proper veterinary care. Eckhart disputes the allegations. About 20 agents raided the kennel Wednesday and removed at least 56 dogs and cats. Officials say hundreds of animals were crowded together in unsanitary and foul-smelling conditions. Four SPCA agents returned to the kennel Thursday afternoon. Cruelty to animals is a summary offense in most cases. Eckhart faces a maximum fine of $750 for each of the two counts.

3 students at Pa. school have MRSA

NORTHAMPTON, Pa. (AP) - An eastern Pennsylvania high school is dealing with an outbreak of a staph infection. Three students at Northampton Area High School now have methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is a type of skin infection that can be fatal if not treated. Superintendent Linda Firestone says the students with MRSA are getting medical care. She sent a letter to parents Wednesday urging good hygiene practices to prevent spreading the infection.
This is the second time within a year that the school had trouble with MRSA. In November 2007, parents of a student there notified the school that their child had the infection. A Philadelphia high school student died of MRSA last month.

Judge upholds conviction in Amish outhouse dispute

EBENSBURG, Pa. (AP) - A central Pennsylvania judge has upheld the conviction of an Amish man who cites religious beliefs in refusing to comply with state sewage laws. Cambria County Judge Norman Krumenacker on Thursday ordered Andy Swartzentruber to bring two school outhouses on his property into compliance and pay a $500 fine. The judge dismissed charges against co-defendant Sam Yoder. He says Yoder, as a school elder, isn't ultimately responsible for the property. Swartzentruber, who is part of a conservative Amish sect, has 30 days to obey or appeal the judge's order. He said afterward that he would not comply or pay the fine.

Educational center honoring Mister Rogers opens

LATROBE, Pa. (AP) - A western Pennsylvania college is opening an educational center honoring the late Fred Rogers, creator of public television's "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood." The $12 million Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children's Media is located at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, near where Rogers grew up. Rogers had been trying to create the center for about three years before he died of stomach cancer in 2003 at age 74. The center will train educators to use media, including television, to teach young children. It will also house a Fred
Rogers archive and a library and research area.

Pa. high school delayed by chlorine leak

PALMYRA, Pa. (AP) - Hazardous-materials workers are cleaning up a chlorine spill at a high school in south-central Pennsylvania. Thursday's problem at Palmyra Area High School caused a two-hour delay in starting the school day until the building was declared safe. The head of Lebanon County's hazardous-materials crew says a pipe carrying chorine to the school's swimming pool burst. The pool area and weight room are off limits until the cleanup is completed.

Elizabeth Edwards cancels speech at Pittsburgh women's conference

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Elizabeth Edwards says a virus has forced her to cancel a speech at a women's conference in Pittsburgh. Edwards is the wife of former U.S. Senator and Democratic
presidential candidate John Edwards. Edwards was to speak in Pittsburgh at the Pennsylvania Governor's Conference for Women. Organizers say she is too ill to fly. So Edwards addressed the conference by telephone Thursday and says a virus, not her cancer, prompted the cancellation. At an appearance in North Carolina on Wednesday, Edwards said recent tests showed her breast and bone cancer is no worse than it was 18 months ago. Edwards' has reappeared on the public stage recently after her husband acknowledged an extramarital affair weeks ago.

ST. LOUIS (AP) - The vice presidential candidates have presented their case to the country. In last night's debate, Sarah Palin painted herself as a non-Washington politician and part of a "team of mavericks." Joe Biden said John McCain is not a maverick on the important, critical issues, and that Barack Obama is the true candidate of change.

WASHINGTON (AP) - John McCain is pulling his campaign staff and advertising out of Michigan. Polls suggest Barack Obama has a comfortable lead over McCain in the battleground state. Obama says McCain's struggle in Michigan appears to be because of his position on the economy, which he says is too similar to the policies of President Bush.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The 700 billion dollar rescue package is getting a second chance in the House today. Congressional leaders are trying to convert reluctant lawmakers who voted against the original bill on Monday. It's still unclear whether there will be enough support to pass the measure.

MAMMOTH LAKES, Calif. (AP) - Investigators say a plane that belonged to millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett slammed straight into a California mountainside. Officials are expected to conduct DNA tests on remains found near the crash site. Fossett disapeared
more than a year ago.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) - The Navy is confirming that the wreckage of a sunken vessel found last year off the Aleutians Islands is the USS Grunion, which disappeared during World War II. A Navy spokesman says he hopes the announcement will help give closure to the families of the Grunion's 70 crewmen.