Today's News- Monday, October 13, 2008

Domestic dispute, shots fired

A Port Carbon man is in jail following a domestic dispute in the borough Saturday night. Port Carbon police say that 25-year-old Kyle Smerlick and his girlfriend, Cassandra Wade were involved in a domestic dispute at 305 Coal Street. Reports indicate that Smerlick fired a round from a 9 mm pistol into the floor of the home, then went outside and assaulted a neighbor, Daniel Pohronezny. Smerlick was charged with three counts of simple assault, reckless endangerment and other charges. Following arraignment, he was taken to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of 10 percent, 25 thousand dollars bail. Port Carbon police were assisted by St. Clair and Cass Foster Township officers.

Car hits stone wall, man avoids injury

An Auburn man escaped injury following a crash early Sunday morning near Lake Wynonah. 31 year old Mark Lausch attempted to enter the development from Route 183 and misjudged the trun. The vehicle hit a stone wall. Lausch's car had to be towed from the scene.

Another home robbed of copper pipes

Frackville state police are investigating a break in and theft of copper pipes from a Ryan Township home. Sometime between September 1st and Saturday, someone entered the home at 51 Church Street, owned by Deborah Neary of Sharon Hill, and took the pipes from the oil burner and water heater in the basement. Troopers are looking for leads in the case.

Draka Cableteq earns award

A local manufacturer has earned an award from one of its business partners for being an excellent vendor. Draka Cableteq, with a plant in Schuylkill Haven, was named highest achieving vendor from Reinke Manufacturing for the second year in a row. Draka, the former Tamaqua Cable, and a sister plant in Taunton, Massachusetts, makes specialty high performance cables. Draka was chosen over 260 vendors used by Reinke. The company is owned by Draka Holding NV in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Nationally known author to speak in county on bullying today

The author of a New York Times best seller is her in Schuylkill County talking to professionals and young girls about a complex issue that has plagued the 21st century. WPPA reporter Kerry Dowd has more:
DOWD

Report: Banco Santander in Sovereign Bancorp talks

NEW YORK (AP) - The Wall Street Journal reports that Spanish bank Banco Santander SA is in "advanced talks" to acquire Philadelphia-based thrift Sovereign Bancorp Inc.. Representatives of both companies declined comment. The paper, citing people familiar with the matter, says the two banks hope to have a deal in place by Monday. The paper says Santander is expected to pay roughly Sovereign's New York Stock Exchange Friday closing stock price of $3.81 a share, which would value Sovereign at about $2.53 billion. Santander owns a 25 percent stake in Sovereign. Speculation has mounted that the Spanish bank would seek to protect its investment by orchestrating a takeover of the U.S. company. In late September, Sovereign named former Chittenden Corp. chief executive Paul A. Perrault to replace Joseph P. Campanelli as CEO, effective Jan. 3. He took over for predecessor Jay Sidhu in 2006, who negotiated Santander's stake in the company. Sovereign Bancorp is the parent company of Sovereign Bank, which has 750 branches in the Northeast, including here in Schuylkill County.

Biden accuses McCain campaign of launching 'unbecoming personal attacks' at Obama

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden is accusing the McCain campaign of trying to distract Americans from their economic woes by launching "unbecoming personal attacks" at Barack Obama. Biden spoke Sunday at a boisterous rally near his childhood home of Scranton. He says John McCain's campaign is desperate to change the subject from the financial crisis that has wiped out many Americans' college and retirement savings. The Delaware senator was joined on stage by former President Clinton and Sen. Hillary Clinton. The former Democratic presidential candidate has her own roots in Scranton, where her father grew up and is buried. The battered economy may be helping Obama in Pennsylvania, where he has surged ahead in polls over the past few weeks. A daily tracking poll conducted by Muhlenberg College has shown Obama with a double-digit lead over McCain since Oct. 3.

Rematches provide voters in 11 House districts a deja vu experience

NEW BRIGHTON, Pa. (AP) - When it comes to choosing who represents them in Congress, many voters are experiencing deja vu. At least a dozen congressional races - in Pennsylvania and nine other states - are rematches. Melissa Hart once represented a western Pennsylvania district in steel country. She is one of four former Republican House members seeking to win back a seat lost in 2006, when Democrats gained control of the House. On the Democratic side, six challengers who lost to the now-Republican incumbent two years ago are giving it another try. The Republican challengers in rematches hope 2006 was an anomaly and that voters now have buyer's remorse. The Democratic challengers, in turn, view it as a more f avorable year for them because of discontent with the Bush administration and unhappiness with the economy. Hart was the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Pennsylvania. She blames her loss to Democrat Jason Altmire on voters' unhappiness with the Iraq war, scandals on Capitol Hill and an unpopular incumbent GOP senator at the top of the ticket. With more stability in Iraq, Hart says the climate has changed dramatically. Also in Pennsylvania, Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta is challenging Democratic Rep. Paul Kanjorski a second time. Kanjorski beat Barletta in 2002.

HONG KONG (AP) - World stock markets have rebounded strongly after last week's historic sell-off. Governments from Europe to Australia and the U.S. have intensified efforts to stabilize the world's financial system. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was up almost 10 percent. Britain, Germany and France saw gains in early trading.

TOKYO (AP) - Five central banks, including the Federal Reserve, are announcing new plans they hope will help the financial sector. The measures are aimed at thawing out frozen credit markets and bolstering funding to banks.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A recent Associated Press-GfK Poll shows independent voters leaning slightly toward Barack Obama, by a 44-to-41 percent margin. That's bad news for John McCain, since Democrats decisively outnumber Republicans in terms of voter registration this year.

BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraq's prime minister says the 4,100 British troops stationed in southern Iraq are no longer necessary to provide security. Nouri al-Maliki tells The Times of London a few
British troops may be needed for training and technical issues. The British are planning a major withdrawal by early next year.