Today's News - Saturday, OCtober 25, 2008

Thousands pay respects to Senator Rhoades

A throng of mourners paid their respects to the late Senator James Rhoades at a viewing held at Mahanoy Area High School Friday night. Lines began to form at the school well before the scheduled opening at 4pm, and continued through the evening. The Mahanoy City native and 7 term senator died from injuries suffered in a crash near Broadheadsville in Monroe County last Friday night. His wife, Mary Edith, was also hospitalized, but released earlier this week.

Today, at 11am, Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Harrisburg Diocese will officiate at the mass, also at the school. Governor Ed Rendell and other dignitaries are expected to be in attendance.

WITH ONE WEEK TO GO UNTIL ELECTION DAY THE McCAIN CAMPAIGN IS SLATED TO MAKE A HISTORIC STOP RIGHT HERE IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY...

IT WILL TAKE PLACE AT MARTZ HALL IN POTTSVILLE. DOORS WILL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT FOUR O'CLOCK. REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE - JOHN McCAIN - IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE THE STAGE SOME TIME AFTER SIX. THIS "ROAD TO VICTORY" RALLY COMES ONE DAY SHY OF THE 48TH ANNIVERSARY OF WHEN SENATOR JOHN F- KENNEDY MADE HIS HISTORICAL SPEECH IN GARFIELD SQUARE. WPPA NEWS WILL PROVIDE LIVE REPORTS FROM THE RALLY.

King Frost Parade postponed until November 1st.

The threat of heavy rains across eastern Pennsylvania has forced the postponement of the King Frost Parade in Hamburg tonight. The parade is expected to step off at 7pm on Saturday, November 1st.

Pottsville Haunted Trail goes on rain or shine

Pottsville Recreation Commission’s Haunted Trail will be held rain or shine this weekend. While the haunted hayride was sold out on both nights, walk ins will be accepted when space is available. Music, games and refreshments will be served to welcome in the Halloween season.

Make A Difference Day In Schuylkill County

Today is Make A Difference Day across the nation and locally over 100 projects have been registered through Community Volunteers in Action. According to Janice Johnston, Coordinator for CVIA, many projects are going on. One is in Gilberton where a local resident is organizing the revitalizing the local playground for the youth in the area. Mrs. T's Pierogies staff is taking part in the National Day of Giving by preparing breakfast for the residents in the Shenandoah Hi Rise this morning as well. If your community minded spirit is moved today and you have not registered your project please give Johnston a call at 628-1426 and thanks for making a difference.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The deadline is Tuesday for Pennsylvanians who want permission to vote in the Nov. 4 election by absentee ballot. Voters who want absentee ballots have to get their applications in to county elections officials by the end of the business day Tuesday.
Absentee ballots are allowed for military and overseas citizens, out-of-town college students, people traveling for work and those whose are too sick or disabled to get to their polling place. In most cases, absentee ballots have to be in by Oct. 31. But ballots for military and overseas voters have to be postmarked by Nov. 3 and they have to be received by Nov. 12. No one can collect or submit an absentee ballot for someone else unless the voter is disabled.

READING, Pa. (AP) - The Reading School District is halting its planned purchase of a Hershey candy factory slated for closure after the discovery of asbestos and benzene there. The Reading school board voted unanimously this week to invoke an opt-out clause in the $3.85 million sale agreement with The Hershey Co. The district wanted to build three elementary schools on the
9-acre site. The district hopes to build seven new schools in the next three years.
Superintendent Thomas Chapman Jr. says the district still plans to build smaller, safer schools, but wouldn't say if he's looking at another location. He says the district might reconsider the site if Hershey cleans it up. Hershey plans to close the factory early next year.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Sports and music fans are in for lots of entertainment this weekend in Philadelphia. But it's all taking place about the same time in the same area, and that's going to mean big traffic problems around the South Philadelphia sports complex. The Flyers host the New Jersey Devils at 4 p.m. Saturday. At 8 p.m., the Phillies entertain the Tampa Bay Rays for Game 3 of the World Series. Also at 8 p.m., the Celtic Thunder Show begins at the Wachovia Spectrum. Things don't get any better for motorists on Sunday. The Philadelphia Eagles host the Atlanta Falcons in NFL action at 1 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., The Who in Concert gets under way at the Wachovia Center. And at 8 p.m., it's Game 4 between the Phillies and Rays at Citizens Bank Park. Best bet for getting there: take public transportation.

NEW YORK (AP) - Fears of a global recession have stocks in a tail-spin. Benchmark indexes in Asia and Europe have fallen by 9 or 10 percent, while prices on Wall Street have been down from the opening bell. The Dow is off its lows for the day, after falling 500 points at the opening bell.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The National Association of Realtors is reporting some positive housing news. It says sales of existing home rose 5.5 percent last month. That's the best showing in more than five years. Still, the median sales price continues to fall. It's just over $191,000 dollars, down about 9 percent from a year ago.

CORAOPOLIS, Pa. (AP) - Sarah Palin says families with special-needs children will have a friend in the White House if the Republican ticket is elected. Campaigning in Pennsylvania, Palin
outlined plans that would increase federal educational funding for families and help them get up-to-date treatment information. Palin's six-month old son Trig was born with Down syndrome.

ATLANTA (AP) - There are reports of problems with early voting in at least two states. Election officials in Tennessee say some voters were given ballots for the wrong state House district, while in Georgia the oval on ballots in Gwinnet country are too thick for the optical scanning machines.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Florida Congressman Tim Mahoney has canceled a planned debate today, because organizers wouldn't ban TV cameras. The first-term Democrat is embroiled in an adultery scandal. His campaign says it feared a circus-like atmosphere if
cameras were allowed.