Today's News-Saturday, November 15, 2008

Giving makes you feel so good…United Way at work

The Schuylkill United Way campaign wrapped up their campaign Friday successfully, in spite of these economic times. The goal was $1.05 million dollars, but hard work by all of the volunteers netted $1.02 million dollars in pledges, eclipsing the million dollar mark for the second year in a row. General campaign chair Jeanne Boyer Porter said that she and her team never gave up hope.

PORTER

The Schuylkill United Way tally went over $1 million dollars thanks in part to a bequest from the Stanley Ptaszkowski Chartiable Trust, who kicked in $20-thousand-dollars. Bonnie Meck of Fessler USA was the winner of this year's grand prize, a 2009 Chevy Cobalt from the Rinaldi Family Dealerships. In the Tamaqua campaign, workers realized 99 percent of their $138 thousand dollar target. Next year's General Campaign Chair is Michael Tobash, of Tobash Insurance.

Winners of the grand prizes:

2009 Chevy Cobalt from the Rinaldi Family Dealerships-Bonnie Meck, Fessler USA

Boyer’s Food Markets- $2500 gift certificate- Joe Rapali, J Bertolet VW
Boyer’s Food Markets-$1500 gift certificate-Remo Piccioni, Shalmet

Walmart Distribution-$2000 gift certicate-Ronald Mallicone, Boy Scouts of America

Lowe’s Distribution-$1600 home improvement package-Larry Flick, Hexcel

AAA Travel Vacation Package-$1600-Ed Frank, Schoeneman Corporation

Big Lots Gift Certificate-$1000 gift certificate-Alex Kalinich, Wegman’s

Hadesty’s-$500 Weber Gas Grill-Pat McFadden, Wegman’s

M&S Tru Value-$500 Gravely Lawn Mower-John Polcino, St Jude Polymer

Geiger bail set

The Schuylkill County courts have set bail for a Pottsville man accused in a 23 year old murder case, but he doesn’t have the money to pay it. Joseph Geiger appeared before Judge Charles Miller Friday. Miller set bail at $50-thousand-dollars. Being unable to post the bond, he returned to Schuylkill County prison. The Republican Herald reports Miller also continued the case to March of next year instead of its scheduled date next month at the request of his public defender. Geiger was charged with killing 13-year old David Reed of Schuylkill Haven in August 1985.

Ag Secretary says eggs are safe

Pies, cakes, stuffing…all festive dishes of the holiday season. And, if you are worried that the eggs you use in your dishes are safe, don’t worry. If you buy Pennsylvania grown eggs, you are buying the best. So says Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff. He states that Pennsylvania eggs certified under a voluntary best production practices program meet some of the world’s highest safety standards. Under the Pennsylvania Egg Quality Assurance Program, producers implement management and monitoring practices most likely to prevent Salmonella and other contamination. Many PEQAP egg producers are enrolled in the PA Preferred program, which showcases the best products Pennsylvania has to offer by branding high quality foods that are grown or processed in the state. Wolff reminded consumers to practice proper food safety handling practices when using eggs, including keeping eggs and food containing eggs refrigerated, never eating raw or undercooked eggs, and sanitizing hands when preparing eggs. Pennsylvania ranks fourth nationally in egg production with 6.4 billion eggs produced annually.

Argall urges PennDOT cost cutting bill be signed by Rendell

Pennsylvania's roads and bridges are among the worst in the nation. Money is desperately needed to fix them. A bill passed by the state House earlier this week to cut $59 million dollars in costs over the next three years. And one Schuylkill County legislator is calling on Governor Ed Rendell to sign it. Representative Dave Argall says that the cost cutting measures could move some of that money into infrastructure improvements. Savings could be realized by eliminating the need to have PA drivers change their license plates every 10 years. They would only have to be replaced if they become illegible, and would be replaced for free. "Every dollar saved through this policy change is another dollar that can be used to fix a road or bridge in a community somewhere in Pennsylvania," Argall said. Having already been approved by the Senate, the bill now requires only the governor's signature to become law.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A new wildfire in northern Los Angeles has forced hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes. Fierce wind gusts are making things worse there, as well as in Santa Barbara, where a separate fire has torn through more than 1,800 acres and more than 100 homes.

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan's top finance official says the International Monetary Fund has agreed "in principle" to lend it $7.6 billion to avert an economic crisis. Pakistan needs the
money to avoid a run on its currency and a default on its international debt.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President George W. Bush is preparing to address world leaders at an economic summit in Washington. During negotiations, Bush has argued against anything that involves as much government intervention as some European leaders are pushing for.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats say President-elect Barack Obama is considering a pair of one-time rivals for the job of secretary of state. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bill Richardson are among the names said to be on the list. Monday Obama will meet with John McCain, though likely not about any job.

NEW DELHI (AP) - A spacecraft has planted an Indian flag on the moon. A probe crash landed on the moon's south pole yesterday after taking pictures and gathering other data needed for future missions.