Today's News - Saturday, November 29, 2008

A 2-year-old boy has died as the result of smoke inhalation in a Thanksgiving morning house fire in Schuylkill County. The Schuylkill County coroner's office says Reese Sarno was sleeping in an upstairs bedroom when fire broke out in the Port Carbon home at about 7:45 a.m. His mother two other children and two men escaped the blaze unharmed. Port Carbon Fire Chief, Michael Welsh says family members and firefighters tried to reach the toddler, but heavy flames forced them back. The fire has been officially ruled an accident due to an overheated stove pipe from a wood burning stove inside the home and caused about $50-thousand dollars in damages.

The Schuylkill County Commissioners gave their approval Wednesday for the County to participate in an Earth Day E-Sweep event. The program will allow the County to recycle all surplus electronic waste at a cost of only $495.00. On Earth Day, April 22^nd, 2009, Air Cycle Corporation will come to the County's designated storage location and package-up the county’s scrap electronics and take it to an EPA approved recycler.

The Commissioners also approved an agreement with Garland Communications Systems Pottsville for the installation of four security cameras on the courthouse property at a cost of $6,593.00.

The Schuylkill County Drug and Alcohol Executive Commission received approval to enter into a lease agreement with St. John the Baptist Church, Pottsville. The purpose of the lease is for a residential placement of drug and alcohol clients. The Commission's lease is for a term of five years at a cost of $2-Thousand-Dollars per month.

Bids were opened for cleaning services at the Courthouse and the 9-1-1 Communication Center building. Avenues of Pottsville submitted the lone bid of $94,628 for cleaning the Courthouse and TKO Cleaning Services of Pottsville was lone bidder for the 9-1-1 Center. They submitted a bid of $25,000 for a one year contract and $50,000 for a two year contract.

Five weeks after the death of state Sen. James J. Rhoades, there is still no projected date for a final report on the cause of the fatal Oct. 17 crash, the investigating officer said Friday. According to the Republican and Herald, Trooper Jason Beers of the state police station at Fern Ridge said the final report is waiting for a completed diagram from a crash reconstructionist, as well as the results of blood alcohol tests on both Rhoades and the other driver, Thomas Senavitis, 45, of Kunkletown. The investigation is still ongoing. Rhoades was re-elected in the Nov. 4^th General Election and his seat is expected to be announced vacant sometime this week, Schuylkill County GOP Chairman Bob Ames said. Those who have announced they are seeking the Republican candidacy are state Rep. David Argall, R-124; attorney Chris Hobbs, Rhoades' son-in-law; and attorney Gretchen Sterns. No Democrats have officially announced intentions to run and according to the Schuylkill County Democrats no one will be announced until the Republican Party officially announce their candidate.

A Pottsville man is headed to state prison after pleading guilty Friday in Schuylkill County Court to possessing cocaine and a stolen automobile. According to the Republican and Herald, Joel Bonilla-Rosado, 40, did not react as Judge John E. Domalakes accepted his guilty plea and sentenced him to spend three to six years in a state correctional institution. Domalakes also sentenced Bonilla-Rosado, who pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and receiving stolen property, to pay costs, $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem, $15,533.94 to Erie Insurance Co., $100 to the owner of the car and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, and to forfeit $444 he had in his possession when arrested. Pottsville police alleged Bonilla-Rosado had the cocaine and the stolen car, a 2005 Honda Civic, on May 17 in the city.

BERWICK, Pa. (AP) - A 23-year-old northeastern Pennsylvania woman is accused of leaving her newborn daughter outside in 17-degree weather as part of an attempt to conceal her pregnancy. Jennifer Lynn Killian told Berwick police she hid her pregnancy by wearing baggy clothes before giving birth Nov. 22 in a bathroom of her parents' home. Killian told police she planned to take the baby to a nearby hospital to give her up, but changed her plans because her parents were on the porch and would see her leave with the baby. She told police she put her infant outside through the bathroom window and was going to pick her up outside, but her father found the baby first. The father, Charles Drasher, called police.

MUMBAI, India (AP) - Authorities in India say only 10 gunmen took part in a series of terrorist attacks across Mumbai. They say Indian forces killed nine and the tenth is in custody. At least 195 people died in the nearly three-day-long rampage.

BAGHDAD (AP) - U.N. and military officials in Iraq are reporting a rocket attack targeting Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone. At least two people were killed and 15 wounded in the strike near the U.N. compound.

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - Saudi Arabia's oil minister isn't ruling out an OPEC production cut as the price of oil tumbles. But he says he doesn't expect an announcement at the cartel's emergency meeting, which is being held in Cairo today.

NEW YORK (AP) - A surveillance video could hold clues to which shoppers trampled a Wal-Mart worker to death yesterday. Authorities say they may consider criminal charges in the incident. At least four other people, including a pregnant woman, reported being hurt as a frenzied crowd burst into the store.

HOUSTON (AP) - Endeavour's seven-member crew is awaiting an OK from NASA managers that will clear the shuttle to return to Earth tomorrow. Analysts are making sure the heat shield is undamaged and ready for re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.