Today's News-Saturday, January 10, 2009

BOSCOV'S GETS COUNTY HELP

Schuylkill County has signed on as a partner in the state's assistance package for Boscov's Department stores. Schuylkill was one of the 7 counties who were approached by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development to serve as a pass-through for funds from HUD to help Albert Boscov and Edwin Lakin take the retailer out of bankruptcy. Commissioner Chair Mantura Gallagher said the board has gone to great lengths to assure taxpayers that they will not be on the hook for the money, should Boscov default:

GALLAGHER ASSURANCE

The county's share is $5.8 million dollars in Section 108 funding. Boscov will pay interest only on the loan for two years, then pay principal and interest for the remaining 18 years. Snyder County has already said no to the program, which is why the county's share has been increased from the initial $5 million dollars.

SNOW BLANKET AREA TODAY

A winter storm warning is in effect through tomorrow morning, which could make for tricky travel through tonight into early Sunday. PennDOT's Ron Young gives us an update of road conditions:

RON YOUNG

Stay home if you don't need to go out.

REDCO Settlement coming

At Friday's rescheduled Commissioner's work session, Assistant County Solicitor Jay Jones announced that a tentative settlement has been reached with REDCO over the County's MH MR program. A sometimes contentious battle between the county and the service provider over billing for services has dragged on for several years. Now, a $400-thousand-dollar settlement is expected to be approved between the parties next week. An exhaustive audit found that REDCO was overpaid more than $400-thousand-dollars for their work. More details are expected after the deal is approved, and signed off by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Jones tells WPPA News that REDCO continues to provide a large number of services to the county, and wanted to put the issue behind both parties.

MOTORIST EXPECTS TO BE CHARGED IN RHOADES DEATH

BRODHEADSVILLE, Pa. (AP) - An auto mechanic in rural Carbon County says he wasn't at fault in a car crash that killed state Sen. James Rhoades. But Thomas Senavitis says he still expects to be sued and charged criminally because he's "a nobody" so he's "guilty no matter what." Senavitis says he was driving home from the bank when he suddenly saw the Cadillac in front of him in his lane. The seven-term Republican from Schuylkill County died the day after the Oct. 17 head-on crash in Monroe County. Since then, Senavitis and his wife have gotten letters from attorney Christopher Hobbs, the late senator's son-in-law. The letters warned them that a personal injury and wrongful death claim was being made. But no lawsuit has been filed so far. Hobbs declined to comment.

FARM SHOW PREVIEW

Its snowing, so it must be time for the PA State Farm Show. The 93rd edition opens to the public today in Harrisburg. Here's a look at what visitors can expect.

FARM SHOW PREVIEW

TWO DEAD IN COLUMBIA COUNTY HOUSE FIRE

Two people died yesterday in a fire in Wilburton. Crews were called to 440 Main Street in the village located just over the Schuylkill County line after lunchtime Friday. The News Item says that Wilburton Fire Chief Joseph Pazloski confirmed that 84 year old Minnie Brassington and her 52 year old Gloria died in the fire. The two story home was heavily damaged. Firefighters from Northumberland and Schuylkill counties helped to battle the blaze.

BAYLOR'S NO PARTY PARTY SHUT DOWN

A Hamburg area man's effort to create a new political party has been shot down by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. But he's not giving up the fight to get on the ballot for the special election in the 29th Senatorial District. In a press release, Dennis Baylor said that in spite of the state Supreme Court's ruling to deny his "No Party" Party, he plans to file another suit in Commonwealth Court to get his name on the ballot. Baylor said he was notified yesterday afternoon that the state Supreme Court denied his petition. He believes that he was turned down due to the lack of jurisdiction of that court to deal with the matter.



DEA agent shot in leg in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A federal drug agent is recovering at a hospital after being shot in the calf in Philadelphia. Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman Bryan Doherty says it
happened Friday afternoon when federal agents working with local authorities carried out a search warrant. He says a dog attacked the officers serving the warrant at a home in the Roxborough neighborhood and police fired at the dog to stop the threat. One of those bullets struck a DEA agent in the calf. Doherty says the bullet wasn't lodged in the agent's body.

Candidates line up for opening on Pa. high court

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A single opening on Pennsylvania's highest court is drawing interest from prospective candidates as the Democratic and Republican parties weigh potential endorsements for the May primary. At least four Republican judges are planning to run for the seat on the Supreme Court or seriously considering it. They are Superior Court judges Joan Orie Melvin, Cheryl Allen and Jacqueline Shogan, and Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Paul
Panepinto. One Democratic candidate has emerged so far - Superior Court Judge Jack Panella.
As for the other statewide appellate courts, there will be three openings on the Superior Court and one on the Commonwealth Court.

Erie, Pa., declares snow emergency

ERIE, Pa. (AP) - The snow is bad enough in northwestern Pennsylvania that Erie Mayor Joe Sinnott has declared a snow emergency lasting until 8 a.m. Monday. The emergency declaration began at 2 p.m. Friday. It extends parking regulations through the weekend. The mayor is also asking people to keep their cars off the streets as much as possible to make it easier for snowplows to get through.

Pa. jail escape investigated

HONESDALE, Pa. (AP) - Authorities are investigating why a door was left unsecured at a northeastern Pennsylvania jail, allowing two inmates to escape. The two were caught about an hour after walking away from the Wayne County Correctional Facility. Trooper Bill Satkowski says the investigation will look at whether the two were able to go out the door due to a mechanical problem or human error. Both inmates who left the jail Thursday afternoon were awaiting trial. One was a 23-year-old burglary suspect and the other was a 17-year-old boy charged as an adult with attempted murder.

Offer expected soon on key Flight 93 memorial plot

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A National Park Service spokesman says the agency should soon be able to make an offer on a key piece of land needed for the Flight 93 memorial in western Pennsylvania. Svonavec Inc. owns about 275 acres, including the site where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into the ground during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Park Service spokesman David Barna says the offer will be made next week. Svonavec treasurer Mike Svonavec says he was previously offered $250,000, which he rejected as unfair. The land had been mined for
coal and he says gas and oil rights alone are worth more than that. Svonavec says all he wants is a fair price. Barna said Friday that past appraisals didn't adequately consider the property's resources.

Robbers stab Pa. businessman to death in home

NORTH WALES, Pa. (AP) - Authorities in suburban Philadelphia are seeking help from the public in finding three men in the stabbing death of a businessman during a house robbery.
Montgomery County police and prosecutors say three men broke into an upscale North Wales home early Friday and killed 58-year-old Robert Chae. Chae owned a beauty supply shop in downtown Philadelphia. Authorities say the men got into the home through a garage door
when someone in Chae's family opened it to leave for work. Chae's wife and two adult children were taken to the basement, where they were bound with tape. The men fled after discovering
that Chae's wife had been able to flee through a basement door.

Fumo aide admits pocketing $63k by padding bills

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - An executive secretary to indicted former state Sen. Vincent Fumo admits she pocketed $63,000 by padding Fumo's restaurant expenses. Susan Skotnicki earned $103,000 in the state job. Her plea Friday comes during Fumo's long-running corruption trial. The 52-year-old Camp Hill woman had been listed as a potential defense witness. Federal prosecutors say Skotnicki pleaded guilty Friday to one count of mail fraud. They say she faked or inflated invoices for 100 meals at La Veranda, a waterfront restaurant in Philadelphia.
Fumo defense attorney Dennis Cogan has said Fumo was devastated by the allegations.
Skotnicki faces mandatory restitution and a possible prison term at her April 14 sentencing.

Ex-WCAU anchor DeMentri settles dispute, won't sue

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - One of several news anchor feuds to spill into the courts in Philadelphia this past year appears to be resolved. Fired WCAU-TV anchor Vince DeMentri has settled a complaint he filed against the station and former co-anchor Lori Delgado. Lawyer Paul Rosen says the station's public statement wishing DeMentri well has served to restore his client's reputation. Terms of the settlement are not being disclosed. The 44-year-old DeMentri has said he was fired over an affair with the married Delgado while she got to keep her job. She said
she was afraid of him. Fired KYW-TV anchor Larry Mendte is serving six months house
arrest for illegally hacking into the e-mails of his former co-anchor, Alycia Lane.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President-elect Barack Obama's economic team now says an economic stimulus package could create 3.5 million jobs. The original prediction was 3 million. In his weekly radio address Obama says yesterday's news on unemployment is a reminder of the need for quick and decisive action.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Labor Department says 524,000 jobs were cut in December, but that figure is likely to revised higher by the time February arrives. Statisticians at the department issue revised totals twice over a two-month span after making seasonal adjustments to give a more accurate employment picture.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Israeli forces have been pounding dozens of targets as they edge closer to Gaza City. Ground troops had been within about a mile of the city before pulling back a bit. Israel's military says it will halt its fire in Gaza for three hours to allow the territory's besieged residents to stock up.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich says he's committed no crime, and that he intends to fight his impeachment. The Senate trial is slated to start just over two weeks from now. The House voted 114-to-1 to impeach Blagojevich yesterday.

NEW YORK (AP) - For the second year in a row, New York City's most eminent Christmas tree will be turned into lumber for new homes. This year's eight-ton, 72-foot Rockefeller Center tree is destined to be used by Habitat for Humanity homes in Brooklyn.