Today's News-Thursday, March 12, 2009

LLEWELLYN FIRE RULED ARSON

Wednesday morning's fire in Branch Township was intentionally set, according to investigators. A host of firefighters battled the blaze at the former Llewellyn Hotel at 1001 Bunting Street. It broke out before 2am yesterday. State police fire marshal John Burns and Llewellyn fire officials determined that the fire was started in the rear of the building, completely destroying the structure. The property is owned by James and Doris Harman of Sacramento. The Peter Schultz home, adjoining the hotel had smoke and water damage. Two firefighters sustained minor injuries. Anyone with information concerning the blaze should contact Branch Township police or state police at Frackville, at 874-5300.

GENERAL MILLS PLANT WILL REDUCE WORKFORCE

Jobs will be lost at a bakery plant at Humboldt Industrial Park as the result of a sale of the company. The Pillsbury/General Mills plant, which employs about 160 people and makes frozen bakery dough, is being sold to Pennant Foods. About 60 people will lose their jobs because of the sale. Pillsbury/General Mills occupies about 100-thousand-square feet at Humboldt, which straddles the Luzerne/Schuylkill County line.

REPEAT OFFENDER FACES PRISON TIME

Driving without a license, many times, will land an Ashland man in prison. Thirty four year old Frank Russell the Fourth was convicted in county court yesterday of driving with a suspended license. Russell was spotted driving from the county courthouse last spring, while his driving privileges had been under suspension for 18 previous convictions. The Republican Herald reports that Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin found Russell guilty and sentenced him to 30 days in jail and a fine of $1000 dollars. Russell said that he didn't drive, that he was a victim of mistaken identity. Reports indicate that he has been cited twice since the incident for driving with a suspended license, which he won't get back until 2021.

MONEY APPROVED FOR POLYCYTHEMIA VERA STUDY

Congress approved $5.5 million dollars to study a rare blood cancer cluster in Schuylkill, Carbon and Luzerne counties. U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter made that announcement Wednesday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will get the lion's share of the funding, $5 million, to study trends and environmental risk factors in the cluster area, which is centered along Ben Titus Road in Rush Township, Schuylkill County. The rare blood disease showed up years ago in four people who live along that roadway, and last August, the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry reported 33 cases of polycythemia vera in the tri-county region. The area between McAdoo and Tamaqua, remains the epicenter of the cluster, which is near the McAdoo
Associates Superfund site.

ENERGY BUYING POOL SET

POTTSVILLE - Businesses in Schuylkill County concerned about the high costs of energy may want to take advantage of an energy buying pool being set up by the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce. They have enlisted the services of OnDemand Energy Solutions to create an aggregated buying pool. The pool will buy electricity in bulk for a fixed time period as a way to lock-in a lower price for businesses that are Schuylkill Chamber members and have chosen to participate in the pool. The Schuylkill Chamber will be joined in this effort by a number of PA Chambers and its partners. The pool will afford Schuylkill Chamber members the opportunity to buy power for a savings average of 10-15%. The concept of buying together is nothing new. Business associations have used it to purchase health insurance and other products and services for years. The sessions are scheduled for Wednesday, April 1 at the Schuylkill Chamber Conference Center, Pottsville.

AWARDS GARNERED FROM ACCESS SERVICES

ORWIGSBURG - Two Schuylkill County women received the John Fox Jr. Award from Access Services for their service at the Orwigsburg Public Library. Gwen Wehr and Sherry Bartush were given the award for their partnership with Access Services Life program for their service at the library. Access Services is a non-profit which enhances the lives of children and adults with special needs both in their homes and communities. The John Fox Jr. award is given out annually by Access Services to an individual or group that has made significant contributions to people served by Access Services.

Pa. porn-murder trial expected to go to jury

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - Jury deliberations are expected to begin Thursday in the trial of a Virginia man accused of killing a rival gay-porn producer in northeastern Pennsylvania. In his closing argument Wednesday, defense lawyer Joseph D'Andrea said 27-year-old Harlow Raymond Cuadra is too weak to have overpowered Bryan Kocis and is no more than a witness. He says Cuadra's former lover, 35-year-old Joseph Kerekes, was the only one to blame. Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Michael Melnick told the jury that he agreed that Kerekes is a murderer - he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in December. But Melnick says Cuadra played a "predominant role in this homicide." Kocis was killed in his home in rural Luzerne County on Jan. 24, 2007. Cuadra and Kerekes are both from Virginia Beach, Va.

Sexual orientation bill advances in Pa. House

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A bill that would extend anti-discrimination protections to include sexual orientation is heading to the Pennsylvania House floor after a party-line committee vote.
The State Government Committee approved the bill Wednesday. It would amend the state Human Relations Act to extend protections against bias in housing, employment, credit or public
accommodations. In addition to sexual orientation, it also would extend protections to gender identity or expression. All 12 Democrats voted for the bill, while all 11 Republicans were against it. Supporters say it has wide support among the people of Pennsylvania, while opponents worry that it will infringe on the religious beliefs of others. Similar measures have died in each of the past three legislative sessions without getting out of committee.

24 candidates vie for 6 Pa. appellate court seats

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Twenty-four people have filed petitions as candidates for six open seats on Pennsylvania's statewide appellate courts. The Democratic and Republican state committees endorsed half of those candidates earlier this year. In addition to an open seat on the state Supreme Court, there are three openings on the Superior Court and two on the
Commonwealth Court. Most of those nominations are contested and will be decided in the May primary, but some candidates are unopposed and are poised to automatically become the nominees. Those include state Superior Court Judge Jack Panella of Northampton County, the only candidate for the Democratic nomination for Supreme Court. Also unopposed are all three Republican candidates for Superior Court - Allegheny County Judge Judith Olson, Pittsburgh lawyer Templeton Smith Jr., and Tioga County lawyer Sallie Updyke Mundy.

Pa. DA seeks to keep felon off ballot

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - A district attorney in northeastern Pennsylvania plans to take legal steps to keep a businessman with a felony conviction off the ballot in May 19 primary. Bob Bolus wants to run as a Republican for mayor of Scranton. Lackawanna County District Attorney Andy Jarbola said Wednesday that he wasn't sure if he would go before the Board of Elections or
the county court to keep Bolus off the ballot. Jarbola succeeded in removing Bolus from the City Council primary ballot in 2007 based on his 1991 conviction for receiving stolen property, a third-degree felony. Bolus said he expected Jarbola's action and predicted that the result would be different this time. He declined to say why he thought he could prevail.

Philly transit workers will stay on the job

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The union representing Philadelphia's bus, subway and trolley operators will stay on the job even if there is no agreement in place when their contract expires over the weekend. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority says its largest union will continue working when the current bargaining agreement ends on Sunday morning.
Transit officials say Transport Workers Union Local 234 alerted them of the decision Wednesday. SEPTA officials say the two parties remain far apart on a deal but will continue bargaining.

11 Sunoco workers exposed to acid in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - As many as 11 workers are being treated for exposure after an acid release at a Sunoco oil refinery in South Philadelphia. The release of hydrofluoric acid occurred around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Sunoco emergency personnel were able to stop the vapor release and four hazardous materials crews were sent to the site to treat the workers who had been exposed to the vapors. Four of the eleven workers were taken to Methodist Hospital in
stable condition. Authorities are trying to determine what caused the release. Sunoco says in a statement the release was contained to the refinery and there was no impact outside of the plant. Hydrofluoric acid is a hazardous liquid and vapor which can cause severe burns.

Delinquent taxpayer confronts Philly mayor on TV

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The mayor of Philadelphia drew some special attention when he named three lawyers he said owed more than $350,000 combined in back taxes, interest and penalties.
Mayor Michael Nutter held a news conference Wednesday on the sidewalk in front of the lawyers' offices, a 2-minute walk from City Hall. He said if they don't pay by April 2 their business assets will be seized and sold by the sheriff. He seemed surprised when one of the lawyers confronted him. In front of a camera for WCAU-TV, attorney Robert Gamburg said
he was trying to work out a payment plan. He asked Nutter why he and the other two lawyers were being singled out from all the thousands of delinquent taxpayers. The mayor said to Gamburg, "Pay your taxes and everything will be fine."

Facenda son settles suit in Pa. over Madden game

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The son of legendary football announcer John Facenda has settled a lawsuit with NFL Films over the brief use of his father's voice in a show about the John Madden video game. Facenda's contract with NFL Films barred the use of his distinctive baritone - sometimes called "the Voice of God" - for product endorsements. The NFL called a cable TV show on the 2006 Madden game an artistic endeavor. But a federal appeals court last year ruled it commercial. The suit was settled last month for an undisclosed sum. Both parties say Facenda's work might still be featured in future NFL Films projects. The late broadcaster was the longtime voice of the Mt. Laurel, N.J.-based company. Plaintiff John Facenda Jr. lives in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Trademark lawsuit against Eddie Bauer dropped

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) - North-central Pennsylvania clothing manufacturer Woolrich Inc. is dropping its trademark infringement lawsuit against specialty retailer Eddie Bauer Inc. A document filed recently in federal court in Williamsport says Woolrich is dismissing "all claims asserted in the complaint" filed in January. It doesn't say why. The earlier complaint said Woolrich had been using the slogan "The Original Outdoor Clothing Company" since 1997. It said that Bellevue, Wash.-based Eddie Bauer's slogan, "The Original Outdoor Outfitter," was too similar. Woolrich said in the earlier complaint that Eddie Bauer began using its slogan in October. Woolrich was started in 1830 by English immigrant John Rich. ---

Police: Teen tried to recruit for school attack

UPPER DARBY, Pa. (AP) - An eighth-grader from suburban Philadelphia is charged with making terrorist threats after allegedly asking another student to join in an attack on his
school. Upper Darby Police superintendent Michael Chitwood says officers confiscated two unload pellet guns from the 13-year-old boy's backpack on Tuesday. He says the teen talked about taking hostages at St. Andrew's School in Drexel Hill and shooting anyone who tried
to leave. Police say they were alerted Tuesday by a mental health facility. A patient there told workers he was shown weapons and asked by the defendant to participate in the attack. Chitwood says police have interviewed other students who may have been asked to participate.
Police say the teen is being charged as a juvenile.

Villanova U. announces hiring freeze to cut costs

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) - Villanova University President Peter Donohue says cost-cutting efforts will have to take into account labor costs that make up more than half the university's annual
budget. Accordingly, Donohue says the university is instituting a hiring and wage freeze through May 2010. Wage increases already in current union contracts will be honored, and nonunion staff members who earn less than $60,000 a year will receive $1,500 in June. University officials say the school has no choice but to take cost-cutting steps since its endowment declined to $253 million as of Dec. 31, down 25 percent from the previous six-month period.

Temple U. to run $19 million public health program

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Temple University will manage a new $19 million national initiative that explores legal solutions to public health issues. The Public Health Law Research program aims to identify which laws best address issues including chronic diseases and emergencies
such as floods, bioterrorism and epidemics. Funding comes from the New Jersey-based Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It announced Wednesday that Temple law professor Scott Burris will direct the program based in Philadelphia. Burris says laws can be used to improve public health, noting legislation that has banned smoking, mandated immunizations and required the use of seat belts. But he says laws can also endanger health. The first call for proposals under the program will be announced this spring.

Senate approves $5.475M for Flight 93 memorial

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. Senate has approved $5.475 million for the Flight 93 National Memorial as part of appropriations for the Department of Transportation. The money will be used for the visitors center, road construction and other infrastructure at the site where the plane crashed near Shanksville in rural southwestern Pennsylvania. The Senate approved the funding Tuesday. The Families of Flight 93 welcomed the news, saying great strides are being made so that the memorial will be ready for the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The cost of the memorial is estimated at $58 million and more than 80 percent of the needed land has been secured.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner goes before the Senate Budget Committee today to defend Obama administration tax and bank rescue policies. Lawmakers from both parties have panned a plan to restrict tax deductions for upper-income taxpayers.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Tensions from a weekend naval confrontation will be one topic today when President Barack Obama meets China's top diplomat. Obama also wants to talk about the global financial crisis.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - There's now a time frame for next month's North Korean rocket launch that Pyongyang says will boost a satellite into space. South Korea says international maritime officials have been told the launch will come between April 4-8. Neighboring governments suspect it's a missile test.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The agency charged with protecting the public near toxic pollution sites is under fire for the way it does its job. Congressional investigators say potential health hazards are often overlooked. The head of the agency goes before a House panel today.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - A report by researchers at Johns Hopkins University finds the nation's high school graduation rate is flat, at about 75 percent, but with some bright spots. Tennessee is among a dozen states that substantially improved their rates.