Today's News-Monday, April 13, 2009

NEW PHILLY WOMAN CRASHES EARLY SUNDAY

A New Philadelphia woman escaped injury in a one vehicle crash early Sunday in West Brunswick Township. 43 year old Anne Coleman was northbound in the passing lane on Route 61 when she lost control while crossing into the right hand lane. Her vehicle spun 180 degrees in a clockwise direction, went up an embankment and crashed into a telephone pole. The incident happened at 3am yesterday morning.

PINE GROVE MAN CRASHES, WAS DRIVING DRUNK

A Pine Grove man is charged with DUI and other counts following a crash Sunday morning in Washington Township. Schuylkill Haven state police say that 20 year old William Snyder was attempting to negotiate a right hand curve on Dad Burnham’s Road, State Route 3009. His pickup hit 6 guiderail posts and ended up on the lawn of a home along the roadway. Troopers determined that Snyder was driving under the influence and was taken to the hospital for a blood alcohol test. Charges will be filed against Snyder in District Court.

CATTLE STOLEN

State police are investigating the theft of cattle from an Eldred Township farm. Last week, someone entered James Hepler's barn on Helfenstein Road and stole two young dairy heifers. The animals were valued at $500 dollars each. The investigation is continuing.

DOMESTIC DISPUTE RESULTS IN ARREST

Port Carbon police have made an arrest in connection with a domestic dispute in the borough early Sunday. Officers were called to Pine Street, Port Carbon, where 33 year old Clint Bolkovich, was taken into custody for domestic violence against his wife, Kelly Bolkovich. Bolkovich was charged with Simple Assault and Harassment, and video arraigned before MDJ James Ferrier, Orwigsburg. Bolkovich was committed to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $5,000.00 straight cash bail. A preliminary hearing will be held before District Judge David Plachko, Port Carbon, at a later date.

APRIL IS NATIONAL MINORITY HEALTH MONTH

April is National Minority Health Month and a Pennsylvania group that puts healthcare as priority-one says the state’s minority is getting hit hardest by what it calls a healthcare system that doesn’t work. Tom Joseph reports:

JOSEPH

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - One of five Philadelphia teenagers charged in the death of a 36-year-old man on a Philadelphia subway platform is scheduled to go on trial. Trial is set Monday for 17-year-old Kinta Stanton, the only suspect scheduled for trial as a juvenile in the March 2008 assault.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Organizers say estimated attendance for this summer's National Conference of State Legislatures being hosted by Pennsylvania is down from an initial 7,000 to 5,000 as states pinch pennies during the recession. The five-day July event is still expected to be an economic boost for Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A spokesman says Gov. Ed Rendell still may consider cutting off Philadelphia's share of tax relief from casino revenues until its own casinos are operating. Rendell weeks ago cited frustration over stalled Philadelphia casino projects. He suggested he would consider signing such legislation if it were presented to him.

YORK, Pa. (AP) - Despite some signs of a rebound in the housing market, new figures show sales still sliding in parts of southeastern Pennsylvania. The latest figures from the Realtors Association of York and Adams County show home sales in the first three months of 2009 are down 23 percent from the same period in 2008.

UNDATED (AP) - Navy officials say Navy snipers used just three shots to down the three pirates holding an American ship captain hostage. The daring nighttime assault ended a five-day standoff. A friend of freed hostage Richard Phillips says it's a huge relief to know he's been rescued safely.

JERUSALEM (AP) - Authorities in Israel are reporting an explosion aboard an unmanned Palestinian fishing boat off Gaza. They say the craft had hundreds of pounds of explosives aboard. They suspect it was trying to attack a naval patrol in the area. No one was hurt.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Authorities are investigating a fatal boat crash in Florida that left five people dead and others injured. They want to know why a power boat packed with 12 people slammed into a tug boat docked on the Intracoastal Waterway near Jacksonville.

BAGHDAD (AP) - The U.S. military says an American soldier has been killed in a explosion south of Baghdad. The statement says the soldier died after an armor-piercing bomb attack near the Shiite holy city of Karbala.

NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks have opened moderately lower on Wall Street. Investors are gearing up for earnings season and awaiting new economic data that may give more details on the struggling economy.

DUNCANSVILLE, Pa. (AP) - Police in western Pennsylvania say a man faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and recklessly endangering another person in the shooting death of a relative during a family argument. Twenty-two-year-old Brandon Ott was taken to Blair County Prison following arraignment in the death of half-brother John Purcell III as they scuffled over a pistol.