Today's News-Thursday, May 15, 2009

UNEMPLOYMENT RISES AGAIN
The number of unemployed people in Schuylkill County rose again in March. The Department of Labor and Industry is reporting that nearly 8-thousand county workers were on the unemployment rolls, a four tenths of one percent increase compared to February. The 9-point-8 percent level is two full percentage points higher than Pennsylvania's. Nationally, 8-point-5 percent of workers are off the job through the end of the first quarter.

EMPLOYEE MAKES TERRORISTIC THREATS
An Orwigsburg man is jailed after he allegedly made terroristic threats against a co worker. State police at Schuylkill Haven say on Tuesday afternoon, an employee of Keystoker Incorporated, North Manheim Township, shot a projectile with an air hose at 47 year old Daryl Potts of Orwigsburg, striking him in the leg. Potts went to his vehicle to get a firearm and fired two shots into a wall before leaving the building. Troopers say the shots were not fired directly at anyone, and no one was hurt. Potts was taken into custody on terroristic threats charges and was arraigned. Bail was set at $25-thousand-dollars, ten percent. He remains in Schuylkill County Prison. The investigation continues.

COUNTERFEIT MONEY PASSED
Pottsville police are looking for the individuals who passed counterfeit $100 dollar bills at a retail establishment. Authorities say that bills were used on two separate occasions earlier this month. They have no suspects at this time. Businesses are reminded to carefully examine all currency when received, and report any suspicious activity to Pottsville PD at once.

WILLIAM PENN FIRE RULED ACCIDENTAL
Fire officials now say a Tuesday fire in William Penn was accidental. The Pancerella home was damaged by the smoky fire. Investigators say an electrical outlet was the cause. No one was injured, but a dog succumbed in the fire.

Y CELEBRATES NEW FACILITY
After more than a year of planning and hard work, the Schuylkill YW/YMCA held its grand reopening last night, with nearly 200 in attendance. The former National Guard Armory on North Centre Street has undergone a massive transformation, with state of the art exercise facility, teen center and many other amenities. Funding came from a grant through the late Senator Jim Rhoades, and the center was renamed in Rhoades honor last night. The two Y organizations have partnered to expand their offerings to the public from both locations in Pottsville.

HAVEN CYCLE FEST
Motorcycle enthusiasts and the entire community will gather Saturday at Bubeck Park in Schuylkill Haven in the first annual Haven Cycle Fest at Bubeck Park. The event will benefit the non profit Schuylkill Haven Police Officers Association, as explained by Chief Jeff Walcott.

WALCOTT

There will be a cycle display and cruise, food and fun for the entire family. The Haven PD is involved in numerous community activities, including the NFL Flag Football program. In its third year, more than 170 boys and girls from Schuylkill Haven and surrounding towns are registered for the season. Fundraisers like the CycleFest will also help the Island Revitalization Project. The event begins at 10am....

CYCLE FEST TWO
Schuylkill Haven's police department is hosting a first of its kind event in the borough Saturday....Haven Cycle Fest. The officers of the department formed a non profit organization to raise funds for community projects. Chief Jeff Walcott says the idea for Cycle Fest came about as a result of the borough's motorcycle patrol that was instituted last year, aiding in their protection efforts. Walcott said that the non profit will help expand the NFL Flag Football program for kids and other endeavors:

WALCOTT 2

The Haven Cycle Fest gets underway at 10am Saturday at Bubeck Park. Come one, come all.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Governor Ed Rendell says a budget impass could lead to tens of thousands of state employees working without pay. That's if a budget impasse occurs. A recent court decision ordered the state to either furlough all employees after the fiscal year expires June 30, or keep them working without pay during an impasse.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Pittsburgh City Council has voted unanimously to appropriate more than $85,000 so the Bureau of Police can buy military-style automatic rifles and other equipment. This comes in response to the April 4th slayings of three police officers with an assault rifle. A final vote is expected next week.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - A former police detective in northeastern Pennsylvania who was fired after being arrested for theft has new legal problems: He is accused of impersonating an
officer. Former Kingston police detective Daniel Griffin says the charges against him have no merit.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pittsburgh police have arrested a man whom they say used a rifle to rob a well-known restaurant in the city. Police say the man demanded cash from workers at the Primanti Brothers restaurant on the city's South Side about 1:30 a.m. yesterday. A 22-year-old Pittsburgh man was arrested later that evening.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The oldest son of Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid is back in prison. Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman says 26-year-old Garrett Reid failed a drug test yesterday. That's violates his parole. Reid was serving time at a Philadelphia halfway house.

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - President Barack Obama has made his first commencement address as president at Arizona State University. He acknowledges that the Class of 2009 is heading out into difficult economic times. But he tells them that "moments like these" force people to try harder and "to discover gifts we never knew we had."

WASHINGTON (AP) - A bill to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through September comes up for a House vote today. The measure is nearly $12 billion more than the administration asked for -- and would push the cost of the two wars to almost $1 trillion.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration is expanding its mortgage aid program to include homeowners who don't qualify for certain types of assistance. The measures would include ways to help borrowers avoid foreclosure by selling their properties or giving them back to lenders. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner releases more details this morning.

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. (AP) - Violent storms that spawned at least one tornado have been raking northeastern Missouri. At least one person was killed there and several buildings were damaged. A strong round of storms also rolled through Illinois. And authorities in northeast Oklahoma say severe weather downed trees and power lines, as winds gusted as high as 100 mph.

CAPE CANAVERAL (AP) - Astronauts aboard the shuttle Atlantis are gearing up for this morning's space walk, the first of five aimed at upgrading the Hubble Space Telescope. They'll replace the telescope's 15-year-old camera with one that sees even deeper into the space. The new camera is about the size of a baby grand piano.