Today's News-Friday, June 26, 2009

EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS NAMED IN N. SCH CASE

AFTER REMOVING EIGHT OF THE NORTH SCHUYLKILL SCHOOL BOARD'S NINE MEMBERS, A JUDGE APPOINTED FOUR NEW MEMBERS HOURS BEFORE LAST NIGHT’S BOARD MEETING. NEWLY APPOINTED MEMBER ROBIN HETHERINGTON WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT. THE ONLY BOARD MEMBER NOT REMOVED BY COURT ORDER
ON TUESDAY, 23-YEAR-OLD ROBERT ORTH, IS NOW VICE PRESIDENT. THE BOARD HAD PLANNED TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AT THURSDAY'S MEETING, BUT THAT WAS DELAYED UNTIL NEXT WEEK. IN ADDITION TO HETHERINGTON, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY JUDGE D. MICHAEL STINE APPOINTED GRACE GLOWACKI, DEBRA HAMPTON AND KELLY MORAN TO THE BOARD BEFORE THURSDAY'S MEETING.

EXCAVATOR FALLS THROUGH BRIDGE

A BRIDGE REPAIR PROJECT IN PORT CARBON IS SHUT DOWN UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE AFTER A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT FELL THROUGH A PART OF THE SIDEWALK. PENN DOT CONTRACTORS ARE SHORING UP THE BRIDGE THAT CROSSES MILL CREEK ON POTTSVILLE STREET. THE EXCAVATOR HAD TO BE REMOVED BY CRANE LAST NIGHT AND A SIZEABLE HOLE REMAINS IN THE BRIDGE DECK. AUTHORITIES EXPECT TO INSPECT THE BRIDGE TODAY. NO ONE WAS HURT.

MINERSVILLE MAN HURT IN BERKS CRASH

A MINERSVILLE MAN WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN BERKS COUNTY THURSDAY. HAMBURG STATE POLICE REPORT 21 YEAR OLD ANTHONY CURTIER WAS NORTHBOUND ON ROUTE 61 IN PERRY TOWNSHIP, AND REAR ENDED A CAR OPERATED BY 46 YEAR OLD JANNINE SHAPIRO OF READING, WHICH WAS WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. CURTIER HAD MINOR INJURIES BUT REFUSED MEDICAL TREATMENT. SHAPIRO WAS TAKEN TO THE READING HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. CURTIER WILL BE CITED FOR DRIVING TOO FAST.

FIGHT IN SCHUYLKILL TOWNSHIP

A FIGHT BETWEEN TWO MEN LANDS CHARGES AGAINST ONE OF THEM. FRACKVILLE STATE POLICE HAVE JUST RELEASED DETAILS OF LAST WEEKEND'S ARGUMENT THAT CAME TO BLOWS BETWEEN CHRISTIAN SHILKO OF TAMAQUA AND SCOTT MACKELVEY OF BARNESVILLE. APPARENTLY, MACKELVEY WAS DRUNK AND REFUSING TO LEAVE. SHILKO, A PASSENGER IN THE CAR, TRIED TO GET HIM TO LEAVE, THEN GRABBED MACKELVEY AND STRUCK HIM SEVERAL TIMES, BREAKING HIS NOSE AND CAUSING OTHER INJURIES. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON WALNUT STREET, TUSCARORA.

BIG GRANT BUCKS AVAILABLE TO FIREFIGHTERS

ONE AREA LAWMAKER IS REMINDING FIREFIGHTERS THAT A BIG CHUNK OF CHANGE IS AVAILABLE FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR FIRE STATIONS. STATE REPRESENTATIVE NEAL GOODMAN SAYS THAT $210 MILLION DOLLARS IN STIMULUS MONIES ARE UP FOR GRABS TO BUILD NEW OR RENOVATE FIRE STATIONS. UNDER THE PROGRAM, EACH VOLUNTEER COMPANY CAN RECEIVE A MAXIMUM OF $15 MILLION DOLLARS, WITH NO LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS UNDER THE APPLICATION. PROJECTS THAT ARE READY TO BEGIN SOON AFTER RECEIVING THE GRANT AND THOSE IN AREAS WITH HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT WILL BE GIVEN PRIORITY. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS JULY 10, 2009. THOSE APPS ARE AVAILABLE ON LINE AT WWW-DOT-USFA-DOT-FEMA-DOT-GOV.

CAMPOUT IN THE BACKYARD

WILDLIFE OFFICIALS ARE ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO GET OUTDOORS THIS WEEKEND WITH THE GREAT AMERICAN BACKYARD CAMPOUT BEING HELD SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH. DAVID MIZEJEWSKI OF THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION EXPLAINS WHAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE IDEA OF HAVING A DAY WHERE AMERICANS SHOULD PITCH THEIR TENTS IN THEIR BACKYARDS OR A PARK NEARBY:

BACKYARD CAMPOUT

ANOTHER REASON TO HOLD A BACKYARD CAMPOUT, MIZEJEWSKI SAYS IS BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY. HE SAYS MANY FAMILIES CANNOT PLAN BIG FAMILY VACATIONS DUE TO THEIR FAMILY BUDGETS, SO HOLDING A BACKYARD CAMPOUT IS A GREAT WAY TO HAVE A FAMILY STAYCATION THIS SUMMER.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - IF PENNSYLVANIA'S FISCAL YEAR BEGINS NEXT WEDNESDAY WITHOUT A BUDGET IN PLACE, STATE WORKERS WILL HAVE TO STAY ON THE JOB. BUT WORKERS WON'T BE PAID UNTIL THE BUDGET DEADLOCK IS RESOLVED. REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING A PLAN WITHOUT TAX INCREASES. DEMOCRATIC LEADERS WANT A MIX OF CUTS AND TAX HIKES.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - THE SECRET SERVICE WILL COORDINATE A SECURITY PLAN FOR THE GROUP OF 20 SUMMIT IN PITTSBURGH, WHEN 19 HEADS OF STATE WILL CONVENE. OFFICIALS EXPECT THOUSANDS OF DEMONSTRATORS AND MEDIA AT THE SEPT. 24 AND SEPT. 25 MEETING ON THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A MINING COMPANY ATTORNEY IS DEFENDING ITS OPERATIONS AS LEGAL WRANGLING CONTINUES OVER THE QUECREEK MINE
ACCIDENT WHEN COAL MINERS HAD TO BE RESCUED FROM A FLOODED TUNNEL.
THE FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION IS HEARING ARGUMENTS ABOUT WHETHER A JUDGE FAIRLY ASSESSED $110,000 IN FINES.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - TWO DEFENDANTS BEATEN BY PHILADELPHIA POLICE DURING AN ARREST CAUGHT ON TAPE WEPT AS NEWS FOOTAGE AIRED IN COURT. BRIAN HALL AND PETE HOPKINS ARE ON TRIAL FOR A SHOOTING. A THIRD DEFENDANT REMAINED COMPOSED AS THE TAPE PLAYED. FOUR POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN FIRED AND OTHERS DISCIPLINED OR DEMOTED.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - TRANSIT OFFICIALS IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA ARE TRYING TO REDUCE THE CHANCES OF A CRASH LIKE THE FATAL TRAIN CRASH IN WASHINGTON, D.C. OFFICIALS WITH SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY SAY SEPTA HAS SPENT MORE THAN $200 MILLION
OVER THE PAST DECADE UPGRADING SIGNAL SYSTEMS AND TROLLEYS.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE MOURNING THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF POP STAR MICHAEL JACKSON. QUINCY JONES, WHO PRODUCED "THRILLER," CALLS JACKSON "THE CONSUMMATE ENTERTAINER" AND SAYS HE'S LOST HIS "LITTLE BROTHER." IT'S BELIEVED JACKSON SUFFERED A CARDIAC ARREST YESTERDAY. HE WAS 50. AN AUTOPSY IS PLANNED.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - MICHAEL JACKSON THE SINGER WAS ALSO MICHAEL JACKSON THE BILLION-DOLLAR BUSINESS. BUT DESPITE MAKING A FORTUNE DURING HIS LONG CAREER, HE DIED REPORTEDLY AWASH IN ABOUT $400 MILLION IN DEBT. HE WAS PLANNING A COMEBACK AFTER WELL OVER A DECADE OF SCANDAL.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A HANDFUL OF UNDECIDED DEMOCRATS HOLD THE KEY TO WHETHER THE HOUSE WILL CONFRONT GLOBAL WARMING AND BEGIN THE SWITCH FROM FOSSIL FUELS TO CLEANER ENERGY. DEMOCRATIC LEADERS ARE SCRAMBLING TO ROUND UP ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS A CLIMATE BILL TODAY
BEFORE LAWMAKERS DEPART FOR A WEEKLONG JULY 4 HOLIDAY RECESS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORTERS OF THE F-22 FIGHTER PROGRAM HAVE MANAGED TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR THE ADVANCED FIGHTER IN A NEW DEFENSE SPENDING BILL. BUT THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS THREATENING TO VETO THE MOVE. THE PENTAGON PLANS TO END THE PROGRAM AFTER PURCHASING 187 OF THE JETS.

BAGHDAD (AP) - IRAQI OFFICIALS SAY A BOOBY-TRAPPED MOTORCYCLE EXPLODED IN A CROWDED BAZAAR FRIDAY IN BAGHDAD, KILLING AT LEAST 11 PEOPLE AND WOUNDING DOZENS. IT'S THE LATEST IN A WEEK OF ATTACKS THAT HAVE KILLED SOME 200 PEOPLE AHEAD OF NEXT WEEK'S DEADLINE FOR U.S. TROOPS TO WITHDRAW FROM URBAN AREAS.