Today's News-Thursday, June 4, 2009

POTTSVILLE DAY CAMP

Schools out for the year, and parents are scrambling to find a place for their kids to stay while Mom and Dad go to work. Couple that with a challenging economy that makes it difficult for parents to give their kids a quality summer experience. The Life Center Foursquare Church in Pottsville is reaching out to the community with the Pottsville Day Camp. Weekdays through the entire summer, the church is offering a wide variety of activities, including crafts, field trips, swimming and more for elementary and middle school kids. The program garnered the attention of Fox News Channel, who came to Life Center Wednesday to film for their American Diary series. Fox News field producer Rebecca Diamond explains:

DIAMOND

There are camperships available for those who can’t afford to pay for the Pottsville Day Camp tuition, and sponsorships are also welcomed to support the program. Call 622-7391. WPPA and T102 are proud to be supporters of the Pottsville Day Camp.

MAN DIES IN MOTORCYCLE CRASH

A motorcycle crash in Frackville early Wednesday claimed the life of a borough man. Frackville police indicate that 44 year old Patrick Brayford crashed his motorcycle around midnight at East Oak and Mahanoy Streets. Brayford apparently was making a right hand turn when his cycle hit the curb and he lost control, causing him to be thrown from the motorcycle. Brayford was taken to St Catherine Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

FIRE DESTROYS MOBILE HOME IN WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP

A family of four are homeless today after fire destroyed their mobile home Wednesday. Fire crews were called to the home on Sweet Arrow Lake Road around 2pm. Tanya Zerbe and her three children lived there, according to the Republican and Herald. Fire officials aren't yet certain about the cause, but do not believe it was suspicious.

STOCKUNAS PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGAL GAMBLING

Another player in an illegal gambling ring has pleaded guilty in federal court. 38 year old Scott Stockunas entered the plea to helping his nephew Mickey Stockunas and his brother Michael Stockunas in the business for several years. He could face 5 years in federal prison and a hefty fine. Mickey Stockunas entered a plea on gambling and drug charges a few weeks ago. Michael Stockunas' case is yet to be heard in the ring, which was busted up by the DEA, state police and the county DA’s office. Sentencing will happen later.

NEW PHILADELPHIA MAN ACCUSED OF RAPE

State police have charged a New Philadelphia man with rape. 22 year old Christopher Webber was arrested earlier this week and charged with sexually assaulting a woman at her home in the borough. Webber is lodged in Schuylkill County Prison on $25-thousand-dollars bail.

HOSPITAL ALLEGE PRICE FIXING

Pottsville's two hospitals allege suppliers of blood reagents fixed prices, and they are joining a class action lawsuit. Documents filed in US District Court in Philadelphia say Schuylkill Medical Centers and other customers allege they overpaid for the reagents, products used in testing for blood transfusions. The Republican Herald reports that companies in Georgia and New Jersey are alleged to have increased prices for their products as much as 1-thousand-percent. The plaintiffs are looking for damages, costs and fees.

TAMAQUA POLICE LOOKING FOR ILLEGALS

Police in the borough of Tamaqua are looking for suspected illegal immigrants who fled after a traffic stop Tuesday. An officer pulled the car over on Route 309 Tuesday, and found the occupants were in this country illegally. Three adults fled the scene and are still at large, while a juvenile was apprehended. The men are of Hispanic origin. If you have information that can aid police, contact them at 668-5000.

CENTRALIA LOSES 1 MORE RESIDENT

CENTRALIA, Pa. (AP) - One of the last people remaining in a Columbia County community, a town largely abandoned due to an underground coal fire has reluctantly moved out. Movers took John Comarnisky's possessions out of his Centralia home on Wednesday. He says he'd rather stay for the rest of his life but is following orders from the state to leave. The underground fire began in 1963 and is still burning is and expected to keep burning for many years. The state began buying homes in the Columbia County town in the 1980s and demolishing them. Comarnisky is among the last to leave.

OFFICER-BANK ROBBERY
Ex-policeman accused of NYC bank heists arraigned
READING, Pa. (AP) - A former New York transit policeman who's already been sentenced to 10 years in prison for a Pennsylvania bank robbery has been arraigned in New York City for two bank heists there. Defense lawyer Paul Missan told The Associated Press that Christian Torres was arraigned Wednesday afternoon before a federal magistrate. Missan said by phone from Reading, Pa., that he's trying to work out a plea agreement with prosecutors for the 2007 robberies of a the Sovereign Bank in New York. Torres is accused of teaming up with an ex-girlfriend who worked there as a teller. That woman, Christina Dasrath, is serving a 30-month federal term. Torres was sentenced last month for the April 2008 "takeover" heist of the Sovereign Bank branch in Reading.

HEALTH INSURANCE
Pa. governor to sign small-business COBRA bill
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell plans to sign legislation that would extend health insurance rights to employees of small businesses. The state Senate on Wednesday passed the bill and sent it to the governor's desk as a way to help more people get or keep health
insurance. That type of insurance gives workers and their families the right to continue health insurance coverage through the employer for some time after they leave employment. But under current law, those rights don't extend to businesses that employ fewer than 20 people.
The former employee is generally expected to pay the full price for the extended insurance coverage, although the federal stimulus bill picks up 65 percent of the cost for nine months.
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, known as COBRA, was passed by Congress in 1986.

ROGUE CONSTABLES
Judiciary chair introduces constable reform bill
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A bill that would begin the process of changing Pennsylvania's troubled constable system is being considered by the state House of Representatives.
Judiciary Chairman Tom Caltagirone introduced the measure Tuesday to bring together in one place the scattered state laws that currently govern constables. It'll also repeal outdated
elements, some that go back to the 1700s. Caltagirone says codification needs to be accomplished before lawmakers can consider more politically sensitive topics such as training, qualifications and mandatory equipment. A state Supreme Court committee is also developing a manual that would establish new rules for constables. An Associated Press series last year described serious misconduct by constables, including violent crimes and abuse of their position. Critics say the existing system lacks supervision.

ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST
Oil, gas industry wants to halt fed drilling regs
PITTSBURGH (AP) - The oil and gas industry says the U.S. Forest Service is overstepping its authority by requiring drillers to submit to environmental analysis to drill for oil and gas that they own under the Allegheny National Forest. Under a recent settlement of a lawsuit by environmentalists against the Forest Service, environmental analysis of drilling projects must be performed. The industry maintains the analysis isn't required and is suing to have the settlement overturned. While the federal government owns the surface of the forest in
northwestern Pennsylvania, more than 90 percent of the rights to underground minerals are privately owned. The Department of Justice, which represents the Forest Service, says it will respond in court.

EXCHANGE STUDENTS
Pa. attorney general probes exchange students
SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - A spokesman for Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett says foreign exchange students who think they were mistreated are encouraged to file complaints.
Some students participating the exchanges organized by the San Francisco-based Aspect Foundation were kept in filthy homes in northeastern Pennsylvania or were malnourished. Scranton city officials say one student was in a home filled with dog feces. The head of the Aspect Foundation said the area coordinator handling the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre areas has been fired. Attorney general spokesman Nils Frederiksen says his office wants to hear from students who may have been mistreated.

TAVERN SLAYING
1 jailed, 1 at large in deadly Pa. tavern shooting
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - One suspect is in custody and another remains at large from a northeastern Pennsylvania tavern shooting that killed one man and wounded another. Police say 22-year-old Benji Benjamin of Wilkes-Barre turned himself in Wednesday morning to face a criminal homicide charge in the Tuesday night death of 38-year-old Joseph Benson. He was shot
Tuesday night outside Liam's Place in Wilkes-Barre. Benjamin didn't speak during his arraignment, nor did he comment to reporters as he was led in and out of court. Police are still looking for 28-year-old Don Farrell, also of Wilkes-Barre. He's accused of shooting an employee of the tavern in the thigh. Christopher Krisnada survived. Police say Farrell should be considered armed and dangerous.

PRINCIPAL-METH CHARGES
Pa. principal who sold meth from office free
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - A former middle school principal who pleaded guilty to selling crystal methamphetamine from his office has been released from Pennsylvania state prison. John Acerra sold drugs from his office at Nitschmann Middle School in Bethlehem, where he was arrested in February 2007. Department of Corrections spokeswoman Susan McNaughton says Acerra was released May 26. Parole board spokesman Leo Dunn says if Acerra has no problems, his parole supervision will end Feb. 28, 2011. Dunn says Acerra is living somewhere in the Allentown district monitored by the board, which includes Lehigh, Northampton, Bucks, Berks and Schuylkill counties.

SUBURBAN PHILLY POT
1,257 marijuana plants seized in Philly area
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Two Philadelphia men are jailed in what suburban authorities say was a huge marijuana growing operation. Bucks County District Attorney Michelle Henry said Wednesday that a house in Bedminster was raided Sunday along with another house in Chester County. Henry says 1,267 marijuana plants were seized at the two houses. Two Philadelphia men, ages 48 and 42, are jailed on $500,000 bail each. Authorities were tipped off to the Bedminster house in February when neighbors reported an unusual smell.

BOULEVARD FATALITY
Woman is killed by hit-run driver in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Police in Philadelphia say a 36-year-old pedestrian is dead after being struck by a hit-and-run driver who was drag racing. Brenda Rodriguez was crossing the northbound lanes of the outer drive of Roosevelt Boulevard in the Feltonville section of the city
early Wednesday when she was hit by a car that was speeding alongside another auto. Witnesses told police that both drivers took off. Rodriguez died at the scene. Authorities say Rodriguez was with a companion after picking up takeout Chinese food. The woman's companion was not hurt.

TSA OFFICER-THEFT
TSA officer accused of stealing from luggage
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A federal Transportation Security Administration officer is accused of stealing electronics from luggage he was screening at Philadelphia International Airport.
Federal and city prosecutors announced the indictment of 36-year-old Troy Davis of Willingboro, N.J., on Wednesday. Davis is accused of taking five laptop computers and a video
game system. He's charged in federal court with theft from interstate or foreign shipments by carrier and theft by government employee.

POCONOS SLOTS
Pa. gaming board reinstates DeNaples slots license
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -State gambling regulators are lifting the license suspension of a northeastern Pennsylvania casino owner, now that perjury charges against him have been dropped. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Wednesday voted to reinstate the license of Mount Airy Casino Resort owner Louis DeNaples. However, the gaming board is limiting DeNaples' legal control over the facility. DeNaples wants to transfer ownership of the casino to his children, a process that must be separately approved by the gaming board. DeNaples' license was suspended in February 2008 after he was charged with perjury for allegedly lying to the board about whether he had connections to organized crime. After the Dauphin County district attorney dropped the charges in April, DeNaples asked the board to reinstate his license.

LANCASTER CONVENTION CENTER
Pa. convention center to have 1st event June 20
LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) - A south-central Pennsylvania city's long-delayed convention center is now set to have its first event, a wedding, on June 20. The first convention to be held at the Lancaster Convention Center is the June 24 meeting of the Pennsylvania League of Cities
and Municipalities. The convention center aims to revitalize Lancaster's historic downtown area. It has been plagued by construction delays, including some that interfered with plans for meetings scheduled for last month.

FIREFIGHTER'S DEATH
Philly fireman's death classified as line of duty
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers says a firefighter's death in a hospital has been determined to be a death in the line of duty. Lt. Stephen Michael Cospelich collapsed while walking his dog April 17 after fighting a stressful home fire. He was rushed to a hospital, but never regained consciousness and died May 20 at the age of 56. Ayers announced Wednesday that the death was determined to be a line of duty death.

CAIRO (AP) - President Barack Obama has met Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and conveyed the message that the United States wants to be a partner to the countries in the Middle East. The two talked about the long-running conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - The families of two American journalists charged in North Korea with illegal entry and "hostile acts" are pleading for leniency. Laura Ling and Euna Lee could be
sent to a labor camp for 10 years. The trial was supposed to start today.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) - Taiwan's president is urging China to set its human rights record straight by facing its brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters 20 years ago at Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Today is the 20th anniversary of the crackdown, and security is heavy at the site.

FERNANDO DE NORONHA, Brazil (AP) - Deep-water submersibles won't arrive until next week to help in the Air France Flight 447 search in the Atlantic Ocean. Heavy weather has delayed their arrival. The vessels are considered key to finding the black box recorders deep
in the ocean near where surface debris has been found.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - New Hampshire has become the sixth state to legalize gay marriage after the state legislature passed religious protections. Gov. John Lynch, who personally opposes gay marriage, signed the legislation. He says it's now time for Washington to extend full equal rights to same-sex couples.