Today's News-Friday, July 24, 2009

TOOLS STOLEN FROM WORK SITE

THIEVES ARE BEING SOUGHT BY STATE POLICE AFTER THEY BURGLARIZED A NORTH MANHEIM TOWNSHIP CONTRACTOR. SOMETIME BETWEEN TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, THE BANDITS PRIED OPEN A DOOR TO KOLBE CONTRACTING’S GARAGE ON GREENVIEW ROAD AND TOOK SEVERAL SAWS AND OTHER TOOLS VALUED AT $35-HUNDRED DOLLARS. SCHUYLKILL HAVEN STATE TROOPERS ARE LOOKING FOR YOUR HELP IN NABBING THE THIEVES.

CAREER CRIMINAL GOES TO PRISON

AN ASHLAND MANS STAY IN PRISON HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOLLOWING SENTENCING IN THE COUNTY COURT. 47 YEAR OLD ROBERT LINKCHORST WILL HAVE 4 TO 8 YEARS TACKED ON TO HIS ALREADY LONG SENTENCE FOR A STRING OF BURGLARIES AND OTHER CRIMES. LINKCHORST TRIED TO BREAK OUT OF THE COUNTY PRISON LAST YEAR. REPORTS INDICATE HE WAS ALREADY JAILED FOR A STRING OF BURGLARIES AND OTHER CRIMES. AUTHORITIES DEEMED LINKCHORST "A CAREER CRIMINAL."

THEY SAID THEY SAID

A COLLAPSED WALL ALONG A RAIL SIDING IN MOUNT CARBON REMAINS IN DISREPAIR. NOW POTTSVILLE CITY HAS GIVEN THE READING, BLUE MOUNTAIN AND NORTHERN A DEADLINE TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO FIX IT. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD INDICATES THAT CITY OFFICIALS HAVE TOLD THE RAILROAD THEY HAVE TWO WEEKS TO FIGURE A WAY TO FIX THE CRUMBLED WALL THAT’S DROPPED THE RAILING DOWN, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. READING-BLUE MOUNTAIN OFFICIALS SAY THEY THINK THE GREATER POTTSVILLE SEWER AUTHORITY IS TO BLAME FOR WHAT THEY TERM “POOR WORKMANSHIP”. CITY AUTHORITIES SAY THEY MAY CITE THE RAILROAD IF THEY DON’T COME UP WITH A PLAN SOON.

NEW PHONE EXCHANGES MAY COME TO OUR AREA

CELL PHONES AND OTHER WIRELESS DEVICES ARE A GREAT CONVENIENCE, BUT THE PHONE NUMBERS ASSIGNED TO THEM DEPLETE THE SUPPLY. THAT’S PROMPTING THE PA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION TO LOOK INTO SPLITTING 570 AND 814 AREA CODES AND CREATING NEW ONES. USING SEVERAL GEOGRAPHICAL OPTIONS, THE 570 AREA CODE WHICH COVERS 21 COUNTIES INCLUDING SCHUYLKILL COULD BE SPLIT IN TWO, PART STAYING WITH 570 AND PART WITH A NEW THREE DIGIT NUMBER. ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO ADD A NEW AREA CODE TO CUSTOMERS WHO ADD ON TO THE SYSTEM. IT WAS 10 YEARS AGO WHEN THE 570 AREA CODE WAS ADDED.

DOWNTOWN HAVEN COMES ALIVE

CLOUDY SKIES AND HUMID TEMPERATURES DIDN’T STOP HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TO WALK THE STREETS OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN TO SIP SOME WINE , ENJOY SOME ART AND SHOP IN THE BOROUGHS FIRST WALK, WINE AND WANDER. BUSINESS ASSOCIATION VICE PRESIDENT JERRY BOWMAN EXPLAINED WHERE THE IDEA CAME FROM:

BOWMAN

THREE AREA WINERIES OFFERED SAMPLES ALONG WITH A UNIQUE SCAVENGER HUNT WITH SOME GREAT PRIZES. SCHUYLKILL HAVEN OFFICIALS ARE WORKING TO DEVELOP THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

STATE BUDGET
PA. GOV: WE WON'T MERELY SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE ON BUDGET
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOV. ED RENDELL SAYS PENNSYLVANIA'S BUDGET IMPASSE WON'T BE SOLVED BY SIMPLY SPLITTING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SPENDING PLANS PASSED BY THE STATE SENATE AND THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. RENDELL CHUCKLED WHEN A REPORTER NOTED THAT THE MIDPOINT BETWEEN THE TWO BUDGETS IS ABOUT $28 BILLION AND ASKED WHY NEGOTIATORS DON'T SET THAT AMOUNT AS THEIR TARGET. HE SAYS THE FOUR LEGISLATIVE CAUCUSES DIFFER ON MANY DETAILS AND SAYS MUCH HORSE-TRADING LIES AHEAD. LAST WEEK, THE DEMOCRATIC-CONTROLLED HOUSE PASSED A $29.1 BILLION SPENDING PLAN THAT WOULD REQUIRE TAX INCREASES. ON MONDAY, THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED SENATE APPROVED A $27.1 BILLION PROPOSAL THAT WOULD CUT PROGRAMS AND TAP RESERVE FUNDS, BUT NOT INCREASE TAXES. TALKS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND AT THE VERY LEAST.

MOTHER KILLED
DEFENSE TO BEGIN IN PA. UNDERTAKER'S MURDER TRIAL
LANCASTER, PA. (AP) - THE DEFENSE IS TO BEGIN PRESENTING ITS CASE FRIDAY IN THE MURDER TRIAL OF A CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA FUNERAL DIRECTOR. BOTH SIDES AGREE THAT 42-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL ROSEBORO WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR. LANCASTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY CRAIG STEADMAN MAINTAINS THAT ROSEBORO KILLED 45-YEAR-OLD JAN ROSEBORO A YEAR AGO SO HE COULD BE WITH HIS MISTRESS WITHOUT A MESSY DIVORCE. DEFENSE ATTORNEY ALLAN SODOMSKY MAINTAINS THAT HIS CLIENT FOUND HIS WIFE'S BODY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POOL AT THEIR HOME IN REINHOLDS ON JULY 22. HE SAYS HE TRIED TO REVIVE HER AND SOUGHT HELP. ON THURSDAY, THE PROSECUTION PRESENTED EVIDENCE THAT THE LIGHTING SYSTEM AT THE HOME WAS TOO COMPLEX FOR A STRANGER TO HAVE TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS.

VICTIM'S GUNFIRE
DA: PA. CRIME VICTIM SHOULDN'T HAVE FIRED GUN
NORRISTOWN, PA. (AP) - A PROSECUTOR IN SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA SAYS A BICYLIST ATTACKED BY TWO TEENAGERS OVERREACTED WHEN HE FIRED A GUN AT THEM. MONTGOMERY COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY RISA VETRI FERMAN SAYS JOSEPH JAMES DEPAUL JR. WAS CARRYING THE GUN LAWFULLY. BUT SHE SAID THURSDAY THAT THE 27-YEAR-OLD NORRISTOWN MAN SHOULDN'T HAVE FIRED IT AT THE JUVENILES WHO KNOCKED HIM OFF HIS BICYCLE WEDNESDAY EVENING. NEITHER TEEN WAS HIT BY THE GUNFIRE. DEPAUL HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL ATTEMPT AT MURDER AND OTHER OFFENSES. IT WAS UNCLEAR THURSDAY NIGHT IF HE HAD A LAWYER.

PHILLY POLICE LAWSUIT
PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICER FACES THREATS
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THREATS DIRECTED AT THE PRESIDENT OF A GROUP OF BLACK PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICERS. GUARDIAN CIVIC LEAGUE PRESIDENT ROCHELLE BILAL BECAME THE TARGET OF THREATS AFTER HER ORGANIZATION FILED A LAWSUIT OVER AN INTERNET DISCUSSION FORUM. THE LEAGUE MAINTAINS IN ITS LAWSUIT FILED LAST WEEK THAT HUNDREDS OF RACIST MESSAGES WERE POSTED ON DOMELIGHTS.COM AND THAT THE WEB SITE CREATED A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR BLACK OFFICERS. ON THURSDAY NIGHT, THE SITE HAD A NOTICE SAYING ALL ITS SERVICES WERE SUSPENDED. BILAL HAS BEEN ASSIGNED OFFICERS TO GUARD HER WHILE THE INVESTIGATION IS CONDUCTED. LT. FRANK VENORE, A POLICE SPOKESMAN, SAID THURSDAY THAT POLICE NEED TO "DETERMINE IF THE THREAT REQUIRES ANY FURTHER POLICE ACTION."

SUBWAY MOLESTER
UPDATE: POLICE SEEK PHILADELPHIA SUBWAY MOLESTER
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - POLICE SAY A MAN THREATENED A WOMAN WITH A KNIFE ON AN ELEVATED TRAIN IN PHILADELPHIA AND MOLESTED HER SEXUALLY UNTIL THE TRAIN GOT TO A DOWNTOWN SUBWAY STATION. THE ATTACK LATE THURSDAY MORNING CONTINUED FROM THE FRANKFORD TRANSPORTATION CENTER TO THE STATION AT EIGHTH AND MARKET STREETS DOWNTOWN, ABOUT A 20-MINUTE RIDE. THE MAN RAN OFF IN DOWNTOWN PHILADELPHIA. THE VICTIM WAS A 22-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO WAS RIDING THE TRAIN WITH HER INFANT CHILD. SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY SPOKESMAN RICHARD MALONEY SAYS THE TRANSIT AGENCY PLANS TO INSTALL CAMERAS ON TRAIN CARS ON THE MARKET-FRANKFORD LINE, WHERE THE ATTACK HAPPENED, BUT HASN'T DONE SO YET. CAMERAS IN BROAD STREET LINE CARS HAVE HELPED RECORD CRIME, INCLUDING A DERANGED MAN'S ATTACK WITH A HAMMER IN SEPTEMBER.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE SCANDAL
PA. WOMAN TO FIGHT EXCHANGE STUDENT CHARGES
CARBONDALE, PA. (AP) - THE WOMAN ACCUSED OF PLACING FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS IN FILTHY HOMES IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA HAS TURNED HERSELF IN. EDNA BURGETTE'S LAWYER, CHRIS OSBORNE, SAYS HIS CLIENT INTENDS TO FIGHT THE CHARGES. HE SAYS THE 69-YEAR-OLD WOMAN IS A LIFELONG SCRANTON RESIDENT WHO'S BEEN A PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS. BURGETTE WAS FIRED BY THE SAN FRANCISCO-BASED ASPECT FOUNDATION, WHICH HAD PAID HER TO PLACE EXCHANGE STUDENTS. SHE WAS CHARGED WEDNESDAY WITH FIVE FELONY COUNTS RELATED TO THE PLACEMENT OF TEENAGERS AND TURNED HERSELF IN THURSDAY. SHE WAS ARRAIGNED IN CARBONDALE ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND RELEASED ON $25,000 UNSECURED BAIL.

TEEN CAMPER KILLED
TEEN CAMPER KILLED WHEN TREE LIMB LANDS ON TENT
MORGANTOWN, W.VA. (AP) - A 14-YEAR-OLD PENNSYLVANIA GIRL IS DEAD AFTER A TREE LIMB CRASHED ONTO HER TENT AT A CAMP IN WEST VIRGINIA. THE MONONGALIA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IDENTIFIED THE GIRL THURSDAY AS LEAH BLUM OF MOUNT LEBANON, PA. THE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF GREATER PITTSBURGH OWNS THE EMMA KAUFMANN CAMP NEAR MORGANTOWN. SPOKESWOMAN CATHY SAMUELS SAYS NO ONE ELSE WAS HURT WHEN THE LIMB FELL WEDNESDAY NIGHT. GRIEF COUNSELORS WERE AT THE CAMP THURSDAY AND WILL WORK WITH THE CHILDREN AS LONG AS THEY'RE NEEDED, BUT SAMUELS SAYS NO CHILDREN ARE PLANNING TO LEAVE. THE CAMP STRESSES JEWISH VALUES FOR KIDS 7 TO 16 YEARS OLD, AND OFFERS SESSIONS FROM ONE TO EIGHT WEEKS LONG. CAMPERS COME MAINLY FROM PENNSYLVANIA, OHIO, VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, WASHINGTON, D.C., FLORIDA AND NEVADA.

NORTHWEST TEACHERS
PA. SCHOOL BOARD REJECTS UNION CONTRACT
SHICKSHINNY, PA. (AP) - THE LONGEST-RUNNING PUBLIC SCHOOL LABOR DISPUTE IN PENNSYLVANIA IS CONTINUING BECAUSE A SCHOOL BOARD HAS REJECTED A TENTATIVE CONTRACT WITH THE TEACHERS' UNION. TEACHERS IN THE NORTHWEST AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT IN LUZERNE COUNTY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITHOUT A CONTRACT SINCE 2005. THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WAS REACHED JUNE 30 DURING COURT-ORDERED NEGOTIATING SESSIONS AND WAS RATIFIED BY THE NORTHWEST AREA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION ON JULY 8. THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTED 7-1 TO REJECT IT WEDNESDAY NIGHT, WITH SOME BOARD MEMBERS SAYING THE DISTRICT COULDN'T AFFORD IT. THE PACT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED RETROACTIVE PAY INCREASES WHILE REQUIRING EMPLOYEES TO PAY A PORTION OF HEALTH CARE PREMIUM COSTS.

ABDUCTION HOAX
PA. WOMAN CHARGED IN ABDUCTION HOAX FACES DIVORCE
DOYLESTOWN, PA. (AP) - THE HUSBAND OF THE SUBURBAN PHILADEPHIA WOMAN WHO'S ACCUSED OF FAKING HER OWN ABDUCTION IN MAY HAS FILED FOR DIVORCE. LARRY SWEETEN FILED COURT PAPERS LATE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON CALLING HIS MARRIAGE TO 38-YEAR-OLD BONNIE SWEETEN "IRRETRIEVABLY BROKEN" AND SEEKING CUSTODY OF THEIR 11-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER. BONNIE SWEETEN IS AWAITING TRIAL ON CHARGES RELATED TO THE MAY 26 ABDUCTION HOAX. POLICE SAY SHE CALLED 911 AND CLAIMED SHE HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED BY A CADILLAC AND THE TWO BLACK MEN INSIDE FORCED HER AND HER 9-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER FROM HER FIRST MARRIAGE INTO THE CAR'S TRUNK. POLICE SAY SHE USED A FORMER CO-WORKER'S DRIVER'S LICENSE AS IDENTIFICATION TO BUY A PLANE TICKET AND CHECK INTO A HOTEL AT WALT DISNEY WORLD. HER LAWYER HAS SAID SWEETEN DIDN'T COMMIT A CRIME.

SOLAR TRASH COMPACTORS
PHILLY ROLLS OUT SOLAR-POWERED TRASH COMPACTORS
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA HAS REPLACED 700 DOWNTOWN TRASH BINS WITH 500 HIGH-TECH TRASH COMPACTORS, WHICH USE SOLAR ENERGY TO CONDENSE TRASH - CUTTING DOWN COLLECTION TRIPS BY 75 PERCENT. THE CITY ESTIMATES IT WILL SAVE $875,000 A YEAR WITH THE COMPACTORS, BOUGHT WITH STATE GRANT MONEY. CITIES FROM VIENNA TO BOSTON TO VANCOUVER HAVE TRIED THE DEVICES IN SMALLER NUMBERS, BUT PHILADELPHIA PUT THEM ALONG FOUR COLLECTION ROUTES IN ITS HEAVILY TRAVELED DOWNTOWN AREA. STREETS COMMISSIONER CARMINA TOLSON SAID THE COMPACTORS USUALLY NEED TO BE EMPTIED FIVE TIMES A WEEK - AS OPPOSED TO 19 TIMES FOR A REGULAR CAN. THE CHANGE FREES UP 25 STREETS DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES, WHO ARE NOW FILLING VACANCIES ON TRUCKS THAT COLLECT HOUSEHOLD RECYCLING. THE COMPACTORS COST MORE THAN $3,000 APIECE. THE CITY BOUGHT THEM WITH STATE GRANT MONEY.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WON'T BE GETTING A HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL BILL FROM CONGRESS BEFORE ITS AUGUST RECESS, BUT HE'S STILL PUSHING FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION. OBAMA MEETS TODAY WITH SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID AS WELL AS SENATE FINANCE CHAIRMAN MAX BAUCUS, WHO IS LEADING AN EFFORT TO PRODUCE A BIPARTISAN BILL.

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. (AP) - CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS ARE VOTING ON A SERIES OF BILLS DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE A PROJECTED $26 BILLION DEFICIT. IF PASSED BY BOTH HOUSES OF THE LEGISLATURE AND SIGNED BY GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, THE PACKAGE WOULD CLOSE THE BUDGET SHORTFALL THROUGH JUNE 2010.

SMITHSBURG, MD. (AP) - AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING THE CRASH OF A COMMERCIAL HELICOPTER IN WESTERN MARYLAND THAT CLAIMED THE LIVES OF ALL FOUR PEOPLE ON BOARD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHEN FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED. THE COPTER CRASHED ONTO AN INTERSTATE, BUT NO VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY WERE HIT.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - THE DOCTOR WHO TRIED TO REVIVE A DYING MICHAEL JACKSON HAS BEEN NAMED THE TARGET OF A MANSLAUGHTER PROBE INTO THE SINGER'S DEATH. DR. CONRAD MURRAY WAS HIRED AS JACKSON'S PERSONAL PHYSICIAN JUST WEEKS BEFORE THE POP STAR DIED.

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - SOUTH KOREAN ACTIVISTS SAY A CHRISTIAN WOMAN WAS PUBLICLY EXECUTED BY NORTH KOREA LAST MONTH FOR DISTRIBUTING THE BIBLE. THE WOMAN, SAY THE ACTIVISTS, WAS ALSO ACCUSED OF SPYING FOR SOUTH KOREA AND THE UNITED STATES.