Today's News-Friday, July 31, 1009

THOSE ARRESTED DURING SCHUYLKILL DRUG SWEEP-NORTH


SHENANDOAH:


BARB KOMOSINSKY
BRYAN CYR
NICK ANDERSON
STEPHEN GAUGHAN
ALEX FOGARTY
RANDY LAWSON
GINA LOMBARDO
JEFFREY VERNITSKY
ERIN TETER
KEVIN MCCABE
NICK MCCABE
BRIAN BRIKSZA
HAROLD CADDY



FRACKVILLE


DONALD ZARILLO
ALLEN ZIMMERMAN
MICHAEL JESSMAN


GILBERTON


CHRISTOPHER PHILLIPS


DRUG SWEEP IN NORTHERN SCHUYLKILL

AGENTS FROM THE COUNTY DA’S DRUG TASK FORCE, SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND LOCAL POLICE SWEPT ACROSS NORTHERN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY THURSDAY MORNING SERVING ARREST WARRANTS ON STREET LEVEL DEALERS. STARTING AROUND 6AM AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE MORNING, 17 MEN AND WOMEN FROM FRACKVILLE, SHENANDOAH AND GILBERTON WERE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ON VARIOUS DRUG RELATED WARRANTS, THREE OF THEM WITH MULTIPLE COUNTS. EIGHT OTHERS HAVE OUTSTANDING WARRANTS WAITING ON THEM. DISTRICT ATTORNEY JIM GOODMAN STATED THE ARRESTS WERE THE RESULT OF SEVERAL INVESTIGATIONS BY THE DA’S DRUG TASK FORCE ALONG WITH OTHER LOCAL DEPARTMENTS. HE REMINDED COUNTY RESIDENTS TO CALL IN DRUG TIPS AT 800-414-1406.


SIMPLE ASSAULT IN POTTSVILLE

AN ARGUMENT BETWEEN A POTTSVILLE COUPLE TURNED INTO AN ALTERCATION LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT. CITY POLICE SAY THEY WERE CALLED TO 724 MINE STREET FOR THE REPORT OF A FIGHT BETWEEN BROOKE AND THOMAS DINO. REPORTS INDICATE THAT BROOKE DINO TRIED TO GRAB HER CELL PHONE FROM HER HUSBAND AND SHE GRABBED HIS NECKLACE. THOMAS DINO REPORTEDLY STRUCK BROOKE IN THE FACE, CAUSING A BLOODY NOSE. HE WAS CHARGED WITH SIMPLE ASSAULT-DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND WAS RELEASED ON UNSECURED BAIL.

CONSTRUCTION WASTE LANDFILL APPLICATION DENIED

AN ONGOING BATTLE BETWEEN STATE ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICIALS AND BLYTHE TOWNSHIP HAS TAKEN ANOTHER TURN. PENNSYLVANIA D-E-P DENIED THE BRADS LANDFILL APPLICATION, STATING QUOTE “ THAT THE BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT TO THE PUBLIC DO NOT CLEARLY OUTWEIGH THE KNOWN AND POTENTIAL HARMS”. SOME OF THOSE POTENTIAL HARMS INCLUDED POTENTIAL COSTS AND LIABILITIES TO TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS AND AIR QUALITY IMPACTS. THE ORIGINAL BRADS LANDFILL APPLICATION WAS MADE IN 2004 FOR THE 252 ACRE SITE. THE DENIAL CAN BE APPEALED BY BLYTHE TOWNSHIP.

FAIR DRAWS BIG CROWD

CLEAR SKIES AND TOP NOTCH ENTERTAINMENT DREW GOOD CROWDS AGAIN THURSDAY TO THE 26TH ANNUAL SCHUYLKILL COUNTY FAIR. DAIRY DAY, A MOST POPULAR DAY FOR KIDS WHO SHOW THEIR ANIMALS IN HOPES OF SELLING THEM AT A HIGH PRICE, WAS HIGHLIGHTED BY PITTSTON-AREA NATIVE SHAWN KLUSH, ONE OF THE WORLDS MOST POPULAR ELVIS TRIBUTE ARTIST WHO ROCKED THE VALLEY WITH TWO BIG SHOWS ON THE M&T BANK STAGE. FRIDAY IS COUNTRY DAY…WITH UP AND COMER ERIC CHURCH ON THE FAIR STAGE AT 9PM. THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY FAIR WRAPS UP ON SATURDAY WITH THE MUSIC OF THE ASSOCIATION.

A/G WARNS TO SHOP CAREFULLY

WE ARE ALL LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SAVE ENERGY AND MONEY. BUT BE CAREFUL ABOUT ITEMS AND SERVICES THAT ARE LABELED “ENERGY EFFICIENT”. PA ATTORNEY GENERAL TOM CORBETT:

CORBETT

CORBETT SAID THAT ALL HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE INSTALLATION OF MANY ENERGY-SAVING PRODUCTS ARE COVERED BY PENNSYLVANIAS NEW HOME IMPROVEMENT CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT WHICH WENT INTO EFFECT EARLIER THIS MONTH FOR CONTRACTS OVER $500 DOLLARS. MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT WWW-DOT-ATTORNEYGENERAL-DOT-GOV.

STATE BUDGET
PA. BUDGET TALKS GO PRIVATE AFTER 2 DAYS IN PUBLIC
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - AIDES TO GOV. ED RENDELL SAY HE PLANS TO MEET TODAY WITH TOP LEGISLATIVE LEADERS OVER PENNSYLVANIA'S MONTHLONG STATE BUDGET STALEMATE. THIS FOLLOWS THE UNUSUAL STEP OF AN ATTEMPT TO NEGOTIATE THE BUDGET IN PUBLIC. THE TALKS WERE MARKED BY TWO DAYS OF PARTISAN SPARRING. DEMOCRATS ON THE PANEL INSISTED ON REVIEWING THE IMPACT OF REPUBLICAN-PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS THAT WOULD AFFECT SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND HUMAN SERVICES ON WHICH THEIR CONSTITUENTS RELY. BUT REPUBLICANS SAID DEMOCRATS HADN'T SHOWED HOW THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE LEVEL OF SPENDING THEY WANT. THEY SAID DEMOCRATS WERE SIMPLY DRAGGING OUT THE PROCESS TO AVOID VOTING FOR A MASSIVE AND UNPOPULAR TAX INCREASE. EARLY NEXT WEEK, THE HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO CONSIDER LETTING RENDELL PAY EMPLOYEES AND GENERALLY KEEP GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND STATE PARKS OPEN WHILE NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE.


STATE BUDGET-PAYROLL TAX
PHILLY NONPROFIT TO REFUSE TO PAY PA. TAX
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A PHILADELPHIA NONPROFIT GROUP THAT HAS LOST FUNDING DUE TO THE STATE BUDGET IMPASSE SAYS IT WON'T PAY STATE PAYROLL TAXES UNTIL THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED. CALCUTTA HOUSE SAYS IT HAS TAKEN PRIDE IN PAYING BILLS ON TIME FOR THE PAST 22 YEARS AND IS TAKING THIS STEP AS "A DESPERATE MOVE" SO IT CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES. IT ALSO IS DELAYING PAYMENTS TO VENDORS. CALCUTTA HOUSE PROVIDES HOUSING, NURSING CARE AND OTHER SERVICES TO INDIGENT PEOPLE WITH HIV AND AIDS. IT NORMALLY GETS FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA BUT THE CITY ISN'T RELEASING FUNDS UNTIL THE STATE PASSES ITS BUDGET.


PHILADELPHIA BUDGET
PHILA. MAYOR WARNS OF MASSIVE CUTS WITHOUT PA. AID
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER IS WARNING RESIDENTS THAT NUMEROUS CITY SERVICES ARE IN DANGER WITHOUT THE STATE'S HELP. NUTTER SAID THURSDAY THAT HE WILL CUT HUNDREDS OF POLICE AND FIRE JOBS AND CLOSE DOWN CITY PARKS, LIBRARIES AND RECREATION CENTERS IF THE STATE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T ACT BY MID-AUGUST. TRASH COLLECTION ALSO WOULD BE CUT TO TWICE A MONTH. BILLS ALLOWING THE CITY TO RAISE ITS SALES TAX AND ALTER PENSION PAYMENTS ARE EXPECTED TO GET ACTION IN THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NEXT WEEK. A SPOKESWOMAN FOR HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIRMAN DWIGHT EVANS SAYS THE LEGISLATURE WILL NOT ALLOW PHILADELPHIA TO COLLAPSE. SENATE MAJORITY LEADER DOMINIC PILEGGI TOLD NUTTER HE WOULD TRY TO SPEED THE BILLS, ALTHOUGH HE GUARANTEED NO PARTICULAR OUTCOME.


MOTHER KILLED
PA. UNDERTAKER CONVICTED OF WIFE'S MURDER
LANCASTER, PA. (AP) - A CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA FUNERAL DIRECTOR HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER FOR THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE. A LANCASTER COUNTY JURY CONVICTED 42-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL ROSEBORO ON THURSDAY AFTER LESS THAN FIVE HOURS OF DELIBERATIONS. HE FACES A MANDATORY SENTENCE OF LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE. ROSEBORO SHOWED NO REACTION TO THE VERDICT. WHEN THE JUDGE ASKED HIM IF HE WANTED TO MAKE A STATEMENT, HE REPLIED, "NO." PROSECUTORS ACCUSED ROSEBORO OF BEATING, STRANGLING AND DROWNING 45-YEAR-OLD JAN ROSEBORO SO HE COULD BE WITH HIS MISTRESS WITHOUT A MESSY DIVORCE. THE DEFENSE ACKNOWLEDGED THE AFFAIR BUT MAINTAINED THAT THERE WAS NO DIRECT EVIDENCE THAT ROSEBORO KILLED HIS WIFE.


CORRUPTION PROBE
FORMER CONGRESSIONAL AIDE SENTENCED TO PROBATION
WASHINGTON (AP) - THE ONE-TIME TOP AIDE TO FORMER REP. CURT WELDON HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS PROBATION FOR NOT REPORTING TO THE HOUSE INCOME HIS WIFE MADE FOR DOING WORK FOR A NONPROFIT COMPANY TIED TO WELDON. THE SENTENCE FOR RUSSELL JAMES CASO JR., WHO WAS CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE PENNSYLVANIA REPUBLICAN, INCLUDES 170 DAYS OF HOME DETENTION AND 100 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE. HE PLEADED GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT IN DECEMBER 2007 TO A CONSPIRACY CHARGE AND AGREED TO COOPERATE IN AN INVESTIGATION. WELDON SERVED TWO DECADES IN CONGRESS BEFORE LOSING HIS SEAT IN 2006. HE HASN'T BEEN CHARGED. IN APRIL, A LOBBYIST WAS ALSO SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS PROBATION FOR DESTROYING EVIDENCE ABOUT HER TIES TO WELDON.


SUBWAY ALTERCATION-DEATH
2ND PHILLY TEEN PLEADS IN SUBWAY ATTACK DEATH
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A SECOND TEEN HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO MURDER IN A FATAL ATTACK ON A STARBUCKS MANAGER AT A PHILADELPHIA SUBWAY STATION. AUTHORITIES SAY THE MARCH 2008 ASSAULT ON SEAN CONROY WAS PROMPTED BY A DARE AND TRIGGERED A FATAL ASTHMA ATTACK. PROSECUTORS SAY 16-YEAR-OLD ARTHUR ALSTON PLEADED GUILTY AS AN ADULT THURSDAY TO THIRD-DEGREE MURDER AND FACES A MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF 20 TO 40 YEARS. ALSTON ADMITS HE THREW THE FIRST PUNCH. HIS BAIL HAS BEEN REVOKED SINCE HIS ARREST FOR ALLEGEDLY PUNCHING SOMEONE AT AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL IN APRIL. ONE OF FOUR OTHER TEENS CHARGED IN CONROY'S DEATH HAS ALSO PLEADED GUILTY TO THIRD-DEGREE MURDER. THE 36-YEAR-OLD CONROY LIVED IN PHILADELPHIA. THE ATTACK OCCURRED IN THE AFTERNOON ON A CONCOURSE NEAR CITY HALL. PITTSBURGH G-20-SUMMIT


G-20 POLICE PLANNING A PUZZLE FOR PITTSBURGH CHIEF
PITTSBURGH (AP) - SECURITY PLANNING FOR THE GROUP OF 20 ECONOMIC SUMMIT IN PITTSBURGH IS A NUMBERS GAME DRIVEN BY QUESTIONS THAT CAN'T READILY BE ANSWERED. POLICE CHIEF NATE HARPER ESTIMATES SOME 4,000 OFFICERS WILL BE NEEDED, BUT THE CITY HAS FEWER THAN 900. THAT'S WHY HARPER HAS ASKED 100 U.S. POLICE DEPARTMENTS FOR MANPOWER, THOUGH HE'S ALREADY DOUBLED THE SIZE OF HIS FORCE WITH COMMITMENTS FROM REGIONAL AGENCIES. STILL, PLANS TO CONTROL PROTESTS AND SAFEGUARD THE TWO-DAY SEPTEMBER EVENT REMAIN SECRETIVE AND IN FLUX. FOR EXAMPLE, HARPER SAYS HIS 4,000-OFFICER ESTIMATE DEPENDS ON A YET-TO-BE-DETERMINED SECURITY PERIMETER. AND HARPER STILL HAS TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO HOUSE THE REINFORCEMENTS AND HOW TO PAY FOR THEM, THOUGH HE EXPECTS SOME FEDERAL AID.



ALLENTOWN BISHOP
NEW BISHOP INSTALLED IN ALLENTOWN, PA.
ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN HAS COMPLETED THE INSTALLATION OF ITS NEW BISHOP. HE IS 48-YEAR-OLD JOHN BARRES, WHO UNTIL RECENTLY WAS CHANCELLOR OF THE WILMINGTON, DEL., DIOCESE. HE HELD THAT POSITION SINCE 2000. BARRES WAS INSTALLED IN A THREE-HOUR MASS OF ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION HELD THURSDAY NIGHT. HE SUCCEEDS BISHOP EDWARD CULLEN, WHO HAS REACHED THE CATHOLIC CHURCH'S MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE OF 75.


HARLEY DAVIDSON PLANT
HARLEY EXPLAINS PROBLEMS AT YORK, PA., PLANT
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A SPOKESMAN FOR HARLEY DAVIDSON SAYS ITS MOTORCYLE ASSEMBLY COMPLEX IN SOUTH-CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA HAS TOO
MUCH CAPACITY. HARLEY SPOKESMAN BOB KLEIN SAYS THE MILWAUKEE-BASED COMPANY WILL BE STUDYING THE YORK PLANT'S LONG-TERM COMPETITIVENESS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. HE SAYS THE COMPANY WANTS TO STAY IN YORK BUT MAY MOVE THE WORK ELSEWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES IF PROBLEMS THERE CAN'T BE WORKED OUT. KLEIN SAYS ONE OF THE YORK COMPLEX'S TWO MAIN ASSEMBLY PLANTS IS OF WORLD WAR II VINTAGE. KLEIN SAYS THE LARGE NUMBER OF JOB CLASSIFICATIONS IN THE UNION CONTRACT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SHIFT WORKERS INTO DIFFERENT DUTIES. ALSO, HE SAYS THERE ARE ISSUES WITH OVERTIME SCHEDULING AND ABSENTEEISM. PENNSYLVANIA GOV. ED RENDELL SAYS HE'S PREPARING A PACKAGE OF STATE AID DESIGNED TO KEEP THE PLANT IN YORK.


BRYN MAWR HIT-RUN
PHILLY-AREA HIT-RUN SUSPECT, 75, HAS FELONY CHARGE
ARDMORE, PA. (AP) - A 75-YEAR-OLD SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA WOMAN ACCUSED OF HITTING A TEENAGE BICYCLIST WITH HER CAR AND LEAVING THE SCENE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH A FELONY. SUZANNE LAMMERS WAS ARRAIGNED THURSDAY ON THE FELONY CHARGE OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING PERSONAL INJURY AND THE SUMMARY OFFENSE OF FAILURE TO STOP AND RENDER ASSISTANCE. THE VILLANOVA WOMAN IGNORED REPORTERS' QUESTIONS AS SHE ENTERED AND LEFT HER ARRAIGNMENT AT A POLICE STATION IN ARDMORE. LAMMERS TOLD POLICE THAT SHE THOUGHT SHE HIT A DEER IN THE JULY 15 ACCIDENT. THE BOY SHE HIT, 13-YEAR-OLD ANDREW MALLEE, WAS TAKEN TO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA FOR HEAD INJURIES. LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP POLICE SUPERINTENDENT MICHAEL MCGRATH SAYS HE'S EXPECTED TO MAKE A FULL RECOVERY.


WASHINGTON (AP) - ON CAPITOL HILL, WORK WENT ON INTO THE NIGHT AGAIN ON A SWEEPING HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL. IN A SURPRISING REVERSAL, A KEY HOUSE PANEL PASSED AN ANTI-ABORTION AMENDMENT, THEN DEFEATED IT WHEN THE CHAIRMAN RAISED IT FOR A SECOND VOTE. THE COMMITTEE HOPES TO FINISH ITS WORK ON THE HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL LATER TODAY.


WASHINGTON (AP) - TENS OF THOUSANDS OF UNSAFE OR DECAYING BRIDGES ARE STILL NOT GETTING REPAIRS, DESPITE PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S VOW TO REBUILD THOSE STRUCTURES UNDER THE $787 BILLION ECONOMIC STIMULUS. STATE OFFICIALS SAY THE MEASURE CALLS FOR RECOVERY MONEY TO BE SPENT QUICKLY -- BUT THEY SAY REPAIRS ON UNSAFE BRIDGES NEED YEARS OF PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION.


WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYS HE EXPECTS TODAY'S REPORT ON THE NATION'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT TO SHOW THE ECONOMY SHRANK DURING THE SECOND QUARTER. HE SAYS THAT SHOWS THE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE. STILL, HE SAYS THE U.S. HAS "STEPPED AWAY FROM THE PRECIPICE."


MEXICO CITY (AP) - MEXICO'S TREASURY DEPARTMENT SAYS THE COUNTRY HAS LOST NEARLY 600,000 JOBS SINCE JUNE 2008. THAT'S A MORE THAN 4 PERCENT DROP AS OF JUNE OF THIS YEAR. THE REPORT BLAMES THE DECLINE ON AN "ADVERSE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT," AS WELL AS THE SWINE FLU OUTBREAK THAT LED TO WIDESPREAD COMMERCIAL SHUTDOWNS.


WASHINGTON (AP) - A POLL SUGGESTS THAT AMERICANS ARE MORE LIKELY TO DISAPPROVE THAN APPROVE OF HOW PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HAS DEALT
WITH THE DISPUTE INVOLVING A BLACK HARVARD SCHOLAR AND A WHITE POLICE OFFICER. THE POLL BY THE NONPARTISAN PEW RESEARCH CENTER ALSO FINDS OBAMA'S OVERALL JOB APPROVAL IS DOWN TO 54 PERCENT, COMPARED WITH 61 PERCENT LAST MONTH.