Today's News-Tuesday, July 7, 2009

SCARBINSKY NAMED INTERIM ADMINISTRATOR

A LONGTIME COUNTY EMPLOYEE IS KEEPING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS SEAT WARM WHILE A SEARCH CONTINUES FOR A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT. COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR MARK SCARBINSKY WAS APPOINTED INTERIM COUNTY ADMINSTRATOR AFTER DARLENE DOLZANI RETIRED LAST WEEK. ACCORDING TO THE REPUBLICAN AND HERALD COUNTY OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FOR THE $65-THOUSAND-DOLLARS A YEAR POST. SCARBINSKY WILL BE PAID AN ADDITIONAL STIPEND WHILE SERVING IN THE INTERIM POSITION.

BLIGHT FIGHT

THE PROBLEM OF RUN DOWN PROPERTIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES MAY SOON BEGIN TO TURN A CORNER AFTER THE PASSAGE OF A BLIGHT BILL INTRODUCED BY SENATOR DAVE ARGALL. ARGALL WAS IN PORT CARBON MONDAY TO TALK ABOUT SENATE BILL 900, WHICH MOVED OUT OF THE URBAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. THE SENATOR EXPLAINS THE LEGISLATION:

ARGALL BLIGHT

THE LEGISLATION IS BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF THE BLIGHT TASK FORCE, A COALITION DEDICATED TO TACKLING THE PROBLEMS OF BLIGHTED AND ABANDONED BUILDINGS ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA. THE LATE SENATOR JIM RHOADES CREATED THE BLIGHT TASK FORCE AND WORKED TIRELESSLY TO REDUCE THE PROBLEM BEFORE HIS DEATH LAST FALL.

PINE GROVE MAN HIT BY CAR

A PINE GROVE MAN WAS INJURED WHEN HE COLLIDED WITH A CAR WHILE WALKING ON ROUTE 61 SUNDAY EVENING. STATE POLICE SAY 39 YEAR OLD JAMES RUNYON WAS WALKING IN THE NORTHBOUND PASSING LANE AND TALKING ON A CELL PHONE WHEN HE WANDERED INTO THE PATH OF A CAR OPERATED BY 21 YEAR OLD JACQUELINE SAFKO OF OLYPHANT. RUNYON WAS THROWN ONTO THE WINDSHIELD OF SAFKO’S CAR. RUNYON WAS FLOWN TO LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT.

MOTORCYCLIST INJURED IN CRASH

AN ELYSBURG MAN WAS HURT WHEN HIS MOTORCYCLE COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE IN FOSTER TOWNSHIP MONDAY NIGHT. 57 YEAR OLD DAVID LINDENMUTH WAS EASTBOUND ON ROUTE 901 AND ARLIN SENSENIG OF MYERSTOWN WAS WAITING AT THE OFF RAMP OF INTERSTATE 81. STATE POLICE SENSENIG DIDN’T SEE LINDENMUTH AND PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HIM, AND LINDENMUTH WAS THROWN FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. HE WAS FLOWN TO GEISINGER MEDICAL CENTER FOR TREATMENT.

MAJOR SEWER WORK UNDERWAY

MAJOR UPGRADES ARE UNDERWAY FOR ONE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY TOWNSHIP THANKS IN PART TO FEDERAL LOAN MONIES. CONGRESSMAN TIM HOLDEN PRESENTED THE CHECK FOR $640 THOUSAND DOLLARS MONDAY, THE FINAL PART OF THE FUNDING NECESSARY TO COMPLETE WAYNE TOWNSHIPS SEWER UPGRADE. MORE THAN THREE MILLION DOLLARS IN LOANS AND GRANTS HAD BEEN RECEIVED SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT MONDAY’S FUNDING COMPLETED THE FINANCING PACKAGE TO REPLACE MORE THAN 7 MILES OF SEWER PIPE. THE MONEY CAME FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURES RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

BLOOD URGENTLY NEEDED

AS WE ROLL OUR WAY INTO THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER MANY OF US DON’T THINK ABOUT DONATING BLOOD. BUT SUPPLIES OF BLOOD PRODUCTS ARE AT DANGEROUSLY LOW LEVELS AND YOUR HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED. WPPA AND T102 ARE PARTNERING WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS FOR THEIR "O WHAT A SUMMER" BLOOD CAMPAIGN. THERE ARE SEVERAL STOPS SLATED IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY….WEDNESDAY, AT THE ROLLER ROOST IN POTTSVILLE, THURSDAY AT JERUSALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH IN SCHUYLKILL HAVEN AND SATURDAY AT THE FAIRLANE VILLAGE MALL. MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY, WON’T YOU, BY CALLING THE RED CROSS AT 1-800-GIVELIFE.

LEGISLATIVE BONUSES
PRETRIAL MOTIONS ON TAP IN LEGISLATIVE BONUS CASE
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST TWO FORMER STATE LAWMAKERS AND 10 OTHERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS IS HEADING TO A COUNTY JUDGE FOR ARGUMENT OVER PRETRIAL MOTIONS. THE HEARING THAT'S SCHEDULED TO BEGIN TODAY IN DAUPHIN COUNTY COURT COULD LAST TWO DAYS. JUDGE RICHARD LEWIS IS BEING ASKED TO DECIDE IF THE DEFENDANTS SHOULD BE TRIED SEPARATELY, IF PROSECUTORS ARE TURNING OVER ENOUGH DISCOVERY MATERIAL AND WHETHER ANYONE'S BEEN IMPROPERLY SINGLED OUT FOR CRIMINAL CHARGES. DOZENS OF SUBPOENAS WERE ISSUED BY SOME OF THE DEFENDANTS' LAWYERS IN RECENT DAYS, TARGETING LAWMAKERS AND LEGISLATIVE AIDES. LEWIS MAY HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER TO FORCE THE RECIPIENTS TO TESTIFY. THE DEFENDANTS ARE CHARGED WITH THEFT, CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND CONSPIRACY. PROSECUTORS SAY THEY DIVERTED PUBLIC RESOURCES AND STATE EMPLOYEES FOR CAMPAIGNING OR OTHER IMPROPER PURPOSES.

SHRINERS HOSPITALS
DELEGATES VOTE TO KEEP SHRINER HOSPITALS OPEN
SAN ANTONIO (AP) - SIX SHRINERS HOSPITALS THAT WERE POSSIBLE TARGETS FOR CLOSING APPEAR TO HAVE WON AN INITIAL REPRIEVE. THE FACILITIES INCLUDE ONE IN ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA. DELEGATES AT A NATIONAL SHRINERS CONVENTION VOTED YESTERDAY TO KEEP ALL THE SHRINERS' 22 HOSPITALS OPEN, BUT NO DECISION ON THE FUTURE OF THE HOSPITALS IS FINAL UNTIL THE CONVENTION ENDS THURSDAY. THE DELIBERATIONS ARE DONE IN SECRET BY THE FRATERNAL ORDER AND THE MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED TO TAKE UP NEW PROPOSALS BETWEEN
NOW AND THE END OF THE CONVENTION. IN ADDITION, THE DELEGATES VOTED 756-482 TO REOPEN THE SHRINERS HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN-GALVESTON. THE BURN HOSPITAL HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE HURRICANE IKE HIT IN SEPTEMBER. TOMMY LAMBRIGHT, A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF THE GALVESTON HOSPITAL, WARNED THAT EFFORTS COULD BE MADE TO BRING UP NEW MEASURES TO KEEP THE HOSPITAL CLOSED, THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE REPORTED.

STATE BUDGET
RENDELL, LAWMAKERS HOLD BRIEF BUDGET NEGOTIATION
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT PROGRESS WAS MADE IN A MEETING BETWEEN GOV. ED RENDELL AND TOP LEGISLATIVE LEADERS OVER THE STATE BUDGET. THE MEETING BROKE UP AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES. THE SIDES ARE ABOUT $2 BILLION APART, AND REPUBLICANS ARE FIGHTING DEMOCRATIC PROPOSALS TO ADD NEW TAXES OR EXPAND EXISTING ONES. THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR OFFERED ANOTHER $72 MILLION IN CUTS, WHICH REPUBLICAN LEADERS SAID THEY WOULD EXAMINE BEFORE MEETING AGAIN. MONDAY'S BRIEF MEETING WAS THE FIRST SINCE THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND, AND CAME NEARLY A WEEK AFTER THE STATE STARTED ITS FISCAL YEAR WITHOUT LEGAL AUTHORITY FOR MUCH OF ITS SPENDING.

CHILD RAPED
PA. MAN CHARGED IN RAPE OF 5-YEAR-OLD GIRL
TAYLOR, PA. (AP) - A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN IS ACCUSED OF RAPING A 5-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN HER BEDROOM. FELIX MONTOYA AND THE GIRL'S FAMILY BOTH LIVED IN THE MAPLE MANOR MOBILE HOME PARK IN TAYLOR, BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW EACH OTHER. THE TRAILER PARK'S MANAGER SAID MONDAY THAT MONTOYA WAS ALLOWED TO LIVE THERE ONLY AFTER SHOWING PROPER IDENTIFICATION AND PASSING A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK. POLICE SAY THE 40-YEAR-OLD MAN SHOWED UP UNINVITED AND DRUNK AT THE FOURTH OF JULY PICNIC THAT THE FAMILY HELD SATURDAY AND WAS ASKED TO LEAVE. POLICE SAY WHEN THE GIRL'S MOTHER CHECKED ON HER AT ABOUT 2 A.M. SUNDAY, SHE HAD SEVERE INJURIES AND MONTOYA WAS IN THE ROOM. WHEN A JUDGE ASKED MONTOYA IF HE HAD ANYTHING TO SAY, HE REPLIED, "I AM SORRY FOR REAL. I NEVER DID ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE IN MY LIFE. IT IS STUPID."

ALLENTOWN ATTORNEY-CHARGES
PA. LAWYER PLEADS IN $5 MILLION TAX-EVASION CASE
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - AN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA LAWYER HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO FAILING TO PAY $1.9 MILLION IN TAXES ON $5 MILLION IN UNREPORTED INCOME. LEHIGH VALLEY LAWYER JOHN KAROLY JR. HAD BEEN SCHEDULED TO GO ON TRIAL MONDAY IN FEDERAL COURT IN PHILADELPHIA. PROSECUTORS ARE DROPPING CONSPIRACY CHARGES AGAINST SEVERAL CO-DEFENDANTS, INCLUDING KAROLY'S SON, AND WILL RESOLVE OTHER CHARGES THROUGH A NON-JURY TRIAL. THE INDICTMENT CHARGED KAROLY WITH FAKING THE WILLS OF HIS WEALTHY BROTHER AND SISTER-IN-LAW, WHO DIED IN A 2007 PLANE CRASH. KAROLY HAS AGREED TO GIVE UP ALL CLAIMS TO THEIR ESTATE. THE 59-YEAR-OLD KAROLY COULD FACE PRISON TIME ON THE THREE TAX COUNTS. HE IS WELL-KNOWN IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY FOR SUING POLICE DEPARTMENTS OVER CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES.

JUDGE-CHARGES
PA. ETHICS PANEL FILES CHARGES AGAINST ERIE JUDGE
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A DISTRICT JUDGE FROM ERIE COUNTY IS ACCUSED OF VIOLATING THE STATE CONSTITUTION AND ETHICAL RULES BY HARASSING WOMEN AND LYING ABOUT HIS QUALIFICATIONS TO HOLD OFFICE. THE STATE JUDICIAL CONDUCT BOARD FILED THE CHARGES MONDAY AGAINST JUDGE GERARD ALONGE. THE BOARD ALLEGES THAT ALONGE BROUGHT DISREPUTE TO THE JUDICIARY BY MAKING HARASSING PHONE CALLS AND HAVING IMPROPER CONTACT WITH MORE THAN A HALF-DOZEN WOMEN, INCLUDING LAWYERS AND LAW CLERKS HE WORKED WITH. ALONGE'S LAWYER, PHILIP FRIEDMAN OF ERIE, DECLINED TO COMMENT ON THE CASE. THE STATE COURT OF JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE WILL DECIDE WHETHER THE CHARGES ARE TRUE AND WHAT, IF ANY, SANCTIONS SHOULD BE IMPOSED.

PRISON GUARDS FIRED
4 W.PA. PRISON GUARDS FIRED, 2 RESIGN
GREENSBURG, PA. (AP) - THE WESTMORELAND COUNTY PRISON BOARD HAS FIRED FOUR PRISON GUARDS AND ALLOWED TWO OTHERS TO RESIGN FOLLOWING AN INVESTIGATION OF AN INMATE'S ALLEGED BEATING. PRISON AUTHORITIES SAY THE INMATE WAS REMOVED FROM HIS CELL LAST MONTH AND BEATEN AS ONE OF THE GUARDS AS SOME OF THE OTHERS WATCHED. COUNTY COMMISSIONER CHARLES ANDERSON, WHO SERVES ON THE BOARD, SAYS THE GUARDS ACTIONS CAN'T BE TOLERATED. THE PRISON BOARD FIRED THE FOUR ON MONDAY.

PENN-SIRENS
PENN TO INSTALL SIREN ALERT SYSTEM ON CAMPUS
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA IS INSTALLING MORE THAN A DOZEN SIRENS ON CAMPUS AS PART OF AN EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM. THE 13 SPEAKERS WILL COMPLEMENT A SYSTEM THAT ALREADY SENDS TEXT MESSAGES, VOICEMAIL AND E-MAIL TO STUDENTS, STAFF AND FACULTY DURING CAMPUS EMERGENCIES. THE SIRENS WILL SOUND A TONE FOR 15 SECONDS, FOLLOWED BY VOICE INSTRUCTIONS. PENN SAFETY OFFICIALS SAY THE SYSTEM WILL BE HEARD IN ABOUT 95 PERCENT OF THE OUTDOOR CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT. OFFICIALS SAY THE VOLUME IS NOT DESIGNED TO PENETRATE BUILDINGS, BUT WILL BE AUDIBLE ABOVE NORMAL STREET NOISE IN SURROUNDING WEST PHILADELPHIA. THE IVY LEAGUE UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED MONDAY THAT IT WILL BEGIN TESTING THE SYSTEM IN MID-AUGUST.

MOSCOW (AP) - AFTER MEETING WITH RUSSIA'S LEADERS THE PAST TWO DAYS, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HAS BEEN SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE. IN A SPEECH AT MOSCOW'S NEW ECONOMIC SCHOOL, THE PRESIDENT SAID RESETTING U.S.-RUSSIAN RELATIONS REQUIRES UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION, NOT JUST BETWEEN LEADERS BUT BETWEEN PEOPLE. OBAMA SAY THE TWO COUNTRIES ARE NOT "DESTINED TO BE ANTAGONISTS."

MOSCOW (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HAS BEEN LAYING OUT HIS VISION OF THE COMMON INTERESTS THE U.S. SHARES WITH RUSSIA. AT THE TOP OF THE LIST ARE HALTING THE SPREAD OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND CONFRONTING VIOLENT EXTREMISTS. IN A SPEECH TO RUSSIAN COLLEGE STUDENTS HE SAYS WASHINGTON AND MOSCOW MUST BE UNITED IN RESISTING NORTH KOREA'S ATTEMPT TO BECOME A NUCLEAR POWER AND IRAN'S EFFORT TO GET A NUCLEAR WEAPON.

ISLAMABAD (AP) - PAKISTANI INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS SAY FIVE FOREIGNERS ARE AMONG AT LEAST 12 MILITANTS KILLED IN A SUSPECTED U.S. MISSILES STRIKE ON A TRAINING CAMP RUN BY PAKISTANI TALIBAN LEADER BAITULLAH MEHSUD (BEH'-TUH-LUH MAH-SOOD'). TOP ARAB LEADERS OF AL-QAIDA ARE BELIEVED TO BE HIDING IN THE AREA WHERE THE ATTACK TOOK PLACE NEAR THE AFGHAN BORDER IN SOUTH WAZIRISTAN.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - MICHAEL JACKSON FANS ARE PREPARING FOR A FINAL PUBLIC FAREWELL TO THE KING OF POP. LOS ANGELES POLICE ARE HOPING TO AVOID A MOB SCENE DOWNTOWN TOMORROW'S MEMORIAL AT THE STAPLES CENTER, WARNING THOSE WITHOUT TICKETS TO STAY AWAY. PARTICIPANTS WILL INCLUDE STEVIE WONDER, MARIAH CAREY, USHER, LIONEL RICHIE, JENNIFER HUDSON AND JOHN MAYER.

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA (AP) - SARAH PALIN IS RETURNING TO THE PUBLIC EYE LATER TODAY. THE ALASKA GOVERNOR IS HEADING TO A REMOTE FISHING VILLAGE 30 MILES NORTH OF THE ARCTIC CIRCLE. SHE'LL SIGN A BILL THERE DESIGNED TO BRING PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS TO SMALL TOWNS. IT COMES FOUR DAYS AFTER ANNOUNCING HER RESIGNATION.