Today's News-Wednesday, July 15 2009

ASHLAND WOMAN SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES

AN ASHLAND WOMAN HAS DIED FROM INJURIES SUFFERED IN A WEEKEND CRASH. THE TWO VEHICLE ACCIDENT ALONG INTERSTATE 81 HAPPENED NEAR THE DELANO EXIT BEFORE 5PM. POLICE SAY 46 YEAR OLD KATHLEEN TEMPLE WAS TRYING TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE AND STRUCK THE RIGHT SIDE OF A CAR DRIVEN BY 24 YEAR OLD MATTHEW CORRIDONI OF WORMLEYSBURG. TEMPLE DIED AT GEISINGER WYOMING VALLEY HOSPITAL EARLY TUESDAY. TWO OF THREE TEENAGE PASSENGERS IN TEMPLE’S CAR HAD MODERATE INJURIES. ONE WAS FLOWN TO GEISINGER WYOMING VALEY AND THE OTHER TO GEISINGER IN DANVILLE.

DRUG DEALER SENTENCED

A READING AREA MAN IS HEADED TO STATE PRISON FOR PUSHING DRUGS IN OUR AREA. JUDGE CHARLES MILLER SENTENCED 29 YEAR OLD RAUL ORTIZ TO 6 TO 12 YEARS FOR TRAFFICKING COCAINE IN SHENANDOAH, PLUS FINES. ORTIZ HAD PLEADED GUILTY LAST MONTH TO THE CHARGES. ACCORDING TO THE REPUBLICAN HERALD, ORTIZ SOLD COCAINE TO COUNTY DETECTIVES LAST FALL IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE SHENANDOAH REDNER’S MARKET. ORTIZ HAD REQUESTED LENIENCY IN SENTENCING.

STATE EMPLOYEES

THE LACK OF A STATE BUDGET WILL REALLY HIT HOME BY WEEK’S END FOR STATE EMPLOYEES WHO WILL ONLY GET A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR FULL PAY. PROTESTS WERE STAGED AT NOONTIME ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING HERE IN THE COUNTY, TO BRING THE PLIGHT OF STATE WORKERS TO THE FOREFRONT. UNION LEADERS HAVE EXPRESSED OUTRAGE AT LAWMAKERS INABILITY TO PASS A SPENDING PLAN. MIKE FOX, COUNCIL DIRECTOR OF AFSCME NUMBER 89 SAYS THAT THE IMPACT OF STATE WORKERS ON THE JOB WITH REDUCED, OR NO PAY, IS SIGNIFICANT FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS HERE IN SCHUYLKILL:

FOX

FOX WAS A GUEST ON WPPA’S STEP UP TO THE MIC. TODAY BEGINS THE THIRD WEEK WITHOUT A STATE BUDGET.

ADDITIONAL GRANT FOR WAYNE SEWER PROJECT

RESIDENTS IN WAYNE TOWNSHIP ARE GETTING ADDITIONAL HELP TO IMPROVE SEWAGE PROCESSING THANKS TO A STATE GRANT ANNOUNCED BY REPRESENTATIVE TIM SEIP. THE COMMONWEALTH FINANCING AUTHORITY APPROVED THE GRANT OF $1.57 MILLION DOLLARS TO AID IN THE INSTALLATION OF A GRAVITY SEWAGE COLLECTION AND CONVEYANCE SYSTEM ALONG THE LONG RUN STREAM TO CONNECT TO AN EXISTING SEWER LINE.

BABER CEMETERY HIT AGAIN

VANDALS HAVE STRUCK AT POTTSVILLE’S CHARLES BABER CEMETERY AGAIN. TEN MORE TOMBSTONES WERE FOUND TOPPLED ACCORDING TO POTTSVILLE POLICE. THAT’S IN ADDITION TO THE TWO AND A HALF DOZEN PUSHED OVER WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION SHOULD CALL POTTSVILLE PD.

CARS BROKEN INTO

A GUN AND OTHER ITEMS WERE TAKEN FROM UNLOCKED CARS IN NEW PHILADELPHIA RECENTLY ACCORDING TO STATE POLICE. WHILE ITS NOT CERTAIN IF THE INCIDENTS ARE RELATED, TOOLS WERE TAKEN FROM ONE VEHICLE, AND A 22 CALIBER HANDGUN AND A CHAINSAW FROM A PICKUP TRUCK. FRACKVILLE TROOPERS ARE INVESTIGATING.

CUMBOLA MAN BURNED

A CUMBOLA MAN WHO SUFFERED BURNS WHEN HE ACCIDENTLY CUT A PIPE FILLED WITH AMMONIA GAS REMAINS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL. CO OWNER OF THE FORMER POTTSVILLE ICE OCMPANY 56 YEAR OLD JOSEPH MINCHOFF ACCIDENTALLY CUT THE PIPE AT THE FACILITY AROUND 2:30PM YESTERDAY AT THE FORMER PLANT IN THE 400 BLOCK OF EAST RAILROAD STREET. MINCHOFF SUFFERED BURNS ON PARTS OF HIS BODY INCLUDING HIS BACK. HE ALSO SUFFERED RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS ALONG WITH RESCUE CREWS CHECKED THE AIR INSIDE THE BUILDING AFTER THE ACCIDENT. AS A PRECAUTION THE BUILDING WAS BOARDED UP.

SENATOR INVESTIGATION-TRIAL

FORMER PA. SENATOR GETS 55 YEARS FOR CORRUPTION
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THE TOP FEDERAL PROSECUTOR IN PHILADELPHIA SAYS A JUDGE SENT "A MIXED MESSAGE" BY SENTENCING A FORMER STATE SENATOR TO FOUR YEARS AND SEVEN MONTHS IN PRISON. ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY MICHAEL LEVY SAYS THE PUBLIC SEES VINCENT FUMO GOING TO PRISON, BUT FOR LESS TIME THAN OTHERS SENTENCED FOR PUBLIC CORRUPTION IN PHILADELPHIA IN RECENT YEARS. FUMO MISAPPROPRIATED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE STATE AND TWO NONPROFITS. A JURY FOUND THE PHILADELPHIA DEMOCRAT USED THEIR
COFFERS TO CLEAN HIS MANSION, CHARTER YACHTS, AND SPY ON AN EX-GIRLFRIEND AND POLITICAL FOES. IN ADDITON TO PRISON, THE JUDGE ORDERED FUMO TO PAY ABOUT $2 MILLION RESTITUTION, INCLUDING $1.3 MILLION TO THE SENATE, PLUS PAY $411,000 IN FINES.

SOTOMAYOR-SPECTER
SPECTER GOES HIS OWN WAY IN SUPREME COURT CONFIRMATION HEARINGS
WASHINGTON (AP) - SEN. ARLEN SPECTER HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING OF EVERY SITTING SUPREME COURT JUSTICE EXCEPT JOHN PAUL STEVENS. AND PENNSYLVANIA'S SENIOR SENATOR IS KNOWN FOR STUBBORNLY GOING HIS OWN WAY. HE IRKED WOMEN WITH HIS PROSECUTORIAL TREATMENT OF ANITA HILL WHEN SHE ACCUSED CLARENCE THOMAS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT DURING HIS SUPREME COURT CONFIRMATION HEARINGS IN 1991. FOUR YEARS EARLIER, HE IRKED REPUBLICANS BY SIDING WITH DEMOCRATS TO SINK THE NOMINATION OF JUDGE ROBERT BORK TO THE HIGH COURT. NO ONE THINKS SPECTER IS GOING TO GO LIGHTLY ON SOTOMAYOR SIMPLY BECAUSE HE'S NOW A DEMOCRAT.

PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE
SMALL PART OF PA. TURNPIKE TO STOP TRAFFIC
KING OF PRUSSIA, PA. (AP) - TRAFFIC IS TO BE STOPPED FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES WEDNESDAY ON A 2.1-MILE SECTION OF THE NORTHEAST EXTENSION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE. THE NOONTIME TRAFFIC STOPPAGE IS SO EXCAVATION WORK CAN BE DONE FOR A BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT. IT AFFECTS THE AREA NORTH OF THE MAHONING VALLEY INTERCHANGE AND SOUTH OF THE LEHIGH TUNNEL. TWO ADDITIONAL STOPPAGES ARE PLANNED ON THURSDAY. ADDITIONAL
EXCAVATION WORK IS PLANNED DURING MIDDAY HOURS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.

STATE BUDGET-EMPLOYEE PROTESTS
STATE WORKERS RALLY TO PROTEST 'PAYLESS PAYDAYS'
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA STATE EMPLOYEES STAGED RALLIES AND INFORMATIONAL PICKETS TO PROTEST A RENDELL ADMINISTRATION POLICY THAT REQUIRES THEM TO WORK WITHOUT PAY AS THE STATE BUDGET REMAINS IN LIMBO. STATE-WORKER UNIONS HELD A LUNCHTIME RALLY TUESDAY AT THE CAPITOL AND SIMILAR ACTIVITIES AT WORK SITES ACROSS THE STATE. MANY WERE WEARING ORANGE ARMBANDS AS SYMBOLS OF THEIR SOLIDARITY. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STATE WORKERS FACE THE PROSPECT OF MISSING SOME OF THEIR PAY STARTING WITH FRIDAY'S PAYCHECKS AND NOT BEING PAID AT ALL AFTER JULY 24. TUESDAY MARKS THE END OF THE SECOND WEEK THE STATE HAS GONE WITHOUT A BUDGET BECAUSE OF A DISPUTE BETWEEN DEMOCRATIC GOV. ED RENDELL AND REPUBLICANS WHO CONTROL THE STATE SENATE.

TODDLER DEATH
PITTSBURGH WOMAN GETS LIFE FOR KILLING DAUGHTER
PITTSBURGH (AP) - A PITTSBURGH WOMAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE FOR SUFFOCATING HER 2-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WITH A PLASTIC BAG. A JUDGE RULED TUESDAY AFTERNOON THAT 28-YEAR-OLD RONDA WATTS HAD COMMITTED FIRST-DEGREE MURDER. SHE PLEADED GUILTY TUESDAY MORNING TO A GENERAL COUNT OF HOMICIDE, LEAVING IT TO THE JUDGE TO DETERMINE THE DEGREE. JUDGE DAVID CASHMAN SAID WATTS "WENT FAR PAST WHAT WAS NEEDED FOR THE SPECIFIC INTENT TO KILL" WHEN SHE PLACED A BAG OVER BRYONNA WATTS' HEAD, PUT THE BODY IN A BOX AND LEFT THE BOX IN HER CLOSET IN JANUARY 2007. DEFENSE LAWYER JAMES SHEETS DIDN'T DISPUTE THE VERSION OF EVENTS GIVEN BY THE PROSECUTION.

PENNSYLVANIA SENATE
SPECTER OUTRAISES LIKELY DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER
WASHINGTON (AP) - DURING THE FUNDRAISING QUARTER IN WHICH SEN. ARLEN SPECTER SWITCHED FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, HE RAISED ABOUT $1.7 MILLION. HIS CAMPAIGN SAYS HE NOW HAS $7.5 MILLION TO SPEND. IN COMPARISON, HIS LIKELY 2010 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY CHALLENGER, REP. JOE SESTAK, HAS RAISED MORE THAN $1 MILLION DURING THE SAME PERIOD AND HAS $4.2 MILLION IN CASH. IN APRIL, SPECTER SEVERED HIS DECADES-LONG TIES TO THE GOP. THE THREE-MONTH LONG FUNDRAISING QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30. PAT TOOMEY, WHO NEARLY BEAT SPECTER IN THE 2004 GOP PRIMARY AND IS RUNNING AGAIN FOR THE SEAT, RAISED ABOUT $1.6 MILLION IN THE PERIOD AND HAS $1.1 MILLION IN CASH.

MOTORCYCLE DEATHS
PA. MAN GETS 5-10 YEARS FOR HIT-RUN DEATHS
PITTSBURGH (AP) - A WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO FIVE TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR KILLING A MOTORCYCLIST AND HIS PASSENGER WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE, THEN FLEEING THE SCENE. TUESDAY'S SENTENCE WAS THE RESULT OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN 54-YEAR-OOLD ROBERT BARTOK OF MUNHALL AND ALLEGHENY COUNTY PROSECUTORS. BARTOK ADMITTED GUILT FOR THE DEATHS OF 26-YEAR-OLD MOTORCYCLIST PAUL SCHMIDT AND HIS 31-YEAR-OLD PASSENGER, KELLY VASKO, BOTH OF GREENSBURG. THEY WERE KILLED IN A CRASH IN DUQUESNE ON JULY 11, 2008.

CELEBRITY PATHOLOGIST TRIAL
DEPT. OF JUSTICE HAS INQUIRY OF W.PA. US ATTORNEY
PITTSBURGH (AP) - THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS HOLDING AN INQUIRY INTO COMMENTS MADE BY PITTSBURGH'S U.S. ATTORNEY WHEN HER OFFICE ANNOUNCED IT WAS DISMISSING CHARGES AGAINST A RENOWNED PATHOLOGIST. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE MADE ITS INQUIRY KNOWN IN A LETTER TO DICK THORNBURGH, A FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO WAS PART OF CYRIL WECHT'S DEFENSE TEAM. IN JUNE, MARY BETH BUCHANAN ANNOUNCED SHE WAS DISMISSING THE CHARGES. SHE MADE HER ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER A JUDGE THREW OUT TWO SEARCH WARRANTS. AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE, BUCHANAN THE CHARGES AGAINST WECHT, SAYING "I STILL BELIEVE A CRIME WAS COMMITTED
HERE." A TRIAL AGAINST WECHT ENDED IN A HUNG JURY IN APRIL 2008. AN
ORIGINAL 84 CHARGES AGAINST HIM WERE SLOWLY WHITTLED DOWN TO THE 14 COUNTS DROPPED IN JUNE.

GAS DRILLING
FIRST GAS DRILLING PERMIT ISSUED IN LACKAWANNA CO.
SCRANTON, PA. (AP) - STATE REGULATORS HAVE ISSUED THE FIRST PERMIT IN LACKAWANNA COUNTY TO DRILL FOR NATURAL GAS ON THE POTENTIALLY LUCRATIVE MARCELLUS SHALE FORMATION. EXCO RESOURCES INC. SAID MONDAY IT RECEIVED THE PERMIT FROM STATE REGULATORS TO DRILL TWO SITES NEAR THE SKYLINE PUBLIC GOLF COURSE IN GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP. SPOKESWOMAN RITA MCCONNELL FOR THE DALLAS-BASED COMPANY COULDN'T IMMEDIATELY SAY WHEN THE COMPANY WILL START DRILLING. SHE SAYS THAT'LL DEPEND ON THE PROGRESS OF OTHER RIGS AND WORK CREWS. DRILLING IS ALREADY UNDER WAY IN NEIGHBORING SUSQUEHANNA, WAYNE AND WYOMING COUNTIES. THE GOLF COURSE WAS PART OF A COLLECTIVELY NEGOTIATED NATURAL GAS LEASE OF 25,000 ACRES THAT EXCO BOUGHT FOR $2,100 PER ACRE AND AN 18 PERCENT RODUCTION ROYALTY.

COLLEGES-ELECTRIC RATES
PENN ST ROLLS OUT NEW ENERGY POLICY AMID RATE HIKE
STATE COLLEGE, PA. (AP) - PENN STATE UNIVERSITY IS ROLLING OUT A NEW ENERGY CONSERVATION POLICY THIS FALL, IN PART TO HELP LOWER AN ELECTRIC BILL THAT HAS SKYROCKETED SINCE RATE CAPS WERE LIFTED EARLIER THIS YEAR. THE SCHOOL SAYS THE MONTHLY BILL AT UNIVERSITY PARK HAS DOUBLED TO ABOUT $2 MILLION. THAT, IN TURN, HAS LED TO A $25 PER SEMESTER INCREASE IN ROOM RATES. WHILE THE INCREASE REPRESENTS A FRACTION OF THE PRICE FOR A STANDARD DOUBLE ROOM, IT'S AN ADDITIONAL COST FOR STUDENTS ALREADY
PREPARING FOR AS MUCH AS A 10 PERCENT HIKE IN TUITION. PENN STATE, LIKE OTHER SCHOOLS ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA, HOPES A RENEWED DRIVE TO CONSERVE HELPS MEET GOALS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS WHILE REDUCING THE BILLS DURING A TIME OF GROWING CONCERN OVER THE BUDGET.