Today's News-Wednesday July 29 2009

STANDOFF ENDS PEACEFULLY

POLICE FROM NORTHERN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY RESOLVED A STANDOFF AT A MAHANOY CITY MAN’S HOME LAST NIGHT. POLICE FROM MAHANOY CITY WERE CALLED TO THE HOME OF 45 YEAR OLD VINCENT CROSBY ON WEST MAHANOY AVENUE, WHERE IT WAS REPORTED BY A NEIGHBOR HE HE WAS LOADING A WEAPON INSIDE. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THAT OFFICERS WERE NOT TAKING ANY CHANCES WITH THE SITUATION AND CORDONED OFF THE AREA SURROUNDING THE HOUSE, AND WITHIN ABOUT 90 MINUTES, CROSBY WAS TAKEN AWAY TO SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER FOR A MEDICAL EVALUATION. MAHANOY CITY PD WAS ASSISTED BY LOCAL AND STATE POLICE IN RESOLVING THE SITUATION QUICKLY.

STINE TO LEAVE 4 SEATS VACANT FOR NOW

A COUNTY JUDGE SAYS HE WON'T APPOINT ANY MORE MEMBERS TO THE NORTH SCHUYLKILL SCHOOL BOARD FOR THE TIME BEING WHILE BOARD MEMBERS HE REMOVED APPEAL THEIR OUSTER. JUDGE D. MICHAEL STINE REMOVED EIGHT OF THE NINE MEMBERS OF THE NORTH SCHUYLKILL BOARD IN A JUNE 23 ORDER. HE SAID THEY BROKE THE LAW BY FAILING TO APPOINT A NEW SUPERIENTENDENT FOR TWO YEARS AFTER THE OLD ONE LEFT. TWO DAYS LATER, STINE APPOINTED FOUR NEW MEMBERS TO THE BOARD, ALLOWING IT ENOUGH MEMBERS TO HAVE A QUORUM TO CONDUCT BUSINESS. THE OUSTED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ARE APPEALING TO COMMONWEALTH COURT. ON TUESDAY, THE JUDGE SAID HE WOULD LEAVE THE REMAINING FOUR SEATS VACANT WHILE ACTION IS PENDING IN THE HIGHER COURT.

GOODMAN, SEIP URGE STOPGAP PAY MEASURE

A COMMITTEE CHARGED WITH BREAKING THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE BUDGET STALEMATE IS TO MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME WEDNESDAY. BUT THE JOINT HOUSE-SENATE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE HOLDS LITTLE PROMISE OF CLOSING THE YAWNING DIVIDE BETWEEN DEMOCRATIC GOV. ED RENDELL AND REPUBLICANS WHO CONTROL THE STATE SENATE. THIS COMES AFTER HUNDREDS OF STATE EMPLOYEES FACING DISAPPEARING PAYCHECKS RANG COWBELLS, WAVED SIGNS AND SHOUTED SLOGANS IN A RAUCOUS DISPLAY OF ANGER. ONE MAN CARRIED A SIGN THAT READ, "WILL WORK FOR PAYCHECK." FRIDAY IS SUPPOSED TO BE PAYDAY. BUT 33,000 EMPLOYEES WHO RECEIVED A PARTIAL PAYCHECK ON JULY 17 WILL RECEIVE NOTHING, UNLESS RENDELL MAKES GOOD ON A PLEDGE TO FIND A WAY TO SPEED MONEY TO MAKE PAYROLL. A BILL IN THE STATE HOUSE HAS BEEN INTRODUCED, AND CO SPONSORED BY SCHUYLKILL COUNTY LEGISLATORS NEAL GOODMAN AND TIM SEIP URGES THE POWERS THAT BE TO PUT A STOPGAP MEASURE IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT STATE WORKERS GET PAID ON TIME.

DAIRY FARMERS TRY TO HANG ON FOR HIGHER MILK PRICES

WHILE THE GOVERNORS BID FOR DEBT RELIEF FOR PENNSYLVANIA DAIRY FARMERS COULD HELP THEM RIDE OUT THE CURRENT MILK PRICE DOWNTURN, AN ECONOMIST IN PENN STATES COLLEGE OF AG SCIENCES SAYS BETTER PRICES COULD BE IN SIGHT. RENDELL JOINED SEVEN OTHER NORTHEASTERN GOVERNORS TO SEEK DEBT RELIEF FROM THE U-S-D-A IN RESPONSE TO HIGH PRODUCTION COSTS AND LOW MILK PRICES. PENN STATE AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST JIM DUNN SAYS, WHILE THE RELIEF WOULD BE SHORT-TERM, IT COULD HELP KEEP STRUGGLING DAIRY PRODUCERS IN BUSINESS UNTIL PRICES REBOUND:

DUNN

THE WEAK PRICES ARE A RESULT OF AMERICAN OVERPRODUCTION, AS THE NATION'S DAIRY PRODUCERS EXPANDED TO FILL INTERNATIONAL DEMAND.

UNDERAGE DRINKING FIGHT GETS SHOT IN ARM

A COUNTY AGENCY HAS RECEIVED MONIES FROM THE PA LIQUOR CONTROL BOARD TO SUPPORT INITIATIVES TO PREVENT UNDERAGE AND DANGEROUS DRINKING. SCHUYLKILL COUNTY’S COMMUNITIES MOBILIZING FOR CHANGE ON ALCOHOL MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT TUESDAY. TAMMY SPEVAK, CMCA PROGRAM COORDINATOR SAYS THE MONEY WILL BE USED TO OFFER THE PLCB LICENSEE BEVERAGE SERVER TRAINING PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND TO MARKET A PROGRAM TO PARENTS ABOUT THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND LEGAL RISKS ABOUT SERVING ALCOHOL TO TEENS. SCHUYLKILL CMCA IS ONE OF 73 GROUPS RECEIVING FUNDS FROM THE LCB.

DRUG PUSHER SENTENCED

A BUCKS COUNTY MAN INVOLVED IN A SCHUYLKILL-COLUMBIA COUNTY DRUG RING HAS BEEN SENTENCED IN FEDERAL COURT. US ATTORNEY FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PA MARTIN CARLSON SAID 25 YEAR OLD KEVIN CLIVER OF PERKASIE WAS SENTENCED TO 40 MONTHS IN PRISON AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE MORE THAN 500 GRAMS OF COKE, METH AND MARIJUANA. CLIVER WAS ONE OF THREE PEOPLE INDICTED BY A FEDERAL GRAND JURY AS THE RESULT OF A D.E.A INVESTIGATION.

BURGLARIES IN AREA

STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING TWO SEPARATE BURGLARIES IN OUR AREA. THE FIRST ONE OCCURRED OVER A ONE MONTH PERIOD AT A LONG RUN ROAD HOME. SOMEONE TOOK MONEY FROM A SAFE OWNED BY BRANDI DALTON. A SUMMER VALLEY ROAD HOME WAS BURGLARIZED DURING THE DAY TUESDAY, GAINING ENTRANCE THROUGH A WINDOW AT THE REAR OF THE HOUSE. AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF PROPERTY WAS TAKEN DURING THE BREAK IN. CONTACT STATE POLICE IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THESE BURGLARIES.

TAMAQUA MAN INJURED

A TAMAQUA MAN WAS SERIOUSLY HURT WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE HE WAS RIDING WAS STRUCK BY A TRUCK. ACCORDING TO RUSH TOWNSHIP POLICE, 61 YEAR OLD GARY WETTERAU WAS RIDING HIS CYCLE ON ROUTE 309 WHEN A TRUCK DRIVEN BY JOHN COOL OF HOMETOWN PULLED OUT FROM HOLLAND STREET AND HIT WETTERAU. WETTERAU WAS FLOWN TO LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF FACIAL INJURIES. HE REMAINS IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

FAIR DRAWS GOOD CROWD DURING KIDS DAY

THE KIDS TOOK OVER THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS TUESDAY ON ONE OF THE WARMEST DAYS OF THE SUMMER SO FAR. GAMES AND OTHER FUN GAVE KIDS A FULL DAYS ENTERTAINMENT, WITH MUSIC FROM AREA FAVORITE THE FABULOUS GREASEBAND ON THE M&T BANK STAGE. TODAY…THE FAIR IS TURNED OVER TO THE SENIOR CITIZENS AND MUSIC FROM BEATLE TRIBUTE BAND “THE RETURN” AT 7 & 9 PM.



SUV SLAYING
PA. MAN CHARGED IN SLAYING IN FRONT OF CHILDREN
CAMP HILL, PA. (AP) - A SOUTH-CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA MAN SHOT DEAD IN FRONT OF HIS GIRLFRIEND AND HER CHILDREN FILED A POLICE REPORT DYS EARLIER ACCUSING HIS GIRLFRIEND'S ESTRANGED HUSBAND OF STALKING HIM. KENNETH GEIGER III FILED A POLICE REPORT JULY 22 SAYING 3-YEAR-OLD RICKY MILLER JR. OF GAP, LANCASTER COUNTY, HAD FOLLOWED HIM FROM HIS HOME IN HAMDEN TOWNSHIP TO HIS JOB IN CAMP HILL. POLICE CONSIDERED CHARGING MILLER WITH HARASSMENT BUT HAD NOT DONE SO WHEN GEIGER WAS SHOT AND KILLED SUNDAY NIGHT. MILLER WAS CAPTURED MONDAY NIGHT AFTER A DAYLONG HUNT AFTER HE APPARENTLY FELL 15 FEET FROM AN OIL STORAGE TANK IN HAMPDEN
TOWNSHIP DURING HEAVY RAIN. MILLER IS CHARGED WITH ONE COUNT OF CRIMINAL HOMICIDE AND FOUR COUNTS OF RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING ANOTHER PERSON.

MOTHER KILLED
DEFENSE RESTS IN PA. UNDERTAKER'S MURDER TRIAL
LANCASTER, PA. (AP) - THE DEFENSE HAS RESTED ITS CASE IN THE TRIAL OF A CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA FUNERAL DIRECTOR ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS WIFE. DEFENSE ATTORNEY ALLAN SODOMSKY RESTED HIS CASE TUESDAY AFTERNOON AFTER CALLING EIGHT WITNESSES FOR THE DEFENSE OF 42-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL ROSEBORO. 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. THE DEFENSE ACKNOWLEDGES THE AFFAIR BUT SUGGESTS THAT AN INTRUDER MAY HAVE KILLED JAN ROSEBORO. 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.

BRYN MAWR HIT-RUN CHARGES EXPECTED IN PHILLY-AREA HIT-RUN BRYN MAWR, PA. (AP) - POLICE IN SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA SAY A WOMAN SUSPECTED OF STRIKING A 13-YEAR-OLD BICYCLIST WITH A CAR AND LEAVING THE SCENE WITHOUT STOPPING IS COOPERATING WITH THE INVESTIGATION. LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP POLICE SUPERINTENDENT MICHAEL MCGRATH SAYS WHEN THE 75-YEAR-OLD VILLANOVA WOMAN WAS CONFRONTED BY INVESTIGATORS TUESDAY, SHE ADMITTED HER ROLE IN THE JULY 15 ACCIDENT AND SAID SHE THOUGHT SHE'D STRUCK A DEER. MCGRATH SAYS CHARGES WON'T BE FILED UNTIL INVESTIGATORS FINISH PROCESSING THE IMPOUNDED CAR, LIKELY THURSDAY. THE BOY WAS AIRLIFTED TO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA WITH A HEAD INJURY AND WAS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT FIRST, BUT IS NOW RECOVERING AT HOME.

CARPET BODY
MEDICAL EXAMINER IDS PITTSBURGH-AREA PARK CORPSE
WILKINSBURG, PA. (AP) - THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER HAS IDENTIFIED THE DECOMPOSING BODY OF A WOMAN FOUND WRAPPED IN A CARPET IN A PARK JUST EAST OF PITTSBURGH LAST WEEK. DR. KARL WILLIAMS SAYS THE DEAD WOMAN IS 36-YEAR-OLD AMY LYNN KUCSMAS OF MOUNT OLIVER, A TINY PITTSBURGH SUBURB AND HAS RULED HER DEATH A HOMICIDE, EVEN THOUGH MORE TESTS ARE NEEDED TO DETERMINE HOW SHE WAS KILLED. MAINTENANCE WORKERS FOUND HER BODY FRIDAY IN HARDING PARK IN WILKINSBURG. THE WORKERS UNWRAPPED THE CARPET BELIEVING IT CONTAINED A DEAD ANIMAL. WILLIAMS USED A FINGERPRINT, A DISTINCTIVE TATTOO AND DENTAL RECORDS TO CONFIRM THE IDENTITY. NOBODY HAS BEEN CHARGED IN THE KILLING.

JUDICIAL CENTER-OPENING
PA.'S NEW $117 MILLION JUSTICE HQ OPENS ITS DOORS
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE BRAND-NEW HEADQUARTERS FOR PENNSYLVANIA'S JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS ALREADY WELCOMING IN THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO WILL BE WORKING THERE. PUBLIC ACCESS IS CURRENTLY RESTRICTED FOR SECURITY REASONS, BUT OFFICIALS SHOWED OFF THE HARRISBURG BUILDING FOR REPORTERS THIS WEEK, PROUDLY POINTING OUT THE PROJECT WAS COMPLETED ON SCHEDULE AND ABOUT $350,000 UNDER BUDGET. THE $117 MILLION STRUCTURE LOOKS A LOT LIKE THE OTHER GRAY BUILDINGS THAT SURROUND IT IN THE CAPITOL COMPLEX. COMMONWEALTH COURT IS EXPECTED TO HOLD ITS SEPTEMBER SESSIONS THERE. THE STATE SUPREME AND SUPERIOR COURTS WILL CONTINUE TO PRESIDE IN THE ORNATE COURTROOMS IN PHILADELPHIA, PITTSBURGH AND INSIDE THE MAIN CAPITOL BUILDING. BUT MOST OTHER STATE COURT SYSTEM FUNCTIONS ARE BEING CONSOLIDATED FROM AMONG EIGHT DIFFERENT ZIP CODES INTO THE NEW STRUCTURE.

OBIT-JOHNSON
LONGTIME EAGLES ASSISTANT JIM JOHNSON DEAD AT 68
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - JIM JOHNSON, WHOSE ATTACKING DEFENSES HELPED THE EAGLES TO ONE SUPER BOWL APPEARANCE AND FIVE NFC TITLE GAMES, HAS DIED. HE WAS 68. JOHNSON HAD TAKEN A LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM THE TEAM IN MAY AS HE CONTINUED TO BATTLE A CANCEROUS TUMOR ON HIS SPINE. THE EAGLES ANNOUNCED HIS DEATH ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON. A VETERAN OF 22 YEARS AS AN NFL ASSISTANT, JOHNSON IS REGARDED AS ONE OF THE TOP DEFENSIVE MINDS IN THE LEAGUE, KNOWN FOR BUILDING UNITS ABLE TO PRESSURE THE QUARTERBACK FROM EVERY ANGLE. HIS DEFENSES CONSISTENTLY RANKED AMONG THE BEST IN THE LEAGUE, INCLUDING LAST SEASON, WHEN THE EAGLES FINISHED THIRD IN TOTAL DEFENSE AND FELL ONE VICTORY SHORT OF THE SUPER BOWL. JOHNSON IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, VICKY, TWO CHILDREN AND FOUR GRANDCHILDREN.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA TAKES HIS APPEAL FOR A HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL BACK ON THE ROAD TODAY. THE PRESIDENT IS TRAVELING TO TWO POLITICALLY IMPORTANT STATES THAT HE WON LAST FALL AFTER DECADES OF REPUBLICAN DOMINANCE: NORTH CAROLINA AND VIRGINIA.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THERE'S WORD A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS HAS AGREED TENTATIVELY ON A PLAN TO SQUEEZE AN ADDITIONAL $35 BILLION OUT OF MEDICARE OVER THE NEXT DECADE. MEANWHILE, A COMPANION HEALTH CARE BILL REMAINS STALLED IN THE HOUSE.

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. (AP) - CALIFORNIA GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER HAS SIGNED A REVISED $85 BILLION STATE BUDGET THAT HE DESCRIBES AS CONTAINING "THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY." BUT DEMOCRATS ARE
DENOUNCING ADDITIONAL CUTS MADE BY SCHWARZENEGGER IN WELFARE
PROGRAMS.

LONDON (AP) - A NEW STUDY SAYS PREGNANT WOMEN WHO GET SWINE FLU ARE AT LEAST FOUR TIMES AS LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALIZED AS OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE VIRUS. CDC RESEARCHERS SAY PREGNANT WOMEN SUSPECTED OF HAVING SWINE FLU SHOULD BE GIVEN TAMIFLU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - MICHAEL JACKSON'S PERSONAL CHEF SAYS ON THE DAY THE POP STAR DIED, THE FIRST HINT SHE HAD THAT SOMETHING WAS AMISS WAS WHEN HIS DOCTOR DIDN'T COME DOWNSTAIRS TO GET JACKSON'S BREAKFAST FOR HIM. KAI CHASE SAYS IT WAS JUST AFTER NOON THAT DR. CONRAD MURRAY CAME RUNNING DOWNSTAIRS, SHOUTING. BEFORE THAT, SHE SAYS SHE SAW NO SIGN THAT JACKSON WAS IN FAILING HEALTH OR ON DRUGS.