Today's News-Monday, August 17, 2009

DEER LAKE MAN IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW

AN ARGUMENT BETWEEN A DEER LAKE MAN AND HIS GIRLFRIEND LEADS TO CHARGES BEING FILED. CALEB BAVER AND HEATHER WELLER BEGAN TO ARGUE WHILE HE WAS DRIVING ON DREHERSVILLE ROAD EARLY SUNDAY. BAVER STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND BEGAN TO ASSAULT HER. WHILE STATE POLICE TRIED TO SUBDUE BAVER, HE ASSAULTED TWO STATE POLICE OFFICERS AT THE SCENE. HE WAS ARRAIGNED ON AGGRAVATED AND SIMPLE ASSAULT, RESISTING ARREST AND OTHER COUNTS AND IS LODGED IN THE COUNTY PRISON IN LIEU OF BAIL.

TERRORISTIC THREATS

A MECHANICSVILLE MAN RAN AMOK SUNDAY, THREATENING PEOPLE WITH A CHAIN SAW. STATE POLICE RECOUNT THAT 28 YEAR OLD KENNETH FISHER HAD BEEN SERVED AN EVICTION NOTICE FROM HIS SISTER TRACY, AND THAT HE AND HIS CHILDREN WOULD HAVE TO GET OUT OF HER POOL ON PORT CARBON STREET. FISHER GOT A CHAINSAW, THREATENING HIS SISTER AND OTHERS PRESENT. HE ALSO BEGAN TO CUT DOWN THE POOL DECK WHERE PEOPLE WERE STANDING. FISHER FACES CHARGES OF MAKING TERRORISTIC THREATS, RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT AND OTHER COUNTS AND WAS REMANDED TO THE COUNTY PRISON. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED BEFORE 2PM SUNDAY.

HIT AND RUN IN BERKS, ORWIGSBURG MAN TAGGED

AN ORWIGBURG MAN IS FACING A NUMBER OF CHARGES FROM A SATURDAY HIT AND RUN IN BERKS COUNTY. HAMBURG STATE POLICE SAY 43 YEAR OLD VINCENT ZALONKA WAS DRIVING A PICKUP SOUTHBOUND ON ROUTE 61 WHEN HIS VEHICLE STRUCK THE REAR END OF KYLE MOHN’S TRUCK AS HE WAS PASSING IT. ZALONKA FAILED TO STOP. PASSERS BY IDENTIFIED ZALONKA’S VEHICLE AND HE WAS APPREHENDED. A HOST OF MOTOR VEHICLE CITATIONS ARE IN STORE FOR ZALONKA.

BOGUS BILL PASSED

STATE POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR THE INDIVIDUAL WHO PASSED FUNNY MONEY TO BUY ITEMS AT A LOCAL GROCERY STORE. SOMEONE PURCHASED ITEMS AND PAID WITH A $10 BILL THAT TURNED OUT TO BE COUNTERFEIT. THE MONEY WAS APPARENTLY PASSED LATE LAST WEEK.

SPECTER-TOWN HALLS
SPECTER: TOWN HALL IRE NOT REFLECT PUBLIC OPINION
WASHINGTON (AP) - SEN. ARLEN SPECTER SAYS CRITICS OF THE DEMOCRATS' HEALTH CARE PROPOSALS ARE NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PUBLIC'S VIEW ON THE ISSUE. THE PENNSYLVANIA DEMOCRAT SAYS PEOPLE WHO ARE ANGRY AT TOWN HALL MEETINGS DON'T REFLECT THE BROADER PUBLIC OPINION OF THE PROPOSED OVERHAUL. SPECTER HAS FACED TOUGH TOWN HALL AUDIENCES IN HIS HOME STATE. UTAH GOP SEN. ORRIN HATCH SAYS THE CROWDS ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF PEOPLE "UP IN ARMS" OVER THE PLAN. HE SAYS THE OUTRAGE IS GENUINE. HATCH ALSO SAYS THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE AND ORGANIZED LABOR ARE ALSO SENDING SUPPORTERS TO TOWN HALLS TO CHALLENGE REPUBLICANS. THE SENATORS APPEARED SUNDAY ON ABC'S "THIS WEEK."

VICK-60 MINUTES
VICK SAYS HE CRIED IN PRISON
NEW YORK (AP) - MICHAEL VICK SAYS HE CRIED IN PRISON BECAUSE OF THE GUILT HE FELT ABOUT BEING INVOLVED IN DOGFIGHTING. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH "60 MINUTES" THAT AIRED SUNDAY NIGHT, VICK SAID THE DAY HE WALKED INTO PRISON HE REALIZED "THE MAGNITUDE OF THE DECISIONS THAT I MADE. "AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NO WAY OF, YOU KNOW, EXPLAINING, YOU KNOW, THE HURT AND THE GUILT THAT I FELT. AND THAT WAS THE REASON I CRIED SO MANY NIGHTS. AND THAT PUT IT ALL INTO PERSPECTIVE," HE SAID. A THREE-TIME PRO BOWL PICK DURING SIX SEASONS WITH THE ATLANTA FALCONS, VICK SERVED 18 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR RUNNING A DOGFIGHTING RING AND WAS REINSTATED LAST MONTH BY THE NFL AFTER BEING OUT OF ACTION SINCE 2006. HE SIGNED WITH THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES ON THURSDAY.

WRESTLER ARRESTED
WRESTLER ARRESTED IN PA. ON HARASSMENT, HGH COUNTS
PITTSBURGH (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAY PRO WRESTLER AND OLYMPIC MEDALIST KURT ANGLE HAS BEEN ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF VIOLATING A PROTECTION FROM ABUSE ORDER AND POSSESSION OF HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE. FORTY-YEAR-OLD ANGLE WAS ARRESTED AT ABOUT 7:50 A.M. SATURDAY IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE ROBINSON TOWN CENTER IN SUBURBAN PITTSBURGH. HIS GIRLFRIEND TOLD POLICE THAT SHE OBTAINED A PROTECTION ORDER AFTER THE TWO FOUGHT FRIDAY NIGHT. POLICE SAY THEY FOUND THE HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE HYGETROPIN IN ANGLE'S CAR. THE WRESTLER TOLD THEM HE HAD A PRESCRIPTION FOR THE DRUG. HE ALSO DENIED STALKING THE WOMAN, SAYING HE HAD NOT SEEN HER AND WAS LOOKING FOR A HOTEL BECAUSE HE WAS BARRED FROM HIS HOME. OFFICIALS SAY HE WAS CHARGED WITH VIOLATING THE PROTECTION ORDER, HARASSMENT, POSSESSION OF DRUGS AND PARAPHERNALIA AND DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE.

STATE PARKS-DRILLING
STATES WEIGH BENEFITS, RISKS OF DRILLING IN PARKS
COLUMBUS, OHIO (AP) - STATE PARKS AREN'T JUST FOR HIKING, CAMPING AND OTHER RECREATION ANYMORE. INCREASINGLY, THESE LANDS ARE BEING USED FOR OIL AND GAS DRILLING AS BUDGET-STRAPPED STATES SEEK NEW SOURCES OF REVENUE. PENNSYLVANIA SAW ITS FIRST DRILLING ON STATE PARK PROPERTY THIS SPRING. A STATE BAN ON SURFACE DRILLING IN STATE PARKS WAS UNABLE TO THWART PRIVATE DRILLING IN GODDARD STATE PARK, ABOUT 65 MILES NORTH OF PITTSBURGH. THAT'S BECAUSE PITTSBURGH-BASED VISTA RESOURCES OWNS THE MINERAL RIGHTS THERE. OPPONENTS OF THE DRILLING SAY IT RAISES TROUBLING QUESTIONS ABOUT ACCEPTABLE USES OF PUBLICLY SHARED LAND -- EVEN WHEN NEW TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS RIGS POSITIONED OUTSIDE PARK BOUNDARIES TO REACH PETROLEUM POCKETS DEEP BENEATH THE PARKS BY DRILLING HORIZONTALLY.

FAYETTE COUNTY FIRE
WOMAN, 78, DIES IN WESTERN PA. HOUSE FIRE
INDIAN HEAD, PA. (AP) - OFFICIALS IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAY AN APPARENT EXPLOSION AND FIRE IN A HOUSE IN FAYETTE COUNTY KILLED A WOMAN AND INJURED HER HUSBAND. FAYETTE COUNTY CORONER PHILLIP REILLY'S OFFICE SAYS 78-YEAR-OLD DOROTHY WARD OF SALTLICK TOWNSHIP DIED IN THE 1:30 A.M. SATURDAY FIRE. STATE POLICE SAID HER HUSBAND, JOHN, WAS AWAKENED BY SMOKE AND ESCAPED OUT A SIDE DOOR, THEN TRIED TO GET BACK INTO THE HOUSE THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO DUE TO THE FLAMES. POLICE SAID THE WOMAN, WHO WAS SLEEPING ON A COUCH IN THE LIVING ROOM, WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE LATER IN THE DAY. HER HUSBAND WAS TAKEN TO LATROBE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. THE CAUSE OF THE BLAZE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

DRUG DEALER KILLED
PA. DEATH ROW INMATE GETS LESSER SENTENCE
READING, PA. (AP) - A DEATH ROW INMATE HAS BEEN RESENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS TO 123 MONTHS IN PRISON AFTER AN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA JUDGE CONCLUDED THAT HIS TRIAL ATTORNEYS WERE INEFFECTIVE - AND THE ONLY EYEWITNESS WAS NOT CREDIBLE BECAUSE HE WAS LATER CONVICTED OF ANOTHER MURDER. FORTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD RAYMOND JOHNSON OF BROOKLYN, N.Y., WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN THE JUNE 1996 MURDER OF 29-YEAR-OLD RIVAL READING DRUG DEALER LOUIS COMBS OF WHATLEY, N.Y. BUT AFTER JUDGE STEPHEN LIEBERMAN GRANTED JOHNSON A NEW TRIAL, THE DEFENDANT PLEADED GUILTY FRIDAY TO THIRD-DEGREE MURDER AND RECEIVED THE LESSER SENTENCE. JOHNSON, WHO COULD BE RELEASED IN LESS THAN THREE MONTHS, TOLD THE COURT THAT HE WAS "VERY GRATEFUL." ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY ALISA HOBART SAID 31-YEAR-OLD PROSECUTION WITNESS JACKIE COOK JR. INITIALLY TESTIFIED THAT HE SAW
JOHNSON COMMIT THE MURDER. BUT HOBART SAID COOK LATER RECANTED AND IS NOW SERVING LIFE FOR THE MARCH 2001 MURDER OF ERNESTO GALARZA-SOLER, SO PROSECUTORS COULD NOT RETRY JOHNSON'S CASE.

ATV COLLISION
PA. ATV CRASH KILLS 2 18-YEAR-OLDS, INJURES 1
WILLIAMSPORT, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA SAY TWO ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES COLLIDED IN A FIELD, KILLING TWO 18-YEAR-OLD YOUTHS AND CRITICALLY INJURING A 14-YEAR-OLD. LYCOMING COUNTY CORONER CHARLES KIESSLING JR. SAYS THE 9:10 P.M. FRIDAY CRASH IN BASTRESS TOWNSHIP CLAIMED THE LIVES OF BOTH ATV OPERATORS, KASEY KEMMERER AND JASON BARTGES. THE OTHER BOY, WHO WAS RIDING WITH KEMMERER, WAS FLOWN TO GEISINGER MEDICAL CENTER IN DANVILLE. INVESTIGATORS SAID THE CRASH WAS WITNESSED BY AT LEAST A HALF-DOZEN FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS ON A PORCH AT THE BARTGES' HOME. BOTH TEENS GRADUATED IN JUNE FROM JERSEY SHORE HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE THEY PLAYED ON THE VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM. TROOPER JAMES A. WOOL SAID NONE OF THE TEENS WERE WEARING A HELMET OR ANY OTHER PROTECTIVE GEAR.

PENSACOLA BEACH, FLA. (AP) - TROPICAL STORM CLAUDETTE HAS MADE LANDFALL ON THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE, DUMPING HEAVY RAINS ALONG THE WAY. THE STORM IS ON A TRACK THAT COULD TAKE IT OVER THE WESTERN PART OF THE PANHANDLE AND INTO SOUTHERN ALABAMA. IT'S NOT EXPECTED TO BRING SIGNIFICANT FLOODING OR WIND DAMAGE.

DAVENPORT, CALIF. (AP) - NEARLY A DOZEN WILDFIRES CONTINUE TO BURN ACROSS CALIFORNIA. WINDS HAVE BEEN HELPING CREWS BEAT BACK A WEEK-OLD WILDFIRE IN NORTHERN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE BLAZE BEGAN AS A CAMP FIRE USED BY MARIJUANA GROWERS. A FIRE OFFICIAL SAYS IT'S BURNED NEARLY 134 SQUARE MILES, BUT HAS BEEN 60 PERCENT CONTAINED.

BANGKOK (AP) - VIRGINIA SEN. JIM WEBB IS CALLING FOR A NEW U.S. APPROACH TO DEALING WITH THE MILITARY REGIME IN MYANMAR. HE'S SPOKEN WITH THE JUNTA'S RECLUSIVE LEADERSHIP AND ALSO HELPED SECURE THE RELEASE OF AN AMERICAN IMPRISONED AFTER SNEAKING INTO THE HOME OF MYANMAR'S DETAINED OPPOSITION LEADER.

WASHINGTON (AP) - AN ASSOCIATED PRESS REVIEW OF SWINE FLU PLANNING SUGGESTS THE NATION'S SCHOOLS ARE HEEDING THE GOVERNMENT'S CALL TO SET UP FLU-SHOT CLINICS THIS FALL. THE GOAL IS TO KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN SHOULD ILLNESS STRIKE. FEDERAL OFFICIALS ARE TRYING TO AVOID WHAT HAPPENED LAST SPRING, WHEN CONCERN ABOUT THE NEW FLU STRAIN PROMPTED MORE THAN 700 SCHOOLS TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE.

WASHINGTON (AP) - CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS SAY THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE IS DOING ITS JOB. THEY SAY THAT, WHILE THE STIMULUS DIDN'T KEEP THE JOBLESS RATE AS LOW AS PREDICTED, FEWER JOBS WERE LOST LAST MONTH THAN ANALYSTS HAD EXPECTED. DEMOCRATS ALSO NOTE THAT 2/3 OF THE $767 BILLION STILL HAS TO BE SPENT, WITH MUCH OF IT SET TO GO OUT IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.