Todays News-Tuesday August 18 2009

OSHA FINES TRANS WESTERN

A COUNTY MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CITED FOR SAFETY VIOLATIONS BY THE U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT. TRANS WESTERN POLYMERS OF TAMAQUA HAS BEEN FINED $49-THOUSAND-FIVE-HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH VIOLATIONS. A PRESS RELEASE FROM OSHA INDICATES THE COMPANY WAS CITED FOR NOT HAVING "POINTS OF THEIR OPERATION NOT BEING GUARDED ON BAG CONVERSION MACHINES." THE INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED BY THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION OFFICE IN WILKES BARRE.

CHILD SAFETY DAY

AS FAMILIES PREPARE TO SEND THE KIDDOS BACK TO SCHOOL, A CHURCH IN POTTSVILLE IS OFFEREING A FREE FUN DAY TODAY TO FOCUS ON CHILD SAFETY. THE NEW POTTSVILLE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, SPONSORED BY THE LIFE CENTRE FOURSQUARE CHURCH, IS HOSTING THE DAY FROM 11AM TILL 4PM. AMONG THE GROUPS PARTICIPATING ARE SCHUYLKILL WOMEN IN CRISIS, THE POTTSVILLE POLICE, YORKVILLE HOSE AND SARCC. CHILD SAFETY KITS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ATTENDEES. THE CHURCH IS LOCATED AT 2300 MAHANTONGO STREET, POTTSVILLE.

HUNTER TO CHANGE PLEA

GUILDHALL, VT – A SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MAN CHARGED IN A HUNTING MISHAP THAT COST A GRANBY MAN PART OF HIS LEG IS SCHEDULED TO CHANGE HIS PLEA TODAY. 46 YEAR OLD JOHN BOPPEL OF ASHLAND HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT IN THE OCT. 22ND SHOOTING OF CALVIN NOBLE DURING MOOSE SEASON. POLICE SAY NOBLE WAS SHOT WHILE SITTING ON A STUMP AND USING A MOOSE CALL. BOPPEL TOLD POLICE HE THOUGHT HE WAS SHOOTING AT A BEAR.

ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS COME TO COUNTY

AREA STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE FIELD TRIPS AND BEAUTIFY THEIR SCHOOL GROUNDS THANKS TO ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS FROM THE STATE. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SECRETARY JOHN HANGER ANNOUNCED THE EDUCATION GRANTS YESTERDAY. OF THE MORE THAN $356-THOUSAND-DOLLARS IN PROJECTS, $39-HUNDRED-DOLLARS WILL COME TO TWO SCHUYLKILL GROUPS. SCHUYLKILL TECHNOLOGY CENTER WILL RECEIVE $3-THOUSAND-DOLLARS TO TURN A SCHOOL COURTYARD INTO A DISCOVERY GARDEN AND THE BLUE MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL GREEN CLUB WILL RECEIVE $900 DOLLARS FRO TWO FIELD TRIPS.

MINERSVILLE WOMAN TRIES TO RUN OVER MAN AND CHILDREN

MINERSVILLE POLICE CHARGE A WOMAN FOR ALLEGEDLY TRYING TO RUN OVER A MAN AND HIS CHILDREN. THE WEEKEND INCIDENT PLAYED OUT WHEN 41 YEAR OLD DAISY KREVIS OF MIDDLE STREET WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED SATURDAY NIGHT AND SWERVED HER VEHICLE TOWARD A MAN AND HIS TWO CHILDREN. WHILE POLICE WERE TAKING HER INTO CUSTODY, SHE REPORTEDLY BECAME COMBATIVE AND REFUSED TO TAKE A BREATH TEST. COPS CHARGED HER WITH CARELESS DRIVING, DUI AND RESISTING ARREST.

BANK BAG REPORTED TAKEN

A NORTH MANHEIM TOWNSHIP BUSINESS WAS BROKEN INTO OVERNIGHT SUNDAY. STATE POLICE SAY THAT THE OFFICE DOOR AT SCHUYLKILL RACQUET CLUB WAS PRIED OPEN AND A BANK BAG CONTAINING CASH WAS TAKEN. IT IS NOT KNOWN HOW MUCH MONEY THE BURGLAR GOT DURING THE BREAK IN. THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.

"PUMPY" CLOSED

A FAVORITE SPOT FOR ANGLERS IN NORTHERN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN DUE TO UNSAFE CONDITIONS. THAT INFORMATION WAS PASSED ALONG DURING MONDAY’S SHENANDOAH BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING. ACCORDING TO THE REPUBLICAN HERALD, THE “PUMPY” WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE AND THAT CURRENT CONDITIONS CONSTITUTE A "DAM HAZARD EMERGENCY." THE BOROUGH-OWNED DAM IN EAST UNION TOWNSHIP HAS BEEN DEEMED UNSAFE BY D.E.P. FUNDING FROM STATE AND FEDERAL SOURCES WILL BE SOUGHT TO FIX THE DAM PROBLEMS AND REOPEN THE RECREATION AREA THAT HAS DRAWN ANGLERS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE, ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS.
LOW MILK PRICES AND TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES APPARENTLY WON'T HURT PENN STATE'S AG PROGRESS DAYS EXPO, WHICH RUNS TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AT ROCK SPRINGS. IN FACT, INTEREST IN THE EVENT MAY BE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH. CHUCK GILL REPORTS:

AG PROGRESS DAYS

STATE BUDGET-SOCIAL SERVICES
RENDELL SHOWS SUPPORT FROM CHILDREN'S ADVOCATES
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOV. ED RENDELL IS DEMONSTRATING HIS SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN'S ADVOCATES EVEN AS DOLLARS DRY UP FOR PRESCHOOL AND DAY CARE BECAUSE OF STATE GOVERNMENT'S SEVEN-WEEK-OLD BUDGET IMPASSE. RENDELL APPEARED MONDAY AT THE CAPITOL WITH DOZENS OF ADVOCATES FOR DAY CARE, PRESCHOOL AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CALLED ON THE LEGISLATURE TO FINALIZE A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET. HE SAID HE WILL NOT SIGN A BUDGET THAT DOES NOT MAINTAIN HIS FUNDING PROPOSALS FOR SCHOOLS, CHILDREN, HEALTH CARE AND THE ELDERLY. HE SAYS IMPROVING CHILDREN'S EDUCATION IS TOO IMPORTANT TO THE STATE'S FUTURE TO AGREE TO DEEP CUTS, EVEN FOR A YEAR. WITHOUT THE STATE SUBSIDIES, DAY CARE PROVIDERS ARE LAYING OFF WORKERS, PRESCHOOLS ARE SCRAPPING PLANS TO OPEN AND NONPROFIT SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE CONSIDERING CLOSING.

PHILADELPHIA BUDGET
PHILLY MAYOR PLANS CUTS DUE TO PA. BUDGET STANDOFF
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA'S MAYOR SAYS HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO CUT ABOUT 30 CITY JOBS, DELAY THE START OF A NEW CLASS OF POLICE CADETS AND REDUCE THE HOURS OF THE 311 CALL CENTER BECAUSE OF THE STATE BUDGET IMPASSE. MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER SAID MONDAY THAT THOSE CUTS AND OTHERS ARE NEEDED TO RESOLVE A NEW $20 MILLION CITY DEFICIT. THE CITY IS ASKING THE STATE TO APPROVE A TEMPORARY SALES TAX INCREASE IN PHILADELPHIA AND ALLOW CHANGES TO HOW THE CITY MAKES ITS PENSION PAYMENTS. WITHOUT THE SALES TAX INCREASE, NUTTER SAYS THE CITY MISSED OUT ON $20 MILLION IN REVENUE FOR AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER. HE SAYS THE CITY WILL HAVE TO CUT ABOUT 30 POSITIONS, LAYING OFF 12 PEOPLE. A SPOKESMAN FOR SENATE REPUBLICANS SAYS THE CHAMBER IS MOVING THE BUDGET BILL ALONG AND WILL CONSIDER PHILADELPHIA'S REQUESTS.

MISSING CHILDREN
2 PA. CHILDREN MISSING NEAR SUSQUEHANNA RIVER
SUNBURY, PA. (AP) - CREWS SEARCHING FOR TWO CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA CHILDREN MISSING SINCE THEY WENT WADING IN THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER
HAVE RECOVERED TWO BODIES, BUT THE IDENTITIES OF THE VICTIMS HAVE
NOT BEEN CONFIRMED. AUTHORITIES SAY THE BODIES WERE FOUND SHORTLY BEFORE 6 P.M. MONDAY ABOUT 150 FEET AWAY FROM WHERE THE CHILDREN DISAPPEARED SUNDAY NIGHT. THE NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY CORONER'S OFFICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. POLICE SAY 11-YEAR-OLD ASSUNDA ROTOLO AND 8-YEAR-OLD LESLIE DAVIS JR. OF LEWISBURG LEFT THEIR HOME AROUND 7 P.M. SUNDAY, TELLING FAMILY MEMBERS THEY WERE GOING TO THE RIVER. THEY WERE REPORTED MISSING TWO HOURS LATER. THE SEARCH WAS CALLED OFF AROUND 11:30 P.M. SUNDAY AND RESUMED AT 8 A.M. MONDAY, WITH VOLUNTEERS AND DOGS LOOKING ALONG THE RIVER BANKS.

PITTSBURGH-G-20
PITTSBURGH SCHOOLS MAY CLOSE DURING G-20 SUMMIT
PITTSBURGH (AP) - ADMINISTRATORS OF PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THE DISTRICT CLOSE ALL 66 SCHOOLS DURING NEXT
MONTH'S GROUP OF 20 ECONOMIC SUMMIT. SUPERINTENDENT MARK ROOSEVELT SAID MONDAY IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT THAT OFFICIALS ARE WORRIED ABOUT TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS IF THE SCHOOLS REMAIN OPEN DURING THE SEPT. 24-25 SUMMIT AT THE DAVID L. LAWRENCE CONVENTION CENTER. THE SCHOOL BOARD IS SCHEDULED TO VOTE ON THE PROPOSAL AT A MEETING WEDNESDAY NIGHT. IF THE CLOSURE IS APPROVED, STUDENTS WOULD ATTEND CLASSES NOV. 3 AND FEB.2, WHICH ARE NOW DESIGNATED AS OFF DAYS FOR STUDENTS AND INTENDED FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR STAFF.

TEMPLE STUDENT KILLED
PA. MAN KILLED IN ROBBERY DUE TO LANGUAGE BARRIER
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - POLICE SAY A COLLEGE STUDENT FROM WEST AFRICA WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN A ROBBERY ATTEMPT BECAUSE HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE COMMANDS OF A GUNMAN WHO CONFRONTED HIM IN A SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA PARK. HOMICIDE CAPTAIN JAMES CLARK SAYS 22-YEAR-OLD MAMADOU MAKADJI WAS SHOT IN THE CHEST AT ABOUT 1:12 A.M. MONDAY IN ELMWOOD PARK. THE TEMPLE UNIVERSITY STUDENT DIED A SHORT TIME LATER AT THE HOSPITAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. THE VICTIM AND TWO FRIENDS WERE SITTING ON A BENCH IN THE PARK AT 71ST AND BUIST AVENUE WHEN A GUNMAN APPROACHED AND TRIED TO ROB THEM. CLARK SAYS MAKADJI DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MAN WAS SAYING, AND THE GUNMAN STRUCK HIM WITH THE PISTOL AND THEN SHOT HIM. HIS TWO FRIENDS, ALSO STUDENTS FROM WEST AFRICA, WERE NOT HARMED.

SUBWAY ALTERCATION-DEATH
DEFENSE: TRIO HAD NO MALICE IN PHILLY SUBWAY DEATH
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THREE TEENAGERS WHO ALLEGEDLY BEAT A MAN ON A PHILADELPHIA SUBWAY CONCOURSE ON A DARE ARE ON TRIAL IN THE VICTIM'S ASTHMA-RELATED DEATH. DEFENSE LAWYERS SAY AUTHORITIES CANNOT PROVE THEY ARE GUILTY OF CONSPIRACY AND THE MALICE REQUIRED OF THIRD-DEGREE MURDER. AND ONE LAWYER SAYS HIS CLIENT NEVER TOUCHED THE VICTIM, 36-YEAR-OLD STARBUCKS MANAGER SEAN CONROY OF PHILADELPHIA. TWO OTHER TEENS HAVE PLEADED GUILTY IN THE CASE. EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD AMEER BEST AND 17-YEAR-OLDS NASHIR FISHER AND KINTA STANTON ARE ON TRIAL JUST BLOCKS FROM THE SITE OF THE MARCH 2008 ATTACK NEAR CITY HALL. AUTHORITIES SAY ALL FIVE CO-DEFENDANTS HAD SKIPPED SCHOOL THAT AFTERNOON.

SENATOR INVESTIGATION-TRIAL
FUMO ASKS TO DELAY START DATE FOR PRISON TERM
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - FORMER STATE SEN. VINCENT FUMO WANTS TO DELAY THE AUG. 31 DEADLINE TO REPORT TO PRISON IN HIS CORRUPTION CASE. THE 66-YEAR-OLD PHILADELPHIA DEMOCRAT FILED PAPERS MONDAY ASKING TO REMAIN FREE ON BAIL DURING THE APPEALS. FUMO IS APPEALING HIS 137-COUNT CONVICTION ON FRAUD AND TAX CHARGES. FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ARE SEEKING TO APPEAL FUMO'S 55-MONTH SENTENCE, A FRACTION OF THE 15-YEAR TERM THEY SOUGHT. FUMO'S LAWYERS SAY HE HAD PLANNED TO REPORT TO PRISON, BUT NOW NEEDS TIME TO FIGHT THE GOVERNMENT APPEAL. FUMO SAYS THERE ARE ALSO MEDICAL REASONS, FILED UNDER SEAL, TO JUSTIFY THE DELAY. A JURY CONVICTED THE POWERFUL FUMO THIS YEAR OF DEFRAUDING THE STATE SENATE, A SOUTH PHILADELPHIA NONPROFIT AND A SEAPORT MUSEUM OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

GAME LANDS BODY
PA. MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN MOM'S STRANGULATION DEATH
EBENSBURG, PA. (AP) - A WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO THIRD-DEGREE MURDER IN THE STRANGULATION DEATH OF HIS MOTHER LAST FALL. FIFTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD FREDERICK PHILLIPS ENTERED THE PLEA MONDAY BEFORE CAMBRIA COUNTY JUDGE NORMAN KRUMENACKER IN THE DEATH OF 85-YEAR-OLD ANNA PHILLIPS. INVESTIGATORS HAVE SAID THEY BELIEVE PHILLIPS KILLED HIS MOTHER BETWEEN OCT. 6 AND OCT. 8 AND THEN DUMPED HER BODY ON STATE GAME LANDS ON LAUREL MOUNTAIN. HE WAS LATER ARRESTED IN BUCKHANNON, W.VA., WHERE HE HAD CRASHED HIS PICKUP TRUCK. THE DEFENDANT HAD BEEN SCHEDULED FOR TRIAL NEXT MONTH ON HOMICIDE AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT CHARGES. HE IS SCHEDULED TO BE SENTENCED OCT. 6, ONE YEAR AFTER HIS MOTHER WAS LAST SEEN ALIVE. DISTRICT ATTORNEY PATRICK KINIRY SAID PHILLIPS COULD BE SENTENCED TO 25 TO 50 YEARS ON THE HOMICIDE CHARGE BECAUSE THE PLEA AMOUNTS TO HIS THIRD STRIKE DUE TO PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS.

RENDELL-WEIGHT
PA.'S CHEESESTEAK-LOVING GOVERNOR GOES ON DIET
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - ED RENDELL, PENNSYLVANIA'S FOOD-LOVING GOVERNOR, HAS SWORN OFF CHEESESTEAKS AND ICE CREAM AS PART OF A PERSONAL CAMPAIGN TO LOSE WEIGHT. RENDELL TOLD THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER IN A STORY PUBLISHED MONDAY THAT HE NOW EATS HALF AS MUCH. THAT MEANS SETTLING FOR OMELETS MADE WITH TWO EGGS, NOT THREE, AND FOUR STRIPS OF BACON INSTEAD OF EIGHT. RENDELL SAYS HE'S ALREADY LOST NEARLY 40 OF THE 265 POUNDS HE WAS CARRYING LAST SPRING AND HOPES TO REACH 200 POUNDS. THE 65-YEAR-OLD GOVERNOR'S WIFE, MIDGE, AND THEIR SON JESSE SAID THEY TOLD HIM THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECT OF HIS WEIGHT ON HIS HEALTH. RENDELL SAID HE BEGAN HIS DIET IN JUNE, WHEN STATE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS FIRST BOGGED DOWN, BECAUSE IT GAVE HIM SOMETHING POSITIVE TO FOCUS ON.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS EXPECTED TO DISCUSS THE STALLED MIDEAST PEACE PROCESS TODAY DURING TALKS WITH EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK. A STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SAYS THE U.S. AND EGYPT ALREADY AGREE THAT ALL SIDES - ISRAEL, THE PALESTINIANS AND ARAB STATES - NEED TO TAKE "PARALLEL STEPS" TO GET THE PEACE PROCESS BACK ON TRACK.

JERUSALEM (AP) - ISRAEL APPEARS TO BE QUIETLY HALTING NEW BUILDING PROJECTS IN THE WEST BANK. AN ANTI-SETTLEMENT GROUP CONFIRMS THAT NO NEW CONSTRUCTION HAS BEEN APPROVED SINCE PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU TOOK POWER IN MARCH.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (AP) - THE STORM THAT USED TO BE TROPICAL STORM ANA IS STILL POSING A POTENTIAL THREAT TO HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. FORECASTERS ARE ALSO KEEPING WATCH ON HURRICANE BILL. THEY SAY THE CATEGORY 2 STORM COULD STRENGTHEN AND BE NEAR BERMUDA BY THE END OF THE WEEK.

WASHINGTON (AP) - LIBERAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE SHOWING THEIR UNHAPPINESS AT THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION'S SEEMING ABANDONMENT OF
THE PUBLIC OPTION PORTION OF HEALTH CARE REFORM. SPEAKER NANCY
PELOSI IS VOWING THAT THE PROVISION WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE HOUSE
VERSION OF THE BILL.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A NEW SURVEY SUGGESTS THAT CONSUMERS ARE LOSING CONFIDENCE ABOUT HEALTH-INSURANCE COVERAGE AND ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. A ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON POLL SAYS THE DECLINE IS ESPECIALLY STRIKING AMONG SENIORS ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICARE. THE POLL WAS TAKEN EVEN BEFORE COVERAGE OF RAUCOUS TOWN HALL MEETINGS OVER THE PROPOSED HEALTH-CARE OVERHAUL.