Today's News-Wednesday, August 12 2009

CRESSONA MAN CONVICTED OF GROPING MINNIE MOUSE

ORLANDO, FL- A 60-YEAR-OLD CRESSONA MAN HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF GROPING A WOMAN IN A MINNIE MOUSE COSTUME AT WALT DISNEY WORLD. JOHN WILLIAM MOYER TOLD THE JUDGE HE IS INNOCENT. HIS SON SAID BEFORE SENTENCING THAT HIS FATHER WOULD NEVER INAPPROPRIATELY TOUCH A WOMAN. HE WAS CONVICTED TUESDAY OF MISDEMEANOR BATTERY AND SENTENCED TO WRITE THE VICTIM AN APOLOGY, SERVE 180 DAYS PROBATION AND COMPLETE 50 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE. MOYER MUST ALSO PAY $1,000 IN COURT COSTS AND POSSIBLY UNDERGO A MENTAL EVALUATION. THE VICTIM SAYS SHE HAD TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO KEEP MOYER'S HANDS OFF HER BREASTS.

DOCS FILED IN NORTH SCHUYLKILL CASE

THE LAWYER FOR SEVEN OF THE OUSTED NORTH SCHUYLKILL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS IN JUNE HAS FILED DOCUMENTS IN STATE COURT. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THAT ATTORNEY VICTOR STABILE SAYS THAT JUDGE D MICHAEL STINE'S REMOVAL OF THE DIRECTORS FOR NOT HIRING A SUPERINTENDENT WAS WRONG AND THAT THE STATE SCHOOL CODE DIDN'T REQUIRE REMOVAL OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THEIR ACTIONS. STABILE ALSO NOTED SEVERAL OTHER REASONS WHY STINE’S REMOVAL OF THE BOARD SHOULD BE OVERTURNED. LAST WEEK, COMMONWEALTH COURT SAID IT WOULDN’T REVERSE JUDGE STINE'S ACTION, AND WOULDN'T EXPEDITE THE OUSTED DIRECTORS REQUEST FOR A QUICK HEARING. THE NORTH SCHUYLKILL SCHOOL BOARD IS RUNNING WITH 5 MEMBERS RIGHT NOW. FOUR OTHER APPOINTMENTS HAVE YET TO BE MADE BY JUDGE STINE.

BAND DIRECTOR ACCUSED OF HAVING CHILD PORN

AN AREA HIGH SCHOOL BAND DIRECTOR HAS BEEN CHARGED BY STATE POLICE FOR POSSESSING CHILD PORN. 43 YEAR OLD LEROY JOHNS JR WAS CHARGED LATE LAST MONTH ON TEN COUNTS AFTER IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT JOHNS WAS ACCESSING INTERNET SITES INVOLVING CHILD EXPLOITATION. JOHNS REPORTEDLY PAID TO ACCESS THE SITES INVOLVING CHILDREN. SOME OF THAT MATERIAL WAS FOUND ON HIS HOME COMPUTER. JOHNS IS FREE ON BAIL, AWAITING A PRELIMINARY HEARING.

CITY WOMAN CHARGED WITH STEALING FROM HER EMPLOYER

CHARGES AGAINST A POTTSVILLE WOMAN FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING FROM HER EMPLOYER WILL CARRY OVER TO COUNTY COURT. 42 YEAR OLD MARGUERITE MURPHY IS CHARGED WITH COUNTS OF THEFT, FORGERY, RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY AND CONSPIRACY FOR WRITING CHECKS FROM CLASSTEX KNITTING MILLS IN ORWIGSBURG, TAKING MORE THAN $15 THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE INCIDENTS HAPPENED BETWEEN LAST OCTOBER AND JANUARY. MURPHY IS FREE ON BAIL WHILE SHE AWAITS FURTHER COURT PROCEEDINGS ACCORDING TO THE REPUBLICAN HERALD.

E-CIGARETTES ALREADY DRAWING FIRE

E-CIGARETTES, A NEW SMOKELESS COUNTERPART TO THE REAL THING HAVEN’T BEEN ON THE MARKET IN PENNSYLVANIA FOR LONG, BUT ALREADY THERE ARE CALLS TO BAN THEM. TOM JOSEPH REPORTS.

JOSEPH SMOKES

HEALTH CARE-SPECTER
LAWMAKER FACES ANGRY PA. CROWD ON HEALTH CARE
LEBANON, PA. (AP) - REPUBLICAN-TURNED-DEMOCRATIC SEN. ARLEN SPECTER IS FACING A BARRAGE OF SOMETIMES HOSTILE QUESTIONS ABOUT HEALTH CARE FROM WARY AND FRUSTRATED VOTERS. AT A CROWDED TOWN HALL TUESDAY, THE PENNSYLVANIA SENATOR HEARD FROM SPEAKER AFTER SPEAKER WHO ACCUSED HIM OF TRAMPLING ON THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OR ALLOWING THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE OVER HEALTH CARE. SPECTER TRIED GAMELY TO EXPLAIN HIS POSITIONS, SAYING HE WOULDN'T VOTE FOR A BILL THAT ADDS TO THE DEFICIT. HE ALSO SAID HE WOULDN'T SUPPORT A BILL THAT EXTENDS COVERAGE TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. NONE OF THE BILL IN CONGRESS WOULD PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. AS LAWMAKERS HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR STATES THIS MONTH, THEY HAVE FACED ANGRY CROWDS QUESTIONING PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL.

HUDSON MID-AIR COLLISION
2 BODIES FOUND IN HUDSON RIVER PLANE WRECKAGE
HOBOKEN, N.J. (AP) - NEW YORK POLICE SAY TWO BODIES HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE WRECKAGE OF A SMALL PLANE THAT COLLIDED WITH A SIGHTSEEING HELICOPTER OVER THE HUDSON RIVER, MEANING ALL NINE VICTIMS HAVE BEEN RECOVERED. POLICE SPOKESMAN PAUL BROWNE SAID TUESDAY THE MEDICAL EXAMINER WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THE LAST TWO BODIES ARE THOSE OF THE PLANE PILOT AND A PASSENGER. SATURDAY'S CRASH KILLED THREE PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENTS ON THE PLANE AND FIVE ITALIAN TOURISTS AND A PILOT ON THE HELICOPTER. THE LAST TWO BODIES WERE FOUND AS RECOVERY WORKERS SALVAGED THEIR FIRST PIECE OF THE PLANE. IT WAS FOUND MONDAY IN ABOUT 60 FEET OF WATER. THE PIPER AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE HELICOPTER IN THE CONGESTED AIRSPACE BETWEEN NEW JERSEY AND MANHATTAN.

STATE BUDGET
RENDELL: GOP'S CUTS WOULD HARM LIBRARIES
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOV. ED RENDELL IS CALLING ON LIBRARY USERS TO PRESSURE SENATE REPUBLICANS TO STOP ADVOCATING SPENDING CUTS THAT HE SAYS WOULD DECIMATE LIBRARY SERVICES. THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR APPEARED BEFORE DOZENS OF LIBRARY EMPLOYEES AND SUPPORTERS AT THE EAST SHORE AREA LIBRARY IN HARRISBURG ON TUESDAY. THE STATE'S LIBRARIES RECEIVED A RECORD $75 MILLION IN STATE SUBSIDIES LAST YEAR, AND RENDELL IS ADVOCATING A 10 PERCENT REDUCTION THAT HE SAID WOULD NOT SERIOUSLY IMPAIR LIBRARY SERVICES. BUT HE SAID THE SENATE GOP'S PLAN TO CUT SUBSIDIES BY MORE THAN HALF WOULD FORCE LIBRARIES TO REDUCE THEIR HOURS, CUT BACK ON BOOK PURCHASES AND LAY OFF STAFF MEMBERS. THE GOVERNOR SAID LIBRARIES PROVIDE A VITAL PART OF MANY YOUNGSTERS' EDUCATION, AND DEFENDED HIS PLAN TO INCREASE TAXES TO PRESERVE IMPORTANT SERVICES.

PHILADELPHIA NEWSPAPERS-BANKRUPTCY
PHILLY NEWSPAPERS HOPE $35M WILL END BANKRUPTCY
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA NEWSPAPERS HOPES TO USE $35 MILLION IN NEW CAPITAL TO SETTLE NEARLY $400 MILLION IN DEBTS AND EMERGE FROM BANKRUPTCY. A LAWYER FOR THE COMPANY SAYS AN OPPOSING CREDITORS' PLAN WOULD LEAVE THE PAPERS SADDLED WITH UP TO $85 MILLION IN DEBT. LAWYER LARRY MCMICHAEL SAYS THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER AND PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS WOULD BE HARD-PRESSED TO SURVIVE UNDER THAT PLAN. MCMICHAEL OFFERED BASICS OF THE COMPETING REORGANIZATION PLANS AFTER A HEARING TUESDAY, BUT NEITHER HAS BEEN FILED. THE NEW JUDGE HANDLING THE BANKRUPTCY OF PHILADELPHIA'S TWO LARGE DAILIES WARNED ALL SIDES TO STOP BLUFFING OR RISK HAVING THE NEWSPAPERS GO UNDER. THE COMPANY FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY IN FEBRUARY.

BODIES IN GARAGE
DEATHS OF 2 IN PA. GARAGE RULED ACCIDENTAL
MEDIA, PA. (AP) - A SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA MEDICAL EXAMINER HAS CONFIRMED THAT A FATHER AND DAUGHTER FOUND DEAD IN THEIR GARAGE DIED OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. DELAWARE COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER FREDERIC HELLMAN RULED TUESDAY THAT THE DEATHS OF 38-YEAR-OLD JAMES CRAIG MARTYNIAK AND 3-YEAR-OLD JOCELYN JANET MARTYNIAK WERE ACCIDENTAL. JENNIFER MARTYNIAK FOUND THE BODIES OF HER HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER IN THE GARAGE MONDAY AFTERNOON. INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THAT JAMES MARTYNIAK, WHO HAD DIABETES, SUFFERED SOME SORT OF MEDICAL EMERGENCY, FELL AND HIT HIS HEAD. POLICE SAID THE CAR'S ENGINE HAD BEEN RUNNING THE CLOSED GARAGE AND LETHAL LEVELS OF CARBON MONOXIDE WERE FOUND.

DAYCARE FRAUD CHARGES
W.PA. DAYCARE OPERATOR CHARGED IN BILLING SCHEME
FARRELL, PA. (AP) - STATE PROSECUTORS SAY A WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA DAYCARE OPERATOR AND 10 OTHERS BILKED THE STATE OUT OF MORE THAN $700,000 THROUGH BOGUS CLAIMS. ATTORNEY GENERAL TOM CORBETT SAYS 45-YEAR KELLEY CULP, OF HERMITAGE, OPERATED KELLEY CULP DAYCARE AND KELLEY CULP DAYCARE TOO, BOTH IN FARRELL, ABOUT 60 MILES NORTHWEST OF PITTSBURGH. CORBETT SAYS CULP AND THE OTHERS LIED TO STATE AND MERCER COUNTY AGENCIES ABOUT HOW OFTEN THE CENTERS CARED FOR CHILDREN, THEREBY INFLATING STATE PAY. CORBETT SAYS CULP ALSO FALSELY CLAIMED SOME CHILDREN'S PARENTS WERE EMPLOYEES. CULP IS CHARGED WITH THEFT, CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT WELFARE FRAUD AND RELATED OFFENSES.

LANCASTER SLAYINGS
2 MEN SHOT DEAD NEARBY IN LANCASTER, PA.
LANCASTER, PA. (AP) - POLICE IN SOUTH-CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA SAY TWO MEN HAVE BEEN SHOT DEAD HALF A BLOCK APART FROM EACH OTHER. LANCASTER POLICE CHIEF KEITH SADLER TOLD REPORTERS TUESDAY AFTERNOON THAT INVESTIGATORS HADN'T CONFIRMED WHETHER THE TWO SLAYINGS WERE CONNECTED. HE SAID HE WAS WITHHOLDING THE MEN'S NAMES BECAUSE THEIR FAMILIES HADN'T BEEN NOTIFIED. SADLER SAYS THE VICTIM OF THE FIRST SHOOTING, REPORTED AT 5:46 A.M., WAS TARGETED BY HIS KILLER. THE 28-YEAR-OLD MAN HAD MULTIPLE GUNSHOT WOUNDS AND WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT A HOSPITAL. THE SECOND SHOOTING WAS REPORTED ABOUT 45 MINUTES LATER. A 38-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS FOUND LYING IN THE STREET WITH AT LEAST ONE GUNSHOT WOUND. HE WAS ALSO PRONOUNCED DEAD AT A HOSPITAL.

HEALTH CLUB SHOOTING
INSTRUCTOR LAST HOSPITALIZED AFTER PA. SHOOTINGS
PITTSBURGH (AP) - A PREGNANT AEROBICS INSTRUCTOR IS THE LAST VICTIM STILL IN THE HOSPITAL FROM A MASS SHOOTING AT A PITTSBURGH-AREA HEALTH CLUB ONE WEEK AGO. TWENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD MARY PRIMIS, OF MOON TOWNSHIP, REMAINS IN FAIR CONDITION AT ALLEGHENY GENERAL HOSPITAL IN PITTSBURGH. PRIMIS WAS SHOT IN BOTH SHOULDERS, BUT HER UNBORN CHILD IS EXPECTED TO SURVIVE. THE LAST OF FIVE SHOOTING VICTIMS TAKEN TO ANOTHER PITTSBURGH HOSPITAL, UPMC MERCY, WAS RELEASED MONDAY NIGHT. OFFICIALS THERE HAVE BEEN ASKED NOT TO RELEASE THAT WOMAN'S NAME. PRIMIS WAS ONE OF NINE WOMEN WOUNDED AT THE L.A. FITNESS CENTER IN COLLIER TOWNSHIP AUG. 4. THE 48-YEAR-OLD GUNMAN, GEORGE SODINI OF SCOTT TOWNSHIP, KILLED HIMSELF AFTER WOUNDING THOSE WOMEN AND KILLING THREE OTHERS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS STEPPING UP HIS COUNTEROFFENSIVE AGAINST CRITICS OF HIS PROPOSED HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL. THE PRESIDENT WILL BE MAKING HIS CASE AT TOWN HALL-STYLE MEETINGS IN MONTANA AND COLORADO LATER THIS WEEK, AND ON THE WHITE HOUSE WEB SITE.

DAHANEH, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - U.S. MARINES ARE TAKING ON THE TALIBAN IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN. THE AMERICANS ARE BATTLING TO GAIN CONTROL OF A STRATEGIC AREA AHEAD OF NEXT WEEK'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

ABUJA, NIGERIA (AP) - U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON IS IN NIGERIA TO PRESS ITS LEADERS TO TO CURB WIDESPREAD CORRUPTION AND ENACT DEMOCRATIC REFORMS. CLINTON WILL ALSO MEET RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO DISCUSS RECENT VIOLENCE.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING INTO THE OVERNIGHT STRANDING OF 47 AIRLINE PASSENGERS ON AN AIRPORT TARMAC
IN MINNESOTA. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY RAY LAHOOD SAYS HIS DEPARTMENT IS CHECKING WHETHER ANY LAWS WERE VIOLATED IN LAST
WEEK'S INCIDENT.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A PEW RESEARCH CENTER POLL SUGGESTS THAT FOUR DECADES AFTER WOODSTOCK, THE GENERATION GAP ISN'T AS GREAT AS IT
USED TO BE. EVEN THOUGH THE YOUNG AND THEIR ELDERS STILL HAVE THEIR
DIFFERENCES, TWO-THIRDS OF PEOPLE POLLED SAY THE CONFLICTS ARE
EITHER WEAK OR DON'T EXIST ANYMORE.