NEWS UPDATE-8:15AM WEDNESDAY

AN ACCIDENT ON ROUTE 61 IN FOUNTAIN SPRINGS CAUSED DELAYS IN TRANSPORTING STUDENTS FROM THE ASHLAND AREA TO THE NORTH SCHUYLKILL SCHOOL CAMPUS. A SECTION OF ROUTE 61 WAS CLOSED FOR A TIME AND WIRES WERE DOWN. OFFICIALS AT THE DISTRICT REPORT THAT TRAFFIC IS OPEN TO ONE LANE AS OF 8AM.

HEARINGS SET FOR ACCUSED MURDERERS

FOUR MEN ACCUSED IN THE BEATING DEATH OF A HAZLETON MAN NEAR RINGTOWN WILL HAVE THEIR PRELIMINARY HEARINGS HELD AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE OCTOBER 23RD. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THAT SHANE ROOF OF PALMERTON, JEFFREY GOMBERT, ANDREW TUTKO THE SECOND AND CURTIS HAZLETON ARE CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL HOMICIDE AND RELATED COUNTS. ANTHONY LOCASIO’S BADLY BEATEN BODY WAS FOUND IN EAST UNION TOWNSHIP TWO WEEKS AGO. THE BEATINGS MAY HAVE BEEN IN RETALIATION FOR LOCASIO TURNING THE GROUP IN FOR AN INCIDENT EARLIER IN THE SUMMER IN HAZLETON. DISTRICT JUDGE ANTHONY KILKER WILL PRESIDE AT THE HEARINGS.