Today's News-Friday, September 4, 2009

TRUCK CRASH INJURES ONE, TRAFFIC SNARLED

A TRUCK DRIVER FROM WILKES BARRE WAS INJURED WHEN HIS RIG ROLLED OVER THURSDAY, SNARLING TRAFFIC. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AROUND 1PM ON ROUTE 61 SOUTH, KNOWN AS THE FRACKVILLE GRADE. THE UNIDENTIFIED TRUCKER WENT ONTO THE LEFT BERM OF THE ROAD, WHEN HIS LOAD APPARENTLY SHIFTED CAUSING THE TRACTOR TRAILER TO END UP ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. EMERGENCY CREWS HAD TO EXTRICATE HIM FROM THE WRECKAGE. HE WAS TREATED ON SCENE THEN FLOWN TO LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL. THE SOUTHBOUND LANES OF 61 WERE TIED UP FOR SEVERAL HOURS FOR CLEANUP. THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES INTO THE ACCIDENT.

BOY MAKES PRANK CALL, GETS IN HOT WATER WITH POLICE

A 15 YEAR OLD BOY MAKING A PRANK 9-1-1 CALL TO POTTSVILLE POLICE LANDS HIM IN TROUBLE. OFFICERS SAY THE CALL WAS MADE ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON, SAYING THAT A MAN WITH A GUN WAS CHASING HIM NEAR ROTARY FIELD IN POTTSVILLE. OFFICERS RESPONDED BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. WHEN QUESTIONED BY POLICE, THE BOY STILL CONTENDED THAT A MAN WITH A GUN HAD CHASED HIM, BUT FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE CALL WAS BOGUS, STATING "IT WOULD BE FUN TO PRANK THE POLICE." THE TEEN IS CHARGED WITH MAKING FALSE ALARMS TO PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER COUNTS.

DRUNK MAN WANDERS INTO POTTSVILLE APARTMENT

A PALMYRA MAN IS JAILED FOR WANDERING INTO A POTTSVILLE APARTMENT. WEDNESDAY, A 9-1-1 CALL WAS RECEIVED FROM DONNA JONES OF THE MARKET SQUARE APARTMENTS. SHE REPORTED THAT HER CHILDREN SAW 24 YEAR OLD BRANDON REMLINGER COME INTO THE APARTMENT. REMLINGER WAS FOUND SLEEPING IN THE LIVING ROOM. HE TOLD POLICE HE DIDN’T KNOW ANYONE AT THE HOME, AND WAS HIGHLY INTOXICATED. REMLINGER WAS CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL TRESPASS, DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND PUBLIC DRUNKNESS. HE WAS ARRAIGNED AND TAKEN TO THE COUNTY LOCKUP, BEING UNABLE TO POST BAIL.

ELDER ABUSE CASE

TWO CASES OF ELDER ABUSE HAVE BEEN RESOLVED IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY WITH GUILTY PLEAS FROM THE DEFENDANT. IN A PRESS RELEASE, DISTRICT ATTORNEY JIM GOODMAN SAYS THAT ELIZABETH DELEON PLEADED GUILTY TO MISAPPROPRIATING FUNDS FROM AN ELDERLY WOMAN, TOTALING OVER $197-THOUSAND-DOLLARS. DELEON HAD POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR 88 YEAR OLD MARGARET PALKO OF PORT CARBON. SHE IS NOW DECEASED. IN A SECOND CASE, 52 YEAR OLD ARTHUR DEITER WAS CHARGED WITH INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER IN THE DEATH OF 69 YEAR OLD JOANNE WEIDER. DEITER LIVED IN THE SAME HOUSE AS WEIDER, BUT WAS DEEMED GROSSLY NEGLIGENT IN THAT HE DIDN'T TAKE PROPER MEASURES TO CARE FOR HER. SENTENCING IN BOTH CASES WILL TAKE PLACE IN OCTOBER. GOODMAN SAID BOTH CASES WERE INVESTIGATED BY THE NEWLY FORMED ELDER ABUSE UNIT.

LABOR DAY TRAVEL

AS THE UNOFFICIAL END OF SUMMER COMES THIS WEEKEND, PEOPLE WILL BE GETTING AWAY FOR THE LONG LABOR DAY WEEKEND, BUT IN LESSER NUMBERS, ACCORDING TO BOB WACHTER OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY TRIPLE A:

WACHTER TRAVELERS

MANY PEOPLE HAVE OPTED TO STAYING CLOSER TO HOME THIS SUMMER DUE TO THE RECESSION. ONE BRIGHT SPOT THIS SUMMER WAS A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN GAS PRICES COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. WACHTER SAYS IN 2008, REGULAR UNLEADED AVERAGED $3.69 A GALLON. THIS SUMMER, THE AVERAGE WAS A $1.10 LESS. WACHTER REMINDS MOTORISTS TO BUCKLE UP AND DRIVE SAFELY THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND.

LABOR DAY TRAVEL TWO

LABOR DAY SIGNALS THE UNOFFICIAL END OF SUMMER AND FEWER PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO TRAVEL THIS WEEKEND. BOB WACHTER OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY TRIPLE A SAYS PROJECTIONS INDICATE ABOUT 39 MILLION PEOPLE WILL TAKE TO THE ROAD FOR THE HOLIDAY, A DROP OF ABOUT 6 MILLION COMPARED TO 2008. HE EXPLAINS THE REASON FOR THE DECLINE:

WACHTER DECLINE

GAS PRICES THIS SUMMER WERE A BRIGHT SPOT, WITH UNLEADED GAS MORE THAN A DOLLAR LOWER THAN IN 2008. TRIPLE A ESTIMATES GAS HAS AVERAGED ABOUT $2.59 A GALLON. ENJOY YOUR LABOR DAY WEEKEND, BUT DO IT SAFELY.

BASKETBALL COURT SHOOTING
PHILLY BASKETBALL COURT SHOOTING KILLS 1, WOUNDS 1
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - POLICE SAY A 23-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED AND HIS 19-YEAR-OLD BROTHER WOUNDED DURING A PICKUP BASKETBALL GAME AT A WEST PHILADELPHIA RECREATION CENTER. INVESTIGATORS SAY ABOUT 30 PEOPLE WERE ON AND AROUND THE SHEPARD RECREATION CENTER COURT WHEN THREE SHOTS WERE FIRED AT ABOUT 4:10 P.M. THURSDAY. POLICE SAY THE OLDER BROTHER WAS PLAYING WHEN HE WAS SHOT IN THE STOMACH, AND HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD ABOUT A HALF-HOUR LATER. HIS BROTHER, WHO WAS WATCHING THE GAME, WAS GRAZED ON HIS FOREHEAD BY A BULLET AND IS REPORTED IN STABLE CONDITION. THE NAMES OF THE VICTIMS WERE NOT IMMEDIATELY RELEASED, AND POLICE SAY THEY DO NOT KNOW THE MOTIVE FOR THE SHOOTING. POLICE COMMISSIONER CHARLES H. RAMSEY SAYS THE CITY-RUN CENTER IS NOT KNOWN FOR VIOLENCE OR ANY OTHER SERIOUS PROBLEMS.

DEATH ROW-SUICIDE
PA. DEATH ROW INMATE FOUND HANGING IN CELL
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA PRISON OFFICIALS SAY A MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR THE EXECUTION-STYLE SLAYINGS OF FOUR PEOPLE IN 1990-1991 WAS FOUND HANGING IN HIS SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA CELL THIS WEEK. OFFICIALS SAY 42-YEAR-OLD JOSE PAGAN WAS FOUND HANGING IN THE STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION-GRATERFORD AT ABOUT 8 A.M. TUESDAY. HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD SHORTLY AFTERWARD. STATE POLICE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND WILL INVESTIGATE. PAGAN WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN 1992 FOR THE DRUG-RELATED SLAYINGS OF 59-YEAR-OLD PABLO PADILLA SR. AND HIS SON, 31-YEAR-OLD PABLO JR., IN THEIR FELTONVILLE HOME IN JANUARY 1991. HE WAS ALSO CONVICTED OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER IN THE DECEMBER 1990 SHOOTING DEATHS OF 20-YEAR-OLD LOUIS BERMUDEZ AND 21-YEAR-OLD IVELISSE GONZALES IN KENSINGTON.

COKE PLANT EXPLOSION
MAN KILLED AT US STEEL'S CLAIRTON COKE WORKS
CLAIRTON, PA. (AP) - A MAN HAS DIED AFTER AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE AT UNITED STATES STEEL CORP.'S CLAIRTON COKE WORKS NEAR PITTSBURGH THAT ALSO INJURED ANOTHER PERSON. THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE IDENTIFIED THE DECEASED AS 32-YEAR-OLD NICHOLAS REVETTA, OF CLAIRTON. AN AUTOPSY IS SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY. A COMPANY SPOKESWOMAN SAYS HE WAS A CONTRACTOR DOING MAINTENANCE. THE COMPANY, CITING PRIVACY LAWS, DECLINED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SECOND PERSON'S INJURIES. ALLEGHENY COUNTY DISPATCHERS SAY THE CALL CAME IN AT 11:26 A.M. THURSDAY. UNITED STATES STEEL HAS ITS OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH RESPONDED TO THE SCENE. IT WASN'T IMMEDIATELY CLEAR WHAT CAUSE THE FIRE OR WHERE IN THE PLANT IT OCCURRED.

TRUCK-BUS CRASH CORRECTION
TRANSIT BUS HITS TRUCK HEAD-ON IN PITTSBURGH
PITTSBURGH (AP) - A TRANSIT SPOKESMAN NOW SAYS AT LEAST EIGHT PASSENGERS HAVE BEEN HURT AFTER A TRUCK COLLIDED HEAD-ON WITH A
PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY BUS IN PITTSBURGH. PORT AUTHORITY SPOKESMAN JIM RITCHIE SAYS THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ABOUT 2:15 P.M. THURSDAY ON THE CITY'S SOUTH SIDE. ORIGINALLY, OFFICIALS REPORTED ONLY THREE INJURIES BUT THAT WAS BECAUSE EMERGENCY CREWS HAD YET TO EXAMINE ALL THE PASSENGERS. RITCHIE SAYS EIGHT PASSENGERS ARE CONFIRMED AS INJURED AND THE NUMBER COULD RISE, THOUGH NONE ARE BELIEVED TO BE BADLY HURT. RITCHIE SAYS THE BUS DRIVER WAS NOT HURT, BUT THAT THE TRUCK DRIVER HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL WITH EITHER SERIOUS INJURIES OR AN ILLNESS. RITCHIE SAYS THE PICKUP CROSSED THE CENTER LINE OF THE ROAD AND
HIT THE FRONT OF THE BUS.

ABDUCTION HOAX
FATHER OF PA. ABDUCTION HOAX MOM FACES CHARGES
DOYLESTOWN, PA. (AP) - THE FATHER OF A SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA WOMAN WHO FAKED HER ABDUCTION AND FLED WITH HER DAUGHTER TO DISNEY WORLD IS FACING CHARGES FOR ALLEGEDLY SCUFFLING WITH CAMERAMEN OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM. SIXTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD WILLIAM SINER OF MILTON, DEL. WAS CHARGED THURSDAY WITH SIMPLE ASSAULT AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT. AUTHORITIES SAY HE ATTACKED THREE TV CAMERAMEN ON AUG. 27 AFTER BONNIE SWEETEN PLEADED GUILTY TO CHARGES OF IDENTITY THEFT AND MAKING FALSE REPORTS TO POLICE. THE INCIDENT WAS CAPTURED ON VIDEO. SWEETEN WAS SENTENCED TO NINE TO 24 MONTHS IN PRISON AFTER ADMITTING SHE CALLED 911 ON MAY 26 AND SAID SHE AND HER DAUGHTER HAD BEEN KIDNAPPED BY TWO BLACK MEN. SHE STILL FACES A FEDERAL THEFT INVESTIGATION. A PRELIMINARY HEARING FOR SINER IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPT. 11.

CROSSBOW HUNTING
PA. CROSSBOW HUNTING RESTRICTIONS FAIL ON TIE VOTE
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A PROPOSAL TO RESTRICT CROSSBOW USE IN PENNSYLVANIA FOR THE 2009-10 HUNTING SEASONS HAS FAILED AFTER A DEADLOCK VOTE BY THE STATE BOARD OF GAME COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONERS VOTED 4-4 THURSDAY ON THE PROPOSAL, MEANING THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED REGULATIONS WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT. CROSSBOWS MAY BE USED BY HUNTERS PARTICIPATING IN THE ARCHERY DEER AND ARCHERY BEAR SEASONS FOR THE 2009-10 SEASONS, AS WELL AS TURKEY SEASONS AND THE TWO-WEEK FIREARMS DEER SEASONS. CROSSBOWS MUST HAVE A MINIMUM DRAWN WEIGHT OF AT LEAST 125 POUNDS AND THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS ON THE BOLT SIZE. CROSSBOWS CANNOT BE USED IN PLACE OF MUZZLELOADERS FOR THE OCTOBER ANTLERLESS DEER SEASON OR LATE FLINTLOCK MUZZLELOADER SEASON, BUT CAN BE USED IN THE OVERLAPPING ARCHERY DEER SEASONS. BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO VOTE ON THE EXPANDED CROSSBOW USE AGAIN BEFORE THE END OF JUNE 2012.

FREE ANTIBIOTICS
GIANT EAGLE TO OFFER FREE GENERIC ANTIBIOTICS
PITTSBURGH (AP) - THE PITTSBURGH-BASED GIANT EAGLE SUPERMARKET CHAIN IS OFFERING FREE 14-DAY SUPPLIES OF GENERIC ANTIBIOTICS. CUSTOMERS DON'T NEED TO REGISTER FOR THE FREE DRUGS, ALL THEY NEED IS A VALID PRESCRIPTION. THERE ARE NO LIMITS ON THE NUMBER OF PRESCRIPTIONS CUSTOMERS CAN FILL AND THE PROMOTION COVERS NEW PRESCRIPTIONS AND REFILLS. A COMPLETE LIST OF THE ANTIBIOTICS AND DOSES AVAILABLE FOR FREE CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.GIANTEAGLE.COM, BUT INCLUDES AMOXICILLIN, AMPICILLIN, PENICILLIN, AND TETRACYCLINE. GIANT EAGLE HAS 223 STORES IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, OHIO, NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND WESTERN MARYLAND. THERE ARE PHARMACIES IN 210 OF THOSE STORES.

PHILADELPHIA NEWSPAPERS-BANKRUPTCY
PHILLY PAPERS SEEK LOCAL SUPPORT AGAINST CREDITORS
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THE OWNERS OF PHILADELPHIA'S TWO DAILY NEWSPAPERS ARE TRYING TO RALLY SUPPORT FOR LOCAL OWNERSHIP AS THEY FIGHT CREDITORS FOR CONTROL OF THE COMPANY. BUT CREDITORS OBJECT TO THE "KEEP IT LOCAL!" PUBLICITY BLITZ AND WANT A BANKRUPTCY JUDGE TO SHUT IT DOWN. THEY SAY IT AMOUNTS TO SCARE TACTICS DESIGNED TO STOP OUTSIDERS FROM BIDDING ON PHILADELPHIA NEWSPAPERS AT NEXT MONTH'S SCHEDULED AUCTION. THE PARTIES HAVE FOUGHT BITTERLY SINCE THE OWNERS OF THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS AND THE PHILLY.COM WEB SITE SOUGHT BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION IN FEBRUARY, CITING $400 MILLION IN DEBT. A GROUP OF CURRENT AND NEW INVESTORS HOPES TO WIN THE AUCTION WITH A BID THAT PAYS CREDITORS ABOUT 22 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR. CREDITORS HOPE TO TAKE OVER AND INSTALL NEW MANAGEMENT.

CLEMENCY FOR LIFERS
CLEMENCY RULING DELAYED FOR LIFERS IN PA. PRISON
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - TWO PENNSYLVANIA INMATES WHO HAVE WON PLAUDITS FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO REDUCE PRISON VIOLENCE AND COUNSEL TROUBLED YOUTHS WILL HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE LONGER TO HEAR WHETHER THEIR LIFE SENTENCES WILL BE COMMUTED. THE INMATES, CONVICTED MURDERERS TYRONE WERTS AND WILLIAM FULTZ, WERE THE FIRST LIFERS TO GO BEFORE THE STATE BOARD OF PARDONS SINCE A FEDERAL JUDGE RULED IN JUNE THAT THOUSANDS OF PENNSYLVANIA INMATES SENTENCED TO LIFE SHOULD HAVE AN EASIER PATH TOWARD CLEMENCY. U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE A. RICHARD CAPUTO RULED IN FAVOR OF INMATES SEEKING TO OVERTURN A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT TOUGHENED COMMUTATION STANDARDS FOR LIFERS. THE PARDONS BOARD APPEALED THE RULING. BOARD MEMBERS VOTED THURSDAY TO DELAY A CLEMENCY DECISION FOR WERTS AND FULTZ UNTIL THE APPEAL IS DECIDED.

GLENDALE, CALIF. (AP) - MICHAEL JACKSON HAS BEEN LAID TO REST, MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER HIS DEATH. THE KING OF POP WAS MOURNED BY CELEBRITIES INCLUDING ELIZABETH TAYLOR, BARRY BONDS AND MACAULAY CULKIN AT A PRIVATE SERVICE OUTSIDE THE ELABORATE FOREST LAWN GLENDALE MAUSOLEUM WHERE JACKSON IS NOW ENTOMBED.

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - NORTH KOREA HAS ANNOUNCED IT'S IN THE FINAL STAGES OF ENRICHING URANIUM. THE PROCESS COULD GIVE THE COMMUNIST REGIME A SECOND WAY TO MAKE NUCLEAR BOMBS, IN ADDITION TO ITS PLUTONIUM-ENRICHMENT PROGRAM. THE OFFICIAL KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS
AGENCY SAYS THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN INFORMED.

KABUL (AP) - AN AFGHAN OFFICIAL SAYS A NATO AIRSTRIKE ON TWO FUEL TANKERS HIJACKED BY TALIBAN MILITANTS IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN HAS KILLED 90 PEOPLE, INCLUDING 40 CIVILIANS. A LOCAL POLICE CHIEF SAYS THE ALLIANCE LAUNCHED AN AIRSTRIKE WHEN TALIBAN FIGHTERS STOPPED THE TRUCKS AT A RIVER CROSSING.

JERUSALEM (AP) - AIDES SAY ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU WILL APPROVE HUNDREDS OF NEW HOUSING UNITS IN WEST BANK SETTLEMENTS BEFORE SLOWING SETTLEMENT CONSTRUCTION. BUT THE AIDES SAY NETANYAHU WOULD BE WILLING TO CONSIDER SUSPENDING CONSTRUCTION ON MOST OF THE LANDS PALESTINIANS CLAIM FOR A FUTURE STATE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE U.S. WANTS AN IMMEDIATE HALT TO SETTLEMENTS.

MUMBAI, INDIA (AP) - A POLICE OFFICIAL SAYS HEAVY RAIN HAS TRIGGERED A LANDSLIDE IN A DENSELY POPULATED MUMBAI SLUM, KILLING AT LEAST 12 PEOPLE AND INJURING 25 OTHERS. POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS AND SLUM DWELLERS PULLED 25 PEOPLE FROM THE DEBRIS BUT MANY OTHERS REMAIN TRAPPED UNDER PILES OF MUD AND STONES.