Today's News-Thursday, September 3, 2009

FUNDING HELP FOR ALPHA MILLS

A COUNTY TEXTILE MANUFACTURER IS GETTING SOME FUNDING HELP TO CONSOLIDATE FACILITIES AND BRING NEW JOBS. ALPHA MILLS CORPORATION HAS BEEN AWARDED A $660-THOUSAND-DOLLAR PIDA LOAN TO HELP IN THE CONSOLIDATION OF TWO PLANTS INTO THE FORMER PHILLIPS VAN HEUSEN BUILDING ON ROUTE 61 IN NORTH MANHEIM TOWNSHIP. THE COMPANY EXPECTS TO CREATE 19 JOBS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS ACCORDING TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE TIM SEIP. ALPHA MILLS MAKES VARIOUS LINES OF APPAREL IN ADDITION TO A WAREHOUSING/DISTRIBUTION BUSINESS. SEDCO ALSO HELPED IN SECURING THE FUNDING.FLA MAN FACES VEHICULAR HOMICIDE CHARGES

BOY'S GRANDFATHERS DIE SAME DAY, SEPARATE CRASHES

JONESTOWN, PA. (AP) - A 3-YEAR-OLD BOY LOST BOTH OF HIS GRANDFATHERS ON THE SAME DAY IN SEPARATE CAR CRASHES, ONE OF WHICH THE BOY HIMSELF SURVIVED. THE BOY WAS RIDING WITH HIS 67-YEAR-OLD PATERNAL GRANDFATHER, JOHN KROH SR., TREMONT ON TUESDAY WHEN THEIR SUV WAS HIT HEAD-ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. KROH AND JOHN BECKER DIED AT THE SCENE NEAR JONESTOWN, LEBANON COUNTY, BUT THE BOY SURVIVED. POLICE SAY THE DRIVER WHO HIT THEM, 28 YEAR OLD RICHARD FINCH WAS DRUNK AND WILL BE CHARGED WITH VEHICULAR HOMICIDE. FOURTEEN HOURS LATER, THE BOY'S MATERNAL GRANDFATHER DIED IN A SINGLE-CAR CRASH ABOUT 12 MILES AWAY. POLICE SAY 47-YEAR-OLD ROBIN LUCAS LOST CONTROL OF HIS CAR AROUND 11 P.M.
BOTH GRANDFATHERS LIVED IN TREMONT.

LLEWELLYN MAN HEADED FOR PRISON

A LLEWELLYN MAN IS HEADED TO STATE PRISON AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO CHARGES RELATING TO A CASE FROM SEPTEMBER, 2005. 25 YEAR OLD KEVIN HOFF IS CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, THEFT AND OTHER COUNTS AFTER HE CONSPIRED WITH A 14 YEAR OLD BOY TO ROB THE GASWAY SERVICE STATION ON ROUTE 61. AN EMPLOYEE THERE WAS HIT ON THE HEAD WITH A METAL PIPE DURING THE ROBBERY. CASH WAS TAKEN IN THE HEIST. ACCORDING TO THE REPUBLICAN HERALD, HOFF ALSO BURGLARIZED A NEW PHILADELPHIA HOME IN 2006. JUDGE JOHN DOMALAKES SENTENCED HOFF TO 5 TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON.

POTTSVILLE CRASH

SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN A CRASH ON ROUTE 61 WEDNESDAY. POTTSVILLE POLICE INDICATE THAT A NORTHBOUND AUTO DRIVEN BY 63 YEAR OLD GLENNA MILLER OF PHILLIPSBURG, NEW JERSEY STRUCK TWO VEHICLES AT THE INTERSECTION OF 61 AND MILL CREEK AVENUE. THE CARS DRIVEN BY GERARD WENSUS OF ST CLAIR AND DAVID REINERT OF AUBURN WERE STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT. VARIOUS INJURIES RESULTED FOR SEVERAL OF THE OCCUPANTS. THEY WERE TREATED AT SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER SOUTH.

5-1-1

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PEOPLE TRAVELING IN PENNSYLVANIA WILL SOON HAVE A NEW RESOURCE FOR TRAFFIC, WEATHER AND TOURISMINFORMATION. THE STATE WILL LAUNCH ITS 511 PHONE SERVICE ON FRIDAY. BY CALLING 511 FROM ANY PHONE, TRAVELERS CAN FIND OUT ABOUT ACCIDENTS, AVERAGE TRAFFIC SPEEDS AND OTHER DATA. THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DISCOURAGES MOTORISTS FROM CALLING 511 WHILE DRIVING. OFFICIALS SAY CALLERS SHOULD PULL OFF THE ROAD OR CHECK FOR DELAYS BEFORE HEADING OUT. INFORMATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE AT http://www.511pa.com/. FEDERAL AUTHORITIES DESIGNATED 511 AS THE NATIONWIDE THREE-DIGIT NUMBER FOR TRAVELER INFORMATION. PENNSYLVANIA IS JOINING 35 OTHER STATES IN OFFERING THE SERVICE.

SPECTER FOES UNITE
SPECTER FOES SESTAK, TOOMEY DISCUSS HEALTH CARE
ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - TWO OPPONENTS GUNNING FOR SEN. ARLEN SPECTER'S SEAT HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER IN A TOWN HALL MEETING OF POLITICAL POLAR OPPOSITES. CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN PAT TOOMEY AND DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN JOE SESTAK MET WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT MUHLENBERG COLLEGE IN ALLENTOWN TO DISCUSS HEALTH CARE REFORM. THEY PLANNED TO GET TOGETHER AT A LOCAL BAR AFTER THE DEBATE FOR BEERS. TOOMEY IS A FORMER CONGRESSMAN WHOSE POPULARITY AMONG CONSERVATIVES PROMPTED SPECTER TO LEAVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN APRIL. SESTAK IS DEFYING PARTY LEADERS INCLUDING PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA BY CHALLENGING SPECTER IN NEXT MAY'S PRIMARY. SESTAK SUPPORTS GOVERNMENT-RUN INSURANCE PROVISIONS. TOOMEY ADVOCATES MEDICAL MALPRACTICE REFORM AND TAX INCENTIVES FOR CITIZENS WHO BUY PRIVATE INSURANCE.

LABOR DAY-BIDEN
BIDEN TO ATTEND LABOR DAY PARADE IN PITTSBURGH
PITTSBURGH (AP) - VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS SCHEDULED TO ATTEND THE LABOR DAY PARADE IN PITTSBURGH ON MONDAY. THAT'S ACCORDING TO AN OFFICIAL WITH THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY LABOR COUNCIL, WHICH ORGANIZES THE EVENT. JACK SHEA, THE COUNCIL'S PRESIDENT, ANNOUNCED THE PLANNED VISIT WEDNESDAY. LAST YEAR, BIDEN WAS SCHEDULED TO BE IN PITTSBURGH FOR THE PARADE. BUT HE CANCELED BECAUSE OF HURRICANE GUSTAV. AROUND 70,000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO MARCH IN THIS YEAR'S PARADE, WHICH STARTS AT MELLON ARENA AROUND 10 A.M.

DOWNTOWN PHILLY ABDUCTION
WOMAN ESCAPES AFTER ABDUCTION IN DOWNTOWN PHILLY
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA POLICE SAY A WOMAN WAS BRIEFLY ABDUCTED BY A MAN WHO ASKED HER FOR HELP SECURING A CAR SEAT. AUTHORITIES SAY THE WOMAN MANAGED TO ESCAPE MINUTES LATER WHEN
HER KIDNAPPER GOT STUCK IN TRAFFIC. CAPT. THOMAS DARBY SAYS THE INCIDENT HAPPENED NEAR CITY HALL AROUND 7:30 P.M. TUESDAY. POLICE ARE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE SUSPECT. WHEN THE WOMAN REACHED INTO THE CAR TO HELP WITH THE CAR SEAT, POLICE SAY, THE MAN PUSHED HER INTO THE BACK SEAT. HE THEN LOCKED THE DOOR AND DROVE OFF. AUTHORITIES SAY HE HAD A GUN AND THREATENED TO SHOOT THE WOMAN IF SHE RESISTED. DARBY SAYS THE MAN SOON GOT STUCK IN TRAFFIC, AND THE WOMAN MANAGED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND ESCAPE. THE WOMAN WAS NOT HURT.

HUMAN BONES FOUND
CORONER TO DISCUSS HUMAN BONES FOUND IN PA. YARD
YORK, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA ARE TRYING TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY OF SOME HUMAN BONES FOUND IN A BACK YARD. THE YORK COUNTY CORONER'S OFFICE SAYS IT IS TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE REMAINS. THE CORONER PLANS TO DISCUSS THE DISCOVERY AT A NEWS CONFERENCE ON THURSDAY.

TREASURY LAYOFFS
PA. TREASURER HANDS OUT PINK SLIPS TO 60 EMPLOYEES
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - ABOUT 60 PENNSYLVANIA TREASURY DEPARTMENT
EMPLOYEES ARE OUT OF A JOB IN A MOVE PROMPTED BY THE STATE'S BUDGET
SHORTFALL. THE DEPARTMENT SAID WEDNESDAY THE DECISION WAS IN RESPONSE TO A REDUCTION OF ABOUT $7 MILLION IN ITS EXPECTED STATE APPROPRIATION. SPOKESMAN DOUG ROHANNA SAYS THAT IF THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT GETS MORE FUNDING THAN EXPECTED, THE ADDITIONAL MONEY MAY GO TOWARD A COMPUTER UPGRADE. HE SAYS THEY'LL CONSIDER BRINGING BACK SOME OF THE WORKERS AT THAT TIME AND THAT THE REDUCTION IN THE 490-PERSON WORK FORCE IS LIKELY TO AFFECT SOME OPERATIONS. ABOUT TWO DOZEN OF THE TARGETED EMPLOYEES ARE UNION WORKERS WITH BUMPING RIGHTS, SO IT'S NOT CLEAR WHICH SPECIFIC WORKERS WILL BE OUT OF A JOB.

COURTHOUSE KICKBACKS
NE PA. DEVELOPER PLEADS IN KIDS-FOR-CASH CASE
SCRANTON, PA. (AP) - A NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA DEVELOPER AT THE CENTER OF A "KIDS-FOR-CASH" SCHEME HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO A FELONY STEMMING FROM ALLEGED PAYMENTS TO TWO COUNTY JUDGES. ROBERT K. MERICLE ADMITS HE FAILED TO TELL A FEDERAL GRAND JURY ABOUT $2.1 MILLION IN "FINDERS' FEES" HIS COMPANY PAID TO OUSTED JUDGES MARK A. CIAVARELLA JR. AND MICHAEL T. CONAHAN. MERICLE FACES FOUR TO 10 MONTHS IN PRISON AFTER WEDNESDAY'S PLEA. HE WILL ALSO PAY $2.1 MILLION TO LOCAL CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS. THE 46-YEAR-OLD MERICLE IS AT LEAST THE 11TH PERSON CHARGED IN A SWEEPING LUZERNE COUNTY CORRUPTION PROBE. CONAHAN AND CIAVARELLA ENTERED PLEA AGREEMENTS, BUT WITHDREW THEM AFTER A FEDERAL JUDGE REFUSED TO BE BOUND BY THE NEGOTIATED 87-MONTH SENTENCES.

PENNSYLVANIA PENSIONS
POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS, HIT PENSION OVERHAUL BILL
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - ADVOCATES FOR POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS ARE URGING PENNSYLVANIA LAWMAKERS TO REJECT A PROPOSED OVERHAUL OF THE STATE'S MUNICIPAL PENSION LAWS. THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE LODGE OF THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE OBJECTED WEDNESDAY TO THE PROPOSAL BEING APPROVED AS AN AMENDMENT TO A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW PHILADELPHIA TO INCREASE ITS SALES TAX AND DEFER PENSION PAYMENTS. LES NERI SAYS THE AMENDMENT WAS RAMMED THROUGH THE SENATE WITH NOT ENOUGH SCRUTINY OR DISCUSSION. THE AMENDED BILL WOULD PROVIDE STRICT NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR PENSION FUNDS WITH THE MOST SERIOUS FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. IT INCLUDES A STATE TAKEOVER OF THE WORST ONES. THE MEASURE AWAITS ACTION BY THE HOUSE.

MISSING RING
POLICE RECOVER WORLD SERIES RING AT PHILLIES PARK
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - POLICE HAVE RECOVERED A PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES WORLD SERIES RING THAT WENT MISSING AT THE BALLPARK. THE OWNER, A PHILLIES MARKETING EXECUTIVE, SAYS HE REMOVED THE RING IN A RESTROOM MONDAY AT CITIZENS BANK PARK. HE RETURNED A HALF-HOUR LATER TO FIND IT GONE. POLICE CAPT. LAURENCE NODIFF SAID ON WEDNESDAY THAT SURVEILLANCE TAPES LED THEM TO A JANITOR, WHO TOOK POLICE TO THE RING. NODIFF SAYS IT WAS FOUND WRAPPED IN A PAPER TOWEL AND STASHED IN A SUPPLY CLOSET. POLICE SAY CHARGES ARE EXPECTED AGAINST THE JANITOR, WHO WORKS FOR A SUBCONTRACTOR AND WHOSE NAME WASN'T RELEASED. THEY SAY HE MAY HAVE HIDDEN THE RING INSTEAD OF TAKING IT HOME BECAUSE HE HAD SECOND THOUGHTS. THE 2008 CHAMPIONSHIP RING HAS 103 DIAMONDS AND IS VALUED AT AROUND $15,000.

PEOPLE-GOSSELIN
JON GOSSELIN: 'I TOOK A LOT OF ABUSE' FROM KATE
NEW YORK (AP) - JON GOSSELIN IS FIGHTING WITH HIS WIFE KATE AGAIN - THIS TIME THROUGH AN INTERMEDIARY. THE REALITY TV STAR TOLD ABC NEWS' CHRIS CUOMO ON "GOOD MORNING AMERICA" THAT HE "TOOK A LOT OF ABUSE" FROM KATE AND HE'S LOOKING TO MOVE ON. THE TWO STARS OF TLC'S "JON & KATE PLUS 8" HAVE BECOME BETTER KNOWN FOR THEIR IMPLODING MARRIAGE THAN THEIR PARENTING SKILLS IN RECENT MONTHS. HE SAYS POLICE WERE RECENTLY CALLED TO THE COUPLE'S PENNSYLVANIA HOME BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T LET KATE IN THE HOUSE AND SHE TRIED TO "CRY IT UP WITH COPS." THE 32-YEAR-OLD FATHER OF EIGHT IS NOW DATING THE 22-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER OF A SURGEON WHO PERFORMED A TUMMY TUCK ON KATE. IT WAS HIS FIRST TELEVISION INTERVIEW SINCE DIVORCE PAPERS WERE FILED. A LONGER VERSION WILL AIR NEXT TUESDAY ON "PRIMETIME: FAMILY SECRETS."

LOS ANGELES (AP) - RESIDENTS FORCED TO FLEE FROM A MENACING WILDFIRE NORTH OF LOS ANGELES HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO RETURN TO SURVEY THE DAMAGE. MEANWHILE, CREWS HAVE BEEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A BREAK
IN THE WEATHER TO STRENGTHEN THEIR LINES AROUND THE MASSIVE BLAZE.
CONTAINMENT IS NOW AT 28 PERCENT.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE RATE OF VIOLENT CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES HELD STEADY IN 2008. THE RATE OF NEARLY 20 VICTIMIZATIONS PER 1,000 PEOPLE AGE 12 OR OLDER FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS IS THE LOWEST SINCE 1973, THE FIRST YEAR SUCH DATA WERE COLLECTED.

GLENDALE, CALIF. (AP) - MICHAEL JACKSON'S PRIVATE INTERMENT TODAY COMES ONE MONTH AFTER A LAVISH PUBLIC MEMORIAL WAS HELD FOR THE SINGER, WHO DIED JUNE 25. JACKSON WILL BE LAID TO REST IN FOREST LAWN GLENDALE, A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MAUSOLEUM FILLED WITH LEGENDARY ENTERTAINERS.

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - A NEW STUDY SUGGESTS THE RECESSION IS TAKING MORE THAN JUST A FINANCIAL TOLL ON THE UNEMPLOYED, IT'S TAKING A PSYCHOLOGICAL TOLL. A REPORT OUT OF RUTGERS UNIVERSITY SAYS A MAJORITY OF RECENTLY UNEMPLOYED AMERICANS FEEL "TRAUMATIZED."

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - RELATIVES ARE HONORING THE VICTIMS OF FLIGHT 93 WITH A CROSS-COUNTRY MOTORCYCLE TRIBUTE RIDE. THE JET CRASHED IN PENNSYLVANIA ON SEPT. 11, 2001. THE CARAVAN WILL RETRACE THE FLIGHT'S INTENDED PATH. IT LEAVES NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THIS MORNING AND IS SET TO ARRIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO ON THE EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ATTACKS.