Today's News-Monday, October 12, 2009

CRASH IN WEST BRUNSWICK CAUSES INJURY

A BLANDON MAN HAD TO BE LIFE FLIGHTED TO LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL AFTER HE CRASHED HIS MOTORCYCLE SUNDAY AFTERNOON. 45 YEAR OLD ARLEN MARTIN WAS SOUTHBOUND ON HAWK MOUNTAIN ROAD AND LOST CONTROL OF THE BIKE. MARTIN WAS THROWN SEVERAL FEET FROM THE CYCLE AND IT CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND A TREE. MARTIN'S CONDITION IS NOT BEING RELEASED. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER 1PM YESTERDAY.

PERSISTENT BURGLARS UNSUCCESSFUL

STATE POLICE ARE REVIEWING VIDEO SURVEILLANCE TAPES TO DETERMINE WHO TRIED TO BREAK IN TO A WEST BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIP BUSINESS OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS. THE ATTEMPTED BURGLARY WAS DISCOVERED YESTERDAY AT DEER LAKE BEVERAGE ON ROUTE 61, WHERE THE REAR DOORS WERE PRIED OPEN UNSUCCESSFULLY. SCHUYLKILL HAVEN TROOPERS ARE HANDLING THE INVESTIGATION.

TOWER CITY MAN FACES CHARGES OF FURNISHING ALCOHOL TO MINORS

A TOWER CITY MAN IS FACING CHARGES OF FURNISHING ALCOHOL TO MINORS AT A PARTY IN THE BOROUGH EARLY SUNDAY. THE UNDERAGE DRINKING PARTY WAS UNDERWAY AT 100 EAST GRAND AVENUE, WHERE A 17 YEAR OLD GIRL WAS INTOXICATED. STATE POLICE DETERMINED 21 YEAR OLD DERRICK WARFEL HAD PROVIDED THE BOOZE. CHARGES OF FURNISHING ALCOHOL TO MINORS AND UNDERAGE DRINKING CHARGES IN THE INCIDENT WILL BE FILED IN DISTRICT COURT.

LOWE'S HELPS GORDON PARK

A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS FROM LOWE'S HAVE STEPPED UP TO HELP REHABILITATE THE GORDON COMMUNITY PARK. MAYOR NICK TROUTMAN SAYS "LOWE'S HEROES" HELPED THE NORTHERN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN MATERIALS PLUS TIME AND TALENT IN THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GORDON FISH AND GAME CLUB. PAINTING WAS DONE, AS WELL AS REPAIRS TO EQUIPMENT AT THE PLAYGROUND AND THE BASEBALL FIELD. LOWE'S HAS A DISTRIBUTION CENTER AT HIGHRIDGE AND A STORE IN POTTSVILLE. ITS THE SECOND LARGEST HOME IMPROVEMENT RETAILER IN THE WORLD.

BUDGET

AFTER 101 DAYS OF WRANGLING, PENNSYLVANIA NOW HAS A BUDGET. EMPLOYEES IN THE STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE WERE BUSY OVER THE WEEKEND PREPARING FOR DISTRIBUTION OF MUCH NEEDED FUNDS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, COUNTY GOVERNMENTS AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. BUT, WITH THE COLUMBUS DAY HOLIDAY, THOSE FUNDS WON'T BEGIN CIRCULATING TO THE RECIPIENTS UNTIL TOMORROW OR WEDNESDAY. AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, THE SENATE APPROVED NEW LIMITS ON GOVERNOR’S BUDGET POWERS. HOUSE BILL 1614 ESTABLISHES A LEGISLATIVE FISCAL BUDGET OFFICE THAT IS EXPECTED TO ANALYZE THE STATE'S FINANCIAL PICTURE ON A NON-PARTISAN BASIS. HISTORICALLY, THESE POWERS WERE CONTROLLED BY THE GOVERNOR AND BEEN THE SUBJECT OF CONSIDERABLE POLITICAL MANEUVERING. SENATOR DAVE ARGALL, REPUBLICAN OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, ANNOUNCED THE LEGISLATION, AND SAID HE INTRODUCTED A SIMILAR BILL IN THE HOUSE 5 YEARS AGO. ARGALL SAID "WHILE THERE IS PLENTY OF BLAME TO GO AROUND IN HARRISBURG FOR THIS FAILED BUDGET PROCESS, WE SHOULD AGREE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE REAL CHANGES TO AVOID SIMILAR BUDGET DELAYS FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN."

MEDIA, PA. (AP) - ACCIDENT SPECIALISTS WILL BE BROUGHT IN TO EXAMINE SCHOOL POLICIES FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF A STUDENT WHO WAS ELECTROCUTED DURING A CLASS AT THE WILLIAMSON FREE SCHOOL OF
MECHANICAL TRADES IN MEDIA, PA . THE DELAWARE COUNTY MEDICAL
EXAMINER SAID THIS WEEKEND THAT MICHAEL SAVAGE, FROM SHARON HILL,
DIED FROM A "LOW VOLTAGE ELECTROCUTION".

WASHINGTON (AP) - PHILADELPHIA IS MAKING ITS SECOND RUN AT A BIG MUNICIPAL BROADBAND PROJECT. THE CITY IS ASKING FOR $21.8 MILLION IN STIMULUS MONEY TO CONNECT POLICE PRECINCTS, FIRE STATIONS, LIBRARIES, HOUSING PROJECTS, RECREATION CENTERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THREE INNER-CITY NEIGHBORHOODS. IT WOULD CONSIST OF FIBER LINES AND A WIRELESS NETWORK.

BRIDGEVILLE, PA. (AP) - DONNA MAE MIMS, THE FIRST WOMAN TO WIN A SPORTS CAR CLUB OF AMERICA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1963, HAS DIED. SHE WAS 82. MIMS DIED OF COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING A STROKE. PER HER WISHES, MIMS' BODY WAS SEATED BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL OF A 1979 PINK CORVETTE FOR VISITATION HOURS AT THE FUNERAL HOME IN MCMURRAY, PA.

WARMINSTER, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA SAY AN EARLY-MORNING FIRE AT AN APARTMENT BUILDING SENT ABOUT 18 PEOPLE, SOME OF THEM CHILDREN, TO NEARBY HOSPITALS, BUT NO SERIOUS INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE BLAZE AT THE BUCKS LANDING APARTMENTS IN WARMINSTER WAS REPORTED EARLY YESTERDAY.FIREFIGHTERS SAY A THIRD-FLOOR APARTMENT WAS DESTROYED.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - MICHAEL VICK WAS IN AS THE QUARTERBACK FOR THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF A BLOWOUT AGAINST TAMPA BAY YESTERDAY. VICK GOT HIS CHANCE BEHIND CENTER IN PLACE OF DONOVAN MCNABB WITH THE EAGLES AHEAD 31-14 LATE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. HE COMPLETED A 1-YARD PASS TO DESEAN JACKSON AND SCRAMBLED FOR 11 YARDS ON THIRD DOWN.

PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN (AP) - A PAKISTANI OFFICIAL SAYS AT LEAST 29 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN AN EXPLOSION IN A NORTHWEST DISTRICT NEXT TO THE TROUBLED SWAT VALLEY. A SENIOR POLICE OFFICIAL SAYS ANOTHER 40 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WOUNDED IN THE BLAST TODAY AT A DISTRICT MARKET.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, PAKISTAN (AP) - PAKISTAN'S TALIBAN SAY THEY CARRIED OUT A DEADLY WEEKEND ATTACK IN PAKISTAN AND IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING. TALIBAN SPOKESMAN AZAM TARIQ CALLED THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ON MONDAY AND SAID THE ATTACK ON AN ARMY BASE THAT KILLED 20 PEOPLE WAS ONLY THE FIRST IN A PLANNED SERIES OF STRIKES INTENDED TO AVENGED THE KILLING OF THEIR LEADER BY A U.S. DRONE.

BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND (AP) - SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON IS IN NORTHERN IRELAND MAKING A PITCH TO LEADERS OF THE POWER-SHARING GOVERNMENT TO TAKE MORE STEPS TO MAKE IT WORK. FIRST MINISTER PETER ROBINSON , A PROTESTANT, IS RESISTING PRESSURE FROM DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER MARTIN MCGUINNESS AND OTHER CATHOLICS FOR THEIR ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE POLICE AND JUSTICE SYSTEM.

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. (AP) - CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS ARE BEING CALLED INTO SPECIAL SESSION TO DEAL WITH THE STATE'S WATER PROBLEMS. GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS MEET AGAIN TODAY TO TRY TO HAMMER OUT AN AGREEMENT. LEGISLATIVE LEADERS MET FOR 12 HOURS YESTERDAY.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - "PARANORMAL ACTIVITY," A MOVIE SHOT FOR JUST $15,000, HAS VAULTED TO 5TH PLACE ON THE WEEKEND BOX OFFICE LIST. AT THE TOP IS "COUPLES RETREAT," STARRING "SWINGERS" CO-STARS VINCE VAUGHN AND JON FAVREAU. "COUPLES RETREAT" DEBUTED WITH $35.3 MILLION.