Today's News-Saturday, October 24, 2009

MURDER SUICIDE IN POTTSVILLE


AN APPARENT DOMESTIC DISPUTE TURNED DEADLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN POTTSVILLE. 51 YEAR OLD FRANK MANGANIELLO SHOT HIS ESTRANGED GIRLFRIEND, 50 YEAR OLD SANDRA PUCCI SEVERAL TIMES IN A PARKING LOT ON WEST MARKET STREET, FLED EAST ON MARKET STREET TO GARFIELD SQUARE, IN PURSUIT BY POLICE. EYEWITNESS STEPHANIE LOZADA, AN EMPLOYEE AT THE GARFIELD DINER, TELLS US WHAT SHE SAW:


STEPHANIE LOZADA


POLICE ASSUMED THAT MANGANIELLO WAS HOLED UP INSIDE, AND POLICE BEGAN TO EVACUATE THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. MANGANIELLO WAS FOUND DEAD OF A SINGLE GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD ON THE ALTAR OF THE CHURCH. DISTRICT ATTORNEY JIM GOODMAN SAID THAT CHARGES WERE ALREADY PENDING

AGAINST MANGANIELLO:


GOODMAN MANGANIELLO


PUCCI DIED FROM THE GUNSHOT WOUNDS AT LEHIGH VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER. AN AUTOPSY ON MANGANIELLO'S REMAINS WILL BE DONE AT SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER SOUTH THIS MORNING. POTTSVILLE POLICE WERE AIDED BY NUMEROUS MUNICIPAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE AND COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTIES. THE PUBLIC IS INVITED ATTEND A PRAYER AND HEALING SERVICE AT FIRST UNITED METHODIST, 4TH AND WEST MARKET STREETS AT 7PM. BISHOP PEGGY JOHNSON WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE.


FIRE IN BUTLER TOWNSHIP


A HOME IS DESTROYED AFTER FIRE RAVAGED THROUGH IT IN LAVELLE THIS MORNING. CREWS WERE CALLED TO 2298 FAIRGROUNDS ROAD AROUND 2:30AM. OTHER DETAILS ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE.

WORKER STILL IN CRITICAL CONDITION


A SCHUYLKILL HAVEN BOROUGH ELECTRIC CREW WORKER IS STILL IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT LEHIGH VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER AFTER HE WAS BURNED THURSDAY AFTERNOON. JARED BERNITSKY WAS INJURED AT THE BOROUGH ELECTRIC SUBSTATION ON CALDWELL STREET. POWER WAS KNOCKED OUT TO THE ENTIRE TOWN FOR ABOUT FOUR HOURS. THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT CONTINUES.


FOUR ACCUSED MURDERERS CASE HEADED TO COURT


FOUR MEN ACCUSED OF BEATING A FORMER FRIEND TO DEATH LAST MONTH NEAR BRANDONVILLE WILL HAVE THEIR CASE BOUND OVER FOR COURT. SHANE ROOF OF PALMERTON, AND JEFFREY GOMBERT, ANDREW TUTKO THE SECOND AND CURTIS FOOSE OF HAZLETON ALLEGEDLY BEAT 21 YEAR OLD ANTHONY LOCASIO WITH BASEBALL BATS FOR RATTING THE OTHERS OUT TO POLICE IN AN INCIDENT LAST SUMMER. DISTRICT JUDGE ANTHONY KILKER BOUND CHARGES OF CRIMINAL HOMICIDE, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, AND CONSPIRACY OVER TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COURT. THE FOUR ACCUSED REMAIN IN THE COUNTY LOCKUP.


ONE INJURED IN CRASH


A VALLEY VIEW MAN SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES IN A CRASH ON ROUTE 501 IN PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP FRIDAY AFTERNOON. 45 YEAR OLD HARRY MAUSSER WAS SOUTHBOUND AROUND 4PM WHEN HIS VEHICLE SKIDDED OUT OF CONTROL, HITTING A GUIDERAIL AND GOING AIRBORNE TWICE AND STRIKING SEVERAL TREES. HE WAS TAKEN TO HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER VIA AMBULANCE FOR TREATMENT.


CYCLE STOLEN AT WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP HOME


A MOTORCYCLE WAS STOLEN FROM A WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP SOMETIME THURSDAY OR FRIDAY. BURGLARS GAINED ENTRY TO A GARAGE AT 6 MAPLE LANE AND TOOK A YELLOW KAWASAKI MOTORCYCLE BELONGING TO JUSTIN DONTON. STATE POLICE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN ARE INVESTIGATING.


MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY


IN SPITE OF THE RAINY WEATHER, PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND WALKS OF LIFE ARE LENDING A HELPING HAND FOR THE 2009 MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY. IN SPITE OF LOWER REGISTRATIONS FOR LOCAL PROJECTS LAST WEEK, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY COORDINATOR JANICE JOHNSTON REPORTS THAT 121 PROJECTS HAVE BEEN REGISTERED, WITH OVER 5800 PEOPLE PARTICIPATING AND OVER 7300 PEOPLE TO BENEFIT FROM KINDNESS. JOHNSTON SAYS THERE ARE MORE PROJECTS BEING DONE, MANY GATHERING FOOD AND OTHER GOODS THAT ARE IN DESPERATE NEED DURING THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.



HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOVERNOR ED RENDELL SAYS HE EXPECTS HUNDREDS OF STATE EMPLOYEES TO BE LAID OFF RIGHT BEFORE THANKSGIVING. HE MADE THE COMMENTS DURING AN INTERVIEW ON WHYY RADIO IN PHILADELPHIA. RENDELL SAYS MANY DETAILS ARE STILL BEING WORKED OUT.


HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A SPOKESMAN FOR THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE HAS DECLINED COMMENT ON A REPORT THAT FIVE OF THE 12 DEFENDANTS IN A LEGISLATIVE CORRUPTION CASE HAVE AGREED TO PLEAD GUILTY. THE PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE REPORTED THE FIVE DEFENDANTS ARE COOPERATING WITH PROSECUTORS.


CLAIRTON, PA. (AP) - A 17-YEAR-OLD CLAIRTON GIRL REMAINS HOSPITALIZED FOLLOWING A TOWN HOUSE FIRE THAT KILLED THREE CHILDREN. THE FIRE EARLY FRIDAY KILLED TWO SISTERS, AGES 9 AND 6, AND A 2-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO WAS NOT RELATED TO THE GIRLS. FIRE OFFICIALS SAY THE BLAZE DOES NOT APPEAR SUSPICIOUS.


UNDATED (AP) - PHYSICIANS AT ERIE'S HAMOT MEDICAL CENTER SAY EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS ARE UP ABOUT 30 PERCENT, WITH MANY PATIENTS REPORTING FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS. HAMOT IS GIVING STAFF AND PATIENTS MASKS TO FIGHT THE SPREAD OF SWINE FLU.


WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYS TOO MANY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET CREDIT DESPITE THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS TO JUMP-START LENDING. HE'S USING HIS
WEEKLY RADIO AND INTERNET ADDRESS TO URGE BANKS TO LEND MORE MONEY
TO SMALL BUSINESSES. HE SAYS SUCH BUSINESSES HAVE CREATED NEARLY
TWO-THIRDS OF THE NATION'S NEW JOBS OVER THE PAST DECADE AND A HALF
AND SHOULD BE "AT THE FOREFRONT" OF THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY.


WASHINGTON (AP) - NEBRASKA SEN. MIKE JOHANNS SAYS MOST PEOPLE AGREE THAT HEALTH CARE CHANGES SHOULD LOWER COSTS AND MAKE IT EASIER TO GET HEALTH CARE. BUT, IN THE REPUBLICANS' WEEKLY ADDRESS, HE SAYS CURRENT PROPOSALS IN CONGRESS DON'T DO THAT -- AND MAY EVEN HAVE THE OPPOSITE EFFECT.


MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - THE FIRST OFFICER OF THE NORTHWEST AIRLINES JET THAT OVERSHOT ITS DESTINATION SAYS THIS WEEK'S INCIDENT WAS NOT "A SERIOUS EVENT." THE FLIGHT TO MINNEAPOLIS SPED 150 MILES TOO FAR, AS AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS TRIED FRANTICALLY TO REACH THE CREW AND MILITARY JETS WERE PREPARING TO CHASE THEM. AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDER WAY.


ISLAMABAD (AP) - PAKISTAN IS ANNOUNCING ITS BIGGEST PRIZE SO FAR IN ITS EIGHT-DAY-OLD ANTI-MILITANT OPERATION NEAR THE AFGHAN BORDER. AFTER FIERCE FIGHTING, THE ARMY HAS CAPTURED THE HOMETOWN OF PAKISTAN'S TALIBAN CHIEF. MEANWHILE, THERE'S WORD THAT A SUSPECTED U.S. AIRSTRIKE KILLED 22 PEOPLE, BUT APPARENTLY MISSED A TOP TALIBAN FIGURE.


KABUL (AP) - CAMPAIGNING FOR THE AFGHAN PRESIDENTIAL RUNOFF ELECTION BEGINS TODAY, EXACTLY TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE VOTE. TALIBAN FIGHTERS ARE ALREADY WARNING PEOPLE NOT TO TAKE PART IN THE BALLOTING. THEY'RE THREATENING A WAVE OF VIOLENCE ON ELECTION DAY TO STOP THEM.