Today's News-Thursday, October 22, 2009

FIRE IN TAMAQUA

CREWS ARE STILL ON SCENE OF AN EARLY MORNING FIRE IN TAMAQUA. THE CALL CAME IN AROUND 5:25AM INVOLVING SEVERAL HOMES ON ORWIGSBURG STREET. FIREFIGHTERS FROM TAMAQUA AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES BATTLED THE FIRE. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE YET.

DRUG SWEEP IN TAMAQUA

EIGHT STREET LEVEL DRUG DEALERS WERE ARRESTED WEDNESDAY MORNING BY AGENTS FROM THE D.A.'S DRUG TASK FORCE AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT. CHARGED WERE A COMBINATION OF MEN AND WOMEN, ALLEGED TO HAVE DELIVERED MARIJUANA AND CRACK COCAINE. IN ADDITION, 5 JUVENILES WERE ALSO CHARGED WITH DRUG OFFENSES, THEIR CASES BEING HANDLED BY COUNTY JUVENILE JUSTICE OFFICIALS. THE ARRESTS WERE THE RESULT OF INVESTIGATIONS BY THE TAMAQUA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE D.A.'S OFFICE. THE ACCUSED WERE ARRAIGNED AT THE OFFICE OF DISTRICT JUDGE STEPHEN BAYER.

LORI OAKES-TAMAQUA-DELIVERY OF CRACK COCAINE
RICKY NELSON-TAMAQUA-DELIVERY OF MARIJUANA
JUSTIN NEFF-TAMAQUA-DELIVERY OF MARIJUANA
BRENDA ZIMMER-TAMAQUA-DELIVERY OF MARIJUANA
ANGELA WAGNER-TAMAQUA-DELIVERY OF CRACK COCAINE
KELLY DELESSIO-TAMAQUA-DELIVERY OF MARIJUANA
DUSTIN ONCAY-TAMAQUA-DELIVERY OF MARIJUANA
NAME WITHHELD-TAMAQUA-DELIVERY OF MARIJUANA

CRASH ON 209

FOUR PEOPLE WERE INJRED IN A TUESDAY NIGHT CRASH ON ROUTE 209 IN EAST NORWEGIAN TOWNSHIP. 26 YEAR OLD KELLY DANGINIS OF CUMBOLA WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON ROUTE 209 AND SWERVED TO AVOID AN ANIMAL, CRASHING HER PICKUP INTO THE ONCOMING VEHICLE DRIVEN BY ARLENE MCSURDY OF POTTSVILLE. DRANGINIS, MCSURDY AND THEIR PASSENGERS WERE TAKEN TO SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER FOR TREATMENT. THE CRASH HAPPENED AROUND 7:30PM.

DUI CHECKPOINTS SCHEDULED

STATE POLICE WILL BE BUSY THIS COMING WEEKEND WITH DUI CHECKPOINTS. SCHUYLKILL HAVEN AND FRACKVILLE TROOPERS WILL BE ON AREA ROADWAYS FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY LOOKING FOR DRUNK DRIVERS AS PART OF THE STATE POLICE CHECKPOINT STRIKEFORCE TWO PROGRAM.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MONTH SALUTED

MORE THAN 70 MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY BUSINESS COMMUNITY WILL TAKE A STROLL FOR PROGRESS LATER TODAY IN DOWNTOWN POTTSVILLE AS PART OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MONTH. THE WALK FOR PROGRESS, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE WALK FOR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, STEPS OFF AT 5PM FROM THE CHAMBER OFFICES. LORI KANE, CHAMBER FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EXPLAINS WHY THE NAME CHANGE AND WHAT THE EVENT IS ALL ABOUT:

KANE PROGRESS

A TASTE OF SCHUYLKILL RECEPTION WILL BE HELD AT THE SCHUYLKILL YMCA ON NORTH CENTRE STREET IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE CHAMBER AT 622-1942.

WOLFGANG TRIAL SET FOR MARCH

THE TRIAL OF A MOUNT CARMEL MAN ACCUSED WITH KILLING HIS WIFE IN 2007 WILL HAVE HIS CASE HEARD IN MARCH. THAT WAS THE RULING IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COURT YESTERDAY, AS STEVEN WOLFGANG'S REQUEST TO HAVE A JURY TRIAL MOVES FORWARD. WOLFGANG HAD ORIGINALLY PLEADED NO CONTEST TO KILLING SHERRY WOLFGANG AND DUMPING HER BODY IN A CREEK ON THE SCHUYLKILL/NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY LINE IN JANUARY 2007. THE NEWS ITEM REPORTS THAT WOLFGANG REQUESTED THE JURY TRIAL BECAUSE HE BELIEVES HE IS INNOCENT OF THE CHARGES OF CRIMINAL HOMICIDE. NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY TONY ROSINI PLANS TO SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY AGAINST WOLFGANG. THE DEFENDANT REMAINS IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY PRISON TO AWAIT TRIAL.

PRE RELEASE CENTER QUESTIONS

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO ENCOUNTER ISSUES ABOUT THE PRISON PRE-RELEASE CENTER PLANNED FOR A RYAN TOWNSHIP SITE. AT WEDNESDAY'S PRISON BOARD MEETING, JUDGE BALDWIN QUESTIONED STATEMENTS MADE BY STATE GENERAL SERVICES REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT THE COUNTY NOT BEING ABLE TO CONNECT TO THE SEWER SYSTEM AT THE STATE PRISON, POTENTIALLY JACKING THE COST UP BY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO THE COUNTY. OFFICIALS WERE TOLD THAT THE PRISON HAS PLENTY OF CAPACITY TO ADD ON TO THOSE UTILITIES. THE STATE HAS OKAYED THE PURCHASE OF THE LAND BY SCHUYLKILL COUNTY FOR $48 THOUSAND DOLLARS, BUT TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS UNCLEAR AT THIS POINT ACCORDING TO THE REPUBLICAN HERALD. SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COULD WALK AWAY FROM THE DEAL IF THE PROJECT COST IS TOO HIGH. COUNTY COMMISSIONER FRANCIS MCANDREW WILL BE A GUEST ON WPPA'S STEP UP TO THE MIC THIS MORNING AT 10AM.

PADCO CAN HELP HAVEN BUSINESS

POTTSVILLE AREA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS NOW PARTNERING WITH NEIGHBORING SCHUYLKILL HAVEN WITH ITS BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM. PREVIOUSLY PADCO COULD LEND TO STARTUPS, RENOVATIONS AND PURCHASES FOR BUSINESS IN POTTSVILLE CITY, BUT NOW HAS APPROVAL FROM THE PA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO AID HAVEN BUSINESS AS WELL. PADCO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AMY BURKHART:

BURKHART LOAN

JERRY BOWMAN, SCHUYLKILL HAVEN COUNCILMAN AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION SAYS ITS A WIN-WIN:

BOWMAN LOAN

LENDING CRITERIA FOR BORROWERS IN THE PROGRAM ARE STILL THE SAME ACCORDING TO BURKART. PADCO'S LOAN PROGRAM OFFERS A COMPETITIVE INTEREST RATE OF 4 AND A HALF PERCENT.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - RYAN HOWARD AND THE DEFENDING CHAMPION PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES ARE BACK IN THE WORLD SERIES. THEY BEAT THE
LOS ANGELES DODGERS 10-4 LAST NIGHT, TO WIN THEIR SECOND STRAIGHT
NL PENNANT. JAYSON WERTH HOMERED TWICE, SHANE VICTORINO AND PEDRO
FELIZ ALSO CONNECTED WHILE BRAD LIDGE CLOSED IT OUT. RYAN HOWARD
WAS SELECTED AS MVP OF THE SERIES.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - HUNDREDS OF PHILLIES FANS STREAMED OUT OF RESTAURANTS, BARS AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN PHILADELPHIA
OVERNIGHT TO CELEBRATE THEIR TEAM'S VICTORY, AS REVELERS HONKED CAR
HORNS AND SET OFF FIREWORKS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY. ABOUT 1,000
GATHERED ON BROAD STREET AS MOUNTED POLICE AND DOZENS OF OFFICERS
IN RIOT GEAR LINED THE STREETS.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA AUDITOR GENERAL JACK WAGNER SAYS A REVIEW OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN STATE GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY CONTRACTS SHOWS THE RULES NEED TO BE TIGHTENED. A REPORT ISSUED YESTERDAY SAYS AUDITORS FOUND POOR RECORD KEEPING, INSUFFICIENT OVERSIGHT AND A POTENTIAL FOR A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN PICKING WINNING BIDS.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A LOCAL OWNERSHIP GROUP SAYS IT WILL UP ITS BID TO BUY THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER AND PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS AT AUCTION BY $20 MILLION, TO ABOUT $87 MILLION. THEY HOPE THE OFFER WILL ERASE THE $400 MILLION IN DEBT THAT FORCED PHILADELPHIA NEWSPAPERS INTO BANKRUPTCY IN FEBRUARY, THREE YEARS AFTER LOCAL OWNERS BOUGHT IT.

HANOVER, PA. (AP) - A CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA SNACK FOOD COMPANY SAYS IT PLANS TO BUY ITS NEARBY COMPETITOR, PENDING REGULATORY APPROVAL. SNYDER'S OF HANOVER SAYS IT INTENDS TO ACQUIRE UTZ QUALITY FOODS. BOTH COMPANIES ARE LOCATED IN HANOVER, YORK COUNTY, AND MAKE PRETZELS, POTATO CHIPS AND OTHER SALTY SNACKS.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - DOZENS OF PEOPLE ARRESTED DURING THE GROUP OF 20 ECONOMIC SUMMIT IN PITTSBURGH HAVE BEEN OFFERED DEALS TO PERFORM
50 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE IN EXCHANGE FOR HAVING THEIR RECORDS
CLEARED. SEVERAL DOZEN PEOPLE DECLINED YESTERDAY'S OFFERS AND PLAN
TO CHALLENGING THEIR ARRESTS - MOSTLY FOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND
FAILURE TO DISPERSE.

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - DEFENSE SECRETARY ROBERT GATES SAYS NATO OFFICIALS WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORING NEXT MONTH'S PRESIDENTIAL RUNOFF VOTE IN AFGHANISTAN. THE GOAL IS TO PREVENT FRAUD AND OTHER PROBLEMS THAT PLAGUED THE FIRST ROUND OF VOTING IN AUGUST.

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA (AP) - SHELLING IN THE CAPITAL OF SOMALIA HAS LEFT AT LEAST 16 PEOPLE DEAD. AUTHORITIES SAY MORE THAN TWO DOZEN OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WOUNDED. MOGADISHU SEES NEAR-DAILY BLOODSHED AS MILITANTS LINKED TO AL-QAIDA TRY TO OVERTHROW THE FRAGILE GOVERNMENT AND PUSH OUT AFRICAN UNION PEACEKEEPERS.

REDMOND, WASH. (AP) - MICROSOFT'S LATEST OPERATING SYSTEM BECOMES AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE TODAY. WINDOWS 7 HAS BEEN GETTING FAVORABLE REVIEWS, COMPARED TO ITS PREDECESSOR, VISTA.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A CONGRESSIONAL PANEL IS ON TRACK TO APPROVE THE CREATION OF A CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION AGENCY. THE NEW AGENCY WOULD REGULATE MORTGAGES, CREDIT CARDS AND SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. APPROVAL BY THE HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE WOULD BE A VICTORY FOR PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA.