Today's News-Friday, November 13, 2009

FIRE DESTROYS TWO HOMES, CLAIMS LIFE IN SHENANDOAH

FIRE DESTROYED TWO HOMES IN SHENANDOAH AND TOOK THE LIFE OF A MAN LAST NIGHT. REPORTS SAY THAT THE HOME AT 419 WEST NEW YORK STREET WAS BURNING IN A SHROUD OF HEAVY SMOKE WHEN CREWS ARRIVED BEFORE 8PM, AND THE BLAZE SPREAD TO 421 WEST NEW YORK STREET. FIREFIGHTERS FOUND THE MAN'S BODY IN THE SECOND HOME. IT TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR FOR CREWS TO GET THE BLAZE UNDER CONTROL. THE STATE POLICE FIRE MARSHAL IS INVESTIGATING HOW IT STARTED.

SHENANDOAH WOMAN KILLED IN CRASH

A SHENANDOAH WOMAN IS DEAD FOLLOWING A CRASH NEAR THE SCHUYLKILL/COLUMBIA COUNTY LINE. STATE POLICE SAY 27 YEAR OLD CHRISTOPHER PHILLIPS OF GILBERTON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON ROUTE 42 NEAR ARISTES WHEN THE VEHICLE CRASHED. HIS PASSENGER, 43 YEAR OLD DONNAMARIE CURRELL WAS THROWN FROM THE CAR AND DIED FROM HER INJURIES. PHILLIPS WAS FLOWN TO GEISINGER, DANVILLE, WITH SERIOUS INJURIES.

COUNTY SPENDING PLAN INTRODUCED

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY GOVERNMENT FORMALLY INTRODUCED THEIR 2010 SPENDING PLAN YESTERDAY, TOTALING $48.6 MILLION DOLLARS, WITH A PROPOSED SHORTFALL OF $3.5 MILLION DOLLARS. RIGHT NOW, OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING AT FILLING THE GAP WITH SURPLUS FUNDS. FOR THE NEXT THIRTY DAYS, EVERY OPTION TO CUT SPENDING IS ON THE TABLE, WITH SOME ALREADY PUT IN PLACE. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR MARK SCARBINSKY:

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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WOULD ONLY RAISE TAXES AS A LAST RESORT:

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THE FINAL AMOUNT NEEDED TO BALANCE THE BUDGET WON'T BE KNOWN UNTIL THE BOOKS ARE CLOSED AT THE END OF THE YEAR. THE COUNTY SURPLUS RIGHT NOW STANDS AT ABOUT $7.8 MILLION DOLLARS.

ALVERNIA GRAND OPENING

HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES CONTINUE TO GROW WITH THE GRAND OPENING OF ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY'S SCHUYLKILL CENTER AT CRESSONA MALL. STEADY CROWDS CAME TO TOUR THE 10-THOUSAND-SQUARE FOOT SITE, COMPLETE WITH EIGHT CLASSROOMS AND ROOM FOR MORE. DR. MARY SACAVAGE, ALVERNIA SCHUYLKILL CENTER DIRECTOR, EXPLAINS WHAT PROMPTED THE MOVE TO THE NEW LOCATION:

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ALVERNIA'S SCHUYLKILL CENTER CATERS TO NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS, BOTH IN UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS, WITH APPROXIMATELY 250 STUDENTS ENROLLED.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA ATTORNEY GENERAL TOM CORBETT SAYS FORMER STATE HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN PERZEL IS EXPECTED TO TURN HIMSELF TODAY TO FACE CHARGES.PERZEL AND NINE OTHERS CONNECTED TO THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS ARE CHARGED IN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE MISUSE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES AND EMPLOYEES FOR CAMPAIGN PURPOSES.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - SECRETARY OF STATE PEDRO CORTES IS GIVING A CANDIDATE IN A TIGHT RACE FOR SUPERIOR COURT MORE TIME TO DECIDE
WHETHER TO INSIST ON A STATEWIDE RECOUNT. PITTSBURGH LAWYER TEMP
SMITH WAS SUPPOSED TO MAKE UP HIS MIND BY YESTERDAY, BUT INSTEAD HE
ASKED FOR AN EXTENSION. CORTES GAVE HIM UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON TO MAKE UP HIS MIND.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOV. ED RENDELL HAS WITHDRAWN A PLAN TO TURN THE WILLOW GROVE MILITARY BASE INTO A STATE-OWNED INSTALLATION. RENDELL SAYS THE AIR FORCE'S DECISION NOT TO PROVIDE THE PENNSYLVANIA AIR NATIONAL GUARD'S FIGHTER WING WITH A FLYING MISSION AND THE STATE'S FINANCES MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE STATE TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE BASE.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A YOUNG DEFENDANT SURPRISED A PACKED COURTROOM BY PLEADING GUILTY TO THE HALLOWEEN 2007 MURDER OF A PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICER DURING A DOUGHNUT STORE ROBBERY. NOW THE JURY MUST DECIDE IF THE SLAYING WAS PREMEDITATED OR A PANICKED REACTION. OFFICER CHUCK CASSIDY IS REMEMBERED AS A WARM, DEDICATED COMMUNITY SERVANT.

EASTON, PA. (AP) - A PENNSYLVANIA CITY THAT AGREED TO A $5 MILLION SETTLEMENT OF A LAWSUIT OVER THE FATAL SHOOTING OF A POLICE OFFICER INSIDE POLICE HEADQUARTERS IS WORKING OUT HOW TO PAY THE MONEY. EASTON MAYOR SAL PANTO JR SAYS THE CITY WILL SELL SOME CITY PROPERTY TO PAY PART OF THE SETTLEMENT WITH THE WIDOW OF OFFICER JESSE SOLLMAN.

TOKYO (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HAS BEGUN HIS FIRST PRESIDENTIAL TRIP TO THE FAR EAST. HE'S IN TOKYO TO MEET WITH THE NEW JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER, WHO HAS VOWED TO END JAPAN'S REFUELING MISSION THAT SUPPORTS U.S.-LED FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN. OBAMA'S VISIT AIMS TO SHORE UP RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS.

LONDON (AP) - BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER SAYS NATO COUNTRIES MAY SEND 5,000 MORE TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN. THE MOVE WOULD OFFER KEY SUPPORT AS THE U.S. PONDERS WHETHER TO INCREASE AMERICAN TROOP LEVELS THERE.

KABUL (AP) - A SUICIDE BOMBER HAS TARGETED A U.S. SUPPORT BASE IN AFGHANISTAN. AUTHORITIES SAY SIX PEOPLE ARE WOUNDED, INCLUDING AFGHAN CIVILIANS, NATO SERVICE MEMBERS AND CONTRACTORS. THE TALIBAN IS CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACK.

NORFOLK, VA. (AP) - THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM IDA HAVE BEEN SLAMMING THE ATLANTIC SEABOARD WITH DRIVING RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS.
THE STORM IS BLAMED FOR AT LEAST FIVE DEATHS FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO
NEW YORK. ABOUT 160,000 PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT ELECTRICITY.

BALTIMORE (AP) - BALTIMORE POLICE SAY A CONVICTED MURDERER RECENTLY RELEASED FROM PRISON IS A SUSPECT IN THE RAPE AND KILLING OF A 15-YEAR-OLD BOY. THEY SAY THE 35-YEAR-OLD IS IN CUSTODY. HE WAS CONVICTED IN A 1999 SLAYING, BUT WAS FREED IN JANUARY AFTER WINNING A NEW TRIAL.