Today's News-Saturday, November 7, 2009

MISSING WOMAN

SCHUYLKILL HAVE STATE POLICE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP IN LOCATING A CRESSONA WOMAN REPORTED MISSING BY HER FAMILY. 51 YEAR OLD TERESA CHUPAK WAS LAST SEEN ON THURSDAY EVENING AT HER HOME ON JUDY DRIVE. TROOPERS SAY THERE HAS BEEN NO CONTACT BETWEEN CHUPAK AND HER FAMILY SINCE A WEEK AGO FRIDAY, WHEN A PHONE CONVERSATION TOOK PLACE. MS. CHUPAK IS DESCRIBED AS BEING 5 FEET 10 INCHES TALL, WEIGHING ABOUT 130 POUNDS WITH LONG STRAIGHT BLONDE HAIR. CHUPAK WAS LAST SEEN DRIVING A DARK GREY JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. ANY LEADS INTO HER WHEREABOUTS SHOULD BE PHONED IN TO TROOPER CHAD SMITH, PSP SCHUYLKILL HAVEN AT 593-2000.

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY IN PITMAN

A PITMAN MAN WAS THE BEST BURGLAR ALARM MONEY COULD BUY, THWARTING A HOME BREAK IN EARLY FRIDAY. SOMEONE USED A GARDENING TOOL TO SMASH THE REAR KITCHEN DOOR AT ANDREW WEAVER'S HOME ON GROVE ROAD IN ELDRED TOWNSHIP. AS THE WOULD-BE BURGLAR BEGAN TO RUMMAGE THROUGH THE KITCHEN, WEAVER SCARED HIM OFF, AND THE PROWLER RAN THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR. NOTHING APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN.

HARRASSMENT IN PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP

TWO MEN GOT INTO A SCUFFLE LATE LAST NIGHT, ONE WILL BE CHARGED WITH HARRASSMENT. 47 YEAR OLD CHARLES GAUKER AND 54 YEAR OLD CARL ADAMS, BOTH OF PINE GROVE, GOT INTO IT AT WHISPERING PINES AFTER 10PM. GAUKER SUFFERED SCRATCHES TO HIS NECK AS THEY SCUFFLED ON HIS FRONT PORCH. CHARGES WILL BE FILED AGAINST ADAMS IN DISTRICT COURT.

HOLDEN TO VOTE AGAINST HEALTHCARE REFORM

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON THE THE MASSIVE HEALTHCARE REFORM BILL TODAY. DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN TIM HOLDEN OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY WILL NOT BE AMONG THOSE VOTING IN FAVOR OF IT. IN A STATEMENT FROM HOLDEN RELEASED LATE YESTERDAY, HOLDEN SAID HE COULDN'T SUPPORT THE BILL FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, AMONG THEM THAT IT COSTS TOO MUCH, GIVEN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE AND HUGE NATIONAL DEBT, DRASTIC CUTS TO MEDICARE AND MEDICAID PROVIDERS, NO LANGUAGE TO ENSURE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO TAXPAYER FUNDED HEALTHCARE, CUTS TO NURSING HOME MEDICARE PAYMENTS AND THE LACK OF TORT REFORM. HOLDEN'S DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES HOLD THE MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE, AND MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE REPUBLICANS ARE OPPOSING THE BILL WHICH HAS BEEN A MAJOR INITIATIVE OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION SINCE IT TOOK OFFICE.

SENIOR IDOL SUNDAY

THERE IS ALOT OF SINGING TALENT IN THE COUNTY'S OVER 50 SET. THE BEST OF THE BEST WILL SHOW THEIR STUFF TOMORROW AT THE THIRD ANNUAL SENIOR IDOL COMPETITON AT THE SOVEREIGN MAJESTIC THEATRE IN POTTSVILLE. SUSAN LONG OF DIAKON SERVICES, SPONSOR OF THE EVENT FILLS US IN:

LONG IDOL

LAST YEAR'S WINNER, RICK LORADY, WILL ALSO PERFORM.

GOLDEN EAGLE DAY AT HAWK MOUNTAIN

THE BALD EAGLE IS THE SYMBOL OF AMERICA, BUT ITS COUSIN, THE GOLDEN EAGLE, WILL TAKE CENTER STAGE AT HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY IN DREHERSVILLE TODAY. SPECIAL PROGRAMS WILL BE FEATURED AT 10AM, NOON AND 2PM IN THE OUTDOOR AMPITHEATRE BY EDUCATORS FROM SHAVERS CREEK ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER. WHILE THE GOLDEN EAGLE, KNOW FOR ITS SEVEN FOOT WINGSPAN, DOES NOT NEST HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH, BUT CAN ALWAYS BE SEEN DURING THE ANNUAL MIGRATION ALONG THE KITTANTINNY RIDGE AT HAWK MOUNTAIN THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THE PROGRAMS, BUT A MINIMAL TRAIL FEE APPLIES TO THOSE WHO WISH TO WATCH THE SPLENDOR OF THE MANY SPECIES THAT FLY THROUGH OUR AREA DURING MIGRATION.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A WOMAN FROM PITTSBURGH IS REPORTEDLY AMONG THE 13 PEOPLE KILLED DURING THE SHOOTING RAMPAGE IN FORT HOOD, TEXAS. MARGARET YAGGIE OF ROARING BRANCH TELLS THE PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE THAT HER SISTER IS AMONG THE VICTIMS. FIFTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD JUANITA WARMAN WAS A MILITARY PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE POST OFFICE IN HARRISBURG THAT ONCE COORDINATED ALL OF THE REGION'S MAIL SERVICE IS FOR SALE. HARRISBURG MAYOR STEPHEN REED SAYS HE ENVISIONS A MIXED-USE FACILITY ON THE PROPERTY, POSSIBLY INCLUDING A HOTEL, RETAIL SPACE AND PARKING. THE ASKING PRICE FOR THE PROPERTY HASN'T BEEN RELEASED.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - AL GORE IS URGING PEOPLE TO BECOME PART OF THE SOLUTION IN THE GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE FIGHT. HE TOLD THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA ON FRIDAY THAT THE U.S. AND THE WORLD HAVE THE TOOLS TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CHANGE CRISIS, "WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF POLITICAL WILL."

DOYLESTOWN, PA. (AP) - POLICE SAY AN ARSONIST IS ON THE LOOSE IN DOYLESTOWN. FIVE FIRES WERE SET BETWEEN OCTOBER 23RD AND NOVEMBER
1ST. POLICE SAY PAPER, TRASH AND LEAVES WERE USED TO START THE FIRES. NO ONE HAS BEEN INJURED.

SHANKSVILLE, PA. (AP) - GROUND WILL BE BROKEN SATURDAY IN SHANKSVILLE FOR A PERMANENT MEMORIAL TO THE VICTIMS OF UNITED FLIGHT 93, THE HIJACKED PLANE THAT CRASHED IN A FIELD THERE ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001. PLANS CALL FOR A 93-FOOT TOWER WITH 40 WIND CHIMES HONORING THE 40 PASSENGERS AND CREW MEMBERS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - WORKING LATE INTO THE NIGHT HAS PAID OFF FOR HOUSE DEMOCRATS TRYING TO OVERCOME A MONTHS-OLD STALEMATE IN THEIR HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL EFFORT. THE LEADERSHIP'S HOPE IS A DEAL ALLOWING ABORTION OPPONENTS A SHOT AT ADDING TOUGHER RESTRICTIONS TO THE LEGISLATION WILL UNITE BOTH SIDES OF THE DEBATE, GIVING DEMOCRATS THE MAJORITY THEY NEED TO PASS THE BILL TODAY.

FORT HOOD, TEXAS (AP) - A CHAPLAIN TRIED TO INSTILL HOPE TO HUNDREDS OF MOURNERS GATHERED AT A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR THE FORT HOOD SHOOTING VICTIMS. AT LEAST 13 PEOPLE DIED AND MORE THAN TWO DOZEN WERE WOUNDED. AUTHORITIES ARE TRYING TO PIECE TOGETHER THE MOTIVE BEHIND THE ATTACK, ALLEGEDLY BY ARMY MAJ. NIDAL MALIK HASAN. HE'S HOSPITALIZED WITH GUNSHOT WOUNDS.

TEHRAN, IRAN (AP) - PRESSURE ON THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT TO REJECT A U.N.-BACKED PLAN TO EASE INTERNATIONAL CONCERNS OVER TEHRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM INTENSIFIED TODAY. A TOP CONSERVATIVE IRANIAN LAWMAKER HAS REJECTED THE POSSIBILITY OF IRAN SHIPPING URANIUM ABROAD FOR FURTHER ENRICHMENT.

MIAMI (AP) - WARMER WATER HAS REJUVENATED IDA, WHICH HAS BECOME A TROPICAL STORM AGAIN, WITH TOP WINDS OF 45 MPH. IDA IS SWIRLING IN THE CARIBBEAN ON A TRACK THAT COULD BRING IT TO THE U.S. GULF COAST NEXT WEEK. IDA CAME ASHORE IN NICARAGUA AS A HURRICANE THURSDAY BEFORE WEAKENING AND DUMPING RAIN ON CENTRAL AMERICA. THOUSANDS WERE EVACUATED BUT NO DEATHS WERE REPORTED.

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA (AP) - THE ALASKA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD HAS TRANSPORTED A MEDICAL TEAM TO A TRADITIONAL ESKIMO WHALING VILLAGE
THAT'S BEEN SWEPT BY SUSPECTED SWINE FLU. MANY OF THE 130 RESIDENTS OF DIOMEDE ON A REMOTE ALASKA ISLAND HAVE BEEN STRICKEN WITH FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS. THE MEDICS ARE ADMINISTERING VACCINE AND DELIVERING ENOUGH MEDICINE TO TREAT EVERY RESIDENT IF NECESSARY.