Today's News-Thursday, November 5, 2009

BUSINESS BURGLARIZED

A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT BUSINESS IN POTTSVILLE WAS BURGLARIZED OVERNIGHT TUESDAY. CITY POLICE SAY THE OFFICES OF HYMAN PROPERTIES LLC, 512 NORTH CENTRE STREET WAS BROKEN INTO BY SMASHING A SIDE WINDOW. THE BURGLAR REMOVED A SMALL SAFE FROM THE OFFICE, WHICH CONTAINED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF RENT RECEIPTS. POTTSVILLE DETECTIVES ARE INVESTIGATING.

MINE OWNER, SON ARE SENTENCED

A SCHUYLKILL COUNTY JUDGE HAS SENTENCED THE OWNER OF A TREMONT TOWNSHIP MINE AND HIS SON. JUDGE JACQUELINE RUSSELL IMPOSED SENTENCES IN THE CASE OF AN EXPLOSION THAT KILLED 43 YEAR OLD DALE REIGHTLER OF DONALDSON IN 2006. 53 YEAR OLD DAVID ZIMMERMAN AND 34 YEAR OLD STEVEN ZIMMERMAN HAD PLEADED NO CONTEST TO INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER, RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT AND VIOLATIONS OF THE ANTHRACITE MINING ACT. ACCORDING TO THE REPUBLICAN HERALD, DAVID ZIMMERMAN WILL SPEND SIX MONTHS ON HOUSE ARREST, AND 17 MONTHS ON PROBATION. HIS SON WILL SERVE 3 TO 23 MONTHS IN PRISON, AND WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR WORK RELEASE AND PARTICIPATION IN DRUG TREATMENT. BOTH MEN WILL HAVE TO PAY COSTS, A $1-THOUSAND DOLLAR FINE AND DO COMMUNITY SERVICE. METHANE GAS EXPLODED WHILE BLASTING COAL AT R&D COAL COMPANY ON OCTOBER 23, 2006, WHEN REIGHTLER DIED.

PROPERTY TAX LEGISLATION INTRODUCED AGAIN BY SEIP

NOW THAT A STATE BUDGET IS IN PLACE IN HARRISBURG, ONE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY LEGISLATOR HAS INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. REPRESENTATIVE TIM SEIP'S BILL WOULD EXPAND THE STATE SALES TAX TO ITEMS AND SERVICES WHICH AREN'T CURRENTLY TAXED. IT WOULD ALSO KEEP SEVERAL SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS IN PLACE FOR FOOD, CLOTHING, SOME MEDICATIONS AND HEALTH-RELATED SERVICES. SEIP SAYS PRIMARY PROPERTY TAX RELIEF IS THE FIRST PRIORITY:

SEIP PROPERTY TAX

THE PROPOSAL WOULD USE $3 BILLION DOLLARS OF THE COLLECTED FUNDS TO PROVIDE SCHOOL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF UNTIL A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED TO ELIMINATE PROPERTY TAXES ON THOSE PROPERTIES. IN ADDITION, THE LEGISLATION WOULD ALSO PUT A BILLION DOLLARS IN THE STATE'S GENERAL FUND FOR SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, CHILDREN AND VETERANS, AND FOR EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WOMAN JAILED AFTER FAILING TO REPORT MOVE UNDER MEGAN'S LAW

ST CLAIR POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A ST CLAIR WOMAN FOR VIOLATIONS OF MEGAN'S LAW. AN INVESTIGATION INTO AN ABANDONED VEHICLE IN THE BOROUGH LED POLICE TO DETERMINE THAT DONNA DETWILER GAVE FALSE I.D. TO POLICE. SHE WAS ON PAROLE FROM BERKS COUNTY AND HAD BEEN LIVING IN ST. CLAIR FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS BUT DIDN'T REPORT HER CHANGE OF ADDRESS TO STATE POLICE AS REQUIRED UNDER MEGAN'S LAW. DETWILER WAS ARRAIGNED BEFORE DISTRICT JUDGE JAMES REILEY AND JAILED IN THE COUNTY PRISON.

LANDINGVILLE POST OFFICE TO CLOSE

ONE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COMMUNITY WILL SEE ITS POST OFFICE CLOSE LATER THIS MONTH. LANDINGVILLE BOROUGH RESIDENTS WILL, HOWEVER, BE ABLE TO PICK UP THEIR MAIL AFTER NOVEMBER 30TH AT A BOX LOCATION IN FRONT OF THE PROPOSED BOROUGH BUILDING THAT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED. THE CALL NEWSPAPERS REPORT THAT RESIDENTS WILL BEGIN USING THEIR ASSIGNED 9-1-1 ADDRESSES AND SCHUYLKILL HAVEN ZIP CODE BEGINNING IN DECEMBER.

LIONS CHARITIES SHARE IN THE BOUNTY

POTTSVILLE LIONS CHARITIES DOLED OUT MORE THAN $14-THOUSAND-DOLLARS TO MORE THAN TWO DOZEN LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS FROM PROCEEDS EARNED DURING THE 16TH ANNUAL GREAT POTTSVILLE CRUISE. THE CHECK PRESENTATIONS WERE MADE YESTERDAY AT THE POTTSVILLE EMS BUILDING.

THOSE ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVING SUPPORT FROM LIONS CHARITIES:

POTTSVILLE YWCA AND YMCA
POTTSVILLE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY
AVENUES
POTTSVILLE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
SOVEREIGN MAJESTIC THEATRE-LIONS CHRISTMAS MOVIE
LIONS SIGHT PROGRAM
WINTER CARNIVAL
LASTING LEGACY
LOCAL FIRE POLICE
POTTSVILLE RECREATION COMMISSION
POTTSVILLE POLICE CHILD SAFETY PROGRAM
LITERACY COUNCIL OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
POTTSVILLE HOLIDAY LIGHTING
POTTSVILLE COMMISSION ON TOURISM
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY JUVENILE DIABETES ORGANIZATION
JOINT VETERANS COUNCIL
POTTSVILLE EMS
SCHUYLKILL COMMUNITY ACTION FOOD DRIVE
HILLSIDE SPCA
MARLIN PLAYGROUND ASSOCIATION
ST JOSEPH'S CENTER FOR SPECIAL LEARNING



NEW YORK (AP) - THE NEW YORK YANKEES HAVE WON THE WORLD SERIES, BEATING THE DEFENDING CHAMPION PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES 7-3 IN GAME 6 BEHIND HIDEKI MATSUI'S RECORD-TYING SIX RBIS. ANDY PETTITTE WON THE CLINCHER LAST NIGHT, PITCHING THE YANKEES TO THEIR ELUSIVE 27TH CHAMPIONSHIP AND FIRST SINCE 2000.

NEW YORK (AP) - PHILADELPHIA'S RYAN HOWARD STRUCK OUT SWINGING AGAINST YANKEES RELIEVER DAMASO MARTE IN THE EIGHTH INNING LAST NIGHT, SETTING A RECORD WITH HIS 13TH STRIKEOUT OF THE WORLD SERIES. HOWARD WENT 2 FOR 5 IN THE OPENER, BUT ONLY GOT TWO HITS THE REST OF THE SERIES. HE FANNED FOUR TIMES IN GAME 2 AND THREE TIMES IN GAME 3.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - FANS OF THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES MOURNED THEIR TEAM'S DEFEAT BY THE NEW YORK YANKEES. IT WAS A QUIET NIGHT ON BROAD STREET IN PHILADELPHIA. LAST NIGHT'S CALM WAS IN STARK CONTRAST TO WHEN THOUSANDS OF FANS PARTIED IN THE STREETS FOLLOWING THE PHILLIES' CLINCHING THE NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - AS THE CITY'S TRANSIT STRIKE CONTINUES, TEMPERS ARE FRAYED, COMMUTER TRAINS ARE PACKED, STREETS ARE CLOGGED AND SOME RESIDENTS REMAIN VIRTUALLY STRANDED AT HOME. REGIONAL RAIL LINES ARE RUNNING BECAUSE THEIR WORKERS ARE REPRESENTED BY A DIFFERENT UNION. A REGIONAL RAIL CAR CAUGHT FIRE YESTERDAY, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - STATE OFFICIALS SAY ALL OF THE ROUGHLY 6 MILLION VOTES CAST IN THE STATEWIDE PENNSYLVANIA RACE FOR THE SUPERIOR COURT WILL LIKELY HAVE TO BE RECOUNTED. THE LAW REQUIRES AN AUTOMATIC RECOUNT IN EXTREMELY CLOSE RACES. THAT'S EXPECTED TO HAPPEN IN THE ELECTION WHERE FOUR CANDIDATES WOUND UP IN A PHOTO FINISH FOR THE SEAT.

NEW YORK (AP) - "THE YANKEES WON. THE WORLD IS RIGHT AGAIN." THAT'S THE WORD FROM TEAM PRESIDENT RANDY LEVINE AFTER THE BRONX BOMBERS WON THEIR 27TH WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP. NEW YORK DID IT WITH A 7-3 WIN OVER THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES IN GAME 6 LAST NIGHT.

CHIPLEY, FLA. (AP) - FLORIDA AUTHORITIES HAVE FOUND A MISSING BABY ALIVE UNDER HER BABY SITTER'S BED AND SAY THEY'RE PLANNING TO CHARGE THE BABY SITTER, HER HUSBAND AND THE CHILD'S MOTHER. POLICE SAY THEY FOUND THE 7-MONTH-OLD IN A BOX AT SUSAN ELIZABETH BAKER'S HOME NEAR CHIPLEY, A RURAL PANHANDLE TOWN.

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - VILLAGERS IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN SAY AN OVERNIGHT AIR STRIKE BY INTERNATIONAL FORCES HAS KILLED NINE CIVILIANS, INCLUDING AT LEAST THREE CHILDREN. BUT AFGHAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE ONLY HEARD OF EIGHT TALIBAN MILITANTS KILLED IN THE STRIKE.

WASHINGTON (AP) - HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE GROWING MORE CONFIDENT IN THEIR ABILITY TO PASS PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S REVAMP OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. AARP APPEARS READY TO GET ON BOARD WITH THE LEGISLATION AND A DEBATE AND VOTE ARE EXPECTED SATURDAY IN THE HOUSE ON THE 10-YEAR, $1.2 TRILLION BILL.

CLEVELAND (AP) - A CLEVELAND COUNCILMAN IS DEMANDING AN INVESTIGATION INTO HOW CRIME REPORTS HAVE BEEN HANDLED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE AUTHORITIES SAY 11 BODIES WERE DISCOVERED AT THE HOME OF 50-YEAR-OLD ANTHONY SOWELL. RELATIVES OF THE PRESUMED VICTIMS ARE CHARGING THAT POLICE IGNORED THEIR MISSING PERSON REPORTS.