Today's News-Monday, December 21, 2009

TWO REMAIN HOSPITALIZED AFTER FIRE

FIVE PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS AND TWO REMAIN HOSPITALIZED AFTER A FIRE DESTROYED HOMES IN MAHANOY CITY SATURDAY. THE BLAZE BROKE OUT SATURDAY MORNING AT THE EAST PINE STREET HOMES OF THE YERGER AND MCKERNS FAMILY. FIVE YEAR OLD JASON SIVAK JR. REMAINS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL. KATHLEEN MCKERNS IS IN STABLE CONDITION AT SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER, AND 9 YEAR OLD PAGE SIVAK HAS BEEN RELEASED. FIRE INVESTIGATORS SAY THE BLAZE STARTED IN CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AT 616 EAST PINE AND SPREAD TO THE SECOND FLOOR.

CARS WRECK ON SNOWY ROADS

SATURDAY'S SNOWFALL CAUSED TRICKY TRAVEL AND RESULTED IN TWO ACCIDENTS ON AREA ROADWAYS. THE FIRST, JUST BEFORE NOON, HAPPENED ON ROUTE 209 IN BLYTHE TOWNSHIP, WHERE JOYCE CARD AND HER PASSENGER SHAWN MURPHY, WERE TRAVELING WEST. CARD LOST CONTROL ON A CURVE IN THE ROAD AND ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE TAKEN TO SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL SOUTH FOR EVALUATION. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, BRIAN BENDER OF SHENANDOAH LOST CONTROL ON A LEFT CURVE IN THE ROADWAY AND WENT INTO AN EMBANKMENT, COMING TO REST ON ITS ROOF. BENDER WAS NOT HURT IN THE CRASH.

TWO SUFFER MINOR INJURIES IN CRASH

TWO PEOPLE ESCAPED SERIOUS INJURY WHEN THEIR SUV CRASHED ON A ROAD IN NEW CASTLE TOWNSHIP EARLY SUNDAY. 27 YEAR OLD KOREN FREY AND HER PASSENGER, JANET PUTALAVAGE, WERE DRIVING ON TOWNSHIP ROAD 628 NEAR THE INTERSECTION WITH MOUNT LAFFEE ROAD. THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD AND STRUCK A METAL POLE. EACH SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, BUT REFUSED TREATMENT. THE CRASH HAPPENED AFTER MIDNIGHT SUNDAY.

HOLIDAY BLUES

THE HOLIDAY SEASON ENTERS THE FINAL STRETCH THIS WEEK...AND WHILE IT CAN BE A JOYFUL TIME SPENT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, FOR SOME, ITS NOT NECESSARILY-IN THE WORDS OF ONE CHRISTMAS SONG-"THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR." ALEXANDRA BARBEHENN IS A THERAPIST AND MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS. SHE SAYS PRESSURES RUN HIGH DURING THE HOLIDAYS, FOR MANY REASONS.

BARBEHENN

BARBEHENN SAYS THERE ARE MANY RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP COPING WITH LINGERING DEPRESSION OR ANIEXTY, DURING THIS SEASON OR THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEEDS HELP, SHE SUGGESTS FINDING A LICENSED THERAPIST OR SOCIAL WORKER, OR VISITING A COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, WHICH ARE LOCATED NEAR YOU.

WATER BOIL ADVISORY

A WATER MAIN BREAK SUNDAY HAS PROMPTED OFFICIALS AT THE TAMAQUA AREA WATER AUTHORITY. THE BOIL ADVISORY IS ONLY FOR CUSTOMERS IN THE DUTCH HILL SECTION OF TAMAQUA. BEFORE USING, LET YOUR WATER COME TO A ROLLING BOIL FOR AT LEAST A MINUTE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL TAMAQUA BOROUGH HALL AT 668-3444.

ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE

ONE OF THE MOST BELOVED CHRISTMAS STORIES CAME TO THE STAGE AT THE SOVEREIGN MAJESTIC THEATRE LAST NIGHT, STAGED AS A RADIO PLAY. FRANK CAPRA'S MOVIE "ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE" WAS ADAPTED FOR THEATRE BY THE LIFT YOUR SPIRITS PERFORMING ARTS GROUP. DURING THE NEARLY TWO HOUR PERFORMANCE, OVER 125 GUESTS WERE TAKEN BACK TO A 1940 RADIO STUDIO, AND PARTICIPATED AS A LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE. JIM STEPANCHICK, A VETERAN PERFORMER WITH LIFT YOUR SPIRITS SAID IT WAS A CHALLENGE:

STEPANCHICK

THE PERFORMANCE OF "ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE" WILL BE REBROADCAST ON WPPA AND WPPARADIO-DOT-COM CHRISTMAS EVE MORNING AND CHRISTMAS DAY AT 12 NOON.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE STORM WHICH HIT THE EAST COAST OVER THE WEEKEND, PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND OTHER VENUES CHANGED PASSENGERS SCHEDULES AFTER MANY FLIGHTS WERE CANCELED. ABOUT 1,200 FLIGHTS WERE CANCELED IN NEW YORK CITY HOLIDAY TRAVELERS ARE MOVING AGAIN TODAY AS THINGS RETURN TO NORMAL.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACTIONS AND DECISIONS OF PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC OFFICIALS HAS BEEN PRIED LOOSE IN THE YEAR SINCE A BROAD EXPANSION OF THE STATE'S RIGHT-TO-KNOW LAW TOOK EFFECT. REQUESTS FOR RECORDS HAVE SURGED SINCE THE LAW TOOK EFFECT IN JANUARY.

YORK, PA. (AP) - POLICE IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA ARE INVESTIGATING TWO SHOOTING DEATHS AS A DOUBLE MURDER.YORK POLICE SAY OFFICERS FOUND IDDER SALAZAR DEAD AT A CITY HOME OVER THE WEEKEND. JAHIEDA MINIER WAS ALSO PRONOUNCED DEAD. A DETECTIVE SAYS A MURDER-SUICIDE HAS BEEN RULED OUT AND OFFICERS ARE SEEKING SUSPECTS IN THE TWO HOMICIDES.

AUGUSTA, MAINE (AP) - A STATE LEGISLATOR IN MAINE WANTS TO MAKE THE STATE THE FIRST TO REQUIRE CELL PHONES TO CARRY WARNINGS THAT THEY CAN CAUSE BRAIN CANCER. DEMOCRATIC REP. ANDREA BOLAND OF SANFORD SAYS THERE ARE VERY SUBSTANTIAL AND NUMEROUS STUDIES THAT POINT TO THE RISK. BUT THE F.C.C. CONTENDS ALL CELL PHONES SOLD IN THE U.S. ARE SAFE TO USE.

DETROIT (AP) - MICHIGAN'S ATTORNEY GENERAL PLANS TO FILE A LAWSUIT TO PROTECT THE GREAT LAKES INCLUDING THE PART BORDERING ERIE, PA. FROM THE THREAT POSED BY THE INVASIVE ASIAN CARP FISH. SCIENTISTS SAY IF THE CARP REACH THE GREAT LAKES, THEY COULD CONSUME PLANKTON, INTERRUPT THE FOOD CHAIN AND DEVASTATE THE $7 BILLION FISHERY.

TOKYO (AP) - IRAN'S NUCLEAR NEGOTIATOR IS CALLING FOR A WORLDWIDE BAN ON ATOMIC WEAPONS. ON A VISIT TO JAPAN, SAEED JALILI ALSO ARGUED THAT ALL COUNTRIES HAVE A RIGHT TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR ENERGY. HE INSISTED THAT IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM IS FOR CIVILIAN PURPOSES. THE U.S. AND OTHER NATIONS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT TEHRAN IS TRYING TO PRODUCE NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

JERUSALEM (AP) - ISRAEL'S ARMY RADIO SAYS THE PRIME MINISTER AND HIS TOP LIEUTENANTS ARE MEETING TO DECIDE WHETHER TO APPROVE A PRISONER EXCHANGE WITH HAMAS MILITANTS. ISRAEL WOULD HAND OVER 1,000 PALESTINIAN PRISONERS FOR AN ISRAELI SOLDIER HELD CAPTIVE IN THE GAZA STRIP. SGT. GILAD SCHALIT WAS ABDUCTED BY HAMAS-AFFILIATED MILITANTS MORE THAN THREE YEARS AGO.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE SENATE APPEARS ON TRACK TO PASS ITS HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL BEFORE CHRISTMAS. THE BILL PASSED A KEY TEST VOTE LAST NIGHT BY THE 60-40 MARGIN NEEDED TO OVERCOME A THREATENED REPUBLICAN FILIBUSTER.

NEW YORK (AP) - THE MORNING COMMUTE COULD BE TRICKY FOR ANYONE TRYING TO MAKE IT TO WORK IN THE NORTHEAST AND MID-ATLANTIC TODAY. FOR MANY THOUGH, IT'S A DAY OFF. SCHOOLS IN PHILADELPHIA HAVE CANCELED CLASSES FOR 195,000 STUDENTS AS THE CITY TRIES TO CLEAR ROADS AND SIDEWALKS. IT'S THE SAME FOR MANY OTHER SCHOOLS ACROSS THE REGION.

TULSA, OKLA. (AP) - A PUBLIC MEMORIAL SERVICE IS PLANNED FOR EVANGELIST ORAL ROBERTS TODAY. IT WILL BE HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY HE FOUNDED NEARLY HALF A CENTURY AGO. THE PRESIDENT OF ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY SAYS ROBERTS' "MISSION AND VISION" WILL CONTINUE TO GUIDE THE SCHOOL.