Today's News-Thursday, December 10, 2009

COMMISSIONERS ON THE ROAD

THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TOOK THEIR WEEKLY MEETING ON THE ROAD YESTERDAY, THIS TIME TO PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL CAMPUS. THE COLLEGE IS CELEBRATING ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR, AFTER OPENING IN THE FORMER BUNKER HILL SCHOOL IN 1934. AMONG THE ITEMS DISCUSSED WAS AN EYESORE PROPERTY IN DARKWATER, JUST OFF ROUTE 61. THE COUNTY IS SEEKING CONSERVATORSHIP OF THE ABANDONED AND DILAPIDATED BUILDING AND GROUNDS THAT HAVE SAT FOR DECADES. THE COMMISSIONERS HOPE THAT ONCE THE DEMOLITION HAS TAKEN PLACE, THERE WILL BE RENEWED INTEREST FOR THE PRIME PIECE OF REAL ESTATE.

TWO CHARGED IN CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

TWO PINE GROVE TEENAGED BOYS HAVE BEEN CHARGED IN A STRING OF CRIMINAL MISCHIEF INCIDENTS OVER THE SUMMER. STATE POLICE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN REPORT THE 15 AND 16 YEAR OLDS ARE ACCUSED OF DRIVING THROUGH PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP, SMASHING AS MANY AS TWO DOZEN MAILBOXES WITH A HAMMER-LIKE INSTRUMENT. THE INCIDENTS OCCURED DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS OF AUGUST 29TH. CHARGES AGAINST THE BOYS ARE BEING HANDLED IN THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM.

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES INTO VEHICLE THEFTS

TWO ORWIGSBURG AREA RESIDENTS VEHICLES WERE BURGLARIZED EARLIER THIS WEEK ACCORDING TO STATE POLICE. THE BANDITS APPARENTLY WENT LOOKING FOR CARS THAT WERE LEFT UNLOCKED ON TALL OAKS ROAD, AND TOOK A LAPTOP COMPUTER AND DIGITAL CAMERA FROM ANDREW HOYSOCK'S VEHICLE, AND SOME CHANGE WAS TAKEN FROM THE CAR OWNED BY LISA STANCHICK. THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.

DECEMBER IS MAROONS MONTH

TWO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY LEGISLATORS HAVE INTRODUCED A RESOLUTION HONORING THE POTTSVILLE MAROONS. REPRESENTATIVE TIM SEIP WROTE H.R. 550, DESIGNATING DECEMBER IN HONOR OF THE 1925 NFL CHAMPIONS, WHO HAD THE TITLE STRIPPED FROM THEM. SEIP CITES THE POSITIVE IMPACT THAT RESTORING THE TITLE WOULD BRING IN TERMS OF TOURISM DOLLARS FOR THE COMMONWEALTH. SEIP HAS THE LINK ON HIS WEBSITE, PAHOUSE-DOT-COM/SEIP TO THE PETITION ASKING THE NFL TO RESTORE THE TITLE TO THE POTTSVILLE MAROONS. STATE REPRESENTATIVE NEAL GOODMAN WAS A CO-SPONSOR TO THE RESOLUTION.

STUDENTS SHOW OFF RESEARCH AND PRESENTATION SKILLS

PENN STATE UNIVERSITY IS KNOWN AS ONE OF THE TOP RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS IN THE NATION. AT THE SCHUYLKILL CAMPUS, SOME THREE DOZEN STUDENTS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THEIR OWN RESEARCH PROJECTS, AND SHOWCASED THEM YESTERDAY AT THE FIFTH ANNUAL STUDENT RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP CONFERENCE. DR. HELEN HENDY, COORDINATOR OF THE EVENT, COMMENTS ON WHAT THE STUDENTS GAIN FROM THE EXPERIENCE:

HENDY 1

WHILE THE WORK THE SCHOLARS DID WAS PART OF THEIR ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS, HENDY SAYS, WITH PRIDE, THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE:

HENDY 2

EACH STUDENT RESEARCHER WAS MENTORED BY A PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL FACULTY MEMBER.

ELECTRIC RATE CAPS TO EXPIRE, ENERGY SPECIALIST COMMENTS
　
THE NEW YEAR WILL BRING A SHARP RATE INCREASE FOR MANY PENNSYLVANIA ELECTRICITY USERS, AS STATE-IMPOSED RATE CAPS EXPIRE FOR P-P-L ELECTRIC. BUT AN ENERGY SPECIALIST IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES SAYS THERE'S STILLTIME TO HUNT FOR THE BEST DEAL. GARY ABDULLAH REPORTS:

ABDULLAH ELECTRIC

BUFFINGTON WILL BE A GUEST ON WPPA'S STEP UP TO THE MIC PROGRAM NEXT WEEK.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOV. ED RENDELL SAYS DETERIORATING STATE TAX COLLECTIONS MAY MEAN MORE PROGRAM CUTS AND LAYOFFS IN STATE GOVERNMENT. RENDELL SAYS THAT HE HOPES TO DETERMINE BY JAN. 1 IF MORE CUTS ARE NECESSARY. THAT'S WHETHER OR NOT THE LEGISLATURE APPROVES AN EXPANSION OF LEGALIZED CASINO GAMBLING TO RAISE MORE TAX REVENUE.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - DEFENSE LAWYERS HAVE WRAPPED UP THEIR CASE WITHOUT CALLING THEIR CLIENT, FORMER STATE REP. SEAN RAMALEY, TO THE WITNESS STAND IN HIS CORRUPTION TRIAL. THE DEFENSE FINISHED WITH ITS LAST WITNESS YESTERDAY. RAMALEY IS CHARGED WITH THEFT, CONSPIRACY AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST. HE'S ACCUSED OF TAKING A NO-WORK JOB AS AN AIDE.

GROVE CITY, PA. (AP) - STATE POLICE SAY A WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN SET FIRE TO A CHURCH-OWNED RESIDENCE BECAUSE HE WAS UPSET THAT IT WAS BEING USED FOR STORAGE AND NOT BY THE PARISH'S PASTOR. PHILIP MCCAMEY IS JAILED AWAITING A HEARING DEC. 16 ON ARSON CHARGES. THE FIRE CAUSED ABOUT $100,000 DAMAGE TO THE PARSONAGE AT THE CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY IN PINE TOWNSHIP. THAT'S ABOUT 50 MILES NORTH OF PITTSBURGH.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS ARE TELLING SCHOOL OFFICIALS THEY NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIAN STUDENTS AT A PHILADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL. DOZENS OF ASIAN STUDENTS PACKED YESTERDAY'S MEETING OF THE SCHOOL REFORM COMMISSION AFTER ABOUT 30 WERE ASSAULTED AT SOUTH PHILADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL LAST WEEK.

OSLO, NORWAY (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HAS BEEN REFLECTING ON PAST WINNERS OF THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE, PRAISING MANY FOR GIVING "VOICE TO THE VOICELESS." OBAMA HAS ARRIVED IN OSLO, NORWAY TO PICK UP THE PRESTIGIOUS MEDAL. HE'LL BE AWARDED THE PRIZE AT A FORMAL CEREMONY LATER TODAY.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PAKISTANI INVESTIGATORS WANT TO KNOW IF FIVE AMERICAN MEN BEING HELD IN PAKISTAN HAVE LINKS TO TERRORISM. THE YOUNG MUSLIMS VANISHED FROM THEIR WASHINGTON, D.C.-AREA HOMES LAST MONTH AND ARE NOW IN CUSTODY IN PAKISTAN. POLICE THERE SAY THE MEN CONFESSED TO COMING TO PAKISTAN TO TAKE PART IN "JIHAD."

BAGHDAD (AP) - AN AL-QAIDA-LINKED GROUP IN IRAQ IS CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS WEEK'S DEADLY BAGHDAD BOMBINGS. THE ATTACKS
KILLED 127 PEOPLE AND WOUNDED HUNDREDS MORE. AN INTERNET STATEMENT
FROM THE ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ WARNS THE MILITANTS ARE DETERMINED
TO UPROOT "THE PILLARS" OF IRAQ'S GOVERNMENT.

DES MOINES, IOWA (AP) - DANGEROUSLY COLD CONDITIONS ARE SETTLING OVER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, FOLLOWING A HUGE STORM THAT HIT THE MIDWEST AND NEW ENGLAND. AT LEAST 16 DEATHS ARE BEING BLAMED ON THE WINTRY BLAST THAT DUMPED MORE THAN A FOOT OF SNOW. MOST OF THOSE DEATHS WERE DUE TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.

NEW YORK (AP) - WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WENT TO AN ART MUSEUM? OR THE THEATER? WE THOUGHT SO. A NEW GOVERNMENT STUDY IS SHOWING A SHARP DROP IN THEATER, MUSEUM AND CONCERT ATTENDANCE FOR ADULTS OVER A SIX-YEAR PERIOD. POSSIBLE REASONS INCLUDE A DECLINE IN LEISURE TIME AND THE RISE OF THE INTERNET.

CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) - THE AGENCY THAT OPERATES FOUR MAJOR COMMUTER BRIDGES BETWEEN SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY AND THE PHILADELPHIA AREA SAYS IT'S POSTPONING ITS NEXT SCHEDULED TOLL INCREASE. THE DELAWARE RIVER PORT AUTHORITY VOTED YESTERDAY TO DELAY AN INCREASE SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 2010 UNTIL JULY 2011. TOLLS WILL REMAIN AT $4 UNTIL THEN.