Today's News-Tuesday, December 2, 2009

ST GEORGES HEARING

THE EFFORTS OF PARISHONERS TO SAVE THE FORMER ST GEORGE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH FROM THE WRECKING BALL HAVE BEEN TURNED DOWN IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COURT. THE TWO HOUR HEARING BEFORE JUDGE CYRUS PALMER DOLBIN TUESDAY SOUGHT TO HAVE DEMOLITION ORDERED BY THE DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN STOPPED. JUDGE DOLBIN SAID THAT THE CIVIL COURT DID NOT HAVE JURISDICTION TO RULE, AND THAT THE PARISHONERS WHO BROUGHT THE SUIT DID NOT HAVE STANDING TO SUE THE DIOCESE. THE CHURCH WAS CLOSED IN 2006, AND THE DIOCESE CONTENDED THAT THE BUILDING WAS UNSAFE, CITING STUDIES THAT IT WOULD COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. ST GEORGES PARISHONERS TESTIFIED ABOUT THE MONIES DONATED TO A BUILDING FUND FOR UPKEEP AND REPAIRS, AND SAID THE HISTORICAL NATURE OF THE CHURCH MADE IT WORTH SAVING. THE PARISHONERS ATTORNEY, PAUL DOMALAKES QUESTIONED WHO, IF NOT THE COURT, WOULD PROTECT THAT HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

DOMALAKES POST HEARING

THE STATUS OF MONIES DONATED REMAIN IN QUESTION, BUT DIOCESAN OFFICIALS SAY THOSE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR RENOVATION WORK AT ANNUNCIATION BVM CHURCH, WHERE MEMBERS HAVE NOW GONE TO WORSHIP. RELIGIOUS ARTIFACTS TAKEN FROM ST GEORGES REMAIN IN STORAGE HERE IN THE COUNTY, ACCORDING TO MATT KERR, SPOKESMAN FOR THE ALLENTOWN DIOCESE. IT IS UNCLEAR IF THE PLAINTIFFS WILL FILE AN APPEAL, BUT DEMOLITION WORK WILL CONTINUE.

ST GEORGES REAX

A SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COURT JUDGE HAS DISMISSED THE CASE PARISHONERS OF THE FORMER ST GEORGES CHURCH IN SHENANDOAH WAGED TO STOP ITS DEMOLITION. JUDGE CYRUS PALMER DOLBIN RULED YESTERDAY THAT THE PARISHONERS DID NOT HAVE STANDING TO SUE THE DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN, AND THAT THE COURT REALLY DIDN'T HAVE JURISDICTION TO RULE THE MATTER OF CHURCH LAW. ST GEORGES, THE OLDEST LITHUANIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA, WAS CLOSED IN 2006 AND CONSOLIDATED WITH ANOTHER PARISH IN THE BOROUGH. THE DIOCESE SAYS THAT DEMOLITION WAS REQUIRED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THAT IT WOULD TAKE MILLIONS TO REPAIR IT. A PARISHONER'S EMOTIONAL REACTION:

REACTION

THE MONIES DONATED BY MEMBERS OF ST GEORGES WILL REPORTEDLY BE USED FOR RENOVATIONS AT ANNUCIATION BVM CHURCH, ACCORDING TO THE DIOCESE. MEMBERS WANTED THE BUILDING SAVED FOR HISTORICAL REASONS. IT IS UNCLEAR IF AN APPEAL WILL BE SOUGHT TO THE RULING, BUT CREWS CONTINUE DEMOLITION OF ST GEORGES CHURCH.

PINE GROVE MAN CHARGED WITH SHOOTING ANOTHER WITH PELLET GUN

A PINE GROVE MAN IS JAILED AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY SHOT ANOTHER WITH A PELLET GUN. SCHUYLKILL HAVEN STATE POLICE ARRESTED 19 YEAR OLD TYLER KREISER, CHARGING HIM WITH AGGRAVATED AND SIMPLE ASSAULT AND HARRASSMENT. REPORTS SAY THAT EARLY TUESDAY, KREISER AND RONALD KNOLL OF NEW PHILADELPHIA GOT INTO AN ARGUMENT, AND KREISER REPORTEDLY SHOT KNOLL IN THE FACE SEVERAL TIMES WITH A PELLET GUN. KNOLL WAS TREATED AT GEISINGER MEDICAL CENTER. KREISER WAS TAKEN TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON IN LIEU OF $15-THOUSAND-DOLLARS BAIL.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

PORT CARBON POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING CRIMINAL MISCHIEF IN A DEVELOPMENT IN THE BOROUGH. EARLY YESTERDAY, DAMAGE WAS DISCOVERED TO AN OFFICE TRAILER AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT OWNED BY WMPI, INCORPORATED. A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS DISCHARGED, WINDOWS SMASHED AND OTHER DAMAGE DONE AT THE SALEM HILL PROJECT. APPARENTLY, THE VANDALISM TOOK PLACE OVER THE WEEKEND. ANYONE WITH LEADS SHOULD CALL PORT CARBON POLICE AT 622-5411.

JOBLESS RATE UP IN COUNTY

THE LEVEL OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY ECLIPSED 11 PERCENT IN OCTOBER, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY. THAT'S THE HIGHEST RATE IN 13 YEARS. THATS A BUMP OF TWO TENTHS OF A PERCENT COMPARED TO SEPTEMBER. WHILE THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON MAY PROVIDE SOME PART TIME WORK FOR PEOPLE, ABOUT 78-HUNDRED PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT JOBS IN THE COUNTY. THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RESTS AT 8-POINT-8 PERCENT, AND THE NATIONAL JOBLESS AVERAGE IS AT 10-POINT-TWO PERCENT.

ARGALL HOSTS TOWN HALL ON HEALTHCARE

SENATOR DAVE ARGALL IS HOSTING A TOWN HALL MEETING TOMORROW AT PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL TO DISCUSS HEALTHCARE REFORM INITIATIVES ON THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS. THE PANEL DISCUSSION WILL INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM LABOR, INDUSTRY AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. THE EVENT BEGINS AT 7:30AM THURSDAY AT THE SCHUYLKILL CAMPUS HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA SEN. ARLEN SPECTER SAYS HE OPPOSES PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S PLAN TO SEND 30,000 MORE TROOPS INTO AFGHANISTAN. SPECTER, A DEMOCRAT, SAYS AL-QAEDA CAN OPERATE OUT OF OTHER COUNTRIES, SUCH AS YEMEN AND SOMALIA. SO HE SAYS IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO FIGHT IN AFGHANISTAN, WHERE HE SAYS NO ONE HAS SUCCEEDED IN THE PAST.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A STATEWIDE RECOUNT OF BALLOTS CONFIRMS THAT ANNE LAZARUS, A COUNTY JUDGE IN PHILADELPHIA, IS THE WINNER OF A HOTLY CONTESTED OPEN SEAT ON THE STATE SUPERIOR COURT. A PHOTO-FINISH AMONG FOUR CANDIDATES TRIGGERED PENNSYLVANIA'S AUTOMATIC RECOUNT LAW FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND BALLOTS HAD TO BE DOUBLECHECKED IN ALL 67 COUNTIES.

CORRY, PA. (AP) - STATE POLICE SAY A MAN HAS COMMITTED SUICIDE IN THE PARKING LOT OUTSIDE THEIR BARRACKS IN NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. A TROOPER FOUND THE BODY OF 85-YEAR-OLD RUSSELL WELSER JR. IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE CORRY BARRACKS AFTER HEARING A GUNSHOT FROM INSIDE YESTERDAY MORNING. IT WAS UNCLEAR WHY WELSER CHOSE THAT LOCATION.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PROBLEMS PERSIST WITH PENNSYLVANIA'S ONLINE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION FILING SYSTEM. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY SPOKESMAN DAVID SMITH SAYS THE ONLINE SYSTEM WAS OPERATING ONLY "INTERMITTENTLY" YESTERDAY. HE SAYS WITH THE ONLINE SYSTEM FACING TROUBLES, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FLOODING UNEMPLOYMENT CALL CENTERS.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS RELEASED A LIST OF THE DOCTORS AND OTHER PROVIDERS WHO ARE CERTIFIED TO ADMINISTER SWINE FLU VACCINES IN PENNSYLVANIA. THE LIST OF SEVERAL THOUSAND PROVIDERS WAS POSTED YESTERDAY ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEB SITE AFTER THE STATE KEPT THE INFORMATION PRIVATE FOR WEEKS.

ISLAMABAD (AP) - POLICE IN PAKISTAN SAY A SUICIDE BOMBER HAS STRUCK OUTSIDE THE ENTRANCE TO PAKISTAN'S NAVY HEADQUARTERS. THEY SAY THE ATTACK KILLED ONE SECURITY GUARD AND WOUNDED THREE OTHERS.
AUTHORITIES SAY THE BOMBER APPEARED TO BE A TEENAGER AND DETONATED
HIS EXPLOSIVES AFTER BEING STOPPED AS HE WALKED TOWARD THE GATES OF
THE HEAVILY FORTIFIED COMPLEX.

WASHINGTON (AP) - CONGRESSIONAL LAWMAKERS ARE MOVING QUICKLY TO HOLD HEARINGS ON PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S PLAN TO SEND 30,000 MORE U.S. TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN. SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE MEMBERS PLAN TO GRILL TOP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS ABOUT THE TROOP BUILDUP TODAY.

CAMP PENDLETON, CALIF. (AP) - A MILITARY PANEL MEETS AT CAMP PENDLETON LATER TODAY TO DECIDE WHETHER A MARINE OFFICER SHOULD BE DEMOTED FOR FAILING TO INVESTIGATE THE 2005 DEATHS OF IRAQI CIVILIANS. LT. COL. JEFFREY CHESSANI WAS ORIGINALLY CHARGED WITH DERELICTION OF DUTY IN A MILITARY COURT FOR FAILING TO INVESTIGATE THE KILLINGS OF 24 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN HADITHA, IRAQ. BUT A JUDGE DISMISSED THE CHARGES, SAYING A GENERAL OVERSEEING THE CASE HAD IMPROPER CONTACT WITH AN INVESTIGATOR.

TEHRAN, IRAN (AP) - IRAN HAS RELEASED FIVE BRITISH SAILORS DETAINED LAST WEEK AFTER THEIR 60-FOOT RACING YACHT DRIFTED INTO IRANIAN WATERS IN THE PERSIAN GULF. IRAN'S OFFICIAL NEWS AGENCY SAYS THE ELITE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD HAS INTERROGATED THE YACHTSMEN AND DECIDED THEIR ENTRY INTO IRANIAN WATERS HAD BEEN A MISTAKE.

NEW YORK (AP) - INDUSTRY ESTIMATES SHOW THAT U.S. ELECTRONICS SELLERS AND ONLINE MERCHANTS THRIVED IN NOVEMBER, PARTICULARLY AT THE START OF THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON. BUT THE NUMBERS ALSO INDICATE THAT SALES OF CLOTHING AND LUXURY ITEMS -- WITH ONE EXCEPTION -- WERE WEAK. THE GOOD NEWS WAS IN JEWELRY. MASTERCARD ADVISORS' SPENDINGPULSE SALES FIGURES SHOW THE JEWELRY SECTOR RISING 4.6 PERCENT LAST MONTH.