Today's News-Friday, February 26, 2010-645AM

SNOW
SNOW IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE DAY TODAY, AND WITH WINDS GUSTING TO 40 MILES PER HOUR, ITS CREATING WHITEOUT CONDITIONS FOR THE MORNING COMMUTE. ROADS ARE SNOW COVERED WITH AN UNDERLAYMENT OF ICE, SO PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME WHEN TRAVELING. THE WINDS ARE CREATING PROBLEMS FOR PPL UTILITY CREWS, WITH NEARLY 300 CUSTOMERS IN SCHUYLKILL AND WEST PENN TOWNSHIPS. THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS STILL IN EFFECT UNTIL 5PM. CHECK OUR WEATHERWATCH SITE FOR UPDATED INFORMATION.

DEADLINE EXTENSION FOR TAX-CUT APPLICATION

THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS FOR A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THIS YEAR HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MARCH 5 DUE TO THE WINTER STORM. THE NORMAL DEADLINE IS MARCH 1. THE EXEMPTION IS USED TO PROVIDE A STATE FUNDED REDUCTION IN SCHOOL PROPERTY TAX BILLS ON PRIMARY HOMES.
PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ALREADY HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION DON'T NEED TO REAPPLY UNLESS THEY'VE CHANGED THEIR DEED OR ADDRESS. THOSE WHO ARE UNSURE ABOUT WHETHER THEIR HOME IS CURRENTLY APPROCED SHOULD CONTACT THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY ASSESSMENT OFFICE AT 570-628-1025. HOMEOWNERS CAN OBTAIN THE APPLICATION BY CALLING THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICTS BUSINESS OFFICE OR ONLINE AT PAHOUSE.COM/SEIP.

MEDICAL CENTER THEFT

POLICE RESPONDED TO A THEFT AT THE SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER YESTERDAY MORNING AROUND 3AM. JIMMY SCHWENK 26 OF PALO ALTO, WHO ATTEMPTED TO HIDE FROM THE POLICE IN THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER, WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY FOR STEALING VARIOUS MEDICAL SUPPLIES WHILE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM. WITH THE ASSITANCE OF MICHAOL LORAH 33 OF PINE GROVE, SCHWENK STUFFED THE SUPPLIES INTO HIS PANTS AND COAT POCKETS. THE SUPPLIES WERE RECOVERED BY HOSPITAL STAFF AND VARIOUS CHARGES WERE FILED AGAINST THE TWO MEN.

HAT AND COAT FOUND AT SCENE OF GUNSHOT VICTIM

A HAT AND COAT WERE FOUND NEAR THE BODY OF THE BARNESVILLE MAN THAT WAS FOUND IN HIS CAR WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD IN MAHANOY CITY ON TUESDAY. MARK KETUSKY, WHO WAS ON HIS WAY TO DO SOME GROCERY SHOPPING AND PICK UP A PIZZA MONDAY EVENING, WAS FOUND AT THE MAHANOY CITY LITTLE LEAGE FIELD PARKING LOT AT 1:30PM THE NEXT DAY. AN AUTOPSY WAS CONDUCTED, THO DUE TO UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THE DEATH IS STILL BEING RULED AS "SUSPICIOUS" BY POLICE. AUTORITES HOPE SOMEONE WILL RECOGNISE THE ARTICLES OF CLOTHING AND CONTACT THEM. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS CASE IS TO CONTACT THE STATE POLICE OF FRACKVILLE AT 874-5300, THOSE WISHING TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS CAN CONTACT THE PENNSYLVANIA CRIME STOPPERS AT 800-4PA-TIPS.

TRANSFER OF FUNDS

AT THE COMMISSIONER’S MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, THERE WAS A UNANIMOUS VOTE TO TRANSTER UP TO $2.5MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE COUNTY'S DEBT SERVICES FUND TO THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE PURPOSES OF PAYING MONTHLY BILLS. THE GENERAL FUND IS CURRENTLY UNDER $1MILLION DOLLARS AND THAT IS INSUFFICIENT TO PAY COUNTY COSTS IN THE MONTHS TO COME. UNDER CONSULTATION FROM STATE OFFICIALS AND A POTTSVILLE ATTORNEY, ERIC MIKA, COUNTY SOLICITOR, STATED THEY ONLY ACTED AFTER THESE EXTENSIVE LEGAL REPORTS WERE REVIEWED. COUNTY CONTROLLER MELINDA KANTNER IS QUESTIONING THE LEGALITY OF THE TRANSFER AND HAS FILED A RIGHT-TO-KNOW LAST WEEK SEEKING A COPY OF THE CONSULTATION REPORTS. SHE WAS DENIED THE REQUEST AS WAS THE LOCAL NEWS. THE TRANSER, THO IRREGULAR, ISN'T ILLEGAL AND WILL SAVE THE COUNTY $30-THOUSAND-DOLLARS IN INTEREST THAT IT WOULD NORMALLY PAY IF TAKING A NORMAL BANK LOAN. THE LOAN WILL BE REPAID BACK BY JUNE 30TH OF THIS YEAR WITH THE COUNTY'S REAL ESTATE TAX REVENUES.


HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - TRACTOR-TRAILERS, BOX TRUCKS AND ANY OTHER VEHICLES PULLING A TRAILER ARE BEING TOLD TO KEEP OFF THE ENTIRE NORTHEASTERN EXTENSION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE. TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS IMPOSED THE RESTRICTION STARTING AT 6 P.M. YESTERDAY BECAUSE THEY WERE EXPECTING ZERO-VISIBILITY CONDITIONS ALONG WITH HEAVY SNOWFALL AND HIGH WINDS.

JOHNSTOWN, PA. (AP) - FORMER DEMOCRATIC PENNSYLVANIA LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MARK SINGEL HAS WITHDRAWN FROM THE RACE FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT LEFT VACANT BY JOHN MURTHA'S DEATH. SINGEL SAYS THE FIELD OF DEMOCRATS IS TOO LARGE. HIS WITHDRAWAL YESTERDAY FOLLOWS MURTHA'S WIDOW'S ENDORSEMENT OF THE LATE CONGRESSMAN'S LONGTIME AIDE MARK CRITZ.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE MIKE VEON'S PRESS SECRETARY SAYS VEON TOLD HIM TO WORK ON POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS ON STATE TIME, THE LATEST LEGISLATIVE AIDE TO TESTIFY IN THE FOUR-WEEK-OLD PUBLIC CORRUPTION CASE. BOB CATON TESTIFIED YESTERDAY THAT THOSE DIRECTIONS WERE NORMALLY GIVEN TO HIM DIRECTLY INSIDE VEON'S OFFICES IN HARRISBURG.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A MAN ACCUSED OF MASTERMINDING A MORE THAN $1 MILLION INSURANCE FRAUD SCHEME IN PHILADELPHIA HAS PLEADED GUILTY. FORTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD WALLACE MORRIS IS BEING SENTENCED TODAY TO MULTIPLE COUNTS OF INSURANCE FRAUD, THEFT AND RELATED CHARGES. AUTHORITIES SAY THE FRAUD INVOLVED DOZENS OF STAGED ACCIDENTS.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - WINDS IN PARTS OF THE NORTHEAST ARE NEAR 50 MPH IN THE MIDST OF A MAJOR WINTER STORM PLODDING UP THE ATLANTIC COAST. IT'S BRINGING WET SNOW AND HEAVY RAIN WITH FLOODING POTENTIAL. THIS STORM, WHICH COULD DROP A FOOT OR MORE OF SNOW, COMES ON THE HEELS OF 20 INCHES IN SOME AREAS A DAY EARLIER.
 
HAMPTON, N.H. (AP) - NEW HAMPSHIRE FIREFIGHTERS SAY AN ENTIRE BLOCK AROUND AN OCEANFRONT HOTEL IS ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN HAMPTON.  FIRE CAPT. DAVID LANG SAYS THE FIRE ERUPTED AROUND MIDNIGHT IN THE UNOCCUPIED THREE-STORY SURF HOTEL, AN HOUR'S DRIVE NORTH OF BOSTON.  HAMPTON IS A POPULAR SUMMER DESTINATION. OFFICIALS SAY HIGH WIND FROM A NORTHEAST WINTER STORM ISN'T HELPING.

LEWES, DEL. (AP) - INVESTIGATORS WORKING TO IDENTIFY MORE THAN 100 CHILDREN ALLEGEDLY ABUSED BY A DELAWARE PEDIATRICIAN ARE FINDING SOME FAMILIES RELUCTANT TO HELP. SOME PARENTS HAVE DECIDED NOT TO PROVIDE PHOTOGRAPHS FOR INVESTIGATORS TO COMPARE TO VIDEOS DR. EARL BRADLEY ALLEGEDLY MADE. THOSE PARENTS SAY THEIR CHILDREN SEEM FINE AND THERE'S NOTHING TO GAIN.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (AP) - HAITIAN OFFICIALS WANT PEOPLE MADE HOMELESS BY THE EARTHQUAKE TO RETURN TO THEIR DESTROYED NEIGHBORHOODS AHEAD OF THE RAINY SEASON COMING IN ABOUT A MONTH. OFFICIALS WILL NEED TO DEMOLISH HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF BUILDINGS AND REMOVE MOUNTAINS OF RUBBLE BEFORE PEOPLE CAN RETURN.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS SET TO PROPOSE REGULATIONS AIMED AT PROTECTING WORKERS' RETIREMENT SAVINGS. AN ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL, WHO DOESN'T WANT TO BE IDENTIFIED BECAUSE THE PROPOSAL HAD NOT YET BEEN FORMALLY ANNOUNCED, SAYS THE SAFEGUARDS WOULD PROTECT WORKERS FROM CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH FINANCIAL ADVISERS WHO MANAGE THEIR 401(K)S AND INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS. VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS TO ANNOUNCE THE PROPOSAL TODAY.