Today's News-Saturday, March 20, 2010

Schuylkill County Leaders set for Court

The impending lawsuit filed by Schuylkill County Controller Melinda Kantner against the three County Commissioners has been scheduled to begin November 1st at 9 a.m. at the Schuylkill County Courthouse. The case will be heard by Dauphin County Senior Judge, Joseph Kleinfelter. Kleinfelter was selected after the second Judge assigned to the case was suspended from judicial duties by the State Supreme Court after a domestic violation was filed in Luzerne County. Kantner made claim January 23, 2009 that the Commissioners eliminated a position from her office and created another. She requested that the position be reapplied to her office and that personnel discussions regarding the controller's office occur at a work session so Kantner can provide input and comments may be gathered from the public. On April 8, 2009, these requests were modified with the request to remove the request of dropping the financial analyst position. All parties are to have any discovery evidence, including depositions completed by July 1st and to file any motions by September 30th. A pretrial conference has been scheduled for October 25th.

Democrat Challenger to 17th Congressional Seat Petition Contested

Sheila Dow-Ford, the Harrisburg Attorney challenging incumbent Tim Holden in the May primary, has allegedly filed a faulty petition to be listed on the ballot. Claims against Dow-Ford's attempt to run include having incomplete information on her petition, having non-democrats sign the petition, and having people from outside the 17th Congressional District appear on the petition. Dow-Ford has garnered about 1,600 signatures, the suit alleges that with the charges against the petition that it will not have the required 1,000 names in all. Dow-Ford feels that she is being forced to use campaign money to fight the suit and that her petition will stand up in Court. No date has been set for the claims to be heard.

Another Drug Bust in Minersville

Jessica Danouski and Hubert Wakefield of 135 Sunbury St. Minersville were arrested Thursday evening and no reside in the County Prison after borough Police searched their apartment. Both are charged with felony possession with intent to deliver narcotics, possession of illegal narcotics, conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia and arraigned by Magesterial District Judge James Reiley. Authorities found individually wrapped bags of marijuana, packaging material and other drug paraphernalia as part of their search. Danouski and Wakefield are being held on $20,000 dollars bail each. The Minersville Police are asking for your help in their fight against drugs in the borough. Anyone with information regarding illegal drug pushers to contact them at 544-6212, all calls will be confidential.

Mahanoy Man Injured In Fall From Roof

A Mahanoy City man was injured Friday afternoon after falling from the roof where he was working. According to the Republican and Herald, Gerald Honushefsky was working on the upper roof of City Seafood and Steak House, 28 S. D St., when he fell from either the roof or a ladder about 2:16 p.m. Police said Honushefsky fell about 14 to 17 feet to the sidewalk. According to police, Honushefsky was conscious after the fall but was bleeding from the nose and ears. He was treated by members of Mahanoy City Ambulance and Shenandoah ALS at the scene and later flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown by Life Flight helicopter.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A congressman from western Pennsylvania says he won't be voting for the health-care reform legislation. Second-term Democrat Jason Altmire said in a statement Friday that he thinks the pending bill could compound the problem of skyrocketing health care costs.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The jury in the Harrisburg public-corruption trial has the weekend off after another day without a verdict. Friday was the sixth day jurors have met to consider theft, conspiracy and conflict-of-interest charges against former state representative Mike Veon and three former aides.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's state-owned universities are offering cash incentives to entice about 400 senior employees to retire. The State System of Higher Education says payments will vary from $6,000 to $30,000 per employee, depending on their years of service and pay grade.

WAYNE, Pa. (AP) - Former state Insurance Commissioner and prominent consumer advocate Herb Denenberg has died at his home in the Philadelphia suburb of Wayne. He was 80. Current Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario called Denenberg "a true consumer advocate."

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - The foul winter weather along the East Coast could mean financial windfalls for landscapers this spring. Many trees and shrubs either died, are clinging to life or need some spiffing up.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic leaders worked late last night trying to secure the final votes needed to pass the health care bill Sunday. President Barack Obama does some arm-twisting on
Capitol Hill this afternoon when he meets with House Democrats still on the fence. A total of 77 are being targeted.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Another seven banks have been shut down by the FDIC, raising the total so far this year to 37. The banks are located in five states, with three of them in Georgia. The FDIC says it found banks willing to assume all but one of the seven -- Advanta Bank, based in Draper, Utah. It's failure will cost more than $635 million.

SEATTLE (AP) - A spokesman for the sheriff's department in Thurston County, Washington, says no searches are planned this weekend for the mother who vanished with her 8-year-old boy last Saturday. His body was found two days ago on a beach, and an autopsy rules it an accidental drowning. Their minivan was found partly submerged.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama has made another video appeal to Iranians, with subtitles in Farsi, saying the U.S. still wants to talk with the Iranian government. But Obama says Tehran has chosen isolation. The appeal coincides with a 12-day holiday on the Persian calendar that celebrates the arrival of spring.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Another court ruling in the battle between the estates of Anna Nicole Smith and the elderly billionaire she once married. A federal appeals court says J. Howard Marshall never intended to leave her any part of his fortune. A lawyer for Smith's estate vows to appeal. The fight is already 15 years old.