Today's News-Wednesday, March 3, 2010

COMMISSIONERS' MEETING 3.03.10

STORM WATER IMPROVEMENT BIDS CAME IN FOR THE VILLAGE OF MARY D AT THE COMMISSIONER’S MEETING TODAY. BIDS RANGED FROM $13, 217 TO $18,553. AN APPROVAL WAS GRANTED WITH MOTOROLA FOR A SERVICE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT ON THE $2.248 MILLION DOLLAR CENTRACOM GOLD ELITE RADIO CONSOLE WHICH WAS INSTALLED LATE 2008 TO HELP THE COUNTIES LIFE SAFETY INSTITUTIONS. . THE AGREEMENT, WHICH COSTS $292,236, IS BASICALLY AN “INSURANCE POLICY” THAT COVERS ALL SOFTWARE UPGRADES AND ROUND THE CLOCK MAINTENANCE ON THE SYSTEM. THIS YEAR’S MEMORIAL DAY GRAVE FLAGS WERE APPROVED. 3880 FLAGS WILL BE ORDERED AT A CHEAPER COST FROM LAST YEAR, SAVING THE COUNTY $777.60. FINALLY THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY REQUESTED USE OF THE RECOVERY ZONE BONDS, THAT THE US TREASURY DEPARTMENT ENACTED IN THE STIMULUS ACT LAST YEAR. THESE 2 BONDS, DEVELOPMENT BONDS AND FACILITY BONDS, ARE GIVEN TO “RECOVERY ZONE” COUNTIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SCHUYLKILL COUNTY HAS BEEN GRANTED THE ALLOCATION OF $3, 248,000 IN DEVELOPMENT BONDS AND $4,872,000 IN FACILITY BONDS. THESE BONDS ALLOW FOR LOWER BORROWING COSTS AND TAX INCENTIVES TO PROMOTE THE COUNTY’S ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND PROMOTE JOB CREATION.

EQUIPMENT VANDALIZED

STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A CASE OF VANDALISM AT A COAL OPERATION NEAR BUCK RUN. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED OVER THE WEEKEND, AS A PIECE OF EXCAVATING EQUIPMENT WAS STARTED, RUN DOWN OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND ENDED UP AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL. REPORTS SAY THAT THE EXCAVATOR WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED. THE OWNER, READING ANTHRACITE COMPANY, IS OFFERING A $5-THOUSAND-DOLLAR REWARD FOR INFORMATION INTO THE INCIDENT.

CANDIDATE FOR 123RD DISTRICT RACE

A MAHANOY CITY MAN HAS ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION IN THE 123RD DISTRICT RACE. 23 YEAR OLD ETTORE DICASIMIRRO, A STUDENT AT PENN STATE UNIVERSITY, IS GATHERING SUPPORT TO APPEAR ON THE REPUBLICAN BALLOT IN THE MAY PRIMARY. DEMOCRAT NEAL GOODMAN IS THE INCUMBENT IN THAT DISTRICT SEAT. DICASIMIRRO WORKS WITH HIS FAMILY BUSINESS, SKYTOP COAL AND OIL COMPANY.

PENN STATE FACULTY LAUDED

A PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL WRITING TEACHER USED HER LOVE OF DOGS TO WRITE A PRIZE WINNING SHORT STORY. THE EDITORS OF "THE BARK, DOG IS MY CO-PILOT" ANNOUNCED THAT BIM ANGST WON ITS FIRST ANNUAL SHORT STORY/FICTION CONTEST. ANGST'S WORK, "VILLAGE DOGS" WAS THE UNANIMOUS CHOICE FOR LITERARY MERIT AND ITS INSIGHTFUL DEPICTION OF THE HUMAN BEING-DOG BOND.

MAPLE SYRUP TIME

IF YOU'RE BATTLING MID-WINTER CABIN FEVER, YOU MAY WANT TO TAKE A TIP FROM A MAPLE-SYRUP EXPERT IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, WHO SAYS THE NEXT FEW WEEKS RANK AS ONE OF PENNSYLVANIA'S SWEETEST AND BEST KEPT SECRETS. HERE'S GARY ABDULLAH:

SYRUP

PA PREFERRED

EATING PENNSYLVANIA PRODUCED PRODUCTS IS IMPORTANT TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY. ONE STATE LEGISLATOR IS PUSHING TO HAVE THE PA PREFERRED PROGRAM WRITTEN INTO STATE LAW.

CADAU PREFERRED.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THE WIFE OF A MAN ACCUSED OF SETTING A FAMOUS PHILADELPHIA RECORDING COMPANY HAS APOLOGIZED ON HIS BEHALF. DEANNA CIMINI TEARFULLY SAID YESTERDAY THAT HER HUSBAND, CHRISTOPHER, HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK AND CAN'T REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT THE FEBRUARY 21ST FIRE THAT DAMAGED THE HEADQUARTERS OF PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL RECORDS.

ALBION, PA. (AP) - A WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA IS CHALLENGING A BOROUGH'S BAN ON GUNS IN SOME PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND ON LAND THAT HAS WELLS FEEDING THE PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM. DAN GALENA HAS FILED A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AGAINST THE BOROUGH OF ALBION AND LOCAL OFFICIALS OVER THE POLICY, WHICH HE SAYS VIOLATES STATE LAW BARRING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM REGULATING FIREARMS.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - CASINO DEVELOPER STEVE WYNN TODAY IS EXPECTED TO REVEAL MORE DETAILS OF HIS PLAN TO RESCUE A LONG-STALLED WATERFRONT CASINO PROJECT IN PHILADELPHIA. HE'S DUE TO TESTIFY AT A HEARING THE PENNSYLVANIA GAMING CONTROL BOARD IN HARRISBURG. HE HASN'T YET SOUGHT THE BOARD'S APPROVAL FOR THE PLANNED CASINO, ONE OF TWO APPROVED FOR THE CITY IN 2006.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A FEDERAL JURY TODAY WILL RESUME DELIBERATING THE FATE OF FOUR SOCIAL WORKERS ACCUSED OF A COVER-UP AFTER A DISABLED PHILADELPHIA TEEN DIED WEIGHING 42 POUNDS. JURORS ARE WEIGHING CHARGES AGAINST TWO CO-FOUNDERS AND TWO EMPLOYEES OF NOW-DEFUNCT MULTIETHNIC BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INCORPORATED. THEY'RE CHARGED IN THE DEATH OF 14-YEAR-OLD DANIEAL KELLY.

BAGHDAD (AP) - THREE SUICIDE BOMBS IN THE CAPITAL OF A VOLATILE IRAQI PROVINCE HAVE REPORTEDLY KILLED AT LEAST 29 PEOPLE. MORE THAN 40 OTHERS ARE SAID TO BE WOUNDED. THE U.S. AND IRAQ HAVE WARNED OF SUCH ATTACKS LEADING UP TO SUNDAY'S ELECTIONS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA PULLS OFF THE WRAPS ON HIS REVISED HEALTH CARE PROPOSAL TODAY. IT'S EXPECTED TO INCLUDE A FEW REPUBLICAN PROPOSALS, ALTHOUGH THAT'S UNLIKELY TO WIN ANY GOP SUPPORT. BUT IT MIGHT PERSUADE SOME RELUCTANT DEMOCRATS TO SIGN ON.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE MONEY WILL FLOW AGAIN TO FURLOUGHED FEDERAL WORKERS AND THOSE NEEDING EXTENDED JOBLESS BENEFITS NOW THAT PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HAS SIGNED A STOPGAP BILL. IT WAS DELAYED FOR DAYS BY A FILIBUSTERING REPUBLICAN SENATOR WHO QUIT HIS FIGHT UNDER HEAVY PRESSURE.

YAKIMA, WASH. (AP) - A FOOD SAFETY GROUP HAS TALLIED WHAT IT SAYS IS THE ANNUAL COST OF FOOD-BORNE ILLNESSES. THE PRODUCE SAFETY PROJECT SAYS IT COMES TO $152 BILLION IN HEALTH CARE AND OTHER LOSSES. A BILL BEFORE CONGRESS WOULD REQUIRE MORE GOVERNMENT INSPECTIONS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - BEGINNING THIS MORNING, SAME-SEX COUPLES IN WASHINGTON, D.C., CAN APPLY FOR A MARRIAGE LICENSE. SOME 200 PEOPLE OR MORE ARE EXPECTED WHEN THE DOORS OPEN AT THE MARRIAGE BUREAU. BUT COUPLES WILL HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST THREE FULL DAYS BEFORE EXCHANGING VOWS.