Today's News-Friday, April 23, 2010

BANK ROBBER TAKEN INTO CUSTODY

POLICE HAVE APPREHENDED A MAN WANTED IN A MARYLAND BANK ROBBERY. MICHAEL CLARK IS A SUSPECT IN THE HOLDUP OF A BALTIMORE NATIONAL BANK BRANCH ON MARCH 27TH. A TIP FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT IN MARYLAND LED TO THE ARREST OF CLARK AT HIS GIRLFRIENDS HOME IN POTTSVILLE YESTERDAY. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THAT CLARK TOOK CASH FROM THE BANK, STATING THAT HE HAD A GUN IN HIS POSSESSION. POTTSVILLE POLICE FILED THE CHARGES IN THE OFFICE OF DISTRICT JUDGE JAMES REILEY, WHO ASSESSED $50 THOUSAND DOLLARS BAIL AND THEN ORDERED CLARK TO JAIL.

ECO FAIR

PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL HOSTED AN ECO-FAIR IN OBSERVANCE OF EARTH DAY THURSDAY. SHERRY MARCHEFSKY HAS THIS "GREEN" STORY:

ECO FAIR

POTTSVILLE WOMAN HEADED TO PRISON FOR STEALING FROM BUSINESS

A FRACKVILLE BUSINESSMAN'S LIFE'S WORK IS IN RUINS FOLLOWING THEFT OF FUNDS FROM ONE OF HIS EMPLOYEES. 29 YEAR OLD PATRICIA LONG OF POTTSVILLE TOOK $87-THOUSAND-DOLLARS FROM MIKE HAWRANICK FUEL SERVICES WHILE WORKING FOR THE COMPANY AS A SECRETARY. NOW, SHE'S BEEN SENTENCED TO 1 1/2 TO 3 YEARS IN STATE PRISON FOR THE CRIMES SHE PLEADED GUILTY TO IN DECEMBER. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THAT LONG'S PUBLIC DEFENDER ASKED FOR HOUSE ARREST, CLAIMING THAT THE WOMAN IS ILL. RESTITUTION WAS ALSO PART OF THE SENTENCE HANDED DOWN BY PRESIDENT JUDGE WILLIAM BALDWIN.

BLOCK OF ART

POTTSVILLE WILL COME ALIVE WITH THE ARTS THIS WEEKEND. SHERRY MARCHEFSKY HAS A PREVIEW OF THE "BLOCK OF ART":

BLOCK OF ART

PINE GROVE MAN CHARGED WITH HARASSMENT

A PINE GROVE MAN IS FACING CHARGES OF HARASSMENT AFTER HE THREATENED A TEENAGER. A FAMILY DISPUTE LED TO THE THREATS MADE AGAINST THE 14 YEAR OLD BOY BY 32 YEAR OLD JAMES SCHNECK. ACCORDING TO STATE POLICE, SCHNECK CHASED THE BOY AND THREATENED TO PUNCH HIM WEDNESDAY NIGHT. SCHNECK IS ALLEGED TO HAVE THREATENED TO KILL THE VICTIM AND THE VICTIM'S PARENTS AS WELL. CHARGES AGAINST SCHNECK WILL BE FILED IN DISTRICT COURT.

WAYNESBURG, PA. (AP) - ONE PERSON IS DEAD AND SEVERAL OTHERS ARE HURT FOLLOWING A FIRE AT AN APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED RESIDENTS IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THE GREENE COUNTY CORONER SAYS 61-YEAR-OLD PATRICIA EDDY WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE COMPLEX RUN BY THE COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY IN WAYNESBURG.

GILBERTSVILLE, PA. (AP) - THE MAN CHARGED IN A PAIR OF ROAD-RAGE SHOOTINGS IN SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA HAS BEEN FOUND DEAD AFTER FAILING TO SHOW UP FOR A HEARING. JOHN YANNARELL DIDN'T SHOW UP IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY COURT YESTERDAY IN CONNECTION WITH THE APRIL 9TH SHOOTING OF A DRIVER ON ROUTE 422. INVESTIGATORS SAY HE SHOT AT ANOTHER DRIVER IN JANUARY.

YORK, PA. (AP) - HARLEY-DAVIDSON SAYS IT HAS IDLED MOTORCYCLE PLANTS IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA AND KANSAS CITY DUE TO HEALTH CONCERNS OVER A PAINT CHEMICAL. A HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPOKESMAN SAYS A SUPPLIER TOLD THE COMPANY THAT ITS PAINT FOR COATING MOTORCYCLE PARTS COULD EXPOSE WORKERS TO BENZENE, WHICH HAS BEEN LINKED TO CANCER.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - REBATES OF AS MUCH AS $500 ARE UP FOR GRABS FOR PENNSYLVANIANS WHO UPGRADE THEIR HOME HEATING SYSTEMS. THE STATE SAYS RESIDENTS SHOULD APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO "RESERVE" THEIR SHARE OF THE $11 MILLION IN FEDERAL MONEY ALLOTTED FOR THE PROGRAM.

JERUSALEM (AP) - A WHITE HOUSE ENVOY IS IN THE MIDDLE EAST TRYING TO GET ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS BACK TO THE PEACE TABLE. GEORGE MITCHELL MEETS TODAY WITH BOTH ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN LEADERS. HE'LL PRESS ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU ABOUT JEWISH SETTLEMENTS WHICH HAVE BECOME THE LATEST ROADBLOCK.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE SENATE'S MAJORITY LEADER IS SCHEDULING A KEY TEST VOTE MONDAY ON A FINANCIAL REFORM PACKAGE. IT COULD SHOW HOW UNIFIED REPUBLICANS ARE AGAINST THE BILL. THE SENATE'S REPUBLICAN LEADER IS CRITICIZING THE VOTE SINCE BIPARTISAN NEGOTIATIONS ARE STILL GOING ON.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION HAS TURNED DOWN FIVE AIRLINES WHICH ASKED FOR TEMPORARY EXEMPTIONS TO THE NEW TARMAC RULE THAT TAKES EFFECT NEXT WEEK. THE RULE SAYS PASSENGERS CANNOT BE KEPT WAITING ON AIRPORT TARMACS LONGER THAN THREE HOURS. SECRETARY RAY LAHOOD CALLS IT "IMPORTANT CONSUMER PROTECTION."

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE FIRST FAMILY TAKES OFF TODAY FOR A LONG WEEKEND IN ASHEVILLE, N.C. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WAS ATTRACTED TO THE AREA WHEN HE WAS THERE DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN PREPARING FOR ONE OF HIS DEBATES. HE WAS ALSO ATTRACTED TO THE GOLF COURSE, ALTHOUGH HE WAS UNABLE TO PLAY AT THE TIME.

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA (AP) - A GERMAN SHEPHERD THAT GOT HELP FOR HIS MASTER WILL BE GIVEN AN ENGRAVED SILVER-PLATED DOG BOWL TODAY IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. BUDDY FOUND A TROOPER AND LED HIM THROUGH WINDING BACK ROADS TO HIS OWNER'S WORKSHOP AFTER IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE OWNER SUFFERED ONLY MINOR BURNS.