Today's News-Friday, April 9, 2010

FIRE DESTROYS HOME IN CASS TOWNSHIP

A WOMAN WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOLLOWING A FIRE IN CASS TOWNSHIP YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE KITCHEN WINDOW OF THE RUMPF HOME AT 16 ASH ROAD WHEN CREWS ARRIVED. INVESTIGATORS SAY FOOD COOKING ON THE STOVE CAUSED THE FIRE. BEATRICE RUMPF WAS ABLE TO CALL 9-1-1 TO REPORT THE FIRE, THEN TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR BREATHING PROBLEMS. DAMAGES FROM THE FIRE ARE ESTIMATED TO BE IN EXCESS OF $50-THOUSAND-DOLLARS.

SHENANDOAH MAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING HOSPITAL STAFF

A SHENANDOAH MAN IS LODGED IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON FOLLOWING AN INCIDENT AT SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER SOUTH THIS WEEK. POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE HOSPITAL TUESDAY EVENING FOR A DISTURBANCE AND FOUND 30 YEAR OLD TOMMY NOLL HAD SIGNED HIMSELF INTO THE PSYCHIATRIC UNIT, THEN WANTED TO LEAVE. WHEN HE WAS DENIED THE REQUEST TO LEAVE, HE UNPLUGGED PHONES AND COMPUTER MONITORS AT THE NURSE'S STATION, THEN GRABBED AN EMPLOYEE AND LOCKED HIM IN AN OFFICE. THE EMPLOYEE, HARRY SEIDERS, HAD MINOR INJURIES. NOLL WAS CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT.

TWO CARS HEAVILY DAMAGED IN CRASH

TWO VEHICLES WERE HEAVILY DAMAGED IN A TWO VEHICLE CRASH YESTERDAY ON ROUTE 61 IN NEW CASTLE TOWNSHIP. VEHICLES DRIVEN BY 18 YEAR RYAN ENGEL OF RINGTOWN AND A 17 YEAR OLD MALE FROM MAHANOY CITY WERE SOUTHBOUND NEAR GASWAY WHEN THE TEEN ATTEMPTED TO TURN LEFT AND WAS REAR ENDED BY ENGLE'S VEHICLE. BOTH DRIVERS AND A PASSENGER IN THE TEEN'S VEHICLE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF MINOR INJURIES.

DUI CHARGES PENDING IN CRASH

A PINE GROVE MAN ESCAPED INJURY IN A ONE VEHICLE CRASH ON KURTZ ROAD IN WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP EARLY YESTERDAY. WILLIAM KILLIAN WAS APPARENTLY ATTEMPTING TO USE HIS CELL PHONE WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS PICKUP TRUCK. HIS VEHICLE RAN INTO A UTILITY POLE THEN SPUN 90 DEGREES, CAUSING MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE. DUI CHARGES ARE PENDING FROM THE CRASH.

ARGALL OPENS NEW CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS

A 17TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CANDIDATE OPENED HIS NEW CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS IN POTTSVILLE YESTERDAY. SHERRY MARCHEFSKY HAS MORE:

ARGALL OFFICE

WAYNESBORO, PA. (AP) - STATE TROOPERS SAY THEY'VE FOND THE REMAINS OF A SOUTH-CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA TEEN WHO'S BEEN MISSING SINCE 1995. THE REMAINS OF ANGIE DALEY OF WAYNESBORO WERE FOUND IN A WOODED AREA IN FRANKLIN COUNTY TUESDAY. THE CHAMBERSBURG PUBLIC OPINION REPORTS THE DEATH HAS BEEN RULED A HOMICIDE.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA'S MAYOR SAYS HE'S STUNNED BY THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT CASINO MOGUL STEVE WYNN IS DROPPING HIS BID TO TAKE OVER THE TROUBLED FOXWOODS WATERFRONT CASINO PROJECT IN THE CITY. MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER SAYS HE JUST MET WITH AN EAGER WYNN TO DISCUSS THE PROJECT MONDAY.

PITTSTON, PA. (AP) - THE FBI HAS SEARCHED THE HOME OF A VETERAN STATE LAWMAKER IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. INVESTIGATORS WON'T SAY WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR OR WHY THEY WERE AT STATE SENATOR RAPHAEL MUSTO'S LUZERNE COUNTY HOME. MUSTO HASN'T BEEN ACCUSED OF ANY WRONGDOING.

NEW YORK (AP) - BERKS COUNTY'S KATE GOSSELIN IS RETURNING TO TLC WITH A NEW SHOW. THE FORMER STAR OF "JOHN & KATE PLUS 8" IS COMING BACK WITH A SHOW CALLED "TWIST OF KATE." THE PROGRAM WILL PROFILE EVERYDAY WOMEN FACING PERSONAL CHALLENGES. GOSSELIN WILL ALSO REVISIT HER FAMILY LIFE FOR A SERIES OF "KATE PLUS 8" SPECIALS BEGINNING IN JUNE.

PRAGUE (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS HOLDING PRIVATE TALKS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC BEFORE FLYING HOME AFTER YESTERDAY'S SIGNING OF A NEW NUCLEAR TREATY WITH RUSSIA. OBAMA HAD DINNER WITH 11 CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN LEADERS WHO WORRY ABOUT RUSSIA'S POST-COMMUNIST PUSH FOR INFLUENCE.

MONTCOAL, W.VA. (AP) - A NEW RESCUE EFFORT IS UNDERWAY AT THE WEST VIRGINIA COAL MINE WHERE FOUR MEN REMAIN MISSING, BUT OFFICIALS ARE BEGINNING TO USE THE WORDS "RECOVERY" AND "BODIES" MORE OFTEN. RESCUE TEAMS ARE CARRYING EXTRA OXYGEN PACKS JUST IN CASE THE FOUR MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO A REFUGE CHAMBER AFTER MONDAY'S EXPLOSION.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SAYS THE TREATMENT OF VICTIMS AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA, AND THE GOVERNMENT'S ACTIONS, HAVE PREVENTED POOR MINORITY COMMUNITIES FROM REBUILDING. IN A REPORT CALLED "UN-NATURAL DISASTER," THE GROUP CALLS IT A CONSISTENT VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. (AP) - TWO SHUTTLE ASTRONAUTS ARE OUTSIDE THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION BEGINNING A THREE-STAGE JOB. THEY'RE SWAPPING OUT AMMONIA TANKS USED FOR THE STATION'S COOLING SYSTEM. IT WILL TAKE THREE SPACEWALKS TO FINISH IT. THIS MORNING, THE NEW TANK BRIEFLY HUNG UP ON A BOLT UNTIL IT WAS FREED USING A PRY BAR.

EAST HAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) - A YOUNG HUMPBACK WHALE SOME 20 TO 25 FEET LONG IS PROVING HARD TO EUTHANIZE ON A BEACH IN EAST HAMPTON, N.Y. A TEAM HAS TWICE TRIED TO KILL IT WITH DRUGS BEGINNING LAST NIGHT. IT'S UNCLEAR HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE FOR THE ANIMAL TO DIE. THE WHALE WAS FOUND ON THE BEACH TUESDAY.