Today's News-Wednesday, April 21, 2010-7:30AM

COMMISSIONERS' MEETING

VOTING WAS PRIME ON THE AGENDA AT THIS WEEK’S COMMISSIONERS MEETING. AN APPROVAL WAS GRANTED TO PURCHASE ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEMS THROUGH PREMIER ELECTION SOLUTIONS FOR THE AMOUNT OF $146, 931.31. AS WELL AS APPROVALS WERE SOUGHT TO HIRE 6 INDIVIDUALS FOR THE COMPUTING BOARD TO TALLY THE RETURNS OF THE PRIMARY ELECTION, THE APPOINTMENT OF 4 INDIVIDUALS FOR THE RESOLUTION BOARD, AND THE HIRING OF 11 DRIVERS FOR TRANSPORTATION OF THE VOTING MACHINES. A POLLING PLACE WAS CHANGED FROM WEST PENN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO THE WEST PENN TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL BUILDING ON 27 MUNICIPAL ROAD IN NEW RINGGOLD.

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE HAD SOME PERSONEL CHANGES. THERE WAS AN ELIMINATION OF 2 PART TIME ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S AND A FULL TIME DUI COORDINATOR. IN ITS PLACE, A FULL TIME ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND A FULL TIME DEPUTY ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY WERE APPOINTED, SAVING THE COUNTY $9,020. A VACANCY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROSECUTOR, WHICH IS FUNDED ENTIRELY THROUGH A GRANT, WAS FILLED AND 2 UNPAID INTERNS WERE ALSO HIRED.



MAN DIES IN CRASH

A MAN FROM GIRARDVILLE DIED TUESDAY MORNING AFTER HE WAS THROWN FROM HIS VEHICLE IN BUTLER TOWNSHIP. POLICE SAY THAT GARY ROMANOT WAS APPARENTLY TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON ROUTE 54, STRUCK AN EMBANKMENT AND WAS EJECTED. HIS BODY WAS FOUND IN THE MAHANOY CREEK
AND WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.

TRUCK WILL ROLLS OF PLASTIC CATCHES FIRE

FIRE CREWS HAD A DIFFICULT TIME CONTAINING A FIRE IN A TRACTOR TRAILER ALONG ROUTE 81 EARLY TUESDAY. THE TRUCK WAS FOUND TO BE ENVELOPED IN FLAMES NEAR MILE MARKER 131 IN MAHANOY TOWNSHIP. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE RIG WAS CARRYING ROLLS OF PLASTIC, AND APPARENTLY, THE BRAKES OF THE TRACTOR TRAILER OVERHEATED. IT TOOK SEVERAL HOURS FOR THE FIRE TO BE EXTINGUISHED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

THEFT REPORTED AT CREDIT UNION

A PORT CARBON WOMAN IS FACING THEFT CHARGES, ACCUSED OF STEALING MONEY FROM HER EMPLOYER. POTTSVILLE POLICE SAY 30 YEAR OLD JENNIFER LEE DOYLE WORKED IN THE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT AT HIDDEN RIVER CREDIT UNION. SHE IS ALLEGED TO HAVE DEPOSITED INVESTMENT INTEREST CHECKS PAYABLE TO CREDIT UNION ACCOUNTS INTO HER OWN PERSONAL ACCOUNT, THEN DOCTORED THE RECORDS TO HIDE THE CRIME. AN AUDIT INDICATES THE LOSS TO THE CREDIT UNION AT JUST OVER $58-THOUSAND-DOLLARS. ARRAIGNMENT FOR DOYLE ON THEFT, MISAPPLICATION OF ENTRUSTED PROPERTY AND OTHER COUNTS WILL BE HELD LATER.

MOTION TO DISMISS

LAWYERS FOR TWO SHENANDOAH MEN, FACING FEDERAL HATE CRIMES CHARGES, HAVE ASKED A FEDERAL JUDGE TO DISMISS THE CHARGES AGAINST THEIR CLIENTS. DERRICK DONCHAK AND BRANDON PIEKARSKY, WHO ALREADY SERVED JAIL TIME ON STATE CHARGES OF ASSAULT IN THE BEATING DEATH OF MEXICAN ILLEGAL LUIS RAMIREZ, ARE SLATED TO GO ON TRIAL IN OCTOBER ON THE FEDERAL COUNTS. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THAT THEIR LAWYERS ARE ASKING THE COURT TO DROP THE CHARGES, CITING DOUBLE JEOPARDY. THE LAWYERS WOULD REQUEST, IF THEIR MOTIONS ARE NOT GRANTED, THAT PROSECUTORS NOT BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE EVIDENCE OF PIEKARSKY AND DONCHAK'S ALLEGED RACISM INTO THE CASE. DONCHAK AND PIEKARSKY'S TRIAL IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN OCTOBER 4TH IN WILKES BARRE.

ASSAULT IN CUMBOLA

A CUMBOLA WOMAN IS LOCKED UP IN THE COUNTY PRISON FOLLOWING AN ASSAULT EARLIER THIS WEEK. STATE POLICE SAY KEITH BUTCAVAGE AND SUSAN RUSSELL GOT INTO AN ARGUMENT AT 282 WOOD STREET, WHICH BECAME PHYSICAL. RUSSELL ATTACKED BUTCAVAGE WITH A KITCHEN KNIFE. BUTCAVAGE WAS TREATED FOR CUTS AT SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER. RUSSELL IS CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED AND SIMPLE ASSAULT AND RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT.

DRUG/BURGLARY RING

INVESTIGATORS FROM THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE ON TUESDAY SAID THEY TOOK DOWN A $1.2 MILLION DOLLAR HEROIN AND COCAINE TRAFFICKING RING FINANCED BY BURGLARIES OPERATING IN SCHUYLKILL, CARBON, LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTION COUNTIES. THE 12 ARRESTS INCLUDE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN COMMITTING THE BURGLARIES, SOME IN PURCHASING AND PAWNING THE STOLEN GOODS, AND SOME IN BUYING THE DRUGS WITH THE PROCEEDS. THE SIX MONTH INVESTIGATION, BILLED AS OPERATION GOLDEN DOPE, BEGAN IN OCTOBER, WHEN INFORMATION ABOUT HEROIN AND COCAINE TRAFFICKING N A FOUR-COUNTY AREA SURFACED. THE THIEVES WOULD STEAL ITEMS FROM RESIDENTS AND TAKE THEM TO PAWN SHOPS TO GET MONEY TO PURCHASE DRUGS. 21 YEAR OLD AMANDA ROGERS OF COALDALE WAS CHARGED ALONG WITH THE OTHERS FOR HER PART IN THE DRUG RING.

BIRDSBORO, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAY SIX PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO HOSPITALS AND 125 WERE EVACUATED FROM A POULTRY PLANT DUE TO AN AMMONIA LEAK. NO LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED FROM THE LEAK AT THE MEHADRIN KOSHER POULTRY PLANT IN EXETER TOWNSHIP.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE TELEVISION CAMPAIGN HAS BEGUN IN PENNSYLVANIA'S DEMOCRATIC SENATE PRIMARY RACE. CONGRESSMAN JOE
SESTAK HAS AIRED HIS FIRST AD. IT TAKES AN INDIRECT SHOT AT INCUMBENT ARLEN SPECTER BY EMPHASIZING THAT SESTAK'S NOT A "CAREER POLITICIAN." SPECTER'S LATEST AD ATTACKS SESTAK FOR MISSING MORE VOTES THAN ANY OTHER PENNSYLVANIA CONGRESSMAN LAST YEAR.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA SWIM CLUB THAT FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY IN THE WAKE OF ACCUSATIONS OF RACIAL BIAS MAY SOON HAVE A NEW OWNER. THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER REPORTS THE ARTISANS ORDER OF MUTUAL PROTECTION HAS OFFERED $1 MILLION FOR THE VALLEY CLUB'S PROPERTY.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA'S GAME COMMISSION HAS SET THE DATES OF THE 2010 DEER SEASON. HUNTING WILL BE PERMITTED IN MOST AREAS FROM NOVEMBER 29TH THROUGH DECEMBER 11TH. IN SOME AREAS IN THE STATE'S MIDDLE AND NORTHEAST THERE WILL BE A FIVE DAY BUCKS-ONLY SEASON FROM NOVEMBER 29TH THOUGH DECEMBER 3RD.

BERLIN (AP) - THE MASSIVE AIR TRAFFIC DISRUPTIONS IN EUROPE AFTER A VOLCANO IN ICELAND SPEWED ASH INTO THE AIR COST AIRLINES DEARLY. THE INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION SAYS A WEEK OF DISRUPTIONS COULD HAVE COST THE INDUSTRY AT LEAST $1.7 BILLION. IATA SAYS AIRLINES LOST REVENUES OF $400 MILLION EACH DAY DURING THE FIRST THREE DAYS OF GROUNDING.

WASHINGTON (AP) - SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL SAYS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE TALKING AGAIN ABOUT A WALL STREET
REFORM PACKAGE. MCCONNELL SAYS THE GOP'S ABILITY TO FILIBUSTER THE
DEMOCRATIC BILL HAS RESULTED IN RENEWED DISCUSSIONS. HE SAYS A $50
BILLION FUND TO HELP DISSOLVE BANKS THAT FAIL IS A CONCERN. SENATE
MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID SAYS HE EXPECTS TO BRING THE PACKAGE TO
THE SENATE FLOOR SOON.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S UPCOMING SUPREME COURT NOMINEE IS THE SUBJECT OF WHITE HOUSE MEETINGS TODAY. OBAMA WILL MEET WITH SENATE LEADERS AND TOP MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TO TALK ABOUT THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS AND LISTEN TO ANY SUGGESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE. OBAMA HAS BEGUN MEETING PROSPECTIVE NOMINEES.

NEW YORK (AP) - A THREATENED STRIKE BY NEW YORK CITY DOORMEN HAS BEEN AVERTED. A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED WITH BUILDING OWNERS AND UNION SPOKESMAN KWAME PATTERSON SAYS THE DEAL INCLUDES A NEARLY 10 PERCENT WAGE INCREASE OVER FOUR YEARS AND NO CUTS IN BENEFITS FOR WORKERS. IT STILL HAS TO BE RATIFIED.

DETROIT (AP) - GENERAL MOTORS SAYS IT'S REPAID MORE THAN $8 BILLION IN LOANS IT GOT FROM THE U.S. AND CANADIAN GOVERNMENTS. AND CEO ED WHITACRE SAYS THEY DID IT FIVE YEARS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. HE SAYS THAT'S A SIGN THAT GM IS RECOVERING. WHITACRE ALSO ANNOUNCED INVESTMENTS IN TWO CAR PLANTS. GM STILL OWES TAXPAYERS $45 BILLION.