Today's News-May 20, 2010

COMMISSIONER'S MEETING

CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES GAVE THEIR FIRST QUARTERY REPORT FOR JULY 2009 THROUGH SEPT 2009 AT YESTERDAYS COMMISSIONER’S MEETING. THE REPORT SHOWED OPENED ACCOUNTS OF 376 FAMILIES, CLOSED ACCOUNTS OF 409 FAMILIES, 49 FAMILIES ENTERING PLACEMENT AND 73 FAMILY PLACEMENT DISCHARGES. DELINQUENCY WAS THE HIGHEST REASON FOR PLACEMENT AT 33%, FOLLOWED BY CHILD ABUSE AND CHILD UNCONTROLLABLE/EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS BOTH AT 16%. IN THE SAME OFFICE, JESSICA ANDRUCHECK WAS PROMOTED TO COUNTY CASEWORKER 2.

THE COUNTY’S PCORPS RENEWAL WAS ADDRESSED. DAVID MARCH, THE PRESIDENT OF HIGGINS INSURANCE WHICH HANDLES THE COUNTY’S PREMIUMS, ADDRESSED THE COMMISSIONERS STATING THAT THIS YEAR’S PREMIUM RENEWAL WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS FOR THE COUNTY. ABOUT $30,000 LESS THAN LAST YEAR. THIS IS DUE FOR SEVERAL REASONS, ONE OF WHICH IS DIRECTLY TIED TO THE DECEASE IN CLAIM ACTIVITY BY THE COUNTY.

FINALLY THE COMMISSIONERS APPROVED THE AUTHORIZATION OF EXECUTION AND SUBMISSION OF SEVERAL FORMS TO ENSURE THE SECURITY OF THE 2.1 MILLIONS DOLLARS PROJECTED FOR THE ERECTION OF THE COUNTY’S PRERELEASE CENTER.
THEY COUNTY HAS ALREADY MAXIMIZED ALL THE OTHER PRISON REFORM PROGRAMS AND IS SEEKING A LOAN APPROVAL OPPORTUNITY IN ORDER TO START THE BIDDING PROCESS FOR THE STRUCTURE, OF WHICH IT IS STILL UNSURE IT WILL BE ABLE TO FINANCIALLY AFFORD.


CITY WOMAN INJURED IN ROBBERY

POTTSVILLE CITY POLICE ARE STILL INVESTIGATING A ROBBERY AT A NICHOLS STREET HOME TUESDAY. REPORTS SAY THAT A BLACK MALE WAS IN THE KITCHEN OF ELEANOR BARTELL'S HOME AT 333 NICHOLS STREET. 44 YEAR OLD CHRISTINE DONNELLY HEARD NOISES COMING FROM THE KITCHEN AND SAW THE MAN ATTEMPTING TO STEAL A TV. DONNELLY CONFRONTED THE ROBBER, WHO PUSHED HER, KNOCKING HER UNCONCIOUS. A DIAMOND RING WAS TAKEN FROM HER FINGER. POLICE DESCRIBE THE BANDIT AS BEING ABOUT 5 FEET, 8 INCHES TALL, STOCKY BUILD, BETWEEN 20 AND 30 YEARS OLD, WEARING A GRAY HOODED SWEATSHIRT AND GLOVES. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION SHOULD CALL POTTSVILLE POLICE AT 622-1234.

BURGLARY AT TOWNE DRUGS

A CITY MAN IS CHARGED WITH BURGLARY FOLLOWING AN EARLY MORNING INCIDENT TUESDAY DOWNTOWN. POTTSVILLE POLICE FOUND 25 YEAR OLD SCOTT SARGENT, 514 MAHANTONGO STREET, HAD ENTERED TOWNE DRUGS THROUGH A SECOND FLOOR REAR WINDOW. HE SET OFF THE ALARM AS HE TRIED TO GET INTO THE STORE. SARGENT IS CHARGED WITH BURGLARY AND RELATED COUNTS. HE WAS JAILED FOLLOWING ARRAIGNMENT. SARGENT'S GIRLFRIEND, 33 YEAR OLD CARLA WOLAK WAS ALSO TAKEN INTO CUSTODY FOR TAMPERING WITH OR FABRICATING EVIDENCE. SHE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO PRISON.

WATER BOIL CONTINUES

THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY CONTINUES TO HAVE A WATER BOIL ADVISORY IN PLACE FOR SOME CUSTOMERS. WE TOLD YOU YESTERDAY THAT DUE TO AN ACCIDENT, CUSTOMERS OF THE SYSTEM WHO LIVE WEST OF 12TH STREET TO WESTWOOD ROAD AND ROUTE 901, AND IN NORWEGIAN TOWNSHIP, INCLUDING BULLS HEAD AND SELTZER, SHOULD BOIL THEIR WATER FOR A FULL MINUTE BEFORE CONSUMPTION. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ADVISORY, CALL THE MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY AT 622-8240.

MALAVE HEADED TO STATE PRISON

A SHENANDOAH WOMAN IS HEADED TO STATE PRISON FOR STABBING A WOMAN LAST FALL IN THE BOROUGH. 36 YEAR OLD MIRIAM MALAVE PLEADED NO CONTEST TO AGGRAVATED AND SIMPLE ASSAULT AND RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT FROM THE FIGHT SHE WAS INVOLVED IN OUTSIDE OF LA CASITA BAR ON SEPTEMBER 20TH. A WOMAN WAS STABBED IN THE THIGH AND ABDOMEN IN THE INCIDENT. JUDGE CHARLES MILLER SENTENCED MALAVE TO 15 TO 30 MONTHS IN STATE PRISON. SHE ALSO FACES CHARGES FROM AN UNRELATED INCIDENT EARLIER THIS YEAR AT THE M&T BAR IN SHENANDOAH, WHERE SHE FACES ETHINIC INTIMIDATION AND ASSAULT CHARGES. MALAVE WAS ALREADY BEING HELD IN JAIL FOR THOSE CHARGES.

FIRE CAUSE NOTED

A TUESDAY FIRE THAT DESTROYED A HOME AND DAMAGED A SECOND IN ASHLAND WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATORS. THE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED BEFORE 6PM TUESDAY NIGHT AT WAYNE AND DOROTHY ZERBY'S PROPERTY AT 900 BROCK STREET. REPORTEDLY, THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE CEILING OF THE KITCHEN. NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THAT FIRE.

SOVEREIGN MAJESTIC AWARDS TONIGHT

STUDENT ACTORS FROM 11 AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL BE HONORED TONIGHT FOR THEIR EFFORTS ON THE BOARDS AT THE SOVEREIGN MAJESTIC AWARDS AT NORTH SCHUYLKILL HIGH SCHOOL. THE ANNUAL EVENT WILL FEATURE SELECT PERFORMANCES FROM THE REPRESENTED SCHOOL'S SPRING MUSICALS, AND BEGINS AT 7PM. TICKETS ARE $5 EACH. THE EVENING PROMISES TO BE FILLED WITH EXCITEMENT AND SUSPENSE AS THE KIDS VIE FOR AWARDS IN A HOST OF CATEGORIES.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDEN HAS REPORTEDLY PAID COMPENSATION TO FORMER STUDENTS FOR ALLEGED SEXUAL ABUSE. THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER CITES SEVERAL SOURCES IN REPORTING THAT THE MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL PAID $3 MILLION EARLIER THIS YEAR TO FIVE FORMER STUDENTS.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA'S CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICIAL IS LEAVING THE RENDELL ADMINISTRATION FOR A JOB IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. SECRETARY OF STATE PEDRO CORTES ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY HE WILL BE TAKING A JOB WITH SAN DIEGO-BASED EVERYONE COUNTS, A COMPANY INVOLVED IN HELPING SOLDIERS, OVERSEAS RESIDENTS AND THE DISABLED VOTE. HIS LAST DAY IS JUNE 11TH.

WILKES-BARRE, PA. (AP) - ATTORNEYS IN THE CASE OF A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS WIFE IN FRONT OF HER CHILDREN ARE ARGUING OVER WHETHER A PROTECTION-FROM-ABUSE ORDER SHOULD BE ALLOWED AS EVIDENCE IN HIS DEATH PENALTY TRIAL NEXT MONTH. PROSECUTORS CLAIM DONNELL BUCKNER AND KEWAII ROGERS-BUCKNER WERE ARGUING OVER THE ORDER BEFORE SHE WAS KILLED IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR.

ALTOONA, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY A HOMELESS MAN WHO SAID HE WAS LOOKING FOR THE FASTEST ROUTE TO A CONCESSION STAND HAS BEEN ARRESTED AFTER WALKING ONTO THE OUTFIELD DURING A MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME IN ALTOONA. POLICE SAY TYRONE SQUIRES LOWERED HIMSELF OVER A FENCE AND ONTO THE FIELD DURING THE NINTH INNING DURING AN ALTOONA CURVE GAME TUESDAY. SECURITY GRABBED HIM AS HE LEFT THE FIELD.

BANGKOK (AP) - A SPOKESMAN FOR THAILAND'S ARMY SAYS OVERALL, THEY'VE GOT THE SITUATION IN BANGKOK UNDER CONTROL AS A MONTHLONG ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTEST CAME TO A VIOLENT END. BUT SOME BUILDINGS SET ABLAZE BY DEMONSTRATORS ARE STILL SMOLDERING, AND A NIGHTTIME CURFEW HAS BEEN EXTENDED. THERE'S ALSO BEEN SOME GUNFIRE.

ATHENS, GREECE (AP) - A GENERAL STRIKE TODAY IN GREECE BY WORKERS ANGRY WITH A GOVERNMENT AUSTERITY PROGRAM AIMED AT GETTING THE COUNTRY OUT OF ITS FINANCIAL CRISIS. PUBLIC HOSPITALS ARE OPEN, WITH EMERGENCY STAFFING, BUT MANY OTHER SERVICES SUCH AS BUSES, TRAINS, FERRIES, AND SCHOOLS ARE SHUT DOWN OR CLOSED. PROTEST MARCHES ARE PLANNED.

WASHINGTON (AP) - SENATE DEMOCRATS WILL TRY AGAIN TODAY TO ADVANCE A SWEEPING OVERHAUL OF FINANCIAL REGULATIONS. DEMOCRATS ARE WITHIN REACH OF THE 60 VOTES NEEDED TO AVOID A FILIBUSTER. REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THE BILL, ARGUING THAT IT'S BECOME WORSE SINCE IT REACHED THE SENATE FLOOR. THEY ALSO SAY IT DOESN'T TACKLE THE ROOT PROBLEMS.

TEHRAN, IRAN (AP) - THREE AMERICANS JAILED IN IRAN HAVE MET WITH THEIR MOTHERS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THEIR ARREST IN JULY FOR ALLEGED SPYING. THEIR RELATIVES REJECT THE ACCUSATION. THE MOTHERS WORE LONG BLACK HEADSCARVES AND HELD BOUQUETS OF FLOWERS AT THE VISIT. THEY ARRIVED IN TEHRAN YESTERDAY TO SEE THEIR CHILDREN AND TRY TO SECURE THEIR RELEASE.

BLANTYRE, MALAWI (AP) - A JUDGE HAS SENTENCED A GAY COUPLE IN MALAWI TO THE MAXIMUM 14 YEARS IN PRISON FOR UNNATURAL ACTS AND GROSS INDECENCY. MALAWI'S GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN DEFIANT IN THE FACE OF INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM OVER THE COUPLE'S PROSECUTION. THEY WERE ARRESTED A DAY AFTER CELEBRATING THEIR ENGAGEMENT WITH A PARTY AT THE HOTEL WHERE ONE OF THE MEN WORKS.