Today's News-Wednesday, May 12, 2010

POLICE IDENTIFY SUSPECTS IN DAM INCIDENT
STATE POLICE REPORT THAT CHARGES WILL BE FILED AGAINST FOUR PEOPLE RELATING TO AN INCIDENT AT WOLF CREEK DAM LAST FRIDAY. THOSE IDENTIFIED INCLUDE 21 YEAR OLD JONATHAN BOWERS, 18 YEAR OLD RONNIE FETTEROLF, 20 YEAR OLD MEGHAN KATTNER, ALL OF ST CLAIR, AND A 15 YEAR OLD. THE JEEPS THEY WERE RIDING IN ENDED UP IN THE DAM, OWNED BY THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY. CHARGES INCLUDE CRIMINAL MISCHIEF, CRIMINAL TRESPASS AND POSSIBLE OTHER COUNTS, DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF DAMAGES. ONCE SUBMERGED, THE VEHICLES BEGAN TO LEAK OIL. NO ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGES WERE REPORTED.


REWARD OFFERED IN CRESSONA FIRES
A $25-THOUSAND DOLLAR REWARD IS BEING OFFERED FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF PERSONS WHO SET TWO FIRES AT BUSINESSES IN CRESSONA. THAT WORD COMES FROM THE OWNERS OF CRESSONA TEXTILE WASTE. A MASSIVE FIRE DESTROYED THEIR MAIN FACILITY IN THE BOROUGH FOUR YEARS AGO, AND A SECOND BUILDING WENT UP IN FLAMES LAST MONTH, CAUSING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE.


VEHICLE SET ON FIRE
AN UNATTENDED FORD EXPLORER WAS SET ON FIRE YESTERDAY IN EAST UNION TOWNSHIP. STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING WHAT HAPPENED TO THE VEHICLE IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON TOWNSHIP ROUTE 812. NO ONE WAS IN THE VICINITY AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REGISTERED TO SOMEONE IN HAZLETON.


MAN HEADED TO PRISON FOR ASSAULTING A TEENAGER
A SHENANDOAH MAN IS HEADED TO STATE PRISON, CONVICTED OF ASSAULTING A 16 YEAR OLD GIRL. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS 27 YEAR OLD JUSTIN LINDENMUTH WAS FOUND GUILTY OF INDECENT ASSAULT AND CORRUPTION OF MINORS FOR ASSAULTING THE GIRL LAST JULY AS SHE LIE UNCONSCIOUS. IN ADDITION OF THE SENTENCE, UP TO FOUR YEARS IN THE STATE LOCKUP, LINDENMUTH FACES 10 YEARS OF SANCTIONS UNDER MEGAN'S LAW.


VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT
MAYOR GARY HESS OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH A CLEAN UP DAY ON THE ISLAND THIS SUNDAY. HESS SAYS THAT BRUSH CUTTING AND DEBRIS CLEANUP WILL TAKEN PLACE BEGINNING AT NOON SUNDAY. THE ISLAND COMMISSION ARE SEEKING ADULTS WHO KNOW HOW TO USE CHAIN SAWS, AND YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN AS WELL. THE LOWER PART OF THE ISLAND IS NOW READY FOR T-BALL, FLAG FOOTBALL AND SOCCER PROGRAMS. FOOD AND REFRESHMENTS WILL BE PROVIDED TO VOLUNTEERS. TO REGISTER, CALL SCHUYLKILL HAVEN BOROUGH HALL AT 385-2841.

TAMAQUA MAN GETS NAILED FOR DUI TWICE WITHIN HOURS
A TAMAQUA MAN GETS CHARGED WITH D-U-I FOR THE SECOND TIME IN HOURS AFTER TAKING HIS CAR FROM AN IMPOUND LOT. TROOPERS SAY 18 YEAR OLD SETH MELLOR HAD HIS CAR IMPOUNDED AFTER BEING PULLED OVER AND FOUND TO BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE AROUND 9PM MONDAY NIGHT. HE LATER WENT TO HOPE'S TOWING IMPOUND LOT AND DROVE HIS CAR THROUGH A FENCE TO GET IT OUT OF THE LOT. HE CRASHED THE CAR INTO A FENCE ALONG GROUSE RIDGE ROAD AND CONTINUED ON BEFORE BEING STOPPED BY WEST PENN TOWNSHIP POLICE ALONG WILDCAT ROAD WHEN THEY TOOK HIM INTO CUSTODY. MELLOR IS JAILED IN LIEU OF $50-THOUSAND CASH BAIL ON A HOST OF CHARGES INCLUDING D-U-I.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THE SON OF VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN REMAINS UNDER OBSERVATION IN A PHILADELPHIA HOSPITAL FOLLOWING A MILD STROKE. DELAWARE ATTORNEY GENERAL BEAU BIDEN WAS VISITED BY HIS FATHER LAST NIGHT. THE VICE PRESIDENT GAVE A THUMBS UP WHILE LEAVING THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL.


JOHNSTOWN, PA. (AP) - DEMOCRATS HAVE CALLED ON FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON TO CAMPAIGN IN A SPECIAL ELECTION IN THE FORMER WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE DISTRICT OF LATE CONGRESSMAN JOHN MURTHA. DEMOCRAT MARK CRITZ'S CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCED THAT CLINTON WILL APPEAR SUNDAY WITH CRITZ AT A GET OUT-THE-VOTE RALLY IN JOHNSTOWN.


EASTON, PA. (AP) - A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT HAS RULED THE CITY OF EASTON AND NOT ITS INSURANCE COMPANY MUST PAY A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR SETTLEMENT WITH THE WIDOW OF A POLICE OFFICER WHO ACCIDENTALLY SHOT
BY ANOTHER OFFICER INSIDE POLICE HEADQUARTERS. EASTON EARLIER THIS
YEAR BORROWED ABOUT $3 MILLION FROM ITSELF TO MAKE A SCHEDULED
PAYMENT.


STATE COLLEGE, PA. (AP) - PENN STATE IS GOING GREEN FOR GRADUATION THIS YEAR. STUDENTS WILL STILL BE WEARING PENN STATE'S FAMILIAR DARK BLUE, BUT THE GOWNS WILL BE MADE OF FABRIC FROM RENEWABLE, MANAGED FORESTS. THE MAIN UNIVERSITY PARK CAMPUS IN STATE COLLEGE HOLDS COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES THIS WEEKEND.



SEMINOLE, OKLA. (AP) - TODAY COULD BE DEJA VU FOR RESIDENTS IN THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. TWO DAYS AFTER A DEADLY TORNADO OUTBREAK THAT
KILLED TWO PEOPLE, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS A NEW STORM
SYSTEM COULD BRING MORE THUNDERSTORMS, HEAVY RAIN AND POSSIBLY EVEN
TORNADOES. RESIDENTS ARE STILL PICKING THROUGH WHAT REMAINS OF
THEIR BELONGINGS AFTER MONDAY'S WEATHER.


ON THE GULF OF MEXICO (AP) - ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT BLAME TO ONE ANOTHER BY THE COMPANIES INVOLVED IN THE DRILLING PROCESS AT A RUPTURED GULF OF MEXICO OIL WELL HAVE DRAWN THE IRE OF LAWMAKERS. SENATORS AT TWO HEARINGS YESTERDAY CHASTISED EXECUTIVES AND DEMANDED EXPLANATIONS FOR "A CASCADE OF FAILURES." BP, MEANWHILE, IS LOWERING A SMALLER CONTAINMENT BOX ONTO THE WELLHEAD,


NEW YORK (AP) - POLICE IN NEW YORK HAVE CHARGED A WOMAN WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER AFTER SHE ALLEGEDLY THREW HER TODDLER INTO THE HUDSON RIVER AND JUMPED IN HERSELF. IN A DRAMATIC RESCUE, POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS SAVED BOTH MOTHER AND CHILD. THE MOTHER, DEVI SILVIA, IS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND IN CUSTODY. THE CHILD WAS IN SERIOUS CONDITION.


PHOENIX (AP) - ARIZONA GOV. JAN BREWER HAS SIGNED A BILL PROHIBITING CLASSES THAT ADVOCATE ETHNIC SOLIDARITY, THAT ARE DESIGNED PRIMARILY FOR STUDENTS OF A PARTICULAR RACE OR THAT PROMOTE RESENTMENT. THE BILL TARGETS THE TUCSON SCHOOL DISTRICT'S MEXICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BEEN CRITICIZED BY THE STATE SCHOOL CHIEF. A U.N. PANEL HAS CONDEMNED THE BILL.



NEW YORK (AP) - THE NATION'S LARGEST DRUGSTORE CHAIN IS ABOUT TO OFFER GENETIC TESTING KITS TO CUSTOMERS. SAMPLES TAKEN USING THE SALIVA SWAB KITS CAN THEN BE SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER AND VARIOUS TESTS CAN BE ORDERED ONLINE. TESTS CAN BE USED TO DETERMINE PREDISPOSITION FOR SOME DISEASES AND RESPONSE TO COMMON DRUGS.