Today's News-Thursday, June 17, 2010

SHENANDOAH SHOOTING
POTTSVILLE, Pa. (AP) - A man accused of shooting another to death in his Shenandoah home with the victim's children in the next room has been ordered to stand trial in county court. District Judge Anthony Kilker on Wednesday forwarded homicide and related charges against 30-year-old Julius Enoe of Reading to Schuylkill County Court. Police allege that Enoe and two other men forced their way into the Shenandoah home of 24-year-old Bruce Forker on March 16 and demanded money. Enoe's 29-year-old co-defendant, Damon Ennett, of Freeland,
waived his right to a preliminary hearing and testified that the defendant entered the residence with a gun and came out saying he had "hit" Forker. Charges against the two include criminal homicide, robbery, burglary, theft, aggravated assault and simple assault. Authorities say a third defendant, Jahmal Ollivirre is still awaiting extradition from New York.

BOIL ADVISORY
A water boil advisory is in effect for certain customers of the Pine Grove Water Authority. Service was shut off for repairs yesterday. Affected areas are South Tulpehocken Street from East Mill to the south end of Pine Grove. Also affected, the lower part of High Street to Walters Street, and Wood and Church Streets. The boil advisory remains in effect until further notice.

SIMPLE ASSAULT
Three adults were involved in a fight in Walker Township early Wednesday. State police say that two men and a woman got into the altercation in the village of New England. None of the participants have been identified as yet, but preliminary reports indicate that one man allegedly pointed a a hand gun at the other and that one was hit with a steel tool in the face. The woman also reportedly was assaulted. Troopers aren't sure if charges will be filed until the completion of the investigation.

BREAK IN IN PORTER TOWNSHIP
Schuylkill Haven state police are probing a burglary at a Porter Township home. The incident took place Tuesday afternoon at the home of Rachal Shucker on North Keystone Street. Someone broke into the property, knocking over two large shelving units and fled the scene with nothing apparently taken. The investigation continues.

MAN ALLEGEDLY SELLING REPTILES
State Fish and Boat Commission officials and police seached an Auburn man's home, after he allegedly was selling native reptiles illegally. Reports say that the man, who has not been identified, had items in his home on Market Street that indicated he was raising the protected native reptiles there. Police also found pot in the home. Charges are pending, and the investigation continues.

COMMISSIONERS
The Schuylkill County Commissioners and Prison Board met Wednesday. Sherry Marchefsky reports:

COMMISSIONERS 6.17.10

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Governor Ed Rendell says layoffs of teachers and state and local government employees will take place if the state doesn't get $850 million in budget help from the federal government. Rendell says the layoffs will begin next month if Congress doesn't approve additional subsidies helping states weather the recession and a severe downturn in tax collections.

BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) - A central Pennsylvania man is suing the state police over guidelines that forbid the use of hearing aids in the certification process for becoming a municipal police officer. Bill Furman wants the rule be changed so he has the chance to become eligible for certification. The state police oversees the process.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania's top environmental regulator is warning of "serious consequences" for the state's rapidly growing natural gas industry if companies are caught
sacrificing safety for profits. Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger tells a state Senate committee that the industry must improve its performance and stop well blowouts, gas migration and water pollution.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A group of Philadelphia high school students has advanced in the $10 million Progressive Auto X Prize competition for fuel-efficient cars. The West Philly Hybrid X Team is one of 111 teams that entered the international contest. Twenty-two remain, and West Philadelphia is the only high school to make the cut.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The chief executive officer of BP expects to tell Congress that he has been "personally devastated" by the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig and the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In testimony prepared for a House hearing later today, BP CEO Tony Hayward says he understands the anger Americans feel toward him and his company.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A new Associated Press-Gfk poll finds public support for President Barack Obama's health care law has risen to its highest point to date. But the poll does suggest that the nation remains divided over the new law, with 45 percent in favor and 42 percent opposed.

WILLIAMS, Ariz. (AP) - Calmer weather is forecast for today in northern Arizona, where a wind-whipped wildfire charred an estimated 1,000 acres yesterday. Less than a dozen residents were evacuated as a precaution, but there are some 50 homes in the area northeast of Williams. Officials with the Kaibab National Forest say there are no reports of injuries or lost structures.

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel says it will ease much of its land blockade on the Gaza Strip. The prime minister's office says Israeli leaders have decided to expand the number of products
allowed into Hamas-ruled Gaza, including desperately needed construction materials. Israel has been scrambling to find ways to ease the embargo following an international outcry over its deadly raid on a blockade-busting flotilla.

ISLAMABAD (AP) - Nearly three dozen Pakistani paramilitary troops are missing after hundreds of Islamist militants attacked a checkpoint along the Afghan border. Security officials blame the Afghan Taliban for the attack.