Today's News-Tuesday, June 15, 2010

DRUG BUST IN POTTSVILLE
More than $3-thousand-dollars worth of marijuana was seized recently by Pottsville City police. 48 year old Lafayette Johnson was taken into custody at Third and West Race Streets, with officers finding pot, a cell phone and cash from his drug trade. A search of Johnson's home uncovered a safe containing the drug and packaging materials. The investigation continues as to where Johnson got his supply of drugs from. Johnson was arraigned on the drug counts and sent to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of bail.

WARRANT ISSUED
State police at Hamburg are looking for a Berks County man who allegedly stole his grandmother's ATM card and used it to obtain money. Reports say that 75 year old Mae Himmelberger, Port Clinton, noticed her debit card was missing and called Wachovia Bank. Bank personnel said two withdawals were made, and the suspect in question is her grandson, 27 year old John David Adams. He had been living with her at the time of the theft. A warrant is outstanding for theft and related charges against Adams, whose whereabouts are unknown.

FORMER ADMINISTRATOR ENTERS PLEA
The former adminstrator of Pinebrook Personal Care Center was sentenced in Schuylkill County Court Monday. The Republican Herald reports 57 year old Sharon Haley pleaded guilty on five counts of theft for stealing more than $61-thousand-dollars from various accounts and cashed checks intended for the facility over a year and a half period of time. Five other counts against Haley were dropped. Haley will be required to make restitution for the stolen money, plus serve four years on probation.

DOGS REPORTED STOLEN
Schuylkill Haven state police are investigating the theft of dogs from Hillside SPCA. Sometime over the weekend, a pit bull and a rottweiler mix dog were taken from an outside kennel at the facility along Hillside Road. Anyone with leads should call 593-2000.

O NEGATIVE IN SHORT SUPPLY
Officials at the American Red Cross are reporting seriously low supplies of O Negative blood. The Northeast Region, which includes Schuylkill County, is extending blood drive hours and reaching out to the community to try and build up supplies. O Negative is widely used because it can be transfused to patients with any blood type, especially in emergency situations. The shortage of O Negative blood is not uncommon in the summer months when donor numbers are down. If you can make a blood donation, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS, to set an appointment to give the gift of life.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Chocolate maker Hershey says it will spend $250 million to $300 million modernizing some facilities in its home town to cut its annual costs by $80 million a year. Union members have paved the way for the deal this month by approving a contract that will lead to hundreds of layoffs.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - A Penn State study which shines a positive light on the economic potential of natural gas drilling is being derided by skeptics because the research was funded by an industry group. The university says the Marcellus Shale Coalition will pay more than $50,000 for the study released last month.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - An Allentown woman says she drove her son and another man to a home where they planned to rob a man who ended up shot to death almost two years ago. The Allentown Morning Call reports Terrie Collopy testified yesterday in a hearing in the death of David Walterick. Collopy, her son Bobby Riddick and Marcus Breeland face murder and other charges.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A nonprofit group says that up to 90 percent of young Philadelphians are ineligible for military service because of criminal records, obesity or lack of education.
Pennsylvania-based says 1 million Pennsylvanians are ineligible for the same reasons.

THEODORE, Ala. (AP) - President Obama will make his first speech to the nation from the Oval Office today. It's set for 8-p.m. Eastern. Obama will be returning earlier in the day from a two-day trip to the Gulf, where he predicted the Gulf Coast will be restored. But he conceded it won't happen overnight.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Documents released by Congress show BP took measures to cut costs in the weeks before a rig blew up, causing the oil giant's blown-out well to spew millions of gallons of crude into the Gulf of Mexico. A BP engineer wrote just six days before the deadly explosion that the Deepwater Horizon rig was a "nightmare well."

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (AP) - Striking pilots at Spirit Airlines resume talks with the company today but say they won't go back to work until there's a deal. The National Mediation Board invited both sides to resume talks. The meeting in Florida could signal a potential thaw in the dispute over wages.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The trial is winding down for a Kansas doctor and his wife accused of 34 counts, including fraud, money-laundering and unlawfully prescribing painkillers. Closing
arguments are planned today in federal court in Wichita. Prosecutors say the couple's former clinic has been linked to 68 overdose deaths. The defense says the couple tried to help people
with chronic pain.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) - An American who claims to have been on a mission to kill Osama bin Laden has been detained in northern Pakistan. Police say 52-year-old Gary Faulkner was armed with a pistol, a dagger and a sword and was carrying night vision equipment. Police say the man intended to cross into Afghanistan.