Today's News-Saturday, July 10, 2010

The 3rd Annual Coal Miner’s Heritage Festival is set for this Sunday July 11, from 10 AM to 5 PM, on the grounds of the No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum in Lansford, Carbon County. ‘This unique annual event is a celebration of coal region history, culture, crafts, ethnicity, art, food, music, and the environment’ according to Dale Freudenberger, coordinator of the event. The event has drawn about 5,000 visitors each year and is presented by the No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum. Admission to the festival is free. Underground tours of the No. 9 Coal Mine will be available throughout the day. Admission is charged for the coal mine and museum tour. The first 200 visitors to purchase tickets for any of the first five scheduled mine tours that morning will receive half price admission sponsored by the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.
　
A 21-year-old Mahanoy City man wanted for a July 2007 robbery and assault was among seven people taken into custody Friday morning during a warrant sweep. In the effort, coordinated by the Shenandoah police Fugitive Task Force and the state police Fugitive Task Force, officers took suspects into custody for reasons ranging from failure to appear in court to fugitive-from-justice warrants. As reported in the Republican and Herald, Manuel Reyes Dominguez was jailed after being picked up on a fugitive warrant in connection with the assault and robbery in the first block of West Centre Street in Mahanoy City on July 14, 2007. Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker arraigned Dominguez on charges of felony robbery, misdemeanor simple assault and summary offenses of retail theft and harassment. Dominguez was then taken to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post 10 percent of $25,000 bail set by Kilker. Shenandoah police Chief Joseph Hall said Dominguez was found in Mahanoy City on Friday morning and taken into custody without incident. Others taken into custody and brought before Kilker were: Michael Teaschenko of Shenandoah, arraigned on simple assault and harassment warrants. He was released on $25,000 unsecured bail. Jeifri Jojan Graciano-Suazo, John M. Tym, John R. Koszyk of Shenandoah, Lynn Britton of Barnesville. One man was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Bernadette J. Nahas for a theft in Frackville. Erik M. Klemow of Frackville, was wanted on charges of theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, terroristic threats, harassment and possession of a controlled substance. Klemow was also committed to prison. Shenandoah and state police task forces along with the U.S. Marshals office, state police from the Frackville station, Schuylkill County sheriff's deputies, Mahanoy City and West Mahanoy Township police officers and detectives from the Schuylkill County district attorney's office took part in the sweep. Several other people were picked up on bench warrants issued in Schuylkill County Court and taken directly to prison. Police said similar sweeps will be conducted on a regular basis and urge anyone with an outstanding warrant to surrender and have the matter resolved before another warrant sweep is launched.

The owner of a Girardville bar was charged by the state Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement for a liquor law violation from Nov. 29, 2009. According to information received from the Allentown District Office, Julia Carfrey, trading as "Top Cats," 112 W. Ogden St., violated the state liquor code by selling, furnishing and/or giving or permitting such sale, furnishing or giving alcoholic beverages to a visibly intoxicated female patron. Also, between April 2 and April 21, a Mahanoy City distributor was charged by the state Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement for liquor law violations on April 2 and April 21. According to the Allentown office, Patrick J. Sheehan, trading as Sheehan & Sons, 110-116 S. Main St., violated the state liquor code by issuing checks or drafts in payment for purchases of malt or brewed beverages when he had insufficient funds in, or credit with, the institution upon which payment is drawn. These charges will be brought before an administrative law judge. The penalty imposed could range from $50 to $5,000. In addition, the judge could suspend or revoke Carfrey's license based on the severity of the charge or mandate training regarding the requirements of being a licensee.

Already facing 25-50 years in state prison for possessing child pornography, Steward Steckley Jr. can count on spending a little more time behind bars after being sentenced Friday in Schuylkill County Court for violating Megan's Law. According to the Republican and Herald, Steckley refused to appear for the hearing at which Judge D. Michael Stine sentenced him to spend 18 to 36 months in a state correctional institution. Stine made the sentence, in which he also ordered the defendant to pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, consecutive to the sentence of 25 to 50 years handed down June 30 against Steckley by Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin on child pornography charges. Steckley pleaded guilty Dec. 11 to failure to comply with registration of sex offender requirements, which Pottsville police had charged him with committing in the city on Jan. 1, 2009. Police said Steckley failed to report that he had lost his job.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The National Weather Service estimates about two inches of rain fell in the State College area in one hour yesterday evening. Thunderstorms brought relief from the heat wave but also caused some flooding in the state. There were reports of streets and basements flooded in some areas around Pittsburgh.

DUBOIS, Pa. (AP) - It's going to cost more to attend Penn State. The trustees approved a tuition increase of 5.9 percent for freshmen and sophomores from Pennsylvania enrolled at the main campus in State College. That represents an $800 increase per year.

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett says some Pennsylvanians would rather collect unemployment checks than work. He made the comments yesterday to a Harrisburg radio station. Democratic candidate Dan Onorato says Corbett's comments are unfair to people out of work.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - Three family members have been sentenced in Luzerne County to prison for their roles in the robbery and beating death of an elderly man in Edwardsville. Andrea Bidding and her husband, Anthony, were each sentenced to 20 to 40 years. Her daughter, Erika Legg, will serve nine to 18 years.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says the country has a "solemn responsibility" to ensure that veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder get the help they need. In his weekly radio and online address, Obama discussed new regulations that will be announced Monday. They are intended to make it easier for veterans with PTSD to receive government benefits.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The gushing wellhead in the Gulf of Mexico is getting a new, tighter cap that the government's Gulf spill point man says could contain all the leaking oil by Monday. But retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen emphasizes the word "contain," saying he'll use the work "stop" when the well is plugged.

PORT FOURCHON, La. (AP) - Soldiers from the Louisiana National Guard are reinforcing and extending oil protection structures along the coasts of Grand Isle and Port Fourchon. The guard says the height of the wall will also be raised by roughly three feet to keep the tide from washing over it. The structures are meant to keep the oil out of marshes and near beaches, which are easier to clean.

LONDON (AP) - The master of the Cold War spy novel says he's puzzled by the 10 Russian agents involved in this week's spy swap. John le Carre says he can't comprehend what they they thought they were doing. In a commentary published in the British newspaper, The Guardian, le Carre writes that there was a time when spies were motivated bt the struggle between capitalism and communism, but no longer.

LONDON (AP) - Fashion model Naomi Campbell says she will testify at the war crimes trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor. Taylor is accused of supporting rebels in Sierra Leone's civil war in exchange for diamonds and other natural resources. Prosecutors want Campbell to testify about reports that Taylor gave her diamonds.