TODAY'S NEWS - MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010

LOCAL NEWS

COUNTY SCHOOLS RESIST ASKING PARENTS TO BUY SCHOOL SUPPLIES

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE RESISTING THE URGE TO ASK PARENTS TO PURCHASE SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. THOUGH BUDGETS ACROSS THE NATION HAVE COME IN LOWER THAN EXPECTED, THE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM AND OTHER LARGE DISTRICTS OUTSIDE THE COUNTY HAVE NOT TAKEN ON THIS NATIONAL TREND. PARENTS GETTING THEIR CHILD READY FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR REGULARLY PURCHASES PENCILS, NOTEBOOKS, BOOK BAGS AND CLOTHES. BUT HOW ABOUT DRY-ERASE MARKERS, COPY PAPER, DEODORANT AND TOILET PAPER? THE LISTS BEING ASKED BY SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTY ARE GOING BEYOND NORMAL SCHOOL ESSENTIALS. TEACHERS HAVE ALWAYS FILLED IN THE GAP BETWEEN LOW SCHOOL BUDGETS AND THEIR STUDENT’S NEEDS. THEY OFTEN USE THEIR OWN MONEY TO PURCHASE THE SUPPLIES THEY ARE LACKING IN THEIR CLASS ROOM. EXPOSURES TO THESE SCHOOL SUPPLY CHANGES ARE LOW IN THE STATE, AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAVE ARGALL ATTRIBUTES IT THE TO THE COMMONWEALTH’S CONTINUED FOCUS ON EDUCATION.

ORWIGSBURG’S FIRE COMPANY HOSTS 4TH ANNUAL CAR SHOW

IT WAS A RAIN OR SHINE EVENT AS CAR ENTHUSIASTS CAME OUT FOR THE 4TH ANNUAL CAR SHOW HOSTED BY ORWIGSBURG’S FIRE COMPANY. THIS SHOW ISN’T JUST FOR CLASSIC CAR OWNERS AND FANS. A WIDE ARRAY OF VEHICLES WERE ON SHOW DURING YESTERDAY’S RAINY MORNING. AMONG THEM WERE A 1952 RED CHEVEROLET TWO-DOOR HARD TOP, 1950 FOREST GREEN FOUR-DOOR CUSTOM FORD, 2005 RED FIRE METALLIC MUSTANG GT 300 5-SP, AND A 1992 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY MINIVAN THAT RUNS EXCLUSIVELY ON METHANE AND WATER. MAX’S CLASSIC CARS AND SCHAEFFER HARLEY-DAVIDSON ARE THE SHOW’S CORPORATE SPONSORS. IN ADDITION TO THE CARS, ORWIGSBURG’S FIRE COMPANY ALSO EDUCATED PEOPLE ON FIRE PREVENTION AT YESTERDAY’S EVENT.

SEARCH WARRENTS EXECUTED FOR 3 MEN IN CONNECTION WITH SUMMER HILL ROAD THEFT.

THREE SEARCH WARRANTS WERE ISSUED FOR NUMEROUS LOCATIONS IN BERKS COUNTY OVER THE WEEKEND IN CONNECTION WITH A BURGLARY IN SOUTH MANHEIM TOWNSHIP. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED EARLIER THIS MONTH AT 1637 SUMMER HILL ROAD. THE SEARCH WARRANTS ALLOWED OFFICIALS TO SEIZE THE ITEMS THAT WERE STOLEN DURING THE AUGUST 12 THE BURGLARY. ONE MAN WAS PLACED UNDER ARREST AT THIS RESIDENCE AFTER HIDING IN A CLOSET. HE WAS ALSO CHARGES WITH POSSESSING 2 BAGS OF COCAINE. THE OTHER SUSPECTS WERE ALSO ARRESTED AT THEIR RESIDENCES, CHARGES ARE PENDING AND THE INVESTIGATION IS STILL ONGOING.


LOCAL ARTISTS BOND TOGETHER TO RAISE MONEY FOR RINGTOWN TEEN NEEDING A LUNG TRANSPLANT

LOCAL COUNTY ARTISTS GATHERED TOGETHER AT HELFER’S GOOD EATS IN SHENANDOAH YESTERDAY TO AUCTION OFF THEIR WORK. THE NEW LUNGS FOR BRITTANY ART SHOW AND AUCTION WAS HELD FOR A YOUNG RINGTOWN TEEN IN NEED OF A DOUBLE LUNG TRANSPLANT. MORE THAN 120 WERE DONATED IN SUPPORT OF THE CAUSE. THEY INCLUDED PAINTINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS AND VINTAGE HAND-PAINTED CHINA. THE FUNDS RAISED FOR THE 19 YEAR OLD BRITTANY ZELINSKY WILL JOIN THAT OF 2 OTHER BENEFITS FOR HER THIS SUMMER. ONE WAS HELD AT THUNDER ROAD AND THE OTHER WAS A BENEFIT DINNER AT THE RINGTOWN FIRE COMPANY. ZELINSKY GRADUATED FROM NORTH SCHUYLKILL HIGH SCHOOL AND PLANS TO ATTEND MCCANN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY THIS FALL. HOWEVER SHE WAS ADMITTED TO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL A FEW DAYS BEFORE SUNDAY’S FUNDRAISER AFTER RETAINING EXCESS FLUID.


STATE NEWS

EASTON, PA. (AP) - PROSECUTORS IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAY THEY
PLAN TO USE A MAN'S GUILTY PLEA TO SLASHING A FELLOW PRISON INMATE
AS AN ARGUMENT THAT HE SHOULD BE EXECUTED IF CONVICTED OF KILLING A
3-YEAR-OLD BOY. THE EXPRESS-TIMES REPORTS NORTHAMPTON COUNTY
PROSECUTORS HAVE FILED A LIST OF AGGRAVATED CIRCUMSTANCES SEEKING
THE DEATH PENALTY FOR EUGENIO TORRES.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - LAWMAKERS, ADVOCATES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS IN PENNSYLVANIA ARE DEBATING WHETHER JUDGES OR JURIES
SHOULD DECIDE WHEN CRIMINALS LACK THE MENTAL CAPACITY TO BE LEGALLY
EXECUTED. THE HARRISBURG PATRIOT-NEWS REPORTS THE STATE HOUSE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE LAST WEEK CONSIDERED A SENATE-APPROVED BILL
THAT WOULD LET JUDGES DECIDE THE ISSUE BEFORE A TRIAL.

UNIONTOWN, PA. (AP) - DEFENSE CONTRACTOR BAE SYSTEMS PLANS TO
LAY OFF 124 WORKERS - HALF OF THE WORK FORCE - AT ITS WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA PLANT BEGINNING IN MID-OCTOBER. THE PITTSBURGH
TRIBUNE-REVIEW REPORTS THE COMPANY IS ATTRIBUTING THE FAYETTE
COUNTY LAYOFFS TO A DECLINE IN MILITARY SPENDING.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A CANDY DISTRIBUTOR BASED IN PHILADELPHIA
SINCE THE CIVIL WAR HAS MOVED TO NEW JERSEY. CASANI CANDY HAS BEEN
LOCATED IN NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA SINCE 2001, AFTER SPENDING A
CENTURY IN OLD CITY. BUT THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER REPORTS IT WILL
NOW BE LOCATED IN PENNSAUKEN, NEW JERSEY.


NATIONAL NEWS

GULF OIL SPILL CLAIMS
GULF CLAIMS FACILITY BEGINS OPERATING TODAY

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - THE NEW CLAIMS FACILITY FOR DAMAGES FROM THE
GULF OIL SPILL BEGINS OPERATIONS TODAY AND THE MAN WHO WILL RUN IT
SAYS PAYOUTS WILL BE MORE GENEROUS THAN FROM ANY COURT.
KEN FEINBERG, THE ADMINISTRATOR FOR CLAIMS, SAID SUNDAY IT WAS
HIS IDEA, NOT BP'S, TO REQUIRE THAT ANYONE WHO RECEIVES A FINAL
SETTLEMENT FROM THE $20 BILLION FUND GIVE UP THE RIGHT TO SUE.
FEINBERG ALSO RAN THE GOVERNMENT COMPENSATION FUND CREATED AFTER
THE 9/11 ATTACKS, AND THERE WAS A SIMILAR NO-SUE PROVISION.
HE SAYS YEARS OF COURT BATTLES AREN'T IN ANYONE'S BEST INTERESTS
AND THAT "IF I DON'T FIND YOU ELIGIBLE, NO COURT WILL FIND YOU
ELIGIBLE."
HUNDREDS OF LAWSUITS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FILED BY SPILL VICTIMS.

GRIM SLEEPER KILLINGS
ARRAIGNMENT TODAY IN 'GRIM SLEEPER' KILLINGS

LOS ANGELES (AP) - THE MAN CHARGED IN WHAT'S BECOME KNOWN AS THE
"GRIM SLEEPER" KILLINGS IS SCHEDULED FOR ARRAIGNMENT TODAY IN
CALIFORNIA.
THE SLAYINGS OCCURRED FROM 1985 TO 1988, AND AGAIN FROM 2002 TO
2007. THE 14-YEAR PAUSE LED TO THE KILLER'S NICKNAME OF THE "GRIM
SLEEPER."
LONNIE FRANKLIN JR. IS SUSPECTED OF THE SLAYINGS OF 10 WOMEN.
COURT RECORDS SHOW LOS ANGELES POLICE HAVE SEIZED HUNDREDS OF
ITEMS FROM FRANKLIN'S HOME AND VEHICLES INCLUDING GUNS, AMMUNITION
AND HANDCUFFS.
POLICE SAID LAST MONTH THAT NONE OF THE ITEMS HAVE TIED FRANKLIN
TO THE KILLINGS, BUT DNA AND BALLISTIC TESTS CONTINUE.
HE WAS ARRESTED IN JULY AFTER AUTHORITIES SAID DNA EVIDENCE
LINKED THE MECHANIC TO THE SERIES OF KILLINGS.

KATRINA-DISPLACED KIDS
KIDS DISPLACED BY KATRINA LAG 5 YEARS LATER

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A NEW STUDY FINDS THAT CHILDREN WHO LIVED IN
EMERGENCY TRAILER PARKS OR HOTELS FOR LONG PERIODS AFTER HURRICANE
KATRINA ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO HAVE SERIOUS EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS.
IN A REPORT BEING RELEASED MONDAY, RESEARCHER IRWIN REDLENER
SAYS AT LEAST 20,000 OF THOSE CHILDREN STILL HAVE SERIOUS EMOTIONAL
DISORDERS OR BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS, OR DON'T HAVE A PERMANENT HOME.
HE SAYS THEY'RE 4.5 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE SERIOUS EMOTIONAL
DISORDERS THAN CHILDREN FROM SIMILAR FAMILIES IN A NATIONAL STUDY
IN 2004.
PSYCHOLOGIST JOY OSOFSKY HAS WORKED WITH CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS IN
THREE PARISHES HIT HARD BY THE STORM. SHE SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO
NOTE THAT CHILDREN IN GENERAL ARE MUCH MORE RESILIENT THAN THOSE
FROM THE EXTREMELY POOR FAMILIES REDLENER IS STUDYING.

VIRGINIA SHOOTINGS
3 DEAD, 4 WOUNDED IN SHOOTOUT IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA

LOUISA, VA. (AP) - POLICE SAY THREE PEOPLE ARE DEAD AND FOUR
OTHERS WOUNDED AFTER A MAN OPENED FIRE AT A RURAL NEIGHBORHOOD IN
CENTRAL VIRGINIA.
THE GUNMAN WAS AMONG THOSE KILLED SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
LOUISA COUNTY SHERIFF'S MAJ. DONNIE LOWE SAID THE GUNMAN BEGAN
SHOOTING AFTER A DISPUTE OVER PROPERTY AND BELONGINGS OUTSIDE OF
THE TOWN OF LOUISA. TWO MEN WERE KILLED AND FOUR OTHER PEOPLE
WOUNDED. ONE HAS LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES.
LOWE SAID THE GUNMAN AND HIS DOG WERE THEN KILLED IN A SHOOTOUT
WITH POLICE. POLICE SAID THE MAN HAD UNLEASHED THE PIT BULL ON
OFFICERS.

PHILIPPINES-BUS HOSTAGES
EX-POLICEMAN IN PHILIPPINES HOLDS TOURISTS HOSTAGE

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES SAY A
DISMISSED POLICEMAN HOLDING HOSTAGES ON A BUS IN MANILA HAS
RELEASED SEVERAL HOSTAGES, INCLUDING THREE CHILDREN.
THE FORMER OFFICER, ARMED WITH AN AUTOMATIC RIFLE SEIZED A BUS
IN THE PHILIPPINE CAPITAL MONDAY WITH 24 PASSENGERS, MOST OF THEM
HONG KONG TOURISTS. HE SAYS HE WANTS HIS JOB BACK.
HIS BROTHER SAYS THE MAN FEELS HE WAS WRONGLY FIRED IN 2008.
POLICE SHARPSHOOTERS TOOK POSITIONS AROUND THE WHITE-BLUE-RED
BUS, WHICH WAS PARKED NEAR A DOWNTOWN MANILA PARK.
NEGOTIATIONS ARE TAKING PLACE TO FREE THE REMAINING HOSTAGES.

AFGHANISTAN
NEW: NATO: BOMBS KILL 2 FOREIGN TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - NATO SAYS ROADSIDE BOMBS HAVE KILLED
TWO MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FORCE IN AFGHANISTAN,
INCLUDING ONE AMERICAN.
THE ATTACKS MONDAY CAME IN THE NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY,
NATO SAID. NO OTHER INFORMATION WAS RELEASED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
STANDARD PROCEDURE.
THE DEATHS BRING THE NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL TROOPS KILLED IN
AFGHANISTAN THIS MONTH TO 44, INCLUDING 29 AMERICANS, ACCORDING TO
A COUNT BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. SIXTY-SIX AMERICAN TROOPS WERE
KILLED IN JULY, MAKING IT THE DEADLIEST MONTH FOR U.S. FORCES IN
AFGHANISTAN SINCE THE 2001 INVASION.
MONDAY'S CASUALTIES FOLLOW THE DEATHS SUNDAY OF FOUR U.S. TROOPS
AMID FIERCE FIGHTING IN EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN.

PAKISTAN-FLOODS
FLOOD DEFENSES STRENGTHENED IN PAKISTAN

SUKKUR, PAKISTAN (AP) - AUTHORITIES ARE STRENGTHENING
EMBANKMENTS ALONG THE INDUS RIVER TO PROTECT YET ANOTHER CITY FROM
ITS RISING WATER.
FLOODWATERS ARE MOVING SLOWLY SOUTH AFTER LEAVING THOUSANDS OF
SQUARE MILES OF DESTRUCTION IN THEIR WAKE.
THE DISASTER HAS LEFT AROUND SIX MILLION PEOPLE HOMELESS FROM
THE MOUNTAINOUS NORTH TO THE PLAINS IN THE SOUTH, WHERE THE FLOODS
ARE EXPECTED TO DRAIN INTO THE ARABIAN SEA IN THE COMING DAYS AND
WEEKS.
THE LATEST TOWN UNDER THREAT IS SHADAD KOT IN SOUTHERN SINDH
PROVINCE.
LOCAL CHARITIES, THE PAKISTANI ARMY AND INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES
ARE PROVIDING FOOD, WATER, MEDICINE AND SHELTER TO THE DISPLACED,
BUT MILLIONS HAVE RECEIVED LITTLE OR HELP. AID OFFICIALS WARN THAT
WATERBORNE DISEASES LIKE CHOLERA POSE A REAL THREAT.
AID FLIGHTS FROM AUSTRALIA AND GERMANY WERE AMONG THE FIRST TO
HEAD TO PAKISTAN.

KOREAS-TENSION
OFFICIAL: SEOUL NOT CONSIDERING FOOD AID TO NKOREA

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - AN OFFICIAL WITH SOUTH KOREA'S
UNIFICATION MINISTRY SAYS THERE ARE NO PLANS TO RESUME FOOD AID TO
NORTH KOREA.
THE STATEMENT COMES IN RESPONSE TO THE RULING PARTY CHIEF WHO
QUESTIONED WHETHER THE ASSISTANCE SHOULD RESTART BECAUSE OF RECENT
FLOODING IN THE IMPOVERISHED NORTH.
FOR A DECADE, SOUTH KOREA WAS A MAJOR DONOR OF FOOD TO THE
NORTH, BEFORE PRESIDENT LEE MYUNG-BAK'S CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT
HALTED UNCONDITIONAL ASSISTANCE IN EARLY 2008. LEE'S GOVERNMENT
ALSO CUT NEARLY ALL TRADE WITH NORTH KOREA AFTER MARCH'S DEADLY
SINKING OF A SOUTH KOREAN WARSHIP BLAMED ON PYONGYANG.
THE NORTH'S ECONOMY IS IN SHAMBLES AND THE COUNTRY HAS RELIED ON
OUTSIDE FOOD AID TO FEED MUCH OF ITS 24 MILLION PEOPLE. THE NORTH'S
CHRONIC FOOD SHORTAGE COULD WORSEN AFTER FLOODING FROM AN
OVERFLOWING RIVER NEAR A NORTHWESTERN CITY.

CHILE-MINE COLLAPSE
JOY IN CHILE: 33 MINERS TRAPPED 17 DAYS ARE ALIVE

SANTIAGO, CHILE (AP) - CHILEANS ARE EUPHORIC AFTER LEARNING THAT
ALL 33 WORKERS TRAPPED IN A COLLAPSED MINE FOR 17 DAYS ARE ALIVE
AND WELL.
PRESIDENT SEBASTIAN PINERA SAYS "TODAY ALL OF CHILE IS CRYING
WITH EXCITEMENT AND JOY."
AUTHORITIES AND RELATIVES OF THE MINERS HUGGED, CLIMBED A NEARBY
HILL, PLANTED 33 FLAGS AND SANG THE NATIONAL ANTHEM SUNDAY AFTER A
PROBE SENT SOME 2,000 FEET DEEP INTO THE MINE CAME BACK WITH A NOTE
SAYING "ALL 33 OF US ARE FINE IN THE SHELTER."
ONE OF THE TRAPPED MINERS, MARIO GOMEZ, WROTE "I AM OK THANKS
TO GOD. I HOPE TO GET OUT SOON." BUT RESCUERS SAY IT COULD TAKE
FOUR MONTHS. THEY HAVE TO DRILL A TUNNEL WIDE ENOUGH TO GET THE
MINERS OUT.
CHILE HAS SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST ADVANCED MINING OPERATIONS.
BUT BOTH THE COMPANY THAT OWNS THE MINE AND THE NATIONAL MINING
SERVICE HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED FOR ALLEGEDLY FAILING TO COMPLY WITH
REGULATIONS.
AMONG HIS EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH AND LOVE FOR HIS FAMILY, GOMEZ
CRITICIZED HIS EMPLOYER IN THE NOTE SAYING "THIS COMPANY HAS TO
MODERNIZE."

UTAH WIND STORM
HIGH WINDS LEAVE 12,000 UTAH HOMES WITHOUT POWER

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - WIND GUSTS OF MORE THAN 75 MPH LEFT ABOUT
12,000 HOMES AND BUSINESS WITHOUT POWER ACROSS NORTHERN UTAH'S
WASATCH FRONT LATE SUNDAY.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER SPOKESMAN DAVE ESKELSEN SAYS POWER WAS
BEING RETURNED TO SOME LOCATIONS, BUT SOME CUSTOMERS COULD BE
WITHOUT ELECTRICITY OVERNIGHT. OUTAGES WERE REPORTED IN SALT LAKE
CITY, RIVERDALE AND BOUNTIFUL.
ESKELSEN SAYS POWER LINES WERE DOWN IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS,
INCLUDING ACROSS INTERSTATE 80, CLOSING TRAFFIC LANES IN BOTH
DIRECTIONS FOR HOURS.
THE SALT LAKE CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SUPERINTENDENT TOLD THE
SALT LAKE TRIBUNE THE STORM REROUTED 10 FLIGHTS AND DAMAGED AN
AIRPORT HANGAR AND SEVERAL MOTORCYCLES IN A PARKING LOT.

TAINTED EGGS
COMPANY INVOLVED IN EGG RECALL DEFENDS SAFETY RECORD

WASHINGTON (AP) - A SPOKESWOMAN FOR ONE OF TWO IOWA FARMS
INVOLVED IN A MASSIVE EGG RECALL SAYS THE FIRM IS READY TO
COOPERATE WITH FEDERAL OFFICIALS CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION.
IN A STATEMENT, HINDA MITCHELL OF WRIGHT COUNTY EGG SAID THAT
ITS MANAGEMENT HAS ADDRESSED FOOD SAFETY ISSUES "SWIFTLY AND
EFFECTIVELY" WHENEVER THEY HAVE BEEN RAISED IN THE PAST.
MITCHELL ALSO SAID THAT WRIGHT COUNTY EGG, IN SUCH
CIRCUMSTANCES, HAS WORKED WITH "RECOGNIZED OUTSIDE EXPERTS" TO
IDENTIFY AND CORRECT OPERATIONAL ISSUES. SHE SAID THE COMPANY IS
APPROACHING ITS WORK WITH THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION "IN THE
SAME FORTHRIGHT MANNER."
FDA INVESTIGATORS HAVE YET TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE
SALMONELLA OUTBREAKS, BUT IT COULD TAKE MONTHS BECAUSE THE SOURCE
IS HARD TO FIND.