TODAY'S NEWS - THURSDAY AUGUST , 5 2010

LOCAL NEWS

DRUM COPRS INVADE COUNTY

THE SOUND OF DRUM CORPS MUSIC INVADES THE REGION THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND AS VISITING CORPS FROM AROUND THE NATION MAKE STOPOVERS AS THEY WIND UP THEIR SUMMER TOURS. IN SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, THE TROOPERS FROM CASPER,WY PRACTICE THROUGH THE MORNING AT THEIR ADOPTED HOME, AND WILL PRACTICE THROUGH THE WEEKEND, GIVING A FREE CONCERT SATURDAY NIGHT AT ROTARY FIELD AT 7PM. THE PIONEERS WILL PERFORM IN ST CLAIR ON SAT NIGHT AT 8PM AFTER COMPETING IN ALLENTOWN FRIDAY NIGHT. SANTA CLARA VANGUARD FROM CALIFORNIA WILL PRACTICE IN POTTSVILLE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY BEFORE COMPETING AT DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL IN ALLENTOWN ON SATURDAY. AND THE CAVALIERS WILL MAKE PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL THEIR HOME BASE ON FRIDAY FOR REHEARSALS. DONATIONS ARE STILL BEING ACCEPTED TO HELP DEFRAY THE COAST OF THE TROOPERS VISIT IN SCHUYLKILL HAVEN. THEY CAN BE MADE BY CONTACTING CAROL POST AT 640-1093. THESE CORPS HAVE MADE THE COUNTY THEIR HOME AWAY FROM HOME FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND ARE EXTREMELY GRACEFUL TO COUNTY RESIDENT FOR THEIR HOSPITALITY.


NO BOIL ADVISORY FOR BROKEN POTTSVILLE WATER MAIN

A WATER MAIN BREAK NEAR TUNNEL ROAD OUTSIDE POTTSVILLE CAUSED CLOUDY WATER TO FLOW THROUGH THE PIPES OF MOST OF THE CITY AREA. THE LINE BROKE WEDNESDAY MORNING AROUND 9AM. THE DISCOLORATION WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT “SCALING BUILT UP INSIDE THE PIPE IS SCUFFED AWAY DUE TO THE VELOCITY OF WATER SURGING THROUGH THE PIPE AFTER THE BREAK”, SAID PATRICK M. CAULFIELD, DIRECTOR OF THE SCHUYLKILL MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY. HE SAID, “THE AREA WHERE THE LINE WAS BROKEN IS A PLACE WHERE THERE IS A REDUNDANT LINE; MAKING IT EASIER TO QUICKLY TARGET THE PROBLEM AND MAKE SURE CUSTOMERS WERE NOT GREATLY AFFECTED”. A CONTRACTOR WORKING ON A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT WAS SAID TO HAVE BROKEN THE LINE.

PHONE SERVICE RESTORED

PHONE SERVICE HAS BEEN RESTORED TO THE REMAINING RESIDENTS IN THE HIGGINS AREA. THE LAST 2,000 FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CUSTOMERS WERE ABLE TO USE THEIR PHONE AROUND 10AM YESTERDAYS MORNING. THE LINES HAD BEEN DOWN SINCE MONDAY WHEN 2 BURGLARS CUT LINES THEY THOUGHT WERE FOR A SECURITY SYSTEM IN THE MIDWAY SUPERMARKET ON FOREST LANE. THE MEN, SAID TO BE IN THEIR EARLY 20’S, FORCED THEIR WAY INTO THE GROCERY STORE BY USING A CROW BAR. THEY WERE WEARING BLACK SHIRTS, BLUE JEANS, BLACK MASKS AND GLOVES AT THE TIME OF THE BREAK-IN. THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING, AS THEY ARE STILL AT LARGE. THE SUSPECTS MADE OFF WITH A PLETHORA OF NARCOTICS FROM THE PHARMACY DEPARTMENT.


GIRL STRUCK BY TRUCK IN NEWKIRK

A 6-YR-OLD GIRL IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A PICKUP TRUCK IN NEWKIRK YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. SHE WAS NOT WEARING A HELMET AND WAS RIDING HER BICYCLE ON OLD RT 209 NEAR LEHIGH STREET IN NEWKIRK. DANIEL FARBER, 30 OF TAMAQUA, COULD NOT STOP HIS CHEVROLET 2500 IN TIME, AND STRUCK THE CHILD, WHO WAS THEN THROWN INTO THE AIR ON IMPACT AND LANDED ABOUT 35 FEET AWAY. SHE WAS FLOWN BY HELICOPTER TO LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL IN ALLENTOWN. THE GIRL JUST GOT OUT OF HER BICYCLE TRAINING WHEELS AND WAS RIDING JUST OUTSIDE THE HOME OF HER GRANDFATHER IN THE SCHUYLKILL TOWNSHIP VILLAGE.

JUDGE DISMISSES CHARGES AGAINST GILBERTON COUNCILMAN


CHARGES WERE DISMISSED YESTERDAY AGAINST A GILBERTON COUNCILMAN ACCUSED OF VERBALLY ABUSING THE POLICE CHIEF AND MAYOR. ROBERT WAGNER, 50, OF 25 MAIN STREET WAS CHARGED ON 2 COUNTS OF HARASSMENT. HOWEVER, MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGE BERNADETTE J. NAHAS STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO WARRANT WHAT WAGNER AS CHARGED WITH, AND DROPPED THE CHARGES. THE COUNCILMAN WAS ARRESTED ON JULY 14 IN CONNECTION WITH HARASSING PHONE CALLS THE DAY BEFORE. GILBERTON MAYOR MARY LOU HANNON SAID WAGNER CALLED HER, YELLING AND CURSING. HE ALSO LEFT A MESSAGE FOR THE BOROUGH POLICE DEPARTMENT. WHEN CONTACTED YESTERDAY, WAGNER REFERRED ALL COMMENTS TO THE PHILADELPHIA OFFICE OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, WHO IS ACTING IN A SUPPORTIVE ROLE FOR HIS CASE.


STATE NEWS

YORK, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA HAVE
CHARGED A THIRD TEENAGER IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF A PITTSBURGH LAW
STUDENT. EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD JOSHUA EDMOUNDSON OF YORK IS CHARGED
WITH CRIMINAL HOMICIDE AND OTHER COUNTS IN THE DEATH OF JAMES
WALLMUTH OUTSIDE A DOWNTOWN YORK BAR. WALLMUTH LIVED IN THE AREA
BUT WAS A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH LAW SCHOOL.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A NORTH PHILADELPHIA WOMAN IS CHARGED WITH
STABBING A FATHER OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN TO DEATH WITH AN ICE PICK.
POLICE TELL THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER THAT MICHAEL HIGGINS WAS
FOUND UNRESPONSIVE IN HIS HOME EARLY YESTERDAY. LISA BROWN, ALSO
KNOWN AS LISA WILLIAMS, HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL HOMICIDE AND
POSSESSION OF A WEAPON.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS LOOKING FOR A CAUSE OF
THE EXPLOSION THAT KILLED TWO ZINC PLANT WORKERS WILL BE LOOKING AT
SIMILAR FATAL EXPLOSIONS OVERSEAS FOR ANSWERS. OFFICIALS WITH THE
U.S. CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD SAY THE JULY 22ND EXPLOSION AT THE
HORSEHEAD PLANT NEAR PITTSBURGH WAS SIMILAR TO EXPLOSIONS IN EUROPE
THAT USED THE SAME TECHNOLOGY AND KILLED 11 WORKERS.

SOMERSET, PA. (AP) - A TASK FORCE SET UP TO ESTABLISH A MEMORIAL
AT THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SITE OF THE CRASH OF FLIGHT 93 IS TO
DISBAND THIS WEEK, NOW THAT THE MEMORIAL IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. THE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SAYS THE TASK FORCE WILL DISBAND AFTER
SATURDAY'S MEETING WITH A FLIGHT 93 FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMISSION IN
SOMERSET.


NATIONAL NEWS

WAR CRIMES-NAOMI CAMPBELL
NEW: CAMBELL TESTIFIES SHE RECEIVED 'DIRTY ROCKS'

LEIDSCHENDAM, NETHERLANDS (AP) - MODEL NAOMI CAMPBELL HAS
TESTIFIED AT THE WAR CRIMES TRIAL OF FORMER LIBERIAN RULER CHARLES
TAYLOR THAT SHE RECEIVED "DIRTY ROCKS."
CAMPBELL WAS BEING QUESTIONED ABOUT CLAIMS MADE BY ACTRESS MIA
FARROW THAT TAYLOR GAVE THE MODEL AN UNCUT DIAMOND AFTER A DINNER
PARTY HOSTED BY NELSON MANDELA IN SOUTH AFRICA IN 1997.
PROSECUTORS SAY THAT'S EVIDENCE TAYLOR RECEIVED DIAMONDS FROM
SIERRA LEONE REBELS IN EXCHANGE FOR WEAPONS DURING THAT COUNTRY'S
1992-2002 CIVIL WAR.
THE BRITISH MODEL, WHO HAD FOUGHT TO AVOID TESTIFYING, ARRIVED
AT THE COURTHOUSE IN THE HAGUE ON THURSDAY SURROUNDED BY POLICE
ESCORTS. SHE DID NOT SPEAK TO REPORTERS OUTSIDE.

GULF OIL SPILL
BP TO BEGIN FORCING CEMENT DOWN WELL IN NEXT DAY

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - BP OFFICIALS SAY THEY PLAN TO BEGIN FORCING
CEMENT DOWN THE BLOWN-OUT GULF OIL WELL IN THE NEXT DAY.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME WEDNESDAY NIGHT SHORTLY AFTER THEIR PLAN
WAS APPROVED BY THE FEDERAL OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF THE OIL SPILL.
THE COMPANY PLANS TO SHOVE CEMENT DOWN FROM PIPES ATTACHED TO
SHIPS A MILE ABOVE THE SEA BEGINNING ON THURSDAY. EARLIER, CREWS
WERE ABLE TO FORCE DOWN THE OIL WITH MUD.
NATIONAL INCIDENT COMMANDER THAD ALLEN APPROVED THE PLAN, AS
LONG AS IT DOESN'T DELAY THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION OF DRILLING A RELIEF
WELL THAT WILL CUT OFF THE LEAKING WELL FAR BELOW THE SEA FLOOR.

MICHIGAN RIVER-OIL SPILL
CONGRESSMAN SAYS ENBRIDGE VIOLATED OIL SPILL RULES

TRAVERSE CITY, MICH. (AP) - A CONGRESSMAN SAYS THE COMPANY AT
THE CENTER OF AN OIL SPILL IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN WAITED TO REPORT
THE PIPELINE BREAK, VIOLATING FEDERAL RULES.
MICHIGAN DEMOCRAT MARK SCHAUER SAID WEDNESDAY THAT ENBRIDGE INC.
DID NOT FILE A REPORT ABOUT THE RELEASE UNTIL TWO HOURS AFTER THE
CANADIAN COMPANY STARTED LAYING BOOM MATERIAL TO CONTAIN THE OIL ON
JULY 26. FEDERAL RULES REQUIRE PIPELINE OPERATORS TO REPORT SPILLS
OF MORE THAN 5 GALLONS OF HAZARDOUS LIQUIDS "AT THE EARLIEST
PRACTICABLE MOMENT."
SCHAUER ALSO BELIEVES THE LEAK BEGAN THE NIGHT BEFORE.
ENBRIDGE SAYS IT WAS WELL WITHIN FEDERAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY HAS SAID THE LEAK SPEWED
MORE THAN 1 MILLION GALLONS INTO THE KALAMAZOO RIVER AND
TRIBUTARIES.

GAY MARRIAGE TRIAL
CELEBRATIONS AND VOWS TO CONTINUE FIGHTING FOLLOW GAY MARRIAGE
RULING

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A FEDERAL JUDGE'S DECISION TO OVERTURN
CALIFORNIA'S SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BAN HAS TOUCHED OFF COAST-TO-COAST
CELEBRATIONS AMONG GAY RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, WHILE PROPOSITION 8
PROPONENTS PLAN THEIR APPEAL.
THE LEAD PLAINTIFF IN THE CASE SAYS THE DECISION STRIKING DOWN
THE BAN AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL MAKES HER "INCREDIBLY PROUD" OF THE
COUNTRY. GAY COUPLES OUTSIDE THE SAN FRANCISCO COURTHOUSE ERUPTED
WITH CHEERS AFTER THE RULING. IN NEW YORK CITY, ABOUT 150 PEOPLE
GATHERED IN FRONT OF A MANHATTAN COURTHOUSE WHILE ORGANIZERS READ
PORTIONS OF THE RULING.
BUT ATTORNEY ANDREW PUGNO OF PROTECTMARRIAGE.COM, SAYS
OVERTURNING THE VOTER-BACKED INITIATIVE "SHORT-CIRCUITS THE
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS."
BACKERS SAY THEY'LL FILE AN IMMEDIATE APPEAL.
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, WHICH ACTIVELY
WORKED FOR PROPOSITION 8, SAYS IT REGRETS THE RULING.

DRUG WAR-MEXICO
MEXICO: CARTELS MOVE BEYOND DRUGS, SEEK DOMINATION

MEXICO CITY (AP) - MEXICO'S PRESIDENT SAYS THE COUNTRY'S DRUG
CARTELS ARE MOVING BEYOND THEIR USUAL STOCK-IN-TRADE TOWARD BEING
THE DE-FACTO GOVERNMENT IN AREAS THEY CONTROL.
SPEAKING AT AN ANTI-CRIME CONFERENCE, FELIPE CALDERON
(FAY-LEE'-PAY KAHL-DUH-ROHN') SAYS GANGS ARE IMPOSING FEES LIKE
TAXES IN TOWNS THEY DOMINATE, EXTORTING MONEY FROM BOTH LEGITIMATE
AND UNAUTHORIZED BUSINESSES.
HE SAYS THEIR ACTIVITY "DEFIES THE GOVERNMENT, AND EVEN SEEKS
TO REPLACE THE GOVERNMENT." CALDERON SAYS THE CARTELS WANT A
MONOPOLY BY FORCE OF ARMS AND WILL EVEN MAKE THEIR OWN LAWS.
CALDERON SAID CARTELS MAY EVEN BE TAKING MONEY FROM CHURCHES AND
THAT DRUGS ARE BECOMING LESS OF A FOCUS FOR THE GANGS, GIVING WAY
TO SIMPLY DOMINATING OTHERS.
CALDERON SAYS SUGGESTIONS HE LEAVE THE CARTELS ALONE IS AN
"UNACCEPTABLE OPTION."

AFGHANISTAN
SUICIDE BOMBER KILLS 7 AFGHAN POLICE IN NORTH

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - AFGHAN OFFICIALS SAY A SUICIDE CAR
BOMBER HAS STRUCK A CONVOY OF NATO TROOPS AND AFGHAN POLICE IN
NOTHERN AFGHANISTAN, KILLING SEVEN POLICE OFFICERS.
THE INTERIOR MINISTRY SAYS THE EARLY MORNING ATTACK WAS IN
KUNDUZ PROVINCE. BESIDES THE DEATHS, THE MINISTRY SAYS SIX POLICE
AND FIVE CIVILIANS WERE WOUNDED.
A SPOKESMAN FOR NATO FORCES SAYS THERE WERE NO NATO TROOPS
KILLED IN THE BOMBING. HE SAID SOME NATO FORCES WERE WOUNDED, BUT
DECLINED TO SAY HOW MANY OR HOW SERIOUSLY THEY WERE INJURED.

TUCSON COPTER CRASH-REPORT
NEW INFO IN ARIZ. CRASH OF MEDICAL HELICOPTER

TUCSON, ARIZ. (AP) - A MEDICAL HELICOPTER THAT CRASHED LAST WEEK
IN TUCSON, ARIZ., KILLING ALL THREE ON BOARD, FELL 600 FEET IN
EIGHT SECONDS BEFORE IT HIT THE GROUND.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO A PRELIMINARY REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD OBTAINED WEDNESDAY BY THE ARIZONA DAILY
STAR.
THE REPORT SAYS THE LIFENET HELICOPTER LOST RADAR CONTACT ABOUT
140 FEET ABOVE GROUND AND A QUARTER-MILE BEFORE IT CRASHED LAST
WEDNESDAY - KILLING THE PILOT, PARAMEDIC AND FLIGHT NURSE.
THE CHOPPER HAD UNDERGONE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE IN MARANA AND WAS
EN ROUTE TO ITS HOME BASE IN DOUGLAS WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A FENCE
NEAR A HOUSE AND BURST INTO FLAMES. WITNESSES TOLD INVESTIGATORS
THE HELICOPTER MADE SOME UNUSUAL SOUNDS, INCLUDING RAPID
INTERMITTENT POPPING NOISES.
THE NTSB IS STILL INVESTIGATING.

FDNY-DISCRIMINATION SUIT
JUDGE BLOCKS FDNY HIRING, SAYS TEST IS INVALID

NEW YORK (AP) - A JUDGE HAS HALTED THE HIRING OF MORE THAN 300
NEW FIREFIGHTERS AMID THE LEGAL DISPUTE OVER DISCRIMINATION CLAIMS
AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF NEW YORK.
IN A WRITTEN DECISION WEDNESDAY IN FEDERAL COURT IN BROOKLYN, A
U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE FOUND AN ENTRY EXAM USED BY THE MOSTLY
WHITE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS UNFAIR TO BLACK AND HISPANIC APPLICANTS.
HE ORDERED THE CITY TO EXPLAIN WHY IT WANTED TO HIRE NEW
FIREFIGHTERS BASED ON AN "INVALID TEST."
ATTORNEYS FOR THE CITY SAY THEY'RE DISAPPOINTED BY THE RULING.
THEY WARN IT WILL FORCE THE CITY TO PAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN
OVERTIME TO MAKE UP FOR UNDERSTAFFING.
THE RULING FOLLOWS EARLIER SETBACKS FOR THE CITY IN THE CIVIL
RIGHTS CASE. THE JUDGE PREVIOUSLY FOUND THE 11,000-MEMBER FDNY
DELIBERATELY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST MINORITIES AND ORDERED IT TO
REVAMP ITS HIRING PRACTICES.

HEAT WAVE
FROM ROW CROPS TO ROADWAYS, HEAT WAVE TAKES TOLL

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (AP) - TEMPERATURES OVER 100 DEGREES ARE STILL
MELTING MUCH OF THE U.S., PROMPTING HEALTH WARNINGS AND ADDING TO
THE DANGER OF WILDFIRES.
EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNINGS STRETCHED FROM GEORGIA TO ILLINOIS TO
NEBRASKA TO TEXAS ON WEDNESDAY.
IN ARKANSAS, THE GAME AND FISH COMMISSION ALSO ADVISED IT'S A
BAD IDEA TO SKIN A HOG IN 100 DEGREE-PLUS HEAT BECAUSE BACTERIA IS
MORE LIKELY TO FLOURISH.
THE STATE'S OFFICIALS REPORT CONCRETE HAS BUCKLED ON SOME
HIGHWAYS AND FIREFIGHTERS HAVE FOUGHT MORE THAN A DOZEN WILDFIRES.
IN OTHER STATES, TEMPERATURES REACHED 105 DEGREES IN OKLAHOMA
CITY, 102 IN DALLAS, 103 IN MEMPHIS, TENN., AND 101 IN SHREVEPORT,
LA.
MORE HOT WEATHER IS FORECAST FOR THURSDAY.

RANGERS SALE
NOLAN RYAN GROUP WINS AUCTION FOR TX RANGERS

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (AP) - HALL OF FAME PITCHER AND TEXAS RANGERS
PRESIDENT NOLAN RYAN HAS WON THE HIGH-STAKES BIDDING WAR FOR THE
TEAM.
OFFICIALS IN FEDERAL BANKRUPTCY COURT IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS,
ANNOUNCED EARLY THURSDAY THAT THE GROUP LED BY RYAN AND PITTSBURGH
SPORTS ATTORNEY CHUCK GREENBERG HAD MADE THE BEST BID FOR THE TEAM.
THEY STAVED OFF A FIERCE CHALLENGE FROM A GROUP LED BY BILLIONAIRE
DALLAS MAVERICKS OWNER MARK CUBAN.
THE NEWS PROMPTED CHEERS AND A STANDING OVATION IN THE COURTROOM
10 HOURS AFTER THE AUCTION BEGAN.
THE GREENBERG-RYAN GROUP'S FINAL OFFER INCLUDED $385 MILLION IN