TODAY'S NEWS - WEDNESDAY AUGUST 11, 2010

LOCAL NEWS

TAMAQUA AREA COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP GOES TO YOU TUBE

THE TAMAQUA AREA COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCED THAT THE VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION HAS JUST CREATED ITS OWN CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE. AT PRESENT, THE CHANNEL OFFERS BRIEF VIEWS ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FROM 13 INDIVIDUALS, SOME OF WHOM WORK AS VOLUNTEERS ON THE TACP BOARD AND OTHERS WHO ARE AFFILIATED WITH THE WORK OF THE PARTNERSHIP. THE VIDEOS WERE PRODUCED BY VIDEOWORKS PRODUCTION CO, A DIVISION OF R&D COMMUNICATIONS IN PINE GROVE. TACP SPOKESWOMAN, LINDA YULANAVAGE SAYS, “ THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL OFFERS EACH OF OUR PARTICIPANTS IN THIS COMMUNICATION OUTREACH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE HIS OR HER UNIQUE POINT OF VIEW REGARDING HOW TO WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE TAMAQUA’S QUALITY OF LIFE.”

SHED COLLAPE KILLS WOMAN

A SHED COLLAPSED YESTERDAY MORNING KILLING A 46 YEAR OLD JONESTOWN WOMAN. DEBORAH BERGEN WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD ON HER PROPERTY AT 80 CONDORS LANE JUST AROUND 11 AM, AFTER A NEIGHBOR FOUND HER DEAD IN HER BACK YARD WHEN SHE DIDN’T ANSWER THE DOOR. CASS-FOSTER POLICE SAID BERGEN WAS TEARING DOWN THE SHED TO THE REAR OF HER PROPERTY WHEN THE SMALL STRUCTURE COLLAPSED. THEY SAID SHE WAS CLEARING ROOM FOR A NEW SHED THAT WAS TO BE DELIVERED NEXT WEEK.

READING MAN CHARGED WITH BANK THEFT

A READING MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH THE SUSQUEHANNA BANK THEFT THAT HAPPENED LAST FRIDAY MORNING IN ORWISBURG. RADDY N. TORIBIO, 30, IS CHARGES WITH TERRORISTIC THREATS, THEFT, RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT AFTER A TELLER AND ANOTHER BANK EMPLOYEE IDENTIFIED TORIBIO AS THE ROBBER FROM A PHOTO LINE-UP. POLICE SAID TORIBIO ENTERED THE BANK ON ROUTE 61 IN ORWIGSBURG AROUND 9:50 FRIDAY MORNING, WALKED TO A DESK AREA, WROTE A NOTE AND HANDED IT TO THE TELLER. HE MANAGED TO MAKE OFF WITH $2,456 FROM SUSQUEHANNA BANK. SURVEILLANCE VIDEO RECORDED THE INCIDENT, WHICH ULTIMATELY LEAD TO TORIBIO’S ARREST. HE IS HELD AT THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON AND IS UNABLE TO POST BAIL.


1912 REST HAVEN BUILDING IS BEING TORN DOWN

THE 1912 REST HAVEN BUILDING IS BEING TORN DOWN AND ITS STONE, WOOD, ALUMINUM, STEEL AND COPPER ARE GOING TO BE RECYCLED YESTERDAY THE 193 YEAR OLD CUPOLA, A WHITE DOME-LIKE STRUCTURE ATOP THE BUILDING, WAS REMOVED AND WILL HAVE A NEW HOME IN ORWIGSBURG. THE CUPOLA WAS ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED AS PART OF THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE AT WARREN AND MARKET STREET IN ORWIGSBURG. IT WILL BE RESTORED AND BECOME A KEY PIECE IN THE RENOVATED ORWIGSBURG MEMORIAL BUILDING. THE FUTURE OF THE OTHER MATERIALS IS VARIED. CREWS WILL SEPARATE AND SALVAGE FOR RECYCLING THINGS LIKE STEEL AND WOODEN BEAMS, WINDOWSILLS AND COPPER WIRING.

TOWER CITY WOMAN CHARGED WITH VEHICULAR HOMICIDE

A TOWER CITY WOMAN WAS CHARGED WITH VEHICULAR HOMICIDE WHILE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE ON MARCH 13TH OF THIS YEAR. RHONDA GETTLE, 26, WAS DRIVING THE WRONG WAY ON INTERSTATE 81 WHEN SHE CRASHED INTO A 1999 MITSUBISHI OWNED BY BRIAN HUHNKE, 49 OF LEBANON, KILLING HIM. GETTLE WAS ARRAIGNED ON SEVERAL CHARGES INCLUDING SIX COUNTS OF RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING ANOTHER PERSON. SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE LEBANON COUNTY PRISON AND WAS UNABLE TO POST BAIL. HUNKE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE, AND GETTLE SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. NEITHER DRIVER WAS WEARING THEIR SEAT BELT.



STATE NEWS

NEW YORK (AP) - THE JETBLUE FLIGHT ATTENDANT WHO ARGUED WITH A
PASSENGER ON A PITTSBURGH TO NEW YORK PLANE BEFORE MAKING A GRAND
EXIT DOWN ITS EMERGENCY SLIDE HAS BEEN RELEASED ON BAIL IN NEW
YORK. STEPHEN SLATER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH FELONIES BUT ELEVATED TO
FOLK-HERO STATUS BY MANY WHO ARE SHRUGGING OFF ALLEGATIONS HE
ENDANGERED OTHERS.

SCRANTON, PA. (AP) - A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA OFFICIAL IS
SEEKING SEPARATE TRIALS FOR HIMSELF AND A FORMER OFFICIAL ON
CORRUPTION CHARGES. THE SCRANTON TIMES LEADER REPORTS LACKAWANNA
COUNTY COMMISSIONER A.J. MUNCHAK CLAIMS HE'S CONCERNED THAT HE
CAN'T GET A FAIR TRIAL IF HE IS TRIED WITH FORMER COMMISSIONER
ROBERT CORDARO.

NORRISTOWN, PA. (AP) - A PHILADELPHIA MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO
16 TO 32 YEARS IN PRISON IN A SUBURBAN HOME-INVASION ROBBERY THAT
ENDED WITH THE DEATH OF A BUSINESSMAN. THE BUCKS COUNTY COURIER
TIMES REPORTS JULIUS WISE HAD ALREADY PLEADED GUILTY TO
THIRD-DEGREE MURDER LAST MONTH IN THE JANUARY 2009 DEATH OF ROBERT
CHAE, WHO DIED IN HIS NORTH WALES HOME AFTER BEING BOUND WITH DUCT
TAPE.

STATE COLLEGE, PA. (AP) - PENN STATE'S LEGENDARY FOOTBALL COACH
HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE HIGHEST CIVILIAN AWARD IN THE COUNTRY.
SEVERAL PENNSYLVANIA CONGRESSMEN ARE PUTTING JOE PATERNO UP FOR THE
HONOR. THEIR NOMINATION LETTER TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYS
PATERNO PERSONIFIES SPORTSMANSHIP ON THE FIELD AND ACADEMIC
ACHIEVEMENT IN THE CLASSROOM.


NATIONAL NEWS

ALASKA PLANE CRASH
FORMER ALASKA SEN. TED STEVENS DIES IN PLANE CRASH

DILLINGHAM, ALASKA (AP) - FOUR PLANE CRASH SURVIVORS ARE BEING
TREATED AT AN ANCHORAGE HOSPITAL WITH "VARYING DEGREES OF
INJURIES" AFTER SPENDING MONDAY NIGHT ON A REMOTE MOUNTAINSIDE IN
THE CARE OF A DOCTOR AND TWO EMTS.
THE CRASH KILLED FIVE OTHERS, INCLUDING FORMER ALASKA SEN. TED
STEVENS.
SURVIVORS INCLUDE FORMER NASA CHIEF SEAN O'KEEFE AND HIS TEENAGE
SON. THE ELDER O'KEEFE IS LISTED IN CRITICAL CONDITION.
FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS SAY THE AMPHIBIOUS PLANE HAD LEFT A LODGE
FOR A SALMON FISHING CAMP AND SMASHED INTO A MOUNTAIN 15 MINUTES
LATER WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT LEFT A 300-FOOT GASH ON THE SLOPE. A
DOCTOR AND TWO EMTS WERE FLOWN TO THE SCENE THREE HOURS LATER AND
TENDED TO THE INJURED DURING A DAMP AND CHILLY NIGHT.
NTSB CHAIRWOMAN DEBORAH HERSMAN SAYS THE 1950S PLANE WAS
OVERHAULED IN 2005 AND FLOWN BY A PILOT WITH 29,000 HOURS OF FLIGHT
TIME.

STRANDED SIGHTSEERS
HELICOPTER RESCUE PLUCKS 3 FROM ALASKA GLACIER

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA (AP) - AN ALASKA NATIONAL GUARD SPOKESMAN SAYS
A HELICOPTER HAS PLUCKED THREE STRANDED SIGHTSEERS FROM A GLACIER.
MAJ. GUY HAYES SAYS THE SIGHTSEERS WERE FLOWN TUESDAY TO THE
TOWN OF PALMER.
THAT LEAVES NINE PEOPLE STILL STUCK, INCLUDING SEVEN GUARDSMEN
WHO HAVE BEEN PART OF THE RESCUE EFFORT THAT BEGAN SUNDAY WHEN A
SMALL PLANE WENT DOWN ON KNIK GLACIER, ABOUT 40 MILES NORTHEAST OF
ANCHORAGE.
HAYES SAYS ANOTHER HELICOPTER HAS FLOWN TO THE GLACIER TO
CONTINUE THE RESCUE EFFORT. BUT HE SAID LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THAT
WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE DETERIORATING AND IT WASN'T CLEAR WHETHER
THAT CHOPPER WOULD BE ABLE TO LAND.

COLORADO GOVERNOR
UPDATE: TEA PARTY FAVORITE MAES WINS COLO. GOV. PRIMARY

DENVER (AP) - BUSINESSMAN DAN MAES RODE SUPPORT FROM TEA PARTY
GROUPS TO CLAIM COLORADO'S REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY,
DEFEATING FORMER U.S. REP. SCOTT MCINNIS.
MCINNIS, WHO SERVED SIX TERMS IN CONGRESS, FAILED TO RECOVER
AFTER IT WAS REVEALED THAT HE PLAGIARIZED PARTS OF A WATER STUDY
FOR WHICH HE WAS PAID $300,000 BY A COLORADO FOUNDATION.
MAES OVERCAME HIS OWN TROUBLES IN WINNING TUESDAY: HE WAS FINED
$17,500 FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS AND DREW CRITICISM OVER
REMARKS THAT HE WOULD FIRE THOUSANDS OF STATE WORKERS.
THE ROCKY CAMPAIGNS PROMPTED FORMER U.S. REP. TOM TANCREDO TO
BOLT FROM THE PARTY AND RUN FOR GOVERNOR ON THE AMERICAN
CONSTITUTION PARTY TICKET.
DENVER MAYOR JOHN HICKENLOOPER WILL BE THE DEMOCRAT ON THE
NOVEMBER BALLOT. HE FACED NO OPPOSITION FOR HIS PARTY'S NOMINATION.

MINNESOTA GOVERNOR
DEMOCRAT DAYTON, GOP EMMER TO VIE FOR MINN. GOV.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - MINNESOTA VOTERS WILL HAVE A SHARP CONTRAST
WHEN THEY CHOOSE A REPLACEMENT FOR REPUBLICAN GOV. TIM PAWLENTY IN
NOVEMBER.
MARK DAYTON WON THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION TUESDAY IN A BID TO
REBUILD A POLITICAL CAREER SCARRED BY A FRUSTRATING SIX YEARS IN
THE U.S. SENATE. HE RAN HARD LEFT IN A STATE THAT HASN'T HAD A
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR IN TWO DECADES.
NOW HE'LL FACE REPUBLICAN TOM EMMER, A CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATOR
WHO COASTED TO THE GOP NOMINATION AFTER PAWLENTY DIDN'T SEEK A
THIRD TERM.
DAYTON PROMISES A NEW TOP TAX BRACKET TO HELP DEAL WITH A
MASSIVE DEFICIT. EMMER TOUTS SPENDING CUTS ALONE.
INDEPENDENCE PARTY CANDIDATE TOM HORNER IS A POTENTIAL
COMPLICATION FOR BOTH SIDES. THE THIRD PARTY'S MOST FAMOUS MEMBER
WAS JESSE VENTURA, ELECTED GOVERNOR IN 1998 WHEN THE IP WAS KNOWN
AS THE REFORM PARTY.

CONNECTICUT RACES
EX-WWE EXEC WINS GOP PRIMARY FOR CONN. SENATE SEAT, FOLEY WINS
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR CONN. GOVERNOR

HARTFORD, CONN. (AP) - FORMER WRESTLING EXECUTIVE LINDA MCMAHON
HAS FENDED OFF A LATE CHALLENGE FROM FORMER CONGRESSMAN ROB SIMMONS
TO WIN THE REPUBLICAN ENDORSEMENT FOR CONNECTICUT'S U.S. SENATE
SEAT.
MCMAHON SPENT MORE THAN $20 MILLION OF HER OWN MONEY ON THE
PRIMARY RACE AND NOW FACES DEMOCRATIC ATTORNEY GENERAL RICHARD
BLUMENTHAL IN NOVEMBER.
MEANWHILE, GREENWICH BUSINESSMAN TOM FOLEY HAS WON THE
REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR CONNECTICUT GOVERNOR AND WILL FACE FORMER
STAMFORD MAYOR DAN MALLOY IN NOVEMBER.

CHINA-FLOODS
NEW: WITH 1,000 STILL MISSING, HOPE FADING FOR SURVIVORS OF
CHINA FLOODS

ZHOUQU, CHINA (AP) - MORE THAN 1,000 PEOPLE REMAIN MISSING, BUT
HOPES ARE FADING OF FINDING MORE SURVIVORS FROM THE FLOODING AND
LANDSLIDES THAT HAVE HIT NORTHWESTERN CHINA.
ENTIRE COMMUNITIES IN GANSU PROVINCE WERE SWALLOWED UP WHEN A
DEBRIS-CHOKED RIVER JUMPED ITS BANKS SUNDAY, RELEASING WAVES OF MUD
AND RUBBLE-STREWN WATER. THE WATER BLEW OUT THE LOWER FLOORS OF
BUILDINGS, TEARING THEM FROM THEIR FOUNDATIONS. THREE VILLAGES WERE
BURIED ENTIRELY.
MORE THAN 700 PEOPLE ARE KNOWN DEAD.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS ARE WORKING TO DELIVER CLEAN DRINKING
WATER AND STAVE OFF OUTBREAKS OF CHOLERA, TYPHOID AND OTHER
DISEASES. DISINFECTANT CREWS IN PROTECTIVE SUITS HAVE BEEN SPRAYING
CHEMICAL DISINFECTANT ACROSS THE GROUND AND OVER MACHINERY.
STATE MEDIA IS REPORTING NUMEROUS CASES OF DYSENTERY, WHILE
INFECTED WOUNDS, A LACK OF SANITATION, CLEAN DRINKING WATER AND
ACCUMULATING GARBAGE ARE PRESENTING THE RISK OF TYPHOID, CHOLERA
AND OTHER DISEASES.

RUSSIA-FIRES
NEW: RUSSIAN WILDFIRES RAISE RADIATION FEARS

MOSCOW (AP) - ACTIVISTS ARE WARNING THAT THE MROE THAN 600
WILDFIRES STILL BURNING IN RUSSIA COULD MOVE INTO THE AREAS
AFFECTED BY THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR DISASTER AND SPREAD HARMFUL
RADIATION.
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP GREENPEACE SAYS THE WILDFIRES, SPARKED BY
THE HOTTEST SUMMER EVER REGISTERED IN RUSSIA, COULD ENGULF THE
REGIONS STILL AFFECTED BY RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT FROM THE 1986
CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT.
THE EMERGENCY SITUATIONS MINISTRY'S BRANCH IN THE WESTERN
BRYANSK REGION THAT SUFFERED WORST FROM THE CHERNOBYL CATASTROPHE
IN WHAT IS NOW UKRAINE SAID WEDNESDAY IT SPOTTED SEVERAL WILDFIRES
IN THE AREA OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS AND QUICKLY PUT THEM OUT. IT
SAID IT INCREASED PATROLS TO PREVENT MORE BLAZES.
EMERGENCY OFICIALS SAY THAT ABOUT 165,000 PEOPLE AND 39
FIREFIGHTING AIRCRAFT ARE BATTLING BLAZES NATIONWIDE.

US-RUSSIA-HIJACK EXERCISE
GROUNDBREAKING US-RUSSIAN HIJACKING DRILL ENDS

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA (AP) - A GROUNDBREAKING TRAINING EXERCISE HAS
ENDED AFTER U.S. AND RUSSIAN FIGHTER JETS CRISSCROSSED THE PACIFIC
IN PURSUIT OF A CHARTERED PLANE PLAYING THE ROLE OF A HIJACKED
AIRLINER.
THE PLANE LANDED IN ALASKA LATE TUESDAY AFTER FLYING OVER THE
OCEAN AND BACK, MONITORED ALL THE WAY BY FIGHTERS AND AERIAL
COMMAND POSTS FROM BOTH SIDES.
ON BOARD WERE OFFICERS FROM RUSSIA AND FROM THE NORTH AMERICAN
AEROSPACE DEFENSE COMMAND OR NORAD, A JOINT U.S.-CANADIAN COMMAND.
THE EXERCISE WAS DESIGNED TO TEST HOW WELL RUSSIA AND NORAD CAN
COORDINATE IN THE EVENT OF A HIJACKING.
THE CLOSE COOPERATION THE DRILL REQUIRED FROM BOTH SIDES WAS A
DRAMATIC CHANGE FROM THE CONFRONTATIONS OF THE PROLONGED COLD WAR
IN THE 20TH CENTURY.

SPACE STATION
NEW: SPACE STATION ASTRONAUTS TAKE 2ND CRACK AT REPAIRS

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. (AP) - SPACE STATION ASTRONAUTS ARE GEARING
UP FOR THEIR SECOND SPACEWALK IN FIVE DAYS AND THEY HOPE TO HAVE
BETTER LUCK WITH THE URGENT REPAIR JOB THIS TIME.
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION HAS BEEN OPERATING WITH ONLY
HALF ITS USUAL COOLING CAPABILITY EVER SINCE A CRITICAL PUMP FAILED
ONE-AND-A-HALF WEEKS AGO.
ON WEDNESDAY, ASTRONAUTS DOUGLAS WHEELOCK AND TRACY CALDWELL
DYSON WILL ATTEMPT TO REMOVE A FAILED PUMP THAT SPEWED TOXIC
AMMONIA COOLANT THE LAST TIME THEY TINKERED WITH IT.
FLIGHT CONTROLLERS HAVE DEVISED A NEW PLAN TO AVOID ANY MORE
MAJOR LEAKAGE. THEY'VE ALREADY LOWERED THE PRESSURE IN THE DISABLED
COOLING LINE.
A SPARE PUMP WOULD BE INSTALLED DURING A THIRD SPACEWALK THIS
WEEKEND. THE FIRST SPACEWALK WAS SATURDAY.

BLAGOJEVICH TRIAL
NEW: DAY 11 OF BLAGOJEVICH JURY DELIBERATIONS

CHICAGO (AP) - VERDICT WATCH CONTINUES AT THE DOWNTOWN CHICAGO
COURTHOUSE WHERE FORMER ILLINOIS GOV. ROD BLAGOJEVICH IS ON TRIAL
FOR CORRUPTION.
JURORS HEAD INTO THEIR 11TH DAY OF DELIBERATIONS WEDNESDAY.
THERE'S STILL NO INDICATION OF WHETHER THEY'RE CLOSE TO A VERDICT.
JUDGE JAMES ZAGEL TOLD ATTORNEYS TUESDAY HE'S HEARD NOTHING FROM
DELIBERATING JURORS RECENTLY.
JURORS COMMUNICATE WITH THE JUDGE BY SENDING NOTES, WHICH CAN
INDICATE IF THEY'RE DEADLOCKED. THE LAST NOTE THEY SENT WAS JULY
30.
BLAGOJEVICH FACES 24 COUNTS, INCLUDING CHARGES OF TRYING TO SELL
OR TRADE AN APPOINTMENT TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S VACATED SENATE
SEAT. HE'S PLEADED NOT GUILTY.
COURT OFFICIALS HAVE SAID JURORS AGREED AT THE OUTSET TO
DELIBERATE FROM 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. MONDAY TO FRIDAY.