TODAY'S NEWS - WEDNESDAY AUGUST 4, 2010

LOCAL NEWS

WOMAN HAS REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING

A TAMAQUA WOMAN HAD HER REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING LAST NIGHT ON SWEET ARROW LADE ROAD. APPROX ¼ MILE WEST OF SHELTHAUER RD IN WAYNE TOWNSHIP, KELLY MCKLVEEN, 21, WAS DRIVING WESTBOUND ON THE ROAD WHEN A GREEN SUBARU, POSSIBLY AND IMPREZZA, THREW A LARGE UNKNOWN OBJECT FROM THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. THE OBJECT STRUCK THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW OF MCKLVEEN’S 2002 HONDA CIVIC. HER WINDOW SHATTERED ON IMPACT. THE DAMAGE IS ESTIMATED AT $250.

AUDITOR GENERAL FINDS COUNTY VFRA IN COMPLIANCE

AUDITOR GENERAL JACK WAGNER ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT AN AUDIT OF THE MINERSVILLE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS’ RELIEF ASSOCIATION DETERMINED THAT IT WAS IN COMPLIANCE WITH TESTED LAWS AND REGULATIONS. THE AUDIT COVERED A PERIOD FROM JAN 1, 2007- DEC 31, 2008. HE SAYS “THE PROPER MANAGEMENT OF FUNDS ENSURES THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS WHO BRAVELY PUT THEMSELVES AT RISK TO HELP PROTECT THEIR NEIGHBORS’ HEALTH AND PROPERTY.” VFRA’S ARE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ESTABLISHED TO AFFORD FINANCIAL PROTECTION TO VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS WHO SUFFER MISFORTUNE AS A RESULT OF THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE FIRE SERVICE. THE DEPARTMENT OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR AUDITING VFRA FUNDS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE SPENT ACCORDING TO STATE LAW. THE DEPARTMENT ALSO CONDUCTS WORKSHOPS TO HELP LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS COMPLY WITH VFRA REGULATIONS. LAST YEAR, THEY DISTRIBUTED OVER $63.8 MILLION TO 1,957 LOCAL VFRA’S.

17TH ANNUAL CRUISE STARTS TODAY

THE 17TH ANNUAL GREAT POTTSVILLE CRUISE STARTS TONIGHT WITH A CRUISE-IN AND WARM-UP AT MAROONS SPORTS BAR & GRILL. AFTER 12 MONTHS OF PLANNING, THE POTTSVILLE LIONS CLUB IS ONCE AGAIN ORGANIZING AND RUNNING THIS TOURIST DRAW. THIS IS THE 9TH YEAR, ALONG WITH THE POTTSVILLE CRUISE COMMITTEE AND VOLUNTEERS, THE LION’S CLUB WITH BE DIRECTING THE EVENT. THE CRUISE IS ONE OF THE LARGEST FUNDRAISER’S IN THE AREA AND THE LARGEST CAR SHOW IN NORTHEASTERN PA. OVER 140 BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRUISE. EVENTS ARE PLANNED STARTING TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY.

PHONE SERVICE STILL OUT FOR SOME IN HIGGINS

OVER 700 RESIDENTS IN THE HIGGINS AREA ARE STILL WITHOUT PHONE SERVICE THIS MORNING. YESTERDAY SERVICE WAS RESTORED TO ABOUT HALF OF FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CUSTOMERS. SERVICE WAS DOWN MONDAY MORNING AFTER A BURGLARY AT MIDWAY SUPERMARKET ON FOREST LANE. STATE POLICE OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN SAID TWO BURGLARS, MEN IN THEIR EARLY 20’S, USED A CROW BAR TO FORCE THEMSELVES IN TO THE GROCERY STORE. ONCE INSIDE, THE MEN CUT POWER TO THE PHONE LINE WHILE TRYING TO DISABLE THE SECURITY SYSTEM. THE BURGLARS STOLE A BUNCH OF NARCOTICS FROM THE STORE PHARMACY.

GORDON MOUNTAIN TRACTOR-TAILOR CRASH

A TRACTOR-TRAILER CRASHED YESTERDAY MORNING ON THE GORDON MOUNTAIN. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AROUND 6:30AM, WHEN WILLIE IRBY, 49, OF ZELLWOOD FLORIDA WAS INCORRECTLY DIRECTED BY IS GPS TO TRAVEL DOWN THE MOUNTAIN ONCE HE EXITED I-81. ONLY IN FIRST GEAR, IRBY LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE AND INTENTIONALLY PULLED OFF THE ROAD. THE TRACTOR-TRAILER CRASHED INTO HEAVY BRUSH ON THE BOROUGH’S MOUNTAINSIDE AND IRBY WAS TREATED FOR SLIGHT INJURIES AT THE SCENE. HE WAS HAULING WATERMELONS FROM MARYLAND TO THE WAL-MART DISTRIBUTION CENTER AT HIGHRIDGE BUSINESS PARK.



STATE NEWS

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOVERNOR ED RENDELL SAYS PENNSYLVANIA'S
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WILL BE FORCED TO LAY OFF A COMBINED
12,500 PUBLIC EMPLOYEES IF CONGRESS DOESN'T SEND MORE
RECESSION-RELATED BUDGET AID. A KEY VOTE ON THE $26 BILLION
SPENDING BILL IS SCHEDULED IN WASHINGTON TODAY.

SCRANTON, PA. (AP) - A FORMER NFL LINEMAN WHO PLEADED GUILTY TO
ACCEPTING A PAYOFF WHILE WORKING AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER IS ASKING
A JUDGE TO REDUCE HIS POSSIBLE PRISON SENTENCE BECAUSE HE'S A
SINGLE FATHER WITH THREE CHILDREN. FORMER LUZERNE COUNTY
COMMISSIONER GREG SKREPENAK FACES 33 TO 41 MONTHS UNDER FEDERAL
GUIDELINES FOR ACCEPTING $5,000 IN GIFTS FROM A DEVELOPER WHEN HE'S
SENTENCED FRIDAY.

BEAVER, PA. (AP) - A WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN HAS BEEN CONVICTED
OF FIRST-DEGREE CRIMINAL HOMICIDE IN THE STABBING DEATH OF HIS
LANDLADY LAST YEAR. THE BEAVER COUNTY TIMES REPORTS JURORS
DELIBERATED FOR JUST FOUR HOURS LAST NIGHT BEFORE CONVICTING
BENJAMIN DENNERLEIN IN THE MAY 2009 DEATH OF ELIZABETH GROSSKOPF IN
FREEDOM.

ROCK ISLAND, ILL. (AP) - TWO PITTSBURGH-AREA BROTHERS HAVE BEEN
SENTENCED TO LONG FEDERAL PRISON TERMS FOR LEADING AN ORGANIZATION
THAT BROUGHT TONS OF MARIJUANA ACROSS THE COUNTRY ALONG THE
INTERSTATE 80 CORRIDOR TO PENNSYLVANIA. A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS
SENTENCED 26-YEAR-OLD NOAH LANDFRIED TO LIFE IN PRISON AND HIS
28-YEAR-OLD BROTHER ROSS LANDFRIED III TO 20 YEARS. BOTH ARE FROM
MOON TOWNSHIP.



NATIONAL NEWS


GULF OIL SPILL
'STATIC KILL' APPEARS TO BE GOING WELL

ON THE GULF OF MEXICO (AP) - BP SAYS THINGS ARE GOING WELL AT
THE BOTTOM OF THE GULF OF MEXICO, WHERE IT'S FORCING MUD DOWN THE
THROAT OF A BLOWN-OUT WELL.
THE PRESSURE IN THE WELL DROPPED QUICKLY IN THE FIRST 90 MINUTES
OF THE PROCEDURE, A SIGN THAT EVERYTHING WAS GOING AS PLANNED.
WELLSITE LEADER BOBBY BOLTON SAYS THE WORK COULD BE COMPLETE BY
TUESDAY NIGHT OR WEDNESDAY, THOUGH BP SAID THE EFFORT COULD
CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY.
ONCE THE PUMPING IS DONE, ENGINEERS WON'T KNOW FOR MORE THAN A
WEEK IF IT CHOKED THE WELL FOR GOOD.
RETIRED COAST GUARD ADM. THAD ALLEN, THE GOVERNMENT'S POINT MAN
FOR THE SPILL, MADE IT CLEAR THAT TO BE SAFE, THE GUSHER WILL HAVE
TO BE PLUGGED UP FROM THE BOTTOM THROUGH A RELIEF WELL.

CHINA-STUDENTS ATTACKED
3 CHILDREN, 1 TEACHER KILLED IN CHINA ATTACK

BEIJING (AP) - RESIDENTS SAY THREE CHILDREN AND ONE TEACHER HAVE
BEEN KILLED IN THE LATEST ATTACK ON A KINDERGARTEN IN CHINA.
AREA RESIDENTS SAY AN UNIDENTIFIED KNIFE-WIELDING ASSAILANT
ENTERED THE SCHOOL IN THE EASTERN CITY OF ZIBO ON TUESDAY
AFTERNOON, SLASHING ABOUT 20 CHILDREN AND STAFF.
THEY SAY AT LEAST TWO CHILDREN ARE SERIOUSLY INJURED.
CHINA THIS YEAR HAS SUFFERED A SPATE OF GORY RAMPAGE ATTACKS ON
SCHOOLS AND IN PUBLIC SPACES, LEAVING DOZENS OF PEOPLE DEAD AND
SCORES WOUNDED.

BEER DISTRIBUTOR SHOOTINGS
'COLD AS ICE' CONN. BEER DRIVER KILLS 8, SELF

MANCHESTER, CONN. (AP) - A RELATIVE OF THE MAN WHO SHOT AND
KILLED EIGHT CO-WORKERS AND HIMSELF AT A CONNECTICUT BEER
DISTRIBUTOR SAYS OMAR THORNTON'S CLAIM THAT HE WAS THE VICTIM OF
RACIAL HARASSMENT DOESN'T JUSTIFY HIS ACTIONS.
ANNETTE LEVINE, COUSIN OF THORNTON'S MOTHER, SAYS THORNTON'S
LAST WORDS TO HIS MOTHER WERE HE LOVED HER AND THAT THE HARTFORD
DISTRIBUTORS WAREHOUSE WHERE HE WORKED AS A DRIVER "PUSHED HIM
OVER THE EDGE." ACCORDING TO LEVINE, HE TOLD HIS MOTHER "THE
COMPANY WAS PREJUDICED."
BUT AN OFFICIAL WITH THE FIRM DENIES THERE WAS ANY RACIAL
DISCRIMINATION. AND A UNION OFFICIAL SAYS THORNTON HAD NOT FILED
ANY RACISM COMPLAINTS.
BEFORE THE SHOOTINGS, THORNTON HAD BEEN CALLED TO A DISCIPLINARY
MEETING AND SHOWN VIDEO EVIDENCE THAT HE STOLE BEER. ACCORDING TO A
SURVIVOR IN THE MEETING, THORNTON WAS "COLD AS ICE" BEFORE HE
PULLED OUT A GUN AND "STARTED BLASTING."

RETAIL SALES
RETAIL DATA: AMERICANS REMAIN CAUTIOUS IN JULY

NEW YORK (AP) - WORRIED ABOUT THE STALLING ECONOMIC RECOVERY,
AMERICANS REMAINED RELUCTANT TO SPEND AT STORES IN JULY, ESPECIALLY
ON PRICIER ITEMS LIKE JEWELRY, THOUGH THEY LET GO OF SOME MONEY FOR
TRAVEL.
DATA RELEASED WEDNESDAY BY MASTERCARD ADVISORS' SPENDINGPULSE
SIGNALS THAT SPENDING REMAINS CHOPPY AS SHOPPERS GRAPPLE WITH AN
ALMOST 10 PERCENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND TIGHT CREDIT.
REVENUE FROM HIGH-END JEWELRY, WHICH HAD HELD STEADY IN JUNE,
PLUMMETED IN JULY FROM A YEAR EARLIER, WHEN THE FIGURES ALREADY
WERE DISMAL. FURNITURE ALSO SUFFERED AS THE BOOST FROM HOMEBUYER
TAX CREDITS WORE OFF. SHOPPERS EVEN PULLED BACK ON SHOES AND
CHILDREN'S CLOTHING, WHILE LUXURY SPENDING - EXCLUDING BAUBLES -
WAS VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED.
THE FIGURES INCLUDE TRANSACTIONS IN ALL FORMS INCLUDING CASH.

INTEL-FTC-ANTITRUST
INTEL, FTC SETTLE ANTITRUST CASE, AS EXPECTED

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - INTEL CORP. HAS SETTLED AN ANTITRUST
LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST IT BY THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION.
THE TWO SIDES CONFIRMED THE SETTLEMENT LATE TUESDAY AND THE FTC
SCHEDULED A NEWS CONFERENCE FOR WEDNESDAY MORNING TO RELEASE
DETAILS. NEITHER SIDE WOULD COMMENT FURTHER.
WITH THE SETTLEMENT, WHICH WAS EXPECTED, INTEL IS SWEEPING AWAY
ONE OF THE LAST REMINDERS OF A BITTER, YEARSLONG CAMPAIGN BY A
MAJOR RIVAL THAT CAUSED THE WORLD'S BIGGEST SEMICONDUCTOR COMPANY A
WORLD OF LEGAL PAIN.
THE RIVAL - ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES INC. - HELPED CONVINCE
REGULATORS AROUND THE WORLD THAT INTEL'S SALES TACTICS HARMED
CONSUMERS AND ILLEGALLY INJURED RIVALS. INTEL IS ACCUSED OF
BULLYING COMPUTER MAKERS INTO AVOIDING RIVALS' CHIPS AND SABOTAGING
RIVALS' ATTEMPTS TO GET THEIR CHIPS TO WORK WITH INTEL'S.

PRIMARY ROUNDUP
MICHIGAN CONGRESSWOMAN OUSTED BY VOTERS

WASHINGTON (AP) - ANOTHER MEMBER OF CONGRESS HAS BEEN DUMPED IN
A PRIMARY.
REP. CAROLYN CHEEKS KILPATRICK OF MICHIGAN BECOMES THE SIXTH
INCUMBENT SO FAR THIS YEAR TO LOSE A PRIMARY. SHE WAS BEATEN BY
DEMOCRATIC STATE SEN. HANSEN CLARKE OF DETROIT.
MICHIGAN VOTERS ALSO CHOSE POLITICAL NEWCOMER RICK SNYDER AS THE
REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR. HE'S THE FAVORITE AGAINST LANSING
MAYOR VIRG BERNERO, WHO WON THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.
IN KANSAS, NO SURPRISE AS TWO-TERM SEN. SAM BROWNBACK SAILED TO
THE GOP NOMINATION IN THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE. STATE SEN. TOM
HOLLAND WAS UNOPPOSED FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION. IN THE
COMPETITION FOR BROWNBACK'S SENATE SEAT, GOP REP. JERRY MORAN WILL
FACE DEMOCRAT LISA JOHNSTON.
IN MISSOURI, WHERE A SENATE SEAT IS ALSO UP FOR GRABS, DEMOCRAT
ROBIN CARNAHAN AND SEVEN-TERM GOP REP. ROY BLUNT HAVE WON THEIR
PARTIES' NOMINATIONS.

HEALTH OVERHAUL-MISSOURI
MO. VOTERS REJECT KEY PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE LAW

JEFFERSON CITY, MO. (AP) - MISSOURI VOTERS HAVE STRONGLY
APPROVED A NEW LAW THAT REJECTS A KEY PROVISION OF PRESIDENT BARACK
OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL.
TUESDAY'S VOTE APPROVING THE BALLOT MEASURE IS SEEN AS LARGELY
SYMBOLIC BECAUSE FEDERAL LAW GENERALLY TRUMPS STATE LAW. BUT IT
COULD PORTEND TROUBLE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN NOVEMBER'S
MIDTERM ELECTION.
LEGISLATURES IN OTHER STATES HAVE PASSED SIMILAR MEASURES. BUT
MISSOURI IS THE FIRST STATE TO CHALLENGE ASPECTS OF THE LAW IN A
REFERENDUM.
MISSOURI'S LAW PROHIBITS THE GOVERNMENT FROM REQUIRING PEOPLE TO
HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE OR FROM PENALIZING THEM FROM PAYING FOR THEIR
OWN HEALTH CARE. THAT CONFLICTS WITH A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT THAT
MOST PEOPLE HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE OR FACE PENALTIES STARTING IN
2014.

GAY MARRIAGE TRIAL
UPDATE: JUDGE'S RULING READY IN CALIF. GAY MARRIAGE CASE

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - ROUND ONE IN A LANDMARK CASE INVOLVING GAY
MARRIAGE IS EXPECTED TO END TODAY WHEN A FEDERAL JUDGE ISSUES HIS
RULING ON CALIFORNIA'S VOTER-APPROVED SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BAN.
CHIEF U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE VAUGHN WALKER HAS REACHED A DECISION
ON WHETHER TO UPHOLD OR OVERTURN THE VOTER-APPROVED BAN KNOWN AS
PROPOSITION 8. A COURT SPOKESMAN SAYS HE PLANS TO PUBLISH HIS
OPINION IN THE AFTERNOON.
HIS VERDICT COMES IN RESPONSE TO A LAWSUIT BROUGHT BY TWO
SAME-SEX COUPLES AND THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO.
PROPOSITION 8 OUTLAWED GAY MARRIAGES IN CALIFORNIA FIVE MONTHS
AFTER THE STATE SUPREME COURT LEGALIZED THEM. IT PASSED WITH 52
PERCENT OF THE VOTE IN NOVEMBER 2008 FOLLOWING THE MOST EXPENSIVE
CAMPAIGN ON A SOCIAL ISSUE IN U.S. HISTORY.
ATTORNEYS ON BOTH SIDES SAY THEY'LL APPEAL IF THE RULING DOESN'T
GO THEIR WAY.

TRUCK STOP-HARASSMENT
TRUCK STOP CHAIN TO PAY $70,000 IN HARASSMENT SUIT

PHOENIX (AP) - A NATIONAL CHAIN OF TRUCK STOPS HAS AGREED TO PAY
$70,000 TO TWO FORMER CASHIERS AT AN ARIZONA STORE WHO CLAIMED THEY
WERE SEXUALLY HARASSED BY CUSTOMERS.
THE U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION FILED A 2007
LAWSUIT ON BEHALF OF THE WORKERS, WHO WERE 18 AND 20 AT THE TIME
THEY BEGAN WORKING IN 2005 AT A LOVE'S TRAVEL STOPS AND COUNTRY
STORES LOCATION IN BUCKEYE, ARIZ.
THE EEOC ARGUED THAT LOVE'S OFFICIALS FAILED TO TAKE REASONABLE
STEPS TO STOP THE MOSTLY VERBAL HARASSMENT. THEY SAY LOVE'S ALSO
HAS AGREED TO TRAIN SUPERVISORS AND INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF
SEXUAL HARASSMENT.
A LOVE'S SPOKESWOMAN SAID TUESDAY THAT THE COMPANY REMAINS
"COMMITTED TO ENSURING OUR NEARLY 8,000 EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY WORK IN AN ENVIRONMENT FREE FROM HARASSMENT OF ANY KIND."

DOG EATS TOE
MICHIGAN MAN SAYS HE'S GRATEFUL DOG CHEWED OFF TOE
ROCKFORD, MICH. (AP) - A MICHIGAN MAN SAYS HE'S GRATEFUL HIS DOG
ATE MOST OF HIS TOE WHILE HE WAS PASSED OUT DRUNK.
JERRY DOUTHETT OF ROCKFORD SAYS KIKO'S ACTION HELPED UNCOVER AN
UNDIAGNOSED DIABETIC CONDITION AND LED TO TREATMENT THAT COULD SAVE
HIS LIFE.
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS REPORTED THAT THE 48-YEAR-OLD MUSICIAN
KNEW FOR A WHILE SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH HIS FOOT. HE RESISTED
SEEKING CARE UNTIL GIVING IN TO HIS NURSE WIFE'S PRESSURE ONE DAY
LAST MONTH.
BEFORE GOING FOR AN APPOINTMENT, DOUTHETT SAYS HE WENT OUT
DRINKING, THEN CAME HOME AND PASSED OUT. WHEN HE AWOKE, THE TERRIER
WAS BESIDE HIM IN BED AND LOTS OF BLOOD WAS WHERE HIS TOE USED TO
BE.
HIS WIFE RUSHED HIM TO SPECTRUM HEALTH BLODGETT CAMPUS, WHERE
DOCTORS FOUND A BONE INFECTION AND AMPUTATED THE REST OF THE TOE.

OBAMA-BIRTHDAY
NEW: OBAMA TURNS 49 WITH MRS. OBAMA, KIDS OUT OF TOWN

WASHINGTON (AP) - HOME ALONE, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA TURNED 49
ON WEDNESDAY.
FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA HAS TAKEN THEIR YOUNGEST DAUGHTER,
SASHA, TO SPAIN. THEIR OTHER DAUGHTER, MALIA, IS AWAY AT SUMMER
CAMP.
THE PRESIDENT HASN'T SHIED AWAY FROM TALKING ABOUT HIS BIRTHDAY,
NOTING THAT HIS HAIR IS GETTING GRAYER AND HIS METABOLISM IS
SLOWING DOWN. WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY ROBERT GIBBS SAYS THAT
WHILE THERE'S NO DOUBT THE PRESIDENCY COMES WITH ENORMOUS PHYSICAL
AND MENTAL STRAIN, OBAMA "GREATLY ENJOYS" THE JOB.
OBAMA IS HEADING HOME TO CHICAGO WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR A
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION DINNER WITH FRIENDS. HE'LL SPEND THE NIGHT IN
HIS OWN HOUSE IN THE CITY'S HYDE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD. HE'LL TOUR A
CHICAGO AUTOMOBILE PLANT AND ATTEND FUNDRAISERS THURSDAY.