TODAY'S NEWS, AUGUST 8, 2010

LOCAL NEWS

GEN GEORGE JOULWAN

A MAN WHOSE MILITARY CAREER SPANNED NEARLY FOUR DECADES IS BEING REMEMBERED WITH MOMENTOS AND ARTIFACTS AT THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. RETIRED GEN. GEORGE JOULWAN SPENT PART OF THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND HERE IN THE COUNTY, FIRST TO ATTEND THE DEDICATION OF AN AMPITHEATER BEARING HIS NAME ON POTTSVILLE'S EAST SIDE. TUESDAY MORNING, JOULWAN ATTENDED A RECEPTION AT THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, WHERE THE JOULWAN ROOM HOUSES MANY OF HIS PAPERS, PHOTOGRAPHS AND OTHER MEMORABILIA OF HIS MILITARY CAREER. THE SOCIETY IS RAISING MONEY TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING THE ROOM, AND MANY MORE DONATIONS OF ITEMS ARE EXPECTED FROM JOULWAN IN THE FUTURE. HE SAYS ITS ALL ABOUT GIVING BACK. THE FUND RAISING EFFORTS ARE AT ABOUT HALFWAY TO THE GOAL, AND ARE CO-CHAIRED BY JUDGE JOHN E JONES III AND COMMISSIONER CHAIRWOMAN MANTURA GALLAGHER. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION, CALL THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AT 622-7540.


PA STATE POLICE LABOR DAY ACCIDENT REPORT

9 PEOPLE DIED AND 271 OTHERS WERE INJURED IN 754 CRASHES INVESTIGATED BY THE PA STATE POLICE DURING THE 4 DAY HOLIDAY. 8 OF THOSE KILLED WERE NOT WEARING THEIR SEATBELT. 83 CRASHES WERE ALCOHOL RELATED INCLUDING 2 FATAL. STARTING FRIDAY THRU MONDAY, TROOPERS ARRESTED 374 PEOPLE FOR DUI’S, ISSUED 8,105 SPEEDING CITATIONS, CITED 679 DRIVERS FOR NOT SEARING SEATBELTS, AND ISSUED 66 CITATIONS FOR NOT SECURING CHILDREN IN SAFETY SEATS. COMPARED TO LAST YEARS TOTALS, THE NUMBER OF DEATHS AND INDIVIDUALS INJURED REMAINED THE SAME, HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS INVESTIGATED ROSE 100.


NEW RINGGOLD CAR THEFT

THE STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A CAR THEFT THAT HAPPENED TWO WEEKENDS AGO. J.W. ZAPRANZY INC HAD IT 1993 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SIERRA STOLEN FROM IT’S PARKING LOT AT 2509 SUMMER VALLEY ROAD IN NEW RINGGOLD. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED SOMETIME DURING THE EVENING OF AUGUST 30-31, COLIN THOMAS HOUSER OF PINE GROVE REMOVED THE LICENSE PLATE FROM HIS OWN VEHICLE AND PLACED IT ON THE OLDSMOBILE. THE STOLEN VEHICLE WAS FOUND PARKED AT 2161 SUMMER VALLEY ROAD, YESTERDAY AROUND 11:30AM. HOUSER WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND HAS SINCE POSTED BAIL.

DRUG ARREST FOR PUSHING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

ON SUNDAY NIGHT AROUND 10PM POLICE INVESTIGATED AN INCIDENT THAT LED TO THE ARREST OF A 17 YEAR OLD GIRL WHO HAD IN HER XANAX IN HER POSSESSION. SHE TOLD POLICE THAT SHE WAS AT THE SPLASH PARTY AT THE JFK POOL IN POTTSVILLE ON AUGUST 17TH WHEN SHE WAS APPROACHED BY 20 YEAR OLD SHANE FRY WHO HANDED HER THE DRUG. FRY ADMITTED TO DELIVERING THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE TO THE 17 YEAR OLD OUTSIDE THE POOL PERIMETERS BY THE TENNIS COURTS. HE SAID HE HAD BEEN PRESCRIBED THE MEDICATION BY A DOCTOR AND GAVE THE GIRL 2 PILLS. HE WAS ARRESTED ON SEVERAL CHARGES AND IS UNABLE TO POST BAIL.


STATE NEWS

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA'S EMBATTLED HOUSING DIRECTOR IS
SUING THE CITY AGENCY AS HE FIGHTS TO KEEP HIS JOB AMID MONEY WOES
AND A STRING OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS. A LAWYER FOR CARL
GREENE SAYS THE FEDERAL SUIT FILED ACCUSES THE PHILADELPHIA HOUSING
AUTHORITY OF BREACHING GREENE'S CONTRACT AND VIOLATING HIS DUE
PROCESS RIGHTS.

CHESTER, PA. (AP) - POLICE IN A VIOLENCE-PLAGUED SUBURBAN
PHILADELPHIA CITY SAY NO SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN THE
SHOOTING DEATHS OF TWO MEN OVER THE WEEKEND. POLICE IN CHESTER TELL
THE DELAWARE COUNTY DAILY TIMES TYRONE THOMPSON AND HIS 19-YEAR-OLD
NEPHEW, JEFFREY JOYNER, DIED EARLY YESTERDAY AT CROZER CHESTER
MEDICAL CENTER AFTER BEING SHOT SUNDAY NIGHT.

LANCASTER, PA. (AP) - JURY SELECTION HAS BEGUN IN THE TRIAL OF A
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING A WOMAN WHO WAS WORKING
AS A POLICE INFORMANT. THE LANCASTER INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL REPORTS
YAQUAN WILLIAMS IS CHARGED IN THE JANUARY 2009 MURDER OF MARY
JOHNSON IN LANCASTER.

WASHINGTON, PA. (AP) - GOVERNOR ED RENDELL SAYS THE GAS INDUSTRY
SHOULD BE TAXED TO HELP COMMUNITIES WHERE MARCELLUS SHALE DRILLING
IS TAKING PLACE. RENDELL VISITED WASHINGTON YESTERDAY TO TALK TO
LOCAL OFFICIALS, BUSINESS LEADERS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ABOUT
WHY HE THINKS COMPANIES DRILLING FOR NATURAL GAS IN THE STATE
SHOULD BE TAXED.


NATIONAL NEWS

LOS ANGELES PLANE THREAT
UPDATE: FBI: AIRCRAFT SEARCHED, NO CREDIBLE THREAT FOUND

LOS ANGELES (AP) - THE FBI SAYS INVESTIGATORS HAVE FOUND NO
EXPLOSIVES ABOARD A LOS ANGELES-BOUND THAI AIRWAYS FLIGHT IN WHICH
A BOMB THREAT WAS FOUND SCRAWLED ON A BATHROOM MIRROR.
AN FBI SPOKESWOMAN SAYS INVESTIGATORS DID A THOROUGH SEARCH OF
THE PLANE TUESDAY NIGHT AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST A CREDIBLE
THREAT TO THE AIRCRAFT EXISTED. SHE SAYS ALL PASSENGERS WERE
IMMEDIATELY REMOVED FROM THE PLANE, INTERVIEWED AND RELEASED.
SHE SAYS THERE WERE NO ARRESTS.
THE FBI SAYS FLIGHT 794 LANDED SAFELY AT LOS ANGELES
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT JUST BEFORE 9 P.M. TUESDAY EVENING AND WAS
TAKEN TO A REMOTE AREA OF THE AIRPORT WHERE PASSENGERS EXITED THE
PLANE AND THE SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED.

FATAL POLICE SHOOTING
LAPD CHIEF PROMISES THOROUGH PROBE INTO SHOOTING

LOS ANGELES (AP) - LOS ANGELES POLICE SAY 22 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
ARRESTED DURING A SECOND NIGHT OF PROTESTS OVER AN OFFICER'S FATAL
SHOOTING OF A GUATEMALAN IMMIGRANT WIELDING A KNIFE.
OFFICER KAREN RAYNER SAID THE 22 WERE ARRESTED TUESDAY NIGHT,
MAINLY FOR FAILURE TO DISPERSE.
ABOUT 300 PROTESTERS SET FIRES AND PELTED THE RAMPART POLICE
STATION IN THE WESTLAKE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH EGGS, ROCKS AND BOTTLES.
RAYNER SAYS A CITYWIDE TACTICAL ALERT WAS CALLED TO FREE UP MORE
OFFICERS TO RESPOND TO THE AREA.
AT ONE POINT, RAYNER SAYS OFFICERS FIRED AT LEAST TWO VOLLEYS OF
NONLETHAL FOAM PROJECTILES AT DEMONSTRATORS.

COLORADO WILDFIRES
COLORADO WILDFIRE DESTROYS 92 STRUCTURES

BOULDER, COLO. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY A WILDFIRE BURNING NEAR
BOULDER, COLO., HAS DESTROYED AT LEAST 92 STRUCTURES AND DAMAGED
ANOTHER EIGHT, BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW MANY OF THEM ARE HOMES.
A GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TUESDAY NIGHT LISTED THE ADDRESSES OF 53
HOMES DESTROYED. AUTHORITIES SAY THE LIST WAS BASED ON A SURVEY OF
ONLY 5 TO 10 PERCENT OF THE BURNED AREA.
OFFICIALS SAY IT WILL BE AT LEAST TWO DAYS BEFORE ANY OF THE
ROUGHLY 3,000 PEOPLE FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOMES WILL BE ALLOWED TO
RETURN.
AUTHORITIES SAY THE 7,100-ACRE FIRE IN THE FOOTHILLS WEST OF
BOULDER ISN'T CONTAINED AT ALL. AT LEAST 300 FIREFIGHTERS ARE
FIGHTING THE FIRE THAT STARTED MONDAY.
AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING REPORTS THAT THE FIRE STARTED WHEN
A CAR RAN INTO A PROPANE TANK.

TROPICAL WEATHER
UPDATE: ITS POWER GONE, REMNANTS OF HERMINE HEAD NORTH

RAYMONDVILLE, TEXAS (AP) - ITS POWER SPENT, WHAT'S LEFT OF
TROPICAL STORM HERMINE (HUR-MEEN') IS MAKING ITS WAY NORTH.
HERMINE WAS DOWNGRADED TO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION TUESDAY NIGHT
BRINGING DOWNPOURS AND WINDS GUSTING TO ABOUT 70 MPH IN SOUTH TEXAS
AND NORTHEASTERN MEXICO. REMNANTS OF THE STORM COULD SPREAD AS FAR
NORTH AS OKLAHOMA AND KANSAS IN THE COMING DAYS.
MUCH OF THE 5 INCHES TO A FOOT OF RAIN FROM HERMINE FELL
HARMLESSLY IN THE GULF, AND FLOODING WAS LIMITED TO ONLY MINOR
NUISANCES.
UP TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN WAS REPORTED IN SOUTH TEXAS. THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE SAYS MORE RAIN IS EXPECTED IN CENTRAL AND NORTH
TEXAS WEDNESDAY AS THE STORM'S CORE CONTINUED TO MOVE NORTH.

SALMONELLA OUTBREAK
NEW: AP EXCLUSIVE: BACK IN BUSINESS AFTER PEANUT DEATHS

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HAS LEARNED THAT THE
PEANUT INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE WHOSE FILTHY PROCESSING PLANTS WERE
BLAMED IN A SALMONELLA OUTBREAK TWO YEARS AGO THAT KILLED NINE
PEOPLE AND SICKENED HUNDREDS MORE IS BACK IN THE BUSINESS.
STEWART PARNELL, THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE NOW-BANKRUPT PEANUT
CORP. OF AMERICA, IS WORKING AS A CONSULTANT TO PEANUT COMPANIES AS
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AGAINST HIM HAS
LANGUISHED FOR MORE THAN 18 MONTHS.
CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATORS UNCOVERED E-MAILS IN WHICH PARNELL
ONCE DIRECTED EMPLOYEES TO "TURN THEM LOOSE" AFTER SAMPLES OF
PEANUTS HAD TESTED POSITIVE FOR SALMONELLA BUT WERE CLEARED IN A
SECOND TEST.
PARNELL INVOKED THE FIFTH AMENDMENT TO AVOID TESTIFYING BEFORE
CONGRESS IN FEBRUARY 2009.

IRAQ
6 KILLED IN 2 SEPARATE BOMB ATTACKS IN BAGHDAD

BAGHDAD (AP) - IRAQI POLICE AND HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY AT LEAST
SIX PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED AND 35 WOUNDED IN TWO SEPARATE ATTACKS
IN BAGHDAD.
A POLICE OFFICER SAYS THREE POLICEMEN AND ONE CIVILIAN HAVE BEEN
KILLED WHEN A PARKED CAR BOMB EXPLODED WEDNESDAY NEAR A BUS STATION
IN A SOUTHERN NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE CITY. A SECOND BOMB TARGETING
POLICE AND RESCUE SERVICES ARRIVING AT THE BLAST SITE DETONATED
MINUTES LATER.
THERE WERE NO REPORTS ON CASUALTIES FROM THE SECOND BLAST.
IN EASTERN BAGHDAD, TWO BOMBS NEAR A BUS STATION DETONATED
SIMULTANEOUSLY WEDNESDAY, KILLING TWO CIVILIANS AND WOUNDING 12
OTHERS. HEALTH OFFICIALS CONFIRMED THE DEATH TOLL.

NYC MOSQUE
IMAM DELIVERS REMARKS ON NY MOSQUE DEBATE IN OP-ED

NEW YORK (AP) - THE IMAM BEHIND PLANS FOR AN ISLAMIC COMMUNITY
CENTER NEAR GROUND ZERO WRITES IN A NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL THAT THE
FACILITY WILL INCLUDE "SEPARATE PRAYER SPACES FOR MUSLIMS,
CHRISTIANS, JEWS AND MEN AND WOMEN OF OTHER FAITHS."
THE NATIONAL DEBATE OVER THE CENTER HAS FOCUSED ON PLANS TO
INCLUDE A MOSQUE NEAR THE SITE OF THE SEPT. 11 ATTACKS.
IMAM FEISAL ABDUL RAUF (RAH-OOF') WRITES THAT THE ATTENTION
SURROUNDING THE PROJECT "REFLECTS THE DEGREE TO WHICH PEOPLE CARE
ABOUT THE VERY AMERICAN VALUES UNDER DEBATE."
HIS COMMENTS CAME IN AN EDITORIAL PUBLISHED TUESDAY ON THE NEW
YORK TIMES' WEBSITE.
OPPONENTS SAY THE MOSQUE SHOULD BE MOVED FARTHER AWAY FROM WHERE
ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS DESTROYED THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AND KILLED
NEARLY 2,800 PEOPLE. SUPPORTERS SAY RELIGIOUS FREEDOM SHOULD BE
PROTECTED.

QURAN BURNING
CLINTON LATEST TO CRITICIZE PLAN TO BURN A QURAN ON SEPT. 11

GAINESVILLE, FLA. (AP) - SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM
CLINTON IS THE LATEST OFFICIAL TO CONDEMN THE PLANS OF A FLORIDA
CHURCH LEADER TO BURN COPIES OF THE QURAN ON SEPTEMBER 11.
THE REVEREND TERRY JONES INSISTS THE CONSTITUTION PROTECTS HIS
RIGHT TO PUBLICLY BURN THE BOOK CONSIDERED TO BE HOLY BY MUSLIMS.
HE ALSO SAYS HE'S RECEIVED DEATH THREATS AND HAS TAKEN TO WEARING A
GUN.
SPEAKING AT A DINNER TO BREAK THE DAILY FAST DURING THE MUSLIM
HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN, CLINTON SAID SHE'S HEARTENED BY THOSE WHO
HAVE CONDEMNED WHAT SHE TERMS "THIS DISRESPECTFUL, DISGRACEFUL
ACT."
JONES' PLANS FOR AN "INTERNATIONAL BURN-A-QURAN DAY" WERE
EARLIER CRITICIZED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER, WHITE HOUSE
SPOKESMAN ROBERT GIBBS AND GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS (PEH-TRAY'-UHS).
THE U.S. COMMANDER IN AFGHANISTAN SAYS "IMAGES OF THE BURNING OF A
QURAN WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY BE USED BY EXTREMISTS" THERE.

DETROIT FIRES-HIGH WINDS
WINDS PUSHING FIRE THROUGH 2 DOZEN DETROIT HOMES

DETROIT (AP) - FIRE OFFICIALS SAY FLAMES HAVE SWEPT THROUGH AT
LEAST TWO DOZEN DETROIT HOMES, FANNED BY STRONG WINDS THAT TOPPLED
POWER LINES ACROSS THE CITY AND KNOCKED OUT SERVICE TO AT LEAST
113,000 MICHIGAN HOMES AND BUSINESSES.
TUESDAY NIGHT'S FIRES WERE SCATTERED THROUGH AT LEAST THREE
NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING ALONG SEVERAL BLOCKS ON THE EAST SIDE. THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE REPORTS WIND GUSTS OF UP TO 50 MPH.
NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED.
DETROIT FIRE DEPARTMENT CAPT. STEVE VARNAS TELLS THE DETROIT
FREE PRESS THAT SOME FIRES MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY DEAD TREE LIMBS
FALLING ONTO POWER LINES.

NEW ZEALAND-EARTHQUAKE
BIG AFTERSHOCK FRESHLY DAMAGES NEW ZEALAND CITY

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND (AP) - NEW ZEALAND CONTINUES TO BE
ROCKED BY AFTERSHOCKS IN THE WAKE OF SATURDAY'S 7.1 MAGNITUDE
EARTHQUAKE.
THE LATEST IS A MAGNITUDE-5.1 TEMBLOR THAT HIT CHRISTCHURCH
EARLY WEDNESDAY, FORCING OFFICIALS TO EXTEND A STATE OF EMERGENCY
FOR ANOTHER WEEK. IT ALSO CAUSED MORE DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS HEAVILY
DAMAGED BY THE INITIAL QUAKE.
NOBODY WAS REPORTED PHYSICALLY INJURED BY THE LATEST AFTERSHOCK.
CHRISTCHURCH MAYOR BOB PARKER IS EXPRESSING WHAT MANY RESIDENTS MAY
BE FEELING, WONDERING WHEN IT WILL END. IN HIS WORDS: "IT IS LIKE
LIVING IN A MAELSTROM."

MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS-FRANK
REP. FRANK SLAMS TOWN HALL FOE IN MASS. DEBATE

NEWTON, MASS. (AP) - MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESSMAN BARNEY FRANK HAS
CRITICIZED HIS DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY CHALLENGER AND FORMER TOWN HALL
FOE FOR COMPARING PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA TO ADOLF HITLER.
THE 15-TERM CONGRESSMAN SAID TUESDAY DURING HIS DEBATE WITH
RACHEL BROWN THAT THE 29-YEAR-OLD AND HER SUPPORTERS OFFEND MANY BY
CARRYING SIGNS WITH OBAMA SPORTING A HITLER MUSTACHE.
BROWN ASKED FRANK AT A TOWN HALL LAST YEAR ABOUT HIS SUPPORT FOR
WHAT SHE TERMED THE "NAZI POLICY" OF HEALTH CARE REFORM. FRANK
RESPONDED THAT TALKING TO HER WAS "LIKE ARGUING WITH A DINING ROOM
TABLE."
BROWN SAID FRANK'S CRITICISM MOTIVATED HER TO RUN AGAINST HIM IN
THE SEPT. 14 PRIMARY FOR THE STATE'S 4TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, TWO BUSINESSMEN ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR
PARTY'S NOMINATION.