TODAY'S NEWS, AUGUST 9, 2010

LOCAL NEWS

1970 RAPE ARREST

POLICE ARRESTED A SHENANDOAH MAN YESTERDAY FOR A RAPE CHARGE THAT HAPPENED IN NY IN 1970. RUSSEL BEJAMIN PEARCE, 73, HAD BEEN LIVING UNDER THE NAME RUSSELL STENGLE AND WAS ON THE RUN SINCE HIS INDICTMENT BY A SULLIVAN COUNTY GRAND JURY ON DEC 11, 1970. NEW YORK STATE POLICE INVESTIGATORS ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT WITH THE U.S. MARSHAL REGIONAL FUGITIVE TASK FORCE OF NYC WORKED WITH THE PSP AND SHENANDOAH BOROUGH POLICE TO BRING PEARCE INTO CUSTODY. DURING THE ARREST, PEARCE HIS TRUE IDENTITY AND THAT HE KNEW HE WAS A FUGITIVE. HE WAS ARRAIGNED BEFORE MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGE ANTHONY KILKER AND TAKEN TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON ON $100,000 BAIL. AT HIS ARRAIGNMENT, PEARCE SAID ONLY THAT HE HAD LEUKEMIA AND ASKED WHETHER HE WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO HIS MEDICATIONS. HE WAS TOLD THEY WOULD BE PROVIDED AT THE PRISON. IT WAS UNCLEAR WHETHER HE HAD AN ATTORNEY.

3 OF THE 4 MEN CHARGED IN MT CARMEL ASSAULT TURN THEM SELVES IN, 4TH IS AT LARGE.

THREE OF THE FOUR MEN CHARGED IN THE AUG 18 BEATING OF RICHARD MCPEAK JR IN ASHLAND TURNED THEMSELVES IN YESTERDAY. JASON BOZARTH, 31 OF MT CARMEL, HIS BROTHER, CHRISTOPHER BOZARTH, 35, AND CHRISTOPHER PHELZN JR, 27 OF SHENANDOAH WERE ARRAIGNED ON MULTIPLE CHARGES, INCLUDING FELONY OFFENSES OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT. THE FOURTH MAN ACCUSED, JASON GRADY, 27 OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, DID NOT SHOW UP FOR HIS ARRAIGNMENT FOLLOWING THE THREE OTHER MEN BEFORE MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGE HUGH JONES. GRADY’S ATTORNEY, KEITH HOPPES, DID HOWEVER SHOW UP, AND INFORMED THE JUDGE THAT HIS CLIENT WAS BABY-SITTING. AN ARREST WARRANT WAS THEN ISSUED FOR GRADY. THE 3 MEN IN CUSTODY HAD THEIR BAIL SET AT $50K, BECAUSE THE JUDGE FELT THEY WERE A FLIGHT RISK. RICHARD MCPEAK JR WAS JUMPED AT 221 E. SIXTH AND MARKET STREETS WHILE HE WAS WALKING HIS DOG. DUE TO HIS INJURIES, MCPEAK HAD EMERGENCY SURGERY TO HAVE A PLATE IN HIS BROKEN JAW, HE ALSO SUFFERED OTHER MINOR INJURIES.

GIRARDVILLE WOMAN IN FAIR CONDITION AFTER BEING HIT BY CAR

A GIRARDVILLE WOMAN IS IN FAIR CONDITION AFTER BEING HIT BY A CAR IN BUTLER TOWNSHIP YESTERDAY MORNING. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AROUND 11AM WHEN EUGINA MAZEIKA, 63, WAS WALING ALONG ROUTE 4030 TOWARDS ASHLAND. SHE ATTEMPTED TO CROSS THE HIGHWAYS AND WAS HIT BY DIANA PAVLOSKY. HER 1998 PONTIAN GRAND AM STRUCK MAZEIKA WHERE THE HIGHWAY CURVES AND IS AT AN INCLINE. PAVLOSKY TOLD POLICE SHE DIDN’T SEE THE WOMAN CROSSING THE ROAD UNTIL AFTER SHE CRESTED THE HILL. MAZEIKA WAS TAKEN BY LIFE FLIGHT HELICOPTER TO GEISINGER.


STATE NEWS

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR ED RENDELL SAYS THAT
"WACKOS" ARE TAKING OVER THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN CONGRESS. THE
OBSERVATION CAME YESTERDAY AS RENDELL INTRODUCED DEMOCRATIC
NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN TIM KAINE AT AN EVENT IN PHILADELPHIA
TO RALLY DEMOCRATS FOR THE NOVEMBER MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

SHENANDOAH, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA HAVE
ARRESTED A MAN ON A FOUR-DECADE-OLD RAPE CHARGE IN NEW YORK.
PROSECUTORS IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY TELL THE POTTSVILLE REPUBLICAN AND
HERALD THAT 73-YEAR-OLD RUSSELL BENJAMIN PEARCE HAD BEEN LIVING IN
SHENANDOAH UNDER THE NAME RUSSELL STENGLE FOR 16 YEARS.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA OFFICIALS ARE TALKING ABOUT
CHANGING AND PERHAPS ELIMINATING A BUSINESS FEE THAT CITY BLOGGERS
HAVE PROTESTED AS UNFAIR. THE CITY'S SO-CALLED BUSINESS PRIVILEGE
LICENSE COSTS $50 A YEAR OR $300 FOR A LIFETIME. THE PHILADELPHIA
INQUIRER REPORTS THE CITY SAYS IT APPLIES TO BLOGGERS IF THEY TAKE
MONEY FOR ADVERTISING OR SELL PHOTOGRAPHS OR OTHER GOODS.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - TALKS WITH RETAILERS ARE DELAYING THE
DEPLOYMENT OF KIOSKS THAT WILL ALLOW PENNSYLVANIANS TO BUY WINE
WITHOUT GOING TO STATE-RUN LIQUOR STORES. PENNSYLVANIA LIQUOR
CONTROL BOARD SPOKESWOMAN STACEY WITALEC TELLS WITF-FM THAT
NEGOTIATIONS WITH SUPERMARKETS AND ROUTINE SAFETY TESTING OF NEW
KIOSKS ARE PUSHING BACK THE PLANNED ROLLOUT OF THE WINE VENDING
MACHINES.


NATIONAL NEWS

SEVERE FLOODING
UPDATE: STORM THAT KILLED 2 IN TEXAS CONTINUES NORTH

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM HERMINE
(HUR-MEEN') HAVE MOVED NORTH AFTER KILLING TWO PEOPLE IN TEXAS AND
FORCING MORE THAN 100 HIGH-WATER RESCUES.
THE STORM SYSTEM ALSO PRODUCED SEVERAL TORNADOES.
THREE TORNADOES WERE REPORTED IN OKLAHOMA AS THE SYSTEM MOVED
INTO THAT STATE. A FEW HOMES WERE DAMAGED, A TRACTOR-TRAILER WAS
BLOWN OVER AND POWER LINES WERE TOPPLED.
FLASH FLOOD WATCHES ARE IN EFFECT UNTIL THIS MORNING FOR
OKLAHOMA.
THE STORM ALSO HAS STARTED MOVING INTO ARKANSAS, MISSOURI AND
KANSAS. FLOOD WATCHES ARE IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF THOSE STATES UNTIL
TONIGHT.
HERMINE PACKED A RELATIVELY LIGHT PUNCH WHEN IT MADE LANDFALL
MONDAY NIGHT, AND MANY TEXAS RESIDENTS SAID THEY FELT UNPREPARED
FOR YESTERDAY'S SUDDEN FLOODING.

COLORADO WILDFIRES
TOLL OF COLORADO WILDFIRE GROWS; AT LEAST 135 HOMES DESTROYED

BOULDER, COLO. (AP) - FOUR PEOPLE ARE MISSING IN COLORADO, WHERE
A WILDFIRE BURNING IN THE FOOTHILLS NEAR BOULDER IS ONLY 10 PERCENT
CONTAINED.
AUTHORITIES SAY IT'S DESTROYED AT LEAST 135 HOMES, MAKING THE
BLAZE THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE IN STATE HISTORY.
SPANNING ABOUT 10 SQUARE MILES, IT'S NOT LARGE IN TERMS OF SIZE.
BUT IT'S IN A POPULATED AREA AND HAS INFLICTED A LOT OF PROPERTY
DAMAGE.
WITH SOME 3,500 PEOPLE FORCED TO EVACUATE THEIR HOMES, THE
BOULDER COUNTY SHERIFF SAYS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE LOST EVERYTHING,
INCLUDING SOME FIREFIGHTERS TRYING TO PROTECT THE HOMES OF OTHERS.
FIRE OFFICIALS WERE GRATEFUL FOR COOLER TEMPERATURES AND A LIGHT
RAIN ON WEDNESDAY, BUT CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO WORSEN OVERNIGHT.
WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO PICK UP AND THE HUMIDITY TO FALL. THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS THERE'S A HIGH RISK OF NEW FIRES
SPREADING QUICKLY ALONG THE FRONT RANGE.
CREWS HAVE BEGUN BUILDING CONTAINMENT LINES NEAR THE EASTERN
SIDE OF THE FIRE, WHILE SEVEN HEAVY AIR TANKERS HAVE DROPPED 35,000
GALLONS OF FLAME RETARDANT.
SO FAR, NO DEATHS OR INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED. THE CAUSE OF
THE FIRE REMAINS UNKNOWN.

FATAL POLICE SHOOTING
UPDATE: REPORT: OFFICER INVOLVED IN PREVIOUS SHOOTINGS

LOS ANGELES (AP) - THE LOS ANGELES TIMES REPORTS THE OFFICER WHO
SHOT AND KILLED A KNIFE-WIELDING MAN HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN TWO
PREVIOUS SHOOTINGS WHILE ON DUTY.
LOS ANGELES POLICE CHIEF CHARLIE BECK VOICED SUPPORT FOR OFFICER
FRANK HERNANDEZ IN AN INTERVIEW YESTERDAY WITH THE TIMES. CITING
PRIVACY LAWS, BECK WOULD NOT DISCUSS THE PAST SHOOTINGS OR ANY
DETAILS OF HERNANDEZ'S PERSONNEL FILE. HE TOLD THE TIMES THAT
HERNANDEZ'S PERFORMANCE SHOULD NOT COME UNDER SUSPICION BECAUSE OF
PREVIOUS SHOOTINGS.
AUTHORITIES SAY MANUEL JAMINES WAS THREATENING TWO WOMEN WITH A
KNIFE ON SUNDAY AND WHEN CONFRONTED BY THREE OFFICERS, IGNORED
THEIR ORDERS TO DROP THE WEAPON. HERNANDEZ FIRED TWO ROUNDS WHEN
JAMINES ALLEGEDLY LUNGED AT HIM WITH THE KNIFE.

TIRED PILOTS
NEW: FAA NEAR TO PROPOSING PILOT FATIGUE RULE - AT LAST

WASHINGTON (AP) - AVIATION OFFICIALS ARE ON THE VERGE OF
PROPOSING NEW RULES GOVERNING THE NUMBER OF HOURS AIRLINE PILOTS
MAY WORK IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT TIRED FLIGHT CREWS FROM MAKING
FATAL ERRORS.
THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN 15 MONTHS TO
PROPOSE THE RULES DESPITE PROMISES OF SWIFT ACTION FROM OFFICIALS.
FINAL RULES ARE MONTHS - PERHAPS EVEN A YEAR - DOWN THE ROAD.
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS DECLINED TO DISCUSS THE REASONS FOR THE
DELAY. BUT LAWMAKERS AND INDUSTRY OFFICIALS SAY THE DIFFICULTY HAS
BEEN DEMONSTRATING THAT THE SAFETY BENEFITS OF STRICTER RULES WILL
OUTWEIGH THE COST TO THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY.
THE IMPETUS FOR THE NEW RULES WAS THE CRASH OF A REGIONAL
AIRLINER IN WESTERN NEW YORK ON FEB. 12, 2009, THAT KILLED 50
PEOPLE.

NYC MOSQUE
INVESTOR IN CONTROVERSIAL MOSQUE PROJECT READY TO CASH OUT

NEW YORK (AP) - A MAJOR INVESTOR IN THE PROPERTY PLANNED FOR AN
ISLAMIC CENTER AND MOSQUE NEAR GROUND ZERO SAYS IF SOMEBODY GIVES
HIM $18 MILLION OR $20 MILLION FOR THE SITE, IT'S ALL THEIRS.
HE SAYS HE SUPPORTS THE PROJECT, BUT FOR HIM IT'S "A MERE
BUSINESS TRANSACTION." HE SAYS HE'S ALREADY HAD OFFERS THREE TIMES
HIGHER THAN THE $4.8 MILLION HE PAID FOR THE SITE LAST YEAR.
BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR HE WOULD HAVE FULL AUTHORITY TO SELL THE
SITE. HE SAYS HE WOULD -- BUT HALF OF IT IS OWNED BY THE UTILITY
CONSOLIDATED EDISON, AND IS CONTROLLED THROUGH A LONG-TERM LEASE
THAT ANOTHER REAL ESTATE ENTITY BOUGHT LAST YEAR.

NYC MOSQUE-IMAM
IMAM FEARS MOVING NYC MOSQUE COULD INFLAME TENSION

NEW YORK (AP) - THE IMAM BEHIND A PROPOSED ISLAMIC COMMUNITY
CENTER AND MOSQUE NEAR GROUND ZERO SAYS MOVING IT COULD CAUSE A
VIOLENT BACKLASH FROM MUSLIM EXTREMISTS AND ENDANGER NATIONAL
SECURITY.
IMAM FEISAL ABDUL RAUF (RAH-OOF') SAYS THE DISCOURSE SURROUNDING
THE PLANNED FACILITY HAS BECOME SO POLITICIZED THAT MOVING IT COULD
RESULT IN VIOLENCE.
HE SAYS THE REACTION IN THE MUSLIM WORLD COULD BE MORE FURIOUS
THAN THE ERUPTION OF VIOLENCE FOLLOWING THE 2005 PUBLICATION OF
DANISH CARTOONS OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD.
RAUF MADE THE COMMENTS IN AN INTERVIEW BROADCAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT
ON CNN.
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
FLA. MINISTER HAS NO PLANS TO CANCEL QURAN BURN

GAINESVILLE, FLA. (AP) - SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM
CLINTON, DEFENSE SECRETARY ROBERT GATES, RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND EVEN
ACTRESS ANGELINA JOLIE SAY HE SHOULD NOT GO THROUGH WITH IT.
BUT PASTOR TERRY JONES SAYS HE'S NOT CONVINCED. JONES TOLD
REPORTERS OUTSIDE HIS TINY FLORIDA CHURCH THAT HE WILL GO AHEAD
WITH PLANS TO BURN COPIES OF THE QURAN (KU-RAHN') THIS SATURDAY, TO
MARK THE NINTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 9/11 ATTACKS. HE SAYS HE'S NOT
CONVINCED THAT "BACKING DOWN IS THE RIGHT THING."
HIS PROTEST HAS ALSO DRAWN THE OBJECTION OF THE TOP U.S. AND
NATO COMMANDER, GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS, WHO SAYS IMAGES OF BURNING
QURANS WILL BE USED BY EXTREMISTS, INFLAME PUBLIC OPINION AND
INCITE WORLD WIDE VIOLENCE. AND AT LEAST TWO DOZEN CHRISTIAN
CHURCHES, JEWISH TEMPLES AND MUSLIM ORGANIZATIONS IN THE
GAINESVILLE AREA HAVE MOBILIZED TO PLAN INCLUSIVE EVENTS SATURDAY.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS ORDERED U.S. EMBASSIES AROUND THE WORLD
TO CONVENE "EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEES" TO ASSESS THEIR SECURITY
AHEAD OF THE PLANNED WEEKEND BURNING.

HIGHWAY DEATHS
HIGHWAY DEATHS FALL TO LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 1950

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DYING
ON THE NATION'S ROADS HAS REACHED ITS LOWEST LEVEL IN SIX DECADES.
THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT SAYS TRAFFIC DEATHS FELL 9.7
PERCENT IN 2009 TO 33,808, THE LOWEST NUMBER SINCE 1950. IN 2008,
AN ESTIMATED 37,423 PEOPLE DIED ON THE ROADWAYS.
SAFETY OFFICIALS SAY DEATHS ARE DOWN BECAUSE MORE MOTORISTS ARE
WEARING SEAT BELTS, REFRAINING FROM DRUNKEN DRIVING AND DRIVING
VEHICLES WITH BETTER SAFETY FEATURES.
THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THE RATE OF DEATHS PER 100 MILLION MILES
TRAVELED ALSO DROPPED TO A RECORD LOW. IT FELL TO 1.13 DEATHS PER
100 MILLION MILES IN 2009, COMPARED WITH 1.26 THE YEAR BEFORE.

TV-COLBERT-IRAQ SPECIAL
COLBERT, VP BIDEN FETE US TROOPS

NEW YORK (AP) - COMEDIAN STEPHEN COLBERT (KOHL-BEHR') IS GIVING
TROOPS RETURNING FROM IRAQ HIS OWN PECULIAR KIND OF HOMECOMING -
WITH VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND EVEN A TANK.
COLBERT FILLED THE STUDIO AUDIENCE OF COMEDY CENTRAL'S "THE
COLBERT REPORT" ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT WITH VETERANS AND ACTIVE
TROOPS. HE LAVISHED THEM WITH BEER AND ICE CREAM.
BIDEN SERVED HOT DOGS FROM A VENDING CART. OUTGOING U.S.
MILITARY COMMANDER IN IRAQ GEN. RAY ODIERNO (OH-DEE-EHR'-NOH)
DONNED A TOUPEE OF COLBERT'S HAIR.
COLBERT DECLARED IT AN EVENING "FOR THE TROOPS."
COLBERT'S BIZARRE AND COMEDIC YET EARNEST CELEBRATION WAS TITLED
"BEEN THERE: WON THAT: THE RETURNIFICATION OF THE AMERICAN-DO
TROOPSCAPE." THE COMEDIAN OPENED THE TWO-EPISODE SPECIAL ATOP A
TANK, WHICH ROLLED DOWN A STREET OUTSIDE HIS SHOW'S NEW YORK
STUDIO.

SPOTTED OWL RECOVERY
SPOTTED OWL TO GET REVISED RECOVERY PLAN

PORTLAND, ORE. (AP) - THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE SAYS IT
WILL USE THE BEST SCIENTIFIC DATA TO REVISE A 2008 BUSH
ADMINISTRATION RECOVERY PLAN FOR THE NORTHERN SPOTTED OWL.
THE DRAFT PLAN RELEASED WEDNESDAY SAYS IT WILL TAKE 30 YEARS,
RATHER THAN 10 YEARS, TO RECOVER THE THREATENED BIRD AT AN
ESTIMATED COST OF ABOUT $147 MILLION.
THE SERVICE'S PAUL HENSON SAYS THE AGENCY IS TRYING TO IDENTIFY
THE HIGHEST-QUALITY OWL HABITAT AND THE POTENTIAL NEED FOR
NONFEDERAL LANDS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE OWL'S RECOVERY.
A FEDERAL JUDGE LAST WEEK ORDERED REVISIONS TO THE 2008 RECOVERY
PLAN AND CRITICAL HABITAT DESIGNATION AFTER THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION SOUGHT TO HAVE IT SENT BACK. THE ADMINISTRATION
CITED AN INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT FINDING THE DECISION-MAKING
PROCESS WAS POTENTIALLY JEOPARDIZED BY IMPROPER POLITICAL
INFLUENCE.