TODAY'S NEWS: SEPTEMBER 7, 2010

LOCAL NEWS

JOULWAN PARK COMPLETE

PEOPLE GATHERED ON POTTSVILLE’S EAST SIDE YESTERDAY TO CELEBRATE IN THE DEDICATION OF THE CITY’S NEW PARK, WHICH HAS BEEN WORKED ON FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS. GEN GEORGE A JOULWAN PARK, AT THE CROSSROADS OF EAST NORWEGIAN AND ANDERSON STREETS, IS DEDICATED TO A POTTSVILLE NATIVE AND RETIRE SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER OF NATO. GEORGE JOULWAN WAS THERE FOR THE MONDAY CEREMONY AND STATED THAT “OVER 50 YEARS AGO, THIS PARK WAS ABOUT CHILDREN, AND (HE’S) HAPPY TO SAY TODAY IT IS STILL ABOUT CHILDREN”. HE ALSO TOLD THE CROWD THAT THE VETERANS’ MONUMENT, WHICH WAS DEDICATED A FEW YEARS AGO IN THE PARK, IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT. THE NEW AMPHITHEATRE SITS BEHIND THE SKATE PARK, AND HAS IT’S OWN PARKING LOT, JUST OFF MANOR ROAD ACROSS FROM THE NATIVITY BVM HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL FIELD. YESTERDAY WRAPPED UP THE 4TH AND FINAL PHASE OF THE PARK, THIS BEGAN IN 2004.


DUNKIN DONUTS ON POTTSVILLE’S WEST SIDE GOES TO MULTI-LANE

THE DUNKIN DONUTS ON POTTSVILLE’S WEST SIDE IS GOING MULTI-LANE. A NEW TRAFFIC PATTERN HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED AT THE WESTWOOD ROAD LOCATION. NOW TWO LANES ARE BEING USED TO ENTER THE DRIVE-THRU WITH VEHICLES ALTERING DRIVING UP TO THE SPEAKER POST. JASON BOWER, CO-OWNER OF THE DUNKIN DONUTS, SAYS THE MOVE HELPS TRAFFIC FLOW THROUGH THE BUSY INTERSECTION, ESPECIALLY BUSES NOW THAT SCHOOL IS BACK IN SESSION. THE LOCATION HAS HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH SCHOOL BUSES AND STS BUSES NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THROUGH THERE FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS. THE TWO-LANE DRIVE-THRU WILL BE IN PLACE EVERYDAY BUT SUNDAY. IT NOT ONLY WILL GET CARS OFF THE ROAD, IT WILL GET CUSTOMERS THROUGH THE DRIVE-THRU FASTER.

BURLGARY IN EAST BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIP

POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A BURGLARY IN EAST BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIP. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED SOMETIME BETWEEN 11:45AM AND 2:45PM LAST SATURDAY. POLICE SAY AN UNKNOWN SUSPECT ENTERED THROUGH A BATHROOM WINDOW AT 139 PEACH DRIVE AND STOLE TWO HANDGUNS, A FLAT-SCREEN TELEVISION, A LAPTOP COMPUTER, A DIGITAL CAMERA, MONEY AND JEWELRY. THE HOME BELONGS TO JOSEPH GWYTHER, 53 OF NEW RINGGOLD. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THIS BURGLARY IS TO CONTACT THE FRACKVILLE STATE POLICE.



STATE NEWS

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THE DELAWARE RIVER PORT AUTHORITY HAS
DONATED MORE THAN $775,000 SINCE 2004 TO CHARITIES - MANY WITH
CLOSE TIES TO DRPA BOARD MEMBERS AND EXECUTIVES. THE PHILADELPHIA
INQUIRER REPORTS THAT THE LARGEST BENEFICIARY WAS THE PHILADELPHIA
TRIBUNE, WHICH HAS RECEIVED NEARLY $60,000. ITS PUBLISHER HAS BEEN
A MEMBER OF THE DRPA BOARD SINCE 1996.

LEHIGH VALLEY, PA. (AP) - LEHIGH VALLEY-BASED AIR PRODUCTS AND
CHEMICALS IS BOOSTING ITS OFFER TO BUY RIVAL AIRGAS TO $65.50 PER
SHARE, AND NOW WANTS SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. BASED ON 83.7 MILLION
AIRGAS SHARES OUTSTANDING IN AUGUST, THAT PUTS AIR PRODUCTS' LATEST
BID AT $5.48 BILLION.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - DOCK WORKERS TOSSED PINEAPPLES INTO THE
DELAWARE RIVER IN PHILADELPHIA YESTERDAY TO PROTEST DEL MONTE'S
DECISION TO MOVE ITS PRODUCE OPERATIONS TO A LESS COSTLY PORT. THE
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER REPORTS THE GROUP WILL LOSE 200 TO 300 JOBS
WHEN DEL MONTE SHIFTS ITS CARGO FROM UNION PORTS ACROSS THE RIVER
IN CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, TO NEARBY GLOUCESTER TERMINALS.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - BEN ROETHLISBERGER IS NO LONGER A PITTSBURGH
STEELERS CAPTAIN. ROETHLISBERGER WAS NOT CHOSEN A STEELERS CAPTAIN
IN A VOTE OF HIS TEAMMATES. HE WAS SELECTED THE PREVIOUS TWO
SEASONS. ROETHLISBERGER IS SERVING A FOUR GAME SUSPENSION THAT
FOLLOWED ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN GEORGIA. HE WASN'T
CHARGED IN THE CASE.



NATIONAL NEWS

OBAMA-ECONOMY
UPDATE: GOP ATTACKS OBAMA JOBS PROGRAM

MILWAUKEE (AP) - GOP LEADERS ARE BLASTING PRESIDENT BARACK
OBAMA'S LONG-TERM JOBS PROPOSAL, SAYING THE $50 BILLION PLAN WOULD
ONLY RAISE FEDERAL SPENDING THAT'S ALREADY IN EXCESS.
OBAMA UNVEILED THE PLAN MONDAY AT A LABOR DAY SPEECH IN
MILWAUKEE, PROPOSING THE BILLIONS BE SPENT ON ROADS, RAILWAYS AND
RUNWAYS. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY EVEN IF CONGRESS WERE TO
QUICKLY APPROVE THE PROGRAM, IT WOULDN'T PRODUCE JOBS UNTIL
SOMETIME NEXT YEAR.
BUT IN ADDITION TO REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION, MANY CONGRESSIONAL
DEMOCRATS ARE UNLIKELY TO WANT TO BOOST SPENDING AND INCREASE
FEDERAL DEFICITS JUST WEEKS BEFORE ELECTIONS THAT'LL DETERMINE
CONTROL OF CONGRESS.
OBAMA SAYS REPUBLICANS ARE BETTING THAT BETWEEN NOW AND THE NOV.
2 ELECTIONS, AMERICANS WILL FORGET THE REPUBLICAN ECONOMIC POLICIES
THAT LED TO THE RECESSION. HE SAYS REPUBLICANS HAVE OPPOSED
VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING HE HAS DONE TO HELP THE ECONOMY, AND HAVE
PROPOSED SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT, IN HIS WORDS, "RACK
UP RECORD DEFICITS AND RESULT IN THE WORST ECONOMIC CRISIS SINCE
THE GREAT DEPRESSION."

AFGHANISTAN
NEW: US COMMANDER SAYS BURNING QURAN ENDANGERS TROOPS

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - THE TOP U.S. AND NATO COMMANDER IN
AFGHANISTAN IS WARNING AGAINST AN AMERICAN CHURCH'S PLAN TO BURN
THE MUSLIM HOLY BOOK.
GEN. DAVID PETREUS SAYS BURNING THE QURAN COULD ENDANGER U.S.
TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN AND AMERICANS WORLDWIDE.
IN AN E-MAIL TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, PETRAEUS SAYS "IMAGES OF
THE BURNING OF A QURAN WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY BE USED BY EXTREMISTS IN
AFGHANISTAN - AND AROUND THE WORLD - TO INFLAME PUBLIC OPINION AND
INCITE VIOLENCE."
THE GENERAL'S COMMENTS FOLLOW A PROTEST MONDAY BY HUNDREDS OF
AFGHANS OVER THE PLANS BY THE DOVE WORLD OUTREACH CENTER TO BURN
QURANS ON CHURCH GROUNDS TO MARK THE NINTH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11.
DOVE WORLD OUTREACH CENTER IS AN EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH
BASED IN FLORIDA THAT ESPOUSES ANTI-ISLAM PHILOSOPHY. IT HAS BEEN
DENIED A PERMIT TO SET A BONFIRE BUT HAS VOWED TO PROCEED WITH THE
BURNING.

TROPICAL WEATHER
UPDATE: TROPICAL STORM HERMINE CROSSES INTO TEXAS

MIAMI (AP) - FORECASTERS SAY TROPICAL STORM HERMINE (HUR-MEEN')
HAS CROSSED INTO TEXAS.
THE U.S. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER IN MIAMI SAYS THE CENTER OF
THE STORM HAS CROSSED THE RIO GRANDE.
HERMINE CAME ASHORE MONDAY NIGHT IN NORTHEAST MEXICO. BY EARLY
TUESDAY, THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER SAID THE STORM WAS ABOUT 10
MILES (15 KM) SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF HARLINGEN, TEXAS, AND 20 MILES (30
KM) NORTHWEST OF BROWNSVILLE.
HERMINE HAS MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS OF 60 MPH (95 KM). IT'S
MOVING NORTH-NORTHWEST AT 14 MPH (22 KPH).
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS STILL IN EFFECT FOR RIO SAN
FERNANDO, MEXICO, NORTH TO PORT O'CONNOR, TEXAS.
HERMINE IS THREATENING TO BRING UP TO 8 INCHES OF RAIN TO SOUTH
TEXAS AND POSSIBLY A FOOT IN ISOLATED AREAS.

COLORADO WILDFIRES
AUTHORITIES: 1,000 HOMES EVACUATED IN COLO. FIRE

DENVER (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY A WIND-DRIVEN WILDFIRE IN THE
RUGGED COLORADO FOOTHILLS HAS SPREAD ACROSS 5 1/2 SQUARE MILES,
DESTROYED AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF HOMES AND TRIGGERED EVACUATIONS OF
1,000 OTHERS.
NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED.
LAURA MCCONNELL, A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE FIRE MANAGEMENT TEAM,
COULDN'T SAY HOW MANY STRUCTURES HAVE BURNED DOWN, BUT SHE SAYS AT
LEAST SOME OF THEM WERE HOUSES.
MCCONNELL SAYS THE HOMES OF FOUR FIREFIGHTERS WERE AMONG THOSE
DESTROYED.
THE FIRE STARTED MONDAY IN FOUR MILE CANYON NORTHWEST OF
BOULDER, AND ERRATIC WINDS GUSTING TO 45 MPH SPREAD THE FLAMES BOTH
TO THE WEST AND NORTHEAST.
ABOUT 100 FIREFIGHTERS AND THREE AERIAL TANKERS ARE ON THE
SCENE.

GUATEMALA-MUDSLIDES
DEATH TOLL RISES TO 45 IN GUATEMALA MUDSLIDES; MORE MISSING

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) - THE DEATH TOLL FROM WEEKEND MUDSLIDES IN
GUATEMALA HAS RISEN TO 45, AND MORE PEOPLE REMAIN MISSING.
SEARCHERS ON MONDAY PULLED FIVE MORE BODIES FROM A MUD-COVERED
HIGHWAY WHERE BACK-TO-BACK LANDSLIDES BURIED BUS PASSENGERS AND
THEN THE PEOPLE TRYING TO SAVE THEM. AUTHORITIES SAY 25 PEOPLE ARE
CONFIRMED DEAD THERE AND AT LEAST 15 OTHERS ARE BELIEVED TO BE
STILL BURIED BENEATH THE DEBRIS.
TORRENTIAL RAINS HAVE SATURATED THE GROUND AND SET OFF MORE THAN
A DOZEN LANDSLIDES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
MEANWHILE, IN SOUTHERN GUATEMALA, RESCUE WORKERS USED MOTORBOATS
TO REACH ABOUT 100 FAMILIES CUT OFF BY MASSIVE FLOODING IN ONE TOWN
(SANTA ANA MIXTAN). SOME RESIDENTS SAT ON THEIR ROOFS WAITING TO BE
EVACUATED, WHILE OTHERS TRIED TO DRAG BUNDLES OF THEIR BELONGINGS
THROUGH NECK-DEEP WATER.
GUATEMALA'S PRESIDENT DECLARED MONDAY A NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING
AND SAYS DISASTER PREVENTION EFFORTS MUST BE IMPROVED.

AUSTRALIA-ELECTION
NEW: AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY WINS ENOUGH SUPPORT TO RULE

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA (AP) - PRIME MINISTER JULIA GILLARD'S LABOR
PARTY WILL FORM A MINORITY GOVERNMENT TO RULE AUSTRALIA AFTER TWO
INDEPENDENT LAWMAKERS BACK HER COALITION.
THE DECISION ANNOUNCED TUESDAY BY TONY WINDSOR AND ROBB
OAKESHOTT GIVES GILLARD'S PARTY CONTROL OF 76 SEATS IN THE 150-SEAT
HOUSE OR REPRESENTATIVES.
THE AUG. 21 ELECTIONS FAILED TO DELIVER A CLEAR WINNER.
THE CONSERVATIVE OPPOSITION CONTROLS 74 SEATS.

KOREAS-TENSION
SKOREA: NKOREA ASKS FOR FLOOD AID

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - SOUTH KOREA'S UNIFICATION MINISTRY
SAYS NORTH KOREA HAS REQUESTED RELIEF AID TO HELP IT RECOVER FROM
RECENT FLOODING.
AN OVERFLOWING RIVER LAST MONTH SWAMPED FARMLAND, HOUSES AND
PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN A NORTHWESTERN CITY (SINUIJU) AND SURROUNDING
AREAS. STATE MEDIA REPORTED THAT THE REGION WAS "SEVERELY
AFFECTED" BY THE FLOODING, THOUGH DETAILS OF THE DAMAGE REMAIN
UNKNOWN.
OBSERVERS FEAR THE FLOODING MAY HAVE WORSENED THE COUNTRY'S
CHRONIC FOOD SHORTAGES.
LAST WEEK, SOUTH KOREA'S RED CROSS SENT A MESSAGE TO ITS NORTH
KOREAN COUNTERPART AND PROPOSED SENDING MEDICINES, DAILY
NECESSITIES AND EMERGENCY FOOD.
THE NORTH'S RED CROSS REPLIED OVER THE WEEKEND THAT IT WOULD
PREFER RICE, CEMENT AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT - ITEMS IT SAYS ARE
NECESSARY FOR THE FLOOD RECOVERY EFFORTS
SEOUL SAYS IT'S REVIEWING THE REQUEST.

PAKISTAN-FLOODS
NEW: ANGELINA JOLIE VISITS FLOOD-HIT PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD (AP) - THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS ACTRESS ANGELINA JOLIE
IS VISITING PAKISTAN TO MEET VICTIMS OF THE FLOODS AND HIGHLIGHT
THE NEED FOR INTERNATIONAL HELP.
JOLIE WAS IN THE COUNTRY TUESDAY IN HER ROLE AS A "GOODWILL
AMBASSADOR" FOR THE U.N.'S REFUGEE AGENCY.
INTERNATIONAL RELIEF AGENCIES SOMETIMES ENLIST CELEBRITIES TO
DRAW ATTENTION TO THEIR WORK AND GET MORE FUNDS. THE CELEBRITIES
GET TO SOFTEN THEIR IMAGE BY BEING ASSOCIATED WITH GOOD CAUSES.
THE U.N. GAVE NO DETAILS OF JOLIE'S ITINERARY.

AIR SAFETY-CHILDREN
NEW: MONTANA PLANE CRASH REVIVES 'LAP CHILD' DEBATE

HELENA, MONT. (AP) - FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY OFFICIALS ARE
USING THE CRASH OF AN OVERLOADED PLANE IN MONTANA TO REVIVE A
DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER INFANTS AND TODDLERS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO
TRAVEL ON THE LAPS OF ADULTS.
THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD IS ASKING THE FEDERAL
AVIATION ADMINISTRATION TO REQUIRE CHILDREN UNDER 2 TO BE IN
SEPARATE SEATS AND RESTRAINTS.
A 10-SEATER PLANE CRASHED IN BUTTE IN MARCH 2009, KILLING ALL 14
PEOPLE ABOARD, INCLUDING 7 CHILDREN.
THE FAA SAYS IT WILL LOOK AT THE NEW RECOMMENDATION. IN THE
PAST, IT HAS SAID THE COST OF BUYING AN EXTRA AIRLINE TICKET COULD
FORCE SOME FAMILIES WITH SMALL CHILDREN TO TAKE TO THE HIGHWAYS
INSTEAD OF THE SKIES, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN EVEN MORE CHILD
INJURIES AND DEATHS.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT-ARREST
NEW: FLIGHT ATTENDANT IN PASSENGER TIFF DUE IN NY COURT

NEW YORK (AP) - A FORMER JETBLUE FLIGHT ATTENDANT ACCUSED OF
CURSING OUT AN AIRPLANE PASSENGER AND THEN SLIDING DOWN AN
EMERGENCY EXIT CHUTE IS DUE IN A NEW YORK CITY COURTROOM.
STEVEN SLATER IS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR TUESDAY FOR A ROUTINE
HEARING ON CRIMINAL-MISCHIEF CHARGES.
SLATER ALSO WAS CHARGED WITH RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT AND
TRESPASSING AFTER LAST MONTH'S MELTDOWN ABOARD A JETBLUE AIRWAYS
CORP. FLIGHT FROM PITTSBURGH THAT HAD JUST LANDED AT JOHN F.
KENNEDY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. HIS LAWYER HAS SAID THE PASSENGER'S
"LACK OF CIVILITY" PROMPTED HIS BEHAVIOR.
DEFENSE ATTORNEY DANIEL J. HORWITZ SAYS SLATER IS LOOKING
FORWARD TO HIS DAY IN COURT.
SLATER BECAME WATER COOLER TALK FOR DAYS AFTER HIS AUG. 9
MELTDOWN. ONLINE GROUPS CANONIZED HIM AS A HERO OR VILIFIED HIM AS
A CRANKY BRAT.
HE LEFT JETBLUE LAST WEEK.