TODAY'S NEWS:FRIDAY OCT. 8, 2010

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN ROBBERY

A ROBBERY AT GOOSEBERRY FARMS TRUCK STOP IN PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY HAPPENED JUST AFTER ONE THIS MORNING. THE SUSPECT ENTERED THE TRUCK STOP AND CONFRONTED THE TWO CLERKS POINTING A WEAPON AT THEM AND DEMANDING CASH. THE SUSPECT THEN MADE THE CLERKS DUMP AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF CASH FROM THE REGISTER DRAWS INTO A BAG. THE SUSPECT THEN FLED THE SCENE ON FOOT EASTBOUND TOWARDS 1-81. THE SUSPECT IS APPROX SIX FEET TWO INCHES, ONE-HUNDRED AND SEVENTY POUNDS, WEARING A BLUE HOODED SWEATSHIRT, AND LIGHT COLORED JEANS.

HATE CRIME

TESTIMONY BEGAN EARLY THURSDAY MORNING IN THE HATE CRIME TRIAL INVOLVING DERRICK DONCHAK AND BRANDON PIEKARSKY. EMERGENCY PERSONEL, WHICH RESPONDED TO THE SCENE, WERE CALLED TO TESTFY, AND STATED THE CONDITION OF LUIS RAMIREZ BEFORE BEING LIFEFLIGHTED. ELIZABETH SCHLACK, A SHENANDOAH RESIDENT, CALLED 911 TO REPORT WHAT SHE DESCRIBED AS, "TEENAGERS FIGHTING AND BEATING EACH OTHER."BEN LAWSON AND BRIAN SCULLY, BOTH INVOLVED IN THE JULY 12TH 2008 INCIDENT, TOOK THE STAND LATE MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON. BOTH MEN RECOLLECTED THE EVENTS OF THE NIGHT IN QUESTION. BARRY BOYER, OF SHENANDOAH, TESTIFIED EXPLAINING THE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED AFTER THE FIGHT, AND INTO THE FOLLOWING DAY. BOYER WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE FIGHT, BUT ARRIVED AT THE SCENE WITH PIEKARSKY LATER IN THE NIGHT.EILEEN BURKE, OF SHENANDOAH, WAS THE LAST TO TESTIFY ON THURSDAY AND RECOUNTED WHAT SHE WITNESSED FROM OUTSIDE HER HOME. BURKE CALLED 911 AFTER SEEING A GROUP GATHERED OUTSIDE AND YELLING.TESTIMONY IS SCHEDULED TO CONTINUE THIS MORNING, AFTER 9:00, AT THE UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE IN SCRANTON.

FIRE INVESTIGATION

AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ORGIN AND CAUSE OF THE FIRE THAT DESTROYED SEVERAL DWELLINGS ALONG WATER STREET IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY WAS CONDUCTED ON THURSDAY. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN 33-35 WATER STREET. NO CAUSE HAS BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. DAMAGE IS ESTIMATED TO BE OVER $250,000. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.

MURPHY JEWELERS ROBBERY

AFTER A TRIO OF MEN ROBBED MURPHY JEWLERS BACK IN 2007, TWO MEN ARE CHARGED. THOMAS LEE BROWN JR. WAS CHARGED WEDNESDAY WITH CONSPIRACY, ROBBERY, AND HAVING A FIRE-ARM. BALIR AKEEN STARKEY PLEAD GUILTY TO ARMED ROBBERY IN AUGUST AND WILL FACE SENTENCING IN NOVEMBER. ACCORDING TO THE REPULICAN HERALD, THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION IS STILL INVESTIGATING AND WORKING TO IDENTIFY THE THIRD ROBBER.

CHILD SAFETY SEATS

THREE IN FOUR CHILD SAFETY SEATS ARE INCORRECTLY INSTALLED. STATE POLICE URGE PARENTS TO HAVE A TROOPER INSPECT THIER SEATS. LAST MONTH ABOUT SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY SEATS INSPECTED BY PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE WERE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. PENNSYLVANIA LAW REQUIRES THAT CHILDREN UNDER FOUR YEARS OLD BE FASTENED IN AN APPROVED CHILD PASSENGER RESTRAINT. CHILDREN AGES FOUR TO EIGHT MUST USE A BOOSTER SEAT, AND CHILDREN UNDER TWELVE ARE REQUIRED TO RIDE IN THE REAR SEAT WITH A SEAT BELT.

FREE PARENTING PROGRAM

THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY'S VISION AND THE NORTH SCHUYLKILL SPARTAN TASKFORCE WILL PRESENT "TALKING TO YOUR CHILDREN-NO SUBJECT IS TABOO" MONDAY, OCTOBER 11TH AT 6PM. A PANEL PRESENTATION BY LOCAL PHYSICIANS AND A LICENSED SOCIAL WORKER WILL EXPLORE THE ISSUES THAT FACE THOSE RAISING CHILDREN TODAY. THOSE ATTENDING WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND TWO OF SEVEN TOPIC SESSIONS WHICH INCLUDE: SOCIAL NETWORKING AND INTERNET SAFETY, PARENTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT, DRUG AND ALCOHOL ISSUES, AND MORE. THE FREE PROGRAM WILL ALSO FEATURE A NUMBER OF LOCAL HEALTH AND SERVICE AGENCIES THAT WILL HAVE DISPLAYS AND MATERIALS FOR THOSE ATTENDING. DISPLAYS OPEN AT 5:30. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED BY CALLING SCHUYLKILL COUNTY'S VISION OFFICE AT 570.322.6097.

SUICIDE PREVENTION ROUNDTABLE

THE NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA MANUFACTURERS AND EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION HELD THIER FIRST HUMAN RESOURCES ROUNDTABLE OF THE SEASON THURSDAY. INFORMATION ON SUICIDE PREVENTION INCLUDING: FACTS, WARNING SIGNS, AND STRATEGIES WAS PROVIDED AS WELL AS GATEKEEPER TRAINING. THE QPR GATEKEEPER TRAINING TAUGHT THE THREE STEPS, QUESTION, PERSUADE, REFER, TO HELPING SOMEONE THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE. THE MEETING TOOK PLACE IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY WHICH HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST SUICIDE RATES IN PENNSYLVANIA.

TRICK OR TREATING

TRICK OR TREAT NIGHT IN THE CITY OF POTTSVILLE WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, FROM 6:00 PM TO 8:00 PM.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS JOINING PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AT A RALLY IN PHILADELPHIA THIS WEEKEND THAT AIMS TO INVIGORATE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS AHEAD OF TWO CRUCIAL STATEWIDE RACES. OBAMA ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK THAT HE WOULD BE JOINED SUNDAY BY U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE JOE SESTAK AND GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE DAN ONORATO.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A MENTALLY DISABLED TEENAGER IS DEAD AFTER PHILADELPHIA POLICE SAY THEY HAD TO USE A STUN GUN ON HIM. MICHELLE
RYNKIEWICZ TELLS WPVI-TV HER 18-YEAR-OLD COUSIN, PATRICK JOHNSON, HAD THE INTELLIGENCE LEVEL OF A 5- TO 7-YEAR-OLD. SHE SAYS HER GRANDMOTHER CALLED POLICE BECAUSE THE TEEN WAS HAVING A TANTRUM AND OUT OF CONTROL.

LANCASTER, PA. (AP) - A CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA MAN IS BEHIND BARS AFTER A SIX-DAY MANHUNT. POLICE SAID 36-YEAR-OLD VALENTIN MONCLOVA-BURGOS WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AT A LANCASTER HOUSE AFTER HE WAS FOUND HIDING IN A THIRD FLOOR CRAWLSPACE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. HE WAS WANTED IN CONNECTION WITH AN ARMED HOME INVASION IN QUARRYVILLE LAST MONTH AND A HIGH SPEED POLICE CHASE IN LANCASTER LAST WEEK.

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - OFFICIALS AT LEHIGH VALLEY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SAY A COLONY OF FERAL CATS IS CREATING SAFETY CONCERNS. OFFICIALS SAY THEY'RE NOT SURE HOW TO GET RID OF THEM. AN AIRPORT AUTHORITY OFFICIAL SAYS THE CATS CAN ATTRACT COYOTES, FOX, AND HAWKS THAT MAY GET IN THE WAY OF AIRPLANES.

WASHINGTON (AP) - IF THE EXPERTS ARE RIGHT ABOUT TODAY'S UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WILL FACE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER WITH UNEMPLOYMENT LIKELY ABOVE 9.5 PERCENT. ECONOMISTS ESTIMATE PRIVATE EMPLOYERS ADDED A NET TOTAL OF 75,000 JOBS IN SEPTEMBER. BUT THEY EXPECT THAT NUMBER TO BE OFFSET BY THE LOSS OF AN EQUAL NUMBER OF TEMPORARY CENSUS JOBS. THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS PROJECTED TO RISE TO 9.7 PERCENT FROM 9.6 PERCENT.

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - AN OFFICIAL SAYS SIX AFGHAN MILITIAMEN HAVE BEEN KILLED AFTER FIRING ON A U.S. HELICOPTER IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN. THE MEN DIED WHEN THE HELICOPTER SHOT BACK. AN OFFICIAL SAYS HUNDREDS OF ANGRY VILLAGERS CARRIED THE BODIES TO THE GOVERNOR'S HOME TO PROTEST, SHOUTING "DEATH TO AMERICA!" AND "LONG LIVE THE TALIBAN!"

KARACHI, PAKISTAN (AP) - POLICE HAVE STEPPED UP SECURITY IN PAKISTAN'S LARGEST CITY TODAY AFTER AN ATTACK ON A POPULAR SUFI MUSLIM SHRINE KILLED EIGHT PEOPLE. TWO SUICIDE BOMBERS ATTACKED THE SHRINE YESTERDAY DURING ITS BUSIEST TIME OF THE WEEK. POLICE IN KARACHI STEPPED IN AFTER ANGRY MOBS RAMPAGED THROUGH THE CITY.

BUENA PARK, CALIF. (AP) - TWO ROLLERCOASTER TRAINS COLLIDED AT CALIFORNIA'S KNOTT'S BERRY FARM WHEN A TRAIN LEAVING THE STATION DIDN'T MAKE IT OVER THE FIRST HILL AND ROLLED BACK. AUTHORITIES SAY 10 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN YESTERDAY'S ACCIDENT ON THE PONY EXPRESS BUT THE INJURIES WERE MINOR.

WASHINGTON (AP) - AN ANALYSIS OF CENSUS DATA SHOWS THE STRUGGLING ECONOMY HAS HELPED TO REVERSE A LONG-TIME TREND OF WHO'S GETTING MARRIED. THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER ANALYSIS SAYS YOUNG ADULTS WITH COLLEGE DEGREES ARE NOW MORE LIKELY TO BE MARRIED THAN THOSE WHO ARE LESS EDUCATED. IT USED TO BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND.