LOCAL NEWS: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2010

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR DINNER

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN BOUROGH RESIDENTS AND PENN STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS CAME TOGETHER TUESDAY NIGHT FOR THE THIRD ‘MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR’ DINNER HELD AT THE JERUSALEM LUTHERN CHURCH. PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL COMMUNITY MANAGER OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND COORDINATOR OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, JERRY BOWMAN, SAID THE EVENT’S MAIN GOAL IS BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY. THE DINNER TRADITION BEGAN LAST YEAR AND CONTINUES TO GROW WITH OVER 125 STUDENTS AND RESIDENT IN ATTENDENCE. THE NEXT DINNER IS SCHEDULED TO BE HELD DURING THE SPRING SEMESTER.

FRACKVILLE MAN CHARGED IN BURGLARY

EDWARD MANBECK, 24, OF FRACKVILLE, WAS CHARGED MONDAY NIGHT WITH CRIMINAL TRESPASS, LOITERING,PROWLING AT NIGHT, CRIMINAL MISCHIEF, FORMER CONVICT NOT TO OWN A FIREARM, BURGLARY AND FOUR COUNTS EACH OF THEFT BY UNLAWFUL TAKING AND RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY. MANBECK WAS ARRESTED ON CHARGES FOR ONE BREAK-IN, BUT MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN OTHERS. BAIL IS SET AT $25,000 CASH, WHILE MANBECK IN BEING HELD IN THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON.

DAY CARE CRASH: DRIVER SENTENCES

JENNIFER MOCK, OF POTTSVILLE, WILL SERVE AT LEAST THIRTY DAYS BEHIND BARS AFTER CRASHING HER VEHICLE INTO A DAY CARE WHILE INTOXICATED. MOCK WAS SENTENCED TUESDAY IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COURT BY JUDGE CYRUS PALMER DOLBIN TO 30 DAYS TO SIX MONTHS IN PRISON, PLUS 23 MONTH PROBATION.

NY MEN CHARGED OF ASSAULT & THEFT

PHILLIP HEMMINGER AND ANDREW O’CONNOR, BOTH OF NEW YORK, WAIVED THEIR RIGHT TO A PRELIMINARY HEARING TUESDAY AND ARE HEADED TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COURT. BOTH MEN ARE CHARGED IN THE OCTOBER ROBBERY AND ASSAULT OF A TAMAQUA MAN. JUDGE JAMES FERRIER SET BAIL FOR BOTH MEN AT $200,000.

STATE NEWS:

HARRISBURG- THE STATE HOUSE GAVE FINAL APPROVAL MONDAY TO HOUSE BILL 1926 THAT WOULD EXPAND THE RIGHT OF CITIZENS TO USE DEADLY FORCE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES IN PENNSYLVANIA AND ENHANCE THE STATE'S MEGAN'S LAW. STATE REPRESENTATIVE RICK MIRABITO SAYS THE BILL WILL NOT ONLY PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST CRIMINALS, BUT IT ALSO PROTECTS OUR CHILDREN BY STRENGTHENING MEGAN'S LAW. HOUSE BILL 1926 WOULD REQUIRE THE REGISTRATION OF SEX OFFENDERS WHO ARE HOMELESS, TRANSIENT OR LOSE A PERMANENT ADDRESS DURING THEIR REGISTRATION PERIOD, FURTHER PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN FROM THOSE WHO WOULD PREY ON THE INNOCENT. WHILE IT EXPANDS THE RIGHT TO USE DEADLY FORCE, THE BILL HAS STRICT GUIDELINES. AN INDIVIDUAL MUST HAVE A REASONABLE BELIEF THAT THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM DEATH OR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY. IT ALSO PROTECTS POLICE OFFICERS ACTING IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A PHILADELPHIA MAN ADMITS HE THREATENED VIRGINIA CONGRESSMAN ERIC CANTOR IN A VIDEO POSTED ON YOUTUBE. FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SAY 38-YEAR-OLD NORMAN LEBOON HAS PLEADED GUILTY IN PHILADELPHIA. THEY SAY LEBOON CALLED THE CONGRESSMAN "A LIAR" AND "A LUCIFER" IN THE VIDEO AND VOWED TO SHOOT HIM.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - POLICE SAY A MAN WHO ATTACKED A WOMAN LAST MONTH IN NORTHEASTERN PHILADELPHIA MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF ONE OR BOTH WOMEN IN THE SAME AREA OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS. POLICE SAY A DESCRIPTION PROVIDED BY THE VICTIM OF THE KENSINGTON ATTACK IN EARLY OCTOBER IS BEING CIRCULATED.

LINGLESTOWN, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA SAY TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN A CRASH INVOLVING A TRACTOR-TRAILER. EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS IN DAUPHIN COUNTY SAY THE CRASH HAPPENED ON ROUTE 322 IN MIDDLE PAXTON TOWNSHIP AT ABOUT 9:30 P.M. LAST NIGHT. THEY SAID ANOTHER PERSON WAS ALSO INJURED AND TAKEN TO HERSHEY
MEDICAL CENTER.

NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - A GROUP OF TECHNICAL EXPERTS THAT'S EXAMINED THE GULF OIL SPILL SAYS BP AND ITS CONTRACTORS FAILED TO LEARN FROM "NEAR MISSES" BEFORE THE BLOWOUT IN APRIL. THE GROUP SAYS ALL INVOLVED IGNORED WARNING SIGNS, SHOWING AN "INSUFFICIENT CONSIDERATION OF RISK." A FINAL REPORT ON THE TRAGEDY IS DUE IN JUNE.

WASHINGTON (AP) - BOTH HOUSE DEMOCRATS AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS GO BEHIND CLOSED DOORS TODAY TO DECIDE WHO WILL LEAD THEM IN THE NEXT CONGRESS. WHEN THE DUST SETTLES, IT APPEARS THERE WILL BE NO CHANGES AT THE TOP. NANCY PELOSI IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN DEMOCRATIC LEADER, AND JOHN BOEHNER THE GOP LEADER PUTTING HIM IN PLACE TO BECOME THE NEXT SPEAKER.

NEW YORK (AP) - A RUSSIAN WHO THE U.S. SAYS WAS CONSIDERED "ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST PROLIFIC ARMS TRAFFICKERS" IS JAILED IN NEW YORK CITY, AWAITING A COURT DATE THIS AFTERNOON. THE EXTRADITION OF VIKTOR BOUT FROM THAILAND SPARKED A THREAT FROM MOSCOW THAT IT MAY NO LONGER COOPERATE WITH ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS IN AFGHANISTAN.

BERLIN (AP) - SECURITY IS BEING INCREASED IN GERMANY BECAUSE OF WHAT'S BELIEVED TO BE A GREATER TERRORISM THREAT. GERMANY'S TOP SECURITY OFFICIAL SAYS THEY GOT A TIP ABOUT AN UNSPECIFIED ATTACK PLANNED FOR THE END OF THE MONTH. BUT HE WOULDN'T SAY WHAT COUNTRY THEY GOT THE TIP FROM, OR WHERE THE ATTACK IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

PARIS (AP) - IRAQ'S PRESIDENT SAYS HE FEELS "COMPASSION" FOR THE MAN WHO ONCE SPOKE FOR SADDAM HUSSEIN, AND WILL NOT SIGN OFF ON A DEATH SENTENCE. TARIK AZIZ, WHO IS
74, WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH LAST MONTH FOR HIS ROLE IN SADDAM'S REGIME. HE'S ALREADY BEEN CONVICTED IN TWO OTHER CASES, AND IS SERVING 22 YEARS.