TODAY'S NEWS:THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2010

FIRE COMPANY EVICTED AFTER 90 YEARS

AFTER 90 YEARS OF OPERATION, RAINBOW HOSE COMPANY IN WADESVILLE IS BEING SHUT DOWN. THE NEW CASTLE TOWNSHIP FIRE COMPANY IS BEING EVICTED BY THEIR OWNERS READING ANTHRACITE. THE COAL COMPANY STARTED THE EVICTION PROCESS ALMOST 11 YEARS AGO AND NOW THE FIRE COMPANY MUST BE OUT BY MARCH 15. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, THE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO BETWEEN 100 AND 120 EMERGENCY CALLS A YEAR.

COUNTY DODGES TAX HIKE

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PUSHES THROUGH SEVEN STRAIGHT YEARS OF NO TAX HIKE AFTER A UNANIMOUS VOTE ON A $47.6 MILLION-DOLLAR BUDGET FOR 2011. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THE 11.98-MILL PROPERTY TAX WILL REMAIN AND THE 3.5 MILLION-DOLLAR DEFICIT WILL BE USED FROM AN UNRESTRICTED TO CLOSE THE GAP. CURRENTLY, THE FUND IS WORTH OVER 10 MILLION. THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DON’T BELIEVE THE DEFICIT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR A TAX HIKE RIGHT NOW, AND WANT TO CONTINUE TO TIGHTEN BUDGETS.

PENNDOT URGES TRAVELS TO MONITOR WEATHER

WITH WEATHER FORECASTS OFFERING UNCERTAIN OUTCOMES FOR CHRISTMAS WEEKEND, PENNDOT IS URGING MOTORISTS TO CLOSELY MONITOR FORECASTS AND MAKE SMART DECISIONS BEFORE DECIDING TO TRAVEL. ANYONE WITH TRAVEL PLANS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A MAJOR WINTER STORM THAT COULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON ALL OR PARTS OF PENNSYLVANIA THIS WEEKEND ACCORDING PENNDOT IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR MOTORISTS TO CAREFULLY MONITOR WEATHER FORECASTS AND CHECK CONDITIONS ALONG THEIR ENTIRE ROUTE BEFORE TRAVELING THIS WEEKEND. IF A STORM DOES STRIKE, PENNDOT ADVISES MOTORISTS TO AVOID TRAVEL UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL, USE COMMON SENSE AND HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS OF ROAD CONDITIONS. PENNDOT CREWS WILL BE PLOWING AND TREATING ROADWAYS TO KEEP ROADS PASSABLE, NOT COMPLETELY FREE OF ICE AND SNOW. PENNDOT WILL CONTINUE TO TREAT ROADWAYS THROUGHOUT THE STORM UNTIL PRECIPITATION STOPS AND ROADS ARE CLEAR.

STATE NEWS:

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE COMMISSION IS MAKING A POLICY U-TURN AND DECIDING TO RESUME PRINTING THE TOLL SCHEDULE ON TICKETS IT HANDS OUT TO MOTORISTS WHO PAY CASH. BUT THE PATRIOT-NEWS OF HARRISBURG REPORTS THAT TICKETS WITH THE FARE INCREASES CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 2ND WON'T BE AVAILABLE FOR A FEW MONTHS.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SAYS IT WILL NOT CHARGE TWO POLICE OFFICERS IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF A MAN AFTER THE 2009 ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE. PROSECUTORS HAVE INFORMED THE FAMILY OF NICHOLAS HANIOTAKIS THAT IT WILL NOT PURSUE CHARGES AGAINST STATE POLICE TROOPER SAM NASSAN AND PITTSBURGH POLICE SERGEANT TERRY DONNELLY.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - POLICE SAY A GUNMAN WHO SHOT TWO PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICERS DURING A STANDOFF WAS THE SAME MAN WHO SHOT AND WOUNDED AN OFFICER LAST WEEK. AUTHORITIES SAY 20-YEAR-OLD NASUIL MARTINEZ IS HOSPITALIZED IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER ACCIDENTALLY SHOOTING HIMSELF IN THE NECK DURING A THREE-HOUR STANDOFF WITH POLICE YESTERDAY MORNING.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - LEADERS IN THE PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE ARE SET ON WHO WILL CHAIR COMMITTEES FOR THE TWO-YEAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT STARTS NEXT MONTH. DEMOCRATIC LEADER FRANK DERMODY AND REPUBLICAN LEADER MIKE TURZAI BOTH ANNOUNCED THEIR COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS YESTERDAY. REPUBLICANS WILL HAVE MAJORITY CONTROL IN THE CHAMBER, SO DEMOCRATS WILL SERVE AS RANKING MEMBERS.

NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYS THE U.S. IS A NATION THAT "WELCOMES THE SERVICE OF EVERY PATRIOT" AND HE HOPES GAYS DISMISSED UNDER "DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL" CONSIDER REENLISTING. IN SIGNING THE REPEAL OF THE BAN ON OPENLY GAY MILITARY SERVICE, OBAMA FRAMED THE ISSUE AS A MATTER OF CIVIL RIGHTS.

CHICAGO (AP) - THE CHICAGO BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS IS EXPECTED TO MAKE FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF RAHM EMANUEL'S MAYORAL CANDIDACY OFFICIAL AT A MEETING TODAY. A HEARING OFFICER RECOMMENDED HIS NAME APPEAR ON THE FEBRUARY BALLOT ALTHOUGH HE HAS SPENT MUCH OF THE LAST TWO YEARS LIVING IN WASHINGTON WORKING FOR PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA. HIS CHICAGO RESIDENCY HAD BEEN CHALLENGED.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA BEGINS A HOLIDAY VACATION ON A HIGH NOTE. HE LEFT WASHINGTON YESTERDAY FOR HAWAII HAVING SECURED VICTORIES ON TWO TOP PRIORITIES -- REPEALING THE MILITARY'S BAN ON GAYS SERVING OPENLY AND RATIFYING AN ARMS TREATY WITH RUSSIA. IF THE REST OF THE YEAR GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN, HE'LL BE VERY LOW KEY UNTIL THE NEW YEAR.

LONDON (AP) - DAYS OF DISRUPTION CAUSED BY WINTRY WEATHER IN EUROPE HAVE FINALLY GIVEN WAY TO THE WORD NORMAL. BRITAIN'S HEATHROW AIRPORT IS USING THE WORD TO DESCRIBE MOST FLIGHT OPERATIONS TODAY WITH FEW CANCELATIONS OR DELAYS. MOTORING ORGANIZATIONS SAY MILLIONS OF DRIVERS WOULD MAKE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY JOURNEYS OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS, LIKELY SNARLING ROADS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. TRAIN OPERATORS SAY THE COLD IS LIKELY TO MEAN REDUCED SERVICES.

POCHEON, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - SOUTH KOREA HAS CONCLUDED ITS LARGEST AIR AND GROUND FIRING DRILLS OF THE YEAR IN A SHOW OF FORCE A MONTH AFTER NORTH KOREA'S DEADLY SHELLING OF A FRONT-LINE ISLAND. THE EXERCISE SIGNALED SEOUL'S DETERMINATION TO DEMONSTRATE AND HONE ITS MILITARY STRENGTH, EVEN AT THE RISK OF FURTHER ESCALATION WITH NORTH KOREA.