TODAY'S NEWS: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR SCHUYLKILL REHABILITATION CENTER

THE POTTSVILLE OUTPATIENT COMPREHENSIVE PHYSICAL REHABILITATION FACILITY HAS RECEIVED A THREE-YEAR ACCREDITATION BY CARF INTERNATIONAL. THE BIG NEWS GAVE NATIONAL RECOGNITION TO SCHUYLKILL REHABILITATION CENTER ONCE AGAIN. THIS BEING THE 8TH CONSECUTIVE THREE YEAR ACCREDITATION FOR THE CENTER REALLY SHOWS THE CENTER’S COMMITMENT TO ACHIEVING THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF PATIENT CARE. THE CARF ACCREDITATION REPRESENTS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ACCREDITATION THAT CAN BE AWARDED TO AN ORGANIZATION. SINCE 1987, SCHUYLKILL REHABILITATION CENTER HAS BEEN STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE WHILE SERVING RESIDENTS OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.


WANTED FRACKVILLE WOMAN APPREHENDED

A WOMAN WANTED FOR RETAIL THEFT AND FOR ASSAULTING A STORE EMPLOYEE IS NABBED IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. STATE POLICE SAY 23-YEAR OLD STEPHANIE KNORR OF FRACKVILLE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY TUESDAY ON A PROBATION VIOLATION. KNORR IS ACCUSED OF STEALING VARIOUS ITEMS FROM THE SEARS STORE AT THE SCHUYLKILL MALL IN DECEMBER. SHE WAS CONFRONTED BY A STORE EMPLOYEE AT WHICH TIME SHE HIT A THE FEMALE EMPLOYEE WITH A TOOL SET AND THEN PUSHED HER. KNORR WAS ABLE TO GET TO HER VEHICLE AND DRIVE OFF. THE STORE EMPLOYEE WAS NOT INJURED IN THE ALTERCATION. KNORR IS NOW LOCKED UP IN THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY JAIL UNABLE TO POST BAIL.

MASSAGE PARLOR INVESTIGATION LEADS TO ARREST

AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM AREA RESIDENTS, DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE DETECTIVES ARRESTED A SCHUYLKILL HAVEN WOMAN IN THE INVESTIGATION OF TWO BUSINESSES ADVERTISED AS MASSAGE PARLORS. SPA 61 AND AROMA SPA, BOTH ALONG ROUTE 61, WERE INVESTIGATED AND THEN SEARCHED. 31-YEAR-OLD SUNJA SONG, ASSOCIATED WITH AROMA SPA, WAS CHARGED WITH PROSTITUTION AND CRIMINAL SOLICITATION. THREE OTHER ARREST WARRANTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED, ONE FOR A FEMALE AT AROMA SPA AND TWO WORKING AT SPA 61. DETECTIVES SEIZED OVER $6,000-DOLLARS CASH, CAMERAS, RECORDS AND OTHER PROSTITUTION-RELATED ITEMS. THE BUSINESSES ARE STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION AND ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CONTACT AUTHORITIES.

ASHLAND PHARMACY ROBBED AT KNIFEPOINT

THE BRACEY PHARMACY IN ASHLAND WAS ROBBED BY TWO TEENAGE MALES LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON. THE TWO MADE OFF WITH 125 30- MILLIGRAM TABLETS OF THE PAINKILLER OXYCODONE. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS A FEMALE AND HER YOUNG SON WERE INSIDE AT THE TIME, ALONG WITH THREE EMPLOYEES. NO WAS HURT DURING THE ROBBERY ON CENTRE STREET, BUT AS OF THURSDAY NIGHT THE SUSPECTS WERE STILL AT LARGE. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL ASHLAND POLICE.

STATE NEWS:

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - INVESTIGATORS USING CADAVER DOGS HAVE FOUND THE FIFTH AND LAST BODY IN THE DEBRIS OF TWO ALLENTOWN ROW HOUSES LEVELED BY A NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION AND FIRE WEDNESDAY NIGHT. AUTHORITIES SUSPECT PROBLEMS WITH AN 83-YEAR-OLD CAST-IRON GAS MAIN FOR THE BLAST.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA'S DIRE FINANCES HAVE GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT SAYING HIS ADMINISTRATION CAN'T EXTEND THE LOW-COST ADULTBASIC HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN WHEN THE PROGRAM RUNS OUT OF MONEY LATER THIS MONTH. CORBETT SAYS HIS PREDECESSOR, ED RENDELL CONTINUED TO ADD PEOPLE TO THE PROGRAM'S ROLLS BUT DIDN'T ENSURE ENOUGH MONEY WAS IN PLACE FOR COVERAGE.

SCRANTON, PA. (AP) - A LAWYER HAS TESTIFIED THAT SHE DELIVERED BOXES FROM HER LEGAL PARTNER TO A JUDGE ACCUSED OF TAKING KICKBACKS. BUT JILL MORAN TOLD A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA COURT YESTERDAY SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS IN THE BOXES. PROSECUTORS SAY THEY WERE STUFFED FULL OF CASH. MORAN IS SET TO RESUME HER TESTIMONY TODAY.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA POLICE HAVE CLEARED A NEW JERSEY WOMAN IN THE DEATH OF A BRITISH WOMAN WHO DIED MONDAY AFTER GETTING COSMETIC INJECTIONS IN HER BUTTOCKS AT A HOTEL NEAR THE CITY'S AIRPORT. POLICE SAY SHE HELPED ARRANGE THE PROCEDURE BUT WASN'T IN THE HOTEL ROOM WHEN THE INJECTIONS WERE GIVEN. POLICE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR THE WOMAN WHO ADMINISTERED THE INJECTIONS.

NATIONAL NEWS:

CAIRO (AP) -ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTERS IN EGYPT ARE GATHERING FOR A HUGE DEMONSTRATION TODAY AGAINST PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK. THEY'RE AMASSING IN CAIRO'S CENTRAL SQUARE AND OUTSIDE THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE, STATE TELEVISION AND OTHER SITES. MEANWHILE, THE COUNTRY'S ARMY SAYS IT'LL BE MAKING A STATEMENT TO THE PEOPLE, FOLLOWING A MEETING THIS MORNING OF THE MILITARY'S SUPREME COUNCIL.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYS EGYPT'S GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO EXPLAIN ITSELF TO ITS PEOPLE. OBAMA IS QUESTIONING WHETHER PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK'S TRANSFER OF MOST OF HIS POWER TO HIS VICE PRESIDENT HAS ANY CREDIBILITY OR MEANING.

TULSA, OKLA. (AP) - THREE WINTER BLASTS IN LESS THAN A WEEK IN
TULSA, OKLA., ARE BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN PEOPLE. INSTEAD OF
RELYING ON THE CITY, CITIZENS ARE PLOWING TULSA'S STREETS, CHECKING ON SENIORS AND DELIVERING GROCERIES TO PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM. THE DIRECTOR OF VOLUNTEER CENTRAL OF GREATER TULSA SAYS MORE PEOPLE ARE CALLING TO ASK WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP.

COLUMBUS, OHIO (AP) - THE FAMILY OF AN OHIO STOREKEEPER SHOT TO DEATH DURING A 1994 ROBBERY SAYS EXECUTING THE MAN RESPONSIBLE WON'T CHANGE ANYTHING. THE OHIO PAROLE BOARD IS EXPECTED TO RULE TODAY ON A REQUEST BY JOHNNIE BASTON FOR MERCY ON THAT GROUNDS THAT HIS VICTIM'S FAMILY DOESN'T WANT HIM PUT TO DEATH AND WOULD BE SATISFIED WITH A LIFE SENTENCE. BASTON IS SCHEDULED TO DIE MARCH 10.

LAGOS, NIGERIA (AP) - MARITIME OFFICIALS SAY PIRATES OFF THE
COAST OF NIGERIA ATTACKED A CHEMICAL TANKER IN THE GULF OF GUINEA IN AN ATTEMPT TO ROB THE SHIP. OFFICIALS SAY THE ROBBERS IN A SUSPICIOUS BOAT OPENED FIRE ON THE VESSEL THURSDAY AND TRIED TO BOARD IT, BUT THE TANKER WAS ABLE TO EVADE THEM. PIRATE ATTACKS HAVE RISEN AROUND NIGERIA IN RECENT YEARS.