LOCAL NEWS-MONDAY MARCH 7, 2011

ACCIDENT REPORTED ON ROUTE 901, GORDON NAGLE TRAIL, ABOUT QUARTER MILE FROM THE INTERSECTION WITH WEST MARKET STREET, POTTSVILLE. CAR REPORTED ON ITS ROOF.

WINTER STILL HERE

WE'RE BEGINNING THE WORK AND SCHOOL WEEK WITH MORE WINTRY WEATHER. AFTER THE DELUGE OF SEVERAL INCHES OF RAIN SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, THE PRECIP CHANGED TO THE FROZEN VARIETY AND DUMPED AS MUCH AS HALF A FOOT OR MORE IN NORTHERN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY OVERNIGHT. WHILE THE SNOW HAS STOPPED, ROADS ARE SLUSHY RIGHT NOW. AS ALWAYS, WE URGE YOU TO TAKE YOUR TIME WHEN VENTURING OUT THIS MONDAY MORNING.

DEMOCRATS ANNOUNCE CANDIDATES, KLEHA TO RETIRE

MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED DEMOCRATIC PARTY FAITHFUL GATHERED AT GROODY'S CATERING HALL IN ASHLAND SUNDAY TO ANNOUNCE THEIR SLATE OF CANDIDATES FOR THE MAY PRIMARY AND TO SAY GOODBYE TO THEIR CHAIRMAN. CHAIRMAN ED KLEHA REPORTED THAT THE DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DID NOT ENDORSE ANY OF THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR THE JUDGE OF COMMON PLEAS OR FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER, ADVOCATING AN OPEN PRIMARY AS THE ONLY FAIR WAY TO HANDLE THE PRIMARY SLATE. THAT MEANS IT WILL BE UP TO THE VOTERS TO DECIDE WHOM WILL RUN IN NOVEMBER. THE REMAINING INCUMBENTS FOR COUNTY ROW OFFICES UP FOR GRABS WERE ENDORSED, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CONTROLLER MELINDA KANTER, WHO IS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION AS AN INDEPENDENT. JUDGES CYRUS PALMER DOLBIN AND CHARLES MILLER WERE ENDORSED FOR RETENTION. CHAIRMAN KLEHA ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS RETIRING FROM THE JOB AFTER 13 YEARS. HE CITED THE PARTY'S SUCCESS DURING HIS TENURE, AS A TEAM...TAKING THE DEMOCRATS FROM DORMAT TO DOMINANT PARTY IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. THE DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE A SUCCESSOR SHORTLY.

BRIDGE PROJECTS ON THE DOCKET

PENNDOT HAS ANNOUNCED SEVERAL BRIDGE REPAIR PROJECTS IN THE COUNTY. THAT'S ACCORDING TO RON YOUNG, PRESS OFFICER FOR PENNDOT DISTRICT 5, WHO SAYS THAT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, THE BRIDGE ON ROUTE 61, CROSSING THE READING, BLUE MOUNTAIN AND NORTHERN RAILWAY WILL BE REPLACED AND A SMALL BRIDGE NEAR THE LIGHT AT MAUCH CHUNK STREET AND ROUTE 61 AS WELL. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD INDICATES THE PROJECTS WILL COST A TOTAL OF 6.7 MILLION DOLLARS. THE POTTSVILLE STREET BRIDGE, JOINING PORT CARBON WITH POTTSVILLE OVER MILL CREEK WILL ALSO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE MILL STRET BRIDGE. THE TIMETABLE FOR THE WORK IS FLEXIBLE, ACCORDING TO YOUNG.

DEATH INVESTIGATION

SHENANDOAH POLICE AND STATE POLICE AT FRACKVILLE ARE INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF A SHENANDOAH MAN. EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WERE CALLED TO THE HOME AT 538 EAST MOUNT VERNON STREET AROUND 2PM SUNDAY FOR A MAN UNRESPONSIVE. THEY FOUND 54 YEAR OLD MICHAEL SOSNA IN THE HOME, DECEASED. AN AUTOPSY WILL BE CONDUCTED ON SOSNA, AND THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. IF ANYONE HAS INFORMATION THAT CAN AID POLICE, CALL 874-5300.

SCRANTON, PA. (AP) - A BUS CRASH ON I-380 NEAR SCRANTON HAS LEFT ONE PERSON DEAD AND AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF INJURED. A LACKAWANNA COUNTY OFFICIAL SAYS THERE ARE MULTIPLE INJURIES BUT THE EXACT NUMBER AND SEVERITY ISN'T KNOWN. THE CRASH HAPPENED LATE LAST NIGHT.

PEORIA, ILL. (AP) - WORKERS WITH CATERPILLAR HAVE APPROVED A NEW SIX-YEAR LABOR DEAL. NEITHER THE COMPANY NOR THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS HAS RELEASED DETAILS ON THE AGREEMENT, WHICH COVERS WORKERS AT THE COMPANY'S PLANT IN YORK, ALONG WITH ILLINOIS, COLORADO AND TENNESSEE.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - HOSPITAL READMISSIONS FOR COMPLICATIONS SUCH AS INFECTIONS ARE REPORTEDLY COSTING STATE TAXPAYERS MILLIONS. THE PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW SAYS AN ANALYSIS OF DATA FROM THE STATE'S
HEALTH CARE COST CONTAINMENT COUNCIL FOUND HOSPITALS CHARGED MORE
THAN $1.25 BILLION FOR SUCH REPEAT HOSPITAL STAYS IN 2009 ALONE.

DOYLESTOWN, PA. (AP) - A MANSLAUGHTER TRIAL IS SET TO OPEN TODAY FOR STACEY STRAUSS, A COUNSELOR AT A LANGHORNE HOME FOR DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED PEOPLE, IN LAST JULY'S DEATH OF A PATIENT LEFT IN A HOT VAN. PROSECUTORS SAY STRAUSS WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE OF 20-YEAR-OLD BRYAN NEVINS.

WILMINGTON, DEL. (AP) - RISQUE BEHAVIOR AND SUGGESTIONS OF POSSIBLE FRAUD HAVE BOTH MARKED THE BANKRUPTCY OF TRIBUNE CO. AS IT HEADS TO COURT TODAY FOR A TWO-WEEK HEARING THAT WILL DETERMINE ITS FATE. THERE ARE COMPETING REORGANIZATION PLANS AND THE THREAT OF FUTURE LAWSUITS. AND ONE OF THE OLDEST U.S. MEDIA COMPANIES IN BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION WILL LIKELY END UP IN THE HANDS OF ITS CREDITORS.

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND (AP) - NEW ZEALAND'S PRIME MINISTER SAYS THE EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE IS SO BAD, PARTS OF CHRISTCHURCH MAY HAVE TO BE ABANDONED RATHER THAN REBUILT. JOHN KEY SAYS THOUSANDS OF BUILDINGS WILL HAVE TO BE DEMOLISHED. THE MAGNITUDE 6.3 QUAKE LAST MONTH KILLED AT LEAST 166 PEOPLE.

GRANBURY, TEXAS (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN NORTH TEXAS SAY A MOBILE
HOME FIRE HAS KILLED SIX PEOPLE AND INJURED THREE OTHERS AFTER AN
ALL-NIGHT BIRTHDAY PARTY. HOOD COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL BRIAN FINE SAYS
INVESTIGATORS ARE STILL TRYING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE BLAZE
EARLY SUNDAY MORNING AT A DOUBLE-WIDE LAKEFRONT MOBILE HOME. THE
AREA IS 65 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DALLAS.

ALAMEDA, CALIF. (AP) - OPENING STATEMENTS ARE SET TODAY IN THE COURT-MARTIAL OF THE DRIVER OF A COAST GUARD VESSEL IN A 2009 CRASH THAT KILLED AN 8-YEAR-OLD BOY. PETTY OFFICER PAUL RAMOS HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO CHARGES OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER, NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, HAZARDING A VESSEL AND DERELICTION OF DUTY. THE COAST GUARD VESSEL RAN OVER THE OTHER BOAT WHILE RESPONDING TO A CALL IN SAN DIEGO BAY.

YONKERS, N.Y. (AP) - TEXTING WHILE DRIVING IS SEEN AS AN INCREASING PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY AMONG TEENS, AND A PROJECT BEGINS TODAY TO ADDRESS IT. CONSUMER REPORTS AND THE U.S. TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT ARE TEAMING UP TO MAKE SURE TEENAGERS KNOW ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DISTRACTED DRIVING. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY RAY LAHOOD IS VISITING THE MAGAZINE'S NEW YORK HEADQUARTERS TODAY TO UNVEIL THE JOINT PROJECT.