TODAY'S NEWS: SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2011

Girardville Parade Today

The 8th Annual Girardville St. Patrick’s Parade is scheduled to step off today at 12 Noon, rain or shine, in the Borough of Girardville, Schuylkill County. Special dignitaries taking part in this years’ parade are Lt. Governor Jim Cawley, US Senator Robert P. Casey Jr., and Congressman Tim Holden. State Route 4030 (in the area of Gilberton Borough) will be closed effective 9am on Sat March 19th (Parade Day). Route 54 will remain open all day to traffic. Parade spectators and participants are asked to utilize Route 61 (in Ashland), and proceed East on Route 54 toward the Borough of Girardville.

Butler Township Police still looking for missing Gordon man

After finding Kevin Lucas' vehicle Friday morning near the Schuylkill Mall in New Castle Township, state police helicopters, K-9 units and foot patrols scoured the area for seven hours looking for traces of the Gordon man missing since March 7. As reported by the Republican and Herald, Lucas was last seen inside Wachovia Bank on Lehigh Avenue, Frackville, at noon March 7. Lucas' family and law enforcement are seeking the public's help to track him down. Butler Township police found his vehicle - a blue and tan Chevrolet Tahoe - parked on a hill near the mall Friday morning. Township police Lt. Daniel Holderman said other than the vehicle, no other clues were found in the area. Police were contacted by two people who reported having seen Lucas' Tahoe, but it is unclear how long it had been parked there. Holderman said it was visible from Route 61. Born Oct. 4, 1977, Lucas is Caucasian, is 6 feet 1 inch tall, has brown hair and eyes and weighs 340 pounds. Anyone with information is asked to contact township police at 875-4131 or the Schuylkill County Communications Center at 462-1991

Driver’s Licenses won’t be processed next Saturday due to upgrades

Some driver’s license services will not be available at PennDOT driver license centers on Saturday, March 26 due to a scheduled upgrade of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Problem Driver Pointer System, or PDPS. The federal government requires states to use the system to determine if applicants have outstanding driver sanctions in other states. All outstanding sanctions must be reconciled before individuals can obtain a driver’s license or learner’s permit in another state. Due to the upgrade, the following services will not be available at the centers next Saturday: initial issuance of learner’s permits and driver’s licenses, extensions/replacements of learner’s permits, driver’s license replacements (duplicates), commercial driver’s license renewals, and out-of-state driver’s license transfers. The following services will be available as usual on Saturday, March 26: initial issuance and replacement of photo identification cards, non-commercial driver’s license renewals (Note: The renewal can be completed provided the customer has not received a notice from PennDOT stating they have an outstanding out-of-state driver sanction.) Learner’s permit testing and on-the-road skills testing. However, a learner’s permit or a driver’s license cannot be issued upon successful completion of the test on March 26. Customers who pass the knowledge or on-the-road skills tests will need to return to the driver license center on or after the next business day to obtain their product.

Minersville man admits to stealing swords

A 19-year-old Minersville man confessed Friday to a burglary earlier this month, borough police said. According to the Republican and Herald, Michael J. Reed, 308 Carbon St., was arrested Friday morning and charged with one count of burglary and two counts of criminal trespass, all felony offenses, as well as four misdemeanor counts each of theft by receiving stolen property and receiving stolen property. Patrolman Jeffrey Bowers charged Reed in connection with the theft of four swords from a home at 320 Carbon St. Bowers said Anthony Sylvester reported coming home on March 10, finding the kitchen door had been entered through and three samurai swords and one medieval-style sword were missing. The investigation determined that on March 8, Nicholas Andrews and another man were at Sylvester's home to discuss repairs that the homeowner wanted. Andrews admired the swords and asked Sylvester about them. Andrews, who is not charged, then went to Reed's home and mentioned the swords he had seen. Reed was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $35,000 straight cash bail.

Latest Pennsylvania news, sports, business and entertainment

MONTROSE, Pa. (AP) - A priest is facing charges of having inappropriate sexual contact with a teen at Our Lady of Solitude Retreat in Little Meadows. The Rev. Phillip Ferrara surrendered to
state police. The 48-year-old Eastern Rite Catholic priest is charged with corruption of a minor and indecent assault.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A Philadelphia man upset over his lost dentures admits he threatened a Pennsylvania congresswoman's staff. Federal prosecutors say 44-year-old Jesse Keel pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor threat charge. Keel faces up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine when he is sentenced May 23.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - An outspoken teacher who criticized the Philadelphia School District will be back at work Monday. The Philadelphia Daily News reports the district and Audenried High
School teacher Hope Moffett have reached an agreement. She was accused her of giving students transit tokens to attend a rally against district plans for the school.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A judge has removed a lawyer defending the wife of a Philadelphia abortion doctor in a high-profile murder and conspiracy case. The judge said Mary Maran (muh-RAN') can't represent Pearl Gosnell because a lawyer in Maran's firm represents Dr. Kermit Gosnell. The doctor is charged with killing a patient and seven viable babies.

Latest National News

BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) - Moammar Gadhafi says the U.N. resolution authorizing international military intervention in Libya is "invalid." The Libyan leader says he sent a message to President Barack Obama and other world leaders defending his decision to attack rebel cities. Leaders from the Arab world, Africa, the U.S. and other Western powers are holding urgent talks in Paris today over possible action.

BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) - A black cloud of smoke has been hanging over Benghazi in eastern Libya today and the sound of artillery and gunfire can be heard. This despite the declaration of a cease-fire by Moammar Gadhafi's government. The smoke came from a warplane shot down by rebels that was seen bombing the outskirts of their capital.

VIENNA (AP) - A diplomat with access to U.N. radiation tracking from Japan's crippled nuclear plant says levels taken elsewhere in the country, as well as in Russia and California, are minuscule. But the Japanese government says it's found radiation levels in milk and spinach from farms near the plant exceeding safety limits. Meanwhile workers at the plant are trying to restore power to the reactors in hopes of restarting their cooling systems.

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) - President Barack Obama has arrived in Brazil to begin a five-day Latin American tour that will also take him to Chile and El Salvador. In his weekly radio and Internet
address, he emphasized the trip's economic mission, saying partnership with these nations "is only going to become more vital" in an increasingly global economy.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A newly elected Republican congresswoman says senators should confront President Barack Obama on his veto threat and approve $61 million in spending cuts. In the GOP's weekly address, freshman Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (JAY-mee Her-REH-ra
BUT-ler) of Washington state blamed an "army of lobbyists" in Washington for blocking efforts to address the country's debt.