TODAY'S NEWS: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2011

JURORS SPEAK OUT AGAINST FORMER CHIEF'S CONVICTION

MORE THAN ONE JUROR HAS ADMITTED MAKING A MISTAKE IN THE CONVICTION OF FORMER SHENANDOAH POLICE CHIEF MATTHEW NESTOR. DURING A FEDERAL TRIAL IN JANUARY, NESTOR WAS CONVICTED OF FILING A FALSE POLICE REPORT DURING THE INVESTIGATION OF THE BEATING DEATH OF AN ILLEGAL MEXICAN IMMIGRANT. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THAT JUROR, DIANE BERGER, CONTACTED THE COURT THE DAY AFTER THE TRIAL ENDED STATING THE WRONG BOX WAS CHECKED DUE TO CONFUSION OF MULTIPLE VERDICTS. BERGER THEN CONTACTED JOSEPH NAHAS, ONE OF NESTOR'S ATTORNEYS, SAYING SHE WOULD BE WILLING TO SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT THAT WAS ATTACHED TO A REPLY BRIEF FILED MONDAY WITH U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE A. RICHARD CAPUTO. THE JUDGE CAN RULE ONE OF THREE WAYS: THROW THE CONVICTION OUT, ORDER A NEW TRIAL OR LET THE CONVICTION STAND.

CHEESE STEAKS FOR CHARITY

THE BRASS TAP HERE IN POTTSVILLE IS SUPPORTING DAFFODIL DAYS AND THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY BY HOLDING "CHEESE STEAKS FOR CHARITY." WPPA/T102'S JASMINE BROOKS HAS MORE:

CHEESE STEAKS

DEADLY CRASH UPDATE

MORE INFORMATION HAS BEEN RELEASED ON THE DEADLY CRASH IN WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. POLICE REPORT THE 17-YEAR-OLD PINE GROVE BOY DRIVING THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD A LEARNER'S PERMIT, AND WAS IN VIOLATION OF THE STATE VEHICLE CODE. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CRASH IS PENDING AN INTERVIEW WITH THE DRIVER, BUT THE BOY'S FAMILY IS OBTAINING LEGAL COUNSEL TO BE PRESENT. THE CRASH ON HICKORY ROAD KILLED 16-YEAR-OLD BRYNEN BELL OF PINE GROVE WHO WAS A PASSENGER. BELL DIED OF MASSIVE HEAD AND CHEST TRAUMA SUFFERED IN THE CRASH.

LOCAL SCHOOLS MAKE THE GRADE ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY

NEARLY TWO DOZEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN EASTERN AND CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA HAVE RECEIVED ENERGY STAR DESIGNATION FROM PPL ELECTRIC UTILITIES IN THE LAST YEAR. TWO DISTRICTS BEING RECOGNIZED ARE RIGHT HERE IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. TRI VALLEY'S MAHANTANGO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS HONORED IN 2010, WHILE POTTSVILLE'S JOHN S. CLARKE ELEMENTARY CENTER RECEIVED THE STATUS IN FEBRUARY, AND WILL BE INCLUDED ON THE EPA'S 2012 LIST. THOMAS STATHOS, MANAGER OF CUSTOMER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, SAYS "THIS PROGRAM IS JUST ONE WAY PPL PARTNERS WITH ITS EDUCATION CUSTOMERS ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY." STATHOS ALSO SAID SCHOOLS OPERATING AT A HIGHER RATE DESERVE PRAISE. MORE THAN 12,000 BUILDINGS HAVE ACHIEVED ENERGY STAR STATUS SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN IN 1999, WHICH RESULTS IN $1.9 BILLION ANNUAL ENERGY SAVINGS.

DEATH INVESTIGATION

HAMBURG POLICE ARE NOW INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF A MAN FOUND LYING IN A PARKING LOT IN BETHEL TOWNSHIP. 73-YEAR-OLD HUGH CORRY OF NEW JERSEY WAS FOUND TUESDAY BY A PASSING MOTORIST. RESULTS OF AN AUTOPSY CONDUCTED AT READING HOSPITAL FOUND THAT CORRY DID NOT DIE AS A RESULT OF PHYSICAL INJURIES OR TRAUMA. THE CAUSE AND MANNER OF DEATH ARE AWAITING TOXICOLOGY RESULTS.

POTTSVILLE BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION

THE BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION OFFICIALLY KICKED OFF TUESDAY HERE IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. THE POTTSVILLE AREA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SPONSORS THIS COMPETITION IN ORDER TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESS TO POTTSVILLE. THE COMPETITION IS DIVIDED INTO THREE KEY PHASES; THE PRELIMINARY QUESTIONNAIRE, COMPLETED BUSINESS PLAN, AND PERSONAL PRESENTATION. THE WINNER OF THE COMPETITION WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PRIZE PACKAGE VALUED AT $20,000. TO RECEIVE AN APPLICATION CONTACT PADCO AT 628-4647.

COMMISSIONERS MEETING IN GIRARDVILLE

TO KICK OFF ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATIONS, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET IN GIRARDVILLE THURSDAY MORNING FOR THEIR WEEKLY MEETING. THE PUBLIC IS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE 10AM MEETING AT GIRARDVILLE BOROUGH HALL.

STATE NEWS:
WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS DEFENDING NUCLEAR POWER AS AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF ENERGY IN THE U.S., EVEN AS NEW QUESTIONS ARE RAISED ABOUT ITS SAFETY FOLLOWING RADIATION LEAKS FROM AN EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI-DAMAGED NUCLEAR PLANT IN JAPAN. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH PITTSBURGH TELEVISION STATION KDKA, OBAMA SAYS NUCLEAR FACILITIES IN THE U.S. ARE CLOSELY MONITORED AND ARE DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND CERTAIN LEVELS OF EARTHQUAKES.

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - THE NATURAL GAS UTILITY CONNECTED TO A FATAL EXPLOSION LAST MONTH IN ALLENTOWN SAYS IT COULD TAKE 40 YEARS TO REPLACE ALL ITS AGING, CAST-IRON PIPELINES. UGI CORPORATION VICE PRESIDENT ROBERT BEARD TOLD A STATE SENATE PANEL ON YESTERDAY THAT, AT ITS CURRENT PACE, THE UTILITY WOULD NEED FOUR DECADES TO REPLACE THE OLD PIPES, SOME OF WHICH ARE A CENTURY OLD.

READING, PA. (AP) - VOTERS IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA HAVE CHOSEN DEMOCRAT JUDY SCHWANK TO SUCCEED THE LATE STATE SENATOR MICHAEL O'PAKE. SCHWANK, A FORMER BERKS COUNTY COMMISSIONER, WON BY NEARLY 6,000 VOTES OVER REPUBLICAN LARRY MEDAGLIA, THE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS, WITH ALL 128 PRECINCTS REPORTING IN A SPECIAL ELECTION IN THE 11TH SENATE DISTRICT.

HERSHEY, PA. (AP) - FORMER PENNSYLVANIA FIRST LADY MARY JANE LEADER HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 92. THE WIFE OF GOVERNOR GEORGE LEADER, A DEMOCRAT WHO LED THE STATE FOR FOUR YEARS IN THE LATE 1950S, DIED YESTERDAY AT HER HOME IN HERSHEY. MARY JANE LEADER IS A NATIVE OF WILLIAMSPORT WHO GREW UP IN YORK, WHERE SHE ATTENDED HIGH SCHOOL WITH HER FUTURE HUSBAND.

NATIONAL NEWS:

FUKUSHIMA, JAPAN (AP) - RADIATION LEVELS AT JAPAN'S EARTHQUAKE-CRIPPLED NUCLEAR PLANT ARE FLUCTUATING. WORKERS TRYING TO COOL THE OVERHEATING REACTORS WERE EVACUATED EARLIER TODAY. NOW THAT LEVELS HAVE GONE DOWN, THERE'S NO WORD ON WHETHER THEY'VE BEEN ALLOWED BACK IN.

TOKYO (AP) - JAPAN'S EMPEROR IS URGING THE NATION NOT TO GIVE UP. EMPEROR AKIHITO IS OFFERING HIS CONDOLENCES FOR THE VICTIMS OF FRIDAY'S MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI AND IS CALLING FOR AN ALL-OUT RESCUE EFFORT. OFFICIALS ESTIMATE MORE THAN 10,000 PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

MANAMA, BAHRAIN (AP) - SECURITY FORCES ARE BLOCKING THE MAIN ROADS INTO BAHRAIN'S CAPITAL TODAY. THEY'RE ALSO USING TEAR GAS AND ARMORED VEHICLES TO DRIVE OUT HUNDREDS OF ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTERS. WITNESSES SAY AT LEAST TWO PROTESTERS HAVE BEEN KILLED. THERE'S NO OFFICIAL WORD FROM AUTHORITIES.

ATLANTA (AP) - GEORGIA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE SAYS IT'S UNLIKELY ANY EXECUTIONS WILL BE SCHEDULED UNTIL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STATE'S SUPPLY OF A DRUG USED IN LETHAL INJECTIONS ARE ANSWERED. FEDERAL DRUG AGENTS HAVE SEIZED THE SUPPLIES IN AN INVESTIGATION INTO HOW THE DRUG WAS IMPORTED TO THE U.S.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - STATE REGULATORS IN CALIFORNIA MAY DECIDE TODAY HOW THEY'LL SANCTION PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC FOR A DEADLY EXPLOSION ON A NATURAL GAS PIPELINE. EIGHT PEOPLE DIED AND THREE DOZEN HOMES IN SAN BRUNO WERE DESTROYED BY THE SEPT. 9 BLAST. OFFICIALS COULD FINE THE UTILITY.