TODAY'S NEWS: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2011

WATER BOIL ADVISORY

ALL PINE GROVE WATER CUSTOMERS ARE ON A WATER BOIL ADVISORY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. ADVISORY ISSUED 3/1/11 @ 12:45PM

BLUE MOUNTAIN STUDENTS INJURED IN CAR CRASH

TWO BLUE MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SUFFERED MODERATE INJURIES AFTER A CRASH IN NORTH MANHEIM TOWNSHIP TUESDAY MORNING ON THEIR WAY TO SCHOOL. POLICE REPORT FIVE TEENS WERE DRIVING ALONG SCHUYLKILL MOUNTAIN ROAD WHEN THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE SENDING IT OVER 200 FEET BEFORE COMING TO FINAL REST. THE ROOF OF THE 1992 JEEP WRANGLER CAME OFF AND A 16-YEAR-OLD PASSENGER WAS EJECTED. THAT TEEN ALONG WITH 18-YEAR-OLD JACQUELYN KOWALSKI WERE FLOWN TO LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL BY MEDEVAC. KOWALSKI WAS LATER RELEASED, BUT THE CONDITION OF THE OTHER TEEN IS UNKNOWN. POLICE REPORT SPEED WAS A FACTOR, AND ONLY THE DRIVER WEARING A SEAT BELT.

COUNTY KICKS OFF BICENTENNIAL WITH FESTIVITIES

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY KICKED OFF THE CELEBRATION OF ITS 200TH BIRTHDAY TUESDAY MORNING. WPPA'S BRANDIE MENG HAS MORE:

BICENTENNIAL

NATIONAL FLAG EXHIBIT PHOTO

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN MAN CHARGED WITH RAPE

A SCHUYLKILL HAVEN MAN WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH RAPING AN 8-YEAR-OLD BOY OVER A FOUR-YEAR-PERIOD BETWEEN 2007 AND 2011. 36-YEAR-OLD JOSEPH CURRY WAS ARRESTED AND ARRAIGNED MONDAY MORNING AFTER AUTHORITIES WERE NOTIFIED OF THE ALLEGATIONS BY SCHUYLKILL COUNTY CHILDREN AND YOUTH. CURRY ADMITTED TO INAPPROPRIATE CONTACT WITH THE BOY DURING A POLICE INTERVIEW, AND WAS COMMITTED TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON IN LIEU OF $200,000 STRAIGHT CASH BAIL.

EARLY MORNING CRASH CLOSES I-81

(WGRC)-A TRUCKER ESCAPES SERIOUS INJURY IN A WILD CRASH TUESDAY MORNING IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. STATE POLICE SAY 27-YEAR OLD ANTONIO HAMER OF SOUTH CAROLINA WAS DRIVING ALONG ROUTE 81 NORTHBOUND IN FOSTER TOWNSHIP NEAR MILE MARKER 115 JUST BEFORE 1:00 TUESDAY MORNING WHEN HIS TRACTOR TRAILER RIG WENT THROUGH A GUARD RAIL AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT BETWEEN THE HIGHWAY LANES. THE RIG THEN ROLLED ONTO ITS ROOF AND CAME TO REST IN A STREAM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE EMBANKMENT. HAMER ESCAPED SERIOUS INJURY DESPITE NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT. I-81 NORTH WAS CLOSED FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTER THE CRASH AND WILL BE CLOSED AGAIN WHEN RECOVERY CREWS RETURN TO REMOVE THE RUINED TRUCK. HAMER WILL BE CITED FOR THE CRASH.

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY JR. IDOL III

THE WINNER OF THE THIRD SCHUYLKILL COUNTY JR. IDOL CONTEST WILL BE ANNOUNCED TONIGHT. THE FINAL ROUND TUESDAY SHOWCASED THE TALENT OF THE THREE FINALISTS- REILEY LONERGAN, BRYEL FRASCH, AND BROOKE UNGER. THE FIRST-PRIZE WINNER WILL RECEIVE A VARIETY OF PRIZES INCLUDING A $1,000 SHOPPING SPREE AT THE SCHUYLKILL MALL. THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED TONIGHT AT 6:00 AT THE MALL'S CENTER COURT.

KNOEBELS AMUSEMENT RESORT TO HOLD JOB FAIR

KNOEBELS AMUSEMENT RESORT IN ELYSBURG IS SCHEDULED TO HOLD ITS ANNUAL JOB FAIR THIS SATURDAY FROM 10AM-2PM. THE PARK EXPECTS TO HIRE BETWEEN 600 AND 800 NEW EMPLOYEES. THE NEWS ITEM REPORTS PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ABLE TO MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH DEPARTMENT, FILL OUT AN APPLICATION AND SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW.

STATE NEWS:

PITTSBURGH (AP) - CLOSING ARGUMENTS ARE SET FOR TODAY IN PITTSBURGH BEFORE A JURY BEGINS DELIBERATING CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS AGAINST STATE SENATOR JANE ORIE. TESTIMONY WRAPPED UP YESTERDAY WITH ORIE ON THE STAND, DENYING SHE HAD STAFFERS DOING CAMPAIGN WORK DURING THEIR OFFICE HOURS AND ALSO DENYING SHE TRIED TO COVER IT UP ONCE THE ALLEGATIONS SURFACED.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - PITTSBURGH POLICE ARE CONSIDERING REFUSING OFF-DUTY SECURITY DETAIL WORK DURING THE CITY'S ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATION MARCH 12TH. A UNION OFFICIAL SAYS OFFICERS ARE BEING TREATED LIKE "SECOND-CLASS" EMPLOYEES, CITING THE CITY'S REFUSAL TO REINSTATE AN OFFICER ACQUITTED OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CANCELING DAYS OFF FOR SOME OFFICERS.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -A COMMISSION IN PHILADELPHIA INVESTIGATING RACIALLY-MOTIVATED ATTACKS AGAINST ASIAN STUDENTS HAS FOUND SUCH CONFLICTS ARE WIDESPREAD THROUGH THE CITY'S SCHOOLS. A COMMISSION REPORT CALLS FOR SCHOOL OFFICIALS TO IMPROVE THE CLIMATE BY PUTTING CLEAR CONFLICT RESOLUTION POLICIES IN PLACE AND BY REDUCING LANGUAGE BARRIERS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER IS DEFENDING THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S PERFORMANCE ON A PHILADELPHIA VOTING RIGHTS CASE INVOLVING COMPLAINTS NEW BLACK PANTHER LEADERS INTIMIDATED WHITE VOTERS OUTSIDE A POLLING STATION IN 2008.TWO LAWYERS WHO WORKED IN THE DEPARTMENT'S VOTING RIGHTS SECTION HAVE DESCRIBED HOSTILITY FROM HIGHER UPS OVER PURSUING ACCUSATIONS AGAINST MINORITIES WHO HARASS WHITE VOTERS.

NATIONAL NEWS:

CAIRO (AP) - EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS SAY TWO U.S. WARSHIPS ENTERED THE SUEZ CANAL TODAY AS THEY MOVE CLOSER TO THE LIBYAN COAST. THE OFFICIALS SAY AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIPS USS KEARSARGE AND USS PONCE, ENTERED THE CANAL ON WEDNESDAY MORNING FROM THE RED SEA, HEADED TO THE MEDITERRANEAN. THEY SAY THE KEARSARGE IS CARRYING SOME 42 HELICOPTERS. DEFENSE SECRETARY ROBERT GATES ORDERED THE MOVE.

BENGHAZI, LIBYA (AP) - WITNESSES SAY FORCES LOYAL TO LEADER MOAMMAR GADHAFI ARE ON THE MOVE IN REBEL HELD AREAS, INCLUDING AIR STRIKES AGAINST A TOWN IN THE REBEL-HELD EAST OF LIBYA. THE WITNESSES TELL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THEY SAW TWO WARPLANES BOMB THE EASTERN PART OF THE TOWN TODAY. WITNESSES ALSO SAY AN OIL FACILITY HAS BEEN RETAKEN.

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - SOUTH KOREAN ACTIVISTS VOW TO DEFY THREATS FROM PYONGYANG AND BOMBARD NORTH KOREA WITH PROPAGANDA MATERIAL THAT INCLUDES FOOTAGE OF MIDDLE EAST PROTESTS AND URGES REBELLION. NORTH KOREA HAS THREATENED TO OPEN FIRE IN RETALIATION. FRICTION BETWEEN THE KOREAS IS ALREADY HIGH FOLLOWING MONDAY'S START OF ANNUAL SOUTH KOREAN-U.S. MILITARY DRILLS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - SWEEPING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IS EXPECTED TODAY IN THE SENATE FOR AN EMERGENCY SPENDING BILL TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT RUNNING FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS. THE HOUSE PASSED THE STOPGAP BILL TUESDAY.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A JUDGE TODAY WILL HEAR MORE INFORMATION AS HE CONSIDERS DELAYING TRIAL OF THE DOCTOR CHARGED IN MICHAEL JACKSON'S DEATH. THE JUDGE HAS ORDERED DR. CONRAD MURRAY TO APPEAR IN COURT FOR TODAY'S HEARING ON THE PROSECUTION REQUEST. LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE MICHAEL PASTOR HAS GRILLED MURRAY'S DEFENSE ATTORNEYS ABOUT WHY THEY HAVEN'T TURNED MORE INFORMATION OVER TO PROSECUTORS.