LOCAL NEWS : APRIL 29,2011

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

A CHANCE TO HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF PERSON WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IS HAPPENING TONIGHT IN POTTSVILLE. J MATTHEWS HAS MORE:

NATIONAL CHILDRENS STUDY OPENS DOORS

THE NATIONAL CHILDREN STUDY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY OFFICIALLY OPENED ITS LOCAL OFFICE THURSDAY NIGHT. NEWS DIRECTOR JAY LEVAN HAS MORE:

TRIAL CONTINUES IN DEATH OF SHENANDOAH MAN

DAY 4 OF THE TRIAL OF JULIUS ENOE CONTINUED YESTERDAY IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COURT. ENOE TOOK THE STAND AND DENIED ANY INVOLVEMENT IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF BRUCE FORKER. ENOE TESTIFIED THAT HE WAS NOT THE ONE WHO PULLED THE TRIGGER. THIS GOES AGAINST TESTIMONY FROM TWO OTHER CO-CONSPIRATORS JAHMAL OLLIVIRRE AND DAMON ENNETT WHO EARLIER THIS WEEK TESTIFIED THAT THEY TOOK PART IN THE SHOOTING WITH ENOE. THE TRIAL RESUMES TODAY WITH CLOSING ARGUMENTS FROM BOTH THE DEFENSE AND PROSECUTION BEFORE SEDING THE JURY TO DELIBERATE ON ENOE'S FATE.

TAMAQUA MAN SELECTE TO HEAD PA ED BOARD

GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT'S OFFICE HAS SELECTED A LOCAL MAN TO HEAD THE STATE'S BOARD OF EDUCATION. LARRY WITTIG WHO HAS BEEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE TAMAQUA AREA SCHOOL BOARD SINCE 1995 WILL SUCCEED JOE TORSELLA, WHO STEPPED DOWN RECENTLY TO ACCEPT A POSITION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULATES AND MAKES POLICIES AS PART OF THE PA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

STATE SENATOR DEFENDS AGAINST GUN ALLEGATIONS

A STATE SENATOR INSISTS HE DID NOTHING WRONG BEFORE RECEIVING A CITATION FOR ALLEGEDLY DISPLAYING A GUN WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 78 IN BERKS COUNTY LAST MONTH. STATE POLICE CITED MONTGOMERY COUNTY REPUBLICAN SENATOR BOB MENSCH FOR SUMMARY DISORDERLY CONDUCT. STATE POLICE SAY TROOPERS PULLED OVER MENSCH AFTER ANOTHER MOTORIST REPORTED SPOTTING A BLACK HANDGUN IN HIS RIGHT HAND.

GAS HOSE TAKEN FROM VEHICLE

WITH GAS PRICES ON THE RISE, SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THE EXTREME TO FILL UP. 29-YEAR-OLD OLIVER SCHAEFFER OF AUBURN HAD HIS GAS HOSE CUT AND REMOVED FROM HIS VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS PARKED AT A DELI. POLICE REPORT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED SOMETIME BETWEEN 3PM MONDAY AND 10AM TUESDAY IN THE REAR LOT OF THE MARKET BASKET PRODUCE AND DELI.

PHEAA LAUNCHES MOBILE WEBSITES FOR SMART PHONES

THE PENNSYLVANIA HIGHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE AGENCY (PHEAA) ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT BORROWERS WHOSE LOANS ARE SERVICED BY ITS STUDENT LOAN SERVICING OPERATIONS, AMERICAN EDUCATION SERVICES AND FEDLOAN SERVICING, CAN NOW MAKE PAYMENTS DIRECTLY THROUGH THEIR WEB-ENABLED CELL PHONES, INCLUDING SMART PHONES. PHEAA BOARD CHAIRMAN, WILLIAM ADOLPH, SAYS "WE ARE HELPING BORROWERS AVOID DELINQUENCY AND DEFAULT- WHICH CAN ULTIMATELY SAVE BORROWERS FROM A LIFETIME OF CREDIT ISSUES, WHILE SAFEGUARDING MILLIONS OF FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS." BORROWERS CAN VISIT MYFEDLOAN.ORG TO CHECK THEIR ACCOUNT BALANCE TODAY.

STATE NEWS:

WERNERSVILLE, PA. (AP) - POWERFUL THUNDERSTORMS AND AT LEAST TWO TORNADOES TORE ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA YESTERDAY, CUTTING POWER,DOWNING TREES AND DAMAGING PROPERTY. ONE TREE FELL ON A SCHOOL BUS IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, BUT NO STUDENTS WERE HURT. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS ONE TWISTER CAME DOWN EAR THE ROUNDTOP MOUNTAIN RESORT IN LEWISBERRY IN YORK COUNTY. ANOTHER TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN PALMYRA BOROUGH, LEBANON COUNTY.

BRISTOL, PA. (AP) - A SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA WOMAN IS CHARGED WITH CHILD ENDANGERMENT AFTER POLICE SAY HER THREE CHILDREN WERE LEFT ALONE AND FILTHY INSIDE THEIR SQUALID HOME. CHELSEA CHAMPEY OF BRISTOL REMAINS IN BUCKS COUNTY PRISON ON $75,000 BAIL. POLICE DISCOVERED THE CHILDREN, AGES 4, 2 AND 1, IN THE HOME IN FEBRUARY
AND THEY WERE IMMEDIATELY PLACED IN FOSTER CARE.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A FRENCH-THEMED ARTS FESTIVAL IS COMING TO A CLOSE IN PHILADELPHIA WITH A HUGE STREET FAIR. THE PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS HAS PRESENTED 135 EVENTS BY 1,500 ARTISTS OVER 25 DAYS. THE WORLDS OF DANCE, THEATER, VISUAL ARTS, MUSIC, FOOD AND FASHION WERE CELEBRATED DURING THE EVENT
ORGANIZED BY THE KIMMEL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.


NATIONAL NEWS:

LONDON (AP) - THERE ARE HIGH HOPES THE ROYAL WEDDING TODAY BETWEEN PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY WILL REVIVE BRITAIN'S BELEAGUERED MONARCHY. BUT THE ANSWER TO THE BIGGEST QUESTION ABOUT IS STILL YEARS AWAY FROM AN ANSWER. IS THIS ONE ROYAL COUPLE WHO WILL LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER? IT'S EXPECTED A THIRD OF THE PLANET WILL WATCH THEM TAKE THE FIRST STEP.

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. (AP) - ABOUT 10 HOURS AFTER THE ROYAL WEDDING IN LONDON,ANOTHER MAJOR SPECTACLE TAKES PLACE TODAY AS SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR EMBARKS ON ITS FINAL FLIGHT. THE VIP LIST INCLUDES PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND HIS FAMILY AND WOUNDED
CONGRESSWOMAN GABRIELLE GIFFORDS, WHOSE HUSBAND, MARK KELLY,COMMANDS ENDEAVOUR.

CONCORD, ALA. (AP) - SURVIVORS OF THE NATION'S DEADLIEST TORNADO OUTBREAK IN NEARLY FOUR DECADES ARE POKING THROUGH RUBBLE FOR WHATEVER THEY CAN SALVAGE AS CREWS COMB THE REMAINS OF HOMES FOR VICTIMS. AT LEAST 297 WERE KILLED ACROSS SIX STATES. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA PLANS A TRIP TO HARD-HIT TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA TODAY.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. (AP) - THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, RESIDENTS OF CAIRO (KAY'-ROH), ILLINOIS, AND MISSOURI RESIDENTS DOWNSTREAM ARE WATCHING THE RIVERS RISE AS A JUDGE PONDERS PLANS TO BLOW UP A LEVEE. THE BLAST WOULD RELEASE A TORRENT OF WATER ON
MISSOURI FARMLAND AND THE STATE WANTS TO BLOCK IT. SUPPORTERS SAY IT WOULD PROTECT CAIRO, AT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE OHIO AND MISSISSIPPI RIVERS.

MARRAKECH, MOROCCO (AP) - MOROCCO'S DEADLIEST TERRORIST ATTACK IN EIGHT YEARS HAS CLAIMED TWO MORE LIVES. MOROCCO'S STATE NEWS AGENCY SAYS THE DEATH TOLL IN THE TERRORIST ATTACK AT A TOURIST CAFE IN MARRAKECH HAS RISEN TO 16.