LOCAL NEWS: SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2011

LOCAL STUDENTS IMPACT COMMUNITY

STUDENTS ASSEMBLED IN THE GYMNASIUM AT NORTH SCHUYLKILL ELEMENTARY FRIDAY AFTERNOON TO HELP OUT A LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER. THROUGH A PROGRAM CALLED "COINS FOR CRITTERS," 47CLASSROOMS RAISED A TOTAL OF $2,000 TO DONATE TO THE RUTH STEINERT MEMORIAL SPCA WHICH CAUGHT FIRE IN JANUARY. THE STUDENTS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE MAKING OF A VIDEO TO EXTREME MAKEOVER HOME EDITION. THE NATIONAL TELEVISION SHOW TOOK INTEREST IN THE SHELTER'S STORY AFTER RECEIVING A LETTER. HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS YELLED OUT TO THE CAMERA, ASKING HOST TY PENNINGTON AND HIS CAST TO HELP THE ANIMALS OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME NORTH SCHUYLKILL STUDENTS HAVE ASSISTED THE COMMUNITY IN A BIG WAY, THEY RECENTLY RAISED $2,800 FOR GIRARDVILLE FIRE VICTIMS THROUGH A SPAGHETTI DINNER.

SHENANDOAH WOMAN ADMITS RACIAL MOTIVATION IN FIGHT

A SHENANDOAH WOMAN PLEADED GUILTY FRIDAY TO PARTICIPATING IN A FIGHT SHE ADMITS WAS RACIALLY MOTIVATED. 37-YEAR-OLD MIRIAM MALAVE PLEADED GUILTY TO CHARGES OF ETHINIC INTIMIDATION, MAKING TERRORISTIC THREATS AND OTHER RELATED CHARGES AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN A FIGHT ON FEBRUARY 17TH, 2010 AT M&T BAR, SHENANDOAH, WHERE SHE STATED, "ALL WHITES ARE GOING TO DIE TONIGHT." THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS MALAVE AND HER THREE SONS, THAT HAVE ALREADY ENTERED INTO GUILTY PLEAS AND RECEIVED SENTENCES, INJURED TWO OF THE BAR EMPLOYEES DURING THE FIGHT. MALAVE IS CURRENTLY SERVING A 15 TO 30 MONTH SENTENCE AT CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS, CRAWFORD COUNTY FROM AN UNRELATED INCIDENT IN 2009, BUT FACES AN ADDITIONAL 7 TO 14 YEARS IN STATE PRISON AND $30,000 IN FINES.

DOCTOR DAD WORKSHOPS

A LOCAL WORKSHOP IS CALLING ON ALL DADS. DOCTOR DAD IS AN INFANT AND TODDLER HEALTH AND SAFETY WORKSHOP DESIGNED TO MEET THE INTERESTS OF MEN. WPPA'S JASMINE BROOKS HAS MORE:

DOCTOR DAD

POSSIBLE DUI CRASH INJURES ONE

A 24-YEAR-OLD FRACKVILLE MAN WAS FLOWN TO THE LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL THURSDAY NIGHT FOLLOWING A CRASH. THAT HAPPENED JUST BEFORE ELEVEN ON ROUTE 61 NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO THE SCHUYLKILL MALL, FRACKVILLE. POLICE SAY JUSTIN HEISER SUFFERED INJURIES WHEN HIS CAR WENT OFF THE ROADWAY HIT A SPEED LIMIT SIGN AND WENT DOWN OVER AN EMBANKMENT SLAMMING INTO A TREE. POLICE SUSPECT HEISER WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE AT THE TIME AND PLAN TO FILE CHARGES AGAINST HIM PENDING BLOOD TEST RESULTS. (WGRC)

STATE NEWS:

CLAIRTON, PA. (AP) - A SECOND SUSPECT HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN THE SHOOTING OF A PITTSBURGH-AREA POLICE OFFICER. POLICE SAY MARCUS ANDREJCO-JONES OF RANKIN IS BEING HELD ON CHARGES INCLUDING ASSAULT OF A POLICE OFFICER, ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE AND ROBBERY. THERE'S NO IMMEDIATE WORD IF HE HAS AN ATTORNEY. A JUDGE DENIED BOND FRIDAY
FOR THE OTHER SUSPECT IN MONDAY'S SHOOTING OF CLAIRTON OFFICER JAMES KUZAK. THE ATTORNEY FOR THAT SUSPECT, 21-YEAR-OLD MYLES HUTCHINSON OF MCKEESPORT, DENIES THAT HIS CLIENT WAS INVOLVED.

BRADFORD, PA. (AP) - STATE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORS ARE ORDERING A RESIDENT NEAR THE SITE OF A FEBRUARY 28TH HOUSE EXPLOSION IN BRADFORD TO PLUG THREE ABANDONED NATURAL GAS WELLS. THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SAYS IT LEARNED OF THE WELLS WHILE INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THE BLAST. THE WELLS AREN'T RELATED TO MARCELLUS SHALE DRILLING.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - ALLEGHENY COUNTY PROSECUTORS SAY THE SUPERIOR COURT SHOULD REJECT REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR JANE ORIE'S APPEAL SEEKING TO PREVENT A RETRIAL ON PUBLIC CORRUPTION CHARGES. THE PROSECUTION SAYS ORIE AND HER DEFENSE TEAM ARE TO BLAME FOR THE RETRIAL THEY'RE NOW TRYING TO PREVENT BECAUSE THEY INTRODUCED TWO FORGED DOCUMENTS TO UNDERCUT A KEY WITNESS AT HER TRIAL LAST MONTH.

HAVERFORD, PA. (AP) - RETIRED 76ERS STAR DIKEMBE MUTOMBO (DIH-KEM'-BEH MOO-TUM'-BOH) WILL BE RECEIVING AN HONORARY DEGREE FROM HAVERFORD COLLEGE. MUTOMBO HAS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING LIVING CONDITIONS IN HIS NATIVE CONGO. SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY MUTOMBO WILL
ALSO MAKE BRIEF REMARKS TO ABOUT 300 GRADUATES AT THE MAY 15TH COMMENCEMENT.

NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE GOVERNMENT IS STILL UP AND RUNNING TODAY AFTER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS AGREED TO $38.5 BILLION IN SPENDING CUTS THROUGH THE END OF SEPTEMBER. OBAMA PRAISED THE DEAL BUT CALLED SOME CUTS PAINFUL AND REITERATED THAT IN HIS WEEKLY MEDIA ADDRESS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - IN THE REPUBLICAN WEEKLY ADDRESS WISCONSIN REP. PAUL RYAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE, ALSO PRAISED THE BUDGET AGREEMENT REACHED LATE YESTERDAY. HE ALSO SAYS CUTTING SHOULD CONTINUE BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT'S SPENDING PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT THE FUTURE IS UNCERTAIN AND THE NATION'S
ABILITY TO CREATE JOBS IS LIMITED.

AJDABIYA, LIBYA (AP) - REBEL FIGHTERS IN LIBYA SAY THEY'VE GAINED BACK SOME LOST GROUND AS THEY TRY TO PUSH TOWARD THE OIL PORT OF BREGA. IT'S A A KEY PRIZE IN THE BACK-AND-FORTH BATTLES WITH GOVERNMENT FORCES.

TOKYO (AP) - RICE PLANTING HAS BEEN BANNED IN TWO AREAS ABOUT 25 MILES FRO JAPAN'S TSUNAMI-CRIPPLED NUCLEAR POWER PLANT BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THE SOIL IS CONTAMINATED. THE ACTION ADDS ANOTHER FOOD CENTRAL TO JAPANESE CULTURE TO THE LIST OF ITEMS RAISING CONCERNS.

BANGKOK (AP) - DELEGATES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE SAY THEY'LL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR DIFFERENCES AT A MAJOR CLIMATE CONFERENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA AT YEAR'S END. THEY'VE SPENT FIVE DAYS IN THAILAND TRYING TO AGREE ON WHAT TO TALK ABOUT. THEY AGREE THAT DELAYS IN AVERTING GLOBAL WARMING INCREASES THE RISK OF "CATASTROPHE."