TODAY'S NEWS: MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2011

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN PASTOR INJURED IN MOTORCYLE CRASH

THE SCHUYLKILL HAVEN MAN CRITICALLY INJURED SATURDAY IN A CRASH ON ROUTE 61 IS DANIEL BELL, PASTOR OF JERSALEM EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. POLICE REPORT THE 49-YEAR-OLD PASTOR LOST CONTROL OF HIS MOPED WHILE ROUNDING A CURVE. THE BIKE WENT ONTO THE EAST SHOULDER AND OVERTURNED. BELL WAS TAKEN TO LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL, WHERE HE REMAINED IN CRITICAL CONDITION AS OF SUNDAY.

FLOOD WARNING UPDATE

HEAVY RAINFALL THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND RESULTED IN EXTENDED FLOOD WARNINGS IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. CURRENT CONDITIONS AT THE CHRISTIAN E SIEGRIST DAM IN PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP HAVE IMPROVED AND WATER LEVELS ARE DECREASING. THE SCHUYLKILL AND LEBANON COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES PREVIOUSLY ADVISED THE PUBLIC TO AVOID THE AREAS DOWNSTREAM OF THE DAM DUE TO FLOODING. AT THIS TIME THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED AND TRAFFIC IS SAFE TO PASS THROUGH THE AREA.

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE TODAY

AS CANDIDATES FOR LOCAL AND COUNTY OFFICES KNOCK ON DOORS TO MEET VOTERS BEFORE THE MAY PRIMARY, THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IS TODAY. THAT’S ACCORDING TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY ELECTION BUREAU DIRECTOR FRANNIE BRENNAN, WHO REMINDS PEOPLE THAT BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS TODAY, REGISTRATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE MAY 17TH PRIMARY. ONLY REGISTERED MAJOR PARTY VOTERS ARE ALLOWED TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY.

TAMAQUA MAN HONORED FOR VOLUNTEERISM

A TAMAQUA MAN HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR HIS VOLUNTEER EFFORTS IN THAT COMMUNITY. THE TAMAQUA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS AWARDED THE JOSEPH PLASKO MEMORIAL CITIZENSHIP AWARD TO 33 YEAR OLD ANDREW LEIBENGUTH. THE 33 YEAR OLD MARINE VETERAN VOLUNTEERS WITH MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND IS THE CREATOR AND WEBMASTER OF TAMAQUA AREA-DOT-COM, A COMMUNITY WEBSITE. LEIBENGUTH IS THE YOUNGEST RECIPIENT OF THE AWARD. HE SAYS HIS PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS INSTILLED A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY AT AN EARLY AGE.

PA STINKBUGS SPREADING THROUGH U.S.

THIS SPRING MARKS A BIG COMING OUT PARTY FOR STINK BUGS IN THE STATE. TOM JOSEPH HAS MORE:

STINKBUGS


STATE NEWS:

PITTSBURGH (AP) - OFFICIALS SAY THE BODY OF A WOMAN WAS FOUND AFTER A FIRE THAT DESTROYED A SUBURBAN PITTSBURGH HOME. FIREFIGHTERS IN UPPER ST. CLAIR SENT TO THE HOME SATURDAY NIGHT. AUTHORITIES SAY THE TWO-STORY STRUCTURE BURNED TO THE GROUND, LEAVING ONLY REMNANTS OF A GARAGE AND A BRICK CHIMNEY.

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - A MAN FACING A DEATH PENALTY TRIAL NEXT MONTH IN THE MURDERS OF HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND AND THREE OTHER PEOPLE LAST YEAR TELLS THE ALLENTOWN MORNING CALL IN A PRISON INTERVIEW THAT HE DOESN'T "WANT TO DIE." MICHAEL ERIC BALLARD IS ACCUSED OF STABBING DENISE MERHI TO DEATH ALONG WITH HER FATHER, GRANDFATHER AND A NEIGHBOR IN JUNE IN NORTHAMPTON COUNTY WHILE ON PAROLE FROM A 1991 MURDER.

LANCASTER, PA. (AP) - ANIMAL WELFARE ADVOCATES ARE CELEBRATING A STATE SENATE COMMITTEE VOTE ON A MEASURE THAT WOULD OUTLAW PIGEON SHOOTS AND OTHER TARGET SHOOTS WITH LIVE ANIMALS, WHICH THEY SAY IS THE FIRST SUCH VOTE ON THE ISSUE IN ALMOST A DOZEN YEARS. A HUMANE SOCIETY OFFICIAL TELLS THE LANCASTER SUNDAY NEWS PENNSYLVANIA IS THE ONLY STATE WHERE LIVE PIGEON SHOOTS ARE OPENLY STAGED.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - FEW PEOPLE REALIZE THAT SURVEYING FOR THE MASON-DIXON LINE STARTED AT A TINY HOUSE ON THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF PHILADELPHIA. THE HOUSE IS LONG GONE, BUT ITS LOCATION WAS RECENTLY
DISCOVERED BY GROUP OF PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE STUDENTS PAGING THROUGH CENTURIES-OLD PROPERTY RECORDS. STATE OFFICIALS APPROVED A HISTORICAL MARKER FOR THE SITE LAST MONTH.

NATIONAL NEWS:

TOKYO (AP) - READINGS FROM THE ROBOTS TELL THE TALE INSIDE TWO CRIPPLED REACTOR BUILDINGS AT JAPAN'S TSUNAMI-FLOODED NUCLEAR PLANT -- IT'S STILL TOO HOT TO HANDLE FOR HUMANS TRYING TO WORK IN THAT HARSH RADIOACTIVE ENVIRONMENT. NUCLEAR OFFICIALS SAY THE RADIATION READINGS FOR UNIT 1 AND UNIT 3 AT THE FUKUSHIMA DAI-ICHI PLANT DO NOT ALTER PLANS FOR STABILIZING THE COMPLEX BY YEAR'S END.

SANFORD, N.C. (AP) - NORTH CAROLINA GOV. BEVERLY PERDUE PLANS MORE TOURS TODAY OF HARD-HIT AREAS IN THREE COUNTIES WHERE DEVASTATING STORMS TOOK A DEADLY TOLL. SHE SAYS THE DEVASTATION SHE SAW YESTERDAY LEFT HER NEAR TEARS. THE STORM PUMMELED BUSTLING CITIES AND REMOTE RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE SOUTH, KILLING AT LEAST 45 PEOPLE IN SIX STATES.

CROATAN NATIONAL FOREST, N.C. (AP) - THREE CHILDREN AND TWO ADULTS ARE REPORTED DEAD IN NORTH CAROLINA AFTER THEIR SUV OVERTURNED IN A NATIONAL FOREST AND SANK IN A CANAL. OFFICIALS SAY IT HAPPENED NORTH OF CAMP LEJEUNE AND APPARENTLY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DEVASTATING STORMS THAT HIT THE STATE OVER THE WEEKEND.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - ONLINE DATING SITE MATCH.COM SAYS IT WILL BEGIN SCREENING ITS USERS AGAINST THE NATIONAL SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY. BUT THE PRESIDENT OF THE POPULAR SINGLES SITE SAYS THE CHECKS "REMAIN HIGHLY FLAWED" IN FINDING DANGEROUS SEX OFFENDERS. MANDY GINSBERG SAYS USERS OF THE DATING SERVICE SHOULD NOT HAVE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - THE UNITED NATIONS IS PREDICTING AN OVERALL DROP IN OPIUM POPPY PRODUCTION IN AFGHANISTAN, EXCEPT FOR A STRONG INCREASE IN CULTIVATION IN THE NORTH AND NORTHEAST. THAT'S WHERE INSURGENTS HAVE STEPPED UP ATTACKS AFTER BEING HEAVILY PRESSURED IN THEIR SOUTHERN STRONGHOLDS BY AFGHAN AND COALITION FORCES. LESS OF THE CROP IS BEING PLANTED IN THE SOUTH.