LOCAL NEWS: WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2011

BREAKING NEWS: SEVEN CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST FORMER SHENANDOAH POLICE OFFICERS

IN US MIDDLE DISTRICT COURT JUDGE A. RICHARD CAPUTO HAS DISMISSED SEVEN OF THE TEN CHARGES AGAINST MATTHEW NESTOR AND JAMIE GENNARINI. THE SEVEN CHARGES OF EXTORTION AND CONSPIRACY TO EXTORT HAVE BEEN DISMISSED DUE TO LACK OF EVIDENCE BY FEDERAL PROSECUTORS. THE OTHER THREE CHARGES OF CONSPIRACY TO VIOLATE CIVIL RIGHTS, VIOLATING CIVIL RIGHTS AND OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE STILL STAND. NESTOR AND GENNARINI FACE A MAXIMUM OF TEN YEARS BEHIND BARS.


UNOFFICIAL RESULTS-PRIMARY ELECTION 2011

JUDGE OF COURT OF COMMON PLEAS:

INCUMBENT SCHUYLKILL COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JAMES GOODMAN WAS THE TOP VOTE GETTER IN A CROWDED FIELD FOR A CHANCE TO BECOME THE NEXT JUDGE OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS IN THE COUNTY. IN UNOFFICIAL RESULTS, GOODMAN OUTPACED ATTORNEY JAMES CONVILLE, HIS CLOSEST CHALLENGER ON BOTH THE DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN TICKETS. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THAT VOTERS HAVE HAD TO ELECT A JUDGE IN 10 YEARS.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER

AN INCUMBENT AND THREE NEWCOMERS ARE HEADED FOR A SHOWDOWN IN NOVEMBER TO OCCUPY A SEAT IN THE COMMISSIONERS WING OF THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE AFTER TUESDAY'S PRIMARY. BUSINESSMEN GARY HESS AND JOHN PLACHKO JR. WERE THE TOP DEMOCRATIC VOTE GETTERS IN UNOFFICIAL RESULTS, WHILE INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN COMMISSIONER FRANK STAUDENMEIER GARNERED TOP HONORS, WITH BUSINESSMAN GEORGE HALCOVAGE COMING IN SECOND. INCUMBENT DEMOCRATS MANTURA GALLAGHER AND FRANK MCANDREW ARE NOT SEEKING RE ELECTION.

COUNTY CONTROLLER

BUSINESSMAN AND ACCOUNTANT CHRISTY JOY WON THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR COUNTY CONTROLLER TUESDAY, DEFEATING BANKER ERIC HOLLEN. DEMOCRAT BRAD PETCHULIS WAS UNOPPOSED ON THE DEMOCRATIC BALLOT. HOWEVER, INCUMBENT MELINDA KANTNER, WHO WON AS A DEMOCRAT FOUR YEARS AGO, WILL RUN AS AN INDEPENDENT IN NOVEMBER.

OTHER ROW OFFICES

ALL STANDING COUNTY ROW OFFICEHOLDERS WILL SEE RE-ELECTION IN NOVEMBER, WITH NO CHALLENGERS ON THEIR PARTY'S TICKET IN TUESDAY'S PRIMARY. CLERK OF COURTS STEVE LUKACH, REGISTER OF WILLS MIKE MCCORD, PROTHONOTARY PJ SYMONS, CORONER JOSEPH LIPSETT, TREASURER JACKIE MCGOVERN AND RECORDER OF DEEDS MATT DUDISH ALL WERE UNOPPOSED TUESDAY, BUT FACE OPPOSITION IN ALL BUT THE TREASURER'S RACE IN NOVEMBER.

DISTRICT JUDGE

THREE MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGES WERE UNOPPOSED IN TUESDAY'S PRIMARY. JAMES REILEY OF POTTSVILLE,JAMES FERRIER OF ORWIGSBURG AND STEPHEN BAYER OF TAMAQUA ALL WERE UNOPPOSED. IN A HOTLY CONTESTED RACE FOR THE SEAT ONCE HELD BY BERNADETTE NAHAS, IN NORTHERN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, CHRISTINA HALE WAS THE TOP VOTE GETTER ON BOTH TICKETS.

SCHOOL BOARDS

IN LIGHT OF TIGHT BUDGETS AND REDUCED FUNDING SOURCES, SEVERAL SCHOOL BOARD RACES TOOK THE SPOTLIGHT IN TUESDAY’S ELECTION. IN THE BLUE MOUNTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD RACE, NEARLY A DOZEN CANDIDATES WERE VYING FOR FIVE SPOTS ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT. ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, TOP VOTE GETTERS WERE JOHN GRANITO, SCOTT REICHERT, HEATHER GOSCH, DAVID LAFKO AND MARCI KRAMER. ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, IT WAS REICHERT, GOSCH, GRANITO, KRAMER AND ALCIA KELLER.

IN THE MAHANOY AREA SCHOOL BOARD RACE, DAVID KURZINSKY, NANCY BOYLE, JOHN ERBE AND MICHAEL MISTISHEN, ALONG WITH BETH BRADBURY WERE TOP VOTE GETTERS.

IN THE POTTSVILLE SCHOOL BOARD RACE, INCUMBENTS CINDY PETCHULIS, GARY CORTESE (CORE-TEASE), KAREN RISMILLER, SCOTT KRATER AND NEWCOMER LINDA GRUBE WILL HEAD TO NOVEMBER.

IN SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, INCUMBENTS SCOTT JACOBY, ELAINE MILLER, BERNICE MACHAMER, CRYSTAL MCGARRY AND FIRST TIME CANDIDATE ERIC FELTY WILL APPEAR ON NOVEMBER’S BALLOT.

IN TAMAQUA, WANDA ZUBER, ROBERT BETZ, EILEEN MEISER, DANIEL SCHOENER AND LARRY WITTIG WERE WINNERS IN TUESDAY’S PRIMARY.

LOCAL NEWS:

WITH FEDERAL PROSECUTORS GETTING READY TO REST THEIR CASE AGAINST MATTHEW NESTOR AND JAMIE GENNARINI, THEY CALLED UPON DONALD RINALDI, WHO ACCUSED GENNARINI OF VIOLATING HIS CIVIL RIGHTS. J MATTHEWS HAS MORE FROM WILKES-BARRE.

OPENING STATEMENTS BEGIN TODAY FOR THE DEFENSE TO PLEAD THEIR CASE FOR THE 2 FORMER SHENANDOAH POLICE OFFICERS WHEN COURT RECONVENE'S AT 9 AM IN U.S MIDDLE DISTRICT COURT.

TRI-VALLEY PHARMACY ROBBERY

POLICE ARE NOW LOOKING FOR A MAN WHO HELD A KNIFE TO A WOMAN’S THROAT WHILE ROBBING THE TRI-VALLEY PHARMACY. IT HAPPENED JUST AFTER 1:30 TUESDAY AFTERNOON. POLICE SAY THE SUSPECT IS A WHITE MAN IN HIS 20S, STANDING AROUND 6 FEET TALL AND WEARING A YELLOW AEROPOSTALE SWEATSHIRT. HE WAS ALSO SAID TO HAVE HAD A BLACK AND WHITE BANDANA OVER HIS FACE DURING THE INCIDENT. THE MAN WAS GIVEN MORE THAN 300 OXYCODONE PILLS VALUED AT ABOUT $270. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL HEGINS TOWNSHIP POLICE AT 682-3133.

ORWIGSBURG MAN SEVERELY INJURED

AN ORWIGSBURG MAN IS SEVERELY INJURED AFTER A CRASH IN WEST BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIP TUESDAY AFTERNOON. POLICE SAY 32-YEAR-OLD JOSHUA ROARK WAS DRIVING HIS MOTORCYCLE ON SR 61 NEAR 3C’S DINER WHEN HE COLLIDED WITH A TRUCK. ROARK WAS THROWN OFF HIS MOTORCYCLE AND CAME TO REST FACE DOWN. ROARK WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE READING HOSPITAL FOR HIS INJURIES.

RACE TO BENEFIT LATE TEACHER

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2009, WILLIAMS VALLEY ELEMENTARY LOST ONE OF ITS BELOVED TEACHERS, MR. LYNN SPITTLE. STUDENTS SAY IT WAS A FAMILIAR SIGHT TO SEE MR. SPITTLE RUNNING EACH MORNING BEFORE SCHOOL AND THAT’S WHY A MEMORIAL RUN/WALK WILL BE HELD IN HIS HONOR. THE 2ND ANNUAL LYNN SPITTLE 5K MEMORIAL RUN/WALK IN TOWER CITY WILL BE HELD MAY 21. THE RACE WILL BEGIN AT THE TOWER CITY POOL ENTRANCE AT 9AM. REGISTRATION IS $20 AND ALL PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THE PORTER TOWNSHIP RECREATIONAL COMMITTEE AND THE LYNN SPITTLE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP.

PA FAIRS GUIDES NOW AVAILABLE

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TOBASH SAYS THE FREE 2011 PENNSYLVANIA FAIR GUIDE IS NOW AVAILABLE. PUBLISHED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, THE GUIDE LISTS THE DATES, LOCATIONS AND CONTACT PERSONS FOR MORE THAN 100 AGRICULTURE FAIRS AND EVENTS SCHEDULED THIS SUMMER AND FALL IN PENNSYLVANIA. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT SEVERAL MILLION VISITORS WILL ATTEND PENNSYLVANIA FAIRS THIS YEAR. THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ALSO HOSTS THE ANNUAL PENNSYLVANIA STATE FARM SHOW, THE LARGEST INDOOR AGRICULTURE EXHIBITION IN THE COUNTRY.

PA’S SUSQUEHANNA MOST ENDANGERED RIVER IN THE NATION

THE MISSISSIPPI IS MAKING THE HEADLINES RECENTLY, BUT IT’S A RIVER RIGHT HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA THAT TAKES THE TOP SPOT IN THE NEW AMERICAS MOST ENDANGERED RIVERS OF 2011 LIST. THIS YEAR THE NUMBER ONE RIVER IS THE SUSQUEHANNA , SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THE THREAT OF NATURAL GAS DRILLING THAT’S HAPPENING IN THE WATERSHED. THERE IS A SPECIAL CONCERN ABOUT HYDRAULIC FRACTURING OR FRACKING IN PA, WHICH OIL COMPANIES TAKE LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER FROM RIVERS AND STREAMS, MIX IT WITH SAND AND CHEMICALS AND PUMP IT UNDERGROUND TO EXTRACT NATURAL GAS. WHILE OIL COMPANIES GENERALLY KEEP THE CHEMICALS THEY USE A SECRET, THE INDUSTRY MAINTAINS THAT THE RISK OF FRACKING FLUIDS COMING INTO CONTACT WITH AN AQUIFER, OR GROUND WATER SOURCE, IS REMOTE.

CRASH INVOLVING TRACTOR TRAILER

A NEW HAMPSHIRE MAN REMAINS IN GOOD CONDITION AT HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER FOLLOWING A CRASH ON INTERSTATE 81 IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. THAT CRASH HAPPENED JUST AFTER TWO MONDAY AFTERNOON AT MILE-MARKER 109 IN FRAILEY TOWNSHIP. POLICE SAY 58-YEAR-OLD JAMES HANNERS OF CONCROD, NEW HAMPSHIRE SLAMMED INTO THE REAR OF A TRACTOR TRAILER DRIVEN BY 50-YEAR-OLD DANIEL BUSH OF RODMAN, NEW YORK. BUSH WASN'T HURT. IN THE WRECK. POLICE SAY HANNERS WILL BE CITED FOR THE WRECK.

STATE NEWS:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER HAS WON THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION IN THE PENNSYLVANIA PRIMARY. NUTTER OVERWHELMINGLY DEFEATED LONG-SHOT CANDIDATE MILTON STREET. STREET IS A FORMER STATE LEGISLATOR, HOT DOG VENDOR, AND THE OLDER BROTHER OF NUTTER'S PREDECESSOR JOHN STREET.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - REPUBLICAN VOTERS NOMINATED HARRISBURG LAWYER VIC STABILE FOR AN OPEN SEAT ON THE STATE SUPERIOR COURT. STABILE WILL TAKE ON ALLEGHENY COUNTY JUDGE DAVID WECHT IN NOVEMBER. REPUBLICANS ALSO NOMINATED NEW HOPE LAWYER ANNE COVEY FOR AN OPENING ON THE STATE COMMONWEALTH COURT.

WASHINGTON (AP) - RICK SANTORUM SAYS SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW EFFECTIVE WATERBOARDING AND OTHER HARSH INTERROGATION TECHNIQUES CAN BE. LAST WEEK, MCCAIN SAID SEVERE INTERROGATION TACTICS DID NOT PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT LED TO OSAMA BIN LADEN. MCCAIN SPENT 5 1/2 YEARS ENDURING BRUTAL TREATMENT IN A NORTH VIETNAMESE PRISON.

EASTON, PA. (AP) - A CONVICTED MURDERER WHO ADMITTED TO KILLING HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND AND THREE OTHERS LAST SUMMER WHILE ON PAROLE FOR A 1991 KILLING WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH YESTERDAY. JURORS IN NORTHAMPTON COUNTY DELIBERATED FOR LESS THAN TWO HOURS BEFORE SENTENCING MICHAEL BALLARD TO FOUR DEATH SENTENCES.

NATIONAL NEWS:

HOUSTON (AP) - ARIZONA CONGRESSWOMAN GABRIELLE GIFFORDS' RECOVERY ISN'T SLOWING DOWN WHILE HER ASTRONAUT HUSBAND ZOOMS AROUND THE EARTH. GIFFORDS WILL UNDERGO SURGERY TODAY SO DOCTORS CAN REPLACE A PIECE OF HER SKULL WITH A PLASTIC IMPLANT. IT'S ANOTHER ENCOURAGING STEP IN HER RECOVERY AFTER A WOULD-BE ASSASSIN SHOT HER DURING A JAN. 8 RALLY IN TUCSON.

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. (AP) - IN LITTLE MORE THAN AN HOUR ENDEAVOUR WILL DOCK AT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FOR THE LAST TIME. THE SPACE SHUTTLE IS ON A 16-DAY MISSION. THE TASK IS TO ATTACH TO THE SPACE STATION A $2 BILLION GIANT MAGNET THAT LOOKS FOR ANTIMATTER AND DARK ENERGY. THE HUSBAND OF ARIZONA CONGRESSWOMAN GABRIELLE GIFFORDS, MARK KELLY, IS THE SHUTTLE FLIGHT'S COMMANDER.

JACKSON, MISS. (AP) - CARGO IS AGAIN SLOWLY MOVING ALONG THE BLOATED MISSISSIPPI RIVER AFTER A COSTLY DAYLONG STANDSTILL ALONG A 15-MILE STRETCH AT NATCHEZ, MISS. OFFICIALS ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE LOWER DELTA WHERE THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF FARMLAND COULD BE SWAMPED BY WATER INCHING CLOSER TO THE TOP OF A BACKWATER LEVEE.

NEW YORK (AP) - CALLS HAVE INTENSIFIED FOR DOMINIQUE STRAUSS-KAHN, THE 62-YEAR-OLD MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND TO RESIGN. HE'S UNDER SUICIDE WATCH IN NEW YORK'S NOTORIOUS RIKER'S ISLAND JAIL COMPLEX. HE'S ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A HOTEL MAID, WHO CAME FROM ONE OF THE WORLD'S POOREST COUNTRIES.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS DELIVERING HIS FINAL COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS OF THE SEASON AT THE U.S. COAST GUARD ACADEMY. THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF IS HEADED TO NEW LONDON, CONN., TO WATCH 229 CADETS RECEIVED THEIR BACHELOR DEGREES AND SERVICE RANK. THE COAST GUARD ENFORCES THE LAWS AT SEA.