TODAY'S NEWS: FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2011

AUTOPSY DONE ON ACCUSED METH MANUFACTURER

AN AUTOPSY CONDUCTED THURSDAY MORNING ON ACCUSED METHAMPHETAMINE MANUFACTURER, JEFFREY WOLFE, FOUND HE DIED FROM MASSIVE BLEEDING AFTER STATE POLICE SHOT HIM. WOLFE WAS SHOT TWICE IN THE CHEST WEDNESDAY MORNING AFTER POINTING A LOADED 12-GAUGE SHOTGUN AT STATE POLICE IN HIS WAYNE TOWNSHIP HOME. AN AUTOPSY BY DR. RICHARD BINDIE FOUND WOLFE SUFFERED A PERFORATED LUNG AND RULED THE MANNER OF DEATH A HOMICIDE. WOLFE TESTED POSITIVE FOR UNSPECIFIED CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AND THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE ONCE RESULTS OF TOXICOLOGY TESTS ARE RECEIVED.

"A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD" WAS THURSDAY'S THEME AT THE NATIONAL DAY OF Prayer

NESTOR'S CONVICTION ADMISSIBLE ACCORDING TO JUDGE

THE REQUEST OF SHENANDOAH'S FORMER POLICE CHIEF TO CONTINUE HIS EXTORTION TRIAL, WHILE ALLOWING PROSECUTORS TO USE HIS CONVICTION IN HIS JANUARY TRIAL AGAINST HIM IF HE TESTIFIES HAS BEEN REJECTED BY A FEDERAL JUDGE. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS A FOUR-PAGE OPINION WAS MADE AVAILABLE THURSDAY WHICH STATES SENIOR U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE A. RICHARD CAPUTO RULED JURY SELECTION IN MATTHEW NESTOR'S TRIAL WHICH SHOULD BEGIN AT 9:30 THURSDAY. ONCE JURY SELECTION IS COMPLETE, THE ACTUAL TRIAL OF NESTOR AND JAMIE GENNARINI WILL BEGIN.

McDonalds GAVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE AT THEIR GRAND OPENING THURSDAY.

ALLENTOWN DIOCESE DROPS APPEAL

FOUR CHURCHES IN OUR AREA THAT WERE HOPING TO BE REOPENED WERE DEALT A MAJOR BLOW YESTERDAY. THE DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN HAS DROPPED IT APPEALS OF THE CONGREGATION FOR CLERGY RULINGS ON THE SECULARIZATION OF THOSE CHURCHES. THE DIOCESE HAS INFORMED OFFICALS AT THE VATICAN THAT WITHDRAWING APPEALS FOR MARY QUEEN OF PEACE, POTTSVILLE, ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, MINERSVILLE, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, SAINT CLAIR, AND ST. MICHAEL, TRESCKOW AND 2 MORE NEAR ALLENTOWN. THE CHURCH BUILDINGS WERE CLOSED IN 2008 DURING THE DIOCESE RESTRUCTURING . PARISHIONERS APPEALED THE CLOSURE OF THE AFFECTED CHURCHES. THE DECREES ISSUED BY THE VATICAN DO NOT REQUIRE THE CHURCHES TO BE REOPENED.


WATER SYSTEM, FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS FUNDED

THE OFFICES OF REP. MIKE TOBASH (R-SCHUYLKILL/BERKS) AND SEN. DAVE ARGALL(R-29)HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT $2 MILLION DOLLARS IN STATE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE MUCH NEEDED WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS IN PINE GROVE BOROUGH AND PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP AND A FLOOD CONTOL PROJECT IN SCHULKILL HAVEN. THE FUNDING COMES FROM THE STATE'S H2O PA PROGRAM. THE MONEY MUST BE USED FOR FLOOD CONTROL, DAM OR WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS. IT IS SEPARATE FROM THE STATES GENERAL BUDGET.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN WILL RECEIVE A $1,000,000 OVERHAUL FOR FLOOD CONTROL. IN THE PAST THE BOROUGH RECEIVED EXTENSIVE FLOOD DAMAGE THE PROJECT WILL INVOLVE BANK STABILIZATION , FLOOD WALL REPLACEMENT, AND PUMP STATION TO PROTECT THE WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

PINE GROVE TWP AUTHORITY WATER SYSTEM'S $500,000 FUNDING WILL ASSIST WITH IMPROVING AND EXPANDING THE SWATARA VILLAGE WATER SYSTEM.

PINE GROVE BOROUGH WILL ALSO RECEIVE $500,000 TO ASSIST WITH WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING REPLACING OUT DATED WATER MAINS.

TOBASH AND ARGALL NOTED THAT DEBT DERVICE ON THE BONDS TO FUND THE H2O PROGRAM IS PAID FROM A PORTION OF GAMING PROCEEDS THAT ARE DEPOSITED IN THE GAMING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM FUND.
STATE NEWS:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A PHILADELPHIA MAN WON'T SERVE JAIL TIME FOR THREATENING A PENNSYLVANIA CONGRESSWOMAN'S STAFF BECAUSE HE WAS UPSET OVER HIS LOST DENTURES.A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS SENTENCED 44-YEAR-OLD JESSE KEEL TO THREE YEARS OF PROBATION. AUTHORITIES SAY KEEL TOLD A MEMBER OF CONGRESSMAN ALLYSON SCHWARTZ'S STAFF THAT HE WAS AN EX-MARINE WHO COULD JUMP ON A BUS AND SHOOT EVERYONE IN THE OFFICE.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - POLICE IN PHILADELPHIA SAY THEY ARRESTED A STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND CHARGED HER WITH DRUNK DRIVING. POLICE SAY REP. CHERELLE (SHUH-REL') PARKER OF PHILADELPHIA WAS PULLED OVER EARLY SUNDAY MORNING IN THE CITY'S GERMANTOWN SECTION. POLICE TELL THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER ON THURSDAY THAT POLICE HAD OBSERVED PARKER DRIVING THE WRONG WAY DOWN A ONE-WAY STREET.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A CON MAN WHO LURED INVESTORS AT POLO AND YACHT CLUBS FROM FLORIDA TO MAINE WILL SPEND 17-1/2 YEARS IN PRISON FOR A $23 MILLION PYRAMID SCHEME. A FEDERAL JUDGE SAYS DONALD "TONY" YOUNG "TOOK HIS ACT NORTH" WHEN HE LEFT BEHIND HIS MODEST GEORGIA CHILDHOOD AND INGRATIATED HIMSELF WITH THE COUNTRY-CLUB SET IN CHESTER COUNTY. AUTHORITIES SAY YOUNG DUPED A CAMPBELL SOUP HEIR AND OTHER WEALTHY INVESTORS.

NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA PLANS TO SHOW HIS APPRECIATION TO THE MILITARY TODAY, INCLUDING A PRIVATE THANKS TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE RAID THAT KILLED OSAMA BIN LADEN. AT FORT CAMPBELL, KY., HE'LL ALSO SPEAK PUBLICLY TO THANK TROOPS JUST BACK FROM AFGHANISTAN.

WASHINGTON (AP) - EMPLOYMENT DATA DUE OUT TODAY COULD BEGIN TO REFLECT THE IMPACT OF HIGH GASOLINE PRICES. ANALYSTS FORECAST THAT THE ECONOMY ADDED 185,000 JOBS IN APRIL AND THAT THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINED AT A TWO-YEAR LOW OF 8.8 PERCENT. THAT WOULD BE DOWN FROM THE 216,000 JOBS ADDED IN MARCH BUT STILL SOLID. THE PICTURE LOOKED BETTER JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO.

MEMPHIS, TENN. (AP) - THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH ARE FACING A TOUGH DECISION ABOUT EVACUATION AS PARTS OF THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA BEGIN TO FLOOD. KENTUCKY HAS CLOSED 250 ROADS IN 50 COUNTIES. THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BLEW A THIRD HOLE IN A MISSOURI LEVEE TO RELIEVE PRESSURE. AND NATIONAL GUARDSMEN USED SANDBAGS TO FORTIFY LEVEES IN NORTHEAST LOUISIANA.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - OYSTERMEN WHO ARE JUST NOW GETTING BACK TO THEIR MAIN JOBS A YEAR AFTER THE BP OIL SPILL HAVE A NEW WORRY. PLANS TO RELEASE FRESH WATER FROM THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO EASE FLOODING PRESSURE COULD CAUSE A MAJOR OYSTER KILL IN THE SALTY WATERS WHERE THEY GROW. FRESH WATER DISRUPTS THE OYSTERS' METABOLISM.

HUALAPAI INDIAN RESERVATION, ARIZ. (AP) - THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE A DECISION TODAY ABOUT A MAN WHO WANTS TO FLY -- WITHOUT A PLANE. SWISS ADVENTURER YVES ROSSY (YEEVZ RAW'-SEE) PLANS TO FLY OVER THE GRAND CANYON IN A JET-PROPELLED WINGSUIT HE'S BEEN REFINING FOR YEARS. HE'S ALREADY FLOWN OVER THE SWISS ALPS AND THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.