TODAY'S NEWS, MAY 10, 2011

MAN SENTENCED FOR HOME BURGLARY

A SCHUYLKILL COUNTY JUDGE HAS HANDED DOWN JAIL TIME FOR BREAKING INTO A PINE GROVE HOME LAST YEAR. TWENY FOUR YEAR OLD TODD STROUPHAUER, SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI WILL SPEND 18 TO 36 MONTHS IN PRISON, PLUS FIVE YEARS ON PROBATION AFTER HIS CONVICTION IN MARCH ON BURGLARY, MAKING TERRORISTIC THREATS, ASSAULT AND OTHER COUNTS. STROUPHAUER BROKE INTO A HOME ON OLD FORGE ROAD, PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP IN MARCH, 2010 AND THREATENED TO KILL TWO WOMEN WITH A SHOTGUN.

ADULT ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX

A COMPANY LOOKING TO BUILD AN ADULT ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX IS TAKING ITS CASE TO FEDERAL COURT TO GET APPROVAL. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THAT DUTCHMEN MX PARK LLC, WHO SEEKS TO OPERATE THE BUSINESS ON ROUTE 895, WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, INCLUDES NUDE DANCING. COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP ZONING OFFICIALS SAY THAT A SPECIAL EXCEPTION IS NEEDED TO ALLOW SUCH BUSINESSES TO OPERATE. DUTCHMEN MX L.L.C. SAYS NO CURRENT ZONING LAWS DEAL WITH ADULT ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESSES, AND THAT THEIR PERMIT SHOULD BE APPROVED.

MAN SENTENCED FOR THEFTS
A SCHUYLKILL HAVEN MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED FOR HIS PART IN 3 RETAIL THEFTS IN 2010. IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COURT MONDAY 38 YEAR OLD SCOTT HALUSKA WAS SENTENCED BY JUDGE JACQUELINE RUSSELL TO NINE TO 36 MONTHS WITH AN ADDITIONAL 2 YEARS ON PROBATION. HALUSKA PLEAD GUILTY ON MARCH 3RD TO THREE RETAIL THEFTS THAT OCCURRED BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND MARCH OF LAST YEAR. POTTSVILLE POLICE CHARGED HALUSKA WITH RETAIL THEFT FROM THE GIANT FOOD STORE ON RAILROAD ST IN POTTSVILE, HALUSKA WAS ALSO CHARGED BY ST CLAIR POLICE FOR A THEFT AT THE WAL MART IN ST CLAIR AND AT THE OLLIES BARGAIN OUTLET IN SCHUYLKILL HAVEN BY THE SCHUYKILL HAVEN POLICE. HALUSKA WAS ALSO ORDERED TO PAY ALL COSTS AND A $200 FINE AND UNDERGO DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT AND NOT HAVE CONTACT WITH ANY OF THOSE BUSINESS’S WHERE THE THEFTS OCCURRED.

CITY MOVING FORWARD TO REGULATE "BATH SALTS"

THE POTTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MET LAST NIGHT AND ONE OF THE BIG TOPICS WAS BATH SALTS.POTTSVILLE POLICE CHIEF JOSEPH MURTON V PUT TOGETHER A 4 AREA ORDINANCE ALONG WITH CITY SOLICITOR TIM PELLISH TO BAN BATH SALTS AND RELATED PRODUCTS. THE ORDINANCES WILL REGULATE THE SALE, USE, POSSESSION AND MANUFACTURING OF SYNTHETIC CANNABIS, "FAKE POT," COMMONLY KNOWN AS BATH SALTS. MURTON ALSO GAVE A REPORT FROM SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH AND TO THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY DRUG AND ALCOHOL CENTER. MURTON ADDED THAT 10 OUT OF 25 CALLS RECEIVED WERE DUE TO BATH SALTS AND THAT 29 CASES WENT TO THE SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER-JACKSON STREET AND 2 THAT WENT TO THE SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER EAST NORWEGIAN DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD

MAN MISSING IN COAL TOWNSHIP

RESCUE PERSONNEL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR A COAL TOWNSHIP MAN LAST SEEN SUNDAY. WGRC REPORTS THAT 47 YEAR OLD RUSSEL HUMMEL WAS LAST SEEN AT HIS PARENTS HOME IN SHAMOKIN AROUND 9:30AM SUNDAY MORNING. HIS CAR WAS FOUND IN THE BEAR VALLEY AREA YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. SEARCH CREWS HAVE BEEN USING ALL TERRAIN VEHICLES TO LOOK FOR HUMMEL IN WOODED AREAS NEAR THE SITE THAT THEY FOUND HIS VEHICLE NEAR. HUMMEL IS FIVE FEET, 11 INCHES TALL, WEIGHS AROUND 180 POUNDS, WITH RED HAIR AND GLASSES. IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT HUMMEL’S WHEREABOUTS, CALL COAL TOWNSHIP POLICE AT 644-0333.

STATE NEWS:

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT SAYS SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOCUS TOO MUCH ON TEACHER CONTRACTS AND NOT ENOUGH ON CURRICULUM. HE ALSO SAYS PRIVATE-SCHOOL COMPETITION WILL FORCE STRUGGLING PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO IMPROVE. RIGHT NOW LAWMAKERS ARE
CONSIDERING BILLS THAT WOULD EXPAND TAXPAYER SUPPORT FOR PRIVATE-SCHOOL TUITION.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PASSENGER TRAIN TRAVEL BETWEEN HARRISBURG AND PHILADELPHIA COULD SOON BE GETTING FASTER, THANKS TO $40 MILLION IN FEDERAL MONEY. THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SAYS THE IMPROVEMENTS COULD SLASH SEVEN TO NINE MINUTES OFF THE RUNNING TIME BETWEEN HARRISBURG AND PHILADELPHIA.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - STATE OFFICIALS HAVE ALLOCATED THE $612 MILLION IN GAMBLING PROCEEDS TO BE USED TO LOWER PROPERTY TAXES. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER WILL SEE A $200 BREAK IN PROPERTY TAXES THIS YEAR. THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR ALLOCATING THOSE FUNDS TO INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - POLICE SAY OFFICERS SHOT AND KILLED A MAN LAST NIGHT DURING A FOOT CHASE IN NORTHEASTERN PHILADELPHIA. AUTHORITIES SAY OFFICERS RESPONDED TO A REPORT OF A PERSON WITH A GUN AND DRUG SALES. POLICE SAY THE TWO OFFICERS WERE CHASING THE SUSPECT WHEN HE POINTED A GUN AT THEM, AND THEY FIRED.

NATIONAL NEWS:

MEMPHIS, TENN. (AP) - THE SOAKING FROM THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN MEMPHIS APPEARS ISOLATED TO LOW-LYING NEIGHBORHOODS. IT'S FORCED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TO FLEE BUT NO NEW SERIOUS FLOODING IS EXPECTED. ATTENTION NOW TURNS TO LOUISIANA WHERE FARMERS ARE BUILDING HOMEMADE LEVEES TO PROTECT THEIR CROPS AND ENGINEERS ARE DIVERTING
WATER INTO A LAKE TO HELP THE LEVEES.

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - AFGHAN OFFICIALS SAY INSURGENTS HAVE LAUNCHED ANOTHER LARGE-SCALE ATTACK, THIS TIME IN THE REMOTE NORTHEAST NEAR THE PAKISTAN BORDER. HUNDREDS OF INSURGENTS TARGETED CHECKPOINTS AROUND A BASE THAT HOUSES POLICE RESERVE UNITS LOCATED NEAR A PROVINCIAL CAPITAL. THERE ARE FEW NATO OR AFGHAN SOLDIERS IN
THE REGION.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A TEXAS BORDER CITY IS THE BACKDROP TODAY AS PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA RENEWS HIS CALL FOR OVERHAULING IMMIGRATION LAWS. IT'S HIS FIRST PRESIDENTIAL TRIP TO THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER AND HE'LL SPEAK IN EL PASO. THERE APPEARS TO BE LITTLE IF ANY CHANCE THAT CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS WILL SIGN OFF ON LEGISLATION
TO PROVIDE A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR THE NATION'S ESTIMATED 11 MILLION ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A NEW UTAH IMMIGRATION LAW THAT LETS POLICE CHECK THE CITIZENSHIP STATUS OF ANYONE THEY ARREST GOES BEFORE A FEDERAL JUDGE TODAY. OPPONENTS WANT THE LAW BLOCKED SAYING IT'S MODELED AFTER AN ARIZONA LAW CURRENTLY BEFORE THE FEDERAL COURTS AND THAT ITS IMPLEMENTATION COULD LEAD TO RACIAL PROFILING.
UTAH ATTORNEY GENERAL MARK SHURTLEFF SAYS THE LAW IS CONSTITUTIONAL AND WILL BE UPHELD.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE WILL PRESS FOR DETAILS TODAY ABOUT THE TRACKING PRACTICES OF SMARTPHONE COMPANIES. LAWMAKERS WILL HEAR TESTIMONY TODAY FROM APPLE AND GOOGLE EXECUTIVES. RESEARCHERS REVEALED LAST MONTH THAT IPHONES AND
ANDROID PHONES WERE SECRETLY KEEPING TRACK OF USERS' LOCATIONS. APPLE AND GOOGLE SAY TRACKING CAN BE SHUT OFF.