TODAY'S NEWS-SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2011

TORNADO CONFIRMED

IN THE MINDS OF MANY, THURSDAY'S STORMS THAT CUT A SWATH OF DESTRUCTION THROUGH PARTS OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY WAS INDEED A TORNADO. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PERSONNEL CONFIRMED IT YESTERDAY. METEROLOGISTS FROM THE AGENCY, ALONG WITH SCHUYLKILL COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL FLEW OVER THE REGION IN A STATE POLICE HELICOPTER. THE TORNADO INITIALLY LANDED AT 8:15PM NEAR CRESSONA. IT TOUCHED DOWN AND LIFTED SEVERAL TIMES DURING ITS 18 MILE TREK ACROSS THE COUNTY. THE STORM PETERED OUT IN WEST PENN TOWNSHIP. TWENTY HOMES WERE DAMAGED, FOUR HAD MAJOR DAMAGE. A DOZEN BARNS AND OUTBUILDINGS WERE DAMAGED AND MORE THAN 1000 TREES WERE FELLED BY THE STORM. WEATHER OFFICIALS SAY THAT WINDS DURING THE STORM WERE CLOCKED AT 110 MILES PER HOUR.

STORM AFTERMATH

NOW THE CLEANUP IS UNDERWAY FOLLOWING THE NASTY STORMS OF THURSDAY NIGHT. AMERICAN RED CROSS PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN ON THE JOB SINCE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE STORM, PROVIDING SUPPLIES TO RESIDENTS AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL IN AFFECTED AREAS, AND HELPING PEOPLE WITH LODGING AND BASIC EMERGENCY NEEDS. AS FAR AS POWER RESTORATION, ABOUT 2 THOUSAND CUSTOMERS OF PPL ELECTRIC, MANY IN WEST PENN AND WEST BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIP, ARE STILL WITHOUT POWER THIS MORNING. CREWS FROM OUTSIDE OF THE AREA HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH LOCAL LINEMEN TO RESTORE SERVICE.

JUDGE BANS BATH SALTS

A SCHUYLKILL COUNTY JUDGE HAS RULED THAT SELLING OR DISTRIBUTING BATH SALTS IN THE COUNTY IS ILLEGAL. SCHUYLKILL COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JIM GOODMAN AND HIS STAFF HAD BEEN PUSHING FOR THE RULING. REPORTS INDICATE THAT JUDGE JACQUELINE RUSSELL'S OPINION POINTED OUT THE HAZARDS OF USING THE BATH SALTS TO GET HIGH, CREATING A PRESENT PUBLIC DANGER. THIS IS THE FIFTH COUNTY IN THE COMMONWEALTH TO BAN THE SALE OF BATH SALTS.

VETERANS HONORED

SENATOR DAVE ARGALL WAS IN THE AREA TO KICK OFF MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. JASMINE BROOKS HAS THE STORY:

ARGALL :48
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MEMORIAL DAY PARADES

HONORING OUR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN AND THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE IS WHAT THIS WEEKEND IS ALL ABOUT AND WHAT A BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND THAN WITH A PARADE. THROUGHOUT SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, MEMORIAL DAY PARADES WILL BE HELD. PINE GROVE'S PARADE WILL STAY TRUE TO THE ESTEEM BESTOWED ON OUR COUNTRY'S MILITARY PERSONNEL, BOTH PAST AND PRESENT, WHILE THE BOROUGH OF GORDON WILL HONOR THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICES OF THE U.S ARMED FORCES. FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY LOG ON TO WPPA RADIO.COM UNDER NEWS.

FISH FOR FREE DAY

FISH FOR FREE DAY WILL BE HELD AT THE PROGRAM SHELTER IN LOCUST LAKE STATE PARK MONDAY, MAY 30 FROM 9AM TO NOON. NO FISHING LICENSE IS NEEDED PLUS A DEMONSTRATION OF FILLETING AND FRYING FISH WILL FOLLOW. SOME FISHING POLES AND TACKLE WILL BE AVAILABLE, BUT PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN BAIT. SHINE ONLY.

EXOTIC GRILLING

AS THE UNOFFICIAL START OF BARBECUE SEASON, MEMORIAL DAY CAN START A LONG PARADE OF HOT DOGS AND BURGERS WITH THE OCCASIONAL STEAK THROWN IN. BUT A MEAT SPECIALIST IN PENN STATE STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES SAYS A NEW TREND OFFERS A BREAK FROM BORING GRILLING. GARY ABDULLAH HAS MORE.

GO GRILLING

MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS

ANNVILLE-PROGRAM 2PM SUNDAY, INDIANTOWN GAP NATIONAL CEMETERY

ASHLAND-PARADE AND CEREMONY 11AM MONDAY FROM MEMORIAL FIELD

AUBURN-PARADE STARTS 9:30AM MONDAY, FOLLOWED BY A MEMORIAL SERVICE AT WAR MEMORIAL

CRESSONA-PARADE MONDAY STARTS 11AM, SAPA PARKING LOT. SERVICE FOLLOWS AT LEGION PLAZA. COMMUNITY DAY 12-2PM CRESSONA GROVE.

FRACKVILLE-PARADE FORMS 8:45 MONDAY AT M&T BANK

GIRARDVILLE-PARADE 10AM MONDAY FOLLOWED BY CEREMONY AT VETERANS MEMORIAL

GORDON-PARADE BEGINS 10AM MONDAY FOLLOWED BY PROGRAM AT MUNICIPAL HALL

HAMBURG-DEDICATION CEREMONY AT 9AM MONDAY, VETERANS MEMORIAL FOLLOWED BY PARADE AT 9:30 FOLLOWED BY UNVEILING OF MEMORIAL

LLEWELLYN-PARADE BEGINS AT 8AM MONDAY FROM LLEWELLYN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOLLOWED BY CELEBRATION OF VETERANS

MAHANOY CITY-CHURCH SERVICE 10:15AM SUNDAY AT FIRST METHODIST CHURCH. PARADE 11AM MONDAY. PROGRAM 2PM

MINERSVILLE-PARADE FORMS 9AM MONDAY. CEREMONY FOLLOWS AT VETERANS MEMORIAL

NEW PHILADELPHIA-PARADE STARTS AT 8:30 POST OFFICE WITH SERVICE FOLLOWING AT MEMORIAL SQUARE

ORWIGSBURG-PARADE 8AM AT MEMORIAL BUILDING FOLLOWED BY CEREMONY AT CENTRE SQUARE

PALO ALTO-SERVICES 1PM SUNDAY AT PALO ALTO MONUMENT

POTTSVILLE-PARADE STARTS 10AM MONDAY FOLLOWED BY CEREMONIES AT GARFIELD SQUARE

RINGTOWN-10AM SERVICE MONDAY AT OLD WHITE CHURCH

SAINT CLAIR-1PM PROGRAM SUNDAY AT SAINT CLAIR AREA ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOL

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN-7:3-PM MEMORIAL SERVICE SUNDAY AT FIRST UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

SELTZER-8:30AM MEMORIAL MONDAY AT SELTZER MEMORIAL

TOWER CITY-10:30AM PARADE MONDAY FOLLOWED BY PROGRAM AT THE SQUARE

TREMONT-1PM SERVICE SUNDAY AT MEMORIAL PARK

WICONISCO-8AM HONOR ROLL MONDAY AT CALVARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

WILLAIMSTOWN-9:45AM PARADE AT SOVEREIGN BANK PARKING LOT FOLLOWED BY SERVICES AT VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK.