TODAY'S NEWS: TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2011

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES INTO FIRE, NO SCHOOL

CLASSES IN THE MAHANOY AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE BEEN CANCELED FOR TUESDAY AFTER A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE RIPPED THROUGH THE CAFETERIA COMPLEX. THE SCHOOL HOLDS ABOUT 1,000ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND FIRE OFFICIALS SAY A VISIBLE CRACK IS EVIDENCE THAT THE BUILDING HAS SETTLED FROM THE FIRE. CLASSES HAVE BEEN CANCELED FOR TODAY AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS DON'T KNOW ABOUT WEDNESDAY. DISTRICT OFFICIALS WILL MEET TODAY AT NOON TO DISCUSS THEIR OPTIONS FOR FACULTY AND STUDETNS. THE CAUSE OF THE BLAZE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.


COUNTY POWER RESTORED

POWER IS FINALLY RESTORED TO RESIDENTS OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLETED BY SATURDAY, SAW PP&L PUSH THE EXPECTED TIME TO HAVE POWER COMPLETELY RESTORED TO SUNDAY MORNING, THEN TO SOMETIME YESTERDAY. THE TORNADO THAT RIPPED THROUGH OUR AREA LAST WEEK AFFECTED OVER 15 THOUSAND PP&L CUSTOMERS IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY AS OF YESTERDAY THE LAST 72 CUSTOMERS FINALLY SAW POWER RESTORED.

MAN KILLED IN CRASH

A MOUNT CARMEL MAN WAS KILLED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WHILE RIDING HIS MOTORCYCLE MONDAY NIGHT IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. POLICE SAY 23-YEAR-OLD BENJAMIN THOMPSON WAS HEADING EAST ON ROUTE 901 WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS MOTORCYCLE AND TRAVELED INTO THE PATH OF A FORD EXPEDITION. THAT VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BY ERIN BLACKWELL OF ST. CLAIR WHO SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES ALONG WITH HER PASSENGER JONATHAN BLACKWELL. A FOUR-YEAR-OLD BOY, ALSO INSIDE THAT VEHICLE, ESCAPED INJURIES.

ORIGINAL YWCA BUILDING UP FOR SALE

LATE LAST WEEK THE DECISION WAS MADE TO PUT THE BUILDING THAT HOUSED THE Y-W-C-A IN POTTSVILLE UP FOR SALE. THE LOCAL LANDMARK AT 325 S CENTRE ST., SERVED THE AREA FOR OVER 50 YEARS. THE SCHUYLKILL Y-M-C-A TOOK OVER THE BUILDING IN JANUARY AND OFFICIALS THERE SAY THAT MAINTAINING THE BUILDING WAS JUST TOO COSTLY STATING THAT IT COST IN 2010, UP TO 15 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HEAT AND MAINTAIN. AT ITS REGULAR MEETING IN MAY, THE SCHUYLKILL YMCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MADE THE FINAL DECISION TO PUT THE BUILDING UP FOR SALE

THEFT AT AREA DEPARTMENT STORE

A COUPLE IS BEING HELD IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON THIS MORNING FOR STEALING OVER 800DOLLARS IN MERCHANDISE FROM AN AREA DEPARTMENT STORE. ACCORDING TO POLICE REPORTS ON MAY 28TH 48 YEAR OLD ALLEN ENDERS OF TREMONT AND 30 YEAR OLD STEPHANIE ENDERS OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN ATTEMPTED TO STEAL OVER 800 DOLLARS IN CLOTHING FROM THE BOSCOV'S IN THE FAIRLANE VILLAGE MALL IN NORWEGIAN TOWNSHIP. ALLEN ENDERS WAS CAUGHT BY STORE SECURITY FILLING A SHOPPING CART FULL OF CLOTHES WHILE STEPHANIE ENDERS WAITED OUTSIDE IN A VEHICLE. THE PAIR HAD COMMITTED THE SAME CRIME THE DAY BEFORE BUT SECURITY WAS UNABLE TO CATCH THEM AT THAT TIME. THE COUPLE ALSO HAD TWO SMALL CHILDREN WITH THEM AT THE TIME OF THE THEFT AND BOTH HAVE A PROTECTION FROM ABUSE ORDER ON EACH OTHER. ALLEN ENDERS IS CHARGED WITH RETAIL THEFT, CORRUPTION OF MINORS AND INDIRECT CRIMINAL CONTEMPT OF COURT WHILE STEPHANIE ENDERS IS CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT RETAIL THEFT AND CORRUPTION OF MINORS.

STATE NEWS:

GETTYSBURG, PA. (AP) - SARAH PALIN'S BUS TOUR ROLLED INTO GETTYSBURG YESTERDAY. THE YORK DAILY RECORD REPORTS, THE FORMER ALASKA GOVERNOR AND POSSIBLE 2012 GOP CONTENDER ARRIVED WITH HER HUSBAND TODD, AND DAUGHTERS BRISTOL AND PIPER. IT'S ALL PART OF PALIN'S "ONE NATION" TOUR THAT BEGAN SUNDAY IN WASHINGTON. WASHINGTON (AP) - FORMER ALASKA GOVERNOR SARAH PALIN SAYS SHE'S "STILL KIND OF CONTEMPLATING" A PRESIDENTIAL BID. PALIN SAYS IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO ALLOW TRADITIONAL CAMPAIGN-STYLE COVERAGE OF HER EAST COAST BUS TOUR THAT HAS STOKED SPECULATION ABOUT HER NEXT MOVES. INSTEAD, PALIN SAYS SHE WOULD OFFER HER OWN COVERAGE OF THE TOUR ON HER BLOG.

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - FAMILY MEMBERS SAY A WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN THE LEHIGH RIVER HAD TAKEN HER CANOE INTO THE SWOLLEN RIVER TO RESCUE HER DOGS. THE LEHIGH COUNTY CORONER'S OFFICE CONFIRMS THE BODY FOUND SUNDAY IS THAT OF PAMELA BOYKO OF LEHIGH TOWNSHIP.

NATIONAL NEWS:

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - A NATO SPOKESMAN SAYS TACTICS WON'T BE AFFECTED IN THE SHORT TERM BY AFGHAN PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI'S DECLARATION AGAINST AIRSTRIKES ON HOUSES. THE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE COALITION WILL REVIEW ITS PROCEDURES AFTER A STRIKE THAT MISTAKENLY KILLED WOMEN AND CHILDREN. IT'S ALSO UNCLEAR WHETHER KARZAI HAS THE POWER. NATO TROOPS ARE WORKING UNDER A UNITED NATIONS MANDATE.

SANAA, YEMEN (AP) - A BRIEF CEASE-FIRE HAS BROKEN DOWN AND FIGHTING HAS RESUMED IN YEMEN'S CAPITAL BETWEEN GOVERNMENT TROOPS AND FOLLOWERS OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST POWERFUL TRIBAL LEADER. THE TRIBAL LEADER HAS TURNED AGAINST PRESIDENT ALI ABDULLAH SALEH AND JOINED THE PROTEST MOVEMENT THAT HAS BEEN SEEKING HIS OUSTER SINCE EARLY FEBRUARY.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THERE'S OVERWHELMING OPPOSITION IN THE HOUSE TODAY TO A BILL TO RAISE THE COUNTRY'S DEBT LIMIT BY $2.4 TRILLION WITHOUT CUTTING SPENDING. EVERY REPUBLICAN AND MANY DEMOCRATS ARE POISED TO VOTE AGAINST IT. SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER HAS INSISTED THAT ANY INCREASE IN THE DEBT LIMIT MUST BE LINKED TO SPENDING CUTS THAT ARE LARGER THAN THE INCREASE IN THE BORROWING AUTHORITY.

WASHINGTON (AP) - FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS SAY HEALTH CARE FRAUD CASES MAY NOW TARGET INDIVIDUAL EXECUTIVES IN ADDITION TO CORPORATIONS. THEY'RE RAISING THE STAKES FOR CORPORATE HONCHOS WHO DEAL WITH MEDICARE AND MEDICAID. PREVIOUSLY, IF A COMPANY GOT CAUGHT, IT COULD AGREE TO A FINANCIAL SETTLEMENT WITHOUT FURTHER ACTION.

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. (AP) - ALL THE CRITICAL LANDING EQUIPMENT ABOARD SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR HAS CHECKED OUT. THE SIX ASTRONAUTS ARE SCHEDULED TO BRING NASA'S NEXT-TO-LAST SPACE SHUTTLE FLIGHT TO AN END EARLY TOMORROW MORNING. ENDEAVOUR IS DUE TO LAND AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA. NASA WILL KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THE CROSSWIND.