LOCAL NEWS: FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2011

MINERSVILLE LIFTS WATER BOIL ADVISORY

THE MINERSVILLE MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY HAS LIFTED THE WATER BOIL ADVISORY AS OF THIS MORNING. THE ADVISORY HAS BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE MONDAY DUE TO A WATER MAIN BREAK ON RT 901. ANY QUESTIONS RESIDENTS ARE ASKED TO CALL 544-2200.

THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS PASSED A BILL TO REFORM PENNSYLVANIA'S UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION. MIKE DAVIES HAS MORE.

CHARTER SCHOOL AND POTTSVILLE BOARD

THE GILLINGHAM CHARTER SCHOOL COLLABORATIVE AND THE POTTSVILLE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT MET FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST NIGHT. THEIR PURPOSE, TO DISCUSS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S POLICIES FROM DRESS CODE TO CELL PHONES. SUPERINTENDENT JIM GALLAGHER AND OTHER DISTRICT OFFICIALS MET WITH NICOLLE HUTCHINSON AND MEMBERS OF THE COLLABORATIVE. GILLINGHAM CHARTER SCHOOL IS HOPING TO APPOINT A BOARD OF TRUSTEES BY JULY AND HAVE GRADES K THROUGH 9 BY SEPTEMBER.

BOYER'S TO BUY POTTSVILLE WAYMART

AN AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED BETWEEN BOYER'S FOOD MARKET INC AND THE WAY MART STORE IN POTTSVILLE. OWNER OF WAY MART WAYNE HAAS HAS DECIDED TO RETIRE AND HAS BEEN IN ON AND OFF TALKS WITH BOYER'S ABOUT PURCHASING THE STORE. THE CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP WILL TAKE EFFECT ON JULY 18. MEANWHILE, THE WAY MART STORE LOCATED IN MINERSVILLE ANNOUNCED IT WILL BE CLOSING ITS DOORS SOON BUT NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE BY HAAS ON THAT STORE SITE.


SKATE PARK TO PLAN DEMONSTRATION

IN AN EFFORT TO RAISE COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND CHANCE TO SHOW OF SOME OF THEIR SKILLS, YOUTH IN MINERSVILLE WILL HOLD A SKATING DEMONSTRATION AT THE NEW MINERSVILLE HOSE COMPANY. ORGANIZED BY THE MINERSVILLE SKATE PARK ASSOCIATION THE EVENT WILL STAT TOMORROW AT 10 AM AND GO TILL NOON. THOSE INTERESTED IN JOINING THE SKATE PARK ASSOCIATION SHOULD ATTEND THE REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THE FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 7:30PM AT THE MINERSVILLE WATER COMPANY.

DOG SHOOTING IN ASHLAND

ASHLAND POLICE EXPECT TO MAKE AN ARREST IN THE SHOOTING OF A DOG THAT OCCURRED WEDNESDAY EVENING. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, THE SPCA TOOK THE WOUNDED SHIH TZU TO AN ANIMAL HOSPITAL TO BE TREATED, BUT IT IS UNKNOWN IF THE ANIMAL WILL SURVIVE. POLICE HAVE A PERSON OF INTEREST THEY EXPECT TO FILE CHARGES AGAINST.

STATE NEWS:

THANKS TO A $50 MILLION DONATION FROM PHEAA, LOW-INCOME PENNSYLVANIA STUDENTS SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE AN EXTRA $700 IN STATE GRANTS FOR THE 2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR. THE PENNSYLVANIA HIGHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE AGENCY WILL BE DONATING MONEY FROM ITS BUSINESS EARNINGS TO INCREASE THE STATE’S MAXIMUM GRANT AWARD FROM $3,541 TO $4,309. PHEAA COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR KEITH NEW SAID THE ESTIMATES WERE CONTINGENT ON THE MONEY GOV. TOM CORBETT APPROPRIATES TO FUND STATE GRANTS

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - LAWMAKERS IN PHILADELPHIA HAVE APPROVED A PLAN TO RAISE TAXES ON REAL ESTATE, NOT SODA, IN ORDER TO HELP THE CITY'S CASH-STRAPPED SCHOOL DISTRICT. CITY COUNCIL PASSED A PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL LATE LAST NIGHT TO INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES ABOUT 3.5 PERCENT FOR ONE YEAR TO GENERATE $37 MILLION FOR EDUCATION.

WILLIAMSPORT, PA. (AP) - FORMER PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR TOM RIDGE SAYS DRILLERS OPERATING IN THE MARCELLUS SHALE REGION RECOGNIZE THEY NEED TO IMPROVE THEIR STANDING WITH THE PUBLIC. RIDGE IS NOW A CONSULTANT TO THE NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY. HE TOURED SEVERAL SHALE OUTCROPPINGS YESTERDAY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GAS-BEARING ROCK THAT'S LED TO A DRILLING BOOM.

MUNCY, PA. (AP) - STATE ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICIALS ARE INVESTIGATING ANOTHER INSTANCE OF METHANE CONTAMINATING WATER IN NORTHERN PENNSYLVANIA NEAR A MARCELLUS SHALE NATURAL GAS DRILLING OPERATION. ACCORDING TO THE WILLIAMSPORT SUN-GAZETTE, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SAYS IT FOUND THE FLAMMABLE, EXPLOSIVE GAS IN SEVEN WATER WELLS IN LYCOMING COUNTY.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPPED FOR A FIFTH STRAIGHT MONTH IN MAY, BUT A DROP OF 14,000 IN PAYROLLS IS CAUSING SOME CONCERN. THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY SAYS THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN MAY WAS 7.4 PERCENT, A DROP OF 0.1 PERCENT. HOWEVER, A SEPARATE SURVEY SHOWED NONFARM PAYROLLS DROPPED BY 14,200, AS PAYROLLS REMAINED BELOW 5.7 MILLION.

NATIONAL NEWS:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - HOT, DRY AND WINDY ARE NOT THE WORDS FIREFIGHTERS IN ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO AND COLORADO WANT TO HEAR. CREWS CONTINUE TO BATTLE SEVERAL WILDFIRES BURNING THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHWEST. THEY INCLUDE THE BIGGEST WILDFIRE IN ARIZONA HISTORY, WHERE CONTAINMENT IS UP TO 33 PERCENT.

HAMBURG, IOWA (AP) - THE NEXT ISSUE FOR RESIDENTS ALONG THE BULGING MISSOURI RIVER IS HOW LONG THE LEVEES WILL HOLD AGAINST A THREAT THAT'S EXPECTED TO LAST FOR WEEKS. THE FLOODWALLS AREN'T DESIGNED TO HOLD INDEFINITELY. SO FAR, MOST OF THE BARRIERS ARE DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO, INCLUDING A HASTILY BUILT TEMPORARY LEVEE PROTECTING HAMBURG IOWA.

BEIRUT (AP) - BIG ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATIONS ARE EXPECTED AGAIN TODAY IN SYRIA, WHERE TROOPS BACKED BY TANKS AND HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS SWEPT INTO ANOTHER NORTHWESTERN CITY. SINCE ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS ERUPTED IN MID-MARCH, SYRIAN LEADER BASHAR ASSAD HAS UNLEASHED THE MILITARY TO CRUSH STREET DEMONSTRATIONS. HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS SAY MORE THAN 1,400 HAVE DIED.

ATLANTA (AP) - AN AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY REPORT SAYS FEWER PEOPLE WITH COLLEGE DEGREES DIE OF CANCER THAN THOSE WHO ONLY FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL, AND THE GAP IS GROWING. AMONG MEN, THE LEAST EDUCATED DIE OF CANCER AT RATES MORE THAN 2 1/2 TIMES THAT OF MEN WITH COLLEGE DEGREES. THE NUMBERS ALSO SHOW A GROWING GAP FOR WOMEN.

WASHINGTON (AP) - NEW YORK SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER SAYS CONGRESSMAN ANTHONY WEINER "SERVED HIS COMMUNITY, CITY AND COUNTRY WELL FOR OVER TWO DECADES." OTHER DEMOCRATS SIMPLY SAID WEINER MADE THE RIGHT DECISION TO RESIGN BECAUSE OF HIS HANDLING OF A SEXTING SCANDAL. WEINER APOLOGIZED TO EVERYONE AFFECTED, INCLUDING HIS WIFE.