TODAY'S NEWS: JUNE 18, 2011

WATER BOIL ADVISORY MONDAY

THE SHENANDOAH MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY HAS ISSUED A WATER-BOIL ADVISORY STARTING MONDAY, JUNE 20 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE FOR SHENANDOAH, SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS, WESTON PLACE, TURKEY RUN, AND BROWNSVILLE. WATER MUST BE BOILED FOR CONSUMPTION PURPOSES. CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO EXPERIENCE LOW PRESSURE, DIRTY WATER, AND POSSIBLY NO WATER AT TIMES. THIS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEK AS NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS ARE MADE TO THE SYSTEM.

DEMS APPOINT NEW HEAD

THERE IS A CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT THE HELM OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY. TAMAQUA MAYOR CHRISTIAN MORRISON WAS UNANIMOUSLY ELECTED TO THE POST THIS WEEK, ACCORDING TO THE REPUBLICAN HERALD. MORRISON REPLACES ED KLEHA, WHO STEPPED DOWN IN MARCH AFTER CHAIRING THE PARTY FOR OVER A DECADE.

ANNUAL HAWK MOUNTAIN HILL CLIMB

HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY IN KEMPTON WILL HOLD ITS FIRST ANNUAL HAWK MOUNTAIN HILL CLIMB THIS MORNING FROM 8AM TILL 2PM. THIS EVENT IS A 5K RUN, WALK OR HIKE. SHUTTLE SERVICES WILL TRANSPORT PARTICIPANTS TO THE START LINE FROM THE VISITORS CENTER FROM 8 TO 10AM WITH THE RACE BEGINNING AT 10AM FOR RUNNERS AND 10:05 FOR WALKERS. THE COST TO ENTER IS $30 AND CAN BE PAID UP TO AND INCLUDING RACE DAY. A FINALE CELEBRATION AFTER THE RACE WILL FEATURE HEADLINER BLUEGRASS BAND "MOUNTAIN FOLK" AS WELL AS SANCTUARY EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND A VARIETY OF FOOD VENDORS.

SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT RESULTS

A SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT WAS CONDUCTED LAST WEEK, RESULTING IN 218 MOTORISTS BEING CONTACTED. ONE OPERATOR WAS ARRESTED FOR DUI, NINE TRAFFIC CITATIONS WERE ISSUED AND 16 WRITTEN WARNINGS WERE GIVEN OUT.

POTTSVILLE AREA APPOINTS NEW BOARD MEMBER

THE POTTSVILLE AREA SCHOOL BOARD APPOINTED LINDA GRUBE TO FILL A SEAT VACATED BY THE RESIGNATION OF LONGTIME BOARD MEMBER DR. WILLIAM DAVIDSON. GRUBE HAD BEEN ON THE BALLOT IN THE MAY PRIMARY. ITS EXPECTED THAT GRUBE WILL TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE AT THE JULY POTTSVILLE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

TRAPPER RENDEZVOUS THIS WEEKEND

THE 74TH ANNUAL PENNSYLVANIA TRAPPERS RENDEZVOUS AT THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS THIS WEEKEND. THE FAIR WILL FEATURE VENDORS SELLING OUTDOOR RELATED ITEMS AND MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT FROM THE OKLAHOMA DAN BAND. THE RENDEZVOUS IS OPEN FROM 8AM TO 6PM DAILY.

GOODMAN BACKS BILL TO HELP VOLUNTEER AMUBULANCE COMPANIES

STATE REPRESENTATIVE NEAL GOODMAN HELPED ADVANCE A BILL THAT WOULD ENSURE AMBULANCE COMPANIES ARE PAID FOR THEIR SERVICES. HOUSE BILL 1344 WOULD REQUIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO SEND PAYMENT DIRECTLY TO AMBULANCE COMPANIES, INSTEAD OF WRITING A CHECK TO THE PATIENT. GOODMAN AND HIS COLLEAGUES VOTED TO MOVE THE BILL OUT OF COMMITTEE, AND NOW HEADED TO THE FULL HOUSE FOR VOTE.

TAMAQUA CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

WORK WILL BEGIN MONDAY ON AN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IN TAMAQUA'S CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. THE PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO HELP IMPROVE SAFETY AND REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION. INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT ARE TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL UPGRADES, NEW SIGNAGE AND OTHER UPGRADES. SOME TRAFFIC DELAYS AND LANE RESTRICTIONS MAY RESULT ON ROUTES 209 AND 309.

FREE CANCER SCREENING

SUMMER IS JUST ABOUT HERE, AND WHILE MANY ENJOY THE OUTDOORS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN. SAINT CATHERINE MEDICAL CENTER, FOUNTAIN SPRINGS, IS OFFERING A FREE SKIN CANCER SCREENING ON THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER, TUESDAY JUNE 21ST FROM 2 TO 4PM AT FRACKVILLE FAMILY MEDICINE. FOR AN APPOINTMENT, CALL 875-6950.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT'S SIGNATURE IS ON A BILL DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN EMERGENCY JOBLESS BENEFITS FOR 45,000 DISPLACED WORKERS AND REDUCE THE COST OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION SYSTEM IN PENNSYLVANIA. CORBETT SIGNED THE BILL INTO
LAW IN PRIVATE YESTERDAY WHILE TRAVELING IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THE NEW LAW ALSO ENSURES THAT AN ESTIMATED 90,000 OTHERS CAN ALSO QUALIFY FOR THE EXTRA 13 WEEKS OF BENEFITS THIS YEAR.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WILL TRAVEL TO PITTSBURGH NEXT WEEK. PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN JAY CARNEY ANNOUNCED THAT OBAMA WILL VISIT CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY ON JUNE 24TH TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF MANUFACTURING TO THE U.S. ECONOMY.

SCRANTON, PA. (AP) - TESTIMONY HAS WRAPPED UP IN THE CORRUPTION TRIAL OF A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND HIS FORMER COLLEAGUE. LACKAWANNA COUNTY COMMISSIONER A.J. MUNCHAK AND FORMER COMMISSIONER ROBERT C. CORDARO ARE CHARGED IN FEDERAL COURT WITH EXTORTION, RACKETEERING AND CONSPIRACY. THE TIMES-TRIBUNE OF SCRANTON REPORTS CLOSING ARGUMENTS ARE SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER HAS BEEN ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS. THE VOTE MEANS THAT, IF HE'S RE-ELECTED IN NOVEMBER, NUTTER WOULD BE ON A PATH TO BECOME THE THIRD PHILADELPHIA MAYOR TO BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE CONFERENCE.

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - AFGHANISTAN HAS OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGED FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT THE TALIBAN ARE TALKING. PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT AND THE UNITED STATES ARE NEGOTIATING WITH TALIBAN FIGHTERS TO BRING PEACE TO THE COUNTRY. KARZAI TELLS REPORTERS TALKS ARE GOING WELL.

CHICAGO (AP) - UNITED AIRLINES SAYS IT'S IN THE PROCESS OF RESUMING NORMAL OPERATIONS TODAY FOLLOWING A COMPUTER CRASH YESTERDAY. UNITED SAYS A 'NETWORK CONNECTIVITY ISSUE' IS TO BLAME FOR THE PROBLEM THAT GROUNDED FLIGHTS NATIONWIDE. UNITED SAID FLIGHT OPERATIONS WILL BE AFFECTED THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.

TOKYO (AP) - THE OPERATOR OF JAPAN'S TSUNAMI-CRIPPLED NUCLEAR PLANT SAYS IT'S NOT SURE WHEN IT WILL RESTART A SYSTEM MEANT TO CLEAN MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF RADIOACTIVE WATER. THE HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN HOURS AFTER BEGINNING FULL OPERATIONS BECAUSE A CARTRIDGE WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO LAST A FEW WEEKS REACHED ITS RADIOACTIVITY LIMIT WITHIN FIVE HOURS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE NEW YORK TIMES IS REPORTS PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA OVERRULED LAWYERS FOR THE PENTAGON AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WHEN HE DECIDED HE COULD CONTINUE THE AIR WAR IN LIBYA WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL. THE PAPER SAYS OBAMA RELIED ON OTHER SENIOR LAWYERS WHO SAID U.S. ACTIONS DID NOT CONSTITUTE HOSTILITIES.

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIF. (AP) - THE AIR FORCE SAYS THE SECOND TEST OF AN UNMANNED HYPERSONIC EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ENDED IN A CRASH OFF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST EARLIER THIS WEEK. THE LOS ANGELES TIMES REPORTS THAT A VIDEO SHOWS THE X-51 WAVERIDER CRASHING AFTER IT WAS SUCCESSFULLY DROPPED BY A B-52 BOMBER THAT
HAD TAKEN OFF MONDAY FROM EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE.