LOCAL NEWS: WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011

FIRE IN TAMAQUA

AN EARLY MORNING FIRE TUESDAY HAS LEFT 12 PEOPLE HOMELESS IN TAMAQUA. THE 3AM BLAZE DAMAGED ABOUT 6 HOMES ON LEHIGH ST. CHIEF JAMES CONNELY OF THE AMERICAN FIRE COMPANY IN TAMAQUA SAYS THE FIRE STARTED IN THE LIVING ROOM AT 11 SOUTH LEHIGH ST WITH DAMAGES EXCEEDING 200 THOUSAND DOLLARS.

FIRE ACCIDENTAL

A WEEKEND FIRE THAT LEFT 10 HOMELESS IN SAINT CLAIRE HAS BEEN RULED AN ACCIDENT. THE FIRE STARTED AROUND 7PM SUNDAY NIGHT ON A SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT IN THE BOROUGH. SAINT CLAIRE FIRE CHIEF FRANK UHRIN SAYS THAT AFTER CONDUCTING HIS INVESTIGATION, THE CAUSE OF THE BLAZE IS FROM UNATTENDED COOKING. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED WITHIN 45 MINUTES SUNDAY NO WORD ON WHEN TENANTS WILL BE ALLOWED BACK IN THE APARTMENT


COUNTY LOOKS TO CLOSE STRIP CLUB

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY HAS ASKED THE COURT TO CLOSE A STRIP CLUB IN WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. THE COUNTY SAYS IT VIOLATES A ZONING ORDINANCE THAT FORBIDS AN "ADULT USE" FROM BEING IN THE AREA OF AN AGRICULTURAL ZONING DISTRICT. WHICH IS WHERE THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED. THE OWNERS OF THE STRIP MINE CABARET, DUTCHMAN MX PARK LLC OF PINE GROVE HAS NOT ASKED FOR A VARIANCE OR SPECIAL EXCEPTION THAT WOULD ALLOW IT TO OPERATE. THE COUNTY IS SEEKING DUTCHMEN TO DISCONTINUE ADULT ENTERTAINMENT AT THE CLUB.

MCADOO TEEN REMEMBERED

A TEEN WHO WAS TRAGICALLY KILLED OVER THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND WAS REMEMBERED LAST NIGHT AT A PLAYGROUND IN MCADOO. THE CANDLELIGHT VIGIL HELD ON HANCOCK STREET TO HONOR 18 YEAR OLD KAYLA BAHREY. BAHREY WHO JUST GRADUATED FROM HAZLETON HIGH SCHOOL THIS YEAR WAS STANDING OUTSIDE A DISABLED VEHICLE ON INTERSTATE 81 WHEN SHE WAS STRUCK BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. BAHREY WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE BY LUZERNE COUNTY CORONERS OFFICE.


FATAL CRASH

A HAMBURG MAN WAS KILLED TUESDAY AFTER CRASHING HIS VEHICLE IN WINDSOR TOWNSHIP. STATE POLICE AT HAMBURG TELL US 60-YEAR-OLD DANIEL ZIMMERMAN STRUCK A HOME ON KOHLERS HILL ROAD BEFORE ROLLING ACROSS ITS' FRONT YARD. ZIMMERMAN WAS NOT WEARING A SEATBELT.

STORM/SEWER SEPARATION IN PORT CARBON

SEVENTY-TWO HOMES IN PORT CARBON, WHO HAVE NOT MADE AN ATTEMPT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LOCAL EFFORT TO DISCONNECT STORM WATER DRAINS FROM THE SEWER SYSTEM, WILL RECEIVE A CALL FROM THE BOROUGH SECRETARY/TREASURER. BOROUGH COUNCIL MADE THAT DECISION TUESDAY. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WILL NOT LIFT A MORATORIUM ON NEW SEWER HOOKUPS IN BOTH THE BOROUGH AND IN POTTSVILLE UNTIL THE PROJECT TO DISCONNECT STORM WATER DRAINS FROM SEWER PIPES IS COMPLETE.

GARFIELD DINER TO REOPEN

A LOCAL RESTAURANT, WHICH HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE JANUARY, WILL REOPEN IN SEPTEMBER UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP. THE GARFIELD DINER IN POTTSVILLE WAS BOUGHT THIS WEEK BY MARK MONTGOMERY AND DAVE REED. THE NEW OWNERS PLAN TO RENOVATE THE RESTAURANT AND POSSIBLY GIVE IT A NEW NAME.

STATE NEWS:

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAY AN ALLENTOWN MAN WAS KILLED IN AN EARLY MORNING SHOOTING. POLICE TELL THE MORNING CALL OF ALLENTOWN MALIK MORGAN WAS FOUND ON THE SIDEWALK OUTSIDE A VACANT HOME EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING. AUTHORITIES SAY HE DIED SEVERAL HOURS LATER AT AN AREA HOSPITAL. POLICE CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE.

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - AN ALLENTOWN MAN WHO TESTIFIED AGAINST A CO-DEFENDANT IN A HOME INVASION MURDER THREE YEARS AGO HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO LESSER CHARGES. THE MORNING CALL OF ALLENTOWN SAYS MARCUS BREELAND PLEADED GUILTY YESTERDAY TO CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT ROBBERY. AS PART OF THE PLEA AGREEMENT, CHARGES OF HOMICIDE, ROBBERY AND BURGLARY WERE DROPPED.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - POLICE SAY THE NOW-DEAD SUSPECT IN A DEADLY SHOOTING RAMPAGE HAD BEEN SENT BACK TO PRISON OVER $222 WORTH OF ART PRINTS MISSING FROM THE VICTIMS' HOME. INVESTIGATORS ARE EXPLORING THE LINKS BETWEEN SUSPECT MARK GEISENHEYNER AND HOMEOWNERS PAUL AND MONICA SHAY. THEY'RE ALSO CHECKING GEISENHEYNER'S CLAIM THAT A 2006 FIRE AT THE COUPLE'S MONTGOMERY COUNTY HOME WAS AN ARSON TIED TO AN ALLEGED INSURANCE SCHEME.

WYOMING, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY A SHAVERTOWN MAN DROWNED OVER THE WEEKEND IN A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA LAKE. STATE POLICE IN LUZERNE COUNTY SAY THE BODY OF 54-YEAR-OLD CHARLES HUNTER WAS FOUND SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN SHALLOW WATER AT FRANCIS SLOCUM STATE PARK.

NATIONAL NEWS:

ORLANDO, FLA. (AP) - IT'S POSSIBLE CASEY ANTHONY COULD WALK FREE WHEN SHE IS SENTENCED TOMORROW FOR FOUR MISDEMEANOR COUNTS OF LYING TO INVESTIGATORS LOOKING INTO THE DEATH OF HER DAUGHTER. JURORS FOUND ANTHONY NOT GUILTY OF MURDER. THE MISDEMEANORS CARRY ONE YEAR TERMS AND SHE'S ALREADY BEEN IN JAIL THREE YEARS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE CASE AGAINST RECORD-SETTING PITCHER ROGER CLEMENS CLAIMS HE BALKED WHEN HE MADE HIS PITCH TO CONGRESS ABOUT STEROID USE. CLEMENS GOES ON TRIAL TODAY IN FEDERAL COURT ON CHARGES OF LYING TO CONGRESS IN 2008 WHEN HE DENIED EVER USING PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS DURING HIS 23-YEAR CAREER. JURY SELECTION IS THE FIRST STEP OF A TRIAL EXPECTED TO LAST FOUR TO SIX WEEKS.

ST. PAUL, MINN. (AP) - THE POSSIBILITY OF A LONG GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IS RAISING THE STAKES FOR PEOPLE AND GROUPS THAT RELY ON STATE MONEY IN MINNESOTA. A JUDGE PREVIOUSLY ORDERED THAT SERVICES NEEDED TO ENSURE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY SHOULD CONTINUE, BUT SPECIFIC REQUESTS ARE BEING WEIGHED BY FORMER MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE KATHLEEN BLATZ. MINNESOTA GOV. MARK DAYTON AND REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WILL MEET AGAIN TODAY TO TRY TO AGREE ON A BUDGET.

OAKLAND, CALIF. (AP) - THE CALIFORNIA RADIO PREACHER WHO PREDICTED THE APOCALYPSE ON MAY 21 IS UNDERGOING REHABILITATION TO REGAIN HIS STRENGTH FOLLOWING A STROKE. HAROLD CAMPING'S DAUGHTER CONFIRMS HER FATHER RECENTLY MOVED FROM AN AREA HOSPITAL TO A SKILLED NURSING FACILITY.

PARIS (AP) - THE BIGGEST BANKS IN THE EUROZONE ARE MEETING IN PARIS TODAY TO FOCUS ON A POSSIBLE NEW FINANCIAL RESCUE PACKAGE FOR GREECE. THE MAIN TASK FOR SENIOR EXECUTIVES FROM TOP EUROPEAN LENDERS IS TO COME UP WITH TERMS UNDER WHICH THEY WOULD BE PREPARED TO BUY UP NEW GREEK BONDS. EUROZONE GOVERNMENTS WANT "SUBSTANTIAL" PRIVATE-SECTOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO A NEW RESCUE DEAL FOR GREECE.