TODAY'S NEWS: JULY 21, 2011

3 SOLDIERS KILLED IN BLAST

THE PA NATIONAL GUARD HAS RELEASED AN OFFICIAL REPORT ON A STORY WE BROUGHT TO YOU YESTERDAY. THREE US SOLDIERS WERE KILLED EARLIER THIS WEEK IN AN EXPLOSION IN BAGRAM, AFGHANISTAN. 47-YEAR-OLD SGT EDWARD KOEHLER OF LEBANON, 49 YEAR OLD BRIAN MOWERY OF HALIFAX AND 30 YEAR OLD SGT KENNETH VAN GIESEN OF KANE WERE TRANSPORTING SUPPLIES WHEN THEIR VEHICLE WAS HIT BY AN IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE. GOV. TOM CORBETT SAYS OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILIES OF THESE BRAVE YOUNG MEN WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE ON BEHALF OF THIS COUNTRY. THE SOLDIERS WERE SERVING WITH THE PA NATIONAL GUARD'S 131ST TRANSPORTATION COMPANY AND 213TH AREA SUPPORT GROUP BASED IN WILLIAMSTOWN AND PHILADELPHIA.


POTTSVILLE SD REVISES DRESS CODE

THE POTTSVILLE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT APPROVED A REVISION TO THE STUDENT DRESS CODE WEDNESDAY EFFECTIVE FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. THE CHANGES WILL AFFECT JACKETS OR OUTER WEAR, PANTS, COLLARD SHIRTS FOR ELEMENTARY PHYSICAL EDUCATION STUDENTS. ALSO WRITTEN APPROVAL FOR ANY CLUB OR ACTIVITY TO DESIGN THEIR OWN SHIRT MUST BE SUBMITTED TO SCHOOL OFFICIALS.

2 ADMIT METH LAB INVOLVEMENT

TWO PEOPLE HAVE AVOIDED MORE PRISON TIME AFTER THEY ADMITTED THEY HELPED TO OPERATE A METHAMPHETAMINE LAB IN TREMONT BACK IN MAY OF 2010. 36-YEAR-OLD CHARLES KILLE OF READING AND 35 YEAR OLD TANYA KOCH OF TREMONT ARE BOTH CHARGED WITH THREE COUNTS OF POSSESSION OF CHEMICALS WITH THE INTENT TO MANUFACTURE A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE AND ONE COUNT EACH OF POSSESSING A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. BOTH KILLE AND KOCH COULD SPEND UP TO 2 YEARS IN PRISON.

TEEN ADMITS TO THREAT AT SCHOOL

A FORMER SCHUYLKILL HAVEN AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ADMITTED TO THREATENING TO BLOW UP THE SCHOOL IN MARCH 2010, IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COURT WEDNESDAY. 19-YEAR-OLD TOMARA SCOTT OF POTTSVILLE WILL NOT HAVE TO SPEND TIME IN PRISON AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO 2 OTHER CRIMES. JUDGE JACQUELINE RUSSELL PLACED SCOTT ON PROBATION FOR 23 MONTHS AND ISSUED HER TO PAY OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARD IN FINES ALONG WITH 40 HOURS COMMUNITY SERVICE.

REST HAVEN NAMES NEW ADMINISTRATOR

JILL SCHAEFFER HAS BEEN NAMED TO THE POSITION OF ADMINISTRATOR OF REST HAVEN DURING THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S WORK SESSION WEDNESDAY. SCHAEFFER BEGAN HER CAREER AT REST HAVEN IN 2005 AS DIRECTOR OF STAFF DEVELOPMENT. SCHAEFFER WILL TAKE OVER FOR ELAINE SCHAEFFER WHO RETIRED EARLIER THIS MONTH AFTER SERVING REST HAVEN FOR 38 YEARS.

ECONOMIC SUMMIT CREATES 5-YEAR IMPROVEMENT GOAL

FIVE NEW GOALS TO IMPROVE THE CITY OF POTTSVILLE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WERE DEVELOPED AT A POTTSVILLE ECONOMIC SUMMIT WEDNESDAY. JASMINE BROOKS HAS MORE:

THE GROUP DECIDED ON THE FOLLOWING FIVE INITIATIVES FOR COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT:
• A RETAIL INCUBATOR, IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING TECHNOLOGY INCUBATOR AT 1 S. SECOND STREET
• ATTENTION TO HOUSING, SPECIFICALLY INVESTIGATING RENTALS FOR PROFESSIONS AND BLIGHT ASSOCIATED WITH RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES
• ADDITIONAL HOTEL/CONFERENCE CENTER FACILITIES
• NEED TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESS AND THE PUBLIC IN POTTSVILLE
• IMPROVE MARKETING STRATEGIES IN AN EFFORT TO INFORM AREA SCHOOL STUDENTS ABOUT COMMUNITY EVENTS

RN FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST HOSPITAL

A FORMER REGISTERED NURSE AT SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER-EAST NORWEGIAN STREET FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT TUESDAY ALLEGING A FELLOW RN SEXUALLY HARASSED HER IN 2009. SHARON LAWRENCE OF MAHANOY CITY SAID THE HOSPITAL VIOLATED THE FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND STATE HUMAN RELATIONS ACT BY REFUSING TO DISCIPLINE JEFFREY VALLIANT WHEN SHE REPORTED HE HAD BEEN MAKING SEXUAL COMMENTS TOWARDS HER. LAWRENCE ALSO SAID THE HOSPITAL SUBJECTED HER TO RETALIATION.

SENIOR SERVICES EXTENDS HOURS

THE OFFICE OF SENIOR SERVICES ANNOUNCED THAT THE HOURS OF THE SENIOR CENTERS IN POTTSVILLE AND MAHANOY CITY HAVE BEEN EXTENDED. DURING THIS HEAT WAVE, OUR ELDERLY CAN VISIT THE CENTERS UNTIL 7PM. BOX FANS AND A/C UNITS ARE AVAILABLE ON A LIMITED BASIS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE OFFICE OF SENIOR SERVICES.

THIEVES BREAK INTO LOCAL UNI-MART FOR SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA

STATE POLICE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN ARE NOW INVESTIGATING A BURGLARY THAT HAPPENED EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING AT THE UNI-MART EXXON ON STATE ROUTE 61 IN NORTH MANHEIM TOWNSHIP. POLICE TELL US THE STORE'S GLASS DOOR WAS SMASHED OPEN AND SEVERAL PACKETS OF SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA WERE STOLEN. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL STATE POLICE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN AT 593-2000.


STATE NEWS:

DENVER (AP) - DENVER ARCHBISHOP CHARLES CHAPUT (SHAP'-YOO) SAYS HIS FIRST PRIORITY ONCE HE STARTS LEADING THE ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA WILL BE TO GET TO KNOW THE PEOPLE AND THEIR NEEDS. CHAPUT SAYS HE HAS TO LISTEN BEFORE HE CAN SPEAK. TUESDAY, THE POPE NAMED CHAPUT TO LEAD PHILADELPHIA'S 1.5 MILLION CATHOLICS.

DUNCANNON, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY A CORONER WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE OF A CRASH LAST NIGHT INVOLVING A TRAIN AND A VEHICLE IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. THE PATRIOT-NEWS OF HARRISBURG REPORTS THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED JUST AFTER 9:30 P.M. AT A RAILROAD CROSSING IN PENN TOWNSHIP, JUST NORTHWEST OF HARRISBURG.

NORRISTOWN, PA. (AP) - A JANUARY TRIAL DATE IS SET FOR A MAN ACCUSED OF RAPING AND MURDERING A 9-YEAR-OLD SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA GIRL. JAMES LEE TROUTMAN HAS BEEN CHARGED IN THE MAY KILLING OF SKYLER KAUFFMAN, OF SOUDERTON. TROUTMAN WAS FORMALLY ARRAIGNED YESTERDAY IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY COURT. HE REITERATED HIS NOT GUILTY PLEA.

EASTON, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA'S SUPREME COURT SAYS A FORMER POLICE OFFICER WHO ACCIDENTALLY SHOT AND KILLED A COLLEAGUE INSIDE THEIR POLICE STATION DESERVES A $10,765-A-YEAR PENSION. THE STATE'S HIGHEST COURT UPHELD A LOWER COURT DECISION THIS WEEK ALLOWING FORMER EASTON POLICE OFFICER MATTHEW RENNINGER TO COLLECT THE DISABILITY PENSION FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS SUFFERED SINCE ACCIDENTALLY SHOOTING OFFICER JESSE SOLLMAN IN 2005

NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - FEDERAL REGULATORS, INCLUDING FED CHAIRMAN BEN BERNANKE, CAN EXPECT A GRILLING WHEN THEY GO BEFORE THE SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE TODAY. THE PANEL WANTS TO KNOW WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG TO PUT INTO EFFECT SWEEPING FINANCIAL REFORMS UNDER THE YEAR-OLD DODD-FRANK LAW.

AS THE NATION'S DEBT DILEMMA DRONES ON, THE SENATE IS TAKING UP A HOUSE PLAN KNOWN AS "CUT, CAP AND BALANCE." DEMOCRATS ARE EXPECTED TO KILL THE MEASURE; THEY OBJECT TO PROPOSED CUTS IN MEDICARE. MEANWHILE, THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA MAY BACK A SHORT-TERM DEAL TO PREVENT A DEFAULT.

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. (AP) - ATLANTIS IS ABOUT TO SHUTTLE OFF INTO HISTORY. IT'S SCHEDULED TO LAND AT 5:56 A.M. EASTERN TIME. THE WEATHER'S PERFECT. NASA IS ENDING ITS 30-YEAR SHUTTLE PROGRAM WITH ATLANTIS COMPLETING ITS SUCCESSFUL MISSION TO RESUPPLY THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.

HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS (AP) - A TEXAS INMATE HAS BEEN EXECUTED FOR KILLING A DALLAS-AREA CONVENIENCE STORE CLERK DURING A SHOOTING RAMPAGE HE CLAIMED WAS IN RETALIATION FOR 9/11. MARK STROMAN WAS LETHALLY INJECTED FOR THE DEATH OF AN INDIAN IMMIGRANT. BEFORE THE SENTENCE WAS CARRIED OUT, STROMAN PROCLAIMED HIMSELF "AT TOTAL PEACE."

JACKSON, GA. (AP) - GEORGIA IS PLANNING TO GO AHEAD WITH THE LETHAL INJECTION OF A DEATH ROW INMATE A DAY AFTER HE WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO DIE. NO EXPLANATION FOR THE DELAY IN EXECUTING ANDREW DEYOUNG, WHO KILLED HIS PARENTS AND SISTER. HIS
EXECUTION WILL BE VIDEOTAPED AT THE REQUEST OF AN ATTORNEY FOR
ANOTHER DEATH ROW INMATE.