TODAY'S NEWS: MONDAY JULY 18, 2011

POTTSVILLE AREA TO CHANGE DRESS CODE

THE POTTSVILLE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT IS PLANNING ON CHANGING ITS DRESS CODE FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. DURING THE WORK SESSION HELD LAST WEEK IT WAS PROPOSED THAT SUCH CHANGES AS SWEATERS THAT HAVE A ZIPPER OR A HALF ZIP MUST HAVE AN APPROPRIATE SHIRT UNDERNEATH, ANY GROUP WHO DESIGN THEIR OWN SHIRT MUST HAVE IT APPROVED BY THE SCHOOL ALONG WITH A WRITTEN APPROVAL SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL, AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A COLLARD SHIRT DURING PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES. SUPERINTENDENT JIM GALLAGHER SAYS THAT THE CHANGES ARE EXPANDED EXPLANATIONS OF LAST YEAR'S CODE THE BOARD WILL PUT IT TO A FINAL VOTE THIS WEDNESDAY.


PARK IN HAVEN GETS A MAKEOVER

WITH THE HELP OF WAL-MART EMPLOYEES THE GREEN GOOSE PARK IN SCHUYLKILL HAVEN WILL GET SOME MUCH NEEDED REPAIR. THOSE EMPLOYEES WILL PAINT, SAND AND MULCH BEGINNING IN THE SECOND WEEK OF AUGUST AND CONTINUE FOR ABOUT A MONTH. ABOUT $5,000 IS ALLOCATED TO THE PROJECT ONCE COMPLETE ANY FUNDS LEFT WILL BE DONATED TO THE BOROUGH.


MAN CONNED OUT OF $11K

AN AUBURN MAN IS FEELING THE STING AFTER BEING DUPED OUT OF 11 THOUSAND DOLLARS. 73 YEAR OLD KENNETH TOWNSEND HAD THE MONEY STOLEN BY DECEPTION ACCORDING THE STATE POLICE IN SCHUYLKILL HAVEN. POLICE REPORT THAT TOWNSEND SENT MONEY ORDERS BETWEEN JULY 8 AND JULY 16 TO THE GOLDEN NUGGET SWEEPSTAKES COMPANY AFTER RECEIVING WORD THAT HE HAD WON 2.5 MILLION DOLLARS, A MERCEDES BENZ AND OTHER CASH PRIZES. POLICE ARE STILL INVESTIGATING


SHENANDOAH OBSERVES FEAST DAY

A LOCAL COMMUNITY CELEBRATED THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL FOR THE 97TH TIME SUNDAY. RESIDENTS FROM SHENANDOAH GATHERED FOR A MASS IN OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH FOLLOWED BY AN OUTDOOR PROCESSION ALONG THE STREETS. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, MONSIGNOR ANTHONY MUNTONE, SON OF THE PARISH AND SHENANDOAH NATIVE, WAS THE MAIN CELEBRANT AND HOMILIST.

ANTI-POLLUTION CAMPAIGN

A CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER FROM STORM DRAIN DUMPING IS SET TO LAUNCH AT THE END OF THE MONTH. PROGRAMS COORDINATOR FOR SCHUYLKILL HEADWATERS ASSOCIATION, MEGAN BLACKMON, ALONG WITH A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS FROM YMCA IN POTTSVILLE PLAN TO POST ANTI-POLLUTION STICKERS ON CITY STREETS THAT READ "NO DUMPING! DRAINS TO RIVER!" THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, MARKINGS WILL BE INSTALLED BESIDE STORM DRAINS ALONG MAHANTONGO STREET ON THE MORNING OF JULY 28TH.

VOLUNTEERS RETURN TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY

A GROUP OF TEENAGERS FROM A NEW JERSEY CHURCH WILL RETURN TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY DURING THE WEEK OF AUGUST 1ST TO HELP CLEAN-UP LOCAL PARKS. THE VOLUNTEER GROUP WILL MAKE THEIR ANNUAL TRIP TO THE COUNTY IN ORDER TO IMPROVE PUBLIC PARKS AND OTHER PROPERTIES. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, THEY WILL WORK ON THE POCKET PARK ON NORTH CENTRE STREET. TO HELP SUPPORT THE VOLUNTEERS, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY ACTION IS ENCOURAGING THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE DONATIONS.

PROGRAM TO HELP YOUTH SEX ABUSE VICTIMS

A LOCAL PROGRAM IS NOW BEING OFFERED TO HELP YOUNG VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE. THE THROUGH YOUR LENS PROJECT OF SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCE AND COUNSELING CENTER WILL INTEGRATE PHOTOGRAPHY, COUNSELING AND THERAPY TO SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIMS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE PROGRAM, CONTACT SARCC AT 628-2965.



STATE NEWS:

FIRE RESCUE CREWS HAVE RECOVERED A BODY FROM THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. OFFICIALS TELL WFMZ-TV THAT THE BODY WAS RECOVERED THIS MORNING AFTER A SEARCH AROUND CUMRU AND EXETER TOWNSHIPS IN BERKS COUNTY. AUTHORITIES SAY THEY WERE CALLED ABOUT A PERSON WHO WENT INTO THE RIVER NEAR FOREST HILLS MEMORIAL PARK AND DID NOT SURFACE.


THE STATE COURT SYSTEM IS TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER A NEW LAW VIOLATES THE SEPARATION-OF-POWERS PROVISION IN THE CONSTITUTION. GOV. TOM CORBETT SIGNED THE BILL INTO LAW LAST MONTH. THE LAW HAS THE POTENTIAL TO EXPOSE MORE STATE SPENDING DATA TO GREATER PUBLIC SCRUTINY.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING COMPANY SAYS THE ECONOMIC DOWNTOWN AND INABILITY TO CONTROL LABOR COSTS ARE FORCING THE COMPANY TO CLOSE AFTER NEARLY A CENTURY IN BUSINESS. HERRE BROTHERS IN HAMPDEN TOWNSHIP IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA WAS FOUNDED IN 1913.


PENNSYLVANIA HAS A NEW LAW THAT COULD EXPOSE MOUNTAINS OF STATE SPENDING DATA TO GREATER PUBLIC SCRUTINY. BUT A COURT HAS ALREADY BEEN ASKED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE NEW LAW VIOLATES THE SEPARATION OF POWERS PROVISION IN THE CONSTITUTION.

IT'S GOING TO COST MORE TO ATTEND PENN STATE NEXT SEMESTER. THE UNIVERSITY'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAS VOTED TO HIKE TUITION 4.9 PERCENT FOR IN-STATE FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES. OUT-OF-STATE TUITION IS GOING UP 3.5 PERCENT. THE IN-STATE RATE IS ABOUT $15,100. THE OUT-OF-STATE TUITION RATE NOW STANDS AT $27,200.

NATIONAL NEWS:

NEW YORK (AP) - A SURVEY OF BUSINESS ECONOMISTS FINDS LOWERED EXPECTATIONS PROMPTED BY GLOBAL UNCERTAINTIES, INCLUDING THE DISASTERS IN JAPAN. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR BUSINESS ECONOMISTS SURVEY SAYS 76 PERCENT EXPECT GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT TO GROW 2 PERCENT OR MORE, DOWN FROM 94 PERCENT IN APRIL. AND 23 PERCENT EXPECT GROWTH OF 2 PERCENT OR BELOW, UP FROM 5 PERCENT IN APRIL.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - SEVENTEEN STATES FROM TEXAS TO MICHIGAN HAVE ISSUED CONTINUING HEAT ADVISORIES AND TEMPERATURES EDGED INTO THE 90S AND EVEN NEAR TRIPLE DIGITS IN SOME SPOTS. FORECASTERS SAY A SO-CALLED "HEAT DOME" OVER THE REGION ISN'T MOVING MUCH SO RELIEF ISN'T IN SIGHT YET.

CHICAGO (AP) - RESEARCHERS SAY KIDS MAY BE SAFEST IN THE CAR WHEN GRANDMA OR GRANDPA IS DRIVING. IT CAME AS A SURPRISE. PREVIOUS EVIDENCE SUGGESTS CAR CRASHES ARE MORE COMMON IN OLDER DRIVERS, MOSTLY THOSE BEYOND AGE 65. BUT THIS STUDY LOOKED AT INJURIES, NOT WHO HAD MORE CRASHES.

TORONTO (AP) - A MAJOR MUSIC FESTIVAL IN CANADA WENT DOWN WITH A BANG. THE MAIN STAGE AT OTTAWA BLUESFEST COLLAPSED LAST NIGHT DURING A CHEAP TRICK CONCERT DURING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE WERE INJURED, ONE SERIOUSLY. BLUESFEST IS ONE OF NORTH AMERICA'S MAIN MUSICAL EVENTS.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) - FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA IS CELEBRATING HIS 93RD BIRTHDAY TODAY. HE'S WITH HIS FAMILY IN HIS HOME VILLAGE IN SOUTHERN SOUTH AFRICA. MILLIONS OF CHILDREN AROUND THE COUNTRY SANG A SPECIAL VERSION OF "HAPPY
BIRTHDAY," FOR MANDELA BEFORE LESSONS BEGAN.