TODAY'S NEWS: THURSDAY JULY 28,2011

AN ARMY OF VOLENTEERS WILL MAKE THEIR WAY TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. JASMINE BROOKS HAS MORE:

WOMEN ARRESTED ON PROSTITUTION CHARGES

A FOUR MONTH INVESTIGATION HAS RESULTED IN THE ARREST OF 2 WOMEN CHARGED WITH WORKING AS PROSTITUTES AT AROMA SPA IN NORTH MANHEIM TOWNSHIP. ON TUESDAY, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CHARGED 47 YEAR OLD SUNG CHUN YANG AND 47 YEAR OLD MIDUCK PARK WITH PROVIDING SEXUAL SERVICES AND WERE REMANDED TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME AROMA SPA HAS BEEN UNDER SCRUTINY, IN FEBRUARY ANOTHER WOMAN WAS ARRESTED ON SIMILAR CHARGES.

COMMISSIONER MEETING

THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE PROMOTED ANTOINETTE HUNTZINGER OF POTTSVILLE TO THE DIRECTOR OF NURSING AT REST HAVEN. HUNTSZINGER WILL MAKE CLOSE TO $60,000 FOR THE POSITION. HUNTSZINGER REPLACES JILL SCHAEFFER WHO WAS PROMOTED TO NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATOR LAST WEEK. ALSO APPROVED WERE A GRANT AGREEMENT FOR SEVERAL POSITIONS IN THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND AUTHORIZED THE ANNUAL FALL CLEANUP TO BE HELD SEPTEMBER 9 - OCTOBER 1.

SCHUYLKILL RIVER TRAIL RECIEVES DONATION

THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER HERITAGE AREA'S SPONSOR-A-TRAIL PROGRAM RECENTLY RECEIVED A THREE-YEAR, NINE-THOUSAND-DOLLAR DONATION FROM SAFECO INSURANCE FOR THE CARE AND UPKEEP OF A THREE-MILE STRETCH OF THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER TRAIL. THE HERITAGE AREA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING 26-MILES OF THE TRAIL IN BERKS AND SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. EVEN WITH AN ACTIVE GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP WITH THE UPKEEP OF THE TRAIL, THE HERITAGE AREA PAYS ABOUT 400-DOLLARS PER MILE ANNUALLY ON TRAIL MAINTENANCE. THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER HERITAGE AREA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KURT ZWIKL, SAYS THE ORGANIZATION IS VERY GRATEFUL FOR SAFECO'S DONATION WHICH WILL ENABLE THEM TO BETTER MAINTAIN A POPULAR SECTION OF THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER TRAIL.

FAMILY ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO CERTAIN FAMILIES

THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT IS OFFERING ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES FACING FORECLOSURE. THE EMERGENCY HOMEOWNERS LOAN PROGRAM, MANAGED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY, IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO ARE DELINQUENT ON THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS. THE LOAN PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE UP TO 50,000-DOLLARS FOR HOMEOWNERS WHOSE INCOME IS CUT BY 15-PERCENT OR MORE DUE TO JOB LOSS, JOB REDUCTION, OR MEDICAL EXPENSES AND ARE AT LEAST THREE MONTHS BEHIND ON THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS. TO APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE, A HOMEOWNER MUST CONTACT A HOMEOWNERS EMERGENCY MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM COUNSELING AGENCY AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE IS SEPTEMBER 30TH OF THIS YEAR.

EX- TAX COLLECOR HEADED TO COURT

FORMER RYAN TOWNSHIP TAX COLLECTOR, 71-YEAR-OLD WILLIAM WILDONER, WAVED HIS RIGHT TO A PRELIMINARY HEARING WEDNESDAY. WILDONER IS CHARGED WITH STEALING MORE THAN $170,000FROM THE MAHANOY AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT. HE REMAINS FREE ON $25,000 BAIL.

ASHLAND MAN APPEARS IN COURT FOR SHOOTING DOG

AN ASHLAND MAN WAIVED HIS PRELIMINARY HEARING WEDNESDAY AFTER BEING CHRAGED WITH SHOOTING AND SEVERELY INJURING A DOG. 46-YEAR-OLD LEE GOLAZESKI WAS CHARGED WITH ONE MISDEMEANOR COUNT OF CRUELTY OF ANIMALS AMONG OTHER CHARGES. GOLAZESKI ADDMITTED SHOOTING OFF A GUN TO SCARE THE DOG, BUT SAID HE DIDN'T MEAN TO SHOOT IT.

TAMAQUA WOMAN INJURED WHILE DRINKING AND DRIVING

A TAMAQUA WOMAN WAS INJURED AFTER DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE IN WALKER TOWNSHIP. POLICE TELL US 21-YEAR-OLD SAMANTHA RICHARDSON HIT A TREE THEN FLED THE SCENE, DRIVING WITH A MISSING TIRE. RICHARDSON DID NOT REPORT THE ACCIDENT AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY A FRIEND. NUMEROUS TRAFFIC CITATIONS AND DUI CHARGES ARE PENDING.

STATE NEWS:

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT'S ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE STATE CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE, FOR A WHILE, IF CONGRESS DOESN'T RAISE THE DEBT LIMIT AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STOPS SENDING MONEY TO STATES. THE GOVERNOR'S SPOKESMAN SAYS THE STATE HAS ENOUGH MONEY TO FUNCTION, FOR AT LEAST A FEW WEEKS, IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN'T PAY SOME BILLS.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S LEADING ADVOCATE OF PRIVATIZING WINE AND LIQUOR SALES IS ALREADY PITCHING HIS PLAN TO A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT OFFICIALLY A BILL. HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER MIKE TURZAI WAS ARMED WITH CHARTS AS HE TESTIFIED YESTERDAY BEFORE THE HOUSE LIQUOR CONTROL COMMITTEE.

BUTLER, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY A CAR VEERED INTO THE ONCOMING LANE, TRIGGERING A FOUR-CAR CRASH THAT KILLED TWO PEOPLE IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. STATE POLICE IN BUTLER COUNTY SAY THE CRASH HAPPENED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON IN SUMMIT TOWNSHIP ON ROUTE 422 BETWEEN BUTLER AND KITTANNING.


NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - INVESTOR WORRIES THAT A DYSFUNCTIONAL CONGRESS MIGHT REMAIN GRIDLOCKED OVER THE DEBT CEILING AND PROPEL THE U.S. INTO DEFAULT ARE WEIGHING ON STOCKS AGAIN TODAY AS ASIAN MARKETS FELL. HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE TO VOTE TODAY ON A NEWLY MODIFIED PLAN EVEN THOUGH IT'S UNLIKELY TO PASS THE SENATE AND FACES A PRESIDENTIAL VETO IF IT DOES.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - BANKS ARE TAKING LONGER TO MOVE AGAINST MORTGAGE DELINQUENT HOMEOWNERS AND TRYING TO WORK WITH THE NEWLY DELINQUENT ON LOAN MODIFICATIONS AND OTHER TACTICS. THE FORECLOSURE LISTING FIRM REALTYTRAC INC. SAYS 84 PERCENT OF METROPOLITAN AREAS WITH A POPULATION OF AT LEAST 200,000 SAW THEIR FORECLOSURE RATES DROP IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR.

NEW YORK (AP) - A NEW SURVEY SUGGESTS THAT EVEN PEOPLE WHO OPPOSE GOVERNMENT REGULATION SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS THAT BANKS BE CLEARER ABOUT CHECKING ACCOUNT TERMS AND FEES. ACCORDING TO THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS, NEARLY THREE-QUARTERS OF AMERICANS WITH CHECKING ACCOUNTS SUPPORT RULES TO IMPROVE DISCLOSURE.

NEW YORK (AP) - A FIRST RESPONDER TO THE SEPT. 11 ATTACK IN NEW YORK SAYS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS COMMITTED ANOTHER INJUSTICE AND LEFT CANCER VICTIMS OUT IN THE COLD. JOHN MARSHALL OF BROOKLYN SPOKE AT A TOWN MEETING TO EXPLAIN THE FEDERAL FUND TO HELP PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY BECAME ILL AFTER WORKING AT GROUND ZERO. THE FUND WON'T HELP PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY GOT CANCER.

WASHINGTON (AP) - REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER HERMAN CAIN HAS MET WITH MUSLIM LEADERS IN THE WAKE OF VITRIOLIC REMARKS HE MADE ABOUT ISLAM. THE FORMER GODFATHER'S PIZZA CEO SAID IN A STATEMENT LATER HE WAS "TRULY SORRY" FOR COMMENTS THAT MAY HAVE "BETRAYED" HIS COMMITMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.