TODAY'S NEWS: FRIDAY AUGUST 19, 2011

RAID AT WEGMANS

FIVE SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WERE ARRESTED THURSDAY MORNING WHEN SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES AND LOCAL POLICE RAIDED A CONSTRUCTION SITE NEAR THE WEGMANS RETAIL SERVICE CENTER IN THE HIGHRIDGE BUSINESS PARK. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED JUST A DAY AFTER THE GROCERY CHAIN ANNOUNCED IT WOULD DOUBLE THE SIZE OF ITS DISTRIBUTION WAREHOUSE BRINGING MORE THAN 200 NEW JOBS TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. U.S. IMMIGRATION WAS CONTACTED AND ORDERED THEM REMANDED TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COURT PENDING DEPORTATION.

FATHER AND SON ARRESTED IN PALIN CASE

A FATHER AND SON FROM MCADOO WERE ARRESTED THURSDAY BY FEDERAL AGENTS FOR HARASSING SARAH PALIN AND HER FAMILY. CRAIG CHRISTY AND HIS SON SHAWN WERE ARRESTED BY FBI AGENTS IN ALLENTOWN AFTER BEING INDICTED BY A GRAND JURY IN ALASKA. THEY WILL NOW BE EXTRADITED TO ALASKA TO FACE CHARGES OF HARASSMENT. THIS IS THE CULMINATION OF EVENTS THAT HAVE TRANSPIRED BETWEEN THE CHRISTY'S AND PALIN BEGINNING IN 2008.

BERKS COUNTY LEGISLATOR ASKS SENATE TO REDUCE SIZE OF PA LEGISLATURE

SENATOR SCHWANK OF BERKS COUNTY IS CALLING FOR SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION ON HER LEGISLATION, SENATE BILL 1079, THAT WOULD REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE BY MORE THAN ONE THIRD, FROM 253 TO 163 MEMBERS. THE SENATOR SAYS CHANGE IS NECESSARY NOT JUST TO REDUCE COSTS, BUT SO THAT THE LEGISLATURE CAN RESPOND MORE QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO ALLOW PENNSYLVANIA TO COMPETE FOR BUSINESS AND GROWTH. SHE ADDED THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO KEEP PACE WITH CONSTITUENTS WHO COMMUNICATE QUICKLY AND EASILY USING SMART PHONES, THE INTERNET AND OTHER TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES THAT HAVE REPLACED PHYSICAL PRESENCE AS THE ESSENTIAL MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. SCHWANK IS REACHING OUT TO OTHER SENATORS WHO HAVE INTRODUCED SIMILAR LEGISLATION TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET A BILL BEFORE THE FULL SENATE, AND HAS ASKED THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, WHERE THE BILLS HAVE BEEN REFERRED FOR REVIEW, TO SCHEDULE A COMMITTEE VOTE ON THEM.

MOTORCYCLE CRASH IN WEST BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIP

A MARYLAND WOMAN WAS SEVERELY INJURED THURSDAY AFTERNOON WHEN SHE DROVE HER MOTORCYCLE INTO THE BACK OF A STOPPED TRUCK IN WEST BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIP. STATE POLICE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN REPORT 43-YEAR-OLD JOANNAE WESTERMAN WAS THROWN FROM HER MOTORCYCLE AND SUFFERED SEVERE INJURIES. WESTERMAN WAS FLOWN TO LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL-CEDAR CREST.

MAHANOY CITY FIRE

POLICE HELPED TWO PEOPLE ESCAPE THEIR MAHANOY CITY HOME THURSDAY NIGHT AFTER AN ADJOINING HOME CAUGHT FIRE. BOROUGH POLICE ARRIVED TO THE 300 BLOCK OF EAST PINE STREET JUST BEFORE 11PM TO FIND HEAVY FLAMES COMING FROM THE ROOF. NEXT DOOR, A MAN AND A WOMAN WERE GUIDED OUT BY FIRE CREWS AND WERE NOT INJURED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITHIN FIFTH-TEEN MINUTES.

57TH ANNUAL FIREFIGHTERS CONVENTION

FIREFIGHTERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY WILL ARRIVE IN MINERSVILLE SUNDAY FOR THE 57TH ANNUAL SCHUYLKILL COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS CONVENTION. THIS YEAR WILL HONOR THE 19TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 AS WELL AS ALL COMMUNITY FIREFIGHTERS. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THE EVENT IS HOSTED BY THE MINERSVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENTS. THE CONVENTION WILL RUN UNTIL AUGUST 27.

SWIC CELEBRATES COMPLETION OF RENOVATION PROJECT

SCHUYLKILL WOMEN IN CRISIS CELEBRATED THE CONCLUSION OF THE AGENCY’S $2 MILLION RENOVATION PROJECT THURSDAY WITH A RIBBON CUTTING. THE PROJECT WHICH BEGAN IN 2010 MOVED ITS ADMINISTRATION OFFICES TO A NEW LOCATION AND EXPANDED ITS SHELTER SPACE. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THE SHELTER WHICH PREVIOUSLY ACCOMMODATED 17 PEOPLE WILL NOW HOLD 32.

RUSH TWP PURCHASE NEW CRUISER

THE RUSH TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAVE AGREED TO PURCHASE A NEW POLICE CRUISER FOR THE BOROUGH. THE NEW 2011 FORD CROWN VICTORIA WILL COST A LITTLE OVER $30,000 AND IS ALL PART OF THE COSTARS PROGRAM WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE BETTER CONTRACTS WITH COMPETITIVE PRICING.

ST CLAIR APPROVES APPLICATIONS FOR CHURCH

THE ST CLAIR PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED TWO LAND DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS FOR THE ST CLAIR OF ASSISI ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH THURSDAY. THE FIRST WILL BE A PARKING LOT LOCATED ON NICHOLS STREET AND THE OTHER AT MILL AND HANCOCK STREETS WHERE THE CHURCH HAS PROPOSED ANOTHER PARKING LOT AND GROTTO, THE LATTER WILL BE WHERE THE FORMER ST CLAIR CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY WAS LOCATED. THE LOT IS BEING BUILT TO PROVIDE HANDICAP PARKING CLOSER TO THE CHURCH.

STATE NEWS:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE SAID GOODBYE TO A PHILADELPHIA NATIVE WHO DIED IN A HELICOPTER CRASH IN AFGHANISTAN. SERVICES WERE HELD YESTERDAY FOR NAVY PETTY OFFICER 1ST CLASS MICHAEL STRANGE AT THE CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL. THE CRYPTOLOGIC TECHNICIAN HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE NAVY SEAL TEAM WHOSE CHINOOK WAS SHOT DOWN EARLIER THIS MONTH.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - AN 11-YEAR-OLD AND TWO TEENAGERS HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THEIR ROLES IN ATTACKING AND ROBBING SEVERAL PEDESTRIANS IN DOWNTOWN PHILADELPHIA. THE TRIO ADMITTED TO
ALLEGATIONS INCLUDING ROBBERY, CONSPIRACY, RIOTING AND ASSAULT IN CONNECTION WITH THE JULY 29TH MOB ATTACKS.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA JUDGE WHO GAVE TWO WOMEN CONDOM-STUFFED ACORNS HAS BEEN CLEARED OF VIOLATING JUDICIAL CONDUCT STANDARDS. THE INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL/LANCASTER NEW ERA REPORTS THE STATE COURT OF JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE DISMISSED THE CASE AGAINST MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGE ISAAC STOLTZFUS.

NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE WHITE HOUSE IS TELLING FEDERAL AGENCIES TO SUBMIT BUDGET PLANS FOR FISCAL 2013 THAT ARE AT LEAST 5 PERCENT BELOW THIS YEAR'S LEVELS. THE ADMINISTRATION ALSO WANTS AGENCIES TO PROPOSE WAYS TO TRIM AT LEAST 10 PERCENT. REPUBLICANS SAY
ADDITIONAL SAVINGS WILL BE NEEDED FROM BENEFIT PROGRAMS TO CONTROL RUNAWAY DEBT.

WASHINGTON (AP) - WITH THE PENTAGON NOW FACING THE SAME BUDGET PRESSURE AS THE REST OF THE NATION, IT MAY BE FORCED TO RETHINK RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR THOSE WHO SERVE IN THE MILITARY. A DRAFT REPORT TO THE PENTAGON RECOMMENDS SCRAPPING THE HALF-PAY AFTER 20
YEARS BENEFIT AND GIVING TROOPS A 401(K)-STYLE SYSTEM.

LINCOLN, NEB. (AP) - GOVERNORS FROM SEVERAL MISSOURI RIVER STATES WILL BE TRYING TO PUT ASIDE KEY POLICY DIFFERENCES TODAY AS THEY TRY TO FIND SOME COMMON GROUND TOWARD PREVENTING A REPEAT OF THIS YEAR'S HISTORIC FLOODING. FLOOD FOR MONTHS HAS FORCED
RESIDENTS FROM THEIR HOMES AND SUBMERGED THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF FARMLAND.

NEW YORK (AP) - COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN BROOKLYN'S CROWN HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ARE GATHERING TO MARK THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF RACE RIOTS THERE. THE RIOTS TORE THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN 1991, STOKED BY TENSIONS BETWEEN THE JEWISH AND BLACK COMMUNITIES LIVING
SIDE-BY-SIDE AND THE HIT-AND-RUN DEATH OF A YOUNG BLACK BOY.

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - A POLICE OFFICIAL AND EYEWITNESSES SAY AT LEAST 10 PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM TWIN SUICIDE ATTACKS ON A BRITISH COMPOUND IN AFGHANISTAN'S CAPITAL AND AN ENSUING GUNBATTLE BETWEEN INSURGENTS AND SECURITY TROOPS. THE ATTACK COMES AS AFGHANS MARK INDEPENDENCE DAY FROM BRITAIN IN 1919.