TODAY'S NEWS: AUGUST 22, 2011

NEW TEACHERS DEAL REACHED

THE WILLIAMS VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS REACHED A DEAL WITH TEACHERS JUST DAYS BEFORE THE BEGINNING O F THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR. THE BOARD RATIFIED THE AGREEMENT EARLIER THIS MONTH AND IT WAS APPROVED AT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION HELD BY TEACHERS. TEACHERS IN THE DISTRICT HAVE BEEN WORKING WITHOUT A CONTRACT SINCE THE THREE YEAR AGREEMENT EXPIRED IN JUNE OF 2010. THE NEW AGREEMENT CALLS FOR A SALARY FREEZE 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR AND A 2.6 PERCENT RAISE FOR THE REMAINING YEARS OF THE CONTRACT.

LOCAL FIRE COMPANIES RECEIVE GRANTS

12 FIRE COMAPNIES IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY HAVE RECEIVED A COMBINED GRANT FOR FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND MORE, IN THE AMOUNT OF CLOSE TO $40,000. THE GRANT COMES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES BUREAU OF FORESTRY. THESE DEPARTMENTS ARE AMONG 160 FIRE COMPANIES THAT HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING. VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER ASSISTANCE GRANTS ARE PROVIDED TO RURAL AREAS WITH POPULATION OF LESS THAN 10,000 PEOPLE TO AID FIREFIGHTERS IN THEIR EFFORTS.

SEWAGE FACILITY SELECTED

A DECISION HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT FOR THE HEGINS-HUBLEY JOINT ACT 537 PLAN. SUPERVISORS FROM HEGINS, HUBLEY TOWNSHIPS AND THE HEGINS HUBLEY WATER AUTHORITY BOARD MET WITH ENGINEERS TO TALK ABOUT THE LOCATION. A 40 ACRE PLOT OWNED BY FRANK KRAMMES WAS SELECTED AND PURCHASED BY KRAMMES ON APRIL 29. THE AUTHORITY NOW HAS THE DAUNTING TASK OF FINDING FUNDING TO BUY THE LAND FROM KRAMMES. BASED ON ESTIMATES IF FUNDING AND A DEAL COMPLETE KRAMMES COULD RECEIVE CLOSE TO $240,000 FOR THE LAND.

MOTHER-IN-LAW SHOT WITH PAINT BALL GUN

AN EAST UNION TOWNSHIP MAN WAS ARRESTED EARLY SUNDAY MORNING AFTER SHOOTING HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW IN THE THROAT AND FACE WITH A PAINT BALL GUN. FRACKVILLE POLICE TELL US TODD SINGLEY JR. FIRED THE SHOTS DURING AN ARGUMENT WITH HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW KELLY SINGLEY. HE WAS CHARGED WITH SIMPLE ASSAULT AND RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING ANOTHER PERSON AMONG OTHER CHARGES. SINGLEY WAS ARRAIGNED AND RELEASED PENDING HIS PRELIMINARY HEARING IN SHENANDOAH.


FIREFIGHTERS CONVENTION BEGINS

THE 57TH ANNUAL SCHUYLKILL COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION CONVENTION KICKED OFF SUNDAY IN MINERSVILLE. ABOUT 100 FIREFIGHTERS PARTICIPATED IN THE SERVICE WHICH HONORED ALL FIREFIGHTERS WHO HAVE DIED IN SERVICE. CONVENTION WEEK WILL CONTINUE TODAY WITH A TOUR OF YUENGLING BREWERY.

GUN CHARGES FILED IN BERKS DEPUTY'S DEATH

THE FATHER OF A MAN WHO DIED IN A SHOOTOUT THAT ALSO KILLED SHERIFF'S DEPUTY, KYLE PAGERLY, IS ONE OF THREE PEOPLE CHARGED WITH HAVING ILLEGALLY SUPPLIED WEAPONS TO HIS SON. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS 70-YEAR-OLD MAURICE CONNOR OF KEMPTON WAS ARRESTED FRIDAY AND CHARGED WITH WEAPONS VIOLATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE FIREARMS HIS SON, MATTHEW CONNOR, POSSESSED. ALSO FACING CHARGES ARE JARED ENGLEMAN AND SANDRA KEIM.

STATE NEWS:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN PHILADELPHIA SAY A MAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY POLICE AFTER A PURSUIT AND A CARJACKING. IT HAPPENED LATE SATURDAY NIGHT IN THE GERMANTOWN SECTION IN NORTHWEST PHILADELPHIA. OFFICIALS SAY THE SUSPECT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, WHERE HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD. THE IDENTITY OF THE SUSPECT HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED AND THE CASE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

ERIE, PA. (AP) - A PRAYER VIGIL IS PLANNED THURSDAY NIGHT FOR A MAN SHOT TO DEATH EARLIER THIS MONTH IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THE ERIE TIMES-NEWS REPORTS CAMERON MITCHELL JR. DIED OF A SINGLE GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE CHEST AFTER HE WAS SHOT IN ERIE.

OXFORD, PA. (AP) - OFFICIALS IN SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA SAY SOME ELDERLY RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN DISPLACED BY A FIRE AT AN APARTMENT BUILDING. AUTHORITIES IN CHESTER COUNTY SAY THE FIRE IN AN UNDERGROUND TRANSFORMER NEAR THE OXFORD HOTEL APARTMENTS WAS REPORTED YESTERDAY MORNING. THE RED CROSS SAYS IT'S HELPING PEOPLE WITH FOOD, CLOTHING AND SHELTER.

NATIONAL NEWS:

MIAMI (AP) - IRENE IS NOW A HURRICANE AND ITS PROJECTED PATH WILL TAKE IT TOWARD THE U.S. COAST LATER THIS WEEK. HURRICANE IRENE IS MOVING OVER PUERTO RICO AND HEADED FOR HISPANIOLA, THE ISLAND SHARED BY THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND HAITI. NEARLY 600,000HAITIANS STILL LIVE WITHOUT SHELTER AFTER LAST YEAR'S EARTHQUAKE.

LONDON (AP) - THE LIBYAN REBELS' TOP DIPLOMAT IN LONDON SAYS THERE ARE "STILL SOME POCKETS" OF SUPPORT FOR MOAMMAR GADHAFI, BUT REBELS ARE ASSERTING CONTROL OVER THE CAPITAL, TRIPOLI. WORLD LEADERS ARE URGING GADHAFI TO LEAVE NOW.

NEW YORK (AP) - A MAJORITY OF ECONOMISTS SAY THE BEST WAY TO REDUCE THE DEFICIT IS THROUGH SPENDING CUTS ALONE, INCLUDING MEDICARE AND MEDICAID. A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR BUSINESS ECONOMICS SURVEY FINDS THAT 56 PERCENT OF MEMBERS OPPOSE TAX
INCREASES WHILE 37 PERCENT SAY A MIX OF SPENDING CUTS AND TAX HIKES IS THE WAY TO GO.

NEW YORK (AP) - A SOURCE SAYS NEW YORK PROSECUTORS WILL LIKELY TELL A HOTEL MAID TODAY THAT THERE ISN'T ENOUGH EVIDENCE FOR HER SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS AGAINST FORMER INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND LEADER DOMINIQUE STRAUSS-KAHN. THE PERSON FAMILIAR WITH THE CASE SAYS THE CHARGES WILL LIKELY BE DROPPED.


WASHINGTON (AP) - THE OFFICIAL CEREMONY IS SUNDAY BUT THE PUBLIC CAN GET ITS FIRST LOOK AT THE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL TO THE REV. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. STARTING TODAY WHEN THE SITE OPENS WITHOUT FANFARE. IT SITS ON THE NATIONAL MALL BETWEEN MEMORIALS HONORING PRESIDENTS ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND THOMAS JEFFERSON.