TODAY'S NEWS: MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2011

ORWIGSBURG FIRE LEAVES THREE HOMELESS

THREE PEOPLE ARE NOW HOMELESS AFTER AN ACCIDENTAL FIRE IN ORWIGSBURG SUNDAY AFTERNOON. POLICE TELL US THE BLAZE AT 680 SOUTH LIBERTY STREET KILLED AT LEAST TWO CATS AND RESULTED IN MORE THAN $100,000 DAMAGE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE FAULTY WIRING NEAR AN AIR-CONDITIONER AND AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET. THE RED CROSS IS NOW HELPING THOSE VICTIMS.

WANTED PERSON DETAINED

A WILKES-BARRE WOMAN IS NOW BEHIND BARS AFTER AN INCIDENT FRIDAY NEAR THE SCHUYLKILL MALL. POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE MALL FOR A REPORT OF SUSPICIOUS INDIVIDUALS IN THE K-MART. POLICE LATER FOUND 33-YEAR-OLD BAMBI FRIDAY AT THE NEARBY MCDONALDS IN POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA AND A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. FRIDAY INITIALLY PROVIDED POLICE WITH A FALSE NAME, BUT WAS LATER FINGER PRINTED AND LODGED IN THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON ON A DETAINER FROM THE LUZERNE COUNTY ADULT PROBATION OFFICE.

FIGHT IN GIRARDVILLE INJURIES TWO

POLICE ARE NOW INVESTIGATING AN ALTERCATION THAT OCCURRED SATURDAY IN THE BOROUGH OF GIRARDVILLE. TROOPERS TELL US A 41-YEAR-OLD MAN AND A 47-YEAR-OLD MAN WERE INVOLVED IN A FIGHT. THE 47-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS HIT BY A CAR DRIVEN BY THE 41-YEAR-OLD. THE OLDER MAN WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE TO SAINT CATHERINE MEDICAL CENTER FOUNTAIN SPRINGS AND LATER TO GEISINGER MEDICAL CENTER FOR TREATMENT OF HIS INJURIES. THE YOUNGER MAN SUFFERED A BROKEN ARM DURING THE FIGHT.
POTTSVILLE CRUISE ENDS ON WET NOTE

THE GREAT POTTSVILLE CRUISE CAME TO AN END SUNDAY AFTERNOON. THE EVENT WHICH BEGAN ON THURSDAY SAW A SHORTENED CRUISE DUE TO RAIN AND OTHER UNEXPECTED ISSUES. THE RAIN ALSO CAUSED THE FIREWORKS AND BAND TO BE CANCELED AS WELL. THAT DIDN’T STOP PEOPLE FROM COMING OUT TO ENJOY SOME OF THE NEW AND CLASSIC CARS. COORDINATOR FOR THE CRUISE JERRY ENDERS SAYS DESPITE THE RAIN THE CRUISE WAS A HUGE SUCCESS.

NEW YORK LAWYER JOINS LOCAL FIRM

A PROMINENT NEW YORK LAWYER WHO HAS REPRESENTED SOME NAMES SUCH AS JOHN GOTTI AND PHIL SPECTOR WILL BE JOINING WITH 2 AREA ATTORNEYS TO BRING HIS SERVICES TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. BRUCE CUTLER WILL BE HELPING OUT ATTORNEYS FRANK CORI OF ORWIGSBURG AND JOSEPH NEHAS OF FRACKVILLE. NEHAS SAYS HE HAS EXPANDED HIS SERVICES TO FEDERAL COURTS AND LOOKS FORWARD TO CUTLER’S EXPERTISE. ANOTHER LAWYER TIMOTHY PARLATORE WILL ALSO BE JOINING FORCES WITH NEHAS AND CORI.

STATE NEWS:

MOUNT GRETNA, PA. (AP) - BOTH PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE ANDGREYHOUND ARE INVESTIGATING THE CRASH OF A ST. LOUIS-BOUND BUS THAT OVERTURNED ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE, SENDING 14 PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE BUS FROM NEW YORK CITY STOPPED IN PHILADELPHIA AND TRAVELED ABOUT 75 MILES TOWARD OHIO WHEN IT OVERTURNED SATURDAY MORNING.

BEAVER, PA. (AP) - A WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 12 TO 30 YEARS BEHIND BARS FOR HIS ROLE IN A SHOOTING DEATH. THE BEAVER COUNTY TIMES REPORTS TEREL DIXON OF ALIQUIPPA HAD PLEADED GUILTY TO THE MAY 2010 DEATH OF KEVIN JOHNSON OF AMBRIDGE. POLICE SAY DIXON WAS AT THE APARTMENT OF A WOMAN WHO HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH BOTH MEN WHEN JOHNSON STOPPED BY AND AN ARGUMENT BEGAN.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER SAYS THE FIRST WEEKEND OF AN EARLIER CURFEW IN SOME PHILADELPHIA AREAS WENT WELL - EXCEPT FOR ONE EPISODE OF VIOLENCE OUTSIDE A BOWLING ALLEY WHERE THE MAYOR HIMSELF HAD APPEARED EARLIER. NUTTER SAYS THERE WERE ABOUT 70 VIOLATIONS OF THE 9 P.M. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY CURFEW FOR THOSE UNDER 18 IN CENTER CITY AND NEARBY UNIVERSITY CITY.

BETHLEHEM, PA. (AP) - ORGANIZERS OF A MUSIC FESTIVAL IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA ARE SEEKING DONATIONS TO MAKE UP FOR FLOODING THAT PROMPTED CLOSURE OF TWO VENUES AND SUBMERGED THE FINANCES OF THE 10-DAY EVENT. OFFICIALS SAY HEAVY RAINS IN BETHLEHEM SATURDAY NIGHT SENT WATERS FROM THE MONOCACY CREEK OVER MUCH OF THE MUSIC GROUNDS AND CUT INTO ATTENDANCE.

NATIONAL NEWS:

BAGHDAD (AP) - BOMB EXPLOSIONS IN SEVERAL IRAQI CITIES TODAY HAVE KILLED AT LEAST 52 PEOPLE. THE VICTIMS INCLUDED MORE THAN 30 PEOPLE WHO WERE GATHERED AT A MARKET IN THE SOUTHERN CITY OF KUT (KOOT). THE ATTACKS SHATTERED WHAT HAD BEEN A RELATIVELY PEACEFUL HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN IN IRAQ.

CAIRO (AP) - FORMER EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK IS BACK IN A CAIRO COURTROOM, ON A STRETCHER. HE'S ATTENDING THE LATEST SESSION OF HIS TRIAL ON CHARGES OF CORRUPTION AND COMPLICITY IN THE KILLING OF PROTESTERS DURING EGYPT'S UPRISING. BRIEF SCUFFLES BETWEEN MUBARAK SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS BROKE OUT OUTSIDE THE TRIAL VENUE.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SETS OUT TODAY FOR A THREE-DAY BUS TOUR THROUGH MINNESOTA, IOWA AND ILLINOIS. THE TRIP WILL GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE PUBLIC IN A REGION THAT HELPED LAUNCH HIM TO THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2008 AND WHERE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS ARE NOW BATTLING IT OUT. OBAMA WILL GET A CHANCE TO ABSORB THE PUBLIC'S ANGER AND TRY TO RESPOND, AS HE HOLDS FIVE TOWN HALL EVENTS IN THREE DAYS. THE TOUR KICKS OFF IN MINNEAPOLIS.

WATERLOO, IOWA (AP) - TEXAS GOV. RICK PERRY IS TELLING REPUBLICANS IN IOWA THAT IF THE NATION DOESN'T HAVE A PRESIDENT THAT PUTS PEOPLE TO WORK, THEN "WE'RE IN TROUBLE." HE SPOKE TO HUNDREDS OF REPUBLICAN ACTIVISTS AT AN EVENT ALSO ATTENDED BY
MICHELE BACHMANN, THE WINNER OF IOWA'S STRAW POLL ON SATURDAY. BACHMANN SPOKE OF HER EXPERIENCE RUNNING HER FAMILY'S SMALL BUSINESS.

MOUNT GRETNA, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE AND GREYHOUND OFFICIALS ARE INVESTIGATING A SATURDAY MORNING ACCIDENT INVOLVING A BUS HEADED FROM NEW YORK TO ST. LOUIS. IT OVERTURNED ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE, SENDING 14 PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL. ALTHOUGH THERE'S BEEN A STRING OF BUS CRASHES ALONG THE EAST COAST THIS
YEAR, THIS IS THE FIRST THAT INVOLVED A COMMERCIAL CARRIER, RATHER THAN A CHARTERED TOUR BUS OR A SMALLER OPERATOR.