TODAY'S NEWS: SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2011

TODAY IS DAY THREE OF THE GREAT POTTSVILLE CRUISE AND JAY MATTHEWS HAS THE DETAILS.

CAR CRUISE DAY THREE

THREE PEOPLE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOLLOWING A CRASH IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY THURSDAY EVENING. THE CRASH HAPPENED AROUND 6:30 P.M. AT THE INTERSECTION OF WILD CHERRY LANE AND FOX ROAD IN WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. POLICE SAY ARIEL RAINBOW OF SPRINGFIELD, VIRGINIA FAILED TO STOP AT THE INTERSECTION. HER SUV PLOWED INTO A CAR DRIVEN BY STACEY BROWN OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN. BROWN WAS NOT HURT. RAINBOW AND HER TWO PASSENGERS, CAROLINE JONES OF PINE GROVE AND HANNAH HARVEY OF CEDAR PARK, TEXAS WERE TAKEN TO SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER SOUTH JACKSON STREET FOR TREATMENT OF INJURIES.

STATE POLICE AT FRACKVILLE ARE INVESTIGATING A CRIMINAL MISCHIEF INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED BEHIND THE WHEELABRATOR COGENERATION PLANT IN THIS MAHANOY TOWNSHIP VILLAGE ABOUT 6:25 A.M. FRIDAY. TROOPERS SAID CODY LEE KOLLER, 18, OF MOREA, SHOT THE SIDE WINDOW OUT OF A D-8 BULLDOZER. KOLLER, WHO WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A 13-YEAR-OLD BOY AT THE TIME, ADMITTED TO CAUSING THE DAMAGE, TROOPERS SAID. CHARGES AGAINST KOLLER WILL BE FILED WITH MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGE ANTHONY J. KILKER, SHENANDOAH, TROOPERS SAID.

A 26-YEAR-OLD GIRARDVILLE MAN TOLD STATE POLICE AT FRACKVILLE THAT HE WAS ASSAULTED BY FOUR OR FIVE MEN ABOUT 4:55 A.M. THURSDAY NEAR 246 W. MAIN ST. TROOPERS SAID DELTON BOLTON JR. SAID HE WAS JUMPED AS A RESULT OF AN EARLIER DISTURBANCE AT NOWHERE SALOON, ADDING THAT HE SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL TROOPERS AT 874-5300. ALL INFORMATION WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL.

IF YOU’RE A WINE DRINKER, HERE’S SOME GOOD NEWS. A STATE SENATE COMMITTEE IS CONSIDERING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW CONSUMERS TO ORDER WINE FROM ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY AND HAVE IT SHIPPED DIRECTLY TO THEIR HOME. HOWARD ONDICK HAS THIS REPORT.

ONDICK

STATE POLICE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN ARE LOOKING FOR VANDALS WHO CONDUCTED A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING AT A PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP RESIDENCE WITH A BB GUN OR AN AIR RIFLE LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 6:50 P.M. AT 373 SWOPES VALLEY ROAD. THE VICTIM WAS STANLEY ADAMS, TROOPERS SAID. TROOPER SAID ADAMS WAS SITTING ON HIS FRONT PORCH WHEN HE SAW THE VANDALS ROLL UP IN A TWO-DOOR BLACK JEEP CHEROKEE AND SLOW DOWN. THEN ONE OF THE PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE, A WHITE MALE IN HIS MID 20S, POINTED THE RIFLE AT THE HOME, FIRED ONE SHOT AND DAMAGED THE SIDING, POLICE SAID. THE VEHICLE FLED, TRAVELING EAST ON SWOPES VALLEY ROAD, POLICE SAID. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL STATE POLICE AT 593-2000.

A MAN FROM GRATZ, DAUPHIN COUNTY, COMPLAINED TO TROOPERS THAT HE'S BEEN RECEIVING HARASSING PHONE CALLS FROM A SCAM ARTIST, STATE POLICE AT LYKENS SAID THURSDAY. AT 8 P.M. WEDNESDAY, DARVIN LAMAR, 57, OF 807 E. MARKET ST., SAID HE'D BEEN RECEIVING THE CALLS FROM AN ANONYMOUS NUMBER. THE CALLER IS SUGGESTING LAMAR CAN MAKE MONEY OR RECEIVE GRANTS IF HE SENDS MONEY TO AN ADDRESS THROUGH WESTERN UNION, POLICE SAID.

VANDALS DAMAGED A WOODEN MAILBOX OWNED BY A HEGINS WOMAN EARLY MONDAY, STATE POLICE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN SAID THURSDAY. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT AT 854 HILL ROAD IN BARRY TOWNSHIP. THE MAILBOX WAS STRUCK WITH SOMETHING, TROOPERS SAID. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL STATE POLICE AT 593-2000.

AS OFFICIALS TRACK A RECENT SALMONELLA OUTBREAK IN INFECTED GROUND TURKEY, A FOOD-SAFETY EXPERT IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES SAYS CONSUMERS WHO KNOW A SIMPLE COOKING TIP CAN PROTECT THEIR FAMILIES.

ABDULLAH

STATE NEWS

FREEMANSBURG, Pa. (AP) - Authorities say an eastern Pennsylvania man told a police officer to get off his property before fatally shooting him. The Morning Call of Allentown reports Freemansburg police Officer Robert Lasso had a stun gun pointed at two dogs when the homeowner pulled out a shotgun and fired the fatal blast Thursday night. Lasso was responding to a domestic disturbance report.

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - A northeastern Pennsylvania county is seeking $1.2 million in restitution from two former commissioners convicted on federal corruption charges. The Times-Tribune of Scranton reports Lackawanna County wants Robert Cordaro and A.J. Munchak to repay funds connected to the botched planning of an intermodal transportation center.

ANDREAS, Pa. (AP) - An eastern Pennsylvania family had a scary moment after some hand grenades were found in their basement. West Penn Township Police said they were called to the family's home yesterday morning. WFMZ-TV reports the family was cleaning out the basement and found four hand grenades in a plastic pail. Authorities responded and the grenades were buried in the home's backyard and detonated.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - A Pennsylvania woman who donned a clown suit and robbed a bank last summer will spend two to 10 years in prison. arolyn Williams was sentenced yesterday in Northampton County court. She pleaded guilty in June to a felony robbery charge. Williams made off with about $7,000 after wearing the garish outfit, red nose and rainbow wig into a Bethlehem Township bank last August and saying she had a bomb.

NATIONAL NEWS

AMES, Iowa (AP) - It'll be an exciting day for Republicans. Today's Iowa Straw Poll marks the first time voters weigh in on the GOP presidential field with ballots. The voting runs for six hours during the daylong political festival on the campus of Iowa State University that doubles as a fundraiser for the Iowa GOP.

ATLANTA (AP) - A federal appeals court ruling striking down the centerpiece of the new health care overhaul moves the question of whether Americans can be required to buy health insurance a step closer to the U.S. Supreme Court. The divided three-judge appeals panel ruled Congress overstepped its authority.

BEIRUT (AP) - An activist says Syrian tanks have fanned out across a neighborhood in the coastal city of Latakia amid intense shooting there. The city has seen large protests against President Bashar Assad's regime. The government's crackdown is intensifying with troops storming several towns and cities.

JERUSALEM (AP) - An Israeli army magazine says the military is planting new land mines along the border with Syria to dissuade protesters from rushing into the Golan Heights. The mines are also part of beefed-up measures Israel is taking ahead of rallies that Palestinians are planning to hold in September.

BERLIN (AP) - The mayor of Germany's capital says the construction of the Berlin Wall 50 years ago must be a constant reminder to stand up for freedom and democracy. German President Christian Wulff and Chancellor Angela Merkel are also attending today's commemoration ceremony in Berlin.