TODAY'S NEWS: TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2011

BACKPACKS STUFFED FOR LOCAL CHILDREN

OVER THIRTY VOLUNTEERS JOINED THE SCHUYLKILL UNITED WAY MONDAY MORNING TO STUFF BACKPACKS WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR SCHUYLKILL COUNTY CHILDREN IN NEED. IT WAS ALL PART OF "STUFF THE BUS" WHICH KICKED OFF JULY FIRST. AFTER A MONTH OF COLLECTING EVERYTHING FROM PENCILS TO STAPLERS, OVER NINE-HUNDRED BACKPACKS WERE SUCCESSFULLY PACKED. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR SCHUYLKILL UNITED WAY, KELLY MALONE, SAID ALTHOUGH THEY DIDN'T REACH THEIR GOAL OF ONE-THOUSAND, FIFTY MORE BACKPACKS WERE FILLED THIS YEAR THAN LAST. THE BACKPACKS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THE UNITED WAY AGENCIES, BUT EXTRA ARE AVAILABLE. IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES, YOU CAN CALL 622-6421.

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY FAIR CROWNS ROYALTY

THUNDERSTORMS DIDN'T STOP THE BIG EVENT OF THE DAY AT THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY FAIR MONDAY. CROWNING OF THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY FAIR ROYALTY TOOK PLACE DESPITE AN HOUR-LONG HEAVY DOWNPOUR. 17-YEAR-OLD CHEYANNA REBER OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN WAS CHOSEN AS THIS YEAR'S FAIR QUEEN AND WILL GO ON TO REPRESENT SCHUYLKILL COUNTY IN THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE FARM COMPETITION. REBER’S COURT INCLUDED FAIR PRINCESS, 13-YEAR-OLD PAIGE FELLOWS OF POTTSVILLE AND 7-YEAR-OLD, LITTLE MISS MADELYN ROWAN OF AUBURN. THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY FAIR CONTINUES TODAY WITH "KIDS DAY." FAIR-GOERS CAN ENJOY FOOD, FUN ACTIVITIES, EDUCATIONAL EXERCISES AND ENTERTAINMENT. THE GATES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT 11AM AND CHILDREN UNDER TWELVE PAY JUST $6.

SCHUYLKILL IDOL NAMED

THE 9TH ANNUAL SCHUYLKILL COUNTY IDOL CONTEST DECLARED ITS’ WINNER MONDAY. 17-YEAR-OLD SHAINA GRAFF OF LOST CREEK WAS DECLARED THE WINNER OF THIS YEAR'S COMPETITION. GRAFF WON A $1,000 SCHUYLKILL MALL SHOPPING SPREE AND A NECKLACE AMONG OTHER PRIZES.

FIVE-CAR CRASH INVESTIGATION

A FIVE CAR CRASH ON THE POTTSVILLE-MINERSVILLE HIGHWAY MONDAY MORNING IS NOW UNDER INVESTIGATION. POTTSVILLE POLICE SAY THE PILE-UP STARTED WHEN 30-YEAR-OLD STEPHANIE WHITE OF MINERSVILLE RAN INTO THE BACK OF A STOPPED VEHICLE. WHITE WAS THE ONLY PERSON INJURED AND SHOWED SIGNS OF BEING INTOXICATED. AFTER FAILING FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS, WHITE WAS TAKEN TO SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER-SOUTH JACKSON STREET FOR A BLOOD TEST. CHARGES ARE PENDING.


STATE NEWS:

SUNBURY, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY TWO WOMEN WERE KILLED IN A CRASH YESTERDAY IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. STATE POLICE IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY SAY A MINIVAN VEERED INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE AND CRASHED INTO AN SUV ON ROUTE 147 IN LOWER AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP. BOTH DRIVERS WERE PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. AUTHORITIES SAY NEITHER ONE WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT.

READING, PA. (AP) - LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ARE SEARCHING FOR A TEENAGER WANTED IN A SHOOTING DEATH OUTSIDE A PARTY IN READING OVER THE WEEKEND. THE LATEST REPORTED SIGHTING OF THE SUSPECT PROMPTED A LOCKDOWN AT ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY. AUTHORITIES SAY CESAR RIVERA WAS KILLED AND TWO OTHERS INJURED IN THE SHOOTING EARLY SATURDAY.

NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - A DAY AFTER IT EASILY CLEARED THE HOUSE, EMERGENCY LEGISLATION HIKING THE NATION'S DEBT LIMIT IS VIRTUALLY ASSURED BIPARTISAN PASSAGE IN THE SENATE. THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WILL SIGN THE MEASURE INTO LAW. THE LEGISLATION RAISES THE GOVERNMENT'S BORROWING CAP AND CALLS FOR $2 TRILLION IN BUDGET CUTS IN THE NEXT DECADE.

WASHINGTON (AP) - IF THE SENATE DOESN'T ACT THIS WEEK TO REAUTHORIZE THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, THE AGENCY COULD REMAIN CLOSED THROUGH THE AUGUST RECESS. AIR CONTROLLERS ARE STILL WORKING, BUT UNCOLLECTED AIRLINE TICKET TAXES COULD EXCEED $1.2 BILLION. THE DISPUTE IS OVER UNION RULES, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING NEW RULES TO CONTROL THE SALE OF A FERTILIZER THAT CAN BE USED TO MAKE BOMBS LIKE THE ONE USED IN THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING. THE 1995 BLAST KILLED 168 PEOPLE. ANYONE WHO SELLS, BUYS OR TRANSFERS 25 POUNDS OR MORE OF AMMONIUM NITRATE WOULD HAVE TO REGISTER WITH THE GOVERNMENT
AND BE SCREENED AGAINST TERROR WATCH LISTS.

ROUSEAU, DOMINICA (AP) - TROPICAL STORM EMILY HAS ITS SIGHTS SET ON PUERTO RICO, WHICH COULD BE HIT WITH 6 INCHES OF RAIN TODAY. EMILY ALSO COULD HIT HAITI WITHIN 24 HOURS. IN THE PACIFIC, HURRICANE EUGENE REMAINS FAR FROM THE COAST OF MEXICO.

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - NORTH KOREA IS LAUNCHING A MASSIVE SYNCHRONIZED DANCE AND GYMNASTICS SHOW IT STAGES EACH YEAR. IT'S MEANT TO GLORIFY ITS LEADERS AND UNIFY ITS PEOPLE. ORGANIZERS SAY UP TO 100,000 PEOPLE WILL PARTICIPATE.