TODAY'S NEWS : FRIDAY SEPT. 30, 2011

ORWIGSBURG MAN TO SERVE 11 YEARS

AN ORWIGSBURG MAN WILL SPEND THE NEXT 11 YEARS BEHIND BARS IN FEDERAL PRISON AFTER BEING SENTENCED WEDNESDAY IN FEDERAL COURT. 41 YEAR OLD DAVID BROWN WAS SENTENCED FOR HIS PARTICIPATION IN METHAMPHETAMINE TRAFFICKING OVER A 2 YEAR PERIOD.JUDGE RICHARD CAPUTO ORDERED BROWN TO SPEND 5 YEARS ON SUPERVISED RELEASE AFTER HIS PRISON TERM AND TO PAY THOUSAND DOLLAR FINE AND $100 IN SPECIAL ASSESSMENT. BROWN PLEADED GUILTY IN MAY TO CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE AND POSSESSION WITH THE INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE MORE THAN 500 GRAMS OF METHAMPHETAMINE.

FIRE SOCIETY PLANS ANTIQUE MUSTER

THE SCHUYLKILL HISTORICAL SOCIETY WILL HOST THE ANNUAL ANTIQUE MUSTER THIS WEEKEND IN FRACKVILLE. THE EVENT WILL BE HELD AT THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY FIRE TRAINING ACADEMY ON FIREMAN'S ROAD. THERE WILL BE A PARADE BEGINNING AT THE SCHUYLKILL MALL AT 11 AM SUNDAY. CEREMONIES, CONTESTS AND DEMONSTRATIONS WILL ALSO BE HELD AND IS FREE OF CHARGE.

STUDENT TESTS SCORE IMPROVING

THE RESULTS ARE IN FOR STUDENT'S TAKING STANDARDIZED TESTS IN PENNSYLVANIA AND THEY LOOK PROMISING. ACCORDING TO THE P-A DEPT OF EDUCATION SCORES IMPROVED IN MATH, SCIENCE AND WRITING AND READING OVER THE LAST YEAR. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION RON TOMALIS SAYS IT’S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE THE SCORES GO UP IN THE P-S-S-A'S. THE TESTS WERE GIVEN AFTER YEARS OF INCREASING STATE SPENDING ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUT BEFORE LAWMAKERS CUT ABOUT $900 MILLION FROM PUBLIC SCHOOL AID.

FEMA CONTINUES TO HELP FLOOD VICTIMS

AFTER RECENT RAINS FLOODED AREAS OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, ABOUT THREE-HUNDRED RESIDENTS HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF ASSISTANCE BEING OFFERED BY FEMA. THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY HAS PROVIDED FLOOD VICTIMS WITH ABOUT THREE-HUNDRED-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO DATE TO HELP THEM ON THEIR ROAD TO RECOVERY. ADDITIONAL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ARE EXPECTED TO REGISTER WITH FEMA AND CAN DO SO BY CALLING 800-621-FEMA.

FEMA AND PEMA IN THE COMMUNITY

IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE HORRENDOUS FLOODING SO MUCH OF PENNSYLVANIA HAS ENDURED IN RECENT WEEKS, MANY DISASTER RECOVERY OFFICIALS ARE SURVEYING DAMAGES TO ROADS, BRIDGES, WATER CONTROL FACILITIES, AND THOUSANDS OF PRIVATE RESIDENCES TO HELP PUT PENNSYLVANIANS BACK ON DRY LAND. OFFICIALS OF BOTH THE PENNSYLVANIA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY OFTEN FIND THEMSELVES CONDUCTING DISASTER RECOVERY BUSINESS THAT DRAWS PUBLIC INTEREST - ESPECIALLY FROM THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE DISASTER. FEMA AND PEMA EMPLOYEES WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY WEAR ITEMS OF CLOTHING, SUCH AS HATS AND JACKETS THAT CLEARLY IDENTIFY THEM AS DISASTER WORKERS.

DONATE MONEY TO SURVIVORS

WHEN A DISASTER STRIKES, PEOPLE OFTEN WANT TO HELP THE SURVIVORS BY DONATING GOODS AS WELL AS VOLUNTEER TIME. THEY KNOW IT'S NOT EASY TO GET BACK TO A NORMAL LIFE. THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA) AND THE PENNSYLVANIA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (PEMA) SAY THE QUICKEST AND BEST WAY TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AFFECTED IS BY WRITING A CHECK. THAT ADVICE WAS SHARED BY PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DISASTERS. CASH DONATIONS ALLOW VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS TO BUY BOTH GOODS AND SERVICES LOCALLY OR TO DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS SO THEY CAN MEET THEIR MOST URGENT NEEDS. CASH DONATIONS ALSO ALLOW AGENCIES TO AVOID THE LABOR-INTENSIVE ACTIVITY IT TAKES TO CLEAN, SORT, PACKAGE, LABEL AND STORE DONATED GOODS. THE QUICKEST AND BEST WAY TO MAKE A CASH DONATION IS BY CONTACTING THE LOCAL VOLUNTARY AGENCY OF YOUR CHOICE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

EMPIRE BEAUTY SCHOOL ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NEW SCHOOL YEAR

COMMITTED TO HELPING AS MANY STUDENTS AS POSSIBLE REALIZE THE DREAM OF GOING TO COSMETOLOGY SCHOOL AND PURSUING A CAREER IN THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY, EMPIRE BEAUTY SCHOOLS AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS EVERY YEAR TO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS RANGING FROM $500 - $1500 EACH. THIS YEAR 56 STUDENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS. TO BE ELIGIBLE, STUDENTS MUST PROVIDE AT LEAST TWO RECOMMENDATION LETTERS, AS WELL AS WRITE AN ESSAY ABOUT WHY THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT A CAREER IN COSMETOLOGY AND WHAT THEIR CAREER GOALS ARE.AMONG THE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS WERE LOCAL RESIDENTS NICOLE ROSENBERGER, LYNSEY WAGNER AND LAUREN ANDRIKITIS WHO WON SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND EMPIRE BEAUTY SCHOOL IN POTTSVILLE.


STATE NEWS:

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - AS GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT LOOKS TO CUT SPENDING AND THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT IN PENNSYLVANIA, HE'LL LOOK TO RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A NEW GROUP HE'S CREATING. CORBETT'S OFFICE SAID YESTERDAY THAT HE'S FORMED THE GOVERNOR'S ADVISORY COUNCIL ON PRIVATIZATION AND INNOVATION.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - THE BOEING COMPANY SAYS IT INFORMED FEDERAL AUTHORITIES OF ITS SUSPICIONS ABOUT DRUG ACTIVITY AT A SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA PLANT AFTER AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION. A COMPANY SPOKESMAN ALSO SAYS IN A PREPARED STATEMENT THAT EMPLOYEES ARE TESTED IF THEY'RE SUSPECTED OF BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A MOTORIST WHOSE CAR BARRELED THROUGH A BRICK RETAINING WALL AND PLUNGED INTO THE SCHUYLKILL (SKOO'-KUL) RIVER IN PHILADELPHIA REMAINS MISSING DESPITE AN INTENSIVE RESCUE EFFORT. POLICE SEARCHED FOR THE DRIVER FOR HOURS YESTERDAY NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF KELLY DRIVE AND FERRY ROAD IN THE CITY'S EAST FALLS SECTION.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT HAS RULED AGAINST A MAN WHO ADMITTED THAT HE DROVE OVER THE BODY OF A FALLEN BICYCLIST AND KEPT GOING. THE JUSTICES YESTERDAY OVERTURNED AN INDIANA COUNTY JUDGE'S RULING PREVIOUSLY UPHELD BY THE STATE SUPERIOR COURT.

NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - A NEW WATCHDOG REPORT SAYS FEDERAL REGULATORS, TO VARYING DEGREES, "BENT" TO PRESSURE FROM BANKS IN LATE 2009 AND RELAXED THE REQUIREMENTS PUT IN ONLY WEEKS EARLIER FOR REPAYING TAXPAYER FUNDED BAILOUTS. THE REPORT SAYS REGULATORS ALSO WERE MOTIVATED BY A DESIRE TO CUT THE GOVERNMENT'S STAKE IN THE BANKS.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - PARAMEDICS WHO TENDED TO MICHAEL JACKSON ARE EXPECTED TO TESTIFY TODAY THAT DR. CONRAD MURRAY TOLD THEM THE SINGER HAD LOST CONSCIOUSNESS ONLY MOMENTS BEFORE 911 WAS CALLED. MURRAY IS ON TRIAL FOR INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER. PROSECUTORS ARE TRYING TO SHOW HE TRIED TO CONCEAL SIGNS THAT HE GAVE THE SINGER DOSES OF PROPOFOL AS A SLEEP AID.

WASHINGTON (AP) - STATES TRYING TO INCREASE THEIR INFLUENCE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATING PROCESS ARE LEAPFROGGING THEIR PRIMARY DATES, THREATENING TO PUSH THE FIRST REPUBLICAN CONTESTS INTO EARLY JANUARY AGAIN. BOTH PARTIES ARE TRYING TO AVOID A REPEAT OF 2008. A FLORIDA COMMISSION IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE TODAY THAT ITS PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY WILL BE HELD JAN. 31.

FORT BRAGG, CALIF. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY THEY'RE BRINGING IN MORE HELP AS THEY CLOSE IN ON A MURDER SUSPECT WHO HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA'S LARGEST MANHUNT IN DECADES. OFFICIALS SAY THEY BELIEVE AARON BASSLER SHOT AT A GROUP OF SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES THURSDAY AS THEY SEARCHED IN A REDWOOD FOREST.

CASTAIC, CALIF. (AP) - A AUTHORIZES SAY A 67-YEAR-OLD MAN SURVIVED BY BUILDING A MAKESHIFT CAMP AND DRINKING WATER FROM A NEARBY STREAM AFTER HIS CAR PLUNGED 200 FEET OFF A MOUNTAIN ROAD. FAMILY MEMBERS FOUND DAVID LAVAU AT THE BOTTOM OF A RAVINE WHILE CONDUCTING THEIR OWN SEARCH DAYS AFTER THE CRASH. ANOTHER DRIVER DIED.