TODAY'S NEWS: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

PENNSYLVANIA LAW MAKERS MET WITH THE PUBLIC LAST NIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAX REFORM. J MATTHEWS HAS MORE:

DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER OPENS IN PINE GROVE

A DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER OPENED IN PINE GROVE WEDNESDAY AT THE HOOK AND LADDER FIRE COMPANY ON ORCHARD STREET. NEARLY THIRTY RESIDENTS CAME TO THE CENTER, PRIMARILY TO CHECK THE STATUS OF THEIR APPLICATIONS ALREADY BEING PROCESSED. AGENTS FROM THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, HAZARD MITIGATION STAFF, THE SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND A DOZEN STATE DEPARTMENTS WERE ON HAND TO HELP RESIDENTS.

SALARY BOARD WORK SESSION

DURING THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY SALARY BOARD WORK SESSION WEDNESDAY, THE CREATION OF TWO POSITIONS AT REST HAVEN WERE PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL. COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER AND STAUDERMIRE VOTED TO APPROVE, BUT CONTROLLER MELINDA KANTER WAS THE LONE NO VOTE BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT PRESENTED WITH THE TWO POSITIONS PRIOR TO THE WORK SESSION. KANTER SAYS SHE VOTED NO BECAUSE MOTIONS ARE TO BE PRESENTED AT WORK SESSIONS AND THEN VOTED ON THE FOLLOWING WEEK DURING THE PUBLIC MEETING. RECENTLY IT HAS BECOME COMMON TO VOTE ON MOTIONS DURING WORK SESSION AND KANTER SAYS SHE WILL CONTINUE TO VOTE NO ON THESE TYPES OF PRACTICES. COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER ALSO ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT KANTER MAY NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT COME DECEMBER DUE TO THE ELECTIONS ON NOVEMBER 8.

READING INSTRUCTION DISCUSSED AT PASD BOARD MEETING

POTTSVILLE AREA SUPERINTENDENT, JAMES GALLAGHER, ADDRESSED THE DISTRICTS READING INSTRUCTION WEDNESDAY DURING A BOARD MEETING. POTTSVILLE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS ONE OF THREE DISTRICTS NOT FOLLOWING THE CHARTER SCHOOL LAW ACCORDING TO THE GILLINGHAM CHARTER SCHOOL. GALLAGHER RESPONDED TO PUBLIC COMMENTS CITING THE EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY AS THE REASON FOR DENYING THE CHARTER.

MEALS ON WHEELS HELPED BY LOCAL SENIORS

TAMAQUA MEALS ON WHEELS RECEIVED SOME EXTRA HELP THANKS TO A FEW NORTH SCHUYLKILL SENIORS. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, THE SENIORS DONATED A PICK UP TRUCK OF FOOD AND $345 FOR THEIR SENIOR PROJECT AT TRINITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST. THE DONATED FOOD WILL BE USED FOR THE PROGRAM'S BLIZZARD BAGS WHICH ARE USED DURING SEVERE WEATHER, WHEN THE MEALS ON WHEELS ARE NOT ABLE TO DELIVER.

MOUNT CARMEL MAN ARRESTED FOR SECOND ROBBERY

AS WE REPORTED YESTERDAY, 19-YEAR-OLD CHARLES FRANTZ OF MOUNT CARMEL WAS ARRAIGNED ON THREE FELONY COUNTS TUESDAY EVENING AFTER ATTEMPTING TO ROB COMMUNITY PHARMACY IN MOUNT CARMEL AT KNIFEPOINT. WE NOW KNOW DURING THE INCIDENT FRANTZ WAS OUT ON BAIL FOR ALLEGEDLY ROBBING BRACEY PHARMACY IN ASHLAND IN FEBRUARY. FRANTZ ATTEMPTED TO ROB THE NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY PHARMACY TUESDAY TO OBTAIN OXYCODONE. HE REMAINS IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY PRISON ON $100,000 BAIL.

MCADOO MEN PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO HARASSING PALIN

A 47-YEAR-OLD PENNSYLVANIA MAN AND HIS SON HAVE PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHARGES OF HARASSING SARAH PALIN'S LAWYERS. CRAIG CHRISTY AND HIS 19-YEAR-OLD SON, SHAWN CHRISTY ENTERED THEIR PLEAS IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT IN ANCHORAGE WEDNESDAY AFTER BEING BROUGHT TO ALASKA BY U.S. MARSHALS THIS WEEK. THE CHRISTYS, OF MCADOO, WERE ARRESTED LAST MONTH FOLLOWING A FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTMENT IN ALASKA.THE TWO ARE ACCUSED OF MAKING HARASSING PHONE CALLS TO THE LAW FIRM THAT REPRESENTS PALIN, WHO IS CONSIDERING A RUN FOR PRESIDENT. SHE WAS THE 2008 REPUBLICAN VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE. THE CHRISTYS, WHO HAVE BEEN HELD WITHOUT BAIL, ARE ACCUSED OF MAKING HUNDREDS OF PHONE CALLS TO THE OFFICES OF PALIN'S ATTORNEY. THE INDICTMENT SAYS SOME CALLS INVOLVED THREATS AGAINST PALIN AND OTHERS.

NEW YORK MEN SENT TO PRISON FOR TAMAQUA ROBBERY

TWO NEW YORK MEN MUST SPEND AT LEAST FOUR YEARS BEHIND STATE PRISON BARS AFTER ENTERING PLEAS WEDNESDAY IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COURT TO ROBBING A TAMAQUA MAN LAST OCTOBER IN WALKER TOWNSHIP. NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD PHILIP HEMMINGER JR. OF BLACK RIVER, NEW YORK, AND 20-YEAR-OLD ANDREW O'CONNOR OF CARTHAGE, NEW YORK, EACH MUST SERVE FOUR TO EIGHT YEARS IN A STATE PRISON UNDER THE TERMS OF PRESIDENT JUDGE WILLIAM BALDWIN'S SENTENCE. STATE POLICE AT FRACKVILLE CHARGED HEMMINGER AND O'CONNOR WITH ROBBING WILLIAM HANKEY JR. ON OCTOBER 2, 2010, AT STATE GAME LANDS 222, OAK RIDGE ROAD. HEMMINGER AND O'CONNOR POINTED ASSAULT WEAPONS AND BEAT UP HANKEY, WHO WAS ABLE TO FLEE INTO SOME WOODS AND SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE WOODED AREA BEFORE GOING FOR HELP THE NEXT MORNING. POLICE SAID HEMMINGER AND O'CONNOR STOLE HANKEY'S PICK-UP TRUCK, WALLET AND OTHER ITEMS. (WGRC)

MAHANOY CITY MAN ADMITTS TO BURGLARIES

A MAHANOY CITY MAN IS HEADED TO STATE PRISON AFTER HE ADMITTED WEDNESDAY IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COURT THAT HE COMMITTED FOUR BURGLARIES LAST YEAR. THIRTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD EDWARD REEVES JR. PLEADED GUILTY TO FOUR COUNTS EACH OF BURGLARY AND CONSPIRACY AND ONE OF THEFT FROM A MOTOR VEHICLE. MEANWHILE, REEVES' CO-DEFENDANT AND FORMER GIRLFRIEND, 25-YEAR-OLD KRISTEN KRANCH OF SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS, WILL SPEND THE NEXT FIVE YEARS ON PROBATION AFTER SHE PLEADED GUILTY WEDNESDAY TO PARTICIPATING IN THE SAME INCIDENTS. JUDGE CYRUS PALMER DOLBIN SENTENCED REEVES TO SERVE SIX TO 12 YEARS IN A STATE PRISON AND PAY NEARLY $19,000 IN RESTITUTION. KRANCH MUST ALSO PAY NEARLY $19,000 DOLLARS AS PART OF HER PLEA AGREEMENT. PROSECUTORS SAY THE TWO COMMITTED BURGLARIES WITHIN THE SPAN OF TWO WEEKS IN FOUR MUNICIPALITIES IN THE NORTHERN, CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PARTS OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.(WGRC)


STATE NEWS:

MUSCAT, OMAN (AP) - U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON (BAHN KEE-MOON) IS COMMENDING ALL INVOLVED AFTER THE RELEASE OF TWO AMERICANS CONVICTED IN IRAN OF SPYING. JOSH FATTAL AND SHANE BAUER MADE BRIEF STATEMENTS TO REPORTERS IN OMAN AFTER THEIR RELEASE, WITH BAUER SAYING HE HOPES THEIR RELEASE WILL ALSO BRING FREEDOM FOR "POLITICAL PRISONERS IN AMERICA AND IRAN."

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - NOW THAT THE PENTAGON'S 'DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL' POLICY IS HISTORY A FEMALE SERGEANT FROM HARRISBURG WHO WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE AIR FORCE IS PLANNING TO RE-ENLIST. JENE (JEH-NAY') NEWSOME WAS DISCHARGED AFTER SOUTH DAKOTA POLICE REPORTED HER MARRIAGE TO A WOMAN. NEWSOME SAYS SHE'S EAGER TO RESTART HER MILITARY CAREER.

STROUDSBURG, PA. (AP) - A MONROE COUNTY JURY HAS CONVICTED TWO MEN IN THE STABBING DEATH OF A MAN IN 2009. AUTHORITIES SAY IAN SEAGRAVES AND SHAWN FREEMORE LURED MICHAEL GOUCHER INTO A WOODED AREA AND KILLED HIM. FREEMORE SAID HE DIDN'T REMEMBER THE SLAYING WHILE SEAGRAVES ADMITTED WITNESSING THE MURDER AND HELPING GET RID OF THE BODY.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A TRIAL HAS BEEN ORDERED FOR A NORTH PHILADELPHIA MAN IN THE STABBING DEATH OF HIS LIVE-IN GIRLFRIEND IN JULY. AUTHORITIES SAY KEVIN RIVERA STABBED ZAKIMAH FORDE AFTER AN ARGUMENT OVER AN ONLINE AFFAIR. RIVERA'S ATTORNEY TELLS KYW HIS CLIENT ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE.

NATIONAL NEWS:

MUSCAT, OMAN (AP) - AMERICAN AND OMANI OFFICIALS AREN'T RELEASING DETAILS ABOUT THE FUTURE PLANS OF TWO AMERICANS RELEASED FROM AN IRANIAN PRISON. JOSH FATTAL AND SHANE BAUER ARE SPENDING THEIR FIRST FULL DAY OF FREEDOM IN SECLUSION WITH THEIR FAMILIES IN OMAN, AFTER MORE THAN TWO YEARS IN CUSTODY AND BEING CONVICTED OF SPYING.

NEW YORK (AP) - DOCUMENTS OBTAINED BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SHOW NEW YORK POLICE INTENDED TO BUILD INTELLIGENCE FILES ON VARIOUS ETHNIC GROUPS AND WERE ALREADY INVESTIGATING U.S. CITIZENS OF MOROCCAN ANCESTRY EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD DONE NOTHING WRONG. A SECRET PROGRAM KNOWN AS THE MOROCCAN INITIATIVE CATALOGUED WHERE PEOPLE OF MOROCCAN ANCESTRY SHOPPED, ATE AND PRAYED.

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - HAMID KARZAI SAYS THE SUICIDE BOMBER WHO ASSASSINATED FORMER AFGHAN PRESIDENT BURHANUDDIN RABBANI (BOOR-HAHN'-UH-DEEN RUH-BAH'-NEE) TRICKED HIM TO GET CLOSE TO THE HEAD OF THE AFGHAN PEACE COUNCIL. KARZAI SAYS THE ASSASSIN DELIVERED AN AUDIO RECORDING OF A PURPORTED TALIBAN PEACE OFFER. IT DEALT A DEVASTATING BLOW TO EFFORTS OF NEGOTIATING WITH THE TALIBAN IN AFGHANISTAN.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE LAST OBSTACLE TO CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ON THREE WIDELY SUPPORTED FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS COULD TAKE A STEP TOWARD BEING CLEARED TODAY. THE SENATE IS CLOSE TO PASSING LEGISLATION TO HELP WORKERS DISPLACED BY FOREIGN TRADE. THE MEASURE WOULD GO THE HOUSE. OBAMA AND DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS SAY IT'S A PREREQUISITE TO THE TRADE MEASURES.

NEW YORK (AP) - SOME PEOPLE ARE MAKING FACES AT FACEBOOK OVER THE LATEST TWEAKS. THE WORLD'S LARGEST ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORK IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE MORE CHANGES TODAY. THE WORDS "NEW FACEBOOK" QUICKLY BECAME ONE OF THE MOST DISCUSSED TOPICS ON TWITTER. MANY COMMENTS WERE NEGATIVE.