TODAYS NEWS: TUESDAY SEPT 20, 2011

BREAKING NEWS: BOIL WATER ADVISORY

DUE TO A WATER MAIN BREAK, THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY HAS ISSUED A BOIL WATER ADVISORY FOR THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF THE CITY OF POTTSVILLE, EAST NORWEGIAN TOWNSHIP, AND PORT CARBON:

- Pine View Acres

- Greenwood Hill

- Mechanicsville

- FROM Mill Creek Avenue to Route 209/Mauch Chunk Street

- FROM Route 61 to Chestnut Street in Port Carbon



RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO BOIL THEIR WATER BEFORE DRINKING. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT THE SCMA WEBSITE AT WWW.SCMAWATER.COM, OR CALL THEIR OFFICE AT 570-622-8240.


MAHANOY AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT MOURNS

THE MAHANOY AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT IS DEALING WITH THE LOSS OF A FACULTY MEMBER WHO DIED IN A TRAGIC CRASH SUNDAY EVENING. JEFFREY DONNELLY, A SHOP TEACHER, WAS JUST A MILE FROM HIS HOME WHEN A DRUNK DRIVER HIT HIS MOTORCYCLE. DONNELLY WAS A DISTRICT MEMBER FOR AT LEAST 25-YEARS. SUPERINTENDENT JOIE GREEN DISMISSED STUDENTS EARLY MONDAY IN RESPONSE TO THE INCIDENT.

BERKS COUNTY MAN IDENTIFIED AFTER DROWNING

A BERKS COUNTY MAN WHO DROWNED SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN TUSCARORA STATE PARK HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS 18-YEAR-OLD GICARDO JEANBAPTISTE OF LEHNHARTSVILLE. RUSH TOWNSHIP POLICE SAY JEANBAPTISTE WAS AT THE LAKE WITH FRIENDS WHEN HE ACCIDENTALLY WENT UNDER WATER, FULLY CLOTHED, AND NEVER RESURFACED. DIVERS FROM THE RYAN TOWNSHIP RESCUE SQUAD DIVE TEAM RECOVERED JEANBAPTISTE FROM THE WATER, BUT A DOCTOR PRONOUNCED HIM DEAD AT THE HOSPITAL.

OVER $90K RAISED FOR FLOOD VICTIMS VIA RED CROSS

THE RED CROSS HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH THEIR LOCAL FLOOD RELIEF DRIVE, RAISING MORE THAN 90-THOUSAND-DOLLARS IN THE FIRST WEEK. ALL FUNDS ARE DIRECTED TOWARD FLOOD VICTIMS IN NORTHEASTERN AND CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.CONTRIBUTIONS CAN BE MAILED TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS SCHUYLKILL AND EASTERN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY CHAPTER AT 1402 LAUREL BLVD., POTTSVILLE PA 17901 OR MADE ONLINE AT WWW.LOCALFLOODRELIEF.COM


TOBASH TO OFFER EXTENDED HOURS

RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ARE STILL RECOVERING FROM FLOODING AND REP MIKE TOBASH WILL ONCE AGAIN HOLD EXPANDED OFFICE HOURS AT HIS VALLEY VIEW AND PINE GROVE LOCATIONS. THE PINE GROVE SATELLITE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN THE AMERICAN LEGION ON TULPEHOCKEN ST IN PINE GROVE AND ON MAIN ST IN VALLEY VIEW. TOBASH WILL BE IN THESE LOCATIONS TODAY AND WEDNESDAY.

FRACKVILLE MAN CONVICTED OF SEX CRIMES

IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COURT MONDAY, 46 YEAR OLD MARK ANTALOSKY WAS ORDERED TO SPEND THE NEXT 9 TO 23 MONTHS IN COUNTY JAIL WITH ANOTHER 2 YEARS OF PROBATION. ANTALOSKY WILL ALSO SPEND THE NEXT 10 YEARS ON THE MEGAN’S LAW LIST. ANTALOSKY WAS CONVICTED OF INDECENT ASSAULT AND CORRUPTION OF MINORS FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT OF MOLESTATION OF A GIRL IN FRACKVILLE BEGINNING WHEN SHE WAS 8 YEARS OLD.

REPAIRS TO BEGIN ON BRIDGE ST IN SHENANDOAH

THE SHENANDOAH BOROUGH COUNCIL APPROVED AN AGREEMENT AT A MEETING MONDAY. THE COUNCIL HAS HIRED ALFRED BENESCH AND CO. TO COMPLETE THE ONE LANE BRIDGE THAT CONNECTS CENTRE STREET AND HERALD ROAD. THE BRIDGE HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE LAST YEAR AFTER BEING HIT BY A TRUCK CAUSING THE BRIDGE TO BECOME UNSAFE AND UNSTABLE. NO DATE WAS SET FOR COMPLETION BUT WORK IS TO BEGIN SOON AND WILL COST AN ESTIMATED $250,000


STATE NEWS:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - TWO MEMBERS OF PHILADELPHIA'S SCHOOL REFORM COMMISSION HAVE ABRUPTLY RESIGNED. CHAIRMAN ROBERT ARCHIE JR. AND MEMBER JOHNNY IRIZARRY STEPPED DOWN YESTERDAY FROM THE PANEL OVERSEEING THE STATE'S LARGEST DISTRICT. THE COMMISSION CAME UNDER FIRE LAST MONTH FOR ITS HANDLING OF THE DEPARTURE OF SUPERINTENDENT ARLENE ACKERMAN.

CORRY, PA. (AP) - A GAS DRILLING INDUSTRY GROUP SAYS A WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA COMMUNITY SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BAN THE DUMPING OF TOXIC WASTE, AND HAS FILED A LAWSUIT ON THE ISSUE. THE PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW REPORTS COLUMBUS TOWNSHIP TRIED TO KEEP MARCELLUS SHALE DRILLERS FROM DUMPING THEIR WASTE WITHIN ITS BORDERS.

WILKES-BARRE, PA. (AP) - OPENING STATEMENTS ARE SCHEDULED TODAY IN THE TRIAL OF A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND WITH A HATCHET TWO YEARS AGO. THE (WILKES-BARRE) TIMES LEADER SAYS JURY SELECTION WRAPPED UP YESTERDAY FOR THE LUZERNE COUNTY TRIAL OF JOHN STONE OF SHICKSHINNY.

NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - PREPARATIONS FOR DROPPING THE BAN ON OPENLY GAY MILITARY SERVICE HAVE BEEN IN THE WORKS SO LONG, TODAY'S OFFICIAL REPEAL IS MAKING FEW WAVES INSIDE THE MILITARY. THE ARMY, FOR EXAMPLE, PLANNED A BUSINESS-AS-USUAL STATEMENT SAYING SIMPLY, "THE LAW IS REPEALED." PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAID IN JULY THAT REPEAL WILL NOT UNDERMINE THE WAR-FIGHTING READINESS OF THE MILITARY. BUT OPPONENTS OF REPEAL FEAR IT WILL.

TEHRAN, IRAN (AP) - THEIR LAWYER ISN'T GIVING UP HOPE OF FREEING AMERICAN HIKERS SHANE BAUER AND JOSH FATTAL ON BAIL. THE LAWYER WAS BACK IN AN IRANIAN COURT TODAY, TRYING TO GET THE SIGNATURE OF A SECOND JUDGE ON A BAIL DEAL THAT COULD FREE THEM.

ROME (AP) - ITALY IS CRITICIZING STANDARD & POOR'S FOR DOWNGRADING THE COUNTRY'S CREDIT RATING. ITALIAN OFFICIALS SAY THE DOWNGRADE DOESN'T REFLECT ITALY'S EFFORTS TO BOOST GROWTH AND REDUCE THE COUNTRY'S DEBTS. BUT S&P IS WARNING THAT IT MAY DOWNGRADE ITALY AGAIN.

GANGTOK, INDIA (AP) - THE NUMBER OF DEAD FROM A HIMALAYAN EARTHQUAKE THAT SHOOK PARTS OF INDIA, NEPAL AND CHINA HAS BEEN RAISED TO 79. HELICOPTERS ARE BRINGING IN RESCUE WORKERS AND EMERGENCY SUPPLIES. TROOPS TRYING TO REACH SURVIVORS ARE USING EARTHMOVERS TO PUSH THROUGH LANDSLIDE DEBRIS.

ATLANTA (AP) - THE GEORGIA PARDONS BOARD IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE TODAY WHETHER IT WILL GRANT LENIENCY TO CONDEMNED COP KILLER TROY DAVIS. HE HAS SAID HE'S INNOCENT. AND THE DOUBTS ABOUT HIS GUILT HAVE ATTRACTED A HIGH-PROFILE GROUP OF SUPPORTERS, INCLUDING THE POPE AND FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER. DAVIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE PUT TO DEATH TOMORROW BY INJECTION. IT'S THE FOURTH TIME IN FOUR YEARS THAT HIS EXECUTION HAS BEEN SCHEDULED.