TODAY'S NEWS TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

A BOMB THREAT OVER THE WEEKEND AT JOHN S. CLARKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAD SOME PARENTS RETRIEVING THEIR KIDS FROM THE BUILDING MONDAY MORNING.


INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESS OWNERS WHO SUSTAINED LOSSES IN THE DESIGNATED COUNTIES CAN BEGIN APPLYING FOR ASSISTANCE BY REGISTERING ONLINE AT:

HTTP://WWW.DISASTERASSISTANCE.GOV

OR BY CALLING:

1-800-621-FEMA (3362)


RESIDENTS OF PINE GROVE BOROUGH ARE TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THE FLOODING THAT DEVASTATED THE AREA LAST WEEK AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS HAS STEPPED IN TO HELP. J MATTHEWS HAS THIS REPORT

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY EMA IS NOW IN RELIEF MODE TRYING TO SECURE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM WASHINGTON TO HELPED THE VICTIMS OF THE FLOOD. J MATTHEWS HAS MORE

DISASTER DECLARATION SUBMITTED

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCED THE DOCUMENTATION AND JUSTIFICATION FOR SCHUYLKILL COUNTY TO BE INCLUDED IN A PRESIDENTIAL DISASTER DECLARATION FOR "INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE" HAS BEEN SUBMITTED. ADDITIONALLY, WE HOSTED THE FEMA REPRESENTATIVE ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2011, PRESENTED OUR INFORMATION AND CONDUCTED A BRIEF TOUR OF SOME OF THE AFFECTED AREAS. THEY HOPE TO HEAR SOME NEWS WITHIN 72 HOURS AND WILL IMMEDIATELY PASS THE INFORMATION ALONG.

KEY POINTS:
· CONTACT INSURANCE CARRIERS IMMEDIATELY
· DOCUMENT ALL LOSS - TAKE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE
· RETAIN ALL RECEIPTS FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO REPAIRS, DISPOSAL, ETC.
· RETAIN ALL PAPERWORK FROM INSURANCE REGARDING CLAIMS
· BEGIN THE CLEAN UP PROCESS IMMEDIATELY - DOCUMENT AND DO IT - THIS WILL HELP MINIMIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR MOLD GROWTH



TOBASH EXTENDS PINE GROVE HOURS TO HELP WITH FLOOD VICTIMS

IN AN EFFORT TO HELP RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS WHO SUFFERED DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM LEE, REP. MIKE TOBASH IS EXTENDING OFFICE HOURS AT HIS PINE GROVE SATELLITE OFFICE. TOBASH WILL OFFER HELP TO RESIDENTS WHO M AY NEED ASSISTANCE DOCUMENTING DAMAGE TO THEIR PROPERTY. THE SATELLITE OFFICE IS LOCATED WITHIN THE AMERICAN LEGION.

• TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, NOON TO 5PM
• WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, NOON TO 4PM
• THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1:30PM TO 5PM


ITEMS NEEDED FOR FLOOD VICTIMS

THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU IS ACTING AS A PINE GROVE FLOOD RELIEF DROP-OFF LOCATION THIS YEAR. SEVERAL ITEMS ARE NEEDED AND BEING ACCEPTED SUCH AS CARE SUPPLIES, TOILETRIES, DIAPERS, PET SUPPLIES AND NON-PERISHABLE FOODS. SCHUYLKILL COUNTY VISITORS’ BUREAU IS LOCATED AT UNION STATION IN POTTSVILLE. MONETARY DONATIONS FOR THE PINE GROVE DISASTER RELIEF FUND ARE ALSO GREATLY NEEDED. TO DONATE GO TO FULTON BANK IN PINE GROVE.

FAIR STILL ON

ROADS IN BLOOMSBURG ARE STILL SHUT DOWN AND FAIRGROUNDS FILLED WITH THICK MUD AFTER THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER AND FISHING CREEK FLOODED MUCH OF THE AREA LAST WEEK. FAIR OFFICIALS SAY DESPITE THE SETBACK THE FAIR WILL GO ON. WITH JUST TWO WEEKS TO CLEAN UP, FAIR ORGANIZERS ARE ASKING THE PUBLIC FOR HELP. THE BLOOMSBURG FAIR ATTRACTS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO COLUMBIA COUNTY EVERY YEAR.

SUSPECTED RAPIST VIOLATES MEGAN’S LAW

TAMAQUA POLICE ARE REPORTING THAT A 24 YEAR OLD TAMAQUA MAN HAS VIOLATED HIS MEGAN’S LAW CONDITION AND IS A SUSPECT IN THE RAPE OF A 14 YEAR OLD GIRL. CHIEF DAVID MATTSON HAS CHARGED DAVID REDD WITH FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS WHICH IS A FELONY. MATTSON REPORTS THAT REED IS A SUSPECT IN THE RAPE OF A TEENAGE GIRL WHICH HAPPENED SATURDAY AND THAT HE MAY BE INVOLVED IN OTHER RAPES IN TAMAQUA AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. REED WHO HAS NO PERMANENT ADDRESS WAS ARRAIGNED AND SENTENCED TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COURT ON $50,000 BAIL.

STATE NEWS:

SCRANTON, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAY AN EARLY MORNING FIRE THAT KILLED THREE PEOPLE IN SCRANTON LAST WEEK WAS ACCIDENTAL. FIRE MARSHAL MARTIN MONAHAN TOLD THE (SCRANTON) TIMES-TRIBUNE YESTERDAY THE BLAZE WAS STARTED BY "CARELESS SMOKING."

READING, PA. (AP) - AN ELDERLY EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN WHO SURVIVED A HAMMER ASSAULT THAT KILLED HIS WIFE EARLIER THIS YEAR WILL BE ALLOWED TO RECORD TESTIMONY FOR THE TRIAL OF THE MAN CHARGED IN THE ATTACK. THE READING EAGLE SAYS A BERKS COUNTY JUDGE GRANTED PROSECUTORS' REQUEST TO RECORD TESTIMONY FROM JAMES BORN THAT WILL BE USED IF HE'S UNAVAILABLE OR UNABLE TO TESTIFY AGAINST MANUEL CARRERO JR.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - AN EPISCOPAL BISHOP WHO WAS ACCUSED OF HERESY WHEN HE ORDAINED A GAY DEACON IN 1990, HAS DIED. RETIRED EPISCOPAL BISHOP WALTER RIGHTER WAS 87. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH SAYS RIGHTER DIED SUNDAY AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF HOSPICE CARE.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA EMERGENCY OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE STILL ABOUT 1,100 HOMES AND BUSINESSES WITHOUT POWER IN THE STATE AS THE REGION WORKS TO RECOVER FROM THE POWERFUL IMPACT OF TROPICAL STORM LEE. OFFICIALS ALSO SAY MORE THAN 200 ROADS REMAIN CLOSED.

NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WILL PROMOTE HIS $447 BILLION JOBS PLAN TODAY IN OHIO - THE HOME STATE OF HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER (BAY'-NUHR). THE PRESIDENT'S TRIP TO SWING-STATE OHIO IS PART OF A HIGH-PROFILE PUBLIC SALES PUSH TO GET HIS PLAN THROUGH A DIVIDED CONGRESS. A BOEHNER SPOKESMAN SAYS THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN DOESN'T APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN OFFERED IN A "BIPARTISAN SPIRIT."

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE HEAD OF THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE MAY GIVE A REALITY CHECK ON THE BUDGET DEFICIT WHEN HE TESTIFIES BEFORE THE DEBT SUPERCOMMITTEE TODAY. DOUGLAS ELMENDORF SAYS AMERICANS WILL HAVE TO GIVE UP SOME GOVERNMENT SERVICES OR PAY MORE FOR THEM. BUT PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S JOBS PLAN CALLS FOR A TEMPORARY BOOST IN SOME GOVERNMENT PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS.

TACOMA, WASH. (AP) - SOME 28,000 STUDENTS IN TACOMA, WASH. ARE WAKING UP TO NO SCHOOL TODAY. THEIR TEACHERS ARE ON STRIKE, AFTER WORKING WITHOUT A CONTRACT SINCE SEPT. 1. NEGOTIATORS FOR THE TEACHERS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REACH AGREEMENT ON ISSUES SUCH AS PAY, CLASS SIZE AND THE WAY THE DISTRICT'S TEACHERS ARE TRANSFERRED AND REASSIGNED.

ARROWHEAD, CALIF. (AP) - SHERIFFS IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY,CALIFORNIA ARE SEARCHING FOR A SEVERELY AUTISTIC BOY WHO RAN AWAY FROM HIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL INTO THE SURROUNDING FOREST. EIGHT-YEAR-OLD JOSHUA ROBB HAS BEEN MISSING SINCE YESTERDAY
MORNING. MORE PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO JOIN THE SEARCH THIS MORNING.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - THE BATTLE OVER WHETHER HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP CAN BE CALLED "CORN SUGAR" IS HEADED TO FEDERAL COURT IN LOS ANGELES TODAY. THE JUDGE IS EXPECTED TO DECIDE WHETHER TO DISMISS A LAWSUIT BY THE SUGAR INDUSTRY, WHICH IS UPSET THAT MANUFACTURERS OF HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP WANT TO REBRAND THEIR PRODUCT AND CALL IT CORN SUGAR. AMERICANS HAVE INCREASINGLY BEEN BLAMING THE SYRUP FOR A RANGE OF HEALTH PROBLEMS.