TODAY'S NEWS: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

THE PINE GROVE WESLEYAN CHURCH ON ROUTE 501 IN PINE GROVE IS OFFERING FREE CLOTHING, SHOES, NECESSITIES, CLEANING SUPPLIES,FOOD, AND SUPPORT FOR ALL FLOOD VICTIMS. WE WILL BE OPEN ALL WEEK FROM 5 - 9

OBAMA DECLARES DISASTER FOR PA

ON TUESDAY PRESIDENT OBAMA DECLARED 19 COUNTIES IN PENNSYLVANIA A DISASTER TO INCLUDE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. THE FEDERAL FUNDS WILL ASSIST PERSONS AND BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY TROPICAL STORM LEE. SCHUYLKILL COUNTY HAS ALSO FULFILLED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, TO INCLUDE GRANTS FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING AND HOME REPAIRS. THE COUNTY WILL ALSO RECEIVE FUNDS FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION TO BE ELIGIBLE AT LEAST 25 HOMES WITH AT LEAST 40% UNINSURED DAMAGE MUST BE SHOWN. 164 HOMES WERE DAMAGED DUE TO LAST WEEKS STORM.

ROADS REMAIN CLOSED FROM FLOODING

ACCORDING TO PENNDOT, MANY ROADS REMAIN CLOSED IN THE COUNTY BECAUSE OF FLOODING OR DOWNED TREES. PENNDOT SAYS THAT RT 125 BETWEEN PENNDYE STREET AND PINE GROVE AND THE BEGINNING OF RT 125 AND GOLD MINE ROAD NEAR THE DAUPHIN COUNTY LINE IN TREMONT TWP AND GREENWOOD/CLARKSVALLEY ROAD IN PORTER TWP ARE CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING.

FLOOD VICTIMS SEEK LOCAL HELP

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY EMA SAYS THAT DISASTER ASSISSTANCE FORMS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT DISASTER ASSISTANCE DOT GOV OR BY CALLING 1-800-621-FEMA FROM 7AM -10 PM MON-FRI. INDIVIDUALS SEEKING REPLACEMENT HOUSING CAN CALL 1-877-428-8844 WEEKDAYS FROM 9AM-8PM. ALSO MANY LOCAL AGENCIES ARE REACHING OUT TO RESIDENTS IN PINE GROVE AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WHO WERE AFFECTED BY THE FLOOD. THE PA CAREERLINK IS OFFERING JOB ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO ARE OUT OF WORK FROM THE FLOODING, ALSO BUSINESSES AFFECTED CAN CONTACT WILKES UNIVERSITY SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER FOR ASSISSTANCE. YOU CAN GET MORINFORMATION ON ASSISTANCE ON OUR WEBSITE WPPARADIO.COM

FOR PA CAREERLINK:
Hazleton-Elaine Stalfa, 570-459-3895 ext. 103
Pottsville- - Frank Nieddu, 570-622-5253 ext.140
Wilkes-Barre- Liz Cave, 570-826-2401 ext.230


MINERSVILLE RESIDENTS UNHAPPY WITH DRAINAGE SYSTEM

HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING TO THE BOROUGH OF MINERSVILLE HAS MANY RESIDENTS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE POOR DRAINAGE SYSTEM. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, THE BOROUGH COUNCIL HAS BEEN DEALING WITH CONCERNS SPECIFICALLY ON PENN STREET. THEY ARE ALSO FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION REGARDING A BRIDGE. BOROUGH MANAGER JOSEPH BASS RECOMMENDS ALL PUBLIC COMPLAINTS BE SENT TO THE STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO GIVE THE BOROUGH’S SUBMISSION MORE SUPPORT.

HOMES EVACUATED IN POTTSVILLE

DUE TO A TORN PLASTIC GAS LINE BY THE POTTSVILLE HOUSING AUTHORITY, NEARLY 55 HOMES NEEDED TO BE EVACUATED ON THE 800 BLOCK OF SECOND STREET TUESDAY. DIRECTORS SAY THAT A BACKHOE HIT THE GAS LINE WHILE INSTALLING A NEW PAVEMENT. POTTSVILLE FIRE OFFICIALS ARRIVED AND EVACUATED EVERYONE. SINCE THE MAIN LINE CANNOT BE SHUT OFF DUE TO IT SERVICING OTHER AREAS. U-G-I UTILITIES CLAMPED OF THE TEAR UNTIL IT CAN BE FULLY REPAIRED

UNITED WAY KICKS OFF CAMPAIGN

THE TAMAQUA CAMPAIGN OF THE UNITED WAY GOT UNDER WAY MONDAY WITH ALMOST TWO-THIRDS OF ITS FUNDRAISING GOAL ALREADY REACHED. SO FAR THEY HAVE RAISED OVER $65,000 OF THEIR $100,000 GOAL. COUNTYWIDE THE GOAL IS ONE MILLION SEVENTY FIVE DOLLARS WITH THE LAST $75 FOR THE 75TH ANNIVERSAY OF THE UNITED WAY. OVERALL THE UNITED WAY HAS RAISED A LITTLE OVER $350,000 OF THAT GOAL.



STATE NEWS:

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA'S FINANCIALLY TROUBLED CAPITAL IS SCRAMBLING TO AVOID MISSING AN INSTALLMENT PAYMENT ON A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND. THE STATE TREASURER'S AND AUDITOR GENERAL'S OFFICES WERE WORKING LAST NIGHT TO SPEED UP A SCHEDULED PENSION AID PAYMENT TO HELP HARRISBURG MAKE THE $3.3 MILLION BOND PAYMENT DUE TOMORROW. COUNCIL MEMBERS, MEANWHILE, VOTED LAST NIGHT TO APPROVE A PLAN TO USE $7.4 MILLION FROM THE CITY'S PARKING AUTHORITY.

NORRISTOWN, PA. (AP) - A MAN CHARGED WITH THE RAPE AND MURDER OF A 9-YEAR-OLD SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA GIRL IS ASKING A COURT TO BAR A JURY FROM HEARING STATEMENTS HE MADE TO INVESTIGATORS. JAMES LEE TROUTMAN IS CHARGED IN THE MAY 9TH KILLING OF SKYLER KAUFFMAN OF SOUDERTON. THE (POTTSTOWN) MERCURY SAYS THE DEFENSE FILED COURT PAPERS YESTERDAY.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A PHILADELPHIA MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 23 TO 52 YEARS IN PRISON AFTER PLEADING GUILTY IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF A 14-YEAR-OLD. NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD CHARLES WILSON PLEADED GUILTY TO 3RD-DEGREE MURDER AND WEAPONS OFFENSES YESTERDAY AS JURY SELECTION WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN FOR A FIRST-DEGREE MURDER TRIAL IN THE SEPTEMBER 2009 KILLING OF KAREEM HAYNES.

ERIE, PA. (AP) - THE LAWYER FOR THE WOMAN WHO ALLEGEDLY STARVED HER 14-MONTH OLD CHILD TO DEATH SAYS MEDIA COVERAGE HAS MADE A TRIAL WITH LOCAL JURORS IMPOSSIBLE. THE ERIE TIMES-NEWS REPORTS ATTORNEY JAMIE MEAD SAID IN A MOTION THAT TANIA COLEMAN SHOULD BE TRIED IN ANOTHER COUNTY, OR HAVE JURORS FROM ELSEWHERE BROUGHT IN FOR THE TRIAL.

NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HITS THE ROAD AGAIN TODAY, TAKING HIS CAMPAIGN FOR A NEARLY $450 BILLION JOBS BILL TO NORTH CAROLINA. OBAMA CONTINUES HIS DIRECT APPEAL TO VOTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY, EVEN THOUGH REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS ARE SHOWING LITTLE ENTHUSIASM FOR HIS PROGRAM.

NEW YORK (AP) - A REPUBLICAN POLITICAL NOVICE HAS WON A SPECIAL ELECTION IN A NEW YORK CITY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WHERE DEMOCRATS HAVE A 3-1 EDGE IN VOTER REGISTRATION. VOTER FRUSTRATION OVER THE LAGGING ECONOMY AND LONG UNEMPLOYMENT LINES MAY HAVE BEEN THE KEY FACTOR IN BOB TURNER'S VICTORY OVER DEMOCRAT DAVID WEPRIN.

TEHRAN, IRAN (AP) - IRAN'S JUDICIARY SAYS IT'S STILL REVIEWING DETAILS OF A PLAN TO OFFER BAIL TO TWO AMERICANS CONVICTED ON SPYING CHARGES. THE STATEMENT IS A POTENTIALLY EMBARRASSING REJECTION OF PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD'S PREDICTION THAT SHANE BAUER AND JOSH FATTAL COULD BE FREED IN "A COUPLE OF DAYS."

BAGHDAD (AP) - OFFICIALS IN IRAQ SAY 13 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND SCORES WERE INJURED IN A CAR BOMBING OUTSIDE A BAGHDAD RESTAURANT WHERE LOCAL POLICE WERE HAVING BREAKFAST. TODAY'S BLAST WAS THE DEADLIEST IN A DAY THAT HAD CLAIMED OTHER LIVES. BY MIDMORNING, 17 PEOPLE HAD BEEN KILLED AND MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE WOUNDED IN ATTACKS.

DALLAS (AP) - THERE'S LITTLE RELIEF FROM THE HEAT WAVE THAT HAS BEEN GRIPPING TEXAS. WICHITA FALLS HAS BECOME THE FIRST TEXAS CITY TO HAVE 100 DAYS OF TRIPLE-DIGIT TEMPERATURES. AND THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH AREA HAS JOINED THE STATE'S LONG LIST OF CITIES WITH A RECORD NUMBER OF 100-DEGREE DAYS IN 2011.