TODAY'S NEWS: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS WILL TAKE PLACE THIS SUNDAY IN POTTSVILLE. JASMINE BROOKS HAS THE DETAILS:

FLOOD WATERS RETURN TO PINE GROVE

PINE GROVE RESIDENTS FACE MORE FLOODING TODAY, JUST WEEKS AFTER TROPICAL STORM LEE LEFT 15-INCHES IN THE BOROUGH CAUSING MANDATORY EVACUATIONS. FIRE PERSONNEL WATCHED OVER THE SWATARA CREEK LAST NIGHT WHICH WAS RISING CONSIDERABLY. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS, FIRE PERSONNEL AND THE SCHUYLKILL HAVEN SWIFT WATER RESCUE TEAM WERE GOING DOOR TO DOOR TO ASK RESIDENTS IF THEY WANTED TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES AND SEEK SHELTER AT AN EVACUATION CENTER SET UP AT THE PINE GROVE HIGH SCHOOL. ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO SIX INCHES OF RAIN FELL ACROSS WESTERN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY RESULTING IN A FLASH FLOOD WARNING BEING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4:45AM TOMORROW MORNING.

POLICE SEIZE ALMOST 300 MARIJUANA PLANTS

POLICE IN KLINE TOWNSHIP HAVE SEIZED CLOSE TO 300 MARIJUANA PLANTS GROWING OUTSIDE A HOME NEAR MCADOO. 57 YEAR OLD MICHAEL MERENDA HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS TO MANUFACTURE, DELIVER OR POSSESS WITH INTENT TO MANUFACTURE OR DELIVER A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. MERENDA CLAIMS HE BEGAN GROWING THE PLANTS IN JUNE FOR PERSONAL USE IN ORDER TO CONTROL HIS BACK AND NECK PAIN. HE WAS ARRAIGNED AND PLACED IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON ON $15,000 BAIL.

FIGHT IN COALDALE SENDS COALDALE MAN TO HOSPITAL

A COALDALE MAN IS NOW IN THE HOSPITAL SUFFERING A FRACTURED SKULL AFTER A FIGHT BROKE OUT SATURDAY NIGHT INVOLVING FIREFIGHTERS. POLICE REPORT JOSEPH TERRY WAS AT A BAR WHERE THEY WERE HOLDING A BENEFIT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. HE BECAME AGITATED AND THREW AT LEAST ONE BEER BOTTLE AT SOMEONE. HE WAS TOLD TO LEAVE AND HE DID, BUT THAT'S WHEN THE PROBLEM UNFOLDED. A SITUATION THAT BEGAN INSIDE THE BAR WAS THEN TAKEN OUTSIDE INVOLVING SEVERAL FIREFIGHTERS WHO WERE TRYING TO DETAIN TERRY UNTIL POLICE ARRIVED. COALDALE POLICE INTERVIEWED TERRY IN THE HOSPITAL. THEIR INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.

FEMA GRANTS MUST BE SPENT FOR BASIC DISASTER-RELATED NEEDS

SURVIVORS OF THE RECENT PENNSYLVANIA STORMS AND FLOODING ARE REMINDED THAT RECOVERY ASSISTANCE MONEY THEY RECEIVE FROM THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY IS INTENDED TO MEET BASIC DISASTER-RELATED NEEDS. WITHIN A DAY OR TWO OF RECEIVING EITHER A DIRECT DEPOSIT PAYMENT OR A CHECK, THEY WILL ALSO RECEIVE A LETTER EXPLAINING THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANT. RECIPIENTS SHOULD READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE LETTER AND RETAIN IT WITH THEIR FLOOD RECOVERY RECORDS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP RECEIPTS OF MERCHANDISE AND SERVICES PURCHASED WITH THE MONEY FOR THREE YEARS IN THE EVENT OF AN AUDIT. MISUSE OF THE GRANT COULD MEAN THE RECIPIENT WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE MONEY BACK AND ALSO MIGHT BE DENIED GRANT ASSISTANCE IF A FUTURE DISASTER OCCURS. HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS MUST BE USED ONLY FOR BASIC HOUSING REPAIRS, SHORT-TERM RENTAL HOUSING, OR REIMBURSEMENT OF LODGING COSTS INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE DISASTER. OTHER NEEDS ASSISTANCE GRANTS SHOULD BE USED TO HELP REPLACE ESSENTIAL PERSONAL PROPERTY AND MEET MEDICAL, DENTAL, FUNERAL, TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER SERIOUS DISASTER-RELATED NEEDS NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE OR OTHER FEDERAL, STATE OR CHARITABLE-AID PROGRAMS.

ASHLAND MUNICIPAL APPROVES PROJECT

THE ASHLAND AREA MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY BOARD VOTED MONDAY TO APPROVE AN ADDITION TO THE RESERVOIR RAISING PROJECT THAT WILL ADD ABOUT $400,000 TO THE CURRENT PROJECT. IT WILL INCLUDE THE INSTALLATION OF PNEUMATIC VALVES WITH A FLOATING INTAKE WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR DRAWING OF THE BEST QUALITY RAW WATER IN THE RESERVOIR WHICH WILL REDUCE CHEMICAL USAGE AND LESS BACKWASH AND REDUCE OPERATING COSTS.


STATE NEWS:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY A HIGH SCHOOL FIGHT LED TO A MELEE IN SOUTH PHILADELPHIA AND GUNFIRE THAT CRITICALLY INJURED A TWO YEAR-OLD GIRL AND HURT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE. POLICE SAY TWO SUSPECTS ARE BEING SOUGHT IN THE SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT IN THE POINT BREEZE SECTION OF THE CITY.

LEBANON, PA. (AP) - A CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS WIFE AND THEN USING HIS 10-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AS A SHIELD DURING A STANDOFF HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO FIRST-DEGREE MURDER AND OTHER CHARGES. JONATHAN EISENHAUER ENTERED THE PLEA YESTERDAY
IN LEBANON COUNTY AFTER PROSECUTORS AGREED TO RECOMMEND A SENTENCE OF LIFE PLUS 30 YEARS.

LEETSDALE, PA. (AP) - HUSSEY COPPER LTD. OF LEETSDALE FILED FOR FEDERAL BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION YESTERDAY. THE PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW REPORTS THE COMPANY LISTS MORE THAN $100 MILLION IN DEBT IN THE PETITION IT FILED IN DELAWARE. THE FILING SAYS THE COPPER PRODUCTS MAKER PLANS TO CONTINUE TO RUN ITS BUSINESS.

ELKINS PARK, PA. (AP) - FOR THE 26 MONTHS THAT JOSH FATTAL WAS HELD CAPTIVE IN IRAN, HIS MOTHER AND BROTHER WERE EVER-PRESENT VOICES CALLING FOR HIS RELEASE. BUT HIS FATHER, JACOB FATTAL, NEVER SAID A WORD. IT'S NOW CLEAR WHY: THE FAMILY FEARED THEIR JEWISH FAITH - AND JACOB FATTAL'S TIES TO ISRAEL - WOULD MAKE THINGS WORSE FOR JOSH. IRAN'S LEADERS HAVE TAKEN A HARD LINE AGAINST ISRAEL.

NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA COURTS HISPANIC VOTERS TODAY DURING AN INTERNET FORUM WHERE HE'LL ANSWER QUESTIONS POSTED ONLINE. HE PLANS TO TRUMPET HIS JOBS PROPOSAL IN A BID TO BUILD MORE SUPPORT. OBAMA WILL ALSO SPEAK TO STUDENTS FROM A HIGH SCHOOL IN WASHINGTON. HIS REMARKS WILL BE TELEVISED AND STREAMED ON THE INTERNET.

TUCSON, ARIZ. (AP) - JARED LEE LOUGHNER'S MENTAL STATUS IS AGAIN THE ORDER OF BUSINESS TODAY AS THE MAN ACCUSED OF WOUNDING REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS IN A DEADLY SHOOTING RAMPAGE MAKES A COURT APPEARANCE. HE WAS KICKED OUT OF COURT THE LAST TIME AFTER AN ANGRY OUTBURST. THE JUDGE IS CONSIDERING AN EIGHT-MONTH EXTENSION OF LOUGHNER'S STAY AT A MISSOURI PRISON FOR PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT.

LONDON (AP) - A REPORTER DISMISSED FROM RUPERT MURDOCH'S NOW SHUTTERED NEWS OF THE WORLD IS CONTESTING THE FIRING. A BRITISH EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL FILING SHOWS THAT NEVILLE THURLBECK IS CLAIMING UNFAIR DISMISSAL. HE CONTENDS HE WAS SACKED FOR WHISTLEBLOWING IN THE PHONE HACKING SCANDAL.

SANAA, YEMEN (AP) - YEMENI MILITARY OFFICIALS AREN'T GIVING DETAILS BUT SAY ARMED TRIBESMEN HAVE SHOT DOWN A GOVERNMENT WARPLANE THAT WAS BOMBING THEIR POSITIONS NORTH OF THE CAPITAL. TRIBESMEN OVERRAN A MILITARY BASE BELONGING TO YEMEN'S ELITE
REPUBLICAN GUARDS EARLIER THIS WEEK IN THE AREA WHERE THE AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN.

ISLAMABAD (AP) - A POLICE OFFICER SAYS AUTHORITIES HAVE RE-ARRESTED A PAKISTANI MILITANT LEADER WHO WAS RELEASED LAST MONTH AFTER SPENDING 14 YEARS IN JAIL. THE OFFICER SAYS THE MAN WAS DETAINED AFTER MAKING INFLAMMATORY SPEECHES AGAINST THE COUNTRY'S SHIITE MUSLIM MINORITY.