FRIDAY OCTOBER 14, 2011

HOUSE BILL 2020 TO IMPROVE STATE ROADS AND BRIDGES

REPRESENTATIVE JERRY KNOWLES INTRODUCED HOUSE BILL 2020 IN SEPTEMBER AND ON THURSDAY EXPLAINED HIS PROPOSAL AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN JIM THORPE. KNOWLES PLANS TO DESIGNATE ALL MONEY GENERATED FROM THE POSSIBLE SALE OF STATE LIQUOR STORES TO IMPROVE THE STATE ROADS AND BRIDGES. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS THE BILL WAS REFERRED TO THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE THIS MONTH.

RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS

LOCAL STUDENTS SPENT THE NIGHT OUTSIDE IN CARDBOARD BOXES ALL TO BRING ATTENTION TO HOMELESSNESS IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. THE COLD AND RAINY WEATHER DIDN’T STOP STUDENTS FROM MCCANN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY’S HUMAN SERVICES CLUB WHO ALSO COLLECTED DONATIONS. THE MONEY WILL GO TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY ACTION. SCHUYLKILL COUNTY CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE A HOMELESS SHELTER.

SCHUYLKILL BREWFEST

THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU WILL BE TEAMING UP WITH AMERICA’S OLDEST BREWERY THIS SATURDAY AT THE POTTSVILLE LIONS AMPHITHEATER AT GEN. GEORGE A. JOULWAN PARK. CELEBRATING THE TRADITIONAL CRAFT OF GERMAN BREWING, THE FIRST ANNUAL SCHUYLKILL BREWFEST WILL ALSO FEATURE DELICIOUS FOOD, YUENGLING BEER AND A HOMEBREW CONTEST. ALSO ON TAP; LIVE ENTERTAINMENT!THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE FROM NOON TO 6PM. TICKETS ARE $12.

WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN KULPMONT

POLICE IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY ARE CALLING A WOMAN'S DEATH SUSPICIOUS AFTER HER BODY WAS FOUND IN A PARKED CAR THURSDAY MORNING ON THE 700 BLOCK OF CHESTNUT STREET IN KULPMONT. 22-YEAR-OLD KORTNI KENENITZ OF KULPMONT WAS FOUND INSIDE A PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE WHERE KENENITZ LIVED WITH SEVERAL ROOMMATES. SHE WAS FOUND LYING IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR WHICH NEIGHBORS SAY WAS STILL THERE IN THE MORNING, RUNNING AND WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS STILL ON. INVESTIGATORS PLAN TO SEARCH THE HOUSE WHERE KENENITZ LIVED AND AN AUTOPSY IS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY.

ANOTHER LOCAL COUNCIL RESIGNATION

PINE GROVE BOROUGH COUNCIL PRESIDENT KENNETH LEHMAN SUBMITTED A LETTER OF RESIGNATION THAT WAS ACCEPTED AT THURSDAY'S MEETING. LEHMAN WAS APPOINTED TO THE POSITION IN APRIL WHEN THE PREVIOUS PRESIDENT RESIGNED. RIKKI UMBENHAUER WAS APPOINTED TO FILL ANOTHER SPOT VACATED BY THE RESIGNATION OF JEANIE HEPLER. ANYONE INTERESTED IN FILLING THE OPEN POSITION SHOULD SUBMIT A LETTER OF INTEREST TO PINE GROVE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

DRUG RELATED ARRESTS IN MINERSVILLE

THREE MINERSVILLE MEN HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH CRIMES RELATED TO THE SALE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS TO UNDERCOVER POLICE OFFICERS. THOMAS FORT, RICHARD GRIFFITHS, AND CHRIST NATALE WERE ARRAIGNED ON FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR CHARGES BEFORE MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGE DAVID PLACHKO, AND WERE COMMITTED TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON.

LIGHTNING STRIKE DESTROYS GARAGE

SHEPPTON-ONEIDA FIRE COMPANY RESPONDED TO A CALL FOR A GARAGE FIRE AT THE HOME OF EDWARD COREYVA IN EAST UNION TOWNSHIP ON THURSDAY. TOWNSHIP POLICE REPORT THAT A TREE WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING AND FELL ON TOP OF THE GARAGE, CAUSING THE FIRE. QUICK ACTION BY FIREFIGHTERS SAVED THE VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED INSIDE, BUT THE BUILDING WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. NUREMBERG-WESTON AND RINGTOWN FIRE COMPANIES ASSISTED AT THE SCENE.

STATE NEWS:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - TEACHERS IN THE PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE APPROVED A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION THAT ALSO HELPS THE DISTRICT CLOSE A MASSIVE BUDGET HOLE. THE DEAL COVERS ABOUT 15,000 TEACHERS AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS. THEY'LL KEEP A 3 PERCENT RAISE SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 1ST AND HAVE NO CHANGES IN THEIR BENEFITS THROUGH AUGUST OF 2013.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS IN PHILADELPHIA AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ARE WARNING PUBLIC TRANSIT RIDERS AGAINST MAKING FRAUDULENT INJURY CLAIMS. SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY GENERAL MANAGER JOSEPH CASEY AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY SETH WILLIAMS SAY BUS SURVEILLANCE VIDEOS HAVE THWARTED SEVERAL MERITLESS CLAIMS.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - THE BUILDUP OF DEBT IN PENNSYLVANIA'S CAPITAL CITY IS HEADED FOR A FIGHT IN A FEDERAL BANKRUPTCY COURT,
WHERE THE OUTCOME IS FAR FROM CLEAR AND COULD BE YEARS AWAY, NOT TO MENTION COSTLY. WIDENER UNIVERSITY LAW PROFESSOR JULIET MORINGIELLO SAYS A SUCCESSFUL FIGHT IN BANKRUPTCY COURT COULD FORCE SOME OF HARRISBURG'S BONDHOLDERS TO ACCEPT LESS THAN THEY ARE OWED. BUT CHICAGO-BASED BANKRUPTCY LAWYER JAMES SPIOTTO SAYS THAT OUTCOME IS RARE.

COLUMBUS, PA. (AP) - A NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA TOWNSHIP HAS REPEALED AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD BAN MARCELLUS SHALE DRILLERS FROM DUMPING SOME TOXIC WASTEWATER IN ABANDONED WELLS WITHIN ITS BORDERS. COLUMBUS TOWNSHIP SECRETARY MARY ANN BURGE TELLS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THE ORDINANCE WAS REPEALED TUESDAY.


NATIONAL NEWS:

WASHINGTON (AP) - A HOUSE PANEL IS ABOUT TO RESUME HEARINGS ON A HALF-BILLION DOLLAR LOAN TO A FAILING SOLAR ENERGY COMPANY. THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION TO RESTRUCTURE THE LOAN TO SOLYNDRA IS IN THE SPOTLIGHT. NEWLY RELEASED EMAILS SHOW THAT THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE RESTRUCTURING COULD VIOLATE
FEDERAL LAW.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL PANEL LOOKING FOR AT LEAST $1.2 TRILLION IN SPENDING CUTS WINDS UP THE SUGGESTION BOX PHASE OF ITS WORK TODAY. THE SO-CALLED SUPERCOMMITTEE WAS FLOODED WITH ADVICE YESTERDAY FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. REPUBLICANS SAY THE PANEL SHOULD FOCUS ON SHRINKING THE DEBT WHILE DEMOCRATS WANT IT TO CONSIDER JOB CREATION TOO.

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) - A NEW YORK BUSINESSMAN FACES UP TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON WHEN HE IS SENTENCED TODAY FOR MAIL AND WIRE FRAUD IN A $413 MILLION STOCK SCHEME. NICHOLAS COSMO PLEADED GUILTY LAST YEAR. HE'S BEEN CALLED A "MINI-MADOFF" BECAUSE HE WAS ARRESTED ONLY WEEKS AFTER THE BILLION-DOLLAR SWINDLER.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE GENERAL WHO LED THE AFGHANISTAN WAR AND NOW HEADS THE CIA IS TELLING AGENCY ANALYSTS TO SHARE THEIR CONCLUSIONS WITH FIELD-LEVEL OFFICERS SO THEY CAN COMMENT SOONER. OFFICIALS SAY THE MOVE BY DAVID PETRAEUS (PEH-TRAY'-UHS) COULD
IMPROVE THE REPORT CARD ON THE WAR IN THE NEXT AFGHANISTAN NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE. THE DOCUMENT HELPS POLICYMAKERS MAKE WAR DECISIONS.