TODAY'S NEWS FRI. OCTOBER 21, 2011

SCHUYLKILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY WILL BE HELD THIS SATURDAY. THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S EVENTS TIES TO THE COUNTY'S BICENTENNIAL "200 YEARS, 200 HELPING PROJECTS." DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION, JANICE JOHNSTON, TALKS ABOUT SOME OF THE LARGER PROJECTS HAPPENING THIS YEAR:

JANICE

THIS YEAR OVER TWENTY PROJECTS WERE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO HELP PINE GROVE FLOOD VICTIMS. JANICE SAYS IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO GET INVOLVED. CALL 570-628-1436 TO HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

SUPREME COURT TO HEAR BLUE MOUNTAIN CASE

THE NATION'S HIGHEST COURT WILL HEAR ARGUMENTS OF OFFICIALS FROM THE BLUE MOUNTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE PETITION FILED IS REGARDING THEIR APPEAL OF A RULING FOR A STUDENT DISCIPLINED FOR A MYSPACE PARODY OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. THE DISTRICT HAS ASKED THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TO HEAR ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF OVERTURNING THE 3RD U.S. CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS DECISION WHICH OVERTURNED THE SUSPENSION OF A STUDENT.

LOCAL SCHOOLS TAKE PART IN LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL

IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON AND DOORS OPEN TO AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTY, THE SAINT CLAIRE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT CELEBRATED THE 12TH ANNUAL LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL. A TOTAL OF TEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY ARE TAKING PART IN THE 21ST CENTURY AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.

PROSECUTORS RECEIVE AWARDS FROM DEPT. OF JUSTICE

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS AWARDED TWO PEOPLE WHO HELPED PROSECUTE TWO SHENANDOAH MEN FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND PASSION FOR THEIR WORK. ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY CHRISTIAN FISANICK AND PARALEGAL DONNA GARD-LENGER RECEIVED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD ON WEDNESDAY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THE AWARDS WERE IN RECOGNITION OF THE WORK DONE BY FISANICK AND GARD-LENGER DURING THE CASE AGAINST DERRICK DONCHAK AND BRANDON PIEKARSKY OF SHENANDOAH.

FIREFIGHTERS TEACH FIRE SAFETY TO KIDS IN ORWIGSBURG

MEMBERS OF THE ORWIGSBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT MADE A FIRE SAFETY PRESENTATION TO A GROUP OF CHILDREN AT THE DAYDREAM NURSERY ON THURSDAY. THE CHILDREN LEARNED IMPORTANT LESSONS ABOUT FIRE SAFETY, THE IMPORTANCE OF SMOKE DETECTORS, AND HOW TO ESCAPE A FIRE IN THEIR HOME. THEY ALSO GOT TO SEE A FIRE ENGINE, AND A FIREFIGHTER DRESSED IN TURNOUT GEAR. THERE WAS ALSO A PRESENTATION BY TWO FIREFIGHTERS WHO PORTRAYED SESAME STREET CHARACTERS BERT AND ERNIE IN A PUPPET SHOW ABOUT FIRE SAFETY.

AMERICAN HOSE OF MAHANOY PLANE CELEBRATES 125 YEARS

BACK IN 1886, THE ENGINE HOUSE OF THE READING COMPANY'S MAHANOY PLANE WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE, MAINLY BECAUSE THERE WERE NO FIRE COMPANIES IN THE AREA. THAT SAME YEAR, THE AMERICAN HOSE COMPANY NO. 2 WAS CREATED, AND IT HAS BEEN PROVIDING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY EVER SINCE. THIS SATURDAY, THE FIRE COMPANY WILL CELEBRATE ITS 125TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A FALL FESTIVAL THAT KICKS OFF AT ONE O'CLOCK, A FIRE TRUCK PARADE THAT BEGINS AT FOUR O'CLOCK, AND THE GREAT PUMPKIN FLOAT AT FIVE.

HELP NEEDED IN PINE GROVE THIS WEEKEND

CLEAN UP IN THE PINE GROVE AREA IS STILL NOT FINISHED AFTER RECENT FLOODING. VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR THIS SATURDAY TO HELP SOME FAMILIES GET BACK INTO THEIR HOMES ON TIME FOR THE WINTER SEASON. IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP PLEASE CALL KARL JONES AT 570-617-4018.


STATE NEWS FRIDAY OCTOBER 21, 2011

HARRISBURG BANKRUPTCY SAGA CONTINUES

HAVING FRESHLY SIGNED A BILL AIMED AT GIVING HIM UNPRECEDENTED POWER TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE FINANCES IN PENNSYLVANIA'S CAPITAL, GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT EXPECTS TO DECLARE A FISCAL EMERGENCY IN HARRISBURG SOON. A SPOKESWOMAN SAYS CORBETT'S OFFICE IS WORKING ON THE PAPERWORK FOR HARRISBURG AND THE GOVERNOR EXPECTS TO SIGN IT AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK.

FATHER OF GIRL WHO STARVED TO DEATH SENTENCED

THE ABSENTEE FATHER OF A DISABLED PHILADELPHIA TEENAGER WHO STARVED TO DEATH IN A SQUALID APARTMENT HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO BETWEEN 2 1/2 YEARS TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON. DANIEL KELLY WAS CONVICTED OF FELONY CHILD NEGLECT IN THE 2006 DEATH OF HIS 14-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, DANIEAL (DAN-YELL'). SHE WEIGHED JUST 42 POUNDS WHEN SHE DIED. THE FATHER ONCE HAD CUSTODY OF THE GIRL BUT ABANDONED HER WITH HER UNFIT MOTHER, WHO'S BEEN CONVICTED OF THIRD-DEGREE MURDER.

PENNSYLVANIA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE CLIMBS

PENNSYLVANIA'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE ROSE FOR A FOURTH STRAIGHT MONTH IN SEPTEMBER WHILE PAYROLLS SHRANK. THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY SAID THURSDAY THE STATEWIDE JOBLESS RATE INCREASED TO 8.3 PERCENT FROM 8.2 PERCENT IN AUGUST. PENNSYLVANIA'S POST-RECESSION HIGH WAS 8.8 PERCENT IN JANUARY 2010, AND HAD IMPROVED TO 7.4 PERCENT IN MAY 2011. NATIONALLY, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR SEPTEMBER WAS 9.1 PERCENT. MEANWHILE, THE DEPARTMENT SAYS PENNSYLVANIA JOB GROWTH IS STAGNANT. THE NUMBER OF NONFARM JOBS DROPPED BY 15,800 IN SEPTEMBER, TO REMAIN BELOW 5.7 MILLION. PAYROLLS PEAKED AT ABOVE 5.8 MILLION IN 2008, BUT AFTER THE RECESSION BEGAN IN DECEMBER 2007, PAYROLLS DROPPED BELOW 5.6 MILLION IN 2009 AND 2010.

PENNSYLVANIA MAN CONVICTED OF KILLING BABY

A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF THIRD-DEGREE MURDER IN THE DEATH OF HIS GIRLFRIEND'S 1-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER. THE LUZERNE COUNTY JURY DELIBERATED LESS THAN THREE HOURS BEFORE REACHING THE VERDICT THURSDAY IN THE CASE AGAINST LAMONT CHERRY OF WILKES-BARRE. DURING THE FOUR-DAY TRIAL, PROSECUTORS SAID CHERRY SHOOK AND BEAT THE 1-YEAR-OLD WHILE SHE WAS IN HIS CARE IN MAY 2009. CHERRY HAS DENIED CAUSING THE GIRL'S INJURIES AND SAID THEY WERE THE RESULT OF A FALL. ANOTHER JURY IN JANUARY HAD ACQUITTED CHERRY OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER BUT ONE JUROR BROUGHT OUTSIDE RESEARCH INTO DELIBERATIONS, PROMPTING THE JUDGE TO DECLARE A MISTRIAL.

NATIONAL NEWS:

NORFOLK, VA. (AP) - PIRACY OFF AFRICA'S COAST IS EXPECTED TO RESULT IN A LIFE SENTENCE FOR A YEMENI MAN IN FEDERAL COURT TODAY IN VIRGINIA. MOUNIR ALI IS THE 11TH MAN TO PLEAD GUILTY IN THE FEBRUARY HIJACKING OF THE YACHT QUEST. THE AMERICAN OWNERS OF THE QUEST AND TWO FRIENDS WERE SHOT TO DEATH.

ISLAMABAD (AP) - SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON SAYS IT'S TIME FOR PAKISTAN TO GET TOUGHER ON MILITANTS WHO OFTEN ATTACK INTO AFGHANISTAN. AT A NEWS CONFERENCE, SHE SAYS IT'S BEEN GOING ON TOO LONG. THE U.S. IS PRESSURING ISLAMABAD TO TAKE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST THE HAQQANI MILITANT NETWORK.

BRUSSELS (AP) - NATO'S GOVERNING BODY IS MEETING TODAY AND A PRIMARY TOPIC IS THE END OF THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN OVER LIBYA. WITH THE DEATH OF MOAMMAR GADHAFI YESTERDAY, OFFICIALS SAY THE ALLIANCE MAY DECIDE TO KEEP AIR PATROLS FLYING OVER LIBYA FOR SEVERAL MORE DAYS UNTIL SECURITY STABILIZES.

ATHENS, GREECE (AP) - NEW STRIKES ARE THREATENED FOR NEXT WEEK IN GREECE WHERE MORE AUSTERITY MEASURES HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY PARLIAMENT. MASS PROTESTS AND RIOTS OVER TWO DAYS LEFT ONE MAN DEAD AND ABOUT 200 INJURED. GREECE IS WORKING TOWARD A SECOND BAILOUT.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - DEFENSE ATTORNEYS WAITING FOR THEIR CHANCE TO CHALLENGE A KEY PROSECUTION WITNESS WILL GET TO DO SO TODAY IN THE INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER TRIAL OF MICHAEL JACKSON'S DOCTOR. DR. STEVEN SHAFER SAYS THE ONLY VIABLE THEORY IS THAT DR. CONRAD MURRAY PLACED JACKSON ON AN IV DRIP AND LEFT HIM FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME.