TODAY'S NEWS: MONDAY OCT 10, 2011

BREAKING NEWS: FIRE DESTROYS HOME AND SENDS THREE TO HOSPITAL

SEVERAL FIRE CREWS FROM SCHUYLKILL AND BERKS COUNTY ARE NOW ON SCENE AT A STRUCTURE FIRE IN NORTH MAHIEM TOWNSHIP. ONE ADULT AND TWO CHILDREN HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO THE TO THE HOSPITAL FOR SMOKE INHALATION. THE FIRE AT 2417 PANTHER VALLEY ROAD BROKE OUT JUST AFTER 8AM. WE WILL HAVE MORE INFORMATION AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.



WHO'S WHO IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY

THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY WILL BE COMPILING A COUNTY WHO'S WHO OF NOTABLE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY RESIDENTS. THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY TYPE OF UPDATE TO NOTABLE SCHUYLKILL COUNTIAN'S SINCE 1935 WITH THE BOOK JOSEPH HENRY ZERBE HISTORY OF POTTSVILLE AND SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. REFERENCE BOOKS ON THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S SHELVES CONTAIN A TITLE CALLED POTTSVILLE PERSONALITIES 1806-PRESENT PUBLISHED BY THE REPUBLICAN HERALD IN 2006. PLANS TO HAVE THE PUBLIC SUBMIT ENTRIES TO THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY ARE BEING PLANNED WITH AN ONLINE FORM AT WWW.SCHUYLKILLHISTORY.ORG.

CROP WALK RAISES MORE THAN A $1000

NORTH SCHUYLKILL SCHOOL DISTRICT'S GHOSH ORTHODONTICS FIELD WAS THE SITE OF THE 6TH ANNUAL CROP WALK ON SUNDAY. THE 2 HOUR FUND RAISER SPONSORED BY THE ASHLAND MINISTERIUM WERE ABLE TO RAISE CLOSE TO $1500. THE NICE WEATHER HAD A LOT TO PLAY INTO THE MINDS OF OVER 20 PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE ASHLAND FOOD PANTRY AND CHURCH WORLD SERVICE. CROP WALKS TAKE PLACE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY SINCE IT WAS STARTED IN 1969 WITH OVER 2,000 BEING HELD A YEAR. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CROP WALKS AND HOW YOU CAN HELP HEAD TO CHURCHWORLDSERVICE.ORG .

VOLUNTEER SERVICES GETS EXTENSION

WITH MANY VOLUNTEER FIRE AND AMBULANCE COMPANIES BEING THRUST INTO MANY OVERTIME SHIFTS DURING THE RECENT FLOODING IN PENNSYLVANIA, STATE FIRE COMMISSIONER ED MANN HAS ANNOUNCED AN EXTENSION FOR VOLUNTEER FIRE, RESCUE AND AMBULANCE COMPANIES TO APPLY FOR SERVICE GRANTS. THE GRANTS AVAILABLE TOTAL UPTO $25 MILLION AND THOSE AGENCIES HAVE UNTIL NOVEMBER 4TH AT 4PM TO FILE FOR AN APPLICATION FOR THOSE GRANT MONEY. FUNDING FOR THE GRANTS WILL BE PROVIDED THROUGH GAMING REVENUES AND WILL HELP REPAIR FACILITIES, TRAIN STAFF OR PAY DOWN DEBT.

TAMAQUA FESTIVAL

ONE OF THE BIGGEST FESTIVALS HELD IN THE REGION WAS HELD SUNDAY IN TAMAQUA. THE 27TH ANNUAL TAMAQUA HERITAGE FESTIVAL EXPECTED TO GREET NEARLY TEN-THOUSAND VISITORS. CRAFT VENDORS, A VARIETY OF ETHNIC FOODS, HORSE-DRAWN TROLLEY RIDES AND TRAIN RIDES WERE JUST A FEW ATTRACTIONS FEATURED AT THIS YEARS FESTIVAL.

FALL FESTIVAL RECOGNIZES FARMS

A FALL FESTIVAL WAS HELD SUNDAY AT PIONEER EVERGREEN FARMS, CELEBRATING ITS’ FOURTH YEAR. THE EVENT PAID TRIBUTE TO THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF AGRICULTURE IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY BY RECOGNIZING TWO BICENTENNIAL FARMS. THE TWO FARMS GIVEN AWARDS WERE OWNED BY THE BROMMER FAMILY IN WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND THE SCHNOKE FAMILY IN PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP. THE FESTIVAL WAS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHUYLKILL COUNTY AGRIBUSINESS COMMITTEE AND PIONEER EVERGREEN FARMS. THE FESTIVAL WILL CONTINUE UNTIL OCTOBER 30.

YOUR JACK O’LANTERN MIGHT BE SMALLER THIS YEAR

MANY LOCAL GROWERS HAVE FEWER PUMPKINS THIS YEAR, AND THE BLAME FALLS ON MOTHER NATURE. THE UNUSUALLY WET WEATHER DURING THE GROWING SEASON KEPT THE BEES FROM POLLINATING CROPS, SO MANY FARMS ARE EXPERIENCING POOR HARVESTS. JOHN HEIM, OF HEIM FRUIT FARM IN MCKEANSBURG SAID HE HAD TO PURCHASE PUMPKINS TO MAKE UP FOR HIS OWN SHORTAGE. MOST LOCAL RETAILERS SAY THAT THEY WILL HAVE PUMPKINS FOR SALE, BUT EXPECT THEM TO BE SMALLER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN PAST YEARS.


STATE NEWS:

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - AN ENERGY COMPANY IS SEEKING FEDERAL APPROVAL TO SHIP LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS FROM THE BOOMING APPALACHIAN DRILLING INDUSTRY. DOMINION RESOURCES SAYS MANY OF THE NEW JOBS FOR THE PROJECT WOULD BE IN THE MARCELLUS SHALE REGION OF PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST VIRGINIA.

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - A NEW STATE LAW OVERHAULS CRIMINAL HISTORY DISCLOSURE RULES FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL EMPLOYEES. UNDER THE LAW, SCHOOL WORKERS CONVICTED OF CRIMINAL HOMICIDE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND OTHER SERIOUS CRIMES WOULD BE FIRED IMMEDIATELY.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - POLICE SAY A 1-YEAR-OLD BOY WAS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT ST. CHRISTOPHER'S HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN AFTER HE FELL OUT OF A MOVING SUV YESTERDAY AND WAS RUN OVER BY A CAR. THE DRIVER TOOK HIM TO A HOSPITAL. POLICE SAID CHARGES COULD BE FILED.

NATIONAL NEWS:

FRESNO, CALIF. (AP) - AN ASSOCIATED PRESS ANALYSIS FINDS THAT SINCE 9/11, THE FOCUS ON ANTI-TERROR EFFORTS HAS ALLOWED DOZENS OF FOREIGN INSECTS AND PLANT DISEASES TO SLIP UNDETECTED INTO THE UNITED STATES. THE LOOT AT AGRICULTURAL INSPECTION RECORDS SUGGESTS THAT AUTHORITIES OVERLOOKED A PEST EXPLOSION THAT THREATENED THE QUALITY OF THE NATION'S FOOD SUPPLY.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A RUSSIAN BUSINESSMAN INVOLVED IN FLYING CARGO ALL OVER THE WORLD GOES ON TRIAL IN NEW YORK THIS WEEK FOR WHAT WESTERN GOVERNMENTS SAY IS HIS REAL SPECIALTY -- ILLICIT ARMS TRADING. VIKTOR BOUT IS CHARGED WITH ARRANGING DELIVERY OF TONS OF WEAPONS ACROSS THE WORLD'S WAR ZONES. JURY SELECTION BEGINS TOMORROW.

LONDONDERRY, N.H. (AP) - NEW HAMPSHIRE IS BRACING FOR A POLITICAL INVASION WHEN THE FULL SLATE OF REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ARRIVES FOR THE FIRST TIME THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE PRIMARY. THEY WILL DEBATE TOMORROW AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE. A WMUR
GRANITE STATE POLL FINDS THAT FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOV. MITT ROMNEY IS THE CHOICE OF 37 PERCENT OF LIKELY PRIMARY VOTERS. BUT ONLY 11 PERCENT SAY THEY HAVE DEFINITELY SETTLED ON A CANDIDATE.

CAIRO (AP) - CLASHES BETWEEN ANGRY CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS AND SECURITY FORCES THAT LEFT 24 DEAD AND AT LEAST 200 WOUNDED HAVE ALSO RESULTED IN DOZENS OF ARRESTS. EGYPT'S OFFICIAL NEWS AGENCY SAYS THOSE ARRESTED ARE "INSTIGATORS OF CHAOS." FUNERAL SERVICES FOR SLAIN PROTESTERS ARE TO BE HELD TODAY.

BALI, INDONESIA (AP) - THE POPULAR INDONESIA TOURIST ISLAND OF BALI, HAS SEEN ITS FIRST LOCAL DEATHS FROM BIRD FLU IN SEVEN MONTHS. HOSPITAL OFFICIALS SAY A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY AND HIS 5-YEAR OLD SISTER DIED OVER THE WEEKEND. THEY REPORTEDLY HAD COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT WITH DEAD BIRDS.