TODAY'S NEWS THU. OCTOBER 27, 2011

JOB CHANGE IN COUNTY MAY RESULT IN GRIEVANCE

AT THEIR MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVED THE RETIREMENT OF ASSISTANT CHIEF ASSESSOR HELEN O'CONNOR, EFFECTIVE APRIL 8, 2012. THE FOLLOWING DAY, SHE WILL BEGIN A NEWLY ESTABLISHED PART-TIME JOB IN THE SAME POSITION. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR MARK SCARBINSKY SAID THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNTY TO SAVE MONEY FOR THE TAXPAYERS, AS THE PART-TIME POSITION WILL INCUR FEWER HOURS, AND NO BENEFITS WILL BE PAID. THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES ASSERTS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS ARE NOT FOLLOWING PROPER PROCEDURES FOR FILLING A NEW POSITION, SINCE THEY DID NOT POST THE JOB FOR BIDS BY OTHER UNION EMPLOYEES. THE UNION MAY DECIDE TO FILE A GRIEVANCE OVER THE APPOINTMENT.

DON'T THROW CANDY, SAY LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES

CHILDREN HAVE LINED THE ROUTES OF HALLOWEEN PARADES FOR MANY YEARS WAITING FOR THE TREATS THAT WERE THROWN TO THEM, BUT MANY MUNICIPALITIES ARE DISCOURAGING THE PRACTICE. DOROTHY HOMA, A MEMBER OF THE SAINT CLAIR WOMENS CLUB, SAID HER GROUP HAS TRIED TO DISCOURAGE PARADE PARTICIPANTS FROM THROWING CANDY FOR YEARS SO KIDS AREN'T RUNNING INTO THE STREET WHERE CARS AND TRUCKS ARE DRIVING. LAST NIGHT'S PARADE ON SECOND STREET WAS WELL ATTENDED, AND IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT MANY IN THE PARADE CHOSE TO IGNORE THE WARNING AGAINST THROWING CANDY, WHICH BROUGHT CHILDREN RUSHING INTO THE STREET TO GATHER UP THE SWEET TREATS.

INAUGURAL "HEART CHASE" WALK TO BE HELD SATURDAY IN POTTSVILLE

MCCANN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AS THEY HOST THE FIRST HEART CHASE WALK THIS SATURDAY IN POTTSVILLE. THE HEART ASSOCIATION IS HOPING THAT THE HEART CHASE TAKES OFF LIKE THE RELAY FOR LIFE HAS, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO JOIN A TEAM AND RAISE FUNDS FOR HEART RESEARCH. THE WALK WILL BE HELD AS PART OF MCCANN'S ANNUAL SAFETY FIRST/FAMILY EVENT, WHICH WILL INCLUDE FAMILY FRIENDLY HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES AND INFORMATION ABOUT FINANCIAL SECURITY AND IDENTITY THEFT. PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WALK CAN SIGN UP AT MCCANN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AT 9:00 SATURDAY MORNING. THE COST TO BE PART OF THE HEART CHASE WALK IS TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS PER PERSON.


FRACKVILLE POOL MANAGER ADDRESSES PAY

AFTER SEVERAL COMPLAINTS THAT EMPLOYEES OF THE FRACKVILLE MEMORIAL POOL WERE NOT GETTING PAID, THE ISSUE WAS FINALLY ADDRESSED WEDNESDAY DURING A SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING. THE REPUBLICAN HERALD REPORTS ALBERT LASAVAGE, OWNER OF NEPTUNE POOL MANAGEMENT, CLAIMED THE POOL STRUGGLED FINANCIALLY OVER THE SUMMER AND ADMITTED TO MISSING ONE PAY ROLE, BUT SAID EVERYTHING WAS EVENTUALLY RECTIFIED. HE ADDED THAT TWO EMPLOYEES HAVE NOT YET BEEN PAID IN FULL, BUT THE PROBLEM IS BEING TAKEN CARE OF. NEPTUNE POOL MANAGEMENT TOOK OVER OPERATIONS IN JUNE. THE POOL AND CAFE WERE CLOSED ABOUT THIRTY-DAYS DURING THE SUMMER.

COUNTY RESIDENTS HOPE FOR GOVERNMENT BUYOUTS

SOME RESIDENTS OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, WHO ARE TIRED OF REPEATEDLY GETTING FLOODED, ARE HOPING THE GOVERNMENT BUYS OUT THEIR PROPERTIES. SEVERAL HOMES IN THE AREA ARE STILL CLEANING UP AND GETTING POWER RESTORED AFTER BEING FLOODED OUT IN SEPTEMBER. PINE GROVE OFFICIALS WANT THE BUYOUTS TO GO THROUGH, BECAUSE IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE FLOOD WATERS HIT AGAIN.

FEMA UPDATE

MANY PENNSYLVANIANS WHO SUFFERED LOSSES DURING HURRICANE IRENE OR TROPICAL STORM LEE HAVE ALREADY NOTIFIED THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES. THOSE SAME INSURED HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS CAN, AND SHOULD, REGISTER FOR FEMA DISASTER ASSISTANCE TOO. ONCE REGISTERED, EACH APPLICATION IS REVIEWED BY FEMA. IF AN INSURED APPLICANT EXPECTS THEIR INSURANCE POLICY TO COVER STORM-RELATED LOSS AND DAMAGES, THEY ARE MAILED A "REQUEST FOR INFORMATION" LETTER. THE LETTER DETAILS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO SUPPORT THE APPLICANT'S NEED FOR FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE. IT ALSO EXPLAINS FEMA'S "OTHER NEEDS ASSISTANCE,” HOW TO QUALIFY FOR THESE FUNDS, AND WHAT INFORMATION OR DOCUMENTATION IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY. PEOPLE WHO WORK OR LIVE IN THE 28 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTIES DECLARED ELIGIBLE FOR DISASTER AID AS A RESULT OF HURRICANE IRENE AND TROPICAL STORM LEE AND WHO WERE AFFECTED BY EITHER OR BOTH STORMS SHOULD REGISTER WITH FEMA. FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE FUNDS ARE PROVIDED TO ELIGIBLE SURVIVORS IN THE FORM OF FEMA GRANTS THAT DO NOT HAVE TO BE REPAID AND LOW-INTEREST DISASTER LOANS FROM THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A FEMA GRANT OR AN SBA LOAN, YOU MUST REGISTER WITH FEMA NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 14. SCHUYLKILL COUNTY HAS 749 REGISTRATIONS TO DATE WITH FEMA.

STATE NEWS:

HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - STATE SENATORS HAVE OK'D A MAJOR PROPOSAL TO SPEND MORE TAXPAYER MONEY TO HELP FAMILIES AFFORD THE COST OF PRIVATE OR PAROCHIAL SCHOOL TUITION FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CHAMBER VOTED 27-22 YESTERDAY AFTER DEFEATING DEMOCRATIC AMENDMENTS DURING FOUR-PLUS HOURS OF DEBATE. THE BILL NOW HEADS TO THE HOUSE, WHERE ITS FUTURE IS UNCERTAIN.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) - WEGMANS FOOD MARKETS IS RECALLING 5,000 POUNDS OF PINE NUTS SOLD IN THE BULK FOODS DEPARTMENT OF ITS STORES IN NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, NEW JERSEY, VIRGINIA, AND MARYLAND BETWEEN JULY 1ST AND OCTOBER 18TH. THE GROCER IS CITING POSSIBLE SALMONELLA CONTAMINATION. THE RECALL ONLY APPLIES TO TURKISH PINE
NUTS SOLD IN BULK.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN EXHIBIT INCLUDING GUITARS, HANDWRITTEN LYRICS, AND A 1960 CORVETTE WILL OPEN AT THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER IN PHILADELPHIA THIS WINTER. THE EXHIBIT WILL OPEN AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM SOMETIME AFTER CLOSING IN FEBRUARY AT THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME IN CLEVELAND. THE EXACT DATES HAVE NOT YET BEEN POSTED.

NATIONAL NEWS:

LOS ANGELES (AP) - THE DEFENSE IS EXPECTED TO SHIFT TO SCIENCE AND AWAY FROM PERSONALITY TODAY IN THE INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER TRIAL OF MICHAEL JACKSON'S DOCTOR. THE FINAL WITNESSES TESTIFYING FOR DR. CONRAD MURRAY WILL BE FELLOW DOCTORS, ONE AN EXPERT IN THE POWERFUL ANESTHETIC THAT JACKSON WAS GIVEN.

CHICAGO (AP) - A MAJOR GOVERNMENT STUDY IS CONFIRMING SMALLER ONES THAT CHALLENGE A ONCE-COMMON TYPE OF SCREENING FOR LUNG CANCER. THE STUDY OF MORE THAN 150,000 OLDER AMERICANS SHOWS ROUTINE CHEST X-RAYS DO NOT PREVENT LUNG CANCER DEATHS. THERE'S ALSO EVIDENCE THAT THE MORE SOPHISTICATED CT SCAN DOES.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS WILL REPORT TODAY ABOUT NEARLY 14,000 MILES OF LEVEES UNDER ITS JURISDICTION. IT WAS PROMPTED BY THE DEVASTATION OF HURRICANE KATRINA. BUT THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 100,000 MORE MILES OF LEVEES NOT UNDER CORPS JURISDICTION. A CORPS LEVEE SAFETY OFFICIAL SAYS THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW MANY LEVEES THERE ARE.

ERCIS, TURKEY (AP) - TURKISH AUTHORITIES ARE DELIVERING MORE TENTS AND ACCEPTING OFFERS OF AID FROM OTHER COUNTRIES FOR VICTIMS OF A MAJOR EARTHQUAKE FOUR DAYS AGO THAT KILLED AT LEAST 523 PEOPLE. RAIN AND SNOW ARE MAKING LIFE MORE MISERABLE TODAY FOR THE THOUSANDS LEFT HOMELESS.

JERUSALEM (AP) - A PALESTINIAN OFFICIAL SAYS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT UNITING DUELING GOVERNMENTS IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA WILL TAKE PLACE NEXT MONTH. THE MEETING IN CAIRO WILL BE THE FIRST BETWEEN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS AND HAMAS' KHALED MASHAAL (HAH'-LED MAH'-SHAHL) SINCE A SURPRISE RECONCILIATION AGREEMENT IN MAY. THAT DEAL REMAINS TROUBLED.