TODAY'S NEWS WED. OCTOBER 19, 2011

POTTSVILLE MAN ARRESTED AFTER MONDAY NIGHT INCIDENT

A POTTSVILLE MAN IS NOW IN CUSTODY AFTER AN INCIDENT IN THE CITY MONDAY NIGHT. POTTSVILLE POLICE WERE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE 55-YEAR-OLD CARL PANGONIS INTO CUSTODY IN RELATION TO A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENT WHEN HE TOOK OFF ON FOOT. PANGONIS WAS FOUND BUT CONTINUED TO RESIST ARREST, FORCING OFFICERS TO TASER HIM. PANGONIS WAS IN POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA, BINOCULARS, A PAIR OF GLOVES, AND TWO HACKSAW BLADES. HE WAS REMANDED TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON UNABLE TO POST BAIL.


INVESTIGATION LEADS TO RESIGNATION OF LOCAL PASTOR

A SCHUYLKILL HAVEN PASTOR HAS RESIGNED AFTER RECENT ALLEGATIONS OF INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT TOWARD A FEMALE MEMBER OF HIS CHURCH. THE REV. DANIEL BELL WAS FORMALLY PASTOR OF JERUSALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH, ONE OF THE BOROUGH’S LARGEST CONGREGATIONS. BELL WAS A PASTOR AT THE CHURCH SINCE 2004. THEY ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR A NEW PASTOR.

HALLOWEEN PRESENTATION TONIGHT

THOSE INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN WILL GET THE CHANCE TO LEARN ALL ABOUT THE SPOOKY HOLIDAY TONIGHT. THE ORWIGSBURG HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS HOLDING A FREE PRESENTATION AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER ON MIFFLIN STREET. "HALLOWEEN: HISTORY LEGEND AND COLLECTIBLES" IS THE TITLE AND WILL BE PRESENTED BY LOCAL HISTORIAN ELLEN STUMP. THOSE IN ATTENDANCE WILL ALSO GET TO SEE SOME INTERESTING MEMORABILIA.

STORMWATER PROJECT TO BEGIN IN WEST MAHANOY TOWNSHIP

WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS RESIDENTS OF SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS CAN EXPECT PHASE ONE OF THE STORMWATER DRAINAGE PROJECT TO BEGIN. THE INITIAL PHASE WILL HAVE STORM DRAINS INSTALLED AND NEW PAVING IN THE AREA, TOTALING 90-THOUSAND-DOLLARS. THE WEST MAHANOY TOWNSHIP SUPERVISORS EXPECT THE PROJECT TO BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF NOVEMBER.


FRACKVILLE FITNESS CENTER RELOCATES

THE FRACKVILLE FITNESS CENTER HAS PICKED UP ITS WEIGHTS AND PUT THEM DOWN AT THE FRACKVILLE BOROUGH HALL. BOROUGH HALL IS LOCATED IN THE FORMER FRACKVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND THE FITNESS CENTER REMODELED THE BOTTOM FLOOR FOR THEIR USE. DR. BUDDY TOUCHINSKY AND MIKE O'CONNELL ARE THE OWNERS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH FRACKVILLE COUNCIL TO RENOVATE THE AREA SO THEY COULD BRING THE GYM THERE FROM THEIR PREVIOUS LOCATION IN THE SCHUYLKILL MALL.

COMMUNITY CENTER AT GREENWOOD HILL FIRE COMPANY ON HOLD

THE GREENWOOD HILL FIRE COMPANY WAS PUT OUT OF BUSINESS IN JANUARY 2009, AND THEIR FIRE HOUSE IS UP FOR SALE. BAREFIELD DEVELOPMENT HAD EXPRESSED INTEREST IN BUYING THE PROPERTY AND TURNING IT INTO A COMMUNITY CENTER, BUT OTHER PROJECTS HAVE TAKEN HIGHER PRIORITIES FOR BAREFIELD, AND NOW THE COMMUNITY CENTER IDEA IS ON THE BACK BURNER. DIRECTOR CRAIG S. L. SHIELDS SAID THAT IF THE BUILDING IS AVAILABLE NEXT YEAR, THEY MAY STILL BE INTERESTED, BUT FOR NOW, THE FORMER FIRE HOUSE REMAINS VACANT.

COUNTY STUDENTS ATTEND OWL CREEK LEARNING DAYS

STUDENTS FROM TAMAQUA AREA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND GILLINGHAM CHARTER SCHOOL ATTENDED THE OWL CREEK OUTDOOR LEARNING DAYS PROGRAM, SPONSORED BY THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY CONSERVANCY. THE STUDENTS LEARNED ABOUT TREES, BIRDS, AND ANIMALS DURING THEIR VISIT. PRESENTATIONS WERE PROVIDED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION, SCHUYLKILL CONSERVATION DISTRICT, STATE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES, AND HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY, WHO MADE A PRESENTATION TO THE STUDENTS THAT INCLUDED LIVE RAPTORS.

STATE NEWS:

PHILADELPHIA WOMAN ILL AFTER EATING CANTALOUPE

HEALTH OFFICIALS IN PENNSYLVANIA SAY A SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA WOMAN IS THE STATE'S FIRST REPORTED CASE OF SOMEONE BECOMING ILL AFTER EATING A CANTALOUPE TAINTED WITH LISTERIA. THE PENNSYLVANIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID TUESDAY THE ELDERLY WOMAN FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY WAS HOSPITALIZED IN EARLY SEPTEMBER, BUT HAS SINCE RECOVERED. LISTERIA INFECTIONS CAN KILL YOUNG CHILDREN OR FRAIL PEOPLE. SYMPTOMS INCLUDE FEVER, HEADACHE, STIFFNESS, NAUSEA, ABDOMINAL PAIN AND DIARRHEA. IT'S THE STATE'S FIRST CASE LINKED TO THE MULTI-STATE OUTBREAK OF LISTERIA LINKED TO A COLORADO FARM. FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAY AN OUTBREAK OF LISTERIA IN CANTALOUPE IS NOW LINKED TO 116 ILLNESSES AND 23 DEATHS NATIONWIDE, MAKING IT THE DEADLIEST KNOWN OUTBREAK OF FOODBORNE ILLNESS IN THE U.S. IN A QUARTER CENTURY.

RETRIAL SET IN DEATH OF ONE YEAR OLD GIRL

A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN IS FACING A RETRIAL IN THE DEATH OF HIS GIRLFRIEND'S 1-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER. A LUZERNE COUNTY JUDGE OVERSEEING THE CASE AGAINST LAMONT CHERRY ADMONISHED THE JURY MONDAY TO AVOID OUTSIDE RESOURCES IN THE WAKE OF JANUARY'S MISTRIAL. THE EARLIER JURY HAD ACQUITTED CHERRY OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER BEFORE ONE JUROR BROUGHT OUTSIDE RESEARCH INTO DELIBERATIONS, PROMPTING THE JUDGE TO DECLARE A MISTRIAL. THE RETRIAL APPLIES TO CHARGES OF THIRD-DEGREE MURDER AND INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER THE FIRST JURY HAD YET TO CONSIDER BEFORE THE MISTRIAL WAS DECLARED. PROSECUTORS SAY CHERRY SHOOK AND BEAT THE 1-YEAR-OLD WHILE HE WATCHED HER IN WILKES-BARRE IN MAY 2009. CHERRY HAS DENIED CAUSING THE GIRL'S INJURIES.

PENNSYLVANIA SENATE DEALS WITH HARRISBURG BANKRUPTCY

A BILL AIMED AT FORCING THE CITY OF HARRISBURG TO ACCEPT THE STATE'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON DEALING WITH ITS STAGGERING DEBT IS HEADED FOR A FINAL VOTE THIS WEEK. THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE SENATE APPROVED IT TUESDAY, 37-13. REP. GLEN GRELL, A CUMBERLAND COUNTY REPUBLICAN WHO HELPED DEVELOP THE LEGISLATION, SAID A FINAL VOTE IN THE HOUSE IS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY. AFTER THAT, IT CAN GO TO THE DESK OF GOV. TOM CORBETT, WHO IS EXPECTED TO SIGN IT INTO LAW. IT IS UNCLEAR HOW THE MEASURE WILL AFFECT THE CITY, NOW THAT A CITY COUNCIL PETITION IS IN FEDERAL BANKRUPTCY COURT. PROPONENTS SAY IT WILL FORCE LOCAL OFFICIALS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR AFFAIRS, BUT OPPONENTS SAY IT IS AN UNWARRANTED OVERREACH BY STATE GOVERNMENT THAT FAVORS MONIED INTERESTS OVER LOCAL TAXPAYERS.

FIRE CLAIMS LIFE OF FOUR YEAR OLD CHILD IN CHAMBERSBURG

AUTHORITIES IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA SAY A FIRE THAT KILLED A BOY AND INJURED A WOMAN WAS APPARENTLY STARTED BY CHILDREN PLAYING WITH A CIGARETTE LIGHTER. THE PUBLIC OPINION NEWSPAPER REPORTS CREWS IN FRANKLIN COUNTY WERE CALLED TO A TOWN HOUSE IN CHAMBERSBURG MONDAY NIGHT. FRANKLIN COUNTY CORONER JEFFREY CONNER HAS IDENTIFIED THE VICTIM AS 4-YEAR-OLD JULIUS COACHMAN.

SUSQUEHANNA BREWING COMPANY REBORN

DESCENDANTS OF A TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA BREWER ARE BRINGING THE FAMILY BUSINESS BACK TO THE WYOMING VALLEY. FRED MAIER SAYS THAT HIS FAMILY IS REFORMING THE SUSQUEHANNA BREWING COMPANY AND PLANS TO OPEN A NEW BREWERY IN LUZERNE COUNTY.

INVESTIGATION INTO STOLEN IDENTITY RING CONTINUES

A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND FOLLOW-THROUGH BY OFFICIALS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PLIGHT OF FOUR MENTALLY DISABLED ADULTS WHO AUTHORITIES SAY WERE LOCKED IN A PHILADELPHIA BASEMENT WHILE A CONVICTED MURDERER STOLE THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS. POLICE IN PHILADELPHIA AND WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, INVESTIGATED ELEMENTS OF THE CASE BUT MISSED OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP THE PEOPLE NOW CONSIDERED VICTIMS OF THE SCHEME.

NATIONAL NEWS:

ZANESVILLE, OHIO (AP) - DOZENS OF ARMED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE PROWLING RURAL ZANESVILLE IN EAST-CENTRAL OHIO WHERE NEARLY 30 ESCAPED WILD ANIMALS INCLUDING LIONS HAVE BEEN KILLED AND MORE ARE ON THE LOOSE. THEY ESCAPED FROM A WILD-ANIMAL PRESERVE WHERE THE OWNER'S BODY WAS LATER FOUND.

LAS VEGAS (AP) - REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS MADE HERMAN CAIN THE TARGET IN LAST NIGHT'S LAS VEGAS DEBATE FOR HIS 9-9-9 ECONOMIC PLAN HIS OPPONENTS CALL A TAX INCREASE. BUT FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOV. MITT ROMNEY AND TEXAS GOV. RICK PERRY CLASHED OVER IMMIGRATION.

ATHENS, GREECE (AP) - GREECE IS LARGELY CLOSED FOR BUSINESS TODAY BY A TWO-DAY GENERAL STRIKE THAT UNIONS VOW WILL BE THE LARGEST IN YEARS. IT HAS GROUNDED FLIGHTS, DISRUPTED PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND SHUT DOWN EVERYTHING FROM SHOPS TO SCHOOLS AS
THOUSANDS OF PROTESTERS CONVERGED IN CENTRAL ATHENS TO DEMONSTRATE AGAINST ANY MORE AUSTERITY MEASURES.

NEW YORK (AP) - ANOTHER ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS TIPS OFF TODAY BETWEEN NBA PLAYERS AND OWNERS WHO WENT INTO OVERTIME YESTERDAY TRYING TO CUT A DEAL WITH THE HELP OF A FEDERAL MEDIATOR. THEY DIDN'T EMERGE WITH THE AGREEMENT COMMISSIONER DAVID STERN WANTED, BUT THINGS WENT WELL ENOUGH DURING A 16-HOUR MARATHON THAT OWNERS DECIDED TO ALTER THEIR PLANS AFTER PREVIOUSLY SAYING THEY WEREN'T AVAILABLE TODAY.

BEDFORD, VA. (AP) - A 29-YEAR-OLD VIRGINIA WOMAN HAS PLEADED NO CONTEST TO A SECOND-DEGREE MURDER CHARGE IN THE FATAL BEATING OF HER 77-YEAR-OLD BOYFRIEND WITH HIS OWN CANE. SHE FACES UP TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON. SHE SAYS THE MAN WANTED TO KICK HER OUT OF HIS HOME.