TODAYS NEWS:MONDAY OCT 3, 2011

UNDERAGE DRINKING PARTY TURNS VIOLENT

AN UNDERAGE DRINKING PARTY IN SCHUYLKILL HAVEN SATURDAY NIGHT TURNED VIOLENT AFTER A GROUP OF PEOPLE ARMED WITH KNIVES BEGAN ASSAULTING PARTY GOERS. SCHUYLKILL HAVEN POLICE TELL US THE PARTY ON CENTER AVENUE INVOLVED STUDENTS FROM PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL AND WHEN SEVERAL UNINVITED GUESTS SHOWED UP AND WERE ASKED TO LEAVE THEY BECAME VIOLENT, HITTING PARTY GOERS AND THREATENING THEM WITH KITCHEN BUTCHER KNIVES. BOROUGH POLICE ALONG WITH ORWIGSBURG AND PENN STATE UNIVERSITY POLICE RESPONDED TO THE SCENE. CHARGES ARE NOW PENDING AGAINST AT LEAST TEN PEOPLE.

ST. LUKE'S HEALTH CENTER IN MCADOO AWARDED $200,000 STATE GRANT

SENATOR DAVID G. ARGALL AND REPRESENTATIVE JERRY KNOWLES ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY A $200,000 GRANT AWARD FOR THE ST. LUKE'S HEALTH CENTER IN MCADOO FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WITH BILL MOYER, PRESIDENT OF ST. LUKE'S MINERS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND ANDREA ULSHAFER, PHYSICIANS ASSISTANT AT ST. LUKE'S HEALTH CENTER. A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE GRANT, THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S COMMUNITY PRIMARY CARE CHALLENGE GRANT PROGRAM EXPANDS ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE BY ASSISTING PATIENTS WITH LITTLE OR NO INSURANCE, AS WELL AS PATIENTS ON MEDICAID.

ST. LUKE'S HEALTH CENTER - MCADOO, LOCATED AT 14 NORTH KENNEDY DRIVE (ROUTE 309), RECENTLY BEGAN OFFERING EXTENDED HOURS. THE FACILITY WILL NOW BE OPEN TO PATIENTS MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS FROM 8:00AM - 4:30PM AND ON TUESDAYS FROM 10:30AM - 7:00PM. LABORATORY SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS FROM 8:00AM - 11:30AM.


MAN SUFFERS MAJOR INJURIES AFTER CRASH ON 61

A LAURELDALE MAN SUFFERED MAJOR INJURIES SATURDAY MORNING IN WHEN HE CRASHED HIS JEEP ON STATE HIGHWAY 61. SCHUYLKILL HAVEN POLICE TELL US 31-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL CAFURELLO MAY HAVE TAKEN A SEIZURE WHEN HE HIT THE CENTER JERSEY-BARRIER MULTIPLE TIMES. CAFURELLO HAD EXTENSIVE INJURY TO THIS HEAD AND FACE. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO SCHUYLKILL MEDICAL CENTER-SOUTH BY THE POTTSVILLE AMBULANCE.

CENTRAL PA MANAGER POSITION

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JOE STERNS HAS ACCEPTED THE POSITION OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA MANAGER FOR U.S. SENATOR TOOMEY. HE SAYS, "I AM THRILLED TO BE GOING TO WORK FOR SEN. TOOMEY, WHOSE HONESTY AND PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP I'VE ALWAYS ADMIRED," STERNS SAID. "SO THAT I CAN DEVOTE MYSELF FULLY TO MY NEW POSITION, I AM RESIGNING MY POST AS CHAIRMAN OF OUR SCHUYLKILL COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE. I AM PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, INCLUDING RECLAIMING THE 125TH DISTRICT HOUSE SEAT, CARRYING SCHUYLKILL COUNTY OVERWHELMINGLY FOR GOV. CORBETT AND SEN. TOOMEY, RECRUITING MANY NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS, AND ASSEMBLING A STRONG COUNTY TICKET THAT WILL MAKE OURS THE ENVY OF COURTHOUSES ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA. THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE WILL PASS SEAMLESSLY TO OUR VICE CHAIRMAN, LARRY PADORA, A GIFTED LEADER READY AND WILLING TO STEER THE SHIP. I WILL BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH LARRY OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS TRANSITION DOES NOT DETRACT FROM OUR FALL CAMPAIGN."


REGISTER WITH FEMA FOR DISASTER AID AND RETURN YOUR SBA LOAN APPLICATION

RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS WHO WERE HIT BY THE RECENT STORMS AND FLOODING AND HAVE DISASTER-RELATED LOSSES NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE SHOULD REGISTER WITH FEMA RIGHT AWAY. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL FEMA AT 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) OR REGISTER ONLINE AT DISASTERASSISTANCE.GOV IF YOU HAVE A SPEECH DISABILITY OR HEARING LOSS AND USE A TTY, CALL 1-800-462-7585 DIRECTLY. IF YOU USE 711 OR VIDEO RELAY SERVICE, CALL 1-800-621-3362. IF YOU HAVE A DISABILITY AND NEED HELP REGISTERING, JUST ASK. OPERATORS ARE AVAILABLE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FROM 7 A.M. TO 10 P.M.IF YOU RECEIVE A U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA) LOAN APPLICATION AFTER YOU REGISTER, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU COMPLETE AND RETURN IT. IF YOU QUALIFY FOR A LOW INTEREST SBA DISASTER LOAN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT. AFTER YOU RETURN THE LOAN APPLICATION YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR OTHER DISASTER ASSISTANCE.


COUNTY HOLDS GROUND BREAKING

ON SUNDAY THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY COMISSIONERS WERE ON HAND FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR THE COURTHOUSE COMMONS PROJECT. THE GROUNDBREAKING WAS THE CULMINATION OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION THIS WEEKEND. THE CEREMONY FOLLOWED A SELF GUIDED TOUR OF THE COURTHOUSE. THE COUNTY HAS BEEN CELEBRATING ITS 200TH BIRTHDAY ALL YEAR LONG WITH EVENTS THAT INCLUDED A PARADE AND A PICNIC AT SWEET ARROW LAKE PARK.

SEWER PIPE EXAMINATION TO BEGIN IN ORWIGSBURG

OVER FOUR THOUSAND FEET OF SEWER PIPE WILL BE EXAMINED LATER TODAY IN ORWIGSBURG. A CAMERA WILL BE USED TO INSPECT THE TERRA COTTA PIPING AS WELL AS CLEAN AND TEST AS WELL AS FIX IF NEEDED. THE CLOSE TO $45,000 PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED IN ABOUT A WEEK. THIS IS ALL PART OF A LARGER PROJECT THAT BEGAN NEARLY 4 YEARS AGO. THE SEWER SYSTEM CONSISTS OF 90,000 FT AND WILL BE PAID BY THE MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF ORWIGSBURG WHO OWN THE PIPING AND LEASE IT TO THE BOROUGH.

OFFICIALS TO FIX EYE SORE IN POTTSVILLE

OFFICIALS IN POTTSVILLE ARE PLANNING TO FIX A FORMER EYE SORE IN THE CITY. THE AREA AROUND THE RICHARD RYON INSURANCE COMPANY AND CENTURY 21 RYON REAL ESTATE WHERE A 15 BY 30 FT HOLE HAS BEEN OPENED SINCE A SUBSIDENCE IN 2006 WILL BE REPLACED WITH A WOODEN FENCE AND A SIDEWALK TO MAKE THE AREA MORE ATTRACTIVE AND PUT A BARRIER BETWEEN THE PARKING LOT AND SIDEWALK. IT WILL ALSO PREVENT VEHICLES FROM DRIVING ONTO THE SIDEWALK. CITY ADMINISTRATOR TOM PALAMAR SAYS THE FENCE SHOULD BE INSTALLED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

STATE NEWS:

JOHNSTOWN, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA ARE
INVESTIGATING THE SHOOTING DEATH OF A MAN AT A PUBLIC HOUSING
COMPLEX IN JOHNSTOWN. POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE OAKHURST HOMES
SECTION OF THE CITY SATURDAY AFTERNOON. OFFICIALS TELL THE
(JOHNSTOWN) TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT THE NAME OF THE VICTIM IS NOT BEING
RELEASED PENDING FAMILY NOTIFICATION.

LEESPORT, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING THE SHOOTING
DEATH OF A WOMAN AT AN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA HOME. POLICE IN BERKS
COUNTY SAY OFFICERS WERE CALLED TO THE LEESPORT HOME SATURDAY
MORNING. OFFICIALS SAY ERIKA ROSA WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT A HOSPITAL
EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN PHILADELPHIA SAY A 9-YEAR-OLD
BOY WAS DRIVING A CAR THAT CRASHED INTO A TREE ON THE SIDE OF A
MAJOR ROAD, AND WAS CRITICALLY INJURED. THE CRASH HAPPENED
YESTERDAY MORNING IN NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA. POLICE SAY THEY DON'T
KNOW HOW THE CHILD WAS ABLE TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OR HOW FAR HE
DROVE.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - ANALYSTS TELL THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, THE
POTENTIAL CLOSURE OF THREE PHILADELPHIA-AREA OIL REFINERIES BY NEXT
SUMMER, IF THEY FAIL TO FIND BUYERS, COULD HAVE A SEVERE IMPACT ON
COMMERCE ON THE DELAWARE RIVER. PHILADELPHIA-BASED SUNOCO INCORPORATED SAYS IT'S GETTING OUT OF THE REFINING BUSINESS

NATIONAL NEWS:

PERUGIA, ITALY (AP) - AMERICAN AMANDA KNOX HAS TOLD AN ITALIAN
APPEALS COURT THE MURDER ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HER ARE UNFAIR AND
GROUNDLESS. KNOX WENT TO THE ITALIAN APPEALS COURT ON THE DAY THE
JURY IS EXPECTED TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO UPHOLD THE AMERICAN
STUDENT'S MURDER CONVICTION.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - TODAY BEGINS WEEK TWO OF THE TRIAL OF MICHAEL
JACKSON'S DOCTOR. PROSECUTORS WILL CONTINUE TO QUESTION THE
EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIAN WHO GAVE PARAMEDICS PERMISSION TO
PRONOUNCE THE POP SUPERSTAR DEAD. DR. CONRAD MURRAY IS CHARGED WITH
INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER FOR ALLEGEDLY ADMINISTERING POWERFUL
ANESTHETICS.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE SUPREME COURT HAS ABOUT A THOUSAND APPEALS
TO GO THROUGH WHEN IT BEGINS ITS NEW TERM TODAY. THEN THE COURT
WILL HEAR ARGUMENTS IN A CASE THAT CENTERS ON CALIFORNIA'S PLAN TO
CUT MEDICAID PAYMENTS TO MEDICAL PROVIDERS TO CLOSE THE STATE'S
BUDGET GAP. THE ISSUE IS WHETHER PROVIDERS AND RECIPIENTS CAN SUE
TO BLOCK THE REDUCTIONS.

NEW YORK (AP) - ANTI-WALL STREET PROTESTERS ARE PICKING UP
SUPPORT ELSEWHERE AFTER THE ARRESTS OF 700 PEOPLE ON NEW YORK'S
BROOKLYN BRIDGE OVER THE WEEKEND. OCCUPY WALL STREET STARTED WITH
FEWER THAN A DOZEN COLLEGE STUDENTS BUT LIKE-MINDED GROUPS IN
BOSTON, CHICAGO, LOS ANGELES AND COLUMBUS, OHIO, ARE SHOWING
SUPPORT. IT'S WEEK THREE OF THE PROTEST.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A TOP U.S. MILITARY THINK TANK SAYS THE ONLY
WAY TO ELIMINATE THE THREAT FROM THE AL-QAIDA BRANCH IN YEMEN IS TO
TAKE OUT ITS YEMENI LEADERS. WEST POINT'S COMBATING TERRORISM
CENTER SAYS KILLING AMERICAN-BORN AL-QAIDA CLERIC ANWAR AL-AWLAKI
MAY HAVE ONLY WEAKENED THE YEMENI BRANCH.