Today's News for Thu. December 8, 2011

Local News For Thu. December 8, 2011

Saint Clair Teacher Arrested On Child Pornography Charges

Twenty-seven year old Todd Christopher Evans, a teacher in the Saint Clair Middle School, was arrested on Wednesday on charges related to the possession and distribution of child pornography. According to a report received from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation Northeast Computer Crime Task Force, Evans has been charged with ten counts of Possession of Child Pornography, three counts of Distribution of Child Pornography, and one count of Criminal Use of Communication Facility. After an investigation concluded that Evans was the owner of an account that was used to download pornographic material, a search warrant was executed at his residence. His laptop computer was seized, and it was found to contain images and video of child pornography. Evans was arraigned before Magesterial District Judge David Plachko, and was committed to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $100,000 straight cash bail.

Schuylkill Haven Residents Express Concerns To Borough Council

A number of Schuylkill Haven residents attended the work session meeting of Borough Council on Wednesday evening to express concerns for their safety following the assault on Sunday that involved Penn State Schuylkill students. Representatives from Penn State also attended the meeting to assure council and residents that they will create a Campus/Community Climate Committee of community officials and residents that will maintain open communications between the school and the borough in order to address any issues that arise. Borough Council and the Police Department assured residents that they will do everything they can to maintain the safety and security of residents and students.

Penn State Schuylkill Reports Highest Crime Rate Among All PSU Satellites

A story in today's Republican Herald indicates that Penn State Schuylkill has reported the most on-campus crimes of any campus except main in State College. These figures are taken from statistics provided by Penn State University to the U.S. Department of Education. Among the nineteen satellite campuses across the state, Schuylkill reported more than twice as many incidents as the next closest school, with twenty two alleged criminal acts reported during 2010. This report includes incidents reported to campus or local police, and does not reflect prosecutions or convictions. The numbers also do not include incidents that happen off-campus.

Wet Roads Contribute To Accident On Route 61 In Deer Lake

Twenty eight year old Joseph Graydus was driving his 2002 Ford Ranger southbound on Route 61 near Pheasant Run Road in West Brunswick Township on Wednesday when the truck lost traction on the wet roadway and started to slide. Graydus applied the brakes, but lost control of the vehicle, causing it to run up an embankment and roll onto its side before coming to rest on the wheels blocking the southbound lanes of the highway. Graydus was wearing his seat belt, and was uninjured, but was cited for failure to drive within marked roadways. State Police were assisted at the scene by Deer Lake & West Brunswick Township Fire Company.

Marcellus Shale Development Offers Plusses and Minuses For PA Agriculture

As Pennsylvania State Legislators debate bills related to natural gas drilling, specialists in Penn State’' College of Agricultural Sciences consider how Marcellus Shale development will impact one of the state's top industries. Gary Abdullah reports

MARCELLUS

House Bill Introduced By Representative Tobash Gets Past Committee

House Bill 1813, written by Representative Mike Tobash of the 125th District, has been approved by the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and will now be considered by the full House of Representatives. The bill would make bonding more readily available to mine operators, which would allow them to invest their money into growing their operations. Rep. Tobash said that this legislation will "help open the door to increased mining activity that would lead to more reclamation of abandoned mine sites and the potential creation of new, good-paying jobs". The bill has the backing of the Pennsylvania Anthracite Council and the Pennsylvania Coal Association, as well as the Schuylkill Conservation District.