Today's News-Friday, December 30, 2011

Tombstones Found Off Burma Road

State police are looking for the vandals who dumped old tombstones along an area road. Schuylkill Haven troopers Wednesday report the stones, some dating back to the 1800's were found alongside the Burma Road in East Norwegian Township. While its not exactly clear where the tombstones came from, police think they may have come from a cemetery in Clinton County. Anyone with information about the vandalism should call the Schuylkill Haven barracks at 593-2000.

Tax Increase in Pottsville City

Pottsville City Council approved their 2012 spending plan Thursday afternoon, with a property tax increase. The Republican Herald reports the budget, just over $8-million dollars, includes a six tenths of a mill increase, the second such consecutive hike. Officials say the tax increase was necessary to cover rising healthcare costs, but they are looking at other possible alternatives to cover the city's 61 full time employees.

Polar Bear Plunge to Ring in New Year

When we think of ringing in the New Year, parties, football and resolutions come to mind. There are also activities for the hale and hearty folks…the Polar Bear Plunge. The 3^rd annual sojurn into really cold water will take place in our area on Sunday, January 1^st at 1pm at Pine Creek in Valley View. According to organizer Jim Reed, for just $20, participants can jump into the creek, then feast on the traditional Pork and Sauerkraut dinner at the Valley View Gun Club. Pine Creek Polar Plunge is a fundraiser to support the trout nursery, which grows trout for use in public and private stocking. Anyone can participate, but you’ll need your parents permission to participate if you're under 18.

Christmas Package found on Burma Road

Even though most of the Christmas presents have been opened already, one particular toy needs to be connected with its rightful owner. An area resident contacted us yesterday, stating she found the package along the Burma Road in East Norwegian Township on Christmas afternoon. The package was addressed to Jade, from Everyone. If you happen to know who the gift belongs to, contact WPPA/T102 News at 622-4440 and we'll connect you with the person who found it.

Burglary In Tuscarora

State police at Frackville continue to investigate a burglary at a home in Tuscarora between Wednesday night and early Thursday. Someone forcibly entered a home on Chestnut Street in the village, removed jewelry, coins and clothing then fled. If you can help state police, call them at 874-5300.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Elder advocates say a lack of gay-friendly affordable housing for seniors is leading many to hide their sexual orientation after years of being open about it. Gay seniors fear discrimination, disrespect or worse by health care workers and residents of elder housing facilities. Experts say the issue is becoming more urgent as baby boomers begin turning 65 this year. They say the gay elder population is expected to double, to at least 3 million, by 2030.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Some Pennsylvanians are wondering who represents them in Harrisburg amid plans to hold special elections next year to replace six state representatives who are stepping
down in the middle of their terms. House officials said Thursday the new lawmakers will be picked based on the 2012 statewide legislative redistricting plan - not the same voters who elected the present House members last year.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A bus company that took passengers from several cities to New York City has been shut down amid safety concerns. Authorities have ordered Double Happyness Travel Inc. to
immediately cease operations. Double Happyness takes passengers from Albany, N.Y., Baltimore, Md., and Wilmington, Del., to stops in midtown Manhattan and Chinatown in New York City.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Authorities in Allentown say a sinkhole that forced residents to evacuate has spread to a nearby cemetery, threatening dozens of graves. A judge has given Lehigh County
Coroner Scott Grim the right to decide if the graves should be exhumed from the Union and West End Cemetery. Grim says no decision has yet been made. Fire Chief Robert Scheirer says 54 graves are
threatened, most more than a century old.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) - Most Republican presidential candidates are campaigning across Iowa in garishly painted buses equipped with loudspeakers blaring campaign music. But Rick Santorum is using a
pickup truck. He's also not able to afford to buy time for the number of TV commercials that others are using. But the scaled-down approach seems to be working, and some polls show him overtaking
conservative rivals like Michele Bachman and Rick Perry.

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) - North Korea has declared Kim Jong Un its Supreme leader and it's also issuing a warning. On the final day of official mourning for Kim Jong Il, North Korea's National
Defense Commission has declared that there will be no softening of the country's position toward South Korea and no deal with its President Lee Myung-bak, who stopped a no-strings-attached aid
policy toward the North in 2008.

CAIRO (AP) - Egyptian rights groups are accusing the country's ruling military council of using "repressive tools" like those used during ousted President Hosni Mubarak's rule. Several groups issued a joint statement accusing military rulers of waging an "unprecedented campaign" against pro-democracy organizations. Security forces stormed offices of 10 rights organizations yesterday.

MOSCOW (AP) - Firefighters are battling a blaze aboard a Russian nuclear submarine in an Arctic shipyard. The Russian military says seven crew members have been sent to hospitals after inhaling toxic
fumes and a number remain on board. It's unclear whether crewmembers are trapped or have been ordered to stay inside. The Defense Ministry says there has been no radiation leak from the fire.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York lawmakers are considering a bill that would require new registered nurses to earn bachelor's degrees within 10 years to keep working in the state. It's part of a national push to raise nursing education standards. Most registered nurses have two-year associate's degrees. No state currently
requires a four-year degree for initial licensing or afterward.