Man Exonerated In Fayette County Double Killing After 27 Years Sues Prosecutors, Investigator

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Fayette County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Freed after a quarter-century in prison following what federal judges called “a badly tainted and highly suspect conviction” for the Bear Rocks killings, David Joseph Munchinski has sued the men who prosecuted him and is asking that the state pay eight figures to make up for his lost time.

“Fair is fair,” said Mr. Munchinski’s longtime attorney, Noah Geary, on Wednesday after filing the lawsuit Tuesday night. “The man did 27 years wrongfully, and it’s time to do the right thing.”

The lawsuit names as defendants three former prosecutors, two of whom are now senior judges on the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas, plus the estate of a late state trooper. But its target is the commonwealth, as it claims the four men were acting as state agents and adds that their actions have been defended by the Office of the Attorney General during a decade of litigation.

“I think it’s eight figures,” Mr. Geary said of Mr. Munchinski’s claim for economic, psychological and punitive damages.  He said he hopes the state will settle.  Otherwise, “it would be up to a federal jury.”

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/man-exonerated-in-fayette-county-double-killing-after-27-years-sues-prosecutors-investigator-701937/#ixzz2e2NUR7JV

Mon Valley Video Gambling Ring Arrests Include McKeesport Councilman, Forward Police Chief, Ex-Cops

Map of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A McKeesport city councilman, a Frank Sinatra impersonator, the Forward police chief and two other former McKeesport police officers were charged this morning with being part of a large-scale video gambling ring operating in the Monongahela Valley.

Pennsylvania State Police charged 16 people with a variety of gambling offenses after a months-long grand jury investigation that involved wiretaps and a Dec. 11 raid that confiscated 335 video gambling machines from about 70 different locations throughout the Mon Valley.

All of the defendants were arraigned this morning before Forest Hills District Judge Thomas Caulfield and were released on non-monetary bond.  They face preliminary hearings Sept. 12.

Among them were Forward police Chief Mark Holtzman, a onetime McKeesport deputy chief, and the suspected ringleader of the alleged video gambling ring, Ronald “Porky” Melocchi, of West Newton.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/indictments-in-mon-valley-video-gambling-ring-include-3-ex-mckeesport-police-officers-702126/#ixzz2e2JMtyDK

County Commissioner: Deal Will Put Lancaster County Convention Center On Solid Financial Footing

Lancaster County Commissioner Scott Martin announced an agreement Wednesday that promises to put the Lancaster County Convention Center on solid financial footing.

But it requires significant concessions from six parties, and that work is not yet complete.

One of those parties, Penn Square Partners, was noticeably absent from the press conference in the commissioners’ meeting room.

Penn Square Partners Vice President Mark Fitzgerald said later Wednesday the private-sector partners participated in crafting the agreement and agreed with its provisions in principal.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/891056_County-commissioner–Deal-will-put-Lancaster-County-Convention-Center-on-solid-financial-footing.html#ixzz2e2FlSsK3

Jim Thorpe, Pa., Fights To Keep Body Of Namesake

English: Postcard picture from 1915 of a “bird’s eye view” of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, then known as “Mauch Chunk”. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Jim Thorpe, PA (AP) The hand-lettered donation jar on Anne Marie Fitzpatrick’s store counter says what many residents of this well-preserved Victorian-era town are thinking and feeling lately: “Keep Jim Thorpe in Jim Thorpe.”

The surviving sons of the famous American Indian athlete have long fought to get the remains of their father moved from Jim Thorpe, Pa., to tribal lands in Oklahoma, where he was born, and they recently won a crucial legal victory that put them close to their goal.

But Jim Thorpe isn’t letting its Olympian namesake go without a fight.  Residents and business owners are helping to raise money for the town’s appeal to be filed later this month saying they have honored, appreciated and respected a man long considered one of the 20th century’s best athletes.

Hence the donation jar on the counter of Fitzpatrick’s gift shop, prominently displayed between the cash register and a rack of cat figurines.

Read more: http://www.timesleader.com/news/apsports/9991496451882158/Jim-Thorpe-Pa.-fights-to-keep-body-of-namesake

Anthony Weiner’s Bakery Meltdown: He Was Provoked, But Still…

Official portrait of United States Congressman (D-NY). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s possible that New York Democratic mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner was simply suffering from low blood sugar when he verbally attacked a man who tried to shame him Wednesday as Weiner campaigned in an Orthodox Jewish section of Brooklyn.

After all, his left cheek was bulging like a chipmunk when he heard someone in the bakery call him a “scumbag.”

Or it could just be that he’s had it, sick of being moralized at by people who are too dense to grasp that Weiner, who has already apologized for his mortifying sexual improprieties and begged his wife for forgiveness, has Moved On.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-anthony-weiners-bakery-meltdown-he-was-provoked-but-still-20130904,0,4884246.story#ixzz2e2AYiNS7
Follow us: @mcall on Twitter | mcall.lv on Facebook

Help For Job Seekers At The Pottstown Regional Public Library

Individual Help Available at the Library

The reference desk in the library has two PCs dedicated to job seekers.  The Reference Librarian is available for consultation.  Other services include printing, scanning, and faxing.  A small cost-recovery fee applies to printing and faxing.

JobNow provides on-demand access to live, expert coaches for every stage of a paton’s job search.  JobNow includes Live Career Coaching,Career Resources, Expert Resume Assistance, and the Adult Learning Center.

The Pottstown Regional Public Library is located at 500 East High Street in Pottstown.  

Click here to be taken to their website: http://ppl.mclinc.org/

New Offerings! Open House & Registration – Sept 7 & 8 At Steel River Playhouse

We’ve changed things up but kept your favorites!  Join us Saturday, Sept 7 and Sunday, Sept 8 from 12 noon to 3:00 pm.  Meet the teachers, try a sample class, tour the facility, enjoy refreshments!

NEW THIS FALL: STAGE COMBAT, MUSICAL THEATER AUDITION WORKSHOPS, COMMERCIAL ACTING FOR TV, GUITAR CALISTHENICS, SONGWRITING, CONTEMPORARY PIANO, GROUP GUITAR, TEEN SCENES WITH ROBB, ACTING/MUSIC THEATRE COLLEGE PREP, and so much more!

For our 2013-14 Education Calendar, CLICK HERE.

For more information about Group Classes, CLICK HERE.

For more information about Private Lessons, CLICK HERE.

Steel River website: http://www.steelriver.org/

West Reading Police Chief Post Remains Unfilled

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The president of West Reading Borough Council said Wednesday that council hopes to decide soon on who will lead the police force.

The statement from Kevin M. Conrad put the kibosh on rumors that council had hired a new chief Tuesday night.

“It’s been long, and I know people are getting very antsy about it, and I fully understand that,”  Conrad said by phone. “It’s an important position for the borough.  We’re not going to take chances on just hiring the first person.  We’re looking for someone that is going to have a future in the borough.”

The West Reading Recreation Commission met at borough hall Tuesday night.  By Wednesday morning, rumblings among residents were that council had hired a chief during a secret meeting.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=506790