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Pennsylvania American Water Announces $16.5 Million Investment to Construct and Rehab Water Storage

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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Pennsylvania American Water Announces $16.5 Million Investment to Construct and Rehab Water Storage Tanks

HERSHEY, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Pennsylvania American Water unveiled today its 2013 construction schedule to build nine new water storage tanks, as well as rehabilitate 14 existing tanks throughout the commonwealth. The new tank construction will provide increased storage capacity to meet customer demand and improve fire protection, while the company’s rehab program of inspecting, sandblasting and repainting the existing tanks will extend their service life and protect water quality.

The estimated cost of the new tank construction is $11.5 million, and the rehab projects total approximately $5 million for a combined capital investment of nearly $16.5 million.

“Storage tanks are a critical component of our water infrastructure, because they ensure that adequate, reliable water supplies are always available for the communities we serve,” said President Kathy L. Pape of Pennsylvania American Water, noting that the company currently owns and maintains more than 275 storage structures. “The new tanks we’re building are necessary to meet customer demands for reliable water service and fire protection.”

New tank construction is planned in the following communities:

  • North Annville Township, Lebanon County – 750,000-gallon concrete tank, scheduled for completion by fall. Estimated cost $1.4 million
  • Susquehanna Depot Borough, Susquehanna County – 680,000-gallon concrete tank, scheduled for completion by year end. Estimated cost $2.5 million
  • Pittston Township, Luzerne County – 1,000,000-gallon steel tank, scheduled for completion by year end. Estimated cost $1.35 million
  • Newton Township, Lackawanna County – 400,000-gallon elevated steel tank, scheduled for completion by year end. Estimated Cost $1.6 million.
  • Kane Borough, McKeon County – 600,000-gallon elevated steel tank, scheduled for completion by year end. Estimated cost $1.7 million
  • Delaware Township (Hickory), Pike County – 100,000-gallon steel tank, scheduled for completion by year end. Estimated cost $490,000
  • Delaware Township (Silver), Pike County – 135,000-gallon steel tank, scheduled for completion by year end. Estimated cost $500,000
  • East Buffalo Township, Union County – 500,000-gallon elevated steel tank, scheduled for completion by year end. Estimated cost $ 1.75 million.
  • Ellwood City, Lawrence County – 200,000-gallon standpipe to supplement existing tank, …read more
    Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance
News, Politics, Government

Convicted Pa. pastor faces trial in Wife 1's death

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A former Methodist clergyman convicted of bludgeoning his second wife to death in 2008 now faces trial in Pennsylvania on whether he killed his first wife, too.

Arthur Schirmer was convicted Tuesday of first-degree murder and evidence tampering. Jurors in the Poconos concluded he clubbed Betty Schirmer on the head with a crowbar, then loaded her into their vehicle and staged a low-speed accident to conceal the crime.

Schirmer maintains his innocence. His attorney vowed to appeal.

Schirmer is charged separately in the 1999 death of his first wife, Jewel Schirmer, and awaits trial in Lebanon County. They had been married for more than 30 years.

The longtime United Methodist pastor says she fell down the stairs while vacuuming. He says a vacuum cord was wrapped around her ankle.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox US News

News, Politics, Government

Former Pennsylvania pastor convicted of killing second wife

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A former Pennsylvania pastor awaiting trial in the 1999 death of his first wife was convicted Tuesday in the 2008 death of his second wife.

Arthur Schirmer, a former associate pastor at a Methodist church in Reeders in northeast Pennsylvania, blamed the second death on a slow-speed car crash and said his first wife fell down the stairs. But authorities ultimately charged him with killing both women.

The verdict came after prosecutors argued in court that Schirmer clubbed Betty Schirmer on the head with a crowbar, then loaded her into their PT Cruiser and staged a low-speed accident.

Monroe County First Assistant District Attorney Michael Mancuso had asked jurors Tuesday to convict the 64-year-old of premeditated murder.

But Schirmer’s attorney insisted in his closing argument that while his client cheated on Betty, 56, he had no motive to kill her.

“Accidents happen,” Brandon Reish told jurors. “Sometimes there are no explanations. Car accidents, falling down stairs, falling off ladders. People die in accidents every day.”

Schirmer was convicted of first-degree murder and evidence tampering. He pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence. His attorney pledged to appeal.

The ex-clergyman is charged separately in the 1999 death of his first wife, Jewel Schirmer, and awaits trial in Lebanon County.

Schirmer, a longtime United Methodist pastor, asserts that Jewel — his wife of more than 30 years — fell down the basement stairs while vacuuming. He said he found her with the cord of a Shop-Vac wrapped around her ankle.

“That’s staging 101,” Mancuso said Tuesday.

Like Betty Schirmer, he said, Jewel Schirmer suffered “forceful, hard blows to the back of the head. It was murder, and it was going to happen again.”

Schirmer took the stand in his own defense last week and testified that he was driving his second wife to the emergency room for treatment of jaw pain when he swerved to avoid a deer and hit a guard rail.

Local police initially treated it as a straightforward car crash. State police began a more thorough investigation months later, when a man committed suicide in Schirmer’s office after learning the pastor was in a relationship with his wife, the church secretary.

Authorities ultimately concluded the crash could not have caused Betty Schirmer‘s extensive head and brain injuries. Police also found her blood on the garage floor, along with evidence that someone had tried to clean it up. Schirmer contends she was cut while helping him move a wood pile weeks before the crash.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox US News

News, Politics, Government

Attorney: Affairs don't make Pa. man a murderer

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An attorney for a retired Pennsylvania pastor accused of killing his two wives says his client had extramarital affairs but no reason to kill his second wife.

Defense lawyer Brandon Reish (RYSH’) gave his closing argument Tuesday in Monroe County Court on behalf of Arthur Schirmer (SHUR’-mur), who is charged with homicide in the 2008 death of Betty Schirmer.

Schirmer testified that she died from injuries suffered in a car crash. But prosecutors say Schirmer fatally bludgeoned the woman and staged the accident to cover it up.

Reish says there was no life insurance policy or other motive for murder.

Prosecutors will give their final argument later Tuesday.

Schirmer is also awaiting trial in Lebanon County on charges he bludgeoned his first wife in 1999. He has pleaded not guilty.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox US News

News, Politics, Government

Former pastor's homicide trial continues in NE Pa.

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The brother of a woman who died nearly 14 years ago says he knew almost immediately that she had not suffered a fall down the stairs, as her husband claimed.

Jonathan Behney testified Tuesday against former Pennsylvania pastor Arthur Schirmer, who’s charged with killing Jewel Schirmer in 1999 and his second wife, Betty Schirmer, in 2008.

Behney told jurors he took one look at his sister’s battered face, arms and hands and concluded she had been in a fight. But he says a police investigation into Jewel Schirmer‘s death was over almost as soon as it began.

Prosecutors in Lebanon County reopened the probe years later, after Betty Schirmer‘s death was ruled a homicide.

Schirmer is charged with killing Betty Schirmer.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox US News