In this week’s RepublicanHerald, Scranton officials gave tips for keeping safe this holiday season.
Shopping
It’s wise to keep your packages and purchased items out of site and in the trunk of your car when shopping. Acting Scranton police chief says, “Most of our holiday crime seems to come from packages in cars, that seems to be a big thing. This time of year, with people bouncing from store to store, they tend to leave packages in plain view.”
A chain-reaction crash killed a truck driver yesterday when another truck lost its load on I-80 in Pocono Township.
The driver of a rig lost control of his truck, causing two concrete forms to fall from his flatbed. One of the concrete forms landed on the interstate, causing a chain-reaction crash that involved three more tractor-trailers and a passenger car.
The first truck hit the concrete forms, causing it to become disabled by a flat tire. The second truck plowed into the first truck. The second truck was hauling aluminum extrusions, which crashed through the back of the trailer, pinning the driver in the wreckage. The second truck’s driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two people were killed in an accident Saturday that involved a tractor-trailer and two other vehicles in Strabane Township, Washington County.
According to an article on WTAE.com, the accident occurred Saturday morning on Interstate 70 near Interstate 79 when the tractor-trailer driver lost control of the rig. It went over the median, flipped over, and skidded into traffic that was travelling in the opposite direction. The two victims were in a red car that was crushed under the rig.
Another vehicle was unable to stop in time and slammed into the roof of the overturned tractor-trailer. There were four people inside that vehicle, including two children. One of the adults and one child suffered serious injuries.
Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at O’Connor Law.
It doesn’t often receive the attention that breast cancer or prostate cancer receives, but what many people don’t know is that pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer related deaths. But health professionals and researchers are trying to change that by increasing the public’s awareness of this disease.
The attorneys and staff at O’Connor Law wore purple on Fri., Nov. 16, in honor of Pancreatic Awareness Day. Pancreatic cancer affects thousands of people in the United States each year. It is difficult to detect early and even more difficult to treat.
For more information on pancreatic cancer, visit the Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center at Johns Hopkins (http://www.path.jhu.edu/pancreas/) or the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research (www.lustgarten.org).
This year, the attorneys and staff of O’Connor Law pulled out all the stops to celebrate Halloween in spooktacular style. From vampires and cats to swammies and sports figures, nearly everyone donned a costume to participate in a scavenger hunt and costume contest. Atty. David Miller won Best Costume for his appearance as a pirate.
A good time was had by all!
Today applications will begin to be accepted for LIHEAP, the federally funded Low-Income Energy Assistance Program of the state Department of Welfare. The program offers grants to low-income families to help pay for heating bills. The grants do not have to be repaid.
According to an article on the RepublicanHerald.com, Georgene Fedoriska, executive director at the Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services, is quoted in the article as saying, “We encourage anyone eligible for the program to look into it, especially with the price of heating oil and the economy right now. Every little bit helps.”
Residents who either rent or own their home may qualify. They do not have to be on public assistance or have unpaid heating bills. The grants are sent directly to the utility company or fuel provider and are credited on the resident’s bill.
Now that Hurricane Sandy has passed through our area, we hope that all of our staff, clients, and neighbors made it through with minimal damage. But as we recover from the storm, we’d like to remind everyone about the “Turn Around, Don’t Drive” law that was put in place in July.
Under this new law, it is a summary offense to drive past, around, or through a sign or traffic-control devise used to close a road because of an existing or potential hazardous situation. Violators can face a fine up to $250. If a violator must be rescued by first responders, emergency workers, or a tow truck, the fine can be between $250 and $500.
With roads in our area still closed due to the storm, we strongly urge motorists to heed the “Turn Around, Don’t Drive” law. Don’t put yourself in danger, or possibly any emergency personnel who may be required to rescue you.
As Hurricane Sandy approaches land, we urge our families, staff, clients, and neighbors to prepare and plan for the worst.
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett has declared a statewide disaster emergency so that state, county, and municipal governments can respond. Here are some additional recommendations to ride out the storm:
Remain inside your home during harsh conditions. If you need to leave your home, follow posted road warnings to keep yourself and others safe.
This week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it is investigating reports of five deaths that could be associated with Monster Energy Drink.
In an article on ChicagoTribune.com, an FDA spokeswoman said the agency had received reports of five deaths and one heart attack that happened between 2009 through June 2012 that may be associated with Monster Beverage Corp’s energy drinks. The FDA said it investigates any report of injury or death that it receives.
Late last week, the family of a 14-year-old girl who died after drinking two cans of Monster Energy drink filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming that Monster failed to warn about the product’s dangers. The lawsuit says that after drinking two 24-ounce cans of Monster Energy in a 24-hour period, the teen went into cardia arrest. She died days later due to “cardia arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity” that complicated a heart disorder she already had.
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