UPDATE: Rebert is 'person of interest' in Fickel, Smith murders

Former Oakfield resident charged Friday in Pa. shooting deaths
By Scott DeSmitdesmit@batavianews.com
Sunday, June 13, 2010 2:08 PM EDT
He lived within a mile of Bill Fickel and Kevin Smith and knew both of them when all three attended Clarence High School.Now, Steven P. Rebert is being called a “definite person of interest” in the unsolved murders of Fickel and Smith, the first time in five years that the two cases have been publicly linked.“At the time we did not think they (the murders) were related,” Genesee County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster said. “But this perks our interest.”Rebert, 45, of Emporium, Pa., was arrested Friday and charged with two counts of murder for the shooting deaths of James and Vicky Shugar in Jefferson County, Pa. on April 12. Pennsylvania state police contacted police in New York because Rebert is a former resident of Clarence and OakfieldThe break in the case came when Rebert was arrested June 3 in the town of Alabama and charged with criminal possession of a weapon, Sheriff Gary Maha said....MORE

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Keegan playing with a glow stick....smiley face

Suspect arrested in murder of western Pa. couple

The Associated Press
Updated: 06/11/2010 10:47:48 PM EDT

BROCKWAY, Pa.—A suspect has been arrested in the murders of a western Pennsylvania couple found shot in their basement two months ago.
James and Victoria Shugar, both 61, were found fatally shot April 12 inside their home in Snyder Township, about 85 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
On Friday, authorities announced they were arresting 45-year-old Steven Patrick Repert, of Emporium.
Repert is charged with homicide and related counts. Authorities did not comment on an alleged motive.
Jefferson County District Attorney Jeffrey Burkett says Repert was arraigned Friday evening and would be committed to Jefferson County jail without bail.
It wasn't immediately clear if he had an attorney.

FBI: Mexicans chased away US agents after shooting

We are at war....not just in Iraq or Afghanistan, but much closer to home!

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico – Pointing their rifles, Mexican security forces chased away U.S. authorities investigating the shooting of a 15-year-old Mexican by a U.S. Border Patrol agent on the banks of the Rio Grande, the FBI and witnesses told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The killing of the Mexican by U.S. authorities — the second in less than two weeks — has exposed the distrust between the two countries that lies just below the surface, and has enraged Mexicans who see the death of the boy on Mexican soil as an act of murder.
Mexico's government says the number of Mexicans injured by U.S. immigration authorities has increased this year.
Shortly after the boy was shot, Mexican soldiers arrived at the scene and pointed their guns at the Border Patrol agents across the riverbank while bystanders screamed insults and hurled rocks and firecrackers, FBI spokeswoman Andrea Simmons said. She said the agents were forced to withdraw....MORE

Marcellus Shale well blowout prompts second DEP suspension

A second well service company has been suspended from Marcellus Shale work as a result of a Clearfield County natural gas well blowout on June 3.
Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection ordered the well completion firm C.C. Forbes to stop all post-fracing activities in the state pending an investigation of the incident.
Texas-based EOG Resources Inc., the well’s owner, received a similar suspension from drilling and fracing operations on June 7.
The DEP also demanded C.C. Forbes hand over photos, video, equipment records and employee names.
The accident, which occurred in Lawrence Township, spewed at least 35,000 gallons of wastewater into the air for 16 hours until the well was finally capped the following daRead more: Marcellus Shale well blowout prompts second DEP suspension - Pittsburgh Business Times

Rendell: Marcellus Shale Incidents 'A Warning'

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
During a stop in Pittsburgh today, Gov. Ed Rendell said the two recent Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling accidents in West Virginia and Clearfield County are warnings.Gov. Rendell said that not everything is right with company practices and state regulations.He also said two sets of regulations are already in the works and the drilling company in Clearfield County violated existing rules to notify state officials of an accident."One of the things that is of great concern and happened in Clearfield County is that the company didn't leave the scene and no one was injured and they took responsibility for putting this out. They flew people in and got it capped by noon the next day, but one of the problems here is that the company violated existing regulations. They didn't notify [the Department of Environmental Protection] and they didn't notify PEMA," Gov. Rendell said.The governor also said that substantial fines will likely be levied against the company operating the Pennsylvania accident site due to their failure to notify state officials of the accident.
http://kdka.com/local/ed.rendell.marcellus.2.1739415.html

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Some lightning from Friday night...click the photo to enlarge