SHENANDOAH — Last Christmas, the congregation of First United Methodist Church had its final worship service at 38 E. Oak St.

Then the church closed.

Two weeks ago, another congregation moved into the white-brick building and started holding services — Divine Power of Christ Church, which formed in the borough in 2012.

“We’re made up of 15 families. We have more than 60 parishioners,” Nilsa Torrez, Shenandoah, the church’s secretary-treasurer, said.

Her husband, Ed, a contractor, was installing a sink in the kitchen on the lower level Wednesday afternoon. He said it was donated by Kowalonek’s Kielbasy Shop.

Divine Power of Christ Church is hosting a two-day “Glorious Inaugural Celebration” to dedicate the church, with services at 6 p.m. Saturday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

“We’re inviting people from the community, people from churches from out of town and community representatives,” Nilsa Torrez said.

First United Methodist Church formed in 1866. Over the years, membership dwindled. In November 2016, the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church announced the church would close.

On Jan. 1, the conference trustees took ownership of the building, and on May 11, the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church sold the building at 38 E. Oak St. to Divine Power of Christ Church for $15,000, according to a deed at the Schuylkill County Courthouse.

According to Schuylkill Parcel Locator online, Divine Power of Christ Church has an office at 312 S. Ferguson St., Shenandoah. It is a Pentecostal church, according to its Facebook page.

“It originated in our home. We started gathering in my home at 312 S. Ferguson St.,” Ed Torrez said.

The pastor is Marcus Alvarez, formerly of Brooklyn, New York, who resides in Shenandoah. Before he moved to the borough, he was evangelist at Faith Fellowship Church in Cleona, Lebanon County. He works as a group leader at American Eagle Outfitters Inc., Humboldt Industrial Park, Hazleton.

Ed Torrez and his wife are from New Jersey. Ed has lived in Shenandoah since 2000. She moved there in 2010, when they married. In October 2011, the couple and the pastor were part of a group who formed Divine Power of Christ Church Inc.

“We believe in the power of Christ and what he did in our lives in reference to transforming us and the way we act and the way we look at people. Instead of in a negative way, we look at them all as children of God. And we try to see, through Christ, how we can serve our community,” Ed Torrez said.

“We didn’t have a bilingual born again Christian church in our area. So we started one,” his wife said.

On Jan. 1, 2012, the congregation started holding services at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 115 E. Cherry St., Shenandoah.

“We shared the worship hall with Pastor Mindy Heppe,” Nilsa Torrez said.

This summer, Divine Power of Christ Church will schedule community meals.

“We do Thanksgiving dinners. We want to be able to run a soup kitchen and have a food pantry and be able to provide our community with things our community needs. We believe it was God who put this opportunity before us. It’s a beautiful building and it’s going to be able to serve our purposes. I’m grateful that this opportunity came up,” Alvarez said Friday.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6011

POTTSVILLE — More than 3 1/2 years after allegedly causing the death of a 4-year-old boy in Butler Township, Phillip G. Moeller Jr. is scheduled to go on trial for his freedom during the June criminal term in Schuylkill County Court, which starts today and runs through June 13.

Moeller, 47, of Fountain Springs, faces a charge of involuntary manslaughter for what prosecutors say was his killing of Tanner L. Geiger, who died on Oct. 11, 2013, at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.

Butler Township police charged Moeller in connection with Geiger’s death. Geiger died of blunt force trauma, according to an autopsy performed by Dr. Samuel Land at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Allentown.

Assistant District Attorney Kimm R. Montone will lead the prosecution of Moeller, with assistance from Deputy Assistant District Attorney Jennifer N. Foose. Michael J. Rudinski, Williamsport, is defending Moeller.

A judge has not yet been assigned to preside over the case, and the trial’s starting date during the term also has not been set. The trial is scheduled to last two days.

Moeller’s is one of only five remaining jury trials slated to be heard during the term.

“It was a big list, and we just whittled it down through guilty pleas,” Deputy Court Administrator John Richmond said Friday.

District Attorney Christine A. Holman said Friday that the large number of trials held during the April criminal court term, which was the last one held, also played a role in this term’s smaller number. She also said there were guilty pleas in sex-related cases that were scheduled to go to trial.

Most terms have six to eight jury trials, Holman said.

Only one jury trial is scheduled to be held today, that of Michael J. Kabana, 27, of Coaldale, who is charged with driving under the influence, disregarding traffic lane and careless driving. Tamaqua police allege Kabana was DUI on April 19, 2015, in the borough.

Foose is prosecuting the case, while Andrew B. Zelonis, Barnesville, is defending Kabana. Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin is slated to preside over Kabana’s trial.

Contact the writer: pbortner@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6014

Name: Phillip G. Moeller Jr.

Age: 47

Residence: Fountain Springs

Charge: Involuntary manslaughter

Deeds

Palo Alto — Anthony A. Pilo and Camille Mattera to Camille Mattera; 31 E. Savory St.; $1.

Pine Grove — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Jennie Boyer; 8 Carbon St.; $1,933.

Port Clinton — Angela Haas to MGSH LLC; 941 South St.; $300.

POTTSVILLE — As a jury waited to hear his case, a Coaldale motorist decided not to go to trial on Monday and instead admitted to a Schuylkill County judge that he drove under the influence of drugs in Tamaqua in April 2015.

Michael J. Kabana, 27, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and disregarding traffic lane. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of careless driving.

Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin accepted Kabana’s plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced him to serve 72 hours to six months in prison, pay costs, $1,025 in fines, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and a $50 bench warrant fee, and perform 10 hours community service. Dolbin made the sentence effective at 5 p.m. June 16 but warned Kabana to behave before then.

“You’d better show up as straight as a dot” at the prison or he would not be immediately paroled after the 72-hour minimum sentence, Dolbin told Kabana.

Tamaqua police charged Kabana was DUI on April 19, 2015, on East Broad Street (Route 209) in the borough.

“This ... did result in an accident,” Dolbin noted.

After imposing the sentence on Kabana, Dolbin, who was to have presided over the defendant’s trial, brought the jury into the courtroom, told them what had occurred and said that even though they did not hear a trial, their service was not useless and their time was not wasted.

“We feel that justice has been done. Otherwise, I would not have accepted the plea,” he said. “You have served us. You have brought this case to the point of resolution.”

Contact the writer: pbortner@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6014

SCRANTON — The family of slain Correctional Officer Eric Williams waited outside, unable to watch the video depicting his slow and painful demise that was on display in the courtroom.

The video, played on the first day of the capital murder trial against convicted gang assassin Jessie Con-ui, 40, depicts a relentless attack in which Williams runs desperately for his life, trying to escape an inmate who chases him down and mercilessly kicks, stomps and stabs him with two shanks.

About a minute and a half into the attack, Con-ui threw Williams’ radio — his lifeline — aside so he could continue the assault uninterrupted, Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa told jurors during opening statements.

“That was Eric Williams’ last chance to call for help,” Sempa said. “He is now totally at the mercy of Jessie Con-ui. And as you will see, Jessie Con-ui shows him no mercy.”

Jurors winced, averted their gaze and even teared up as they watched the vicious 11-minute attack that continued even after Williams curled up in the fetal position and went limp in a pool of blood.

During the attack, Con-ui took a break to rinse a cut on his hand in a shower before beating and stabbing Williams some more. When it was over, Con-ui sat down at a table and put his foot up, sipping a drink and chewing a piece of gum he stole from the dying officer’s pocket.

Con-ui had slammed Williams’ head to the ground twice, threw the radio at his head twice, stomped his head six times, kicked his face 11 times and stabbed or hit him 203 times, Sempa said.

“Jessie Con-ui took the life of Correctional Officer Eric Williams. He did so without any excuse. He did so without justification,” defense attorney David A. Ruhnke, of Montclaire, New Jersey, told the jury. “Jessie is guilty of murder beyond all doubt.”

Ruhnke told jurors they must get through the trial before deciding whether Con-ui should get life in prison or be executed.

Testimony continues today.

Contact the writer: ; 570-821-2058

NEW PHILADELPHIA — The development of the Blythe Recycling And Demolition Site won’t move forward until Commonwealth Court gives the project the thumbs up.

James E. Zembas, chairman of the Blythe Township Solid Waste Authority, explained this at the authority’s May meeting Monday at the headquarters of the Blythe Township Water Authority.

“Is there a reason why we didn’t start yet?” Albert J. Lubinsky Sr., chairman of the township supervisors and vice chairman of the authority, asked.

“Start the landfill?” Zembas asked.

“Yes,” Lubinsky said.

“The investors are awaiting the decision of the Commonwealth Court, the final decision. When that comes down, then everything should be approved. That’s the only thing I know,” Zembas said.

“That’s interesting,” Edward M. Brennan, Pottsville, solicitor for the Borough of Saint Clair, said when called for comment Monday.

Brennan presented his brief to Commonwealth Court in Wilkes-Barre in April. He said a decision has not yet been issued and he wasn’t sure when it would be handed down.

Blythe Township and a private entity called FKV LLC have been working for more than a decade to develop BRADS on a 252-acre tract in Silver Creek along Burma Road.

Meanwhile, the Borough of Saint Clair has been fighting to stop the project.

In June 2016, the state Environmental Hearing Board dismissed the borough’s appeal.

On July 6, 2016, the Blythe Township Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance to organize the solid waste authority.

On Sept. 7, 2016, the authority decided to borrow $30 million in tax-exempt revenue bonds to finance the construction of the landfill.

The firm Ballard Spahr LLP, Philadelphia, is the bond counsel for the township, and Morgan Stanley, New York, is the underwriter.

Lubinsky said he wasn’t sure who the investors were.

“Morgan Stanley is handling that. I don’t know how they do that on Wall Street,” Lubinsky said Monday.

On Dec. 5, 2016, the solid waste authority hired Earthmovers Unlimited Inc., Kylertown, Clearfield County, the lowest of seven bidders, to do the bulk excavation. The base bid from Earthmovers Unlimited was $5,792,419.

On April 20, Brennan presented the borough’s appeal to Commonwealth Court in Wilkes-Barre.

“The Borough of Saint Clair respectfully requests this Honorable Court to reverse the decision of the Environmental Hearing Board and remand this matter to the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a harms-benefits analysis which includes the potential economic harms of a municipal landfill; to require FKV, a private entity, to be included as a co-permittee and submit all required documents as permittee; and to reverse the findings of the Environmental Hearing Board relative to the excavation of a coal vein as it relates to the SMCRA (Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act),” Brennan said in his brief to Commonwealth Court.

According to Brennan, the panel of judges that will make that decision are Commonwealth Court President Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt, Senior Judge James Gardner Colins and Judge Joseph M. Cosgrove.

Also present at the authority’s May meeting were Edward Stillwagner, authority secretary; Keith Rokosky, treasurer of the authority; and Adam J. Nothstein, a member of the township supervisors and a member of the solid waste authority.

Gino O. DiNicola, Pottsville, the attorney for the authority, was not present at Monday’s meeting.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6011

MAHANOY CITY — Two students from Mahanoy Area will be heading to Nashville in July to compete at a conference hosted by the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.

Prizes will include scholarships, Bethany Pepe, the adviser of Mahanoy Area’s FCCLA club, said Monday.

The students are Mahanoy Area freshmen Haley Jones and Lois Johnson, both 15. In March, they were awarded gold medals at a state conference for a project started in December 2016.

“It was the first time we competed. We tried it just to see how we would fare. They were exceptional,” Pepe, a Mahanoy Area teacher, said.

Their project is called the Mahanoy Area FCCLA Adopt-A-Grandparent Program. It’s an effort to improve the health and welfare of local senior citizens. Once a month, the students visit the Mahanoy City Senior Center at 138 W. Centre St. and give presentations. They will be there for a presentation at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

“I thought it was a great idea. It was a good opportunity for both the students and our seniors. It gave them the opportunity to spend time together and gave our seniors ideas on how to improve their diets,” Mary Agnes DiCasimirro, manager of the center, said Monday.

On Monday, Jones and Johnson talked about their experiences in the Mahanoy Area FCCLA club and what they hope to achieve in July.

Started in 1945, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America is a nonprofit national career and technical student organization for young people in Family and Consumer Sciences education in public and private school through grade 12 based in Reston, Virginia.

Today, FCCLA has more than 5,400 chapters in 47 states, including the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

According to its website, its mission is “to promote personal growth and leadership development through Family and Consumer Sciences education. Focusing on the multiple roles of family member, wage earner and community leader, members develop skills through: character development, creative and critical thinking, interpersonal communication, practical knowledge and career preparation.”

The Mahanoy Area FCCLA was formed in 2014. In the 2016-17 school year, there were 13 students in the club. This is the first year the club participated in a competition, Pepe said.

“We sat down at the beginning of the year and we had to pick out some sort of a service project for the group to do. They wanted to help the community and they wanted to work with senior citizens,” Pepe said.

“We worked to set it up with the senior center, Schuylkill County’s VISION and Diakon Senior Living. We held our first event at the senior center in December and decided to do it on a monthly basis,” Pepe said.

The students called it the Adopt-A-Grandparent Program, Pepe said.

Groups of six to 10 students from the Mahanoy Area FCCLA participate every month.

“They make crafts. They hold cooking demonstrations. They’ve done nutrition and health presentations,” Pepe said.

“We connected with them. We made them healthy snacks. We talked about healthy lifestyles,” Johnson said.

In March, Mahanoy Area FCCLA traveled to Seven Springs Resort in Champion, Fayette County, to participate in the PA FCCLA State Leadership Conference.

In a state-level Students Taking Action for Recognition event, a Chapter Service Project Display competition, Jones, Johnson and fellow student Katherine Bran talked about the Mahanoy Area FCCLA Adopt-A-Grandparent Program. They used a foam board display that measured more than 3 feet high and 4 feet long to outline how they approached their project.

“The scope of the project was rigorous and thorough as we began with researching nutrition facts to teach the elderly. We then gained partnerships with a local business and an organization, Boyer’s Supermarket and Meals on Wheels, to gain community support,” according to a panel on the board.

And they won gold medals.

“We heard our names and we just walked on stage. We didn’t even know for what. There were medals there, bronze, silver and gold. And we stopped at the silver medals. And someone said to us, ‘Gold medals are that way.’ We were all in shock. That’s how we found out we won gold,” Jones said Monday.

Jones, Johnson and Bran each received $16,000 in college scholarship money and invitations to compete at the FCCLA National Leadership Conference this summer, from July 2 to 6 in Nashville. Money from local fundraisers will be used to finance the trip, Pepe said.

Because of a scheduling conflict, Bran won’t be able to go, Pepe said.

“FCCLA members from across the country will gather in Nashville to network with fellow members, attend FCCLA program workshops and leadership sessions, and take part in Competitive Events,” according to the organization’s official website, http://fcclainc.org.

At the state competition in March, three other students who are part of the Mahanoy Area FCCLA program, Odeira Casanova, Taylor Bettis and Devyn King, earned silver medals in the menu planning event and received $8,000 each in scholarship money, Pepe said.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6011

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Schuylkill Haven police and the Schuylkill County Coroner’s Office are investigating Friday’s death of a 5-month-old Cressona boy.

County Coroner Dr. David J. Moylan III said Kaden A. Krause was pronounced dead at a Pottsville hospital by Deputy Coroner Gail Newton.

Moylan said an autopsy on the child was conducted Monday at Forensic Pathology Associates, Allentown, to determine the cause of death.

Although the autopsy was performed, Moylan said the cause and manner of death are pending the results of toxicology tests.

“The autopsy was performed but we are waiting to see what the results of the testing say,” Moylan said.

Attempts to reach Chief Jeffrey Walcott on Monday were unsuccessful.

Published reports said police have not called the death suspicious only saying it is under investigation.

Moylan referred all questions about the death to Schuylkill Haven police who are leading the investigation.

Police said emergency crews were called to a home in the 300 block of St. John Street on Friday for a report of an unresponsive child. It was at that home that police said the child was in the care of a family friend.

The causes of two Sunday morning fires, one in Pottsville and the other in Cass Township, are still under investigation.

In Cass Township, firefighters were called to a home at 140 High Road about 4:15 a.m. and found the second floor of the building engulfed in flames.

Crews contained the fire within 30 minutes keeping the majority of damage to the second floor, while the first floor sustained smoke and water damage.

Cass Township Fire Chief Pete Ricigliano said the investigation was turned over to state police at Frackville.

Fire marshal Trooper Joseph Hall said Monday that no cause has been determined and the investigation continues. He said the fire originated in the second-floor front bedroom and spread from there.

That fire left three homeless — Vince DeMarco; 24; his girlfriend, Alyssa Emery, 18; and Emery’s grandmother, Sharon Piesarski, 61 — and no injuries were reported.

In Pottsville, the cause of a fire that damaged a vacant home has yet to be determined.

Pottsville Police Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky said firefighters were called to 100 Harrison St. about 5:20 a.m. and quickly extinguished the blaze.

The chief said a subsequent investigation by his department along with Pottsville fire officials determined no one lived in the building and there was also no active electrical power.

Initial evidence also suggests that someone forced his way into the building at some point before the fire, Wojciechowsky said.

He added that, at this point, the fire remains under investigation and he asks anyone with information to call Patrolman Joseph Murton at 570-622-1234, Ext. 180.

Contact the writer: fandruscavage@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6013

MAR LIN — The board of directors of Schuylkill County Area Vocational-Technical School on Monday decided to shut down its horticulture program for the 2017-18 school year, since there was no full-time teacher in place and student interest in the program has waned.

But at Monday night’s meeting at the Maple Avenue Campus, Gregory S. Koons, executive director of Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29, promised the program would be re-evaluated and would one day return.

“We really need to develop a program that attracts more students for this profession. There’s no doubt we need more skilled workers out there in the horticulture and agricultural areas. I just want time so we can really take a look at this and develop a nice program with a certified instructor who can really help us to deliver on all this,” Koons told the board and the public.

There was no full-time teacher in place for the 2017-18 school year. In May, the STC board accepted the resignation of Mario Galanti, the horticulture instructor, effective April 24.

The program has been part of Schuylkill Technology Center-South, Mar Lin, since its inception. In recent years, student interest in the program has declined. In the past five years, the program only attracted about 12 students a year, according to Kurt Lynch, director of vocational education at STC-South.

Koons said five students were enrolled for the fall semester and 11 were enrolled for the spring semester.

“I’ve only been here two months, but as I see it, it’s been a five-year problem,” Koons said.

“If the program is failing in the aggregate, we shouldn’t have it open to begin with,” said Larry A. Wittig of Tamaqua Area, the STC board vice president.

Members of an advisory board — Schuylkill Technology Centers Horticulture Department Occupational Advisory Committee — came out to encourage the board to keep the program.

They included Susan C. Hyland, Auburn, and Kenny Fetherolf, Orwigburg. Fetherolf, owner of Forget Me Not Florist, Orwigsburg, graduated from the program in 2009.

“I would like to express my sincere concern over the suggestion to close the horticulture program at Schuylkill Technology Center-South. In a county where the majority of our residents support themselves through some form of agriculture or horticulture, I feel this training program is an essential educational option,” Hyland said in a letter to the board.

Scott Jacoby, board president, read the letter aloud at the meeting.

“There are many factors, of course, that must be considered in a decision to close a course and certainly enrollment is critical in sustaining a program, but I feel like our local system of secondary education should not abandon this offering just yet. With a robust and year around active public outreach, not relying on parents or students to search out the offerings at the facility website, and a change in focus of course instruction to complement the local industry trends, then enrollment numbers could be boosted,” Hyland said in the letter.

“Making use of multiple methods of publicity, including school board meetings, PTA meetings, faculty in-service and public forms, i.e. job fair, county fair, ‘mall days’, etc., to describe the educational benefits to students, but more importantly to the adults who help them make course work choices, could stimulate enrollment. If the supposition is that the students/public do not find this curriculum serves the gainful employment of a student, then a local investigation might be done to determine what change in agriculture and horticulture training is more desirable. Local surveys would put a fine point on the expectations of the local stakeholders,” Hyland said in the letter.

And Hyland strongly recommended the board review the program to make sure it “addresses the needs of the local/regional horticulture industries.”

Wittig made the motion to “curtail the Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations General, CIP Code 01.0601 effective with the 2017-2018 school year.”

It was seconded by Mary Jo Moss of Blue Mountain and carried unanimously by all other board members in attendance.

“Commitment, right?” Charles “Chaz” Hepler of North Schuylkill asked Koons before casting his vote.

“Yes,” Koons said.

Then Helpler voted “yes.”

“I vote ‘yes’ based on Dr. Koons’s commitment,” Jacoby of Schuylkill Haven Area said.

The others present were: Jay Hanley of Mahanoy Area; Gretchen Ulmer of Minersville Area; Scott Thomas of Pottsville Area; Helene Creasy of Shenandoah Valley; and Roger Heidlebaugh of Tri-Valley.

Absent were David Frew of Pine Grove Area, Michael Holobetz of Saint Clair Area and Daniel F. Stroup of Williams Valley.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6011

2 injured in head-on

crash in Pine Grove

PINE GROVE — Two people were injured in a two-vehicle collision that occurred at 10:15 a.m. Sunday on Sweet Arrow Lake Road, just west of West Mountain Road, Washington Township.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Robert H. Mann, 78, of Schefferstown, was driving a 2004 Harley-Davidson motorcycle east on Sweet Arrow Lake Road when he crossed over the center line a struck a 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser head-on. Police said Mann was thrown from the motorcycle.

He was flown to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville. Police said Mann was wearing appropriate riding gear and a helmet. The driver of the Chrysler, Robin R. Umbenhauer, 58, of Pine Grove, was transported by ambulance to a Pottsville hospital, police said.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene and a traffic citation was filed against Mann. North End Fire Company and Pine Grove Community Ambulance assisted at the scene.

Woman allegedly

attacked mother

POTTSVILLE — A Pottsville woman was jailed after being arrested by Pottsville police after a domestic incident involving her mother about 1:20 p.m. Wednesday.

Police said their investigation determined a 50-year-old Auburn woman was at 713 Mine St., the home of her daughter, Morgan Natale, when Natale began cursing and yelling at her mother to get out. She then grabbed her mother by the throat and began choking her, causing her breathing to become restricted, police said.

Natale also tried to throw her mother down a flight of steps, but the woman was able to break free and flee the area.

Police said officers saw the recent physical injury on the victim’s neck, leading to Patrolman Joseph Krammes charging Natale with strangulation and domestic violence simple assault.

Natale was taken into custody at her home, arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $15,000 straight cash bail, police said.

Man reports being

threatened by driver

POTTSVILLE — Pottsville police are looking for information on the identity of a person who was driving a van during an incident about 7 p.m. Friday in which he pointed a handgun at another man in the area of Walter Griffith Avenue and Peacock Street.

Police said on Saturday officers received information from an 18-year-old Pottsville man who said he had been driving in the area Friday and saw a dark green minivan with NASCAR stickers on the back and a loud exhaust stopped at the intersection.

The man said that after he passed the van, its driver accelerated past him and pulled off the road, police said. After passing the van a second time, the man reported he saw a white man driving that vehicle point a handgun at him.

The driver is described as wearing glasses and having a mustache and light facial hair, police said.

Anyone with information on the identity of this driver is asked to call Patrolman Paul Olson at 570-622-1234, Ext. 189. All information will remain confidential.

Police: Driver not

at fault in incident

POTTSVILLE — Pottsville police investigated an incident involving a pedestrian being struck that was reported about 6:50 p.m. Saturday in the 600 block of North Second Street.

Police said their investigation determined that a 14-year-old girl was walking on the sidewalk with her 11-year-old friend and her friend’s mother, all from Pottsville, when the mother attempted to throw water on the girls from a bottle in a playful manner. The 14-year-old jumped out of the way and into the roadway where she was struck by a pickup truck being driven south on Second Street by a 21-year-old Pottsville man.

Police said the man applied his brakes and took evasive action but was unable to avoid hitting the girl with the driver’s side front tire and quarter panel of his vehicle.

The girl suffered extensive trauma to her right ankle and was taken to a local medical facility by Schuylkill EMS for treatment.

Detective Kirk Becker completed the accident investigation that showed no fault of the pickup truck driver other than the vehicle having an expired inspection sticker, police said.

May checkpoints

lead to 6 DUI arrests

The North Central PA Regional DUI Enforcement Program announced details of three DUI enforcement measures conducted last month.

On May 19, 12 officers from eight departments conducted a DUI checkpoint in West Mahanoy Township resulting in 367 vehicles contacted, 34 detained and three drivers tested for DUI.

There were two DUI arrests made along with 29 traffic arrests and three criminal arrests made along with four seat belt citations and five warning notices issued.

Another DUI checkpoint was conducted in West Penn Township on May 26 by 14 officers from seven departments.

There were 434 vehicles contacted, 23 detained and four drivers tested for DUI.

The officers made four DUI arrests, nine traffic arrests, four criminal arrests and issued four seat belt citations and two warning notices.

Finally, two officers from two departments conducted a roving DUI patrol on May 27 resulting in 21 vehicles contacted and detained but no drivers tested for DUI.

The officers did make eight traffic arrests, one criminal arrest and issued 13 warning notices.

Task force sets

roving DUI patrols

The North Central Regional Sobriety Checkpoint DUI Taskforce announced that sobriety checkpoints and roving DUI patrols will be conducted now through Monday on routes 61, 183, 901, 209, 1006, 309, 1008, 443, 895, 125, 25, 924 and 54.

Travelers are reminded to call 911 if they suspect a drunk driver or 888-UNDER21 to report underage drinking.

Man charged with

possessing drugs

McADOO — A borough man was charged by McAdoo police after officers observed suspicious activity about 11:20 p.m. May 29 near the 400 block of South E Street.

Police said officers found two men in an alleyway engaged in close physical interaction and determined one of the men was William Evanko, 28.

A strong odor of marijuana was detected and a subsequent pat-down search found Evanko had a significant amount of marijuana and two vials of cannabis oil, police said.

Evanko was charged with three counts of possession of marijuana and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.

POTTSVILLE — Repair work continues on Schuylkill County Municipal Authority’s Park Basin water tank.

The project, which involves the rehabilitation and repainting of the tank, started in April. It is scheduled to be complete in early August.

The tank was removed from service and drained May 6. Water will be added back to the tank once the project is completed. A temporary monopole was also put up next to the tank because the antennas on top of the tank were removed.

The inside and outside of the tank are being robotically blasted. As of last month, 50 percent of the tank was blasted and primed, Patrick M. Caulfield, executive director of the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority, said.

A $1,887,223 contract was awarded to WorldWide Industries Corp., Florida, in March for work on three tanks — Park Basin, Mount Laurel No. 1 and Sharp Mountain No. 2. The authority received a loan of $6.4 million in January from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority for the tank upgrade project and the replacement of 11,000 residential water meters in 22 municipalities. Work on the other two tanks is complete.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

Frackville

Elks Lodge 1533, South Third Street, will have its annual Flag Day service at 2 p.m. Sunday to honor the American flag and its history. The event is open to the public. Tickets will be provided to those attending for food and refreshments following the ceremony. For more information, call the lodge at 570-874-2500. Traditionally, Flag Day is June 14.

Mahanoy City

Nick Kupensky, Ph.D., an teacher, author and visiting assistant professor of comparative humanities at Bucknell University as well as vice president of the Carpatho-Rusyn Research Center, will present a lecture on Father Emil Kubek at St. Mary Ruthenian Church, 621 W. Mahanoy Ave., at 1 p.m. June 17. The lecture will be followed by a walking tour of Mahanoy City and end with a 4 p.m. Mass at the church. Kubek’s literary accomplishments include poetry, short stories and prose that still draws interested readers from America to Europe, according to a release. Kubek drew upon Mahanoy City to create the settings of his short stories and portrayals the immigrant experience. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, email Chuck Schneider at cfsomni@aol.com.

McAdoo

Borough property owners and/or residents who are current with their garbage bills can have one bulk item picked up on the second Monday of each month. The next bulk pickup day is June 12. Bulk items do not include appliances, electronics, tires, batteries or hazardous materials. Future dates are July 10, Aug. 14, Sept. 11, Oct. 9, Nov. 13 and Dec. 11. For more information, call the borough office at 570-929-1182.

McAdoo

The Church of All Saints will hold a basket raffle bonanza from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. The event will include tricky trays, large prizes, a 50/50 drawing, home-baked goods and food items; the menu includes beef barbecue, potato cakes, pizza and hot dogs. Disc jockey John Shigo will provide entertainment. All are welcome.

Minersville

Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, Rush Township, and Rep. Neal P. Goodman, D-123, Mahanoy City, will host a concealed carry seminar at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Minersville Area High School, 40 High School Lane. The seminar will provide an overview of concealed carry laws in Pennsylvania. Also participating will be Berks County Sheriff Eric Weaknecht and Schuylkill County Sheriff Joseph Groody. For more information, contact Mary Beth Dougherty at 570-773-0891 or mdougherty@pasen.gov or Bob Laylo at 717-787-7226 or rlaylo@pahouse.net.

Nuremberg

The Twin County Joint Municipal Authority will hold its regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the treatment plant. The public is welcome to attend.

Nuremberg

Kindergarten registration for students planning to attend the Hazleton Area School District’s Valley Elementary School in the fall will be held June 28 at the school. To make an appointment, call 570-459-3111, Ext. 3000.

Saint Clair

The North Parish Strawberry Festival will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. June 21 at Holy Apostles Episcopal Church, 307 E. Hancock St. The event will include strawberries and ice cream, baked goods and beverages. Tickets are $5 each and people may eat at the church or take items out. For more information, call 570-429-7107.

Tuscarora

The Strawberry Playhouse, 60 Church St., will present the musical “Oliver!” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, June 16 and 17 and 2 p.m. Saturday and June 18. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for senior citizens and students and $5 for children 10 and younger. For tickets or more information, call 570-325-4368 or email lafala@pa.metrocast.net. For people who bring a nonperishable food donation for area food pantries, $1 will be taken off the ticket price. All are welcome.

MAR LIN — The Norwegian Township supervisors heard a complaint about a neglected property at its meeting Monday.

Dan Kelly, Seltzer, lives near the property at 303 Main St.

“It’s getting bad,” he said, noting high grass, weeds and stray cats.

Kelly said some of the weeds are 3 to 4 feet tall. He also said a side porch on the property is caving in and a garage roof is not in much better shape. He asked the supervisors what the township was going to do about the property.

“This is the first time we had a complaint on this property,” BJ Evans, township solicitor, said.

Bill Kirwan, road foreman, agreed the property is in bad shape.

Kelly said he talked to other people in the township abut the property, but he admitted Monday was the first time he spoke about it at a township meeting.

Evans said they will find out who the property owner is, see what code violations exist and go from there to deal with the issue.

The online Schuylkill County Parcel Locator lists Kenneth F. Purcell as the owner. Tax records show there are back taxes from several years owed on the property.

In other business, Supervisor Leo Grace said he would like to resign due to health reasons.

Supervisor Stanley Petchulis said he was surprised by the announcement, as Grace didn’t say anything to him earlier in the day.

“I knew you wouldn’t let me do it,” Grace said.

Petchulis asked if Grace would stay on until his term is up in November. Grace said he will stay on as long as he is needed.

After the meeting, Grace said he didn’t know how many more meetings he would attend due to his health. He will continue to work in the office.

Petchulis commended Grace for his dedication to the township.

“He did a great job. He’s been here 40 years,” Petchulis said.

The crowed thanked Grace for his years of service to the township with a room full of applause.

Grace said he didn’t expect to get that recognition after being a supervisor for more than 40 years.

The supervisors accepted the resignation of two auditors, Kevin Grace and Gail Kurtek. Grace is the son of Leo Grace

Leo Grace said his son obtained other employment out of the area and will no longer work in the township office or be an auditor.

Anyone interested in the position must get information from the Schuylkill County Election Bureau and have 10 signatures to be on the ballot in November.

Keith Tokonitz, chairman of the planning and zoning board, told the supervisors that John Diefenderfer, a member of the zoning hearing board, resigned for personal reasons effective June 1. Supervisors voted to accept his resignation.

Anyone interested in the position should send a letter of interest to the supervisors.

Tokonitz said there are six members on the seven-member board after the resignation of Diefenderfer. Four are need for a quorum.

Resident Davis George asked Evans about concerns he had about a previous auditor meeting. Evans told him Kevin Grace voted as an auditor because he was elected to do so.

“Kevin was doing his job,” Evans said.

Leo Grace attended the 2016 auditors meeting George had questioned.

“The questionable issue was whether Leo voted or not,” Evans said, adding Leo Grace did not vote.

A 2017 meeting was not held because none of the auditors wanted to show up except Kevin Grace.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

ORWIGSBURG — A fire in a huge pile of recycled debris at a North Manheim Township scrap yard Tuesday morning sent heavy smoke billowing into the air.

Firefighters were called to U.S.S. Achey Inc. Iron and Metal on Second Mountain Road just before 9 a.m. and found a large pile of “fluff” on fire.

Arthur Raudenbush, facility manager, said the material on fire was automotive scrap refuse. The material consists of shredded items including upholstery, batteries, seats and other car parts that are ground up during the recycling process.

Raudenbush said that at times during the shredding process, pieces of hot metal become mixed in and can sit in the pile of fluff for days just smoldering. That’s the suspected cause of Tuesday’s fluff pile fire.

Although Achey workers are usually able to extinguish such fires, this time the size of the blaze forced them to call for assistance from area firefighters.

“This time it was a little bigger,” Raudenbush said.

He said that the pile of fluff material is taken to a landfill and kept in a separate area away from buildings and other recycling and scrap locations.

Beside the large amount of smoke that the burning material caused, there was no danger to the public, workers or other areas of the business.

“We keep it (the fluff) in a separate area just in case things like this happen,” Raudenbush said.

He said that having firefighters assist in putting out the fire ensured it would not smolder for an extended period of time.

“It could burn for days and days” if left unattended, Raudenbush said.

Firefighters from Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Haven, Auburn, Landingville, New Ringgold, Friedensburg and Deer Lake-West Brunswick Township responded to the call and contained the blaze within about 30 minutes.

Firefighters continued to pour water on the pile after the flames were extinguished to make sure the fire was completely out.

Contact the writer: fandruscavage@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6013

2 face underage

drinking charges

McADOO — McAdoo police charged two people with underage drinking after separate incidents in the borough.

On May 26, police said a 17-year-old McAdoo girl was cited after officers were called for disturbance about 8:50 p.m. at a home on Manning Street and found she had been consuming alcohol.

Then, about 3:05 a.m. Sunday, police said, officers stopped a vehicle for a lighting violation and found a passenger — Meghan Santoni, 20, of Hazleton — in possession of an open bottle of brandy with apple liquor.

Both will now have to answer to the charges against them before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua.

Vehicle search

nets drug charges

McADOO — A Hazleton man was charged by McAdoo police after a traffic stop about 12:30 a.m. May 21.

Police said officers stopped a vehicle for a violation and were granted a consent search by the driver.

That search led to the discovery of a backpack in the back seat owned by Brian Ventura that contained a pink stun gun and a small plastic bag containing marijuana, police said.

Ventura was charged with one count each of prohibited offensive weapons, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.

Woman cited after

1-vehicle crash

HAMBURG — A Kempton woman was injured when the 2007 Dodge Caliber she was driving crashed about 6 a.m. Friday on Route 143, just north of Old Philly Pike in Albany Township, Berks County.

State police at Hamburg said Ivy Kauffman, 33, was driving south when she failed to follow a slight left curve, went off the road and struck a PennDOT sign and then an embankment, causing the car to flip onto its roof and come to a stop in the northbound lane.

Police said Kauffman was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Allentown, for injuries she suffered in the crash. The woman appeared to be under the influence of multiple prescription medications, police said, adding that charges are pending the results of toxicology testing.

As a result of the crash, police said, Kauffman will be cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic.

2 not hurt in 895

2-vehicle accident

McKEANSBURG — Two people escaped injury when their vehicles collided about 12:05 p.m. Friday at Summer Valley Road, Route 895, and South Market Street in East Brunswick Township.

State police at Frackville said Walter T. Zeigler, 77, of Schuylkill Haven, was driving a 1998 Ford Explorer east on Route 895 when he tried to turn left onto South Market Street and drove into the path of a westbound 2003 Jeep Liberty driven by Connor R. Yourkavitch, 19, of Wyomissing.

Police said Yourkavitch applied his brakes and steered to avoid a collision but was unable to do so.

As a result of the crash, police said, Zeigler will be cited for turning movements and required signals.

Police investigate

restaurant burglary

NEW RINGGOLD — State police at Frackville are investigating a burglary that occurred between May 22 and Friday at Smith’s Country Inn Restaurant, 555 Church St., East Brunswick Township.

Police said someone entered the business and stole several copper tea kettles and a large antique National Cash Register made of brass before fleeing the area.

The stolen items are valued at about $3,000, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Trooper Michael Allar at the Frackville station at 570-874-5300. All information will remain confidential.

Man cited for

1-vehicle crash

MINERSVILLE — A Coal Township man suffered minor injuries when the 2000 Ford F-150 he was driving crashed about 7 a.m. Saturday on Sunbury Road, Route 901, just east of Woodside Drive in Cass Township.

State police at Frackville said Jerry J. Schiazza, 63, was driving south when he lost control of his truck on a left curve, west off the road and struck a utility pole.

After hitting the pole, police said, the truck rolled onto its passenger’s side and came to a stop facing northwest.

Schiazza suffered a minor injury and was taken to a Pottsville hospital by Minersville EMS for treatment.

Police said Cass Township firefighters assisted at the scene and that Schiazza will be cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic as a result of the crash.

Forestville

A Chinese auction, corn hole and horseshoe tournament will be held from noon to 7 p.m. June 18 at the Forest Fire Company picnic grove, Forest Lane, sponsored by the Friends of Mike Ilsley. Ilsley, 47, of Minersville, is battling colon and liver cancer. The cost for a sheet of tickets is $5. Prizes include a Galaxy One electronic dart board, Carvin electric guitar with case, a Day at the Beach basket, Murphy Jewelers diamond necklace, Pocono Raceway tickets, Flyers puck, and other baskets, gift and lottery cards. There will also be homemade food and desserts. For more information, call Helen Droskinis at 570-640-0577.

Frackville

The Frackville Ministerium Food Bank will be open from 9 to 10 a.m. June 15 to serve eligible residents in the borough. New applicants will need proof of eligibility — a Frackville borough address. The food bank is located at Zion Lutheran Church. People must use the downstairs entrance by the parking lot on South Beech Street.

Minersville

A trap shoot and Chinese auction benefit for Amy Purcell Kanezo is set for June 25 with signups starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Minersville Fish & Game Club, Live Oaks Road. The cost is 50 targets for $10. Food will be available and all are welcome. For more information, call 570-544-3155.

Mount Carbon

The borough will hold a town hall meeting for residents at 6:30 p.m. June 14 at the Mystic Screen Printing Office, 1108 S. Centre St., at the Mount Carbon Arch. The meeting concerns the Mount Carbon Fire Company No. 1 acquiring a Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board C.C. Club catering license. For more information, call the company at 570-622-1504.

Ringtown

The Ringtown Valley Fire and Rescue Company, 46 W. Main St., will have an all-you-can-eat breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday at the firehouse. The cost is $9 for adults and $4 for children. Patrons may eat at the firehouse or take meals out. For more information, call 570-889-3245. The company will also have a pizza sale on June 16. Call the aforementioned number for information.

Ringtown

St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, 82 N. Center St., will sponsor a block party/car show Friday and Saturday. The annual block party will be 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday. Registration for the car show will be at noon Saturday. Trophies will be at 5 p.m. and there will be live music by the disc jockey Partytime. Homemade food, including bleenies, wings and other items will be available. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-889-5099.

Schuylkill Haven

An outdoor music performance is set for 7 p.m. June 23 at the Walk In Art Center featuring singer Eva Katherine. The cost is $12 per person, and free for children under 5. It will be on the parking lot behind the center. For more information, email information@walkinartcenter.com.

Shenandoah

The Shenandoah Valley School District is participating in the summer food service program. Meals, according to a district press release, will be provided to all children 18 and younger without charge. Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, age or disability and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service, district officials said in the release. Meals will be provided at the site and time as follows: Elementary cafeteria, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 19 to Aug. 18 but will be closed July 4 and 5. Any person who believes he/she has been discriminated against in any USDA-related activity should write or call USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights Room 326-W Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410.

POTTSVILLE — The valedictorian of the Nativity BVM High School Class of 2017 encouraged her classmates to hold on to as many memories as possible, and not just the good ones.

“Be grateful for the ways in which Nativity and our experiences have challenged us to grow as people,” Noelle Steele, 18, of Pottsville, said before a crowd of more than 450 in the high school auditorium at 1 Lawtons Hill.

“When you look back at high school, you will not remember the person you were when you walked in, but you will remember the person you are today when you walk out those doors. When you look back, most of you will remember the good memories. I challenge you to remember the painful ones,” she said.

“Remember the day you cried in third period, and the day you found out a rumor about yourself, and the day you finally stood up for yourself. These are the days that gave you the strength to become the best version of yourself. Because of those days, you appreciate the good days more,” she said.

Steele is the daughter of Karen Ferenchick and Richard Steele. She has an older brother, Travis, and a younger brother, Nikolas.

She plans to attend Marywood University, Scranton, to study communications sciences and disorders.

“I want to be an audiologist,” she said.

The salutatorian was Chloe Prezelski, 18, of Pottsville.

She is the daughter of Allison and Richard Prezelski. Her family includes an older sister, Kayla, and a younger brother, Matt.

She plans to study systems engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

“I hope I can find a job and be happy,” she said.

“I hope that you never give up, even when your climb seems to be nothing but an uphill battle. Looking back on the past four years, recognize how far you’ve made it on your climb, but also how far you still have to go. Be grateful for your experiences, opportunities, knowledge and memories high school has given you and where it has brought you,” Prezelski said in a speech that opened the ceremony.

“Some argue that high school is the best four years of your life, but I believe that there are far better things ahead than any you leave behind. The growth we have experienced does not stop here. Keep growing, keep progressing and keep climbing. I hope one day you’ll be able to look back and tell me the view was incredible,” Prezelski said.

In all, 52 seniors turned their tassels at graduation Tuesday night.

Pottsville Mayor James T. Muldowney, who graduated from Nativity BVM in 1976, was given the Distinguished Alumni Award.

“I’ve been involved at Nativity for over 40 years. And I’ve been in every corner of this school, from the boiler room to the locker room to the roof. But I never stood up at this podium. And it’s an honor to stand up here in front of the Class of 2017,” the mayor said as he accepted the honor.

“I have attended countless events in this gymnasium as a student, as a parent and as an alumni. I have attended Mass, assemblies, plays, sporting events and pep rallies. But the most exciting and emotional event that I have attended here is graduation, a time where we celebrate the past, say goodbye and embrace the future. Although we are uncertain about what the future holds, I am sure of a few things. The sacrifice and investment that your family has made in your Catholic education will pay great dividends in every aspect of your life. Your education will allow you to proudly embrace your Catholic faith and will lead you to make a positive impact on everyone you meet,” he said.

Contact the writer: spytak@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6011

PALO ALTO — An Orwigsburg man was jailed after being arrested by state police at Schuylkill Haven and charged with kidnapping a woman late Monday night.

The woman — Joanne Arcuri, 43, of Pottsville — was found unharmed in the truck of her alleged kidnapper.

Michael N. Krause, 27, of 30 White Birch Road, was charged with one felony count of kidnapping and one misdemeanor count each of unlawful restraint and false imprisonment.

Krause was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $25,000 straight cash bail.

Trooper Vincent Laselva charged Krause with the incident that started about 11 p.m. in the area of 509 W. Savory St., Palo Alto.

Laselva said he was called to the area of that address along with Troopers Thomas Finn and Justin Humanick for a report of an abduction and was redirected to the area of White Birch Road in Wayne Township to look for the fleeing vehicle involved in the incident.

Unable to find the vehicle immediately, Laselva said he returned to the scene and interviewed a witness about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, who reported taking Arcuri to a home in Palo Alto. The witness said Arcuri entered the home and then came out, saying she was going to stay there for the night. As the witness was pulling out, he reported seeing Krause yelling at Arcuri, Laselva said.

Laselva said the witness then said Krause “grabbed” Arcuri and “stuffed her” in the driver’s side of his truck and pulled away.

Laselva said the witness said he tried to block Krause, but he turned and fled.

Later Tuesday morning, Laselva said Schuylkill Township Police Chief Frank DiMarco and Patrolman Christian Deangelo found the truck in Middleport and found Krause and another man outside the vehicle and Arcuri, who said she was being held against her will, inside.

Krause and the other man were taken into custody and the two, along with Arcuri, taken to the Schuylkill Haven state police barracks.

Laselva said that when Arcuri was interviewed, she reported being at the Krause home on Monday, and sneaking out when he was sleeping because he was abusive.

Arcuri said that later in the day she received a ride to Palo Alto to the house of people she knows and, as she was walking on the sidewalk, Krause “came out of nowhere,” picked her up, and threw her in his truck.

The woman said she started kicking and screaming but Krause would not let her out and drove on Tumbling Run Road, ending up at Turkey Hill in Port Carbon, Laselva said.

From there, Arcuri said, Krause drove to New Philadelphia, where he talked on his phone and then drove to Middleport where they were eventually found by Schuylkill Township police.

DiMarco said that he and Deangelo were on patrol in an alley behind 88 Washington St. in Middleport when they saw the vehicle, Krause standing outside and Arcuri in the backseat.

EMS was called to evaluate Arcuri, who according to DiMarco was “visibly shaken and upset.”

Krause will have to answer to the charges against him at a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon. The other man arrested with Krause has not been charged in the incident.

Contact the writer fandruscavage@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6013

Christina E. Hale

FRACKVILLE — A 43-year-old Northumberland County Prison inmate had firearms charges against him held for court during a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale.

Christopher I. Hauptmann was arrested by state police Trooper Cabrera Maldonado of the Frackville station and Northumberland County Detective Degg H. Stark and charged with four felony counts of possession of a prohibited firearm, three felony counts of tampering with public records or information and three misdemeanor counts of unsworn falsification to authorities.

Hale determined the commonwealth proved a prima facie case and ordered all charges against Hauptmann held for Schuylkill County Court.

Authorities charged Hauptmann with purchasing a rifle, shotgun and pistol from Kahler’s Gun Sot in Butler Township between September 2011 and January. The man then transferred the weapons into his wife’s name and lied on the ATF form by denying a previous felony conviction.

Police said that Hauptmann is currently in Columbia County Prison in lieu of $310,000 straight cash bail awaiting trial on multiple felony and misdemeanor cases both in and out of Northumberland County.

Other court cases included:

Gregory J. Williams, 45, of 937 Market St., Ashland; withdrawn: simple assault and harassment. Waived for court: unlawful dissemination of intimate images, harassment, stalking, possession of a weapon, resisting arrest and terroristic threats.

Edward R. Harter, 30, of 906 Centre St., Apt. 2B, Ashland; waived for court: criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

Nicole Ann Neary, 26, of 139 Centre St., Apt. 1, Ashland; waived for court; false alarms to agencies of public safety, false reports, theft, receiving stolen property and disorderly conduct.

Anthony J. Kilker

SHENANDOAH — A Shenandoah woman charged with concealing the whereabouts of a man wanted by police on May 11 had charges against her held for Schuylkill County Court during a hearing before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker.

Tiara R. Pleva, 33, of 109 E. Centre St., Upper Apt.. was arrested by Shenandoah police Patrolmen David Stamets and Joshua Pastucka and charged two felony counts of hindering apprehension or prosecution. Kilker determined the commonwealth proved a prima facie case and ordered both charges held for Schuylkill County Court.

The officers charged Pleva with concealing the whereabouts of a man wanted by police who was inside her apartment at the time officers came looking for him.

Both Pleva and another man said the man was not inside even though he could be seen climbing out of a second-floor kitchen window, the officers said.

The man being sought was taken into custody a short time later, the officers said.

Other court cases included:

Mark A. Fortney, 62, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville, and 189 Fourth St., Box 96, Oneida; withdrawn: resisting arrest. Waived for court: intimidation against a witness or victim, terroristic threats, criminal mischief and retaliation against a witness or victim.

Frankie N. Rios, 33, of 331 S. West St., Shenandoah; withdrawn: simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment.

Jason J. Nevadomsky, 41, of Box 15, 185 Fourth St., Oneida; withdrawn: recklessly endangering another person. Held for court: DUI-controlled substance, recklessly endangering another person, reckless driving, careless driving and driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked.

Richard R. J. Buhl, 23, of 1313 E. Pine St., Mahanoy City; waived for court: DUI-controlled substance, failure to use safety belts and driving a vehicle without a valid inspection.

Jeremiah L. Claude, 27, of 130 W. Spruce St., Mahanoy City; waived for court: possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked.

Stephen J. Bayer

TAMAQUA — A Coaldale man arrested by Tamaqua police in connection with a sexual assault on East Broad Street in that community on Jan. 22 had charges against him held for court during a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer.

Travis K. Christman, 25, of 223 E. High St., was arrested by Cpl. Henry Woods and charged with two counts each of aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and simple assault along with one count of unlawful restraint.

Bayer determined the commonwealth proved a prima facie case and ordered all charges against Christman held for Schuylkill County Court.

Woods said Christman arrived at the victim’s home and that she went out to speak with him since she had been trying to help the man with personal problems.

When the woman turned to go back inside her home, Woods said Christman grabbed her and began kissing her.

The woman tried to get away, but Woods said Christman grabbed her by the throat, began kissing her and then sexually assaulted her.

Other court cases included:

William Lynch, 39, of 69 Second St., Coaldale; waived for court: theft, receiving stolen property and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Daniel M. Gardner, 39, of 139 E. Washington St., McAdoo; DUI and DUI-highest rate.

Douglas J. Schartel Jr., 35, of 203 Market St., Apt./Suite 2, Tamaqua; waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Christine Lynn Alfaro, 46, of 500 Pine St., Tamaqua; withdrawn: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Laura B. Peters, 26, of 401 Pine St., Apt. 1, Tamaqua; withdrawn: tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

Michael C. Hill Jr., 25, of 123 Pitt St., Tamaqua; held for court: theft by unlawful taking and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Renaldo Natal, 40, of 34 Hunter St., Apt. 2, Tamaqua; waived for court: retail theft.

Thomas Gaughan Sr., 55, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville; waived for court: defiant trespass and disorderly conduct.

Ryan M. Daniels, 36, of 401 Pine St., Apt. 1 Rear, Tamaqua; waived for court: recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness, use of firearms restricted and possession of a weapon.

Tedd R. Fredericks, 45, of 325 Washington St., Tamaqua; withdrawn: simple assault, harassment and criminal mischief.

Francis M. Padilla, 36, of 527 S. Kennedy Drive, McAdoo; waived for court: corruption of minors, simple assault and conspiracy.

George E. Da Trotta, 26, of 36 E. Oak St., Shenandoah; waived for court: fleeing or attempting to elude police, exceeding the speed limit, driving without a license, improper classes of licenses, driving without insurance, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving a vehicle without a valid inspection.

Edward Kashmer, 51, of 216 Owl Creek Road, Tamaqua; waived for court: materially false written statements regarding the purchase, delivery or transfer of firearms and statements under penalty.

Michael D. Starr, 45, of 107 S. Main St., MaryD; waived for court: materially false written statements regarding the purchase, delivery or transfer of firearms and statements under penalty.

Nadine R. Leibensperger, 28, of 242 E. Mauch Chunk St., Tamaqua; withdrawn: simple assault and harassment.

Gregario Flores, 37, of 52B Hunter St., Tamaqua; held for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Amanda Cope, 27, of 510 E. Elm St., Tamaqua; waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Christopher M. Bahrey, 22, of 15 Haddock Road, McAdoo; waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Matthew J. Bahrey, 24, of 15 Haddock Road, McAdoo; waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Robert A. Bachert, 67, of 113 Bull Run St., Coaldale; waived for court: DUI, disregard for single traffic lane, careless driving and failure to use safety belts.

James Bloss, 61, of 303 Washington St., Tamaqua; waived for court: defiant trespass.

Dennis K. Parrish, 54, of 2132 Sunny Road, No. 4, New Ringgold; waived for court: simple assault and harassment.

Gary A. Lauritzen, 52, of 131 Penn St., Tamaqua; withdrawn: materially false written statements regarding the purchase, delivery or transfer of firearms. Waived for court: statements under penalty.

Rachelle L. Cassidy, 31, of 233 Catawissa St., Tamaqua; waived for court: simple assault and harassment.

Felipe C. Maldonado, 24, of 811 Lizard Creek Road, Andreas; held for court: terroristic threats and harassment.