Atlas

The Mount Carmel Township Food Pantry distribution is set for 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the complex building.

McAdoo

The borough has reminded all property owners that permits are required for all work performed on the interior and/or exterior of properties, with the exception of painting. Permit applications can be obtained at the borough hall.

McAdoo

The meeting of the McAdoo Lions Club has been rescheduled to 6:30 p.m. March 21 at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Church Mall.

McAdoo

Ss. Peter and Paul Polish National Catholic PNC Church, 44 E. Adams St., will have its final potato cake and soup sale of the Lenten season beginning at 11 a.m. Friday. There will also be a rummage sale that day. For more information or to place orders, call Trisha at 570-929-2457 or 570-929-1558.

Pine Grove

The Pine Grove Area High School Future Business Leaders of America group is co-sponsoring a blood drive with the Pine Grove Ambulance from 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the Pine Grove Ambulance Social Hall, Spruce Street. The drive is open to the public. For an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767. All presenting donors will receive a complimentary American Red Cross St. Patrick’s Day T-shirt. People 17 and older (16 with parental consent), weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health are urged to donate blood.

Port Carbon

The Port Carbon Public Library recently acknowledged the following memorials: For Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fisher from Mr. and Mrs. Charles Richter Sr.; for Mr. and Mrs. Harlan Richter Sr. from Mr. and Mrs. Charles Richter Sr. The library also acknowledged a donation from Anne and Donald Kerns.

Pottsville

The Pottsville Rotary Club Senior Charity Bowl basketball all-star game at Pottsville Area School District’s Martz Hall is set for April 6. Tickets for the event have been mailed, according to the Rotary bulletin. The club’s annual Kauffman’s chicken barbecue is scheduled for June 23.

Ringtown

The Ringtown Area Library, Main Street, hosts free preschool storytime sessions at 11:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of the month for children ages 3 to 5. Toddler Time for children 18 to 36 months is held at 11:15 a.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month. Children must be accompanied by an adult. All local families with preschool-age children are invited to participate to socialize with other children and to gain essential pre-reading skills through stories, games and activities. All are welcome; people are asked to register in advance at the library.

Shenandoah

The monthly homemade soups and sausage hoagie sale sponsored by the revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc. has been rescheduled for March 22 at the downtown center, 116 N. Main St. The rescheduling was made necessary because of inclement weather. For more information, call DSI at 570-462-2060.

Tamaqua

The Tamaqua Community Art Center, 125 Pine St., for St. Patrick’s Day, will present an evening of traditional Celtic music and Irish step dancing with the Celtic Martins on Saturday. From southeastern Pennsylvania, the Martins began performing publicly in 2004 and were formerly known as the Martin Family Band. It includes parents Nelson and Elaine Martin, guitarists, their six children and family friend Elijah Roeder, the drummer. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 7 p.m. The show sponsors are Rosie and Gerald Stianche. Call 570-668-1192 for more information.

POTTSVILLE — A city resident says she feels safer after the blighted house she has lived next to for years was finally torn down.

“It’s a blessing. It’s a relief,” Michelle Schoenfelder, 316 S. Second St., said Friday of the demolition work to the house at 318 S. Second St.

In August 2014, Schoenfelder talked with The Republican-Herald about the property owned by New Legacy Investments LLC, 45 E. City Line Ave., Bala Cynwyd, according to the online Schuylkill Parcel Locator. At the time, she said the condemned building had a hole in the roof and, previously, there had been animals in it and it was a fire and health hazard.

George Wallish, a worker with Affordable Construction Demolition, Coal Township, on Monday provided a harsher assessment of the property. He said workers had to tear apart the property by hand for a couple of days because of its proximity to the Schoenfelder house.

At the time, she said they pay their taxes and should not have to live like they were. The city sent notices to the owners, and several citations were filed at Magisterial District Judge James F. Reiley’s Pottsville office, but only one certified summons was accepted, court documents show.

The property was on a list for 10 potential properties to be bid on for demolition in 2015, but it was not bid on. The property was removed from the list because there were additional steps that had to be taken before that could happen.

“It was harder because the center had fallen to the basement,” he said of the three-story house. “The shell was there, but the inside was very bad. In the first floor there was a hole. In the second floor there was hole.”

Work at the house started two weeks ago and is about 95 percent done, he said Friday. Weather depending, it may be completed this week.

On Friday, workers were on hand removing debris from the basement. An excavator scooped up the debris and put it into a truck.

The hole in the center of the second floor was about 8 feet wide, while the first-floor hole was about 4 feet, Wallish said.

The ground will be filled in and siding put on the side of the house that was connected to the demolished structure.

Schoenfelder was thankful to everyone who had a hand in removing the structure.

“I’ve been not only fighting for myself, but for other people,” she said, adding that no one should have to live in fear for their safety.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

POTTSVILLE — Although the Schuylkill County commissioners did not meet last week due to the closing of the courthouse because of weather March 7, Controller Christy D. Joy and County Administrator Gary Bender opened bids for the installation of walk-in showers at Holy Family Senior Apartments in New Philadelphia.

“They’re accessibility improvements to help the elderly,” John E. Levkulic, Pottsville, engineer for the project, said of the seven showers, which will replace the traditional bathtub-shower units.

Submitted bids included $23,800 by Redstone, $37,878 by Bognet and $52,303 by E.A. Johnson. Levkulic said he would post the bids, which are for all seven new walk-in showers at the 100 Valley St. complex, on his website.

Joy said the bids will be evaluated, with the contract awarded at a later commissioners meeting.

Bender said the commissioners will hold a combined work session and regular meeting today.

Catholic Senior Housing Development & Management, Bethlehem, a division of Catholic Senior Housing and Health Care Services Inc., manages the apartments under the auspices of the Diocese of Allentown, which includes Schuylkill County.

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

ELIZABETHVILLE — It didn’t take long for Kristen Harootunian’s life to spiral, following the death of her mother when she was just 11.

By the time she was 12 years old, she was depressed. Her negative thoughts eventually led to negative actions, she said. At 15, she had become addicted to drugs and alcohol and, by 16, she developed a self-harm habit.

“I told myself I was not good enough. I wasn’t a good enough daughter, a good enough friend, and I didn’t know if I even wanted to be alive,” she said.

Harootunian, now 20, shared her journey to recovery, serving as keynote speaker Tuesday during Upper Dauphin Area High School’s Drug Education Day.

Joann Brim, high school wellness instructor, along with librarian Janet Denlinger, organized the day of activities for the district’s sophomores. Brim arranged for 10 other guests in a variety of fields to visit the school, ranging from neonatal health care to counseling and law enforcement.

Travis “Featherhawk” Snyder, creator of Skook Recovers, brought his own message of overcoming a heroin addiction. Part of his group’s motto is “For those who still suffer, there is hope.”

Snyder showed a video of people who have addictions and what they’ve faced during the recovery process. Snyder said each person on that video was once a student, same as those attending.

“Each and every one of us is vulnerable to lead that chaotic life,” Snyder, Hegins, said.

He commended the district for hosting the drug awareness event.

Snyder was asked if he thought he’d be treated differently if he asked for help, how his addiction affected his family, and what he does today instead of doing drugs.

He last used drugs Dec. 22, 2011, when he was sent to Schuylkill County Prison and sought treatment.

When he was using, Snyder said, “I put my family through chaos. My mother couldn’t bear the thought of me overdosing and dying. I didn’t have a rational thought about how that affected her.”

“If you’re struggling, there is no shame in reaching out for help,” he said.

Snyder attended 12-step meetings and became involved in church and volunteer groups. He spent time with family and got involved in his community through litter pickup and playground improvement projects. He also focused on his fitness, his art hobby and began a screen printing business.

Having positive influences was also a message shared by Harootunian.

“Isolation is a negative coping skill,” Harootunian said.

Although she was a straight-A student, she started getting poor grades, eventually stopped going to school and hated the person she saw in the mirror.

She said she went through drug treatment and learned to tell the truth about how she was feeling.

“I needed to find new friends because all of my friends were drug addicts. You need to surround yourself with positive people. I switched all my friends and changed schools,” she said.

She continues going to therapy and today celebrates three years of being sober and 2 1/2 years of being free of self-harm. Harootunian encouraged students to find three, trusting adults in their lives. For her, those people are her father, therapist and sponsor.

“I want to let kids know they’re not alone. There’s always someone that can relate to what you’re going through. I leave happy, knowing that I can inspire someone else with what I’ve gone through,” Harootunian, Delaware County, said.

She has speaking engagements scheduled about twice per week. Her visits are scheduled through the Minding Your Mind organization, which provides mental health education. More information can be found at www.mindingyourmind.org.

Sophomore Amber Boyer said she enjoyed Snyder’s presentation.

“That stood out to me. He wanted us to know that we can get help and just because you make a bad decision when you’re younger, you can have a good life afterward,” Boyer, 16, of Elizabethville, said.

Indiana Miller, Gratz, found the Skook Recovers information helpful.

“He showed how people can make a positive difference in their community and showed the way to get back and to succeed in life,” Miller, 16, said.

Meanwhile, Stephen Boyer’s presentation demonstrated the reach of the opioid crisis. During the brief time he was at Upper Dauphin Area High School on Tuesday morning, his company had received a call to respond for an overdose. Boyer is a paramedic supervisor with UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg. He also teaches police departments and fire companies about the use of Narcan. Boyer is a graduate of Upper Dauphin Area High School, and his children, Patrick and Paytn, attend the district.

He spoke of how opioids affect the brain, different types of narcotics and how to identify when a person is a user and if they’re suffering an overdose. Narcan should not be considered an antidote or a permanent treatment, he said.

“There was a common thread. In every class, I asked if they’d seen or knew of someone who had an opioid overdose. Every class had someone who raised their hand,” Boyer said.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

Hegins Twp. police:

man bilked resident

VALLEY VIEW — Hegins Township police have filed charges against a Pottsville man charging him with bilking a township resident out of thousands of dollars.

Police said Justin Ney, 31, of 467 Seltzer Road, was charged with theft by deception and harassment.

He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi, Tremont, and released on $15,000 bail.

Police said the investigation began when the victim reported that Ney allegedly represented himself as being the owner of a residence in 823 W. Main St., Valley View, and was remodeling it in order to sell it.

The victim then provided Ney with $10,000 cash as an investment into the property in return for the original investment amount and splitting the profit of the sale, police said.

During the course of the investigation, police said, they learned that Ney never owned the residence but was renting it.

Ney was contacted and advised not to have any contact with the victim but allegedly contacted the victim several times, police said.

Police: Man, DUI,

drove through field

HEGINS — An investigation into an incident on Dec. 14 led to charges being filed by Hegins Township police against a Hegins man.

Police said they charged Steven Knotts, 55, of 458 S. Goodspring Road, with DUI and careless driving after he allegedly drove his vehicle through a crop field, nearly struck other vehicles in the roadway and parked across Park Lane blocking the roadway.

It was determined that Knotts had an alcohol level of 0.21 percent, more that two times the legal limit, police said, adding that the charges against him were filed with Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi, Tremont.

Man charged with

cruelty to animals

VALLEY VIEW — A cruelty to animals incident on Feb. 14 led to charges being filed by Hegins Township police against a 53-year-old Valley View man.

Police said Bruce L. Finney, 53, of 1323 W. Maple St., was charged with two counts of cruelty to animals and six counts of neglect of animal.

Police said officers were called to the Finney home for a report of two abandoned dogs and learned that no one had been at the residence for an extended period of time.

Officers subsequently obtained a search warrant for the property from Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi, Tremont, and discovered two pit bull dogs, one of which appeared emaciated and the other with a possible skin condition, police said, adding that the dogs had no access to water and were defecating and urinating throughout the residence, police said.

Police said they were assisted by Bridget Barder, cruelty officer with the Ruth Steinert SPCA.

Finney will now have to appear for a preliminary hearing before Rossi in his Tremont courtroom.

Police: Shen man

passed bad checks

SHENANDOAH — West Mahanoy Township police filed charges against a Shenandoah man as the result of an incident on Feb. 20.

Police said they were contacted by a local business to report that Trevor Jefferson passed a bad check as payment for services rendered by the establishment.

As a result, police said, Jefferson was charged with bad checks and will now have to answer before Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville.

Man who gave

false name charged

ALTAMONT — West Mahanoy Township police have filed charges against a man after an incident at a local motel on March 5.

Police said officers were called to the motel for a report of a disturbance and during the course of the incident learned that Robert Hester of Downingtown provided a false name.

As a result, police said, Hester was charged with false identification to law enforcement and disorderly conduct and will now have to appear before Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville.

Woman cited after

Rt. 924 accident

SHEPPTON — State police at Frackville investigated a crash that occurred on Route 924, Centre Street, just south of Green Mountain Road in East Union Township, around 3:40 p.m. Monday.

Police said Sarah A. Butler, 36, of Shenandoah, was driving a 2002 Ford Explorer north when she crossed the center line, traveled through the southbound lane and went off of the road and struck an embankment.

Police said the woman’s vehicle was towed from the scene and that as a result of the crash, she will be cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic.

Woman not hurt

in I-81 accident

DELANO — A North Carolina woman escaped injury when the 2015 Honda CRV she was driving crashed in the northbound lanes of Interstate 81, near mile marker 135.2 in Delano Township, around 1:25 a.m. Tuesday.

State police at Frackville said Tiffany L. Wilkins, 36, was driving north when she lost control in the snow-covered left lane, went off the left side of the road and down a slight embankment into the median.

The vehicle struck several large rocks in the median, causing disabling damage to the passenger’s side and undercarriage, police said.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Schuylkill Haven Area Middle School manufactured a top victory at the annual “Berks Schuylkill What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” video contest awards ceremony on March 6.

Schuylkill Haven Area won the Outstanding Overall Program award — the biggest award of 10 presented.

The video contest was started five years ago by the Manufacturers Resource Center in Allentown.

This year’s competition pitted 29 teams from 24 school districts against each other. Other Schuylkill County school districts included Blue Mountain, Mahanoy Area, Minersville Area, North Schuylkill, Pottsville Area D.H.H. Lengel Middle School, Saint Clair Area, Shenandoah Valley, Tamaqua Area and Tri-Valley.

It marks the third consecutive year Schuylkill Haven has won an award in the competition.

In 2017, Schuylkill Haven Area took home the Best Videography prize after featuring Hydro; in 2016, Schuylkill Haven Area won the Best Editing award after featuring Cardinal Systems.

“I was very surprised. It got to the last award and I like we’re not going to get it, and then I heard Schuylkill Haven and then I got really happy,” team member Kira Brish said.

Brish was joined by teammates Nicholas Maldonado, Zachary Taylor, Jacob Gilbert and Amanda Guers in the project.

The five students worked together starting in October to film and edit a two-and-a-half-minute video about a local manufacturer that would inspire classmates to consider pursuing a career in manufacturing.

The team was assigned to profile Fabcon Precast in Mahanoy Township. According to its website, Fabcon Precast “specializes in the design, manufacturing and installation of structural precast concrete wall panels.”

The team spent a day at Fabcon Precast headquarters in November, speaking with plant supervisor Ernie Wargo and other employees about the company’s workings and process for creating concrete walls.

Once the interviews had been conducted and the footage had been shot, it was time to edit it to the two-and-a-half minute limit and submit it for the competition.

Brish thought the team may win the Outstanding Creativity award, but the team walked away with the top prize of the night, which stunned the crew.

“First it was disbelief, then it went to excitement,” Maldonado said.

While the team learned about the manufacturing business and filming and editing in the process, there was one more lesson to be gained from their hard work.

“You can do anything with the power of teamwork,” Gilbert said.

Adviser Jordan Hocking was proud of his team this year and is already anticipating next year’s crop of eighth-graders who might participate in the contest.

“If they were to get that same award next year, I think that would be a pretty big accomplishment,” he said.

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

ORWIGSBURG — Michael A. Flickinger is headed to Schuylkill County Court after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday on numerous charges resulting from what police allege was a chase on Ash Wednesday that ended in two officers being injured.

Flickinger, 42, of 107 Market St., Port Carbon, faces charges of fleeing or eluding police, recklessly endangering another person and 54 traffic offenses. Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound over all charges for court after Flickinger waived his right to the hearing.

After waiving his right to the hearing, Flickinger returned to prison, where he is being held in lieu of $10,000 straight cash bail pending further court action.

State police at Schuylkill Haven filed the charges against Flickinger after the chase, which they allege started at 3:33 p.m. Feb. 14 on Manheim Road in North Manheim Township.

Police allege that when they tried to stop Flickinger because he was driving with a suspended license, he turned onto Route 61 and continued north through Schuylkill Haven. During the chase, according to police, Flickinger drove through red lights and violated many other traffic laws.

“This entire time, (Flickinger) made many unsafe passes, drove off the roadway into grassy areas, did not use turn signals and generally drove incredibly recklessly and carelessly,” the Affidavit of Probable Cause reads in part.

The chase continued onto Seven Stars Road and then back onto Route 61, with Flickinger continuing to make unsafe passes, cut off drivers and drive off the road many times, police said.

Police said the chase ended in Palo Alto when a state police car and a borough police car collided on West Bacon Street while trying to stop Flickinger. The police officers involved, state police Trooper Tyler Brackman and Palo Alto police Sgt. Joseph Kavanaugh, were each treated at a local hospital.

The traffic offenses police charged Flickinger with committing include 20 counts of improper turning movements, 10 of disregarding traffic lane, four of unsafe movements, three each of following too closely and improper right turn, two each of failure to stop at red signal and unsafe pass on left, and one each of failure to carry license, driving under suspension, failure to obey traffic control devices, failure to keep right, failure to yield, unsafe U-turn, failure to drive at a safe speed, speeding, careless driving and reckless driving.

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

POTTSVILLE — The Schuylkill County commissioners voted to advertise for bids to fix the roof of the Schuylkill County Courthouse annex at their regular monthly meeting Wednesday.

The bids for reroofing the courthouse annex will be accepted in the controller’s office at the courthouse until 3 p.m. April 2. They will be opened at 9 a.m. April 4 in the commissioners board room and the bidders announced at the 10 a.m. work session next month. An award date is tentatively scheduled for April 11.

County Administrator Gary Bender said the money was set aside in the budget under capital expenses for the work and others that need to be done. He said about $5 million was in the budget for capital expenses. Of that, about $350,000 is roof work. The work on the annex to replace the rubber roof has been allocated at about $140,000. Bender said the area to be replaced is over Judge John E. Domalakes’ office. He said it has been about 20 years since work has been done on the roof.

“This an old building. We need to maintain this for the people,” commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. said

Commissioner Gary Hess also talked about the need to keep up with maintenance on the building.

“This is a symbol of our county,” he said.

Hess said if any maintenance problems are not fixed in a timely manner, it will cost the taxpayers more money down the road.

“We are addressing these things. We are not kicking the can down the road,” Halcovage said.

Commissioner Frank Staudenmeier did not attend.

A moment of silence was then held for Edward M. Kleha, who was the chief of staff for state Rep. Neal P. Goodman, D-123, Mahanoy City. Kleha passed away March 8.

Both Halcovage and Hess talked about how important Kleha was to the county.

“Ed’s leadership will definitely be missed. If you didn’t know the answer, he would find the answer,” Hess said.

“He was a true public servant. When Ed was given a task, it got done. What he has done for our county will be remembered,” Halcovage said.

In other business, the commissioners approved the retirement of Joseph Pothering with the Schuylkill County Communications Center effective Friday; appointed Tara Zimmerman as a drug and alcohol case management specialist effective Monday; pending grant funding, appointed Shelby Sattizahn as an emergency planner effective Wednesday.

The commissioners approved the repository sale bids of nine properties in the county, approved to extend and modify current coal leases to include an automatic renewal for succeeding terms of one year unless either party gives written notice they don’t want to renew prior to the end of the lease, and entered into cooperation agreements with Girardville, New Philadelphia and Delano for community development projects.

Salary board

Action taken at the salary board meeting included creating a position of assistant coordinator/compliance officer in the office of economic development with an effective Wednesday. Halcovage said Bender is doing those duties right now. Funds will be paid from Community Development Block Grant funds that can be used for administrative purposes.

A position was also created for a temporary clerk in the clerk of courts office effective March 21. That person, Keith Witkowski, will fill in for an employee who is on a leave of absence until June 13. Pending grant funding, an emergency planning position was created and salary set in the emergency management office effective Wednesday. The salary was set for Zimmerman, Alison Verbosh, accounting technician in the domestic relations office and Sattizahn.

The salary board also increased the wage, per the union contract, of Sally Spangler, a corrections officer, effective Wednesday.

Work session

At a 9 a.m. work session, commissioners approved the annual Penn State Extension consumer horticulture contract in the amount of $33,500; the Penn State Extension 4-H Youth services contract in the amount of $65,883; and the Penn State Extension commercial horticulture services contract for $30,000. All have been approved in the 2018 agricultural extension budget and are effective Jan. 1 to Dec. 31.

A property at 45 Main St., Porter Township, can come down now that the commissioners awarded a $34,800 contract to Northeast Industrial Services, Shamokin.

An extension was granted for a demolition project at 300 W. Penn St., Shenandoah. Kass Contracting has until April 30 to remove the structure.

Sharon Pagnotti and Mary Ann Devlin were reappointed to three-year terms as members of the children and youth advisory board effective March 7

The following people were reappointed to a two-year term as members of the Schuylkill County Affordable Housing Trust fund board effective Feb. 25: Kenneth J. Huebner, Doug Naftzinger, Ann Hoover Smith, Randy Stump and Kay Williams.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

RINGTOWN — The borough council fielded questions at Tuesday’s meeting from the public on code enforcement efforts and the cost of solicitor services.

Resident and businessman Daniel Grow asked questions about dealing with blighted properties through code enforcement.

“Has council addressed, or are you addressing, our abandoned dilapidated structures here in the borough?” Grow asked. “My question to council is what are we doing about it?”

“When reported, we will look at them,” council President Julian Milewski replied. “The one that I have that is ongoing and is in stalemate is Rentschler’s old barn.”

Milewski said the property has a lien of more than $100,000 on it.

“The county can’t get rid of the lien, so it sits. Nobody wants it and the county won’t do anything with it,” Milewski said.

“Are we doing code enforcement against it and letting violations accrue?” Grow asked. “We need to start code enforcing and establishing a paper trail for homes abandoned and becoming dilapidated.”

“Let me ask you this,” Milewski said. “Besides us looking around, will you give me a list?”

“I would be more than happy to,” Grow said. “I’m not pointing fingers because it has to be done the right way. A code enforcement officer has to visit the site, make a list of all the violations, and then the owner has ‘X’ amount of time to rectify it, and if he doesn’t rectify it, he becomes a violator. It’s very easy. There’s a toolbox out there that was established by our last district attorney that helps municipalities walk right down the line on that.”

“To what end?” borough solicitor S. John Price asked.

“To the end of either they fix it up or the borough takes it over and knocks it down through the demolition program and sells the property, but you get rid of the eyesore,” Grow said.

“We’ve tried to be part of the demolition program in the past, but we were low on priority,” Price said. “We’ve tried for grants and we’ve been turned down. The cost of demolishing a normal row house is at least $25,000 to $30,000, which we have to pay up front with the hopes we can get that back if we sell it. It is not an easy problem. It’s one that every borough in the county is struggling with.”

“You don’t have to tell me. I ran the program for 11 years,” Grow said.

“I understand the problem with row houses,” Councilman Len G. Kamarousky Jr. said. “When you tear down this house, you have to fix up the next, but we have some single-standing structures that could be looked at.”

“You have to weigh the cost of demolition when you tear it down versus what you’re going to get out of it when you sell it,” Price said. “That’s where the importance of a grant comes in. Recently, a borough around here got $150,000, but we would never qualify for those in part because the problem is less severe here than it is in other boroughs.”

“I think we can get some money,” Grow said.

Grow said it begins with code enforcement and getting the owners to remedy the problems either through repair or demolition, and if not done, then cite them until something is done. Price said it all comes down to money, and asked Alfred Benesch & Co. project manager Jacqueline Peleschak, borough consulting engineer, about applying for grants, which she said no grant application has been funded.

“We need to start a paper trail so we can get the people at the county level to see that we’re serious,” Grow said. “Then we can go to the county to show this is what we’ve got and this is what we need. The CDBG program has money in it, and 20 percent of the funds have to be spent on demolition for non-entitlement communities.”

“We never get a penny of it,” Milewski said.

“And there’s a reason. The squeaky wheel gets the grease,” Grow said. “You need to get it squeaking. When you get it squeaking, you get attention.”

Kamarousky said it is the right time to get word out about what the borough needs, adding a recent devastating fire on Main Street is another issue to be dealt with.

Resident Doug Litwhiler raised the issue of how much Price is being paid.

“You’re all here to try to save money the best way you can, and I think we’re grossly overpaying our borough solicitor,” Litwhiler said. “Last year we paid him $16,000, and every other borough around here pay their lawyer half that money.”

Litwhiler also criticized the format of the invoices submitted to the borough: “I have copies of his invoices from last year that are pretty vague, saying that I telephone called this person, that person, and doesn’t even have an itemized thing at the end, but just says $1,400 one month.”

Litwhiler questioned the number of phone calls made, and said the solicitor of South Williamsport was paid less last year for services in a municipality with 10 times the population of Ringtown.

“And you know that how?” Milewski asked.

“I’m best friends with their solicitor there,” Litwhiler replied.

Price said that the borough is billed as per agreement at $170 per hour.

“I don’t think I need to defend myself,” Price said. “As you know, we have variance hearings going on, a gambling matter, a tax dispute which was just settled, and this year we’ve had an inordinate amount of time on the mayor-police matter. And I’m the first to tell you some of those things cost the borough too much, but it’s the price of doing business.”

“What he (Litwhiler) doesn’t know because he wasn’t here is how many years we cruised with next to no (expense),” Milewski said.

“I read everything that was billed for the whole year. I think there are a lot of phone calls,” Litwhiler said.

“You have an opinion and you have a right to your opinion,” Milewski said.

“Mahanoy City paid about $8,700 ...” Litwhiler began, with Milewski saying, “We’re not Mahanoy City. We’re Ringtown.”

“I’m just saying that people have a lot more problems and the same problems and they don’t pay anywhere near to this,” Litwhiler said. “I think we need to look into ways to save money.”

In other business, Milewski received a complaint about a vehicle parked on West Main Street with no license plate. He said the matter will be taken to the mayor for enforcement.

Attending to observe the meeting as a class assignment was North Schuylkill sophomore Scott Kline of Ringtown.

Contact the writer: jusalis@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023

Frackville

The South End Field & Stream Association, Whippoorwill Dam, Morea Road, is having its annual Easter kielbasa sale. Varieties include fresh, smoked and cheesy hot. The deadline to order is Wednesday by calling Joe C. at 570-874-1108. Pickups are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 29 and 30.

Girardville

There will be an Easter egg hunt and other activities for community residents Sunday at the Girardville Little League Field, Fourth and B streets. The Easter Bunny will arrive at 12:30 p.m. and egg hunt for children up to age 12 will begin at 1 p.m. Each child will need to bring a basket to collect eggs and will have a chance to meet the Easter Bunny. People are asked to register at borough hall or at the Rangers Hose Company or call Michael Zangari at 570-276-6922 or Betty Ann at 570-276-1358.

Girardville

Anyone wanting a portable toilet — Job Johnny — for the 15th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade to be held March 24 should call Joseph Wayne at 570-590-1826 as soon as possible, Wayne said in a release. Portable toilets will be delivered on March 23.

Hazleton

A blood drive by the Miller-Keystone Blood Center is set for 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. March 23 at the Hazle Township Commons, 103 W. 27th St. For more information, call 800-223-6667. Miller-Keystone, a nonprofit, is the sole blood provider for the Lehigh Valley Health Network including LVHN Hazleton and Schuylkill as well as for St. Luke’s University Health Network including St. Luke’s Hospital-Miners Campus, Coaldale. It also is the sole provider for the hospitals in Lehighton and Palmerton.

Pottsville

The 34th annual dramatic Stations of the Cross will be held at 7:30 p.m. March 25 and 30 — Palm Sunday and Good Friday — at St. John the Baptist Church, 10th and Mahantongo streets. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the prelude will being at 7:15 p.m. All are welcome; freewill offerings will be accepted. For more information, call 570-622-5470.

Shenandoah

The Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society will hold its annual basket auction at Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Parish’s St. Stephen Hall, Main and Oak streets, with a shop-and-drop from noon to 4 p.m. April 14. For the auction, doors will opoen at noon April 15 and the auction will begin at 1:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for a sheet of 25 tickets; sheets are $5 each. Food will be available on both days. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-462-3626.

Shenandoah

The Shenandoah Area Free Public Library, 15 W. Washington St., accepts memorials in memory of or in honor of loved ones and friends. The library can be reached by calling 570-462-9829 or by emailing shenfpl@ptd.net. Theresa Krajcirik is the library director. In addition to Shenandoah Borough, the library serves the West Mahanoy Township villages of Shenandoah Heights, Weston Place, Raven Run, Brownsville, William Penn, Lost Creek, Lost Creek No. 2 and the Mahanoy Township village of Yatesville — a combined population of more than 7,000. The library is part of the Pottsville Library District and it has a wide variety of offerings. Library hours, according to its website, are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. The library is closed on Sundays.

Tamaqua

Trinity United Church Of Christ, 22 Lafayette St., is hosting an active shooter seminar from 1 to 3 p.m. April 7 in Founders Hall for ages 12 and older. For more information, call Robert Davis at 570-874-1424.

Tamaqua

March 25 is the deadline to place orders in the pie and candy sale sponsored by Zion Lutheran Church, Mauch Chunk and Greenwood streets. The eight-inch pies are $7 each and varieties include coconut custard, apple crumb and lemon sponge. Candy is $10 per pound and choices include coconut cream, peanut butter and butter cream eggs, and peanut rolls. To order, call 570-668-4451 or go online to www.zion.tamaqua.com.

ASHLAND — A borough man was jailed Tuesday after being charged by Ashland police with making threats to judges, police and others on social media.

Bart J. Aquino, 28, of 1009 Centre St., was arrested by Patrolman Daniel Weikel III and charged with two counts of terroristic threats and one count of harassment.

He was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $75,000 straight cash bail.

Weikel said he was notified around 12:20 p.m. by the Schuylkill County Communications Center about threats discovered on Facebook by a user called “Bill Bart.”

The user was threatening police, judges, children and youth workers and other public officials, Weikel said, adding that the threats appeared to be political in nature.

Weikel said he was able to determine that “Bill Bart” was actually Aquino with an address of 1000 Centre St., Ashland, but an updated address listed him as living at 1009 Centre St.

Weikel said the threatening post on Facebook read as follows:

“A secession from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania is soon at hand. Who wants to join me in hanging every judge, every lawyer, every single last member of law enforcement, every wealthy politician, every bureaucrat, every single person whom stands in the way of progress, every pedophile, every rapist, every last sex offender every drug addict and every narcotic distributor.”

“It is all happening right here in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.”

“The population may be severely diminished afterwards but at least we the victors of the revolution can lead the way towards a brighter future. We will formerly recognize this newly conquered territory as ‘The Common People’s Wealth’ I am armed and I am prepared,” the post continued.

“Join me and the Right To Free Speech will still strictly be upheld. Our right to bear arms will never be infringed upon again. And never will there come a day when man becomes subject to imprisonment. We will burn the banks and prisons to the ground. We shall ransack the buildings of child protective services and have them put before a firing squad. We shall kill the gossip mongers and upper-class house wives,” the post concluded, according to Weikel.

Weikel said that he spoke with Schuylkill County District Attorney Michael A. O’Pake, who authorized the charges against Aquino.

Aquino will now have to answer to all three charges against him before Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville.

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

MAHANOY CITY — The one-month anniversary of the tragic fatal shootings on Feb. 14 in Florida was observed at Mahanoy Area High School on Wednesday with a time of remembrance of the fallen and learning to avoid future tragedies.

With the assistance of faculty and administration, students put together a program to commemorate the loss of 17 victims who were killed by accused shooter Nikolas Cruz, 19, on Valentine’s Day at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. An additional 17 others were wounded in one of the worst mass shootings in the nation.

Mahanoy Area students from grades 7 through 12 were part of several programs on National School Walkout Day, an event that had students around the world honor those who were killed and to protest gun violence. Mahanoy Area and other school districts in Schuylkill County decided to stay indoors and hold activities inside the schools.

During the first hour, the students were divided into grades 7 to 9, who gathered in the high school gymnasium, and grades 10 to 12 in the auditorium to hear invited speakers. In the auditorium, Mahanoy City Police Chief Kenneth Zipovsky spoke to the students, while Schuylkill County Child and Adolescent Service System Program coordinator Kathy Quick and team member Shannon Napoli spoke in the gym. After the first half hour, the speakers switched venues to talk with the other students.

District Superintendent Joie L. Green explained to the students before the program why the decision was made to keep students inside rather than hold an outdoor protest that was part of the national idea.

“We decided to do something more productive and safe for our students instead of going outside,” Green said. “My big concern is that there are some crazy people out there ... and if they know that every student is going outside from 10 o’clock, they would have targets to hurt students. So we talked to the class officers and we came up with this morning’s events.”

Green introduced Zipovsky, who was accompanied by school resource officer Mark Wiekrykas.

“We’re here for a very serious issue today. What we’re dealing with is a very difficult situation,” Zipovsky said. “When we see a situation where 17 people were killed and 17 more were injured, a whole nation has been offended by this. It has affected everybody in some way. And the fact that you students were willing to do something about this, talking about it, speaking out about it, being aware of it, that’s a start to reducing and making an effort of getting rid of violence.”

Zipovsky said there has been violence in recorded history, and that it seems to be overwhelming to deal with such things.

“When bad things happen in a community, we try to come together to help each other. That’s what we do. That’s the human side of us,” Zipovsky said.

Zipovsky said it is important to reach out for help when someone is having a problem by talking to a teacher, the SRO, parents or whoever is available to help. He said there will be extra training for school personnel to be able to respond to problems.

He told the students there are three very important words to remember: Run. Hide. Fight.

“By having those three words in your mind, you know what to do in that situation,” Zipovsky said. “If something bad is happening in the school or the mall or where there are a lot of people, the best thing you can do is get away from it to protect yourself. In a situation that you can’t get completely away, the next thing you need to do is hide. And if someone brings the threat to you, you have to be prepared to stand up for yourself. I’m not going to sit there and do nothing. These are scary things we’re talking about, but those things give you the power to deal with it. These are simple tools that tell you what to do if, God forbid, something like this would happen. By putting your head in the sand and saying it doesn’t exist and that it may never happen again is unrealistic.”

The next program in the auditorium was held by Quick and Napoli, who were invited by Mahanoy Area intervention counselor Kate Orsulak.

“We’re here to talk to you about mental health,” Quick said. “We all have physical health and we have mental health. We all have emotions. We all get sad sometimes and happy and get anxious or overwhelmed or scared or all of those things. When mental health becomes a problem is when it interferes with your day, but we can manage our own mental health to some degree.”

Quick called senior Casin Casserly to the front of the stage and gave him a balloon, which he was instructed to inflate when Quick mentioned different circumstances.

“So picture this. You woke up late. Really late. Your mom is screaming at you because this is the third time this week you’re late. Now you’re trying to get dressed and can’t find your favorite clothes,” Quick said with Casserly giving the balloon a puff of air. “Now you have to wear something that doesn’t fit right and you look like an idiot. You go downstairs and find your little sister ate the last of your favorite breakfast cereal. She gets everything. She’s the favorite, and you’re really angry about it.”

After some more situations, Casserly kept inflating the balloon and, when it has expanded to a large size, Napoli unexpectedly used a pin to pop the balloon, startling Casserly and other students with the loud bang.

“So when you get stressed, there is a physiological response to that,” Quick said. “You can get to that point where you feel it. When that kid called Casin a jerk, can you see where Casin could have exploded and caused violence or become aggressive?”

Quick said that people do not know what is going on in someone else’s head and what circumstances they have gone through that could cause an emotional outburst of some kind.

She also called up to the stage junior Brian Boyle and senior Payton Bernardyn, who were read through the same situations while blowing up balloons, but they were instructed to release the pressure in the balloon, allowing them to deflate.

“That the deflation. You can have two different responses to those stressful events in life. You can either feel very overwhelmed and explode or you can deflate,” Quick said. “Don’t let other people control your balloon.”

When both programs were finished, all students moved into the high school gym for a program that included the 17 victims being remembered individually with a lighted electric candle being placed on a table that had the photos of those who were killed. There were 17 Mahanoy Area students who lit a candle and described each person’s likes, talents and interests.

Those who were killed included the following 14 students and three staff members: Alyssa Alhadeff, 14; Scott Beigel, 35; Martin Duque, 14; Nicholas Dworet, 17; Aaron Feis, 37; Jaime Guttenberg, 14; Chris Hixon, 49; Luke Hoyer, 15; Cara Loughran, 14; Gina Montalto, 14; Joaquin Oliver, 17; Alaina Petty, 14; Meadow Pollack, 18; Helena Ramsay, 17; Alex Schachter, 14; Carmen Schentrup, 16; and Peter Wang, 15.

After the candles were lighted and placed, everyone was asked for a moment of silence.

Information was provided by juniors Isabel Casey and Meredith Rhoades on recognizing problems that another student may have and how help can be sought.

Senior class President Kayla Schmerfeld spoke about the victims and how they were no different from the students in the school district.

“It is important that these 17 people who lost their lives were just like you and I,” Schmerfeld said. “Tragedies such as this one can happen at any place at any time. And with such possibilities, we must come together as one. We must be prepared. We must educate ourselves on how to react in times of crisis.”

Displayed on a wall in the gym was a large banner created by students. The logos of Mahanoy Area, which is a golden bear, and that of Parkland, which is an eagle, were combined into one emblem in the center and the words in large letters “United We Soar. Together We Roar” on both sides of the emblem. The banner was taken down so students could sign their names. The banner and any funds raised for a dress-down day will be sent to the school district in Florida.

Contact the writer; jusalis@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023

PINE GROVE — Darkness settles. A spotlight shines on a single student reading details of a school violence tragedy and then another, and another, and another.

The spotlight shifts to a neighboring peer who recites a positive quote about humanity in between the terror.

Pine Grove Area High School students respond in unified silence.

Pine Grove Area High School joined schools across the nation Wednesday for National Walkout Day. The school held a day of remembrance, recognizing the one-month anniversary of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Florida, which left 17 people dead.

“We have the light bringing us out of the darkness,” senior Mariah Lesh, 18, student council president, said. “It’s a good metaphor for that.”

The council, along with administration and staff, coordinated the special presentation and day’s activities. While some schools hosted walkouts, Pine Grove Area remained unified in support of school violence awareness and students remained in class. Many donned orange shirts that read #Enough.

Each person selected to read during the assembly was a student leader. They included sisters Emily and Jordan Cooper, Pine Grove. Emily is senior class secretary while her sister holds the same position for the freshman class.

“I thought the assembly was a great idea because we’re showing respect for the students who lost their lives and not just acting like it’s a regular day,” Emily, 17, said. “None of us want to come to school scared.”

“I was excited to do this. We’re talking about something that matters and standing up for a cause,” Jordan, 15, said.

District administrators, Superintendent Heath W. Renninger, high school Principal Michael Janicelli, Dean of Students Ken Gibson and class advisers were shown in an assembly video that students filmed in the school’s television studio. Presenters spoke of safety being a priority and highlighted what was special about each class.

“We wanted to promote positivity in the school,” Kim West, student council adviser and English teacher, said.

West stressed that #Enough was about school violence, and it did not represent any other social commentary about gun control or other issue that may have been attached to a similar hashtag nationally.

Monica Breiner, a social studies teacher and freshman class adviser, said Wednesday’s program was a collaborative effort among staff and students. Student-run clubs came up with ideas for games, which were offered during the lunch period.

“Instead of walkouts, we’re showing we’re standing together as one,” Breiner said.

Following the program in the auditorium, students who wore the #Enough T-shirts or wore orange could join in the gymnasium for a group photo. Those who wore orange could receive a $1 discount on an ice cream in the cafeteria, which was sponsored by student council.

The council also provided a wall display that read PGA for MSD. People who put their handprint on the display in support of MSD would receive a free bracelet, Lesh said. The knotted, single bead orange bracelets were made by the council members Tuesday evening.

The statistics club provided poll results at its booth, showing the vast majority of students were not afraid to come to school. The FFA club, meanwhile, provided a “positive selfie” photo booth.

Several schools acknowledged the day.

The Schuylkill Technology Center conducted a Walk Up instead of a walkout Wednesday, according to Tracey Picht, school counselor and co-adviser of SkillsUSA at the south campus in Mar Lin.

“The walk up refers to going up and being kind and supportive of others,” she said via text message.

Schuylkill County District Attorney Michael A. O’Pake spoke with students at 10 a.m. at the south facility and at 1 p.m. at the north campus, Picht said.

Pottsville Area High School held an assembly Wednesday for students.

“Today is a very important day for both the history and the future of our country. Due to the recent shootings at Parkland High School that resulted in the deaths of 14 students and three teachers, the nation is coming together to raise awareness and instill change,” senior Sophie Murray said at the assembly. “To ensure that not only no more lives are lost but also in an effort to reach someone who may be experiencing similiar feelings regardless of how they act upon them. Today we are gathering together rather than walking out not only for safety matters but to reinforce the idea that we are one, and we are stronger as one,” she said.

The afternoon assembly also featured poems and other ways to observe the importance of the movement. Earlier in the morning, senior Matilyn Ashfield read a passionate speech about the students and teachers who were killed in Parkland.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

3 businesses cited

for liquor violations

Three Schuylkill County businesses were cited by the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement.

The Oyster Bar, 113-115 S. Main St., Shenandoah, was cited for failing to have its board approved manager complete the required Responsible Alcohol Management Program training within 180 days of the appointment.

Lakeside Park Beverage Inc., 716 Barnesville Drive, Ryan Township, was cited for failing to have its board approved manager complete the required Responsible Alcohol Management Program training within 180 days of the appointment.

Muir Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, 107 Church St., Porter Township, was cited for its bylaws not meeting the requirements of the Liquor Code by not requiring life members to pay dues.

Each business faces fines of between $50 and $1,000 for minor offenses of up to $5,000 for more serious offenses. Business can also have its licenses suspended or revoked and have the licensee take mandated training on the requirements of being a licensee.

Woman arrested

on theft charges

LAVELLE — A Harrisburg woman was arrested on theft charges by state police at Frackville after an incident at 880 High Road in Butler Township around 2 p.m. Saturday.

Police said Christine McIntyre, 49, removed a credit card owned by James Ortona, 52, from his home and also stole 70 rare bicentennial coins valued at $420.

Police ask that anyone with information on the rare coins call them at 570-874-5300.

When a loved one receives hospice or palliative care, it can be one of the most difficult times for a family. The pain, confusion and feeling of helplessness can be daunting. Covenant Home Care and Hospice announces support groups for families in Schuylkill County.

Stone Soup Bereavement Support Group meets noon to 1:30 p.m. the third Monday of each month. Light lunch is provided. RSVP is suggested. Coffee and Coping Bereavement Lecture and Support is held the first Thursday of odd months from March through November. Light refreshments are provided. The meetings are held in the Rockwood Center on Route 61 next to Aldis. Call Vince Chiles at 570-593-5921 or email vchiles@feeltheadvantage.com for details.

Covenant is also looking for volunteers to lend support to terminally ill patients and their families and/or assist with clerical duties, community education, fundraising and event planning. A Volunteer Open House will be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 17 in their Pottsville office to educate and recruit potential volunteers. Refreshments will be provided. Call Vince Chiles at 570-593-5921 or email vchiles@feeltheadvantage.com for details.

Indians of the Plains will be presented at 7 p.m. March 20 at Sweet Arrow Lake, Pine Grove. Learn the culture and environment of the Blackfoot, Crow and Sioux Indians living in Montana and South Dakota. The presentation is free and open to the public.

Schuylkill On the Move invites you to join them and “Porcupine Pat” on a wilderness-like experience on the outskirts of Hegins for the moderate 3-mile walk. Meet in front of the Tri-Valley High School, Hegins, for the Tri-Valley Trail Trek. It is free and open to the public.

It’s almost last call to order seedlings from Sweet Arrow Lake. Choose from 13 beautiful and healthy baby trees and shrubs that will bring beauty to your landscape while enhancing wildlife habitat. Plants come in bundles of five or 10 for the remarkable price of $8 or $9. Order deadline is April 4, with pick up at SAL on April 28.

You can find plant descriptions, pricing and order forms on the SAL website at www.sweetarrowlakepark.com or by emailing procupinepat@yahoo.com. The sale is co-sponsored by the Schuylkill Conservation District.

APPRISE program

hotline volunteers

Responsibility: Answer a statewide hotline on Medicare questions. Work in pairs.

Times: For a few hours on Wednesdays and/or Thursdays. Choose availability.

Skills: Training required and support provided.

Location: Pottsville

Call: Diakon at 570-624-3026.

Servants to All

shelter volunteers

Responsibility: Volunteers needed for a variety of positions in shelter, including drivers, overnight monitors and day shelter helpers. Administrative and clerical positions are also available. They’re also in need of donations of canned food, coffee, gently used boots and jeans, feminine products and men’s and women’s undergarments.

Time: Flexible

Skills: Contact organization for details.

Location: Servants to All, Pottsville

Call: Jeanette Triano-Sinn, 570-728-2917

Special Olympics

volunteers

Responsibility: Entire program is run by volunteer effort. Help needed with games, as greeter, athlete escorts, cheerleading, coach, athlete transportation, equipment, clerical, fundraising, social outings, athlete registration and more.

Times: Help needed throughout year. Assist with one event or long-term.

Skills: Contact organization for requirements.

Location: In Schuylkill County

Contact: Call 570-617-6188 or email schcountyso@gmail.com.

Community Volunteers in Action is the volunteer center for Schuylkill County. Use the preceding contact information for those specific opportunities and search other listings on our website at www.schuylkill.us/cvia. Find us on Facebook. Call us at 570-628-1426 or email jjohnston@co.schuylkill.pa.us.

POTTSVILLE — A Westmoreland County man must serve additional time in prison after admitting Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court that he failed to register in accordance with Megan’s Law.

Casey J. McKlveen, 24, of Latrobe, pleaded guilty to failure to provide accurate registration information.

President Judge William E. Baldwin accepted McKlveen’s plea and, in accordance with a plea agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced him to serve six to 23 months in prison, pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Baldwin made the sentence effective at 9 a.m. Monday.

State police at Frackville alleged that between July 28, 2015, and Feb. 26, 2016, in West Mahanoy Township, McKlveen failed to comply with the registration requirements for sex offenders.

Baldwin rejected McKlveen’s request that he be allowed to serve his sentence at a prison closer to his hometown.

“This is where you committed the offense, so this is where you serve the time,” Baldwin said.

McKlveen said he understood the terms and conditions of his plea and was making it knowingly and voluntarily.

State police records indicate that McKlveen committed his crime in New York.

The Megan’s Law sanctions to which McKlveen is subject require him to provide his name, address, Social Security number, telephone numbers, photograph, employment, any schools he might attend, registration of any vehicles he owns and other information to the Pennsylvania State Police. Any further violation of the sanctions would be an additional crime and again subject McKlveen to another prosecution.

Megan’s Law was enacted in Pennsylvania, numerous other states and at the federal level after the July 29, 1994, murder of Megan Nicole Kanka, 7, in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. Jesse Timmendequas, Kanka’s killer, was one of her neighbors and a twice-convicted sex offender; his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment after New Jersey enacted legislation to abolish the death penalty in that state.

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

Name incorrect

The Port Carbon library memorials inadvertently had the wrong names in Wednesday’s edition. It should have read: For Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fisher Sr. from Charlotte and Jerry Richter Sr. and for Mr. and Mrs. Harlan Richter Sr. from Charlotte and Jerry Richter Sr.

POTTSVILLE — Timothy M. Ebert is headed to state prison after admitting Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court that he pointed a laser at a helicopter in August 2017 in Pottsville.

Ebert, 23, of Pottsville, must serve 1 1/2 to three years in a state correctional institution, President Judge William E. Baldwin ruled after the defendant pleaded guilty to risking a catastrophe, possessing instrument of crime and three counts of recklessly endangering another person.

Additionally, Baldwin sentenced Ebert, who also pleaded guilty to charges in five other cases, to pay costs, $1,300 in fines and $500 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, perform 10 hours community service and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

In the main case, Pottsville police charged Ebert with pointing the green laser at a Lehigh Valley Health Network MedEvac 7 helicopter about 9:15 p.m. Aug. 15, 2017, as it approached the helipad on Lawton’s Hill on the city’s east side.

Police alleged Ebert pointed the laser at the helicopter from the 500 block of West Arch Street.

The helicopter did not crash, according to Assistant District Attorney Jennifer N. Foose, and no one was injured as a result of the incident.

In the other cases against him, Ebert pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, fleeing or eluding police, driving under suspension, driving unregistered vehicle, driving the wrong way, possession of prohibited offensive weapon and possession of a small amount of marijuana, two counts each of delivery of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, and three counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

Prosecutors withdrew charges of reckless driving and improper operation on streets and highways, five counts of possession of a controlled substance and two additional counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

Ebert said little during Wednesday’s hearing except that he understood the terms and consequences of his plea and was entering it knowingly and voluntarily.

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

Defendant: Timothy M. Ebert

Age: 23

Residence: Pottsville

Crimes committed: Risking a catastrophe, possessing instrument of crime, driving under the influence, fleeing or eluding police, driving under suspension, driving unregistered vehicle, driving the wrong way, possession of prohibited offensive weapon and possession of a small amount of marijuana, two counts each of delivery of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, and three counts each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and recklessly endangering another person

Prison sentence: 1 1/2 to three years in a state correctional institution

POTTSVILLE — A Mahanoy City man is headed to prison after admitting Wednesday to a Schuylkill County judge that he assaulted a borough police officer in July 2017 after having resisted arrest a month earlier in the borough.

Patrick L. Finneran, 24, must serve three to 12 months in prison, pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, undergo a mental health evaluation and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities under the terms of President Judge William E. Baldwin’s sentence. Baldwin made the sentence effective at 9 a.m. March 23.

Finneran pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in one case and resisting arrest in the other. Prosecutors withdrew charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct in the first case and disorderly conduct and harassment in the second.

Mahanoy City police filed the charges in each case against Finneran.

In the one case, they alleged Finneran assaulted Officer-In-Charge Charles Kovalewski at 11:35 a.m. July 30, 2017, at the borough police station, 239 E. Pine St. Finneran repeatedly punched and cursed Kovalewski in the station, and refused commands to get on the ground, until the officer Tasered and handcuffed him, according to police.

In the other case, police said Finneran resisted arrest on June 26, 2017, also in the borough.

Finneran said little during Wednesday’s hearing except that he understood the conditions and consequences of his plea and entered it knowingly and voluntarily.

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

The defendant

· Name: Patrick L. Finneran

· Age: 24

· Residence: Mahanoy City

· Crimes committed: Aggravated assault in one case and resisting arrest

· Prison sentence: Three to 12 months

SNYDERS — A man was killed in a three-vehicle crash on Route 309 in West Penn Township on Wednesday morning.

Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Andrew Szczyglak identified the victim as Nicholas J. Sadusky, 19, of 17 S. Main St., MaryD, in Schuylkill Township.

The crash occurred around 9 a.m., about 100 yards south of Blue Mountain Drive and less than a mile south of the intersection with Route 895.

West Penn Township police said Sadusky was driving a 1999 Ford Mustang south when, for some reason, he crossed into the northbound lanes and struck the rear driver’s side of a Toyota Corolla being driven north.

After hitting that car, police said, the Mustang continued south in the northbound lanes and struck an Audi station wagon head-on.

Sadusky was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:20 a.m. by Szczyglak, Shenandoah. He said a virtual autopsy will be conducted on Sadusky to assist in determining the cause of death.

Police said the driver of the Audi, a man who was not identified, was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Allentown, by helicopter while the driver of the Toyota, also a man who was not identified, was taken to a Coaldale hospital by ambulance.

The crash closed the busy Route 309 for more than two hours with traffic finally allowed to pass again just before 11:30 a.m.

Penn-Mahoning Ambulance and firefighters from West Penn Township and New Ringgold assisted at the scene.

Area fire police stopped traffic at the intersection with Route 895 while traffic was also controlled on the opposite side of the Blue Mountain in Lehigh County.

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