Five men and one woman seeking to represent Pennsylvania’s 9th Congressional District have agreed to take part in a candidates forum hosted by the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce on April 24 in Pottsville.

Democrats Susan Quick, Gary Wegman and Denny Wolff, and Republicans George F. Halcovage Jr., Dan Meuser and Scott Uehlinger will answer questions on four topics yet to be announced. Afterward, they will take questions from the media.

The forum, in the D.H.H. Lengel Middle School auditorium, will be neither a town hall nor debate. It is open to the public, but questions are limited to the chamber and the media, and will be given in a Q&A format.

“With the new 9th Congressional District, and the very short time available to have the six candidates who are seeking the congressional seat presented to the public, the chamber feels this opportunity in Schuylkill County for awareness is extremely important,” Robert S. Carl, president and CEO of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, said Thursday. “One of the most important elements that the chamber offers is government advocacy on the important issues facing us all. Making sure our members, and the community at large, are fully aware of the important issues before us daily, and the choices we have for representation, are integral to the chamber’s mission. We encourage our members and the general public to take advantage of this opportunity to meet the six individuals seeking to represent the 9th Congressional District, so that the public can make an informed decision as they go to the polls for the May 15 primary elections.”

The chamber’s questions will be delivered by a moderator who has yet to be chosen and could cover trade, national security, infrastructure, health care, government regulations, workforce development and taxes, according to chamber Vice President Monica Walborn.

There is no charge to attend, however, anyone interested should call 570-622-1942 or 1-800-755-1942 to reserve a seat.

Following a redistricted map imposed in February on the state by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the 9th District now includes all of Schuylkill, Carbon, Columbia, Lebanon and Montour counties, as well as parts of Northumberland, Luzerne and Berks counties.

Democratic and Republican nominees will face off in the Nov. 6 General Election.

Currently, Schuylkill County is part of the 17th District, represented by U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, a Scranton Democrat who has held the seat since 2012. Cartwright defeated Schuylkill County native U.S. Rep. Timothy Holden in the primary that year after redistricting following the 2010 census moved the county from the 6th to the 17th. That redistricting was thrown out this year when the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional gerrymandering and ordered the General Assembly and governor to come up with a new map. When they couldn’t agree, the court imposed a map that goes into effect January 2019.

The candidates

• Quick is a UPS package driver who lives in Palmyra, Lebanon County. A graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, with a bachelor of arts in international studies, she formerly worked for Youth for Understanding, a nonprofit that helps at risk children, and taught French in public schools.

• Wegman is a Reading dentist, who lives in Exeter, and a former chairman of the Reading Parking Authority. In 2018, Wegman helped bring the Mission of Mercy to Reading, an organization of volunteers providing dental services free of charge to poor and underserved areas.

• Wolff is a fifth-generation dairy farmer from Greenwood Township, Columbia County, who served as secretary of agriculture under Gov. Ed Rendell, and on the World Trade Organization’s Agriculture Technical Committee during the Clinton and Bush administrations.

• Halcovage, an insurance agent who lives in Pottsville, is Schuylkill County’s commissioners chairman. A 1979 graduate of Villanova University with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, he has served on the county’s Industrial Development Authority, the City of Pottsville Hospital Authority, the Allentown Diocesan school board, Catholic Charities Advisory Board, St. Joseph’s Center for Special Learning Board and Schuylkill County Prison Board.

• Meuser, Dallas, was appointed state secretary of revenue under Gov. Tom Corbett in 2011. Born and raised on Long Island, he attended New York Maritime University and transferred to Cornell on a Navy ROTC scholarship. He went into business with his father and brother operating Pride Mobility Products.

• Uehlinger, a Long Island native, is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. He served four years in the Navy, later returned to the Merchant Marines, delivering fuel in the Persian Gulf War zone, then joined the CIA in 1996 recruiting spies in the former Soviet Union. He lives in Topton.

ASHLAND — Another company will perform the valve-replacement project at the Ashland Area Municipal Authority reservoir after the selected company withdrew its low bid.

The board discussed the change at its March 26 meeting after the authority received five bids in its February meeting. Rusty’s H2O Service, Winfield, offered a $58,363 low bid. The low bid was accepted pending review by the engineer and solicitor.

“After a review of bid packages received and a withdrawal of the apparent low bidder’s bid, a notice of award was sent to next lowest bidder, Arthur “Pat” Aungst Inc.,” Alfred Benesch & Co. project manager Jennifer M. Kowalowek said. “Their bid was $74,829.”

Kowalonek said after Rusty’s bid was conditionally approved, the company was contacted about the difference from the second low bid. When company officials realized there was a misunderstanding on its part about project requirements, it asked to withdraw its bid.

“I talked to Jack (authority solicitor S. John Price) and Frank (board President Francis Menne), and all said that if (Rusty’s) gives us a letter of withdrawal, they can withdraw, and they withdrew their bid,” Kowalonek said. “Then you went with Pat Aungst, someone we worked with in the past and we have a full comfort level with.”

The replacement of the valves in the valve house as mandated by the state Department of Environmental Protection is on hold until June, due to possible water pressure inconsistencies while valves are replaced that could affect the North Schuylkill School District. The authority will wait until the school year.

Also in the engineer’s report, Kowalonek said a date was set for a meeting between authority and DEP representatives on the seep and scarp issue at the reservoir. Benesch has been monitoring the reservoir breast as requested by DEP. During the project to raise the dam breast by 5 feet to improve safety during heavy storms, a seepage was discovered. After investigation, the engineering consensus is that the water is not seeping through the reservoir itself, but likely due to a perched water table, or accumulation of groundwater above the water table.

“DEP wants to meet May 3 at the borough office,” Kowalonek said. “We’ll go to the dam after the meeting. They’re concerned about the (embankment’s) front face.”

Kowalonek also reported that AAMA’s Emergency Action Plan was re-submitted to the DEP Dam Safety Division in February and an update is awaited. A water allocation permit renewal was also submitted to DEP. Benesch is awaiting a response.

Miller Environmental Inc. plant operator Michael Tutko said that maintenance and repairs are being done at the water treatment plant near the reservoir in Butler Township. Antz Energy Systems Inc., Shenandoah, is working on the heating system, and after some repairs and an inventory of the system, Antz personnel reported many parts must be replaced and it may be less expensive to just install a new boiler.

Tutko said Antz is also replacing both hot water heaters. The plant needs hot water to mix chemicals and for sanitary purposes. Borough Manager Raymond Jones Jr. said a 20-gallon heater supplies the restroom and a 50-gallon heater is used for the soda ash mix, which was crystallizing in the injection nozzle due to cold water.

The current chlorine system’s replacement parts are unavailable, Tutko said. The system needs to be upgraded so the system can be maintained. DEP has recommended AAMA stay with a gas chlorine system and not replace it with a liquid system. Tutko said because of seasonal changes in iron and manganese levels in raw water, DEP said a liquid system wouldn’t be as effective.

Last year, the board authorized former plant operator M&B Environmental to convert the chlorine system to liquid but work was not begun before M&B’s contract expired and Miller took over operations in 2018. The board took no action on the boiler and chlorine system matters.

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

MAHANOY CITY — A man reported missing to Mahanoy Township police Thursday was found safe hours later.

The man, identified as John Luke Ballestros, 20, of 718 W. Centre St., Mahanoy City, was reported missing by his mother between 1 and 2 p.m., according to Mahanoy Township Police Chief Brandon Alexander.

Alexander said the man was threatening to harm himself, prompting a search by his department, assisted by officers from West Mahanoy Township, Mahanoy City and Frackville, as well as the Mahanoy City Fire Department.

The search was centered in a wooded area south of the Mahanoy Area School District complex.

A state police helicopter and a Life Flight medical helicopter also assisted.

Alexander said Mahanoy Township police patrolmen Frank Gallo and John Kaczmarczyk searched the woods on foot while Mahanoy City firefighters used ATVs to search a wider area.

Around 5:30 p.m., Alexander said, Ballestros was found safe. He said an online Republican-Herald news item resulted in several tips being called in that led to Ballestros being located walking on Centre Street, Mahanoy City.

“People saw it (the online item) and started calling in saying he was walking on Centre Street,” Alexander said.

Ballestros was then taken to a Pottsville hospital where he was admitted for a psychological evaluation, Alexander said.

The chief commended everyone involved in the search for their cooperation and professionalism.

“The operation went very smoothly, we had everything at our disposal quickly,” he said.

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

POTTSVILLE — Kenneth A. Boyer assaulted and endangered his daughter’s boyfriend in August 2017 but did not try to kill him, a Schuylkill County jury decided Thursday.

Boyer, 52, of Port Carbon, did not react as the jury of seven women and five men, after deliberating less than an hour, decided he was not guilty of attempted homicide, possessing instrument of crime and two counts of aggravated assault — the four most serious charges — but guilty of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Judge John E. Domalakes, who presided over Boyer’s three-day trial, ordered preparation of a presentence investigation and scheduled the defendant’s sentencing for 9:30 a.m. June 12.

After the verdict, Boyer returned to prison, where he is being held in lieu of $250,000 straight cash bail.

State police at Schuylkill Haven charged Boyer with shooting Alex Rosario in the chest and face on Aug. 11, 2017, at 125 Spruce St., Port Carbon, with a Taurus 9 mm handgun. Rosario received treatment for his injuries, including a fractured left jawbone, at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey.

Kenneth Boyer testified Thursday that he had been upstairs in the house, where he, his daughter, Kristin Boyer, and Rosario lived, when he heard an argument downstairs. He said he had not seen either his daughter or Rosario all day.

In his closing argument, Sudhir R. Patel, Pottsville, who, along with Eric M. Prock, Pottsville, represented Kenneth Boyer, said his client was defending himself and his daughter from Rosario.

“Alex was the one who came after Ken,” Patel said. “Ken Boyer gets assaulted by Alex.”

Patel said Rosario provoked the argument with Kristin Boyer and was the aggressor in every way during the incident.

“Ken Boyer was upstairs minding his own business. Alex continued this,” Patel said.”Ken Boyer does what any self-respecting person would do. This case is about doing what any parent would do.”

Patel said no one claimed his client did not have a right to own the gun and his use of it was appropriate.

“Alex was going for the gun. This was a fight. This was a struggle,” he said.

In her closing argument, Assistant District Attorney Julie A. Werdt, who prosecuted the case with Assistant District Attorney Jennifer N. Foose, urged the jury to remember that the defendant was the only one who had a gun.

“We know whose blood was there. It was a bloody scene,” Werdt said. “You don’t involve the gun in a situation where it’s not necessary.”

Werdt said Kenneth Boyer’s claim that he was pummeled was at odds with the fact that his eyeglasses were not broken.

“It wasn’t self-defense,” she said.

Werdt declined to comment on the case after the verdict, while Patel said he had mixed, although mostly positive, feelings, especially in light of the fact that the four other trials this week resulted in defendants getting convicted of all charges against them.

“Obviously, we’re mostly pleased with the verdict. The jury found Mr. Boyer not guilty of the felonies. I’m a little surprised” that his client was convicted of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person, he said. “Ken Boyer’s been waiting eight months for his day in court. Ken really didn’t have an intent to murder or seriously injure the victim.”

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

Defendant: Kenneth A. Boyer

Age: 52

Residence: Port Carbon

Verdict: Guilty of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person, not guilty of attempted homicide, possessing instrument of crime and two counts of aggravated assault

KELAYRES — Parents and grandparents of kids who use the Kelayres Playground said even though they want to see the playground remain where it’s been for many years, they don’t support Kline Township supervisors taking the land by eminent domain.

With only one of about two dozen people who offered their opinion on eminent domain was in favor of the maneuver, the township supervisors voted to rescind the action and not take the land from its owners.

After the meeting, property owner Joe Wargo said he will still allow kids to use the playground.

With people waiting on Fifth Street outside Kelayres Town Hall, the small meeting room was packed with two rows of people standing and two rows sitting at Wednesday’s special meeting.

Darcy McAloose, Kelayres, wants to see the playground stay put — but not by taking the land from the Wargos.

“I played in that playground as a child,” McAloose said. “I would like to see it upgraded because I have five grandchildren in this township. However, I am totally against you taking it from them.”

Lisa Yanoshik, Lofty, praised the Wargo family.

“I’ve known these people for a long time. They are awesome, great people,” Yanoshik said. “They provide heat to the community. If somebody called after hours, on Christmas Day, he (Joe Wargo) went to their house to give them oil so their children will be warm. And you’re going to do this to a family like this?”

“I couldn’t appreciate the people standing behind us on this matter any more,” Wargo responded. “I couldn’t believe the turnout, the people, the friends we have. I’ve known most of these people most of my life. It was justice served.”

Wargo said he is still willing to help the township.

“I don’t hold a grudge or any hard feelings against anyone,” he said. “I would help any way I possibly could. It’s forgotten.”

Jerry Notaro, Kelayres, was the only person in favor of the move.

“There’s a long history to that playground.” Notaro said. “It seems to me there’s been a lot of negotiating to buy the property previously. I think eminent domain is a viable option for the betterment of the community. It’s less than an acre of land. I think with future development of the property, it (the playground) might enhance the Wargos in their bid to develop that land, to have a place for the kids to play.”

Wargo said kids can still use the playground — even though he intends to build homes on the land. His development will need a recreation area, he added.

Tracy Reshetar, who said she is “totally against taking the Wargo’s property,” asked what happened to the idea of putting the playground inside a fence at the Kline Township Municipal Authority building on Market Street.

Supervisor Dale Wesner said an underground holding tank prevented the playground from going there.

As the meeting began, Supervisor Carmen Cara read a prepared statement in which the supervisors said the eminent domain process began last Thursday “after about two years of talking with the Wargos” about the township wanting to improve the existing playground.

“The Wargos have complained about the condition of the equipment being old and unsafe. They stated last year they just wanted the playground gone. Playgrounds have drugs, needles and noise. The supervisors wanted to modernize the playground with new equipment.

“Although some of the community is mad and does not want the Wargos’ land taken, if the majority of the residents here tonight do not want to use eminent domain to improve the playground, the supervisors can stop the process and the Wargos can do what they want with the land.”

After the people spoke, the supervisors voted 2-0 to rescind the eminent domain action. Supervisor Matt Corra abstained, as he did last week. Corra said afterward, he abstained both times because of his long-standing friendship with the Wargos.

After the meeting, Joe Wargo denied stating he wanted the playground gone because of what the supervisors said in their statement.

Joe Wargo Jr. said things were all right the way they were prior to the eminent domain idea.

“There was total use (of the playground), and the only thing that was asked was that you (the supervisors) keep up the insurance on it, not even to take care of the grass, because we did that most of the time,” Wargo said.

Former township Police Chief George Pennington said eminent domain is unfair in this case.

“It’s unfortunate it’s come to this.” Pennington said. “I’ve known the supervisors for years, since I was the police chief. I also know the Wargos. They are good friends of ours. I have to side with the Wargos. I think this is very unfair, the property being seized. I know we need a playground in this town. Taking it like this — for all they’ve done for the township — is unfair.”

Rosemary Broody and Frank Vendura said Wargo maintains the property properly.

“I see Joe Wargo keeping his property meticulous,” Broody said. “I think eminent domain sets a precedent, that these people can go in wherever they want. I think you should look somewhere else.”

“I’m 86 years old and I’ve lived in this town my whole life,” Vendura said. “I’ve never seen the field as clean as Wargo keeps it. He cuts the grass every week and keeps it in good shape.”

“I’m really touched that you took the time to come,” Ruth Wargo said at the meeting, as her voice warbled. “It is better than I thought. People I know, people I don’t know, I thank them all.”

When she stopped talking, a round of applause broke out.

Contact the writer: jdino@standardspeaker.com; 570-501-3585

AUBURN — What cooked in a double steel barrel system on Ben Vaupel’s farm Tuesday could be a promising first for Schuylkill County.

Vaupel, a forest steward, was making a charcoal known as biochar to be used for the first time in urban tree planting in Pottsville and Orwigsburg this spring. Biochar is charcoal that’s added to soil to improve fertility and plant hydration.

“There’s real potential for this,” said Vaupel, who was joined Tuesday by Gary L. Gilmore, woodland stewardship coordinator for the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry, and Frank Snyder, a retired DCNR forester.

“We don’t have a culture of using it,” Gilmore said.

While there’s no one producing charcoal in large quantities for planting purposes in the U.S., there is a culture of charcoal use in Europe and Africa, according to Gilmore. Crews in Stockholm, Sweden, use it for stormwater management, he said.

Qualities

Charcoal is good as a planting additive for several reasons: it is extremely porous, does not rot and is inert, Gilmore said. It sucks up water and holds it in place, reducing water runoff and keeping plants hydrated.

It also holds materials such as nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus and ammonia within its pores. Charcoal also conducts electricity and facilitates movement of electrons in the soil.

It also traps pollutants. Oil or anything running off streets, pavements and parking lots would be captured.

Urban soil can be a difficult place for plants to grow, according to Gilmore. Usually, urban soils contain a lot of clay and are compacted, which can make it difficult for roots to get through. Charcoal reduces soil density. While mulch works well for planting, it eventually rots and settles. Charcoal allows roots to push through.

The charcoal used should be a dust or the size of a corn kernel to allow more surface area to be in contact with the soil. It’s important charcoal be primed with water and nutrients before it’s placed in proximity to plant roots, Gilmore said. Charcoal briquettes bought in the store for grilling are not the same substance used for planting.

Forest land

Schuylkill County is 70 percent forested, and many trees are of non-marketable quality, Vaupel said. Non-marketable trees are those which are not being used for lumber or are undesirable. Those trees could be recycled and made into charcoal, according to Vaupel, who has 105 acres in state forest stewardship in Auburn and South Manheim Township.

“Trees can’t be landfilled,” Gilmore added. Some urban areas turn those trees into mulch, according to Snyder, and charcoal creation could be another option.

Vaupel donated oak to make the charcoal, but any type of wood can be used as long as its untreated.

Experience

Use of charcoal for planting dates back thousands of years, according to Gilmore.

He became interested in using it about 10 years ago when he read an article on the Terra Preta, a fertile soil found in the Amazon Basin. He uses charcoal for planting on his Clearfield County farm, for his forge foundry and for reducing manure odor in his horse stalls.

Gilmore works with Ellen Roane, DCNR’s urban tree coordinator, Harrisburg.

To learn more, contact Gilmore at 717-418-5203; email ggilmore@pa.gov; or go to www.dcnr.pa.gov or www.biochar-international.org.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

Police charge man

for home burglary

NEW PHILADELPHIA — A New Philadelphia man was arrested by state police at Frackville and charged with a burglary that occurred on Valley Street between 3 and 4:30 p.m. March 30.

Police said Christopher M. Pate, 38, was seen by neighbors removing a furnace from a vacant home and then apparently abandoning his efforts, leaving the furnace on the berm of the street and fleeing.

Through an investigation, police said, Pate was identified as the person responsible.

On Wednesday, police said, Pate was charged with several crimes stemming from the incident, arraigned by Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post 10 percent of $10,000 bail.

Police: 6 died in

crashes over Easter

HARRISBURG — Six people were killed in five crashes investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police over the Easter holiday, Friday through Sunday.

Police said that alcohol was a factor in at least three of the crash deaths and that during the same period they also made 359 arrests for driving under the influence, which is a slight increase from the 351 arrested for DUI during the same enforcement period in 2017.

Police said they investigated 476 crashes over the period including 143 that resulted in injury and 54 involving alcohol.

In addition to DUI enforcement, police issued 7,572 speeding citations, 489 seat belt citations and 68 child safety seat citations.

Person sought for

breaking into church

BETHEL — State police at Jonestown are investigating a burglary that occurred at the Zoar Lutheran Church office, 560 Freeport Road, in Bethel Township, Lebanon County, between 8:30 p.m. Monday and 9:15 a.m. Thursday.

Police said that someone entered the building by breaking open a window and once inside broke into an office door.

The person or persons exited and went to the east side of the building where they used spray paint to vandalize a propane tank attached to the building.

The spray paint showed what appeared to be a cross and the words “HELL” in orange spray paint, police said.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact state police at Jonestown by calling 717-865-2194.

ELIZABETHVILLE — A Northumberland County woman is headed to Dauphin County Court after waiving her right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday on 10 charges resulting from an October 2017 three-vehicle accident on Route 25 in Upper Paxton Township in which a Gratz man died.

Amy J. Duitch, 44, of 189 Queen St., Northumberland, faces charges of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, tampering with evidence, DUI, possession of a controlled substance, reckless driving, careless driving, disregarding traffic lane, failure to keep right and failure to yield right of way.

After Duitch waived her right to the hearing, Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum bound over all charges for court. Margerum allowed Duitch to remain free on $50,000 unsecured bail pending further court action.

State police at Lykens allege Duitch, formerly of Alum Bridge, West Virginia, drove her eastbound 2001 Freightliner tractor-trailer partly across the center line and collided with a westbound 2013 Cadillac SRX4 sport utility vehicle driven by Elaine M. Morgan, 74, of Gratz, about 11:10 a.m. Oct. 25, 2017.

Police said the impact caused Morgan’s SUV to spin into the path of an eastbound 2016 Volvo tractor-trailer being driven by Jasmin Kukuruzovic, 43, of Mechanicsburg. Morgan’s SUV then spun back across the westbound lane and struck a utility pole, according to police.

Junior Morgan, 76, of Gratz, a passenger in the SUV, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Elaine Morgan suffered serious injuries, Kukuruzovic minor injuries and Duitch no injuries, police said.

Police said Duitch had unprescribed narcotics in her truck.

The accident closed Route 25 for approximately 10 hours, according to police.

Duitch’s formal arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. July 6 before President Judge Richard A. Lewis in Harrisburg.

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

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN —The borough might be a long way from Hollywood, but life skills students from half a dozen school districts in the county were given a red-carpet treatment at the inaugural Life Skills Prom/A Day to Shine Dance on Friday morning.

According to Megan Lengle, a life skills teacher at Schuylkill Haven Area High School, life skills students are students with “different disabilities who may struggle to live independently in the future.” In the life skills classroom setting, students learn skills such as cooking, cleaning, and maintaining a house and learn work skills and how to be employed after graduating.

At Friday’s event, held in the Schuylkill Haven Area High School gymnasium, students in grades 8 to 12 from the Schuylkill Haven Area, Blue Mountain, Pottsville Area, North Schuylkill, Tamaqua Area and Pine Grove Area school districts dressed up and danced the morning and afternoon away on the gym floor. Many were in typical prom attire, but there was no strict dress code.

The idea for the event came from Ken Rossi, the special education director for Schuylkill Haven. Rossi joined the Schuylkill Haven staff last July from the Blue Mountain School District and thought it would “be cool to get the kids together and have a dance.”

Rossi spoke with five other school districts and all agreed it was a good idea. After Rossi made the initial suggestion, staff members Lengle, Ellen Fretz, Laura Rice and Dan Scheuer worked to solicit donations from local businesses to help make the afternoon magical for students. Music was provided by DJ Chub and photography was supplied by Ashley Farr Photography, Remember When Video and Spark Orthodontics donated a photo area. Empire Beauty School assisted with hair and makeup.

A red carpet was rolled out at the main entrance to the gym and red, black and gold balloons and decorated the floor while movie-themed decorations such as cameras, clapperboards and gold stars adorned the walls.

“We just want the kids to enjoy themselves,” Lengle said.

Many of the students borrowed formal wear from the Schuylkill Haven library, which had dresses and suits available for students who might need some financial assistance for the prom in May.

Hector Cortes, Abigail Jefferson and Nova Bergey all found their attire in the library’s collection and the best part for Bergey was the fact “people get to meet people.” All said they were excited to meet and interact with other students outside of the classroom.

“I like spending time with my friends,” Jefferson said.

The prom wasn’t just for life skills students, as their peer buddies were also invited to attend. Peer buddies are students who work with life skills students in their free time. Normally, peer buddies work with the life skills students in groups, but they were matched up one on one for the prom.

Schuylkill Haven student Maddy Yeager was one of the peer buddies at the dance, paired up with Joey Ebling. She, too, praised the idea of having a dance for life skills students.

“It’s a good way for them to hang out with other schools and have some fun,” Yeager said. “I honestly hope they do it again next year because it’s a great event.”

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

The application deadline for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program has been extended until Friday.

The federal program, established in 1981, is funded by the federal government and provides assistance during the winter for heating bills and heat-related problems. LIHEAP is run by the Office of Community Services at the Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families.

The state administers the program.

The application period, which opened for the season on Nov. 1, was slated to end April 6, but Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration decided to extend the deadline.

“Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable were able to heat their homes this winter because of LIHEAP. By keeping the program open longer, we hope to provide additional assistance to those who are struggling to keep their family warm,” Wolf said.

Applications are available to renters and homeowners. Funding is provided to those who qualify based on where they live, income, number of people in the household and type of fuel used. Schuylkill County is in Region 2. There are five regions in the state. Those applying must also provide a recent bill or statement from their fuel provider identifying the type of fuel and their customer status.

LIHEAP has a cash component and a crisis component. The cash grant goes to the utility company, fuel provider or, in some cases, to the applicant. Crisis grants are available to those who qualify and are in an emergency situation, without heat or in imminent danger of losing heat due to weather-related or energy supply shortage emergency.

Eligibility for the 2017-18 LIHEAP season is set at 150 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines, according to www.dhs.pa.gov.

“Everyone deserves a safe, warm home. I encourage Pennsylvanians to apply today to ensure they have the necessary resources to stay warm as the weather continues to be unpredictable,” Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller said.

Applications are available at www.compass.state.pa.us or at the local county assistance office, 2640 Woodglenn Road, Pottsville. The statewide LIHEAP hotline is 866-857-7095. Additional information is available at www.dhs.pa.gov.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

ORWIGSBURG — When the Schuylkill Ballet Theatre presented “The Sleeping Beauty” on Friday night, house lights were purposely kept low.

Stars shined through during dress rehearsal for the theatre’s 38th annual spring performance at Blue Mountain High School. It marked its first sensory-friendly performance. Dancers take the stage again for two main performances at 7 p.m. today and 3 p.m. Sunday.

Those who have autism, sensory sensitivities or special needs were able to enjoy the ballet with their families as crews took care to adjust lighting and sound. Children’s electronic communication devices were also welcomed. The reduced crowds during the dress rehearsal also made it more sensory-friendly.

“At the end of the performance, we’ll have an autograph session with pictures. We want them to know these are kids they may interact with in school. They (dancers) are glad they can share their talents,” Sarah Schimpf, artistic director and choreographer, said prior to the show.

Schimpf, who’s also a speech therapist, heard about other companies in Philadelphia having similar sensory-friendly performances and wanted to try it here. She approached the theater board and cast members in January about having the special performance.

There were 10 people who had preordered tickets for Friday’s show, she said. A handful of families sat in the front rows of the auditorium.

“We talk about inclusion in our family,” Tammy Chrin, Schuylkill Haven, said, while watching her daughter, Tina, 8, rehearse. Chrin also serves as special education supervisor for Williams Valley School District. “It’s nice that we’re bringing the opportunities from the big cities into rural Pennsylvania with something like this, so the kids have this opportunity right in their backyard.”

Joanna Schock was there to watch her daughter, Aimee, 12, perform as a mouse, peasant guest and a Chinese maiden.

“She’s excited to see how the audience will react,” Schock, Schuylkill Haven, said.

She also brought her two other daughters, Joy, 9, and Eliza, 9 months.

Schock said she thought it was great that the company allows dancers from various studios to join together for its productions. They build important friendships, she said. Joy will be attending the open house April 22 for SBT and may also begin dancing, Schock said.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Katie Brown, Pine Grove, said.

She joined her husband, Larry, and 8-year-old son, Ian, for the show.

“A lot of kids don’t get to experience this, and it really gives them an opportunity to see new things,” she said.

Her daughter, Alexa, 11, was a fairy in the SBT production, performing in her first show.

Among the cast of more than 30 are Kelly Karpovich as Aurora; Aaron Bensinger as Prince Desire; Amber Ulsh as young Aurora; Amanda Johns as Lilac Fairy; Greg Schuettler as Cavalier; and Alexandra Mullin as Carabosse.

According to the show’s program, “The Sleeping Beauty” is a ballet that was written to take the stage in 1889. “The storyline was conceived by Ivan Vsevolozhsky and is based on Charles Perrault’s La Belle au bois Dormant. The score was orchestrated by Pyotr Tchaikovsky.”

Presale tickets are $10 for adults; $8 for seniors and students; and $6 for children age 3 to 11. Tickets at the door are $12.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

Barnesville

The Ryan Township Fire Company, Route 54, sponsors bingo games beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursdays. Doors and the kitchen open at 4 p.m. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-778-1732.

Pottsville

The Pottsville Free Public Library recently acknowledged the following memorial donations: For Catherine Cooksey from Pete Pope, board of trustees and staff of the Pottsville Free Public Library, Lynne Bressi, Norma Corse, Gen Keating and Beth Meckley; for Kate Dwojeski from Elizabeth B. Jones and Diane A. Jones; for Judy Piccioni from Bob and Louise Wachter; for Joy Tomaino from John and Arlette Wright.

Schuylkill Haven

Online registration for the 2018 summer season for the adult kickball league has begun, according to a release from the Schuylkill Haven Recreation group. Players must be 18 or older, all team must have 11 players on the field and four must be women, according to the release. For more information or to register, go to www.havenrec.com/kickball.

Shenandoah

Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Parish now has a website — www.dmparish.com. The site includes the weekly bulletin, upcoming events, lector, Eucharistic minister and altar server schedules. It also has Father Walter J. Ciszek Chapel hours and other information, according to the church bulletin, which also invites people to “go onto your computer and take a look at it.” For more information, call the parish office, 108 W. Cherry St., at 570-462-1968 or email info@dmparish.com.

Tamaqua

The Tamaqua Area Animal Rescue group will host its 11th annual dog walk at the Owl Creek Reservoir on May 19. Registration will begin at 11 a.m. followed at noon by the walk. The fee is $10 per person. The event will include a walk around the reservoir, basket raffle and prizes for the top two pledge amounts. Proceeds will benefit the rescue group. Registration forms are available at One Main Financial and the Tamaqua Borough Hall. Forms and sponsor sheets may also be emailed. For email requests, text your email address to 570-527-6808 and put “dog walk” as the subject.

Tamaqua

The Big Benefit Concert 2018 will feature rock, country and original music at 7 p.m. April 20 at the Stitch Performing Arts Hall in the Tamaqua Community Art Center, 125 S. Pine St. Performers will include Micah Gursky, Bill Moyer, Ron Feltenberg, Traci Wehbe of Redz Vision plus special guests Tom Cara and Andrew Surotchak. All proceeds will benefit the Tamaqua Community Art Center. The cost is $100; private tables are available for $1,000. For more information, call the arts center at 570-668-1192.

Tamaqua

St. John’s Lutheran Church, Pine and Mauch Chunk streets, will have a rummage sale from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 24 with lunch and supper available, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 25 with lunch available and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 26. The church is accepting unused items suitable for the sale. However, no computers, TVs or encyclopedias will be accepted. All are welcome. For more information, contact Linda Heigele by calling 570-640-5261 or email lheigele@gmail.com.

Tower City

Planning for the community’s 150th anniversary celebration is underway with meetings held at 7 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month at the local Legion post. For more information or to become involved, go to Tower City’s 150th Celebration on Facebook, email TowerCity150@gmail.com or call 570-500-0258.

William Penn

The William Penn Fire Company, Mount Olive Boulevard (Route 54 just west of Shenandoah), is having a cheese steak sale beginning at 3 p.m. today with hoagies and platters available. For orders and free local delivery, call 570-462-0338.

VALLEY VIEW — Hegins Township supervisors approved a measure Wednesday with two neighboring townships to tackle road improvement projects.

Under a request from Road Foreman Craig Coleman, the board approved accepting sealed proposals for a multimunicipal bituminous seal coat contract involving Hegins, Hubley and Barry townships.

Solicitor Donald Karpowich suggested the board enter into an executive session to discuss specific roads under consideration. Several supervisors were concerned about the conditions of roads that were being used for the Williams pipeline project, and whether those roads, which may be showing damage, should be on the list or be delayed for upgrades until after the pipeline is completed.

The roads on the list in Hegins Township are Mountain Road, Hill Road, Wood Lane and Grove Drive; in Hubley Township, the roads are Fearnot Road and Pine Creek Road; and in Barry Township, it is Hill Road.

By joining with the multimunicipal contract, the communities hope to receive a better proposal.

In other matters, Roger Wetzel, a member of the zoning hearing board, said supervisors may want to upgrade the township’s zoning regulations, which are 30 to 40 years old. He said the township could possibly use funds from the zoning permit for the Rausch Creek site to pay for the upgrade.

In other action, the board approved:

• Amending the employee policy to address compensation for an employee serving on jury duty

• A lifeguard reimbursement agreement, which enables a lifeguard to be reimbursed for certification training, as long as the lifeguard works the entire pool season for the township

• Purchase of bleachers for the Valley View ballfield

• An annexation plan for a lot conveyed by Huntsinger Farms Partnership Ltd. to Bruce L. and Amy J. Bruso, Hegins

• Police Chief Beau Yarmush’s report for March, which listed 202 calls to service; nine offense/incident reports; two misdemeanor arrests; two felony arrests; two reportable accidents; two nonreportable accidents; 33 traffic citations; and 11 traffic warnings. Total mileage for the month was 1,991

• Tabling a decision on replacing the roof at the Tri-Valley Community Pool until later this summer

• Treasurer Gary Hornberger’s report for March, showing income, $114,189.76; expenses, $51,102.33; income exceeding expenses, $63,087.43; general fund balance, $195,746.20; state fund balance, $2,406.10; and pool fund balance, $20,412.65

Chairman Gary Harner announced the Department of Environmental Protection had rescheduled a meeting with the township from March 28 to April 18 in Pottsville.

The next township meeting is May 2 and the next food pantry is May 16.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

POTTSVILLE — Advocates for Gracie Mae, a pet pot-bellied pig, are hopeful the city council will permit a local family to keep it, despite that being an ordinance violation.

“The people of Pottsville have shown their support,” Gracie’s owner Scott Horning, Pottsville, said Thursday.

City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said the council will discuss the topic at its 6 p.m. Monday meeting in City Hall.

Horning was unaware he was violating an ordinance by having Gracie and pleaded to be able to keep it at a March 12 city council meeting. Chapter 87 of Pottsville City Code prohibits residents from having farm animals. Council members said more research was needed and neighbors would also be consulted.

Horning and AJ Alves, a city firefighter who also has a pet pot-bellied pig, collected more than 200 signatures in support of the 3-month-old, 9-pound Gracie. A petition on change.org has more than 5,800 signatures.

“If they (the city council) are all for the people, the people have spoken,” Heather Weikel, Horning’s girlfriend, said.

She said that Gracie is a good pet. The pig loves Cheerios, lettuce and frozen broccoli, is very quiet and clean, and is great around the children and the couple’s dog, Toby.

Horning and Weikel said the pig is incredibly smart. It learned to open plastic eggs and find Cheerios hidden in blankets.

“She’s very persistent,” Horning said.

They said Gracie is not much different from any other pet. It sleeps in a cage and uses a litter box. They’re able to buy pot-bellied pig food from Tractor Supply Co.

For now, Gracie is being kept elsewhere in the county until the matter can be settled.

“I think we should be allowed to have her,” Adriana Martin, 16, Weikel’s daughter, said.

Alves has had his 65-pound pig, Tanker, for three years and plans to attend the Monday meeting. He said he also didn’t know he was violating an ordinance. He said city health and animal control officer Frank Spleen served him a 10-day notice last month, but Spleen agreed to wait for the city council to weigh the situation with Horning’s pig. Spleen was unavailable for comment Thursday and Friday.

“They (the pigs) are actually easier to take care of than a dog. They are quiet animals. They are clean animals,” Alves said.

All city council members were given a draft of changes to the ordinance that would allow pot-bellied pigs as pets. It includes such requirements as having a license, the pig being neutered, adequate space being provided and veterinarian visits.

The current ordinance dates back to 1985, Palamar said.

“This decision needs to be based on facts. It’s about what is right for the community and the neighbors,” he said.

He said a decision can’t be based on one owner. Not every owner might be as responsible with his or her pet pig, Palamar said.

“It’s a sad, sweet story,” Mayor James T. Muldowney said. However, he added, “I don’t believe we have enough information” to make a decision yet.

City council member Joe Devine said he is not in favor of changing the ordinance but cases could be dealt with on an individual basis.

“They (pets) become part of the family. I wish the guy luck,” he said.

Council member Mark Atkinson said his parents owned a pot-bellied pig named Bumper, which grew to 100 pounds. He agreed pigs are clean and intelligent. He said his family later gave the pig to a farmer because it got too big for them.

“I don’t have any problems with people having them. I don’t foresee this being a problem,” Atkinson said.

Having the pig is “just like having a dog or a cat or any other animal,” he said.

Barry Kline, a Port Carbon resident, owned a pot-bellied pig named Matilda for 21 years. He got it when he was living in Mechanicsville. A lawyer advocated on his behalf years ago, and the Mechanicsville Borough Council let him keep the pig, he said. The pig weighed 120 pounds when it died.

“The laws have to change. People need to be able to have pets like this,” Kline said.

Sometimes, despite the best of intentions of the owners, pet pigs are left at shelters.

Barb Umlauf, Hillside SPCA director, said Friday the shelter has received about 40 pigs in the last 10 years. Peggy Hentz, founder and wildlife rehabilitator of Red Creek Wildlife Center, Schuylkill Haven, and Umlauf agreed that research is crucial before buying a pig.

“A lot of people don’t realize what’s involved,” Umlauf said.

Owners should be prepared to make a lifetime commitment, Hentz said.

Hentz said she once cared for two pigs at her house. While they got along with the dogs and cat, they damaged her floor. She had to give them to a volunteer who had a farm.

However, she added, “a pot-bellied pig is not disallowed by state law.”

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

POTTSVILLE — In recent Schuylkill County Court action, Judge Charles M. Miller accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

Rye A. Angstadt, 23, of Schuylkill Haven; disorderly conduct; $75 fine. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of criminal mischief and a second count of disorderly conduct.

Tiffany L. Binder, 36, of Saint Clair; two counts of retail theft; three years probation, $100 in payments to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, $407.27 restitution and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew two counts of receiving stolen property.

Virginia Y. Bressler, 27, of Schuylkill Haven; possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation and $100 payment to the Substance Abuse Education Fund. Prosecutors withdrew charges of possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance.

Christina Fletcher, 41, of Ashland; hindering apprehension, DUI and possession of drug paraphernalia; six to 23 months in prison, $500 fine, $200 in SAEF payments, $50 CJEA payment, $50 bench warrant fee, $520 restitution to Lehigh Valley Health Network and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of driving without a license.

Melanie A. Grady, 35, of Shenandoah; possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of driving unregistered vehicle.

Timothy J. Harris Jr., 24, of Reading; theft and simple assault; five years probation, $50 CJEA payment, $320 restitution and no contact with the victim. Prosecutors withdrew two counts of robbery and one of harassment.

Tara N. Keim, 32, of Ashland; possession of a controlled substance; 12 months probation, $100 SAEF payment and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

Megan A. Leymeister, 33, of Schuylkill Haven; retail theft; two years probation, $63 restitution and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Patrick J. Magrosky, 26, of Auburn; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation, $100 SAEF payment and $50 CJEA payment.

Rachel T. Markus, 36, of Minersville; possession of drug paraphernalia; nine months probation, $100 SAEF payment and $142.60 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem. Prosecutors withdrew two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Natisha F. Mason, 33, of Philadelphia; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance; presentence investigation ordered, sentencing scheduled for 1:30 p.m. April 16. Prosecutors withdrew charges of possession of contraband-controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Christopher Metz, 19, of Mahanoy Plane; possession of firearm by a minor and simple assault; 12 months probation, $50 CJEA payment, $50 bench warrant fee and no contact with the victim. Prosecutors withdrew charges of carrying a firearm without a license, terroristic threats, committing a crime with a firearm and unlawful possession of weapon.

Steven T. Rhoades, 27, of Blue Ball; two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia; time served to 18 months in prison with immediate parole, six months consecutive probation and $100 SAEF payment. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of public drunkenness.

Norman G. Thomas Jr., 21, of Blakeslee; two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one of prohibited possession of firearm; four to 12 years in a state correctional institution, $200 in SAEF payments, $100 in CJEA payments, $862 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Harrisburg and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew a third count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and charges of criminal use of a communication facility, possession of a controlled substance, carrying a firearm without a license and no headlights.

Michael E. Valentin, 35, of Shenandoah; false statement under penalty; 12 months probation. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of materially false written statement.

Alexis B. Vermillion, 36, of Elverson; disorderly conduct; $300 fine. Prosecutors withdrew two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one of possession of drug paraphernalia.

All defendants who were sentenced must pay costs as a part of their sentences.

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

Distracted driving-related citations in Pennsylvania increased by 52 percent from 2016 to 2017, though enforcing anti-texting and driving laws can be a challenge for police.

The anti-texting law in Pennsylvania is a primary offense, meaning officers can pull a motorist over if they see them texting behind the wheel without committing another offense. However, the wording of the law makes it difficult for police to pull over people who are texting and driving.

For instance, people are permitted to text as long as the vehicle isn’t moving, including at stop signs or red lights, said Clarks Summit, Lacakwanna County, Police Chief Christopher Yarns. Additionally, the law only covers texting and other text-based cellphone communications. Officers often can’t pull someone over because they can’t tell if the person is dialing a number, using GPS or changing the music playing through the phone — all permissible under state law, Yarns said. There’s no law barring noncommercial drivers from talking on the phone, either.

Across the state, law enforcement officials issued 5,054 distracted driving citations in 2017, including ones pertaining to commercial drivers, people using headphones and the texting and driving ban for noncommercial drivers, according to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. Police issued 3,336 of the citations in 2016. Since 2013, police issued 15,542 of the citations statewide.

In Schuylkill County, police issued 31 distracted driving citations in 2017 and 87 citations since 2013.

Pennsylvania’s anti-distracted driving statutes are more stringent against commercial drivers, who are prohibited from texting or talking on a cellphone without a hands-free device, according to state laws. The law prohibits all motorists from using headphones while driving.

Citations for texting and driving carry a $50 fine, but drivers end up paying about $175 after the mandatory associated costs are factored in, state police Cpl. Adam Reed said in an email.

Municipal departments issued the majority of citations statewide, about 55 percent, while state police issued the remainder, according to the numbers compiled by state courts.

State police occasionally conduct special details that are specifically targeting aggressive and distracted drivers, but many of the citations are simply violations observed on patrol, Reed said.

Police aren’t surprised by the increase in citations, which could be spurred by a combination of factors.

“It may be attributed to law enforcement being able to better detect the violations and motorists feeling the need to remain connected, even when behind the wheel,” Reed said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that, at any given moment during daylight hours in the United States, about 660,000 people use their cellphones while driving, creating an enormous potential for distraction on the nation’s roads.

In 2015, the last year data were available, 3,477 people were killed and 391,000 were injured in crashes involving distracted drivers, according to the NHTSA.

The risks of distracted driving go beyond cellphone use though, Reed said.

“While all are dangerous but not necessarily illegal, there are many forms of distracted driving. Examples may include eating while driving, being preoccupied with passengers in the vehicle or finding a station on the radio,” Reed said. “Distracted driving is any action that takes your attention away from focusing on getting to your destination safely.”

Area counties, distracted driving citations by year:

Berks County:

2013- 55

2014- 87

2015- 132

2016- 117

2017- 198

Total: 589

Carbon County:

2013- 6

2014- 13

2015- 16

2016- 19

2017- 30

Total: 84

Dauphin County:

2013- 45

2014- 55

2015- 68

2016- 70

2017- 86

Total: 324

Lebanon County:

2013- 18

2014- 23

2015- 22

2016- 28

2017- 49

Total: 140

Lehigh County:

2013- 49

2014- 62

2015- 73

2016- 93

2017- 220

Total: 497

Luzerne County

2013- 42

2014- 40

2015- 57

2016- 53

2017- 84

Total: 276

Northumberland County:

2013- 9

2014- 8

2015- 17

2016- 21

2017- 23

Total: 78

Schuylkill County:

2013- 6

2014- 12

2015- 16

2016- 22

2017- 31

Total: 87

Hartford

Courtney Krepps, Schuylkill Haven, was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at University of Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut.

Rhode Island

Phuong Ngo, Schuylkill Haven, was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at The University of Rhode Island, Klingerstown, Rhode Island.

Univ. of Sciences

The following students were named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at University of the Sciences, Philadelphia:

Leah Evert, Orwigsburg, a doctor of pharmacy student; Erin Fegley, New Ringgold, a doctor of pharmacy student; Kayla Garzio, McAdoo, a doctor of pharmacy student; Bryan Heyer, Tamaqua, an environmental science student; Mara Oesterle, Pine Grove, a doctor of pharmacy student; Nikki Schnoke, Schuylkill Haven, a biology student; Sonal Tailor, Orwigsburg, a master of occupational therapy student; Derek Wiley, Ringtown, a doctor of physical therapy student.

Villanova

Nicholas Scicchitano, a junior in the Villanova School of Business, was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester.

He is a 2015 graduate of Mahanoy Area High School and a James C. Curvey Scholar. Nicholas is a son of Dorothy Scicchitano, Barnesville.

West Virginia

Alison Holler,Orwigsburg, made the dean’s list at West Virginia University for the fall semester.

She is a freshman majoring in biomedical engineering.

Western N.E.

Ryan B. Guers, Orwigsburg, was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Western New England University, Springfield, Massachusetts.

Widener

The following local residents made the dean’s list for the fall semester at Widener University, Chester:

Joseph McLaughlin, Schuylkill Haven, a mechanical engineering major; Carter Compinski, Hamburg, civil engineering; Katie Rabuck, Hegins, hospitality management; Autumn Rautzahn-Calnon, Tower City, accounting; Jamie Wolfgang, Lavelle, management; Devan Direnzo, Pottsville, nursing; Taylor Horvat, Lansford, chemical engineering and chemistry double major.

A Port Clinton man charged by Pottsville police for sexual assault involving a minor is among those scheduled to enter not guilty pleas during arraignments Thursday in Schuylkill County Court.

Stephen J. Prentice, 32, currently an inmate at Schuylkill County Prison, was arrested by Pottsville police Detective Joseph Welsh and charged with unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault of a person under the age of 13, corruption of minors, photographing, filming or depicting sex acts on a computer and producing, presenting or directing an obscene performance.

Welsh filed the charges in February after an investigation that began in September.

He said police received information indicating that Prentice had taken inappropriate photographs of a then 7-year-old child sometime during February and March 2015 inside a Pottsville residence and subsequently stored the photographs on a PlayStation under an account labeled with his nickname, “Speed.”

Welsh said the gaming device was later turned over to Pottsville police investigators who obtained a search warrant for the unit to be forensically examined.

The examination was completed by the state police laboratory in Harrisburg and resulted in the seizure of digital evidence confirming that numerous inappropriate images of the child in various stages of undress had been stored on the device.

During a subsequent interview, Welsh said, Prentice admitted to both taking and storing the various photographs of the child.

Others scheduled to appear for arraignment Thursday are:

Marissa A. Garcia, 24, of 426 W. Pine St., Mahanoy City — driving under the influence of drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on one-way roadways.

Lisa M. Kelly, 49, of 1020 Pottsville St., Pottsville — driving under the influence of drugs and driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked.

Terry A. Gasaway, 47, of 236 Rear W. Grand Ave., Tower City — DUI, drivers required to be licensed and careless driving.

Stephany L. Frantz, 28, of 343 S. Chestnut St., Mount Carmel — aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, recklessly endangering another person, DUI-controlled substance, reckless driving, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Nikki Lindsay, 41, of 1022 W. Laurel Blvd., Pottsville — DUI, DUI-highest rate and vehicles turning left.

David A. Close, 26, of 54 N. Front St., Saint Clair — DUI, DUI-highest rate, drivers required to be licensed and careless driving.

Michael J. Poslosky, 22, of 8 Crestview Drive, Schuylkill Haven — driving under the influence of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kellen R. Muldowney, 25, of 31 N. Margaretta St., Schuylkill Haven — driving under the influence of drugs, stop and yield sign violations and exceeding the speed limit.

Kristy L. Touchinsky-Sanchez, 35, of 23 Marsha Drive, Cressona — driving under the influence of drugs and careless driving.

Zachary T. Green, 23, of 561 Hemlock Road, Tamaqua — DUI, DUI-high rate, careless driving and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Melanie L. Rooney, 40, of 6 S. Quince St., Mount Carmel — accidents involving death or personal injury, recklessly endangering another person, accidents involving damage to attended vehicles or property, DUI, duty to give information or render aid, immediate notice of accident to police, stop and yield sign violations, reckless driving, careless driving, not driving on roadways laned for traffic, driving at an unsafe speed and obedience to traffic control signals.

Kevin R. Scheitrum, 61, of 114 Reynolds Road, Tamaqua — DUI and DUI-highest rate.

Krissty L. Cress, 35, of 668 John O’Hara St., Pottsville — unlawful use of a computer and other computer crimes, access device fraud, identity theft, theft, receiving stolen property, driving under the influence of drugs, not driving on roadways laned for traffic, driving an unsafe speed, careless driving, driving without insurance and failure to wear safety belts.

Tyler S. Blickley, 24, of 128 Pine View Drive, New Ringgold — prohibited offensive weapons, driving under the influence of drugs, exceeding the speed limit and drivers required to be licensed.

Samuel P. Miller, 29, of 208 N. Warren St., Orwigsburg — endangering the welfare of a child, harassment and recklessly endangering another person.

Dean E. Krammes, 29, of 2 Hilltop Mobile Home Park, Schuylkill Haven — DUI, DUI-highest rate and careless driving.

John A. Guerrero, 27, of 1308 E. Norwegian St., Pottsville — criminal mischief.

Ashley L. Karpovich, 29, of 514 Baker St., Minersville — possession of a controlled substance.

Dustin J. D’Alessandro, 19, of 43 Front St., Cressona — driving under the influence of drugs, DUI-controlled substance and careless driving.

Michael J. Weand, 50, of 150 Rear Willow St., Delano — driving under the influence of drugs, driving under combined influence, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, driving an unregistered vehicle, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Zachery A. Zimmerman, 26, of 283 E. Broad St., Apt. 2, Tamaqua — driving under the influence of drugs, driving an unregistered vehicle, registration card to be signed and exhibited on demand, notice of change of name or address, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, driving without insurance, careless driving, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Michael A. Kroh, 55, of 312 E. Centre St., Box 24, Tremont — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Erika L. Kroh, 20, of 312 E. Centre St., Donaldson — delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

John F. Neidlinger, 43, of 501 E. Main St., Third Floor, Schuylkill Haven — strangulation, simple assault and harassment.

Brittany N. Fisher, 29, of 620 Claremont Ave., Schuylkill Haven — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Tony Schannauer, 38, of 1459 W. Main St., Valley View — theft, receiving stolen property and prohibited offensive weapons.

Kory M. Aungst, 36, of 4 Fidlers Court, Pine Grove — delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Damian M. Rothermel, 29, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — retail theft, defiant trespass, receiving stolen property and defiant trespass.

Charles R. Frantz Jr., 25, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — persons not to possess or use firearms, receiving stolen property, firearms not to be carried without a license, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Keith J. Tucholski, 55, of 124 Valley St., New Philadelphia — simple assault, harassment and strangulation.

Robert J. Rountree, 48, of 49 Water St., New Philadelphia — retail theft.

Breanne Newton, 34, of 1018 W. Market St., Pottsville — delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility and possession of a controlled substance.

Tyler J. Nornhold, 20, of 526 Spittlers Road, Pine Grove — theft, receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of automobiles, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, protective equipment for motorcycle riders, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Robert T. Koona, 29, of 551 Dowdentown Road, Pottsville — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kevin M. Mabry, 32, of 716 Sunbury St., Minersville — aggravated assault, robbery of a motor vehicle, theft, robbery, terroristic threats, possessing instruments of crime, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault and harassment.

Lisa Schaeffer, 56, of 325 S. Third St., Saint Clair — theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

William D. Lee, 33, of 1 Bull Run Road, Coaldale — possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Connie Holcomb, 54, of 221 Brown St., Tamaqua — aggravated assault on police, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Christine Oxner, 46, of 34 Ash Lane, Andreas — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Corinne M. Wensel, 29, of 42 W. Jefferson Lane, Auburn — retail theft, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bobby L. Taylor, 24, of 4 S. Centre St., Pottsville — defiant trespass, public drunkenness, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sonya E. Spicher, 48, of 30 W. Colliery Ave., Tower City — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Rebekkah L. Setlock, 25, of 128 Wayne St., Orwigsburg — possession of a controlled substance.

Brian L. Weinhold, 50, of 368 Valley Road, Heckscherville — restrictions on alcoholic beverages, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Joelle E. Boris, 26, LKA 410 E. Market St., Pottsville — retail theft.

Michael J. Clark, 36, of 110 Market Square, Apt. A10, Pottsville — burglary, conspiracy, criminal attempt to commit robbery, terroristic threats, possessing instruments of crime, persons not to possess or use firearms, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

George T. Gutekunst, 34, of 1226 W. Norwegian St., Pottsville — simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Christopher M. Tobias, 30, of 200 N. 12th St., Apt. A13, Pottsville — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Joseph S. Sears, 25, of 703 W. Market St., Pottsville — terroristic threats and simple assault.

Scott B. Haluska, 44, of State Correctional Institution/Mahanoy, Frackville — theft, receiving stolen property and theft by deception.

Bradley S. Warnick, 35, of 114 Green St., Tamaqua — theft and receiving stolen property.

Ralph Bolentino, 55, of 124 Center St., Tamaqua — bad checks.

David Green, 65, of 44 Mauch Chunk St., Tamaqua — bad checks.

Brandy D. Lorah, 27, homeless — theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy.

Christony V. Pettit, 29, of SCI/Mahanoy, Frackville — aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment.

Joseph Fellin, 18, of 94 Mountain Drive, Sheppton — defiant trespass.

George A. Brokenshire, 62, of 10 W. Centre St., Mahanoy City — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Demetrius X. Crawley, 22, of 423 W. Oak St., Shenandoah — robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, terroristic threats, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment.

Lardani Wallace, 26, of SCI/Mahanoy, Frackville — disorderly conduct.

Jerry Frazier, 36, of SCI/Mahanoy, Frackville — contraband-controlled substance by inmate, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sammy Nazmy, 30, of SCI/Mahanoy, Frackville — possession of a controlled substance.

Michael Verbitsky, 30, of SCI/Mahanoy, Frackville — contraband-controlled substance by inmate, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ryan A. Wright, 27, of SCI/Mahanoy, Frackville — contraband-controlled substance by inmate, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Craig Jackson, 27, of SCI/Mahanoy, Frackville — aggravated assault on police, weapons or implements for escape, prohibited offensive weapons, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment.

Travis G. Beaver, 18, of 163 Pioneer Road, Shenandoah — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Amanda N. Deysher, 22, of 60 Grant St., Schuylkill Haven — possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

John D. Carboni, 45, of 5 Crystal Lane, Barnesville — driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving without insurance, driving a vehicle without an official Certificate of Inspection and altered, forged or counterfeit documents and plates.

Cheryl A. Souchak, 60, of 83 Trenton Road, Mahanoy City — hindering apprehension or prosecution.

Shawn J. Lazur, 47, of 8 Spruce St., Barnesville — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Heather Winslow, 35, of 193 Pioneer Road, Shenandoah — identity theft, forgery and tampering with records or identification.

Jeremy G. Wengert, 36, of 619 Pierce St., Pottsville — retail theft and possession of a controlled substance.

Amy Rodrian, 41, of 246 S. Second St., Saint Clair — simple assault and harassment.

Allen R. Harig, 39, of 128 Broad St., Saint Clair — defiant trespass.

Max J. Hollywood, 25, of 260 N. Nicholas St., Saint Clair — conspiracy.

Richard J. Willie, 27, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — theft and receiving stolen property.

Daniel B. Lopez, 22, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — persons not to possess or use firearms, firearms not to be carried without a license and possessing instruments of crime.

Mark W. Lucas, 25, of 130 E. Fifth St., Williamstown — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Martina M. Mazloom, 24, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — theft and criminal mischief.

Kirk T. Lagasse, 51, of 114 Water St., New Philadelphia — possession of drug paraphernalia and driving a vehicle without an official Certificate of Inspection.

Amanda A. Mabry, 33, of 65 High Road, Pottsville — retail theft.

Christopher M. Lawrence, 20, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — theft, receiving stolen property and unauthorized use of automobiles.

Dustin J. Dalessandro, 19, of 43 Front St., Cressona — unauthorized use of automobiles, criminal mischief, drivers required to be licensed, driving without insurance, not driving on roadways laned for traffic, driving at an unsafe speed, careless driving, reckless driving, immediate notice of accident to police, failure to use safety belts and driving a vehicle without an official Certificate of Inspection.

William F. Dolzani, 64, of 47 Avenue C, Schuylkill Haven — retail theft.

Shawna F. Lenker, 24, of 425 E. Main St., Apt. 6, Schuylkill Haven — delivery of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

All winter long we’ve been dazzled and amazed by the bright luminaries that make up the cast of what I call “Orion and his gang.”

When you gaze upward into the late-winter, early-spring skies, you can’t help but see those three distinct stars that make up the belt of the mighty hunter, the constellation Orion. It’s just one of more than five dozen constellations that we can see in our great celestial dome through the course of the year, but as far as I’m concerned Orion is the king!

It’s one of the few constellations that looks like what it’s supposed to be. As a bonus, Orion is easily visible no matter how much light pollution you have to put up with. Without too much imagination, you can see the torso of a muscular man with the bright star Rigel marking his left knee, and Betelgeuse, a bright and noticeably orange-ish star, at his right armpit.

At Pottsville nightfall, which is considerably later in April, Orion starts out in the southwestern sky, leaning to the right. Surrounding Orion is his gang of bright constellations that almost jump out at you.

Orion’s stellar family includes Taurus the Bull, resembling a small downward pointing arrow; Auriga the chariot driver turned goat farmer; Gemini the Twins and Canis Major and Canis Minor, Orion’s large and small hunting dogs, respectively.

This is the swan song for Orion’s gang. As April slides into May, Orion and his stellar cast will open each evening closer and closer to the western horizon. By the end of next month, most of the starry entourage of winter will already be below the horizon at the end of evening twilight. We’ll see them again in the evening around early November as they enter the eastern heavens.

Speaking of the western sky, there’s a very bright “star” that pops out of the evening twilight in the low western sky. That’s actually not a star, it’s the planet Venus. It’s so bright because the complete cloud cover of the planet is very reflective and the sun’s light bounces off it almost like a mirror. Venus isn’t out for long, however, as it sinks below the horizon by around 8 p.m.

In the high northern sky, the Big Dipper is putting on quite a show, hanging upside down in the early evening. One of the old yarns of the past is that we have more rain in the spring because the Big Dipper is upside down, dumping on us Earthlings. As bright and distinct as the Big Dipper is, it’s not a constellation all by itself, but makes up the rear end and tail of the constellation Ursa Major, otherwise known as the Big Bear.

Over in the eastern sky, the main constellation attraction is Leo the Lion, another one of those rare constellations that resembles what it’s supposed to be. The constellation actually comes in two parts. The upper right side is an easy-to-see backward question mark leaning to the left that outlines the chest and head of the king of the big celestial cats. The moderately bright star that makes up the period of the question mark is the star Regulus, marking the heart of the Lion. To the lower left of the starry query symbol is a fairly bright triangle that makes up the rear and tail of Leo.

Over in the low southeast sky is one of those constellations that doesn’t look at all like what it’s supposed to be. It’s Corvis the Crow, and all there is to it are four stars that make a lopsided trapezoid. Good luck seeing that as a crow. There’s also a giant kite rising not far away in the low eastern sky. That’s the constellation Bootes the Farmer, with the bright star Arcturus at the tail of the big kite.

If you’re a late night stargazer, the planet Jupiter rises above the southeast horizon a little before 10 p.m. It’s by far the brightest “star” in that part of the sky. Despite being well over 420 million miles away this month, it still shines so brilliantly because it’s such a big planet, way bigger than our own world. With even a small telescope you can see up to four of Jupiter’s larger moons and maybe some of its cloud bands on the 88,000 mile-wide planet. Next month, Jupiter and Earth will reach their closest approach to each other when they are less than 410 million miles apart.

Shortly after 2 a.m., Saturn and Mars rise above the southeast horizon and are easy to spot. Mars sports a distinctly reddish hue. Later on this summer, Mars will be as close as it’s been to Earth since 2003, and also as close as it’s been to our world in 60,000 years. Stay tuned! It’s going to end up being a Mars summer!

(Lynch, an amateur astronomer and professional broadcast meteorologist, can be reached at mikewlynch@comcast.net)

POTTSVILLE — It’s not about the destination, but the journey, railcar enthusiasts insist.

Fifty members of the North American Railcar Operators Association from across the nation joined at Pottsville’s Union Station on Saturday for the first leg of a two-day excursion in Schuylkill County.

Their colorful railcars, historically used for track maintenance, created a spectacle for passersby.

“We’re not trying to get anywhere,” Joel Williams, Lock Haven, former NARCOA membership secretary, said. “You feel like you’re doing something inclusive, that no one else has done, and you’re seeing scenery that no one else sees.”

Williams’ late parents, Erwin and Verla, were from Tower City and Minersville, respectively, although Saturday was his first time in Pottsville, like many of those on the trip.

Gary Shrey, with the Northern Central Railcar Association, coordinated the excursion on the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad. It’s the fourth annual trip in the county.

Operators

Allen and Barbara Wright, 10-year NARCOA members from Paris, Kentucky, rode in their Fairmont MT-19, two-cylinder railcar.

“It’s probably the most fun thing I’ve ever done,” Barbara said.

“You go places you’d never see driving on the road,” Allen said. “The bridges are cool. You’re looking 100 feet straight down. It’s not like a passenger, foot bridge. The first time doing it can be kind of scary.”

Although their railcar can travel up to 35 mph, 33 is the fastest they’ve ever traveled, Allen said. They want time to savor the sites on the trip and usually travel 20 to 25 mph. The couple previously lived in Georgia and had taken railcar excursions in the southern states before moving to Kentucky.

They’ve seen plenty of wildlife on their trips, they said, including a wild boar in Georgia.

Charles A. White has been a railcar operator for more than 20 years.

“Gary (Shrey) is one of the top coordinators in the country,” White, Van Wert, Ohio, said of why he joined this excursion. White’s 1985 Fairmont car was 19 horsepower with a two-cylinder engine. It was manufactured in Canada.

He said all operators are mentored, tested and have liability insurance. Each operator must carry an insurance card and a rule book.

“Safety is paramount,” White said.

Most railcar owners brought their vehicles in trailers and parked along the track bed before unloading. You “set on” when your car is properly placed onto the track, White explained.

The Wrights said some of the railcar etiquette includes maintaining a safe, 100-yard distance between cars and using flags to alert operators in front and back of slowing down or stopping.

Speeder

According to NARCOA, the railroad motorcar is sometimes called a speeder. They were used routinely to inspect many miles of track for defects and track maintenance.

“Motorcar owners belong to several clubs which obtain permission from railroads to operate on their tracks. These clubs are under the organizational umbrella of the North American Rail Car Operators Association,” the website said.

Cooperation

“We’re always happy to host them on our railroad,” said Matt Fisher, RBM&N Railroad general manager in the passenger department. Fisher was at Union Station on Saturday as the operators set on, beginning at 6:30 a.m. The railroad coordinates with the Port Clinton dispatcher to make sure everything’s in place for the excursion according to the planned itinerary, he said. There’s a safety meeting held before the trek begins. He said there’s cooperation between the city and Pottsville Area Development Corp. for the event.

This year’s trip includes a rare passenger run to Good Spring.

“We haven’t run a passenger train there in 20 years,” Fisher said. Someone from the RBM&N leads the railcars both days on the line.

Itinerary

Each day of the two-day excursion will cover nearly 100 miles. The railcars set on in Pottsville on Saturday and traveled to the end of the line at Good Spring, then headed to Schuylkill Haven, North Reading and back to Pottsville with a side trip up the Middleport line.

Today, they’re scheduled to travel from Pottsville to Port Clinton, north to Tamaqua and back into the Lansford line as far as it’s open. They’ll stop in Tamaqua for lunch, travel north, then return to Pottsville.

Interest

Shrey and his wife, Eileen, helped get the operators who had preregistered checked in and ready to ride. Although this is the fourth excursion, it’s the first time the trip started in Pottsville, he said.

“I picked parts of the line that we had not ridden before,” he said. The trips are so popular that there was a 25-person waiting list. Operators have come from Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and New England.

Shrey, New Freedom, has been an operator for about 20 years. The railcars can date from the 1930s up to the 1980s, and can range in price from $3,000 to $15,000, depending on accessories like fancy seating and lights.

Eileen said her husband was named a coordinator of the year and puts a lot of time into planning the excursions.

Several people stood on the Mauch Chunk Street bridge to watch the speeders depart or stood at the rear of the KFC restaurant to catch a glimpse.

“I never saw anyone do something like this and I was wondering what they were,” Elizabeth Greiss, Pottsville, said. She said she grew up near the Reading Railroad in Berks County.

Jim McGuiness and Vito Galle, both former neighbors from Pottsville, watched the railcars exit the station.

“I think it’s really neat and I didn’t know they did this,” Galle said.

After watching the fun, McGuiness said he wants to become a NARCO member.

“I’m a real train buff and am into Lionel trains,” he said. “One of the guys had a railcar for sale for $5,500, and I’d like to get it.”

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007