SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — A new era of caretaking has begun at Rosewood Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

A $1.5 million renovation project was unveiled to the public with an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday evening. In May 2015, Premier Healthcare Management LLC bought the building from Schuylkill County and began renovating it December 2016.

Changes included the bathrooms, shower rooms, dining rooms, heating unit, and new beds and mattresses. Still in the works is new paint and flooring in residents’ rooms.

Along with the inside, the name of the former Rest Haven nursing home changed as well, shortly after the building was acquired in September 2015. Premier CEO Lisa M. Sofia said she and others at Premier strive to keep as much as they can the same at a newly acquired property. While employees would never publicly clamor for a name change, there were whispers to her that something fresh was needed. The name was selected in honor of a rosebush in front of the building.

Sofia said they “knew we would have to renovate it” when they bought it, but it was worth it since the building “was a mainstay in the community for people who lived in the county for a long time.”

Sofia added the modifications will boost the morale of employees since it “brings a sense of commitment and security that we’re here to stay.”

“I’m beaming with pride today,” Sofia said.

Administrator Faruk Nguyen said Wednesday’s open house gave everyone in the community the opportunity to know Rosewood provides the best care for patients. The 142-bed facility offer short-term rehab, long-term care, dementia care and respite care.

“We want to show what we’ve done so far,” Nguyen said. “We want to rebrand.”

Bob Carl, executive director for the Schuylkill County Chamber of Commerce, praised the efforts of all involved in bringing the project to this point.

“We as a community couldn’t be happier. It is so important to take care of those who can’t take care of themselves,” Carl said.

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

Police release

details of crash

POTTSVILLE — A crash that occurred in the 2100 block of West Market Street in Pottsville around 7:25 a.m. Saturday was investigated by Pottsville police.

Police said their investigation revealed that a 17-year-old Minersville boy was traveling east in the area of Riverview Bank when his vehicle struck a construction dumpster located on the south side shoulder area of the roadway and partially extending into the roadway.

The impact resulted in a minor facial laceration to a female juvenile passenger inside the vehicle, police said, adding that the teen driving was not injured but the vehicle sustained severe damage to the passenger side and had to be towed from the scene.

Pottsville firefighters assisted with spilled fluids and traffic control at the accident location.

Ashland man cited

for I-81 crash

McADOO — State police at Frackville investigated a crash that happened in the northbound lanes of Interstate 81, at Exit 138 in Kline Township, around 6:45 a.m. Saturday.

Police said Walter H. Wallace, 36, of Ashland, was driving a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado north when he went off the road and struck a guide rail on the west berm.

Wallace was not injured but police said he will be cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic as a result of the crash.

Police investigate

access device fraud

ELIZABETHVILLE — State police at Lykens are investigating an access device fraud incident that happened between Nov. 5 and Jan. 14.

Police said someone used the bank card owned by Michael Ferree of Elizabethville totaling charges of $2,169.71.

The charges were made at various locations in Dauphin, Lebanon and Northumberland counties as well as online purchases in Nevada, Connecticut, Alabama, California and Utah.

Williamstown man

faces theft charge

ELIZABETHVILLE — A 19-year-old Williamstown man was arrested by state police at Lykens and charged with retail theft after an April 9 incident at Walmart in Washington Township, Dauphin County.

Police said they charged Jay Mase with exiting the store without paying for items with a total value of less than $150.

Mase will now have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum, Elizabethville.

None injured in

I-81 accident

MAHANOY CITY — Two people escaped injury when the 2006 Toyota Corolla they were in crashed at the southbound weigh station of Interstate 81 in Mahanoy Township around 8:20 a.m. Saturday.

State police at Frackville said Nicki Parisi, 57, of Norwalk, Connecticut, was driving south when she went off the road, traveled onto the east berm and struck a traffic sign and a culvert.

Parisi and her passenger — Tami Manfredi-Smith, 47, of Bridgeport, Connecticut — were not hurt, but police said Parisi will be cited for careless driving as a result of the crash.

Deeds

Deer Lake — Carl J. Smith to Carl J. and Kathy Sublitte Smith; 225 Mountain Road; $1.

East Norwegian Township — John P. and Arlene B. Wabby to Deniece M. Smith, Brenda A. Day, Jennifer C. Henderson and Caroline J. Barnhart; 50 Bryn Mawr Ave.; $1.

East Union Township — Kathryn L. Beltz, Susan I. Lorah and Diane L. Gavin, co-executrices of the Estate of Jean D. Lorah, to Kathryn L. Beltz, Susan I. Lorah and Diane L. Gavin; 50 percent interest on 568 Phineyville Road; $1.

Frackville — Ralph L. Jr. and Catherine Hummel to Michael D. Johns and Jessica F. Gregis; 138 N. Balliet St.; $128,000.

Girardville — Mary and Desi Knecht to Frederick Russell and Jason Russell; 350 W. Main St.; $7,000.

Hegins Township — Kent A. Knorr to Valley View BTS Retail LLC; property on Route 25; $210,000.

McAdoo — Sonya DeGennaro, individually and as attorney in fact for Dolores Craig, to Sonya DeGennaro; property on Grant Street; $1.

North Manheim Township — Daniel R. Swanson to Thomas P. Jr. and Katherine Bonner; 405 Stoney Run Road, Chestnut Hill; $209,200.

Michael S. Hopko to Paulette M. and James M. Moran; 1.73-acre property on Township Road 89; $1.

North Union Township — Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Jenie Dongallo and Windelynn Ortal; Lot 31AV2, Eagle Rock; $40,299.

Orwigsburg — Thomas P. Jr. and Katherine Bonner to Robert and Nicole Schuld; 850 Jacks Lane; $170,000.

Daniel V. Reppy to M&SG Realty Inc.; 210 W. Market St.; $115,000.

Port Clinton — Randy A. and Sherry K. Hoffman to Stacy Santos; 105 Centre St.; $64,900.

Pottsville — JMAC Realty LLC to Scott and Carolyn Marsh; 476 Wallace St.; $121,900.

Wesley E. Tower and Amy C. Lemmon to Bryan Russell Garfield, trustee for the Lyman Butler Donaldson Jr. Irrevocable Trust; 307 W. Race St.; $14,000.

Rush Township — Barbara and Stephen J. Daderko to Barbara F. and Stephen J. Daderko; 144 Great Oaks Drive, Lake Hauto; $1.

Schuylkill Haven — Debra Ann Haag, Michele Susan Killian, William Henry Timm Jr. and Denise Elaine Daniels to Megan T. Jacquel; 429 Dock St.; $78,900.

Shenandoah — Joanne McAndrew to Thomas J. and Marianne M. McAndrew; 33 S. Main St.; $1.

South Manheim Township — Stephen C. and Nancy M. Russial to Kyle Weller and Rachael Arndt; 1438 Wynonah Drive, Lake Wynonah; $169,000.

Tamaqua — Stanley Mellor to Mellor Real Estate Holdings LLC; 412 Pine St.; $1.

Stanley Mellor to Mellor Real Estate Holdings LLC; 107 Coal St.; $1.

Christian Gimbi to Tori Heffelfinger; 532 Pine St.; $10,000.

Tremont Township — Earl and Brandi L. Greao to Justin R. Brown and Janelle S. Kegerreis; 139 Molleystown Road, Molleystown; $220,000.

West Brunswick Township — Kenneth J. Smith to Anthony S. and Reba R. Russo; 2.8107-acre property at township roads 716 and 837; $65,000.

Marriage licenses

Justin A. Moeller, Tremont, and Gloria J. Strickler, Tremont.

Randy A. Shreve, Tamaqua, and Diane L. Evanov, Tamaqua.

Jordan R. Doyle, Pottsville, and Shannon L. Sinko, Pottsville.

Deangelo L. Clemmons, Frackville, and Lois Darden, Philadelphia.

Daniel J. Merva, Shenandoah, and Natasha S. Dettery, Shenandoah.

Cody R. Poticher, Lykens, and Paige N. McLaughlin, Lykens.

Anthony J. Maff, McAdoo, and Rebecca M. Price, McAdoo.

Steven T. Brozyno, Tamaqua, and Jennifer L. Nelson, Tamaqua.

Kenneth W. Downes, Hamburg, and Kelly S. Milo, Pottsville.

Chad W. Wynn, Somerset, and Lori K. Sebetich, Bentleyville.

Ronald D. Bender, Pine Grove, and Billie Jo Miller, Pine Grove.

Dylan M. Yutko, Barnesville, and Kelsey E. Mansell, Barnesville.

Earl A. Eichert, Tower City, and Kristina M. Stover, Tower City.

Shannon M. Kunstek, Minersville, and Jillian T. Marteusz, Minersville.

Jared R. Beers, Tuscarora, and Amanda Jean Smarr, Tuscarora.

Christopher Challenger, Tower City, and Emily Browell, Tower City.

Clay H. Rinehart, Auburn, and Amber Leah Crespo, Auburn.

Kory K. Harper, Pottsville, and Angela C. Twigg, Pottsville.

Lisandel Valdez Asencio, Mahanoy City, and Laura A. Nivar Mateo, Mahanoy City.

Divorce vacated

Andraleen E. Savlik, Pottsville, and Michael J. Savlik, New Ringgold.

Divorces granted

Kevin S. Nester, New Ringgold, from Dorena Lynn M. Nester, Lebanon.

Robert Kline, Port Carbon, from Cassandra Kline, Cressona.

Mark Hunsinger, McAdoo, from Donna Hunsinger, Lattimer.

David Strohl, Pottsville, from Mary Beth Strohl, Pottsville.

Kimberly Bowers, Pottsville, from Richard Viars, Pottsville.

Nathaniel Brinich, Pine Grove, from Gina Hindman, Pine Grove.

Sherry Sawyer, Pine Grove, from Ervin Sawyer Jr., Raeford, North Carolina.

Apathy never suited musician and feminist icon Ani DiFranco.

From the moment she decided to enter the music industry as a teenager, she felt confident about what she didn’t want as an artist.

“I just had big ideas when I was a little person; one of them was that big business and the interests of big businesses contradicted the business of art and democracy,” DiFranco said in a recent phone interview from her New Orleans home. “I just didn’t want to participate in it, you know? When I started out on the road to having my own record company and doing my career independently, I didn’t have a big plan. I just knew what I didn’t want to do. I met people in the music industry — label people — and thought, ‘Yeah, this is the world I don’t feel right in.’ ”

At just 19, DiFranco created Righteous Babe Records, through which she has since produced 20 of her records, which follow in the footsteps of folk singers and activists Woodie Guthrie and Pete Seeger in their socially aware music with outspoken, political lyrics.

Now fans can catch DiFranco, with opening act Gracie and Rachel, in Wilkes-Barre today at F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the concert starts at 8.

The audience can expect to hear a wide variety of DiFranco’s politically charged music, which offers a wide range of perspectives on topics old and new. Most recently, she released the album “Binary” in June 2017.

“It’s a pretty political record,” DiFranco said. “The title track is kind of a reflection on the way I’ve come to see my whole world, that existence itself is something that’s made up of relationships. Nothing exists except in relationship to something else. ... That sort of theme, which is not disconnected from my feminism, weaves through a lot of the songs and kind of binds the record together. Like all of the records, it goes a lot places and says a lot of things.”

One of the singer-songwriter’s favorite tracks of the record is “Play God,” which touches on the issue of reproductive freedom being a civil right. This song came to fruition when DiFranco decided she was tired of waiting for someone else to write a song about how she felt on the topic.

“I want to hear more politically conscious songs in my world, things that help me to articulate myself — what I think and what I feel,” she added. “It ends up being me trying to write the songs I want to hear. Like, (expletive) somebody’s gotta write this one.”

After nearly 30 years in the music industry, DiFranco is a fairly decorated musician — garnering nine Grammy award nominations and one win — and activist, with awards including the National Organization for Women’s Woman of Courage Award and the Woodie Guthrie Award, given for being a voice of positive social change.

“There are definitely more people politically active (nowadays),” DiFranco said. “It’s so, so great. I’m sure there’s a way to look at this current political situation, like it had to happen to shake us awake. There were so many complacent, so many numb, so many lost in their disillusionment. This kind of political, social crisis has been extremely effective.”

Major protests, such as the Women’s International March, and the #MeToo campaign gave DiFranco hope that people still care and want to make connections with one another on a grander scale. Much of the root of activism, DiFranco said, is about “supporting and inspiring each other.”

“That’s part of what I love about my job, is being out there, engaging with people and talking to people,” she added. “It makes me feel more alive and definitely more hopeful. You can imagine my shows are gatherings of communities who sometimes find themselves on the outskirts of the status quo. I love my job more than ever.”

Contact the writer: cjacobson@

citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2061

RINGTOWN — The Old White Church opened its doors for the celebration of Ascension Day for the 120th time in its history.

More than 100 people traveled to the church in the Ringtown Valley for the traditional annual service marking the religious holiday, also called Ascension Thursday, that is the Christian commemoration of Jesus Christ ascending body and soul into heaven 40 days after his resurrection from the dead on Easter Sunday.

The church opens only a few times a year, so the annual service provides an opportunity to visit to not only pray on the holy day, but also to enjoy being in a place where possibly their own ancestors worshiped before electrical service, which the building still does not have.

The year’s service was hosted by St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Ringtown. Its pastor, the Rev. Craig D. Zimmerman, opened the service by welcoming everyone.

“I asked our local historian how many years we’ve had this service, and this is the 120th Ascension Day service. I am proud to say I have not been to all of them,” Zimmerman said, getting a laugh from the congregation.

Located in Union Township at Brandonville and Cemetery Hill roads, the Old White Church was constructed in 1842 as St. Paul’s Union Church, replacing a log cabin church built around 1810 that was home to two ethnic German congregations. The current church is the oldest religious structure in Schuylkill County north of the Broad Mountain.

Zimmerman began the prayers, with the hymns sung by a choir composed of members of St. Paul’s UCC and St. John’s Lutheran Church, Ringtown, accompanied by organist Janice Hoffman. Also participating was the Rev. Joseph A. “Jay” Serafin, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran churches in Ringtown and Brandonville.

The “Preacher of the Day” was the Rev. Darryl Kennsinger, who is the pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, Tamaqua, since 2013. Born in 1960 in St. Petersburg, Florida, he preached his first sermon at age 12. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in religion from Garner-Webb College in North Carolina, and received his Master of Divinity degree from Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He served in church in Oklahoma and North Carolina, and later served in Orangeville in the Penn Northeast Conference for 11 years before coming to Tamaqua. He and his wife, Tina, have three grown children and are married for almost 32 years.

After the Gospel reading by Serafin, Kennsinger walked up the steps to the elevated pulpit between two large windows to give his sermon. He was pleased to be able to visit such an historic building.

“We focus on Christ’s Ascension so many years ago, and we have to recognize that the Ascension is a mystery,” Kennsinger said. “I would say that his Ascension was necessary and it had to happen. The Ascension is the period that separates the Jesus of Nazareth, the person of flesh and bone, from the exalted Christ of heaven.”

Kennsinger said the Ascension was able to teach the disciples.

“The first thing they had to recognize that this wasn’t an ending,” he said. “The days of Jesus as flesh and bone and their dependence on his physical presence was over. For a period of three years they had Jesus with them in the flesh. Jesus walked with them, ate with them. They traveled together. But that period of time could not last forever. It shouldn’t last forever. Nothing lasts forever. Well, if we say that, then what of eternity? Eternity does not belong in the physical, in the natural, in the concrete world in which we live. Eternity is ethereal. Eternity is spiritual. That is why I say the Ascension is necessary, because, in truth, Jesus was eternal. He was not fit to dwell in this world in physical form forever. His time in this world in a physical form was to be temporary. That’s why the Ascension is necessary. But equally true with this being an ending, the disciples realized that this was a new beginning.”

After the worship service, everyone was invited to St. John’s Lutheran Church for a potluck fellowship.

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

SHENANDOAH — A Mahanoy City man charged with stabbing another man in that community on April 20 waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday morning.

Ryan M. Shoup, 21, of 511 W. Centre St., was arrested by Mahanoy City police Patrolman Thomas Rentschler and charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault, three misdemeanor counts of simple assault and one misdemeanor count each of recklessly endangering another person, false reports to law enforcement and possession of drug paraphernalia.

By waiving his right to a hearing before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shoup will now have to answer to all eight charges against him in Schuylkill County Court.

Rentschler charged Shoup with stabbing Kenneth Vanhorn in the area of West Market and B streets around 10:30 p.m.

Rentschler said he learned of the incident after receiving a call from Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill S. Jackson Street that Vanhorn was being treated for three stab wounds to his left side abdominal area.

At the hospital, Rentschler said, Vanhorn reported walking in the area of B and West Market streets and getting involved in an argument with a woman named Marissa Garcia who was driving her mother’s van.

At some point during the argument, Vanhorn said, he was attacked by Shoup, who exited the back of the van and began hitting and then stabbing him, Rentschler said.

Shoup was subsequently taken into custody by Patrolman Jennifer Dempsey and when interviewed, reported he exited the van to come between Vanhorn and Garcia, who were arguing.

Rentschler said Shoup went on to say that Vanhorn approached him and that he pushed him back but Vanhorn continued to come toward him again.

Shoup said he went to shove Vanhorn again not realizing he had previously opened a knife that he was sharpening and accidentally struck the man, Rentschler said.

Rentschler said Shoup then reported placing the knife in a red and black gym bag that was later located and found to contain the knife and items of drug paraphernalia including a pill crusher, glass pipes and items commonly used for re-packaging controlled substances.

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

POTTSVILLE — Six children who died in two past house fires in the Bunker Hill neighborhood will be remembered Saturday.

The public is invited to spruce up the memorial garden area of Bunker Hill playground from 9 a.m. to noon.

“This was their happy place. It’s a good place to remember them at,” Michelle Yarnell, Pottsville, organizer of the effort, said.

On Mother’s Day 2013, a fire at 235 Pierce St. claimed the lives of four children, Joy Brown, 8, Jeremiah Brown, 7, Emily Brown, 3, and Elijah Brown, 2; as well as their father, Eric Brown, 31, and aunt, Kristina Thomas, 23.

On March 16, 1993, a fire at 417 Pierce St. killed two children, Edward Santai, 3, and Nicholai Santai, 5.

New memorial stones will be placed in the garden while restoration work will be done on the playground benches. The garden area was dedicated in honor of the children in August 2013, with Yarnell organizing the effort.

“Having kids, my heart ached for her,” Yarnell said of the Brown children’s mother, Kelly, who was not home at the time of the deadly fire. “It’s going to take a long time for people to get over.”

Holly Keff, director of community employment at Avenues, said the organization donated the memorial stones as well as flowers.

“Each memorial stone is special for each of the children that will be honored,” Keff said Thursday.

Twelve volunteers with Avenues decorated the memorial stones with things such as the children’s favorite toys. Work on the memorial stones will continue into Saturday and more volunteers are welcome.

“We will need help sanding, weeding, raking and mulching,” Yarnell said.

Access Services, Orwigsburg, donated brightly painted decorative stones for the garden at the playground’s memorial area.

Edward Santai, 60, of Schuylkill Haven, father of the Santai children, said he appreciates the effort.

“I think it’s a wonderful thing,” he said.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

MAR LIN — The Norwegian Township supervisors voted Monday to accept an extension of time in the construction contract for Granbury Manor Estates on Peach Mountain.

The extension was needed to comply with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, which allows a governing body 45 days from the date of submission to act on the plan if it is deemed approved.

The development will include at least 50 residential lots on 200.80 acres of land owned by Grande Land LP, Wyomissing, in the township just south of Queen of the Universe Cemetery. Grande Land owns the acreage on the mountain where it plans to create 48 single-family residential lots and one to be dedicated to the township for recreational use while saving another for future improvements, such as detention ponds. Two further phases with additional lots are possible. Work, pending approval of permits, is not expected to begin this year. The preliminary plan was submitted in November. On Feb. 7, C2C Design Group, the firm representing Grande, addressed questions from the township planning commission and the township engineering firm. A revised plan for phase one was given April 9.

The extension, applying to that revision, is needed to address compliance with state Department of Environmental Protection and Schuylkill Conservation District regulations.

Keith Tokonitz, chairman of the planning commission, said the commission recommends denial of the plan as it is now.

He said there are “a lot of issues” with the plan as submitted. They include 14 items that have not been addressed. Of those, most are related to the state DEP.

For example, he said, pertinent permits have not been acquired for the project. Easements needed for the township to enter the detention ponds that could be on the property have not yet been given.

Chuck Frantz, director of engineering for C2C Design Group, who was at the November meeting and not present Monday, said previously that the smallest lot would be 33,000 square feet and the largest 164,000. He did not know what the average price of the mostly two-story homes would be. It would be six to eight months after obtaining permits before any “substantial” work begins on the site, Frantz said.

In other business, a resident who lives near Weis Markets in the township said he wanted to know why Louisa Avenue was changed to a one way from east to west from Saint Clair Avenue to Arthur Street. Residents in the area expressed concern for safety, supervisors said previously.

The resident said the area is now congested. The resident also said the lights from Weis Markets are distracting. He said there should be trees in the area near a guide rail to act as a buffer. Tokonitz said he will see what the approved plan shows.

Supervisor David George said the issue will be rectified.

“I’ll go knock on doors and then we will go from there. We will have an answer for you next month,” he said.

Supervisor Tom Dallago said the supervisors want residents’ comments on the situation.

“We are not against any ideas,” he said.

Opening burning in the township was also discussed.

Bill Kirwan, road foreman, said he was noticing “a lot of burn pits” in the township.

“Can I have an open fire in my backyard?” he asked the supervisors.

Solicitor B.J. Evans said the ordinance will be reviewed while Mike Miller, zoning officer, said open burning is prohibited in the township.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

David A. Plachko

PORT CARBON — A New Philadelphia woman charged with a theft involving the Rent A Center store in Norwegian Township on March 19 had charges against her held for court during a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko.

Terri Lynn Kates, 39, of 40 Clay St., Apt. 2, was arrested by state police Trooper Ian Keck of the Schuylkill Haven station and charged with one count each of receiving stolen property and theft of leased property.

Plachko determined the commonwealth proved a prima facie case and ordered both charges held for Schuylkill County Court.

Keck said that Kates signed a rental/payment agreement with the business for a washer and dryer valued at $784.33 and a living room set valued at $688.89.

Keck said the items were delivered to Kates’ residence but the woman failed to pay for the items and has not returned them.

Other court cases included:

Jesse D. Alonge, 29, of 120 N. Line St., Girardville; held for court: possession of a controlled substance.

Jennifer L. Schultz, 36, of 24 Wood St., Port Carbon; withdrawn: escape.

Edmond J. Rozew, 56, of 325 S. West St., Shenandoah; waived for court: bad checks.

Dylan J. Ciappa, 38, of 411 Saint Peters Road, Andreas; waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Timothy A. Reed, 32, of 535 E. Lawton St., Saint Clair; waived for court: turning movements and required signals, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jeremy C. Wengert, 36, of 619 Pierce St., Pottsville; waived for court: defiant trespass and false identification to law enforcement. Withdrawn: criminal mischief.

Christina A. McPeek, 32, of 937 W. Centre St., Mahanoy City; waived for court: defiant trespass and false identification to law enforcement. Withdrawn: criminal mischief.

Shane M. Kerrigan, 27, of 219 Mauch Chunk St., Pottsville; held for court: retail theft.

Christopher J. Cicero, 40, of 128 Main St., Box 4179, Seltzer; held for court: retail theft.

Emmanuel Rodriguez Jr., 20, of 131 Pike St., Port Carbon; waived or court: theft and receiving stolen property.

Sharon Devitt, no age available, of 225 Sunbury St., Minersville; withdrawn: DUI-highest rate. Waived for court: DUI and disregard for single traffic lane.

Mary R. Diamantopoulos, 32, of 409 E. Hancock St., Saint Clair; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

James R. Ritter, 30, of 2709 W. Main St., Hegins; waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate, failure to keep right, disregard for single traffic lane, driving at an unsafe speed, careless driving and failure to use safety belts.

Kerry C. Land, 47, of 409 Pottsville St., Minersville; waived for court: simple assault and strangulation.

David Hartranft, 23, of 616 Old Route 209 Road, Tamaqua; waived for court: simple assault and harassment.

Christopher Schoffstall, 31, of 449 E. Market St., Pottsville; held for court: retail theft.

Donald E. Dower, 52, of 14 Woodland Drive, Pottsville; held for court: retail theft.

Edward W. Sonnon, 32, of 235 Oak St., Pottsville; held for court: DUI, DUI-controlled substance, retail theft, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

William D. Cole Jr., 37, of 800-16 N. Second St., Pottsville; waived for court; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Robert J. Rountree, 48, of 49 Water St., New Philadelphia; held for court: retail theft.

James K. Reiley

A man charged with assaulting a woman in Pottsville and holding her against her will on April 10 waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville.

David Paul Haller, 51, LKA 304 S. 2nd St., was arrested by Pottsville police Patrolman Joseph Murton and charged with one count each of unlawful restraint-serious bodily injury and simple assault.

By waiving his right to a hearing, Haller will now have to answer to both charges against him in Schuylkill County Court.

Murton charger Haller with an incident at 120 Market Square around 9:30 a.m. where he allegedly restrained Virginia Rothermel against her will and then struck her in the face several times causing pain and visible injuries.

Other court cases included:

Amanda Lynn Weaver, 31, of 504 E. Market St., Pottsville; waived for court: theft and receiving stolen property.

Barbara Ann Dugan, 36, of 103 N. 3rd St., Apt. 2, Pottsville; dismissed: strangulation and simple assault.

Richy Jackson, 50, of 4 S. Centre St., Pottsville; held for court: public drunkenness and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Joshua C. Spector, 38, of 42 Timber Road, Pottsville; waived for court: theft and possession of a controlled substance.

Josh L. Ritter, 43, of 546 N. Centre St., Apt. 3, Pottsville; held for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Justin Lee Lindenmuth, 35, of 309 W. Market St., Apt./Suite 1A, Pottsville; waived for court: possession of firearms prohibited, firearms not to be carried without a license and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Emilio Jack, 27, of 309 N. George St., Pottsville; waived for court: possession of a controlled substance, DUI-controlled substance, driving with a suspended or revoked license and period for requiring lighted lamps.

Scott D. Schaeffer, 48, of 23 Mengle St., Pottsville; waived for court: DUI-controlled substance, accidents causing damage to unattended vehicles or property and no head lights.

Sean P. Vilcheck, 21, of 440 Adams St., Pottsville; withdrawn: simple assault. Waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Dawayne L. Hoffler Jr., 20, of 711 W. Market St., Pottsville; held for court; disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and criminal mischief.

Joseph E. Boris Jr., 49, of 311 Arlene St., Minersville; waived for court: possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Luis Guillermo Morales, 25, LKA 639 N. 2nd St., Apt. 2, Pottsville; held for court: false identification to law enforcement.

Police probe brawl

at Manheim Diner

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — State police at Schuylkill Haven are looking for information on an aggravated assault that occurred at the Manheim Diner in North Manheim Township around 2:45 a.m. Sunday.

Police said a fight broke out at the business and that they are seeking anyone who may have witnessed the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-754-4600. All information received will remain confidential.

Police: Woman

harassed boy, 9

WILLIAMSTOWN — A 28-year-old Williamstown woman was arrested by state police at Lykens and charged with harassment after a recent incident involving a 9-year-old Williamstown boy.

Police said that Marisol Gonzalez will have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge Rebecca Margerum.

Police said the incident occurred as Gonzalez’s child and the 9-year-old exchanged insults with each other on the school bus and at the bus stop, Gonzalez intervened and threatened the 9-year-old saying she would beat him up.

Police investigate

Mahanoy burglary

MAHANOY CITY — Mahanoy City police are investigating a burglary that was reported on Thursday.

Police said someone illegally entered a garage in the 600 block of West Centre Street and removed numerous items before fleeing the area undetected.

Police said they are actively conducting their investigation in an attempt to identify the person or persons responsible and retrieve the stolen items.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-773-2313.

All information received will remain confidential.

Juvenile struck,

injured by vehicle

POTTSVILLE — Pottsville police investigated a crash involving a pedestrian that occurred in the area of Centre and Arch streets around 3:20 p.m. Tuesday.

Police said it was determined that a 60-year-old Pottsville man was driving a Buick Century north on North Centre Street approaching the intersection when a 13-year-old boy ran onto the roadway eastbound on Arch Street.

The Pottsville man, police said, was unable to stop his vehicle before hitting the juvenile.

The juvenile was taken to a local hospital by Schuylkill EMS for treatment while the driver of the car was not hurt, police said.

Police seek 3 for

theft from CVS

CRESSONA — State police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating a retail theft of items valued at more than $1,500 from the CVS Pharmacy on Pottsville Street in North Manheim Township around 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Police said three black men wearing baseball caps entered the store and began to fill bags with Rogaine and Nexium products and Gillette razors and left without paying.

The three then fled the area in a silver Chevrolet, police said, adding that the items taken and their value were Rogaine products, $702.84; Gillette Mach 3 razors, $48.28; and, Nexium products, $840.21.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-754-4600.

Police: Woman

scattered garbage

HEGINS — Hegins Township police charged Aldonna C. Knorr, 51, of 422 Broad St., Valley View, with scattering rubbish after an incident around 1:25 p.m. April 5.

Police said Knorr was captured on video surveillance dumping a tote, hangers, plastic containers, several plastic items and a mop bucket onto the ground at the recycling bin site at the township complex and leaving the area.

The charge against Knorr was filed with the office of Magisterial District Judge David Rossi, Tremont, police said.

Juvenile charged

following crash

HEGINS — A Klingerstown juvenile was charged by Hegins Township police after an incident around 3:20 p.m. April 25.

Police said the juvenile was cited for following too closely and unlawful activities for having a bald tire as the result of a crash at Main Street and Forest Drive.

Police said the juvenile was driving a vehicle that struck another vehicle that was stopping to make a turn.

Charges against the juvenile were filed with the office of Magisterial District Judge David Rossi, Tremont, police said.

Man faces charges

from 3 incidents

HEGINS — Hegins Township police filed charges against a township man as the result of investigations into incidents earlier this year.

Police said Troy Allen Schannauer, 1459 W. Main St., was charged with theft of services after a Jan. 10 incident at his home.

While at the residence on a different matter, police said, officers saw an extension cord running from the neighbor’s shed into a power strip onto Schannauer’s property and into his residence.

Officers spoke to the neighbor, who said that he was not allowing Schannauer to use his electricity and when interviewed about the theft, police said, Schannauer answered “I have to survive, man.”

In a separate incident on Feb. 22, police said, Schannauer was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.

Police said officers took Schannauer into custody at the Tremont office of Magisterial District Judge David Rossi on an active warrant when he appeared for a preliminary hearing.

While being searched, officers said, Schannauer was fond with a bag of methamphetamine in his pants pocket.

Schannauer will now have to answer to all of the charges before Rossi in his Tremont courtroom.

Juvenile charged

in hit-and-run

VALLEY VIEW — Hegins Township police arrested a Valley View juvenile after an incident around 8:30 p.m. April 24 in the parking lot of Tri-Valley High School.

Police said the juvenile was charged with accidents involving death or personal injury, careless driving and duty to give information and render aid.

Police said officers were dispatched to the area for the report of a hit-and-run involving a pedestrian that was struck.

Police said the investigation revealed that the juvenile was operating a vehicle and struck a 24-year-old Valley View man who was crossing traffic. Upon impact, the victim landed on the hood of the vehicle and rolled off while the juvenile failed to stop at the scene of the accident and subsequently fled from the area, police said.

Police located the vehicle the next day and subsequently interviewed the juvenile after which the charges were filed with Schuylkill County juvenile authorities.

Traffic stop nets

drug charges for 3

MAHANOY CITY — Three people were arrested by Mahanoy City police on drug charges after an investigation into a traffic stop by Patrolman Jonathan McHugh around 11 p.m. April 18 in the 700 block of West Centre Street.

Police said Crystal Wentworth, 31, of Shenandoah, was charged with possession of a controlled substance-heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia and several traffic violations.

Patricia Kowker-Bloss, 47, of Gilberton, was charged with possession of a controlled substance-heroin, possession of a controlled substance-heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Finally, police said Paul Williams, 33, of Scranton, was charged with possession of a controlled substance-heroin, possession of a controlled substance-heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.

All three will now have to answer to the charges against them during preliminary hearings before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker in his Shenandoah courtroom.

Elizabethville

The Elizabethville Area Historical Society, 100 E. Main St., will meet at 7 p.m. May 21. A DVD of Mike Wertz’s 2016 Memorial Day message will be featured. According to a society release, Wertz’s message “is timeless and sure to enhance your Memorial Day experience.” For more about the society go to its website at www.elizabethvillehistory.org or Facebook: Elizabethville Area Historical Society.

Frackville

For the fourth consecutive year, Lewie’s Restaurant, 21 S. Lehigh Ave., will host a free D-Day breakfast remember and honor all American veterans. The breakfast will begin at 7 a.m. June 6, according to Lewie Eyster, restaurant owner and an Air Force veteran. The free breakfasts began as a result of a local Vietnam veteran suggesting to Eyster that veterans who risked everything for America be honored on the anniversaries of D-Day and Pearl Harbor Day. “This us our way in Frackville to both remember … veterans who lost their lives that day but just as importantly … a special way for us to recognize and honor every veteran … those who have served from WWII to those who continue to serve our great nation today,” Eyster said.

Nuremberg

The annual Nuremberg Community Yard Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 2. Anyone interested in participating should call Marion Ulshafer at 570-384-4429 or Elaine Croll at 570-384-4310. A $2 fee per family is requested to cover advertising. A list of participants will be provided at various locations, so those interested should include their name, address and number of families participating along with the fee to Marion Ulshafer, P.O. Box 23, Nuremberg, PA 18241. Space is available at the North Union Township Park for anyone wishing to set up tables for an additional $10 fee, which will go directly to the township. To reserve pavilion tales, call Croll.

Nuremberg

The Black Creek Township Recreation Committee will hold its annual community yard sale from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 26 by the township office next to the recycling center. The cost is $10 per participant. Those participating can bring as many tables as they like and can sell anything except food items as the committee will sell food and beverages. For more information or to sign up, call Lori at 570-384-3674 or Kay at 570-384-4441.

Pottsville

The Schuylkill County Lithuanian Women’s Club met recently at the Pottsville Zone. Audit committee Chairwoman Marge Valinsky said the audit was completed and the group’s bylaws need to be updated, according to a club release. Denise Stabingas, Ann Ketner and Ginnie Delenick volunteered to be on that update committee. Club President Joann Filiziani said the club’s annual tea and fashion show will be held Oct. 7 in St. Nicholas Hall, Route 901, Primrose. She also said the fashion show must be promoted more as attendance has been on the decline. Money generated from the event is used to provide the scholarships granted to graduating seniors in any of the county schools who are of Lithuanian heritage. The next club meeting will be held June 12 at the Mountain Valley Golf Club, Barnesville.

Shenandoah

The borough and the revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc. are continuing their effort to boost community pride, asking that on Thursdays now through the fall, all business owners and owners of properties on Main and Centre streets “please sweep their sidewalks and leave the dirt in the gutter.” The borough street sweeper will pick up the dirt on Friday mornings during the early hours. “We are asking the businesses and the property owners to take pride in our community and make it welcoming to our visitors and tourists,” DSI officials said in a release. For more information, call DSI at 570-462-2060. DSI’s wildly popular annual Shenandoah Kielbasi Festival will be held on May 19 on North Main Street.

Tamaqua

The Tamaqua Public Library is wrapping up its spring storytime and kicking off the Summer Quest program and celebration of the 150th anniversary of Memorial Day with an event scheduled for 10 a.m. May 22. It will feature a performance by Matthew Dodd, who will be in Civil War-era garb singing a selection of songs from that time period. To register, call 570-668-4660.

Deeds

Auburn — Allen H. Faust Jr. and Lisa A. Webber to Daniel M. Sr. and Lisa A. Webber; property on Pine Street; $1.

Butler Township — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Roger Weikel; 11 Hill St., Locustdale; $1.

Frackville — David R. Lapinsky to George Manning and Brian Manning; property on Birch Street; $82,500.

New Philadelphia — Timothy T. Boldt to Leighann Olazta; 189 Valley St.; $50,000.

North Manheim Township — Brian E. and Jody L. Kyslinger to Charles E. Heffner and Kelly A. Mitchell; 13 Fox Hollow Road, Chestnut Hill; $200,000.

Michael A. III and Anita M. Klembara to Michael J. and Paige A. Lurwick; 101 Briar Road; $325,000.

TOWER CITY — The Williams Valley senior class signed a petition to revisit their graduation venue, and a school board director presented it to the board Thursday.

Director Tedd Johns offered the 63-signature document to the board for consideration. He said the petition had been given to his daughter. The Class of 2018 wants to consider moving the June 1 graduation ceremony from the high school gymnasium to an outdoor setting at Viking Stadium.

The class was scheduled to hold a meeting today to make a final decision on the ceremony location.

Superintendent Diane Niederriter and senior class adviser Jolene Smith said Thursday night’s meeting was the first time they heard of any petition. Niederriter said a class officer had spoken with her previously, but information about a petition was not shared at that time.

Many of the board members agreed that the class should have the ability to make their own choice but noted the timing was very late to make changes.

Johns said a company could be hired to set up chairs and other equipment at the venue.

Director Tracey Minnich said he didn’t care where the graduation service was held but didn’t want to pay a vendor for equipment if it wasn’t used in the event of rain.

The board unanimously voted to look into a vendor to supply graduation equipment, at a cost not to exceed $1,000, and with the stipulation that the district can cancel within 24 hours of the ceremony.

Additional event staff will be needed if the service is held at the stadium, board President Daniel Stroup said.

In other business, the board unanimously approved a preliminary $16.5 million general fund budget for 2018-19, which keeps taxes stable.

Real estate taxes will remain at 16.46 mills for Dauphin County residents and 34.68 mills for Schuylkill County residents, according to Business Manager Amy Tomalavage.

The median assessed valuation for property in Dauphin County is $45,600 and is $18,000 in Schuylkill County.

Other levies are two $5 per capita taxes and a $205 occupation tax.

In other action, the board approved New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. Inc., Winfield, to complete the parking lot repaving at the high school with a base bid of $246,855; a base bid No. 2 of $3,250; and a bid add alternative of $59,400. Tomalavage said the add-on bids were for the paving of an additional stone area where buses are parked/stored.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Three cygnets hatched at Bubeck Park this week, with six eggs remaining.

“They are so cute,” Jeanette Elchisak, Port Carbon, said Thursday. One cygnet is gray and the other two are tan and white.

She often goes to the park to see the swans, Rambo and Abby, when they are on the nest.

Borough workers put straw in the nest in late March. The cygnets usually hatch by Mother’s Day.

“I hope the others all hatch and are so healthy,” Elchisak said.

The first cygnet this year hatched sometime between Tuesday evening and early Wednesday morning, said Paul Seiders, who, with his wife, Helen, make up the Swan Patrol.

Paul and Helen arrived at the park at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday and noticed the first cygnet, which they were able to identify as a female because of its paler feet. Males have black feet.

“That is so cool. That is so neat,” said Tish Tellup, who was there with her granddaughter, McKinleigh Tellup, 20 months old, both of Wayne Township. “They are beautiful, aren’t they?”

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — All 58,000 people listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall will be honored this weekend thanks to the efforts of the Veterans of the Vietnam War Inc., Post 29, Schuylkill County.

The organization helped bring and set up a half-size replica of the wall to The Island on Thursday. There will be several events throughout the weekend involving the wall, beginning with opening ceremonies Thursday evening.

The wall was designed by John Devitt, Gerry Haver and Norris Shears, all Vietnam veterans. The Moving Wall was originally supposed to be stationary on the West Coast so people in that part of the country could experience a visit to the wall without traveling to Washington, D.C. However, only after veterans asked about its mobility did Devitt decide it would be a moving wall. Devitt began work on the portable wall in February 1983 and completed it in October 1984.

The wall is made of 74 aluminum panels painted with a two-part polyurethane gloss black that gives it a mirror-like finish and mounted to angular aluminum frames. The aluminum structure is supported from the back by 76 steel square tubular braces.

Just after 8 a.m. Thursday, the Moving Wall received a police escort from the Saint Clair Walmart parking lot down to Schuylkill Haven. After a drive through Schuylkill Haven, the caravan arrived at The Island where setup began.

Pioneer Pole Building supplied and installed the wood for the base this week.

This is the second of 20 stops for the Moving Wall this year. Paul and Kim Chen have been transporting the wall across the country for several years and will travel to Ohio, Michigan, New York and Virginia over the next few months.

The right side is the East Wall and the left side is the West Wall. At 254 feet long, it is half the length of the actual wall in Washington, D.C.

“Right now we are current with Washington,” Paul Chen said.

This is the third time the memorial has been in Schuylkill County. The first time was at the Fairlane Village mall for 10 days in 1986. The second was in 2007 at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Route 61.

“It gives us the opportunity to thank the Gold Star families for everything they’ve done for our community. We will never, ever forget,” Post 29 Commander Guy Wiederhold said.

“The wall means a lot. It’s all about the 58,000 names on it,” member Bill Higgins said.

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

Parents will get a taste of nostalgia through the lens of today’s youth next weekend at a local theater group’s rendition of an ’80s movie.

The Actors Guild of Schuylkill County will be presenting “Xanadu Jr.” at 7:30 p.m. May 18 and 19 and 2 p.m. May 20 at the Theatre at Simon Kramer, 15 Alliance St., New Philadelphia. Tickets are free for children 3 and younger; $10 for children ages 4 to 12 and $15 for anyone 13 and older, and are available at the door or through the guild’s website at www.agosc.org.

Based on the 1980 film “Xanadu,” the play “follows the journey of a magical Greek muse, Kira, who descends from the heavens of Mount Olympus to Venice Beach, California, in 1980 on a quest to inspire a struggling artist, Sonny, to achieve the greatest artistic creation of all time — the first Roller Disco. But, when Kira falls into forbidden love with the mortal Sonny, her jealous sisters take advantage of the situation of chaos abounds,” the play’s director, Amy Mills, said, adding “the stage show actually has a bit more of a story to it than the movie. It has many funny lines and fantastic music made famous by ELO and Olivia Newton-John.”

As in the movie, the lead actors are set to stroll around on roller skates in this part Greek myth, part “age of glitter” reprisal.

Those actors and actresses include: Riley McDonald as Clio/Kira, the lead muse; Michael Spotts as Sonny, the struggling artist; Alexa Gauvreau as Melpomene and Ava Frantz as Calliope, the main antagonists; and Logan Miscannon as Danny McGuire — “a businessman who had also been inspired by the muse Clio in his younger years,” according to Mills; as well as Bo McDonald, Caitlin Cappella, Callie Seisler, Ella Frantz, Genevieve Smith, Lauren Bennyhoff, Madison Munley, Marcus Smith, Payton Miller and Peyton Fetter, Mills said.

Despite the cast being born about two decades after the movie was released, they are “really enjoying the music and the extra dancing they do in this show,” said Mills, who has been directing the AGOSC youth musicals for eight years. “I would say the most difficult part of the show will be for my two leads who not only have to act, sing and dance, but also roller skate. They both only started skating when they were chosen for the parts and they are doing remarkably well.”

In addition to the youth musicals, Mills has directed some adult shows and musicals at AGOSC, including “Of Mice and Men,” “Young Frankenstein” and “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

Next on AGOSC’s agenda is a June presentation of “Forbidden Broadway,” which Mills described as a “cabaret revue sharply spoofing well-known show tunes, characters and plots of contemporary and current Broadway musicals.” The guild, a nonprofit group dedicated to bringing theater to the Coal Region, is always seeking new volunteers to get involved in the production, ranging from crews, actors, stage managers and directors and more. For more information, visit the AGOSC website or visit them on Facebook.

Contact the writer: dprosick@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6002

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Dennis Lord remembers flying over northern Vietnam as an Air Force pilot in the 357th Tactical Fighter squad.

He remembers the other pilots with him, saying getting to know them made it “the greatest year I spent in the service.”

“It makes you proud to know each and every one of them,” Lord said.

Lord was among the scores of people attending the opening ceremonies for the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall at Island Park. The wall will be there until approximately 9 a.m. Monday, when it will be disassembled and transported to Michigan. The wall is a one-half scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Lord was looking for the names of five comrades who served alongside him. He said it never gets easier seeing their names on the wall. It gives him chills seeing their names and the other 58,000-plus, knowing what they gave for their country.

“It gives people a chance to see the sacrifices that were made,” Lord said. “It’s emotional.”

Patriotic songs, military flags, prayers and heart-felt thanks were given to the fallen by those in attendance.

State Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, Rush Township, said too many people did not say thank you to those who came home.

“We are here today to say thank you. I hope it’s not too late. I hope we never repeat the mistakes of the past in not saying thank you for the sacrifices of our veterans.”

County Commissioner Gary J. Hess said the brief rain shower prior to the opening ceremonies were “blessings from heaven.” It was not rain, but the tears of the fallen “coming down and to share with all of us tonight,” he said.

“Their service is not forgotten and should not be forgotten and always remembered,” Hess said.

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

POTTSVILLE — On May 3, Judge James P. Goodman revoked the parole of Malea M. Schoffstall, 25, of Pottsville, and recommitted her to prison.

“You’re not doing anything” about your drug problem, Goodman told Schoffstall. If she continues doing nothing, she will remain in prison until the end of her sentence, Goodman warned her.

Goodman revoked Schoffstall’s parole after the defendant admitted violating it by failing to report to her supervising officer, moved without permission, failed a drug test, made no payments on her costs and fees and did not undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation.

Schoffstall originally pleaded guilty on Sept. 28, 2016, to false identification to law enforcement, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of retail theft. At that time, Goodman placed Schoffstall on probation for six months, and also sentenced her to pay costs and a $50 bench warrant fee.

On Sept. 18, 2017, Goodman revoked Schoffstall’s probation and sentenced her to serve three to 12 months in prison.

State police at Schuylkill Haven originally charged Schoffstall with presenting a false ID on March 11, 2016.

Schoffstall cannot apply for reparole for at least two months except to an inpatient substance abuse rehabilitation facility. She could remain in prison until Dec. 28 under the terms of Goodman’s order.

In another Thursday case, Goodman revoked the parole of Jordan T. Harris, 29, of Allentown, and recommitted him to prison.

Harris cannot apply for reparole until July 31, except to an inpatient substance abuse rehabilitation facility. He could remain behind bars until Oct. 19.

Harris originally pleaded guilty on Nov. 30, 2016, to possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of possession of a controlled substance. At that time, Goodman sentenced him to serve nine to 18 months in prison, pay costs, a $100 SAEF payment, a $50 payment to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, a $50 bench warrant fee and $176 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Pottsville police charged Harris with possessing a salable amount of drugs on Oct. 18, 2015, in the city.

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

BERNVILLE — An Allentown man was charged with homicide and other crimes Wednesday stemming from a March 16 crash that claimed the life of a Schuylkill Haven man.

Carlos A. Rosario Jr., 33, of 516 W. Cedar St., was arrested by state police Trooper Brian Roland of the Hamburg station and charged with murder in the third degree, homicide by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, receiving stolen property, conspiracy, homicide by vehicle, accidents involving death or personal injury while not properly licensed, DUI, DUI-high rate, DUI-controlled substance, unauthorized use of motor vehicles, driving with an alcohol level of 0.02-percent or higher while under license suspension, disregard for single traffic lane, duties at a stop sign, driving at an unsafe speed, careless driving, reckless driving, restrictions on alcoholic beverages and failure to use safety belts.

The charges were filed Wednesday with Magisterial District Judge Andrea Book, Bernville.

Roland charged Rosario with causing the 6:20 a.m. crash at the Exit 19 off-ramp from Interstate 78 west and Route 183 in Upper Tulpehocken Township, Berks County.

The crash claimed the life of Keith Allen Krammes, 56.

Trooper David Beohm, public information officer for Troop L, Reading, said the investigation determined a 2014 Toyota Sienna minivan, previously reported stolen and involved in an incident about 45 minutes prior, exited the westbound lanes of Interstate 78 at a high rate of speed.

The driver, Rosario, failed to follow a curve at the top of the ramp and drove into the driver’s side of Krammes’ 1995 Buick sedan that was traveling south on Route 183.

Krammes was extricated from his car by firefighters and flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Allentown, where he was pronounced dead from injuries he suffered in the collision.

A passenger in the van — Vincent Bynum, 32, of 507 W. Allen St., Apt. 2, Allentown — was found outside of the vehicle and detained, Beohm said.

Beohm said a subsequent investigation led police to the owner of the van, who reported her daughter had the vehicle in the Allentown area and it had been stolen from the Comfort Inn in Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County, sometime during the overnight hours March 15 or 16.

It was also learned that just prior to the fatal collision, the van was involved in an incident in the westbound lanes of Interstate 78, at mile marker 24.1 in Upper Bern Township, Berks County.

Around 5:50 a.m., Beohm said, a 2003 Ford Focus crashed into the center median barrier while traveling at a high rate of speed. EMS were called and when arriving at the scene, they saw two men unloading the contents of the car into a silver minivan, the same vehicle that was reported stolen and involved in the fatal crash, Beohm said.

The van then fled the area west on Interstate 78 at a high rate of speed and a short time later was involved in the 6:20 a.m. crash that killed Krammes.

Beohm said it was also determined that the Ford Focus involved in the first crash was reported stolen to state police at Bethlehem.

In conjunction with the fatal crash, Bynum was charged with receiving stolen property, identity theft, hindering apprehension or prosecution, conspiracy, unauthorized use of automobiles, false reports to law enforcement, abandonment of vehicles, false reports, restrictions on alcoholic beverages and occupant protection violations.

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

GORDON — A group of Walmart volunteers spent their day at a soccer field in Barry Township to tear down a small building, cut grass and do some painting as part of a corporate initiative that helps local communities and organizations.

The organization in this case is the North Schuylkill Youth Soccer Association. About a dozen volunteers from Walmart Distribution Center 7030 came to the association’s Forrest L. Shadle Soccer Complex on Airport Road near Gordon to do the work at the field through the company’s Volunteerism Always Pays program.

Operations Manager Daniel Osenbach explained the VAP program and how it assists communities.

“What I have to do is get 50 associates to come throughout today and tomorrow and volunteer their time and do some work here,” Osenbach said. “They (NSYSA) want a shed ripped down, cut the grass, hang some signs and do some other work. If 50 people come down and put in 250 hours, Walmart will pay a grant to them of $5,000 to make improvements to their field. It’s a good program. We try to help out the local communities and make a difference.”

He said the volunteers included members of the management team.

“We’ll get people in and out throughout the day — associates, managers,” Osenbach said. “A lot of the people you see here today are weekend associates who work Saturday through Monday. Tomorrow I’ll have another event for the weekday folks to come and participate. We have some dirt coming later for a landscape crew from Kulpmont to fill in some of the holes, things like that. We’re going to do some work on the parking lot, put up some handicapped signs and put lines on the grounds.”

As Osenbach was talking, the front of the concession stand was being pulled away from the building by a pickup truck, which then dragged it away. The next step was bringing down the rest of the building. After the pickup ripped away one of the sides, about a half dozen volunteers lined up behind the stand and pushed it down by hand.

After trying to remove the other side to flatten the structure on the ground, it took a sledgehammer wielded by maintenance operations manager Robert Williams and area manager Josh Orcutt to loosen it for associate Joseph Sori to pull the wall away.

“I’ve worked on a number of VAP projects,” Williams said. “I just moved here a few weeks ago from Mississippi. This is my first project here. I always enjoy doing these. This is always a win-win for us.”

Orcutt said he enjoyed using the sledgehammer on the building.

“It gets some of the frustrations out,” Orcutt said. “We try to do two or three projects a year and we try to make them all.”

A cinder block building containing the restrooms were being painted by employees Christine Cookson and her daughter, Shelby Lazovi.

Walmart General Manager Alan Hanley said, “Dan set this up with the local community, and based on the number of folks who show up, we’re not only able to do the work, but Walmart contributes money back to the organization so they use the funds for other projects to help out with the kids. It’s basic and it’s a way we can get involved where we work and where we live and help each other out.”

NSYSA Treasurer Brenda Swank said the association is grateful for the help Walmart is providing at the field. Last year the association had to deal with damage caused in 2017 when a vehicle crashed through the fence, damaged an equipment shed, another shed and about 8 feet of fencing.

“I knew they did that VAP program and we needed a lot of help because a Jeep ran into two buildings,” Swank said. “We winged it last year to get us through the season, but now we got some of the proceeds money (from insurance) to start building a new stand.”

Swank said the concession stand was missed by the crash, but its age prompted razing it this year.

“They knocked down that building because it was a mess. It was the only one standing and it was old and getting full of mold,” Swank said. “We had water damage in there.”

Swank said with the insurance money received, the next step will be to put up a pole building to replace the two sheds destroyed in the crash and replacing the fence. She said the construction of the pole building will begin when the permits are received.

“We have nowhere to put our riding lawn mower right now,” she said. “All of our netting and paint for the lines is in the bathroom. We want to clear that out so we have bathrooms for our kids. Our riding lawn mower is at Forrest Shadle’s house. He gave us the field.”

Swank explained that Shadle allowed the use of his land for many years, and in 2014 he deeded the property to the soccer association.

The association has a new concession stand that it purchased from Pearl Theatre Stadium 8 at the former Schuylkill Mall near Frackville.

“It was used outside when they did the movies outside. When they were knocking the mall down, they said the best bid on it would get it. We bid on it and we won,” Swank said.

If the association receives the $5,000 grant, Swank said the money will go into the general fund to be used as needed.

In fiscal year 2016, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation donated more than $1.4 billion in cash and in kind. Employees also contributed more than 1.25 million hours of their time outside of work to volunteer causes.

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