David J. Rossi

TREMONT — A Pine Grove Township man is wanted by authorities after he failed to appear Thursday for his preliminary hearing on drug, traffic and weapon charges stemming from an incident in February.

Sebastian M. Golden, 25, of 230 Long Stretch Road, Pine Grove, faces charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, prohibited possession of offensive weapon, driving unregistered vehicle, display of plate or card in improper vehicle, operating vehicle without required financial responsibility and operating vehicle without valid inspection.

After the hearing, Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi ruled prosecutors had produced sufficient evidence to support all charges and ordered them held for court. He also asked the court to issue a bench warrant for Golden.

State police at Schuylkill Haven have charged Golden with committing his crimes on Feb. 28 in Pine Grove Township. Police said Golden possessed drugs, paraphernalia and a weapon.

Other defendants whose cases Rossi considered on Thursday, the charges against each one and the judge’s disposition on the matters included:

Craig D. Deeter Jr., 26, of 418 Dietrich Ave., Tower City; driving under the influence and improper turning movements; charges held for court after preliminary hearing that Deeter did not attend. Rossi asked the court to issue a bench warrant for Deeter.

Bradley L. Merwine, 39, of 265 Hill Road, Hegins; possession of drug paraphernalia; charge held for court after preliminary hearing that Merwine did not attend. Rossi asked the court to issue a bench warrant for Merwine.

Scott Schoffstall, 26, of 23 Greenbury Road, Pottsville; delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

James R. Ferrier

A Chester County man is headed to Schuylkill County Court in connection with a May 2017 incident in which he allegedly made false statements on a form while trying to buy a handgun.

Jeffrey S. Seveland, 44, of 1400 Blackhorse Hill Road Building 6, Coatesville, faces two counts each of materially false written statement and false statement under penalty. Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound over all charges for court after Seveland waived his right to the hearing.

Orwigsburg police charged Seveland with making the false statements on the form at 4:28 p.m. May 1, 2017, at Shakey’s Gun Shop. 202 E. Market St., in the borough.

Police said that while trying to buy a Smith & Wesson SD9 VE 9 mm handgun, Seveland wrote on the form that he never had been adjudicated mentally incompetent and had no protection from abuse orders on file against him. In fact, police said, a background check revealed Seveland had been involuntarily committed to a mental institution and had an active PFA order against him.

Seveland is free on $2,500 unsecured bail pending further court proceedings.

Other defendants whose cases Ferrier considered on Tuesday, the charges against each one and the judge’s disposition on the matters included:

Ricky Barrineau, 36, of 35 Front St., Cressona; driving under the influence and driving unregistered vehicle; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Susan P. Jones, 52, of 110 Peaceful Valley Road, New Ringgold; DUI, disregarding traffic lane, careless driving and operating vehicle without valid inspection; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Micah A. Kates, 40, of 206 W. Front St., Lansford; DUI and failure to drive at a safe speed; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Nikki S. Lindsay, 41, of 1022 Laurel Blvd., Pottsville; DUI and disregarding traffic lane; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Stephen J. Bayer

A 40-year-old borough woman charged by Tamaqua police with theft failed to appear for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer.

Karrie A. Sell, 248A W. Broad St., was arrested by Tamaqua police Cpl. Henry Woods and charged with one count each of theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

In Sell’s absence, Bayer ordered both charges held for Schuylkill County Court and requested a warrant be issued for the woman’s arrest.

Woods charged Sell with an incident that began on Jan. 4 when she received 100 gallons of home heating oil from Rarick’s Coal, Fuel and Propane Inc. at a cost of $250.

Sell took possession of the oil and promised to pay the bill the following day but failed to do so. The woman also did not return telephone calls from the business about the past due bill and a Certified Letter was returned unclaimed, Woods said.

Other court cases included:

Allison J. Sanders, 48, of 138 E. High St., Coaldale; waived for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Michele Fabok, 50, of 198 Faith Drive, New Ringgold; held for court: bad checks.

Joseph J. Carroll III, 26, of 29 S. Delaware Ave., Minersville; waived for court: criminal solicitation-retaliation against witnesses or victims.

James J. Englert, 41, of 83 Fairview St., Barnesville; withdrawn: simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment.

Michael C. Hill, 26, of 207 South St., Tamaqua; waived for court: false reports, false identification to law enforcement, possession of drug paraphernalia and defiant trespass.

Kim Leary, 52, of 513 N. Railroad St., Tamaqua; held for court: burglary, criminal trespass and criminal attempt to commit theft.

Connor Evans, 34, of 503 Blue Mountain Drive, New Ringgold; waived for court: DUI, DUI-high rate, careless driving and driving at an unsafe speed.

Acmed R. Ventura, 29, of 41 W. Grant St., McAdoo; withdrawn: aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment. Waived for court: simple assault and harassment.

Justine M. Datchko, 37, of 83 Trenton St., Mahanoy City; waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Vanardi LeGrand Jr., 39, of 624 E. Centre St., Mahanoy City; waived for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Joseph A. Spencer, 45, of 41 Meadow Ave., Tamaqua; waived for court: simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and criminal mischief.

Anthony Powell, 48, homeless; waived for court: theft, conspiracy and receiving stolen property.

Benjamin J. Arnold, 46, of 122 E. Phillips St., Coaldale; withdrawn: statements under penalty and materially false written statements; firearms.

Clyde L. Meyers Jr., 58, of 414 5th St., Port Carbon; held for court: no rear lights, possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Joseph B. Franz, 30, of 214 Lombard St., Tamaqua; withdrawn: burglary, conspiracy and criminal trespass. Waived for court: theft, conspiracy and receiving stolen property.

Anthony J. Kilker

A woman charged with stealing a man’s cellphone in Shenandoah last year waived her right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker.

Crystal Ann Wentworth, 32, of 304 W. Cherry St., was arrested by Shenandoah police Lt. Gary Keppel and charged with felony robbery and misdemeanor charges of theft and receiving stolen property.

By waiving her right to a hearing, Wentworth will now have to answer all charges against her in Schuylkill County Court.

Keppel charged Wentworth with an incident at Main and Centre streets on July 26 where asked a man who was sitting there to use his cellphone to call a friend.

When the man said no, Wentworth grabbed the telephone from his hands and walked away, Keppel said, adding that the Samsung phone was valued at $160.

In a separate case, Wentworth waived charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked to court as well.

Other court cases included:

Derek L. James, 20, of 554 E. Arch St., Pottsville; withdrawn: possession of marijuana.

Erick Lauffer, 43, of 1178 W. Centre St., Shenandoah; withdrawn by police: possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving a vehicle without a valid inspection and possession of a controlled substance.

Lisa M. Andrews, 36, of 1178 W. Centre St., Shenandoah; withdrawn: possession of drug paraphernalia. Waived for court: possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Object falls from

truck that flees

JONESTOWN — A Pine Grove man escaped injury in an incident on Route 72, just east of Iron Bridge Road in Union Township, Lebanon County, around 5 p.m. May 1.

Police said an unidentified truck was being driven south when an unknown object dislodged from it and struck a northbound 2013 Ford F-150 driven by John Warrington, 62, of Pine Grove.

No injuries were reported and police said the driver of the truck failed to stop and fled traveling south.

PSP Lykens release

report numbers

ELIZABETHVILLE — State police at Lykens reported handling 436 calls during the month of April.

In the criminal division, police said there were 107 offenses reported, 102 determined to be valid and 68 cleared resulting in 65 criminal arrests.

In the patrol division, police investigated 37 crashes and seven hit-and-run crashes resulting in 10 injuries and no fatalities. Police made six DUI arrests, issued 354 traffic citations and 171 warning notices.

Driver cited after

car pulls into path

SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS — Two people suffered minor injuries in a crash along Route 924, Ringtown Boulevard, in West Mahanoy Township around 11 a.m. Wednesday.

State police at Frackville said John E. Guers, 83, of Shenandoah, was driving a 2001 Chevrolet Malibu and was in a parking lot adjacent to the northbound lane of the highway when he attempted to cross the road and get to a parking lot off the southbound side of the road.

In doing so, police said, Guers pulled directly into the path of a 2005 Peterbilt truck being driven by Rocco Petrone, 24, of Weatherly, who was traveling north on Route 924.

Police said Petrone applied his brakes in an attempt to avoid a crash but was unable to do so and struck the Guers car after which the truck crossed the southbound lane and struck a small rock embankment.

As a result of the crash, Petrone suffered cuts on his hands and complained of shoulder pain, police said. As a result of the crash, Petrone will be cited for vehicles entering or crossing a roadway.

Man cited for

Port Carbon crash

PORT CARBON — State police at Schuylkill Haven investigated a crash that occurred on Coal Street, just north of Pike Street, around 7:15 a.m. May 2.

Police said Warren T. Jefferson, 36, of Kaska, was driving a 1995 Ford F-150 south on Pike Street, Route 209, when he tried to make a left turn at the intersection and was struck by a 2002 Ford Explorer that was being driven north by Jannelli Torres Marrero, 29, of Hazleton.

Police said Jefferson suffered possible injuries and was taken to a Pottsville hospital; Torres Marrero was not hurt and it was not known if her passenger — Emanuel Rivera, 29, of Lansford — was hurt.

Schuylkill EMS and Port Carbon firefighters assisted at the scene, police said, adding that Jefferson will be cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic as a result of the crash.

A masters division has been added to the Pottsville Area Soap Box Derby this year, bringing back a tradition of bigger car competition.

The racing begins at 9:30 a.m. May 19 on Laurel Boulevard, marking the event’s 45th year.

The other two divisions offered will be stock (entry level) and super stock (advanced). A participant in the masters division must remain in a lying-down position with feet forward.

“A masters division used to run about 25 years ago in Pottsville,” Barbie Carroll, event coordinator, said Friday.

“We had a couple of racers that won in the stock or super stock divisions and they said they wanted to be in the lay-down cars,” she said.

There are 42 racers pre-registered to compete this year, with 13 in the stock division; 25 in the super stock division; and four in the masters division. Each racer can only compete in one division, she said.

“Next year, we’re hoping to have at least six in the masters division,” Carroll, Pottsville, said.

The grand champion in each division will receive a trophy and wins a trip to compete internationally in the 81st FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby from July 15 to 21 in Akron, Ohio.

Bradeyn Ditzler, Port Carbon, won the stock division and Angel Geiger, Pottsville, won the super stock division during last year’s race.

Pottsville was one of nine cities nationwide in 2017 to receive The Outstanding Race City plaque presented by the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby.

There are age and weight limitations for each of the divisions. Briefly, participants in stock must be 7 years old and not turn 14 on or before July 31. The combined weight of an assembled stock car, wheels and the participant must not exceed 200 pounds.

Racers in the super stock division must be 9 years old and must not turn 19 on or before July 31. The combined weight must not exceed 240 pounds.

Participants in the masters division must be at least 10 years old and must not turn 21 on or before July 31. The combined weight must not exceed 255 pounds.

M&T Bank sponsors the race. Other sponsors are: stock division, Pottsville Auto Parts; super stock, Mattera’s; and masters, Womer’s Garage.

The $50 entry fee and registration was due May 9 for the Pottsville event. Anyone still interested in volunteering on race day can contact Carroll at Womer’s Garage, 570-628-5415. For more racing information and derby history, visit the website www.soapboxderby.org.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

POTTSVILLE — Participants in the Schuylkill County Drug Treatment Court expressed their gratitude Thursday for what they believe is the ability it has given them to rid them of their addictions.

“I celebrate by doing some of the things I wanted to do but couldn’t because of my addiction,” Randy said in reading from his required essay during the court’s weekly session over which Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale presided.

However, one of the program participants did not have a chance to celebrate, as Bruce received notice that he could be dismissed from the program for violating its rules by using drugs.

“We don’t know what to do with you,” Hale told Bruce, who wore a prison jumpsuit and handcuffs during the session. “Did you call your counselor?”

“I didn’t call my counselor. I should have called someone,” he said.

“If you’re having a moment of weakness ... reach out,” Hale advised him and the other participants.

At the end, Bruce returned to prison to await the court’s final decision, which was not immediately made.

Schuylkill County officials started the drug treatment court in 2017 to try to combat the widespread local drug addiction problem, using a carrot-and-stick approach to help participants beat their addictions. Other counties in Pennsylvania also have instituted drug treatment courts.

Participants in the 14-month program must undergo substance abuse treatment, make regular court appearances, submit to random drug testing and home visits, meet with probation officers and comply with directives from the court and those officers. Participants must complete all five phases in order to graduate from the program; graduation is the carrot, resulting in dismissal of the charges against them.

However, since the participants tender guilty pleas to the charges against them, failure to complete the drug treatment court program is the stick, resulting in the pleas being accepted and the defendants being sentenced, quite possibly to time in a state correctional institution. There are 32 people in the program.

Generally, participants showed optimism in their essays that the program is helping them.

“I celebrate my recovery by reflecting on how drastically different my life is,” Curtis said. Those differences include being able to celebrate his son’s birthday and kicking his drug habit, he said.

Joanne exuded similar joy at participating in the court.

“Everything is better,” she said. “I have celebrated my recovery by displaying personal growth. I now enjoy my life.”

James said his recovery has enabled him to serve his community by coaching Little League baseball. he said being in the program has enabled him to realize he no longer has to do everything alone.

“It’s the happiest I’ve been,” he said. “It gives me a sense of accomplishment.”

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

HEGINS — The Tri-Valley school board faces tough decisions in balancing a $13.8 million budget for next school year, including the possibility of cutting programs and realigning staff.

A real estate tax increase to the maximum allowable limit under Act 1 still won’t generate enough revenue to climb from a nearly half million dollar deficit, the board learned at a budget meeting Wednesday.

There will be a special public meeting at 7 p.m. May 23 in the high school so the board can solidify the 2018-19 budget.

Superintendent Mark D. Snyder outlined the district options and reviewed measures already taken to cut expenditures and remain “fiscally responsible.”

“Unfortunately, we’ve gotten to the point where we’re unable to generate revenue to maintain programs in their current form,” he said. “We have a fairly stagnant tax base in this district.”

According to Snyder, a lack of infrastructure has resulted in a lack of newly established businesses. That drives a lack of new homeowners and of new people moving into the district, resulting in reduced enrollment. Projections for incoming kindergarten students are at an “all-time low,” of 48 pupils, Snyder said.

With a proposed real estate tax increase of 1.06 mills, the rate would jump to 34.3821 mills. The budget reflects a 3.2 percent increase, the allowable state index. The median assessed valuation of a home in the district is $31,960. With the tax hike, it would mean the average taxpayer would see an increase of $34.07 in the school district portion of their real estate taxes, according to Snyder. The tax increase would generate an additional $130,541 for the district, not enough to make up the deficit.

Under Act 1, the district would not be able to raise real estate taxes above that rate without a voter referendum and approval.

Snyder said the district initially faced an $800,000 deficit in its preliminary budget. About $70,000 remains in capital reserve. Through attrition, by not replacing retiring staff, the district will be able to reduce some salary costs. Some other items slashed include: eliminating a replacement vehicle purchase; removing a long-term substitute position; adjusting insurance policy rates; opting out of athletic insurance but offering it to parents; reducing the sick time budget; reducing usage of the Capital Area Online Academy; removing library book acquirements; cutting replacement of a piano; reducing professional technical services; removing an English textbook purchase; and scrapping a high school bell system project.

Even with those proposed spending changes, the district is short $444,878 in order to balance the budget, according to Snyder.

Other things may be on the chopping block. Items being assessed include: art, music, physical education and library services at the elementary; as well as those same courses and vocational programs, agriculture, business, and family and consumer science courses at the high school. The board can also look at the district’s sports expenditures, revenues and co-ops.

Snyder said the district could realign its special education program, closing a classroom and absorb a position being lost to retirement.

The plan will be to control costs, he said. That may involve realigning staff and balancing out class sizes at the Hegins-Hubley Elementary in Valley View and at the Mahantongo Elementary in Klingerstown.

Some directors mentioned seeking additional grants, or forming a 501c(3) educational foundation to help with revenues. Director Dave Miller was absent.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

Ashland

The Washington Fire Company Community Ambulance’s annual subscription/membership drive is ongoing through May 31. Subscription forms and information have been mailed to Ashland area residents. For anyone who did not receive the mailing, applications are available at the following locations: Ashland Public Library, Ashland Borough Hall, Ashland tax collector’s office, M&T and BB&T banks Ashland offices and the ambulance building, 1309 Center St.

Coaldale

A blood drive by Miller-Keystone Blood Center is set for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Luke’s Hospital-Miners Campus, 360 W. Ruddle St. For more information, call 570-645-8271. Miller-Keystone, a nonprofit, is the sole blood provider for the Lehigh Valley Health Network including LVH-Hazleton and Schuylkill as well as for St. Luke’s University Health Network including St. Luke’s Hospital-Miners Campus, Coaldale. It also is the sole provider for the hospitals in Lehighton and Palmerton.

Hegins

The Hegins Valley Fire-Rescue Carnival will be held June 13-16 at Hegins Park. Festivities will include a 7 p.m. parade June 13 plus entertainment by Dan Poletti and Mug Night. Entertainment on June 14 will feature Flamin’ Dick & the Hot Rods sponsoring by Horning Supply. It will also be wristband night with one price to go on rides all night long. Live music on June 15 will feature the band Sapphire and it will be another wristband night. Deuce will entertain on June 16 sponsored by Moore Supply, Valley View, culminating with a fireworks show at 10 p.m. The carnival will have a beer garden every night. All are welcome.

Minersville

The Minersville Public Library recently acknowledged the following memorials: For Catherine Haney by Debbie Cherrybon; for Caitlin McGarry by Debbie Cherrybon; for Mr. and Mrs Jerome Lowthert by Rick and Barb Pielacha; for Robyn Barrett by Todd and Ellen March; for Betty Brennan by Todd and Ellen March; for Jimmy Martin by Bill Murphy, Robert and Mary Sharon Piccioni, Debbie McSurdy Cherrybon, Karen Stabinski, Ellen Valent, Al and Barbara Munster, Tom, Rosie and Dave Takach, Mae and Marty Mohl, friends at the Pottsville Club 18, Peggy Gretsky, Jack and Gail Brennan, Jim and Ann Yacobacci, Herm Minnig, Fred Horan, Linda and Marty Smith, Catherine and John Bosack, Ed Kozlusky, Rosann Sitkus, Dave and Libby Gauntlett, Paul and Mary Makley, Edmund and Linda Pavao, Lillian Bergan, Edward and Joyce Moran, Robert and Linda Stock; for Regina Yeastedt by the George Yeastedt family.

New Ringgold

A spaghetti dinner and Chinese auction to benefit Karen McHugh of the New Ringgold area will be held today at the West Penn Rod and Gun Club, 1047 Clamtown Road. Doors will open at noon and meals will be served from 2 to 6 p.m. The auction will begin at 6 p.m. All proceeds will go toward medical expenses. For more information or to donate, call 570-436-3085. All are welcome.

Saint Clair

American Legion Post 719 will have a Memorial Day service at 1 p.m. May 27 at the Saint Clair Area Elementary/Middle School, South Morris Street. Students will participate in the service to honor deceased veterans and the public is welcome, according to a release. For more information, call Bill Bowler at 570-429-2129.

Tamaqua

“Myth of the Good Old Days,” featuring guest speaker Dr. Jill Peters, will be the theme of her address in a workshop for lay and ordained church leaders set for 9 a.m. to noon June 2 at Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church, sponsored by the Tamaqua Ministerial Association and the Tamaqua Area Faith Fellowship Network. Peters is on the faculty at Moravian Seminary in Bethlehem. The workshop is open to all Tamaqua area congregations free of charge. Workshop organizers said in a release May 30 is the deadline to register by calling George Taylor at 570-668-4451 or emailing gtay200@verizon.net.

More than 800 volunteers helped with a variety of projects around Schuylkill County on Friday as part of the annual Jason B. Jones Memorial Day of Caring.

Kelly M. Malone, executive director for United Way, said the event started 10 years ago because United Way agencies needed help with partner organizations, such as the YMCA, Salvation Army and Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation.

Originally with Make a Difference Day, the United Way decided to host an event in the spring. They also added Jason B. Jones’ name to the title four years ago. Jones, a Blue Mountain High School graduate, was killed in Afghanistan in 2014. He was commander of a 12-man A-Team with the Army Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets.

“Jason was about volunteering. It was who he was,” Malone said.

Volunteers offered their help Friday at places like Albright’s Woods and Memorial Building in Orwigsburg, the Pottsville Salvation Army, Schuylkill Women in Crisis, Schuylkill YMCA, the Tamaqua playground, Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation and St. Joseph Center in Pottsville.

Malone said she did “a happy dance” when she learned 800 people volunteered to help.

“They are taking time from their busy jobs and lives to make Schuylkill County a better place,” Malone said.

At Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation, 60 to 70 volunteers prepared the camp for the summer. Work included painting, mulching, pruning and trimming. Jay Jones, Jason’s father, was one of the dozens of volunteers.

“The Schuylkill County community has been so supportive of our family in the wake of Jason’s passing,” Jones said. “This is another example of how the community has come together to make sure his legacy of helping lives on in Schuylkill County.”

Ryan Shakely, a classmate of Jones, was painting Hafer Lodge. It was his first time helping at the camp and he was grateful United Way added Jones’ name to the title of the day’s events.

“It’s very fitting to volunteer here at the Boy Scout camp in Jason’s name. We’re all proud of where he came from,” Shakely said.

Several Hydro Extrusions employees were setting up tents in campsites. They had already done three sites by about 10:30 a.m. Hydro — formerly Sapa — has been involved for the last four years and helps with the tent-pitching. Michele Atkinson, a human resources employee for Hydro and a United Way board member, said Hydro was “very interested in being active in the community” and volunteering their time is a great way to give back.

“It’s important that we all recognize what the United Way agencies are offering the community,” Atkinson said.

A dozen Wells Fargo members were split between painting the administration building and mulching the ground surrounding the building. Shane Minnich, Schuylkill district manager, said it was the first time they had volunteered at the camp and they wanted to work on a project they could do together. The camp had several projects and the bigger the group, the bigger the project they could accomplish.

“We appreciate the opportunity to get out and serve,” Minnich said.

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

POTTSVILLE — Former Coaldale Police Chief Timothy Delaney must receive an arbitration hearing on his claim for a disability pension resulting from a job-related hand injury, a three-judge Commonwealth Court panel ruled.

In a 12-page opinion and order filed Friday in Pottsville, the panel decided that state law requires that Delaney’s claim be decided by arbitration instead of the courts.

The borough’s contract with Delaney allowed him to participate in the police pension plan, and all disputes relating to that contract are to be decided by arbitration, Judge Patricia A. McCullough wrote.

“The Employment Agreement entered into by Delaney and the Borough ... (directs) that any matters ... be submitted to a grievance and arbitration procedure,” McCullough wrote.

As a result, an arbitrator will decide whether Delaney is entitled to a disability pension from the borough.

Delaney injured his right hand on Aug. 13, 2013, while testing a Taser. On June 25, 2015, he requested a disability pension from the borough Police Pension Board, which denied his request on May 23, 2016.

The panel’s ruling reversed a decision by county Judge James P. Goodman, who had ruled that the state Local Agency Law mandated that an appeal to a county court be filed instead of a request for arbitration.

McCullough wrote that Goodman did not interpret the law incorrectly in relying on a Commonwealth Court case involving a police pension matter.

“We held that, as the matter involved the provisions of the Local Agency law, the arbitrator lacked subject matter jurisdiction over the dispute,” she wrote.

However, McCullough wrote that after Goodman made his ruling, the state Supreme Court overturned that decision on which he had relied. Therefore, Delaney’s case must be submitted to arbitration, according to McCullough.

Judge Michael H. Wojcik and Senior Judge Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter, the other panel members, joined in McCullough’s opinion.

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

Fire destroyed a garage in Pottsville on May 5.

Pottsville Fire Chief James Misstishin Sr. said firefighters were called to 617 Carbon St. around 10:45 p.m. and found a garage fully engulfed in flames.

He said crews worked for about 20 minutes to bring the fire under control and make sure the flames were completely extinguished.

The garage, Misstishin said, is owned by James and Tara Schartel and that their house located a short distance away was not damaged.

Misstishin said the investigation determined the fire was accidental, started when while someone inside the garage was lighting a wood burner.

All Pottsville fire companies responded along with the Schuylkill Haven Rapid Intervention Team and Schuylkill EMS.

Denny Wolff believes his experience as a former state agriculture secretary, as an international representative of the United States, and as a dairy farmer and small businessman has prepared him to be a member of Congress.

“I think Congress needs some independent thinkers and people with real-world experience,” said Wolff, who is one of three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination in the 9th District in Tuesday’s primary election. “I have that real-world experience and public service experience.”

Wolff, a life-long Columbia County resident and farmer, served as Pennsylvania’s state agriculture secretary for six and a half years during the administration of former Gov. Ed Rendell, overseeing a $200 million budget and 600 employees.

“I learned what bipartisanship is all about,” he said. “I represented a Democratic administration and farmers are 85 percent Republican. I didn’t ask what party they belonged to, I asked what the problem was. We worked cooperatively, solved problems and moved our agenda forward. It was an excellent experience to understand how public policy works. I learned how laws are written, and how rules and regulations are written and enforced.”

For five generations, Wolff’s family farm operated a small processing facility that sold fresh milk in returnable glass bottles. In the 1980s, he developed a herd of Holstein cows that became globally renowned for their elite genetics, in both the domestic and international markets. The farm’s success in international trade prompted Wolff’s appointment to the World Trade Organization’s Agriculture Technical Committee during the Clinton administration, and later be reappointed under the Bush administration.

“I understand foreign policy and trade agreements,” Wolff said. “I understand everything that goes into negotiating a good agreement between two countries.”

His small business experience will also help him in Washington, Wolff said.

“At one point, our farm had 18 full-time employees,” Wolff said. “I understand what it is like to make a payroll and how important small businesses are to our economy.”

Also during his time in Harrisburg, Wolff served on several cabinet and standing committees, such as the economic development and homeland security committee, the conservation commission and the Farmland Preservation Board. He was also a member of the Board of Trustees at Penn State University.

When he was agriculture secretary, Wolff launched the “PA Preferred” program, which identifies and promotes agricultural products produced in Pennsylvania. The PA Preferred logo can be found on numerous products at the grocery store or farmers market.

“The economic development committee gave me a chance to help make agriculture part of the economic future of the commonwealth, not that it didn’t have a seat at the table,” he said. “It gave me a chance to help prioritize agriculture and tourism, the two biggest industries in Pennsylvania.”

In addition to his farm work and public service, Wolff is the proud founder of Camp Victory, a camp for children with special needs that’s adjacent to his farm. The camp today hosts more than 1,700 children and their families from across the country each summer.

Wolff and his family were inspired to start Camp Victory due to the outpouring of support the family received when their youngest son, Nicholas, was born with a life-threatening liver disease and spent most of the first two years of his life in hospitals until he received a life-saving liver transplant when he was 18 months old.

Feeling the need to give something back gave birth to Camp Victory, a nonprofit organization formally recognized as The Nicholas Wolff Foundation.

The camp has grown since Wolff started it on a 24-acre plot of land he donated.

“Each week, we have a different camp, for children with different conditions, cancer, heart disease, diabetes and asthma,” Wolff said. “We started with three or four camps a week on that 24 acres. Today, we are up to 20 camps a week every summer for 1,700 kids on 130 acres.”

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

Name: Denny Wolff

Age: 66

Hometown: Millville, Columbia County

Place of Employment: Self-employed dairy farmer

Family members: Wife Josey, five children

Education: High school graduate, Millville Junior-Senior High School

FRACKVILLE — A man was jailed after being arrested by state police at Frackville and charged with attacking and threatening to kill another man with a knife in Girardville on Friday morning.

Edward A. Conapitski Jr., 19, of 141 W. Ogden St., Girardville, was arrested by Trooper Mario Pompei of the Frackville station and charged with felony aggravated assault; misdemeanor crimes of terroristic threats, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person; and a summary offense of harassment.

Conapitski was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $40,000 straight cash bail.

Pompei charged Conapitski with an incident that started around 8:10 a.m. on North Second Street, near Beech Street.

Pompei said police were called to the area for a disturbance between two men, one identified as David Chuplis and the other as Conapitski.

At the scene, Pompei said, he spoke with Chuplis, who said that sometime last week he left a bag of tools at the Conapitski residence and when he tried to reclaim the tools Thursday night, was told by Conapitski that they had been stolen.

Chuplis said he left the home but not before telling Conapitski that he better find the tools or that he was going to owe him money.

Then, around 8:10 a.m. Friday, Chuplis said, he was walking his child to the bus stop, met Conapitski and asked him if he found the missing tools, only to be told no, Pompei said.

Chuplis said that when he again told Conapitski he better find the tools or give him money, Conapitski became enraged and started yelling at him.

Chuplis said Conapitski reached into his waistband, pulled out a large knife and threatened to stab him, Pompei said. Chuplis said that he became scared and threw a cup of coffee on Conapitski because he thought he was going to attack him.

Pompei said that Chuplis also suggested that Conapitski was pursuing him with the knife, but he was able to get away and Conapitski then entered a home on North Second Street.

Pompei said that around 8:45 a.m., Conapitski was found and had a 15-inch knife in his shorts, a weapon that matched the description provided by Chuplis.

Conapitski will now have to answer to the charges against him at a preliminary hearing before Hale in her Frackville courtroom.

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

Deeds

Norwegian Township — Frank P. Spleen and Mary Ellen A. Moyer, co-administrators of the Estate of Stephen W. Spleen to Frank P. Spleen; property on Willow Street; $5,000.

Brian O. and Dana Murray to David T. George; property in Seltzer; $39,000.

Pine Grove Township — James R. Hardenstine and Jonathan R. Hardenstine, co-administrators of the Estate of John H. Hardenstine, to Francis A. and Angela K. Jordan; 38 Pleasant Hill Drive; $241,000.

Port Carbon — Michael L. Verbosh to Matthew P. Wallace; 105 Lawton St.; $78,000.

Rush Township — Carol Deihm, individually and as administratrix of the Estate of Lewis J. Hughes Jr., Valeria M. Hutchinson and Darlene Alsdorf to Carol Deihm; two properties in Hosensock; $32,000.

South Manheim Township — George J. and Shirley A. Miller to Darlene Hastings; 2020-21-22-23 Wynonah Drive, Lake Wynonah; $1.

POTTSVILLE — An organization dedicated to protection Schuylkill County’s senior citizens awarded its first scholarship on Friday to a Tamaqua teenager who wants to make that his life’s work.

Nathan Litsch, 19, a Marian High School graduate and a sophomore at Misericordia University, Dallas, Luzerne County, received the $1,000 scholarship from the Schuylkill Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance Inc. at the group’s annual luncheon at Greystone restaurant.

“It means the world to me,” Litsch said. “I’m very honored to receive this award and I’m very grateful.”

The alliance also presented its Hornbrook Memorial Award to two groups, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program of Schuylkill County and the Connections Club of Providence Place, Pottsville. The award honors the late John Hornbrook, a professor at Penn State Schuylkill who was a victim of elder abuse and left part of his estate to the group.

“Dr. Hornbrook was a very humble, generous man,” Pottsville lawyer Eric S. Mika told the approximately 20 people assembled for the luncheon.

Alliance Treasurer Karen Kenderdine said that out of 11 applicants, Litsch was the obvious choice for the scholarship.

“We went through them thoroughly,” she said.

Litsch said he intends to major in social work at Misericordia but will not stop there.

“I want to get a master’s (degree) and get into gerontology,” with the intention of working as a patient advocate, he said.

The alliance is dedicated to preventing elder abuse, and the luncheon also marks May as both Older Americans Month and Silver Ribbon Month.

The alliance “makes more people aware of the elder abuse problem,” Chairwoman Annetta Whitecavage said.

RSVP and Connections club each appreciated the award, noting it shows the value of volunteering and community involvement.

“I’m really appreciative,” said Darla Troutman, RSVP volunteer resources coordinator at the county Office of Senior Services, whose group made approximately 2,000 silver ribbons. “This is what they do.”

Anna Zuratt, executive director at Providence Place, said the age of the residents is no barrier to their participation in combating elder abuse.

“Our residents at Providence Place are very happy to get involved,” she said.

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

Dr. Gary Wegman sees health care reform that will enrich the area and wants to lend his more than three decades worth of medical experience to the issue.

Wegman is one of three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination in the 9th District in Tuesday’s primary election.

Wegman, who touts himself as the only medical professional in the candidate field who also has experience in agriculture, said reform can bring billions of dollars to the area and address community needs without raising money.

It’s not a socialized medical system but one he calls uniquely American.

Government won’t own the health care delivery system but will negotiate with stakeholders, like physicians, on what a fair reimbursement for service should be so “nobody profits off of someone else’s misfortune.”

Any person working in America will pay into a health care pool through Earned Income Tax. If a person changes jobs or moves, they are still covered and if they are not a citizen but still working in America, they are covered, too.

Despite paying EIT, workers will still end up with more money “at the end of the day,” than they have now.

Most people working health care insurance industry jobs will be transferred to work for the system in some capacity, according to Wegman.

He said critics may show concern for some insurance industry workers who will be put out of a job with his plan but he points to the farming industry. Wegman, a fifth-generation farmer, said agriculture is in a four-year down cycle, losing money as commodities bring in less than what it costs to make them.

“You think my heart’s really going to bleed for an industry lavishing in wealth when our farmers can’t take home a living wage?” Wegman said.

Insurance companies have had the chance to treat the American people right but all they’ve done is put up barriers, made money off people and now costs need to be controlled and special interest groups stopped, he said.

The fix will allow money to come back into the 9th district and it can be put into public education so school districts aren’t faced with obstacles like crowded classrooms and laying off staff.

By cutting the costs of health care “significantly,” the savings will be brought back to the taxpayers who will pay more into EIT but will also be making more because the insurance match employers are paying won’t be as high. That leaves more money for companies to invest in their workers and businesses.

Wegman said money going into health care has created stagnant wage growth.

The current health care system discourages prevention with high costs, he said, but if certain medical problems aren’t intervened early on, additional costs are created, leaving only those in the insurance field on top.

He also sees job creation and a boon for the 9th’s economy with green energy.

Wegman said he co-parented his children with his wife, who works full time and so is “very respectful” of women’s issues, and wants his daughters to have the same opportunities his son has, including equal wages.

As for public education, which he’s a product of, government needs to listen to its teachers and invest heavily in funding pre-kindergarten and all-day kindergarten and high-quality day care for the working poor to give youth a greater chance of success.

He believes a better education will help cut down on crime.

The money to fund his solutions is there, it’s just not going to the places it should be, he said.

Contact the writer: achristman@standardspeaker.com; 570-501-3584

Name: Dr. Gary Wegman

Age: 61

Hometown: Limekiln, Exeter Twp.

Place of Employment: Owner of Wegman Dental Group and Pagoda Vineyards

Family members: Wife of 24 years, Dr. Anne Dufour Wegman and three children, a son, Berenger, 21, and daughters, Margot, 19, and Cecile, 13.

Education: Lafayette College and University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine

Democrat Laura Quick noticed that many legislators in her area ran unopposed, leaving voters like her with no choice on Election Day.

“People should always have a choice,” the 51-year-old from Palmyra said.

Quick did some research, took a course on how to run for U.S. Congress and set out to give voters in the new 9th Congressional District that choice. Quick is one of three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination in the 9th District in Tuesday’s primary election.

She hasn’t held public office on the local, county or state level, but believes her background as a single mom with a grasp on the issues, a sole bread winner and a community volunteer who has lived and worked in Washington, D.C., is where her strengths lie.

Plus, she didn’t have time to start small.

“I had a sense of urgency,” Quick said. “It’s a calling more than a career. I’m answering that call.”

Restoring the middle class is one of her three main issues for her campaign. She is not just talking about wages, but a middle class lifestyle that people enjoyed years ago, she said.

Working as a package car driver for UPS, Quick has been in and out of all sizes of businesses and government offices, and has seen people struggling and small businesses close, she said. She stays up to date on the issues listening to National Public Radio while driving for work.

“Washington, D.C., can help people and make their lives better,” Quick said.

Legislators need to give companies incentives to do right by their employees, pay a living wage and provide paid leave and personal time, she said. Quick, who taught English in France and French stateside, left teaching for a job with better wages and benefits, and those benefits are important, she said.

“If you’re working and have a sick kid, you have to take time off,” she said.

Quick would like to see a return to the middle class where one parent works, while the other stays home with children, she said. There would be no need for expensive childcare, she said. With long and unpredictable hours at her job, she had to have a live-in nanny, she said.

Another of the issues she is targeting is education. Quick would like to see more rigorous primary and secondary education, and more affordable tuition at colleges and universities. Foreign students mock American education because it’s so easy, she said.

Quick believes incentives could be offered so colleges do better by their students, and not just take care of their leadership, which she sees as administrative greed. Students should be encouraged to pursue more trade schools, she said.

“Not everyone needs a degree,” she said. “The student loan debt is $1.4 trillion. Students are drowning.”

Quick’s third issue is health care for everyone. While living in France, she didn’t have to worry about paying for health care, as it was provided by the government, she said, and you could pay for better coverage. Quick believes legislators need to find the American version of this plan.

Eleven countries have health care systems and America is 11th out of the 11, she said. For every $1 spent on health care, only 33 cents actually goes to health care, Quick said.

“Everything else is administrative,” she said. “It’s an incredibly inefficient system.”

Private health care providers spend 12 to 18 percent of their budgets on administrative costs, while Medicare’s administrative costs are 2 percent, Quick said. Reducing administrative costs to 2 percent would save $500 billion, she said.

She admits that Medicare isn’t perfect, but between the free market and government provided, “we have the worst of both worlds,” Quick said.

“A lot can be done to improve (the Affordable Care Act),” she said.

Contact the writer: kmonitz@standardspeaker.com; 570-501-3589

Name: Laura Quick

Age: 51

Hometown: Palmyra

Employer: UPS, Harrisburg

Family: Son, Merrick

Education: Graduated Plamyra Area High School and Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in international studies with minors in economics and foreign languages.

POTTSVILLE — A Frackville man will spend time in state prison after admitting Tuesday to a Schuylkill County judge that he committed two thefts in September 2017 in Shenandoah.

Stephen A. Mackeravage, 46, must serve three to 23 months in a state correctional institution, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin ruled. Dolbin also sentenced Mackeravage to pay costs a $50 fine and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account.

Mackeravage pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and one of disorderly conduct. Prosecutors withdrew two counts of receiving stolen property and one of criminal mischief.

Shenandoah police charged Mackeravage with committing the thefts on Sept. 1, 2017, in the borough.

In a separate case, prosecutors withdrew charges of open lewdness, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness against Mackeravage. Shenandoah police had charged him with committing those crimes on Sept. 24, 2017, in the borough.

Mackeravage already is an inmate at SCI/Chester in Delaware County, and Dolbin conducted the hearing by videoconference.

Also on Tuesday, Andrew J. Machinsky IV, 27, of Wilkes-Barre, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia. Prosecutors withdrew two counts of retail theft and an additional one of conspiracy.

Dolbin accepted this plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, placed Machinsky on probation for 12 months and also sentenced him to pay costs, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and a $50 CJEA payment, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Rush Township police had charged Machinsky with committing his crimes on May 25, 2017, in the township.

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

TOPTON — Serving the United States comes naturally for Scott C. Uehlinger, and he said he wants to continue to do so in Congress by winning Pennsylvania’s 9th Congressional District.

“I’m running because I served my country my whole life,” said Uehlinger, 53, of Topton, Berks County, who is one of three candidates seeking the Republican nomination in the 9th District in Tuesday’s primary election. “I feel the people are not being properly represented.”

A Navy veteran with four years of active duty and 24 years in the active reserve, he also spent time in the Merchant Marine after graduating in 1986 from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York. Uehlinger, who speaks Russian, then spent 18 years as the CIA station chief in Moldova, a former Soviet republic now an independent country.

“I was the president’s senior intelligence chief in that country,” he said.

The 9th Congressional District was created in the state Supreme Court’s redistricting of Pennsylvania. It includes all of Carbon, Columbia, Lebanon, Montour and Schuylkill counties and parts of Berks, Luzerne and Northumberland.

Along with Uehlinger, Schuylkill County commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr., Pottsville, and former state Secretary of Revenue Dan Meuser, Dallas, Luzerne County, are running for the GOP nomination. The winner will gain a spot in the Nov. 6 General Election against one of the three Democrats — Laura Quick, Lebanon County, Gary Wegman, Berks County and former state Secretary of Agriculture Dennis Wolff, Columbia County — seeking their party’s nomination

Now living in Topton, Uehlinger said he is prepared to use his experience to help President Donald Trump, for whom he served as a delegate at the 2016 Republican National Convention, implement his goals. Those include controlling illegal immigration, reducing regulations and “draining the swamp” by cutting the power of the bureaucracy.

“I support the president’s agenda,” he said, adding the GOP-controlled Congress needs to push Trump’s agenda vigorously. “I will work closely with the president.”

Immigration is a topic close to Uehlinger’s heart, since he is married to, and the father of, legal immigrants.

“The idea of people entering the country illegally” is repulsive to him, Uehlinger said. “I believe in the president’s idea of building a wall.”

Illegal immigration also decreases wages for American workers, he said.

Uehlinger said reducing regulations is vital to ensure continued economic growth. He noted the 3 percent growth is far greater than what Democrats said was to be the new normal level while President Barack Obama was in the White House.

“It’s the key to economic growth,” he said of deregulation. “We can help put Pennsylvania back to work.”

He said “draining the swamp,” which is one of the president’s favorite goals, also would help.

“They’re very slowly moving forward his reforms,” Uehlinger said, emphasizing the “very” to express his frustration at Washington bureaucrats. “It makes me angry.”

He also dislikes what he calls excessive political activities of former CIA director John Brennan and former FBI director James Comey.

“Their behavior is disgraceful,” he said.

Uehlinger said he is pro-life and pro-Second Amendment, lives in the district and has never donated money to a Democratic candidate.

For Uehlinger, the key is for voters to ignore the campaign noise and examine the people: “People need to look beyond the rhetoric to see who the candidates are.”

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

Candidate: Scott Uehlinger

Age: 53

Residence: Topton

Party: Republican

Office sought: U.S. representative, 9th Congressional District

Education, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York, 1986

Experience: CIA station chief, Moldova, 1996-2014; U.S Navy veteran, retired commander; also served in Merchant Marine

POTTSVILLE — Schuylkill County commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. said his lifelong attachment to this region makes him the best choice for the Republican nomination for the 9th Congressional District.

“I believe the people of the district deserve a representative who is one of them,” Halcovage said. “I live in the district. I work in the district. I worship in the district.”

Halcovage, 60, of Pottsville, is one of three candidates — with Dan Meuser, Luzerne County, and Scott Uehlinger, Berks County — seeking the GOP nomination for Congress in Tuesday’s primary election. The winner will face the Democratic nominee in the Nov. 6 General Election.

He said Meuser does not live in the 9th District, but has been trying to buy the GOP nomination here as opposed to the 8th District where he lives.

“(Meuser) has opted not to run in the district where he will be voting for a congressman,” Halcovage said.

Halcovage does not criticize Uehlinger and praised his service to the country, although he notes that Uehlinger lived overseas for several years as a result of his service and cannot know the issues affecting the district.

Created by the state Supreme Court in its redistricting of the state’s 18 congressional districts, the 9th District includes all of Carbon, Columbia, Lebanon, Montour and Schuylkill counties and parts of Berks, Luzerne and Northumberland counties.

Halcovage stressed he is the only candidate who has served in elected office. Schuylkill County voters elected him commissioner in 2011 and re-elected him in 2015.

“I have a proven track record of creating jobs through my time with the Schuylkill Economic Development Corp., the Schuylkill County Industrial Development Authority and as commissioner,” he said.

That record includes other features that make him a good choice, he said.

“As a county commissioner, I have to deal on a daily basis with staff on issues such as Children & Youth, senior services, mental health, prisons, 911 (system) and public safety,” he said.

One such issue is the opioid crisis, which is resulting in increasing numbers of deaths from use of narcotics, both lawfully and unlawfully obtained. Halcovage said he has heard many stories from victims of the crisis, and believes prescribing of such opioids must be reduced.

“I deal with, as a county commissioner, the stresses and strains that occur in many families and all communities,” he said.

Other issues also show that he is the best candidate for Republican voters to select, Halcovage said.

“I’m pro-life, from conception to natural death. I’m pro-Second Amendment and believe it’s our constitutional right to bear arms,” he said. “Overregulation that is hampering development and compromising our current businesses and industries with onerous requirements.”

Concerning immigration, he said it must be done properly, and sanctuary cities, which refuse to help to enforce federal immigration laws, should be defunded. Such immigration controls can also aid in battling the opioid epidemic by restricting the flow of drugs, he said.

“Legal immigration, I support. Illegal immigration, I do not,” he said. “Illegal immigration puts stress on social services and sometimes brings in an element that should not be in our communities.”

He said Tuesday’s election comes down to who knows the district the best.

“I’ve been running a grass-roots campaign where good people have banded together to support me,” he said. “I’ve lived in this area all my life. I love this area.”

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

Candidate: George F. Halcovage Jr.

Age: 60

Residence: Pottsville

Party: Republican

Office sought: U.S. congressman, 9th Congressional District

Experience: Schuylkill County commissioner, 2011-present; businessman

Education: Villanova University; bachelor of science degree in accounting, 1979

Have you seen that super bright star rising in the low southeastern Pottsville sky shortly after sunset in the evening twilight? It’s not a star, but rather the big guy of our solar system, the planet Jupiter.

The 88,000-mile wide planet named after the king of the gods in Roman mythology is not only visible all night long right now, it’s also at its closest approach to Earth for 2018 at just under 410 million miles. Actually, it’s Earth and Jupiter approaching each other in their respective orbits around the sun.

Just a few nights ago, Jupiter reached what astronomers call opposition. It’s dubbed that because Jupiter and the sun are more or less at opposite ends of the sky and the Earth lies between them, as you can see in the diagram. Since they’re at opposite ends of our celestial dome the sun sets in the west as soon as Jupiter rises in the east, and vice versa, just like a full moon. The Jovian giant is prowling across the sky all night long for our perusal!

You can also see that geometrically Jupiter and the Earth are at their minimum distance from each other. Earth and Jupiter get into the opposition position every 399 days, or a little more than every 13 months. That’s because it takes Earth a slightly more than 365 days to make one complete orbit of the sun, while it takes Jupiter 12 years to make its much larger solar circuit. So in the year that it takes Earth to circle the sun, Jupiter has only made it a twelfth of the way around the home star of our solar system. As a result, it takes the Earth a little more than a month to catch up to where it’s once again in line between the sun and the king of the planets.

If you have super eagle eyes, there are times when Jupiter looks like it has tiny appendages on either side of it. These are Jupiter’s moons. There’s no way you can visually resolve them with your naked eyes no matter how good your eyesight is, but even a pair of small binoculars will reveal up to four of Jupiter’s brightest moons that look like little stars on either side of the great planet. I’ll have much more on Jupiter’s moons and how to keep up with them in next week’s Skywatch column.

With a small telescope, not only can you easily see Jupiter’s moons, but you can also clearly resolve the disk of the planet and some of the cloud bands and zones that stripe the big guy of the solar system. Jupiter is mostly just a big ball of hydrogen and helium gas, but in its outer atmosphere there’s methane, ammonia, sulfur and other gases that create the multicolor cloud bands. Two darker cloud bands on either side of Jupiter’s equator are the easiest ones to spot.

There are also storms circulating in Jupiter’s upper atmosphere. The biggest one is known as the Great Red Spot and is three times the diameter of our Earth. This giant hurricane-like storm has been raging on Jupiter for hundreds of years. Despite its moniker, the Great Red spot isn’t all that red, but more like a pale pink. Unless you have a moderate to large telescope and super clear conditions, it’s hard to spot it in Jupiter’s southern hemisphere. What also makes it tough to see is that it’s not always visible because of Jupiter’s rapid rotation. Jupiter whirls around on its axis once every 10 hours, so half of the time the Red Spot is facing away from us.

A really handy website I like to use to find the Red Spot is www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/javascript/3304091.html from Sky and Telescope Magazine.

You can find the times that the Red Spot will be transiting Jupiter, which is the time it can be found in the middle of the planet and skewed just to the south of the center point, nestled in the darker equatorial cloud band. Remember that most telescopes give you a reverse-upside down view, so in that case you’ll look a little above the center of Jupiter’s disk. Seeing that pale pink storm is definitely a stargazing challenge.

If you’re going to try and view Jupiter through a telescope, the key word is patience. Wait until Jupiter is high above the horizon, so you don’t have to look through as much of Earth’s blurring atmosphere to see it.

You may lose some sleep, though, because Jupiter won’t be high enough for decent telescope viewing until 11 p.m. or so. Also, it’s a good practice to take long continual views through the eyepiece of the telescope when looking at any of the planets. That will not only give your eyes a chance to adjust to the light level within the eyepiece, but you’ll also have a better chance of catching clearer views of Jupiter through the ever changing clarity of Earth’s atmosphere.

Get used to seeing the king of the planets in our night sky. Jupiter will be visible in the evening though the summer!

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

POTTSVILLE — As one of three Republican candidates in the primary election for the 9th Congressional District, Dan Meuser is proud of his “America First” position.

A resident of Dallas, Meuser owns Pride Mobility Products, and, during the term of Gov. Tom Corbett, served as the state secretary of revenue. His campaign headquarters in downtown Pottsville is in the building used as a local office for state Sen. David G. Argall, R-29.

Asked about his desire to represent the new district that includes all of Carbon, Columbia, Lebanon, Montour and Schuylkill counties and parts of Berks, Luzerne and Northumberland counties, he said: “It is many things, but first off, it is having our government serve our people better. I have experiences — 25 years in the private sector, four years in the public sector — and I have a record of being effective. I grew a small business, and during my time at the Department of Revenue, we were named the most improved department of revenue in the country. I can be an effective voice, an effective vote for the people.”

Meuser says conservative policies are successful.

“I believe in conservatism,” Meuser said. “It works. It’s best for principles in government, and, narrowly right now, that includes in Washington helping the president achieve the ‘America First’ agenda. We need to get behind (Trump) because it’s best for Americans from an economic standpoint, a national security standpoint, including building the wall. I’m for term limits and a balanced budget amendment.”

Meuser said being in Washington requires a connection to communities.

“I am happy about spending the next several years of my life helping our communities advance, in working with people like David Argall and eliminating school property taxes,” Meuser said. “I’d propose a plan from a federal standpoint, knowing full well it’s a state issue, that property taxes conflict with the United States Constitution. It contradicts the uniformity clause in the Constitution. Dave Argall agrees with me.”

He supports revitalization.

“There is nothing I’d rather do than help with revitalization initiatives such as the Pottsville revitalization initiative and initiatives throughout the 9th,” he said.

Meuser wants to continue work started by Rep. Lou Barletta, R-11, Hazleton, to clean up coal culm banks through a performance-based tax credit.

“Things have to be aggressively pursued,” he said. “Twenty-five years in business teaches you results are the only thing.”

Meuser touts these positions on his website, www.meuserforcongress.com:

• Second Amendment: He believes the Founding Fathers were clear individuals have a constitutionally protected right to firearms.

• Pro-Life: He says life should be protected at all stages of development and opposes efforts to expand protections for abortion, euthanasia, human cloning.

• Opioid Epidemic: A multipronged approach against the epidemic is needed, he says. He supports Trump’s declaration of the opioid epidemic as a national public health emergency.

• Immigration: His positions include securing borders, defunding sanctuary cities, cracking down on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, ending DACA and banning immigrants from nations that want to harm the U.S.

• Veterans: He says veterans deserve a Veteran Affairs system that will not fail them. He supports the Veterans Choice Act for health care services, VA accountability, increasing mental health support, suicide prevention services and veteran employment opportunities.

• National Security: He supports peace through strength.

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

Name: Daniel Meuser

Age: 54

Family: Wife, Shelley; and three children: Caroline, Jacqueline, Daniel

Education: New York Maritime University; Cornell University (Transferred to on a Navy ROTC scholarship.

Political Experience: Candidate, United States House of Representatives, District 9, 2018; Secretary of Revenue, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 2011-2015. Nominated by Governor Corbett, Secretary of Revenue, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Jan. 18, 2011, and confirmed by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Senate, Secretary of Revenue, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, May 3, 2011; Candidate, United States House of Representatives, District 10, 2008

Professional Experience:

Co-owner, Pride Mobility Products

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships: Member, Board of Trustees, Misericordia University; Board Member, Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce; Member, Make-A-Wish Foundation; Member, Multiple Sclerosis Society; Board Member, Pittston Young Mens Christian Association; Member, Saint Josephs Hospital; Member, Saint Jude Hospital; Member, United Way

-- JOHN USALIS