Ashland

Zion’s Reformed United Church of Christ will have a free soup-and-sandwich lunch beginning at 11 a.m. Feb. 20. The church has the free lunches on the third Wednesday of every month. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-875-2700. A penny action to benefit the church is set for March 3. Doors will open at 1 p.m. and the auction will begin at 2 p.m. Entrance is $2 plus a new unwrapped gift. Refreshments will be available following the auction.

Fountain Springs

Kindergarten registration in the North Schuylkill School District for the 2019-20 school year will be held March 11 to 15. To schedule an appointment, call the elementary school office at 570-874-3661. For kindergarten, students must be 5 years old by July 1, according to a district release.

Frackville

The Frackville Rotary-sponsored Cinderella’s Closet will be open at noon Sunday at the Cressona Mall. The closet offers gently used prom and formal dresses for $10 each. For more information, call 570-874-0174.

Friedensburg

A Blue Mountain Relay for Life basket raffle is set for noon March 2 at the Blue Mountain Elementary West school to benefit the American Cancer Society. The event will include children’s used books, survivor information, school concerts at noon, 2 and 4 p.m., an art show and PTO food sale. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-385-2054.

Hazleton

The Greater Hazleton Concert Series, which has Schuylkill County subscribers, will feature Kol Esperanza at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at Hazleton Area High School, 1601 W. 23rd St., to kick off the 2019 season. Kol Esperanza is an operatic/pop Israeli trio that will present a family friendly show, backed by a 14-piece orchestra, according to an event release. Tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for students. Subscriptions for all four of the remaining series performances are $70. For tickets or more information, call Cynthia Currier at 570-579-7110. More information about the concert series is available online at hazletonconcertseries.org or on the series Facebook page.

Orwigsburg

Congregational Free Church of Christ, 81 McKeans Ridge Road, is having an advance-order-only sub sale with pickups at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 21. Subs are $5 each and the variety includes Italian, ham or turkey. The order deadline is Sunday. To order or for more information, call 570-366-2049.

Pine Grove

Frank Snyder, retired forester and forest ecologist, will lead a forest walk from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday for participants to “experience the forest firsthand while experiencing the intricacies of the forest ecosystem and the relationship between forest plants and man’s activities,” according to an event release. People will gather for the walk at the large pavilion near the clubhouse at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park and are advised to dress for the weather. The program is free.

Primrose

The St. Nicholas Holy Name Society will sponsor an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 24 in St. Nicholas Hall, Route 901. The event will feature usual breakfast fare plus bleenies and homemade bread. The cost is $9 for adults; children 12 and younger will eat free.

Saint Clair

Kindergarten registration for the Saint Clair Area Elementary/Middle School for the 2019-20 school year will be held March 18, 19, 20 and 21 for children who will be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1. To make an appointment, call the school secretary at 570-429-2716, ext. 1.

Shenandoah

The revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc., 116 N. Main St., will have a soup and sausage hoagie sale beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday. Soup is $6 per quart and $3 per pint and the variety includes New England clam chowder, chili, split pea, kielbasi, chicken noodle and beer barley. Sausage hoagies are $3.50 each. To order or for more information, call 570-462-2060.

Be prepared to switch out that snow parka for a rain coat, and back again.

Schuylkill County temperatures will steadily rise and then tumble once again during the weekend, leaving the possibility for another round of rain and snow, according to the National Weather Service, State College.

“You’re going to have ups and downs, temperature wise,” Craig Evanego, NWS meteorologist, said.

We could see milder weather for the later part of this week, with temperatures in the 30s today, in the 40s on Thursday and into the upper 40s with the possibility of rain on Friday. Temperatures will drop and there will be the chance of light snow on Saturday and Sunday, he said.

“Although it’s a little far off, by mid next week, there could be another wintry mix,” Evanego said.

While it seems that there have been several storms that have brought mixed precipitation to the county, it’s not a predictor of weather patterns in future years, the meteorologist reported.

“Some winters are like that. We’ve had two or three storms like that this winter,” he said.

A low pressure system tracked west of Pennsylvania and warm air lofted in causing the wintry mix Tuesday, according to Evanego.

The state Department of Transportation announced travel restrictions had been placed on most interstates Monday evening into Tuesday. Some of those were lifted Tuesday, but as of 1 p.m., a full commercial ban, including buses, remained in effect on several roadways, including I-81 from I-78 to the New York state line. Motorists can find the most-current restrictions and incidents at www.511PA.com.

The county had been quiet through the overnight and morning, and the restrictions on commercial vehicles seemed to have had a positive effect, according to John M. Matz, Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency coordinator.

“The emergency call volume has been on the low end of normal. This is probably attributable to less traffic on the roadways and the school and business closures,” Matz said.

“Overnight there was about 2 to 3 inches of snow. This morning a line of freezing rain and ice entered the county from the southwest and overspread the county by mid-morning. We are expecting a slight rise in temperature toward evening and the precipitation to be rain,” Matz said Tuesday.

There were no significant problems to report on county roadways. The road crews from PennDOT and local municipalities continued to work to keep the roadways passable, according to SCEMA.

Matz advises to delay travel if possible. “If traveling, insure you have an emergency kit and a full fuel tank. Be careful with supplemental heat sources. Have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home.”

According to a press release Tuesday from PennDOT, motorists should be aware that “all vehicles should be fully clear of ice and snow before winter travel. If snow or ice is dislodged or falls from a moving vehicle and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian causing death or serious bodily injury, the operator of that vehicle could receive a $200 to $1,000 fine.”

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

MAHANOY CITY — Due to the inclement weather, the Mahanoy City Borough Council has canceled its regular monthly meeting on Feb. 12, which was to include a home rule presentation by the Pennsylvania Economy League. The council meeting has been rescheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday, at borough hall. The home rule presentation has been postponed and will be rescheduled.

POTTSVILLE — Albert L. Gricoski, the current first deputy prothonotary, announced Tuesday that he wants the top job in the office.

Gricoski, 57, of Frackville, said he is running for the Republican nomination for the position, which is held for retiring GOP incumbent David J. Dutcavich, who appointed Gricoski as first deputy.

He became the third person to seek the Republican nomination for the position in the May 15 primary election, joining Jerry Labooty, Branch Township, and Bridget McGowan Miller, Orwigsburg.

A funeral director for more than 28 years, Gricoski referred to his business experience as a primary qualification for the job, which includes overseeing and managing files for civil court cases.

“I bring years of experience in fiscal responsibility, administration, budgeting and staff coordination that will benefit and enhance the services offered by the prothonotary,” he said.

Furthermore, Gricoski said, his work as first deputy prothonotary makes him the best choice to lead the office.

“I have the experience in the day-to-day operations of the office now. I have helped develop new procedures in the office to enhance bookkeeping,” he said. “I have reorganized the first deputy’s duties to be more transparent and, working with the county court administration, I am improving communication of the first deputy’s role that will enhance the services of the prothonotary’s office.”

Gricoski is a member of St. Joseph Parish, Frackville; the Frackville Business and Professional Association; past exalted ruler and Elk of the Year of Frackville Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1533; past grand knight of the Rev. James A. Hogan Knights of Columbus Council 2580, Frackville; and a member of Friendship Fire Company, Englewood, Frackville Rotary, the National Rifle Association and the Loyal Christian Benefit Association.

He is a graduate of North Schuylkill High School and Simmons School of Mortuary Science, Syracuse, New York. He also attended Penn State Schuylkill and Bloomsburg University before graduating from Simmons.

He lives in Frackville with his wife, Denise, for 32 years, and their son, Andrew.

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

BARNESVILLE — The first LERTA approval action by a municipality for a planned commercial development in the Mahanoy Business Park occurred at Monday’s meeting of the Ryan Township supervisors.

The supervisors approved an ordinance amending a previous ordinance adopted in December that amends the schedule of exemptions at the Yudacot Project by NorthPoint Development LLC. The first ordinance was adopted two months ago to create the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance district, which encompasses the entire township. According to the summary in 2018-2, the ordinance provides “for certain real property tax exemption for the assessed valuation of improvements, including new construction, on industrial, commercial or other business property in Ryan Township pursuant to the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act; establishing an exemption schedule; and detailing the procedures for obtaining an exemption.”

On Jan. 31, a public hearing was held by Mahanoy and Ryan townships about the LERTA request. The hearing was held at the Mahanoy Area School District and included school board members and their respective solicitors and representatives from the Schuylkill Economic Development Corp.

NorthPoint plans to develop a 509-acre section in the Mahanoy Business Park on land identified as the Bendinsky or Yudacot Airport Parcel with multiple buildings as distribution centers or for other uses. The land is located near the intersection of Interstate 81 and state Route 54.

SEDCO President Frank J. Zukas attended Monday’s meeting and provided background on the NorthPoint project and about LERTA.

“NorthPoint is proposing to do a multiple building development that is three buildings of about 2.4 million square feet, which is a pretty substantial development,” Zukas said. “We’re talking about three industrial buildings, one that would roughly be about a million square feet, another one at 800,000 square feet and another one about 500,000. They’re built on speculation, so they (NorthPoint) are building without knowing who they’re tenants might be, but this company in our experience in Schuylkill County, as well as what we know in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties, is they have been able to identify tenants for the buildings during construction, so that when they are completed, occupancy follows shortly thereafter. This is the same company that acquired the Schuylkill Mall site in a bankruptcy proceeding about a year and a half ago. The mall is demolished and there are two buildings proposed at that site, one at 800,000 and the other at 400,000 square feet.”

Zukas said NorthPoint’s first purchase in the county was a half-million square foot building at the Highridge Business Park, expanding the structure to 1.3 million square feet and is now occupied by the Hudson Bay Co.

“The company has a good track record in Schuylkill County and we hear the same feedback from Lackawanna and Luzerne counties,” Zukas said.

The LERTA Act was approved by the state legislature in 1977 and allows for a graduated real estate tax scale on commercial properties being developed, but only on the assessed valuation of the improvements, not of the assessed property value before those improvements.

The LERTA Act authorizes second-class townships, such as Ryan and Mahanoy, to exempt new construction of industrial, commercial and other business property in deteriorated areas of economically distressed communities, and improvement to certain deteriorated industrial, commercial and industrial properties in the township.

Ordinance 2018-2 set the schedule of exemptions over a 10-year period, with 100 percent exemption the first year, declining 10 percent each year to a 10 percent exemption in the last year. The exemption would only apply to the increase in the valuation as a result of the improvements or the new construction.

The amendment changes that schedule so that the first eight years with a 100 percent exemption, 90 percent in the ninth year and 80 percent in the 10th year.

“That would give the developer an opportunity to be competitive with regards to finding tenants for the buildings that they’re putting up,” Zukas said. “While it differs taxes for awhile, the result after the abatement period is over is a projected $900,000 over a 10-year period back to each of the two townships, and a substantially larger number back to the school district.”

Since the site is also in a Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone, the LERTA tax abatement will run concurrently,

Mahanoy Township supervisors will consider the LERTA approval at its regular meeting on Feb. 21, with the Mahanoy Area school board to address the matter at its regular meeting on Feb. 28. The Schuylkill County commissioners will consider the LERTA request after the townships and school district agree to it.

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

A Hegins Township man has started a petition against a proposed compressor station in his community — part of the Williams’ Leidy South Expansion Project.

Meanwhile, a public meeting on the project will be held Tuesday. Williams, the natural gas pipeline company that operates the Transco pipeline, will host an informational open house from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Hegins Area Ambulance Association building at 352 Gap St. in Valley View.

Bernard Spece plans to attend that meeting and said he owns a home that is within close proximity to one of the proposed sites in the township.

“I am in the process of organizing a petition to oppose this project. This petition will be forwarded to our elected officials at the local, county, state and federal level in the hope that they will intervene and stop this project from going forward,” he said.

“I’m asking people who are willing to add their name to a petition to contact me at the following email address, Heginsfirst@gmail.com. I’m also encouraging people to contact their elected officials at every level and voice their opposition to this project,” he said. Spece plans to have the petition available to sign at local businesses and establishments in the township.

Although the proposal is still in its planning stages, the Leidy South project includes adding a new compressor facility along the existing Transco pipeline corridor in Hegins Township, plus other facility additions in other counties, according to Christopher L. Stockton, a Williams spokesman.

The site search in Schuylkill County has narrowed to Hegins Township, Stockton said. Eldred Township was initially under consideration for the compressor station, part of a $500 million infrastructure investment.

Eldred Township citizens had submitted their own petition against the project.

“It now appears that the Williams Company, which is proposing the project, is attempting to put the compression station in Hegins Township on land which is zoned agricultural/residential,” Spece said. “There are numerous reasons why this project should not go forward including its close proximity to family residences; the noise pollution it will produce running compression pumps 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; the destruction of fertile farmland which will be gone forever; the threat to local wildlife which includes a local population of bald eagles; the threat to local trout streams; and the major blight this facility would impose on the township. Along with that blight is sure to come decreased property values,” Spece said in an email Feb. 12.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

Commuters catching a bus to Harrisburg at the Hegins Exit 112 of Interstate 81 had to hop aboard at a new location beginning this month.

“In the last couple of years, we’ve had a decline in ridership. It’s a pretty dangerous situation there, and we thought it was best to pull away,” Jay L. Newswanger, president of R&J Transportation Inc., said Monday.

It ends a nearly 20-year tradition for Hegins area residents working in the capital region.

Jamon Fogarty, an employee with the Department of General Services, was one of those bus riders displaced. He now drives to the Minersville Exit 116 to board the R&J bus headed south.

“We were given a letter that they weren’t going to pick up in Hegins anymore, as of February 1,” Fogarty, of Hegins Township, said. “We used to have six or seven that would get on there, but people got different jobs or retired. I think there just weren’t enough riders and it was difficult to get to in the winter,” he said.

Despite having to wake up earlier and to drive a few miles north to board, Fogarty still sees the value in taking the bus option.

“It saves on the wear and tear of your vehicle ... and I sleep on the bus,” he said. Fogarty said the Minersville parking lot has better lighting and parking space than the Hegins site had. There’s also not the added expense of parking in downtown Harrisburg or the worry of driving far in the winter months.

Newswanger said riders have two boarding locations for the daily bus heading to Harrisburg. One is at 5:50 a.m. at the Cracker Barrel in Frackville; the other is a 6:05 a.m. pickup at the I-81, Exit 116, Route 901 interchange which is a Park and Ride site. The state plows and maintains the parking area, he said. Commuters get to Harrisburg around 7 a.m.

Stops in Harrisburg include the Labor & Industry building, Health & Welfare building, Strawberry Square and the state Department of Transportation’s Riverfront office.

Bus riders return to Minersville at approximately 5:10 p.m., and to Frackville at approximately 5:20 p.m.

“We want to keep it going,” Newswanger said of the bus route, which regularly has 25 passengers. The bus company had provided transportation from the Hegins site since 2001 or 2002, he said.

Riders pay a $188 monthly fee, he said. A daily fee is also available.

The bus runs, unless there’s a state ban due to poor weather conditions.

“We do go, unless we feel it’s unsafe,” Newswanger said. If weather conditions forced a cancelation, it would be announced on WPPA, he said.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

Man found with

drugs, paraphernalia

SAINT CLAIR — A Palo Alto man was committed to Schuylkill County Prison after being taken into custody by Saint Clair police at the intersection of North Morris and East Hancock streets around 3:30 a.m. Thursday.

Police said officers took William Robert Long III into custody on an arrest warrant from the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office and found him to be in possession of methamphetamine and items of drug paraphernalia.

Long was jailed on the arrest warrant and charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia filed with Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon.

3 charged with theft from Walmart

SAINT CLAIR — Three people were charged with retail theft by Saint Clair police after separate incidents at Walmart.

Police said Jason Michael Dougherty, 40, of Rehrersburg, was taken into custody by store security on Dec. 8 for a theft of $189.51. Police said Dougherty tried to lower the price of merchandise by altering the bar codes.

James K. Kerby, whose address was not available, was charged with stealing an item valued at $25.68 on Dec. 2 and Brianna May Evans, 23, of Schuylkill Haven was charged with stealing merchandise valued at $146.09 on Jan. 31.

The charges against all three were filed with Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon.

Two charged with public drunkenness

SAINT CLAIR — Two men were arrested by Saint Clair police and charged with public drunkenness after an incident in front of 5 S. Second St. around 1:15 a.m. Thursday.

Police said Jeremy J. Rutherford, 46, of Saint Clair, and Joseph J. Rodgers, 21, of Friedensburg, will have to answer to the charges before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon.

Police said the two were charged after officers on patrol found then visibly intoxicated and involved in an altercation.

Florida man faces marijuana charge

McADOO — A Florida man was charged by McAdoo police after an incident at Fegley’s Mini Mart on South Kennedy Drive around 1:55 a.m. Jan. 14.

Police said Rush Township police responded to the business for a report of a suspicious person since McAdoo officers were on their way back from the Schuylkill County Prison from an unrelated incident.

At the scene, police said, Rush Township officers found Galin Puryear III, 35, of Lakeland, passed out in the cab of a Freightliner tractor that was parked on an angle on the lot.

After knocking on the door, police said Puryear opened the door and, as he did, a small plastic pouch containing marijuana fell out.

Puryear smelled strongly of marijuana and alcohol, had red eyes and slurred speech, police said.

Police said Puryear reported that he was watching the Eagles-Saints football game, got hungry, drove the truck to the convenient store and fell asleep inside the vehicle.

A search of the truck also revealed a roach with burnt marijuana on it, police said, adding that as a result Puryear was charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

3 face charges from altercation

McADOO — Three people were arrested by McAdoo police and charged following an incident at a home on East Blaine Street around 7:25 p.m. Jan. 17.

Police said officers were called to the home and spoke with Jorge Perez, 30, of McAdoo, who reported getting into an argument with Harlington Plaza, 26, of Allentown, resulting in Perez getting a cut between his eyes and scratches on his face and neck.

Perez went onto say that his ex-wife and her new husband were dropping off children at his home when he and Plaza exchanged words that escalated to the altercation on the sidewalk where both men were hitting each other and rolling around, police said.

Police said Sureiya Breton, 32, of Kelayres, intervened to break the fight up.

Plaza and his wife painted a different picture, saying that Perez was the aggressor from the beginning and that he put Plaza in a choke hold and caused him to suffer a cut on his knee and a contusion on his neck.

Mrs. Plaza also said that Breton grabbed her by the face and attempted to throw her cellphone as she was calling 911, police said.

As a result, police said Perez and Plaza were each charged with simple assault and harassment, and Breton with harassment.

Lykens state police detail incidents

ELIZABETHVILLE — State police at Lykens reported handling 466 calls during the month of January.

In the crime division, police said there were 97 offenses reported, 95 determined to be valid and 51 offenses cleared resulting in 58 criminal arrests.

In the patrol division, police said they investigated 26 crashes and seven hit-and-run crashes resulting in nine people injured and no fatalities.

Police issued 347 traffic citations, 199 warning notices and made 10 DUI arrests.

POTTSVILLE — Professionals will soon have a new possible workspace to use for their own businesses in the city.

John Levkulic, owner of All Aboard, a business located at 101 E. Union St., in the original Union Station, is looking to provide “a collaborative workspace” for people to share and interact.

“I think up-and-coming professionals need a nice space to start their business,” he said Monday.

Levkulic said he believes in the resurgence of the city and this is one way he can help do that.

“I think Pottsville is turning around,” he said.

Those who lease a spot at the property will have the option to choose from an office or small work area for use. Between 6 to 8 areas are available.

“The only thing you probably have to provide is your chair and a computer,” he said.

Wi-Fi and utilities are included. A conference room and kitchen are also available to use for short-term purposes. Individuals who need to use the conference area may use the room by the hour. Costs to use the room have not been determined yet. Levkulic said he is looking to open in early March.

Levkulic is also the owner of Levkulic Associates, which provides engineering and other services. The business is relocating upstairs from the bottom floor, which is also for rent but currently is not part of the collaborative workspace.

“There is a lot of history in the building,” he said.

For example, some of the original window frames that were outside are now inside the building along with wooden beams. The original telegraph office is still upstairs, although the telegraph and other items are not there.

Levkulic said he is excited for people to get on board All Aboard because he is confident they will like what is to offer. The Historical Architectural Review Board for the city approved of the sign for the building at its Feb. 6 meeting. The Pottsville City Council also approved a certificate of appropriateness for the sign at its meeting Monday.

“It sounds to me like it is a very interesting idea” Michael Cardamone, president of HARB, said Tuesday.

He said it has the potential to “help the entrepreneurial environment in Pottsville.”

Savas Logothetides, executive director of the Pottsville Area Development Corp., said the idea has merit.

“Shared space in general is becoming a very popular type of working environment. I think it’s a great idea.”

To learn more, call Levkulic at 570-628-2887

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

Fairlane lists March activities

POTTSVILLE — Fairlane Village mall has announced its March events calendar as follows:

• March 1-2, vendor show/Chinese auction to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

• March 10, participate as a baker or cupcake taster during the “Cupcake Wars” set for 1 p.m. at center court with festivities also including a coloring contest. For more information call 570-366-1638.

• March 16, an American Red Cross blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the storefront next to Super Shoes.

• March 16-17, the Kids’ Closet Connection spring consignment sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 16 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 17.

• March 27, learn about local job opportunities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during a job and career fair sponsored by Pennsylvania CareerLink.

For more about Fairlane Village, go online to www.shopfairlanevillage.com.

Chamber updates mixers, sessions

POTTSVILLE — The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce has several upcoming sessions on its agenda. People may register for all chamber programs online at www.schuylkillchamber.com or by calling 570-622-1942. The chamber and the SEDCO/chamber conference center are at Union Station, 1 Progress Circle, Suite 201, Pottsville, PA 17901.

• An economic forecast breakfast focusing on the economy in 2019 is set for 7:45 a.m. today in St. Nicholas Hall, Route 901, Primrose. It will feature Edmond J. Seifried, Ph.D., co-chairman of Seifried & Brew LLC, sponsored by the Mauch Chunk Trust Co. The cost is $20 for chamber members and $25 for nonmembers.

• The Business After 5 O’clock Mixer will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at Schaeffer’s Harley Davidson, 1123 Brick Hill Road, Orwigsburg. RSVP by calling the chamber.

• The Schuylkill Women in Business luncheon will be held at 11:45 a.m. Feb. 27 at Schuylkill Technology Center South Campus, 15 Maple Ave., Mar Lin. The presenter will be Amy Lafko, Caim Consulting Solutions; the sponsor is the Northeast Pennsylvania Alliance. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by Feb. 25.

• The chamber offers a new-member benefit, a human resources helpline that provides “fast, personal help from real live HR professionals,”according to a chamber flier.

Help is available regarding FMLA, ADA or leaves of absence; employee discipline, termination or employee relations; questions about drug testing or harassment, officials said in the flier.

“Call during regular business hours to speak with an HR expert,” according to the flier. The toll-free helpline is 844-318-0699. For after-hours calls, leave a message and the call will be returned the next business day. People may also email questions to HRHelpline@schuylkillchamber.com.

People may register for all chamber programs online at www.schuylkillchamber.com. The chamber and the SEDCO/chamber conference center are at Union Station, 1 Progress Circle, Suite 201, Pottsville, PA 17901.

• A program called WEDnetPA is funded by the state Department of Community and Economic Development and administered by Lehigh Carbon Community College, according to a chamber flier.

“You may qualify for WEDnetPA funding if your company is based in Pennsylvania, a manufacturing or a technology-based business,” according to the flier.

Organizations may be eligible to receive up to $450 per person for essential skills training and up to $850 per person for advanced technology training.

For more information, apply to Maureen Donovan, Center for Leadership & Workforce, be emailing mdonovan@lccc.edu or calling 570-668-6880 or 610-799-1245.

Schuylkill Leadership classes forming

POTTSVILLE — Classes for Schuylkill Leadership 2019, sponsored by the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, are forming now.

According to a chamber event flier, Schuylkill Leadership “brings together a group of diverse business people from around the area and takes you on a journey through Schuylkill County,” according to the flier, which adds that participants along the way will “learn what makes Schuylkill County a great place to live and work as well as be exposed to numerous hidden gems within the county.”

James DeAngelo of Wegmans, a Schuylkill Leadership graduate, said in the flier he lived in the county his entire life and “was unaware of the many businesses/organizations … that call Schuylkill County home.”

He said Schuylkill Leadership “will give you a new understanding of what Schuylkill County has to offer. The relationships formed with fellow classmates make this experience truly rewarding.”

For more information on Schuylkill Leadership or to get an application, call Samantha Chivinski at 570-622-1942 or email her at schivinski@schuylkillchamber.com.

FSA completes county panel election

The Schuylkill County U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency has completed its annual county committee election with Alvin Wetzel elected to represent farmers from Barry, Butler, Eldred, Foster, Frailey, Hegins, Hubley, Pine Grove, Porter, Tremont and Upper Mahantongo townships on the county committee and David L. Green the first alternate.

This will be Wetzel’s third term.

In a release, agency officials said they appreciate all of the voters for taking time to complete the election ballot, adding, “The county committee system works only because of your participation.”

The county committee met in December and held its organizational meeting. Dennis Marbarger will serve as the county committee chairman; Wetzel will serve as vice chairman and Darryl Moyer will be a regular member, according to the release.

For more information, call the Schuylkill County FSA oOffice at: 570-622-1555, ext. 2, or go online to http://www.fsa.usda.gov.

Award nominations taken in Tamaqua

TAMAQUA — The Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for the 2019 Joseph M. Plasko Citizenship and the 2019 Business Person of the Year awards.

The citizenship award is open to all residents of the Tamaqua Area School District 18 and older.

Nomination forms are available at the chamber office, 37 W. Broad St., or at the chamber’s website, www.tamaqua.net.

Nominations for the Business Person of the year Award must be affiliated with a business in good standing — dues paid for in 2019 — with the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce.

The deadline for nominations for both awards is noon on March 1.

To obtain forms or for more information on the awards, call Jack Kulp at 570-668-1880, email chamber@tamaqua.net or visit Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce on Facebook.

Free Fare Friday

on tap with STS

POTTSVILLE ­— The Schuylkill Transportation System will offer Free Fare Friday on and March 8.

Registered senior citizens always ride free via STS but on Free Faire Fridays fare-paying passengers will be able get a free ride on any fixed-route bus.

For more information, including bus route schedules, call 800-832-3322 or visit the STS website at www.Go-STS.com.

DSI to sell soup, sausage hoagies

SHENANDOAH — The revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc., 116 N. Main St., will have a soup and sausage hoagie sale beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday.

Soup is $6 per quart and $3 per pint and the variety includes New England clam chowder, chili, split pea, kielbasi, chicken noodle and beer barley. Sausage hoagies are $3.50 each.

To order or for more information, call 570-462-2060.

Grand opening

set for thrift store

POTTSVILLE — A grand opening ceremony and ribbon cutting for the New Life Thrift Store, 310 N. Centre St., is set for noon March 1, according to news from the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce.

Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP to Jonni Gray by Feb. 27 by calling 570-622-1942 or emailing jgray@schuylkillchamber.com.

Haven store sets grand opening

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — We Agape You, 255 Saylor St., will have a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to a Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce flier.

All are invited; those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP to Jonni Gray by Friday by calling 570-622-1942 or emailing jgray@schuylkillchamber.com.

Events schedule set in Hamburg

HAMBURG — Dina Madara, art director with the Our Town Foundation and the Hamburg Area Arts Alliance, recently released the agenda of upcoming events in the Hamburg area.

The nonprofit revitalization group Our Town Foundation is based at 335 State St., Hamburg, PA 19526 and can be reached by calling 610-562-3106.

Events include:

• Annual Our Town Foundation meeting, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Strand Theater, 6 S. Fourth St. Participants will learn about past accomplishments and future goals. The public is welcome; people are asked to RSVP by Friday to the foundation by calling or emailing to the aforementioned contacts.

• Networking event at Smokin’ Brays, 278 W. State St., 5:30 to 7 p.m. Feb. 21. Meet local business members, artists and fellow residents at the free networking event; complimentary nacho bar and beverages; RSVP by Thursday to the foundation.

• Murder Mystery Dinner-1950s theme, “The Case of the Shaken, Rattled and Rolled Reporter,” 5:30 to 8 p.m. March 2, Olivet Blue Mountain Camp, 115 Mountain Ave. Someone went ape on the nosey news reporter — who was it? Come dressed in ’50s costume for a chance to win a door prize. The cost is $35 per person with proceeds benefiting the Our Town Foundation. For tickets, call 610-562-3106 or go online to hamburgpa.org/events.

• Kauffman’s chicken barbecue fundraiser dinner, 4:30 to 7 p.m. March 20, Hamburg Municipal Center, 61 N. Third St. Meals include a half barbecued chicken, baked potato, applesauce and roll. The cost is $9 in advance and $10 sale day with proceeds benefiting the Our Town Foundation. For tickets, call the foundation.

• Blacksmithing Class, 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays during March, Fisher Forge, 572 St. Michael’s Road, Hamburg. People 18 and older will have the opportunity to make something functional or decorative. Gloves and safety glasses will be needed; all other material will be provided. The cost, $160 per student, includes all four classes — March 4, 11, 18, 25. Register by calling or emailing hamburgarts@verizon.net.

Foundation ready for Craft Brew Fest

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — The Our Haven Foundation’s Craft Brew Fest 2019, the fourth annual event, is scheduled for 2 to 5 p.m. Feb. 23 in the main gallery of the Walk In Art Center, 220 Parkway.

The cost is $30 in advance, $35 at the door and $10 for designated driver service.

According to an event flier, the fest is for people 21 and older and is limited to 250 tickets. Food is included in the ticket price.

Participating breweries include Troegs, Pilger Ruh Brewing, Flying Fish, Yuengling, Yards Brewing, 1787 Brewing, Bonsai Brew Works, McAllister Brewing, Revere Brewing, Victory Brewing and Sharp Mountain Brewing.

For more information and to buy tickets, go to https://bit.ly/2SBlin8.

More information also is available by emailing information@walkinartcenter.com.

Access to Narcan presentation focus

MINERSVILLE — Schuylkill County Drug & Alcohol and the Clinical Outcomes Group Inc. will present “Public Access to Narcan” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at The Community Mission Christian Center, 336 N. Front St.

Topics, according to an event flier, will include understanding addiction and addiction as a disease and opioid overdose prevention and reversal via peer administered Narcan.

The presenter will be Dr. John W. Stefovic, COGI medical director and medication assisted therapy provider.

Registration is free but required. The deadline to register is Monday by calling 570-628-6990 or going online to www.coginc.org.

POTTSVILLE — A couple married for more than 50 years said the uniqueness of today should be celebrated 365 days a year.

“Valentine’s Day should be everyday,” Glen Belmont, 85, said Wednesday.

Her husband, Paul, 86, agreed.

“It’s Valentine’s Day everyday,” he said.

The couple has been married since Sept. 21, 1968. They met while he was swimming in a pool and she was a lifeguard. He asked her something unimportant at the time, but that interaction resulted in a lifelong commitment to each other. They have four children and reside at Providence Place in Pottsville.

“In 62 years we have not had a fight,” Paul said.

Paul said he grew up in an environment where fighting was all too common, something he didn’t want for his family.

Glen said having “a high degree of tolerance” has helped her in her marriage. She said they don’t always agree, but honor each other by listening to their point of views.

Glen said it’s important not to argue over “silly little things” because in the end, they will not matter. She also said couples should not go to bed angry “because you will wind up the same way.”

She loves her husband’s reasonableness and logical perspective.

“He’s rock solid,” Glen said.

Paul said they do a lot together including exercise.

“She took great care of the kids,” he said.

Another couple, Charlene Yost, 23, and Enrique Yabut, 26, of Barnesville, are getting married today in Pottsville. Both are in the Marine Corps. He is a corporal and she is a private first class. He is originally from the Philippines.

“We actually met in Los Angeles before both of us joined,” Yost said Wednesday.

Yabut was working at a restaurant and she was a customer. She noticed his smile and they talked. She gave him her number and the rest is history.

Their first date was on St. Patrick’s Day in 2017.

“It was a really good date,” Yost said.

Yabut proposed on Christmas Day in 2018.

“She had zero clue. She started crying,” he said.

They are going to have a traditional wedding ceremony with family and friends and a honeymoon at a later date. Yost picked Valentine’s Day after they applied for their marriage license Monday. The couple has not spent Valentine’s Day together.

“We thought it was kind of cute,” she said.

Yost said Yabut is a very generous person.

“He has a huge heart. I just saw that he was a very caring person,” she said.

Yabut said his soon-to-be-wife is “a free spirit.” He loves her intelligence and that “she’s always ready to experience new things.”

Yabut said he shouldn’t have a problem remembering his anniversary.

“If I do, there will be a big problem,” he said.

Schuylkill County residents will show their love today by buying flowers and other gifts.

Donna Merkey, manager of the floral garden at Trail Gardens, was busy arranging flowers Wednesday. The price for a half-dozen short-stem roses with greens and baby’s breath in a vase is $29.99, while a dozen costs $44.99. A half-dozen long-stem roses with greens and baby’s breath in a vase sell for $40, while a dozen is $75. One rose is $5.

It’s not too late to order flowers.

“We will have a great supply on hand,” Merkey said.

At Freed’s Flowers in Schuylkill Haven, orders for flowers started about a month ago.

The biggest item ordered is “a dozen red roses,” owner Curt Freed said Monday.

The store had more than 100 calls for orders Monday.

“The phones have been busy all day,” Freed said.

A dozen long-stem red red roses with baby’s breath and greens in a vase cost $70.

He estimated that about 2,000 roses will be sold for Valentine’s Day.

“We will have four delivery vehicles,” Freed said.

Proper care for roses is important. They should be kept away from heat sources and sunlight, and changing the water is crucial.

“Roses are big drinkers,” Freed said.

Leslie Cresswell, an employee at the flower shop, said she isn’t the romantic type but understands why people go all out to show their affection for that special person.

“It’s romantic,” she said.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

POTTSVILLE — Doctors who treated the two men police alleged were stabbed in March 2018 in Schuylkill Haven each testified on Wednesday to a Schuylkill County jury that they could have died without help.

“Bleeding to death” was possible for Andrew Matlock, Dr. Shannon M. Foster testified on the second day of the trial of Roy M. Hogan Jr., whom police allege stabbed both Matlock and Michael Seltzer.

Foster, an attending trauma surgeon at Reading Hospital & Medical Center, West Reading, said Matlock suffered “significant” bleeding, stab wounds in the neck, with damage to his muscles.

“Is there a danger of bleeding out?” Assistant District Attorney A.J. Serina asked Foster.

“Yes,” she answered.

Dr. Sarah Mathew, a trauma critical care surgeon at Reading, also testified that Seltzer’s wounds were life-threatening ones.

“We counted eight wounds,” and at least one of them could have caused death by bleeding out, she said.

Hogan, 25, of Reading, formerly of Cressona, faces three counts each of attempted homicide and aggravated assault, four each of terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person and simple assault, two of possessing instrument of crime and one each of burglary and criminal trespass in one case and one count of criminal trespass in the other. The cases are being tried together; the trial, presided over by President Judge William E. Baldwin, is scheduled to resume at 9 a.m. today with Serina continuing to present his case.

Serina withdrew one count of burglary and four of simple assault in the first case.

Schuylkill Haven borough police allege Hogan broke into the house of Brooke C. Ditzler, his ex-girlfriend, at 406 Orchard Ave. in the borough twice in the early morning hours of March 18, 2018.

The first time, Hogan left without injuring anyone, police said. However, once inside the second time, according to police, Hogan stabbed Mallory L. Geiger, Matlock and Seltzer, who had been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with Ditzler at several clubs and restaurants, and threatened and assaulted them and his ex-girlfriend.

Borough police Patrolman William I. Horn Jr., the prosecuting officer, testified he found chaos upon arriving at the scene approximately one minute after receiving the call.

“I could ... hear a lot of screaming from 406,” he said.

Horn said he kicked in the locked front door and saw just as scary a site.

“(There was) a large amount of blood right inside the front door,” he said. “I immediately went inside.”

Horn said he saw Hogan looking at him.

“I saw something silver in his hand,” he said. However, Ditzler grabbed him immediately, screaming, ‘help me, help me,’ ” he said.

Hogan promptly ran out the kitchen door and into the backyard, he said. Horn said he went to the alley and saw Hogan.

“I gave the defendant a couple of commands to stop, get on the ground,” Horn said of Hogan. “He didn’t comply.”

Instead, Hogan ran, necessitating the warning of people who were attending services at a nearby church, Horn said. Eventually, Horn said, he spotted Hogan, who had bloodstains on his clothes, and was able to arrest him at 7:41 a.m.

When cross-examined by Assistant Public Defender Christopher M. Riedlinger, Hogan’s lawyer, Horn said his body camera recorded that arrest, but nothing before that.

Borough police Cpl. Gregory S. Meisner testified that when he arrived at the house, he collected a silver knife that had been found. Meisner said he then entered the house and talked briefly with Ditzler and Geiger.

He said Ditzler then told him she had found a pair of boots that belonged to Hogan upstairs near the bathroom.

Meisner said he went to the basement and found that the valve for the hot water had been turned off and the cover to the dog door was on the floor.

Also, he said, he saw in the living room blankets and pillows, including one blanket with a hole in it and another with a hole and blood. Furthermore, he said, he found a white pillow with blood on it.

Later, Meisner said, he collected a second knife.

Foster also testified Matlock’s wounds were deep and affected branches of the carotid artery and the jugular vein. However, no blood vessels or organs were compromised, she said.

Mathew said Seltzer’s most serious wound, and the one she treated first, was to his upper abdomen. She did say there was no active bleeding.

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

Defendant: Roy M. Hogan Jr.

Age: 25

Residence: Reading, formerly of Cressona

Charges: Three counts each of attempted homicide and aggravate assault, four each of terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person an simple assault, two of possessing instrument of crime and one each of burglary and criminal trespass in one case and one count of criminal trespass in the other

MINERSVILLE — Minersville police arrested a borough man on drug charges for two separate incidents last year.

Patrolman Jeffrey Bowers charged Robert N. Kull, 45, of 407 Hickory St., with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia stemming from an incident at Second and Sunbury streets on Oct. 10.

Then, an incident at 201 Sunbury St. on Dec. 13 led to Kull being charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kull was arraigned Saturday by on-call Magisterial District Judge David Rossi, Tremont, who set bail at $50,000 cash for each or $100,000 straight cash.

In the October incident, Bowers said it was learned that Kull had methamphetamine for sale and arrangements were made for an undercover officer to meet the man and purchase the drug.

Kull arrived at Second and Sunbury streets and after being given $50 in pre-recorded money by the undercover officer, handed the officer a clear glassine baggie that contained suspected methamphetamine.

On Dec. 13, Kull was taken into custody at 201 Sunbury St. on an outstanding warrant and found to be in possession of $1,486 in cash, a glass methamphetamine pipe and about a quarter ounce of methamphetamine packaged in three smaller purple glassine baggies and one large glassine baggie.

All of the drugs were packaged for resale, Bowers said.

Kull will now have to answer to the charges at a preliminary hearing on Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko in his Port Carbon courtroom.

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

Deeds

Cressona — JSTTOPS LLC to John A. and Marilyn S. Meyer; 3 Marsha Drive; $127,500.

East Union Township — First Keystone Community Bank to Jed and Jamie R. Myers; property on Pine Street, Sheppton; $37,500.

Frackville — Michael and Kathryn Kopey to Kathryn Kopey; 142 N. Railroad Ave.; $1.

Hubley Township — Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to Todd S. and Sarae A. Willier; 2218 E. Main St., Sacramento; $20,500.

Orwigsburg — Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to Teresa and Edward Gaydos and Jude M. and Jennifer Marie Gaydos; 110 Station Road; $133,000.

Pine Grove Township — Janice L. Sattizahn to David A. Sattizahn; property at South Main and Mountain streets, Outwood; $1.

John R. and Kristine A. Mars to Mars Realty Holdings LLC; 208 Stanhope Road; $34,000.

Pottsville — Black Label Realty LLC to Shehadeh Investments LLC; 325 E. Arch St.; $10,000.

Suzanne E. Delaney and Kevin Gist to Ashley Robinson; 1811 West End Ave.; $75,500.

John Jannetti to Jolissa Mataka and Joel Hewes; 619 W. Norwegian St.; $505.

Rush Township — Jason Comisac and Amanda Comisac to Amanda Comisac; 46 Lafayette Ave., Hometown; $1.

Shenandoah — Steve and Kimberly A. Wargo to Irca M. Bastardo Batista; 12 N. Lehigh St.; $15,000.

MTGLQ Investors LP Tiffany Henchenski; 306 W. New York St.; $7,000.

Tamaqua — R.G.C Development LP to Karl D. and Linda D. Geary; 252 Owl Creek Road; $25,000.

James L. and Sherry A. Akins to Anatoly M. Dermo; 116 Washington St.; $59,900.

Tremont — Lakeview Loan Servicing LLC to Secretary of Veterans Affairs; 328 W. Laurel St.; $1.

Wayne Township — Craig D. Lehman and Chris F. Lehman, co-executors of the Estate of Elsie M. Lehman, to Craig D. Lehman, Chris F. Lehman, Debra A. Slutter and Crystal D. Cates; six properties; $1.

West Penn Township — Irene Bugayevsky to Kristine Harper, trustee under the Bugayevsky Family Irrevocable Trust; 34 Cold Spring Road, Andreas; $1.

Altamont

The Altamont Fire Company, 215 S. Green St., will have an all-you-can-eat breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. Feb. 24 at the firehouse. The cost is $9 per person and the menu includes a wide variety of omelets and pancakes in addition to other traditional breakfast fare. All are welcome. For more information, email jabroniw@gmail.com.

Deer Lake

The Deer Lake & West Brunswick Fire Company has bingo games the first and third Tuesdays of the month in the firehall. The next bingo will be held Tuesday. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and games will begin at 6 p.m. All are welcome. For more information, all 570-366-0900.

Frackville

Elks Lodge 1533 will have its monthly pork chop supper beginning at 4 p.m. Wednesday. The cost is $9. For February, U.S. military veterans, with proof of service, will eat free.

Heckscherville

Clover Fire Company will have its biweekly all-you-can-eat breakfast at 7 a.m. Sunday. The cost is $9 for adults and $4 for children under 10. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-294-0612.

Pottsville

A Make A Wish Pick-a-Ticket Prize Raffle and Vendor Show is slated for 5:30 p.m. March 1 and 9 a.m. March 2 at Fairlane Village mall, Route 61. Vendors will set up throughout the mall, organizers said in a release. The raffle will be held in the old Footlocker space. Tickets are $5 per sheet or people can buy four sheets and get a fifth sheet fee. The raffle will take place at 6 p.m. March 2. For more information, call Deb at 570-622-4390.

Pottsville

Humane Fire Company No. 1 will have a wing night beginning at 6 p.m. Friday. A variety of other food will also be available, including burgers, cheesesteaks, chicken cheesesteaks and fries. Prices vary; all are welcome. For more information, call 570-622-5891. The company will have an all-you-can-eat breakfast beginning at 8 a.m. Feb. 27 with a full breakfast menu. The cost is $9 for adults and $4 for children under 12. All are welcome; call the aforementioned number for more information.

Ringtown

The Ringtown Valley Senior Citizens group will host a four-hour AARP driver safety refresher course from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 1 at the senior center, 104 W. Main St. For more information or to register, call 570-889-3379 or 570-889-5923.

Tamaqua

Free General Education Development classes for a high school equivalency diploma are held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Lehigh Carbon Community College Morgan Center. For more information, call 570-628-5761.

Tamaqua

The seventh annual chili and boilo cookoff will be held Feb. 23 at the East End Fire Company, 553 E. Broad St., to benefit the Carbon/Tamaqua American Cancer Society, sponsored by American Hose Company No. 1 and East End Fire Company. Registration begins at 11 a.m. with tasting from 1 to 5 p.m. The registration fee is $20. Tasting and registration packages and specials are available. For more information, call Brian Connely at 570-573-8640.

Tamaqua

The New England Fire Company is having a Valentine’s Day rose sale with pickups at the firehouse. The cost is $25 for a dozen of red roses and $20 for a dozen of assorted colors of roses. For more information, call 570-640-6009. The fire company will also have a turkey-and-waffle dinner beginning at 5 p.m. March 9. The cost is $10 per meal. For more information, call 570-668-5340. The Cramer Brothers Band will perform country music March 16 at the firehouse. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. The cost is $7.50 per person and proceeds will benefit the fire company. For more information, call the firehouse.

Site, address incorrect

We Agape You, 355 Saylor St., is a nonprofit office that will have its grand opening and ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. Feb. 19. There will also be a job fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for people seeking employment. The site’s designation and address were incorrect in Wednesday’s edition.

POTTSVILLE — Schuylkill County Recorder of Deeds Ann Dudish has announced that she is seeking a second full term in office.

A Republican, Dudish, of Pottsville, has held the office since 2014, when Gov. Tom Corbett appointed her to succeed her late husband, A. Matthew Dudish. She ran on her own in 2015 and won a full four-year term.

“I believe providing accessible and efficient public access to the permanent records is an essential function of my office,” Dudish said.

The recorder of deeds maintains records of all documents relating to real estate transactions, including deeds, mortgages and subdivision plans. The office also records veteran’s discharge papers and acts as the transfer agent for the local and state realty transfer taxes.

Dudish said she has completed the project providing access to documents dating back to 1949 on public access terminals in the office and through the internet.

She also has renewed the five-year contract with the vendor for the hardware and software in her office without an increase in costs, and instituted e-recording of documents with the office. With the latter, if a document like a deed of mortgage cannot be recorded, the person trying to record it will know instantly.

Dudish said her office has gone through four county and two state audits with no deficiencies.

She said she also is able to influence statewide policy by holding a seat on the legislative committee for the Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds Association.

“In this capacity, I can provide expert input to bills presented before the state legislature that have a direct impact in the recorder’s office,” she said.

Before holding her current position, she was a financial controller for Anthracite Abstract Co. Inc, Murphy Jewelers and Richard B. Ryon Insurance, all of Pottsville.

In addition to her elected position, Dudish is president of Anthracite Abstract Co. Inc., a title agency her husband started more than 40 years ago; a member of the American Land Title Association, the Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds Association and the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce; an associate member of the Schuylkill County Board of Realtors; and a licensed property, casualty, life, accident and health insurance agent with the Certified Insurance Service Representative designation.

A lifelong Schuylkill County resident and graduate of Pottsville Area High School, Dudish is a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville, and the board of directors of the Schuylkill EMS; a Make-A-Wish Foundation wish granting volunteer; and a life member of the Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill Auxiliary.

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

Schuylkill County Court dismissed a complaint filed by the Tamaqua Area School District’s teachers union against a controversial policy that would allow teachers and administrators to carry concealed weapons.

The board’s solicitor, Jeffrey Bowe, learned of the dismissal Wednesday and said that the union has 20 days to appeal the decision.

Just last month, directors voted to suspend Policy 705 “pending a resolution as to its validity” by Schuylkill County Court.

The teachers union filed the lawsuit in November, two months after the board adopted the policy. A second lawsuit was filed in January by district parents and grandparents.

Both lawsuits asked that the policy be dropped. Neither asked for monetary damages.

Under the policy, volunteers would undergo Act 235 training — a state requirement for anyone who carries a gun as part of their job. It’s similar to training undertaken by state and municipal police officers. They’d be paid a stipend.

Following the policy’s passage in September, concerned parents presented research showing that arming teachers is not effective, and suggested other ways to keep students and staffers safe, such as hiring retired police officers, purchasing shooter detection systems and having better screenings of visitors.

“Tamaqua, like thousands of schools districts, does not have the tax base that Hazleton has to have armed police,” director Nichols Boyle has previously said. “It gives the rural school districts an effective way to defend themselves.”

When the board suspended the policy in January, President Larry Wittig said directors will look at safety measures, such as securing entry ways, early warning protection systems and safety apps.

The policy would be a first in Pennsylvania. Other states that allow for concealed carry by individuals — or concealed carry by authorized employees — are Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.

Contact the writer: jwhalen@standardspeaker.com; 570-501-3592

Their club stands miles apart from the others.

As the Schuylkill County Motorcycle Club marks its 50th anniversary this year and prepares for its annual banquet, members recall the organization’s formation and the camaraderie during their half-century journey.

There was no swearing, roughhousing or alcohol drinking allowed — just a love of the open road, family fun and promotion of safe motorcycling activities, according to Frank Madeira, a charter member.

“It wasn’t going to be your run-of-the-mill club. It really turned out perfectly. Thanks to ‘Pappy’ (Carl) Schaeffer, they had a place for the meetings and the club held to his ideals. We had this certain type of outlook on life,” Madeira, of Orwigsburg, said.

According to the group’s history records, 21 people met on Feb. 8, 1969, at Schaeffer’s Harley-Davidson to discuss starting a club. By March 9, 1969, the first officers were selected: President Earl Paxson, Vice President Clair Dougherty, Secretary Leon Gordon, Treasurer Robert Conrad, Road Captains Carl Schaeffer and Clyde Manbeck, and Referee Dennis Schaeffer.

Madeira remembers the first motorcycle he owned was a Honda. After getting a ride on a Harley from a friend while attending school, he made a switch.

“I said I had to get a Harley after that,” he said.

Madeira owns a 2000 Harley Davidson Road King today.

“I just like to get on it, blow the carbon out, and go,” he said.

The club has held an annual awards banquet where motorcycle enthusiasts can reunite. This year’s celebration will be Feb. 23 at the Cressona Goodwill Fire Company Social Hall.

Nearly 100 people are slated to attend, according to Laurel Moyer, of Schuylkill Haven, club treasurer. Her late husband, Richard Moyer, was another charter member. They used to have a Harley-Davidson Dresser and her husband would drive the pair.

“I’d get on the back and hang on,” she said.

“We enjoyed riding and it was a nice club for kids. That was one reason it was started, so it could be a family club. We went on quite a few rides, to Tennessee and to Virginia to see the caverns. Eventually, everyone got old,” she said.

Madeira said Richard Moyer was the architect and builder in charge of the construction of the clubhouse at 958 Schuylkill Mountain Road, Schuylkill Haven.

An associate member, Mary Ann Stamm, along with another volunteer, Tammy Eschbach, collected the history information for the 50th anniversary banquet brochure.

Mary Ann’s husband, Dennis Stamm; her brother-in-law, David Stamm; Madeira and Robert Conrad are the only four remaining charter members. David Stamm also serves as the club’s current president. Other officers are Vice President Rick Moyer,Secretary Joyce Sipe, Treasurer Laurel Moyer, Road Captain Tim Marbarger, Referee Rich Geiger and Legislative Officer Mark Moyer.

Mary Ann Stamm said there are about 75 current club members, with people hailing from Schuylkill and surrounding counties. They range in age from their twenties into their eighties, she said.

“We used to have a drill team. They’d put on shows in Philadelphia and New York. But, some of them got older and are not riding anymore,” Mary Ann Stamm said.

The club won several recognitions from the American Motorcyclist Association throughout the 1980s, including being designated as the best club in the country in 1983 and the AMA Government Relations Club of the Year in 1984, the banquet brochure states.

Madeira offered a special thanks to “Carl, Fern, Dennis and Carol Schaeffer for their unrelenting help to make it all possible,” and to Richard Moyer and the “many members who were valuable in so many ways over the years.”

It won’t be long before the riding season begins. Road runs scheduled for this year are: March 31, block shoot; April 7, Spring Fling; May 19, memorial run; June 9, mountain run; July 14, round robin run; Aug. 4, carnival run; Sept. 2, Labor Day run and field meet; Sept. 22, block shoot; and Oct. 6, fall foliage run.

Meetings are held at the clubhouse in Schuylkill Haven at 7 p.m. on the first and third Monday of each month, except for the January through March meetings, which are only the first Monday.

“Our organization strives to make a total impact on the local community by sponsoring breakfasts, lunches, fundraising and other social events,” the club’s mission statement says.

For more information, visit www.schuylkillcountymotorcycleclub.com.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

I believe libraries are one of the greatest services known to mankind. What started as a system of loaning books, has grown to computer access, children’s activities, knitting groups, teens book clubs and so much more. Here’s what the Pottsville Free Public Library has to say about their organization:

The Pottsville Free Public Library opened its door on Nov. 9, 1911, to “make reading material available to all,” the slogan used by the Women’s Civic Club when they were organizing the establishment. Over the years, the library has expanded the collection of resources, the services and the building that houses it, to educate, entertain, enrich and strengthen the diverse community of Pottsville and Schuylkill County.

Many people associate a public library with children and story times. And while the library still offers this program, there is so much more available. Summer Quest includes fun activities and programs for school-age and preschool children and their families. Computers are available so kids can work on or print out their homework assignments or use one of the learning tools, like ABCMouse.

Family Place Parent and Child Workshops help new or young parents learn about nutrition, the importance of play and other subjects to help their child thrive. Services and programs just for teens have multiplied in the last few years, with monthly programs like Teen Maker Space, group games and STEAM activities. The Teen Advisory Board is made up of young adults who help choose books, music and movie titles for the library collection, and come up with teen-directed events like the annual haunted house at the library.

For adults, the library offers computers for job searching and resume printing, secure access to account statements and pay stubs, printing from email and just about anything else people need to do online.

One computer also has JAWS screen-reading software to enable someone who is blind or low vision to use the internet. There is a self-service scanner and photocopier in the lobby, and fax service is available at the Circulation Desk.

Programs on a variety of subjects are scheduled throughout the year and are usually free to attend. Those who like to write can join the Pottsville Open Writers group, and those who like to discuss what they read can join the Page Turners Book Discussion group. Both groups meet once a month at the library and are always open to new members.

And, yes, the library has lots of books, magazines and movies for all. Books in regular and large print and audio books on CD are now joined by the library’s new eBook collection. The library also has tablets available to borrow so adults can read the eBooks if they don’t have their own device.

Anyone interested in volunteering at the Pottsville Free Public Library should call the library at 570-622-8880 to discuss what opportunities are currently available. Possible volunteer opportunities include shelving books and DVDs; newspaper indexing project; book processing; assistance with children’s programs (child abuse and criminal history clearances required unless the volunteer is younger than 18 years); and occasional projects like envelope stuffing or event and program planning.

Random Acts of Kindness Day will take place on Sunday and RAK Week from Feb. 18 through 22. For years, we’ve been promoting RAK, which was established in 1995 by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation to inspire a culture of kindness in schools, homes and communities. Millions will participate this year by sharing tiny bits of thoughtfulness.

The idea is to do something nice and unexpected for someone else, someone you know or not. There are countless, easy ways to participate. Pay for the coffee for the person behind you in line, wash the dishes without being asked, pump gas for someone, do your own laundry or leave quarters in the laundromat, take doughnuts to work, leave a lottery ticket with your restaurant tip, shovel someone’s sidewalk, write an inspiring message and leave it in a popular library book. You get the idea.

Participation is more than just fun. Research suggests that there are both physical and mental health benefits to practicing kindness. Serotonin and endorphin levels increase and stress and blood pressure decrease, to name a few advantages.

The RAF Foundation invites you to visit its website at www.randomactsofkindness.org to find resources and tools for educators and all good-deed-doers.

Times can be challenging. Couldn’t we all use some extra kindness all year long, not just during the event. Become a RAKtivist. Your small act of kindness can bring smiles and brighten days.

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