Kelayres

Kline Township has received a grant of $211,667 from the state Department of Transportation for repairs to 13 sections of deteriorated roadways. State Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, and state Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, announced the grant approval, saying the funds will address a variety of safety concerns for motorists and pedestrians. “These upgrades will play a big role in making travel safer throughout the township, not only for daily residential, commercial and industrial traffic, but also for walkers, joggers, bicyclists and others who share the benefits of the local transportation infrastructure,” Argall said in a release. Knowles said the funding is “an example of how Act 89 is making our communities better and safer places to live, work and get around.” He commended the township for working to obtain the funding, which was awarded as part of PennDOT’s Multimodal Transportation Fund grant program.

Primrose

Dustin’s Special Egg Hunt, named after a 7-year-old Pottsville boy with autism, will begin at 1 p.m. April 13 at the South Cass Fire Company grounds. It is open to all Schuylkill County children 16 and younger who suffer from a disability. Registration forms and waivers are available on the Facebook page “Dustin’s Special Egg Hunt.” The event is limited to 300 children and the deadline to register is March 17. There will be three areas with the specific needs of the children in mind. Each child is guaranteed to receive eggs and have an equal opportunity for larger prizes. Each participant will also receive an Easter bag sponsored by the Mechanicsville Game and Fish group and a voucher for food and drink sponsored by Aaron’s Sales and Lease, Pottsville, at the event. Various mascots and characters will also be on hand. Emergency apparatus will be on display and there will be craft, decorating and coloring areas. Organizers said in a release the boy with autism attended an egg hunt last year with other children but due to his disability he was unable to get eggs: “He did not have adequate time and the noise of the horn scared him due to a sensory issue.” His mother subsequently gathered friends and began planning this event geared toward children with disabilities. For this egg hunt, each group of children will have a time and area to register and start. For vision-impaired children, the start time will be 1 p.m.; for hearing-impaired, autistic and Down Syndrome children, the start will be 1:45 p.m. and for wheelchair-bound youngsters, the start will be at 2:30 p.m. Organizers ask that children be registered an hour before the start of their hunt.

Pottsville

A Pottsville Relay for Life kickoff and spaghetti dinner are set for 6 p.m. March 23 at the Ramada Inn, Centre and Mahantongo streets. It will include basket raffles, BOGO luminarias and a patriotic-themed costume contest. The cost is $5; free for survivors. People must RSVP by Saturday. For more information, call 570-385-2054.

Ringtown

The Ringtown Valley Senior Citizens group, 104 W. Main St., will host an eight-hour AARP driver safety course over two days: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 28 and 29. Drivers who never took an AARP driver safety course or those who took one before 2016 are eligible to participate. AARP members and non-members 55 or older are welcome. For more information or to register, call 570-889-3379 or 570-889-5923.

Tamaqua

The Tamaqua YMCA, located at the former Jamesway Plaza, 1201 E. Broad St., will sponsor “Ties and Tiaras,” its 2019 Daddy-Daughter Dance from 6 to 9 p.m. March 15. Advance registration is required and must be made before March 14. Prizes will be awarded to the three best-dressed couples. For more information, stop in at the Y front desk, email zrubin@ymca-berkscounty.org or call 570-668-2903.

Tamaqua

Plow Day 2019 is set for April 13 at Heisler’s Cloverleaf Dairy, 743 Catawissa Road. It will involve a demonstration of how soil is tilled and is free and open to the public. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. and plowing will start at 10 a.m. For more information, call 570-739-2446 or 570-366-1989. The rain date is May 4. The Schuylkill County Agriculture Museum is the sponsor.

Man, woman steal

TV from retail store

HOMETOWN — Rush Township police are investigating a theft that happened at Walmart around 1:35 p.m. Feb. 20.

Police said a man and woman stole a television with an estimated value of $450 and fled the store without paying for the item.

At the time of the crime, police said, the two had a child with them.

After stealing the television, police said, the couple and child left the area in what appears to be a Jeep Grand Cherokee or Ford Explorer.

Anyone with information to help identify the man and woman are asked to call Rush Township police at 570-668-4242 or email the department at police@rushtownship.org. All information will remain confidential.

Suspects sought in

credit card theft

HOMETOWN — Rush Township police are asking for the public’s help in identifying two people connected with a credit card theft that happened Thursday.

Police said officers were notified around noon that two people fraudulently used the credit account of a person in Texas to purchase items at a store in Rush Township.

Police said they are trying to identify the two and have released images taken from security cameras.

Anyone with information to help identify the two are asked to call Rush Township police at 570-668-4242 or email the department at police@rushtownship.org. All calls will be held in confidence.

FORESTVILLE — Four people are homeless after fire destroyed a house and attached building in Cass Township on Monday.

Cass Township fire marshal John Kellman said crews were called just before 9 a.m. and found part of the building at 506 Tunnel Road engulfed in flames.

Kellman said that when he arrived, fire was shooting out of the front.

“The whole front was already rocking, it was already through the roof,” he said of the fire.

Kellman said it took about 2 1/2 hours to bring the blaze under control.

Cass Township police said the home was occupied by Michael Yurkonis, who lived there with his children, Cheyenne and Brandon, and Sandy Mackey.

No injuries were reported, and Kellman said Michael Yurkonis and one other person were home when the fire started but were able to exit the home safely.

He said that talk about a pet being inside and killed by the fire could not be confirmed.

Kellman said the fire will be deemed accidental. He said Michael Yurkonis reported using a propane heater when a hose “busted” starting the blaze.

State police fire marshal Trooper John F. Burns of the Frackville station is assisting with the investigation.

Kellman said that firefighters from Minersville, Forestville, South Cass, Heckscherville, Phoenix Park and Pottsville responded to the scene along with the Schuylkill Haven Fire Department Rapid Intervention Team.

Fire police from Newtown and Minersville assisted with shutting down roads near the fire scene.

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

Frackville

“Baby Talk,” a program involving a story and craft, will be held at 10 a.m. today at the Frackville Free Public Library, North Lehigh Avenue. It is for children ages 1 to 4 and will be held every other Tuesday. For more information, call 570-874-3382. Storytime at the library, for ages 4 to 7, will being at 6 p.m. March 12 and be held monthly every second Tuesday. STEM activities will start at 5:30 p.m. March 14 and be held monthly every second Thursday. Computer class at the library will be held at noon March 16 and then be held monthly every third Saturday. The LEGO Club will start at 4:30 p.m. March 21 for children ages 5 to 14.

Hegins

Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church, 510 E. Main St., will have a spring bazaar from 9 to 11 a.m. March 16. The event will feature hoagies, soup and baked goods. To order hoagies, call Nancy Kline at 570-682-9160.

Mar Lin

Wing night at Mar Lin Hose Company will be held at 5 p.m. March 16. The company sponsors wing nights every third Saturday through May. For more information, call 570-544-6740.

Minersville

A fish or crab cake dinner is set for 3:30 p.m. Friday at St. Michael the Archangel Parish Center. The cost is $10 per meal. Advance orders are required; no walk-ins will be available. For more information, call 570-544-4741.

Pottsville

The annual St. Patrick’s Day parade will begin at 11 a.m. March 16 at 12th and Market streets. The sponsor is the Ancient Order of Hibernians JFK Division 2. For more information, call 570-573-8976. The Grand Irish Party at the Humane Fire Company, Third Street and Laurel Boulevard, will go from noon to 4:30 p.m. March 16. The cost is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. The party will include beverages, food and live Irish music by Celtheart. Tickets are available at Murphy Jewelers, Market Street. Call the aforementioned number for more information.

Pottsville

Open scan day at the Pottsville Free Public Library will be at 1 p.m. March 30. People may bring a few items to be scanned or digitized for free. Contact the library for more information.

Pottsville

The Copeland String Quartet will be featured at 4 p.m. March 31 in the Trinity Episcopal Church Concert Series. There is no admission fee; freewill offerings will be accepted. The church, 200 S. Second St., is accessible to the handicapped and all are welcome. For more information, call the church at 570-622-8720.

Saint Clair

St. Michael Orthodox Church, 110 N. Morris St., will have an advance-order-only halupkie sale with pickups set for April 19 and 20. The cost is $10 per dozen and the minimum order is two dozen. To order or for more information, call 570-429-2138. The deadline to order is April 17. The church will also have Lenten fish dinners from noon to 6 p.m. Fridays during Lent beginning March 8. The cost is $10 for adults and $6 for children. The menu will also include mac-and-cheese, halushki and soup. Take-outs and local delivery will be available. For reservations or more information, call the aforementioned number.

Schuylkill Haven

The Schuylkill Haven PTO Chinese auction is set for 4 to 8 p.m. March 29 and 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 30 at the high school. All are welcome.

Shenandoah

The annual Kielbasi-Pierogie Golf Tournament, sponsored by the revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc., will be held June 21 at Mountain Valley Golf Course, Barnesville. DSI organizers said there are a limited number of spaces and advised people planning to participate to register early. For more information, call DSI at 570-462-2060.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Terry Ellex knows a good fasnacht when he tastes one.

Ellex, 64, of Cressona, bought three dozen of the delicious treats Monday at Plain & Fancy Donut Shop, Schuylkill Haven.

“I’ve tried others. There is none like this. These are the best around,” he said.

Ellex said he likes to eat his fasnachts with butter and molasses. He will probably eat four today, which is Doughnut Day. Also called Fat Tuesday, it is held before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.

Dave Fennelly, 69, of Pine Grove, said he has been coming to the store since the 1960s because its “tradition.” He bought fasnacht for himself and his wife.

Tom Regimball, 32, of Bensalem, Bucks County, and his wife, Kimberly, 31, toured D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc., Pottsville, before visiting the store. Each had a fasnacht for the first time Monday. An internet search of fasnacht lead them to Plain & Fancy, they said.

“It’s good. I like the sweetness of it,” Tom Regimball said.

Jim McKeone, owner of the store, said workers and volunteers started making fasnacht about a month ago.

“We still make them the same way we made them 53 years ago,” McKeone said.

The recipe consists of eggs, butter, water, a doughnut base, flour, real mashed potatoes and granulated sugar. Plain, sugar, glazed and powdered are available. Special requests include peanut butter, custard, white creme, apple, blueberry and raspberry.

“The plain are actually the most popular,” McKeone said.

Bob Brookes, employee, said between 1,500 and 2,000 dozen donuts were made so far.

Customers started putting in orders in late January, he said.

Connie Kodash, employee, said 24 of the 50 dozen fasnachts sold Monday were bought by customers who stopped at the store.

“We will be making them for the next couple of weeks,” McKeone said.

A half- dozen fasnachts are $7 and a dozen is $13.

Besides Plain & Fancy, fasnachts will be available at Brok-Sel in Pottsville and Schuylkill Haven, Renninger’s Market, Schuylkill Haven, and markets in Hometown and Leesport.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

POTTSVILLE — Seven men and five women will decide the fate of Joshua M. Lukach, after the prosecution and the defense selected them for the jury that will decide if he killed a Pottsville businessman in August 2015.

Lukach, 22, of New Philadelphia, spent much of the first day of his trial, over which Judge Jacqueline L. Russell is presiding, helping his lawyer, Jeffrey J. Markosky, Mahanoy City, choose those jurors.

The jurors will start hearing Russell’s instructions, along with opening arguments by Deputy Attorney General Philip M. McCarthy, a Mahanoy Plane native, and Markosky at 9:30 a.m. today. After those, McCarthy, assisted by Chief Deputy Attorney General Kristin E. Heine, will begin presenting their case.

Prosecutors have charged Lukach with first-degree murder, conspiracy, second-degree murder, robbery, burglary, criminal trespass, possessing instrument of crime, access device fraud, theft and receiving stolen property. He faces a mandatory life sentence, which in Pennsylvania carries no chance of parole, if convicted of first- or second-degree murder.

Pottsville police charge Lukach with robbing and killing John Brock, the owner of the now-closed Pottsville Bike and Board Shop, 125 W. Market St., in the early morning hours of Aug. 6, 2015, at the victim’s 14 S. 12th St. home. Police said Lukach and Shavinskin N. Thomas, 25, of Pottsville, stabbed Brock and stole money, keys and cards from him.

Police said they found a knife and a box cutter in Brock’s house. They also said Brock’s bedroom was in disarray when they entered it, with blood pooling on the bed and two blood-soaked pillows.

On April 13, 2017, Thomas pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and other crimes. Russell sentenced him to serve 27 to 60 years in a state correctional institution; part of Thomas’ plea agreement requires that he testify against Lukach.

Thomas, who is serving his sentence at State Correctional Institution/Mahanoy, had starred in basketball at Pottsville Area High School and later played with the Schuylkill Firedogs in the Eastern Basketball Alliance.

During jury selection, Russell did some of the questioning of prospective jurors. Selection of the jurors, along with two alternates, ended Monday afternoon.

Russell also decided to allow prosecutors to use several photographs of Brock, agreeing with McCarthy’s contention that they were relevant and rejecting Markosky’s argument that they were too prejudicial.

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

Defendant: Joshua M. Lukach

Age: 22

Residence: New Philadelphia

Charges: First-degree murder, conspiracy, second-degree murder, robbery, burglary, criminal trespass, possessing instrument of crime, access device fraud, theft and receiving stolen property

Deeds

Porter and Tremont townships — Robert W. Tallman to Ben Tallman; 36.73-acre property; $1.

Rush Township — Dustin R. and Jacklyn A. Varner and Derek J. and Danielle Varner to Belcap LLC; property at Tamaqua Street and Frankford Avenue, Hometown; $60,000.

Nancy J. Werner to Belcap LLC; property at Frankford Avenue and Ridge Street, Hometown; $35,000.

Shenandoah — Melvyn Lebron to Stanley L. Michalik and Vincent E. Eroh; 326 W. Centre St. and 325 and 327 W. New York Street; $7,500.

A deli, a furniture store, an orthodontist and a wellness store will be moving into Laurel Mall within the next six months.

Rocco Arruzzo, the mall’s property manager, said Mariano Furniture will move from its location on North Church Street, between 22nd and 23rd streets, to the former Olympia Sports/Simply Outerwear location.

Arruzzo said Henry Mariano, the furniture store’s owner, plans to sell reconditioned and new furniture. The store is scheduled to open June 1.

Simply Outerwear will be consolidating to its parent store, Treasure Hunt.

“Simply Outerwear was a pop-up store,” Arruzzo said. “They sold winter coats.”

Across the mall from Mariano’s, Reflections, a store with wellness products and programs, will open April 1, Arruzzo said.

In the strip center at the front of the mall property, Spark Orthodontics is almost done renovating the space where the Gallery of Sound music store was previously located.

“The contractor is expected to be done March 15, and then he will turn the key over to Spark,” Arruzzo said. “Then, they will announce their grand opening date.”

One of Spark’s neighbors will be Genevieve’s Deli, which will open in the former Sweet Frog frozen yogurt space.

“They are scheduled to open Aug. 1,” Arruzzo said.

Two large empty spaces — the former Kmart anchor store and the Ground Round restaurant — have people interested in them, Arruzzo said.

“A national company that is not a restaurant” is looking at the Ground Round space, a free-standing building at the front of the mall property. And “possibly two, probably three” stores will fill the former Kmart space, he said.

Announcements on those spaces are forthcoming, Arruzzo said.

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

POTTSVILLE — Seven proved to be an unlucky number Monday for Keith A. Herbert, who is headed to state prison for more than a decade after a Schuylkill County judge sentenced him for, among other crimes, his seventh burglary.

Herbert, 51, of Pottsville, formerly of East Orange, New Jersey, who broke into a Shenandoah restaurant and rammed his car into a police cruiser, must spend 11 to 22 years in a state correctional institution, President Judge William E. Baldwin decided.

“We are satisfied with the sentence because he was a career offender,” First Assistant District Attorney Michael J. Stine said.

Herbert pleaded guilty on Jan. 31 to burglary, criminal mischief, fleeing or eluding police, flight to avoid apprehension or trial, possessing instrument of crime, resisting arrest and driving under the influence. Prosecutors withdrew four counts of aggravated assault and one each of theft and driving without a license.

Shenandoah police charged Herbert with breaking into the Unity Cafe, 425 E. Centre St., by smashing the front door with a rock around 1:15 a.m. Feb. 26, 2018. Herbert removed various items from the cafe and fled east on Centre Street, police said.

Police said Herbert drove head-on into a cruiser driven by Patrolman David J. Stamets Jr., left his car and tried to flee the scene. However, police said they quickly caught Herbert, and found the cafe’s cash register containing $129, and disposable lighters, in his car.

Herbert also was under the influence of drugs while driving the car, according to police.

Prosecutors said Herbert had committed six burglaries in northeastern New Jersey, five in Essex County (Newark and environs) and one in Hudson County (Jersey City and neighboring communities).

Herbert’s total sentence consists of four consecutive prison terms: three to six years each for burglary, criminal mischief and fleeing and eluding police, and two to four years for flight to avoid apprehension or trial.

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

POTTSVILLE — A Pottsville man will not have to spend time in prison after a Schuylkill County judge sentenced him on Monday for stealing firearms in April 2017 in Wayne Township.

Instead, Heath A. Dougherty, 31, will spend 12 months on probation, and pay costs, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $2,700 restitution, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin decided.

Dougherty said he has been drug free since April 2018, has a construction job and lives in strictly supervised transitional housing.

“He’s doing very well,” testified Pastor Vincent Murray, who supervises the residence. “We have a zero-tolerance program. We run a pretty tight ship.”

Dougherty pleaded guilty on Jan. 10 to theft, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge for receiving stolen property. State police at Schuylkill Haven charged Dougherty with stealing the firearms on April 1, 2017.

On Friday, James R. Ritter, 31, of Hegins, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and disregarding traffic lane. Prosecutors withdrew charges of failure to keep right, failure to drive at a safe speed, careless driving and seat belt violation.

Judge Charles M. Miller sentenced Ritter to spend six months in the intermediate punishment program, including 15 days on house arrest with electronic monitoring, 45 days on strict supervision and four months on probation, pay costs, $1,025 in fines, $300 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and $120 restitution to Lehigh Valley Health Network, and perform 10 hours community service.

State police at Schuylkill Haven alleged Ritter was DUI on Dec. 13, 2017, in Norwegian Township.

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

A familiar face returned to offices Monday morning at 111 Mahantongo St.

Times-Shamrock Communications Inc. has hired Andrew P. Heintzelman as the new managing editor for The Pottsville Republican-Herald and Hazleton Standard-Speaker. Heintzelman takes the lead of the editorial departments of both papers as they focus on continued print and expanded online content covering local news, sports, civic life and all things community.

“I want both newspapers to continue their pursuit of content that impacts the community and is of value to the community,” he said Monday.

The position opens a new chapter of Heintzelman’s 34-year career in journalism. A native of Selinsgrove, he graduated from Selinsgrove Area High School in 1981, and from Bloomsburg University in 1985 with a degree in mass communications and journalism. From 1985-94, he worked as a reporter, then editor of The Citizen-Standard, Valley View. From 1994 to 2000, he was news editor at The Republican-Herald, then owned by J.H. Zerbey Newspapers Inc., after which he joined the staff of The Shamokin News-Item as an assistant editor, becoming editor in 2005. During 16 of his 19 years in Shamokin, The News-Item was owned by Times-Shamrock and was involved in regional news efforts involving Schuylkill County as well as The News-Item coverage area. The Shamokin paper was sold to Sample Media in 2015.

Republican-Herald publisher Mike Joyce welcomed Heintzelman on his return.

“I am thrilled to have Andy back at The Republican-Herald to lead our newsroom and the newsroom in Hazleton at the Standard-Speaker,” he said. “His experience in newsrooms around the area and his ability to develop a newsroom to reach its utmost potential will benefit not only our newspaper but all of our print and digital readers as well.”

Times-Shamrock Executive Editor Larry Holeva praised the new editor’s experience.

“Andy brings a wealth of experience and passion for community journalism to the newspapers,” he said. “He understands many of the issues our communities face.

“Andy’s been an award-winning reporter and editor for years and has a lot of energy to develop both people and products. He’s going to be a solid addition to our leadership team in the newsrooms.”

An avid outdoorsman and hockey fan, Heintzelman is also a freelance writer for Performance Racing Industry magazine and, last year, published “Enjoy the Journey, A retiree hikes the Appalachian Trail, finding fun, friendship and peace” about his father’s trek on the Appalachian Trail.

He is married to Tina Heintzelman, lifestyles editor at The Republican-Herald, and has two children, Dustin, an auditor for the state of Alaska, and Alyssa, who works in the education department for the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey.

Heintzelman lives in Herndon and plans to relocate to Schuylkill County. He replaces Peter Banko, who resigned in January to become an editor and publisher of The Georgetown Times, Georgetown, South Carolina.

Pottsville businessman Patrick Murphy may have been involved in a struggle with his accused attacker, Magen Hall, inside the Empress Hotel minutes before he was killed early Thursday morning.

Hall surrendered Sunday morning accompanied by her attorney and was arrested on a charge of second-degree murder.

On Monday, Hall, 25, of Memphis, Tennessee, appeared before an Orleans Parish magistrate who set the woman’s bail at $750,000. She remains jailed at the Orleans Parish Prison pending future court action. Her first name appears as Megen and Megan in various records, with Magen E. Hall appearing in the Murphy arrest.

Further details of the crime came to light Monday in paperwork filed by New Orleans police homicide Detective Patrick Guidry with the 41st Judicial District Court for Orleans Parish.

In his affidavit for arrest warrant, Guidry said that around 11:40 a.m., Murphy, 62, was found in a room at the 1317 Ursulines St. hotel with multiple stab wounds.

Hotel surveillance showed Murphy arriving at the hotel around 2:10 a.m. Thursday in the company of a white woman.

The woman identified her name as “Megan Hall,” rented a room and provided a Tennessee identification card.

Video images then show Murphy and Hall entering Room 110 and around 3:40 a.m., the woman is seen exiting the hotel alone walking out of the front door briskly, Guidry said.

He said that video of the door of Room 110 did not show anyone else other than Hall enter or leave the room until the body was discovered by the hotel employee.

“Detective Guidry concluded the victim could not have received fatal stab wounds from any subject other than the white female he entered the hotel room with,” court papers read.

Guidry said two people who were inside Room 108 at the motel during the early morning hours Thursday reported hearing a man and woman arguing “very loudly” inside Room 110 around 3:30 a.m. and also heard struggling inside.

The witnesses said that at one point, the woman could be heard yelling “get in the bathroom” and that the commotion inside the room ended in about two minutes, Guidry said.

Guidry said Hall was identified through the identification she provided when checking into the hotel and that he then located a New Orleans Police Department incident report which detailed an arrest of Megan Hall for prostitution in the French Quarter.

Guidry and homicide detectives compared the photograph on the Tennessee identification provided by Hall to the Louisiana booking photo for the prostitution arrest and determined Hall was the woman inside the room with Murphy.

Earlier that week, Murphy attended a jewelry convention in Arizona.

Ruth Tewoldemedhin, a sales administrator at the Sheraton Grand Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona, said that a Patrick and Kim Murphy were registered as being there at the hotel.

“I have a Patrick Murphy who stayed here. I don’t know if she stayed here or not,” Tewoldemedhin said.

She said Patrick Murphy didn’t check in with identification because he was listed under staff, meaning he likely was there as a vendor for the Independent Jewelers Organization Conference and Buyers Show, which was held from Feb. 23 to Feb. 26. The show is held in the 1,000-room hotel, she said.

“He arrived at 5:40 p.m. and he departed at 6:59 a.m.,” Tewoldemedhin said of his arrival Feb. 22 and departure Feb. 25.

Pam Perry, events manager at the hotel, declined to provide information on Murphy. According to information on the IJO website, the Murphy family provides a testimonial about the benefits of membership in the IJO.

“We have accomplished a tremendous amount of growth during 20 years in IJO and we attribute much of our success to the opportunities afforded to us at IJO conference educational programs,” the statement read.

Christine Logothetides, store manager at Murphy Jewelers in Pottsville, said Monday his family and employees are still grieving the loss of Murphy.

“We love him. He is truly missed,” Logothetides said.

Logothetides said Murphy was on vacation with his wife in New Orleans before his death. She asked the public and media to respect the privacy of the Murphy family during this difficult time. She has not been to the Murphy house to visit.

“They were high school sweethearts. They lived and breathed for each other,” Logothetides said.

The couple would have celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary in May.

“We are mourning the loss of a great leader in the community,” Logothetides said.

Contact the writer: fandruscavage@republicanherald.com, 570-628-6013; amarchiano@republicanherald.com, 570-628-6028

SHENANDOAH — The Shenandoah Valley school board approved the appointments for paid and volunteer coaches for spring sports during last week’s monthly meeting.

The following paid coaches were approved:

• Judi Ashford, track coach, $2,250.

•Jeff Maksimik, head football coach, $4,450.

•Tom Lauta and Mick Jacavage, assistant baseball coaches, $2,250 each.

The following volunteer coaches were approved:

•Assistant baseball coaches: Jeff Jacavage, Randy Maksimik and Frank McCole

•Scorekeeper with the score book: Bill Conroy.

•Scorekeeper with iPad: Joe Mikita.

In other business, the school board approved the purchase of two school buses as part of its three-year rotation at last Wednesday’s meeting.

The purchase is for two 2020 Thomas C2 72-passenger buses from Rohrer Bus, Duncannon, for $86,842 each.

As explained at a previous meeting by Business Manager Anthony P. Demalis Jr., the school district regularly trades in three-year-old buses for new models. Demalis explained that buses are rotated on a three-year basis, they are modern, up-to-date models that will need minimal repairs, if any.

With the purchase and trade-ins, the school district pays $9,141 per bus per year. When the buses are traded in three years, the school district will get $59,500 back on each bus.

The school board also approved the 2019-20 Schuylkill Technology Center program budget of $7,746,037. Shenandoah Valley’s share of the budget is $342,079, which is $12,194 less than the district’s share for 2018-19 of $354,273.

The school board acted on the following agenda items:

•Approved the M&T Bank investment proposal.

“It was three months ago that we did the original T-bills,” Superintendent Brian Waite said. “They were set at 90 days, 180 days and 270 days. So the first 90 days were up, so we rolled it over. It was for $250,000 at 2.4 percent interest.”

•Approved the posting and advertising for two elementary teachers.

•Approved the Schuylkill County Guest Teacher Program/Emergency Certification List additions: Eric Heck and Pamela Miller.

•Approved a letter of agreement between the school district and the Lehigh Carbon Community College SHINE Afterschool Program.

•Approved the professional development consulting contract (text development analysis) between the school district and Dr. Jeri Thompson for the 2019-20 school year.

•Approved the 2019-20 school calendar.

•Approved the following building usage requests: Shenandoah Free Public Library (Rotary Way), Columbia Hose and Steam Fire Company (Stadium Road and parking lots), and Polish American Fire Company (bus garage).

•Approved a $150 advertisement for the football scholar athlete program.

•Accepted letters of resignation from paraprofessional Anne Van Horn, retroactive to Feb. 15, and paraprofessional Maria Curreli, retroactive to Feb. 22, and approved the posting and advertising of both positions.

•Approved purchase of a $100 advertisement for the Spartan Games program.

•Approved teacher Judy Demalis at $550 as a mentor for new mathematics teacher Jamie Walker.

The school board approved the following county tax claim bureau repository sales:

•12 Convent Road, Lost Creek, West Mahanoy Township. Bid of $1,500 from Acorn Estates LLC.

•Lost Creek Road (south side), Lost Creek, West Mahanoy Township. Bid of $1,500 from Lloyd R. Hampton.

•122 N. Jardin St., Shenandoah. Bid of $1,500 from Joseph R. Jacko.

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

Although snow’s still dotting county countrysides, now’s the time to start thinking about wildfires, according to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Gov. Tom Wolf has proclaimed March 3-9 as Wildfire Prevention Week.

DCNR statistics show nearly 85 percent of the state’s wildfires occur in March, April and May, a release from DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said.

“The majority of our fires start within this time span since the forest floor is in direct sunlight,” Jake Novitsky, a fire forester with DCNR, Weiser Forest District, Barnesville, said.

“Trees still defoliated have nothing to shade the forest floor with. This rapidly dries out fuels — leaf litter, pine needles, shrubs, grasses, trees, any combustible materials,” Novitsky said in an email Tuesday.

The days start becoming longer and the angle of the sun increases due to the spring solstice March 20. This increases until the summer solstice June 21, he said.

“It’s why when we have large snow storms in March/April the snow doesn’t seem to be around as long if it was winter,” Novitsky said. “Yes, (in) winter it’s much colder which helps but also the sun isn’t as high as in spring time. The sun is out longer and has more time to beat down on the snow to help melt off the snow faster.”

Most years, Schuylkill County has a countywide burn ban, which helps decrease the amount of wildfires in the county, Novitsky said.

The biggest wildfire-prone area in the county is in its valleys. “Most of the population can be found here. Most use burning as a tool for cleaning up in the spring. So the majority of our fires here are from escaped fires off of burn pits and burn barrels, (or) people who don’t properly extinguish campfires before leaving. Most of these can be found in old strip mining areas.”

Educating the public about wildfires and the dangers associated with them are keys to prevention. One iconic figure, Smokey Bear, turns 75 years old this year, according to The Forest Fire Warden News. Smokey is a “relevant and recognizable symbol of wildfire prevention,” the spring 2019 publication states.

The more people that educate themselves will have a better understanding about “good” versus “bad” days to burn, according to Novitsky.

“They will learn also how to properly extinguish a campfire or what a proper burn barrel should look like. Realize that when you have a campfire or burning debris that it is your responsibility to make sure it’s being handled and being observed. Don’t just walk away and believe it will be fine and won’t escape. Wildfire can cause thousands of dollars in property damage, serious injury or death.”

Individuals found guilty of causing wildfires will be held accountable for suppression cost and damaged property, he said.

Open fires are prohibited on state forestland from March 1 to May 25, when the fire danger is listed as high, very high or extreme, unless authorized by district foresters, according to DCNR.

“Human carelessness continued to lead the list of causes of wildfires across the state in 2018. A total of 690 wildfires, ranging from less than one acre in size to almost 690 acres, were reported last year,” the DCNR release says.

For more information, contact local district foresters or call the Bureau of Forestry at 717-787-2925 or visit www.dcnr.pa.gov or bit.ly/FireWardenNews.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

POTTSVILLE — Alanis Davis remembers the special pancakes offered at her great-grandfather’s restaurant during Sunday buffets.

Today, as a fourth-generation member of the Davis family, Alanis is poised to assist her great-grandfather, Robert E. “Sonny” Davis, 92, in the daily operation of his iconic city eatery, Pine View Acres Restaurant. Some new ideas in the works include creating an Uber Eats menu, while maintaining the 700-seat facility as an entertainment gathering spot.

“I started working here when I was 12. It’s been a nice experience. Most people don’t have that growing up.

“I remember he’d have an island set up here. There were pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream and peanut butter, chocolate pancakes,” Alanis, of Minersville, said.

She and her boyfriend, A.J. Stanfield, and their 8-month-old son, Zalanti, met Tuesday with her father, Evan Davis, and her great-grandfather at the 145 Chamberlaine Ave. restaurant to outline future plans.

“Sonny,” as the community knows him, has fond memories of his own.

“I’m still one of the oldest restaurant owners, butchers and cooks in this area,” he said.

Sonny was home on leave from flying the B-17 as a member of the Army Air Force when his father, Evan H. Davis, first took him to the Pine View Sports Club, as it was known then.

“I walked up the hill along those trees over there and I said, ‘Someday I’d like to own that club.’ It was all men at the time. They had no liquor license, but would each kick in a dollar to get a keg of beer. There used to be a horse rink where they’d have horse shows (nearby), and then they’d come here for drinks, and for some hot dogs and hamburgers. They didn’t have anything like we have today,” he said.

Sonny’s father and mother, Mildred, used to run Davis’s Market, a general store at 11th and Market streets in Pottsville. They also operated Davis’s Catering Service. His father was a cook in the Navy. Sonny spent a decade on the road with five catering trucks, delivering to customers across Schuylkill County, and into the Harrisburg and Lebanon areas. He catered banquets for several thousand people at a time, he said.

He purchased the restaurant 56 years ago. It boasts a true, hardwood dance floor where live bands are featured every Saturday. His mother used to dance at the former Ritz Hall in Pottsville, and he learned to dance at the Lakeside Ballroom, so providing a dancing venue was important to him, he said.

“We had all the big bands here — Guy Lombardo, Harry James, Maynard Ferguson and the Dorsey Brothers; and we had Mickey Rooney and Tiny Tim.”

In 1978, the original restaurant burned down. Sonny rebuilt it, expanding the banquet facility to its 700-seat capacity.

The restaurant usually offers a fish buffet every Friday, and has a senior buffet special every Tuesday. Prime rib is among the customer favorites, Alanis said. Meanwhile, veal piccata and shrimp are some of Sonny’s favorite dishes to prepare, he said. He learned how to cook from his mother.

A.J. formerly ran another restaurant, The Philadelphia House of Cheesesteak in Reading. It closed in 2012. As the new generation steps in, they have some fresh ideas they’d like to implement, Alanis said, hoping to draw in a younger crowd to join her great-grandfather’s existing customers.

They’re creating a “fast menu” for an Uber Eats phone app. That will allow customers to order from the restaurant and have the food delivered to their business or home via an Uber driver.

They’d also like to create their own mobile app for the restaurant, A.J. said.

One of the rooms in the facility that is being used for small parties of 50 or less, will also be made available for a co-worker space. People wanting to do business at the restaurant can bring their own computers, sit in the room, enjoy a cup of coffee, and conduct their business in the restaurant setting. It is Wi-Fi compatible. Other ideas include offering a special menu at the restaurant’s outdoor Tiki Bar in the summer; and providing musical entertainment from T-102 and other radio stations on Fridays.

The restaurant will host “Stefan,” in a Michael Jackson Tribute Show through MJXpressions at 8 p.m. April 13. Tickets are available online at eventbrite or at the restaurant.

Evan Davis, of Pottsville, Sonny’s grandson, said he was happy his daughter and A.J. were stepping into the family business.

“I’m an electrician by trade and my dad is a retired chef. I’ve tried to be here as much as I can. These are two entrepreneurs and this should be perfect for them to make it fly,” he said.

Pine View Acres Restaurant is currently open from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit the Facebook pages, showtime at the PVAR or @laPVAR or call 570-628-3207.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill E. Norwegian Street

To Jarrod Sprecher and Kelly Brown, Pine Grove, a daughter, Feb. 1.

Frackville

A flea market fundraiser will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday in the St. Joseph/Annunciation BVM Hall. For more information, call 570-874-0610.

Mount Carmel

The Mahoney Brothers will present “The World’s Greatest Musical Impersonation Show” on April 7 in the Mount Carmel Area High School Auditorium. Doors will open at 2:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 4 p.m. At 3:30 p.m., the Kulpmont Cruise Association will honor volunteer firefighters from the area who will be represented by their fire chiefs. Two firefighters from FDNY will represent New York City during the program of honor. For more information on being part of the program, fire chiefs are asked to call Joe Cesari at 570-373-3561.

Pottsville

The Pottsville High School Alumni Group will gather for a luncheon at Hoss’ Steak and Sea House, Cressona, at noon March 13. All members of the 1940s classes are invited to join. For more information, call Marguerite Knorr Yourshaw at 570-624-4588 or Corinne Burke Gearhart at 570-622-8072.

Pottsville

“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” a play by Simon Stephens based on a novel by Mark Haddon, will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Majestic Theater, 209 N. Centre St. Tickets are $15 each and are available online or by calling 570-628-4647. Auditions for “Spamalot” will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday and March 16 with callbacks at 2 p.m. March 17 at the theater. For more information, call 570-628-2833.

Saint Clair

An advance-order homemade soup sale is being held by Saint Clair Wade United Methodist Church, 23 N. Front St. The cost is $6 per quart and the variety includes chili, bean, stuffed pepper, chicken noodle and vegetable. The deadline to order is March 9 and pickups will be from 10 a.m. to noon March 16. For more information, call 570-429-1951.

Schuylkill Haven

The South Schuylkill Garden Club and the Penn State Master Gardeners are co-sponsoring a bus trip to Hortulus Farm, Garden & Nursery as well as Peddler Village, all in Bucks County, on June 18. “Walk though as much of Hortulus’ 100 acres as you like,” organizers said in an event release, adding, “Perennial and summer borders, lush woodland walks, fountains, historic barns, diverse animals and both a gift and plant shop” are among the Hortulus attractions. A pre-arranged guided tour will go through 24 gardens. People should bring a bagged lunch to eat on the bus or wait until arrival at 1:30 p.m. at Peddler Village, which has eateries. The bus will depart from the Giant market at the Cressona Mall at 7:30 a.m. and return at 7 p.m. The cost is $60. Checks should be made payable to South Schuylkill Garden Club and mailed to Joyce Carlin, 25 E. Wood St. Pine Grove, PA 17963. The deadline for payment is May 18. For more information, call 570-345-0474.

Tamaqua

The Tamaqua Rotary Club will sponsor a community health screen from 7 to 9:30 a.m. March 16 at the Tamaqua Salvation Army, 105 W. Broad St. The cost is $60 and the screen will be blood testing that includes a comprehensive metabolic profile with coronary risk profile, good cholesterol, bad cholesterol, glucose, kidney profile, liver profile, electrolytes and complete blood count. Additional tests will be offered for additional fees. To register in advance, call 800-776-6342 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Tamaqua

The Tamaqua Area High School Class of 1969 is planning to have its 50-year class reunion on Sept. 28 at the Valley Country Club, Hazleton. The organizing committee is seeking current addresses for several class members, including: Donna Kargess Reed, William Lawson, Theresa Lee Cole, Donna Lyba Beltz, Robert Maschack, Daniel Meredith, Gary Metzger, Ginny Miller, Grace Miller, Kathryn Nall, Christine Nancarrow Steigerwalt, James Orth, Russell Reinhart, Sharon Ritter, Michael Sword, Berlyn Troxell, Dennis Dixon, Danny Truskey and Elizabeth Urban. Anyone with the information may go to the class Facebook page, Tamaqua Area Class of 1969.

A Lansford man was recently arrested after police said he raped a minor in East Penn Township when he was a teenager more than 30 years ago.

Jason T. Eckhart, 48, faces felonies for rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and two misdemeanors for indecent assault by state police at Lehighton.

He was released on $100,000 unsecured bail Feb. 27 by Magisterial District Judge Casimir Kosciolek, Lansford.

The victim, who reported the assaults to police on Dec. 10, said Eckhart forced her into sex acts an estimated 10 to 20 times and threatened to hurt her if she told on him, according to arrest papers. Eckhart was between 14 and 19 years old at the time and the victim was younger than him.

Eckhart was interviewed by police two days later in his parked car outside his residence on West Ridge Street, stating he felt comfortable talking to police there. An officer told him they were investigating the claims from the 1980s and asked if something inappropriate happened with children.

“I kick myself over it every day,” was his reply, detailed in court papers.

Police said he admitted to being involved in inappropriate sexual acts with three minors before he turned 19 years old.

And, though he initially denied having sex with one of them, arrest papers state, he later told officers he didn’t remember the details because it was so long ago.

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

Police investigate copper tube theft

CUMBOLA — State Police at Frackville are investigating a burglary at 212 Market St. in Blythe Township.

Police said someone entered a home between Dec. 29, 2018, and Feb. 27 and removed several linear feet of copper tubing before fleeing the area undetected.

Anyone with information is asked to call state police at Frackville and refer to incident PA2019-252884.

MAHANOY CITY — Mahanoy City firefighters removed several pets from a home in the borough that filled with smoke Tuesday afternoon.

Firefighters were called at 12:44 p.m. for a report of smoke in a house. A short time later, the department’s safety officer, who lives nearby, upgraded the incident to a working fire.

Four people in the home at the time managed to escape safely. They were Kiana Melendez, 22; her mother, Janice Johnson, 50; and Melendez’s 2 1/2-month-old twins, Rowan and Oliver Morales. The family is temporarily displaced because of the fire and is receiving aid from the American Red Cross and family members.

At the scene, after the call was received, Johnson informed Blackwell that everyone was out but there were dogs in a crate, as well as several cats. While firefighters went to the upstairs of the house to search for the cause of the smoke, other firefighters removed a cage of puppies from the downstairs. Fire Chief Dan Markiewicz said the cats have not been found but are believed to have survived the ordeal and remain in hiding.

About halfway up the stairway to the second floor, Blackwell detected an odor of wood burning and light smoke, according to David Truskowsky, department public information officer and administrative assistant. He said that borough police and EMS personnel were in the home and confirmed the smell of wood burning but had no visible fire. He added that smoke alarms in the home activated, alerting residents who called 911.

Truskowsky said the fire was caused by faulty wiring, and fire damage was contained to a ceiling inside the home along with minor smoke and water damage.

All Mahanoy City fire companies responded along with Mahanoy City EMS and Mahanoy City Police.

Units cleared the scene around 1 p.m.

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