Fairlane lists

upcoming activities

POTTSVILLE — Fairlane Village mall calendar of events includes:

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

• April 2, 9, 16, 23, the Schuylkill Theatre Association will host a “Schuylkill County Junior Idol” competition at center court the first four Tuesdays in April. The youth vocal contest begins with the preliminary round at 6 p.m. April 2. The top 10 performers from this round will move onto the quarter-final round to be held on April 9. From there, the top six will sing in the semifinal round on April 16. The top three contestants will move onto the finals on April 23, where the 2019 Junior Idol will be announced. Along with holding the title of Junior Idol, the winner will be awarded a trophy/plaque and will have the opportunity to perform at up to three public venues scheduled by the Schuylkill Theater Association. For more information, email junioridolsc@gmail.com.

• April 6, the Easter bunny will arrive. Festivities will begin with a magic show at 11 a.m., followed by the bunny’s arrival. Each of the first 100 children to visit the bunny will receive a free ticket to a Reading Fightin’ Phils minor league baseball game.

• April 13, an Early Childhood Fair will take be held featuring games, crafts and prizes in a family-fun event.

• April 19, an American Red Cross blood drive will take place from 1 to 6 p.m. in the storefront next to Super Shoes.

• April 27, the Success with MS Chinese auction will take place in the storefront next to Super Shoes. For more information, call Cindy Carmona 570-573-3454.

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

GSHABA pushes ‘spring sweep’

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — The Greater Schuylkill Haven Area Business Association is touting its April open house “Around Town Spring Sweep” on April 6 focusing on helping to “Keep Schuylkill Haven Beautiful.”

The start is 8 a.m. to Boy Scouts who will meet at St. John’s Church, Dock and Main streets.

The event, according to a flier will also include a “day of Saturday shopping fun” that includes Hope Hill Lavender Farm, 2375 Panther Valley Road; the Walk In Art Center, 220 Parkway and Loafer’s Glory, 25 W. Main St.

More about the business association is available at its Facebook page.

Volunteer fair slated at library

POTTSVILLE — The Pottsville Free Public Library will host a free volunteer fair from 4 to 7 p.m. April 9 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 13 to “help people learn how to make the community stronger by working together,” according to an event release.

Organizations that wish to take part should contact Becki at potref@pottsvillelibrary.org or by phone at 570-622-8880, Ext. 11.

The registration deadline for organizations is April 2. No registration is required for individuals to attend.

Organizations thus far signed up for one or both days include American Red Cross/Tri-County Chapter, Ashland Public Library, Community Volunteers in Action, Friends of the Pottsville Library, Hospice for All Seasons, J.W. Cooper Community Center, Lifelong Learning Center, Pottsville Rotary, RSVP of Schuylkill County, Schuylkill County Historical Society, Schuylkill Women in Crisis and Servants to All.

Chance to win original Wahhab

POTTSVILLE — An event called #WhereIsTheWahhab is set for 6 p.m. May 4 in downtown Pottsville, in which participants will have the chance to own an original Wahhab oil painting created by physician and artist Dr. Abdul Wahhab.

A poster of the oil painting will be displayed April 1-12 at the 116 N. Main St. office of the revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc., April 15-19 at Santander Bank and April 22-May 3 at the Schuylkill County Courthouse.

Tickets may be bought at any of those locations, at the Lager Jogger packet pickup on April 25 and 26, at the Lager Jogger on April 27 or online at www.schuylkillvision.com. Proceeds will benefit Schuylkill County’s VISION.

The drawing will be on May 4 at the Block of Art that draws hundreds of people to locations in downtown Pottsville. Tickets are $10 each and $10.50 online. For more information, call 570-622-6097.

Musical heritage exhibit highlight

POTTSVILLE — An exhibit titled “The Musical Heritage of Schuylkill County” will open with a reception at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Schuylkill County Historical Society, 305 N. Centre St., downtown Pottsville.

Braun School of Music owner Larry Koch, a local jazz musician and historian, will be the keynote speaker.

The exhibit, which features the Third Brigade Band, the Dorsey Brothers, the Jordan Brothers, noted 1980s acts and other attractions, will then be open to the public during the society’s regular hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, according to an event release.

For more information, call 570-622-7540.

Survey aims at image enhancement

POTTSVILLE — The Schuylkill County Visitor’s Bureau has created a survey as part of the process in “creating and enhancing the image of Schuylkill County.”

The purpose of the survey, according to a bureau release, is to gather information that “aids in the development of a brand that builds value for and showcases Schuylkill County’s authenticity as a destination.”

The survey takes about five minutes and can be completed online at www.schuylkill.org or on the bureau’s Facebook page, officials said in the release. Anyone who completes the survey and provides an email address can be entered into a drawing for a $200 gift card, courtesy of the bureau.

The survey will be available until June 30.

MAEA banners variety of offerings

POTTSVILLE — The locally based Northeast Pennsylvania Manufacturers and Employers Association, based at 250 One Norwegian Plaza, offers a variety of discussions, training sessions and classes.

For more information or to register, email crobbins@nepamaea.com or call 570-622-0992. More information also is available at the MAEA website at www.nepamaea.com.

Darlene J. Robbins, MAEA president, recently provided “key recommendations” from the National Association of Manufacturers “Building to Win” initiatives regarding a “blueprint to repair our roads, bridges, rails, airports, ports and waterways and reinvigorate the infrastructure that makes the American Dream possible.” They include:

• Relieve highway bottlenecks and repair America’s crumbling highways and bridges.

• Create a reliable, user-based, long-term funding stream so users can have the safe, efficient highways needed.

• Accelerate the implementation of NextGen air traffic management technology and upgrade our runways and airports to world-class standards.

• Take an expedited approach to deepen ports, upgrade aging locks and enhance intermodal connections by spending the balance in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund.

• Eliminate the maintenance backlog for public transit, commuter rail and passenger rail.

• Promote regulatory and fiscal policies that incentivize continued record levels of private capital reinvestment in our railroads.

• Create an independent, bipartisan transportation commission to spark a policy discussion and oversee a national strategic plan for investments.

• Streamline regulations to reduce the cost of delayed infrastructure.

• Promote new energy infrastructure investments as a means of improving U.S. infrastructure’s resilience to climate change.

• Robustly expand public–private partnerships for drinking and wastewater projects.

• Streamline regulatory processes across multiple agencies and levels of government to foster the use of next generation communications infrastructure such as cutting-edge broadband or 5G technologies.

• MAEA will have a safety roundtable with an Occupational Safety and Health Administration update with presenter Mark L. Stelmack, area director for OSHA, Wilkes-Barre office, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 16 at Top of the 80s restaurant near Hazleton. The cost, which includes lunch, is $40 for MAEA members and $80 for nonmembers.

• MAEA offers Concierge Benefit Services (Telemedicine) through R&B Insurance Services. “Concierge Benefit Services, our Group Plan, would like to review how they can decrease your company healthcare cost,” according to an MAEA flier. For more information call Darlene Robbins at 570-622-0992 or email her at drobbins@nepamaea.com or call Debra Carl of R&B Insurance Services at 570-850-3844 or email debc@rbinsuranceservice.com or Fred Reeder at 570-263-0836 or via email to fredr@rbinsuranceservice.com.

• MAEA also offers recorded webinars with agency instructors creating material to meet specific needs. For more about the service, call Christine Robbins at 570-622-0992 or via email to crobbins@nepamaea.com.

• MAEA offers forklift training classroom instruction, which is running and accepting additional participants, according to a release. The effort is approved for six HRCI HR credits and is a prerequisite to be an experienced forklift operator. The cost is $435 for MAEA members and $870 for nonmembers. Use the aforementioned registration methods. The instructor is Steve Bair, occupational safety specialist for MAEA.

Chamber updates events listings

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.

• Excel training will be held from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday at Schuylkill Technology Center-South Campus, Mar Lin. The instructor will be Lisa Worth of STC with Version 2016, beginner to moderate level.

• An education committee team-building seminar is set for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday with instructor Jamie Barton of Jack Rich Inc. The focus will be developing an effective team, defining actions to address challenges and establishing team structure, responsibilities and processes. The cost is $40 for chamber members and $60 for non-members.

• The Schuylkill Women in Business luncheon is set for 11:45 a.m. Thursday sponsored by New Life Thrift Store, 301 N. Centre St. The cost is $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers.

• A nonprofit committee event called Getting Out of Your Silo — Speed Networking Event, will be held at 11:45 a.m. April 3. Sponsorship opportunities are available, email jgray@schuylkillchamber.com.

Open house set

at cardiac rehab

POTTSVILLE — Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill has scheduled a community open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday for its new cardiac rehabilitation center, which has moved to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill E. Norwegian Street. Light refreshments will be served and registration is not necessary.

In a release, M. Michael Peckman of LVH public affairs and marketing said the center is located at the rear of the main lobby, third floor, at LVH–Schuylkill E. Norwegian Street near the parking garage elevators.

Cardiac rehabilitation is open Monday through Friday by appointment; physician referral is required. For more information, call 570-621-5490.

Police: Man admits setting car on fire

McADOO — A Wilkes-Barre man was arrested by McAdoo police and charged with arson and other crimes after an incident in the unit block of South Kennedy Drive around 4:30 a.m. Saturday.

Police said firefighters were called to the area for a vehicle fire and found a Chevrolet Cavalier engulfed in flames.

Officers blocked off the southbound lanes of Kennedy Drive while firefighters extinguished the fire.

While at the scene, police said, officers saw a man standing across the street who started yelling “I did it” and “it was me.”

As officers approached the man he put his hands up and said, “I did it officer,” police said.

The man was taken into custody and identified as Wilmer Basilio, 22, police said.

Police said Basilio told the McAdoo fire chief that he set the car on fire using cologne and a cigarette lighter and said he did it because “he wanted to.”

The vehicle was destroyed and, police said, Basilio was charged with felony arson-reckless burning or exploding, felony criminal mischief, misdemeanor disorderly conduct and summary dangerous burning.

Basilio was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $20,000 straight cash bail.

Man cited for scattering rubbish

McADOO — McAdoo police charged a borough man after an incident around 2:50 p.m. March 14.

Police said officers were called to the end of North Hancock Street near the floor control for a report of a fire where firefighters were asking for police assistance.

At the scene, police said, officers located a gas can and a pile of wire that was set on fire and still burning.

The fire was extinguished and the items seized.

Police said as a result, Jonathan Burget, 41, later advised officers that he had started the fire.

Police said Burget was cited for scattering rubbish and will have to answer before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua.

Man charged for playing loud music

McADOO — A McAdoo man was charged with disorderly conduct by McAdoo police after an incident on West Sherman Street around 12:05 a.m. Thursday.

Police said Sean Anderson, 41, will have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua.

Police said officers were called to the area for a complaint of loud music and, at the scene, could hear music coming from a residence. Attempts to make contact with the owner were unsuccessful because no one would answer the door, resulting in the citation being filed, police said.

DUI checkpoints, patrols announced

The North Central Regional Sobriety Checkpoint DUI Taskforce announced that sobriety checkpoints and roving DUI patrols will be conducted today on routes 61, 183, 901, 209, 1006, 309, 1008, 443, 895, 125, 25, 924 and 54.

Travelers are reminded to call, toll-free, 1-888-UNDER21, to report underage drinking or to call 911 immediately to report a drunk driver.

ASHLAND — M&M Sandwiches and Salads was going to celebrate its 10th anniversary at 100 W. Centre St. on Sunday.

But before the celebration could begin, owner Thomas Kane stood on West Centre Street during the pre-dawn hours watching flames consume his business as well as several other adjoining homes.

Attempts to reach Kane on Monday to find out the status of his business or if he plans to reopen were unsuccessful.

A Facebook posting at “M&M Sandwich Shop” says the business will continue its Rolling Macaroni business and catering while looking for a temporary location to work in.

The post also said that due to the fire the business has lost all of the information for upcoming events and needs help.

Anyone who had planned events or catering orders is asked to call 570-449-4078 and leave a message.

“We are trying to do our best to fulfill these upcoming orders, if possible,” the Facebook post reads. “We are sorry for any inconvenience, but thankful for the support of our customers.”

The post continues saying, “we are so thankful for the first responders, community and friends for the love we are receiving.”

Ashland Fire Chief Philip Groody said the cause of the blaze remains under investigation and that he is being assisted by the Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal’s division.

State police fire marshal Trooper John F. Burns of the Frackville station said he was at the scene Monday and plans on returning to continue sifting through the charred remains in hopes of finding what sparked the blaze.

“We have a lot of work to do yet,” the fire marshal said.

No determination has been made to the cause of the fire and Burns said the investigation will continue.

At the scene Sunday morning was Trooper Jordan Hoffman, a fire marshal based at the Hamburg station.

Hoffman, like Burns, said that due to the extent of the damage, the job of finding the cause of the fire is much more difficult.

Patty Daley, disaster captain with the American Red Cross Tri-County Chapter, said her organization assisted four families with a total of five people.

Homeless as a result of the fire were Linda Slodysko, at 106 W. Centre St.; Nicholas Kazemka, at 108 W. Centre St.; and Joseph and Mary Rascavage, at 110 W. Centre St.

A home at 112 W. Centre St., occupied by Joseph Lawson, and an unoccupied home at 114 W. Centre St. also sustained damage.

On Monday, the 100 block of West Centre Street was eerily quiet.

The smell of charred wood filled the air, and yellow caution tape and boarded up windows were all that remained of the once busy area.

Sunday’s blaze was the second big fire in Ashland in just over a month.

On Feb. 21, six houses were destroyed and four others damaged by a fire fueled by explosions on Brock Street, leaving 11 people homeless.

Like on West Centre Street early Sunday, firefighters last month knew the extent of the fire even before getting on scene.

Ashland Assistant Fire Chief Charles Orth was only blocks away from Brock Street when that alarm sounded.

Orth said he immediately knew the magnitude of the fire before he even got there.

Like Groody on Sunday, Orth said he immediately called for a second alarm and then shortly after a third alarm.

Both Groody and Orth said calling second and third alarms brings additional apparatus to the scene and, more importantly, additional manpower.

Last month’s fire destroyed homes at 1108, 1110, 1112 and 1114 Brock Street. Efforts by firefighters to save two additional properties at 1116 and 1118 Brock Street were unsuccessful. Homes at 1102 and 1122 Brock St. were also damaged.

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

Deeds

Barry Township — Diane L. and Charles A. Reed, Phillip T. Fetterolf, Judy L. Neimeister and Terry and Cheryl Neumeister to Judy L. Neimeister; 24 Post Road; $1.

Butler Township — Lisa Misstishin, executrix of the Estate of Richard A. Yeager Sr., to Richard A. Yeager Jr. and Andrea G. Krise; 151 Country Club Road, Fountain Springs; $1.

Cressona — James K. and Germaine M. Johns to Krista Smith; 69 Pottsville St.; $77,000.

Hegins Township — Rosemary H. Nguyen, individually and as attorney in fact for Thanh Hoang, to Deibler Brothers Novelty Co.; 1230 W. Main St., Valley View; $52,500.

New Philadelphia — Federal National Mortgage Association to Robert William Bracey; 203 Macomb St.; $4,305.

Porter Township — Tedd R. Johns to Tedd R. and Jill K. Johns; 1603 E. Grand Ave., Reinerton; $1.

Saint Clair — Branch Banking & Trust Co. to Christopher Madera Real Estate Holdings Inc.; property at Elmwood Court and Fernwood Avenue; $5,000.

The Pine Grove Area school board Thursday approved purchasing a new high school ash hoist and hiring a contractor for radon abatement and new flooring in the high school art room.

Directors Dave Frew and Randy Stump were absent.

Bognet Inc., Hazleton, was awarded the ash hoist contract at $129,895. Funds to pay for the new equipment will be taken out of the Capital Projects Fund.

The board approved to contract professional services with Mountain Environmental and Radon Services LLC, Kingston, to oversee the high school art room floor abatement at a cost not to exceed $4,500.

Directors also gave the nod to perform the actual abatement of the floor and re-install new flooring for a total not to exceed $11,000.

In other action, the board approved revising the 2018-19 school calendar to reflect March 4 as a snow day. The last student day will be a half day on Thursday, June 6. This will also be graduation day.

Other business approved included:

• The performance audit of the Pine Grove Area School District conducted by the Commonwealth Department of Auditor General for the time period of July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2017, and the corrective action plan during that period.

• The Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 general operating budget for 2019-20.

• The following positions: Gene Kreitzer, head volleyball coach for the 2019-20 school year, $3,825; Scott Fisher, girls’ softball volunteer; Mike Griffiths, archery coach, $1,710; Paul Felty, archery coach, $1,575; and Erin Frantz and David Mease Jr., archery volunteers, all for the 2019-20 school year.

• Hiring students Karson Felty and Autumn Jacoby as game workers.

• Hiring Kaleen Zerbe as a four-hour paraprofessional I, beginning as soon as all paperwork has been completed, at $11.35 per hour with any applicable benefits in accordance to the AFSCME contract.

• School volunteers Kristie Ludwig and Jocelyn Rehrer.

• The first reading of policy 247 on hazing.

• The first and second reading and final adoption of policy 113.2 on behavior support.

• Adding Katie Aldinger and Colleen Butler to the list of approved van drivers.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

MAHANOY CITY — Two students from Mahanoy Area High School earned gold and silver medals last week at a state conference by an organization that promotes student leadership in addressing societal issues.

The Family, Career and Community Leaders of America held its annual state leadership conference at Seven Springs Resort in Seven Springs from March 20 to 22 that was open to members of chapters in 60 schools across the state. Mahanoy Area’s chapter was represented by junior Haley Jones, 17, of Gilberton, and junior Mackenzie Siliekus, 16, of Barnesville, resulting in Jones receiving a gold medal and Siliekus a silver medal. Of the 415 students participating, Jones finished in third place overall. The top two finalists will go to the FCCLA National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California, from June 30 to July 4. If for some reason one of the top two students cannot attend, Jones could be chosen to go to the national conference, which she attended in 2017.

The theme of the state conference, “Family Strong,” challenged FCCLA members to use their leadership skills to make a difference in their families and communities. Mahanoy Area chapter members returned from the conference with a determination to focus their energies on strengthening families.

The state conference gave members the opportunity to compete in STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) events. Jones competed in the Chapter Service Project Display for her display and presentation called “FCCLA Helps Us Grow.” This event required participants to showcase their chapter’s involvement with community service throughout the year. Jones focused her project on the Adopt-A-Grandparent program, which is run through collaboration with Diakon Community Services at the Mahanoy City Senior Community Center.

Siliekus competed in the Illustrative Talk event. She presented an oral presentation and display called “Open Your Eyes to Violence.” The project discusses recent statistics in violence and violence protection and prevention, and is also part of the National FCCLA Stop The Violence program.

Siliekus became involved with FCCLA in her freshman year when she considering a club to join.

“I saw it on a list of clubs and didn’t know what it was,” she said. “I saw that it sounded pretty cool. So I went to the first meeting and it was like hope. It was a family. Right off the bat it was very welcoming. From that day on, I have been part of it.”

“We’ve grown substantially with 25 on record,” said FCCLA adviser Bethany Pepe, who is the family consumer science teacher.

“We have a lot of younger kids this year, which is great,” Siliekus said. “We’ve been able to bring in seventh- and eighth-graders. I think that’s a really great thing.”

“FCCLA is an organization run by student leaders, and the students participate in national projects,” Pepe said. “We have multiple national projects. Mackenzie participated in the Stop the Violence campaign, where the organization is encouraging our youth to do something different to take a stand against violence and trying to prevent violence and bullying and any kind of gun violence that’s going on lately. We also have ‘Student Body’ as one of our national programs, where we have students do projects to advocate for improving the health and wellness of others, and that ties into our Adopt-A-Grandparent program, which we’re in our third year. That’s a program where Haley earned another gold medal for her presentation on the project. She entered that under the National Program of Community Service.”

Pepe said the FCCLA promotes being involved not only with the school, but also the community.

“We’re very active in being student focused and community focused,” Pepe said. “The organization always has the family at the heart of it. We always try to involve the community and family as much as possible. The students who we have here develop the programs. I basically oversee them and we look at how they tie in to what our focus is. There are also career-building avenues for the students as well. We focus on professionalism, presentation skills, job interviews and applications. We here at Mahanoy Area tend to go with the community service and the proactive response to violence and also improving the education with our younger children. We have a lot of families-first type of projects. What’s great about FCCLA is that we can customize it to the interest of our students”

In addition to the above-mentioned projects, the club is also beginning a Kinderead program, where members will be volunteering to read with kindergarten students to help improve literacy skills and love of reading.

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and addresses important personal, family, work and social issues through family and consumer sciences and related career and technical education programs. The organization has involved over 10 million youth since its founding in 1945. FCCLA is unique among youth organizations because it is the only national in-school organization with the family as its central focus. Participation in national programs and chapter activities helps members become strong leaders in their families, careers and communities. Mahanoy Area has sponsored an FCCLA chapter since 2014.

“A lot of our teens have very big hearts, and we hope that the community understands that these are students who are willing to do jobs and do things to make a difference in our community,” Pepe said.

“Change only comes with compromise,” Siliekus said.

For more information about the national FCCLA, go to fcclainc.org. The state website is pafccla.org.

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

Schuylkill County President Judge William E. Baldwin removed Jerry Labooty from the ballot for the May 21 primary.

Labooty is running for the republican nomination for prothonotary. Baldwin said there were too many signatures invalidated for Labooty.

For details check republicanherald.com and Wednesday’s edition of The Republican-Herald.

ASHLAND — Water customers will see an increase in their bills from the Ashland Area Municipal Authority in the next quarterly billing period.

The authority board discussed the need for a $5 per month ($15 per quarter) increase in the base connection service charge to the water system during Monday’s meeting. The current quarterly flat rate is $45 for 1/2-inch water lines, which would increase to $60 per quarter. This is the service availability charge and does not include the additional charge for usage, which is $6.25 per thousand gallons for the first 25,000 gallons. Above the initial 25,000 gallons, the consumption charge is $3 per thousand gallons.

Alfred Benesch & Co. project manager Jennifer M. Kowalonek provided rate analysis spreadsheet charts with options for a rate increase that will raise approximately $100,000 per year to offset two increases in the authority’s costs in 2019:

• A $90,000 increase in the annual management fee charged by Ashland Borough. When the authority was formed in the early 1990s, an agreement was approved between the borough and authority to have the borough to do maintenance and repairs to the water system, perform billing and collection tasks and other work as part of the day-to-day operation of the water system.

The borough charged $495,000 annually for the services in 2018. In 2019, the annual management fee increased to $585,000.

• The authority is subject to a new permit fee from the state Department of Environmental Protection. The permit fee is levied on all public water suppliers beginning in 2019 and was originally expected to be $10,000 annually, though the fee has been reduced to about $6,500.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency informed DEP about three years ago that the state agency’s water program was so understaffed and underfunded that it was failing to enforce the standards of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

According to a 2016 letter sent by EPA to DEP, not having adequate staff to enforce the standards led to unaddressed drinking water violations almost doubling from 4,298 to 7,922 in the preceding five years. The additional funding received through the new fee will allow DEP to increase its inspectors by 33, and in turn, DEP passed along the additional personnel costs to the water suppliers.

The last water rate increase occurred in 2010.

Meter readings are being conducted for the first-quarter bills to be mailed in April. Those bills will have the current rates. The new rates will be in the second-quarter bills that will be mailed in July.

The current authority service availability flat rates are as follows:

• For 1/2-inch water lines: $45. New rate: $60

• For 3/4-inch water lines: $49. New rate: $64

• For 1-inch water lines: $61. New rate: $76

• For 1.5-inch and above water lines: $77. New rate: $92.

Kowalonek said customers with lines larger than 1/2-inch may see a slightly larger increase in a prorated scale that is yet to be determined.

The water use charges is the same for all size lines at $6.25 per thousand gallons for the first 25,000 gallons, and $3 per thousand gallons above 25,000 gallons usage.

The board members discussed at length the rates analysis provided by Kowalonek, though the consensus through the discussion stayed mainly at the $5 per month increase. The board members also looked at the amount of additional revenue that would be raised with consideration of delinquency rates of 20 percent and 30 percent.

AAMA solicitor S. John Price explained what needs to be done by the board to increase rates.

“We’ll need a resolution to do it,” Price said. “Jennifer and I will get a resolution prepared to be passed at the next meeting. We can’t do this (increase rates) tonight because you need the resolution drafted.”

The resolution will include a detailed list of connection and usage rates.

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

A local representative with the Pennsylvania State Education Association said Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposal to hike the minimum pay of teachers could be good for these instructors and school districts in the long run.

“I think it will force the state to do more to fund public schools,” Steve Cholish, UniServ representative with PSEA, said Tuesday.

Cholish represents Pottsville Area, Tamaqua Area, Saint Clair Area, North Schuylkill, Schuylkill Haven Area, Williams Valley, Tri-Valley, Pine Grove Area and Minersville Area school districts and the Schuylkill Technology Centers.

Wolf proposed to increase the minimum pay for teachers from $18,500 set in 1988 to $45,000 in his budget, which was unveiled in February. State legislators have yet to approve the budget.

State Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-116, Luzerne County, Sen. Judy Schwank, D-11, Berks County, and Rep. Kyle Mullins, D-112, Lackawanna County, Rich Askey, PSEA president and state educators held an 11 a.m. press conference Tuesday at the Capitol Meeting Center, State Capitol Building, Harrisburg, to talk about the effort.

‘Teachers deserve more’

Schwank said the increase could help more than 3,000 educators, and the legislators present agreed about the proposal’s benefit if it is put into law.

“Don’t our teachers deserve more?” Schwank said.

“Some teachers are not paid a family-sustaining wage,”Toohil said.

The average salary for a person with a bachelor’s degree in the state is $47,000, Toohil said.

Mullins said the increase can “attract and retain the best and brightest to teach our students.”

Cholish said the potential hike is due.

“I think this is a great thing for new teachers and experienced teachers,” he said.

He said no teachers in Schuylkill County make the minimum starting rate.

“The average starting salary in the county is $38,000,” Cholish said.

He said the state recognizes the need for change. With the proposed increase if it goes into law, Cholish said increases for other teachers might not be far behind.

“In the long term, yes, we will obviously be trying to bargain for higher salaries,” he said.

He didn’t think it would impact collective bargaining in the short term, though.

Mixed reactions

Saint Clair Area Superintendent Sarah Yoder said the school district and the teachers agreed to a new five-year contract earlier this month.

She said there are 14 teachers who are scheduled to make less than $45,000 for the 2019-20 school year. For the 2019-20 school year, the starting salary for a teacher with a bachelor’s degree but no experience is $35,000, up from the current $33,000.

“I’m sure the state would give us guidance on that,” Yoder said about how to address the increase.

Brian Manning, business manager with the Pottsville Area School District, said there are nine teachers who make less than $45,000. Those teachers make $40,500, the starting rate for a teacher with a bachelor’s degree and no experience.

He said the higher salary creates a “financial challenge.”

“How do you make it fair across the board?” he said of the different salary amounts.

The state might have to step in and provide more money to districts to meet obligations associated with increases.

“This will create a larger need for additional state funding,” Manning said.

He said 33 percent of the school district budget is from basic education funding, amounting to $13.4 million.

Teachers react

Kim Martin, 47, a social studies teacher in the Saint Clair Area School District, has been teaching for 26 years.

“I really do think it’s a calling,” she said.

Martin, a Saint Clair Area graduate, and a teacher from the Tamaqua Area School District attended the press conference Tuesday but did not speak.

Martin makes $65,000 a year and has a master’s degree. Still, when she started she made $19,500, but there wasn’t a time when she thought about leaving the profession. She did work a second job because had goals she wanted to achieve financially.

“It wasn’t about the money,” she said, adding that she loves what she does.

Martin also agreed $45,000 is a good starting point.

“It’s definitely a significant factor for people going into the profession or staying there,” she said.

She was optimistic some compromise can be reached

“We need to do something to have these teachers stay in teaching,” Martin said.

While in Harrisburg, the Schuylkill County teachers met with state Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, Rush Township. Martin said Argall seemed receptive to listening to what Wolf has to say.

“The devil is always in the details. I’m willing to listen to the governor’s suggestions,” Argall said.

Having capable teachers in the county and state is important for everyone, he said.

Argall said Wolf has to decide what his priorities are in the budget.

“If the governor insists on this proposal, he’s got a good chance of something passing,” he said.

Argall said he was surprised the $18,500 figure is in effect and said an increase is warranted.

“The old number is hopelessly outdated,” he said, adding that he didn’t have an amount in mind of how much the minimum rate should increase.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

POTTSVILLE — One less candidate is on the ballot for prothonotary in Schuylkill County, as a judge on Tuesday ordered him removed due to defects in his nominating petitions.

Jerry Labooty, 55, of Branch Township, did not present enough valid signatures on his nominating petitions, President Judge William E. Baldwin ruled in directing Labooty’s name to be removed from the Republican ballot in the May 21 primary election.

“Your name won’t be on the ballot,” Baldwin told Labooty at the end of the hearing.

Two other incumbents, Register of Wills Theresa Santai Gaffney and Clerk of Courts Maria T. Casey, withdrew challenges to petitions filed by their primary opponents.

Baldwin struck 38 of the 278 names on Labooty’s petitions, leaving the candidate 10 short of the 250 valid signatures required by state law.

Invalid signatures included ones Baldwin determined to be from registered Democrats and Independents, citizens who are not registered to vote at all and people who gave an incorrect address.

Labooty has been the owner and executive chef of the Greystone Restaurant, Pottsville, for 18 years. He declared his candidacy for prothonotary on Feb. 11, touting his experience as a businessman and his community interests as his qualifications.

After the hearing, Labooty said the court case might be finished but the race is not.

“We’re far from over,” he said. “Technically, we’ve been struck from the ballot by 10 signatures.”

Labooty said he will run a write-in campaign for the GOP nomination and could run as an independent in the fall.

Claims reviewed

Tower City Mayor Dan Daub had challenged Labooty’s petitions, and laid out his claims at Tuesday’s hearing.

Frannie Brennan, director of the county Election Bureau, testified about what she found when reviewing Daub’s claims.

“I have no one” at the given address, Brennan said about one challenge. Baldwin promptly ordered that name stricken.

Daub also pointed out problems on his own.

“We have the same gentleman sign petition number 5” who signed petition number 7, he told Baldwin while showing the judge both petitions.

“They both have to be stricken,” Baldwin ruled.

Baldwin did not always rule for Daub, noting that he could not raise new challenges that he had not raised in his own petition.

“You can’t raise it now,” the judge told Daub. “You’re not allowed to do that.”

However, Baldwin did agree with 38 of the challenges, enough to compel him to remove Labooty from the ballot.

Daub said the removal was mandatory and in no way unfair.

“I am pleased that the judge agreed with my determination that Mr. Labooty’s petitions were faulty and lacked the proper amount of signatures to appear on the Republican Primary Election ballot this May,” he said. “A Primary Election is ultimately a competition and making sure that all candidates follow the rules and are properly qualified to appear on the ballot is an important check and balance on our system.”

Daub said the failure to submit proper petitions reflects on Labooty’s qualifications for the position of prothonotary.

“We are all running for the office of prothonotary, where our office will handle very detailed and important documents that directly impact the lives of the people involved in litigation. It is, therefore, especially important that our candidates take all aspects of the job seriously and follow the rules,” he said. “Unfortunately, in this case for Mr. Labooty, he and his team failed in their efforts to do that.”

Vow to investigate

Meanwhile, Labooty said he will do a little investigating of his own to see if Daub used his influence as party chairman to gain access to voting records that generally are not available to the public.

“Within the coming weeks, we’ll know if there are any improprieties,” he said, although he acknowledged he did not have any such information at this time that he is willing to reveal.

The withdrawal of the other two petitions means Casey and Gaffney each will receive a primary challenge, Casey from Melissa Santai Clarke and Gaffney from Frank J. DiMarco.

DiMarco’s lawyer, Christine A. Holman, Tamaqua, said that challenge to her client’s petition had no merit.

“Mr. DiMarco’s petitions were done correctly,” she said, adding that the challenge was “sloppy” and “baseless.”

DiMarco said the result was just.

“It’s a great day for the people of Schuylkill County because the election will be decided by the voters and not in a courtroom,” he said. “I look forward to a healthy election.”

Gaffney said she decided to withdraw her challenge because of changes in the election law removed a key issue about the validity of the signatures. She said she is eager for the campaign and believes she has a good enough record to be re-elected.

“We all learned lessons today,” she said. “I welcome the challenge.”

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

ELIZABETHVILLE — Most customers leave with a smile and skip in their step, but some leave in tears.

That’s okay with Lisa Ditty, co-founder and president of the Lykens Valley Children’s Museum.

“It’s pretty common to have kids cry when their parents say it’s time to leave,” she said.

The interactive play and learning museum opened at 33 S. Market St. in October, and just received its letter for 501(c)3, nonprofit status Monday.

A peek inside reveals a large, open floor plan, with an interactive play area where children can explore a grocery store, post office, doctor’s office, dress-up area, wood working shop and car wash.

Another area features STEM-related challenges and hands-on, manipulative games, focusing on science, technology, engineering and math. Every few months, the main exhibit theme changes, and the related challenges go along with that theme.

“Let’s Explore the Dinosaurs,” is the theme for March and April.

Nicole Kibler brought her 4-year-old son, Eli Kibler-Milburn, and his grandmother, Karen Kibler, all of Wiconisco, to the museum for the first time Tuesday.

Eli tinkered, often with the tip of his tongue clenched between his lips, as he built a toy Tyrannosaurus Rex using a play screwdriver and screws.

“He’s into dinosaurs, so that was one of the main reasons we came,” she said. “There’s so much more here. It’s amazing. There’s nothing like this in the area, the price is affordable and there’s open space for them to explore,” Nicole Kibler, who’s also a pre-K teacher at Downey Elementary in Harrisburg, said.

“It’s nice and they have a lot of activities. You could spend the whole day here,” added Eli’s grandmother.

Eli said he had plans at home and wanted to build a “big robot” and a “flying car” one day.

Melissa Graver, of Tower City, joined her two grandchildren, Kaydence Leffler and Carson Leffler, both 5, at the STEM stations Tuesday. The two children are cousins, and also reside in Tower City.

“It’s the first time we’ve been here, but we’ll be back,” Graver said. “They love all this hands-on stuff.”

Graver said she enjoys going to children’s museums with her grandchildren and has also visited sites in Bloomsburg and Harrisburg.

Children could create a prehistoric movie at the stop motion animation station, using dinosaur figures and a landscape backdrop. Play dough, Legos and puzzles with a dinosaur theme were also available. A wooden floor throughout the museum offers a mini roadway where visitors can ride tricycles and toy vehicles. They can also run toy trains on a remote controlled track.

Ditty, of Waynesboro, co-founded the museum with Brynne Manning, of Millersburg. Ditty’s husband, Andrew, was originally from Elizabethville. He and Brynne’s husband, Andy, were both Upper Dauphin Area High School graduates.

Lisa Ditty retired from the Navy in 2017, and the couple has two children, Nicholas, 4, and Anna, 2. Andrew Ditty is an eighth-grade history teacher at Fairfield Middle School.

Before launching the museum, the founders conducted an online survey to see what interested the community. Ditty said they also contacted Upper Dauphin Area School District Superintendent Evan Williams and interviewed area educators and parents for input. The museum has a mobile component which can offer on-site activities for area schools or community organizations.

LVCM operates through donations and has a board of directors, including three teachers from the Upper Dauphin and Williams Valley school districts, according to Ditty. Volunteers, who must have their clearances, are also needed to staff the museum.

Admission is $5 per person. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Admission for children under age 2 is free. A family fun punch pass card is available, making every 11th visit free. The card is punched for each person, not just one punch for each family, Ditty said.

Birthday parties and small group packages are also available.

Operation times for the museum vary, depending on volunteer staff availability. The museum and the “Let’s Explore Dinosaurs” exhibit will be open from 2 to 7 p.m. April 9, 11, 23 and 25; and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 10, 13, 24 and 27.

The “Get Out and Learn” exhibit launches in May. The museum will be open from 2 to 7 p.m. May 7, 9, 21 and 23; and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 8, 11, 22 and 25. A space-themed exhibit is coming this summer.

For more information, visit the museum’s Facebook page, or to make a donation or volunteer, email lykensvalleychildrensmuseum@gmail.com.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

Girardville

The Girardville Ambulance subscription drive is underway. The new expiration date is May 31. Anyone who did not receive an envelope or who has questions should call 570-205-6205.

Lansford

The Panther Valley Public Library has preschool story hour beginning at 10 a.m. every Tuesday, open to children ages 3-5. A story, craft and snack are part of the activities. The program will run until May 14. For more information, call the library at 570-645-3780.

McAdoo

The Southside Community Partnership is sponsoring the 2019 Hometown Hero Banner Project. Each banner, according to a release, will be unique and honor a specific soldier from McAdoo, Kline Township or Tresckow. Banners will include a photo, branch and era of service and hometown. Space for banners in each municipality is limited, so the banners will be available on a first-come basis. The effort, organizers said in the release, is non-political and non-partisan … “purely a living memorial to those area soldiers who served the country.” Cost for a banner is $240; banners will be on display for three years. The sponsor’s name will be displayed at the bottom. The final date to order is April 12. For an application or more information, call Marion at 570-929-1628.

Minersville

During Lent, St. Michael the Archangel’s Society of St. Vincent de Paul is inviting people to a free meal “consisting of simple but delicious soup and bread supper” followed by Stations of the Cross in the Parish Center Cafeteria on April 5. The supper will be at 5 p.m. followed by stations at 6 p.m. People should enter the site on Lewis Street. Parking is at the back of the building.

Orwigsburg

The Orwigsburg Area Free Public Library is having an April calendar fundraiser, 30 chances for $5. Tickets are being sold now. Every day, according to a library release, a ticket will be pulled and a designated prize of the day won. Proceeds will benefit the library’s children’s summer reading programs. For more information, call 570-366-1638.

Pottsville

Schuylkill Indivisible, a “progressive values-based group,” according to a release, will meet at 6:30 p.m. April 8 at the Pottsville Zone sports bar. For more information, email Schuylkill.indivisible@gmail.com.

Ringtown

Knights of Columbus Council 16072, Ringtown/Sheppton, will have a bleenie sale beginning at 11 a.m. April 5 at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, Ringtown. All proceeds will be used for the council’s charitable purposes throughout the year. Bleenies are $1 each or $10 per dozen. All are welcome.

Saint Clair

St. Clare of Assisi Roman Catholic Parish will host an all-you-can-eat buffet from 8 to 11:30 a.m. April 7 at Immaculate Conception Social Hall, Caroline Avenue. The cost is $7 for adults and $3 for children under 8. Takeouts will be available. For more information, call 570-617-3686.

Schuylkill Haven

The Schuylkill Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance’s Silver Ribbon Campaign 2019 is underway with Silver Ribbon Month to be commemorated in May in Schuylkill County. SEAPA Inc. has been working since 2004 “to bring the crime of elder abuse in our county to the forefront through education, public awareness and work with local law enforcement in prosecuting the perpetrators of such crimes,” according to a press release. Businesses, churches, organizations, families and individuals “are encouraged to display silver ribbon to demonstrate their support of a safe Schuylkill County for all citizens,” organizers said in the release. Large display ribbons are available at $10 per ribbon until April 19. Lapel ribbons are available free. To order ribbons or for more information, call Anna Zuratt at 570-628-6950 or Lori Michael at 570-385-8450. Checks may be made payable to SEAPA Inc. and forwarded to Lori’s Angels, c/o SEAPA, 25 W. Main St. Suite 1, Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972.

Deeds

Shenandoah — Suzanna Drake, executrix under the Last Will & Testament of Raymond Witcoski, to Wesley Kacilowicz; 110 W. Penn St.; $3,000.

Suzanna Drake, executrix under the Last Will & Testament of Raymond Witcoski, to Wesley Kacilowicz; property on South Grant Street; $3,000.

Suzanna Drake, executrix under the Last Will & Testament of Raymond Witcoski, to Wesley Kacilowicz; 27 S. Catherine St.; $1,000.

Suzanna Drake, executrix under the Last Will & Testament of Raymond Witcoski, to Wesley Kacilowicz; 500-502 W. Poplar St.; $1,000.

Suzanna Drake, executrix under the Last Will & Testament of Raymond Witcoski, to Wesley Kacilowicz; property at West Poplar and South Catherine streets; $500.

Miguel Uday to Wesley Kacilowicz; property at Coal and Jardin streets; $100.

South Manheim Township — Christine P. Sobeck and Theresa M. Tyson to Christine P. Sobeck and Theresa M. Tyson; 2462 Papoose Cove, Lake Wynonah; $1.

Tremont — Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to Wells Fargo Bank NA; 111 Vaux Ave.; $1.

Wells Fargo Bank NA to Beth Ann Geppert; 111 Vaux Ave.; $11,500.

Upper Mahantongo Township — U.S. Bank NA to Upper Mahantongo Township; 134 Main St., Klingerstown; $40,000.

West Mahanoy Township — Eridania Perez to Felix and Eldri Zorrilla; 258 Virginia Ave., Shenandoah Heights; $35,000.

West Penn Township — Brian A. Melochick and Jessica Lee Melochick to Brian A. Melochick; 53 Kepners Road; $1.

POTTSVILLE — Schuylkill County Clerk of Courts Maria T. Casey said Tuesday at a press conference that Controller Christy Joy was the only official who believed the employees in what is now her office when they complained that their boss was taking the taxpayers’ money.

She suspects that if they had been men, people would have taken their statements about Stephen M. Lukach Jr. more seriously and the county would have saved thousands of dollars.

“Some time in 2012, employees in my office started keeping a journal,” Casey said. “If their complaints had been heeded, a lot of this would have not occurred.

“People in Christy’s office heeded them.”

The “this” to which Casey referred was the theft by Lukach of thousands of dollars — the exact amount is not yet known, although Joy displayed a copy of a $116,537.58 money order made out to Lukach — from various accounts in the clerk of courts office, which he headed for more than two decades.

‘Speak for ... taxpayers’

Lukach, of Lake Hauto, pleaded guilty on Friday in U.S. District Court in Scranton to one count each of mail fraud and falsification of records.

He could go to prison for 40 years, spend an additional six years on supervised release after leaving prison and pay $500,000 in fines under the terms of his plea, although the sentence he will receive is up to U.S. District Judge Robert D. Mariani, who is presiding over the case.

Casey and Joy each said they want to attend Lukach’s sentencing to speak for the victims, the taxpayers of Schuylkill County.

“We definitely want to say something on behalf of the taxpayers,” Casey said.

Prosecutors allege that in 2013-14, Joy’s office started an in-depth examination of Lukach’s records and discovered misappropriation of money, thereby triggering an FBI investigation.

They said Lukach stole money from various accounts under his control and used it for personal expenses for himself and at least one family member.

“It was his own private piggy bank,” Casey said.

Those expenses included meals, car payments and other personal spending in addition to the family member’s credit card bill, according to prosecutors.

“There was not much that he did not have the taxpayers pay for,” Casey said.

Furthermore, while the audit was being conducted, Lukach tried to interfere with it by stealing mail that was sent to banks, forging records and sending the fake bank records to the controller’s office to try to conceal his thefts, prosecutors said.

Voices eventually heard

Casey said there still is an “old boys network” at the courthouse, a situation she wants to end.

She said the women who now work for her noticed that Lukach would take large amounts of cash that came in and take it to his office.

“I wish they had been listened to,” she said.

Joy said he knew this was going to be a problem in 2013.

“They were having issues with the audit,” he said. “So were we. We found out there were at least 16 (bank accounts).”

He said one of those accounts, with Wells Fargo Bank, provided conclusive evidence of wrongdoing.

“You could see that there was still whiteout” on some of the checks, he said.

One of those checks were made out to Avenues, which operates the canteen in the courthouse basement, although the whiteout version showed Schuylkill County Staples as the payee.

Casey said Joy also found discrepancies in the checks provided by Lukach and the checks provided by the banks.

“He changed the payees,” Ashley Graver, an accountant and auditor in Joy’s office, said.

Graver said Lukach never was forthcoming with information.

“I guess he thought I wasn’t intelligent enough” to pick up on that, Graver, who had worked in the state auditor general’s office, said. “During our audit, we found things that weren’t typical.”

Joy said he spurred the investigation after taking office. His action followed a report from state Auditor General Jack Wagner that found problems with inadequate internal controls in Lukach’s office concerning the bank account, receipts and manual receipts.

“When I became controller, I took an assessment of what we needed to do,” he said. “We took a look at all the money.”

Graver said Lukach told her she could not look at some of the money because it was to go to Harrisburg.

“ ‘That’s state money. You don’t look at that’,” was what he told her, Graver said.

Joy said Lukach used the automation account, which Casey said is to be used solely for improving the automation of the office, to pay for his car, parties and meals.

“Subtlety was not a hallmark of Steve’s,” Casey said.

New checks in place

Now, Casey said, there is no chance of a repeat of Lukach’s criminal activity.

“Two people count (money). Everything is logged in. There’s a monthly reconciliation,” she said. The money then goes to the office of Treasurer Linda L. Marchalk, from which personnel from the office of Sheriff Joseph G. Groody take it to the bank, according to Casey.

“The sheriff has a log book,” Graver said.

Joy also said Casey cannot create money on her own.

“She doesn’t have a checkbook,” Joy said of Casey.”There are full checks and balances.”

Casey emphasized that the women who were making the complaints all were Democrats like Lukach.

“It never was about the fact that he was a Democrat,” Casey, a Republican, said.

Graver agreed.

“This wasn’t just another attack on a row officer,” she said. “The facts are the facts.”

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

ASHLAND — The Borough of Ashland was awarded a $500,000 state grant for safety improvements involving sidewalk replacement and a new traffic light in the downtown business district.

The announcement about the Commonwealth Financing Authority Multimodel Transportation Fund program award was made Tuesday by the offices of state Rep. Neal P. Goodman, D-123, and state Sen. David G. Argall, R-29.

“I want to congratulate Ashland officials, particularly council President Ann Marie Groody, for putting together such a strong application,” Goodman said. “This is a significant funding award.”

“I commend Ashland borough’s leaders for seeking out support and receiving this substantial grant,” Argall added. “We are pleased to see the hard work of municipal leaders recognized by the state to make much needed changes for its downtown.”

Some of the funds from the competitive grant will be used to replace the aging traffic light at Ninth Street with a modern one that has pedestrian controls. Groody said this upgrade will make it safer for seniors and people with disabilities who live at the Ashland Hi-Rise to cross the busy street, which is routes 61 and 54.

The grant funds will also replace three blocks of deteriorated sidewalk between Sixth and Ninth streets, along with 1,270 linear feet of curbing. In addition, 14 ramps will be brought up to Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

The Multimodal Transportation Fund provides grants to encourage economic development and ensure that a safe and reliable system of transportation is available to the residents of the commonwealth.

Borough Manager Raymond Jones Jr. said the borough has not received the official notice from CFA that Ashland was successful.

“I had heard that it was going to be released at the CFA meeting,” Jones said.

Groody said the project will continue the improvements to the downtown, started in previous years.

The downtown improvements Groody referred to are the three phases of the Ashland Streetscape program. One phase focused on sidewalk and landscaping work on both sides of Centre Street from Second to Fourth streets.

The Phase III Streetscape project included both sides of the 400 and 500 blocks of Centre Street and involved replacing sidewalks and curb cuts (for handicapped accessibility) and removed two trees, similar to the work done on the 200 and 300 blocks of Centre Street. Phase III was completed in 2013.

“I’m not sure exactly sure what will be covered because our total budget for the work was about $600,000,” he said.

The sidewalk improvements will be on both sides of Centre Street, though there are some sections that are in good shape.

“There are probably a few sections that won’t need it, such as in front of the bank, which is relatively new,” Jones said. “Definitely all of the corners must be done to be ADA compliant. If there is anything else, we could move farther up Ninth Street.”

Jones said once the borough is officially notified, the project can begin moving forward.

“We’ll get the bids out fairly quickly. I know there will be some preliminary engineering,” Jones said. “There is a lot of things that go into a sidewalk project on the engineering part.”

Groody said, “It’s awesome that Ashland can continue work started previously and to improve our Centre Street.”

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

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — The fifth annual YEA! Investor Panel event on Tuesday evening showed everyone that business ideas from young minds can be fresh, innovative and diverse.

The event was held at Penn State Schuylkill with people filling the conference room in the Health and Wellness Center. There were 15 start-up business ideas scheduled to be presented by 21 students from a number of county school districts, with one unable to attend.

There were three award categories for the students in YEA! making presentations, with the Investor Awards providing startup money from a pool of $9,000.

The top Investor Award winner was Pottsville Area School District student Samantha Mihoda, owner of Bossy B. Cosmetics, a vegan and cruelty free cosmetic company. She was thrilled with the $1,000 award to use in developing her company.

“I didn’t think I was going to get that much,” Mihoda said. “I’m just really happy and can’t wait to do more with my business and grow it.”

Mihoda is developing her line of cosmetics to be vegan, which is the products do not contain any animal or animal-derived ingredients, whild cruelty-free means the products have not been tested on animals. The company slogan is “Stay Determined. Stay Beautiful. Stay Bossy.”

There was also a “People Choice Award,” which went to Blue Mountain School District student Bryce McDonald and his company Hockey Nation.

After the students finished their presentations and the investor panel judges left the room to determine the monetary awards, the public had the opportunity to vote on their favorite business idea on the Facebook pages of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce or YEA!.

The third award was the Saunders Scholarship winner, which went to Gillingham Charter School student Kaiah Heisler and his company Heisler’s Coal Cracker Creamery, which has started making smoking cheese to be sold in half-pound blocks. Heisler will travel to Rochester University in New York and will compete with other YEA! winners. The top eight finalists will compete for the national title of 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year and a scholarship to the university.

Sponsored by the Schuylkill chamber and the Schuylkill Chamber Foundation, YEA! is a program for middle and high school students to gain knowledge and experience in creating and operating a business. Started in 2004 at the national level, the YEA! program began in the county in 2014.

The judging took a bit longer than usual, with Schuylkill chamber President/CEO Robert S. Carl Jr. crediting the judges on the difficult task they had.

“It’s a very difficult task when you have so many great presentations,” Carl said before announcing all the winners.

YEA! program manager Mary Jo Moss said all presenters received a monetary award, but there is much more to being part of the program.

“You’re learning every day. You got up here with your presentations and they were incredible,” Moss said.

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

James R. Ferrier

ORWIGSBURG — A Berks County man is headed to Schuylkill County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing on Monday on two charges resulting from an alleged break-in in September 2017 at an Orwigsburg business.

Jeffrey M. Wahl, 34, last known address of 200 Limekiln Road, Reading, faces charges of burglary and criminal mischief, each of which Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound over for court after Wahl waived his right to the hearing. Prosecutors withdrew charges of criminal trespass and attempted theft.

State police at Schuylkill Haven alleged Wahl broke into Shakey’s Gun Shop, 202 E. Market St., at 2:21 a.m. Sept. 21, 2017, by breaking the glass front door with a metal pipe. Once inside, police said, Wahl tried to steal numerous guns.

However, he got tangled in a cable attached to the long guns, according to police. Wahl tried to free the long guns, but could not, and left the scene by jumping back through the front door and running east on Market Street, police said.

Police said testing of evidence by the state police laboratory at Greensburg showed that Wahl had left his DNA at the scene.

Wahl remains in prison in lieu of $10,000 straight cash bail.

Other defendants whose cases Ferrier considered on Monday, the charges against each one and the judge’s dispositions of the matters included the following:

Robert M. Cook, 66, of 24 S. White St., Shenandoah; driving under the influence, disregarding traffic lane, no rear lights and operating vehicle without valid inspection; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges of disregarding traffic lane and no rear lights withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Alyssa Dougherty, 21, of 352 Bear Creek Road, Schuylkill Haven; two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Jose A. De La Cruz Romero, 35, of 78 N. Berne St., Schuylkill Haven; receiving stolen property; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Tracey L. Schwalm, 29, of Tower City; DUI and driving unregistered vehicle; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Mary V. Weiser, 27, of 484 W. Columbia St., Schuylkill Haven; endangering the welfare of children and failure to use safety restraints; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Defendants whose cases Ferrier considered on March 19, the charges against each of them and the judge’s dispositions of the matters included the following:

Jodi A. Gennow, 54, of 219 N. George St., Pottsville; two counts each of materially false written statement and false statement under penalty; charges held for court after preliminary hearing that the defendant did not attend. Ferrier asked the court to issue a bench warrant for Gennow.

David C. Rickard, 19, of 474 W. Columbia St., Schuylkill Haven; theft and receiving stolen property; charges held for court after preliminary hearing that the defendant did not attend. Ferrier asked the court to issue a bench warrant for Rickard.

(Staff writer Peter E. Bortner compiled this report)

POTTSVILLE — Voters in two Schuylkill County municipalities will be casting their ballots in different locations after the Election Board decided on Wednesday to move their polling places.

Mechanicsville and Reilly Township will have their polling places moved, with Mechanicsville voters casting their ballots at borough hall, 918 First St., and Reilly voters now going to Newtown Volunteer Fire Company, 28 Wood St., Newtown.

Previously, voters in those municipalities had cast their ballots at Womer’s, 921 Pottsville St. (the former Mechanicsville Fire Company), and Anne’s Bakery, 158 Main St., Branchdale, respectively.

Both new sites are handicap accessible, Election Bureau Director Frannie Brennan said.

Also, the board, which this year is comprised of Chairman Robert S. Carl Jr., Vice Chairman Jeanne Porter and Mark J. Scarbinsky, approved placing on the May 21 Primary Election ballot in Mahanoy City the question of the whether to elect a seven-member government study commission to study the possibility of adopting a home rule charter for the borough. The question will appear on ballots only in Mahanoy City.

“I think this is the first one to be done in Schuylkill County for home rule,” Brennan said.

She said that all voters, not just Republicans and Democrats, will be eligible to vote yes or no on that question.

“For Mahanoy City, there will be a Democratic and a Republican ballot, and then a separate ballot with only this question on it,” she said.

The ballot will contain the names of the six people who have filed petitions to be on it, Brennan said. The seventh member will have to be a write-in candidate, she said.

The question asks if voters want to elect the commission to study the existing form of government, consider the advisability of adopting a home rule charter and, if advisable, to draft and recommend such a charter.

Also, the board voted to appoint 12 rovers for the primary. They will travel to polling places where needed on Primary Election Day, and before it as needed for the purpose of logistics and accuracy.

Those appointed by the board include Mike Botto, Ron Coleman, Carol Cooney-Syzdek, Tony Downey, Georgene Fedoriska, Jim Gustas, Joe Matz, Jean Quirk, Janet Terefencko, Daniel Wachter, Paula Warmkessel and Annetta Whitecavage. Each will be paid $10 per hour and $58 per mile.

Although the commissioners are usually the members of the board, they cannot be this year because they will appear on the ballot.

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

The exact wording of the ballot question for Mahanoy City voters only in the May 21 Primary Election is as follows.

* Shall a government study commission of seven (7) members be elected to study the existing form of government of the Borough of Mahanoy City, to consider the advisability of the adoption of a home rule charter; and if advisable, to draft and to recommend a home rule charter?

Joshua M. Lukach was sentenced to life in prison without parole Wednesday for murdering Pottsville businessman John Brock.

“Those actions were vicious, brutal, and horrific,” County Common Pleas Judge Jacqueline L. Russell said in imposing the mandatory penalty for second degree murder. “It was just sheer brutality. He was tortured.”

Lukach, 22, of New Philadelphia, was found guilty March 8 of second-degree murder, burglary, criminal trespass and access device fraud in connection with the August 2015 death of Brock. The jury of seven men and five women deliberated almost four hours. The jury found him not guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy, robbery and possessing instrument of crime. Prosecutors withdrew charges of theft and receiving stolen property.

According to Pottsville police, Lukach, along with Shavinskin N. Thomas, 25, of Pottsville, murdered Brock in the early morning hours of Aug. 6, 2015, while burglarizing his 14 S. 12th St. home. Police said the pair cut, slashed and stabbed Brock in his bedroom before leaving with keys and cards.

Thomas, who testified against Lukach, earlier pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and related crimes. He is serving his sentence of 27 to 60 years at State Correctional Institution/Mahanoy.

For further details, read Friday’s edition of The Republican-Herald.

Woman arrested for trespassing

POTTSVILLE — A woman was jailed after Pottsville police were called to 1023 W. Howard Ave. for a trespassing complaint around 9:20 a.m. Sunday.

Police said the owner of the property told officers that she was notified the evening before by a neighbor that lights had been on inside the vacant home.

The woman said that when she arrived Sunday she found a broken side door window.

Police said a subsequent investigation by officers revealed that Tara Peletsky, 35, whose last known address was in Williamstown, had been living in the home for about a week without permission from the owner.

Peletsky also admitted to forcing her way into the home and damaging a front window prior to getting in through the side door, police said.

The woman was taken into custody and charged by Patrolman Grant Yoder with criminal trespass, criminal mischief, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possessing instruments of crime.

Peletsky was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison after being unable to post $5,000 bail, police said.

Teenagers found with marijuana

TAMAQUA — Three Tamaqua juveniles will be cited by Tamaqua police after officers found them in possession of marijuana around 4:50 p.m. Thursday.

Police said the teens, boys ages 15 and 16 and a 15-year-old girl, were inside a vehicle at 450 Biddle St., near the baseball field, where they were rolling a marijuana blunt.

Police said officers followed each of the teens to their homes, informed their parents and seized the marijuana as evidence.

Man charged

with assault

TAMAQUA — A Tamaqua man was jailed after being arrested by Tamaqua police and charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend Sunday night.

Police said Pedro Grullon Lora, 39, was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, on charges of simple assault, harassment and strangulation. He was then committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $15,000 bail, police said.

Police said Lora’s ex-girlfriend reported the man was drunk when he choked, kicked and hit her several times while the two were inside 25 Centre St.

The woman also reported that Lora pulled her hair and left marks on her throat and neck, as well as bruising and a wound on her left leg, police said.

Lora will now have to answer to the charges against him before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua.

Mahanoy City man faces drug charges

MAHANOY CITY — Mahanoy City police charged a borough man after an incident at his 9 E. Pine St. home around 3:15 p.m. Monday.

Police said Douglas Creamer, 26, was charged with four misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and one misdemeanor count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and making repairs to or selling offensive weapons.

Police said officers were called to the home to assist state parole agents who had an active warrant for Creamer for a parole violation.

Officers and agents entered the home and took Creamer into custody and while inside, saw numerous items of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia in plain view.

A consent search was conducted and turned up heroin, methamphetamine, several types of pills, a pair of brass knuckles and numerous items of drug paraphernalia including a scale, baggies and syringes.

Creamer will have to answer to the charges against him before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

Motorcyclist cited for crash

HEGINS — Hegins Township police investigated a crash that happened around 4:30 p.m. March 14.

Police said Kenneth Schlegel, 54, of Lykens, was driving a Suzuki motorcycle south in the 300 block of North Goodspring Road when he failed to negotiate a left curve and drove onto the berm.

The motorcycle continued on the berm until it struck a curb on a private driveway.

As a result of the crash, police said Schlegel was cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic and drivers required to be licensed.

Pitman woman cited for crash

HEGINS — A two-vehicle crash that happened around 6 p.m. March 21 was investigated by Hegins Township police.

Police said Melissa Wertz, 38, of Pitman, was traveling east on East Main Street when she turned left to travel north on North Goodspring Road and struck another vehicle that was stopped on North Good Spring Road at the East Main Street intersection.

Police said that as result of the crash, Wertz was cited for required position and method of turning.

Frackville man cited at checkpoint

PATTERSONVILLE — A Frackville man was cited by state police at Frackville during a regulatory checkpoint on Route 924 in West Mahanoy Township around 1 p.m. March 19.

Police said George Bevan, 63, entered the checkpoint while driving a vehicle with an altered inspection sticker.

Bevan was charged with altered, forged or counterfeit documents, police said.