Jennifer Yuengling

Title: vice president of operations

Age: 47

Education: Bachelor of Science in business administration, Bucknell University; M.Ed in counseling psychology, Lehigh University; diploma certificate, Siebel Institute of Brewing Technology, Chicago, Illinois.

Debbie Yuengling

Title: culture and employee engagement manager

Age: 44

Education: Bachelor of Science in accounting, marketing minor, Moravian University.

Wendy Yuengling

Title: chief administrative officer

Age: 43

Education: Bachelor of Science in marketing, Lehigh University College of Business and Economics.

Sheryl Yuengling

Title: order services/administration

Age: 40

Education: Bachelor of Science in human environmental studies, University of Alabama; associate degree in specialized business, Pennsylvania School of Culinary Arts.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

POTTSVILLE - A former Port Carbon councilman was sentenced in Schuylkill County Court last week to sexual assault charges involving an underage boy.

Charles Joy was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to charges of indecent exposure and indecent assault.

President Judge William E. Baldwin ordered Joy to serve three to 23 months in Schuylkill County Prison followed by three years of consecutive probation.

The sentence becomes effective on July 20 and will include credit for time served.

Baldwin also ordered Joy to perform 10 hours of community service.

POTTSVILLE — A Pottsville man will spend time on house arrest instead of in prison after admitting Monday to a Schuylkill County judge that prosecutors could prove he was driving under the influence of drugs in February 2017.

Anario M. Thompson, 31, pleaded no contest to DUI, with prosecutors withdrawing charges of driving under suspension, vehicle registration suspended and careless driving.

Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin accepted the plea and sentenced Thompson to serve 15 days on house arrest with electronic monitoring, 45 days strict supervision and four months probation, pay costs, a $1,000 fine, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, and perform 10 hours community service. Dolbin made the sentence effective at 10 a.m. July 22.

State police at Schuylkill Haven alleged Thompson was DUI on Feb. 17, 2017, in West Brunswick Township.

By pleading no contest, Thompson did not admit committing the crime, but offered no defense to the charge, acknowledged prosecutors had sufficient evidence to prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and agreed to be sentenced as if he had pleaded or been found guilty.

Dolbin on Monday also sentenced Andrew J. Foust, 30, of Catawissa, to time served to 12 months in prison with immediate parole, and pay a $50 CJEA payment and $50 restitution.

Foust had pleaded guilty on May 9 to two counts of access device fraud and one of receiving stolen property. Orwigsburg police had charged Foust with committing his crimes on Sept. 7, 2017, in the borough.

On June 28, Lucia Stroble, 33, of Bethlehem, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Judge John E. Domalakes accepted the plea and sentenced Stroble to two days to six months in prison with immediate parole, plus 12 additional months on probation, pay costs, a $100 SAEF payment and a $50 CJEA payment, and undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation.

Coaldale police had charged Stroble with possessing drugs and paraphernalia on March 24, 2018, in the borough.

On June 27, Domalakes admitted Joseph D. Chambers, 28, of Lansford, into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program, which will allow him to have charges against him dismissed if he successfully completes it. Chambers will be in the program for 12 months.

As part of the program, Chambers must pay costs, a $50 CJEA payment, a $50 bench warrant fee and $11 restitution, and perform 10 hours community service.

Prosecutors had charged Chambers with theft and receiving stolen property. Tamaqua police alleged he had committed those crimes on Nov. 24, 2018, in the borough.

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

ORWIGSBURG — An Auburn man is headed to Schuylkill County Court after a preliminary hearing on June 25 in connection with an April incident in the borough allegedly involving a preteen girl.

Taquale Davis, 26, of 470 E. Deer View Drive, faces charges of indecent assault, strangulation and two counts of harassment. Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier ordered all charges held for court following the hearing.

After that, Davis returned to prison, where he is being held in lieu of $20,000 straight cash bail pending further court proceedings.

Davis has a bail hearing scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday before Judge James P. Goodman.

State police at Schuylkill Haven alleged Davis and a second man approached the 12-year-old girl and a female friend between 6:30 and 8 p.m. April 6 near Bear Creek Street and East Deer View Drive. Davis and the other man then started walking with the two girls, according to police.

During the walk, Davis asked, “When’s that booty album gonna drop?” and smacked the victim on her rear end, police said.

Police said that Davis later picked up the victim and said he would throw her into the river, while the victim’s friend told him three times to put her down.

When the men and girls got to the bridge over Bear Creek, Davis put his arm around the victim’s neck, began choking her and then touched her stomach, according to police. However, the girl slapped his hands and began running, police said.

The girl and her friend then started walking home, but the two men followed them, police said.

Police said the victim started running home, but Davis told her she was not going home and tried to grab her. The girl then told Davis to stop, police said.

Davis then started throwing rocks at the girl, but she was able to get away and return to her home, police said.

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

Taquale Davis

· Age: 26

· Residence: Auburn

· Charges: Indecent assault, strangulation and two counts of harassment

A former Port Carbon councilman pleaded guilty and was sentenced last week for sexually abusing a teenage boy in Tamaqua.

Charles Joy Jr., one of four men charged with sexually assaulting the same victim, entered guilty pleas to charges of indecent exposure and indecent assault of a person under the age of 16.

The guilty plea was the result of an agreement between Joy and the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors dismissed charges of statutory sexual assault by a person 11 years older than the victim, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a person under the age of 16 and corruption of minors.

President Judge William E. Baldwin ordered Joy to serve three to 23 months in Schuylkill County Prison followed by three consecutive years probation and two concurrent years probation.

Baldwin gave Joy credit to time served, one day on March 14, and also ordered him to serve 10 hours of community service.

Joy was ordered to report to prison on July 20 and, if eligible, may immediately be granted work release.

Joy, of 115 Jackson St., Port Carbon, was charged by Tamaqua police Cpl. Thomas Rodgers for incidents that happened between him and the boy, who was 11 or 12 years old at the time, between Sept. 1, 2018, and Feb. 23.

In his affidavit of probable cause, Rodgers said Joy and the teen met on the website Grindr, where the boy portrayed himself in his profile as being 30 years old and initiated contact with Joy.

The conversations on the internet eventually led to Joy traveling to the boy’s Tamaqua home where the boy performed a lewd act at Joy’s request.

Rodgers told the court there was no further contact between the two after that one meeting.

When interviewed the day of his arrest on March 14, Joy admitted coming to Tamaqua to meet the boy but also said the boy told him that he was over the age of 18, according to Rogers.

The three other men charged for sexually assaulting the boy on separate occasions appeared for preliminary hearings before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua.

Bayer ordered the charges against each man held for Schuylkill County Court, where they are awaiting further action.

Those men and the charges against them are:

• Matthew Delgado, 28, of Tamaqua; two felony counts each of statutory sexual assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a person under the age of 16; one felony count of corruption of minors; and two misdemeanor counts each of indecent exposure and indecent assault of a person less than 13 years old.

• Brad D. Murphy, 36, also of Tamaqua; felony charges of statutory sexual assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a person under the age of 16, as well as misdemeanor offenses of indecent exposure, corruption of minors and indecent assault of a person under the age of 16.

• Dale Schimpf, 71, of 22 N. Spencer St., Frackville, one felony count each of statutory sexual assault by a person 11 years older than the victim, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse forcible compulsion and corruption of minors; two felony counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a person less than 16 years old; and one misdemeanor count each of indecent assault and indecent assault of a person less than 16 years old.

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

A Schuylkill Haven man will spend more than a decade behind federal prison bars after a judge in Scranton sentenced him for his role in a 2016 methamphetamine-trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Attorney David J. Freed announced Monday.

Ernest D. Schaeffer Jr., 43, must serve 15 years in prison, plus an additional five years on supervised release, for his part in the crime, U.S. District Judge Malachy E. Mannion ruled.

Schaeffer, who had faced a possible life sentence and $10 million fine, pleaded guilty on April 13, 2017, before Mannion to conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney David J. Freed alleged that Schaeffer participated in the conspiracy between June and October 2016 in Schuylkill County.

As part of his plea agreement, Schaeffer also agreed to the forfeiture of a residence and property in Schuylkill Haven that was connected to the drug-trafficking ring, along with four firearms.

Mannion said he sentenced Schaeffer beyond the advisory guidelines, because during the conspiracy, the defendant had held a woman captive for three days in a shed on his property, torturing her with electric shocks and a stun gun during that time.

Schaeffer also had faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The FBI, Pennsylvania State Police and local police in Schuylkill County had investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa.

A federal grand jury in Scranton indicted Schaeffer on Jan. 17, 2017.

Prosecutors brought the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve in an effort to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer.

Two of Schaeffer’s co-defendants — his wife, Laverne Schaeffer, of Schuylkill Haven, and Anibal L. Rodriguez, of Pottsville — also have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

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

Defendant: Ernest D. Schaeffer Jr.

Age: 43

Residence: Schuylkill Haven

Crime committed: Conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine

Prison sentence: 15 years, plus an additional five years on supervised release

ORWIGSBURG — A Lake Wynonah man must defend against charges he burglarized another home in the Wayne Township section of the development in January after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing on July 2 on four charges resulting from the alleged incident.

Terry L. Short, 55, of 1127 Wynonah Drive, faces charges of burglary, criminal trespass, theft and receiving stolen property. Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound over all charges for court after Short waived his right to the hearing.

Short then returned to prison, where he is being held on $20,000 straight cash bail pending further court proceedings.

State police at Schuylkill Haven filed the charges against Short, alleging he broke into 1222 Running Deer Drive between 7:30 a.m. and 5:40 p.m. Jan. 8. Once inside the residence, Short stole $6,060 worth of jewelry, $26 in rolled coins and a pillow case, police said.

Police said they found a Maverick cigarette butt on the deck of the house, and the homeowner told them that no one allowed at the residence smoked that brand of cigarettes.

The state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem analyzed the DNA found on the cigarette butt and determined that it matched Short’s DNA profile, according to police.

Furthermore, police said, the victim identified three pieces of jewelry found at Short’s house as having been stolen from her residence.

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

Terry L. Short

· Age: 55

· Residence: Lake Wynonah

· Charges: Burglary, criminal trespass, theft and receiving stolen property

Gynecological center to open

TAMAQUA — St. Luke’s University Health Network has announced that Michael Patriarco, DO, and Valerie Schissler, CRNP, will expand their services into Tamaqua, where they will begin seeing patients on Thursday, according to a network release.

Their new location, St. Luke’s Center for Advanced Gynecological Care, will be located at 120 Pine St., Suite A. Their office hours will be the first and third Tuesday mornings of the month, as well as the second and fourth Thursday afternoons.

They will continue to see patients in their Allentown office, according to the release.

Patriarco and Schissler will welcome new patients of all ages. For scheduling, call 484-426-2670.

Patriarco specializes in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and performs several in-office surgical procedures. Certifited nurse practitioner Schissler has 18 years experience working with urogynecology.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring the services and care of our Allentown office into the Miners market, to bring women a better all-around experience,” Patriarco said in the release.

Their practice specializes in women of all ages with pelvic pain, irregular or heavy periods, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, urinary incontinence, various birth control options, gynecological needs as well as women’s general health concerns.

Farm to Square

on OBPA’s agenda

ORWIGSBURG — The Orwigsburg Business and Professional Association will sponsor Farm to Square — “where wine, farmers and families meet — from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 8 in the town square.

The event, according to a release forwarded by the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, will feature “farm fresh food, delicious drinks, food trucks, kids activities and live music by Radioactive Munsters.

All are welcome. For more information, email orwigsburgbusinesspa@gmail.com or go to on Facebook: Orwigsburg Business and Professional Association.

Ribbon cutting

for urgent care

SAINT CLAIR — A ribbon cutting is set for 4 p.m. July 16 for MedExpress Urgent Care, 4 Clover Drive, according to a Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce flier. Refreshments will be served.

People planning to attend should RSVP to Samantha Schivinski at schivinski@schuylkillchamber.com or call 570-622-1942.

The site, located at the Coal Creek Commerce Center, will be open for patients on July 17. Hours will be 8 to 8 every day with a full medical team, according to the flier. People need to simply walk in.

St. Luke’s provides

robotic surgery

BETHLEHEM — St. Luke’s University Health Network now offers a minimally invasive robotic surgery to place a LINX device in patients suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease and repair associated hiatal hernias, according to a network press release.

St. Luke’s thoracic surgeon Dr. Dustin Manchester and bariatric surgeon Dr. Maher El Chaar both have been trained in the LINX procedure.

The procedure, Manchester said in the release, “has significantly fewer complications of recurrence, slippage or gas bloating than the traditional fundoplication. Moreover, the LINX device does not change the patient’s own natural gastric anatomy,” which is the case with a traditional fundoplication,

The LINX device, according to the release, is a string of magnetic titanium beads on a wire that is custom fit to each patient. During the procedure, the device is placed surgically at the gastroesophageal junction. The magnets help keep the lower esophageal sphincter closed to prevent reflux. When a patient swallows, the LINX device opens temporarily to allow food and liquids into the stomach.

Most patients stay in the hospital for one night and are discharged to home the following day. As this procedure is performed minimally invasively with small incisions, most patients have very little pain and can return to work within a few weeks.

Using robotic assisted surgery to place the LINX and repair the patient’s hiatal hernia when appropriate has benefits for both the surgeon and the patient. “It gives the surgeon better visualization and an easier way to find the anatomical planes,” El Chaar said in the release, adding, “It’s also less painful than standard laparoscopic approach for the patient.”

Manchester said robotic-assisted surgery “allows the surgeon practically unlimited dexterity and precision of movements all through small, minimally invasive incisions” and for patients with larger hernias, robotic surgery “gives the surgeon more controlled access up into the chest, allowing for a more complete dissection of the hernia, thus leading to fewer recurrences.”

For more information about the LINX procedure, call St. Luke’s at 866-785-8537 or go online to www.linxforlife.com.

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.

• “Burnout: The Enemy of Professional Growth and Effectiveness,” 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 17 at the chamber’s Union Station headquarters. The speaker will be Edy P. Pierre, MA, MPA. The cost is $25 for chamber members and $50 for nonmembers.

• The Business After 5 O’Clock Mixer is set for 5 to7 p.m. July 17 sponsored by Providence Place Senior Living, 2200 First Ave., Pottsville. A new member orientation will be at 3:30 p.m.

• Pour Tour, From Farm to Glass, sponsored by the chamber agribusiness committee, is set of Aug. 17 with a 9:30 a.m. depart from Union Station, Pottsville, and a 4 p.m. return. Tickets are $35 each and include lunch; people must be 21 or older to attend. Tour guide will be Patrick M. “Porcupine Pat” McKinney, environmental education coordinator with the Schuylkill Conservation District. Stops will include D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc., Pioneer Evergreen Farms, Jersey Acres Farms/Stone Mountain Winery. Goody bags will be provided by Mauch Chunk Trust Co. Attendees must wear completely closed shoes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Food for profit workshop on tap

READING — For food entrepreneurs who have ideas for products, the Penn State Extension will have a Food for Profit one-day, interactive workshop to help people through the maze of local and state regulations, food safety issues and marketing and business management viewpoints that must be considered in setting up a successful commercial food business.

The course will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Penn State Berks, 7009 Tulpehocken Road.

The workshop will take participants step-by-step through the start-up entrepreneurial process, according to an event release. It will provide people with the information and skills needed to assess whether an idea has potential to become something that will sell at a profit.

Conducting a feasibility study, performing marketing research and beginning to draft a business plan are a few of the concrete tools that will be taught by certified instructors and business experts. By attending the class, entrepreneurs will learn how to evaluate the opportunities on paper before seeking funding or taking action.

This course is open to all, and lunch will be provided. The cost is $79 per person and includes all course material. Advance payment and registration are required for the workshop. People may register online at http://extension.psu.edu/food/safety/entrepreneurs or by calling the registration coordinator at 877-345-0691.

For information about the workshop, contact John Wodehouse at jpw20@psu.edu or at 610-696-3500.

Penn State Extension, according to the release, is a modern educational organization “dedicated to translating scientific research into real-world applications to drive progress.” In support of Penn State’s land-grant mission, extension programs promote “a vibrant food and fiber system, a clean environment and a healthier population for Pennsylvania and beyond.”

Penn State Extension helps individuals, businesses and communities address problems and realize opportunities through a portfolio of educational programs, products and services.

Pioneer Day

set for Aug. 17

ASHLAND — Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine & Steam Train will host its 27th annual Pioneer Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 17.

This year’s event will be a celebration of Pioneer Tunnel’s 57th anniversary as a tourist attraction.

In addition to its coal mine tours and steam train rides, the event will include entertainment by the Breaker Boys and other live performers.

People will be able to enjoy food, crafts and games provided by vendors. Organizers in a release invited people to “bring a lawn chair and enjoy the day.”

POTTSVILLE — They say they have “beer in their blood” — and Pottsville roots.

The Yuengling sisters — of the D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. family — have seized a golden opportunity to expand their brewery’s brand while continuing to support philanthropic causes in the city and beyond.

Jennifer, Debbie, Wendy and Sheryl Yuengling shared their vision for the company as Pottsville awaits America’s Oldest Brewery’s 190th anniversary celebration this Saturday.

It includes the sisters’ signature mark on the brewing industry with the creation of their newest product, Golden Pilsner.

“Our roots are here, so that says a lot,” said Wendy, chief administrative officer for the brewery. “My great-great-great-grandfather made his way to Pottsville in the 1800s and the original brewery that he built in 1829 was the Eagle Brewery, down where City Hall is. After that burned down, they built the current location on Mahantongo Street. We’ve been a staple in the community ever since.”

Today, the brewery is a major employer, too. Fifty-nine people work at its Pottsville location, 120 are employed at Mill Creek and 95 at its Tampa, Florida, brewery. Another 90 sales employees work across the company’s 22-state footprint, for a total of 364 workers.

“There’s something to be said for the people that work for the brewery and the loyalty of the community; that was a big factor in why we chose to build another brewery in Pottsville,” Wendy said about the Mill Creek site added in 2001. “The community’s been good to us, the state’s been very good to us, and we wouldn’t be here for 190 years if we didn’t have that support. That’s very special.”

City stronghold

Pottsville’s always held a special place in the family’s history. It’s where the company’s founders decided to stay and raise their families.

“About 10 percent of our employees have or have had family members working here. It’s not just a family business for us. It’s the employees that have been working with us over the 190 years,” said Debbie, culture and employee engagement manager. “The employees have been very loyal.”

Workers have endured Prohibition and the World Wars with Yuengling.

“Even during the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s when the company was not doing very well,” she continued in discussing employee loyalty. “They were here when my grandfather worked here and during the transition time with my dad. We’ve been very fortunate with our loyal and proud employees.”

There are several husband-and-wife employees at Yuengling. They include a driver whose wife works in accounting and a brewer whose wife also works in accounting.

“So it’s cool to see it across departments, and multigenerational families that are here, too,” Jennifer, vice president of operations, said.

Giving back

Their father and company president, Richard L. “Dick” Yuengling Jr., has pledged $2.8 million to the city for construction of the new Mahantongo Street Parking Center just down Mahantongo Street from the brewery and gift shop.

Other philanthropic efforts have included the annual Light Lager Jogger, which marked its seventh year this spring and supports Operation Gratitude. It includes as many as 3,500 runners and draws thousands more to the city.

This Saturday, Yuengling will offer a free city concert with the alternative rock band Better Than Ezra, which, along with fireworks, will cap a day of music, food and Yuengling products. Also, for the entire month of July, 5 percent of proceeds from in-store gift shop sales will go to the Pottsville Continued Progress Project in support of the city’s revitalization.

Many scholarships and donations have gone to support veterans or their families, like Team Red, White, and Blue and TAPS, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.

The sisters have also committed to assisting other women who want to study brewing in the U.S. They’re giving up to $50,000 next year to the Pink Boots Society toward that cause. In fact, proceeds from Yuengling’s Bourbon Barrel Reserve sales earlier this year were donated to the Pink Boots Society.

Golden Pilsner

When the Yuengling sisters saw consumers were looking for a refreshment brand, that prompted the development of Golden Pilsner in 2018.

According to Wendy, the sisters were open-minded to trying something new.

“I think when my dad bought the business, the brewery was barely surviving. We’re in a much different situation right now. We have a very successful company and we’re selling beer in 22 states and when we see opportunities to do things better or plan a new arena, like we did with Golden Pilsner, we want to take advantage of it,” she said.

“We drink beer. It’s in our blood. So, this was a product we got excited about and it was nice to add something new to the portfolio that complements Lager, Light Lager and Black & Tan,” Wendy said.

It was the first release for the sixth generation, and was the first year-round beer that came out in the last 17 years, according to Debbie. Yuengling now has eight year-round brands.

“I think we’ve had a great response from our consumers, our fans,” Sheryl, order services/administration, said.

“Part of our business model, too, is to make great beers, but sessionable beers. When I say sessionable, I mean beers where you can sit down and essentially have a session,” Jennifer said, explaining the alcohol content of them is not so over the top that a patron can’t sit down and enjoy more than one.

“They’re sessionable beers and they’re at a relatively decent price point. You’re not going to outspend yourself trying to have a few of our brands,” Jennifer said.

Tampa growth

In addition to having a new brew, the Yuenglings are considering enhancement of their Tampa property and are in the early stages of the zoning process. A Yuengling Brewery experience could include a hotel, restaurant, gift shop, microbrewery and tasting room, beer garden and conference center. The improvements would be on 5 to 8 acres that Yuengling already owns at its facility.

“Twenty years ago, we opened our first brewery in Florida to give consumers more opportunities to experience our brand. Since then, Florida has become a second home for Yuengling, leading our growth in the southern half of our 22-state footprint,” Wendy said. “As consumer interest in locally crafted beer continues to grow, we are always looking for ways to engage our loyal fans and re-envision the Yuengling experience in Tampa. This new development will not only offer visitors an enhanced brewery hospitality experience, but will also increase our presence in the local community.”

“We have a sponsorship with University of South Florida, right next door to us. We sponsor the Sun Dome, which is now the Yuengling Center. So, it’s just another way for us to put a stake in the ground down there and say we’re a local brewery in Florida as well,” Wendy said.

Cooperative celebration

Saturday’s 190th event in Pottsville runs from 1 to 10 p.m., and includes music, street vendors and beer gardens. It concludes with the Better Than Ezra concert from 8 to 9:30 p.m. on the main Progress Avenue stage, with fireworks provided by the city to follow.

“You can come into town. You can spend your money on some food and beer. You can listen to some music and enjoy the downtown area. I think it’s a nice opportunity for everybody,” Debbie said.

The sisters wanted the commemorative milestone to be a day of celebration and have had several events leading up to Saturday.

“It’s been a great venture between PADCO and the downtown business association, the city itself, from their security and first responder system, everybody. I can’t imagine the organizational aspects that have gone into this. Our sales and marketing department folks have really coordinated very well,” Jennifer said.

“All the efforts that are happening with the revitalization and growth of the downtown businesses, I am all for and a huge supporter of that,” Wendy said. “There’s not many places that can say they’re home to America’s Oldest Brewery, and I think that’s attractive to people.”

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

HOMETOWN — A man escaped serious injuries Monday when the car he was driving slammed into a garage attached to a home in Rush Township.

The crash happened around 5:30 p.m. in the area of 39 Lafayette Ave., Route 54.

The driver of the vehicle — a Nissan Altima — was driving east on Route 54, just east of the intersection with Route 309, when for some reason he went off the south side of the road.

After exiting the road, the driver went through the yards of two homes before re-entering and crossing Lafayette Avenue and going off the north side of the road.

The car then went onto the front lawn of a home and struck and went through a garage attached to the single-story structure.

Firefighters from Hometown, Ryan Township and Tamaqua responded to the scene after receiving a report of a vehicle into a structure with entrapment and possibly on fire.

There was no fire and the driver was able to exit the vehicle under his own power, firefighters at the scene said.

Police said their investigation is continuing and that Chief Kenneth Zipovsky will provide additional information today.

Tamaqua EMS and Lehighton ALS evaluated the man at the scene.

Hometown fire police as well as the Tamaqua Rescue Squad assisted at the scene of the crash.

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

As home to America’s Oldest Brewery, Pottsville’s banking on creating more bang for the buck.

While D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. marks its 190th anniversary, city business leaders recognize the brewery’s ability to boost local entrepreneurs’ bottom lines.

Yuengling President Richard L. “Dick” Yuengling Jr.’s pledge to donate $2.8 million toward the city’s Mahantongo Street parking deck also brings economic promise.

“I grew up by the Mahantongo Street brewery, and I’ve seen them grow over the years. Their generosity behind the scenes is incredible,” said Mayor James T. Muldowney, who anticipates the next six months will be an exciting time for the city’s business district. “We wouldn’t be in the position that we are now without them.”

The Pottsville Area Development Corp., Pottsville Business Association and city officials hope businesses can capitalize on the approximately 75,000 tourists annually brought into the city by the brewery, and continue to develop special festivities that would attract visitors — events like Pottsville On Tap and Pottsville Winter Fest and, of course, this Saturday’s daylong 190th anniversary celebration.

‘Directing visitors’

“Yuengling does a great job of directing visitors into the city,” Savas Logothetides, PADCO executive director, said Monday. “We tried to optimize the amount of time visitors are staying.”

He said it comes back to the fact that “we had the strategic plan done and it highlighted that we weren’t getting the most out of the tourism brought into the city.”

That strategic plan was part of the Pottsville Continued Progress Project, a revitalization effort coordinated through the city, PADCO and PBA.

“On multiple levels, the Yuengling family has been so supportive of the businesses in town; you don’t realize what they bring to the table,” Logothetides said.

Yuengling allows other area businesses to post informational brochures and coupons in card racks at its gift shop, spurring customers to explore other downtown destinations, according to Logothetides. During July, 5 percent of the proceeds from gift shop sales will go toward the Pottsville Continued Progress Project.

PBA President David Clews said association members see Yuengling’s positive impact.

“It’s a valued asset to have Yuengling Brewery in town, and it brings exposure to all of our businesses,” Clews said. “They see an increase in customers, especially through the vacation season in spring and summer. They all see more foot traffic. Our restaurants do very well.”

“Especially during the summer, you see hundreds of tourists coming into town and they’re spending money,” Logothetides added. “At Wheel (his city restaurant), we’ve done our best to assist them and help them find other places in town that may benefit them. We train our servers specifically on different places in Pottsville (where they may want to go) because we see so many tourists.”

Getting the parking deck back is important, and it would certainly help a lot of businesses, especially those closer to the downtown business district, said Clews, operator of 12 Volt Dave’s Auto.

‘Sense of community’

City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said the Pottsville Continued Progress Project addresses downtown living, as well as tourism, and creates ways to make a more vibrant downtown. The Yuengling family is a vital part of that.

“We’re blessed to have them,” Palamar said.

When he mentions Pottsville in his travels, Palamar said people know about Yuengling and the company is highly regarded.

“They really provide that strong sense of community, and I really appreciate that,” he said.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

Food, beer, vendors

• 1 to 6 p.m.: Dozens of artisan vendors on Mahantongo and Second streets.

• 1 to 6 p.m.: Traditional Lager or another Yuengling brand available at Yuengling Brewery beer garden, Mahantongo Street. Cash only.

• 1 to 10 p.m.: Golden Pilsner or another Yuengling brand available at downtown beer garden, Progress Avenue near the main stage. Cash only.

Entertainment

• 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.: The Boys Upstairs, acoustic party music; Yuengling Brewery Stage C, Mahantongo Street.

• 4 to 6 p.m.: Toolshed Jack, up-tempo pop/rock/funk; Arch Street Stage B.

• 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Hooligan, rock; opens Main Stage on Progress Avenue.

• 8 to 9:30 p.m.: Better Than Ezra, platinum-selling alternative rockers, Main Stage.

• 9:30-9:45 p.m.: Fireworks.

NOTE: Outside alcohol will not be permitted within the venues, and all other city ordinances and state laws will be enforced outside the venues.

A Coaldale man is free on bail after being charged by state police with shooting another man with a shotgun loaded with pencil erasers at a borough home early Sunday morning.

Trooper Daniel Phillips of the Frackville station charged William J. Cannon, 21, of 20 E. Foster Ave., with felony aggravated assault; misdemeanor offenses of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person; and a summary charge of harassment.

Cannon was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, and released on $50,000 unsecured bail pending further court action.

Phillips charged Cannon with shooting Jason Englert at a home at 18 E. Foster Ave. in Coaldale around 1:30 a.m.

At the scene, Phillips said, he found Cannon who admitted shooting Englert, who he said was not allowed on the property due to a protection from abuse order granted to Cannon’s sister, Anna Cannon, who lives at the home.

Englert was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital-Miners Campus, Coaldale, for treatment of a gunshot wound to his shoulder and then transferred to St. Luke’s Hospital, Fountain Hill, for additional treatment.

When interviewed after the shooting, Phillips said, William Cannon reported throughout the day on Saturday Englert came to the home and each time complied after being told to leave.

William Cannon said that the incidents were not reported to police, because Englert did not cause a disturbance any of the times he arrived.

William Cannon went on to say that he went to the WalMart store and purchased pencil erasers, because he wanted to put them into his shotgun shells.

Returning from the store, Phillips said, William Cannon told him he took the metal pellets out of a shotgun shell and replaced them with erasers.

The trooper said William Cannon said he did this because a friend previously told him he would be okay since the erasers would be considered less lethal.

“He assumed at some point he would shoot Englert,” Phillips said.

Then, around 1:30 a.m., William Cannon exited his home to get tools from a van that he needed and had the 12-gauge pump action shotgun with him, Phillips said.

William Cannon said that, when he started to open the doors of the van, Englert was inside, forced the doors open and began swinging a metal object at him, Phillips said.

William Cannon then shot Englert one time in the left shoulder.

Phillips said Englert fled the scene and subsequently arrived at the hospital while Cannon went inside the home and called 911.

Phillips recalled William Cannon saying he should have probably just ran away instead of shooting Englert.

William Cannon will now have to answer to the charges against him at a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer in his Tamaqua courtroom.

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

TAMAQUA — Rosario Longo stood outside his East Broad Street pizza shop Monday afternoon as officials from the White House toured the downtown.

“Let’s put more money in Tamaqua, guys!,” Longo suggested. “That’s what we’re working for. That’s the name of the game.”

And his suggestion just might not be too far off base.

The federal government is putting the finishing touches on the new Opportunity Zone tax incentive. The tax benefit is designed to spur economic development and job creation by encouraging long-term investments in economically distressed communities nationwide.

Prior to the tour, federal officials explained the program to community representatives at Lehigh County Community College’s Scheller Student Center. The meeting was arranged by U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-9.

“Hopefully, this will be a game changer once the rules get finalized,” Meuser said.

According to Scott Turner, executive director for the recently-formed White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, those who invest in an opportunity zone would receive tax forgiveness based on the number of years they hold the project.

For example, he said, if an investor sinks $100,000 into a project, and the project’s worth doubles in 10 years, the investor would not have to pay capital gains on the $100,000 earned.

“(Investors) have to pay that money. They’re either paying it to the federal government or they pay it to Tamaqua,” explained Joseph DeFelice, acting assistant deputy secretary of U.S. Housing and Urban Development. “That’s the way you go about it. It’s essentially the repurposing of federal dollars. It’s the federal government saying to you, ‘Hey, don’t give it to us, give it to Tamaqua or give it to Bellfonte, or Philadelphia. Give it to these opportunity zones.’ ”

Tax breaks would also be realized after five and seven years. However, for complete tax forgiveness, investors must hold the project for 10 years, Turner said. Opportunity zones retain their designation for 10 years but under the proposed regulations, investors can hold onto their investments through 2047 without losing tax benefits.

Turner explained that opportunity zones are in what are considered “distressed” areas.

“The heart of this is there are a lot of people — 35 million — who live in opportunity zones,” he said.

Tamaqua has two opportunity zones. Nearby, Hazle Township and Hazleton have one and three respectively.

“We have many great companies in our area but we need more,” Meuser said.

Sen. Dave Argall, R-29, Rush Township, told the White House contingent that Tamaqua was once a thriving community. But when the mining industry tanked, so did related industries. On the upside, however, he said that the Tidewood Industrial Park in Rush Township is full. Furthermore, Tamaqua is one of only three municipalities in the state designated as a City Revitalization and Improvement Zone. The others include Bethlehem and Lancaster.

CRIZ allows municipalities to leverage state tax dollars by reinvesting them in underutilized real estate, to attract development, encourage local business expansion and create new jobs. The popular Wheel restaurant in Pottsville is opening a second eatery in Tamaqua, and its owner was drawn to the borough because of the CRIZ, Argall said.

“CRIZ and the Opportunity Zone should work together,” Argall said.

Turner encouraged the community to brainstorm about its wants and needs. He envisioned investors sinking money into a workforce training program that would educate individuals and later, employ them locally.

Tamaqua Council President David Mace added that he’d like to see training for white collar jobs, since many of the region’s youth never return to the area after post-secondary education.

“Please utilize us. We will get you in the right direction. We will help,” said Michelle Christian, regional manager of the Small Business Administration.

Following the meeting, Micah Gursky, executive director of the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership, began the tour from the 1874 Tamaqua Train Station. The building, which was slated to be leveled for a parking lot, was restored through volunteer efforts, fundraising and state and federal monies.

“This is physically and figuratively the heart of our community,” he said.

Gursky also spoke about the relatively new Tamaqua Medical Center, which was opened by St. Luke’s Health Network; the active Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad lines that cross through town, and Depot Square Park, which was once the site of a dilapidated gas station.

He stopped at the former Scheid’s Department Store on West Broad Street. Once a popular shopping spot, it was later used by a tire business.

“It housed tires on all of its four floors,” Gursky said.

Lehigh Valley developer Joe Bennett purchased the property several years ago and is in the process of renovating it. The Tamaqua Area Community Partnership, Gursky said, is working with Bennett to identify possible uses of the space.

“I can envision big open windows that show the copper kettles used for a microbrewery,” Bennett said. Or, he said, the 30,000 square-foot property could be made into housing.

“We certainly have a lot of opportunities here,” he said of his decision to invest in the ailing property.

The tour stopped at the WagonWorks start-up incubator on Pine Street. It’s a place where artists and others rent space to work on projects or business ideas. Once a blacksmith shop and later a parking garage, the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership acquired the space before selling to current owner, Kevin Smith.

WagonWorks is in its start-up phase, but Smith eventually hopes to offer classes, community events and more.

Longo, who invited the group into Luigi’s Pizza, said it’s good to see positive change coming to the borough.

“Let’s hope we can improve the community. We need to go forward. We don’t need to go back or stay static,” he said.

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

Frackville

The 12th annual Motorcycle Ride for Veterans, hosted by Elks Lodge 1533, 307 S. Third St., will be held beginning at 8 a.m. July 20 at the lodge. The event will include a breakfast buffet, Yuengling prizes, raffles and dinner buffet. The breakfast buffet and registration will go from 8 to 10:30 a.m. followed by kickstands up at 11 a.m. Proceeds will benefit Elks Veterans Service, according to a release. The cost is $20 per person. For more information, call 570-956-0006.

Pottsville

Regarding current changes involving Real I.D., Theresa Santai Gaffney, Schuylkill County register of wills and clerk of the orphans’ court, said in a release it may be necessary to provide a certified copy of your marriage license. People in need of such copies should call her office at 570-628-1377 or email to cdormer@co.schuylkill.pa.us. “We can prepare it ahead of time for you. There is no cost to veterans,” she said in the release.

Ringtown

The support group Friends of the Ringtown Library will have its annual used book sale July 19-21 at the Ringtown Valley Senior Citizens Building, 104 W. Main St. In preparation, the library, 132 W. Main St., is accepting donations of good-condition, gently used books, DVD movies, jigsaw puzzles, board games and select magazines. Donors are asked to limit magazines to those of women’s interest, hobby, outdoors, cooking and gardening. Items that will not be accepted include National Geographic magazines, magazines older than two years, encyclopedias, text books, VHS and cassette tapes. Library hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, noon to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Saint Clair

The Schuylkill County Veterans Trip Organization, which for 12 years has provided veterans with free trips to Washington, D.C., to visit war memorials, will sponsor the 2019 trip on Sept. 21, according to Jan Smith, organization president. The group, he said, provides the transportation, a picnic lunch on the trip down, snacks and beverages throughout the day and a sit-down dinner on the way home. Organizers are seeking to raise money for the effort, Smith said. The trek is free for veterans and $55 for one companion. The group has begun providing applications for the trip, which will depart from the Saint Clair Home Depot parking lot at 7 a.m. and arrive back at the lot about 10 p.m. People wanting an application should send a large, self-addressed envelope to Schuylkill County Veterans Trip Organization, P.O. Box 11, Pottsville, PA 17901. People may also email veteranstrip@hotmail.com, go to www.facebook.com/veteranstrip or call 570-622-0730. Smith said that organizers are asking businesses and individuals to sponsor a veteran by donating funds for the trip.

Shenandoah

Registrations to attend Trinity Academy in the Father Walter J. Ciszek Education Center, Cherry and Chestnut streets, are being accepted. Trinity provides “a safe, respectful, Christ-centered environment for students in preschool through eighth grade,” according to bulletin announcements in northern Schuylkill Catholic parishes. Trinity Academy, Cherry and Chestnut streets, is the sole Catholic pre-K to eighth-grade school for all of northern Schuylkill County. Tuition assistance is available and the school offers $1,500 in transfer grants. Students who transfer into grades one through seven are eligible to receive $1,000 their first year of enrollment and $500 their second year, according to the announcement. To request a tour of the school, a registration packet or for more information, call 570-462-3927.

Tamaqua

The Dixie Melody Boys, a popular Southern Gospel quartet, will be featured in a 7 p.m. concert July 26 at the Lewistown Valley Tabernacle. The group, based in Kinston, North Carolina, has enjoyed “tremendous success,” according to an event press release. All are welcome. For more information about the group, go online to www.dixiemelodyboys.com.

Man arrested for PFA order violation

HEGINS — Hegins Township police reported arresting Zachary Long, 32, of Hegins for a violating an active protection from abuse order that was previously served on him.

Police said that on Thursday, Long went to the home of the person who had the order against him despite receiving notice that he was evicted and excluded from being there.

As a result, police said, Long was charged with one count of indirect criminal contempt, arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $2,500 bail.

Man allegedly brandished knife

POTTSVILLE — A man was jailed after being arrested by Pottsville police after officers were called to 226 N. Third St. for a domestic disturbance around 12:15 p.m. June 27.

At the scene, police said, officers spoke to a 22-year-old Pottsville woman who reported her boyfriend, Joshua Marsh, 25, prevented her from leaving her apartment during an argument.

At one point, the woman said Marsh brandished a knife at her and then stabbed a couch, putting her in imminent fear of serious bodily injury.

Officers took Marsh into custody in the 200 block of West Market Street and he was charged by Sgt. James Joos with one count each of unlawful restraint and simple assault.

He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $10,000 bail, police said.

Drugs found as man enters prison

POTTSVILLE — A Tamaqua man was charged by Pottsville police after he was found with drugs when committed to the Schuylkill County Prison on Wednesday.

Police said officers were called to the jail around 6:15 p.m. after guards discovered a controlled substance on newly committed inmate Josh Binder, 19.

Patrolman Stephen Delinko learned that Binder was taken to the prison by Schuylkill County Adult Probation Officers for a probation violation and when prison staff conducted their normal intake search protocols they discovered man had methamphetamine secreted in his underwear.

The methamphetamine was in a location that would not have been detected during a standard field search prior to incarceration, police said.

The recovered crystal substance and baggies were seized by officers and taken back to City Hall, where the crystal substance tested positive for methamphetamine.

As a result, Delinko charged Binder with felony possession of a controlled substance-contraband by inmate and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police said a warrant was requested on the charges and that Binder will be arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, at a later date.

Medical episode causes accident

POTTSVILLE — Pottsville police investigated a crash that was reported around 1:35 p.m. Saturday in the 200 block of Peacock Street.

The investigation by Patrolman Joseph Krammes determined that Ralph Castellano Sr., 91, of Pottsville, was driving a 2010 Chevrolet Impala when he veered into the parking lane due to a medical episode and struck a 2018 Dodge Charger owned by a 26-year-old Pottsville man.

Police said Castellano was taken to a hospital by Schuylkill EMS for treatment and that both vehicles involved in the crash had to be towed from the scene.

Krammes learned that Castellano had a revoked driver’s license and will be citing him for the violation.

Pottsville firefighters assisted at the scene with traffic control, police said.

Police announce DUI patrol results

POTTSVILLE — The North Central PA Regional DUI Enforcement Program reported the results of two roving DUI patrols conducted over the Fourth of July holiday.

The first patrol was conducted Wednesday by two officers from two departments and resulted in 11 vehicles contacted and detained and one driver tested for DUI.

The officers made one DUI arrest along with three traffic arrests and issued eight warning notices.

On Saturday, one officer conducted a roving DUI patrol that resulted in 11 vehicles contacted and detained and one driver tested for DUI.

There was one DUI arrest and the officer also made four traffic arrests, issued one seat belt citation and six warning notices.

1 injured following 1-vehicle crash

FRIEDENSBURG — One person suffered minor injuries in a one-vehicle crash on Schuylkill Mountain Road in Wayne Township around 12:10 a.m. Thursday.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said William C. Daniels, 33, of Pine Grove, was driving a 2008 Kia Spectra west when he fell asleep while coming home from work.

The man’s car went off the road, traveled about 60 feet along the berm and struck several lawn ornaments and a wagon wheel before hitting a tree.

Daniels refused medical treatment and will be cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic, police said, adding that Friedensburg firefighters assisted at the scene.

In addition to their cherished wedding photos, beer lover Jason Sincavage and his wife, Heather, keep a piece of D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. brewery history with them related to their nuptials.

A Yuengling poster signed by company president Richard L. “Dick” Yuengling Jr. hangs in their Pleasant Gap, Centre County, home.

“We still have the poster framed on our living room wall,” Sincavage, a former Schuylkill County resident and 1992 Mahanoy Area High School graduate, said Tuesday.

The Sincavages are not alone in their adoration of a favored brew, if the 2.6 million barrels produced annually by Yuengling is any indication. Beer drinkers, distributorships and restaurants are celebrating Yuengling products this year during the company’s 190th anniversary, which will be highlighted by a celebration from 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday in Pottsville. Breweries in Pottsville, Mill Creek and Tampa, Florida, supply the product.

Tour appearance

The Sincavages had family members coming to their Oct. 10, 2015, wedding in New Ringgold from out of state. They wanted to find an entertaining place for them to visit the day before and scheduled a private tour at the Mahantongo Street brewery in Pottsville.

“We had no idea!” Sincavage said about Dick Yuengling being there in person.

Yuengling autographed a poster and wrote, “Jason and Heather, My very best wishes on your wedding day.”

The pair also received a complimentary tub of chocolate marshmallow Yuengling ice cream after they finished their tour. Today, Yuengling’s Ice Cream is a privately owned business, not affiliated with the brewery.

Jason said his family “loved” the tour, and his uncle, who lives in Florida, found a distributorship there that sells the brand.

Since then, Jason has taken the tour three or four times. Lager, with what he calls a “nice, smooth taste,” is his favorite; his wife, meanwhile, likes the Golden Pilsner.

“We’ve tried them all,” he said. “At Penn State, you just walk into a bar and call it a ‘Lager’ and they know what it is.”

Top tastes

Customers enjoy a variety of Yuengling products, according to beer fans and purchases made from local distributorships.

“My favorite is Yuengling Porter, truly the 190-year-old, purchased from McHugh’s on West Penn Pike, Andreas, Schuylkill County,” Alan R. Parker wrote in response to a Facebook request for comments.

In 1829, the Lord Chesterfield Ale and Porter were introduced and are still brewed today, according to the www.yuengling.com website.

“I love Yuengling Black and Tan, Yuengling Lager and the Golden Pilsner. I prefer to purchase them at Brewers Outlet in Butler Ave. in Lancaster, Pa.,” wrote “David G.”

At Beer Haven, 29 W. Main St., Schuylkill Haven, the Lager and Light Lager are the top sellers, according to Craig Gerber, who co-owns the distributorship with his wife, Judith.

“We still do a lot of Premium sales, also Chesterfield Ale. This time of year, sales of the Golden Pilsner have also gone up,” Gerber said.

Consumers like the anniversary cans with the Yuengling Lager, he said.

Although there may be more choices available with today’s burgeoning craft beer market, Yuengling customers stay loyal, according to Gerber.

“Yuengling drinkers don’t like to stray too far from the local brand,” he said. “A lot of Yuengling drinkers are glad to see the daughters as involved as they are,” he added, referencing the sixth generation of the brewing family, Jennifer, Debbie, Wendy and Sheryl Yuengling.

Gerber attended an anniversary celebration the brewery previously had for its employees and distributors. In addition to Dick Yuengling and the daughters, others attending were Phillies’ pitcher Aaron Nola, who is Yuengling’s brand ambassador, and Gov. Tom Wolf.

“They do value the local distributor. They work well with us on promotional items, and support our business, as well,” Gerber said.

Lager leads

Meanwhile at Brennan’s Center City Beverage, Pottsville, the Lager and Golden Pilsner sell well at this time of the year, followed by the Chesterfield Ale, according to owner Shawn Brennan.

“In the fall, they’ll start drinking the heavier beers, but in the summer, it’s the Pilsner,” he said.

Brennan’s also had calls for the collectible anniversary cans at his 1208 Laurel Blvd. business.

Although he’s still selling product, Brennan’s customer base has shifted, he said, since Yuengling began selling its beer at its gift shop. He’s not seeing as many tour buses making a stop at his facility.

“That’s hurt me a lot. When they used to go on the (brewery) tour, they’d come here to the distributorship,” he said. “I used to get a lot of calls ahead from people from Vermont, Rhode Island.”

Shawn’s brother, Scott Brennan, also owns a beer distributorship, Brennan’s Beverage, on the Port Carbon-Saint Clair Highway.

“Yuengling sells really well,” Scott Brennan said, noting Premium is one of his best selling products, followed by the Light Lager.

However, he’s seen the changing customer landscape, too.

“I used to get a lot of out-of-towners and people passing through, coming from the tours. I don’t see that anymore,” Scott Brennan said.

Although Yuengling’s gift shop does have beer available for purchase, the best-selling item there is its distressed Lager label T-shirt for $22, according to Jessica Seiders, communications manager.

Rapport, support

Doug Scanlan, owner of Scanlan Beverage in Pottsville, has been in business since 1976. He said Premium is the top seller at his distributorship.

“The Golden Pilsner sold really well at first when it was introduced, and it still sells steadily,” he said.

He’s had several requests for the special anniversary cans.

“I wish them the best of luck for the 190th,” Scanlan said of the Yuengling family.

Mickey Palles, owner of The Coney Island in Pottsville, said his customers at the inside bar and patio can find four Yuengling products on tap — Chesterfield Ale, Golden Pilsner, Lager and Light Lager. Bottles are also available.

“We have a good rapport with Yuengling. Some of our customers are Yuengling employees,” Palles said. “They support us, we support them.”

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

SHENANDOAH — The Shenandoah community lost a longtime family man, friend, civic supporter and businessman with the passing Monday of Peter “Pete” Vernalis Jr.

The retired owner of Vernalis Restaurant died at age 77 around 4 p.m. Monday at Reading Hospital & Medical Center, West Reading, to the sorrow of his family and many friends who will also remember his legacy of someone who did what he could to make Shenandoah a better place.

His parents, Peter A. and Mary Logothetides Vernalis, founded Vernalis Restaurant in 1948 at its current and only location at 32 S. Main St. Peter and his wife, Charlotte, became the second generation to run the business, and now the restaurant is operated by the third generation, Michael Peter Vernalis and sister, Lisa Vernalis.

Last year, the restaurant celebrated its 70th anniversary, and Peter was chosen as the grand marshal of the annual Parade of Nations for Heritage Day in 2018.

His community service includes serving as president of the Shenandoah Merchants Association, an officer of the Greater Shenandoah Area Chamber of Commerce, co-founder of the Pennsylvania Anthracite Miners Memorial, past president of Shenandoah Heights Fire Company No. 1 and a member of the former Shenandoah AMVETS Post 7. He served in the Army for 23 years.

Shenandoah Mayor Andrew J. Szczyglak knew Vernalis as a cousin and a very good friend who he met with many times during the week at the restaurant.

“Even though he was retired, he would be in the restaurant daily,” Szczyglak said. “He would help around the restaurant and at the counter checking people out.

“When I would come in for breakfast or lunch, we would sit and he would always have some piece of advice or some questions about the town. He was always concerned about the town and its well-being. He would give me suggestions on what he thought needed to be done and what to take back to council. He had ideas on the projects that were going on.”

Szczyglak said Vernalis was very influential in the creation of the Pennsylvania Anthracite Miners Memorial at the entrance of Girard Park, working as a co-chairman with Theodore “Ted” Souchuck. The memorial was dedicated in September 1996.

“He was always concerned about the beautification of the downtown area,” Szczyglak said. “He did a lot for the community and I was so pleased when Downtown Shenandoah Inc. decided to honor him as grand marshal last year. There were other people being considered and I told them, how do we know Peter is going to be here next year? And he won’t be here for the next Heritage Day. It is so nice that they were able to honor him last year.”

One thing that Vernalis did not do was look for attention in the things he did.

“Pete was a very modest man,” Szczyglak said. “He didn’t like the limelight. He did accept being grand marshal. That is one thing he did, but he wasn’t really a man to show off. He ran the business as well as he could, and when health issues went into effect, he passed on the torch to his daughter and son, who are running the business now.”

Szczyglak said all funeral services are private with full military honors at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Peter’s memory be made to Downtown Shenandoah Inc., 116 N. Main St., Shenandoah, PA 17976.

“It’s another loss to our community and he will be greatly missed,” Szczyglak said.

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

HOMETOWN — Rush Township police said Tuesday that they would not release additional information on a Monday afternoon crash that sent a car into a garage attached to a home.

The crash happened around 5:30 p.m. at 41 Lafayette Ave., Route 54, and resulted in the driver being led away in handcuffs by two township police officers.

When contacted Tuesday morning, Rush Township Police Chief Kenneth Zipovsky said additional information would be released as soon as it was available, but later in the day said nothing was being released as of yet.

At the scene Monday, emergency personnel said the man, who has not been identified, was driving east, toward Nesquehoning and about a quarter mile from the intersection with Route 309, drove off the south side of the road.

The car, a Nissan Altima, continued through two yards along the south side of the road before crossing Lafayette Avenue and driving onto a lawn at 41 Lafayette Ave.

The car continued through the grass and slammed through the side of a garage attached to the single story house.

Firefighters assisted in getting the man out of the car and after being evaluated by EMS, he was turned over to township police.

No one inside the home was injured.

Firefighters from Hometown and Ryan Township worked at the scene with the assistance of the Tamaqua Rescue Squad, Tamaqua EMS and Lehighton ALS.

Hometown fire police assisted with slowing down traffic on Route 54 in the area of the crash for the safety of firefighters.

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

McAdoo police charged a Hazleton man with attempted murder after a dispute over a taxi fare early Sunday morning.

Francis Toca, 38, was charged with attempted murder of the third degree, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and simple assault. He was committed to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Police said they responded to a report of a gunshot victim in the unit block of West Blaine Street at 5:19 a.m. Sunday and found the victim on the garage floor.

The victim told police he called Latino Taxi Service for a ride to McAdoo and when arriving, his debit/credit card would not go through for the fare.

An argument ensued and the driver, identified as Toca, produced a firearm and shot the victim, police said.

Police found a 9 mm shell casing along with a holster for a semi-automatic pistol.

Video surveillance shows the taxi parking at 4:20 a.m. and two people exiting the vehicle, police said. A conflict ensues, the victim was shot and the taxi left the area, driving directly in front of the borough police station without stopping, police said. The other person who exited the vehicle verified the victim’s story.

On Monday, McAdoo police received a call from Toca’s wife, who said he was driving the taxi and picked up the victim and another passenger. They argued with Toca, saying they weren’t going to pay, put on masks and put their hands in their pockets as if they had guns, police said. Toca got out of the vehicle and the passengers ran away, she told police.

Toca came to the McAdoo Police Department on Monday and was taken into custody.

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