POTTSVILLE — Students in Schuylkill County polished their reading skills Tuesday at Trinity Episcopal Church.

About 30 children in grades Pre-K through third read books, practiced placing letters on cards and saying a word that starts with the letter and listened to Jared Gerace, principal of John S. Clarke Elementary Center, read a book. Children also had breakfast and lunch.

This is the second year for the Summer Reading Camp, which is made possible by grants from various organizations. The camp started Monday and runs through Friday.

“We just feel that it’s a real important need in the community,” Barb Tokarz, a member of the church, said about the program.

She said “(reading) comprehension is a big problem for a lot of kids. If reading is hard for them, it’s not something they are going to do.”

By focusing on keeping their skills up to date, the children are less likely to fall behind at school, Tokarz said.

The children were split up into rooms according to grade level. Each did an age appropriate activity.

In one room, children pronounced a word mentioned in a story they had read.

Dominic Reppert, 5, correctly pronounced the word “flip-flops” when given a sheet with the name. He likes to read “Thomas the Tank Engine” books.

Children in another room, used red tweezers to pick plastic letters from a game and put them on a card with the letter.

Henry Wicker, 5, who goes to Blue Mountain Elementary West, picked a “Q.” He said the word “queen.”

Lucas Reigle, 6, who attends Assumption BVM School, picked the letter “L.” He said his first name.

Older children wrote on cloth bookbags with markers in another room.

At 11:30 a.m., Gerace and Tokarz asked the children questions before Gerace read the book “Oliver and Hope’s Adventure Under the Stars.”

Children had a wide variety of answers when asked what Gerace does as principal.

“What does a principal do?” Tokarz said.

“He helps people,” one student said.

Another said if they are in trouble they see Gerace. One child said he does paperwork.

“Do you think Dr. Gerace ever goes home? Tokarz said.

“He lives in the office,” one child said.

“Where does he sleep?” Tokarz said.

More than one child said sleeps on his chair.

Children listened intently as Gerace read. He said the characters in the story “were all scared in the beginning and it was dark” but they became more comfortable and felt safe as time went on.

Tokarz said parents will have the opportunity to attend the camp this week and learn how to help their children with reading. Each child will also get to select a book. An application for a library card for the children was sent home earlier in the month if they didn’t have one. The children will visit the Pottsville Free Public Library on Thursday.

Tokarz said parents appreciate the help.

Gerace said efforts like this one are fundamental in continuing the building blocks of learning important for academic success.

“This is great for kids,” he said.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

RINGTOWN — Borough Council President Julian Milewski announced at Monday’s meeting that the paperwork on the sale of the former Ringtown Area Elementary Center has been completed.

“Council members, when you look at the general checking account, your eyes might pop out and you might think you’re hallucinating. The Ringtown school building has been sold to a new owner and we are no longer owners,” Milewski said during the financial report.

At the June meeting, it was announced that a buyer, Omsai Com, LLC, Chantilly, Virginia, was found for the former school building. The company offered to purchase the property at the appraised price of $109,000. The council unanimously accepted the offer, which was the only one received.

The sale removes a 10-year financial burden from the borough. The property includes the building that had served from the early 1900s as the Ringtown High School, and, after the formation of the North Schuylkill School District, became the Ringtown Area Elementary Center until it was closed in 2009 by the school district. Due to a reverter clause in the agreement between the borough and school district, the property was returned to the borough when it was no longer used as a school building.

Since the transfer, the borough has been responsible for the costs involved in insuring and maintaining the 3.9-acre property on North Hancock Street, which includes the 24,094-square-foot building and sports fields.

Borough solicitor S. John Price provided details about the sale in his report.

“As I had explained briefly during the workshop, the sale was concluded today. We closed in escrow, meaning that when the certified checks clear, we will record the deed and move ahead,” Price said. “For the record, Julian and I were present. In their presence, I instructed the buyer to make sure to get insurance coverage. He said he would do that right away.”

Price said the net proceeds to the borough were $100,718.75, which is the purchase price of $109,000 minus the down payment of $5,000 and attorney/legal costs of $3,281.25.

Price and Milewski thanked Alfred Benesch & Co. project manager Jacqueline Peleschak for her technical assistance in the process that led to the property sale.

In the engineering report, Peleschak said she was meeting with representatives from H&K Group Inc., of Skippack, on Tuesday for a pre-construction meeting for this year’s road program. H&K was awarded the project with a low bid of $97,899.13, which was accepted by the council at its June 10 meeting. The project will repair seven sections of four different streets.

“Once I get some more information, I will let everyone know when they plan to start,” Peleschak said.

Borough Foreman Scott Schuetrum said he had been in contact with state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry District 18 service forester Steve Ziegler about his ongoing feasibility study of borough-owned land for possible timbering the saw logs from the watershed area. Ziegler’s study will determine if there is enough sustainable regrowth to allow the borough to move forward with a possible timber sale.

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

POTTSVILLE — More than 200 volunteers will do their part to make sure the 190th Yuengling celebration on Saturday is a smooth one.

On Tuesday, they met at the Yuengling Gift Shop on Mahantongo Street to receive parking passes, a T-shirt, free beer and instructions.

“I appreciate the outpouring of support for the event,” Savas Logothetides, executive director of the Pottsville Area Development Corp., told the crowd.

He said the event has been seven months in the making. Festivities start at 1 p.m. More than 80 vendors will be in attendance, and there will be beer gardens featuring three Yuengling beers: Lager, Light Lager and Golden Pilsner.

Local businesses will also be open. The band Better Than Ezra plays at 8 p.m. at Progress Avenue and Laurel Boulevard. Fireworks follow at 9:30 p.m.

“The weather looks beautiful. It’s going to be a great event,” Logothetides said.

Dennis Maskerines, 34, of Pottsville, is volunteering at a beer garden. He is “super excited. Super excited,” to see Better Than Ezra. He watched them play at a bar in Baltimore, Maryland, years ago.

“They were very good,” he said.

Maskerines was drinking Golden Pilsner on Tuesday. He plans to drink some beer and watch the concert Saturday.

Hugh Reiley, Pottsville, is also volunteering at a beer garden. His plans are similar to Maskerines’.

Reiley is counting down the days to the big bash.

“I’m very excited about it,” he said. “I think it’s a great event for Pottsville and Schuylkill County.”

Organizers said thousands could attend the festivities.

Sherri Young, 56 of Exeter, Berks County, and her husband, Todd, 55, are also volunteering at a beer garden. Young said she noticed the event on Facebook.

“I thought it would be fun,” she said.

Sherri Young has heard of Better Than Ezra but doesn’t have any favorite songs. However, she is a fan of Yuengling beer.

“I’m a Lager girl,” she said.

Sherry Young plans to spend a large part of the day in the city Saturday.

“We are here the whole day. We are going to be seeing the fireworks and everything. I am excited,” she said.

Logothetides hopes those visiting to Pottsville have similar plans.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

POTTSVILLE — A Saint Clair woman is headed to state prison after a Schuylkill County judge sentenced her on Tuesday for a theft she committed in September 2017 in her hometown.

Danielle L. Petrozino, 28, must spend six to 24 months in a state correctional institution, Judge Charles M. Miller decided.

“A lot of (young) people who are passing away are” doing so because of drugs, Miller told Petrozino, who sat through Tuesday’s hearing wearing a prison jumpsuit. “It seems like you’re on that trail.”

Miller sentenced Petrozino after revoking her probation, which the defendant admitted violating by failing to report to her supervising officer, failing three drug tests and not making payments on her costs and fees.

Petrozino originally pleaded guilty on June 13, 2018, to theft, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of receiving stolen property. Miller placed her on probation for 24 months, concurrent with her existing sentence, and also sentenced her to pay costs, a $100 fine, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $223 restitution.

Saint Clair police charged Petrozino with committing the theft on Sept. 5, 2017.

Petrozino admitted going home instead of to rehabilitation.

“I had this gut feeling that my mother wasn’t doing well,” she said in trying to justify her conduct.

However, she also said she used methamphetamine regularly, and Miller saw this as a crucial factor.

“You’re right; you need help, and you’re not getting it here,” he said. “You’re thumbing your nose at the court.”

Also on Tuesday, Melissa A. Grady, 37, of Shenandoah, will miss the birth of her grandchild, as Miller revoked her probation and sentenced her to serve four to 12 months in prison.

“She’s due on July 14,” Grady said of her 15-year-old daughter in asking Miller for early parole.

However, Miller said Grady did not deserve consideration.

“I don’t know whether you’re a good influence on your daughter,” he said. “You haven’t been there for your daughter in the past. You put yourself in this position.”

Grady, who sat through Tuesday’s hearing wearing a prison jumpsuit, pleaded guilty on March 14, 2018, to possession of drug paraphernalia, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of driving an unregistered vehicle. At that time, Miller placed her on 12 months probation, and also sentenced her to pay costs.

Girardville police charged Grady with possessing paraphernalia on May 6, 2017, in the borough.

Also going to prison will be Phillip G. Brinich, 39, of Tamaqua, whom Miller sentenced to serve four to 12 months in prison and undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation.

“You acted like a child,” Miller told Brinich. “It’s about time you grow up. Be a dad to your child.”

Before sentencing Brinich, Miller revoked his probation, which the defendant admitted violating by using drugs.

Brinich originally pleaded guilty on Dec. 11, 2018, before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua, to possession of drug paraphernalia. On Jan. 15, Bayer placed him on probation for 12 months, and also sentenced him to pay costs and $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund.

Tamaqua police charged him with possessing paraphernalia on Aug. 23, 2018, in the borough.

In another Tuesday case, Miller revoked the parole of Lantz L. Lane, 27, of Mahanoy City, and recommitted him to prison. Lane cannot apply for reparole until Sept. 29, Miller ruled.

Lane, who admitted violating the terms of his parole by failing to report to his supervising officer, using drugs and not making any payments on his costs and fees, originally pleaded guilty on March 14, 2018, to terroristic threats and resisting arrest, with prosecutors withdrawing two additional counts each of terroristic threats and resisting arrest, six counts of disorderly conduct and one count each of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness.

At that time, Miller placed Lane on probation for 23 months, and also sentenced him to pay costs and a $50 CJEA payment.

Mahanoy City police charged Lane with committing his crimes on Nov. 5, 2016, in the borough.

Miller revoked his probation on Aug. 1, 2018, and sentenced him to spend three to 12 months in prison plus an additional 11 months on probation.

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

MAHANOY CITY — A borough man was jailed late Monday charged by Mahanoy City police with threatening several people with a handgun during a domestic disturbance at his home.

George Hampton, 49, of 121 E. Pine St., was charged with seven counts each of terroristic threats and recklessly endangering another person, two counts of harassment and one count each of possessing instruments of crime, simple assault and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

Hampton was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post 10 percent of $25,000 bail.

Patrolman Thomas Rentschler charged Hampton following a 5:05 p.m. incident involving his ex-girlfriend, Taylor Newton, and several other people.

Rentschler said Newton was at the home with six other people removing her belongings because her relationship with Hampton had recently ended.

Police said Newton told them that she went to the home while Hampton was at work and she and the others, including Samantha Sapp, were almost finished when he returned.

Rentschler said Newton was upstairs and came down to find Hampton physically fighting with Sapp, pushing her and knocking her to the ground before she was able to run out of the house after suffering injuries to her lip, left elbow and an area near her eye.

Once everyone was out of the house, Rentschler said Hampton retrieved a .357 caliber revolver, exited the building holding the weapon, waiving it in the air and pointing it at Newton and her friends while making threats at them.

Hampton fled the area but was quickly apprehended by incoming officers after police Chief Mark Wiekrykas identified a vehicle familiar to the man that was being driven away from the scene.

When interviewed, Hampton told police he arrived at the home and attempted to stop Newton from leaving but a melee occurred with people fighting.

The man also initially denied having a firearm but then admitted getting the gun from a closet, going into the street and putting the gun into the air.

Rentschler said Hampton went on to say that once in the street, he said to himself, “What am I doing?” and gave the weapon to someone but that he did not remember who that was.

When asked about injuring Sapp, Rentschler said Hampton told him he may have but that he blacks out.

Hampton will now have to answer to the charges against at a preliminary hearing before Magisterial Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

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

Woman not injured after hitting pole

SACRAMENTO — A Sacramento woman escaped injury when the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox she was driving crashed on Route 25, West Main Street, in Hubley Township around 4:40 a.m. Thursday.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Bethany A. Eaton, 23, was driving east when she fell asleep, went off of the road and struck a utility pole.

After hitting the pole, police said, the woman’s vehicle continued for about 30 feet before hitting a culvert and coming to a stop.

As a result of the crash, police said, Eaton will be cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic.

State police seek lawnmower thief

RINGTOWN — State police at Frackville are investigating a theft that happened on Ringtown Boulevard in Union Township between 11 a.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

Police said a 52-year-old Frackville man reported arriving at 289 Ringtown Boulevard to work on a home under construction and found his lawn mower was stolen.

The lawn mower is described a red Zero-Turn Ferris unit with a 52-inch mowing deck.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-874-5300.

3 arrested after pool disturbance

POTTSVILLE — Pottsville police charged two men and a juvenile girl after officers responded to a disturbance at the JFK Pool around 3:15 p.m. Thursday.

At the scene, Patrolman Braden Jones spoke to a pool employee who reported a 17-year-old Pottsville girl was continuously cursing in the public area of the pool and became very angry when asked to stop using offensive language in the area of young children.

The girl was then told by an employee that if she did not stop her behavior, she would have to leave the property, but when the employee turned around, the girl struck him from behind with a closed fist on the side of his face, police said.

William Eiler, 18, and Jason Eiler, 35, both of Pottsville, began to create a disturbance by using offensive language in the vicinity of young children and their parents, causing public inconvenience, annoyance and alarm to those at the pool.

As a result of the incident, William and Jason Eiler as well as the teenager were charged with disorderly conduct and the teenager also charged with harassment.

All three have also been banned from the pool property, police said.

Deeds

Branch Township — Randall Mizzer and C. Craig Mizzer to Taylor F. Kelly; 1056 Maple St., West West Terrace; $75,000.

Brenda Bruce to Craig J. and Joan M. Rothermel; 631 Pine Hill St.; $1.

Cass Township — Jordan Oakill to Jordan and Jocelyn Oakill; 65 Hilltop Terrace; $1.

Cressona — Evangelista Home LLC to David E. Mullins Sr.; 75 Front St.; $109,900.

Carolee Enders, administratrix of the Estate of Andrea Long, to Paul Eckenroth Jr.; 49 Ash St.; $64,900.

James L. and Joelle L. Shaak to CACL Fedral Credit Union; 75 Wilder St.; $1.

Delano Township — Chad T. Fegley to Chad T. and Jennifer L. Fegley; 0.5-acre property on State Route 1012; $1.

David T. and Mary Ann Osenbach to David M. and Stacie Lynn Folk; 0.0405-acre property on Birch Street, Delano; $1.

East Brunswick Township — Christopher M. Eckroth to Eugene and Joann Eckroth; 2.832-acre property on Summer Valley Road; $1.

Frackville — Alycia M. Yost and Kyle J. Rondeau to Mary E. Oshman and Alicia M. Petritsch; 533 W. Morris St.; $25,000.

Girardville — Peter Oswald and John Oswald to Peter Oswald; 104 William St.; $1.

Mahanoy City — Steven J. Gnall, executor of the Last Will & Testament of Steven Gnall, to Maria Troncoso de Alejo; 117 S. Main St.; $18,200.

McAdoo — Florence E. Pasda, executrix of the Estate of Irene Megasko, to William A. Colon, by attorney in fact Madelyn Colon; property; $50,000.

Middleport — Jennifer L. Fegley to Chad T. and Jennifer L. Fegley; 12 Oak St.; $1.

Minersville — Taylor F. Kelly to C. Craig Mizzer; 308 South St.; $1.

Mount Carbon — Carol E. Hahn, Karen K. Bondura, Linda L. Letcher, Beth Ann Landis and Mary Jo Dunn to Karen K. and David R. Bondura; property on Main Street; $1.

New Castle Township — John W. Higgins to Jubilee Ministries Inc.; 117 Chestnut St., Arnot’s Addition; $1.

North Union Township — Gerry D. Main and Martha C. Main, trustees of The M/G Main Trust, to Richard and Marcie Beauchamp; Lot 179WS, Eagle Rock; $250,000.

Gerry D. Main and Martha C. Main, trustees of The M/G Main Trust, to Richard and Marcie Beauchamp; 50-percent interest in Lot 178WS, Eagle Rock; $1.

Orwigsburg — Stanley S. and Mary Lee Peyakovich to Danielle L. McNichol, trustee of the Peyakovich Family Irrevocable Trust; 622 Hope Ave.; $1.

Betty Hill Keenan, by attorney in fact Timothy D. Hill, to Thomas E. Badger; 528 Lantern Green Way; $142,500.

Pine Grove — Diane S. Krammes and Sally A. Modesto, co-executrices of the Estate of Annetta P. Freeman, to Sandra Dee Price; 54 Carbon St.; $58,500.

Pine Grove Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Wells Fargo Bank NA; 40 Nut Grove Road; $1,333.20.

Port Carbon — Kenneth R. Jr. and Katrina M. Marx to Katrina M. Marx; 501 Oak St.; $1.

Pottsville — Dale F. Marks to Michael A. Montgomery; 1536 Mount Hope Ave.; $50,000.

JGS LLC to John and Maureen Challenger and JCPB LLC; 116-118 N. Centre St.; $105,000.

Jared W. and Rosemary C. Stanley to Ronald Rauch; 2034 W. Market St.; $142,900.

Kit Cheuk and Yeung Tung Poon to Sandra L. Murton; 1206 Laurel Blvd.; $50,000.

Rush Township — David G. Jr. and Bethann Mazaika to Thomas W. Jr. and Jessica Ann Paisley; 4.602-acre property on East Main Street, Quakake; $1.

South Manheim Township — Jeffrey A. and Debra Davis to Debra Davis; 1506 Summer Hill Road; $1.

Tamaqua — Larry G. Gleockler and Jeff Cleockler to Jeff Gordon Gleockler; 499 Boyle Ave.;$1.

Tremont — Edward G. Jr. and Virginia L. Wallace to Alan E. and Lori Ann Celmer; 1-B Good Spring St.; $78,000.

Tremont Township — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to George E. Warren LLC; 53.6-acre property; $1.

George E. Warren LLC to Anthracite Upland Pointing Dog Association; 53.6-acre property; $1.

Union Township — Reading R/W Co. Inc. to Eugene C. Stankavage; 321 Pattersonville Road; $7,000.

Wayne Township — Eugene I. Mease to Lake Wynonah Property Owners’ Association; 523 Coyote Drive, Lake Wynonah; $5,798.

Kurt O. Greenawalt, Bret L. Greenawalt and Lane A. Greenawalt to Green Street Management LLC; 1360 Long Run Road, Friedensburg; $245,000.

West Brunswick Township — Connie J. Kodash, Marlin F. Bachert, Gary L. Bachert and Cindy L. Krammes, individually and as co-executors of the Last Will & Testament of Raymond F. Bachert, to Jonathan C. and Nicole M. Hart; 403 Tunnel Road; $205,000.

Connie J. Kodash, Marlin F. Bachert, Gary L. Bachert and Cindy L. Krammes, individually and as co-executors of the Last Will & Testament of Raymond F. Bachert, to Jonathan C. and Nicole M. Hart; 10.2127-acre property; $25,000.

Elizabethville

The Elizabethville Area Historical Society, 100 E. Main St., will have open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 20. It will also be open the first and third Saturdays in August and September. The museum contains a Military/First Responder Room, Bender information, military uniforms, pictures of the area from the early 20th century, artifacts and antiques, according to a society release. The library has many books on local history and genealogy. Those who cannot visit during scheduled hours should call 717-362-8991 to make other arrangements. People may also visit the website http://www.elizabethvillehistory.org to learn about the society or go to Facebook, Elizabethville Area Historical Society.

Frackville

The Frackville Ministerium Food Bank will be open from 9 to 10 a.m. July 18. People should use the downstairs entrance on South Beech Street. New recipients will need proof of a Frackville Borough address. For more information, email zionfrack@gmail.com.

Orwigsburg

An all-day dine-out at DiMaio’s Mustard Seed Café, 110 E. Market St., will be held from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 17 to benefit the Orwigsburg Area Free Public Library. The café will donate a portion of its proceeds for the day to the library. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-366-1638. More information about the library is available online at www.orwigsburglibrary.org.

Orwigsburg

The Orwigsburg Kite Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Blue Mountain Middle School recreation fields with free kites, face painting, arts and crafts, live music, a photo booth, balloon animals, food, Market Square Coffee House, ice cream and other activities. Participants may also bring their own kites. Presenters include The Arts Barn, State Farm Josh Rex Agency and the Blue Mountain Recreation Commission, according to an event flier. All are welcome.

Pottsville

The First Baptist Church, 701 Mahantongo St., will have a free movie night and snacks beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday. The feature will be the movie “The Encounter.” All are welcome; children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, call 570-581-3084.

Schuylkill Haven

The Cressona Band will perform in concert from 7 to 8:30 p.m. July 17 at Bubeck Park. The event is free, and people are welcome to bring lawn chairs to enjoy the show. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-622-8784.

Shenandoah

A Novena in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel will begin on Thursday with the Mass at 8 a.m. each day in Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Church, Cherry and Chestnut streets. The final Mass will be at 9:30 a.m. July 21 followed by the traditional Our Lady of Mount Carmel Procession through the streets of Shenandoah. The 7:30 and 10 a.m. Masses on July 21 will be at Divine Mercy Church rather than at the St. Casmir Sacred Worship Site due to the procession. The weekly Spanish Mass will be held at 11 a.m. in Divine Mercy.

Tamaqua

A cancer benefit Chinese auction for Wanda Neifert Johannides, sponsored by concerned classmates and friends, will be held July 21 in the private dining room inside Leiby’s Restaurant, South Tamaqua. The event, according to a release from Barbara Weaver, will go from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. People are invited to “stop by and show support for this family,” organizers said in the release. Tickets for the basket drawings will be sold the day of the event. Winners will be drawn at 2 p.m. and need not be present. For more information, call 570-225-1718.

Tamaqua

The Tamaqua Area High School “Blue Raiders” Band will hold summer rehearsals for all instrumentalists on the following times and dates: 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday and 23. Drum line rehearsals will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. July 18 and 25. The band’s annual Old and New Night will be held July 30. New members of the band will rehearse from 4 to 6 p.m.; all instrumentalists will rehearse from 6 to 8 p.m. Band camp will begin at 8 a.m. Aug. 5. All rehearsals will take place in the band room.

RINGTOWN – Authorities said the case of a fire that destroyed a Ringtown landmark business early Wednesday morning may never be determined.

Ringtown Fire and Rescue Company Chief Joseph Gilbert Jr. said firefighters were called at 1:11 a.m. to the Ringtown Mill and Hardware business at 655 N. Main St. and met with heavy flames coming from an area of the building that housed a silo and grain operation.

Even before getting to the scene Gilbert said he knew firefighters would have their hands full.

“I called a working fire when I left my house,” Gilbert said. “I could see it (the flames) walking out my door.”

Gilbert said the fire went to two alarms with a further three alarms sounding for tanker trucks to supplement the supply of water for battling the great amount of fire.

The chief said that crews first considered entering the building but quickly decided on a defensive strategy because flames were spreading through the remainder of the structure that housed the hardware store.

A second try to attack the fire was quickly recalled as well.

“By the time we made the second offensive decision, it was already gone,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert said he has been in contact with state police fire marshal Trooper John F. Burns of the Frackville station.

After conferring with Burns, Gilbert said the exact cause of the fire may never be determined due to the amount of fire damage and collapsing sections of the silo and hardware store parts of the building.

“At this point, I’m calling it undermined,” he said.

Gilbert and Ringtown Borough road foreman Scott Schuetrum said the loss of the grain business and hardware store will be felt throughout the Ringtown valley.

He said the business carried a variety of items ranging from grain and food for cows, horses, dogs, cats and more to hardware items including nuts and bolts, car batteries and other items that people would have had to travel miles to get.

“We (Ringtown borough) got most of the things we needed there, we always try and support the local businesses,” Schuetrum said. “They had almost everything you needed, it was a one stop shop.”

Ron Hinderliter, a member of the Ringtown fire company and longtime valley resident, also said the inventory of the business was fantastic.

“They had the stuff,” he said. “A lot of people around here will be missing it.”

He said farmers from throughout the Ringtown Valley were customers of Ringtown Mill and Hardware.

Gilbert said the owner of the business – Jason Muraczewski – had insurance on the building but that he was not sure whether or not he plans to rebuild.

Gilbert said firefighters were able to contain the fire around 2:30 a.m. and eventually bring it under control around 4 a.m.

All fire units officially cleared the scene just after 7:30 a.m.

Gilbert said no one was inside the building at the time of the fire and that no injuries were reported.

Firefighters from Ringtown and various other communities in Schuylkill County responded to the fire along with fire units from neighboring Columbia and Northumberland counties.

fandruscavage@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6013

ORWIGSBURG — Law enforcement authorities will be searching for a Schuylkill Haven woman who did not appear Tuesday for her preliminary hearing on a charge she possessed a stolen purse in February in North Manheim Township.

Mikayla L. Ganter, 20, of 36 E. William St., still faces a charge of receiving stolen property. Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier ruled after the hearing that prosecutors produced sufficient evidence to support the charge and ordered it held for court.

Ferrier then asked the court to issue a bench warrant for Ganter, who had been free on $2,500 unsecured bail before the hearing.

State police at Schuylkill Haven alleged that Ganter possessed a stolen Michael Kors purse, valued at $400, around 6 p.m. Feb. 27 in the parking lot of the Giant supermarket, 1544 S. Route 61, Cressona Mall.

Police said the owner of the purse, Devan Degrassi, told them the purse had been stolen from her vehicle on April 16, 2018. According to police, Degrassi told them she saw the purse on sale on March 4 on Facebook, and set up the meeting with Ganter.

As soon as Degrassi saw the purse, she knew it was hers because of a mark on it, police said.

Ganter admitted that she learned in August 2018 that the purse had been stolen, although she did not know where it was from, police said.

However, police said Ganter did identify the man who gave her the purse and a different man who stole it.

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

Deeds

New Castle Township — John W. Higgins to Jubilee Ministries Inc.; 117 Chestnut St., Arnot’s Addition; $1.

North Union Township — Gerry D. Main and Martha C. Main, trustees of The M/G Main Trust, to Richard and Marcie Beauchamp; Lot 179WS, Eagle Rock; $250,000.

Gerry D. Main and Martha C. Main, trustees of The M/G Main Trust, to Richard and Marcie Beauchamp; 50 percent interest in Lot 178WS, Eagle Rock; $1.

Orwigsburg — Stanley S. and Mary Lee Peyakovich to Danielle L. McNichol, trustee of the Peyakovich Family Irrevocable Trust; 622 Hope Ave.; $1.

Betty Hill Keenan, by attorney in fact Timothy D. Hill, to Thomas E. Badger; 528 Lantern Green Way; $142,500.

Pine Grove — Diane S. Krammes and Sally A. Modesto, co-executrices of the Estate of Annetta P. Freeman, to Sandra Dee Price; 54 Carbon St.; $58,500.

Pine Grove Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Wells Fargo Bank NA; 40 Nut Grove Road; $1,333.20.

Port Carbon — Kenneth R. Jr. and Katrina M. Marx to Katrina M. Marx; 501 Oak St.; $1.

Pottsville — Dale F. Marks to Michael A. Montgomery; 1536 Mount Hope Ave.; $50,000.

JGS LLC to John and Maureen Challenger and JCPB LLC; 116-118 N. Centre St.; $105,000.

Jared W. and Rosemary C. Stanley to Ronald Rauch; 2034 W. Market St.; $142,900.

Kit Cheuk and Yeung Tung Poon to Sandra L. Murton; 1206 Laurel Blvd.; $50,000.

Rush Township — David G. Jr. and Bethann Mazaika to Thomas W. Jr. and Jessica Ann Paisley; 4.602-acre property on East Main Street, Quakake; $1.

South Manheim Township — Jeffrey A. and Debra Davis to Debra Davis; 1506 Summer Hill Road; $1.

Tamaqua — Larry G. Gleockler and Jeff Cleockler to Jeff Gordon Gleockler; 499 Boyle Ave.;$1.

Tremont — Edward G. Jr. and Virginia L. Wallace to Alan E. and Lori Ann Celmer; 1-B Good Spring St.; $78,000.

Tremont Township — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to George E. Warren LLC; 53.6-acre property; $1.

George E. Warren LLC to Anthracite Upland Pointing Dog Association; 53.6-acre property; $1.

Union Township — Reading R/W Co. Inc. to Eugene C. Stankavage; 321 Pattersonville Road; $7,000.

Wayne Township — Eugene I. Mease to Lake Wynonah Property Owners’ Association; 523 Coyote Drive, Lake Wynonah; $5,798.

Kurt O. Greenawalt, Bret L. Greenawalt and Lane A. Greenawalt to Green Street Management LLC; 1360 Long Run Road, Friedensburg; $245,000.

West Brunswick Township — Connie J. Kodash, Marlin F. Bachert, Gary L. Bachert and Cindy L. Krammes, individually and as co-executors of the Last Will & Testament of Raymond F. Bachert, to Jonathan C. and Nicole M. Hart; 403 Tunnel Road; $205,000.

Connie J. Kodash, Marlin F. Bachert, Gary L. Bachert and Cindy L. Krammes, individually and as co-executors of the Last Will & Testament of Raymond F. Bachert, to Jonathan C. and Nicole M. Hart; 10.2127-acre property; $25,000.

James R. Ferrier

ORWIGSBURG — Already facing charges in connection with an alleged sex-related incident, an Auburn man has more legal problems after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday for allegedly stealing items in May from a West Brunswick Township store.

Taquale Davis, 26, of 470 E. Deer View Drive, is charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, retail theft and public drunkenness. Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound over the charges for court after Davis waived his right to the hearing.

State police at Schuylkill Haven alleged Davis and a juvenile stole beef jerky and cigars from the Auburn Food Mart, 2087 Market St., at 7:56 p.m. May 25. The items had a total value of $7.74, police said.

Davis ran from the store and actively resisted arrest, police said.

Police said they found six cigars on Davis, while the beef jerky was found on the juvenile. Davis also had the smell of an alcoholic beverage emanating from him, according to police.

Police said video surveillance tapes show Davis and the juvenile committing the theft.

Ferrier set bail at $5,000 unsecured in this case; however, Davis is in prison on unrelated charges.

Davis is charged with indecent assault, strangulation and two counts of harassment in another case, in which state police at Schuylkill Haven allege that on April 6, he approached a 12-year-old girl in Auburn, touched her inappropriately and began to choke her. In that case, he is scheduled for a bail hearing at 9:30 a.m. Friday before Judge James P. Goodman.

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

Joseph J. Carretta, 20, of 13 Marsha Drive, Cressona; two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count each of possession of a small amount of marijuana, driving under the influence, careless driving, violation of restrictions on alcoholic beverages and improper driving without headlights; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Kevin E. Garger, 63, of 573 Stony Lane, New Ringgold; DUI and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Danielle M. Mengel, 36, of 433 Hess St., Schuylkill Haven; DUI and texting while driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Patrick J. Minnig, 28, of 1308 Howard Ave., Pottsville; DUI, possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under suspension, driving without a license and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Jordan Pelachick, 27, of 117 Parkway, Schuylkill Haven; two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of possession of a controlled substance; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Dennis C. Shafe, 34, of 535 E. Norwegian St., Pottsville; DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under suspension-DUI related, driving without a license and failure to stop at red signal; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Daisy Jo Solomon, 38, of 210 E. Market St., Orwigsburg; terroristic threats, theft, simple assault and two counts of harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of terroristic threats withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Anita M. Thirkeldsen, 53, of 36 W. Adamsdale Road, Schuylkill Haven; DUI, failure to carry registration, failure to carry license, failure to notify of change of address and disregarding traffic lane; charges held for court after preliminary hearing that Thirkeldsen failed to attend. Ferrier asked the court to issue a bench warrant for Thirkeldsen.

Tyrone K. Zancofsky, 55, of 65 Mahanoy St., Tamaqua; receiving stolen property and theft; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of receiving stolen property withdrawn, other charge bound over for court.

(Staff writer Peter

Bortner compiled this

report)

Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill E. Norwegian Street

To David Tavares and Jessica Revelette, Port Carbon, a son, June 25.

To Joseph and Nina Salvadore Delluso, Barnesville, a son, June 25.

To Alex Bulino and Ashley McNulty, Pottsville, a son, June 25.

The summer is a great time to help your local library. You have more free time and are looking to do something out of the house while the library is seeing more patron traffic in the warmer weather. Consider donating some of your staycation or other free time to help them with fun projects.

The Ashland Public Library is looking for some friendly folks to help them with a variety of tasks and programs such as helping clean after arts and crafts. Call Margaret at 570-875-3175.

The Mahanoy City Public Library is a hopping place this summer. You can help them with special projects like book sales, fundraisers or routine tasks. Call them at 570-773-1610.

The Minersville Public Library has a full calendar this summer and could use help with tasks from checking out books to helping with computers. The number is 570-544-5196.

The Orwigsburg Area Free Public Library is recruiting volunteers for day-to-day chores and for those to share their expertise for programs. Call them at 570-366-1638.

The Pottsville Free Public Library is always in need of volunteers to help with daily operations, special projects and events. They can be reached at 570-622-8880.

The Tamaqua Public Library is seeking motivated individuals to serve on its board of trustees. Ideal candidates have a heart for volunteer leadership with an interest in technology, finance, marketing/social media and building/property maintenance. Applicants are asked to submit a short letter of interest.

The Tower Porter Community Library has a wide range of duties that would be perfect for someone looking to give an hour or two per week, including typing. Call them at 717-647-4900.

These are just some of the library needs. Contact your library to see how you can lend a helping hand. Regardless of how you help, they and all the patrons who use their services, will be grateful for your kindness.

Sweet Arrow Lake and “Porcupine Pat” invite you to Sneak a Peek at the Creek at 10 a.m. Saturday. The program, recommended for kiddies ages 6 and older, is a good way to cool off and learn to better appreciate the aquatic critters in the creek. Search for mayflies, crayfish, water pennies and more. Meet in the clubhouse parking lot. All equipment is provided or you can bring your own. Call 570-345-8952 for details.

Lunch at the Library will be held at the Pottsville library daily at noon. Recommended for children ages 5 to 17, but younger children are welcome. Games, crafts and other activities will be provided. Register at least a day in advance by calling 570-622-8880.

It Takes Two will perform at 6:30 p.m. today at the Railroad Station as part of the Tamaqua Summer Concert Series. Take your blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the free concert.

Schuylkill on the Move invites you to join them at 8 a.m. Sunday for Bear Valley Adventure, a moderate 11-mile hike on the Bear Valley Loop to see Adams Rock, Bear Valley Swamp and various old mines. Meet west of the intersection of Gap Street and Bear Valley Road in Good Spring. Email questions to porcupinepat@yahoo.com.

“Little Shop of Horrors” will be presented at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center at 7 p.m. July 19 and at 2 and 7 p.m. July 20. You won’t want to miss this toe-tapping musical for adults. Get info and order tickets at www.tamaquaarts.net or www.tamaquaarts.thundertix.com, or by calling 570-668-1192.

Summer Concert Series in the ‘Ville continues its musical series with a concert by Gleasons Drift at 5 p.m. July 21 in Joulwan Park. Food trucks will be available and BYOB to this pet-friendly concert.

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

A jackpot-winning state lottery Cash 5 ticket sold for the Tuesday, July 9 drawing matched all five balls drawn, 04 -10-15-17-39, to win $300,000. C&C Candies and Country Store, Friedensburg, earned a $500 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

According to the lottery, winners can only be identified after they claim their prizes and their tickets validated. Cash 5 prizes expire one year from the drawing date.

The lottery encourages the winning ticket holder to sign the ticket, and call them at 717-702-8146 and file a claim at the nearest Lottery office

More than 26,000 other Cash 5 tickets also won prizes in the drawing, according to the state lottery. Players are encouraged to check their ticket every time and claim lower-tier prizes at a lottery retailer.

Information can be found on palottery.com to review how much money each county receives in lottery prizes and funding to benefit older Pennsylvanians.

Here’s the schedule of activities for Yuengling’s 190th anniversary celebration Saturday in Pottsville.

Food, beer, vendors

• 1 to 6 p.m.: Food and 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.: Food, artisan vendors on Progress Avenue.

• 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, Main Stage.

• 9:30 to 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.

POTTSVILLE — The woman charged with stealing more than $97,000 from the Schuylkill County Council for the Arts had charges against her held for court during a brief preliminary hearing Wednesday.

Caroline Coyle, 54, of 109 Arlene St., Minersville, appeared before Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley on charges of theft, receiving stolen property, forgery, identity theft and unlawful use of a computer, all felony offenses.

After hearing testimony from the arresting officer, Pottsville police Patrolman Grant Yoder, Reiley determined the commonwealth proved a prima facie case and ordered all charges held for Schuylkill County Court.

In county court, Coyle can plead guilty or enter a not guilty plea and request a jury trial.

Before making his ruling, Reiley agreed to a stipulation to Coyle’s $75,000 unsecured bail made by deputy state attorney general Nathan Boob.

Boob asked the court to order Coyle not to have any contact with any past or present members of the SCCA board of directors.

Reiley approved the request excluding Coyle’s mother, Sandra Coyle, a former board member.

“I am not going to keep her from having contact with her mother,” the judge said.

He also told Caroline Coyle she is prohibited from being on any property owned by the SCCA.

In paperwork filed with the court, Yoder said he charged Caroline Coyle following an investigation that began in February when representatives of the SCCA, at 1440 Mahantongo St., reported the possible theft or misappropriation of funds.

During the investigation, Yoder said he learned that Coyle began receiving payments through the SCCA checking account.

From January 2014 to January 2019, Coyle received 223 payments totaling $97,932.25 while never being hired, employed or contracted by the SCCA, the investigation found.

Yoder said he also determined that multiple checks, which bore the signatures of a past executive director and board members, had been forged or altered by the payee.

Pottsville Police Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky said interviews conducted throughout the course of the investigation provided information that no one from SCCA had ever authorized the payments.

A subsequent review of all checks issued through the account further found that dozens of checks written by Coyle had been accounted for in expense reports as “accounts payable” to various companies.

Yoder confirmed with the companies that the information provided by Coyle in the reports was not accurate and had been falsified to cover the checks written to herself.

The case is being prosecuted by the state Attorney General’s Office due to a conflict of interest within the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office.

Coyle was represented by Attorney James Conville.

Conville briefly questioned Yoder but did not put his client on the stand to testify.

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

POTTSVILLE — Motorists in Port Clinton will get a new bridge in a couple years, as the Schuylkill County commissioners approved an agreement on Wednesday that will enable work to begin on the span that will carry Broad Street over the Little Schuylkill River.

The commissioners OK’d the submerged lands license agreement with the state Department of Environmental Protection that will allow the county to remove the existing piers for the bridge and install a new one.

“That’s been ongoing for a couple years,” County Administrator Gary R. Bender said of the plans for the replacement of County Bridge 123. “That’s part of the whole process. We’re getting ready to start.”

County Engineer Lisa Mahall also said work should start soon.

“We’re hoping we can commence with construction in 2020,” she said. “It will take a total of two construction seasons.”

Mahall said the bridge will be demolished one half at a time, with the other half kept open.

“There will not be a temporary bridge. We’re going to keep (one lane open). There will always be traffic. There will always be room.”

Mahall said pedestrians also will be able to use the bridge during the reconstruction, which is important because of the proximity of the Appalachian Trail to the site.

Engineering work for the project is done, Bender said.

Keeping the bridge at least partly open is mandatory for the well-being of Port Clinton, which is divided by the river, Mahall said.

“There is no detour available,” she said.

Bender said the phrase submerged lands license agreement is amusing but was not the county’s choice.

“That’s the wording that DEP likes to use,” he said.

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

POTTSVILLE — The following street closures are in effect for this weekend’s activities celebrating the 190th anniversary of Yuengling Brewery.

Starting at 6 a.m. Friday, portions of selected city streets will be closed. These streets will remain closed until approximately noon Sunday.

• Laurel Boulevard: from Centre Street to Terry Reiley Way (access to county services building parking lot and Progressive Vision Institute parking lot will be available until close of business Friday)

• Progress Avenue: from East Race Street to the U.S. postal facility (access to Progress Cleaners will be available until close of business Friday. The postal facility and Giant Markets will be accessible from Terry Reiley Way)

• Arch Street parking lot: closed.

Starting at 6 a.m. Saturday, the following streets will be closed and inaccessible to any vehicular traffic. These streets will be opened by approximately 8 p.m. Saturday:

• Mahantango Street: from South Sixth to South Second streets.

• South Second Street: from Mahantango to West Norwegian streets.

• North Second Street: from West Norwegian to West Market streets.

• West Norwegian Street: from North Centre to South Third streets.

Starting at 6 a.m. Saturday, the following streets will be closed and inaccessible to any vehicular traffic. These streets will be opened by approximately 6 a.m. Sunday:

• Progress Avenue: from East Norwegian Street to Giant Markets.

• Laurel Boulevard: from North Centre Street to Terry Reiley Way.

• East Race Street: from North Centre Street to Progress Avenue.

• East Arch Street: from North Centre Street to Terry Reiley Way.

• East Market Street: from North Centre Street to Progress Avenue.

• Capitol Parking Deck: closed. All vehicles must be removed.

Route 61, Route 209, North and South Centre streets and East and West Market streets may be congested during the event due to increased traffic, but will remain open to through traffic.

The Tamaqua Area school board will rescind a controversial policy that would allow teachers and other employees to voluntarily carry guns.

The move toward dropping Policy 705 came Tuesday during board committee meetings and just days after state lawmakers passed a bill that states teachers may not be armed.

District Superintendent Ray Kinder Jr. brought up the item toward the meeting’s end.

“I have one addition for the Security Committee. We are asking the Security Committee to approve rescinding Tamaqua Area School District Policy 705 effective immediately,” he said.

Director Nicholas Boyle, who championed the policy, said the Security Committee will reevaluate the policy in hopes of developing a plan that’s more in line with the new state law.

Under state legislation, only school police officers, school resource officers and school security guards who are trained are permitted to be armed.

“Pennsylvania law now makes it clear that teachers may not be armed,” said Gov. Tom Wolf, who signed the bill into law.

Tamaqua’s policy had been challenged legally by both the district’s teachers’ union and families in the community.

Security Committee members Boyle, board President Larry Wittig and Director Tom Rottet approved adding a motion to drop the policy to the board’s July agenda.

Directors will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the middle school’s large group instruction room.

Chris Lilienthal, assistant director of communications for the Pennsylvania State Education Association, said the Tamaqua Education Association is “very pleased” with the action of the school board Safety Committee.

“We are hopeful that the whole school board will vote as well to rescind the policy. We think it makes sense for the school board to reexamine the policy in light of the new amendments that were signed into law last week with the Pennsylvania School Code,” Lilienthal said. “We agree with Gov. Wolf’s assessment that these new amendments make it even more clear that school police officers, resource officers and security guards are considered security personnel who can be armed in a school building and as such it makes it clearer than ever that teachers may not be armed in school buildings.”

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