Ashland

Registrations to attend Trinity Academy in the Father Walter J. Ciszek Education Center, Cherry and Chestnut streets, Shenandoah, are being accepted. Trinity provides “a safe, respectful, Christ-centered environment for students in preschool through eighth grade,” according Catholic parish bulletin announcements. Trinity Academy 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. More information also is available online at www.trinitymatters.com.

Ashland

American Legion Post 434’s club room, 501 Centre St., will be open to the public selling hamburgers for $2.50 and cheeseburgers for $2.75 from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-590-1666.

Frackville

The Friendship Fire Company Auxiliary is taking reservations for an Atlantic City casino trip on Aug. 10. The bus will depart from the firehouse at 8 a.m. and from Atlantic City at 6 p.m. for the return trip. Participants will be dropped off at the Resorts Casino. The cost of the trip is $40. For more information, call Kathy Kraft at 570-874-3531.

Mahanoy City

The Good American Hose Company, 738 E. Mahanoy Ave., will have a free family movie night at 8 p.m. Saturday. People should bring a chair or a blanket and pillow to enjoy the show. There will be a free beverage and treat for kids 12 and younger. For more information, call 570-590-6215.

McAdoo

The borough secretary’s office has a change of hours. It closes at noon every third Tuesday of the month. There are no walk-in traffic and no calls accepted.

Minersville

The Minersville Area Historical Society will feature a historical program at 7 p.m. Aug. 15 at Mountaineer Hose Company Hall, Third and South streets. Dr. Thomas Boran Sr. will give a presentation about the Boran and Ward families civil and military highlights, including Civil War adventures of the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. Admission is free; all are welcome. For more information, call 570-544-9482.

Pottsville

A book signing by local author Harry Davis is set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Pottsville Free Public Library, 215 W. Market St. For more information, email Davis at davisharry692@gmail.com or call 570-622-5338. To reach the library, call 570-622-8880.

Shenandoah

A dine-out set for 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Vernalis Restaurant, 32 S. Main St., will benefit the Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society as the eatery will donate a portion of its proceeds, from all of its sales during the designated times, to the society. For more information, call Vernalis at 570-462-4115 or email society President Andrea Pytak at ampytak@netzero.net.

Summit Station

The Schuylkill County Fair is inviting local diesel and gas trucks and street semis for a track pull at 7 p.m. July 29 at the fairgrounds. General admission to the fair is $5 and free for children 10 and younger. Admission to the various pulls is $5. More information on the fair is available at its website, www.schuylkillfair.com. The 2019 fair runs July 29-Aug. 3. Fair information also is available from Kim Morgan by calling 570-739-2627 or emailing to kamorgan11@email.com.

Tamaqua

People are invited to an author celebration with the Black Diamond Writers’ Network and new local authors set for 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 24 at La Dolce Casa/DiMaggios, 16 W. Broad St., Tamaqua. The authors will be available to meet with people and to sign books. The network is a nonprofit Tamaqua-based writers’ group formed in 2006 to help members to achieve writing goals. The event cost is $14.95, and there will be a light supper of various pizzas and salad. For more information, call Anna Getz at 570-645-2717 or go to the network’s website at www.blackdiamondwritersnetwork.org.

Ava, the dog lost during a fatal crash on Interstate 78 in Berks County, last month has been found.

A Facebook update posted Tuesday by Nicole Buglino, a family member of those involved in the crash, said the dog was found today.

The dog escaped after a June 30 car crash in Greenwich Township, Berks County. Two men from Auburn, Nicholas Winter Sr., 56, and Nicholas J. Winter, 26, were killed when the 2018 Jeep Wrangler that Nicholas Winter was driving was hit from behind by a 2012 Chevrolet Captiva driven by Christopher Allen Cornelius, 41, of Kentucky. Lisa Winter, 55, of Auburn, a passenger in the Jeep, was hurt.

Cornelius was also injured. Buglino had posted previously that Ava was missing from the accident and was her mother, Lisa Winter’s, dog.

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

Editor’s note: Second in a series exploring local connections to the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing.

TREMONT — The plan was for children and adults to do some moon gazing on Tuesday evening, but uncooperative skies did not allow Earth’s natural satellite to show its face.

Even though the moon could not be seen because of clouds, it was an evening of learning and fun that included Moon Pie and limited edition Oreo Moon Marshmallow treats.

The program was held by the Tremont Area Free Public Library in the parking lot of Most Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church. Parents and their children came to one of the highest sites in the borough that has few street lights for optimum viewing conditions. The plan was to use binoculars and field glasses brought by families or provided by the library.

Tuesday was a special day to try to view the Earth’s closest neighbor in space because it was the 50th anniversary of the launch of the Apollo 11 mission to land the first humans on the moon.

The launch from Cape Kennedy (now Cape Canaveral) in Florida on July 16, 1969, sent three American astronauts about 240,000 miles away, the journey taking three days. On July 19, the Apollo command, service and lunar modules entered orbit, and a day later, the lunar excursion module named “Eagle,” carrying Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, descended to the lunar surface as astronaut Michael Collins orbited in the command module named “Columbia.”

“This is part of ‘A Universe of Stories’ summer story time,” librarian Bonnie Wiscount said Monday. “The program being presented at the library through a grant from the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation and from the Charles Warner Endowment Fund.”

Those who attended watched and waited, hoping the Moon would appear, and while some blue skies were seen, the Moon was hidden.

Library board of trustees President Deborah Filanowski welcomed everyone and said, “We’re trying something a little bit new tonight. The libraries throughout the state, and particularly in Schuylkill County, have as their theme for their summer reading programs: ‘A Universe of Stories.’ So we’re gearing things toward space. Next Saturday, we’re going to have a story hour at the library and talk about space travel and building little rocket ship things.”

Filanowski introduced Patrick “Porcupine Pat” McKinney, Schuylkill Conservation District environmental education coordinator. He was invited to talk about facts about the Moon.

McKinney used the children’s book “Many Moons” by Remi Courgeon for his presentation.

“Remember that when the Moon is dark, it’s still out there,” he said, talking about the moon phases throughout the month. “As we go through the whole book, the Moon is going to change as the month progresses. In fact, the word month comes from word moon, because a month is how long the Moon changes from new and full moon.”

After his talk, the children received their snacks and a glow stick.

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

TAMAQUA — With six directors present, the Tamaqua Area school board voted Tuesday to rescind a controversial policy that would allow teachers and other employees of the district to voluntarily carry guns.

On a motion by director Nicholas Boyle of the Security Committee, the board dropped Policy 705, a decision made as a result of a recently enacted state law that prohibits teachers from carrying weapons.

Boyle said the district is going to move forward and will create a new policy with language that adheres to state law.

Board President Larry Wittig said that the district will also be forming a committee to discuss school security and what options it has available.

That committee, he said, will be comprised of police officers, first responders, parents and teachers who will make recommendations to the board dealing with school safety and security.

Wittig said he hopes to announce who will be serving on the committee at the next school board meeting. He also said that, although committee meetings will be open to the public, no public input will be allowed.

The new legislation signed recently by Gov. Tom Wolf specifically states who is allowed to carry firearms on school properties, and teachers are not included.

The legislation, SB621, makes training requirements for armed security stricter, more comprehensive and based on modern practices for security, trauma and other essential skills.

SB621 states that, in order to carry a firearm, school security guards hired as independent contractors or through third-party vendors must complete the basic school resource officer training through the National Association of School Resource Officers or an equivalent course offered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

Under the policy proposed at Tamaqua Area, personnel would volunteer to carry a concealed weapon.

In addition, the individual would undergo Act 235 training, a state requirement for anyone who carries a gun as part of their job.

That training required under the Tamaqua proposal is similar to that of state and municipal police officers.

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

SHENANDOAH — One resident believes the police department is eating too large a slice of the borough’s fiscal pie.

“I’m back to the police department. I have nothing against the men in blue,” Robert Shumski asked during Monday night’s borough council meeting. “Let me ask you, how much did we collect in taxes last year?”

Before the question could be answered, Shumski walked up to council President Leo Pietkiewicz with the numbers, saying the borough collected $706,000. He said the police cost, using the expenditures in the first six months and doubling it, will be $476,000.

“If we only collect $706,000, that’s more than 50 percent,” he said. “Our streets are in disrepair. You know I’m on that kick. We keep funding money to the police. We’ve got to find another way. It’s a ball and chain around our neck.”

Shumski asked borough solicitor Joseph R. Baranko Jr. if the police department could be funded in some other fashion. Baranko said law enforcement is funded from the general fund as required in the borough code.

Pietkiewicz said the borough is doing what it can to provide law enforcement service as best it can, while trying to keep tabs on the expenses.

“I feel they (police officers) are doing a fine job, and it’s a service to the community,” Pietkiewicz said. “It’s the nature of the beast at this time. It is what it is. They are doing their jobs.”

“There’s too much crime in this town,” Shumski said.

“I’m not saying too much crime, but it’s a lot,” Pietkiewicz said.

Mayor Andrew Szczyglak entered the conversation and said, “Some people say to me about regionalizing police. I don’t think that would be a good idea. We just have so much going on in Shenandoah. We do like 600 to 700 calls a month. If we have something going on in Shenandoah, and our police officers are in Ashland because they’re regional, then what do we do. I don’t know.”

Szczyglak added, “And we’re the lowest paying of our officers in the county.”

“Our general fund budget is $2,095,625, and out of that, the total budget for the police is $790,448,” Pietkiewicz said. “That’s 38 percent of our budget. It’s a necessity in this town. I hear from people that we need the police, we need the police, we need the police. We try to optimize using state police coverage when they know the history of that time frame when there are not a lot of calls.”

Pietkiewicz added that, while police need to be scheduled for coverage at most times, the criminals don’t cooperate.

“You can’t control the criminals by asking them would you do this from 7 to 3,” Pietkiewicz said, getting a laugh from the attendees. “If we could get them to do that, it would work out a lot better. Only commit crimes Monday to Friday between 7 and 3 and no overtime.”

Councilmen Gordon Slater and John P. (J.P.) Dombrosky of the Streets Committee reviewed areas in the borough to prioritize locations that need repairs.

“We made a consolidated list for the borough employees to start working on those streets,” Slater said. “We also have a list of streets that need to be done professionally. And we now have that milling machine.”

“Speaking of the milling, it is pretty labor intensive,” Pietkiewicz said. “They have done some work at the east end of town, but I didn’t get down there to see it.”

In other business, the borough council appointed office manager Mary Lou Buchinsky as also the acting manager of the borough. This is not an appointment as borough manager, which the borough does not have at the present time.

“She will continue with staying in the union, and she will direct the day-to-day operations of the borough,” Pietkiewicz said. “She will receive an increase of $2 per hour.”

The borough council acted on the following agenda and non-agenda items:

• Approved the advertising for part-time police officers at the request of Szczyglak, who said one officer is on sick leave, and others are on vacation through the summer.

• Approved three requests for payment from A One Service Inc., Shenandoah, for the repairs at Coal and Walnut streets. The requests were for $13,437 for materials, $14,248 for equipment and labor and $5,104 for paving and base coat.

• Acknowledged the receipt of the financial monitoring report on the 2013 Community Development Block Grant program from the state Department of Community and Economic Development. Pietkiewicz said there were no findings or concerns in the report. No council action was needed or taken.

• Approved the Schuylkill County Land Bank to assist the borough in soliciting proposals for potential developers on property at 9-11 and 13-15 N. Main St.

“Being a member of the land bank, it can provide a free service to the borough. The land bank will solicit the proposals, draft and agreement and act as an agent for the borough,” Pietkiewicz explained. “It’s basically nothing ventured, nothing gained. There is no cost associated to the borough.”

• Approved a $100 donation to the 2019 Shenandoah Rotary Club Trash Container Project as per past practice.

• Confirmed RBC Capital Markets as the sole underwriter/bank agent for the refinancing of the Shenandoah Municipal Sewage Authority’s 2003 guaranteed sewer revenue bonds, the funding of various capital improvements, and also to provide certain disclosures as required by the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board Rule G-17. Pietkiewicz said the refinancing through RBC will save $35,000.

• Approved to hire two summer help employees to help with the milling machine and clear weeds on borough properties. Each employee will get about 25 hours per week at $10 per hour.

• Declined a request of West New York Street resident Ricardo Hernandez to allow driveway access to another property he owns on South Chestnut Street. The council vote was unanimous

• Approved a request from the Shenandoah Chamber of Commerce to hold its annual farmers market on Tuesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon at the southeast corner of Main and Centre streets. The market will continue every week until just before Thanksgiving Day.

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

POTTSVILLE — Advance planning, communication and 70 officers from five law enforcement agencies helped keep the crowd safe during Saturday’s nine-hour 190th Yuengling anniversary celebration.

Pottsville Police Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky said Tuesday that security for the celebration took months of planning between his department and those from county, state and federal agencies. A 57-page emergency operations plan, prepared by Lehigh Law En-forcement Officers Association Inc., covered security, admission, alcohol and other topics.

The final result was a safe and virtually trouble-free environment for the thousands who attended, he said.

Those of age were able to consume Yuengling products at event venues, but all other city ordinances and state laws were enforced outside the venues. The event began at 1 and wrapped up before 10 p.m. following a concert by Better Than Ezra and fireworks.

Outside help

The chief said 17 of his department’s 23 full-time officers worked at various periods throughout the day in addition to providing normal police coverage.

“For us to continue our regular 24-7 police protection and service for the City of Pottsville, along with the large event venue on Saturday, it was absolutely essential for us to get outside assistance,” Wojciechowsky said.

The Pottsville officers worked with 10 Schuylkill County sheriff department deputies, 33 state police officers (eight of them on horseback), six members of Liquor Control Enforcement and four FBI agents.

“We had a multiagency team that worked together smoothly and very efficiently,” Wojciechowsky said.

The chief said the Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency provided a vehicle that served as a command post staffed by at least one member of every agency involved.

“This enabled complete and fluid communications between all agencies.” Wojciechowsky said.

Also staffing the command post was Pottsville Fire Chief James Misstishin, Patrick Moran of Schuylkill EMS and Schuylkill County Communications director Scott Krater.

With the celebration encompassing 12 city blocks, Wojciechowsky said maintaining a police presence created a safe haven for venue attendees.

“The response we received from patrons on the day of the event and after was overwhelmingly positive,” he said. “They certainly appreciated the heightened police presence and the manner in which all the officers involv-ed conducted themselves.”

A few arrests

Only a few “minor” events and arrests occurred toward the end of the night. Those persons were quickly removed from the crowd so other patrons were not disrupted, the chief said.

Wojciechowsky also said fire police from numerous jurisdictions played a crucial role in traffic control and pedestrian safety.

“It was just vital to get as many bodies as possible working on our side,” he said. “Lehigh Law Enforcement, the private firm working inside the venue itself, did a super job as well.”

Wojciechowsky said they were able to keep the entire length of Centre and West Market streets open, alleviating excess traffic congestion and allowing travel routes for first responders and those not attending the Yuengling festivities.

The use of shuttles to transport partygoers from parking areas outside of the city helped traffic flow, too, he said.

All pieces of the puzzle — law enforcement, traffic and transportation — came to-gether nicely, the chief said.

“We wanted the venue to be enjoyable and safe, and by all accounts that mission was accomplished,” Wojciechowsky said.

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

KELAYRES — The Kline Township supervisors are getting township roads that are to be paved next summer ready this year by making sure they are the correct width.

Supervisor Dale Wesner said roads that are narrower than they should be are being widened this year after the township pulled state Department of Transportation records.

“All roads that are being done we are leveling and making sure they are as wide as whatever the PennDOT cartway is,” Wesner said. “Down one block it may be 21 feet, but in the next block it may be 18 feet. We’re trying to make it uniform. We are taking all 13 sections we are doing next year to the PennDOT standards on the liquid fuels map.”

Tresckow Road and Haddock Road have been the focus of this effort to date, Wesner said.

“We’ve been doing the cartway on the Haddock Road for the last couple of years,” Wesner said. “Haddock was pretty narrow to get a car through. There are two or three driveways that have runoff that is a combination of the paving project and the new water line that went in last year. We’ll be touching up on those areas.

“On the Tresckow Road, we had to do a foot on each side because the road had been breaking up. In some areas, it was 16 to 18 feet wide. We are making all of the roads 21 to 22 feet for both lanes.”

The 13 sections of road will be paved next year with a $211,667 PennDOT multi-modal grant which requires a 30 percent match. The $90,715 for the match is in the township’s 2019 budget, Wesner said.

The grant allows the township to resurface the streets with a wearing course, or top coat, of 1 1/2 inches in depth, the supervisor said.

The roads to be repaired are: Grove Street, from Marcus Court to Hilltop Road; a section of Tresckow Road; Bayview Avenue, from Cedar Street to Hilltop Road; the entire length of Cedar Street; Marcus Court, from Grove Street to a dead end; Mountaintop Terrace, from Luceno Boulevard to Hilltop Road; Hilltop Road, from Grove Street to a dead end; Haddock Road, from Kelshaw Street to Doran Street; Doran Street, from Green Street to Haddock Road; the entire length of Green Street; Haddock Road, from Doran Street to Lofty Road, and a section of Silverbrook Road.

The township also is seeking a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant for paving.

“I called USDA hoping by the grace of God to have confirmation next week on getting our fourth grant,” Wesner said. “I think I’ve provided everything and a pretty good storyline to go with it. It will be $43,000 or $44,000 to help us with our required amount for the PennDOT project.”

Wesner said an old street roller the township had was sold on the internet via Pennsylvania Municibid to a Pittsburgh contracting company for $2,600.

Digital sign

A new community digital sign has been erected on Market Street near the Kline Township Municipal Authority building.

“Traffic is really heavy there, since 309 has been blocked” by the Route 309/Kennedy Drive reconstruction project, Wesner said. “A lot of people are passing and saying they are seeing a lot on there. I put state inspections on, and a couple of people said they caught theirs. I have information on there about garbage. I try to update every two to three days.”

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

POTTSVILLE — On the heels of Yuengling’s 190th celebration Saturday, there may be more for brewery fans to cheer to next year.

“As part of our 190th anniversary, we officially registered April 18 as ‘America’s Oldest Brewery Day,’ so we look forward to celebrating with our fans and the local Pottsville community on fu-ture events,” Debbie Yuengling, culture and em-ployee engagement manager of D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc., said in an email Tuesday.

Although America’s Oldest Brewery Day is April 18 and may be near the springtime annual Light Lager Jogger, the two will be separate events.

Business leaders, meanwhile, are planning festivities for the city riding on the success of the Yuengling fete, and the interest generated when two events launched last year. Today, the Pottsville Area Development Corp., Pottsville Business Association and the city were scheduled to mail out letters requesting sponsorships and support for the upcoming second annual Pottsville on Tap event Sept. 21 and the second annual Pottsville Winterfest on Jan. 11, 2020.

The letters were signed by Pottsville Mayor James T. Muldowney, PBA President Dave Clews and Savas G. Logothetides, PADCO executive director. Joining Logothetides with stuffing the letters were Abby Weaver, Joseph Drasdis, Taliah Greenawalt and Sammi Sylvester, an intern with Pressed Coffee & Books.

“Thanks to the very successful Yuengling 190th Anniversary Summer Concert, approximately 15,000 to 17,000 people flooded the streets and celebrated Pottsville as a hub of entertainment and life,” the letter states. “In the efforts to revitalize our city, festivals and events that draw people here are crucial.”

Attendance numbers were generated based on drone photos used during the 190th and analyzed by Paul Kennedy, deputy chief of operations for Lehigh Law Enforcement, according to Logothetides. Lehigh provided event security, traffic and parking services Saturday.

Logothetides said there were 15,000 to 17,000 total visitors throughout the celebration; 9,000 to 10,000 at the free Better Than Ezra concert Saturday night and at least 5,000 attending the beer gardens.

Jessica Seiders, Yuengling communications manager, had estimated attendance midway through the event at 5,000 as of 5 p.m. Saturday.

Logothetides spoke to business owners about the impact of Saturday’s celebration.

“The businesses had nothing but positive things to say about the event,” he said. “It increased foot traffic, and anticipated an increase in revenue.”

There was a lasting effect not only on the day of the 190th anniversary, but also the day before and the day after, according to Logothetides.

For the entire month of July, 5 percent of proceeds from Yuengling’s in-store gift shop sales goes to the Pottsville Continued Progress Project in support of the city’s revitalization.

The family was thrilled by the number of people in the community who celebrated with them, according to Debbie Yuengling.

“We defer to local city officials for exact attendance, but had such a great time celebrating with our fans and the entire Pottsville community,” she said Tuesday. “I can’t tell you how proud I am and how humbling it was to see so many people come to Pottsville to celebrate with us. It was truly an amazing day put together by so many people.”

She thanked the many groups who played an instrumental role in the event — PADCO, the city of Pottsville, all of the volunteers and Yuengling employees who worked tirelessly to “create such a flawless event.”

“Overall, we could not be more happy with how the day turned out. We had fans visit from 25 states, the weather was great and Pottsville was buzzing with excitement all day and night,” Debbie Yuengling said. “From the great street vendors and food trucks, to amazing live music, to topping the night off with tremendous fireworks, it was a great day in Pottsville.”

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

TOWER CITY — No one making it to Williams Valley Elementary School’s cafeteria on a Monday through Thursday goes hungry this summer.

Through a “Seamless Summer” program, the district has been providing free lunches to any child age 18 and younger, regardless of their residence. Adults can purchase a meal for $3.95.

Since the summer lunch program began June 10, there have been 822 children lunches and 89 adult meals served, according to Ann Marie Hadesty, Williams Valley’s food service director with The Nutrition Group.

“I think it’s gone very well,” Hadesty, of Tamaqua, said Tuesday after preparing a corn dog nugget entree.

Hadesty plans the menu and has kept it to kid-friendly favorites like chicken or corn dog nuggets, California cheeseburgers and barbecue rib sandwiches. Each meal provides a protein, grain, fruit, vegetable and milk.

“It’s heartbreaking to know someone coming here may not have had breakfast this morning, or dinner the night before,” Assistant Elementary Principal Judy Schappe, of Minersville, said.

It’s the first year Williams Valley has offered the summer lunch option, and it’s available to anyone, whether they live in the district or not. No proof of income is required.

The meals are available from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday until July 25 when the program ends for the summer. Anyone interested must come to the elementary school’s front door, and then they’ll be directed to the cafeteria.

Schools participating in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs are eligible to apply for the Seamless Summer option, according to the United States Department of Agriculture website.

The state reimburses the district for the free meals.

Hadesty wished more children participated. There’s been five children and three adults not living within the district who have taken advantage of the meals, according to Hadesty. The rest of the diners have been Williams Valley students or children participating in educational programs at the elementary school.

Schappe said this year the district hosted the Schuylkill ACHIEVE, a 21st Century Community Learning Centers summer program, for students from Williams Valley, North Schuylkill and Pine Grove Area. For many years, the 21st Century students received a snack, but a hot lunch was not available. This year, those students could fill up on a free lunch in the cafeteria.

Students participating in other activities at the school this summer, like the Extended School Year and the Title I reading and math programs, were also able to grab a free meal while in the building.

Hadesty and her staff from The Nutrition Group — Rhonda Tobin, Judy Stoner and Kathy Witmer — work from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Witmer was able to see her granddaughter, Victoria Starnowsky, 11, come through the line Tuesday. Both are from Tower City.

“I like the regular cheese pizza. Sometimes, if I get a salad, I put the tomatoes from the salad on my pizza,” said Victoria, who was enjoying her lunch with her best friend, Taylor Morgan, 10, of Sheridan.

Their classmate, Elijah Smith, 11, of Williamstown, said the pizza dippers with sauce were his favored selection.

Beth White, a district paraprofessional, recommended the lasagna roll-ups.

“I brought my son here for the hamburgers,” White, of Tower City, added. Her son, Teagen White, is an incoming ninth-grader.

Meanwhile for Ella Landon, an incoming fifth-grader, the rib sandwich hit the mark. She also enjoys the chicken nuggets with a combo condiment twist. “I dip them in barbecue sauce and ketchup,” Landon, 11, of Tower City, said.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s Agriculture Promotion Committee has selected Schuylkill County teacher Patricia Zimmerman as the 2019 Teacher of the Year.

Zimmerman teaches science to seventh- and eighth-grade students at Pottsville Area’s D.H.H. Lengel Middle School.

She specifically credited her participation in the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation’s Educator’s Ag Institute last summer for inspiring her to incorporate more agriculture-related studies in her science classes over the past year.

“I took it on as a challenge to see how much more agriculture I could infuse into an urban setting school, where the students are not as familiar with agriculture,” Zimmerman said. “It was a challenge to change the agriculture studies already in my curriculum, but it was exciting to see how much more I could get in there.”

The award was presented to Zimmerman during the Educator’s Ag Institute, which is a weeklong gathering held in State College that includes hands-on classroom sessions, farm tours and materials for teachers to take home for use during their classroom activities.

“Trish is a true success story for our Ag Educator’s Institute. She took information and personal experiences from tours and seminars and incorporated those experiences into her classroom setting,” said Agriculture Promotion Committee Chair Chris Hoffman, who also serves as PFB vice president. “Teachers participating in the yearly gathering in State College help the foundation meet its mission of promoting and preserving agriculture by placing a special emphasis on educational programs for children across the commonwealth.”

Zimmerman grew up in a rural area and “lived” agriculture, participating in FFA and as a fair princess and queen. Zimmerman said she covered a variety of topics in her regular classes and in additional STEM classes, which offered multiple agriculture extension activities with science themes. Some examples included reduce, reuse, recycle, hydroponics, DNA extraction and genetically modified organisms.

“Our textbooks highlighted genetic engineering, but the information was dated. We incorporated videos, current event articles and discussed GMO labeling,” Zimmerman said. “When we evaluated GMOs, we considered whether it was important to grow something that can be eaten up by little worms or grow something that people can eat.”

According to Hazle Township Fire And Rescue, the fire company is handling a crash with reports of multiple people entrapped.

The crash occurred on Interstate 81 north just before the 141 exit. A total of five people, including three children, are involved.

For more information, check back at republicanherald.com and read Thursday’s edition of The Republican-Herald.

A two-vehicle crash in Hazle Township sent multiple people, including three children, to hospitals Wednesday morning.

It also resulted in Interstate 81 traffic congesting local roads, including a construction zone in Schuylkill County.

The children and two adults were inside a blue Chevrolet Tahoe when it crashed into a dump truck on Interstate 81 northbound around 10:30 a.m. near mile marker 140. That’s about a mile south of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce Beltway, which is south of Hazleton.

The sport utility vehicle, towing a U-haul trailer, rear-ended the Kenworth W900 driven by James T. Gyle, 48, of Hunlock Creek, state police at Hazleton said.

Gyle sustained a suspected minor injury and was taken to a hospital, according to police, who said the identities of the man driving the SUV, his female passenger and the children were not immediately known.

The five people inside the SUV were all taken to hospitals, some by helicopters that landed at Harwood’s baseball field in Hazle Township. Others were later flown to other facilities from the hospital where they were originally transported.

Hot work for rescuers

It took firefighters from multiple companies seven minutes to extricate the children from the SUV and 11 minutes to get the front-seat passenger out.

Firefighters spent 48 minutes in the heat and humidity to free the driver, Assistant Fire Chief Jason Zoschak said.

“Our guys took a beating (in the heat),” he said.

Despite adverse weather conditions for firefighters, the rescue went smoothly.

The crash caused heavy damage to the SUV and minor damage to the truck.

Detoured into a detour

Traffic was stopped in the northbound lanes for about two hours as rescue operations were underway and until the crash site was cleared. It was also halted briefly in the southbound lanes for emergency vehicles to get through.

I-81 traffic was detoured onto Route 309, where a road construction project is being undertaken in McAdoo and in Kline Township.

Multiple commercial vehicles detoured from the interstate headed north through McAdoo only to be detoured again through the 309 construction zone. Commercial truck traffic, aside from local deliveries, is banned in the borough as the construction project continues.

South of McAdoo, a construction project is being undertaken on Route 309 near the I-81 ramps, resulting in lane closures north and southbound.

Responding units

Firefighters were able to leave the crash site around 12:15 p.m.

Firefighters from Sugarloaf Township, McAdoo, Harwood and Hazleton responded as did Lehigh Valley EMS and Shenandoah ambulance.

State police said West Hazleton police also assisted.

The investigation is ongoing.

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

POTTSVILLE — Schuylkill County citizens struggling with drug- and alcohol-related addiction problems will be able to receive more help thanks to more than $120,000 in additional grant money the commissioners made available under resolutions they approved on Wednesday.

“There are three different programs involved,” Director of Finance Paul E. Buber said concerning the grants, which all involve additional money being received and spent by the county Drug & Alcohol Program.

The three budget appropriations the commissioners approved included the following amounts, according to Buber:

• $58,500, the largest amount, which will be budgeted for emergency housing services.

• $33,479, which will be spent on treatment and recovery services.

• $23,657, which will be spent on the nurse family partnership program.

The county prison also will benefit from additional money, as the commissioners approved a resolution appropriating $113,457.48 for the institution to spend.

“This is for the purchase of three items,” Buber said.

Those three items, which the commissioners authorized the prison to buy at their July 10 meeting, included two new vehicles, a 2019 Transit-150 XL low-roof passenger van and a 2020 Ford Utility Police Interceptor, both from Kovatch Ford, Nesquehoning, at a total cost of $77,377.48.

The third item is a Livescan/CPIN all-in-one fingerprinting system that will be kept at the prison. The cost will be $36,080, plus annual system maintenance that will cost $6,840 per year.

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

David A. Plachko

PORT CARBON — A New Ringgold man charged with fleeing from police on Dec. 8 because he had a warrant for his arrest waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko.

Christopher M. Pate, 39, of 5 Royer St., Box 25, formerly of 206 Valley St., New Philadelphia, was arrested by New Philadelphia police Patrolman Douglas Springer and charged with one count each of fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving with a suspended or revoked license, abandoning a vehicle on public or private property and flight to avoid apprehension, trial or punishment.

By waiving a right to his hearing, Pate will now have to answer to the charges against him in Schuylkill County Court, where he can plead guilty or enter a not guilty plea and request a trial.

Springer said he tried to stop a vehicle driven by Pate, knowing the man did not have a driver’s license, but Pate fled on Route 209 toward Cumbola and then headed back toward New Philadelphia.

Pate then turned onto a mining road and over a silt bank, at which time Springer said he had to stop the pursuit due to the terrain.

The vehicle was later located but Pate had fled the area, Springer said.

Other court cases included:

Joann S. Noble, 41, of SCI Muncy, Muncy; waived for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bridget Ann Steffie, 40, of 106 Tulpehocken St., Pine Grove; withdrawn: possession of a controlled substance. Waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Lonnie D. Black, 59, of 131 Pottsville St., Cressona; waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate, disregard for single traffic lane and driving at an unsafe speed.

Michael Teachenko, 42, of 228 N. West St., Shenandoah; waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate, disregard for single traffic lane and driving at an unsafe speed.

Shawn Lee Davenport, 29, of 66 Valley Road, Pottsville; waived for court: DUI-high rate and failure to stop at a red signal.

Stephen J. Bayer

TAMAQUA — A Mahanoy City woman arrested by a Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ranger for an incident at Tuscarora State Park on June 8 appeared for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer.

Johanna Rodriguez, 32, of 237 W. Centre St., Apt. 2W, was arrested by Ranger Christina Clawson and charged with three counts of escape, two counts of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct and one count each of criminal attempt to commit aggravated assault, terroristic threats, open lewdness and public drunkenness.

Prosecutors withdrew criminal attempt to commit aggravated assault and one count each of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, and Rodriguez waived the remaining offenses to Schuylkill County Court, where she can plead guilty or enter a not guilty plea and request a jury trial.

Clawson said Rodriguez was causing a disturbance near the swimming area, profanities and also smelled of alcohol.

Clawson said when she and Ranger James Subic tried to place Rodriguez in custody, she resisted and pulled away saying she had to urinate.

The woman then threatened to urinate on Clawson, pulled her pants down, swung her buttocks toward the ranger in front of adults and children alike.

The woman continued to resist and make threats until a Mahanoy City police officer arrived and was able to get her to comply with being placed in handcuffs.

(Staff Writer Frank Andruscavage compiled this report)

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — On Wednesday, Hannah Burke, manager of the Schuylkill Haven Community Garden, demonstrated picking tender lettuce leaves from the stem while volunteers gathered for the garden’s first harvest.

“I really enjoy seeing people working as one,” said Burke, 16, who also operates her own business, Best Buds All Natural Gardening LLC.

Gardeners were welcomed to plant anything in the beds, according to Jeanne Elberfeld, executive director of Schuylkill County’s VISION. Evans Network of Companies, Schuylkill Haven, funded the effort. The garden is a project of Healthy Haven, which is sponsored by VISION.

The beds were created in March and planting began in May. There are four 70-foot-by-4-foot beds flanked by cinder blocks. Two of the beds are for Evans and the Schuylkill Haven Food Bank and the other two beds are community-owned plots where people paid $5 each for the growing season.

Gardeners are raising squash, peppers, eggplant, lettuce, tomatoes, peas and beans within the beds, which have weed cloth underneath. The block edges provide a good site for basil and other herbs.

The Clover Buds 4-H group planted tomatoes. Their stakes Wednesday bore green fruit, soon to begin ripening. The Girl Scouts and the Schuylkill Haven Recreation Department are also tending plots.

“This is connecting people to each other, to their food and to the earth,” Elberfeld said.

Each garden costs about $10,000 to create, with most of the expense being tied up in the fencing, according to Elberfeld. Due to the rainy weather earlier this year, crews were unable to erect the fence at the Schuylkill Haven site. It will be put up shortly. Volunteers will be given a code to open it. The borough has provided water access so growers can hydrate their plants.

Kim Lorimer, Evans’ vice president, said the firm was happy to be a part of the project and donates space for the food pantry. Ryan Bates, Evans’ director of sales, also serves on the VISION board, she said.

“We’re very community oriented and we love Schuylkill Haven,” Lorimer said as she helped in the harvest. “We thought it was important to support the garden. This is connecting business to the community and it’s fun to see kids excited about it.”

Dave Noll, of Schuylkill Haven, and Bill Wranitz, of Auburn, volunteered Wednesday. Noll, a community gardener, picked a variety of peppers from his plot and donated them to the Schuylkill Haven Food Bank.

Wranitz, meanwhile, was going to demonstrate planting a pallet garden, using wooden pallets and cold-hardy plants like spinach and broccoli.

“The pallets eventually break down and are adding to the soil,” Wranitz said. He had intended on demonstrating a vertical potato garden using tires, but the weather was too hot and it was too late in the growing season, he said.

There’s another community garden in Mahanoy City. Schuylkill Area Community Foundation also funded a community garden at North Schuylkill Elementary School this summer.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

TAMAQUA — Adam Cruz said he is living proof there is hope for those suffering from addiction.

“No matter what you’ve been through in life, no matter how many times you’ve failed, you can always restart,” Cruz, a former heroin and crystal methamphetamine user, said Tuesday.

The 35-year-old Quakertown man, formerly of Tamaqua, is one of the two speakers at the fourth annual Out of the Darkness Into the Light Overdose Awareness Festival/Memorial Candlelight set for noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at Owl Creek Reservoir. The other speaker is Brandon Novak, author of “Dreamseller; An Addiction Memoir,” and star of the movie “Jackass.”

Tammy Sienkiewicz, co-founder of Safer Streets for Tamaqua’s Little Feet, expects 1,500 people this year, up from 1,200 in 2018. Her organization, which sponsors the event, was born out of the death of her daughter, Alexandria “Alex” Sienkiewicz, who died of a fentanyl overdose April 2, 2016, in her parents’ home.

“The sun is going to appear this year,” she said, defying a repeat of last year’s rain.

Candlelight walk, butterfly release

The free event features children’s games (children receive five free tickets,) free popcorn and snow cones for children, food for sale for adults, event T-shirts for $5, information on addiction and a candlelight walk at 6 p.m. followed by a butterfly release. A $5 donation for butterflies is requested.

The Schuylkill County Sheriff’s Office is offering a drug take-back effort as part of the event.

Sienkiewicz said about 30 groups will have health information available.

“They can get resources and help,” she said of attendees.

Thankful for help

That’s what Cruz is thankful for — getting help from Tammy and John Sienkiewicz, who connected him to state resources that helped him improve his life.

At one point, Cruz said he had been in and out of prison at least eight times and was using drugs. He told how his 12-year-old daughter (he also has a 5-year-old girl) said she could not depend on him.

“It ripped my heart out of my chest,” Cruz said.

It spurred his effort toward recovery, and he’s been clean for almost 16 months.

“I’ve almost died twice,” he said. “I shouldn’t be here, but I’m here for a reason.”

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

Altamont

The Altamont Fire Company, 215 S. Green St., near Frackville, will have a bean soup and hot dog sale beginning at 11 a.m. Aug. 10. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-874-4384.

Barnesville

At 5 p.m. Saturday in Locust Lake State Park, naturalist Bobby Reed will present a honeybee program at the park amphitheater. Reed will present a traveling beehive to educate people about “the wonders and mysteries of honeybees.” He’ll talk about their life cycle and the challenges beekeepers have been facing over the past few years. In the event of rain, the program will be held at the program shelter. A trek set for 10:30 a.m. July 24 at Locust Lake State Park will involve exploration of the mountain behind the park and a visit to Silver Creek Fire Tower and Reservoir. The 7.5-mile hike is rated difficult, according to a release from Robin Tracey, environmental education specialist. Participants will visit pine stands and brush that are “perfect habitats” for birds and other wildlife. Meet at 10:15 a.m. at the park’s visitors’ parking lot to carpool. People should bring a lunch. Dogs are welcome but must be leashed and get along with people and other pets. For more information, call 570-467-2506. Smokey Bear will be at the Locust Lake State Park in a program beginning at 5 p.m. July 27. Dave Duffy will give a fire prevention and campfire safety presentation followed by a visit from Smokey for Smokey’s 75th birthday this year. The shine-only program is free and open to the public. Children must be accompanied by adults.

Gordon

Registrations to attend Trinity Academy in the Father Walter J. Ciszek Education Center, Cherry and Chestnut streets, Shenandoah, are being accepted. Trinity provides “a safe, respectful, Christ-centered environment for students in preschool through eighth grade,” according to Catholic parish bulletin announcements. Trinity Academy 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. More information also is available online at www.trinitymatters.com.

Pottsville

Due to the extreme temperatures, Diakon Community Services announced the Pottsville, Mahanoy City, and Schuylkill Haven Senior Community Centers will remain open until 4 p.m. Thursday, July 18, and Friday, July 19. Diakon advises to stay safe and cool in the heat and humidity and to stay hydrated.

Primrose

A traditional blessing of cars, trucks and motorcycles on the Feast of St. Elijah will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Saturday by St. Nicholas Church at the grounds of St. Nicholas Hall, 855 Sunbury Road (Route 901). Admission is free; donations will be gratefully accepted. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-544-4581.

Saint Clair

The Saint Clair-Wade United Methodist Church, 23 N. Front St., will have a peach festival from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 8. The event cost is $5 and will include an ice cream sundae, dessert and beverage. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-449-5494.

Summit Station

The Schuylkill County Fair will have the Lucas Oil/East Coast National pull at 7 p.m. July 30 at the fairgrounds. It will feature two WD trucks, limited pro stock semis, East Coast diesel pro-stock diesel sponsored by Reynmil Inc., Forest Products, Kistler Transportation, Alpine Building Supply, M. Weider Trucking Inc. and Minersville Auto Parts. General admission to the fair is $5 and free for children 10 and younger. Admission to the pulls is $5. More information on the fair is available at its website, www.schuylkillfair.com. The 2019 fair runs July 29-Aug. 3. Fair information also is available from Kim Morgan by calling 570-739-2627 or emailing kamorgan11@email.com. The celebrity tractor pull and farm stock pulls will be at 8 p.m. July 31. See the aforementioned contacts for more information.

Due to the extreme temperatures, Diakon Community Services announced the Pottsville, Mahanoy City , and Schuylkill Haven Senior Community Centers will remain open until 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, and Friday, July 19. Diakon advises to stay safe and cool in the heat and humidity and to stay hydrated.

POTTSVILLE — Schuylkill County will continue to work with Penn State’s cooperative extension service, as the commissioners on Wednesday approved a memorandum of how they will work together.

“(It) will serve as a framework” for the funding for the extension office and the services it will provide, said Greg Gnatt, business operations manager for the extension service.

Gnatt said the extension has been operating for more than 100 years in Schuylkill County, starting here in 1917, 10 years after its founding as a statewide network that provides access to the university’s resources and expertise to help individuals, families, businesses and communities through educational programing.

Commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. praised the extension service as vital to the county’s agricultural industry.

“It’s great to have you guys as partners,” he said.

The commissioners also boosted county agriculture by appropriating $1,500 for an appraisal, and $5,000 for a survey, of the agricultural conservation easement for Nelson Moyer, Machelle Itle and Megan Shawver in South Manheim Township.

Brittany Moore of the county conservation district said the easement, when approved, will bring the total number of protected farms in Schuylkill County to 109 from the current total of 106.

Agricultural conservation easements allow families to maintain ownership of the farms and enable them to continue to live and work on them. They also prohibit development of the farms for nonagricultural uses in exchange for lower tax bills.

In other business, the commissioners:

• Voted to advertise for bids for four Community Development Block Grant demolition programs in Shenandoah. Bids are due in the county controller’s office by 4 p.m. Aug. 5 and will be opened at 9 a.m. Aug. 8.

Michele O’Connell of the grant writer’s office said the properties are residential ones at 118 N. White St., 323 Furnace St., 412-414 E. Arlington St. and 527-529 W. Arlington St.

“They’re all pretty much abandoned, boarded up,” she said.

• Approved 2019 budget adjustments of $1,200 for the coroner’s office, $1,400 for the district attorney’s office, $1,000 for the domestic relations office, $20,000 for the prison and $6,000 for public works.

“There’s no additional spending” for any of the adjustments, Director of Finance Paul E. Buber said. “It’s just moving budgetary authority between line items.”

• Listened to Virginia Morton, Porter Township, urge them to adopt an amendment to allow for “meaningful” public input for the installation of wind turbines. She said they can endanger birds and will affect any area in which they are located, including Big Lick Mountain in Porter Township.

“Additional oversight might be warranted,” she said.

• Promoted Kathleen Gillespie, Pottsville, to program coordinator in tax assessment/tax claim, and Noreen Hobbs, Pottsville, to county caseworker 2 for Children & Youth. GIllespie, whose promotion will be effective Monday, will make $14.9753 per hour, while Hobbs, whose promotion will be effective Aug. 5, will make $19.4365 per hour.

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

Make A Difference Day, the largest national day of community service, will be held across the country and worldwide on Oct. 26. We’ve been hosting the event in Schuylkill County since 1996 and during the past 23 years, almost 120,000 participants have completed more than 2,400 projects to help improve the quality of life in our communities. What a wonderful gift to the people of Schuylkill County.

While the national event will be held on Oct. 26, we understand that some aren’t available that day, so we’re extending the local campaign from Oct. 12 to 27 so participants have two weeks to complete their projects. The entire project does not need to be done during the timeframe, but a vital part must, such as presenting the proceeds from a month-long drive.

Some participants are already gearing up for another successful event. Thousands of people and dozens of groups will be volunteering to do projects such as helping a food bank, making simple stuffed bears to soothe children in distress, doing chores for their homebound neighbor, knitting hats for kindergarten students, entertaining nursing home residents, making goodie bags for children in hospitals, cleaning a park, making lending library stands in public parks, collecting socks and T-shirts for chemotherapy patients, weeding and painting playground equipment and more. These are a few of the creative projects that have been done in the past. Think out of the box, you’re only limited by your imagination. No effort is too small and every project helps someone.

This office is the coordinating center for the event. If you or your group is struggling to find an idea, contact us for general project ideas or for a list of ready-made projects to be “adopted” on behalf of a nonprofit.

We ask you to kindly register your project to be part of this special event so we can better track how many people and groups participate. It’s easy. MADDay registration forms are now being accepted and can be printed from our website at www.schuylkill.us/cvia or by calling this office at 570-628-1426, or emailing jjohnston@co.schuylkill.pa.us. We hope to see you again this year.

The Schuylkill County Fair has been a family favorite since 1983 and this year promises to keep you entertained, fed and busy. The fair will run from July 29 through Aug. 3 at the fairgrounds on Route 895 in Summit Station with daily and nightly features. General admission is $5 with free admission for children under age 10 and for seniors from 1 to 4 p.m. on Senior Appreciation Day, Aug. 1. Parking is free. Additional fees apply for some activities. The schedule can be found at www.schuylkillfair.com.

The Friends of the Ringtown Library Annual Used Book Sale will be held from July 19-21 at the Ringtown Senior Citizens Center. Hours start at 1 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. Saturday and noon on Sunday. Stock up on quality used books, puzzles, audio books, DVD movies, magazines and more. Fill a shopping bag on Sunday for only $10.

Schuylkill on the Move has two fun walks on July 20 for those interested in creeks. Sweet Arrow Splash will take place at 9:30 a.m. at the Waterfall Pavilion where hikers will catch and observe some aquatic life. The walk is open to all ages and participants are asked to meet at the Waterfall Road parking lot for the easy 2-mile walk. Trout Run Walk starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Trout Run Trailhead, just off Route 443 in Swatara State Park and includes a visit to the Border Cabin. Dogs must be leashed and bring your lunch for the moderate 8-mile hike. Email porcupinepat@yahoo.com for details.

Just a reminder that it’s not too late to sponsor a Vet for Schuylkill County Veterans Trip Organization’s annual free trip to Washington, D.C. Over the past 12 years, more than 1,800 veterans have participated in the day trip which includes transportation, a picnic lunch and snacks, a sit-down meal and visits to some of the most meaningful memorials and sites. This year’s annual excursion will be held on Sept. 21 and companions may accompany a veteran for a $50 fee. Reservations are now being accepted. Applications can be mailed to interested veterans by calling 570-622-0730 or emailed by sending a request to veteranstrip@hotmail.com.

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.