ASHLAND — The Ashland Area Municipal Authority will repair damage near its reservoir caused by last year’s flooding with funding from the federal and state governments.

Alfred Benesch & Co. project manager Jennifer M. Kowalonek provided an update on the situation to the AAMA board during its meeting Monday.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a disaster declaration for Schuylkill County for the Aug. 12 and 13 storm. Kowalonek said Benesch has been working with Borough Manager Raymond Jones Jr. and has attended the exploratory call, recovery scoping meeting and site inspection for the projects to repair damage at the authority reservoir in Butler Township.

The funding is being provided by FEMA through the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

The two tasks will be for the weir design and access road repair at the dam, Kowalonek said.

“We have submitted preliminary cost estimates for the work to FEMA in the amount of $127,000 for the weir and $28,000 for the roadways,” he said.

Kowalonek said FEMA officials have told him how the funding process depends on the size of the project. For those under $128,000, following FEMA review, the municipality receives 75 percent of funding by direct deposit and the other 25 percent at completing. The projects must be bid.

Projects costing more than $128,000 receive funding after completion.

“The FEMA review is moving forward, and we will advise when that approval is received and when your money will be released,” she said.

The authority plans to obtain interim financing. Authority solicitor S. John Price contacted banks for proposals on a line of credit for $300,000 and opened the two sealed responses Monday. Mid Penn Bank offered a 3.15 percent fixed interest rate for a two-year term. The Gratz Bank offered 2.95 percent fixed for the same term.

Price will compose a memo on the offers for board members to review.

“The way this will work is that if we draw down $50,000, we pay interest on the $50,000. We can pay any amount we want against principal, but we must pay it within two years,” Price said.

The line of credit will be paid when the funding is received.

Kowalonek said PEMA will contact the borough about directly depositing the money to a borough account.

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

SUMMIT STATION — Most Bengal Tigers come from India, but Kia is from Dallas.

Vincent and Georgina von Dukes, a Florida-based husband-and-wife team of lion and tiger trainers, adopted the 22-year-old white tiger when she was 4 months old. Baby tigers are docile enough that Georgina lets her grandchildren bottle-feed them. But when Kia grew up, she started eating the von Dukes’ furniture, so she had to live in the barn with the bigger tigers.

Vincent and Georgina’s travelling show, Close Encounters of the Exotic Kind, had a special performance starring Kia on Tuesday, just in time for Kids Day at the Schuylkill County Fair. Kids Day had myriad activities for children, including a milk chugging contest, Jell-O eating contest and a variety of games.

The show delighted children of all ages. While Vincent, the silent partner in the duo, handled the tiger taming, Georgina emceed, introducing Kia and her half-sister, Nipper, who got her name from constantly biting at Vincent and Georgina’s ankles, and 4-year-old Narnia, a half-Bengal half-Siberian tiger from Springfield, Illinois. Then came the show stopper.

“Go baby boy, go, good boy,” Georgina said, coaxing Mufasa, a massive 12-year-old lion, out of the trailer. The crowd gasped.

“There’s our big boy.”

Mufasa looked down regally at the performing tigers, pawing at them as they passed. At one point, he stuck one of their tails in his mouth. As they did tricks, such as jumping through a flaming hoop, he appeared to be sticking his tongue out.

“I love big cats,” said Julia Hoffa, 10, of Womelsdorf. “It’s their beauty. It’s their elegance, it’s just how they move. Did you know that when baby lions are born they kind of have this pattern like a leopard?”

With her jungle khakis and delicate tuft of white hair, Georgina, 73, looks and sounds like a cross between Steve Irwin and Angela Lansbury. Born Georgina Donoho in the seventh-generation of an English circus family, surrounded by hippos, bears, penguins and snakes, she trained elephants and horses and first performed at the age of 8. It was almost Christmas when the circus went broke, and the Donohos were stranded in Macon, Georgia, with all their horses and no money.

“They gave us money, they gave us food, they gave us toys for Christmas, they gave us food for the animals,” Georgina recalled about the townspeople. “So I think America is a lovely place to live.”

Later on, she and her family performed for the Kennedys in Washington, and she met Vincent, part of a sixth-generation German circus family, in 1986.

“This life is a lifestyle,” Georgina said. “It’s not a job, it’s not 9 to 5. It’s 24 hours a day of your whole life.”

“Your life sounds so so so so awesome!” Juliana interrupted. “I’d give anything for just a day of your life.”

“It’s a hard life, sweetie,” Georgina said. She and Vincent have been together for almost 33 years without one vacation. How could they leave their “babies?” There are no babysitters, Georgina said, for lions and tigers. To feed them all, it requires 30 to 40 pounds of meat per animal per day. They’re on a strict diet from the vet: beef, chicken, milk and raw eggs. Vincent has to debone all the meat, because Mufasa just devours it. Travelling is a burden. The permits. The animal rights protestors, who say that using big cats for entertainment is barbaric.

“It used to be an easygoing life,” Georgina said. “And now it’s a real business. There used to be 47 of us independent owners of lions and tigers travelling. Now there’s about five of us left, five or six.”

She is “heartbroken” by accusations of animal cruelty.

“You can’t put everybody that does this in one bucket,” she said. “Because there’s good and bad in every business. What’s happened to our business, the people that’s grown up doing it, just like farm children, they seem to be the only ones that’s lasting.”

Tigers are intelligent creatures, and have their own personalities. Nipper is feisty, but not mean, even though she sometimes looks it. Kia is getting older, so she is becoming grumpier.

“They all love me, I gotta say that,” Georgina said.

As for Mufasa, there’s a reason his nickname is Slow-Mo. When it was his turn to perform, it was like a vaudeville act. As he lazed on the ground, Vincent tugged at his paw and spun his tail around like a wind-up toy. This laziness isn’t just part of the show.

“Tigers are rather easy to train,” Georgina said. “They watch you and they listen. After they realize what you want, they’ll do it. A lion is lazy, stubborn and all they want to do is sleep.”

Juliana’s favorite big cat is the fossa.

“What the heck is a fossa?” Georgina asked.

“It’s an amazing creature.”

A fossa is a small cat with big ears that lives in Madagascar.

“I study a lot of animals. In fact I know 25,000 animal species,” said Juliana, who has a farm with a cat named Goldie, a bunny, 11 horses, four cows and, in her estimation, 206 pigs. When she grows up, she wants to start a company to protect endangered species.

Nobody, Georgina said, wants to be a big cat trainer when they grow up anymore.

“We’re losing our life,” she said. “After all these generations there will be no exotic animals in the circus ... they like the 10 minutes of glory, that’s the easy part. The hard part is behind the scenes, the rest.”

POTTSVILLE — One-hundred 1-ounce cups of red sand were poured into cracks in front of the Schuylkill County Bicentennial Monument at the courthouse Tuesday morning as the county participated for the first time in “World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.”

The sand is a symbol for an important message, said Stefanie Wenrich, Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center anti-human trafficking advocate for Lebanon and Schuylkill counties.

“Just like cracks in pavement go unnoticed, so does human trafficking,” she explained to a group of about 35 people during the 40-minute ceremony.

Artist Molly Gochman started the Red Sand Project in 2014 in New York City, and The Red Sand Project donated sand for the local effort.

According to the United Nations, human trafficking “exploits women, children and men for numerous purposes,” including forced labor and sex. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime has gathered information on 225,000 victims of the practice globally, according to www.un.org.

Wenrich spoke Tuesday about the evils of human trafficking.

“Human trafficking is the business of stealing freedom for profit,” she said.

She said the more educated people become on human trafficking, the quicker action can occur to eradicate it.

Schuylkill County District Attorney Michael A. O’Pake, among those who poured sand on Tuesday, said the problem is “more prevalent in Schuylkill County, our state and our nation than we want to realize.”

Detective Thomas Robin said the district attorney’s office is investigating cases of alleged human trafficking. Education is also key, he explained previously, noting how brochures about the issue have been distributed to motels and truck stops.

All three Schuylkill County commissioners were present.

“To bring it home is very important,” commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. said; Gary Hess noted how it’s an issue worldwide; and Frank Staudenmeier applauded SARCC for bringing the exploitation to the forefront.

“They are all vulnerable, and the sooner we can nip this at the bud, the better,” Staudenmeier said.

Wenrich’s mother, Sharon, sprinkled sand and couldn’t help but remember a TV show she watched previously about human trafficking.

“It was a girl that was telling the story,” she said.

Sharon Wenrich recalled being “shocked” by the show because the young girl recounted how she was recruited with the promise of a better life while she was in a juvenile unit.

Learn more at redsandproject.org.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

Anthony J. Kilker

SHENANDAOH — A man charged by Mahanoy City police with threatening several people with a handgun during a domestic disturbance at his home on July 8 had charges against him held for court during a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker.

George E. Hampton, 49, of 121 E. Pine St., Mahanoy City, was arrested by Patrolman Thomas Rentschler and charged with terroristic threats, possessing instruments of crime, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and harassment.

Kilker determined the commonwealth proved a prima facie case and ordered all charges against Hampton held for Schuylkill County Court, where he can enter a guilty plea or plead not guilty and request a trial.

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.

Newton told police that she went to the home while Hampton was at work, and she and the others were almost finished gathering her things, when he returned.

Hampton then assaulted another woman at the home and then retrieved a .357-caliber hand gun, exited the building holding the weapon, waived it in the air and pointed it at Newton and her friends while making threats at them.

Other court cases included:

William Mack, 42, of SCI/Mahanoy, Frackville; withdrawn: conspiracy and criminal use of a communications facility. Waived for court: conspiracy to commit possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jason J. Bee, 50, of SCI/Mahanoy, Frackville; withdrawn: simple assault. Moved to a nontraffic citation: harassment.

Damian Crawford, 23, of SCI/Mahanoy, Frackville; withdrawn: simple assault. Moved to a nontraffic citation: harassment.

Dayron Malloy, 35, of SCI/Mahanoy, Frackville; withdrawn: conspiracy and criminal use of a communications facility. Waived for court: conspiracy to commit possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sukori L. Butler, 36 of 207 E. Centre St., Shenandoah; dismissed: robbery and false imprisonment. Held for court: strangulation, terroristic threats, simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct.

Ashley Ann Freitas, 28, of 529 W. Allen St., Apt. 2, Allentown; waived for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Michael E. Kohlhepp, 39 of 13 S. Gilbert St., Shenandoah; held for court: possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Keri L. Cavenas, 42, of 310 W. Railroad St., Pottsville; waived for court: cruelty to animals and neglect of animals.

Daniel D. Quinn, 40, of 2526 Water St., Mahanoy Plane; withdrawn: possession of a small amount of marijuana, obscured plates, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked and no rear lights. Quinn entered a guilty plea to a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Joseph J. Carretta, 20, of 13 Marsha Drive, Cressona; held for court: possession of a small amount of marijuana, driving an unregistered vehicle and no rear lights.

Robert C. Wagner III, 34, of 500 W. Mount Vernon St., Shenandoah; held for court: criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked.

Tabitha M. Murphy, 34, of 217 S. Main St., Shenandoah; held for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ayra Portes, 46, of 4430 Cottman Ave., Apt. 1, Philadelphia; withdrawn: burglary aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment.

Curtis D. Navitsky, 30, of 19 St. Ann St., Barnesville; held for court: retail theft and illegal use of shopping or laundry carts.

Jeffrey Monney, 40, of 36 Vulcan Road, Barnesville; waived for court: simple assault and harassment.

Lillian M. Jimenez Colon, 29, of 436 W. Centre St., Shenandoah; withdrawn and moved to citations: disorderly conduct and refusing to move-obstructing a highway.

Derrick M. Donchak, 29, of 807 W. Coal St., Shenandoah; waived for court: DUI, DUI-high rate and accidents involving damage to unattended vehicles or property.

Craig S. Kepp, 21, of 327 W. Cherry St., Shenandoah; withdrawn: simple assault and harassment.

Joshua Longenberger, 24, of 427 W. Market St., Mahanoy City; withdrawn: terroristic threats and harassment.

(Staff writer Frank

Andruscavage compiled this report)

POTTSVILLE — The Pottsville Parking Authority has a website for the first time in its history.

At www.pottsvilleparking.com, visitors can get information on municipal and residential parking, answers to frequently asked questions and information on downloading a parking app from ParkMobile that should be available in about 30 days. Users will also eventually be able to dispute a parking ticket through the site.

The website, designed by Tom Witmer, information technology specialist with Levkulic Associates, went live Thursday.

“We can update this within seconds of any special news that comes out,” John Levkulic, engineer for the parking authority and interim executive director, said of what he described as a user-friendly website. As an example, the site might be updated to reflect temporary parking restrictions.

Those without a smartphone can call a 1-800 number, not yet determined, and provide license plate number and credit card information to pay to park.

After clicking a link on the website, a map of parking areas in the city is displayed. The website uses Google maps and has markers for parking and sites of local interest.

Parking options

Municipal parking permits are available for the Capitol Parking Garage, the Ramada parking lot, Former 84 Lumber lot and Union Station and Arch Street lots. Residential parking permits are available for designated areas with parking meters.

New permits for municipal and residential parking, designed to hang from rear-view mirrors and unveiled earlier this year, are specific to a vehicle and zone in the city. The residential permit is valid only where the resident lives, so it can’t be used to avoid paying for a meter at another location outside a designated area. The hanging permits replaced window stickers.

Levkulic said about 60 residential and 500 municipal hanging permits have been issued since they became available.

Those interested may contact Levkulic Associates, Union Street Station, 101 E. Union St., between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 570-628-2887 or email jel@levkulicgroup.com or visit the website.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

SUMMIT STATION — Although U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser has operated a tractor before, he admitted Wednesday was his first time competing with one.

The congressman maneuvered a John Deere tractor, traveling 242.02 feet in a celebrity tractor pull at the Schuylkill County Fair.

“I was trying to pick up any tips they were giving out. Mike Tobash looked like he was doing pretty well,” Meuser, R-9, Dallas, said after his run.

Several dignitaries from county and state government joined in the “for fun” competition at the Curtis N. Luckenbill Memorial Track. Among them were state Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, Pottsville; state Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, Rush Township; and Schuylkill County commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. and Commissioner Gary J. Hess.

“Agriculture is the leading industry in the district,” Meuser said while praising the work of 4-H and FFA youth organizations.

Constituents the congressman sees at county fairs have asked him about several matters, he said. They’ve asked about dairy issues; trade and the status of the USMCA — United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement; and the U.S-Mexico border.

He recently spent time with President Donald Trump, who invited him to a 9/11 bill signing ceremony.

“He was great. He knows about the issues and stays very positive ... We talk about what’s best for Pennsylvania,” Meuser said.

Although Wednesday was Meuser’s first visit this year to the county fair, he said he’d attended about six times before when he was with the Corbett administration. Meuser had previously been secretary of revenue in the cabinet of former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett. Joining him Wednesday was Katie Hetherington Cunfer, his deputy district director.

Meanwhile, Tobash posted one of the early top scores, pulling a little more than 250 feet. Knowles came in at 240.24.

“This is about having fun. I always enjoy the fair. Sometimes you see a lot of people and the only time you ever see them is each year at the fair,” Knowles said.

Hess said one of his biggest challenges Wednesday was just getting on the tractor since he has a bad knee.

“I got some hints about trying to stay in the dry part,” he said.

Hess has attended every day of this year’s fair.

“It’s nice to show support for the effort put into this fair. It’s great to see what’s going on. This is our number one industry,” Hess said.

As Meuser prepared to leave the track, he said his next stop was to get a vanilla milkshake.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

A 2009 Minersville Area High School graduate and Minersville native is serving with a Navy helicopter squadron that flies the Navy’s newest and most technologically advanced helicopter.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeany Cadet credits much of her success to lessons learned growing up in Minersville and Brooklyn.

“I learned that hard work and persistence pays off,” Cadet said in a prepared statement. “This job is not easy. It’s a lot of sacrifices. The time being away, it can consume you whether you’re out to sea or at a desk, so you have to be very persistent.”

Cadet is an aviation ordnanceman with the Airwolves, of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 40. The Mayport, Florida-based squadron operates the Navy’s next generation submarine hunter and Anti-Surface Warfare helicopter, the MH-60R Seahawk. Each helicopter is nearly 65 feet long, may weigh up to 23,500 pounds and travel over 120 miles an hour for nearly 320 miles on a tank of gas.

As an aviation ordnanceman, Cadet is responsible for the safe handling and management of ordnance for the aircraft.

According to Navy officials, the MH-60R is the most capable multi-mission helicopter available in the world today. It is used for a variety of missions, including hunting and tracking enemy submarines, attacking enemy ships, search and rescue, drug interdiction, delivering supplies and supporting the Navy’s special operations forces.

It is replacing the Navy’s older helicopters because of its greater versatility and more advanced weapon systems.

Sailors’ jobs are highly varied within the squadron. Approximately 297 Navy men and women are assigned and keep all parts of the squadron running smoothly. This includes everything from maintaining helicopter airframes and engines, to processing paperwork, handling weapons and flying the aircraft.

“My parents came from Haiti,” Cadet said. “I find it rewarding to be able to represent my family here. Now that I have joined and they have seen the growth I have made, they think it’s the best decision I have ever made.”

POTTSVILLE — Chris Painter, a Pottsville native and well-known chef in the Philadelphia region, will bring his cooking talents to the The Lodge at Sharp Mountain.

“He’s leasing the property for an extended period of time with the intent to establish the restaurant and ultimately purchase the property,” said James C. Bohorad, Pottsville, Painter’s attorney, who was speaking Wednesday on his client’s behalf.

Bohorad said Painter and his business partner, whom he would not name, signed an “extended lease” Monday. Details were not disclosed. Bohorad said Painter’s role or that of his business partner have not been determined.

Painter moved back to Pottsville and wanted to re-enter the restaurant scene, and talked with Keith Maley, owner of the restaurant, Bohorad said.

“He has worked at some of the top restaurants all over the country,” Bohorad said.

The restaurant will undergo renovations. Other changes, such as the name and menu, have not been determined.

The restaurant was closed Wednesday for a scheduled vacation week, according to The Lodge’s Facebook page. As to Painter’s eventual takeover, the post said “all events that were previously booked will be honored to the best of our ability.”

Maley confirmed Wednesday that Painter and a business partner have signed a lease.

“He has the option to buy it when it’s the right time for him,” Maley said.

Maley said Painter has been a customer at the Lodge for months and approached Maley about his interest in the restaurant. He said he’s not sure what role Painter will play, but “I would assume he’s going to have responsibility for the kitchen operations.”

Maley said Painter is “a good fit” for the restaurant because of his extensive experience in the industry.

“Chris is obviously a very well known and experienced chef,” Maley said.

While Painter and his partner didn’t disclose many details to Maley, he said they have a goal of being open in the fall.

“They are basically looking at all options to make the place the best it can be,” Maley said.

Pottsville Mayor James T. Muldowney said the news is good for the city.

“He’s a hometown boy,” Muldowney said, who added he grew up with Painter in the city.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

Ashland

American Legion Post 434, 501 Center St., will have a cheesesteak sandwich fundraiser from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 8. The public is welcome to participate. For more information, call 570-875-0086.

Cressona

The Pottsville Christian Women’s Club will sponsor “It’s a Wonderful Life” luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 13 at Grace Evangelical Free Church, 101 Graeff St. The cost is $15 and the speaker will be Irene Pace, Middleton, Delaware, who will present “One woman’s journey from blunder to wonder.” There will also be music by Samantha Sylvester, of Schuylkill Haven. Reservations are due by Wednesday. For reservations or more information, call Gale at 570-527-2224 or Michelle at 570-617-3896.

Lansford

Crossroads Due, Tamaqua, featuring Sterling Koch and Jack Kulp playing Southern country blues, will be featured from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the gazebo in Kennedy Park, adjacent to the Panther Valley School District Stadium. People are invited to bring chairs to enjoy the free entertainment. Refreshments will be on sale. The event is sponsored by the Lansford Alive Events Committee, with the purpose of revitalizing Kennedy Park.

Pottsville

An evening of prayer for priests serving in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. The Eucharistic Holy Hour will also include the Rosary for priests and a litany prayer for the intercession of St. John Marie Vianney, patron saint of parish priests. All are welcome.

Pottsville

The Pottsville Free Public Library, 215 W. Market St., will have an event called “Game Changers” for young people ages 8-14 sponsored by Clinical Outcomes Group, at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 15, according to a release from the library’s Darren DeArment. Participants will “Play fun and exciting group games while learning life skills and problem solving,” DeArment said in the release. People are asked to register by calling the library at 570-622-8880.

Shenandoah

Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Parish is in need of lectors, Eucharistic ministers and alterservers, according to a bulletin announcement. Any parishioner interested in any of the ministries is asked to call the parish office at 570-462-1968. People may also email info@dmparish.com. St. Casimir Church at 229 N. Jardin St. is a Divine Mercy sacred worship site.

Shenandoah

The annual Rescue Hook & Ladder “Hookies” Fire Company block party is set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday along the first block of East Coal Street adjacent to the firehouse, Main and Coal streets. The 2019 fest will include games, ethnic and American food including the renowned Hookies’ bleenies and the traditional horseshoe tournament the morning of Saturday. All are welcome. For more information, call the firehouse at 570-462-9575.

Shenandoah

The annual Shenandoah Community Night Out will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 10 (rain date Aug. 11) along East Washington Street between Main and White streets near the Shenandoah Community Ambulance Association headquarters at the southeast corner of Main and Washington streets. Local emergency service agencies will be on hand and there will be emergency vehicle and equipment displays, educational displays, community resources, a fire safety trailer, refreshments and “fun activities.” All are welcome. The ambulance association includes the former Lost Creek and Ringtown Valley ambulance associations.

Sheppton

The Sheppton-Oneida Volunteer Fire Company has mailed its 2019 fund drive data to homes and businesses in East Union Township. The drive is the company’s largest annual fundraiser, according to a release. Anyone who did not receive a fund drive letter should call the fire company office at 570-384-4746.

SUMMIT STATION — No matter the outcome, Kase Wolfe and his girlfriend, Kelsey Otto, knew it was going to be good.

Both of their winning crossbred pigs — a 276-pound gilt (female) named Bandit and a 248-pound barrow (male) named Duke — will be up for sale tonight at the livestock sale at the Schuylkill County Fair.

Wolfe and Otto, both members of the Pine Grove Future Farmers of America chapter, ended up battling each other. Their animals claimed grand champion and reserve champion, respectively, during the hog show Monday.

“Mine had a little more weight on it than Kelsey’s had,” Wolfe, 16, said. Both animals were raised at Mar-K Farms of Pine Grove.

In only her second year showing at the fair, Otto, 16, won the reserve champion title with her belted (black and pink colored) pig. She’s also showing another pig, one sheep, one dairy beef and two dairy heifers throughout fair week.

Meanwhile, Wolfe’s sister, Kallie, 16, won reserve champion with her dairy beef. They are the children of Eric and Amy Wolfe.

Wednesday was Schuylkill County Day at the fair with a special focus on agriculture. The success of the county’s 4-H and FFA youth groups shined as market steer, breeding beef and dairy beef animals took center stage in a newly-dedicated arena.

The Richard Kreager Memorial Ag Arena was dedicated this year at the Bob and Andrea Dunn Livestock Complex. A sign above the arena states, “This building is dedicated to the memory of Richard Kreager, an enduring supporter of the 4-H and FFA youth programs in Schuylkill County.”

Since the competitions began this week, at least eight people who have never won the grand champion or reserve champion title with their animals were victorious this year, according to Paul T. Kennedy, fair association president. He said the reach and success of the 4-H and FFA programs has been “remarkable.”

In his last opportunity to claim victory, Dillon Koch, of Muddy Hollow Farm in Orwigsburg, succeeded. His short-horned, 1,245-pound Angus cross named Makito was named grand champion market steer.

“In eight years of competing, this is my first grand champion,” Koch, 19, said. Due to Koch’s age, this was his last eligible year to compete in the 4-H and FFA show with the Blue Mountain Livestock Club.

Cheryl Fairbairn, of Chester County, served as judge Wednesday.

Koch said he thought the judge might have picked a heavier steer instead of Makito.

“He was fully finished with the right amount of fat on him and was prime market weight,” Koch said of his prize-winning steer.

This year also saw more market animal exhibitors at 113 and 130 exhibitors for all livestock, excluding dairy, Gretchen Dingman said. Dingman, an FFA adviser and agriculture educator, assists Briana L. Luckenbill, extension educator and 4-H coordinator, and Dwane L. Miller, an agricultural extension educator with Penn State Extension, with the fair’s livestock shows.

Meanwhile, in the dairy barns, it’s been a waiting game for expectant mama, Peaches, who’s co-owned by Heath Miller and Katie Ochs. The nearly 4-year-old Jersey cow was due to give birth to her second calf on Monday. Passersby had hoped she’d deliver during the fair.

Miller said they’ve already got two names picked out that stick with an ice-cream flavor theme: Chocolate Marshmallow or Cookies and Cream. Peaches’ first calf, named Creamsicle, was born in March 2018 and joined the rest of the dairy animals from Lil-Rus Farms in Tamaqua.

The family farm is run by brothers Russel and Carl Miller. They milk about 45 and also raise cross-bred steer.

Heath Miller will be competing in the open dairy show Friday.

Today is Senior Appreciation Day with the fair opening at 11 a.m.

Kennedy reported attendance has gone up. Track admission on Monday was up by 30 percent and general admission was up by 22 percent from last year, he said. Monday’s general admission total was 3,656, while Tuesday’s general admission total was 6,722, according to Kennedy.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

Christmas tree farmer Paul A. Shealer could take his wife Sharon’s advice.

After all, she was right when she made the final decision on which Christmas tree the family should enter into a national competition several years ago.

Still, Shealer said Wednesday he’s on the fence between entering a Concolor, Nordmann or Fraser fir from the couple’s Evergreen Acres Christmas Tree Farm in Auburn.

Sharon was pulling for the Nordmann.

Meanwhile, another Schuylkill County Christmas tree producer, Larry Snyder, of Pitman, has selected a Douglas fir for the National Christmas Tree Association’s National Tree and Wreath Competition set for Aug. 8-10. His wife, Joanne, will also enter two wreaths in the national contest from their Mahantongo Valley Farms.

At stake are bragging rights to supply the celebratory holiday tree for the White House.

“It’s going to be my sixth national competition. I think I can hold my own against them,” Shealer said. “Competition is going to be tough.” There are six other national champions competing this year, according to Shealer.

“Some of my nicest trees are the Douglas firs and that’s what I’ve been holding onto for the last few years,” Snyder said.

All trees are to be under 8 foot for the national contest, which is held every two years. Two national winners and two runners-up will be selected. One of the winners will provide the Christmas tree for President Donald Trump in the White House; and the runner-up will supply the tree for Vice President Mike Pence’s residence in 2019. The other champions selected this year will provide the trees in 2020.

The two Schuylkill County growers became eligible for nationals, after claiming the grand champion trees at the Pennsylvania Farm Show over the past two years. Snyder won with a Cork Bark fir in 2018 and Shealer with a Fraser fir earlier this year.

Snyder is looking forward to convening with fellow producers closer to home. This year’s national contest is being held in Pennsylvania at Roba Family Farms in North Abington Township. The event is held in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association summer meeting.

“When tree growers get together, they like to analyze who supplied the seedlings,” Snyder said.

Snyder’s Douglas fir was planted in 2011, so it was younger than he initially thought. He said the seed source was most likely from a West Virginia nursery. It spent two years as a seedling and two years in a transplant bed and was four years old when Snyder planted it on his farm.

The seed source for Shealer’s Concolor fir came from the Sante Fe National Forest in New Mexico, he said. When it was planted about seven years ago it was also a four-year-old.

Shealer said he’s leaning toward selecting the Concolor. All contestants had to report what type of tree category they were entering. Shealer entered in the True Fir class.

“In the national competition, they prefer more open places to hang ornaments on. We call that ‘decorate-ability,’” Shealer said.

The Shealers won the national competition in 2000, and in 2008 they had the reserve grand champion. The Shealers placed third nationally in 2017 with a Douglas fir.

The Snyders are also familiar with the national contest. They competed nationally in 2017 with a Douglas fir and two wreaths, but did not place.

Shealer won Best of Show with a Fraser fir at this year’s Schuylkill County Fair in Summit Station.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

The Borough of McAdoo is applying for a grant to help pay for new sidewalks along Kennedy Drive, and is looking to sell its old traffic signals.

Both actions are related to the reconstruction of Kennedy Drive.

Meeting in special session Monday night, the council voted to apply for a $250,000 multi-modal grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority to help pay for the new sidewalks.

Originally, only new curbing was going to be installed. But later in the design, it was determined new sidewalks would have to be installed. Borough officials are hoping the state will help pay for the sidewalks.

As part of the Route 309/Kennedy Drive project, the borough is getting three new traffic signals to replace the existing signals in the borough along Kennedy Drive at Blaine Street, Monroe Street and Grant Street.

The new signals, complete with masts to hold them — the cables from which the old signals were hung — have already been erected. The new signals are not yet operational, but Councilwoman Mary Labert said they will be soon.

So council also voted to advertise for sale the four old signal heads, two from the Blaine Street intersection and one each from the Grant and Monroe Street intersections.

The Route 309/Kennedy Drive project entails full-depth reconstruction between Haddock Road and the Carbon County line. Additional work includes guide rail replacement, drainage improvements, traffic signal upgrades, and construction of Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant facilities.

Most of the major work this year will be on Route 309 between Sherman and Blaine streets. However, there may be other work occurring between Haddock Road and Washington Street, and between Grant Street and the Carbon County line just north of the borough.

Lehigh Asphalt Paving and Construction Co. of Tamaqua is the general contractor on the $9.5 million project, which began in October 2018 and is expected to be complete in November 2021.

On a separate matter, the council voted to appoint David Prekopa as the alternate member of the borough’s zoning hearing board. Prekopa replaces David Ervin, who resigned the post.

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

Have you ever been, or wanted to be, a pen pal to a child in elementary school, to share your views and experiences and learn about theirs? If so, recruitment is going on now and this fall could be more fun than you expected.

For more than 20 years, RSVP of Schuylkill County has hosted an intergenerational pen pal program that links local fifth-grade students with adult pen pals age 55 and older. Initially, less than 30 students participated, but the program has grown over the years and today participation has increased to three school districts and more than 100 adult writers, many of whom have multiple pen pals.

The program involves volunteers and students exchanging handwritten or computer generated letters each month from October through May. Identities are kept anonymous, using initials only, and the pen pals get to meet in person at the end of the program for a festive meet and greet at their school where food and smiles are shared.

Pen pals correspond about all kinds of things like how times have changed and how they’ve stayed the same over the decades. Students get a view into the past and the adults see the world through fresh eyes. They share meaningful conversations about their favorite likes and dislikes, past experiences and future dreams. And they find that they may have more in common than they would have thought. Students develop a relationship with someone based solely on interests and correspondence, and discover that age is irrelevant.

The popular program continues to receive favorable comments from teachers and students alike, as well as the adult writers. Not only does the correspondence strengthen writing and communication skills, it bridges the generation gap with meaningful interaction.

I’ve been an RSVP pen pal for several years and have met some wonderful young men and women with whom I’ve shared common interests and laughter. We’ve exchanged favorite recipes, recommended vacation spots, shared joys and hopes, and I’ve been gifted with unique, personalized artwork. Each fall, I’d await my next new friends.

School districts that will be participating in the 2019-20 program are Saint Clair Area, Mahanoy Area and West Penn/Tamaqua Area.

RSVP is currently seeking kind and spirited adults who would be interested in touching the lives of young students this fall. They’ll match the volunteer and student based on common interests. Volunteers can choose which school district (or more than one), how many students and the gender they’d prefer.

If you’re age 55 and older, and are interested in becoming a pen pal, contact Darla Troutman, RSVP coordinator, at 570-622-3103 or dtroutman@co.schuylkill.pa.us.

Would you or your group like to participate in Schuylkill Make A Difference Day in October, but don’t have a clue how you could help our communities? In the upcoming weeks, this column will list projects that are available for “adoption,” that is, a project that was submitted to us by a non- or not-for-profit that they need help completing. Perhaps they simply don’t have the funding, or it may require a degree of manual labor that they can’t supply. Regardless, these are ready-made projects that we recommend for those who want to participate without having to design their own project. This week’s adoption opportunity is Horses and Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center Inc.

Horses and Horizons, located 10 miles south of Tamaqua near Route 309, is a nonprofit organization staffed entirely by volunteers that serves clients with a wide variety of disabilities. Their fun therapeutic horseback riding lessons help to improve mobility as well as cognition for children and adults with special needs. The fall riding session will end on Oct. 23 and they’re having a year-end tack cleaning and work party from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 26. They could use help cleaning and storing saddles, bridles and lesson equipment for the winter. Supplies are provided. This is a great afternoon project for those age 13 and older. If you’re interested in “adopting” this project, call this office for details.

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.

Wrong term

Clean Air Generation LLC is seeking a curative amendment to a zoning ordinance, not rezoning of the area. A headline in Wednesday’s edition was incorrect.

MINERSVILLE — Children have new playground equipment to use at the borough recreation complex tot lot on Fourth Street.

Three new play structures and swings are there. The two largest were paid with grant money the borough received from the state. A green sliding board was donated by Womer Landscaping, Pottsville, which installed the equipment last week.

“Come and enjoy something extraordinary nice,” Borough Manager Robert Mahalchick said Wednesday.

Visitors can download an app to use at the playground to enhance their experience at the park by downloading mini games.

The borough applied for a $257,000 reimbursable grant in May 2018 through the state Department of Community and Economic Development Greenways, Trails and Recreation Grant. It was awarded $90,000 in September 2018. The Minersville Little League also partnered on the grant. The borough and Little League were required to pay for a percentage of the project, $8,136.90 for the borough share and $5,607.87 for the little league.

“It’s freaking awesome,” Mahalchick said.

The previous equipment at the playground Mahalchick estimated was between 10 and 15 years old. The playground, which is open from dawn to dusk, at the complex is the most heavily used of the four playgrounds in the borough and thus was the one chosen for the improvements. Playworld, Lewisburg, is the manufacturer of the equipment, which was bought through COSTARS, a state contracting program.

The smaller play structure is for ages 2 to 5 years old while the larger one is for ages 5 to 12. The four swings are new on the swing set. Of those, two are the traditional swings. A toddler swing and a handicapped swing are new to the playground. The sliding board is old but the rails were repainted as well as the swing set. With its grant funds, the little league is installing netting on the first base side to the bleachers and third base to home plate.

Video surveillance is at the lot. Mahalchick said vandalism took place previously, and anyone that is caught vandalizing the playground and the complex area will be prosecuted.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

SCRANTON — One phase of the Diocese of Scranton’s program to compensate victims of clergy child sexual abuse is over. Now it’s on to the next.

The window for victims who had not previously reported the abuse to the diocese to register for the Independent Survivors Compensation Program closed midnight Wednesday.

Camille Biros, business manager for the Washington, D.C.-based law firm of Kenneth R. Feinberg, which is administering the compensation program for the diocese, said the team at the intake center was “pretty busy” late Wednesday afternoon as the registration period entered its final hours.

“There’s a lot going on,” she said. “In order to meet the deadline, they are providing registrations that are incomplete and some of them we’ll have to go back and work those out.”

“But we’ll do our job and sift through and find the eligible people and welcome them into the program.”

The diocese launched its program Jan. 22, five months after the release of a statewide grand jury report that detailed decades of child sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Scranton and five other Pennsylvania dioceses.

The diocese publicly identified 81 individuals, mostly former diocesan priests but also members of religious communities and lay people, who were credibly accused of sexually abusing minors.

The Feinberg firm reported Tuesday that 118 abuse survivors submitted claims for compensation under diocesan program, with 44 settling so far for a total of about $7 million. Offers have been made to another nine victims.

More details about one of the settled claims emerged Wednesday.

At a press conference outside the diocesan Chancery Building, the leader of a New Jersey-based victims assistance group announced an 85-year-old woman received a low six-figure monetary award for clergy abuse she suffered as a 6-year-old in the Swoyersville area in 1941.

The Rev. Martin J. Fleming, a diocesan priest who died in 1950, twice sexually abused “Jane Doe” after her mother passed away, said Robert M. Hoatson, a former priest who is co-founder and president of Road to Recovery Inc.

“Her mother died and then she met a monster,” Hoatson said.

The woman suffered for decades before finally reporting the abuse to the diocese in 2006, he said. At that time, a diocesan official advised her to consult a counselor or a trusted female friend.

Hoatson said while no amount of money can truly compensate the woman for what she endured, she now has a measure of closure and an acknowledgement by the diocese that Fleming was a child predator.

Praising the woman for her courage in coming forward, Hoatson encouraged other clergy abuse victims to do likewise and “stop living in silence.”

“That’s not an order. That’s a plea. The greatest obstacle to recovery and healing is to live in silence,” he said.

Biros said the next step for the Feinberg firm is to review the previously unknown individuals who have registered for the program and determine who is and is not eligible to participate. There are certain to be a few who won’t make the cut for one reason or another, she said.

Those who are deemed eligible will receive a claims packet, which they must complete and submit by Sept. 30, she said.

Contact the writer: dsingleton@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9132

The Republican-Herald is looking for local residents who attended Woodstock in Bethel, New York, in 1969 for stories about this month’s 50th anniversary of the famous “peace and music” festival.

Contact us through a direct Facebook message or email City Editor Brian Smith at bsmith@republicanherald.com with the subject “Woodstock” to arrange an interview.

James K. Reiley

POTTSVILLE — A woman charged with leading Pottsville police on a chase that started around 4:40 p.m. July 2 and ended near the Barry Township line waived her right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge James J. Reiley.

Sheena Whitacre, 34, of 521 E. Market St., Pottsville, was arrested by Pottsville police Patrolman Christopher Hamilton and charged with one felony count of fleeing or attempting to elude police; three felony counts of aggravated assault; three misdemeanor counts of simple assault; 12 summary counts each of careless driving and reckless driving; three summary counts of duties at a stop sign and one summary count each of making an unsafe U turn, illegal turns and driving at an unsafe speed.

By waiving her right to a hearing, Whitacre will now have to answer to all 37 charges in Schuylkill County Court, where she could plead guilty or plead not guilty and request a trial.

Hamilton charged Whitacre with fleeing from police during an incident that began at the county Children & Youth Services building and resulted in her driving at a high rate of speed, intentionally hitting another vehicle and a police cruiser.

The pursuit eventually ended on Deep Creek Road, where Whitaker slowed down and was taken into custody.

Other court cases included:

Vincenzo E. Leech, 20, of 81 Rose Ave., Port Carbon; waived for court: theft and receiving stolen property.

Kimberly Ann Cole, 33, of 624 Broad St., Jonestown; waived for court: DUI-controlled substance.

Gabriele E. McKay, 24, of 1074 Indian Cove, Auburn; waived for court: DUI-controlled substance.

Dineshbhai C. Patel, 63, of 480 N. Claude A. Lord Blvd., Pottsville; withdrawn: criminal mischief. Patel pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct.

Shannon L. Roskosky, no age or address available; waived for court: DUI-controlled substance, driving without insurance and failure to keep right.

Wesley Lee Chance Jr., 35, of 23 Walnut St., Ashland; withdrawn: aggravated assault and assault by prisoner. Waived for court: simple assault.

Stacy Lee Dalton, 51, of 515 Laurel Terrace, Pottsville; waived for court: retail theft and receiving stolen property.

James J. Hossler Jr., 37, of 713 W. Norwegian St., Pottsville; waived for court: fleeing or attempting to elude police, possession of drug paraphernalia, careless driving, driving an unregistered vehicle and duties at a stop sign.

Shy Ann Kilraine-Ritcher, 30, of 735 Valley Road, Hecksherville; waived for court: retail theft.

Steven M. Wetzel, 46, of 16 Arrowhead Lane, Pine Grove; held for court: DUI, driving with an alcohol level of 0.02-percent or higher while under license suspension, disregard for single traffic lane, careless driving and failure to use safety belts.

Charles J. Gradwell, 41, of 608 W. Market St., Apt. 3, Pottsville; waived for court; criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

Lauren E. Hughes, 32, of Box 126, Mahanoy City; waived for court: possession of a controlled substance.

Danielle M. Groff, 47, of 37 E. Mill St., Apt. 3, Pine Grove; waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate, disregard for single traffic lane, driving at an unsafe speed and careless driving.

Ronald J. Harper Jr., 33, of 501 N. Centre St., Room 7, Pottsville; waived for court: criminal trespass.

Thomas E. Hollywood, 63, of 169 E. Bacon St., Pottsville; dismissed: aggravated assault and simple assault. Held for court: recklessly endangering another person, harassment, careless driving and obedience to traffic control signals.

Maura M. Skwait, 28, of 14 Peacock St., Pottsville; waived for court: endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person.

Justin M. Colna, 18, of 1047 Maple St., Pottsville; waived for court: possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Deborah Ann Morse, 53, of 2475 Papoose Drive, Auburn; dismissed: harassment. Held for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Thomas J. Thompson, 25, of 250 N. 12th St., Pottsville; guilty pleas entered on charges of possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

David A. Plachko

PORT CARBON — A man charged by Saint Clair police with sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl between June and September 2012 waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko.

John J. Liptok, 31, currently lodged at SCI/Frackville, was arrested by Patrolman Brad Blanner and charged with one felony count each of aggravated indecent assault, aggravated indecent assault of a child, indecent assault and corruption of minors.

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

Blanner charged Liptok with assaulting the girl, along with another man, at a home in Saint Clair. During the incidents, Blanner said, Liptok would tell the girl to “keep your mouth shut” and that his actions made her feel scared and uncomfortable.

Other court cases included:

Nicole E. Chia, 31, of 106 N. George St., Pottsville; held for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Megan E. Vinson, 41, of 612 W. Market St., Apt. 1, Pottsville; held for court: receiving stolen property and retail theft.

Jessie A. Wolfe, 35, of 259 E. Liberty St., Schuylkill Haven; waived for court: fleeing or attempting to elude police, recklessly endangering another person, careless driving, reckless driving, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Trey T. Beachley, 26, of 70 Coal St., Second Floor, Port Carbon; waived for court: theft, receiving stolen property, fleeing or attempting to elude police and driving without a license.

Tanya E. Teijaro Edwards, 33, of 500 W. Mount Vernon St., Shenandoah; waived for court: theft, receiving stolen property and theft by deception.

Robert W. McDonald, 51, of 57 W. Mountain Road, Hegins; waived for court: DUI, DUI-high rate and careless driving.

Michael Astaria, 60, of 872 E. Maple Ave., Pottsville; waived for court: aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment.

Joshua J. Senkus, 18, of 417 Race St., Pottsville; waived for court: aggravated assault, simple assault, harassment and recklessly endangering another person.

Ashley M. Stumhofer, 28, of 155 Sunbury St., Apt. 1, Minersville; withdrawn: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance. Waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Stephen J. Bayer

TAMAQUA — A Tamaqua man charged with fraudulently returning items to the Walmart store in Hometown on March 2 had charges against him held for court during a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer.

Craig S. Hardy, 59, of 324 W. Broad St., was arrested by Rush Township police Patrolman Robert Bechtel and charged with two counts of theft by deception.

Bayer determined the commonwealth proved a prima facie case and ordered both charges against Hardy held to Schuylkill County Court, where he can now plead guilty or plead not guilty and request a trail.

Bechtel charged Hardy with entering the store without any merchandise, picking up items from the pet supply area and then returning some of those items, receiving $17.96 in cash and a Walmart gift card for $63.33.

Other court cases included:

Jermaine L. Davis, 45, of 4 Cherry St., Tamaqua; waived for court: possession of a controlled substance and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

Dennis Nedley Jr., 36, of 250 W. Howard Ave., Coaldale; held for court: possession of a controlled substance.

Erick A. Cruz, 20, of 140 Jason Road, Hazleton; held for court: possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving an unregistered vehicle and improper sun screening.

Kimberly K. Leary, 53, of 513 N. Railroad St., Tamaqua; waived for court: burglary, criminal trespass, theft and public drunkenness.

Caroline A. Kolenda, 29, of 167 Orwigsburg St., Tamaqua; withdrawn: aggravated assault. Waived for court: resisting arrest, simple assault and disorderly conduct.

Kaitlyn M. Tomasovich, no age available, of 25 S. Chestnut St., Summit Hill; held for court: theft of leased property.

Sheryl J. Raab, 59, of 4121 Birney Ave., Moosic; held for court: retail theft and conspiracy.

John Avitto, 49, of 197 Beaver Brook Road, Hazleton; held for court: DUI-controlled substance, driving without a license and driving an unregistered vehicle.

Stephen Orlando, 27, of 106 Maple Drive, Drums; waived for court: retail theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy.

Allison D. Vanhorn, 25, of 312 W. Patterson St., Lansford; waived for court: false reports and unsworn falsification to authorities.

Ashley M. Paulshock, 33, of 99 Berwick St., Beaver Meadows; withdrawn: criminal trespass and conspiracy. Waived for court: possessing instruments of crime, making repairs to or selling offensive weapons, simple assault, conspiracy, disorderly conduct and harassment.

Troy A. Haydt, 36, of 945 N. New St., Apt. 1/1, Bethlehem; waived for court: DUI-controlled substance, disregard for single traffic lane and careless driving.

Anthony Stalgaitis, 37, of 316 N. Elizabeth St., Tamaqua; waived for court: improper sun screening, making repairs to or selling offensive weapons, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Seth W. Valentine, 39, of 74 Beaver St., Lehighton; waived for court: possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Destiny A. Yacovelli, 24, of 248 N. Columbia St., Tamaqua; withdrawn: DUI-controlled substance. Waived for court: DUI and driving an unregistered vehicle.

Raven M. Mack, 28, of 233 W. Early Ave., Coaldale; withdrawn: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance. Waived for court: hindering apprehension or prosecution, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Paul D. Weirich, 32, of 105 Miner St., Coaldale; held for court: resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and harassment.

Faith E. Morgan, 45, of 22 Coles St., Mahanoy City; waived for court: retail theft, receiving stolen property and depositing waste on a highway.

Joseph J. Cappella, 28, of 405 N. Pine St., Tamaqua; waived for court: retail theft and receiving stolen property.

Craig S. Hardy, 59, of 324 W. Broad St., Tamaqua; held for court: theft by deception.

Michael R. Hargett, 41, of 224 N. Walnut St., Summit Hill; waived for court: DUI, DUI-controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Corey Wentz, 44, of 270 Pine Top Drive, Lehighton; held for court: theft by deception and possession of a controlled substance.

Christian C. Shilko, 49, of 222 Hunter St., Tamaqua; held for court: disorderly conduct and dangerous burning.

(Staff writer Frank

Andruscavage

compiled this report)

The Williams company determined its preferred site for a new natural gas compressor station is in Hegins Township.

Williams filed an application Wednesday with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission seeking authorization for its Leidy South Project, which includes constructing a 31,000-horsepower natural gas compressor station here in Schuylkill County.

The proposed facility’s footprint will encompass about 23 acres total and is proposed on approximately 105 acres near Deep Creek Road and Bridge Road in Hegins Township.

The company had considered 20 potential sites for its Compressor Station No. 620, according to Christopher L. Stockton, Williams’ spokesman. They included the preferred location in Hegins Township, known as Option A; another nearly adjacent property in Hegins Township, Option B; and one site near the Tyr Energy Westwood cogeneration plant in Frailey Township, called Option C.

“Ultimately, Option A avoids impacts to wetlands and forested lands, and offers less challenging terrain and constructability issues than the other options considered,” Stockton said in a prepared release Thursday.

Williams has an option agreement with the landowner, who was not named, to purchase the Hegins Township property.

Station 620 is a proposed gas turbine-driven compressor unit which will be located near the existing Transco pipeline in the county.

Placement

Many factors were considered during the months-long site selection process and after engineering and environmental analysis. FERC staff, state agencies, landowners and other stakeholders were engaged in the effort, Stockton reported. The company is evaluating additional “visual mitigation measures” to minimize potential aesthetic impacts associated with the facility design, he said.

“Sites were limited to specific ranges along the existing pipeline to optimize efficiency of the compressor station and to meet the required customer volumes. The company reviewed aerial imagery within the hydraulic range where each compressor station could be sited and screened individual parcels based on criteria such as proximity to the existing pipeline, parcel size and availability, topography, site accessibility, proximity to neighbors and environmental considerations, such as potential impacts to streams, floodplains, wetlands and threatened and endangered species habitat.

“The company also sought to avoid lands encumbered by geologic hazards, such as abandoned mines,” Stockton said.

Scope

The Leidy South Expansion Project is designed to connect supplies of natural gas in the Marcellus and Utica producing regions in Pennsylvania with Atlantic seaboard markets by the 2021-22 winter heating season.

According to Stockton, the project is designed to “minimize environmental impacts by maximizing the use of existing Transco pipeline infrastructure” and rights of way in Pennsylvania.

There will be 6.3 miles of existing pipe replacement, 5.9 miles of new pipeline loop segments along the existing Transco pipeline corridor, and horsepower additions at two existing compressor facilities. Two new greenfield compressor facilities in Pennsylvania are proposed, including the one in Hegins Township.

Stockton’s release also addressed economic factors.

“According to preliminary estimates from third-party researchers, construction of the Leidy South Project’s two greenfield compressor facilities is estimated to generate $100 million in economic activity in Pennsylvania, supporting 750 jobs with combined earnings of $28 million, and produce $1.3 million in state tax revenue.”

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

Lehigh Valley HealthNetwork announced Thursday it will build a new hospital along state Route 443 (Blakeslee Boulevard) in Mahoning Township.

Brian Nester, D.O., the health network’s president and chief executive officer, told those attending a news conference at the Mahoning Valley Ambulance Association that the new hospital, to be called Lehigh Valley Hospital-Carbon, will be built on an open property purchased by the health network catty-corner to Walmart.

Nester said initial plans call for a hospital that includes all private rooms for inpatient care and a medical office building, which combined will occupy 89,000 square feet of space. The health network expects to break ground on the project next spring and opening is anticipated in the fall of 2021. The hospital is expected to cost $65 million and create about 150 jobs. Nester also announced that Terrence Purcell, LVHN’s vice president for market development and a native of Mahanoy City, will serve as president of the new hospital. Purcell joined LVHN in September 2018 after previously serving as president with St. Luke’s University Health Network and at the former Blue Mountain Health System for 12 years, where his last role was senior vice president of operations. He began his career in human resources at the former Hazleton-St. Joseph Medical Center and Good Samaritan Hospital in Pottsville.