Fountain Springs

The North Schuylkill School District will host its annual Powderpuff Classic at 7 p.m. Wednesday on Ghosh Orthodontics Field at Spartan Stadium. Now in its 30th year, the classic, according to an event release, is the highlight of North Schuylkill’s Homecoming Spirit Week, which began Monday. The public is welcome to attend. The admission fee is a nonperishable food item or cash donation to benefit the district Student Council’s Feed-A-Friend project.

Frackville

The borough office will be closed today and Wednesday for computer upgrades and training.

Mahanoy City

The St. Teresa of Calcutta Golden Age group is accepting new members, people 55 and older. The group meets twice monthly in the church hall for fellowship, lunch and bingo, leaders said in a press release. Dues are $5. For more information, call 570-773-1753.

Pottsville

ManorCare Health Services-Pottsville, 420 Pulaski Drive, will have an event called Pie and Fly from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 16. People will be able to tour ManorCare’s newly remodeled rehab unit and therapy gyms and get their choice of either an apple or a pumpkin pie. Those interested should RSVP by Oct. 9 to Lori Pearson by calling 484-345-8099 or emailing lori.pearson@hcr-manorcare.com and letting her know the choice of pie.

Pottsville

A “panel of help, hope and understanding” regarding Alzheimer’s and dementia will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Pottsville Senior Community Center, 201 N. Centre St., with a dinner served at 5:30 p.m. Donations will be appreciated; dinner is not required in order to attend the panel discussion. The panel will include representatives from a wide variety of regional health and senior living facilities. To register, call 570-624-3016; for dinner reservations, RSVP by Monday. The sponsor is Diakon Community Services.

Primrose

A meatloaf dinner by advance tickets only will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 9 at St. Nicolas Hall, Route 901. The cost is $10 per platter, which will also include mashed potatoes, vegetable, coleslaw roll and dessert. For tickets or more information, call 570-544-4581 or 570-544-6807.

Ringtown

Mother Goose on the Loose for infants and toddlers up to 36 months will be held at the Ringtown Area Library at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 12 and 11:15 a.m. Oct. 21. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Mother Goose is a program of singing, marching, music and movement, “perfect for young children on the move,” according to a library release. Story time for children ages 3 to 6 will be held at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 12, 14 and 28. All children must be accompanied by an adult. It will include stories, activities, STEM learning opportunities and socialization with other children. For more information, email the library at ringtownlibrary@epix.net. Tanya Savitsky is the library director.

Schuylkill Haven

A Carnival of Hope to advance breast cancer awareness will be held at Penn State Schuylkill, 200 University Drive, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 9 on the campus mall walk. There will be a dunk tank, pie-in-the-face contest, carnival of games, prizes, basket raffles and other activities. It is free and open to the public. All money raised will benefit the Pennsylvania Breast Coalition, according to an event release. For more information, call 570-385-6059.

Shenandoah

Exercise in Motion is held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Shenandoah Senior Community Center, 116 N. Main St., for people 50 and older on all fitness levels. The exercises help people improve balance, strength and flexibility. There is no charge; participants must be registered on-site at the center. For more information, call Diakon Community Services at 570-624-3017.

Shenandoah

The borough council has given the OK for an Our Lady of Guadalupe Procession by the Spanish Ministry of Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Parish beginning at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 8. The procession will begin at Cherry and West streets near the former St. Stanislaus Church building, head west to Gilbert Street, then to Oak Street, Jardin Street and to Cherry Street, finishing at Divine Mercy Church. All are welcome.

POTTSVILLE — A woman is headed to prison, as soon as authorities find her, after a Schuylkill County judge sentenced her Thursday in connection with an incident in October 2017 in Shenandoah.

Evelis J. Brown-Delgado, 26, address not known, must spend three to 12 months in prison, and undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin ruled. Dolbin, who revoked the defendant’s probation before sentencing her, also issued a bench warrant for Brown-Delgado, who did not appear for Thursday’s hearing.

Brown-Delgado originally pleaded guilty on Sept. 12, 2018, to criminal mischief. At that time, Dolbin placed Brown-Delgado on probation for 12 months, and also sentenced her to pay costs, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $840.88 restitution.

Shenandoah police alleged Brown-Delgado damaged property on Oct. 7, 2017, in the borough.

Also on Thursday, Dolbin revoked the parole of Devon A. Geiger, 20, of Saint Clair, and recommitted him to prison.

“You are not an appropriate candidate for parole,” Dolbin told Geiger, who admitted violating his parole by failing to report to his supervising officer, using methamphetamine, not making payments on his costs and fees and failing to complete substance abuse rehabilitation treatments.

Dolbin made Geiger ineligible for parole until Dec. 15, and the defendant could remain behind bars until June 6, 2020.

He also warned Geiger that he faced potentially deadly consequences as the result of his drug use.

“Stop sticking poison in your veins,” the judge told Geiger.

Geiger originally pleaded guilty on Sept. 12, 2018, to possession of a controlled substance. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

At that time, Dolbin sentenced Geiger to serve 30 days to 23 months in prison and pay costs, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, a $50 CJEA payment and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem.

Saint Clair police charged Geiger with possessing drugs on March 17, 2018, in the borough.

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

POTTSVILLE — Neighbors helping neighbors is what Make a Difference Day is all about, and additional projects are welcome for this year’s event held from Oct. 12 to 27.

The last Saturday in October is designated as the day when coordinated efforts are made to help others in many ways. It is left up to the imagination on how individuals and groups can put out a helping hand.

In Schuylkill County, the 24th annual MADDay is more than just one day. While the official day is Oct. 26, the time is open for two weeks to give many more projects that can be done over a period of time to accommodate personal and organizational schedules. The county event has won state and national awards.

MADDay is the county’s largest volunteer event to give back to the community and help those in need, as explained by Community Volunteers in Action, which sponsors the event.

“The national day is Oct. 26, but locally because people prefer it to be a little bit earlier, the local campaign is from Oct. 12 to 27, so that includes the national day,” said CVIA Director Janice Johnston. “One day is not convenient for everybody to be available, or sometimes people want to do something that is a lot longer than one day, so we have a longer campaign where people can do the bulk of their project during that time frame. Some people actually work on their projects all year long, like if they’re quilters or crocheters or whatever their skill is. They’re working on it all year long and it’s during the campaign when they’re giving to the nonprofits.”

Not limiting the day to Saturday helps classes and groups at schools to work on a project and then make their distribution on a school day if they prefer.

“The Tamaqua Area Middle School student council has been participating since 1999,” Johnston said. “What they have done every year is they collected canned and nonperishable food and they bring it here to the building (in Pottsville) on a school bus. I invite some nonprofits to come and take the food back to their consumers. The students do a food drive during the whole month of September in the school and invite everybody to participate. Like I said, one day is just not enough. You can do some really nice stuff in one day, but if you want to have more of an impact, sometimes you need a longer time frame.”

She said the students will sort and pack the food items on Oct. 26 for delivery to the CVIA office on Nov. 4.

“They’re in the middle of collecting everything now and will continue until Make A Difference Day,” Johnston said.

Johnston said the student council celebrated its 20th anniversary last year doing the project and received a proclamation from the Schuylkill County commissioners.

The number of projects registered this year are a positive example of volunteerism in the county.

“We have 74 projects registered and 66 groups. That’s for a total of 1,693 people in those 66 groups,” Johnston said. “The projects will benefit 25 organizations, which anticipate helping an estimated 1,782 people.”

She said the amount of projects and groups participate ebb and flow depending on the year.

“Sometimes the economy plays a part in it. When the economy is weak, the nonprofit groups, like the service groups, that are participating don’t have as much money themselves to be doing as much,” Johnston said. “So when the economy is weak, we tend to see a decline in participation, and when the economy picks up, we see the numbers pick up.”

Johnston added that some people are spreading their volunteer efforts in multiple projects during the year.

“Also, there has been a trend going on, not in just Make A Difference Day, but in volunteerism nationally where people are more inclined in participating in several shorter volunteer opportunities than in one longer opportunity. So, you will see where somebody will volunteer in three nonprofits for a short amount of time than longer for one nonprofit. We’re seeing that effect here where groups are participating year round and not waiting for Make A Difference Day to a project. They may be doing a large project for Make A Difference Day and then do smaller projects throughout the year. They’re spreading out their volunteer efforts throughout the year.”

Johnston said it is not too late for new projects to get started.

“People think that they have to do something large for it to be worthwhile. Absolutely not. It doesn’t have to cost a penny. It could be as simple as helping your elderly neighbor who may have a burned out light bulb and can’t get up on a ladder to change it,” Johnston said.

Call the CVIA office at 570-628-1426 or email jjohnston@co.schuylkill.pa.us for project ideas, to register a project, or for more information.

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

TAMAQUA — Some of influenza’s tiniest combatants armed themselves against the illness Monday at the Child Development Inc. Center.

Evidence of their germ-carrying hands came to light, thanks to some “glow” lotion, a little black light and a special program sponsored by Lehigh Valley Health-Schuylkill.

Hand washing is a good way to prevent the spread of the flu virus, but the most effective method is to get vaccinated, doctors said. LVH-Schuylkill and Geisinger will both be offering special opportunities this year for people to get their flu shots.

Glowing success

Michelle Crochunis and Natasha Calabrese, both LPNs in maternal and child health with LVH-Schuylkill, brought their program, “Let’s Talk About A Sick Day and Spreading Germs,” to the pre-K and Headstart 3- and 4-year-olds at the center. Crochunis and Calabrese explained a “Digi-glo” lotion students were asked to rub on their hands would make any germs found there glow under black light.

“They look like white spots,” Elliany Rodriguez said of the germs detected after she rubbed the nontoxic lotion on her unwashed hands and placed them inside a dark viewing box where the nurses shined a black light on them.

Students took turns using the classroom sink to wash their hands, and then returned to the black-lighted box to see how successful they were at ridding the germs.

Germs abound

To demonstrate how easily germs that can cause the flu or other illnesses can be spread, the nurses began their demonstration with a handful of colorful puff balls. They released the balls into the air when they pretended to cough and sneeze into their hands. The balls went all over the floor where students were seated.

“The best way not to catch germs is to wash your hands,” Crochunis said.

They showed children that even with hand washing, some of them still had germs that showed up around their fingernails, between their fingers and on their wrists.

They were reminded to wash before they eat, after they used the bathroom, after they cough or sneeze, after they play with pets, after they play outside and when they arrive home or to school.

Nichole Leary and Nikki Reese’s pre-K classroom of 17 participated in the program Monday.

“I loved the way they had them put their hands underneath the box. It was a good way to help them understand it,” Leary said.

Reese said a photo schedule on the wall shows the children when they should be cleaning their hands daily.

Kate Lucey, family advocate at the 255 W. Broad St. facility, said she had seen the nurses’ presentation before at a health fair at Boscov’s in Pottsville. She asked them to bring their message to the center. LVH-Schuylkill provided gift bags with information sheets, coloring pages, crayons and hand sanitizer.

Easy transmission

A school or work environment, where people are in close proximity to each other on a consistent basis, are areas where a virus can readily spread orally or through the air.

“When you’re in a confined area, you can breathe it in. Kids may touch their nose, their mouth, the desk, a handle, so transmission is spread easier,” said Dr. Robert DeColli, D.O., MBA, medical director for Lehigh Valley Physicians Group-Schuylkill, Pottsville.

Coughing or sneezing into the fold of their elbow is a good way for people to reduce the spread, in addition to washing their hands.

“If you’re sick, please stay home and rest,” DeColli said.

Hand washing is an important part of stopping the spread of most infectious agents and people who are suspected of having influenza should try to wash hands as frequently as possible, according to Dr. Christian Shuman, a Geisinger family medicine provider in Pottsville. He also recommends using a mask to help prevent the spread of the virus by droplets from coughing or even talking.

“Children who are not vaccinated can end up spreading viruses such as influenza amongst their classmates, teachers and other school personnel. Flu is preventable with vaccination, and this is why I am such a strong advocate for flu vaccination,” Shuman said.

The timing of flu is unpredictable and can vary in different parts of the country and from season to season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

“Seasonal flu viruses can be detected year round; however, seasonal flu activity often begins as early as October and November and can continue to occur as late as May. Flu activity most commonly peaks in the United States between December and February,” according to the CDC website, cdc.gov.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Health reports the severity of flu seasons varies widely from one season to the next.

“The number of flu-associated deaths in the United States usually ranges from 3,000 to 49,000 deaths per year but can be much higher if a new strain develops to which no one is immune,” DOH states.

‘Herd immunity’

The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older.

“If enough people are vaccinated, the spread of any disease dramatically declines,” DeColli said, while explaining the term “herd immunity.”

The number of people getting the flu shot has increased over the years; however, there’s still “great resistance” to the vaccine, DeColli said.

Doctors commonly hear patients tell them they’re afraid of acquiring the flu by getting the shot, or that they’ve always been healthy and don’t think they need it, he said. Others report someone still got the flu later, even after getting the vaccine.

DeColli said the flu shot uses a dead virus and you cannot “get” the flu from getting the shot. Just because someone has been consistently healthy, doesn’t mean that person won’t get the flu this year. Sometimes people do get the flu later, despite getting the vaccine. However, since the vaccine encourages the person to form antibodies, it allows the patient to recover quicker and means the flu is less likely to be as severe or fatal, DeColli said.

Patients who are seniors, those with weakened immune systems, those with uncontrolled diabetes and the very young are among those at an increased risk of death from the flu.

“What I have seen in our clinic is more people being educated on the importance of flu vaccination. Because of this, I have seen people who never have been vaccinated actually getting vaccinated for the first time,” Shuman said.

Symptoms

Flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses that are caused by different viruses. Symptoms can be similar, which may make the diagnosis not as clear at times, according to Shuman.

“Typical flu symptoms are generally more severe than the common cold and come about more abruptly. Symptoms may include fever or feeling feverish/chills, but not every patient may have a fever, though. Other symptoms associated would be cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, muscle aches, headaches and fatigue.

“Some people may even have vomiting and diarrhea, but usually that is more commonly seen in children than adults. The influenza virus can further go on to cause more serious health problems such as pneumonia, bacterial infections or hospitalizations. We can perform specialized testing to see if you do have the influenza virus,” Shuman said. Antiviral medications may be given for treatment.

Availability

Every LVH-Schuylkill office will have the flu shots available, DeColli said, and the company will also participate in the Diakon Living & Learning After 50 Senior Expo later this month at the Fairlane Village mall in Pottsville. The vaccine will be offered at the expo.

Geisinger is providing Super Saturday Flu Shot Clinics from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 26 and Nov. 23 at the 529 Terry Reiley Way office in Pottsville. The first clinic was held Saturday. Geisinger Careworks urgent care locations will offer the shot to patients 9 and older, with no appointment necessary.

Most insurances cover the flu shots, but people should check with their insurance provider to be sure, DeColli said.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

ASHLAND — The Ashland Area Municipal Authority acted at Monday’s meeting to approve the emergency replacement of the main water line supplying all water to the borough.

The water main from the authority’s water filtration plant and reservoir in Butler Township is located along state Route 61 and goes through Fountain Springs on its way to the borough, crossing under the bridge over the Mahanoy Creek. The 14-inch diameter pipe hangs underneath the bridge.

The deterioration of the pipe and the many leaks was discussed at the August meeting by the board and Alfred Benesch & Co. project manager Jennifer M. Kowalonek, who was authorized to come up with options and obtain cost estimates.

Kowalonek provided an update on Monday to the board.

“The 14-inch pipe has a number of clamps in place and it is currently leaking,” Kowalonek said. “Based on the pipe’s reported condition and significant issues that the system will have if there is a pipe loss in that area, we suggest an immediate repair be completed. The repair will ensure the health and safety of the residents.”

The AAMA water system has a total of 1,527 domestic connections, with 1,154 in Ashland and 373 in Butler Township. The population served is 3,862, of which 2,817 are in Ashland and 1,045 are in Butler Township.

The board and Kowalonek discussed several options at the August meeting as to how to correct the problem. The current pipe hangs from the Route 61 bridge on Hoffman Boulevard. Kowalonek said permission would be required from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to hang a replacement water line in the same location. In case PennDOT did not give permission, another option is directional drilling underneath the creek bed to install a new pipe. The construction of temporary cofferdams to divert the creek flow could also be needed depending on the option chosen.

After contacting the transportation department, Kowalonek said, “We have obtained necessary approval from PennDOT to replace the line.”

The ability to hang the line under the bridge substantially reduces the cost.

“It should be understood that in an effort to be compliant with the Clean Streams Law and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s rules and regulations, every effort should be made to determine the most efficient manner to repair the waterline quickly,” she said.

Under normal circumstances, it would be necessary to solicit bids for this project, but the urgency to replace the pipe allows the authority to obtain proposals.

“In the past, A One Service Inc. has repaired the pipe and is familiar with the system in this area,” Kowalonek said of the Shenandoah company. “We have not yet received the final pricing as there are a few items A One Service is still getting numbers on. A One Service proposes a temporary bypass be put in place to allow more time for a proper repair with minimum impact on the service in the borough. The temporary bypass cost is $34,864.46.”

The bypass line cost includes all excavations, materials (except for the 12-inch pipe by Ronka), installation, shoring, backfilling, valves, blow off, concrete for sidewalk and labor.

A One proposed two alternatives to the replacing of the service line. It was noted that the water main before the bridge and after the bridge is 12 inches in diameter, but the line underneath the bridge is 14 inches. A One’s first alternative is to replace the 14-inch line with a 12-inch pipe under the bridge. The estimated cost is $60,675.46, which includes the temporary bypass.

The second alternative is to replace the 14-inch pipe with the same size pipe at an estimated cost of $69,087.06, which also includes the temporary bypass.

The cost of each alternative both include all pipe, connections, rollers, welding, extra material for supports, chase repair and labor.

“Does this qualify as an emergency?” authority solicitor S. John Price asked.

“I believe so,” Kowalonek said. “We received calls from DEP where there is treated water (from the leaks) entering into the stream. That is a concern for the Clean Water Act. That is one reason why. They (DEP) can fine you up to $1,000 a day for each violation.”

“Typically we would have to bid this, but it’s an emergency,” Price said.

“I believe this is an emergency,” Kowalonek said.

Price asked Miller Environmental Inc. plant operator Michael Tutko, “You don’t believe we can sit on this a month?”

“I don’t think so,” Tutko replied.

The work planned also includes the placing of a stainless steel cover over the pipe, replacing missing hangers and installing additional ones.

Since the costs presented by A One were not complete, Price recommended setting a cost limit that includes some possible unknown costs at this time.

The authority board decided on using the first alternative by replacing the 14-inch line with a 12-inch line. The authorization included a cost limit of $65,000.

After the meeting, Ashland Borough Manager Raymond Jones Jr. and Kowalonek explained about the temporary bypass to be installed for the permanent 12-inch replacement pipe is placed and connected.

“It will be walkway next to the bridge,” Jones said.

“There will be a brief interruption of service,” Kowalonek said. “They’ll have it all ready for the tie-in. The main line will be shutdown and the water will go through the bypass. That will buy them time to do the actual proper installation underneath the bridge.”

“The shutdown won’t affect anyone because we have the water tank,” Jones said.

“They’ll valve it off, do the repair, and then put everything back on,” Kowalonek said. “There should not be an interruption in service.”

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

Local radio broadcaster Harry West died Friday, Sept. 27, in Bridgeville, Pa. He was 89.

Born Harry Wescott in Reading in 1930, he joined WARM "The Mighty 590" in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 1959 as a newscaster. Shortly after he began hosting the morning radio show that decades of Northeastern Pennsylvania radio listeners woke up to.

After leaving WARM in July of 1992, a contract dispute kept him off the air until December of the same year.  West moved to WILK where he worked for less than a year before moving to WEJL in Scranton, a Times-Shamrock-owned radio station.

Read Harry's obituary HERE.

Two of Pennsylvania’s best-known brands have teamed up on a new product.

D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. announced Tuesday a collaboration with The Hershey Co. for the creation of Yuengling Hershey’s Chocolate Porter.

The beer will be sold in select markets on draft only starting in mid-October and will be available through Valentine’s Day or as supplies last.

“This is the first beer collaboration for the two iconic, Pennsylvania brands. Beer-lovers, chocolate-lovers and consumers of legal drinking age are encouraged to taste this once-in-a-lifetime, limited-edition brew before it runs out,” Yuengling said in a news release.

The new beer combines more than 300 years of the companies’ “respective mastery and rich heritages rooted in Pennsylvania,” the release says.

Yuengling will have a consumer first-taste event open to the public from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Yuengling Museum & Gift Shop, Fifth and Mahantongo streets in Pottsville. The “Early Release Party” will offer $15 growler fills and $5 pints, and food available to purchase from local vendors. No reservations or tickets are needed.

Second new beer

Yuengling has never collaborated with Hershey before, and Hershey has never been involved in making a beer. While a first for the storied companies, located just 50 miles apart, the beer-chocolate combination is not uncommon in the craft beer world.

Meanwhile, both companies are marking anniversaries in 2019. Yuengling is celebrating its 190th anniversary this year, which was highlighted by a daylong party and outdoor concert in its hometown in July, while Hershey turned 125.

Yuengling also remains America’s largest craft brewery — a designation awarded by the Brewers Association since 2014. It is also the oldest operating brewery in America.

The new beer marks another expansion for Yuengling, which is planning a possible hotel as an addition to its Tampa, Florida, production facility.

It also marks the second new beer from the company’s sixth-generation owners — sisters Jennifer, Debbie, Wendy and Sheryl Yuengling. They introduced Golden Pilsner in March 2018.

“As the sixth generation of the Yuengling family, we have a 190-year history of listening to our fans and looking for new ways to deliver quality and memorable drinking experiences,” Jennifer Yuengling, vice president of operations, was quoted in the news release. “We saw a unique opportunity to partner with Hershey’s.”

Year of development

Yuengling spent nearly a year developing the 4.7% alcohol by volume porter. It combines Yuengling’s nearly 200-year-old Dark Brewed Porter recipe with the world-famous taste of Hershey’s chocolate.

Yuengling will continue to brew the Dark Brewed Porter.

The new beer blends Hershey’s chocolate with caramel and dark roasted malts for “a smooth, rich and delightfully chocolaty finish.” The liquid pairs well with everything from barbecued and smoked meats to cheeses and desserts, Yuengling promotes.

“USA Today,” which reported on the development online Tuesday, said the Dark Brewed Porter “is enriched with Hershey’s cocoa, syrup and nibs added during the brewing” in creating the new brew.

“Bringing together more than 300 years of craft and experience is quite rare in 2019; however, that’s exactly what we did bringing together the Yuengling brewing masters with the chocolate making expertise of Hershey,” Ernie Savo, senior director of global licensing and business development for The Hershey Co., was quoted in the news release.

Available in 14 states

The beer will be available in bars and restaurants in 14 of the 22 states that Yuengling reaches, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Washington D.C., Delaware, Indiana and Kentucky, while supplies last.

The “Find Our Beer” link at www.yuengling.com will be updated in the coming weeks to detail where the new beer can be found.

Hershey employs approximately 16,500 people around the world and has more than 80 brands that drive more than $7.8 billion in annual revenues.

POTTSVILLE — It’s no longer a mystery.

Recent visitors to the Yuengling Museum & Gift Shop, Fifth and Mahantongo streets, have been able to taste the latest product, without knowing what it was. The Yuengling Hershey’s Chocolate Porter was on tap there as a “mystery beer.”

With Tuesday’s announcement of the new brew by the two iconic Pennsylvania brands, the secret is out — and the reviews are positive.

“It tasted like you took a bite of a candy bar,” said Jeff Oom, of Ludington, Michigan, who took the Yuengling tour with his newlywed bride, Jordyn, on Tuesday.

“If we could have bought two growlers, we would have. We’re usually not big chocolate fans, but we really liked it,” Jordyn Oom said.

The pair married Sept. 28 in Michigan and the Yuengling brewery was just one stop on their honeymoon excursion. Jeff Oom said he likes the traditional Yuengling Lager, but Yuengling isn’t sold in Michigan.

Travis Unger, a Yuengling Lager fan, specifically came to the gift shop and museum to sample the new porter.

“It’s very good. It tastes like it has a cocoa flavor, and definitely has that chocolate taste to it,” he said.

Unger, of Hazleton, added, “I told all my buddies that I was here. They’re all jealous.”

David Quinn, also of Hazleton, said he enjoys the Octoberfest, but typically drinks the regular lager or light beer.

“I think it’s going to be a hit. They never make a bad beer,” he said upon sampling the chocolate porter.

Jessica Kirk, of Harrisburg, brought her parents, Doug and Rita Farrow, to the tour.

“I like the chocolate flavor, so it’s a win-win,” said her father, of Gillette, Wyoming, a former Coors beer warehouse employee.

“We discovered the original Yuengling Lager a few years ago at an airport in Philadelphia. That’s when we first experienced it,” Rita Farrow said.

The first time the couple returned to Pennsylvania to visit their daughter, they visited Hersheypark. This visit, the Wyoming couple toured Gettysburg, and also made their way to Yuengling.

Kirk said it was her first time visiting the brewery and she liked the new porter’s taste.

Theresa Barnes was also there visiting with her parents, Joe and Joann Vaccarino, of Hopewell, New Jersey.

“I’ll try anything once,” Joann Vaccarino said after sampling the chocolatey brew.

Barnes, of Valley View, said she liked the Octoberfest, and her husband, Kenny, likes the Premium.

She wasn’t sure at first what the “mystery beer” was.

“It was great. I thought it tasted like caramel, until I found out what it was,” she said. “It had a little bit of sweetness to it.”

Contact the writer: vterwilliger@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6007

TAMAQUA — Arson and related charges against the former head of the Tamaqua Salvation Army have been held over Tuesday for county court.

Sharon Whispell, 53, of 103 Pinedale Circle, Griffin, Georgia, is accused of setting a fire in the organization’s building earlier this year. She appeared Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer on charges of one felony count each of aggravated arson and risking a catastrophe, two felony counts of arson and four misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person.

After hearing about an hour of testimony, including arguments from Schuylkill County Public Defender William Burke and Assistant District Attorney Julie Werdt, Bayer determined enough evidence was presented to hold all charges against Whispell to Schuylkill County Court.

Tamaqua Police Cpl. Thomas Rodgers charged Whispell with setting a fire in the Salvation Army building, 105 W. Broad St., just before 10 a.m. on May 12.

Rodgers told the court that security video from inside the building shows only Whispell and her daughter’s child in the area during the time leading up to the fire alarms sounding.

Rodgers said Whispell said she was in the kitchen area of the building at that time and noticed a pilot light went out on a stove. She said her grandchild was on the first floor with her because he brought her a lighter to re-ignite the pilot light.

Rodgers also said that Whispell denied having anything to do with the fire and reported trying to put out the fire but, suffering from asthma, the smoke forced her out.

The corporal also said the fire was relatively minor and contained to the back room of an office that Whispell used.

State police fire marshal Trooper Joseph Hall testified the fire was set in two places — a basket of clothing ready to go out for donation and at the bottom of a set of wooden folding doors.

The fire, he said, was set.

“It was an applied flame, somebody put an open flame up to combustible materials,” Hall said.

“There were two points of origin and all accidental causes were eliminated,” he added.

After the testimony, Burke asked Bayer to dismiss the case saying there was no video of Whispell having a cigarette lighter and no video of her grandchild handing her a lighter. He also said there was no accelerant found and that since Sunday services were scheduled for 10 a.m. that day someone else could have been responsible.

Werdt countered saying security video does not show any person other than Whispell and her grandchild in the area at the time and the fact that no accelerant was used does not matter.

“We don’t need an accelerant to prove arson,” she said.

Bayer agreed with Werdt and said for the purpose of a preliminary hearing that the commonwealth presented enough evidence to substantiate the charges brought before the court.

Along with the arson, Whispell is charged with stealing $80,313.37 from the Tamaqua Salvation Army.

On Sept. 10, Whispell waived her right to a hearing on one felony count each of theft by deception, theft, receiving stolen property and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, as well as a misdemeanor charge of tampering with records or identification.

Rodgers said that between October 2015 and June 2019, Whispell submitted fraudulent purchases to the Salvation Army for reimbursement.

Whispell will now have to appear in Schuylkill County Court, where she can either plead guilty or enter a not guilty plea and request a trial.

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

Christina E. Hale

FRACKVILLE — An inmate at SCI/Frackville charged with throwing urine at a two corrections officers on Oct. 5 had charges against him held for court during a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale.

Marcellus Jones, 40, was arrested by state police Trooper Joseph Hall of the Frackville station and charged with one count each of aggravated assault, aggravated harassment by prisoner and simple assault.

Hale determined the commonwealth presented evidence to substantiate the charges and ordered all three held to Schuylkill County Court, where Jones can plead guilty or enter a not guilty plea and request a trial.

Hall charged Jones with throwing urine at the officers as then opened a secure food service opening to place handcuffs on the man.

Both officers were treated at the prison infirmary for the exposure to bodily fluids, Hall said.

Other court cases included:

Juston B. Morgan, 42, of 241 Schuylkill Ave., Shenandoah; waived for court: theft, receiving stolen property, possession of a firearm prohibited and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

Christopher L. Buck, 33, of 203 Furnace St., Shenandoah; waived for court: fleeing or attempting to elude police, recklessly endangering another person, fleeing or attempting to elude police, obedience to traffic control signals, passing when prohibited, disregard for single traffic lane, duties at a stop sign, abandoning a vehicle on a highway, careless driving and reckless driving.

Robert E. Moser, 63, of 211 W. Main St., Girardville; withdrawn: tampering with records or identification, theft by deception and possession, sale or use of display documents. Waived for court: deceptive business practices.

Jason A. Regulski, 34, of 222 N. Water St., Williamstown; waived for court: theft, receiving stolen property, disorderly conduct and harassment.

Michael A. Cope, 41, of 27 W. Main St., Girardville; dismissed: criminal trespass.

Dennis Cope, 43, of 308 W. Main St., Girardville; dismissed: criminal trespass.

Joshua S. Gallimore, 31, of 3 Natale Court, Pine Grove; waived for court: corruption of minors, indecent assault, indecent exposure and indecent assault of a person less than 13 years old.

Wesley W. Grubb, 41, of 325 S. Balliet St., Frackville; dismissed: burglary, criminal trespass, strangulation, simple assault and harassment.

Alex R. Clark, 22, of 38 S. Main St., Apt. 5, Shenandoah; withdrawn: burglary, criminal trespass and receiving stolen property.

Peter K. Nicholas, 33, of 22 Rapp Road, Girardville; waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia, DUI-controlled substance, disregard for single traffic lane and duties at a stop sign.

Anthony H. Roman, 27, of 8 S. Lehigh St., Tamaqua; waived for court: DUI, DUI-high rate, disregard for single traffic lane and careless driving.

Tyler Wychunas, 27, of 49 Lakewood Ave., Barnesville; waived for court: DUI-controlled substance, failure to keep right, prohibiting text based communications, driving too slow for conditions and careless driving.

Marlene K. Rowe, 69, of 630 N. Centre St., Pottsville; dismissed: interference with the custody of children.

Stephen J. Bayer

TAMAQUA — A Tamaqua man charged with allegedly raping a woman while she slept on July 14 had charges against him held for court during a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer.

Dupree M. Johnson, 26, whose last known address was 307 Arlington St., was arrested by Tamaqua police Cpl. Thomas Rodgers and charged with one felony count each of rape of an unconscious victim and sexual assault and one misdemeanor count each of indecent assault of an unconscious person and indecent assault.

Bayer ruled the commonwealth presented enough evidence to substantiate the charges and ordered all four offenses held for Schuylkill County Court, where Johnson can plead guilty or enter a not guilty plea and request a trial.

Rodgers said the victim reported attending a party with Johnson and others, consuming alcohol and then returning to a home and going to sleep.

The woman said she woke to find Johnson lying behind her and having sexual intercourse with her, Rodgers said. The woman also said he did not consent to the intercourse, Rodgers said.

Other court cases included:

Adrian T. Vasquez, 39, of 1115 Washburn St., Scranton; waived for court: aggravated assault, simple assault, DUI and harassment.

Stephen T. Pearson, 28, of 2304 East Blvd., Bethlehem; held for court: possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, following too closely and driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked.

Christopher Hill, 32, of 47 Mush Dahl Road, New Ringgold; held for court: no rear lights, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

John Smith, 21, of 11 W. Elm St., Tamaqua; waived for court: endangering the welfare of children.

Sonya M. Dormer, 49, of 136 W. Miner St., Coaldale; withdrawn: criminal trespass. Waived for court: criminal mischief and public drunkenness.

Christopher Keer, 30, of 23 W. Ruddle St., Coaldale; waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Robert W. Massar, 34, of 123 W. Blaine St., McAdoo; waived for court: DUI and operating or permitting operation with unsafe equipment.

Jesus A. DeJesus Polanco, 29, of 734 W. Diamond Ave., Hazleton; waived for court: DUI-high rate and exceeding the speed limit.

Angela Ann Fleek, 32, of 235 W. Blaine St., McAdoo; waived for court: retail theft.

Brett A. Himmelreich, 36, of 107 Coal St., Tamaqua; waived for court: disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Chelsea Muscle, 18, of 47 Mush Dahl Road, New Ringgold; waived for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Amanda Welker, 31, of 403 E. Broad St., Tamaqua; waived for court: possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jesse M. Lincovich, 38, of 71 Bowe St., Tamaqua; waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Angela N. Beauregard, 43, of 209 W. Sherman St., McAdoo; waived for court: unsworn falsification to authorities and false reports.

Kaine M. Mease, 22, of 158 East St., Coaldale; waived for court: tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Patrick Sweeney, 18, of 743 Chestnut St., Eynon; waived for court: simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and firearms not to be carried without a license.

Kayla M. Hoover, 28, of 261 W. Rowe St., Tamaqua; waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct, scattering rubbish, public drunkenness and possession of a controlled substance.

Brandon D. Ron Fogel, 25, of 313 Schuylkill Ave., Tamaqua; waived for court: DUI-controlled substance, no rear lights, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Mandi S. Gossman, 38, of 419 N. Elizabeth St., Tamaqua; waived for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Joseph W. Nortavage, 49, of 319 Columbia St., Tamaqua; withdrawn: theft of property lost, mislaid or delivered by mistake.

Ashante A. Davis, 32, of 4 Cherry St., Tamaqua; waived for court: criminal mischief.

Brian S. Fritz, 42, of 8 Town Hill Road, Apt. 4, Forest City; held for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Stephanie Barron, 38, of 3 Club Drive, Nesquehoning; held for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

(Staff writer Frank

Andruscavage compiled this report)

Disgraced kids-for-cash judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. has officially been disbarred from practicing law in Pennsylvania, the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania announced Tuesday.

An order the board issued Tuesday bars Ciavarella from practicing law effective Oct. 31. The order follows a resignation statement Ciavarella submitted to the board Sept. 17.

“I am submitting this resignation because I know and acknowledge that my conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct ... involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation; and ... engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice.”

While Ciavarella tendered his resignation as an attorney, he continues to fight the criminal case against him, which is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court.

In March, a panel of the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with Chief U.S. District Judge Christopher C. Conner that Ciavarella’s most serious convictions — on charges of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit money laundering — should be overturned.

But the court determined a statute of limitations defense would not have resulted in acquittal on the honest services mail fraud charges, and allowed those convictions to stand.

Ciavarella is now asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse that decision on grounds that Ciavarella’s counsel was ineffective for failing to pursue a statute of limitations jury instruction.

Ciavarella and another former judge, Michael T. Conahan, were accused of accepting $2.8 million in kickbacks in exchange for funneling hundreds of juvenile defendants to for-profit detention centers built by wealthy developer Robert K. Mericle’s construction firm and operated by companies controlled by former local attorney Robert Powell.

Conahan, 67, who pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges, is now serving 17 1/2 years at Federal Correctional Institution-Miami.

Ciavarella, 69, is serving a 28-year sentence in federal prison, currently at Federal Correctional Institution-Ashland in Kentucky.

Contact the writer: jhalpin@citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2058

POTTSVILLE — With his head bowed, a crying Raymond D. Zweizig Jr. admitted Tuesday to a Schuylkill County judge that he sexually assaulted a teenage girl in November 2018 in Pottsville, conduct that will put him in state prison for several years.

Wearing a prison jumpsuit, Zweizig, 29, of Pottsville, pleaded guilty to statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, indecent exposure and corruption of minors. Prosecutors withdrew charges of rape and indecent assault.

President Judge William E. Baldwin accepted the plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced Zweizig to serve four to 10 years in a state correctional institution, pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Additionally, Baldwin imposed lifetime Megan’s Law sanctions on Zweizig, classifying him as a Tier 3 offender, the most serious level.

Pottsville police filed the charges against Zweizig, alleging he had indecent contact and exposed himself to the victim on Nov. 3, 2018, in the city.

Police said the victim told them that Zweizig had the unwanted contact with her while she was visiting a family member.

“The victim was ... a 13-year-old female,” District Attorney Michael A. O’Pake said.

Police also said that when they interviewed Zweizig, he admitted the allegations the victim made against him were true.

Zweizig said little during Tuesday’s hearing except that the charges against him were true, he understood the terms and consequences of his plea, and he was entering it knowingly and voluntarily.

The Megan’s Law sanctions to which Zweizig will be subject to once he leaves prison require him to provide his name, address, Social Security number, telephone numbers, photograph, employment, any schools he might attend, registration of any vehicles he owns and other information to the Pennsylvania State Police for the rest of his life. Any further violation of the sanctions would be an additional crime and subject Beggan to another prosecution.

Megan’s Law was enacted in Pennsylvania, numerous other states and at the federal level after the July 29, 1994, murder of Megan Nicole Kanka, 7, in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey. Jesse Timmendequas, Kanka’s killer, was one of her neighbors and a twice-convicted sex offender; his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment after New Jersey enacted legislation to abolish the death penalty in that state.

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

Defendant: Raymond D. Zweizig Jr.

Age: 29

Residence: Pottsville

Crimes committed: Statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, indecent exposure and corruption of minors

Prison sentence: Four to 10 years in a state correctional institution, plus lifetime Megan’s Law sanctions

POTTSVILLE — A Huntingdon man will spend time in state prison after admitting recently to a Schuylkill County judge that he exposed himself in January in Ryan Township.

Christopher Balmer, 31, pleaded guilty to indecent exposure, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of open lewdness.

President Judge William E. Baldwin accepted the plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced Balmer to serve six to 12 months in prison, pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, and undergo a mental health evaluation. Baldwin made the prison term consecutive to the one Balmer already is serving, thereby making it a state prison sentence.

State police at Frackville charged Balmer with exposing himself on Jan. 2.

Baldwin also accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, the following people:

Leonard F. Adams Jr., 63, of Aristes; no contest plea to false statement under penalty; 12 months probation and $50 CJEA payment.

Kelsey A. Anderson, 26, of Tamaqua; defiant trespass and possession of drug paraphernalia; 18 months probation, $100 payment to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and $50 CJEA payment.

Kory M. Aungst, 38, of Pine Grove; attempted theft, simple assault and receiving stolen property; time served to 23 months in prison with immediate parole, 18 months consecutive probation, $100 in CJEA payments and drug and alcohol evaluation. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of loitering and prowling at nighttime.

Asia M. Banks, 43, of Pottsville; DUI, possession of a small amount of marijuana, driving under suspension and careless driving; sentencing deferred.

John D. Butz, 39, of Pottsville; two counts each of DUI and possession of a controlled substance and one each of possession of drug paraphernalia, theft and resisting arrest; one to five years in a state correctional institution, $2,500 in fines, $300 in SAEF payments, $250 in CJEA payments, $1,252 restitution and 30 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew two additional counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count each of defiant trespass, fraudulent use of plates, driving unregistered vehicle and operating vehicle without required financial responsibility.

Wesley L. Chance, 35, of York; simple assault; nine to 18 months in prison, with sentence effective at 9 a.m. Oct. 21. Prosecutors withdrew an additional count of simple assault and two counts each of aggravated assault and harassment.

James E. Conner, 41, of Pitman; two counts of retail theft; one to two years in a state correctional institution, $100 in CJEA payments, $11.18 restitution and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew charges of robbery and harassment.

Brian A. Cyr, 30, of Port Carbon; possession of drug paraphernalia and false identification to law enforcement; three to 12 months in prison, 11 months consecutive probation and $100 CJEA payment.

Keshia M. Deibert, 34, of Herndon; unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a small amount of marijuana and driving under suspension; 60 days in prison; 12 months consecutive probation, $100 SAEF payment and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of operating vehicle without required financial responsibility.

All defendants who were sentenced must pay costs as a part of their sentences.

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

COALDALE — A Tamaqua man was jailed Sunday and charged with threatening to kill a Coaldale police officer and his family earlier in the day.

David Brode, 49, of 534 Pine St., was charged with two counts of terroristic threats and one count of simple assault.

Brode was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $25,000 straight cash bail.

Coaldale police Patrolman James Bonner charged Brode after an incident at 123 First St. between 9:05 and 9:30 p.m.

Bonner said he was called to the 123 First St. address for a report of a domestic incident in progress and spoke to a woman who said her boyfriend, Brode, was telling her he wanted to kill someone and that he wanted to kill her.

While Bonner was interviewing the woman, Brode threw a soup can, hitting the woman in the head and shoulder and then became loud and argumentative.

Bonner said he took Brode into custody and began escorting him to a police vehicle. Brode told him he was going to find his family and kill both him and them. He made statements about killing the officer and his family more than once and continued to be disorderly at the police station and physically resisted officers, Bonner said.

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

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

Mahanoy City

A Blessed Teresa Golden Age bus trip to New York City is set for Dec. 14 for a day on your own. The cost is $45 per person. The bus will depart at 7 a.m. and leave New York at 7 p.m. for the return trip. Drop-off is at 48th and Eighth avenues in the theater district. For more information, call 570-773-1753.

Mahanoy City

The West End Fire and Rescue Company, 700 W. Mahanoy Ave., will have super jackpot bingo from noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 12. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door. There will be $8,000 in prize money, according to an event release. Doors will open at noon and games will begin at 2 p.m. Food will be on sale and there will be a cash bar. ID will be required for beverage purchases. For tickets or more information, call or text 570-778-6118 or see the company’s Facebook page.

Minersville

Mountaineer Hose Company, Third and South streets, will sponsor breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to noon Sunday at the firehouse. There will be a full breakfast menu and take-outs will be available. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-544-9622.

Port Clinton

An event titled “History, Hiking & Hotel” is set for 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 20 with participants gathering at the Port Clinton Museum, Penn Street. It will include two short hikes and lunch at the Port Clinton Hotel, according to an event release. People will “explore local history at the museum with dessert, a bag raffle and bake sale,” organizers said in the release. The event will conclude with an optional walk along the Appalachian Trail that goes through the town. All are welcome. For more information, call 484-280-3034.

Pottsville

A used book sale at the Pottsville Free Public Library, 215 W. Market St., is set for noon to 2 p.m. Monday sponsored by the Friends of the Library support group. Paperbacks will be six for $1.

Pottsville

The Pottsville Knights of Columbus council will have a planning meeting for its Thanksgiving Day meals project at 7 p.m. Oct. 16 at the council home, 1842 West End Ave. For more information, call 570-617-1714.

Pottsville

A 1950s-style rock-and-roll presentation titled “You Ain’t Nothin’ But a Werewolf” is set for 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Majestic Theater, 209 N. Centre St. General admission is $15 and $10 for people 12 and younger; free for children 3 and younger. For tickets, go online to www.agosc.org or purchase at the door. For more information, call 570-294-0858.

Pottsville

A meatloaf dinner will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 300 W. Arch St. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 5-11 and free for children under 5. Tickets are on sale at the church office and after church services. For more information, call 570-622-9910.

Schuylkill Haven

St. Mark’s Brown’s Church, 151 Summer Hill Road, will have a Fall Festival Kauffman chicken barbecue and Chinese auction on Oct. 12. All are welcome. Chicken dinner tickets are $8 each. To order dinner tickets, call or text 570-640-7748.

Shenandoah

The revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc., 116 N. Main St., will have a soup and sausage hoagie sale beginning at 10 a.m. Oct. 10. Soup is $6 per quart and $3 per pint and the variety includes New England clam chowder, chicken noodle, split pea, pasta fagiole, chili, beef barley, kielbasa and potato cheese. Sausage hoagies are $3.50 each. To order or for more information, call 570-462-2060.

Shenandoah

The annual America Needs Fatima Rosary Rally will be held at noon Oct. 12 at the Pennsylvania Anthracite Miners Memorial at the entrance to Girard Park, Washington and Main streets. Registration will begin at 11:30 a.m. All are welcome. The organizer is Charles Calise, who can be reached by calling 570-612-9205.

The East Union Township supervisors denied a conditional use for a proposed church off Chapel Road in Oneida.

River Mountain Chapel wanted to build a 4,800-square-foot church near the intersection with Route 924, but the supervisors denied the use due to concerns about traffic and the environmental habitat of the Indiana bat, according to a written decision adopted last month.

The 60- to 70-strong, nondenominational congregation has been meeting at Faith Assembly of God Church in Hazle Township. The chapel has been in existence for more than 10 years and operated in Sheppton for five of those years.

The church bought 3.6 acres convenient to Eagle Rock, Sheppton and Oneida to build its chapel, which would also have Sunday school rooms, offices and parking for 25 vehicles.

The township took testimony on the church’s application for conditional use on the site in August. The church’s project engineer, Michael Brinkash, offered expert testimony.

Brinkash said the church would be located in the middle of the property with the side yard more than 150 feet from property line and 100 feet from the road. The parking would be five more spaces than what is required, he said.

The church also had a temporary highway occupancy permit from the state Department of Transportation for access to Chapel Road, which is state Route 1005, Brinkash said.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service suggested avoiding tree cutting from Nov. 15 to March 31, and following guidelines for the Indiana bat swarming habitat if timber harvesting would be done, other than for land development, he said.

Brinkash testified that the church’s plans were compliant with the township zoning ordinance, and the church would have no adverse impacts on the community, including traffic. The church is a permitted use in a conservation zone, except the plans exceed the impervious surface of 15,000 square feet, requiring the conditional use approval, he said.

Pastor Thomas Sappie testified that the church wanted to be a good neighbor and he looked forward to serving the community.

A neighbor, Joseph Recla, raised concerns about the amount of rock on the property and asked if there would be blasting, because he has property within 200 yards. Brinkash said the goal was not to blast, but they would follow state Department of Environmental Protection rules if they needed to do so.

Bob Garbardi, who is associated with the fire company, questioned the proximity of fire hydrants, which were more than 300 feet away. He said he was not concerned because the fire station is one mile away.

Supervisor John Biros raised traffic safety concerns, and Brinkash explained that the plans exceeded the minimum site distance required for the state highway occupancy permit. Biros also questioned the bat habitat and Brinkash said no study was required and only voluntary compliance was required.

Supervisors Biros and Jon Dettery voted against the conditional use, and Supervisor Dennis Antonelli recused himself as a member of the church. Biros and Dettery cited traffic safety and the bat habitat, and Dettery also had concern regarding blasting.

The church, which had hoped to complete its building next year, has appealed the supervisors’ decision to Schuylkill County Court. Attorney Donald Karpowich represents the church.

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

Deeds

Butler Township — Robert R. and Augusta C. Reichwein to Glen Grohol; 205 Germanville Road; $106,000.

Cressona — Christian F. Keller to Cindy Torres; 47 Marsha Drive; $193,000.

Deer Lake — Mark Weaver, Paul Lysek and Christina Stevens to Megan P. Daley; 212 Lake Front Drive; $138,000.

East Union Township — Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Patrick James G. and Karren Leza Rayman Melad; Lot 389WS, Eagle Rock; $26,159.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Djhoana and Rustan Ryan Toledo; Lot 261WS, Eagle Rock; $26,159.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Gladys M. Corsino; 214 Fourth St., Oneida; $1,148.

Frackville — Brian Wagner to Metz Properties LLC; 56 and 58 N. Nice St.; $109,000.

Girardville — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Elaine M.Kelly; property on Main Street; $100.

Mahanoy City — Mary Kohan, Michael J. Kohan, Marlon T. Kohan and Mark E. Kohan to Mary Kohan, Michael J. Kohan, Marlon T. Kohan and Mark E. Kohan; two properties on West Spruce Street; $1.

Mary Kohan, Michael J. Kohan, Marlon T. Kohan and Mark E. Kohan to Gregg and Nancy Saldukas; two properties on West Spruce Street; $24,000.

Fernando Corona Soto and Flora Machuca Corona to Fernando Corona Soto; 403 E. Pine St.; $1.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Anny Ceballo; 416 E. Railroad St.; $1,234.

Mechanicsville — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Richard John Davis; 1409 E. Norwegian St.; $1,130.

New Philadelphia — Edward Zemanik, executor of the Estate of Monsignor Anthony F. Wassel, to Candice Craig; 34-36 Clay St.; $47,500.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Advanced Consulting Inc.; 36 Valley St.; $1,253.

North Manheim Township — Justin J. Joy, by attorney in fact Steven J. Hepler, to Mark G. Akins; property on Legislative Route 53008; $15,000.

North Union Township — Elaine F. Croll to Timothy E. Sutch and Tammy L. Morris; property at Apple and Second streets, Nuremberg; $140,000.

Norwegian Township — Phyllis M. Anchorstar to Kevin J. Lake and Vicki Lee Wessner; 102 Evergreen Drive; $245,000.

Orwigsburg — Robert D. O’Connell to Jordan Drey and Kara Greiss; 116 Perry St.; $163,500.

Palo Alto — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Advanced Consulting Inc.; 540 W. Bacon St.; $1,476.

Pottsville — Diane M. DeRemer, administratrix d.b.n.c.t.a. of the estates of Josephine Walchak and Agnes Walchak, to 521 Peacock Street LLC; 521 Peacock St.; $16,000.

Wildrido I. Paredes-Paucer to Wall to Wall Enterprises LLC; 545 N. Centre St.; $1.

Peter W. McNulty to Kristty Mari Trautman; 620 Schuylkill Ave.; $82,500.

James F. and Melissa A. Close to John H. and Lauren E. Urbanski; 115-117 Mill Creek Ave.; $132,500.

KRC Home Solutions LLC to E&I Real Estate LLC; 916 W. Race St.; $19,500.

KRC Home Solutions LLC to E&I Real Estate LLC; property on Nichols Street; $19,500.

Reilly Township — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to SEA Investments LLC; 5 Old Mill Road; $1,414.

Rush Township — Michele A. Denny and Jamie P. Wargo, administrators of the Estate of John A. Wargo Jr., to Patrick M. and Sherri Ann Rudloff; 26 Crest St., Grier City; $80,000.

Saint Clair — The Skook General Store LLC to Selman A. Ali, Abida Hussein and Arsalan A. Ali; 247 Cherry St.; $45,000.

Edmund P. and Carole A. Quirin to Crimson Loft Realty LLC; property at Lawton and South Nichols streets; $35,000.

Schuylkill Haven — Vicki Lee Wessner to William Sr. and Brenda Miccicke; 420 Parkway; $75,000.

Tremont — Lisa A. Primeau to Joshua David Primeau; property on Clay Street; $1.

West Brunswick Township — John D. and Gaylene M. Guers to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association; 22.011-acre property on Summer Valley Road; $190,769.

West Mahanoy Township — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Jared Hettler and Mykalah Havlicek; 15 St. Paul St., William Penn; $2,296.

Marriages

Robert J. Rose, Frackville, and Natasha Lynn Delangelo, Frackville.

Shawn C. Rohrbach, Auburn, and Erin L. Thomas, Auburn.

Edward J. Bricker, Cressona, and Erin E. Ernst, Cressona.

Shawn M. Donaldson, Saint Clair, and Emma L. Carl, Saint Clair.

Samantha M. Shoener, Pottsville, and Alice M. Smith, Pottsville.

Jason B. Zagar, Pottsville, and Laura G. Demaio, Pottsville.

Richard T. Stevenosky, Pottsville, and Lori Brahler, Pottsville.

Eric J. Schwenk, Pottsville, and Kaitlyn E. Nagle, Pottsville.

Joseph M. Mistysyn, Girardville, and Morganna C. Ferrari, Girardville.

Ryan Sernak, McAdoo, and Antonia M. Slusser-Scaggs, McAdoo.

Mark Antonaccio, Schuylkill Haven, and Hayley M. Yobbka, Schuylkill Haven.

John D. Wren, Waymart, and Shari Harris, Duryea.

Joshua M. Delmas, Pottsville, and Sara E. Nester, Pottsville.

Michael S. Valentine, Pine Grove, and Tara Ann Caton, Pine Grove.

Anthony J. Alves, Pottsville, and Briana R. Shields, Pottsville.

Divorces

David Stephen, Pottsville, from Sharon Stephen, Schuylkill Haven.

Marie Reiley, Pottsville, from Andrew Reiley, Pottsville.

Audrey Warner, Pottsville, from Christopher Warner, Fayettville, North Carolina.

Diakon sponsors expo for seniors

POTTSVILLE — A Senior Expo by Diakon Living and Learning will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 15 at Fairlane Village mall.

Organizers said in a release it will be a “fun-filled day specially designed for Boomers and beyond.” Admission is free.

The expo will feature exhibitors, flu shots, give-aways, massage, cooking demonstrations, music, refreshments and Medicare Part-D comparisons.

For more information, call 570-624-3018 or go online to www.diakon.org/LL50.

Chamber’s Chivinski finishes 1st IOM year

POTTSVILLE — The Institute for Organization Management has announced that Samantha M. Chivinski, events and development director of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, has completed her first year at the IOM, a four-year nonprofit leadership training program at Villanova University, according to a release.

The institute is the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

“Institute graduates are recognized across the country as leaders in their industries and organizations,” Raymond P. Towle, the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s vice president of Institute for Organization Management, said in the release, adding, “These individuals have the knowledge, skills and dedication necessary to achieve professional and organizational success in the dynamic association and chamber industries.”

Since its launch in 1921, the institute program has educated tens of thousands of association, chamber and other nonprofit leaders on how to build stronger organizations, better serve their members and become strong business advocates, according to the release. The curriculum consists of four weeklong sessions at five different university locations. Through a combination of required courses and electives in areas such as leadership, advocacy, marketing, finance and membership, institute participants “are able to enhance their own organizational management skills and add new fuel to their organizations, making them run more efficiently and effectively.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is a 501 (c)3 nonprofit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, dedicated “to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness,” institute officials said in the release.

Mrs. T’s ready for community picnic

SHENANDOAH — The annual Mrs. T’s Community Picnic will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the parking lot behind the Ateeco Inc. plant just off Herald Road in the borough’s southeast section.

The picnic, according to a release, will feature food, entertainment and family fun, including pierogies, hamburgers, hot dogs, soda, kettle corn, funnel cakes, bingo, music by disc jockey Dave Smith, prizes, games, and activities for children.

It is free, but a ticket is needed to enter. A limited amount of tickets are available.

People may obtain tickets at any of the following Shenandoah businesses: Betty Ann Bugden’s Total Image Design Salon, 30 S. Main St.; Kowalonek’s Kielbasy Shop, 332 S. Main St.; Vernalis Restaurant, 32 South Main St.; Francesco’s, 10 N. Main St.; Lucky’s Kielbasi Shop, 720 W. Centre St.; First National Bank, 101 N. Main St.; Santander Bank, 2 N. Main St.; BB&T Bank, 5 N. Main St., and M&T Bank, 2 S. Main St.

HNL banners county sites

POTTSVILLE — Health Network Laboratories, Allentown, which deals with “innovative laboratory medicine services,” announced in a press release the opening of a third HNL Patient Service Center in Schuylkill County.

The new facility is located in the back of the Lehigh Valley Physicians Group Obstetrics and Gynecology-Comprehensive Women’s Health Services Building at 171 Red Horse Road, Pottsville. Patients can visit from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, according to the release.

“Expanding our services to the patients in Schuylkill County is a priority … we want to play a part in improving the health of the community and region by making healthcare more accessible, affordable, and convenient,” Maria Foster, senior vice president of business development for HNL, said in the release.

Other Schuylkill County-based PSCs are at the following sites: LVHN Health Center at 10 E. Spruce St., Frackville, hours 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday/Friday, and HNL PSC Pottsville, 1504 Pennsylvania 61, hours 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday/Friday.

At HNL’s Patient Service Centers, according to the release, appointments are not needed and wait times are typically less than 15 minutes.

Patients needing in-home assistance can use HNL’s house-call service, in which a lab technician travels to a patient’s home. Patients can call 855-373-6262 to schedule an in-home appointment.

HNL accepts all insurance plans and will directly bill a patient’s primary insurance company.

For more information, go online to HNL.com or go to Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo or LinkedIn.

Tower Health, Humana in pact

WEST READING — Tower Health and Humana Inc. have announced an agreement to expand care options for Humana Medicare Advantage members at Tower Health facilities in Southeast Pennsylvania, with the addition of Reading Hospital to Humana’s Medicare network.

Effective Tuesday, the agreement provides in-network access for Humana Medicare Advantage Health Maintenance Organization, Preferred Provider Organization and Private Fee-for-Service health plan members seeking care at Tower Health’s flagship hospital, Reading Hospital, and at the hospital’s outpatient facilities, including ambulatory surgery and urgent care centers.

According to an announcement release, this supplements existing in-network access that Humana Medicare Advantage members currently have at the five other area Tower Health hospitals in southeastern Pennsylvania.

The contract also offers in-network access for Humana Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS members with some 2,000 primary and specialty care physicians and other clinicians employed by Tower Health.

Also effective Tuesday, Humana has a value-based care agreement with clinically integrated network Tower Health Partners in order to improve patient outcomes and the patient experience for Humana HMO and PPO members in Pennsylvania seeking care from physicians affiliated with THP.

For more information, email Humana’s Alissa Krinsky at akrinsky@humana.com or Tower Health’s Jessica Bezler at jessica.bezler@towerhealth.org.

Seltzer Group agent recognized

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Steven Stramara of The Seltzer Group has been recognized for professional leadership and advanced knowledge by the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors, a leading national insurance professional organization.

According to a Seltzer Group press release, Stramara was awarded a certificate marking more than 25 years of participation as a designated CIC, which requires annual completion of advance education and training. As additional recognition for this service and achievement, he has been granted the status of “Tenured CIC” by the society.

Dr. William T. Hold, president of the Society of CIC, said Stramara’s ongoing allegiance and support of the CIC program is a testament to the value he places on the real world education and customer satisfaction.

The CIC Program is a continuing education program for insurance professionals, offered in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, the society is a not-for-profit organization and the founding program of The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research.

For more information about The Seltzer Group, go to its website at www.seltzergrp.com.

DSI gets the OK for public meeting

SHENANDOAH — The revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc. has received the green light from the borough council to use the borough hall meeting room at 6 p.m. Oct. 16 for a public meeting for anyone interested in using or learning about DSI’s planned innovation hub and event center — Center for Education, Business and Arts — to be built in the 100 block of North Main Street.

The facility will stand on the east side of the street where the JCPenney store, Karvois Cleaners and Davison’s Furniture once stood.

For more information, call the DSI office, 116 N. Main St., at 570-462-2060.

Frackville plans Pumpkin Festival

FRACKVILLE — The annual Frackville Pumpkin Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday on Frack Street between Lehigh Avenue and Balliet Street all are welcome to participate.

The event will include homemade food, a wooden art-of-the-pumpkin auction, penny art, limerick and pie-eating contest, pony rides, scavenger hunts, music, crafts and other attractions.

The rain date and time has been set for 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

In conjunction with the festival, people are invited to submit a “tasteful” limerick about pumpkins, according to a release from Karen Domalakes.

The top three winners will be announced at the festival, Saturday, and receive prizes.

For more information, call 570-874-0174.

Schaeffer’s event to help patients

ORWIGSBURG — Schaeffer’s Harley Davidson, 1123 Brick Hill Road, will have an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner and basket auction from noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 26.

The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 4-10 and free for children 3 and younger. Proceeds will benefit the Gentle Yoga Program for cancer patients at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill.

All are welcome; for more information, call 570-366-0143.

Excursion focus: Schuylkill County

POTTSVILLE — An excursion called “Only in Schuylkill County Bus Bash” sponsored by the Schuylkill Conservation District, 1206 AG Center Drive, is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 19 beginning and ending at the Schuylkill County Ag Center.

Participants, according to a press release, will “travel in a motor coach with lunch on their own.” Patrick M. “Porcupine Pat” McKinney, environmental education coordinator with the Schuylkill Conservation District, will lead the tour that will include learning about a steam engine, a real geyser plus information on Fighter’s Heaven and other data about county sites and offerings.

The cost is $23 per person; all are welcome.

For more information, call 570-391-3326 or go online to www.schuylkillCD.com.

Geisinger earns vets recognition

DANVILLE — Geisinger has been recognized for its commitment to U.S. military veterans and their families by being named to VIQTORY’s 2020 list of Military Friendly Employers, according to a Geisinger press release.

Geisinger also announced a new, two-week paid leave benefit for employees serving in the Reserves or the National Guard, effective Sept. 15.

Under the new leave policy, service members employed by Geisinger will be paid for time at annual trainings, encampments and drills. Both part- and full-time employees for at least six months are eligible for the benefit.

Geisinger also developed veteran town hall events and VetNet, an employee resource group, to further meet the needs of veteran employees, according to the release.

For the full list of Military Friendly Employers, visit www.militaryfriendly.com. For more about Geisinger careers and veteran opportunities, visit www.geisinger.org/careers.

Farm market run continues

SHENANDOAH — With regional farmers/growers reporting a fall produce bounty, the 2019 edition of Schuylkill County’s oldest continuously running seasonal downtown farm market is continuing from 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Fridays near the more than century-old former Bolich & Burke building, Main and Centre streets, and along South Main Street in front of Rite Aid.

The market offers plants, produce and myriad other items from regional growers.

It is sponsored by the Greater Shenandoah Area Chamber of Commerce; Mark Bernardyn is the long-time chairman of the chamber’s market committee.

For more information about the market, call Bernardyn at 570-462-2734. More growers are always welcome by calling Bernardyn.

Folk art, culinary festival on tap

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — The Walk In Art Center, 220 Parkway, will have the Folk Art and Culinary Heritage Festival from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday in its main gallery.

Admission is free with registration fees waived thanks to the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation, M&T Bank and Wilmington Trust, according to an event flier.

The center is part of the Folk Art Alliance that includes Berks, Carbon and Schuylkill counties.

For more information, call 570-732-3728 or go online to walkinartcenter.org.

VISION slates Halloween Hustle

LANDINGVILLE — Schuylkill County’s VISION will have a Halloween Hustle: 5K Zombie Run on Oct. 26 at Faith Reformed United Church of Christ.

Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the run will start at 9:30 a.m. The first 200 registered will receive a free T-shirt; Zombie volunteers are welcome.

For more information or online registration, go to www.racemenu.com/events/178400-halloween-hustle.

St. Luke’s seeks more volunteers

COALDALE — St. Luke’s Hospital-Miners Campus, Coaldale is looking for volunteers to help make a difference with patients in the skilled nursing unit, inpatient nursing or emergency department “by spending time socializing, providing comfort items and assisting staff with various supportive duties.”

St. Luke’s volunteers, organizers said in a release, “are greatly appreciated and a valued members of our team.”

For more information or to join the program, call 484-526-4600 or visit the website www.slhn.org/volunteerNOW.

GIRARDVILLE — A survey of properties served by the Girardville Area Municipal Authority has been conducted to find clean water sources entering the sewage treatment system.

The authority board held a special meeting Tuesday to discuss the survey and consider the next steps to correct the infiltration of the water.

The authority is increasing its efforts in finding ways to reduce the amount of clean water entering the sewage treatment plant.

While there are different potential sources of clean or “ionized” sources entering the system, many can be attributed to aging laterals and broken clean outs, along with basement drains, sump pumps and rain gutters illegally connected into GAMA’s system, which serves the borough and portions of Butler Township.

The survey for clean water sources (inflow and infiltration) entering the collection system was conducted by representatives of M&B Environmental Inc., Harleysville, which operates the wastewater treatment plant and system for the authority. The plant operator is Patrick J. O’Boyle, who is employed by M&B.

Infiltration is ionized water that gets into the system from below ground, usually through holes or cracks/breaks in the sewer line. Inflow is ionized water entering the system from the surface, due to storm water getting in, such as through manholes, or from illegal connections from homes/businesses that have rain gutters and basement floor drain connections. Other ionized sources are aging laterals and broken clean outs.

The clean water entering the system has been a serious problem that can cause the sewage treatment plant to exceed its operating permit capacity, especially during heavy rains.

“We did the outside home inspections and Ed was present for some of that,” O’Boyle said in his report, referring to GAMA Chairman Edward Burns. “We looked from points of public access so that we weren’t trespassing on people’s properties. I put together an Excel spreadsheet and broke it up into three columns, one being ‘Not Located,’ one being ‘Questionable,’ and one being ‘OK.’ ”

Explaining each category, O’Boyle said, “The properties I am considering ‘OK’ seem to meet standard criteria that we don’t see anything standout. ‘Not Located’ are simply the ones that either we couldn’t find anything from our vantage point, or they were covered by high grass or weeds or accumulation of personal property within the yards. The ‘Questionable’ ones could include the rain gutter or downspout or roof leader went underground with no seemingly obvious discharge point. We know that the wildcat systems had rain gutters directed into that. Maybe that is all there is to it. We also saw many points where there were missing or broken caps, cleanout pipe being there but the vent pipe is laying in the yard. There are other things that would need further inspection.”

O’Boyle said he and Burns discussed some possible future action while doing the inspections.

“As for the ‘Not Located’ properties, I think the authority’s next best avenue, unless somebody has a better idea, would be to send a letter out to the address and see if we can get the residents to show us.”

GAMA solicitor James Amato had a copy of Resolution 2002-1 giving the authority “the periodic right of inspection, with reasonable notice provided to the homeowner/property owner, for any and all homes or structures/dwellings situated within the Borough of Girardville and which are subject to the authority’s and borough’s prior resolutions pertaining to the sewage system.”

Amato added that an ordinance is being drafted that provides enforcement capabilities that would permit the authority to levy a surcharge on sewage bills on properties where inspection requests are denied. The surcharge would be removed once the authority is allowed to make inspections to determine if ionized water is being directed into the system,

After the meeting, Burns said one major source of ionized water was found and the problem has been repaired.

“We just found a big leak downtown. That was down on Ogden Street in the Butler Township section,” Burns said. “We didn’t know if it was a leak from Aqua Pennsylvania, if one of their lines were leaking. We found out that the water getting in was ground water coming in through our broken main. It was in excess of 20,000 gallons a day going into the plant.”

Burns said there is another location where water may be entering.

“We’re going after another main in the same vicinity that goes right into the plant. There’s probably a lot of ground water going in there,” Burns said. “That will be checked by jetting the pipe and look inside to see what’s in there. Then the next step is to excavate.”

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

POTTSVILLE — Long active in his community and church, Leo F. Haley has received the most prestigious award given by one of the groups he has served for many years.

Haley, 84, of Pottsville, has become the latest member of The Honor Legion of the Order of St. Sebastian, the highest award presented by the Catholic War Veterans of the United States of America. He received the award at the Catholic War Veterans 84th national convention on Aug. 17, in San Antonio, Texas.

“He has distinguished himself in many different ways — military service, family, career, parish, community and service to veterans” wrote Edward Schwartz, adjutant of Catholic War Veterans Post 1051, Pottsville, in recommending Haley for the award.

Haley enlisted in the Navy in 1952, shortly after graduating from Pottsville Catholic High School, where he was class president.

He served aboard the USS Canisteo, a fleet oiler, for 2 1/2 years, being attached to the staff of the commander-in-chief of the Atlantic Fleet for six months during the Korean War. Trained as a visual signalman, he was honorably discharged at the rank of QM3 in November 1955. He received the Good Conduct and World War II European Occupation medals and also served in the Inactive Reserves.

A member of the Catholic War Veterans for 52 years, Haley has served as commander of Post 1051 since 1993 and served as national commander of the organization from August 2011-August 2013.

In addition, Haley has served the organization as department (state) trustee, department second vice commander, department third vice commander, national second vice commander and national first vice commander. He has been a life member since 2004 and chaired the national conventions in Buffalo in 2010 and Portland, Maine, in 2016.

Also, Haley is a practicing Catholic and a registered member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville.

The second youngest of five sisters and three brothers, Haley was born Nov. 8, 1934, in Pottsville, to Jacob J. and Katherine Lipsett Haley. He has many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Although he never married, his longtime companion is Mary Lou Boyer.

St. Sebastian, for whom the award is named, is the patron saint of the Catholic War Veterans of the United States of America.

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