There's a plethora of volunteer opportunities for the kind-hearted of every ilk this week.

National Volunteer Week starts today and runs until Saturday. You can check our website at www.schuylkill.us/cvia for almost 200 volunteer opportunities. If you have Internet access, you can email me for a short list of family-friendly opportunities.

Tuesday is Earth Day. Many colleges will be hosting fairs and expos to pay tribute to our beautiful planet.

Arbor Day is on Friday. You can easily combine Earth Day with Arbor Day for some planet friendly activities.

"The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now." - Anonymous.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme and World Conservation Monitoring Centre website, http://www.unep-wcmc.org/, forests are the green lungs of the world and play a key role in the health of the planet. Nothing could survive without plants - they're the foundation for most of Earth's ecosystems. Two mature trees supply enough oxygen for a family of four for a year.

In addition to providing oxygen, trees absorb carbon dioxide and provide food and shelter for animals while also supplying us with wood products from newspaper to furniture.

Plan a project for the entire family to participate in: plant a tree at home or in the woods, clean an area or reduce your carbon footprint. The planet has been kind to us; it's time to return the favor.

If you've read any of my columns, you know that I just love nature. I support local environmental agencies and parks whenever possible. I participated in "Plant it Forward" once by filling my landscaping with Schuylkill Conservation District and Sweet Arrow Lake's seedlings, now grown from babies to juveniles and getting prettier every season. Every action helps.

Thursday is Pay it Forward Day. Little known but big on good will, the international day is your chance to make someone feel good. The idea is that you do something nice for someone and they pass the kindness on to someone else and the chain of generosity continues - a ripple effect of good will. I participate every year and it's nice to see the smiles a small act of kindness can bring.

Some ideas are to give the cashier a dollar toward the coffee purchase of the person behind you in line, put a quarter in a parking meter before the driver can or let someone in front of you in the checkout. You can also buy an inexpensive bouquet of cut flowers, like friendly daisies, and pass them out to random people throughout the day. You can tape a lottery ticket to an ATM machine or take a box of donut holes to your library. Of course, you should also pass on a PIF card explaining the act that encourages the recipient to continue the "chain." You get the idea. Have fun with it.

You can find ideas, school kits, and downloadable cards at http://payitforwardday.com/.

The eighth annual Block of Art will be held from Friday to Sunday. Watch Pottsville be transformed into an art mecca for the weekend. Enjoy fine art, pottery, poetry, photography, music, an art auction, the art mart and more. Start your art experience at the Schuylkill County Historical Society at 6:30 p.m. Friday with art and music. There will be a "meet the artists" brunch at the Greystone from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday. For more information, go to www.block-of-art.org.

The 26th annual duck race will take place Sunday, April 27, at Walmart in St. Clair. Activities begin at noon and ducks enter the water at 3:32 p.m. There will be food, music, live entertainment, amusements, children's activities, vendors and prizes.

Use the above contact info for those specific volunteer opportunities and check out other opportunities at www.schuylkill.us/cvia.

Community Volunteers in Action can be reached at 570-628-1426 or jjohnston@co,.schuylkill.pa.us. Check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/communityvolunteersinaction.

DREHERSVILLE - Vivian Conner, 9, of Orwigsburg, loves birds, raptors in particular, and showed up for a special egg hunt at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary on Saturday with a finger puppet of an eagle on her finger.

"I don't know why. It just became somewhat of an obsession," Conner said of her love for birds.

She was one of 50 children from the region who scoured the forest floor, searching for realistic-looking wooden replicas of raptor eggs in the area of the sanctuary's amphitheater. She said this was the third year she participated in this event, and she's become somewhat of an expert.

When her friends, Chloe Houk, 10, and Madison Connors, 9, both of Orwigsburg, spotted and snatched up wooden eggs, Conner was quick to identify what they were replicas of.

"I got a kestrel and two peregrines," Conner said.

Looking at the ones Connors found, Conner said, "You got two falcons and a kestrel, as well."

Looking at Houk's finds, Conner said, "You got three falcons."

"She's the bird genius," Houk said of her friend.

In late spring, red-tailed hawks, the most frequently observed hawks in the region, start to lay eggs. To celebrate the occasion and Easter, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary invited children to its annual "raptor egg hunt," according to Rachel Taras, Northampton County, as a full-time education specialist at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary.

It's been a tradition at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary since 2007, Taras said.

"The program is filled at 50 children, ages 3 to 12, with a waiting list. It will take place at the outdoor amphitheater located just beyond the Visitor's Center. The eggs are of different shapes and are camouflaged. Children are allowed to find one of each size. They are separated into age groups as well," Erin Brown, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary's director of education, said Thursday.

Prizes included a Hawk Mountain Sanctuary bookmark, a pencil and an activity book about birds of prey that also includes stickers.

"Prior to the actual egg hunt, there will be a short program about raptors and their nests, eggs and some additional natural history information," Brown said.

Taras hosted the event Saturday.

Volunteers, including Karin Wulkowicz, Shillington, Berks County, were there at 9 a.m., hiding the wooden eggs in forest, which was blanketed with crunchy dead leaves.

Light tan with dashes of brown, the eggs looked realistic. And more than 75 eggs were scattered in the area.

"They're painted to look like actual raptor eggs. And you can put them right out in the open and they'd be hard to see anyway," Wulkowicz said.

Also there from Schuylkill County were Cheryl Leibold, Orwigsburg, her son, Clayton, Pottsville, and his family, wife, Jennifer, and children, Colton, 7, and Cooper, 5.

Colton was wearing a bright orange jacket, and Cooper was wearing bright green sneakers.

"That's so we can find them. This is the boys' third year doing it. They love it," Jennifer said.

Jennifer Liebold said what she liked about the event was it was more than just an egg hunt at Easter.

"I like that it's not about plastic, colored eggs. They're wooden and they get to keep one every year, and we have them up on our mantle, eggs of all different sizes," she said.

Each of the children who participated were allowed to take one of the wooden eggs home.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is a 2,500-acre wildlife habitat straddling Berks and Schuylkill counties, which sees 70,000 visitors each year, Mary Linkevich, Hawk Mountain's director of communication and grants, said previously.

A Shenandoah Heights man charged with shooting and killing his neighbor on Jan. 18 is among those scheduled to plead not guilty Monday during arraignment in Schuylkill County Court.

Ronald A. Kozak, 66, of 555 Indiana Ave., was arrested by state police Trooper Edward Lizewsky of the Frackville station and charged with murder of the first degree, murder of the third degree, criminal homicide, aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal trespass, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Lizewsky charged Kosak with fatally shooting Joseph Boris about 11:30 a.m Jan. 18 in the driveway of the Boris home at 525 Indiana Ave. in West Mahanoy Township.

The shooting, Lizewsky said, was the result of a confrontation between the men that was apparently triggered by both an ongoing neighbor dispute and a fence that was taken down between their two properties. Boris died at the scene.

Others scheduled to plead not guilty, and the charges against them, include:

Arnis A. Povisils, 39, of 217 E. Pine St., Mahanoy City - DUI and careless driving.

Ashley M. Paulshock, 28, of 210 E. Washington St., McAdoo - DUI, DUI-high rate, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked and careless driving.

Brandon R. Reed, 20, of 227 Virginia Ave., Shenandoah - driving under the influence of drugs and sun screening and other materials prohibited.

Vincent Dagostin, 40, of 430 S. Kennedy Drive, McAdoo - DUI and careless driving.

Colleen Riley, 53, of 48 Hilltop Road, Barnesville - DUI, DUI-highest rate, careless driving and driving at an unsafe speed.

Brandon S. Fritz, 32, of 103 Spring St., Tremont - possession of a controlled substance, persons not to possess or use firearms. carrying firearms without a license, possessing instruments of crime, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, unauthorized transfer or use of registration, driving following registration suspension, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving without insurance, carrying a loaded weapon and stop and yield sign violations.

Eric Garrity, 33, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville - retail theft, theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

Artemio Vazquez, 20, of 117 W. Washington St., Shenandoah - driving under the influence of drugs and driving an unregistered vehicle.

William J. Thomas, 19, of 2406 Railroad St., Mahanoy Plane - DUI, DUI-high rate, driving at an unsafe speed, stop and yield sign violations, careless driving, restrictions on alcoholic beverages and illegal purchase or consumption of alcohol.

Matthew T. Long, 23, of 934 Spruce St., Ashland - burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property and theft by deception.

Raymond W. Kroh, 37, of 1404 Centre St., Ashland - criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and accidents involving damage to unattended vehicles or property.

Teddy A. Fishburn Jr., 21, 1003 Brock St., Ashland - disorderly conduct, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property and simple assault.

Desiree Cramer, 22, of 227 Lafayette St., Apt. 1, Tamaqua - conspiracy and endangering the welfare of a child.

Alfred A. Bond, 27, of 135 E. Ruddle St., Coaldale - conspiracy, delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Krystle Jean I. Marks, 23, of 11 Queen St., Schuylkill Haven - possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, accidents involving damage to unattended vehicles or property and careless driving.

Lauren T. Meade, 18, of Golden Road, Blandon, or 17 St. Peter St., Schuylkill Haven - possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, prohibited offensive weapons, theft, conspiracy, receiving stolen property and loitering and prowling at night.

Christopher J. Johnston, 21, of 430 W. Market St., Orwigsburg - possessing instruments of crime, theft, conspiracy, receiving stolen property and loitering and prowling at night.

Thomas J. Bracey, 38, of 605 W. Mahantongo St., Apt./Suite 3, Pottsville - possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Johnathan T. Cholko, 19, of 905 Fairmont Ave., Pottsville - terroristic threats, simple assault, disorderly conduct, loitering and prowling at night, identity theft, access device fraud, theft and receiving property.

Tyler J. Roeder, 23, of 813 N. Third St., Pottsville - conspiracy, delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility and possession of a controlled substance.

Steven J. Brilla, 20, of 821 Water St., Pottsville - fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, driving a vehicle without an inspection certificate, driving on the wrong side of the road and altered, forged or counterfeit documents and plates.

Robert Calcano, 21, of 231 E. Lloyd St., Shenandoah - possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Roger J. Williams, 27, of 639 N. Second St., Apt. 5, Pottsville - theft and receiving stolen property.

Carla J. Noecker, 48, of 23 Valley St., New Philadelphia - resisting arrest, defiant trespass and disorderly conduct.

Nicholas R. Harman, 21, of 345 E. Colliery Ave., Tower City - theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.

Matthew J. Ray, 39, of 916 W. Race St., Pottsville - access device fraud, theft and receiving stolen property.

Adam Gamrak Jr., 33, of 112 Avenue B., Schuylkill Haven - simple assault, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct.

John F. Mattes, 49, of 423 W. Frack St., Frackville - recklessly endangering another person, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.

Vincent S. Mitchell, 37, of 328 S. Liberty St., Schuylkill Haven - stop and yield sign violations and criminal attempt to commit possession of a controlled substance.

Cory D. Shade, 20, of 2107 W. Norwegian St., Pottsville - possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Harold E. Walbach, 76, of 307 W. Market St., Apt. 3E, Pottsville - altered, forged or counterfeit documents and plates, accidents involving damage to attended vehicles or property, careless driving and driving a vehicle without an inspection certificate.

Steven L. Androshick, 49, of 29 S. Fourth St., Frackville - possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Patrick E. Schartel Jr., 26, of 25 S. Morris St., Saint Clair - theft, criminal mischief and defiant trespass.

Joseph A. Potter, 24, of 103 N. Third St., Apt. 1, Pottsville - receiving stolen property.

Starr E. Kline, 19, of 103 N. Third St., Apt. 3, Pottsville - theft and receiving stolen property.

Debra L. Beibleheimer, 57, of 523 Miller Road, Zion Grove - DUI, following too closely and stop and yield sign violations.

David A. Dargis, 28, of 231 E. Oak St., Shenandoah - driving under the influence of drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, driving without insurance, driving a vehicle without an inspection certificate and violation of general lighting requirements.

Adam L. Bloch, 22, of 304 Biddle St., Gordon - criminal mischief, simple trespass and disorderly conduct.

Curtis G. Hahn, 28, of 431 W. Pine St., Frackville - possession of drug paraphernalia, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving a vehicle without an inspection certificate.

Christine C. Ritter, 27, of 2425 Summer Valley Road, New Ringgold - retail theft and conspiracy.

Brandon M. Merwine, 28, of 265 Hill Road, Hegins - retail theft.

Lisa A. Davis, 50, of County Squire Apt. 24, Route 61, Schuylkill Haven - simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and unauthorized use of automobiles.

Frederick C. Hess Jr., 40, of 453 North St., Minersville - possession of drug paraphernalia.

Michael A. Sura, 31, of 186 Valley St., New Philadelphia - receiving stolen property.

Renee M. Austerberry, 28, of 15 W. Franklin St., Saint Clair - retail theft and false identification to law enforcement.

Terence J. Osenbach, 32, of 3352 Summer Valley Road, New Ringgold - delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Carmen T. Almonti, 31, of 120 N. Line St., Girardville - aggravated assault on police, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest and harassment.

Melanie M. Zimmerman, 29, of 26 S. Catherine St., Shenandoah - DUI, DUI-highest rate, driving under combined influence, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, restrictions on alcoholic beverages and careless driving.

Robert M. Valentine, 46, of 25 Maple Ave., Mar Lin - theft and unauthorized use of automobiles.

Janice L. Ramos, 23, of 624 Lewis St., Minersville - retail theft.

John T. Stiles III, 26, of 404 Sixth St., Port Carbon - receiving stolen property and illegal operation on streets and highways.

James Neff, 30, of 308 Washington St., Tamaqua - possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest and false identification to law enforcement.

Jason Demarco, no age available, of 627 Wyoming St., Tuscarora - harassment, stalking, disorderly conduct and reckless driving.

John D. Krell, 41, of 68 N. Kennedy Drive, Apt. 1B, McAdoo - DUI, DUI-highest rate, driving under the influence of drugs, driving under combined influence, violation of maximum speed limits and careless driving.

Scott F. Branz, 31, of 40 E. Grant St., McAdoo - burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property, loitering and prowling at night, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct.

Darrell R. Startzel, 47, of 201 Grier Ave., Barnesville - simple assault and false reports.

Michael J. Tracy, 27, of 18 E. Market St., Box 202, Tresckow - terroristic threats, institutional vandalism, simple assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and harassment.

David V. Stephen, 42, of 887 Valley Road, Pottsville - DUI, DUI-highest rate, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic and careless driving.

Kimberly R. Graeff, 21, of 19 Woods Creek Drive, Schuylkill Haven - DUI, DUI-high rate and careless driving.

Desiree D. Hummel, 23, of 203 E. Main St., Apt.B, Schuylkill Haven - possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sophia M. Covach, 24, of 513 W. South St., Mahanoy City - DUI, DUI-highest rate, driving at an unsafe speed and careless driving.

Tiffany M. Jadus, 25, of 333 E. Centre St., Shenandoah - possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Melanie M. Zimmerman, 29, of 26 S. Catherine St., Shenandoah - possession of drug paraphernalia.

Donald H. Strohl, 33, of 4 N. Madison St., McAdoo - possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked.

Zachary L. Kabana, 20, of 60 Valley St., New Philadelphia - simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Amy Nester, 38, of 109 S. Sheridan St., McAdoo - resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

Christopher Hill, 26, of 47 Mush Dahl Road, New Ringgold - possession of a controlled substance, retail theft, terroristic threats, simple assault, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief.

Travis E. Boerner, 24, of 227 Lafayette St., Apt. 1, Tamaqua - operating a methamphetamine lab, conspiracy, possession with intent to manufacture a controlled substance, possessing chemicals with intent to manufacture, possession of liquefied ammonia with intent to manufacture, endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering another person.

Ian N. Thrasher, 37, of 233 Cedar St., Apt. 2, Tamaqua - burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.

Jude W. Lauer, 44, of 31 James St., Box 38, Kelayres - conspiracy, manufacture of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Matthew Bahrey, 21, of 15 Haddock Road, McAdoo - theft and receiving stolen property.

Brian W. Lauer, 46, of 31 James St., Box 38, Kelayres - conspiracy, manufacture of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jacqueline J. Slaven, 38, of 29 E. Elm St., Apt. 2, Tamaqua - operating a methamphetamine lab, possessing chemicals with intent to manufacture, possessing liquefied ammonia with intent to manufacture, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, endangering the welfare of a child and possession of a controlled substance.

Ashley L. Roberts, 29, of 33 N. Railroad St., Tamaqua - retail theft.

John M. Blashock, 45, of 1031 E. Pine St., Mahanoy City - theft of property lost, mislaid or delivered by mistake, theft and theft by deception.

Alex C. Long, 23, of 322A W. Main St., Girardville - driving under the influence of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kyle F. Lombel, 22, of 406 Moon Hill Drive, Schuylkill Haven - possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Robert Calcano, 21, of 231 E. Lloyd St., Shenandoah - criminal use of a communications facility.

Bryon K. Becker, 34, of 310 W. Columbus St., Shenandoah - retail theft.

Kayla A. Weikel, 23, of 107 W. Coal St., Shenandoah - retail theft.

Christopher D. Snyder, 42, of 413 Back Road, Barnesville - fleeing or attempting to elude police, resisting arrest and recklessly endangering another person.

Sheena M. Whitacre, no age available, of 135 Sunbury St., Apt. 5, Minersville - theft and receiving stolen property.

Richard M. Dasch, 43, of 298 Bear Creek Road, Schuylkill Haven - corruption of minors and simple assault.

Jonathan R. Dombrowski, 26, of 324 W. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City - DUI, DUI-high rate, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, accidents involving damage to unattended vehicles or property and driving on the wrong side of the road.

Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers and Pottsville police are asking for the public's help in identifying the man responsible for an April 8 armed robbery at a city business.

The robbery occurred just after 10 a.m. at Ambrose Hearing Center, 434 E. Norwegian St.

Police said a man entered the business, brandished what appeared to be a dark handgun and demanded cash from the owner.

After receiving a small amount of cash, the man fled the area on foot, running east on East Norwegian Street and then north on Jackson Street.

The robber is described as being white, young - in his 20s - and was wearing a light gray "hoodie" sweatshirt.

No injuries were reported.

Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information on the identity of the person responsible for this robbery or on any other unsolved crime in Schuylkill County.

Callers are asked to refer to incident 04-20-14 when calling with information about the Ambrose Hearing Center robbery in Pottsville.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 877-TIPS4SC (877-847-7472).

Individuals with information can also directly call Pottsville police at 570-622-1234.

All information received will remain confidential.

A Pottsville man returned to prison Tuesday after a Schuylkill County judge revoked his parole for a third time in a case dating back almost seven years.

David N. Murphy Sr., 49, will spend at least 90 days behind bars under the terms of Senior Judge D. Michael Stine's order.

Stine revoked Murphy's parole and recommitted him to prison after the defendant admitted violating it by being arrested for new crimes and being an absconder.

"He's going to serve 90 days from today's date," Stine said of Murphy, who left the courtroom in handcuffs.

Murphy originally pleaded guilty on May 7, 2009, to two counts of possession of a controlled substance, with prosecutors withdrawing two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. At that time, Stine sentenced Murphy to serve three to 23 months in prison and pay costs, a $100 fine, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $100 restitution.

Shenandoah police charged Murphy with possessing drugs on Sept. 3, 2007, in the borough.

Stine revoked Murphy's parole twice in one year, first on Jan. 18, 2010, and again on Dec. 10, 2010.

Furthermore, on April 19, 2012, at the request of prosecutors, Stine issued a bench warrant for Murphy, declaring him to be an absconder from parole supervision.

Murphy could still spend more than a year in prison, even though he was sentenced almost five years ago, because of his violations and his absconding, Stine said.

SHENANDOAH - On Holy Saturday, many churches had the makings of the Easter Sunday feast brought to them for the traditional blessing of the foods for the family celebrations of the holiest day on the Christian calendar.

The blessing of baskets filled with ham, kielbasi/sausage, lamb, butter, paska and many other food items is a tradition mainly in Eastern European Christian churches, both Catholic and Orthodox. Czechs, Croatians, Hungarians, Lithuanians, Poles, Russians, Rusyns, Slovaks, Slovenes, Ukrainians, among others, brought their traditions to the United States, and they continue to be faithfully followed in many local churches on the day before Easter or on early Easter Sunday morning.

According to www.CatholicCulture.com, Holy Saturday in Rome includes an old custom where a fresh tablecloth is spread on the table in the dining room and on it is laid out the Easter meal, including the uncooked Easter lamb that is decorated with flowers, eggs, wine, fruit and a large traditional cake called "pizza." These are sprinkled with holy water and given a special blessing by the priest.

Monsignor Ronald C. Bocian, pastor of the Roman Catholic churches of Shenandoah and Lost Creek, held two food basket blessings, the first at noon at St. Casimir Roman Catholic Church and the second at Annunciation BVM Roman Catholic Church at 12:45 p.m.

At St. Casimir, Bocian stood in front of the altar with more than 75 baskets around him, opening the ceremony with a prayer and then the reading of the Gospel according to St. John 6:1-16.

He closed the ceremony with the following prayer: "God of glory, the eyes of all turn to you as we celebrate Christ's victory over sin and death. Bless us and this food of our first Easter meal. May we who gather at the Lord's table continue to celebrate the joy of his resurrection and be admitted finally to his heavenly banquet. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen."

With his hands, he made the Sign of the Cross in blessing, then used the aspergillum to sprinkle holy water on the baskets.

The Rev. Roman Pitula, pastor of St. Michael and St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic churches in Frackville and Maizeville, respectively, blessed the traditional Easter foods in the Ukrainian ceremony called Sviachenia on Saturday afternoon, first at St. Michael's hall at 4 p.m. Parishioners and their families filled tables with all types of foods. The baskets were covered by beautifully embroidered linens with Ukrainian designs, which were placed on the table and on which some of the basket contents were placed. As with Roman Catholic and Orthodox customs, the foods are very symbolic, representing the foods abstained during the Great Fast or Lent: eggs, meat, butter and rich breads. They are prepared ahead of time and are traditionally eaten on Holy Pascha, thereby keeping cooking on the holy day to a minimum. The variety of foods can be extensive, but the basics are eggs, breads, meats and dairy (butter and cheese). Each family lights a candle, which symbolizes the radiance of the Resurrected Christ, prior to the prayers, incensing and the blessing of the foods with holy water.

The foods have the following meanings:

- Paska - A rich, decorated bread, it represents Christ, the True Bread of Life and the Living Bread. Traditionally, the candle is placed in the center of the bread, though many use a separate candleholder.

- Babka - A sweet bread, usually with raisins, represents Mary, the Mother of God (Theotokos).

- Pysanky - Decorated eggs with intricate designs and colors represent hope and are likened to Christ, who rose from the dead, since eggs, which look dead, bring forth new life.

- Krashanky - Plain, dyed eggs in a variety of colors, which also symbolize life. Traditionally, there is a red egg to represent salvation through the blood of Christ.

- Salt - A small amount represents the Christian's call to be the "salt of the earth" and his or her duty to others.

- Butter - Usually in the form of a lamb, representing Christ as "The Lamb of God" and the "Paschal Lamb." The butter also represents the goodness of Christ. Cloves are sometimes used to outline a cross and represent the oils and spices used to anoint the body of Christ.

- Cheese - Cheese, along with all dairy products, are related to the prophesies that told of the prosperity and peace of the Messianic times and are symbolic of the special gifts given by God.

- Horseradish/beets/vinegar/sugar - The bitterness of horseradish is a reminder of Christ's bitter suffering; the red of the beets tells of Christ's Passion and the blood He shed; the vinegar reminds of the gall Jesus was offered on the cross; the sugar reminds that Christ's sufferings are seen in the light of the Resurrection.

- Ham, roasted lamb, sausage, kielbasa, bacon - These rich meats are reminders of the ­richness and joy of the Resurrection. They also are symbols of God's overabundance and limitless mercy and generosity.

The Paschal dinner can also include pierogie, halupki, mashed potatoes and gravy, salads, vegetables, head cheese, cakes, cheesecakes and tortes. It is important not to waste any of the blessed food. The crumbs and bones are buried so that the Earth receives blessing from the Resurrection.

After the blessing, Pitula offered his wishes for all to have a holy Pascha.

Dark, noisy and full of life are a few of the terms used to describe an anthracite coal breaker. Often built near the mouth of the main gangway of a mine, they processed different sizes of coal retrieved by miners deep inside the Earth. These structural kings of anthracite coal were considered just as important as the mines themselves.

As mines started to shut down in the latter part of the 1920s and early '30s, so did the once much-needed breakers. They became the victims of an arsonist's match, a wrecking ball or, in some cases, a stick of dynamite lit by a demolition team. One by one, breakers disappeared from the landscape, leaving behind little more than concrete foundations.

Prior to 1960, larger companies built several large-scale breakers to process the coal of various mining operations to compensate for the loss of smaller breakers. Newer technology and the continuing decline in demand for anthracite coal, however, eventually led to a series of closures of even these massive breakers.

They stood dormant for decades, photographed, vandalized and marveled over, dotting the black landscape. But now, just one remains.

Glen Burn

Perhaps the most recognizable of all anthracite breakers was the Glen Burn Breaker located along Route 61 at the Cameron Bridge just north of Shamokin in Coal Township. A few outbuildings and random pieces of I-beams are all that remain since the breaker was razed in 1986.

The mammoth man-made mountain of waste culm that sits behind the ruins of the Glen Burn Colliery (previously known as the Cameron Colliery) is a reminder of the amount of material that came through the breaker and its predecessors, the first of which was built in 1857, the last in 1939.

The Stevens Coal Co. built the all-steal breaker on the opposite side of Shamokin Creek from where the main gangway of the mine was located. The breaker was capable of processing 500 tons of coal an hour, including pea and nut coal, although it was unable to process smaller sizes, including buckwheat, barley and rice, which by the 1980s was growing in demand. It was a contract dispute, though, that eventually led to the breaker's demise.

Operations ceased at midnight May 31, 1984, when 120 members of the United Mine Workers went on strike against Kerris and Helfrick Inc., owners of the colliery since June 17, 1966. The strike ended March 13, 1986, when Edward Helfrick, co-owner of K&H, announced the company would be liquidated.

Demolition of the breaker began in July 1986 after Helfrick said the Department of Environmental Protection wanted it dismantled.

A boy's memories

As a boy in the 1960s, Tim Farrell grew up living in the shadow of the breaker at 65 E. Dewart St., known as the "superintendent's home," while his father, Michael III, was the superintendent of the operation.

The Farrells have a long history of working in the mines. Among them was Michael I, Tim's great-grandfather, who was fatally injured in the Henry Clay around 1876; and Michael II, Tim's grandfather, who was a mine foreman at the Hickory Swamp and Hickory Ridge collieries, both located near Lower Sagon in eastern Coal Township.

Farrell said his father did not like to "bring his work home," although at times it did follow him. Farrell recalled occasions when miners who needed to get mine plans approved by his father would show up while the family was having breakfast.

"With me it was more of a father-son thing. He would always be there to take me places," Farrell said. "The only times I really didn't see him for a few days was when there was an accident."

Decline of anthracite

In 1967, Michael moved his family to Pottsville to take a position as general manager of Reading Anthracite. Farrell believes a declining market for anthracite may have been a reason for his father taking a new job.

"He saw the decline of the whole thing. I remember him pointing at the coal bank and saying, 'That's where the future of this industry is,' " Tim said.

A foreshadowing, perhaps, was when his father put electric heat in their new home in Pottsville.

Huber Breaker

The Huber Breaker in Ashley, Luzerne County, recently met the same fate as the Glen Burn. Demolition of the 134-foot-tall building and outbuildings started earlier this year and is almost complete. More than 7,000 tons of coal per day was crushed, washed and sized for delivery to residential and commercial customers between 1939 and 1976.

Paselo Logistics, Philadelphia, bought the breaker and surrounding 26 acres of land for $1.3 million at a bankruptcy of Al Roman, owner of No. 1 Contacting Co., last year. Paselo took possession Oct. 11, and soon after began razing the buildings and selling the metal for scrap.

The sight of demolition was heart-breaking to members of the Huber Breaker Preservation Society, which for more than two decades fought unsuccessfully to save the breaker. Their goal was to convert it into an auditorium, restaurants and an artifact-laden museum, upon other things.

The society did salvage several artifacts, including two mine cars once used deep underground at the colliery. They will be displayed at Miners' Memorial Park, located on 3.1 acres of land near where the breaker stood.

Locust Summit

Another iconic breaker razed was the Locust Summit Central Breaker in Mount Carmel Township, just west of the small village of Merriam.

In the late 1920s, the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company began a series of improvements that included the centralization of its breakers. All of these operations were combined into two large processing plants, the Locust Summit and the St. Nicholas Breaker, off Route 54 west of Mahanoy City.

The Locust Summit was built in 1929 at a cost of $4 million. A unique feature included a rotary dump in which a train car would be locked in placed, then turned upside down to off-load unprocessed coal. In its prime, the breaker was capable of producing 12,000 tons of coal per day.

A declining coal market and eventual bankruptcy of the railroad that served the breaker were two factors that played in to the breaker closing on Jan. 7, 1955. The closure affected several hundred men. In the fall of 2002, after decades of deterioration, the breaker was demolished. Lost was a vintage Reading Railroad hopper car still locked in the structure.

Last breaker standing

The last large-scale breaker built prior to 1960 that is still standing in the anthracite coal region is the St. Nicholas Breaker. The "St. Nick" took its name from its predecessor, which shipped its first coal on Christmas Day. The breaker opened March 11, 1931, and closed in 1963.

It was built with 3,800 tons of steel and 10,000 cubic yards of concrete. It processed an average of 12,500 tons of anthracite per day, according to "Mahanoy Area Revisited," a 2013 book in the Images of America series by Mahanoy Area Historical Society.

Last fall, Reading Anthracite Co., owner, completed a partial demolition of the breaker in order to retrieve a vein of coal underneath a potion of the property. Where the front loading area and the railroad loading area was now sits an open pit.

"It's been an eyesore for years. At one time, they were talking about turning it into a museum, but nothing happened with that," James Stevens, chairman of the Mahanoy Township supervisors, recently told The Republican-Herald.

For the time being, it appears the rest of the breaker will remain standing. Once known as the largest in the world, it now holds a much different title: the last breaker standing.

(Staff writers Paul Golias and Stephen J. Pytak contributed to this story.)

TREMONT - Blighted properties have been a problem in Tremont Borough for several years, and two recent properties at 58 and 60 E. Main St. are a constant reminder of the eyesore, and safety hazard, they can become. Such properties can also become an unexpected drain on the borough's budget.

A bid of $37,439 for the demolition of these two properties has recently been awarded to Madonna Enterprises, Port Carbon. Although the borough is only responsible for 25 percent of that cost, there are other places the borough could spend $9,359.75, plus the additional $2,000 already spent to purchase the buildings, engineer and attorney fees, and an asbestos study. Strict code enforcement, if it had begun many years ago, could have prevented these buildings from reaching this point.

Housing workshop

An important and informative two-hour workshop covering housing issues will be held in Courtroom No. 1 of the Schuylkill County Courthouse on May 8, beginning at 7 p.m.

Municipal officials have participated in several workshops recently covering code enforcement, conservatorship of abandoned properties, and other blight reduction methods made possible by the State's Act 90 law. These same officials, however, along with residents and owners of rental properties, will obtain information about code enforcement and how it differs from the Section 8 HQS inspection, as well as the importance of local codes and the simple things a community can do to educate residents about community standards that must be upheld to avoid enforcement actions. Landlords will also learn about screening and leasing ways to select tenants that are the least likely to cause problems and create public nuisances, and where to get help when all else fails. The code enforcement process that results in the demolition of a property will also be discussed.

Complaint

A resident attending the April 8 meeting complained about a problem he was experiencing because of an adjoining property which is in disrepair.

"There's no one living there but sometimes there lots of action," said the man, questioning what can be done to help him.

The council had appointed one of its members several years ago to enforce borough ordinances already in effect and had also adopted a quality of life ordinance, which enabled a speedier enforcement procedure. This past January, the council appointed a new person to that position, but to date, no report of his activities has been made.

Assistant

Noting that the code enforcement officer was not present, President Bob Donmoyer suggested the council may want to appoint an assistant to help the new code enforcement officer who works full-time.

"If the job's not being done, we can let it go back like it was, or we appoint someone to help him," Donmoyer said.

Councilwoman Paulette Yuschock disagreed. The new code enforcement officer, William "Jeff" Bruce, should be given the opportunity to appoint an assistant, she said, suggesting that the mayor contact Bruce, giving him seven days to respond, or the committee will meet.

Burn ban

Donmoyer reminded residents of the strict county-wide burn ban in effect from April 4 through May 4. Violators can face fines of $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second and $300 for each additional violation, plus the cost of extinguishing any wild land fire they cause.

It was noted that the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources personnel are constantly monitoring rainfall and forest and ground cover conditions and may recommend an extension of the ban.

Parking

Mayor Roger Adams gave a stern warning to residents parking the wrong way.

"I'm letting you know," Adams said, "it's gotta stop. It's the law."

Adams said during the winter, residents on Fightin' Hill were exempt and were allowed to park the wrong way. Police, he said, will now issue tickets.

The mayor also stated that he was unhappy with the way the town looked.

"So take heed and clean up your property," Adams said.

Car use

A brief discussion was held concerning the use of the police department's two vehicles. According to Donmoyer, the older car has not been used in the last three months and the battery had died. When police Chief Michael Conway was questioned why the vehicles were not being rotated as agreed upon, the chief's only explanation was that the new people didn't want to use the older one.

When questioned about Tremont police vehicles being seen at Hess's in Pine Grove, Conway admitted he had been told that and had spoken to the officers involved.

According to Donmoyer, the cars don't leave the borough, except to go to Frailey.

"We need some supervision," Donmoyer said. "They need to know there'll be consequences."

The mayor agreed and said the problems would be taken care of.

A 40-hour-per-month coverage of Frailey Township was only slightly over the 24 hours per month during February and March.

Police

The March police report shows two nontraffic citations were filed and three traffic warning were issued. The incidents include one assault, one civil complaint, two criminal mischief and one criminal trespass, three domestics, two missing juvenile, one theft, one welfare check, three vehicle stops, one juvenile locked out of residence, one assist to the nursing home staff for an unruly person and two assists to other police departments.

Clinic

The Health Immunization Clinic sponsored by the Interfaith Network will continue from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 7 and June 4 in the Clay Street Community Room.

Vaccinations for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, hepatitis and flu will be given by appointments only with a $5 co-pay charged to those with insurance.

Call the state Department of Health at 570-621-3112 to make an appointment.

Training

Remaining sessions for the Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency's 2014 Municipal Emergency Training for Elected Officials are April 29 and May 27.

According to councilman James Scheibley, Emergency Management Coordinator Pryce Parker, the mayor and he have attended the previous classes and plan to attend the last two. He said also that former councilman George Stahl has agreed to assist during an emergency with hourly computer updates to the county.

Scheibley reported he has two courses to complete and he will be eligible to become a staff member of the Emergency Operation Center.

Pool

Scheibley reported he had received one application for life guard for the coming season. He also has two or three others who are considering applying for one of the four slots he would like to fill, as well as someone interested in running the concession stand. Anyone interested should call the borough office at 570-695-2199 or email tbsec@wtvaccess.com.

Donmoyer expressed his appreciation for the good job both Scheibley and Phil Kintzel had done last year and said how pleased he was that Kintzel would be involved again this year.

The council tabled action to hire Arthur "Pat" Aungst to do street sweeping until another quote could be obtained.

In other business

- The annual liquid fuels check in the amount of $36,456.82 was received.

- Donmoyer will attend the May 15 Tremont borough bicentennial events planning meeting at the Tremont Fire Company. In 2016, the fire company will also be hosting the 62nd Schuylkill County Firemen's Convention. Adams said the committee wants the council members to help with the planning, but is not looking for money from the borough.

- Fire police assisted with traffic control during Girardville's St. Patrick's Day parade on March 22 and Yuengling Light Lager Jogger 5K Race on April 12 in Pottsville. They also agreed to assist traffic control at the Schuylkill County Convention on Aug. 23 in Pottsville.

- A resident made a complaint about someone parking in front of her driveway, even after a note had been put on the car's windshield. According to Donmoyer, it's a police matter.

n Friedensburg: American Red Cross Blood Services, Northeast Pennsylvania Region, will hold a blood drive from noon to 5 p.m. Friday at the Friedensburg Fire Company, 1357 Long Run Road. People who are 17 or older (16 with parental permission in Pennsylvania), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in general good health are eligible to donate blood. People should bring their Red Cross blood donor cards or other form of positive identification when donating blood. All presenting donors during April will have a chance to win a $250 gift card. People can make an appointment to donate blood by going online to www.redcrossblood.org.

n New Ringgold: Christ Church McKeansburg will sponsor a chicken barbecue from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the church, 1751 Chestnut St. The cost is $8 each for adults and $4 for children. Each meal will include a half chicken roasted, baked potato, pepper cabbage, apple sauce and beverage. Chicken will be made on the premises by the men of the church and patrons may eat at the church or take meals out. Desserts will also be on sale. For more information or tickets in advance, call 570-943-2822. Proceeds will be used to help families in need.

n Orwigsburg: American Red Cross Blood Services, Northeast Pennsylvania Region, will hold a blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the Faith Worship Center, 1168 Center Turnpike. People who are 17 or older (16 with parental permission in Pennsylvania), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in general good health are eligible to donate blood. People should bring their Red Cross blood donor cards or other form of positive identification when donating blood. All presenting donors during April will have a chance to win a $250 gift card. People can make an appointment to donate blood by going online to www.redcrossblood.org.

n Pottsville: The fourth annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, sponsored by the Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center, is set for Thursday starting at the Humane Fire Company. To register, reserve shoes, get a team packet and become a sponsor, call Jennifer at 570-628-2965 or email info@sarccschuylkill.org.

n Shenandoah: A Padre Pio Healing Mass will be held at 7 p.m. April 30 at Annunciation BVM Roman Catholic Church, 224 W. Cherry St. The church is accessible to the handicapped. A reception will follow in the parish rectory. For more information, call 570-462-1916.

n Shenandoah: The Greater Shenandoah Area Senior Citizens have several bus trips planned, including to see Danny and the Juniors on May 20, to Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster for "Moses" on June 19 and to New England to enjoy the autumn colors Sept. 21 to 25 staying at the Inn at Crumpin-Fox, Vt. For reservations or more information, call Dolores at 570-462-3222.

n Tamaqua: The American Red Cross Schuylkill Chapter Disaster Action Team responded March 31 to a single-family fire on Old 209 Road, Schuylkill Township. The Red Cross provided two adult males with food, clothing and a storage container and will continuing to follow up with the men. The Red Cross is asking people to make a difference in the lives of others by becoming a Red Cross volunteer with the disaster team. "For individuals and families who have been personally affected by a fire or disaster, the offer of a warm blanket, the means to purchase food and clothing, lodging, personal hygiene items like those found in a comfort kit, even a stuffed animal for a child, can make all the difference for a hopeful tomorrow," Red Cross officials said in a press release. For more information, call Red Cross Volunteer Services at 610-865-4400, ext. 219.

n Weston: The Nuremberg-Weston Volunteer Fire Company, 459 Hazle St., will hold its semi-annual comedy night Saturday at the firehall. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the show will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For tickets or more information, call Dave at 570-384-5487, Tom at 570-384-4362 or Deb at 570-384-5392.

REINERTON - State police at Schuylkill Haven were searching for a woman suspected of stabbing a man numerous times Saturday after a domestic dispute in Porter Township, according to state police Cpl. David Mayes.

"The injuries were not life-threatening," Mayes said.

However, the man was flown to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, for treatment, Mayes said.

Mayes was still collecting information on the identities of the injured man and the woman suspected of stabbing them and would not reveal their names Saturday night.

"I'm not sure yet where they're from," Mayes said.

The incident occurred at 7:24 p.m. Saturday outside on the 1500 block of East Colliery Avenue, according to Mayes and a supervisor at Schuylkill County Communications Center.

"It happened right in the alleyway. It was a domestic aggravated assault," Mayes said.

He said the woman stabbed the man with a blade.

"We're not sure what type of blade it was," Mayes said.

The woman fled the scene by getting into a vehicle and driving down a grassy lawn, which stretched approximately 150 feet from the 1500 block of East Brookside Street to the 1500 block of East Grand Avenue.

Mayes and Melissa Kyper, a detective with state police at Frackville, traced the tire tracks through the lawn at 1513 E. Grand Ave. with a flashlight at 8:45 p.m. Saturday.

From there, Mayes said he believes the woman might have fled west on East Grand Avenue, judging by the direction of the tire tracks. He said he wasn't sure what type of vehicle she was driving. Responders included Tremont police and Porter-Tower Ambulance.

PORT CARBON - Motorists who drive through Port Carbon will have to become familiar with a detour around the Pottsville Street Bridge, which will close for its replacement.

"The closure is expected to occur sometime the morning of Tuesday, April 22," Ronald J. Young Jr., press officer for state Department of Transportation District 5, Allentown, said Wednesday.

In preparation, PennDOT workers widened and patched part of the detour route, local officials made efforts to keep the community safe during the proposed seven-month project and area emergency management and hospital officials are also getting the word out about the detour.

"We were assured that the ambulances would be able to get here. And I really don't see any problems. We're just hoping our patients and our visitors keep an eye out and be aware," John Brobst, emergency management coordinator for Schuylkill Health, said Thursday.

"Everything's looking good. I just ask that borough residents be patient with the construction, which will last all summer. I believe it's going to be a good change in the long run," borough Mayor Charles R. "Chuck" Joy said Friday.

PennDOT expects the new Pottsville Street Bridge to be open to traffic by Oct. 17, Bharat A. Pandya, a PennDOT construction engineer, said February at a pre-construction meeting in Allentown.

Built in 1926, the Pottsville Street Bridge is a concrete T-beam bridge. It needs to be replaced because of deficiencies in its superstructure, Sean A. Brown, safety press officer for PennDOT, said previously.

It will be replaced by a reinforced concrete adjacent box-beam bridge, which can hold "unlimited" tonnage, Timothy A. Bolden, a consulting engineer with Gibson-Thomas Engineering Co. Inc., Camp Hill, the firm the state hired to design the new bridge, said previously.

In February, PennDOT hired Heim Construction of Pottsville as the general contractor for the bridge replacement project with an estimated cost of $1,797,789.37.

In early April, PennDOT placed bright orange signs at the bridge, emblazoned with the message: "This bridge to be closed for construction April 21, 2014." In the past week, the date on the signs was changed to "April 22, 2014."

"During construction, traffic will be detoured on Commerce, Jackson, Coal and Market streets. The contractor is currently widening Commerce Street by approximately four feet between Jackson and Pottsville streets to provide enough space for two lanes of traffic, one in each direction," Young said Thursday.

To discourage tractor-trailers and dump trucks from straying off the detour and onto the borough-owned Washington Street Bridge, the borough council approved a resolution April 1.

"And we do have our officers doing what they can while they're out patrolling," Joy said.

Last week, PennDOT set up a temporary traffic signal at the intersection of Jackson and Coal streets.

"It should be fully activated April 22," Young said.

This is one of three state bridge-replacement projects that will occur simultaneously in the area over the next half year.

PennDOT is also working to replace two neighboring bridges on Route 61, one in Pottsville and the other just over the city line in Palo Alto.

These bridges, dubbed the "Mady's" bridges, are roughly 2 miles from the Pottsville Street Bridge in Port Carbon.

The Mady's bridges were deemed structurally deficit in 2001 due to abutment issues. The $10,568,416 project awarded to Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc., State College, is slated for completion in August 2017.

Located in Palo Alto, "Mady's Big Bridge" is a 314-foot-long and 64-foot-wide four-span concrete encased steel I-beam bridge over the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad.

It will be replaced with a two-span concrete bulb-tee beam bridge that measures 63 feet 10 inches wide.

"Mady's Small Bridge" in Pottsville over the Schuylkill River is 79 feet long and 62 feet wide. It is a single span steel I-beam bridge. The replacement will be 100 feet long and 62 feet 6 inches wide.

All three of these projects are within a mile of Schuylkill Health's two hospitals.

Brobst said he and the staff at Schuylkill Health don't think they will disrupt traffic to the hospitals or interrupt ambulance response time.

To get an idea of how many ambulances visit each of those facilities in a year, hospital spokesman M. Michael Peckman checked statistics.

In 2013, 4,604 ambulances visited Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street, and 4,444 ambulances visited Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street, Peckman said Thursday.

Pine Grove Area

Michael Hozella and Ethan Shobe were named Pine Grove Area High School's students of the month for April.

Michael is a son of Mike and Colleen Hozella, Pine Grove. He studied in the post-secondary and vo-tech curricula. While in high school, he was involved in FFA as president, Envirothon, ski club, Skills USA, hunting, fishing and the small engine repair program.

He served as Schuylkill County Youth Ambassador and was named vo-tech student of the month.

Michael's future plans are to attend college to obtain a degree in construction management and also work for his father's construction company.

Ethan is a son of Danielle Shobe and Rodney Sholl, Pine Grove. He studies within the college preparatory and advanced placement curricula.

His high school activities include JROTC, National Honor Society, cross country, track and field, FBLA, Rev it Up! and the physics club.

His future plans are to enlist in the Marine Corps, pursue a career in structural/ocean engineering and become an officer in the Marine Corps.

Mahanoy Middle

The following students were chosen students of the month for March by the Mahanoy Area Middle School faculty. The student of the month program is sponsored by the Mahanoy City Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge 695, and nominees are judged on the basis of multiple achievements, character, leadership, citizenship and scholastic aptitude.

Sydney Gnall is a daughter of Steve and April Gnall, Barnesville. She is involved in the chorus, National Junior Honor Society, Paw Print, student outreach, ski club, spelling bee, Theatre Arts, biddy volleyball, seventh- and eighth-grade cheerleading, swim team and track and field.

A distinguished honor student, Sydney volunteers her time at Relay for Live and walking dogs at the SPCA. Her future plans are to attend college.

Matthew Lewandowski is a son of Dave and Kelly Lewandowski, Gilberton. He is eighth-grade class vice president, National Junior Honor Society treasurer and captain of the seventh- and eighth-grade football team and seventh- and eighth-grade wrestling team.

An honor student, Matthew is also involved with student council, intramurals and track and field. He volunteers his time at the Mahanoy Area football stand and Mahanoy Area Wrestling Tournament.

He plans to attend college in the future.

Minersville Area

Minersville Area High School seniors Hannah Rinaldo and Gannon Sukeena were named students of the month for March.

Hannah is a daughter of Jeff and Christine Rinaldo, Minersville. She is a member of Teens Against Tobacco, junior garland group and the track team. She is secretary of Students Against Dangerous Decisions, youth ambassador, 2013 homecoming queen, soccer all-area first team and captain of the soccer and basketball teams.

Outside of school, Hannah helps at St. Nicholas Hall, Primrose, for multiple events, volunteered at high school orientation and helped Minersville Women's Soccer Team at Spirit Day and the youth tournament.

Hannah plans to attend DeSales University, Center Valley, and pursue a career in physical therapy.

Gannon is a son of Deanna Sukeena, Minersville. He is a member of German club, is involved with the tutor program and maintains honor roll.

Outside of school, Gannon is a football spotter and volunteers at the Minersville Little League with field maintenance and as an announcer. He plans to enlist in the Air Force.

Tri-Valley Lions

Cory Leitzel warmed the hearts of the Tri-Valley Lions on a cold February night as he performed a Hunter Hayes song, "Everybody's Got Somebody but Me," demonstrating his vocal and drama talent. His parents, Cathy and Robert Leitzel, Hegins, were present to support him.

Cory is a multi-talented student who is active in instrumental music as well as graphic arts, including sketching and pastels. At school, he is a member of the Tri-Valley High School chorus, marching band, drama club, German club, commercial club and TV Club. He serves as president of the band and TV club. He has been listed on the distinguished honor roll for the past three years.

Out of school, Cory has participated in church performances and talent shows. He will enroll at Indiana University, majoring in communication media with aspirations to work in broadcasting as a talk show anchor.

Port Carbon man

injured in crash

PORT CARBON - A Port Carbon man suffered moderate injuries when the 2013 Dodge Dart he was driving crashed about 1:50 a.m. Friday on the Port Carbon-Saint Clair Highway, just east of Eagle Hill Road in East Norwegian Township.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Mark A. Koles, 21, was driving north when he failed to round a left curve, causing his car to go off the road and hit a bridge.

The impact with the bridge caused the engine and transmission to be separated from the vehicle, police said.

Police said although Koles was wearing his seat belt, he was still flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Allentown, for treatment of his injuries.

East Norwegian Township and Saint Clair firefighters assisted at the scene, along with Pottsville-Schuylkill Haven Area EMS.

Police said charges against Koles are pending the results of a blood alcohol test taken following the crash.

Pine Grove man

damages vehicles

PINE GROVE - Pine Grove police released details on a crash that occurred about 11:40 p.m. March 22 in the 200 block of South Tulpehocken Street.

Police said William D. Kohr, 968 Swopes Valley Road, Pine Grove, was driving south when he struck the driver's side of a legally parked 2012 Hyundai owned by Michelle J. Nagle, 258 S. Tulpehocken St., causing that vehicle to hit a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer owned by Daniel Nagle, also of 258 S. Tulpehocken St., that was parked directly in front of it.

Moderate damage was reported to the Trailblazer, while police said the Hyundai sustained major damage and was towed from the scene.

After hitting the parked vehicles, police said the Kohr vehicle flipped onto its driver's side and came to a stop, blocking both the north and southbound lanes of the street.

Kohr was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street by Pine Grove EMS for treatment of injuries he suffered in the crash, police said.

Police: Sun glare

caused accident

MINERSVILLE - Police said sun glare was the cause of an accident Thursday evening in Norwegian Township.

Jessica L. Sock, 30, of Cressona, was driving a 2010 Toyota Corolla through the parking lot at King's Village at 6:08 p.m. and hit a white barrel covering an old light post when she became distracted by sun glare, state police at Schuylkill Haven said Friday.

Sock was not injured and no charges were filed, police said.

State police at Hamburg are investigating the "suspicious" death of a 24-year-old Pine Grove woman whose body was found at an excavation storage site in Bethel Township, Berks County, Saturday morning.

Police said Alishia M. Eller, 24, of 238 Route 443, likely died between 7 p.m. Friday and 6:20 a.m. Saturday. The body was found between Musselman and Beagle roads north of Interstate 78.

"We did a lot of work on it today. We talked to people and interviewed people. And we want to get her name out there. If anyone knows this young lady, has had recent contact with her or if they know her or are a close friend, give us a call to help us figure out what happened," Trooper David C. Beohm, public information officer with Troop L in Reading, said Sunday.

Berks County Coroner Dennis J. Hess conducted an autopsy Sunday morning at Reading Hospital and Medical Center.

The cause of death remains "undetermined pending further testing," the investigating officer, Trooper Roy Eiler of the Hamburg station, said in an information report Sunday afternoon.

"We're waiting for the toxicology to come back. It's suspicious," Beohm said.

And state police are asking the public for help.

State police are urging anyone with information regarding Eller's whereabouts Friday night and Saturday morning to contact PSP Hamburg at 484-660-1011, Eiler said in the release.

The emerald ash borer, a small, highly destructive wood-boring beetle that's been devastating ash trees throughout the northeastern U.S., was recently found in Berks County.

Sven-Erik Spichiger, entomology program manager at the state Department of Agriculture, said Thursday that it's only a matter of time before it arrives in neighboring counties.

"I would be surprised if we did not find it in Schuylkill County this year," Spichiger said.

A sample collected by Alan Deppen of the state Department of Agriculture from Berks County on Interstate 78 near Bernville was confirmed positive for the EAB on April 10.

"It was a roadside tree," Spichiger said. "One of our surveyors was out and stopped to investigate a tree. He was able to extract some larvae."

Spichiger said that soon they will all be completely grown, flying adults and the PDA expects to find them in more counties.

Currently, it has been found in 49 counties in Pennsylvania.

According to newspaper archives, while the beetles originated from their native eastern Asia, the pest is said to most likely have arrived in North America in wooden shipping crates.

It was discovered in 2002 near Detroit, Mich., and the first confirmed detection in Pennsylvania was June 2007 in Butler and Allegheny counties.

In a July 2011 story in The Republican-Herald, Spichiger said the species is systematically wiping out every ash tree in North America and the population has expanded beyond a controllable level.

According to information from the PDA, eggs are laid between layers of bark and in bark crevices, then the larvae hatch within one week and bore into the tree, where they feed on the inner bark and phloem, creating S-shaped galleries.

Larvae go through three feeding stages then excavate a pupal chamber in the fall, where they overwinter.

When they emerge as adults around May or June, EABs leave D-shaped holes in the bark about 1/8-inch wide.

The beetles are also the reason why pyramid-shaped purple traps were placed around not only Schuylkill County but also statewide starting in 2008 in an effort to try to detect its presence.

Coated with a glue-like substance, the traps were meant to capture the adult beetles, which can fly at least a half-mile from the tree where they emerge, and the purple color tricked the insects as it senses that color's wavelengths as coming from an ash tree.

The EAB is also the main reason why people have been told to use local firewood, to not bring firewood into the state and if you already transported the wood, burn it but do not take it home.

As the beetles aggressively moved across Pennsylvania, the in-state quarantine - initially intended to slow the pest's spread - became unnecessary and was lifted in April 2011, but a federal quarantine remained in effect to help stop the spread into other states.

Susan Hyland, Master Gardener coordinator with the Penn State Cooperative Extension in Schuylkill County, said Tuesday that the beetles are not considered strong flyers, so that is not how they have moved around.

"They probably only fly about a quarter of a mile in their lifetime," Hyland said. "The way they get moved around are people."

Hyland said that if someone has a tree that they think might be infected by them and want to save the tree, the Penn State Cooperative Extension can direct them to foresters and arborists in the county who can give a professional evaluation. She said they are essentially "tree doctors."

For large trees infected by the beetles, it usually takes one to three years for them to die.

Spichiger said that the PDA provides information to homeowners on its website about treatment for ash trees, available by going to www.agriculture.state.pa.us and searching "Homeowners Guide to Emerald Ash Borer Treatment."

While individual ash trees can be treated, nearly nothing can be done for an entire forest of them.

"Unfortunately, if you have them, it's not cost effective to treat the tree," Spichiger said. "If they do choose to treat, that is a long-term commitment. You have to treat for the life of the tree."

Those that are visited by the EAB have a 99 percent mortality rate, Spichiger said.

To report possible infested trees in Pennsylvania, contact the PDA at 866-253-7189.

For more information about the emerald ash borer and possible treatment, contact the Penn State Cooperative Extension at 570-622-4225 or SchuylkillExt@psu.edu.

ASHLAND - The return of spring means the return of the borough street sweeper and the annual cleanup week.

The schedules for both borough services were announced at the April 9 meeting of Ashland Borough Council.

The cleanup collection schedule is from April 28 to May 2 and includes the following locations:

- April 28 - Walnut and Middle streets

- April 29 - Chestnut and Market streets

- April 30 - Oakland Avenue, Hoffman Boulevard and Centre and Lehigh streets

- May 1 - Oak, Brock, Pine and Spruce streets

- May 2 - Arch, Race and Vine streets

Residents on the side streets should place their materials out for pickup on the nearby street.

The annual cleanup is paid for from a portion of the annual $40 per household sanitation fee. The borough began the annual cleanup in 2005, which have been popular for residents who can dispose of larger items not acceptable for regular trash collection. Household trash is not permitted for the cleanup. It should be placed in borough bags and picked up following the regular schedule.

All residents should have the materials on the proper street the night prior to the scheduled pickup. Any recyclable materials, such as plastic, cardboard, aluminum cans and plastic bottles, are not permitted. They should be recycled at the county drop-off recycling center at the sewage treatment plant or disposed of with the household trash.

Other materials that will not be accepted on cleanup week are tires; automotive parts; batteries; construction materials such as plaster, shingles and concrete; yard waste; mercury/hazardous materials; computers; televisions and electronic equipment; refrigerators and air conditioners.

Only Ashland residents can participate in the cleanup. Police will patrol to prevent residents from other communities from bringing in trash, and anyone caught will be prosecuted. Residents who observe dumping violations should call police through the county communications center at 570-462-1991.

The street sweeper will begin operating on May 5, but will no longer clean streets on a weekly basis.

"The street sweeper will only be out one week per month," Raymond Jones Jr., borough manager, said.

Residents are asked to cooperate and remove their vehicles from the streets to be swept. Vehicles parked on the scheduled streets during sweeping hours will be ticketed. Police will not travel with the sweeper but will ticket vehicles in the zone during the no-parking hours.

The sweeper will not run in heavy rains or on borough holidays. Fridays will be used to sweep for missed days during the week.

The streets to be cleaned are as follows:

- Monday: Both sides of all the even-numbered side streets, including Front Street. No parking from 6 to 10 a.m.

- Tuesday: Both sides of all the odd-numbered side streets, including Hoffman Boulevard. No parking 6 to 10 a.m.

- Wednesday: North side of Race, Market, Centre, Walnut and Pine streets and the south side of Arch, Chestnut, Middle, Spruce and Brock streets and Oakland Avenue. No parking 5 to 9 a.m.

- Thursday: South side of Race, Market, Centre, Walnut, and Pine streets and the north side of Arch, Chestnut, Middle, Spruce and Brock streets and Oakland Avenue. No parking 5 to 9 p.m.

The scheduled weeks are May 5 to 9, June 2 to 6, July 7 to 11, Aug. 4 to 8, Sept. 1 to 5 and Oct. 6 to 10.

There is also a schedule change in ash collection, which will now be held bi-weekly starting Friday. The following collection will be May 9.

During the public portion, Michael Ghannoum asked the council for permission to place a Dumpster behind his property at 714-718 Centre St.

"Council told him to come back in a month because we're working on a Dumpster ordinance," Jones said. "We have a Dumpster ordinance now, but we're editing it to include storage containers, like those pods. The thought was that we may want to add more to it. We had it finished and ready for advertising, but when he (Ghannoum) came, it spurred additional discussion."

The council adopted a resolution to apply for a grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for the Eureka Park Phase II project.

"We applying for about $60,000, which will be used for a tot lot for children ages 2 to 5, some handicap accessibility, such as paving trails in the park, and a volleyball court, though we're not sure about that yet," Jones said.

Jones said the borough would be responsible for a 20 percent match, though he said that would be covered by using borough employees to provide the labor as the in-kind match.

A Saint Clair woman will not have to go to prison after being sentenced Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court for stealing almost $800 from a Pottsville grocery store in June 2013.

Christine M. Schaeffer, 36, will spend 12 months on probation and pay costs, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $798.17 restitution under the terms of Judge Charles M. Miller's sentence.

Schaeffer pleaded guilty on March 19 to forgery, theft by deception, receiving stolen property and bad checks.

Pottsville police had charged Schaeffer with stealing the money from Boyer's Food Market, 2247 W. Market St., on June 3, 2103.

"This has to be paid," Miller said of the restitution to Boyer's.

Assistant District Attorney Robert I. Lipkin took no position on sentencing, and Assistant Public Defender Andrea L. Thompson, Schaeffer's lawyer, successfully urged Miller not to imprison her client.

"Ms. Schaeffer has taken responsibility" for her crimes, Thompson said.

Also on Wednesday in the county court, two men admitted that they had violated protection from abuse orders.

Dale D. Austerberry, 37, of Pottsville, pleaded guilty to indirect criminal contempt, which is contempt committed outside the courtroom. Judge Jacqueline L. Russell accepted Austerberry's plea and sentenced him to time served in prison and to pay costs and a $300 fine.

Pottsville police charged Austerberry with violating the order against him on April 1 in the city.

Peter D. Sevinsky, 62, of Shenandoah, also pleaded guilty to indirect criminal contempt. Russell accepted his plea and sentenced him to time served in prison.

State police at Frackville charged Sevinsky with violating the order against him on April 1.

Also on Wednesday, prosecutors withdrew a charge of indirect criminal contempt against Randall J. Bain, 53, of Tremont. State police at Schuylkill Haven had charged Bain with violating the order against him on March 30.

In another Wednesday case, Judge James P. Goodman sentenced Edward J. Scanlan Jr., 30, of Mifflintown, to serve three to 18 months in prison, with any parole to an inpatient treatment facility, and undergo mental health and drug and alcohol evaluations.

Goodman imposed the sentence after revoking Scanlan's probation, which the defendant admitted violating by failing to report to his supervising officer and not making payments on costs.

"Do you have a drug and alcohol problem?" Goodman asked Scanlan.

"Yes," Scanlan said.

"Hopefully, you can address your problems with drugs and alcohol," Goodman told him.

Scanlan originally pleaded guilty on Dec. 20, 2012, to theft by deception. At that time, Goodman sentenced Scanlan to spend 18 months on probation and pay costs, a $50 CJEA payment and $1,322.58 restitution, amounts Scanlan is still liable for under his new sentence..

State police at Schuylkill Haven charged Scanlan with committing the theft on April 25, 2010.

In other Schuylkill County Court news, a Carbon County man will be serving time in prison after being sentenced Thursday for driving under the influence in November 2012.

Joseph M. Rayno Jr., 49, of Weatherly, must spend 30 days in prison under the terms of President Judge William E. Baldwin's sentence.

Baldwin also sentenced Rayno to spend 90 days on house arrest with electronic monitoring, 30 days on alcohol monitoring, seven months on strict supervision and four years on probation, pay costs, a $1,500 fine and $300 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, and perform 20 hours community service. Baldwin made the sentence effective at 9 a.m. May 2.

Rayno pleaded guilty on Feb. 19 to DUI. State police at Frackville charged him with DUI on Nov. 3, 2012.

Also on Thursday, Baldwin sentenced Dex A. Mahute, 23, of Pottsville, to serve 10 to 23 months in prison.

Baldwin imposed that sentence after revoking Mahute's probation, which the defendant admitted violating by, among other reasons, using drugs.

Mahute originally pleaded guilty on March 20, 2013, to two counts of receiving stolen property, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of conspiracy. At that time, Baldwin placed him on probation for 23 months and also sentenced him to pay costs, $50 to the CJEA and $2,413 restitution, amounts Mahute still must pay under the terms of Thursday's sentence.

Schuylkill Haven borough police charged Mahute with committing his crimes on Aug. 1, 2012, in the borough.

In another Thursday case, Baldwin revoked the probation and parole of Jason T. Kerstetter, 24, of Shenandoah, and ordered him recommitted to prison with no chance for reparole until Aug. 24, plus an additional 12 months on probation after he completes his parole or prison sentence.

Kerstetter originally pleaded guilty on March 20, 2013, to simple assault and disorderly conduct, with prosecutors withdrawing charges of criminal mischief and harassment. At that time, Baldwin placed Kerstetter on probation for 12 months and also sentenced him to pay costs and a $50 CJEA payment, amounts the defendant still must pay under the terms of Thursday's order.

Butler Township police charged Kerstetter with committing his crimes on Jan. 3, 2012, in the township.

Kerstetter admitted violating his probation and parole by failing to report to his supervising officer, using drugs and not making payments on his costs.

Also on Thursday, Judge John E. Domalakes revoked the parole of Mark A. Yacovelli, 44, of Frackville, and returned him to prison until Sept. 4 to serve the rest of his sentence.

Yacovelli admitted violating his parole by failing to report to his supervising officer 16 times, moving without permission, failing to participate in counseling, failing three drug tests and not making payments on his costs.

He originally pleaded guilty on June 6, 2012, to two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one of possession of drug paraphernalia, with prosecutors withdrawing two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. At that time, Domalakes sentenced him to serve 170 days to 12 months in prison and pay costs, a $100 SAEF payment and a $50 CJEA payment.

Mahanoy City police charge him with possessing drugs and paraphernalia on April 24, 2010, in the borough.

Hamburg man

injured in crash

A Hamburg man suffered a major injury Saturday when he drove off a road in Centre Township, Berks County, and struck a tree, according to state police at Hamburg.

At 3:20 a.m. Saturday, Dwayne V. Cox, 52, was driving a 1995 Toyota Corolla west on Shoey Road when he failed to round a curve, causing the vehicle to spin counterclockwise and go off the north side of the road and down an embankment, police said.

The vehicle's passenger side and roof hit a tree, police said.

Cox was not wearing his seat belt. Emergency responders extricated him through the roof of his vehicle and Hamburg EMS transported Cox to Reading Hospital.

His vehicle was towed, police said.

Police search for

hit-and-run driver

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - A driver backed into the rear of a 2014 Subaru Outback parked at Redner's Markets in North Manheim Township at 7 p.m. Saturday, then fled the scene, according to state police at Schuylkill Haven.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 570-739-1330.

Deeds

Ashland - Borough of Ashland to Ashland Area Historic Preservation Society; property on Centre Street; $1.

Marguerite Griffiths to Baytay LLC; property on Walnut Street; $3,000.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to ARH Properties LLC; 1308 W. Centre St.; $700.

Branch Township - Sharon R. Petrosky to Margaret A. Petrosky; two properties; $1.

Butler Township and Conyngham Township, Columbia County - Sheryl E. Wright, David D. Kulp Jr., Thomas R. Kroh and Dwight D. Kulp, individually and as executors of the Last Will & Testament of Rose Mary Kulp, to Thomas R. Kroh and Sheryl E. Wright; 3121 Main St., Locustdale; $1.

Cressona - Clyde M. Wright and Yvonne Menuchak to Yvonne Vallone; 65 Spruce St.; $10,000.

East Brunswick Township - Marvin S. and Mary A. Reiff to Beth M. Ebling; 1025 Summer Valley Road; $176,055.

East Union Township - Wilfredo and Maria Gina Alfonso to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 127WSS5, Eagle Rock; $27,169.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Edgardo C. and Ruby N. Liwag; Lot 127WSS5, Eagle Rock; $28,179.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Karina A. and Aurelio O. Gutierrez; Lot 220HF4, Eagle Rock; $27,169.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Oscar L. Ferrer; Lot 41HF4, Eagle Rock; $42,900.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Edgar A. and Monalie Bustamante Tombo; Lot 197WSS, Eagle Rock; $33,229.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Rossanna S. Ramos, Janice Ramos and Ruby S. Nario; Lot 87WSS5, Eagle Rock; $24,700.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Romulo D. Acosta; Lot 383HF3, Eagle Rock; $28,900.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Randolph B. and Grezar A. Lerot; Lot 65HF3, Eagle Rock; $29,900.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Maria C. and Jonathan I. Santa Teresa; Lot 6HF3, Eagle Rock; $35,249.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Horace R. and Rachela R. Alindogan; Lot 323HF4, Eagle Rock; $33,300.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Bien Comia Manalo; Lot 19HF4, $35,900.

Anthony M. and Vicky L. Casella to Gary J. and Johan V. Coghill; 22 W. Market St., Sheppton; $1.

Frackville - Pauline Sedar, by attorney in fact Kayann Phillips, to Brian M. and Tracy E. Hayes; 129 W. Laurel St.; $53,000.

Gilberton - Lawrence Cairo and Nichole Anne McCabe to Lawrence Cairo and Catherine Cairo; 103 Island St., Mahanoy Plane; $1.

Girardville - Robert Krick, executor of the Last Will & Testament of Helen A. Krick, Ron T. Krick and Robby Jo Anderson to Robby Jo Anderson; 227 B St.; $1.

Mechanicsville - RV Holdings Eleven LLC to ACM Vision V LLC; 1025 Pottsville St.; $37,679.22.

Minersville - Edith A. and Joseph D. Chipriano and John W. and Linda D. Wagner to Kenneth F. and Maryann Eichenberg; 339 Penn St.; $25,000.

North Manheim Township - David Fuller to Susan M. Paukstis; 75 Kelsey Drive, Sunnyside; $210,000.

North Union Township - Dawn C. Fagan, executrix of the Estate of Wayne Fagan, to Dawn C. Fagan, Sean A. Fagan and Matthew J. Fagan; 8 Marhelko Lane, Zion Grove; $1.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Yi Qin and Wei Dong; Lot 48AV1, Eagle Rock; $26,900.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Dyenell L. and Leah M. Alfaro; Lot 7AV1, Eagle Rock; $30,199.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Allan Marfil; Lot 1AV2, Eagle Rock; $25,900.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to George M. Rodriguera; Lot 75AV2, Eagle Rock; $41,900.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Amir and Evangeline E. Catajoy; Lot 46AV2, Eagle Rock; $32,219.

Rolando Jr. and Mitzie E. Hernandez to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; 2 percent interest in Lot 180EA, Eagle Rock; $24,745.

Amerigo C. and Susan S. Abonetalla to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; 2 percent interest in Lot 260EA, Eagle Rock; $8,929.78.

Ralph W. and Rogelyn N. Cuartero to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; 2 percent interest in Lot 260EA, Eagle Rock; $7,295.11.

Norwegian Township - David L. Houtz and Lawrence T. Houtz to Craig and Jennifer Androsko; 503 Walnut St., Mar Lin; $80,000.

Norwegian Township and Pottsville - Mary Ann Luckenbill to Mary Ann Luckenbill; two properties; $1.

Pine Grove - Heather Updegrove to Heather Updegrove; 95 E. Mill St.; $1.

Port Carbon - Bank of America NA to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; 245 Pike St.; $1.

Pottsville - Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Stacie A. Stoppie; 1800 Elk Ave.; $39,000.

Louise Ferraro to Steve C. and Cathy M. Weikel; 1006 Laurel Blvd.; $61,000.

Richard K. and Jessica C. Wagner to Richard K. and Jessica C. Wagner; 868 Davis Ave.; $1.

Jeffrey S. Sponenburg to Schoeneman Real Estate I LLP; property in Cottage Hill; $138,800.

Schuylkill Haven - Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Evelyn Kittner; 228 Dock St.; $4,900.

South Manheim Township - Federal National Mortgage Association to Kevin Wascavage; 1708 Sitting Bull Drive, Lake Wynonah; $117,000.

Jessica L. and Andre L. Folk to Candice L. Sisko; 1367 Teepee Drive, Lake Wynonah; $130,000.

South Manheim and Wayne townships - Robert A. Jr. and Deborah A. Reinert and Donald J. and Lynne T. Nelson to Donald J. and Lynne T. Nelson; 20.4144-acre property on Dohner's Road; $1.

Tamaqua - Jevon Christopher Ciciliot and Fausto and Kelly L. Ciciliot to Igor Soroka; 101A Rowe St.; $22,000.

Dale J. and Darlene K. Martin to Jason Green; 35 Swatara St.; $1.

Tower City - William G. Jr. and Tabatha A. McNeal to Mid Penn Bank; 3141 E. Grand Ave.; $1.

Thomas E. Houtz, executor under the Last Will & Testament of Lloyd D. Houtz, to Paul H. and Anne Marie Dimon; 805 E. Wiconisco Ave.; $5,000.

Tremont - Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Schuylkill County Properties LLC; 112 Vaux Ave.; $2,100.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Kevin C. Fontinel; 250 E. Main St.; $2,100.

New Vistas Corp. to S. & S. Singh Partners; four properties; $520,000.

Upper Mahantongo Township - Lawrence K. and Tammi K. Knorr to Lawrence K. and Tammi K. Knorr; 1-acre property on Mahantongo Mountain Road; $1.

Washington Township - DLJ Mortgage Capital Inc. to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; 133 Natures Road, Rock; $1.

Wayne Township - Craig E. and Gail E. Frantz to Alex James Fidler; 6 Church Road; $175,000.

Gregory P. and Maria M. Szumlanski to Gregory P. and Maria M. Szumlanski; 21 Carl Lane, Friedensburg; $1.

Sharon Rella, Donna Jenan and Colleen Reyes to Donna Jenan; 1219 Geronimo Drive, Lake Wynonah; $1.

Federal National Mortgage Association to Edward and Barbara Meeghan; 326 Pawnee Drive, Lake Wynonah; $64,000.

West Brunswick Township - J Sttops LLC to Kyle Knauss and Charlene Rarick-Knauss; 147 Turkey Lane; $189,900.

West Mahanoy Township - Genevieve Halupa, by attorneys in fact Stephen T. Halupa and Mary Ann Shapansky, to Genevieve Halupa; 308 S. Green St., Altamont; $1.

Genevieve Halupa, by attorneys in fact Stephen T. Halupa and Mary Ann Shapansky, to Genevieve Halupa; property on Green Street, Altamont; $1.

John and Lisa Sadowski to Michael and Kelly Heater; 8 Lauren Lane; $210,000.

BAT Holdings Two LLC to ACM Vision V LLC; 159 Schuylkill Ave., Shenandoah Heights; $13,333.95.

It was a sunny Sunday afternoon when Sue Schafer and Janine Choplick looked through a notebook with pictures of kittens and puppies on the cover.

Behind the cute cover, however, were complaints of suspected animal cruelty or neglect culled from numerous sources, including law enforcement.

Neither was being paid that weekend as they followed up on a backlog of complaints by visiting the properties in question, but that's nothing new for the pair who call themselves the "dynamic duo."

Often, they find themselves working an entire weekend to handle complaints they couldn't get to during the week, along with emergency calls that could happen at any moment.

Schafer of Tamaqua Area Animal Rescue said not all the complaints will turn into an animal seizure or even an animal neglect case, but it's the women's mission to investigate and find out for sure.

They give up their personal time to ensure that pets are well taken care of.

Schafer is a volunteer humane officer, sponsored by the Hillside Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Pottsville, and covers eastern Schuylkill County. She never receives a paycheck for her work.

Choplick is a paid Hillside SPCA employee, but she also volunteers her time on weekends to cut down on the call backlog.

On April 13, they started their day at 8:30 a.m. in Pottsville and worked their way north toward McAdoo. Shiny badges were tucked inside their pants pockets, ready to be flashed if needed.

Each call can take anywhere from 15 minutes to hours, depending on what is found.

Working closely with police, the women visit homes routinely.

Together, they strategized how they would investigate three complaints in McAdoo before taking off to visit the homes.

Their first call had them checking on the welfare of a dog. Someone contacted the pair to report the dog being left outside for hours at a time, but when the women arrived they found it didn't initially appear to be a cruelty case.

The women were able to pass along some helpful information to the pet owners about services offered at Hillside for those living in Schuylkill County before they moved onto the other two complaints in the borough.

Calls come in at all hours of the day and night, weekdays and weekends, said Schafer, who owns her own business. The women prioritize calls, giving immediate attention to those that need it. Depending on the severity of the call, Schafer said, it could mean the women drop whatever they are doing at the time to answer the complaint or issue.

Choplick and Schafer became good friends through working together on calls for the past two years.

"We even finish each other's sentences," Choplick said.

Choplick became a humane officer about nine or 10 years ago, once she retired from her full-time job. Shafer, who had been assisting in animal complaint investigations for years, became a humane officer this year. This enables them both to cite people for animal cruelty violations.

Both women said they felt compelled to became humane officers and so embarked on an intensive two-week training for certification after being sponsored by an SPCA.

Schafer said just like humans have social workers to protect them, animals have humane officers.

"They trust us to do the right thing for them," Choplick said of the animals they come in contact with.

Schafer said the true reward from being a humane officer is knowing that "you made a difference in that animal's life."

Filing charges, Schafer said, is a last resort.

Animal cruelty laws also state pet owners have to be given a chance to correct their past practices that led to the complaint, and that humane officers must pass along information for proper care of pets and then check up on them again to make sure the owners follow through, Schafer said.

Of course, she said, there are extreme neglect cases where an animal is immediately taken away from the owner.

The women have rescued a Noah's ark variety of animals both domestic and wild, including horses, chinchillas, bearded dragons, snakes, skunks, foxes and raccoons.

Wild animals aren't sheltered at Hillside, but Schafer said they are turned over to a licensed wildlife rehabilitation.

"We just get them out of harm's way," she said.

Tamaqua Area Animal Rescue is a nonprofit rescue group that works closely with Hillside, which actually shelters animals.

Tamaqua Area Animal Rescue can be contacted on Facebook and at 570-527-6808. Hillside SPCA can be contacted at 570-622-7769.