FRACKVILLE — A Pottsville man was jailed Tuesday afternoon when the U-Haul truck in which he was allegedly fleeing from Frackville police crashed in Butler Township.

Vincent A. Davalos, 25, of 219 Mauch Chunk St., was arrested by Frackville Police Chief Richard Bell and charged with one felony count of fleeing or attempting to elude police, one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance and one summary count each of drivers required to be licensed, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, driving at an unsafe speed and stop and yield sign violations.

Davalos was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $50,000 straight cash bail.

Bell said the incident leading to Davalos’ arrest began just before 11 a.m. at 501 S. Middle St.

Bell said he and Patrolman Anthony Kankowski were called to the Econo Lodge for a report of a disturbance where a man had beaten a woman and was loading items into a U-Haul truck.

Arriving in the area, Bell said, the truck was seen in the Rite Aid store parking lot across the street and turning left to travel north at a high rate of speed on South Lehigh Avenue.

As the driver, later identified as Davalos, continued to accelerate and made a turn onto Arch Street, Bell said, the emergency lights of the patrol vehicle were activated to conduct a traffic stop.

Davalos continued to flee at a high rate of speed west on West Arch Street, failed to stop at signs at several intersections and turned right onto Walnick Drive.

Bell said he and Kankowski lost sight of the truck but were flagged down by a citizen who reported seeing the truck drive around a concrete barrier with a road closed sign and the hearing a loud crash.

Bell said both he and Kankowski were aware the bridge was knocked out due to a previous storm and at that location found the truck off the bridge and down a 25-foot embankment into a creek.

The chief said the driver’s side door of the truck was open and no one was inside,

A search was started and Bell said state police located Davalos coming out of a yard on Westwood Lane and took him into custody.

At the time Davalos was taken into custody, Bell said, there were controlled substances on the ground near him and on his person as well.

A subsequent check revealed that the man had suspended photo ID, was not a valid driver and was also wanted by Pennsylvania State Parole.

Davalos will now have to answer to the charges against him at a preliminary hearing before Hale in her Frackville courtroom.

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

Pottsville lawyer Edward M. Brennan said he has not noticed any changes in the number of divorce cases, but he definitely has seen a change in the way he handles them.

He said some of those changes arose from the restrictions imposed by Gov. Tom Wolf in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“You have to follow the protocols,” Brennan said. “It involves wearing a face mask and only seeing (clients) by appointment. It’s a little bit more cumbersome.”

Court appearances also are problematic, he said.

Shenandoah lawyer Leo Breznik agreed the pandemic has made handling divorce cases more difficult, although he said that also applies to most other legal matters.

“It’s really difficult because you couldn’t meet with clients” in person, he said. Such contacts had to be by telephone, fax, email or regular mail, all of which he’s had to use, Breznik said.

“Everything’s been done remotely,” he said.

Breznik said those limitations change the entire nature of practicing law and have made consulting difficult, at best.

“It’s a whole different ballgame when you can’t sit with them,” he said.

Lawyers have been allowed into their offices only for essential purposes, Breznik said.

“You didn’t know when you could access your office,” he said.

Brennan said depositions, a common practice in civil cases where lawyers question parties and other potential witnesses before trial, also have been troublesome.

“If you want a deposition, you have to use Zoom,” a teleconferencing system, he said.

Exhibits can also be a problem, Brennan said, although there are usually fewer of them in a divorce than in other civil cases such as accidents or medical malpractice. He also noted that many of the problems in divorce cases also have occurred in other types of civil ones.

“I think it’s any case,” he said.

Schuylkill County Prothonotary Bridget McGowan Miller said people who want to file a divorce case can do so by mail or by coming to the courthouse. However, she said, they cannot go directly to the prothonotary’s office.

“People aren’t able to come in. We have a drop box where they’re able to drop things off,” Miller said. In-person drop-offs are not the more common way to file at this time, however, according to Miller.

“We are definitely getting more by mail,” she said.

Breznik said that when there actually have been court hearings, other problems have arisen.

“It’s a lot more difficult,” he said. “Everybody’s in there breathing together.”

Everyone is required to wear masks, making people harder to understand when they talk, Breznik said.

He said he still has hearings scheduled through July on Zoom. Breznik does not know when he will be able to resume the normal practice of law in divorce or any other types of cases.

“Who knows when things are getting back to normal,” Breznik wondered.

Contact the writer:

pbortner@republicanherald.com;

570-628-6014

Gov. Tom Wolf’s Administration issued a universal testing order Monday requiring all nursing homes to administer COVID-19 tests to all residents and employees by July 24.

“Our goal with implementing this universal testing in nursing homes is to rapidly detect asymptomatic positive residents, manage their care and prevent further transmission of COVID-19 in these living settings,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said in a news release.

The Department of Health also issued updated testing guidance to all long-term care facilities through the Health Alert Network.

The updated testing guidance brings a renewed focus on:

• Keeping COVID-19 out of a facility by testing all staff and residents;

• Detecting cases quickly with facility-wide testing when a new case in a resident or health care professional is found; and

• Stopping the spread by continuing weekly testing through at least 14 days since the most recent positive result.

Levine said the department is working to include all long-term care facilities such as personal care homes and assisted living centers in the strategy as soon as possible.

Adam Marles, president and CEO of LeadingAge PA, an organization representing nonprofit senior care in Pennsylvania, said in an email that members appreciate the testing directive “to get a baseline and prevent further asymptomatic spread of COVID-19, which we know is critical for our long-term care facilities.”

However, Marles said, the department’s plan doesn’t appear to provide “the clear means for how our members are to make this happen.”

Marles said emergency Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding provides relief for the costs long-term care facilities already incurred during the pandemic.

“But as more cases are confirmed through universal testing, the need for additional resources will grow, and staff replacement and additional costs for care for newly identified positive cases “will create a significant strain on providers,” he said.

Responding to the concerns at a press briefing, Levine said the department put out guidance in May on how testing should be done. She said for facilities that need them, the department can push out vials of viral media and swabs.

For priority facilities that have had major outbreaks, the department can arrange for tests to be completed at the state lab. Other facilities can work with nearby hospitals, health systems or private labs, she said.

“If a nursing home doesn’t know how to do it and they’re confused, call us and we’ll help,” Levine said.

Levine said the cost of care at nursing facilities is “borne by insurance … but we will work with nursing homes to make sure they have the resources they need — for instance, personal protective equipment — to take care of patients.”

Marles said it’s important for the broader community “to continue to wear face coverings and masks in public spaces and practice social-distancing to protect older adults from spread by asymptomatic staff in the absence of rapid and reliable testing.”

Levine also announced that the department launched a new online COVID-19 dashboard that includes data at the county and ZIP code levels.

Data being published by the department was extended to include hospital preparedness, demographic data related to cases and deaths, testing information and county reopening status.

The department also created a new online data page for skilled nursing facilities that includes a list of facilities by county, cases by facility, and graphics that show changes in case counts over time in the facilities.

To find the dashboards, go to www.health.pa.gov, click the box under “Get the latest information” and scroll down that page to links for COVID-19 and county dashboards.

Contact the writer:

smocarsky@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2110, @MocarskyCV

NURSING HOME NUMBERS

The state Department of Health reported the following COVID-19 data for nursing homes and personal care homes on Wednesday:

• 16,309 resident cases

• 2,845 employee cases

• 4,199 deaths

A Shenandoah man who worked as a prison guard could end up on the wrong side of the cell bars for more than a decade after federal prosecutors charged him Tuesday with smuggling tobacco to the inmates over whom he was supposed to be watching.

Paul Taylor, 53, faces charges of bribery and corruption, U.S. Attorney David J. Freed said Wednesday.

Freed alleged in the criminal information that Taylor, a former correctional officer for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons at Federal Correctional Institution/Schuylkill, smuggled tobacco into the facility while employed there between 2011 and 2016.

After bringing the tobacco into the prison, Taylor proceeded to sell it to prisoners in exchange for money, Freed alleged.

Special agents of the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General investigated the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd K. Hinkley.

The maximum penalty Taylor faces if convicted is 15 years imprisonment, a period of supervised release following incarceration and a fine, according to Freed.

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

POTTSVILLE — A Shenandoah man will not have to spend more time behind bars after admitting Tuesday to a Schuylkill County judge that he set a fire near his house in July 2019.

Michael J. O’Boyle, 41, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, with prosecutors withdrawing one count of terroristic threats and two of harassment.

Judge James P. Goodman accepted O’Boyle’s plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced him to time served to 12 months in prison, plus payment of costs. Goodman also granted O’Boyle immediate parole.

Initially, O’Boyle wanted to withdraw his guilty plea, but he changed his mind after a discussion with Goodman, who reminded him that the terms of the plea were favorable to him.

“You won’t have to do any more prison time,” Goodman said.

O’Boyle said he understood his plea and the consequences of making it.

Shenandoah police had charged O’Boyle with setting fire to a box that was between the house and car approximately 3 a.m. July 27, 2019. Police said they responded to the scene and found the box on fire.

Police said they also spoke to witnesses who said the defendant was acting disorderly at the scene.

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

ASHLAND — The last garment factory in Schuylkill County will end operations in a few months as Gitman Bros. closes its doors, resulting in 90 jobs lost.

The factory, identified locally as “Ashland Shirt,” will continue to operate into August and possibly early September. An exact date has not been determined.

The company was founded as the Ashland Shirt and Pajama Co. in 1932. The factory at its peak employed 325 workers.

Gitman Bros. President Chris Olberding made the announcement in a media release this week on behalf of Tom James Co., which owns Gitman and is a clothing manufacturer that has more than 100 offices in the United States and around the world.

“The Tom James Company has made the very difficult decision to close the Ashland factory and subsequently reduce the employment at this facility by 90 people,” the release says. “Tom James reached this decision due to the declining economic factors brought about by the coronavirus pandemic and the overall decline in the business that has been created. Gitman has a long and proud history here in Ashland and we are very sorry to be ending it here.”

Olberding said the requirement to close as being “non-essential” hurt the business.

“We had to close and that led to missing a number of months of shipping and lost production that greatly impacted on the ultimate decision by our parent company,” he said.

The plant was temporarily closed on March 20 due to the COVID-19 pandemic state restrictions, but after a few weeks, the factory began making “personal protective equipment” (hospital gowns) for medical facilities. It reopened for non-essential production on June 1.

“After 88 years in Ashland, we are moving production of the Gitman Bros. and Gitman Vintage shirt brands to our Measure Up shirt facility in Lafayette, Tennessee,” Olberding said. “We will complete 2020 fall/winter production in Ashland over the next two to three months before beginning spring/summer 2021 production at Measure Up. It will probably close in early September.”

Olberding said work opportunities have been offered at different facilities.

“In addition to positions currently available at Measure Up, we also have openings at English American in Westminster, Maryland, as well as Individualized Shirts in Perth Amboy, New Jersey,” Olberding said. “All shirt workers in Ashland will be offered a position in one of these three facilities as we plan to retain all of these skilled craftsmen and craftswomen. We will continue to manufacture PPE in Ashland as well.”

He continued, “Although most people don’t realize it, Measure Up began providing custom and made-to-order services for Gitman dating back to the early 1990s, so the Gitman DNA already runs deep in Tennessee. We anticipate that this heritage, coupled with the relocation of many skilled sewers to Measure Up, will provide for a seamless transition.”

The media release concluded, “In closing, we are saddened at the closure of our Ashland factory after so many years while at the same time being positive to the opportunities that come from incorporating the production of the Gitman Bros. and Gitman Vintage shirt brands this fall at Measure Up and look forward to building these brands side by side for the long term future.”

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

TOWER CITY — At Monday’s borough council meeting, resident Jim Rodichok questioned what the borough planned on doing with ongoing problems on Wiconisco Avenue between Fourth and Eighth streets.

President Paul Ruth said the borough believes it is a sewer problem.

“We need to see what’s under the road. We need to check if there’s any other openings,” Ruth said.

He noted the borough is receiving money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for repairs to the bottom of Sixth Street.

Several ordinances were advertised and adopted.

A discussion about the purchase of a radio for the fire company was held again. This time it was decided to purchase a tri-band providing it does not exceed $8,000. According to Fire Chief Mike Keiter, the fire company has had problems with communicating with other fire departments for about four years. However, Keiter said he is more concerned about a lack of volunteers.

Emergency Management Coordinator Steve Bohr reported he would be updating the borough code, which specifies who can be named in absence of a designated person for a certain task. All procedures required by the borough code must be updated within the next few months.

“We were deficient in matching the borough code,” Bohr said. “Instead of using generalizations, I must use what the borough code actually says.”

Ruth said he was contacted by recreation board Chairwoman Bonnie Reho, who wants to schedule a meeting to see what the committee can do about opening the swimming pool. According to Ruth, some of the repairs have been completed.

Budget Chairman Bob Shuey reported last month’s budget problem was straightened out. He said items were listed in the wrong categories and that now the budget looks good.

The board approved two drop box projects which Ruth had obtained quotes for.

Two runoff drop boxes will be installed on North Eleventh Street at a cost of $4,780 as quoted by Kenny Drum, Williamstown. A second quote, from Brian Scheib, Tower City, was $8,540.

Additional drop boxes will be installed on North Sixth Street. Drum also submitted the lowest quote of $8,140. Scheib’s quote was $11,285.

Michael Stoner’s bill of $2,088.63 was received for street sweeping and approved for payment.

Councilwoman Chris Reiner reported the police department had worked 108.5 hours during May.

According to Bohr, Old Home Week may not happen this year.

Gordon

Street sweeping in the borough has begun along three streets. The entire length of Hobart Street is on the schedule for today (June 11), with the entire length of McKnight Street on tap for Friday, June 12, and Biddle Street on the agenda for Monday, June 15, from the old school to East Plane Street. All work begins at 8 a.m. and will go until finished. Vehicles need to be moved by 8 a.m. Tickets and towing will be enforced. For more information, call the borough office at 570-875-4909.

Mahanoy City

The West End Fire and Rescue Company, 700 W. Mahanoy Ave., will have a Friday food and unbaked pizza sale from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, June 12. To order in advance, or for information on menu and pricing, call 570-773-0870 or 570-778-6118.

Port Carbon

The Schoentown Vets and Port Carbon Citizens group will have a food sale from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at the Port Carbon senior building, Washington and Pike streets. Proceeds will benefit the Fourth of July fireworks display. To order in advance, or for information on the menu and pricing, call Deniece at 570-573-1946 or the borough hall at 570-622-2255.

Shenandoah Heights

The West Mahanoy Township office has reopened with staff available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. A new wall and service window have been built in the office by the township road crew with items donated by MBA Building Supplies. Township parks have also reopened, according to a release. The supervisors ask that residents continue to follow CDC guidelines related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

If the Tamaqua Area school board approves the district’s 2020-21 budget next week, district residents will see their property tax bills rise by about 3%.

For most, that will amount to an additional $4 in taxes each month, Business Manager Connie Ligenza said Tuesday during a virtual meeting of the board’s Finance Committee.

The proposed plan, which directors added to Tuesday’s agenda, comes with a 1.38 mill increase. There was no tax increase in the 2019-20 budget.

In an unrelated matter, district Superintendent Ray Kinder Jr. said commencement for the Class of 2020 is still a go for June 26.

Seniors were originally set to graduate on May 29 but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, those plans were canceled. Directors asked to hold it a week later, but when Gov. Tom Wolf announced that Schuylkill County was entering the less restrictive yellow phase, the graduation was moved again.

It’s hoped that the county will be in the green phase by June 26 so a more traditional ceremony can be held.

To encourage social distancing, plans are to assign each graduate and two guests to the stadium or auditorium. Both locations will have access to the other through a video simulcast.

“We’re not sure if it will be alphabetical,” he said of “splitting” the class.

Much depends on surveys distributed to seniors and their families. They’re due back and will give administrators an idea of how many plan to participate.

Kinder said the district is keeping abreast of the ever-changing recommendations by the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and the state Department of Health.

“Small changes will be made here and there but likely the plans will stay the same,” he said. “Small suggestions are helpful but big suggestions will muddy the water a little bit.”

Blue Ridge Communications will offer a live feed of the graduation on YouTube and will air the graduation the next day.

Contact the writer: jwhalen@standardspeaker.com

Painting walls a different color can breathe new life into a room.

With many still at home due to the pandemic, now might be the time to tackle such a project.

But what do you need to know? The folks at Lowe’s home improvement store offer some advice.

First, you should prepare the room by emptying it of all furniture. If you don’t have enough space, move everything to the center of a room. Then use a drop cloth or plastic sheeting to cover items and the floor.

Make sure walls are clean, and apply painter’s tape to the edges of the room’s corners, moldings and door and window casings. Experts also recommend removing outlet and light switch covers.

To estimate how much paint you’ll need, figure on one gallon per 400 square feet.

From there, mix your paint and pour into a paint tray. Dip a roller in paint and work from the top of the room down. Long strokes in a “W” pattern provide for better coverage. If you’re painting dark walls a brighter color, be prepared to use three coats including primer and at least two coats of the new color. Only apply an additional coat once the previous application is dry.

Paint one wall at a time. To tackle molding and corners, use a brush to apply paint. And if you decide to paint the trim, start from the top and work your way down to the baseboards.

Experts also remind painters to make sure their room is well-ventilated. This means opening windows and using fans. Keeping a room warm — and using a fan — will help speed the drying process. And remember that paint will take longer to dry on damp days.

When painting is finished, remove all painter’s tape and drop cloths once you’re sure that all drips and spills are dry.

Paint brushes used with latex- or water-based paints can be cleaned with soap and water. For oil-based paints, you’ll need mineral spirits.

Outdoor painting offers different challenges and one extra variable — be sure to check the weather report for optimal conditions.

Contact the writer:

jwhalen@standardspeaker.com;

570-501-3592

Painting prep

Typical items you need to paint a room:

• Paint

• Paint brush

• Paint roller

• Paint roller extension pole

• Paint tray

• Drop cloths or plastic

• Painter’s tape

• Rags to clean spills

Fresh fruits and vegetables are coming into season locally, and seniors may be eligible for farm market vouchers. I can already smell the pies coming! In the past, eligible seniors had been able to acquire the vouchers at designated locations on certain days. However, because of COVID-19, no public distributions are scheduled this year.

To be eligible, a senior must be age 60 by Dec. 31, 2020, and must meet income requirements of $23,606 for a single-person household and $31,894 for a two-person household.

To receive vouchers, seniors who meet age and income requirements must complete a form and submit it to Diakon Community Services, 118 S. Centre St., Pottsville, PA 17901. Forms can also be submitted by email to CSS@diakon.org or faxed to 570-624-3011.

Forms can be obtained from Diakon by calling 570-624-3063 or at the following locations: Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services, 110 E. Laurel Blvd., Pottsville; Redner’s Warehouse Markets in Schuylkill Haven and Shenandoah; Boyer’s Food Stores in Ashland, Frackville, McAdoo, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Haven, Shenandoah, Tamaqua or Pottsville; BG’s Value Market in Pine Grove or Mahanoy City Food Store. Forms are also available on Diakon’s website at https://www.diakon.org/community-services or on Diakon’s Facebook page.

The voucher program does not include older adults living in nursing care centers or other residential facilities in which meals are provided. For more information, about the farm market voucher program, contact Diakon.

In past years, RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) volunteers have helped to distribute farm market vouchers at various locations. This year, unfortunately, volunteers are not able to help.

However, RSVP is a volunteer program for people age 55 and older, and volunteers are still needed in many capacities and will be needed even more as various organizations open up to volunteers again. In addition to helping with programs like the farm market vouchers, RSVP volunteers help at schools, hospitals, nursing homes, libraries, historical societies and museums, blood drives, food pantries and much more.

For more information about RSVP and making a difference in the lives of others and your community, call Darla Troutman, RSVP coordinator, at 570-622-3103.

RSVP is part of Senior Corps, a component of the federal Corporation for National and Community Service, and is under the local sponsorship of Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services. RSVP is part of the Schuylkill County Volunteer Program which also includes Community Volunteers in Action (CVIA).

Families who compete with their livestock at the annual Schuylkill County Fair in Summit Station say they understand the decision to cancel the event this year, but are now searching for options to show and market their animals.

Board directors canceled what would have been the 38th Schuylkill County Fair due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“At a special meeting held on Monday, June 8, the board, unwillingly and with a very heavy heart, conceded to the necessity of canceling the 2020 Schuylkill County Fair,” Paul T. Kennedy, fair association president, said. “We ask everyone to continue supporting us and all the other nonprofits that have been affected by circumstances we can’t control.”

Fair exhibitors

Tabitha Mease’s two sons, John and Luke, of Pine Grove, have shown their livestock competitively at the county event.

“This is a learning process and a different aspect we never taught them before. They never had to worry about where their animal goes,” Mease said.

Many exhibitors who would traditionally sell their animals at the fair are now left searching for a butcher or a market for their livestock. Butcher shops are full, said Mease, whose family operates its own meat-cutting facility.

“There are kids that need support for their 4-H project,” she said.

Students who compete at the fair are part of the 4-H or Future Farmers of America programs, and many use the time during fair week to catch up with friends while tending to their animals in the livestock barns.

“My kids looked forward to the fair ... but it was the right decision,” Mease said. She said her family may consider taking animals to compete at the Gratz Fair later this year, pending a decision on it taking place. Luke had also made a wood project he planned to exhibit at the county fair, but will have to wait to see what’s allowable in the rule book for next year’s event, she said.

Another “4-H fair mom,” Heather Gruber, said she was disappointed, but understood the decision to cancel from a health aspect. Her four children, Madalyn, 16; Sara, 15; Megan, 12; and Ben, 9, all show livestock.

“We have a lot of money tied up with our animals. They’ve been at it every morning. They’re still walking the pigs and washing the cows. It’s been a lot of hard work,” she said Wednesday.

The Auburn family was planning to enter a steer, three heifers, two market goats, three breeding meat goats, two hogs and seven dairy goats. Madalyn’s Maintainer breed steer was probably the best one she’s ever had, her mother said. Instead, the young exhibitors may seek out other online shows, or “Jack Pot” shows, which are for participants under age 21. They’ve already found success with online shows, although that’s different than being in the fair ring, Gruber said.

“There are some families you only see once a year,” she said.

The primary mission of the fair organization has always been to support youth exhibitors in their agricultural education endeavors, Kennedy said. More details about youth activities will be released during the week of June 15 after specifics are identified, according to Kennedy.

Long time to plan

Directors held a series of virtual board meetings since March for the Foundation for Agriculture and Resource Management and the Schuylkill County Fair Association regarding options for holding this year’s event. FARM, a 501c3 organization, sponsors the county fair.

“The end-product that is the fair is not produced in only a few days. The fair as we know it takes year-round planning, weeks of grounds preparation and support from dozens of partner organizations, businesses and agencies,” Kennedy said.

As of Wednesday afternoon, there were 55 fairs that had canceled for the year, including 13 fair associations that made the decision within the last 24 hours, Kennedy said.

Kennedy noted there is still great uncertainty of when gatherings of 250 persons or more would be allowed per Gov. Tom Wolf’s orders.

“Our fair welcomes over 35,000 guests annually, and after our staff, vendors and exhibitors would be accounted for on a daily basis, the number of allowed guests per day would be minimal at best,” he said.

Flood repairs in progress

In October 2019, the fairgrounds suffered significant flooding, causing severe infrastructure damage which was slated to be fixed in the spring, Kennedy said. When the construction industry was shut down, many repairs were delayed, and they’re still underway.

“Our partners in the 4-H and FFA programs have been working through the control measures that they feel are most appropriate to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amongst their members, including the restriction of in-person activities. Sponsors who have generously given to the fair for decades are now facing financial shortfalls as they work to reopen their businesses from the government-ordered shutdowns,” Kennedy said. Vendors who rent midway space to exhibit and sell their products have no product to showcase as the nation recovers from a supply chain interruption, he said.

“Our carnival faces a massive insurance premium while already losing half of their season’s events as income. We, as an association, have been given strict marching orders from our insurance carrier with considerable financial implications for non-compliance,” Kennedy said.

“Our weeklong fair is supported by the proceeds from year-round fundraising efforts and property rentals. The negative financial impact caused by pre-fair revenue loss is crippling to our budget.”

Looking ahead

“Porcupine Pat” Patrick McKinney, environmental education coordinator for the Schuylkill Conservation District, learned of the cancellation while attending the virtual directors’ meeting. McKinney offers educational programs every year at the fair, which he said provides a “showcase” for those who use resources to produce the food we need.

“It is sad, but it is better to be safe,” McKinney said. “The Dr. James S. Shadle Nature Center is always open each year during fair week and the nearby Weston Pavilion provides nightly programs pertaining to the environment from one aspect to another.

“We had scheduled Peggy Hentz and the Red Creek Wildlife Center, which is always a hit, plus had master gardener Larry Moyer share his talent and knowledge about plants along with others slated for this year. But, then, there is next year,” McKinney said.

Next year’s fair is scheduled for Aug. 2-7, 2021.

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

POTTSVILLE — Pottsville police are investigating the death of an inmate at Schuylkill County Prison.

Police Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky said the investigation is being conducted pursuant to normal protocol.

He said the inmate was taken from the prison to a local medical facility due to health reasons and died while a patient at the hospital Tuesday.

The chief said additional information will be released when available and if warranted.

The deadline is nearing to contribute to “Cheers PA,” a virtual celebrity fundraiser launched by D.G. Yuengling & Son and Philadelphia Phillies All-Star pitcher Aaron Nola.

It benefits the Hospitality Assistance Response of Pennsylvania and the hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania hospitality workers, bartenders and waitstaff who have been financially impacted by COVID-19.

Donations can be made by Friday, June 19, on Pledge It or Cameo. Those supporting the program have a chance to win once-in-a-lifetime experiences or signed memorabilia from Pennsylvania celebrities, athletes and personalities, including Nola-autographed Yuengling memorabilia; a pitching clinic with Nola; signed memorabilia from Phillies players Bryce Harper, Rhys Hoskins, Andrew McCutchen and Scott Kingery; pre-game dinner for four in the Citizens Bank Park Executive Dining Room with Phillies legend Larry Bowa, includes game tickets; an opportunity to throw out a ceremonial first pitch prior at a Phillies home regular season game; signed memorabilia from Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers players, and more.

All donations to Cheers PA will go directly toward HARP to help provide immediate emergency funding.

For more information, visit www.yuengling.com/CheersPA.

SAINT CLAIR — A woman was critically injured when she was struck by a vehicle in Saint Clair on Monday as firefighters were battling a house fire nearby.

Saint Clair Police Chief William Dempsey released little details of the crash except to say it happened around 3 p.m.

Firefighters from Saint Clair and surrounding communities were fighting a fire to the rear of 406 S. Second St. at the time the woman was struck.

Dempsey said a man driving a pickup truck was completing a turn at South Second and East Patterson streets when he struck the woman, who was crossing the street at the time.

After being struck, the woman was treated by Schuylkill EMS and flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Allentown.

Dempsey said the names of the driver or the woman struck are not being released pending the ongoing investigation.

State Rep. Neal P. Goodman, D-123, Mahanoy City, voted against legislation aimed at ending Gov. Tom Wolf’s disaster declaration, but said the time has come to move Schuylkill County to the green phase of coronavirus recovery.

Goodman said he voted against H.R. 836 Tuesday night because the state Constitution “clearly gives the governor and only the governor the power to declare or terminate a state of disaster.” He said the state risks losing $1.5 billion in federal disaster recovery funding.

At the same time, he said he “strongly supports” his Republican colleagues in Schuylkill County in calling for a move to the green phase. The county remains in yellow since May 29.

Goodman, in a news release, cited “consistently low numbers of new COVID-19 infections over the past few weeks,” and said he has confidence in local businesses being able to safely reopen.

Schuylkill County’s COVID-19 case numbers have slowed in the past two weeks. The number went up 37, from 616 to 653, from Saturday, May 30 through Friday, June 5, the lowest seven-day period since the first case was reported March 22. The rate has slowed even more in the past five days, with 11 new cases, up to 664, as of Wednesday, according to the state Department of Health. There have been four more deaths since Friday, raising that number to 42.

‘Consent

of the governed’

Fellow county lawmakers, meanwhile, remain critical of Wolf.

“Approximately 2 million Pennsylvanians have filed for unemployment compensation and have yet to get their money because of a faulty system,” Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, Rush Township, was quoted in a news release. “We need to reopen our businesses so employees can get back to work and feed their families.”

He said Wolf’s refusal to cooperate led to the resolution.

Sen. David G. Argall, R-124, Rush Township, cited the Declaration of Independence in saying governments derive their powers from the “consent of the governed.”

“The people we represent did not consent to one man’s orders to remain locked up in their homes, limited to government handouts,” he said, noting small businesses want to reopen “just like their big business competitors down the street.”

He said legislators have listened carefully to medical experts in arriving at their decision to reopen.

He said Wolf is a governor, “not a king.”

POTTSVILLE — Formerly homeless Zachery G. Brooke will have a home — a state prison cell — for at least the next three years after he admitted Tuesday to a Schuylkill County judge that he knowingly had child pornography on his cellphone for five months in 2019.

Brooke, 28, of Pottsville, pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual abuse of children/child pornography. Prosecutors withdrew 10 additional counts of the same charge, along with one count of criminal use of a communication facility.

Judge James P. Goodman accepted the plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced Brooke to spend three to 10 years in a state correctional institution, plus an additional five years on probation. He made the sentence consecutive to the one of three to 12 months in prison that Brooke already is serving, meaning Brooke must serve a total of 39 months to 11 years behind state prison bars.

Goodman also sentenced Brooke to pay costs, submit a DNA sample to law enforcement officials and forfeit the cellphone he used to commit the crimes. He also imposed 25 years of Megan’s Law sanctions on Brooke, but postponed the hearing on whether he should be classified as a sexually violent predator, which could result in lifetime sanctions on the defendant, pending his evaluation by the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board.

The state attorney general’s office charged Brooke with having the child porn on his cellphone from June to November 2019.

“He used a Facebook account ... to disseminate pictures of children under the age of 13,” Deputy Attorney General Angela L. Raver said.

When speaking to Goodman, Brooke seemed most worried about his cellphone, which he did not think should be forfeited.

“I just want my phone back,” he said.

Goodman, however, reminded Brooke that the forfeiture of the cellphone was part of the plea agreement.

“I’m going to order it because it was a stipulation of the parties,” the judge said, and Brooke did not pursue his challenge because he was unwilling to abandon the plea agreement.

Brooke already is an inmate at the Centre County Correctional Facility, and Goodman conducted Tuesday’s hearing by videoconference.

The Megan’s Law sanctions to which Brooke is subject include requiring him to provide his name, address, employment, any schools he might attend, registration of any vehicles he owns and other information to the Pennsylvania State Police. Any violation of the sanctions would be an additional crime and subject Brooke to further prosecution.

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

Defendant: Zachery G. Brooke

Age: 28

Residence: Pottsville

Crimes committed: Five counts of sexual abuse of children/child pornography

Prison sentence: Three to 10 years in a state correctional institution, plus an additional five years on probation, consecutive to current sentence

POTTSVILLE — Frannie Brennan, who has headed the Schuylkill County Election Bureau for more than a decade, is retiring, the Schuylkill County commissioners announced Wednesday.

“She says it’s time to go and enjoy herself,” Commissioner Gary J. Hess, who chaired the county Board of Elections this spring, said of Brennan. “It was a hard decision for herself.”

Brennan, whose retirement is effective on Friday, has worked for the county since March 1972 and served as the bureau’s director since Jan. 1, 2009, Hess said.

The commissioners also announced that the county Prison Board had promoted David Wapinsky to acting warden and Michael Buchanan to acting deputy warden at the county prison, with the Salary Board approving pay increases for each.

Brennan was a pleasure to work with, said Connor Matz, a technology specialist with the bureau.

“She was very knowledgeable,” he said. “She knew the ins and outs of the election system.”

County Administrator Gary R. Bender said the county and its citizens will miss Brennan.

“I think she did a wonderful job down there,” he said. “She went through two machine changes.”

Not only that, but she also was able to get people to work at the polls, according to Bender.

“I think she had a wonderful disposition” that enabled her to convince people to serve as poll workers, he said.

Hess said Brennan made sure everything ran well and any problems were fixed quickly.

“All our elections were fair,” he said.

Bender said the commissioners will advertise the availability of the position but will not wait long to select a replacement for Brennan.

“I would think we’re going to try to do that in the next month,” he said.

Hess said Brennan is willing to serve as a consultant for the bureau even after retirement. He agreed that the replacement should take the reins sooner rather than later.

“November’s going to roll around fast,” Hess said.

After the meeting, President Judge William E. Baldwin, who also chairs the prison board, said that panel will advertise to fill permanently both the warden and deputy warden positions, but the exact date or dates to fill them is not set.

“We don’t have a timetable for that,” he said.

The Salary Board on Wednesday approved biweekly raises for Wapinsky and Buchanan of $200 and $100, respectively.

“Wapinsky was the deputy warden and Buchanan was the captain,” Bender said.

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

The Upper Dauphin Area school board on Tuesday approved a $20.5 million budget for 2020-21 that holds taxes steady, while weighing potential revenue loss due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“You’re looking at the riskiest budget we ever developed,” Acting Superintendent Jared Shade told the board, considering all of the unknown financial consequences of the pandemic.

Mary Bateman, business and operational services director, and Shade outlined the spending plan which includes anticipated expenditures of $20,506,605.99; revenues of $20,314,836.98; and a deficit of $191,769.01. To make up for the deficit, money will come from the district’s unassigned fund balance, Bateman said. Real estate taxes would remain at 18.8775 mills (or $1.88775 per $100 of assessed value).

Seven directors approved the budget during the virtual meeting. Directors Mills Eure and Jack Laudenslager were absent.

Major expenditure changes since the preliminary general fund budget last month are: the removal of a middle school teacher’s salary and benefits of $88,000 due to a resignation; reduction in the health insurance premium due to lower approved costs of $60,000; an increase in the middle school principal salary and benefits of $22,000; and an increase in track and soccer expenses of $4,000 for a co-op share with Millersburg Area.

There were some revenue changes, as well. The district expects a property tax adjustment due to assessment totals received from Dauphin County of $20,000 less; a reduction in state revenue due to updated numbers on the state Department of Education website, also of about $20,000.

Meanwhile, the district predicts possible revenue loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That could include an estimated 15% reduction across the board in earned income tax revenue of $127,500; personal tax revenue of $117,000; and investment revenue of $27,000.

Other financial unknowns UDA faces are a potential 2% loss in state education funding of $120,000; a possible minimum wage increase to $12 an hour, which could cost the district $95,000; and the potential hiring of a kindergarten teacher which could cost $73,000 for salary and benefits. No decision has been made yet on the kindergarten teacher, pending kindergarten registration data, according to Shade.

UDA had an unassigned fund balance of $1,624,268, as of June 30, 2019; PSERS reserve of $1,759,454, and capital reserve of $4,604,674.

In addition to real estate taxes, other tax levies are: a $5 and $10 per capita tax; 0.5% earned income tax; 0.5% real estate transfer tax; and a $250 occupation tax.

Contact the writer, vterwilliger@republicanherald.com

It wasn’t by chance that Steve Zook connected with the Schuylkill County agricultural community.

Zook, a Lancaster County vegetable grower, made a connection with farmers Heidi Flory, of Hegins, and Brett Stehr, from Kenny Stehr & Sons Farmer’s Market in Pitman, through a private Facebook group Flory created, “PA Farm to Family Table +.”

Flory, a poultry and beef producer, launched the site in April to unite agriculture producers directly with consumers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It now has 5,300 members. Without such connections, meat and other farm products unable to reach the grocery stores due to the coronavirus pandemic would have to be destroyed.

“I just couldn’t watch food be wasted due to distribution problems,” Zook, a fourth-generation farmer from Gordonville, said.

He posted on Flory’s site that his friend raised poultry for FreeBird brand and would have hormone-free and antibiotic-free chicken available to purchase. Flory saw interest from Schuylkill County customers to his post, but some of them did not want to travel to Lancaster to obtain the meat, she said.

That’s when she asked Stehr if his site could be used for distribution. He jumped on board.

“Seeing this play out has been awesome,” Flory said, noting the outreach of the group she created has been better than expected.

Zook will be bringing FreeBird brand chicken to Stehr’s farm market at 30 Kettle Road from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday; while the market is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a supply chain problem in the food industry. Some meat processors shutdown due to their employees being sickened with the coronavirus, while others are too afraid to come to work.

There’s also been a decline in meat demand from restaurants who were closed down, or who are currently only able to serve curbside and takeout orders.

Some poultry flocks had to be euthanized and the meat was wasted. The connection made among the agricultural community creates an avenue where the poultry can be sold directly to consumers.

Stehr said the Pitman Valley and the surrounding communities have most of what they need to be self-sustaining.

“There’s no need for us, as a nation, to waste food,” Brett Stehr said. “I had a problem with the euthanizing of all those flocks. How can we throw any food away when we have people going hungry? It’s unethical,” Stehr said.

Customers are able to buy chicken that has been raised in the nearby region, instead of people wondering about the origin of where their food was produced, Stehr noted. Similarly, a beef producer will have product available at Stehr’s market next week, he said.

“Heidi had the idea, and she had a way to implement it,” Stehr said.

Zook raises green beans and sweet corn on 16 acres and has a small farm market at 101 N. New Holland Rd., Gordonville, with plans to expand the market and farm up to 38 acres next year. He’s assisted by his wife, Carita; and children, Shantel, Patrick and Alana. Zook will drive the truckload of 40-pound cases of chicken to Schuylkill County Saturday.

“My passion is preserving family farms, providing nutritious food to the community, and caring for spiritual needs,” said Zook, who also serves on the leadership team of Erb Mennonite Church in Lititz.

For details on chicken products available, visit the website truckloadchicken.com. Orders are preferred, but there will be some extra chicken available Saturday at the market, Zook said. Checks and cash are accepted at the time of pick up.

Contact the writer, vterwilliger@republicanherald.com