MAHANOY CITY — A Sunbury woman who tried to sell prescription drugs Thursday in Mahanoy City and two of her alleged prospective buyers were arrested and jailed later in the day.

Mahanoy City police Patrolman Thomas Rentschler charged Hollie K. Propst, 43, of 630 N. Seventh St., Sunbury; John Simon, 44, of 203 E. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City; and, Michael K. Shannon, 27, of 322 Ridge Terrace, Coaldale, in connection with the incident that unfolded about 1:15 p.m.

Propst was charged with unlawful delivery or manufacture of a controlled substance and conspiracy, both felony offenses, as well as misdemeanor charges of sale at retain of dispensing a controlled substance and identity theft.

Simon was charged with felony conspiracy and misdemeanor offenses of criminal attempt to commit possession of a controlled substance and prohibited acts, while Shannon was charged with misdemeanor offenses of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal solicitation.

All three were arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua, who set bail at $50,000 straight cash for Propst and Simon and $25,000 straight cash for Shannon. The three were then committed to Schuylkill County Prison pending preliminary hearings.

Rentschler said a confidential informant told him that Propst would be going to the office of Dr. Gursharan Singh in the borough to obtain a prescription for 120 oxycodone pills and the that that to Morris Drugs pharmacy to have it filled.

The informant said Propst would then meet a man named “Jay” at the Cocoa Hut where he would buy 100 pills at $7 each, the officer said.

An undercover officer watched Propst leave the doctor’s office and walk to Cocoa Hut where she met Simon, who is also called “Jay,” and the two walked to Morris Drugs nearby, where Simon waited outside.

Rentschler said the pharmacist filled the prescription that was legally issued by Singh and had no reason to believe Propst was going to sell the pills.

When Propst left the pharmacy, Rentschler said, she and Simon walked to the Cocoa Hut lot at which time the informant told officers the prescription would be filled in about 20 minutes and that Simon left to collect the rest of the money because he only had $400 with him.

Rentschler said Propst then returned to the pharmacy, obtained the pills and then got into a vehicle that officers stopped for having a registration plate that was suspended for insurance cancellation.

When the vehicle was stopped, Propst was questioned and said she was going to Simon’s house. Rentschler said that when officers told her they knew why she was going to the home, she immediately agreed to cooperate.

He said Propst told him she was supposed to go to Simon’s house and wait for the remaining money he agreed to pay her in return for the “perks.”

Propst agreed to go to Simon’s house and knocked on the door. Rentschler said Simon exited the home and was subsequently detained.

After being read her Miranda Rights, Rentschler said Propst admitted she was going to sell Simon 100 pills and provide him an additional 15 for doing the selling after she received the prescription from the pharmacy.

While giving officers a statement, Rentschler said Propst received several text messages from Shannon and told police she was planning on giving him 10 pills, five for him to keep and five for him to sell to Simon.

Rentschler said that Shannon then agreed to meet Propst at the Cocoa Hut, where he was taken into custody immediately completing the drug transaction.

Rentschler said all three will now have to appear for preliminary hearings before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

Minersville Area School District engaged in racial discrimination when it terminated a construction contract with a Northampton County company owned by a Pakistani-American, according to a federal lawsuit seeking more than $250,000 in damages.

In an 18-page lawsuit filed Aug. 7, ARK Builders Corp. and Adnan Khan, Easton, alleged the district and several of its officials unjustifiably ended the contract for replacing the roofs on its high and elementary schools.

“This discrimination against (ARK and Khan) was willful, wanton and under color of state law,” according to the lawsuit.

ARK and Khan are seeking at least $255,198.32 in actual damages, plus interest, costs, attorney fees and punitive damages. They also demanded a jury trial of the case, which has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Robert D. Mariani, Scranton.

In addition to the district, ARK and Khan sued Superintendent Carl McBreen, high school Principal James Grabusky and school board members Eugene Demcher, Robert W. Keifer, Albert D. Marazas, Gretchen R. Ulmer and Albert J. Wank.

ARK and Khan alleged that they and the district entered into the $455,000 contract on July 16, 2012, with a final completion date of Aug. 31, 2012. They alleged that they would have been entitled to an extension due to rain if not for the district’s improper conduct during, and termination of, the contract.

“The defendants’ harassment of (ARK and Khan) was pervasive and severe,” the lawsuit reads in part.

That allegedly included not allowing employees to use the high school restrooms and making Khan and his workers feel unwelcome “by expressions, stares and gestures,” according to the lawsuit.

“The behavior ... cultivated and resulted in a hostile work environment,” the lawsuit reads in part.

Although the district cited reasons for terminating the contract, ARK and Khan alleged those were pretexts and they were improperly denied an opportunity to repair any purported defects in the work.

“The ... termination has resulted in significant loss of future work and reputational damage to ARK,” the lawsuit reads in part. “ARK was never provided requisite notice or an opportunity to cure. The defendants possessed no legitimate, lawful basis to terminate the contract.”

According to the lawsuit, the board voted on Sept. 13, 2012, to replace ARK with Richard L. Sensenig Co., a white-owned company that did not finish the work during 2012.

Furthermore, the district damaged most or all of ARK’s equipment and materials that had been left on the site, the lawsuit reads in part. As a result, ARK has had to rent containers to store the damaged items, according to the lawsuit.

“ARK remained willing and able to complete its scope of work,” the lawsuit reads in part.

The district discriminated against the company, breached the contract and violated state law by withholding payments, according to the lawsuit.

The Schuylkill County commissioners are facing a decision that many other counties throughout Pennsylvania have had to make in recent years: whether or not it should get out of the nursing home business.

“The counties are always torn in making the decision,” Douglas Hill, executive director of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, said Thursday. “It is something they have been doing for about 150 years.”

The County Code once required all counties to operate their own nursing homes. Since that is no longer the case, most counties have decided to cut ties with their nursing homes.

“I have been doing this for about 30 years,” Hill said. “When I started, there were probably 46 or 50 counties that still had nursing homes. Now, it is down to 22.”

Schuylkill County’s Rest Haven nursing home, Schuylkill Haven, had a net operating deficit of about $3 million at the end of 2013.

So far this year, the county commissioners had loaned the facility $1,307,927.73 and allocated $758,891.59 to help pay the bills.

The commissioners allocated $255,415.62 in 2012 and $300,000 in 2011. Before that, the commissioners did not have to allocate funds since giving Rest Haven $975,000 in 2004.

“The easy answer is the cost,” Hill said about county homes not turning profits. “The reimbursement rate per bed is not adequate to cover the cost and counties generally have to make up the difference.”

Hill said about 90 to 95 percent of payments at county-run nursing homes come from Medicaid and Medicare, while it only makes up about 40 to 60 percent at private facilities. The rest comes from private payments.

The reason for the discrepancy is that county homes are required to take in patients that are first-day eligible, Hill said.

Since the cost of care usually exceeds medical reimbursement, private facilities tend to lose less money on their patients.

“The cost balance is easier for a private home to maintain,” Hill said.

Built in 1912, Rest Haven is a 142-bed facility. The daily cost per bed at the facility is $221.47 while Medicaid only reimburses $172.09.

About 84 percent of the patients at Rest Haven pay with Medicaid while 5.5 percent use Medicare. The remaining 10.5 percent use private payments. That is a difference of $29.38 in daily medical reimbursements per bed and adds up to a loss of $2,144,820.30 over the year.

Hill also said reimbursements from medical assistance have not increased accordingly.

“The reimbursement rate is in no way keeping up with rising costs,” he said.

In Carbon County, similar problems led the commissioners to sell Weatherwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Weatherly, in 2010.

“At the time we made the decision to sell the home, we were projected to have a $3 million deficit each year,” Carbon County Commissioner William O’Gurek said Thursday.

O’Gurek, now is in his 11th year on the board, said the facility started losing money in 2008 and through 2009. He also cited low medical assistance reimbursements along with union contracts for nursing home employees making things difficult for county-operated homes.

“With what the costs have increased to, it makes it very hard to keep your head above water,” he said.

A 200-bed facility, Weatherwood only had about 150 beds filled prior to being sold.

Rest Haven, on the other had, was operating at full occupancy at the end of July. The population at Rest Haven has steadily increased since Service Access and Management, Pottsville, took over management responsibilities at the facility in 2012. It is the first time Rest Haven operated at full occupancy in at least six years.

“We found ourselves in a competitive market in Carbon County in that we are surrounded by nursing homes all over the place,” O’Gurek said.

According to the government Medicare website, there are at least 14 nursing homes in Schuylkill County.

“It also dropped because as a Medicare provider, we had faced some violations,” O’Gurek said.

O’Gurek said the facility was not permitted to accept Medicare patients until plans to resolve those issues were submitted to the state Department of Health. The hospitals in the area were also recommending patients to wings at their facilities.

“We were also competing against ourselves in that our Area Agency on Aging administers a waiver program encouraging seniors to stay in their homes longer by providing them with programs and funding for things like nursing and housekeeping,” O’Gurek said. “In one department, we are encouraging people to stay in their homes and in another, we are trying to run a nursing home.”

Carbon County then acquired the services of Marcus & Millichap, Real Estate Investment Services of Philadelphia, to review all the finances at the nursing home, including union contracts, operational expenses and medical assistance reimbursements.

O’Gurek said the company provided them with three options.

One option was to continue operating the facility by cutting costs, which included the possibility of having fewer beds, reducing staff and developing a marketing strategy to attract more patients. Another option was to outsource the management responsibilities at the facility, like Schuylkill County did with SAM.

The commissioners ultimately decided to go with the recommended third option of selling the facility.

“Unanimously, we decided that since we were losing $8,200 a day, let’s get out of the business,” O’Gurek said.

Marcus & Millichap was then hired to help prepare the home for sale and secure bids.

“The firm looked into the stability of those companies and their financial status so that if we were to sell it, we were going to sell it to someone who is capable of keeping it,” O’Gurek said.

O’Gurek said about 10 to 15 proposals were received and about four or five were considered before they agreed to sell it to Guardian Health Care, Nanticoke, for about $11 million. Guardian now owns 30 healthcare communities, with 25 in Pennsylvania, four in Ohio and one in West Virginia, according to its website at www.guardianeldercare.com.

“Our goal had been to keep the facility as a place for the elderly and infirmed that needed that nursing facility and to keep it as a place of employment in that area of the county,” O’Gurek said. “When we sold it to Guardian, we believe we met that target we put out there.”

O’Gurek said all but about five of the 200 employees at Weatherwood were offered jobs with Guardian, although probably at a lesser salary with a less lucrative benefits package than with the county.

“While they were offered jobs, it was difficult for us as commissioners because the conditions of people’s livelihoods were changing,” he said. “For some people, it had more of an impact.”

Guardian also negotiated new agreements with the two unions representing employees at Weatherwood.

“The county put some of the proceeds of the sale to Guardian to help pay the benefits,” O’Gurek said. “They earned it on our watch, so they were owed what we gave to them.”

Under state law, current residents at nursing homes can not be displaced even if it is being sold.

While a difficult decision, O’Gurek said he believes the board made the right call.

“In my mind, it was one of the best and most sound fiscal decisions the three of us has made,” he said. “When we had bleeding, we stopped the bleeding and did what anyone in business losing millions a year would do.”

The county also collected about $132,000 in real estate taxes on the property the following year.

“They became the sixth largest real estate taxpayer in the county,” O’Gurek said.

Luzerne County is attempting to sell its 353-bed Valley Crest Nursing Home in Plains Township and received bids earlier this week. Lebanon County just sold its 324-bed nursing home, Cedar Haven, Lebanon, for $25.5 million in July.

“There is a robust market place out there,” Hill said.

Adams, Blair, Cambria, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lackawanna, Mercer and Northumberland counties also sold their nursing homes within the last 10 years. The sale of Northampton County’s Gracedale nursing home was blocked by a voter referendum in 2011.

The Schuylkill County commissioners have yet announced their plans for Rest Haven, but issued the following statement Thursday:

“As it is clear from the number of counties selling their nursing homes, changes in state policy and reimbursement methods have created significant challenges for county-owned nursing home. Rest Haven is not immune from those challenges and we have openly shared with the public the growing financial support required by the facility. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and strive to balance the best interest of Rest Haven residents, our employees and the county taxpayers.”

Nursing homes sold within the last 10 years:

Adams County

Location: Green Acres, Gettysburg

Beds: 135

Buyer: Transitions Healthcare, Sykesville, Maryland

Year sold: 2011

Price: $6.1 million

Beaver County

Location: Friendship Ridge, Beaver Falls

Beds: 600

Buyer: Comprehensive HealthCare Management Services LLC, New Jersey

Year sold: 2013

Price: $37.5 million

Blair County

Location: Valley View Health and Rehabilitation Center, Altoona

Beds: 240

Buyer: Reliant Senior Care Management, Philadelphia

Year sold: 2013

Price: $16.5 million

Butler County

Location: Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Butler

Beds: 220

Buyer: Investment 360, Lakewood, New Jersey

Year sold: 2014

Price: $20.4 million

Cambria County

Location: Laurel Crest Rehabilitation and Special Care Center, Ebensburg

Beds: 370

Buyer: Grane Healthcare, Pittsburgh

Year sold: 2010

Price: $14.3 million

Carbon County

Location: Weatherwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Weatherly

Beds: 200

Buyer: Guardian Elder Care, Nanticoke

Year sold: 2010

Price: $11 million

Dauphin County

Location: Spring Creek Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, Harrisburg

Beds: 404

Buyer: Continuum Care Holdings, Wesport, Connecticut

Year sold: 2006

Price: $22 million

Franklin County

Location: Falling Spring Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Chambersburg

Beds: 186

Buyer: Mid-Atlantic Health Care, Sparks, Maryland

Year sold: 2013

Price: $11 million

Lackawanna County

Location: Lackawanna County Health Care Center, Olyphant

Beds: 272

Buyer: Millennium Management LLC, Miami

Year sold: 2010

Price: $13.4 million

Lancaster County

Location: Conestoga View Nursing Home, Lancaster

Beds: 446

Buyer: Complete Healthcare Resources, Dresher

Year sold: 2005

Price: $8.5 million

Lebanon County

Location: Lebanaon Cedar Crest, Lebanon

Beds: 324

Buyer: Complete Healthcare Resources, Dresher

Year sold: 2014

Price: $25.5

Mercer County

Location: Woodland Place, Mercer

Beds: 100

Buyer: Southwestern Alphia, New Castle

Year sold: 2009

Price: $5 million

Montgomery County

Location: Parkhouse Providence Pointe, Royersford

Beds: 467

Buyer: Mid-Atlantic Health Care, Sparks, Maryland

Year sold: 2014

Price: $41 million

Northumberland County

Location: Mountain View Manor, Coal Township

Beds: 271

Buyer: Complete Healthcare Resources, Dresher

Year sold: 2009

Price: $16.5 million

Warren County

Warren County supervisors voted Wednesday to go ahead with a sale of the county nursing home, reversing a defeat of the proposed sale that occurred less than three weeks earlier. Sixteen of 20 supervisors voted to move forward with a $2.3 million sale of the county-owned nursing home to Centers for Specialty Care Group of New York City. The vote does not complete the sale, but authorizes the county’s negotiating team to complete a sale contract for the 80-bed home.

Deeds

Ashland — William E. Fanelli to Brian S. and Corissa M. Groody; property at Chestnut and Ninth streets; $75,000.

Barry Township — Robert J. and Brenda L. Scheuren to Ralph E. III and Allison L. Vance; 1-acre property on Maplewood Road; $1.

Butler Township — Ronald Bazis, executor of the Last Will & Testament of Eleanor K. Bazis, to Joseph W.P. Burke II; 526 W. Arch St.; $85,000.

Cass Township — Harriet E. Botek to Wayne E. Botek; 14 Harrison Drive; $1.

Coaldale — Stephen Simchak, administrator of the Estate of Theodore Simchak, to Jake R. Dunn; property on Howard Avenue; $1,000.

William P. Cashmere to Donna M. Jacoby; 268 E. Water St.; $18,000.

Foster Township — Marian Harris to John and Megan Sincavage; 18 Lower Beechwood Ave., Buck Run; $59,740.

Frackville — Nancy T. Aleandri to John R. Cooney III; 241 S. Nice St.; $1.

Kline Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Deutsche Bank National Trust Co.; 10 Center St., Kelayres; $1,192.63.

Mahanoy City — Linda S. and Michael Economy and Kimberly A. and Michael D. Economy to Michael D. Economy; 235 E. Centre St.; $1.

Michael D. Economy to Peter DeFilippis; 235 E. Centre St.; $6,000.

Mahanoy Township — Jay B. Jones to Cheryl Groshko; 30 Patriotic Hill Road; $5,500.

Mary R. Christian to Alyssa Christian; 24 Patriotic Hill Road; $1.

McAdoo — PM Development Group Inc. to LA Commercial Services LLC; 303 W. Blaine St.; $1.

Minersville — Saima Fareed & Associates Corp. to Thomas F. Jones; 116-122 Carbon St.; $30,000.

James Barnes to Karen M. DeCarr and Justene M. Karkanica; 433 Pleasant St.; $1.

Brian Stine to Leonard M. Hoak; property on South Fourth Street; $25,000.

New Ringgold — Ralph W. Jr. and Dolores M. Seltzer to Linda L. Miller and Ralph W. Seltzer III; 102 Wetherill St.; $1.

Pine Grove Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Secretary of Veterans Affairs; 88 Rock Road; $1,271.93.

Philip E. Riehl, by attorney in fact Curvin L. Huber, to Gary W. and Jacqueline Fisher; 137 Nut Grove Road; $195,000.

Pottsville — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to PNC Bank NA; 1229 W. Market St.; $1,470.98.

Scott M. and Tara L. Grochowski to Francis C. Dix; 637 Edwards Ave.; $106,000.

John J. and Lois H. Dalton to Jacob J. Ewald-Milyo; 1533 W. Market St.; $49,000.

Thomas V. Luscan to Kevin A. Drummer; 621 Fairview St.; $40,000.

Rush Township — Daniel A. Jr. and Wendy L. Gerber to Wendy L. Gerber and Brian Keich; 88 Hometown Ave., Hometown; $1.

Ryan Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to PNC Bank NA; 998 Barnesville Drive, Barnesville; $1,379.22.

Shelly A. Konsavage and Shannon M. Yorke to Shelly A. Konsavage and Shannon M. Yorke; 5.622-acre property on Church Road; $1.

Schuylkill Township — Donna Pucklavage and Michelle T. Bistronish to Michelle T. Bistronish; 218 Chestnut St., Tuscarora; $1.

Shenandoah — Anna Marie Michalik to Chantilly Bowen Smith and Aislynn Smith; 301 Turkey Run; $5,000.

South Manheim Township — Jeffrey L. Jr. and Michelle A. Zimmerman to Thomas J. Jr. and Rebecca Cook Walser; 1360 Stag Drive, Lake Wynonah; $138,000.

Dorothy W. Bartie, by attorney in fact Karen A. Magazu, to Karen A. and Brian Magazu; Lot 2080, Lake Wynonah; $225,000.

Tamaqua — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Deutsche Bank National Trust Co.; 208 N. Lehigh Ave.; $1,278.57.

Blackstone Funding LLC to Patricia Roachford; 417 Elizabeth St.; $10,000.

Tower City — Harvey J. and Ethel M. Hummel to Greg M. Hummel and Cynthia M. Wertz; 825 E. Colliery Ave.; $1.

Tremont — Charles Salen Jr., Gloria Dullard and Tina Shadler to Lawrence A. Reiner Jr. and Brittany Herring; 225 E. Main St.; $60,000.

Wayne Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Bank of America NA; 1133 Running Deer Drive, Lake Wynonah; $1,357.19.

Pageant candidate

Jenna Bishop, 6, daughter of Ryan and Tara Bishop, has been chosen as a state finalist in the National American Miss Pennsylvania Pageant that was held Aug. 8 and 9 at the Hilton, Harrisburg.

The pageant is held for girls ages 4 to 8 and have five different age categories. Jenna participated in the princess age division.

Jenna’s activities include dancing, cheerleading and swimming.

FDNY honoree

Nathan F. Evans, 36, a former resident of Pottsville and 1996 graduate of Pottsville Area High School, was recently honored by the Fire Department of New York with the Dr. Albert A. Cinelli Medal for Bravery.

Evans has been a firefighter with FDNY since 2004 and started his fire fighting career as a junior volunteer with Schuylkill Hose Company and later with Phoenix Company 21, Pottsville. In addition, he trained as an EMT and volunteered with Pottsville EMS.

Evans is with Ladder Company 43 in Spanish Harlem and rescued a victim on Nov. 8, 2013. For his efforts, it was said, “FF Evans placed himself in jeopardy without concern for his own safety. He acted alone and without the protection of a covering hose-line.”

For this act of bravery and upholding the finest traditions of the fire service, he was awarded the Cinelli Medal.

He is a son of Cora Gamelin-Osenbach and a stepson of Franklin Osenbach, both of Orwigsburg, and proud father of son, Quinn.

History program

Maureen Costello, the librarian and history teacher at Marian High School, Hometown, recently completed an intense, six-day immersion in American history at the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute.

She attended on a full scholarship from Colonial Williamsburg donor sponsors. Because of the generosity of many Colonial Williamsburg Foundation friends, their deep commitment and respect for teachers and their knowledge of the teacher’s role in educating citizens and leaders of tomorrow, Costello attended on a full scholarship.

Costello is a teacher in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown. She has taught for 29 years with 19 being at Marian. She holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in library science from Kutztown University.

The Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute provides participants with interactive teaching techniques and skills to become mentor teachers who can assist their peers and other educators to develop active learning classrooms and make history exciting for their students.

The teacher institute provides an extensive background in colonial history, from the first English settlement at Jamestown to the American Revolution for elementary teachers. For high school teachers such as Costello, sessions study civics through the lens of American history by examining the idea that citizens are in a constant debate over the proper balance between essential American values.

Teachers will learn to inspire active citizenship by exploring these enduring themes and making connections to present-day issues during visits to Jamestown, Williamsburg and Richmond covering the times of 1607 through the Vietnam War.

Sprint participant

Blake Broadhurst, 17,of Orwigsburg, completed the Spartan Sprint on July 12 at Blue Mountain Ski Area, Palmerton, along with members of “Team Blake.”

The Spartan Race is the world’s leading obstacle race series (Sprint, Super, and Beast) consisting of 5 miles of difficult terrain and 15- plus obstacles including fire, rope climbs, lots of mud and water, barbed wires, walls, monkey bars, cargo netting and more. About 14,000 participated in the race.

Broadhurst decided that he wanted to complete the race despite his chronic illnesses. He suffers from autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome, or ALPS, an inherited disorder of the immune system that affects children and adults. In ALPS, unusually high numbers of white blood cells called lymphocytes accumulate in the lymph nodes, liver and spleen, which can lead to enlargement of these organs.

ALPS can cause numerous autoimmune problems. In Broadhurst’s case, his ALPS has caused additional health issues such as pulmonary hypertension, a high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. Over time, the pulmonary arteries narrow, making the right side of the heart work harder as it makes the higher pressure to force blood through the narrowed arteries.

He also copes with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, a serious lung disease that over time, makes it hard to breathe. In people who have COPD, the airways — tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs — are partially blocked, which makes it hard to get air in and out.

Broadhurst has been on nighttime oxygen since September after he underwent a triple lung biopsy. In the past few months he has been on five weeks of IV infusions of high doses of steroids, six weeks of IV infusions of chemotherapy and several new medications have been added to his daily routine.

Broadhurst has doctors in both Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. His infusions took place at Lehigh Valley-Muhlenburg.

Broadhurst’s parents, Preston and Karen Broadhurst, contacting SpartanHQ, his medical doctors and the community in January to join him in this adventure. He has trained for the past six months at Crossfit Hail Fire, Orwigsburg, which helped him gain the strength and endurance for the race.

Team Blake consisted of 25 members. Sixteen members raced together in a 2:30 heat on race day and completed the race in less than four hours. Three members raced earlier that day in support of Broadhurst, and other Team Blake members were unable to attend.

Marriage licenses

Damion L. Solence, Williamstown, and Allazay R. Erdman, Pine Grove.

Glenn J. Heim, Orwigsburg, and Dawn M. Kubilus, Orwigsburg.

Howard T. Drogus, Brockton, and Tracey E. Lapolt, Brockton.

Brandon R. Bressler, Hegins, and Adrian E. Romberger, Hegins.

John D. Brenneman, Schuylkill Haven, and Sheryl A. Bagasol, Schuylkill Haven.

John M. Pidgeon, Ashland, and Kimberly A. Bogovich, Ashland.

Scott A. Klouser, Port Carbon, and Sharon L. Fultz, Port Carbon.

Kenneth A. Martin Jr., Saint Clair, and Shannon A. Moses, Saint Clair.

Matthew E. Nahodil, Tremont, and Angela L. Buffington, Tremont.

Andrew G. Beaulieu, Ashland, and Andrea M. Hahn, Ashland.

Jeremiah W. Clark, Schuylkill Haven, and Amanda L. Leach, Schuylkill Haven.

Alberto Amore, Orwigsburg, and Bailey A. Adie, Orwigsburg.

Dale J. Yoder, Pottsville, and Holly L. Gaumer, Pottsville.

Mark R. Edwards, Ashland, and Tanya E. Teijaro, Ashland.

Frank T. Miller, Tamaqua, and Lorissa E. Lazarus, Tamaqua.

Andrew Adley, Hegins, and Jamie L. Kitchen, Hegins.

ASHLAND — The 22nd annual Pioneer Day brought people home to celebrate their community on Saturday in celebration of the 52nd anniversary of the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine & Steam Train.

Pat Freels, 62, returned to Schuylkill County, where she grew up, for the day with her mother and sons to enjoy the celebration.

“We love it here. The area is slower paced and has friendly people,” Freels, Hamilton, New Jersey, said. “We don’t have this stuff in Hamilton.”

Freels and her mother, Jean Devlin, 83, of Levittown, enjoyed haluski on a bench as they discussed what they loved about Pioneer Day.

“Just being in the park, eating the food, it’s all great,” Freels said. “It’s a nice day, and the kids love it.”

Joe Radzievich, Washington, D.C., formerly of Pine Grove, said he returned home for not only Pioneer Day but also Lithuanian Days — Saturday and today — in Frackville.

“I was in the tunnel last about 20 years ago on a school trip ... so this is like a blast from the past,” Radzievich said.

Pioneer Day was held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., hosted by the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine & Steam Train. In addition to regular coal mine tours and steam train rides, there were of crafts and activities for children near the Higher-Ups Park. Musical entertainment included Ray Glosek, also known as “Ray G,” and coal mining entertainment by The Breaker Boys.

Pioneer Day brings locals and nonlocals alike together to celebrate the history and heritage of Ashland.

“It’s great that so many people come out to see our collective heritage,” Radzievich said.

Laurie Hubler, Ashland, said the day brings pride to her community.

Ethnic food was also available throughout the day, such as pierogies, bleenies, funnel cake and other local favorites.

Michaline Picklo, 51, of Mount Carmel, said she was especially excited to try the food, like potato pancakes.

The first Pioneer Day was started in commemoration of the anniversary of the coal mine and train, Kathy Lattis, assistant business manager, said. And Pioneer Day has progressed immensely “just in the attendance of people taking the tours and the amount of vendors and crafters alone.”

This year they had different entertainment, a few new food vendors and new crafters.

Lattis said the day went well with an estimated 1,000 to 1,2000 attendees.

“It’s very hard to estimate the number of people who were in the park because there is no admission, but food vendors and crafters were very pleased with attendance,” she said.

Lattis said that 514 people took the coal mine tour and 492 rode the train.

“It was a little bit less than last year with tours but there were a lot of other events taking place,” she said.

She said it is important to continue Pioneer Day “because it’s a good community day.”

Lattis said they will brainstorm for the next Pioneer Day in September and start setting definite plans beginning Oct. 31.

“We have so many community organizations that participate ... it’s about giving back to the community,” she said.

Milton Hershey

Two Pottsville area students graduated from Milton Hershey School, Hershey.

Jessica Bell, daughter of Terri Bell, and Tyler Smith, niece of Rosemarie Walsh, were among the graduates from the Class of 2014.

Jessica was admitted to the school in 2008. She was an active member of the soccer team and Student Government Association and was named scholar of the month. During the high school awards program, she received the William Houtz Memorial Award and the District III Academic Excellence Award.

Jessica also received the Varsity “H” Medal, the most prestigious activity award presented by Milton Hershey School. She plans to study neuroscience at Dickinson College, Carlisle.

A Milton Hershey student since 2011, Tyler participated in the New Horizons show choir, varsity choir, stage crew, horsemanship, FFA and tumbling. She was a resident adviser for her transitional living home.

Tyler also earned the Varsity “H” Medal and received the Student Sound Tech Award. She will continue her education at Lock Haven University and major in health and physical education with a minor in coaching.

Arcadia

Jill Spotts and Mallory Spotts, Orwigsburg, graduated with master’s degrees in physician assistant studies from Arcadia University, Glenside, on May 15. Both women graduated with distinction, an honor given to students in the graduate program with a GPA above 3.7.

At the white coat ceremony, Jill and Mallory were the co-recipients of one of the top awards, the Clinical Coordinator’s Award, given for outstanding performance during clinical rotations.

Both women have passed the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination and are licensed to practice by the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine and the Pennsylvania State Board of Osteopathic Medicine.

Jill has accepted a position with the Lehigh Valley Health Network as an in-patient neurosurgery PA with the Neurosurgical Associates of LVPG.

Mallory has accepted a position with the Lehigh Valley Health Network as an in-patient internal medicine PA with the Hospital Medicine group.

Both women graduated from the University of Delaware in 2011 and from Nativity BVM High School in 2007.

Jill and Mallory are the daughters of Jeff and Donna Spotts, Orwigsburg, and granddaughters of Roger and Peggy Spotts, Schuylkill Haven, and Regina Morris, New Philadelphia, and the late Robert Morris.

IUP

The following local students have completed requirements for graduation from Indiana University of Pennsylvania:

Shannon M. Goodman, Mahanoy City, bachelor’s degree in business technology support; Brittany L. Gilroy, Shenandoah, bachelor’s degree in criminology; Jeremy J. Hartley, Tower City, bachelor’s degree in journalism, and Jeremiah L. Umholtz, Valley View, bachelor’s degree in music education.

Widener

Jason Staloski graduated from Widener University School of Law on May 18.

While at Widener, he was a member of the Trial Advocacy Honor Society and the Widener Journal of Law, Economics and Race. He was recognized at commencement for providing pro bono work with the Lebanon County District Attorney and the Pennsylvania Civil Law Clinic.

He is a son of Jim and Jan Staloski, Lake Hauto.

Philadelphia

Stephanie Grace Jones graduated May 17 from Philadelphia University with a bachelor’s degree in textile materials and technology with a concentration in business and a minor in design foundations.

She was named to the dean’s list for the spring semester.

Stephanie is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and Phi Psi Co-ed Textile Fraternity.

She interned at Designtex, New York, New York, and Secaucus, New Jersey.

A 2010 graduate of Nativity BVM High School, she is a daughter of Kathy Jones, Orwigsburg, and the late Gregory H. Jones, and a granddaughter of Joseph H. Jones Sr., Pottsville.

MIT

Brian M. Yutko, Cambridge, Massachusetts, graduated June 6 with a Ph.D. in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

His research focuses on designing highly fuel-efficient aircraft and air transportation networks in order to reduce the environmental impact of air travel. His thesis research, “The Impact of Aircraft Design Reference Mission on Fuel Efficiency in the Air Transportation System” is in publication in numerous international academic journals.

For the past five years, Brian was nominated by the United States Government to support the development of a global fuel efficiency standard for commercial aircraft. He presented research at many meetings of the United Nations — International Civil Aviation Organization, including Geneva, Switzerland, Bonn, Germany, Paris, France, Madrid, Spain and other locations.

Brian has accepted dual positions as a research engineer at MIT and an aerospace engineer at Aurora Flight Sciences, where he will lead the development of a large-scale flying test bed for next-generation aircraft technologies. He is also attending flight school, with the goal of obtaining his pilot license this year.

A 2004 graduate of Mahanoy Area High School, he is a son of Joseph and Penny Yutko, Barnesville.

A Pine Grove area man will not have to spend more time in prison after being found guilty Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court of violating a protection from abuse order.

Richard A. Olt Jr., 21, of Pine Grove, is guilty of indirect criminal contempt, which is contempt committed outside the courtroom, Senior Judge D. Michael Stine ruled.

Stine sentenced Olt to spend two days in prison, which he already has, and pay costs and a $300 fine.

State police at Schuylkill Haven charged Olt with violating the order on July 27 in Washington Township. Stine had entered the order against Olt on Sept. 25, 2013.

In other Wednesday county court action, President Judge William E. Baldwin accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

Christine N. King, 36, of Tamaqua; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; 23 months probation, $100 payment to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and $50 payment to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of acquiring possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation.

Brian L. Korn, 41, of Ashland; public drunkenness; $25 fine. Prosecutors withdrew charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

Minh V. Nguyen, 28, of Hazle Township; driving under the influence; 30 days in prison, 90 days house arrest with electronic monitoring, 30 days strict supervision, 30 days probation, $1,500 fine, $100 SAEF payment and 10 hours community service, with sentence effective at 9 a.m. Aug. 28. Prosecutors withdrew charges of careless driving, violation of restrictions on alcoholic beverages and seat belt violation.

Bly P. Salm, 33, of Wilkes-Barre; defiant trespass; 12 months probation, $50 CJEA payment and 10 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew charges of burglary and criminal trespass.

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

Summer is almost over, but there's still plenty to do in Schuylkill County.

Sweet Arrow Lake will host a Wee Ones Walk - Summer Adventure from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Heighten your child's natural curiosity during a sensory nature walk with "Porcupine Pat." The walk focuses on colors, textures, shapes, sounds and smells found in nature. Recommended for children ages 3 to 6, the event is free and open to the public. Participants are asked to meet in the Waterfall Road parking lot. Call-570 345-8952 for details.

Can't attend that one? They're also hosting a Stories and Dances for Children Program at 7 p.m. Saturday. The Native American Indian program relates creation and other stories told in a way that appeals to children of all ages. Simple dances with drum accompaniment are taught. Join Indian expert Dave McSurdy around a campfire at the waterfall parking lot. The event is suitable for all ages; it is free and open to the public.

The annual Schuylkill Haven Island Park Festival will be held from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday. The event is a celebration of music and the arts, featuring family entertainment.

Shenandoah's Heritage Day and Parade of Nations takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday with the parade starting at 10 a.m. Ethnic foods, crafts and entertainment will be featured.

Mark your calendar: The Walk In Art Center invites you to their monthly open houses for fine art, refreshments, live music and children's activities. You can also visit the artists in their studios. The next open house will take place Saturday, Sept. 6. Call 570-732-3728 for details.

Did you know that one donation of your blood can save the lives of up to three people and help premature babies, cancer patients and those getting ready for surgery? There will be a blood drive Monday at the Orwigsburg Masonic Lodge and on Thursday at the Friedensburg Fire Company. Everyone who weighs at least 110 pounds and is in general good health is encouraged to donate.

Schuylkill Women in Crisis has helped thousands in their efforts to escape domestic violence through the years. They rely on the generosity of the community to help their efforts. Their most wanted list currently consists of brushes and combs, hair ties, bows and barrettes, and sunscreen for women and children. Please donate if you can.

Use the above contact info for those specific volunteer opportunities and find 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.

Alzheimer's walk volunteers

Times: Morning of Sept. 20.

Responsibility: Help needed for event to run smoothly.

Skills: Friendly, responsible.

Location: Bubeck Park, Schuylkill Haven.

Contact: Lisa Brinich, Rest Haven, 570-385-0332.

Drivers

Times: Flexible, choose assignments.

Responsibility: Drive elderly consumer to doctor appointment.

Skills: Valid driver's license, vehicle insurance, good driving record. Reimbursement for clearances fees reimbursed upon acceptance in to program.

Location: Mostly out of county.

Contact: Carol Bowen, RSVP, 570-622-3103.

Police: 60 car

batteries stolen

AUBURN — State police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating a theft that occurred between 5 p.m. Aug. 13 and 8:30 a.m. Aug. 14 in the borough.

Police said someone stole 60 used car batteries at Naftzinger’s Used Auto Parts, 500 S. Seventh St., and then fled the scene in an unknown direction. The batteries were located on a wooden pallet outside one of the buildings.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call state police at Schuylkill Haven at 570-739-1330.

Woman faces

DUI charges

MAHANOY CITY — Mahanoy City police have filed charges of DUI, DUI-minor, underage drinking and not driving on roadways laned for traffic against a borough woman after an incident about 11:15 p.m. July 13 at B and West Centre streets.

Police said officers tried to stop a vehicle driven by Sabrina M. Bell, 20, of 404 W. Centre St., after seeing her driving into the lane of oncoming traffic. Bell pulled into a parking spot and struck a street light pole, officers said, adding that they soon determined she showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol.

After failing field sobriety tests, police said Bell was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street for a blood alcohol test.

The charges against Bell were filed with Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

Mahanoy City

man arrested

MAHANOY CITY — A borough man was arrested by Mahanoy City police in connection with an assault about 5 p.m. July 30 at Fifth and East Market streets.

Police said John P. Valitsky Sr., 44, of 121 E. Pine St., will have to answer before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah, on two counts of simple assault and a charge of harassment.

Police said Valitsky approached Christopher Snyder and began yelling at the man about money Valitsky believed Snyder owed him.

Police said Valitsky then punched Snyder two times in the left side of the face and then grabbed him and “clawed” his face as well.

Snyder was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street for treatment of minor head injuries, police said.

When confronted about the attack on Snyder, police said Valitsky said, “For what? ’Cause that scumbag dropped a needle in my house, and I punched him.”

James R. Ferrier

ORWIGSBURG — A North Manheim Township man sits behind bars after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday on charges resulting from an alleged incident in November 2013 in Schuylkill Haven and West Brunswick Township.

Jeffrey Vandegejuchte, 28, of 423 Route 61 South, Schuylkill Haven, faces charges of forgery and receiving stolen property. Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound over those charges for Schuylkill County Court after Vandegejuchte waived his right to the hearing.

Prosecutors withdrew charges of theft from a motor vehicle and theft.

Schuylkill Haven borough police alleged Vandegejuchte stole a purse from a vehicle parked at Auto Zone, 356 Center Ave., at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 13, 2013.

Police said the purse contained a checkbook from which Vandegejuchte removed a check. He made out the check for $350 and cashed it at Susquehanna Bank, 1251 Center Turnpike, Orwigsburg, West Brunswick Township, at 10:25 a.m. Nov. 14, according to police.

A photograph from the bank’s security system shows Vandegejuchte cashing the check, police said.

Vandegejuchte remains in prison in lieu of $10,000 straight cash bail pending further court action.

Other defendants whose cases Ferrier considered on Tuesday, the charges against each one and the judge’s dispositions of the matters included:

William D. Bangs II, 30, of 45 N. Apple St., Hamburg; materially false written statement, unsworn falsification to authorities and false statement under penalty; right to preliminary hearing waived, materially false written statement and unsworn falsification to authorities charges withdrawn, other charge bound over for court.

Timothy J. Miller, 51, of 2977 Fourth St., Norristown; driving under the influence; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Rebecca Margerum

ELIZABETHVILLE — A Harrisburg man is headed to Dauphin County Court after a preliminary hearing Tuesday on charges stemming from an incident in July 2012 in Williamstown.

Nathan A. Keys, 31, of 27 N. Cameron St., had been charged with theft and receiving stolen property.

After the hearing, Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum dismissed the theft charge but ruled prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence to support the receiving stolen property charge and ordered it held for court.

State police at Lykens alleged Keys possessed stolen property on July 5, 2012, in Williamstown.

Keys is in prison pending further court action in lieu of posting $100, or 10 percent of his $1,000 percentage bail.

Other defendants whose cases Margerum considered on Tuesday, the charges against each one and the judge’s dispositions of the matters included:

Samantha J. Brosius, 28, of 37 Main St., Klingerstown; possession of a small amount of marijuana, driving under the influence and no headlights; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Michelle R. Header, 36, of 435 Comfort Road, Sunbury; two counts of conspiracy and one each of burglary, theft and receiving stolen property; charges held for court after preliminary hearing.

Dawn M. Herring, 34, of 1459 W. Main St., Valley View; DUI, driving without a license, driving under suspension, altered driver’s license and operating vehicle without valid inspection; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Jeremy R. Howard, 19, of 2438 Route 209, Millersburg; two counts of conspiracy; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Katie A. Kemrer, 41, of 568 Main St., Lykens, counterfeit or simulated mark or stamp; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Michael Kemrer, 39, of 568 Main St., Lykens, counterfeit or simulated mark or stamp; charge withdrawn.

Sherri A. Meyers, 41, of 119 Maple Lane Apt. 17, Williamstown; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Keith Rickert, 28, of 257 W. Main St., Elizabethville; theft, theft by deception, receiving stolen property and theft from a motor vehicle; right to preliminary hearing waived, theft by deception charge bound over for court, other charges withdrawn.

Paige E. Smink, 20, of 179 Botts Road, Millersburg; two counts of conspiracy and one each of attempted possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and unsworn falsification to authorities; one count of conspiracy withdrawn, unsworn falsification to authorities charge dismissed, other charges held for court after preliminary hearing.

As Rachel Dzuranin was finishing up her senior year at Hazleton Area High School in June, she knew she didn't want to go to college.

"I'm not one to sit in a classroom and listen to lectures all the time," Dzuranin, 18, of McAdoo, said.

She didn't really want to follow a suggestion from her father, Michael Dzuranin, either.

"He would always say, 'Join the Air Force. Join the Air Force,'" she said.

She wanted a hands-on career - and she wanted it through the Army.

Dzuranin enlisted and is one of the more than 40 who have spent the last few months preparing for basic training from the Army's recruiting office in Hazleton.

Her military occupational specialty, or MOS, will be ammunition specialist. The position is definitely hands-on, she said.

"I'll make sure ammunition is packed properly, and be trained to detonate bombs," she said.

Rachel, who is also a daughter of Janet Dzuranin, left for basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, on Aug. 4. Once she's trained, she hopes she will travel.

"I don't know where I'm going to go, but I'd love to go to Alaska," she said

Rachel, whose brother, Charles Dzuranin, is also in the Army, signed an eight-year contract. She's one of three girls in the "class" recruited from the Hazleton office.

Dylan Gonzalez will be six days into his Army basic training when he turns 18.

"I'm excited," Gonzalez, Hazleton, said of starting something he had thought about for years.

A 2014 Hazleton Area High School graduate, Gonzalez began what he hopes will be a long career with the Army on Aug. 12. He shipped out to Fort Benning, Georgia, for basic training.

Gonzalez said the decision to join the military was almost a given. His sister, Keila Gonzalez, and his brother, Iann Gonzalez, were both in the Army Reserves.

"And I decided that I was going to join, too, because it's something that I always wanted to do," he said. "But I wanted to go full time."

He will train to become a 19th Delta Cavalry Scout.

"I always dreamed of being a combat engineer, cavalry or infantry," he said.

And while friends are going to summertime parties, Gonzalez said he is staying focused.

"I'm going to stick to running every day, getting into shape and becoming a soldier," he said.

Gonzalez, whose siblings were able to pay for college thanks to the military, said his goal is to stay in the military until retirement. His family, including his mother, Madelene Gonzalez, is proud.

"My mom is the only one who has the real fear because she is the mother and I am the baby of the family," he laughed.

Already enlisted

Eric Pettit, 17, of Hazleton, is enrolled in the Army's "split" program - one that's available to high school students who are at least 17 years old.

Through the program, enrollees get a jump on joining the military. They fill out paperwork, have physical exams and receive their job classifications while still in high school.

"Then every Thursday, we have our training until we ship out," Pettit, who will be a senior at Hazleton Area High School, said. That means he will miss out on some summertime activities with friends and family.

"I'm preparing for next year. You have to start early because it's going to be brutal physically," he said of basic training. "I'll miss out on a lot, but it's something I want to do."

Pettit, a son of George Pettit, will go to Fort Benning next summer.

"I already have my date. I just have to wait until I graduate," he said.

Pettit became interested in the Army and what it had to offer after he met with recruiters at Hazleton Area.

"I think it's patriotism," he said. "I really want to serve my country."

Once he completes basic training, he'll know whether he will serve in the "regular" infantry or as a mortar man.

"I would like to see Europe. That was always on my mind," he said. "But you never know where you will go, though."

Nick Cibulish, 17, a son of Debbie Cibulish, also has another year until he graduates from Hazleton Area, and he won't be shipping out to Fort Benning, Georgia until then.

He has his MOS - infantry - and his deployment comes June 28, 2015.

"From now until then, every Thursday, we'll meet up and do training on different things," he said.

So far, he said, it's been great.

Patriotism push

Cibulish, an honor roll student who is quick with a "Yes, ma'am," remembers when he first started thinking about the military.

"Well, when I was younger and growing up, I watched the 9/11 attacks, thinking, 'How could this happen?'" he said.

He wanted to protect his country and make sure that "nothing like that" would happen again, he said.

"As I started looking into it, all the benefits, it just made sense to do," he said.

Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Ayers said many of the new recruits are recent graduates from the Hazleton, Weatherly and Mahanoy Area and Shenandoah Valley high schools. Photographs of the young men and women are tacked to a bulletin board beneath the words, "Future Soldiers."

Some "future soldiers" have already shipped off to basic training, Ayers said. Others are preparing for basic training at Army bases in places such as Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma and South Carolina.

Ayers sees most of the recruits each week on Thursdays for training, when they work out, learn to read maps, practice first aid and study other skills under Army instructors. The get-togethers, he said, are a way to familiarize the future soldiers with what to expect at basic training.

"There's a lot of physical training to help their bodies acclimate to basic training," he said.

Cibulish doesn't mind. It's better than wasting the day away, he said.

"I would rather be here. I have fun with this," he said.

PINE GROVE — Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers and state police at Schuylkill Haven are asking for the public’s help in finding those responsible for an attempted homicide earlier this month.

Police said the incident occurred between 6:30 and 6:40 p.m. Aug. 4 at 64 Fisher Road in Wayne Township.

Richard Behney, 34, was in the driveway of his home when he was shot in the right arm and left buttocks with a .22-caliber bullet, police said.

After being shot, Behney went into his home and was subsequently treated at the scene by Pine Grove EMS for gunshot wounds, according to police. The man was later taken to Reading Hospital for additional treatment.

Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information on the shooting or on any other unsolved crime in Schuylkill County.

Callers are asked to refer to incident 08-17-14 when calling with information about the attempted homicide in Wayne Township.

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

Individuals with information can also call Trooper Chad Smith at the Schuylkill Haven station at 570-739-1330.

All information received will remain confidential.

FRIEDENSBURG — Women participated in a variety of outdoor activities Saturday at the 14th annual Women’s Outdoor Day at the Friedensburg Fish and Game Association.

“The main goal is to introduce these women to the different outdoor activities they can enjoy that they may not have time to with kids,” Dennis Scharadin, secretary of the Schuylkill County Sportsmen’s Association, said. “A lot of times women don’t get the opportunity to do these activities.”

The free event, sponsored by the Schuylkill County Sportsmen’s Association, started at 7:30 a.m. and ended at 3 p.m. Attendees were able to try activities such as fishing, archery, shooting various firearms, canoeing and kayaking.

Pistol shooting was added this year after many requests, Scharadin said. The pistol shooting replaced last year’s events of black powder shooting and fly casting. He said they try to change up the events each year to keep things different.

Mothers who brought their children to Schuylkill County Youth Field Day wanted to do the activities, as well, Scharadin said. So, starting in 2000, Women’s Outdoor Day has been held in August. Girls and women over the age of 16 are able to attend the event.

Women’s Outdoor Day was inspired by Youth Field Day. The Schuylkill County Sportsmen’s Association has held Youth Field Day since 1994 for children between 10 and 15.

“There is no age limit at this event after 16. We have people of all ages attend,” Scharadin said.

During Women’s Outdoor Day, participants go to each activity station and can decide which events they want to do.

“A lot of the time, those women will see others doing the event and end up wanting to anyway,” Scharadin said.

A group of friends, who said they met through line dancing and call themselves the Cowbell Bandits, attended the outdoor day.

Of the nine Cowbell Bandits, this was the first year Heather Strouphauer, 26, and Tammy Fuller, 50, both of Pine Grove, attended the event.

Strouphauer and Fuller said the outdoor day was fun to do with friends and they plan on attending next year.

Many groups of mothers and daughters attended the event to bond, Scharadin said.

Ashley Dixon, 27, of Lewistown, said she drove from two hours away to attend the event and spend time with her mother, Denise Logan, 47, of Cressona.

Becky Shire, 22, of Deer Lake, also attended to spend time with her mother, Michele Yob, Schuylkill Haven. Yob said her other two daughters, Mary Shire, 26, of Nashville, Pennsylvania, and Liz Reber, 24, of Auburn, had to leave early but also spent the morning with their mother and sister.

Scharadin said the event is not only for women, but also led by women. All instructors at the event were women, with the exception of one male instructor who replaced a woman who couldn’t attend.

Robin Tracey, environmental education specialist at Locust Lake State Park, Barnesville, said she volunteered to instruct canoeing and kayaking.

“Most of the women have done pretty well today,” Tracey said. “No one has ended up in the pond yet, anyway.”

She also teaches kayaking classes at Tuscarora State Park, Barnesville.

Theresa Santai-Gaffney, register of wills and clerk of the Orphans Court, was the fishing instructor and said she hasn’t missed a year of the event.

She said, “It’s a beautiful place and has such a great host.”

Santai-Gaffney said there are normally 60 to 80 women who attend each year, and she attends the event each year “to be outside and enjoy the scenery.”

She said she hopes that the program will spread across Pennsylvania.

Susan Long, 50, of Pottsville, said she would tell others to do the event because “it’s a good time.”

The Cowbell Bandits also joked that it was nice to have the men of the Schuylkill County Sportsmen’s Association cook for them. The group agreed that the men worked very hard to put the day together.

About 50 of the 65 preregistered people attended this year.

“We are always hoping for more, but we are happy with what we get,” Scharadin said.

Scharadin said the event is free each year thanks to funds raised at their annual banquet and at the Schuylkill County Fair. He said they raffled off a kayak at the fair this year.

The upcoming autumn months in the Northeast may be quite a bit colder than normal according to one long-range forecast, but then again, they may be warmer, according to another forecast.

Whatever the forecast is, there are municipalities and companies in Schuylkill County that will deal with the weather when it arrives and reference what occurred in previous years in deciding on purchasing heating oil, salt and anti-skid material.

A forecast from the AccuWeather Global Weather Center released Aug. 6 showed the New England and Mid-Atlantic states will turn stormy this fall with very cold spells, droughts and wildfire threats persistent along the West Coast, the southern states could have severe storms and rainy weather and the northern states in mid-U.S. show cold weather with chances of snow.

AccuWeather predicts that while the fall will kick off with days of sunshine and temperatures above normal in some of the region’s largest cities, including New York City and Philadelphia, the polar vortex may make its return for short, sporadic periods in September.

“The vortex could slip at times, maybe even briefly in September for the Northeast,” Paul Pastelok, AccuWeather lead long-range forecaster, said. “There could be a significant shot of chilly air that comes across the Great Lakes region and into the interior Northeast sometime in mid- to late-September.”

Pastelok said as conditions in northern Canada begin to set up similar to last fall, getting colder and unsettled quickly, it is likely that this pattern could become a source for colder air to make its way down, at times, into the United States, inducing a drop in temperatures for the interior Northeast during mid-fall.

“Temperatures will not be as extreme in November when compared to last year, but October could be an extreme month,” he said.

After short-lived days of the polar vortex in September, the weather should turn a bit warmer in November as rain ramps up across areas from New York City to Boston and Portland, Maine, as well as the rest of the Northeast region.

“We will see some dry weather in the Northeast, barring any tropical systems, in September and October, but in November, it will get wet,” Pastelok said.

Following a soaking November for Northeastern residents, El Nino will make its debut early this winter, fueling early winter snow across the area.

“December could get kind of wild due to the very active southern jet stream that is going to provide the moisture for bigger snowstorms,” Pastelok said. “The Northeast could have a couple of big storms in December and early January.”

Meteorologist Elise Colbert at the National Weather Service in State College said what will occur in the next few months is a bit of a toss-up with no evident trends.

“As for the Climate Prediction Center with our forecast, they do have some longer range models they run and they will look at trends,” Colbert said. “If there is a definite trend colder or warmer, they’ll start by putting out an above- or below-normal outlook. Right now, we are in equal chances and there’s really not any strong hint one way or another.”

Colbert said the State College office only forecasts out for seven days, and any longer range forecasts come from a national office.

When it comes to planning for an upcoming winter, municipalities depend more on what occurred last year and ongoing trends to decide if any adjustments are necessary.

“We just look back at past years,” Ashland borough Manager Ray Jones Jr. said “We don’t look at weather predictions as far as how much (salt, heating oil) we’re going to need. Basically, our liquid fuels money sits in a fund. Whatever is not spent that year will go toward road work or something else.”

Jones said the municipal building/anthracite museum is heated with coal, which is purchased as needed.

“Some of the funds for that come out of the museum tours,” Jones said. “We did see a lot of savings last year when we converted the Washington Fire Company building from oil to natural gas two years ago. That was a big savings.”

Jones added, “As far as I’m concerned, last winter set the benchmark for snow removal.”

Gordon borough council President Michael Rader agreed with Jones that past weather events outweigh future weather forecasts.

“We’re not going to work on our budget based on the forecasts or by paging through the 2014 or 2015 Old Farmer’s Almanac and build a budget on that,” Rader said. “I think for a municipality like Gordon, we look at the cost from the previous year and that would be the driver. On a larger scale, PennDOT (the state Department of Transportation) had a huge unexpected cost last winter with salt and snow removal, and it exceeded what they had budgeted. From a budgeting perspective, the only thing you have is the historical data on what your expenditures were and you rely more on that than whatever a prediction would be or the farmer’s almanac.”

Michael Skotek, owner of Shamrock Oil Co., Mahanoy Plane, which is part of Skotek Oil Sales, McAdoo, said planning for the winter season is not affected by long-range weather prognostications.

“There is a routine procedure that is used every year, and as far as the forecasts for the weather, personally I don’t pay much attention to them,” Skotek said. “Look how many times they’ve been wrong in the past. Over the years there have been many times that I heard we were supposed to have one of the worst winters ever and it turned out to be a mild winter.”

Skotek said he understands that the weather services have modern equipment and procedures to forecast future weather patterns.

“To me, it seems like they’re trying to predict the winning numbers for the lottery,” he said. “It’s a long shot. I know they have a lot of scientific research that goes into it, but the weather still does what it wants to.”

As to whether a weather forecast affects the market cost of heating oil, Skotek said, “That’s when speculation comes into play, and speculation is there to make money for the investors. The only trouble with making money for the investors is that the consumer has to put that money there for them. That’s the futures market, which is put in place for investors to siphon money out. They don’t have to physically own the product, but then they take money out of the market again, and the money needs to be replaced by the consumer. Right now, it’s a soft market and the price is declining. I know that they’re predicting that gasoline by the end of the year could be under $3 a gallon. When the (gasoline) pump goes down (in price), there is a lot of activity. We’ve been very busy the last few weeks because of the fact of the gas pumps coming down and people want to cash in on favorable pricing.”

Penn State

Molly Zwiebel, a freshman pyschology and human development and family studies major at Penn State University, made the dean’s list for the spring semester with a 4.0 GPA.

A 2013 graduate of Pottsville Area High School, she is a daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Zwiebel.

Dickinson

Caroline Rachel Kanas-kie, a sophomore environmental science major at Dickinson College, Carlisle, made the dean’s list for the spring semester.

A Tamaqua Area High School graduate, she is a daughter of Paul and Renee Kanaskie, Tamaqua, and a granddaughter of Ron and Joan Greene, New Philadelphia.

Delaware Valley

Dr. Bashar Hanna, vice president for academic affairs and faculty dean at Delaware Valley College, Doylestown, announced that the following local students were honored for academic achievement by being named to the spring dean’s list:

Avery Corondi and Emily Gerhard, both of Auburn; Mary McBreen, Port Carbon; Gabrielle Montone, Schuylkill Haven; Kayla Romberger, Pitman; Allison Rusinko, Ashland; and Peter Stanakis, Mahanoy City.

Saint Joseph’s

Rachel M. Troxell, Pine Grove, a sophomore honor’s chemistry major, was named to the dean’s list at Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, for the spring semester.

Rachel graduated from Pine Grove Area High School in June 2012.

She is a daughter of Mich-ael and Marlene Troxell, Pine Grove, and a granddaughter of Ivan and Marie Loy, Pine Grove, and George and Suzanne Troxell, Pottsville.

Binghamton

Daniel J. Romberger, Valley View, received academic honors from Harpur College of Arts and Sciences at Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, by making the dean’s list for the spring semester.

Deeds

Ashland — ARH Properties LLC to New Heights South LLC; 1308 W. Centre St.; $1,666.

Branch Township — John W. Marnickas to William M. Shappell; 8.9568-acre property on Maple Street; $25,000.

Butler Township — Marie Baran to Samuel J. Slimmer; 109 Country Club Road, Fountain Springs; $365,000.

Delano Township — Sherrie Leshko and Cindy Leshko to John Leaswitch Jr. and Cindy Leshko; 144 Trenton; $1.

Gilberton — The Most Rev. Stefan Soroka, metropolitan-archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, to Robert Meyer; property on Main Street; $5,000.

Mahanoy Township — Patron Markets Inc. to Mahanoy Area School District; 2.19-acre property on Centre Street; $199,000.

Minersville — Brenda W. Curran to Bruce L. Laubenstine and Joan M. Hill; property at Sunbury and Second streets; $114,900.

Pottsville — Scott and Melissa Valukevich to Julie Bloss; 714 W. Norwegian St.; $31,000.

Rush Township — Abram Jesse Hoffman and Stephen D. Hoffman to Ronald E. Young Jr.; 10-acre property; $17,000.

John K. and Laverne D. Shafer to James A. Van Horn; 92 Grier Ave., Barnesville; $58,000.

Saint Clair — David M. Roehl and Richard T. Roehl, co-executors of the Estate of Mary Margaret Roehl, to William F. and Christine Jones; 44 N. Third St.; $20,000.

Schuylkill Haven — Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Rodney Blankenhorn and Luke Blankenhorn; 437 Hess St.; $15,000.

Shenandoah — Charles and Christina Puzak to Kathleen DiPaola and Christina Puzak; 33 S. Grant St.; $1.

Washington Township — Trevor and Brenda Reichert to Geraldine C. Weber and Edward M. Gill; two properties; $270,000.

Mary A. Guidas to George J. Guidas Jr.; 10.008-acre property on Township Road T-655; $1.

Wayne Township — Jason M. and Krista M. Smith to Krista M. Smith; 126 Schuylkill Mountain Road; $1.

Dennis G. and Diana M. Kramer to Dennis G. and Diana M. Kramer; 4.23232-acre property on Kiehners Road; $1.

John W. Reiley to Penny K. Shade and Todd D. Roberts; 509 Long Run Drive; $158,000.

Steven R. Peffer to Jonathan R. Rodnick; property on Route 895; $110,000.

Dennis G. and Diana M. Kramer to Keith P. and Chelsea N. Kramer; two properties on Kiehners Road; $1.

West Brunswick Township — Krista M. and John R. Kantner to Professional Investors Group LLC; 1603 Village Road, Pinebrook; $126,500.

Anthony M. Granata, administrator of the Estate of W. June Granata, to Robert and Pamela D. Panchari; garage in Pinebrook; $6,750.

Pinebrook II to Bernard R. and Jane A. Corriveau; 0.915-acre property on Village Road, Pinebrook; $34,900.

Aloysius J. and Krista K. Callaghan to Jeffrey L. Jr. and Michelle A. Zimmerman; 4035 Village Road, Pinebrook; $210,000.

Linda N. Potts to Linda N. Potts; 75 Summer Valley Road, Molino; $1.

West Mahanoy Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to JP Morgan Chase Bank NA; 383 Ohio Ave., Shenandoah Heights; $1,052.09.

John and Mary Podgurski to Nicholas A. Podgurski and John M. Podgurski; property at Green and Frack streets; $1.

John T. Anthony Jr. and Shanzi Jin to John T. Jr. and Shanzi Jin Anthony; 246 Florida Ave., Shenandoah Heights; $1.

West Penn Township — Roy D. Miller to George R. Dillman Jr.; 739 Penn Drive; $158,000.

Margaret L. Weaver, executrix of the Estate of Dale I. Weaver, to Elaine M. Inama; 53 Kepner’s Road; $80,000.

Dave Mattson to Glenn R. and Jessie Laninger; 398 Golf Road; $74,500.

MILLERSBURG — Dauphin County District Attorney Edward Marsico Jr., along with state police who have been investigating the disappearance of Tracy Marie Kroh, announced during a press conference Friday afternoon that a local woman has come forward and said she was almost abducted from Millersburg Square in the borough just three months prior to Kroh’s disappearance from the same place 25 years ago.

“A woman, with similar features to Kroh, came forward and told police that a man grabbed her from behind and tried to abduct her from the square,” Marsico said. “The woman was able to free herself from the man’s grasp but was unable to give us a detailed description of the man.”

Marsico said that local law enforcement learned of the attack within the last few years.

Police said they were unsure if the woman’s similar physical appearance to Kroh is tied to the disappearance case.

Marsico said he did not know why the woman waited so long to come forward with the information, but the police are just glad that she did.

“This is the one case we always think of that we really want to solve,” Marsico said. “This case continues to be active, and we want to bring closure for the family.”

Kroh’s sisters, Tammy Hoffman and Kim Weber, attended the press conference along with Marsico and state police Trooper Kyle Tobin and Sgt. Dan Fry, both of the Lykens barracks.

Police said they have investigated hundreds of leads and tips and have used traditional and nontraditional investigation methods.

Aug. 5 marked the 25th anniversary of the disappearance of Kroh, who went missing after she dropped off items at the home of her sister, Tammy Hoffman, in northern Dauphin County and then headed to the Millersburg area in her 1971 Mercury Comet. The vehicle was found in the square the next day. Some of Kroh’s personal belongings were found several years later in 1993 by a farmer along the Wiconisco Creek in Washington Township.

Investigators said Friday that Kroh was last seen at Alex Acres Mobile Home Park in Halifax.

Anyone with any information related to the disappearance of Kroh or a possible attempted abduction the same year is asked to call Tobin at the Lykens State Police Barracks at 717-362-8700. Anonymous tips will be fielded by the Crime Stoppers at 800-262-3080.

“We are asking anyone with information to please come forward,” Kroh’s sisters said after the press conference. “There will be no hard feelings, no one will be judged, please just come forward if you know anything about her disappearance.”

Hoffman said there’s not a day that goes by that she doesn’t think about her sister, Tracy.

“When I’m out and about with my own daughter and I lose sight of her, I immediately go into panic mode,” Hoffman said. “We just want to know what happened to our sister.”

n Gilberton: American Hose Company No. 2 in the borough’s Mahanoy Plane section will hold a “Summer Sizzler” block party from noon to 11 p.m. Aug. 30 at the company site, High Road. There will be food, refreshments and live music by Broken Spell. Donations would be appreciated. To donate or for more information, call Liz at 570-874-3406 or contact any American Hose member.

n Girardville: Rangers Hose Company, 6 E. Ogden St., will sponsor a wing night from 3 to 9 p.m. Sept. 13 at the firehouse. Wings are $8 a dozen and flavors include hot, mild, honey mustard, house, ranch, spicy ranch, hot garlic, barbecue, garlic parm and teriyaki. Fries will also be available for $3 and fries with wing sauce, $4. All are welcome. For more information, call 610-562-6076.

n Minersville: A theme basket showing, sponsored by the Minersville Area Skatepark Association, will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Spirit Day, Sept. 7, on North Street. It will be the first showing of baskets, which are valued from $25 to more than $500, according to a release. Drawings will be held Sept. 14 at the Good Will Fire Company, 25 North St. For more information, call 570-294-6235.

n Orwigsburg: A Team Diane Poker Run is set for 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 30 starting at Roman Delight, Route 61 South. For those who register in advance, the cost is $20 per rider and $15 per passenger. At the door on event day, registration will be $25/$20. The event is to benefit Diane Reedy Hartranft. The poker run will start and end at Roman Delight. The fee includes a buffet by Roman Delight. Registration also is available at Russo’s Pizza or by calling Kim at 570-573-9464.

n Pine Grove: The Pine Grove Temple Association will sponsor a Kauffman’s chicken barbecue, bake sale and lodge open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 1 at the lodge, 23 Oak Grove Road. Tickets are $7 each and required in advance by Saturday. For tickets, call Terry at 570-345-3351 or Ducky at 570-345-398. All are welcome.

n Pottsville: An event called Rockin’ for Our Own Wounded Vet, a benefit for Lance Cpl. Frederick Davis, a local wounded veteran, is slated for 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Aug. 31 at Striker’s Pub, 2501 W. End Ave. Tickets are $10 each. The benefit will include afternoon activities for the whole family plus live music with 10 bands throughout the event as well as disc jockey Guardian, games sponsored by D&A Amusements, face painting for kids, a dunk tank, tattoos, a Chinese auction, bounce house and Yuengling’s ice cream. Radio Y-102 with Jackie Hoffman will be on hand from 3 to 5 p.m. People can reserve a lane for bowling starting at 3 p.m. at $10 per person, which will include two hours of bowling with rental shoes included. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-573-1169.

n Primrose: St. Nicholas Church will sponsor a halupki dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 7 in the St. Nicholas Hall, Route 901. Meals are $9.50 each and include halupki, filling, mashed potatoes, green beans and roll. Patrons may eat in the hall or take meals out. For more information, call 570-544-4581. All are welcome.

n Schuylkill Haven: A free health fair will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday at Rest Haven, 401 University Drive. There will be free health screenings, giveaways and light refreshments. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-385-0331.

n Schuylkill Haven: A Cafe Covenant & Kids’ Night is set for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Covenant United Methodist Church, 215 E. Main St. Guest musician Jaime Bishop and Friends will perform. People should bring lawn chairs to enjoy the show. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-385-1401.

n Tremont: The Tremont Area Free Public Library will sponsor a craft fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday on Main Street at the traffic light. The library will chance off a lottery basket and have garden stone paintings at the fair. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-695-3325.