Lebanon Valley

Kiely Chaklos, Frackville, a senior at Lebanon Valley College, Annville, is serving as a member of the Senior Class Gift Drive Committee.

Kiely, a graduate of Nativity BVM High School, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and special education.

Kiely and other members of the Class of 2015 Gift Drive Committee recently announced their goals for the Senior Class Gift Drive. In celebration of their graduation year, committee members hope to raise $2,015 for LVC through multiple giving opportunities during the 2014-15 academic year.

Lebanon Valley College’s Alexander Koinski, Saint Clair, a computer science major, competed in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Computer Programming Contest. The contest is a part of the Association for Computing Machinery International Computer Programming Competition.

Alexander is a graduate of Pottsville Area High School.

His team finished sixth at the site and 46th in the regional competition. Twenty-four teams participated in the competition at the Shippensburg site. Nearly 190 teams from the Mid-Atlantic States competed in the regional.

Delaware Valley

The Sigma Alpha Sorority Educational Foundation announced Kayla Romberger, Pitman, a student at Delaware Valley College, Doylestown, was one of the recipients of the American Farm Bureau Scholarships for the 2015 event.

Four members from across the country were selected from a large pool of applicants to receive this event scholarship. The funds will be used to allow collegiate members of Sigma Alpha to attend the American Farm Bureau Federation’s FUSION Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, from Feb. 13 through 16, 2015. Members will gain valuable leadership, networking and professional development skills that they will use to jump start their careers in agriculture.

Pine Grove Area

Michelle Lengel and Tadd Shiffer Jr. were named November students of the month for Pine Grove Area High School.

Michelle, a daughter of Donald and Brenda Lengel, Pine Grove, is enrolled in the college preparatory and advanced placement curricula. Her high school activities include Cardinal Marching Band, concert band, jazz band, yearbook editor, National Honor Society, Quiz Bowl and Cardinal Spotlight Theatre. She is also involved in 4-H and Grange Church Youth Group.

Michelle plans to attend a four-year college and major in political science.

Tadd, a son of Tadd and Jamie Shiffer, Pine Grove, studies in the college preparatory, advanced placement and honors curricula. His school activities include Cardinal Marching Band, Cardinal Spotlight Theatre, WPGA, Advanced Wood (2014 Best of Show), Cardinal Club, SADD, track and field, youth track, National Honor Society and JROTC A Company Executive Officer. He is also involved in Boy Scouts and earned his Eagle Scout in 2013.

Tadd plans to attend either Penn State or Philadelphia University to get a master’s degree in aerospace engineering and innovate the future of jet technology.

Minersville Area

Kara Pytko and David Pedron were named students of the month for September at Minersville Area High School.

Kara is a daughter of Bernie and Kathleen Pytko, Minersville. She is National Honor Society president and a member of SADD, chemistry club, Academic League, TAT, track and field, cross country, annual musical, prom committee and yearbook staff.

Outside of school, Kara is a soup kitchen volunteer and an American Red Cross blood donor. She plans to attend a four-year college and major in biology.

David, a son Dave and Cyndi Pedron, Pottsville, is student council and Academic League Team president and a member of TAT, chemistry club, National Honor Society, yearbook staff, annual musical, varsity baseball team and cross country team.

Outside of school, David is an American Red Cross blood donor and a Minersville Spirit Day volunteer. He attends St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville, and plans to attend college.

Lindsey Snyder and Thomas Moran were named Minersville Area students of the month for October.

Lindsey, a daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Mark Snyder, Pottsville, is a member of SADD, TAT, Schuylkill County Youth Summit, prom committee and softball and soccer teams.

She volunteers at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Parish and with the Youth Summit Project. She plans to further her education in college and become an occupational therapist or speech pathologist.

Thomas, a son Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Moran, Minersville, is involved with Academic League, choir, drama club and football, basketball and track and field teams. He volunteers with Toys for Tots, St. Michael’s Food Bank, Football Cancer Game car wash and 24 Hours of Homeless.

He plans to attend college and become a doctor.

Frackville Rotary

Kaitlin Kowker, daughter of Michael and Alicia Kowker, Frackville, was honored as Frackville Rotary Club student of the month for October at a club meeting at Cracker Barrel Restaurant at Schuylkill Mall.

Kaitlin, a junior at Marian High School, has been nominated for National Honor Society membership. She is a member of the school’s chorus, band, green club, anti-bullying club and French Honor Society. She is a peer tutor and a varsity performer and letter winner for the softball and golf teams.

She has participated in the Diocese of Allentown Band Festival, is a Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership ambassador and represented the American Legion at the Keystone Girls State event.

Kaitlin is an altar server at Annunciation BVM Roman Catholic Church of St. Joseph Parish, Frackville, volunteers at Schuylkill Medical Center and is cultural chairwoman for Anthracite Council 144 of the Knights of Lithuania.

She plans to attend the University of Virginia to pursue a career as a nurse anesthetist and join the Navy.

Shen Rotary

Kristina Nieddu, a Shen-andoah Valley High School senior, was named student of the month for October by the Shenandoah Rotary Club.

She is student council president and a member of varsity basketball and volleyball, track and field, National Honor Society, yearbook staff, HOBY Youth Conference and Youth Summit.

Her community service includes pet inoculation, Shenandoah Valley Walk Against Racism, Relay for Life, American Red Cross and Miller Keystone blood drives; Lyla’s Hope, Christmas Lighting Fund, Toys for Tots, SPCA wreath sale, Leukemia and Lymphoma, Carter family, Vevasis family and student council fundraisers; Youth Summit service project group, ADL Youth Leadership Conference and Hoops for Heart. She served as a varsity football team water girl and Powder Puff Football organizer.

A daughter of Frank and Janine Nieddu, Shenandoah Heights, Kristina plans to attend college and become a registered nurse.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — A Christmas tradition continued Sunday with the Schuylkill Ballet Theatre’s 35th annual performance of “The Nutcracker.”

A 50-member cast performed the traditional ballet on Saturday and Sunday in the Zwerling Auditorium at Schuylkill Haven Area High School. Vivian Connor was head choreographer for the production and Sarah Shimpf was assistant choreographer.

“It’s a Christmas tradition,” Denise Mullin, theatre treasurer, said before the curtains went up Sunday.

“There’s kind of a bit of magic in it for the younger kids,” Michelle Bensinger, a theatre board member, said.

Janet Bair, president of the Schuylkill Ballet Dance Theatre, said both performances had great turnouts as people often watch “The Nutcracker” to kick off the Christmas season.

“My goal is to keep the arts in Schuylkill County and that’s why we promote this,” Bair said.

The cast consisted of members from age 9 to adults. The theatre is open to all students of dance throughout the area.

Auditions for “The Nutcracker” were held in May and the cast has been practicing every Sunday at Vivian’s Dance Studio, Schuylkill Haven.

“It’s a lot of work, but you can tell that they love it,” Mullin said.

Based on the story “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice” by E.T.A. Hoffman, the story is about a young German girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King. Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky later turned the story into a ballet.

The lead role of Clara went to Blue Mountain High School student Mikayla Ganter, 15.

“It’s an honor to have the part let alone the judges pick me for it,” Ganter, Schuylkill Haven, said. “It was my last year to be able to get the part and I got it, which means a lot.”

Only dancers up to the age of 15 are eligible for the part and can only play Clara once.

“I like how she interacts with everyone and she is just such a happy person,” she said.

Ganter said she has been dancing for about 13 years and enjoys working with the cast made up of students from different area schools.

“I love working with them,” she said. “We are like one big family. Each time someone leaves, it is hard to let them go.”

Schuylkill Ballet Theatre puts on two performances every year. For its spring performance, the theatre will present “The Wizard of Oz” on April 18 and 19, 2015, at Schuylkill Haven Area High School.

For more information about the Schuylkill Ballet Theatre, visit www.schuylkillballet.com.

Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, Allentown

To Daniel and Betsy White Barket, Bethlehem, a son, Aug. 6. Grandparents are Debbie and Kevin Kocher, David White, and Barbara and Brian Barket, all of Pottsville.

Geisinger Medical Center, Danville

To Richard and Ashley Shindel Clugston, Pottsville, a son, Nov. 21.

Berkeley Medical Center, Martinsburg, W.Va.

To Michael Messaros and Jennifer Holden, Martinsburg, a daughter, Oct. 23. The father is formerly of Tremont.

A recent donation to the Schuylkill County Historical Society, Pottsville, will no doubt pique the interest of genealogists fascinated by Wadesville, a village in New Castle Township.

On Nov. 12, Emmy Montgomery Koethe, 85, of Glen Mills, Delaware County, donated a register of marriages, births and deaths recorded more than 150 years ago by one of the organizers of the Primitive Methodist Church, which was established in Wadesville in April 1855.

That year, the Rev. James George started that particular register, according to the entries on the first few pages.

“I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. When I opened it up, I saw names. I was excited when I saw names from the Montgomery family in there,” Koethe said Wednesday.

Her Schuylkill County connection is her first husband, Harry Brown Montgomery, a native of Saint Clair who was born in 1928 and died in 1996.

“The book is falling apart, so instead of giving it to some of our other relatives, I thought it was much more important for the people up there to have it,” Koethe said.

It’s a composition book with a sewn binding. Its once black cover looks marbled, with brown age marks and cracks covering much of it. At the center of it is an off-white label no bigger than a message from a Chinese fortune cookie. On it is one word: “REGISTER.” Its pages are lined. All entries are in black pen.

Koethe also donated a framed image of the register’s author, George, the first preacher at Primitive Methodist Church of Wadesville.

“It’s sepia tone. It shows he had a long white beard,” she said.

Peter Yasenchak, the society’s former director of research, said both that picture and the register have been added to the collection of artifacts at the society, located at 305 N. Centre St.

Yasenchak said he made copies of the register.

“I don’t want people using this original book. It’s too fragile,” Yasenchak said.

He gave a copy to the Saint Clair Community and Historical Society, since it’s near Wadesville.

Wadesville, situated in the southeast part of the township, was laid out by Col. Louis Ellmaker in 1830 and was named in honor of Captain John Wade, a coal operator, according to the “Joseph H. Zerbey History of Pottsville and Schuylkill County,” published in 1936.

In the 1860s, George worked to establish a Sunday school and, in June 1868, the “Primitive Methodist Sabbath School Temperance Roll of Honor.” A church building for the Primitive Methodist Church was built in 1871 and was dedicated Dec. 29, 1872, according to the Zerbey history.

“Look at the beautiful handwriting,” Yasenchak said Tuesday as he examined the pages of George’s register.

Examining entries made in 1855, he found a list of baptisms, which included the names of children and their parents. He was also fascinated by a list of deaths, which included where members of the church were buried.

“There are people listed here who were buried in Flowery Field. Have you ever heard of Flowery Field? It’s up on Peach Mountain,” Yasenchak said.

Side effects include increased heart rate, sweating, increased blood pressure, hallucination and violent behavior.

But unlike a television commercial that warns of the results of taking medication, this one comes without an official government warning label because it’s uncontrolled and unregulated. It’s sold on the streets, in stores and through the Internet, both wholesale and retail.

It may seem harmless enough, with brand names like K2, spice and potpourri, or marketing that passes it off as herbal incense. Some brands are a little more telling with names like “Geeked Up,” “AK 47,” “Avalanche” and “Psycho.”

The buyer may rationalize that because it seems harmless, it won’t hurt them, but those working in law enforcement and in the health-care profession say it poses a great danger.

Its true name and identity is synthetic marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids, a mixture of organic materials sprayed with a synthetic compound, which are smoked for psychoactive effects, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. There are no lawful commercial or medical uses for the substances, according to the DEA.

Produced by “garage chemists,” Hazleton police Chief Frank DeAndrea said, it’s sold to the public under the disguise of something innocuous, when in fact, he has seen the chemicals inside it cause long-lasting health problems well after the initial high has worn off.

Some of the shiny, eye-catching packages claim to be natural, while others do list a cautionary warning to keep it out of reach of children and pets, or state they aren’t for human consumption. “Do not burn,” some packages state, or “For fragrance purposes only.”

Other packages are more deceptive; some even go so far as to say the contents are tested and certified. Others list chemical contents but because the sale of synthetic marijuana isn’t legal, investigators caution that users can’t know if the contents listed are the only ingredients in the bag.

As an officer opened a package of synthetic marijuana at the Hazleton Police Department, a greenish, organic-looking material emerged, similar in appearance to actual marijuana but without the pungent, earthy odor.

Barbara Carreno, a spokeswoman at DEA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, said any “warning label” posted on the packages is not because the manufacturer cares about the user’s quality of life, but its presence is the answer to a legal loophole aimed at providing a defense for the maker if they get caught.

Some distributors, Carreno said, even go so far as to provide retailers with a “laboratory certificate” that states the product doesn’t contain any DEA-banned chemicals, when in all likelihood it does contain those chemicals and is, in fact, illegal to sell.

She said she asks those businesses one question when they tell her that: “Do you really want to place the future of your business on lies?”

Powder to make the drug, Carreno said, is purchased from China, where it is manufactured. Then, the drug is mixed with acetone and sprayed on plant material. The acetone, used to remove nail polish, evaporates and leaves the drug residue behind, she said.

The DEA, she said, has seen the product mixed in bathtubs, cement mixers, animal feed troughs and on tarps in garages and storage units.

There are no factories with quality-control standards to ensure the product is being made free of contamination, she said.

Carreno said like many illegal drugs, it’s all about making money. Manufacturers, she said, are not thinking of the consumer’s best interest, nor do they have an overseeing body to force them to care by following health standards.

Synthetic marijuana, she said, has often been called “fake weed,” but it’s not marijuana, it only has been processed to look like the real thing. The research chemicals used to make synthetic marijuana were never intended for human consumption and were not tested on humans.

DEA labs, she said, find results for potency of synthetic marijuana “all over the place.”

Its potency is as unpredictable as the effects of taking the drug, she said, getting back to the lack of quality standards during the manufacturing process. A branded package of synthetic marijuana bought by someone one week may have a different potency or even different chemicals in it than the same brand package purchased even a week prior.

A local undercover narcotics detective, whose name is withheld due to the anonymity involved in his work, said though heroin is still the drug of choice in the Hazleton area, synthetic marijuana is increasing in popularity and it, too, is dangerous, classified as a Schedule 1 narcotic by the DEA because of its potency. Carreno said the drug is popular throughout the United States.

The detective said the chemical substances in the drug are what make it illegal. They go by scientific names such as XLR 11, UR 144, PB 22, THJ 2201 and NM 2201 and are classified as Schedule 1 controlled substances.

Synthetic marijuana provides a cheaper, stronger high, he said, but it also produces paranoia and violent behavior, unlike the effects of a similar-sounding drug, marijuana. It’s typically smoked through pipes or joints, the detective said. According to the DEA, it sometimes is made into an herbal tea.

After the inhale

The American Association of Poison Control Centers’ website, www.aapcc.org, states synthetic marijuana can cause severe agitation and anxiety, nausea and vomiting, muscle spasms, seizures, tremors and suicidal or harmful thoughts.

The harmful effects from these products were first reported in the U.S. in 2009. Since then, the drugs have spread throughout the country. There were 6,958 calls for synthetic marijuana in 2011, 5,230 calls about exposure to these drugs in 2012 and reports of 2,668 exposures in 2013.

As of Oct. 31, they received 2,996 calls. The website states the figures are based on closed human exposure calls for synthetic marijuana as reported to poison control centers. Not all exposures are poisonings or overdoses, the website states.

Rajendra Gajula, a psychiatrist at Northeast Counseling Services, said users can continue to have psychosis after inhaling synthetic marijuana during long-term use. Despite the nasty side-effects, he said, people using it are at times unaware of the seriousness of their decision to use it. He said synthetic marijuana is toxic to the brain.

“It’s dangerous, can be lethal. Stay away from it,” Gajula said bluntly.

He has seen patients become psychotic from using it, some needing hospitalization. There are more emergency room visits because of its toxic effects recently, too, he said. Coma and unconsciousness can also result from the use of synthetic chemicals.

He encourages people to research the adverse effects through credible websites and publications.

Gajula said he has seen patients use the drug recreationally, too.

Some people get defensive when he tells them of the dangers, saying they used it before and never had a problem, he said. But the fact remains that other people do have unpleasant experiences.

The undercover detective said buyers don’t know what they’re getting and even dealers of synthetic marijuana don’t know exactly what they are selling because the product, like many illegal drugs, isn’t regulated. He said dealers will often tell officers that what they are selling is not illegal.

Most of the time, what the dealer thinks isn’t really illegal is “just word on the street,” the officer said. Most local busts of synthetic marijuana are in fact illegal, the detective added.

As the ingredients in synthetic marijuana keep changing, so do laws banning it. DeAndrea said legislators are changing laws to outlaw the new chemicals.

The work is frustrating, the detective said, but those in law enforcement are invested in stopping it.

He said a man was taken into custody recently with nearly 300 packets of synthetic marijuana in greater Hazleton that he was selling for between $2 and $5 a bag. Those packets of drugs were sent for testing and, once they were identified as illegal, the man was charged.

The detective said people can keep themselves safe by not taking the drug or any substance that looks suspicious or ingesting or inhaling anything they’re not 100 percent sure of.

DeAndrea said people will see synthetic marijuana in stores and think it’s OK to buy because it’s being sold. He said they need to be educated that it isn’t something safe to introduce to their body, despite its catchy name or flashy packaging.

It’s still a “mind-altering and addictive” substance, DeAndrea said.

He said no one type of person is immune to synthetic marijuana, as people of all backgrounds and ages have fallen prey to it.

“We are not going to arrest our way out of this problem,” he said.

The area needs more educational programs announcing the dangers of drugs geared toward children and their parents and more treatment facilities, he said, and there needs to be funding for those services.

The state needs to mandate drug awareness classes in schools, DeAndrea said, because communities are “falling apart at the seams” without one.

Addicts, he said, are often begging for help out of dependency.

“Someone needs to stop and say we need to find time and funding to do it,” he said.

Gajula said the best way to treat an addict is to encourage them to get help and motivate them to stay clean. Sometimes, in the case of teenagers, hearing those messages from peers is more effective than hearing it from an adult, he said, so he advocates the work of peer support groups.

Prevention is also important, he said. But by the time many people come to the attention of law enforcement officials, they already have a problem, Gajula said.

In recent Schuylkill County Court action, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

Dennis Basuljevic, 26, of Drums; possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation, $100 payment to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of tampering with evidence.

Saphire K. Bohr, 20, of Pine Grove; two counts of false reports to law enforcement and one each of attempted unsworn falsification to authorities and retail theft; 45 months probation and $100 in payments to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account.

Michael F. Brown, 57, of Cressona; driving under suspension; sentencing deferred pending preparation of a presentence investigation. Prosecutors withdrew charges of habitual offender and stop sign violation.

Francis W. Chambers, 27, of Tamaqua; two counts of criminal mischief; 18 months probation and $100 in CJEA payments. Prosecutors withdrew an additional count of criminal mischief and one count of disorderly conduct.

Justin J. Chickilly, 33, of Tamaqua; driving under the influence; six months probation, $300 fine, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment and $60 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street. Prosecutors withdrew charges of failure to use lights and failure to stop at red signal.

Kelley M. Davis, 31, of Halifax; possession of a controlled substance and disorderly conduct; 12 months probation, $50 CJEA payment and $50 bench warrant fee.

Amber L. Franz, 24, of Pottsville; retail theft; 12 months probation and $50 CJEA payment.

Robert Fritz, 38, of Hazleton; DUI; six months in the intermediate punishment program, $750 fine, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment and $60 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street. Prosecutors withdrew charges of careless driving and speeding.

Jeffrey A. Fritch, 22, of Allentown; possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation, $100 SAEF payment and $50 CJEA payment.

Michael D. Hannock, 38, of Ashland; simple assault and recklessly endangering another person; 110 days to 23 months in prison, $50 CJEA payment, $50 bench warrant fee and $280 restitution. Prosecutors withdrew one additional count each of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person, along with charges of burglary and terroristic threats.

Amy Hubler, 38, of Pottsville; two charges of defiant trespass; 29 days to 12 months in prison and $100 in CJEA payments.

Jonathan J. Kintzel, 32, of Pottsville; receiving stolen property and criminal trespass; 12 months probation, $100 fine and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of prohibited possession of firearm.

Stephen Kubeika, 26, of Saint Clair; recklessly endangering another person and simple assault; 3 years probation and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew charges of aggravated assault and harassment.

Justin A. Marshall, 23, of Morton; bad checks; 12 months probation, $50 CJEA payment, $50 bench warrant fee and $1,075 restitution.

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

A Frackville woman charged with stealing money from the Pennsylvania Wine and Spirits Store in that community while she was employed there and a Shenandoah man accused of assaulting and severely injuring his young daughter are among those scheduled to plead not guilty Tuesday during arraignment in Schuylkill County Court.

Loren F. Wright, 40, of 159 N. Second St. was arrested by Frackville police Sgt. Marvin Livergood and charged with one count each of theft, receiving stolen property, theft by deception, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds and tampering with records or identification.

Livergood charged Wright with thefts totaling $2,279.99 that occurred between February 2013 and February 2014, when she was general manager of the store at 500 W. Oak St.

Wright is also facing similar charges stemming from incidents at the Wine and Spirits Store in Shenandoah.

Gregory Reser, 21, of 13 S. Grant St. was arrested by Shenandoah police Capt. Michael O’Neill and charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering another person.

O’Neill charged Reser with assaulting Aubrey Reser on July 17, causing her to suffer traumatic head injuries.

The child was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, where a physician said she suffered some form of traumatic brain injuries that resulted in subdural hematomas, retinal hemorrhaging and more.

The doctor said the injuries were consistent with shaken baby syndrome, O’Neill said.

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

Kenneth W. VanHorn, 35, of 39 W. Spruce St., Mahanoy City — driving under the influence of drugs and careless driving.

Martina Kaminsky, 45, of 734 Brock St., Ashland — possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a small amount of marijuana, driving under the influence of drugs and careless driving.

Gregory D. Eckert, 20, of 32 Jane Ave., Schuylkill Haven — DUI, DUI-minor, careless driving and failure to use seat belts.

Matthew J. Witherow, 23, of 2956 Fair Road, Auburn — DUI, not carrying or exhibiting a driver’s license on demand, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic and exceeding the speed limit.

Debra J. Merideth, 59, of 607 W. Pine St., Mahanoy City — DUI and DUI-high rate.

Laura J. Pernick, 54, of 22 N. Second St., Saint Clair — driving under the influence of drugs, careless driving and stop and yield sign violations.

Jacquelyn L. Marhelko, 42, of 273 Millers Road, Zion Grove — DUI and DUI-high rate.

Raymond D. Trevorah, 41, of 527 Schuylkill Ave., Tamaqua — DUI, driving under the influence of drugs, possession of a controlled substance, turning movements and required signals violation and driving at an unsafe speed.

Michael K. Shannon, 28, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — criminal solicitation to commit possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

John P. Simon, 44, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — conspiracy and criminal attempt to commit possession of a controlled substance.

Darren S. Nagle, 22, of 197 Dad Burnhams Road, Pine Grove — DUI, careless driving and illegal use of multi-beam road lighting equipment.

Naya Relis, 20, of 620 Lewis St., Minersville — simple assault and harassment.

Joshua D. Joseph, 29, of 1107 E. Centre St., Mahanoy City — prohibited offensive weapons, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Tiara R. Pleva, 30, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — retail theft.

Whitney L. Sutton, 22, of 104 Mount Olive Blvd., Shenandoah — conspiracy, possessing instruments of crime and recklessly endangering another person.

Scott A. Wise, 36, of 1803 W. Market St., Pottsville — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

John L. Smith, 25, of 385 Owl Creek Road, Tamaqua — conspiracy, criminal attempt to commit theft by deception, false identification to law enforcement and disorderly conduct.

Taryn Depos, 28, of 127 E. Phillips St., Apt. 2, Coaldale — conspiracy and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception.

Katrina Bryant, 33, of 147 E. Adams St., McAdoo — false reports.

Jason D’Andrea, 37, of 613 Arlington St., Floor 1, Tamaqua — possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Brian V. Danchak, 42, of 272 E. High St., Coaldale — terroristic threats and disorderly conduct.

Jason Bankes, 21, of 37 Forrest Ave., Barnesville — resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Nicholas P. Carusella III, 30, of 117 Railroad St., Cressona — possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness.

Julie F. Putlock, 50, of 412 High St., Schuylkill Haven — possession of a controlled substance.

Steven L. Shomper, 46, of 1414 E. Grand Ave., Tower City — aggravated assault on police, simple assault and disorderly conduct.

Joseph M. Krasinsky Jr., 28, of 79 Front St., Cressona — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Rikki J. Williams, 19, of 511 N. Seventh St., Pottsville — simple assault.

Laura L. Parenzan, 24, of 24 Hilltop Mobile Home Park, Schuylkill Haven — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kevin M. McDonough, 40, of 411 W. Norwegian St., Pottsville — corruption of minors and harassment.

Amber L. Franz, 24, of 436 E. Arch St., Pottsville — retail theft.

Benjamin L. Neidlinger, 21, of 1223 W. Norwegian St., Apt. 1, Pottsville — possession of a controlled substance.

Max W. Walls, 32, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Kara A. Ryan, 24, of 451 E. Market St., Pottsville — retail theft and harassment.

Andrew T. Graham, 39, of 512 N. Centre St., Apt. 2D, Pottsville — child pornography and dissemination of photos or film of child sex acts.

Jerica L. Jenkins, 27, of 125 W. Grand Ave., Tower City — theft, receiving stolen property and theft by deception.

Eric R. Myers, 44, of 612 Oak St., Pottsville — possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct.

Desiree A. Marsh, 23, of 545 E. Norwegian St., Pottsville — possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Scott M. Winter, 30, of 329 Pine St., Schuylkill Haven — prohibited offensive weapons, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Benjamin L. Neidlinger, 21, of 1223 W. Norwegian St.., Apt. 1, Pottsville — false reports.

Michael J. Liptok, 27, of 225 Peacock St., Pottsville — rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and indecent assault.

Timothy D. Keefer, 47, of 619 Harrison St., Pottsville — simple assault and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Richard Sellner, 20, of State Correctional Institution/Mahanoy, Frackville — disorderly conduct.

Marleeka S. Ballard, 25, of 247 S. Wylam St., Apt. B, Frackville — criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

Corey M. Ratliff, 37, last known address of 433 Harrison St., Pottsville — retail theft, simple assault and resisting arrest.

Brittany Marks, 22, of 92 Mohonag St., Frackville — theft and receiving stolen property.

Jeremy J. Lockwitch, 26, of 221 Church St., Barnesville — possession of a controlled substance.

Raymond J. Stanton, 73, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — failure to comply with requirements of sexual offender registration.

Raymond W. Kroh, 37, of 1404 Centre St., Ashland — rape, sexual assault, resisting arrest and indecent assault.

James Longenberger, 68, of Box 73, 2123 High Road, Mahanoy Plane — fleeing or attempting to elude police, recklessly endangering another person, stop and yield sign violations and duty of driver on approach of emergency vehicle.

Justin T. Kanezo, 21, of 514 Pine St., Pottsville — theft from a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property.

Tyler J. Donaldson, 24, of 201 E. Market St., Apt. 2F, Orwigsburg — possession of a controlled substance.

Paul B. Petrus, 46, of 731 E. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Shane Lopez, 19, of 209 E. Centre St., Apt. 1, Shenandoah — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct.

Christina Yoza, 37, of 214 W. South St., Mahanoy City — delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Tyler J. Mooney, 20, of 426 E. Arlington St., Shenandoah — defiant trespass.

Jose Rivera, 31, of 216 W. Atlantic St., Shenandoah — theft of leased property.

Beatrice Nitolo, 49, of 147 Mount Olive Blvd., Shenandoah — accidents involving damage to attended vehicles or property and driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked.

Charles Hummel Jr., 24, of 22 Fritz Reed Ave., Schuylkill Haven — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Clifford M. Foss, 39, of 129 Jackson St., 2nd Floor, Port Carbon — receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Thomas J. Ritter Jr., 67, of 320 Macarthur Drive, Orwigsburg — accidents involving damage to attended vehicles or property, driving without insurance, driving at an unsafe speed and failure to give information and render aid.

Caleb B. Cook, 25, of 525 W. Columbia St., Schuylkill Haven — simple assault and harassment.

Joanne M. Love, 72, of 458 Main St., Ashland — retail theft.

Bradley J. Haslam Jr., 21, of 3019 Chestnut St., Pottsville — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Anthony F. Baransky, 48, of 255 Lehigh St., Cumbola — corruption of minors.

Jesus A. Santos, 34, of 91 Schuylkill Ave., Shenandoah — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Michael T. Dower, 19, of 1410 S. Middle St., Ashland — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Deeds

South Manheim Township — Sandra L. Grecu and Sherrie King Hallowell to Sandra L. Grecu; 807 Wynonah Drive, Lake Wynonah; $172,000.

Tamaqua — R.G.C. Development LP to Dennis M. and Marie O’Donnell; 257 Owl Creek Road A; $198,000.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.; 208 Biddle St.; $1,121.33.

R.G.C. Development LP to Nicholas D. Zukowsky; 261A Owl Creek Road; $40,900.

Washington Township — James M. and Donna A. Bogert to Eric P. Otruba; 269 Moyers Station Road; $247,000.

Adrienne R. and Michael C. Sterner to Bryan S. Dimon and Kaylin L. Wessner; 14 Dad Burnhams Road; $158,000.

Saint Clair man

faces charges

SAINT CLAIR — A borough man was charged with harassment by Saint Clair police after an incident about 1:45 a.m. Sunday at his 25 Ann St. home.

Police said Giacomo Salera, 49, will have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon.

Salera, police said, punched Ashley McNulty, 25, also of 25 Ann St., in the mouth, causing her to suffer a bloody lip.

Police investigate

theft of vehicle

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — State police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating the theft of a black 2003 Dodge Neon SXT that occurred between 1 p.m. Thursday and 1 a.m. Friday at 2084 Long Run Road in North Manheim Township.

Police said Travis Umbenhauer, Schuylkill Haven, reported someone stole the vehicle from his driveway and that the keys were left on the driver’s side floor at the time of the theft.

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

Police probe egg

throwing incident

MAR LIN — State police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating an incident involving disorderly conduct that occurred between 2 and 7:30 a.m. Saturday at 504 Beechwood Avenue, Norwegian Township.

Police said someone threw eggs at the residence of Beth Senawaitis and fled the scene.

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

2 escape injury

in 1-vehicle crash

FRACKVILLE — Two Pottsville residents escaped injury when the vehicle they were in hit a guard rail at 2:21 p.m. Friday on Route 61, about a mile south of Mall Road, New Castle Township.

State police at Frackville said Keith M. Holmes, 22, was driving a 1997 Eagle Talon north on Route 61 when he lost control of the vehicle while rounding a left curve in the road, traveled across the left lane and struck the guard rail.

A passenger, Joseph W. Holmes, 48, also escaped injury.

Police cited the driver for the accident.

HARRISBURG — The annual base salary for state lawmakers will automatically increase 1.6 percent to $85,356 effective today and a number of lawmakers representing Northeast Pennsylvania said they won’t accept it.

Locally, Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, plans to accept the hike; Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, will return the increase to the state Treasury and Sen. David Argall, R-29, is reviewing his options.

This $1,344 cost-of-living increase is tied to an inflation index based on the federal consumer price index for the Mid-Atlantic states and adjusted annually under terms of a 1995 law. The 2014 base salary was $84,012. Legislative leaders receive extra stipends.

Since the pay increase is automatic, lawmakers need to take a proactive step to avoid receiving this benefit personally either by writing a refund check to the state Treasury, sometimes on a monthly or quarterly basis, or by giving the amount to charities.

As a result of their personal decisions, some lawmakers will collect the 2014 salary of $84,012 throughout 2015, while a few will continue to collect the salary in effect at the time they first took office.

The governor and cabinet secretaries, judges and elected row officials also receive automatic COLAs. Gov. Tom Corbett has returned the COLA since he took office in 2011. Gov.-elect Tom Wolf has said he will not take the governor’s new $191,000 annual salary.

However, the legislative COLA usually draws the most public scrutiny. That’s because of lingering controversy over an abortive effort in 2005 to hike the base legislative salary while keeping the COLA.

The COLA will mean a pension bounce for individual lawmakers no matter what option they take, said Capitol activist Eric Epstein of RockTheCapital.com.

“This is a major impact for Pennsylvania taxpayers,” he said.

Lawmakers gave various reasons for their decisions. At the height of the recession, many Northeast Pennsylvania lawmakers cited concerns about the region’s high jobless rate as a reason for not taking the COLA, but less was heard about that subject this year with an improving economy.

Where they stand

Here is what some regional lawmkers had to say about the COLA:

· “I do not agree with the automatic cost-of-living adjustments, and will continue my practice of donating them to local charities,” said Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20, Lehman Township. Baker said she will again sponsor a bill next session to abolish the automatic raises.

· Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, Pottsville, said he plans to accept the salary increase. He said he intends to do a good job as a lawmaker in the new session advocating issues he’s worked on like public pension reform.

· Sen.-elect Mario Scavello, R-40, Mount Pocono, plans to donate the COLA to charities. As a House lawmaker, Scavello said he has traditionally donated from $5,000 to $6,000 of his base salary to charities.

· Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-116, Butler Township, plans to give the majority of her COLA to area charities.

· Rep. Kurt Masser, R-107, Elysburg, said he’ll donate his raise again this year to local charities. He hasn’t yet chosen which ones.

“I’d much rather have the money stay local,” as opposed to being returned to the state General Fund, he said.

· Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, Tamaqua, said he will refund his COLA to the state Treasury as in previous years.

· Sen. David Argall, R-29, Tamaqua, is reviewing several options, but has made no decision yet on the COLA, spokesman Jon Hopcraft said.

· Rep. Neal Goodman, D-123, could not be reached for comment.

Six schools in Schuylkill County received grant funding from the state to address and prevent violence.

The schools and the amounts they received were:

• Mahanoy Area School District, $25,000

• Pine Grove Area School District, $17,000

• Pottsville Area School District, $25,000

• Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29, $24,455

• Schuylkill Technology Centers, $23,535

• Tri-Valley School District, $22,150

The maximum grant awarded was $25,000.

“Pennsylvania’s schools must be a safe haven for students and educators to focus on learning and growing academically. This grant program provides schools with the financial resources to ensure that our children learn in safe and secure environments,” Gov. Tom Corbett said in a statement.

Out of 182 applications submitted, 123 were funded in the amount of $2.6 million.

AUBURN — The alarm went off about 4 a.m. today. Joe Mulqueen, 40, of Auburn, ate his traditional breakfast with family and friends before heading to the woods about 5 a.m. for the opening day of the rifle deer season.

“The first day is usually your best bet because 80 percent of hunters that have tags are out,” Mulqueen said on Sunday. “You have some more human pressure, which make the deer move more.”

The statewide firearm season runs from Dec. 1 to 13. In many parts of the state, properly licensed hunters may take either antlered or antlerless deer at any time during the season. In other areas, hunters may take only antlered deer during the first five days, with the antlered and antlerless seasons then running concurrently from Saturday until the season’s close.

Wildlife Management Units 4A and 4C were changed this year and only antlered deer can be taken from Dec. 1 through 5. WMU 4A includes parts of Bedford, Fulton, Franklin, Huntingdon and Blair counties. WMU 4C includes parts of Columbia, Luzerne, Carbon, Lehigh, Berks, Schuylkill, Lebanon and Dauphin counties.

“This year, the main reason I am out on the first day is because the season has changed,” Mulqueen said.

According to the National Weather Service, it will be cloudy today with a high near 49 degrees.

“It’s going to be unseasonably warm,” Mulqueen said.

Mulqueen said deer move more often in the cold to stay warm.

“I don’t know if it will affect anything for the first day because of the amount of people out,” Mulqueen said. “I’m assuming with the amount of hunters, it should still move the deer.”

Mulqueen said he hopes some snow remains on the ground.

“Snow works well just because it’s a lot easier to track the deer,” he said.

The NWS forecast has a 30 percent chance of rain from 1 to 4 p.m. today with amounts of less than 0.1 of an inch possible.

“The nice thing about the rain is that it gets rid of some of the human scent out in the woods,” Mulqueen said.

Mulqueen said he usually nabs a deer during archery season. Since he did not have any luck with a bow this year, he is trying again with a .25-06 Remington rifle.

“It’s a smaller caliber,” he said. “It’s just faster. It’s nicer to shoot at a distance if you have it and it causes less damage to the deer in terms of preserving meat. What I am trying to do is put meat in my freezer.”

Mulqueen said he started hunting small game when he was about 12 years old.

“I just like being in the outdoors,” he said. “It’s been a hobby for years. Even my motorcycle riding takes a back seat to hunting.”

While Mulqueen said he started preparing about two weeks ago, other area hunters waited until this past weekend.

Shakey’s Gun Shop, Orwigsburg, was just as crowded as other stores in the area on Black Friday. The store was offering deals on used hunting rifles, but most customers wanted to get their hands on ammunition.

“This is one of the busiest times of the year, and Christmas,” Joshua Shamonsky, store owner, said Friday.

Shamonsky said many customers came to the store for .35 Remington rifle ammunition, which is in short supply across the state. The ammunition is used with a Marlin 336 lever-action rifle, a popular gun used mainly for hunting deer. Shamonsky said the ammo cuts through brush and is not easily deflected.

He said the store received a shipment of 11 boxes about 1 p.m. Friday. There are 20 rounds in each box.

By 2 p.m. Friday, he only had four boxes left.

“It will be an interesting season because of the changes in the rules again,” Shamonsky said. “I’m curious to see how many people forget.”

Shamonsky also stressed the importance of safety, as a teenage boy and girl were hit by a single bullet fired by a hunter last week near the border of Tamaqua borough and Walker Township. The Pennsylvania Game Commission said the teenagers were taken to hospitals, but their condition was unavailable.

“Identify the target,” Shamonsky said. “Make sure there is a good back stop behind the target to make sure you are not hitting something behind it.”

For more information about the hunting season, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission website at www.pgc.state.pa.us.

n Lansford: The Panther Valley SHINE center is collecting canned and dried foods for the “Feed the People” organization in Nesquehoning. Food items will be collected until Dec. 18. Items can be dropped off at the elementary school or at Panther Valley Lumber, Lansford.

n Lansford: The Panther Valley Public Library, 117 E. Bertsch St., will assist seniors during open enrollment for Medicare parts C and D every Wednesday through Dec. 7 during regular library hours. Counselors will assist consumers in finding a drug plan or a Medicare Part C plan. This service is available by appointment. To make an appointment, call 570-645-3780.

n McAdoo: St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, 210 W. Blaine St., will hold an advance-order-only Christmas pyrohy sale Dec. 12. To order, call 570-929-1211 before Sunday. Potato, cabbage and prune pyrohy are available. Preparations for this sale will begin Dec. 8.

n Nuremberg: The Nuremberg Community Ambulance membership drive for 2014 is under way and will continue until Jan. 1. The drive covers September 2014 to September 2015. There will only be one mailing. Any resident who has not received a membership request in the mail should call 570-384-3405 and leave his/her name, number and mailing address. Nuremberg Community Ambulance covers all of North Union and Black Creek township, and parts of Beaver, East Union and Hazle townships, including all of Eagle Rock.

n Tamaqua: The annual Tamaqua Spirit of Christmas Festival is scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday and will include a variety of festivities, music, food, contests, crafts and theatrical performances as well as the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus at 6 p.m. Friday. They will make their way to Depot Square Park, where they will flip the switch to start the annual Christmas light show. After the ceremony, festivities will move to the Tamaqua Art Center, 125 Pine St., where children will be able to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. On Saturday, events will begin with breakfast with Santa at the Tamaqua Salvation Army, 105 W. Broad St. Other food-related activities will include a Victorian Tea, at 2 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church and a cookie judging contest at 3 p.m. at the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce office, 114 W. Broad St. On Sunday, there will be a holiday craft show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Salvation Army, where there will also be holiday musical entertainment from noon to 4 p.m. A storytelling time with Mrs. Claus will begin at 1 p.m. at the art center, after which Susan Featro will give a Christmas concert at 2:30 p.m. Activities for all three days will include a tree trimming festival at the art center, the presentation of “A Christmas Carol the Musical” at the Strawberry Playhouse in Tuscarora and the production of a Winnie the Pooh Christmas Tail at the art center. The festival will end with the lighting of the community Christmas tree at 6 p.m. in Depot Square Park.

n Weston: The Weston Athletic Association will hold a children’s Christmas party from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Nuremberg-Weston fire hall. Children participating must be registered by Dec. 8. To register, call 570-384-3470 or 570-384-3511.

n Zion Grove: Mount Zion Lutheran Church will hold a hoagie sale Dec. 14 with pickups from 2 to 3 p.m. at the church. Hoagies will be made at the church. The cost is $3.50 each. Regular and turkey hoagies with or without onion will be available. Hoagies have lettuce, tomatoes, dressing and mayonnaise on the side. The sale will benefit Heather Hons-Hetherington, who was injured from the waist down when she was hit by a car in August. She is recuperating at Mountain City Nursing and Rehabilitation. She and her husband, Dale, have three children, a 10-year-old daughter and 8-year-old twin sons. The family resides in Nuremberg, according to a church release. Checks for hoagies and monetary donations should be made to Mount Zion Lutheran Church. To order, call Kathy at 570-384-2267 or Deb at 570-889-5401. The deadline to order is Sunday.

n Frackville: Christmas Open House at the Frackville Museum is set for 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. The museum is located in the Frackville Municipal & Community Center, Center and Oak streets. The event will feature decorations, including sprays decorated with the Christmas balls that were sold in the past by the Frackville Public Library. Local historian Lorraine Stanton will host “It’s a Fact,” featuring tidbits about Christmas. The museum’s Sentimental Journey Room will be decorated. Refreshments will be served, according to a release from Kathy Kraft, museum volunteer. Since the museum will be closed in January and February, the volunteers expressed appreciation to all who made donations in the past year and to those who visited.

n Pine Grove: The Pine Grove Area Christmas Lighting Committee will hold the annual lighting of the community Christmas tree on Saturday at the parking lot of Werner Lumber, 29 S. Tulpehocken St. Festivities will begin at 2:30 p.m. and everyone is welcome. The Teen Challenge Choir, Rehrersburg, will also take part as will the Pine Grove Community Band. Santa will arrive via a float by the Ravine Fire Company and will have gifts for the children. Operation Hugs and Kisses, a local organization formed in 2010 after several row home fires in the borough, will sell soups, hot dogs, baked goods, hot cocoa and coffee.

n Shenandoah: The Shenandoah Valley Student Council is having a Christmas wreath sale. Decorated wreaths are $18, snowflakes, candy canes and crosses are $20 each. To order or for more information, call 570-462-1957 or email to pytka@svbluedevils.org. Orders are also being taken at the Downtown Shenandoah Inc. office and Catizone’s Barber Shop, North Main Street, and at The Pizza Shop, South Main Street. The deadline to order is Dec. 10. Deliveries will be on Dec. 15. All proceeds will benefit the Hillside SPCA.

n Tamaqua: The Socks for Seniors Project is in full swing for the third year. According to a press release, Socks for Seniors is a nationwide service project that supports individual efforts to hold sock drives in local communities. Founded by Jamie Coyne in Columbus, Ohio, the effort aims to ensure that all seniors, even those without family members, have a gift to open during the holidays. Mary Ann Dulaney and her daughter, Jessica Kutza, are coordinators for the project, with the assistance of 15 area businesses. They are collecting donations of warm socks and other items to distribute to local nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. In addition to donations of non-skid and regular socks, personal care items — shampoo, lotion, chap stick, deodorant, brushes, combs, aftershave, shower caps, small hand sanitizers — are being collected, as well as individually wrapped snacks or sugar-free candy, soft tissues, costume jewelry, garden gloves for wheelchair use, backscratchers, puzzle books and “anything to bring cheer to the elders,” according to the release. New, unwrapped items can be dropped off at the following locations: Tommy’s Restaurant and Angela Triplex Theatre, Coaldale; Sports Zoo, JJ’s Hair & Tanning, First Niagara Bank and Jim Thorpe National Bank, Lansford; Hiles Brothers and Batter’s Box, Summit Hill; Classic Beverage, Newsquehoning; Mauch Chunk 5&10, Jim Thorpe; Midas and Beacon 443, Lehighton; Dr. Puddu’s office and M&S Hardware, Tamaqua. New, unwrapped items should be dropped off by Dec. 12. Businesses interested in hosting a drop-off box or nursing centers in need of gifts should call Dulaney at 570-645-4228 or email to madula@ptd.net.

n Weishample: Birthright of Frackville will sponsor a holiday shopping event and Christmas auction from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Weishample Grange, 868 Deep Creek Road. Admission is free. The event will feature crafters plus vendors from Pampered Chef, Wildtree, Thirty-One, Scentsy, Mary Kay, Origami Owl, Celebrating Home, Premier Designs and Jamberry Nails. All visitors will receive a shopping card, according to a Birthright release. “As you shop, ask each vendor for their signature. When all vendors have signed your card, return it for a chance to win a $50 VISA gift card,” organizers said in the release, adding, “For each purchase you make from vendors, you will receive another ticket for more chances to win.” No purchase is necessary to be eligible to win the VISA gift card. Proceeds from the Chinese auction will benefit Magical Memories for Kids and Birthright of Frackville. The cost for Chinese auction tickets is $5 per sheet of 25 tickets. For more information, call 570-648-3585.

In 1954, the DiCello family started Charlie’s Pizza & Sub Shop in Pottsville, and since then it’s become a landmark.

“These days, we make about 1,000 subs a week and sell about 200 pizzas,” longtime owner Anthony A. “Tony” DiCello, 77, said Monday.

Over the years, the business — which has been housed in a vintage diner at 1401 W. Market St. since 1965 — has attracted a strong customer base. And as he considered his retirement, DiCello made an effort this year to keep the business in the family.

In August, he sold it to his nephew, Kevin DiCello, 42, and his wife, Allison “Allie” Higgins DiCello, 39.

“Kevin expressed interest in this business quite a few years ago. It was always something he wanted to take over, since his grandfather started it. He didn’t want to see it leave his family. We took over August 1. We’re co-owners, but I run it. And Tony is a consultant, and a wealth of information. He said he’d stay on to help us learn the business and run it, because we don’t want anything to change. We want it to stay exactly the same, the way Tony has built it over the last 52 years,” Allie DiCello said Monday.

“I’m glad it’s going to stay in the family. I like the recipe they have for pizza. When I call I always order a four-cut unbaked with pepperoni. And I don’t even have to give my name. They know it’s me whenever I call in for it,” former Pottsville Mayor John D.W. Reiley said Monday.

“My whole family’s been customers there for as long as they’ve been there just about. The people are nice. They know what you want and they’re reasonable. One thing I’m happiest about is they’re not changing a thing. And Tony has a talent. When he makes a hoagie, he tucks in everything so it doesn’t fall apart,” Tom O’Reilly, owner of Club 18, 110 N. 18th St., Pottsville, said Monday.

At 10:30 a.m. Monday, Tony DiCello was at the shop slicing salami and Allie DiCello was making pizzas.

“We start cutting at 7 o’clock in the morning. We still have onions to do. Right now, I’m cutting salami. We do about 300 pounds of meat a day. That’s different kinds of meat, ham, salami, turkey, baloney and so forth,” Tony DiCello said.

Tony’s uncle, Anthony, was the first Pottsville man to lose his life during World War I, according to newspaper archives.

“I was named after him,” Tony said Monday.

Tony DiCello was born in Pottsville on Sept. 23, 1937, the son of Charles and Mamie Tucci DiCello.

In 1954, Charles DiCello started the business.

“He actually started in the Circle Bar making pizzas. That was on the corner of Railroad and East Norwegian streets,” Tony DiCello said.

In late 1954 or early 1955, Charles DiCello opened Charlie’s Pizza & Sub Shop at 1714 W. Market St.

“That’s was when I was a senior in high school,” Tony DiCello said.

He was a 1955 graduate of Pottsville Catholic High School. In 1958, he graduated from Stevens Trade School, Lancaster, learning the tool and dye trade. From 1958 to 1962, he served in the Army Security Agency in Japan, being honorably discharged with the rank of specialist, fourth class.

When his father became ill in 1962, Tony DiCello stepped in to help out at the shop.

“At the time I was working at the Philadelphia naval yard as a machinist. When my dad got sick, I came back,” he said.

His father died on April 10, 1963, at age 53, according to newspaper archives.

That’s when Tony took over the business.

In 1965, Tony DiCello bought the former diner at 1401 W. Market St.

“I bought it for the parking. This was a diner with 48 seats in it. I took them all out,” Tony said.

The General Electric brand, metal framed clock on the wall, an original fixture which Tony kept in place, states the diner was “Designed & Built by Paramount Diners Inc., Haledon, N.J.”

He took an interest in local government, and positions he held included being a member of the city council from 1970 to 1978.

Born Dec. 27, 1971, Kevin J. DiCello is son of the late Pottsville Area teacher and coach Raphael J. “Ray” DiCello, who died March 21, 1972, at age 39 after suffering an illness. Kevin’s mother is the late Josephine M. “Jo Marie” DiCello, who died in 2009 at age 76.

He graduated from Pottsville Area High School in 1990, then in 1994, he earned a bachelor of science in math from Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster. He works full-time as a salesman for Green Fiber, Allentown, according to Allie DiCello.

Kevin was at his full-time job, and on the road, Monday and could not be reached for comment.

Born in Pottsville, April 22, 1975, Allie Higgins graduated from Pottsville Area High School in 1993 and earned a degree in business management from Moravian College, Bethlehem. She worked as a sales and service representative at Alcoa for four years, then became a stay at home mother.

In 1999, she married Kevin DiCello. The couple have two children, Kevin H., 13, and Raeff, 11.

In an effort to encourage a retail tenant to move into the building that houses his art gallery in Pottsville, Mike Ghannoum is offering an eye-catching incentive.

On a sign pasted in the window at 4 N. Centre St., Ghannoum promises “3 MONTH RENT FREE FOR YOUR BUSINESS.”

“It’s because nobody’s renting. Nobody wants to come to establish any business in this town. I want you to write it down in your newspaper. Tell them I said so,” Ghannoum said Nov. 25.

He said there aren’t enough incentives for businesses to move into Downtown Pottsville, Ghannoum said.

“I’m giving three months to six months rent free. Not just three months. I want someone to come in and establish their business. I want someone to do something, to please do something for this town. And the rent is cheap,” Ghannoum said.

Ghannoum runs his art gallery at 2 N. Centre St.

For rent is the ground-floor space at 4 N. Centre St., which Ghannoum said is “about 2,000” square feet in size.

The last tenant to occupy 4 N. Centre St. was Deja Vu Thrift Shop, a furniture and curious goods store run by Dennis Petrakis, Pottsville, and his wife, Victoria. It opened May 2, 2013. It closed at the end of 2013, according to Ghannoum.

His building at 2-4 N. Centre St. is zoned commercial.

He said he’s considering the possibility of making rooms on the upper floors into apartments, and thought about talking to city officials about the possibility.

Property owners with buildings in commercial zones can visit the code enforcement office at city hall to request a hearing before the Pottsville Zoning Hearing Board on such matters. The board can grant variances to establish residential spaces in commercial buildings.

For example, in July, the hearing board granted Barefield Development Corp., Pottsville, a variance allowing Barefield to put four one-bedroom apartments above the former Liberty Savings Bank at 21 S. Centre St., which is in a commercial C-3 zone.

Meanwhile, this week, Ghannoum was dealing with an issue at another property he owns, the fire-ravaged six-unit apartment building at 218 W. Market St.

The fire occurred early May 24. It displaced multiple families and killed pets, including a dog and two birds.

On Sept. 12, David J. Petravich, city building code officer, cited Ghannoum for starting interior renovations without a building permit. To acquire that permit, Ghannoum must fill out and provide the city with drawings outlining the work to be done, Petravich said.

Since then, the city has had a stop work order on the front door of 218 W. Market St.

On Nov. 20, at a hearing before Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Reiley continued the case for 30 days, giving Ghannoum an opportunity to comply with the city’s requirements, according to Petravich.

“Mike had to come in with two things. He needed a letter from an engineer stating the building was structurally sound. He got that. He also needed to come in with a set of drawings,” City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said Tuesday.

“I’m working on it right now,” Ghannoum said Nov. 25. Ghannoum said he was working on the drawings himself.

Palamar said once submitted, those drawings must be reviewed by the city’s third-party commercial building inspector, Jerry Farro of Comprehensive Inspection Agency LLC, Cressona, before the city can issue a building permit.

Deeds

Ashland — Ann Burger to James M. Burger; 215 S. Ninth St.; $1.

Kenneth C. and Caryl L. Montgomery to Amanda S. Lentes and Debra A. Fetterolf; 1306 Spruce St.; $24,400.

Branch Township — Mike R. and Alicia M. Smith to Kevin Putalavage; property on Sunset Street; $115,300.

Cass Township — Joseph G. Groody to Santander Bank NA; 257 High Road; $1,283.56.

Olga Honyara to Keith Purcell and Scott Purcell; 0.25-acre property on Forestville Road; $10,000.

Cressona — James L. and Beryl J. Becker to Jeremy C. and Lisa A. Noll; 60 Graeff St.; $150,000.

Foster Township — Foster Township Municipal Authority to Catherine Bosack; 0.109-acre property on Lower Beechwood Road, Buck Run; $1,296.

HSBC Bank USA NA to CR Homes LLC; 1468 Sunbury Road, Buck Run; $3,100.

McAdoo — Federal National Mortgage Association to Blue Stone Enterprises Inc.; 304-306 E. Blaine St.; $39,500.

Orwigsburg — Sylray Inc. to H.H. Fessler Knitting Co. Inc.; 129 S. Liberty St. and 216 W. Independence St.; $1.

Pine Grove Township — Joseph G. Groody to Santander Bank NA; 116 Keefer Road; $1,131.59.

Pottsville — Carol Newton to Richard L. Miller; 1021 W. Market St.; $25,000.

John F. Heacock, by attorney in fact Dianne E. Dougherty, and K. Carole Heacock to Ann M. Sinton, Teresa H. Vedilago and Dianne E. Dougherty; 634 Edwards Ave.; $1.

Bryan C. and Jill M. Schaeffer to Gracie Properties LLC; property on East Norwegian Street; $22,500.

Mark Luppino, executor of the Estate of Mary H. Luppino, to Gracie Properties LLC; 204 Schuylkill Ave.; $18,000.

Ryan Township — Theodore Mazur and Florence Smulligan to Charles A. Butkus; 6-acre property on Church Street, Barnesville; $15,000.

Todd D. Dohner, the man who prosecutors allege telephoned a threat to shoot children unless the Schuylkill County Courthouse was closed, is headed to state prison after being sentenced Monday morning in Schuylkill County Court for probation violations in two other cases.

Dohner, 48, of Pine Grove, must spend 12 to 33 months in a state correctional institution, President Judge William E. Baldwin ruled.

“Do you have any idea the panic that created?” Baldwin asked Dohner of the threat, which served as the basis of the probation revocation. “What you (did) was extensively disruptive to thousands of people in the community.”

At a Nov. 3 hearing, Dohner admitted prosecutors could prove it was more likely than not — the standard for a probation or parole violation — that he telephoned the threat in October. Baldwin revoked his probation at that time in each of the two cases.

On Monday, Dohner unsuccessfully asked Baldwin either to send him to Danville State Hospital, where he had previously received mental health treatment, or place him on house arrest.

“I want house arrest because I’m alone with my dad,” testified Dohner, who wore a prison jumpsuit, leg shackles, handcuffs and a belt. “We watch out for each other. We’re a team.”

Concerning Danville, Dohner said he spent 1 1/2 years there in the 1990s receiving mental health treatment. He said he would have his own room and a set treatment routine there.

Assistant Public Defender Kent D. Watkins, Dohner’s lawyer, said Baldwin should not send his client to a state correctional institution for 18 to 36 months, as prosecutors had asked.

“I question the rehabilitation effect” of such a punishment, Watkins said. “I believe that he is a prime candidate” for inpatient or outpatient mental health treatment.

However, Baldwin said that while Dohner has mental health issues, he is not legally insane and must be punished for what he did.

“You know what’s right and wrong,” Baldwin told Dohner. “You have trouble controlling your impulses. It’s clear that allowing you to stay in the community ... is not something we can do any longer. I think you need to go to state prison. ”

In Dohner’s new case, Pottsville police charged him with two counts each of terroristic threats, criminal use of a communications facility and disorderly conduct.

Those charges are pending in the county court; the soonest Dohner could go on trial for them is the February 2015 criminal court term. If convicted, Dohner could receive additional prison time for those charges.

Police said Dohner made two telephone calls to the Schuylkill County Courthouse, one late on Oct. 2 and the other early on Oct. 3, in which he threatened to shoot the children unless the courthouse was closed by noon Oct. 3. Dohner admitted making the calls in order to avoid paying fines he owed, according to police.

Because Dohner admitted only that it was more likely than not that prosecutors could prove he made the calls, his admission does not preclude him from pleading not guilty to, and defending against, the six charges resulting from the calls. Prosecutors will have to prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in order to gain convictions on those charges.

In the two cases in which Baldwin sentenced him Monday, Dohner had pleaded guilty on March 20, 2013, to harassment in one case and indecent exposure in the second. At that time, Baldwin placed him on probation for 36 months, and also sentenced him to pay costs and $100 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, amounts he still must pay under the terms of Monday’s sentence, undergo a mental health/mental retardation evaluation and have no contact with his victims.

Pine Grove police alleged Dohner harassed a person on Feb. 15, 2012, in the borough, while state police at Schuylkill Haven alleged he exposed himself to someone on July 6, 2012, in Pine Grove Township.

Watkins declined to comment after Monday’s hearing.

District Attorney Christine A. Holman expressed no displeasure after the hearing.

“The commonwealth was pleased with the outcome of the probation revocation hearing,” she said. “It was made clear that Mr. Dohner has problems controlling his impulses, but that does not excuse criminal behavior. Evidence ... shows Mr. Dohner needs treatment, but his problems cannot be addressed in the community.”

Defendant: Todd D. Dohner

Age: 48

Residence: Pine Grove

Crimes committed: Indecent exposure and harassment

Pending charges: Two counts each of terroristic threats, criminal use of a communications facility and disorderly conduct

Prison sentence: 12 to 33 months in a state correctional institution

Deer hunters can donate the meat from their successful hunt to help the less fortunate for free.

“Nearly 600,000 Pennsylvania families face the reality each day of wondering how they’ll find their next meal. This is a prime opportunity for all hunters to help fight hunger in their communities by donating venison this holiday season,” Agriculture Secretary George Greig said in a press release.

Through the Hunters Sharing the Harvest program, a nonprofit charity, any amount of deer meat can be donated that goes to food banks, soup kitchens and pantries. This is the 23rd year for the program.

“The HSH donation season starts in the fall with archery deer season and goes through the holiday season into muzzleloader and late archery season,” Greig said.

Locally, two meat processors are participating, Mease Meats Inc., 68 Sawmill Road, Pine Grove, and U.E. Butcher Shop, 1722 West End Ave., Pottsville.

David Mease, who co-owns the Pine Grove business with his son, Michael Mease, said hunters realize the importance of the program.

“We had some donated already,” he said.

The business has been participating for about five or six years because it’s a good program, Mease said. There is a sign in the window about the program. Those wanting to donate fill out a form with their name and other information and drop off their deer, which is then processed.

This year, there is an extra incentive to help because hunters are now not asked to donate a $15 tax deductible amount toward processing the deer. Sportsmen and major sponsors picked up the tab for that.

“There are a few that hunt and donate the deer. They don’t keep any of it,” Mease said.

To reimburse processors, the state Department of Agriculture, through the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program, contributes money to the processors, the state said.

Dave Stevenosky, owner of U.E. Butcher Shop, has been participating in the program for about four years. One deer was donated so far during archery season.

“It’s a good program. It goes to poor people who need the meat,” he said.

The program reaches people who otherwise might not eat.

“Last year, nearly 10,000 meals were provided by hunters donating venison though Hunters Sharing the Harvest. With the number of families looking for food assistance at record levels, this is an excellent opportunity for Pennsylvania sportsmen to make a donation of one of the nutritious meats available and help provide great nutrition to families struggling with hunger,” Joe Arthur, executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, which does not serve Schuylkill County, said in a press release.

For more information about the program, call 866-474-2141 or visit www.sharedeer.org.