On a long list of unoriginal New Year’s resolutions that people tend to break is the one to lose weight; and along with these resolution-breakers are the dedicated gym members that have to deal with them in January.

“There is quite a bit of an influx of people in the new year,” Albert Norkus, 71, of Port Carbon, said Tuesday. “Most stay until late February, but it has an impact on everybody.”

Norkus works out about five days a week and has been a member of the Schuylkill YMCA since 2002.

“(It’s) definitely (frustrating) because of the constraint of available machines,” he said. “Many of them don’t know common courtesy, either.”

During busy hours at the Schuylkill YMCA, signs on cardiovascular machines ask members to limit their use of each machine to 20 minutes so that others may also have a chance to work out in a timely fashion.

“When you’re only in the gym for an hour to an hour and a half, you want to take advantage of your time and to do a full workout. Everyone usually has a routine they want to follow as much as possible,” Norkus said.

Most resolution-breakers will use the treadmills and ellipticals, Norkus said. Some use the weights, “but the wait normally goes pretty fast and produces a good turnover,” he said.

Norkus said he believes people break their gym resolutions so early because they want to see results in their first month.

“If you’re not into getting a mind set and just looking for a quick result, most people get frustrated with it and leave,” Norkus said.

Other gym-goers who are similarly irritated by the influx of resolution-breakers include Alexis Fermaintt, 32, and P.J. Fermaintt, 33, of Pottsville, who have been members of the YMCA for a year and a half.

“It’s unrealistic. People want to have that perfect body by spring, but it doesn’t happen like that,” P.J Fermaintt said Tuesday. “You need a year, minimum, to see that kind of result. Plus, you need a good diet and to be at the gym for at least four days a week, once or twice is only going to maintain what you’re at.”

“It’s irritating because the cardio machines are always taken,” Alexis Fermaintt said.

Alexis Fermaintt also said that the resolution-breakers lack common gym courtesy.

“They have 45-minute deep conversations and they’re not working out. Nobody has time for that,”

While some are aggravated by the rise in new, uneducated gym members, some gym members don’t mind the increase of temporary members in January, like Willie Alexander, 16, of Pottsville.

“I come to the gym for myself. I don’t pay attention to anyone else, just me and my progress,” Alexander said. Alexander has been with the Schuylkill YMCA for about a year and said he has no problem going to another machine if the next one in his routine is taken.

Alexander believes that resolution-breakers quit the gym so soon for several reasons.

“Some people aren’t as committed or they see progress that is good enough for them. A lot of people are just busy, too,” he said.

Clarification

Frank Neumeister, a classmate of Tri-Valley High School, Class of 1964, was cut off the reunion photo that was published in Sunday’s edition of The Republican-Herald.

Name incorrect

Railway Park Little League will be the recipient of proceeds from Pottsville Rotary’s Hops, Vine and Dine event for this year and next. The recipient was incorrectly named in a letter to the editor that appeared in Tuesday’s edition.

Pottsville woman

cited for crash

A crash that occurred at East Norwegian Street and Progress Avenue about noon Dec. 23 was investigated by Pottsville police.

Police said Jessica Cooley, 26, of Pottsville, was driving a 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse west on East Norwegian Street when her car was struck by a 2000 Subaru Outback driven by Taylor Roos, 20, of Pottsville. The impact caused the Cooley vehicle to leave the road and hit a utility pole, police said.

Police said both drivers refused treatment by Pottsville Schuylkill Haven Area EMS and that Roos will be cited for duties at a stop sign as a result of the crash.

Man suffers head

injury after crash

A crash that occurred about 10:30 a.m. Friday at 16th Street and York Farm Road was investigated by Pottsville police.

Police said Michael J. Moser, 32, of Pottsville, was driving a 2010 Nissan Xterra west on York Farm Road when he drifted to the left and struck and sheared a PPL utility pole knocking down several power lines.

Moser exited his vehicle on his own but suffered a head injury, for which he refused medical treatment, police said.

Police said that Moser reported he may have suffered a seizure immediately prior to the crash and that no charges will be filed. However, police said the man will be assigned a medical evaluation and recertification by the state Department of Transportation.

Group announces

DUI checkpoints

The North Central Regional Sobriety Checkpoint DUI Taskforce announced Sobriety Checkpoints and Roving DUI Patrols will be conducted today through Monday on routes 61, 183, 901, 209, 1006, 309, 1008, 443, 895, 125, 25, 924 and 54.

Travelers are reminded to call 911 if they suspect a drunk driver or call, toll-free, 888-UNDER21 to report underage drinking.

Passenger hurt

in Pottsville crash

Pottsville police investigated a crash that occurred about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Eighth and West Market streets.

Police said Zachary Bowers, 22, of Pottsville, turned right from a stop sign on North Eighth Street onto West Race Street and drove into the path of a Jeep Wrangler that was being driven west on West Race Street by Victor Weller, 20, of Orwigsburg.

Police said after the initial crash, the Bowers vehicle crossed the street and struck a parked Chevrolet Trailblazer owned by Harry Reed, Pottsville.

Police said Bower complained of arm pain but did not seek medical attention. A 14-year-old Pottsville girl who was a passenger in the Weller vehicle escaped injury but another passenger, Kassidy Brown, 18, of Pottsville, had a visible injury to the left side of her forehead and was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street for treatment.

Police said Bowers will be cited for a stop sign violation. No one in the Weller vehicle were wearing seat belts and appropriate charges will be filed.

Police: Woman

endangered child

LYKENS — A Lykens woman was charged with recklessly endangering another person, endangering the welfare of a child and public drunkenness after an incident about 7 p.m. Saturday at the Family Dollar parking lot in this Dauphin County community.

State police at Lykens said Faith Savage, 36, will have to answer to the charges before Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum, Elizabethville.

Police said Savage and a friend walked around the borough pushing a stroller with a 1-year-old child inside. While on the walk, police said Savage drank almost an entire bottle of vodka and became belligerent and incoherent, rending her unable to care for the child.

Police also said the child was left in the cold for an extended period of time without proper cold weather attire and both the child and mother were taken to a Harrisburg hospital for treatment.

Eight people were killed and 224 injured in 728 crashes that Pennsylvania State Police investigated during the five-day Christmas holiday driving period, Dec. 24 to Sunday.

All eight people who died were not wearing seat belts, state police said in a release, and 98 of the crashes were alcohol-related and involved two fatalities.

The statistics are only from crashes investigated by state police and do not include those handled by municipal law enforcement.

Police made 327 arrests for driving under the influence and issued 3,953 speeding citations during the holiday period. They also cited 357 drivers for failure to wear seat belts and 71 drivers for failing to restrain children properly in child safety seats.

The Joseph Priestley House will celebrate the end of the holiday season with an English-style festival from the 18th century.

Twelfth Day will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Northumberland mansion at 472 Priestley Ave. Admission is $6 for adults ages 12 to 64, $5.50 for senior citizens and $4 for children ages 3 to 11. Children under the age of 2 and active military and their immediate family are admitted free. The event is hosted by the Friends of Joseph Priestley.

John L. Moore of the Friends of Joseph Priestley said in a press release that interpreters and costumed guides will be stationed around the mansion to help bring the era to life. The volunteers will also serve free refreshments that were customary to Twelfth Day celebrations, such as wassail and Twelfth Day Cake.

In the 18th century, a baker added a bean to the Twelfth Day Cake recipe for the children to find when eating the dessert. On Sunday, the child who finds the bean in the cake will be declared the king or queen of Twelfth Day. The child will be presented a paper crown to wear for the day. The cake will be served following a toast to the festival at 1 p.m., according to the press release.

The mansion will also be decorated as it would have been in the 1700s when Priestley and his family lived in the home. The mantle above the fireplace will be adorned with natural materials, including holly and pinecones, according to the press release.

Games and activities will be held throughout the mansion. In the drawing room, a dance troupe will demonstrate styles of dancing from the 18th and 19th centuries at 2 and 3 p.m. The Bloomsburg Music Ensemble will perform period music in the library at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m., according to the release.

Priestley was an esteemed chemist, best known for the discovery of oxygen. On Sunday, “Priestley” will conduct chemistry demonstrations at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. in the Pond Building. Ron Blatchley, a retired chemistry teacher, will portray Priestley, according to the press release.

Although inclement weather is forecast for the weekend, Moore said there are no plans for the event to be postponed or canceled. He said a high temperature in the mid-40s and rain is expected in Northumberland on Sunday.

“We are optimistic that we will be fine,” Moore said.

The Joseph Priestley House is owned by the state Historical and Museum Commission and operated by the Friends of Joseph Priestley. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historical Chemical Landmark.

For more information, call 570-473-9474 or visit www.jospehpriestleyhouse.org.

The Philly Pops will offer Scranton a glimpse at a European New Year’s tradition at a concert this weekend.

The orchestra will provide the musical backdrop for “Salute to Vienna,” a concert featuring works from several operettas and performances by international vocal soloists and dancers. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Scranton Cultural Center at The Masonic Temple, 420 N. Washington Ave.

“It is an uplifting concert, and we are so grateful for the North American audiences, that they embraced this concept, and they’re coming back year after year,” said Marion Glatz, a Vienna native who founded the concert series with her husband, Attila Glatz.

In Vienna, the city’s philharmonic has given a New Year’s concert for decades, Glatz said, and her family always watched it on television.

“We listened to this concert every year, and we could not afford to buy the tickets because the tickets are absolutely unbelievably expensive. … Then we looked at the TV, and we had our family together, and we opened this bottle of champagne, and we listened to this cheerful music,” she said.

Concert began in 1995

After they immigrated to Canada in the 1980s, the Glatzes decided to put together their own New Year’s concert and held the first “Salute to Vienna” in 1995. Through Attila Glatz Concert Productions, the Glatzes have presented the concert hundreds of times in the United States, Canada and elsewhere in the world, and PBS also has aired a couple versions over the years.

In the concert’s current incarnation, the Strauss Symphony of America featuring the Philly Pops will perform Johann Strauss waltzes, polkas and pieces from such operettas as “Die Fledermaus” and “The Merry Widow.” While the program has changed through the years, one piece — the “Blue Danube Waltz” — always remains. Even people not musically inclined recognize the waltz’s melody when they hear it, Glatz said.

“The ‘Blue Danube Waltz,’ you must know, is the biggest musical hit of all time,” she said. “It is larger than any hit by the Beatles.”

In addition to soprano and tenor vocalists, ballroom dancers and members of the Kiev-Aniko Ballet also will perform along to the music. Noting the dancers will wear beautiful costumes, too, Glatz called the show “a feast for the senses.”

“The dancers play a little love situation or a jealousy situation ... so you’re drawn to it,” she said. “You look at it and say, ‘Ah, isn’t this nice.’ The colorful costumes, it adds a lot to the performance, because normally (when) you’re going to a concert, you just see an orchestra.”

Positive mood

The dawn of a new year brings with it resolutions and sometimes concerns, Glatz said, but the concert puts people into a good mood.

“You go to this concert and you feel free like a bird, and you’re flying and you say, ‘Yes, welcome 2015,’ ” she said.

The Glatzes aspired to take an Austrian New Year’s tradition and turn it into a North American one, and they have done just that over the last 20 years.

“We have a very loyal audience,” Glatz said. “They’re coming back every year. ... We are very emotional about it because that was our dream, to bring it to a North American audience.”

The Salvation Army has achieved 94 percent of its goal for its 2014 Red Kettle Campaign.

The fundraiser supports the services the organization provides: food, rent utility assistance, the soup kitchen and also the children’s programs. The money is gathered from online donations and the Army’s signature red kettles seen at the entrances of stores, accompanied by a bell-ringing volunteer — a staple of the holiday shopping season for decades.

As of the campaign conclusion, the organization brought in $89,000, slightly under the $95,000 goal, Lt. Staci Ferreira, assistant corps officer for the Salvation Army in Pottsville, said Wednesday.

A lot of donations came in during the last week of the kettle campaign.

“We’re very thankful for the generosity of the people in Schuylkill County,” she said.

Every donation counts, but the sizes of some surprised Ferreira.

“We actually had a check of $2,000. I feel very blessed that somebody was so generous to give us that amount of money,” she said of one donation dropped off in the Schuylkill Haven area.

Earlier this month, the organization pleaded with the community to give what it could so the Salvation Army could provide services desperately needed by those in the county. That plea worked.

“The Christmas spirit is in the air and people just want to give,” Ferreira said

The fewer days available because the campaign started later this year to donate, the weather and the lack of volunteers earlier in the campaign did not help the effort. The campaign started Nov. 21, 2014, and ended at the 13 locations on Dec. 24. Last year, collections started Nov. 15.

Online donations will be accepted until Jan. 31 at www.onlineredkettle.org/Pottsvillepacorps.

MAHANOY CITY — A hot pot of oil caused a fire in the borough Wednesday, leaving three people temporarily homeless.

Firefighters were called at 6:56 p.m. for a residential structure fire at 14 S. D St., occupied by Jeremy Wade, and found heavy smoke coming from the building when they arrived.

Since the home was part of five attached row homes, a second alarm was immediately requested, bringing volunteers from surrounding communities to assist.

Mahanoy City Fire Department Administrative Assistant and Safety Officer Anthony Blackwell said crews found the fire on the first-floor kitchen.

The fire was extinguished within minutes but crews remained on the scene for about 2 1/2 hours to ensure the blaze was completely out.

Fire Chief Randy Kalce commended firefighters for their quick response and fast knockdown, saying there was very little spread of the fire beyond the Wade home.

Blackwell said an investigation conducted with the assistance of Mahanoy City police determined the blaze was accidental, started by an unattended pot of oil on the stove.

The Wade home sustained smoke, water and fire damage, while a home at 12 S. D St. occupied by Steven Hutnyan and his girlfriend, Madison Miller, sustained smoke damage.

Blackwell said the three are temporarily homeless, with Wade planning to stay with friends and Hutnyan and Miller with family members.

An unoccupied home at 16 S. D St. received smoke and minimal fire damage, while an unoccupied home at 18 S. D St. sustained minor smoke damage.

The American Red Cross was on scene to assist those affected by the fire.

No injuries were reported but Centre Street, Route 54, and a portion of D Street were closed while crews battled the fire.

Mahanoy City police and borough fire police assisted with detouring traffic and Mahanoy City EMS assisted at the scene.

Numerous firefighters and EMS units from surrounding communities were also on hand in the event their services were needed.

SHENANDOAH — Police Chief George Carado and Mayor Andrew Szczyglak provided an update about a massive drug raid on Nov. 19, 2014, in the borough and West Mahanoy Township.

Details of the raid, including the investigation beforehand and its follow-up, were given during the borough council’s regular meeting Monday. Carado said the drug raid’s code name was Operation 462.

Szczyglak began his monthly mayor’s report with the November roundup.

“As everyone is well aware, back on November 19, there was a huge drug raid in Shenandoah and a number of people were apprehended,” Szczyglak said. “I have to say that since, there is a big change in the borough, especially on the main streets of town. People come up to me and say ‘thank you’ because they can actually walk the streets. I do know there are some areas that need to be addressed, but I have to say that I am well-pleased about what happened on November 19.”

Szczyglak introduced Carado, who spoke of what went on before the raid could be conducted.

“November 19 was dubbed ‘Operation 462’ by a trooper from the area who came up with that name,” Carado said. “On the 19th, we had arrest warrants for 77 suspects, which is unheard of. There were 21 search warrants executed that day, which is unheard of. We did issue 12 more search warrants that day and arrested 13 more people that day.”

Along with arrests, Carado said money, weapons and drugs were confiscated.

“Approximately $20,000 in cash was seized through all those search warrants,” Carado said. “There were four vehicles seized, along with four or five firearms, and we also got heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and synthetic marijuana.”

Carado said that the investigation that led to the Nov. 19 raid went on for a year.

“It actually started back in the last quarter of 2013,” he said. “We (borough and West Mahanoy Township police) started doing some control buys and realized there was an organized neighborhood street gang structure and that one guy was really in charge of bringing in the majority of the heroin into town.”

The information led to Carado contacting the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which could provide resources for in-depth investigations. Carado also received help from the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, all leading to the borough, township, state and federal law enforcement to conduct surveillance and controlled purchases of heroin and cocaine on an almost weekly basis.

“We got a hold of the state police and the FBI, and they came along for the next year about every week, sometimes twice a week, and we were out doing things. That culminated in that November 19 roundup of suspected gang members,” Carado said.

Carado said there may be charges against some of those arrested that will go beyond local and state jurisdictions.

“I have spoken with the FBI and there is a chance they will take approximately 20 of these people and try to indict them federally,” Carado said. “Hopefully, we’ll be sending a message to these people.”

In his written report, Carado said about 120 members of law enforcement were involved in the roundup of suspects. Along with the above-mentioned law enforcement entities, officers from the state police Special Emergency Response Team, U.S. Marshal Service Fugitive Task Force, and Schuylkill County Sheriff’s Office and Adult Probation Office took part.

Borough council President Donald E. Segal praised the work of the borough police.

“I commend the police department on a job well done,” Segal said, leading to a loud round of applause by everyone in the meeting room.

Szczyglak spoke again to clarify the role of the borough police in the investigation and raid.

“I just want to clarify things, and I’m not going to get into it too much,” he said. “I’m tired of walking into grocery stores and the main street of town and hearing people say to me that ‘Thank God the state police came into Shenandoah. Thank God the district attorney came into Shenandoah.’ I thank everybody who helped in this roundup, but the majority of the work was done by our Shenandoah Police Department, and I want the public to know that. Yes, we got help from the state police. Yes, we got help from the FBI. Yes, we got help from the district attorney’s office. But the bull work was done by our department, and I think our department needs to be recognized for that and they should be.”

“They laid out the fabric for everything,” Councilman Paul Holland said.

Borough Manager Joseph L. Palubinsky said, “In all my years here, George, I have to commend you for the initiative that you took in reaching out to the FBI, the state police and others, realizing that you didn’t have the local resources here at the time. You had enough police knowledge, initiative and moxie to go after these people and reach out for these various organizations. That speaks well of you.”

“And the people notice the difference,” Holland said.

“It’s so good to go down Main Street now,” Segal said. “It’s so quiet and it’s so nice.”

Carado has received positive comments from local residents since the raid.

“It’s been a long time coming. Some things interfered to slow us down, but we did it,” Carado said.

“It was a long time coming, but it was worth the wait,” Segal said. “And I understand the police officers are keeping up with everything. They’re making their traffic arrests, and during those arrests they’re finding drugs.”

“We’ve had numerous more drug arrests since this happened during traffic stops,” Carado said.

Chain saw, blades

taken from shed

TOWER CITY — Someone stole a chain saw and blades from a shed between November and December in Porter Township, police said.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said someone broke into the shed owned by Jason Hoffman, 34, at 15 Beagle Road between 2 p.m. Nov. 27 and 3 p.m. Monday and removed a Stihl chain saw with a 16-inch bar and multiple blades for the saw and fled.

The investigation is ongoing, and police ask anyone with information about the theft to call 570-739-1330.

Woman faces

drug charge

LYKENS — A borough woman was charged with possession of marijuana following an incident Sunday on Division Street, police said.

State police at Lykens responded to a disturbance/possible attempted burglary at 10:01 p.m. at 406 Division St. where they found Macy Krepich Barder, 25, 325 N. Second St., in a camper parked in the driveway. Police said the woman was charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Cressona man

charged in theft

CRESSONA — A borough man is accused of stealing items from a supermarket Tuesday afternoon in North Manheim Township, police said.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Robert Pauley, 53, was seen leaving the store at 12:44 p.m. with a cart of items that he did not pay for. Police said he was stopped by store personnel, and Pauley told the manager that his wife was inside paying for the items.

Police said he loaded the items into his vehicle before driving to the front of the store and leaving. The manager got the vehicle’s license plate number and found Pauley at his house, police said.

Charges will be filed at the office of Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, police said.

Woman sought

in domestic case

Pottsville police investigated a domestic violence report about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at 546 N. Centre St., Apt. 3.

Police said Melissa Rossin, 40, of 730 Water St., Pottsville, struck her 5-year-old child in the right cheek and pulled the child in an aggressive manner, causing pain and bruising.

Schuylkill County Children and Youth Services took emergency custody of the child, who was immediately placed into protective care, police said.

Police said a warrant was issued for the arrest of Rossin charging her with simple assault pursuant to probable cause arrests in domestic violence.

Police are trying to locate the woman and ask that anyone with information on Rossin’s whereabouts to call 570-628-3792.

Parked car hit

in city accident

Pottsville police investigated a crash that occurred at 2:45 p.m. Monday in the 500 block of South Centre Street.

Police said Lindsay Draine, 26, of Pottsville, was driving a Mazda 626 north at a high rate of speed but when she reached the intersection with Morris Street, traffic was stopped in front of her.

Police said the woman was unable to stop and veered to the right side of the road where she struck a Honda Civic that was legally parked on the right side of the road.

Police said Draine was not hurt, but she was found at fault for the accident and is being cited for failing to drive at a safe speed, driving without insurance and tire equipment and traction surface violations.

City man jailed

in firearms theft

A Pottsville man was jailed after Pottsville police responded to 1107A W. Norwegian St. at 10:55 p.m. Saturday for a report of two firearms being stolen.

Police said Derek Johnson, 29, was charged with two felony counts of theft and two felony counts of receiving stolen property, arraigned and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $30,000 straight cash bail.

Police said the victim reported that she discovered a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm semi automatic handgun, black with a stainless steel slide; three loaded magazines and a loaded Bersa 9mm semi automatic handgun were removed from her property.

A subsequent investigation led officers to locate Johnson on Sunday in Frackville. During an interview, Johnson admitted stealing the firearms and selling them for $100, police said.

The investigation into the thefts is continuing, police said.

2 drivers treated

for crash injuries

A crash that occurred in the 400 block of Nichols Street at 11:10 a.m. Tuesday was investigated by Pottsville police.

Police said Kristi McShaw, Port Carbon, was driving a Mercury Grand Marquis east when she crossed over the yellow line, entered the westbound lane and collided with an oncoming Hyundai Santa Fe driven by Peter Yasenchak, Pottsville.

After impact, police said a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven west by Patricia Moses, Pottsville, ran into the back of the Yasenchak vehicle.

McShaw and Yasenchak were taken to local hospitals by ambulance for treatment and all three vehicles had to be towed from the scene, police said.

Police said an investigation determined that McShaw was at fault and that she will be charged with failing to drive on roadways laned for traffic.

No injuries occur

in collision in city

No injuries were occurred in a crash in the 300 block of Nichols Street in Pottsville at 4:40 p.m. Dec. 22, police said.

Pottsville police said their investigation revealed that Lindsey Nowak, 53, of Pottsville, was attempting to pull out from a parked position before traveling east on Nichols Street and pulled into the path of a vehicle driven by Joanna Schuster, 75, who was traveling east.

Nowak’s vehicle, a 2006 Volvo V70 2, hit Schuster’s vehicle, a 2008 Toyota Avalon, police said.

Police said the Nowak vehicle sustained disabling damage to the driver side front wheel area, while the Schuster car sustained disabling damage to the passenger front wheel area.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene and police said Schuster was evaluated for injuries on scene by Pottsville-Schuylkill Haven Area EMS.

Pottsville Fire Department assisted at the scene and police said Nowak is being cited for failing to have insurance and failing to safely act when leaving a parking position.

Rush Twp. police

probe incidents

HOMETOWN — Rush Township police released information on three separate incidents that occurred in their coverage area.

Police said Bernard Hellebrand Jr., 51, of Coaldale, faces retail theft and receiving stolen property charges for stealing items valued at $84.42 from Wal-Mart.

Police also said officers are investigating a burglary that occurred Dec. 24 on Pine Creek Drive.

Police said someone stole a SASport cross bow and money before fleeing the scene.

In the third incident, police said, they investigated a crash where Lynda Murphy, 37, of Barnesville, was driving a 2000 Dodge Neon east on Pine Creek Drive when she lost control on black ice. The vehicle crossed the eastbound lane and went back into the westbound lane where it came to a stop against a bridge wall.

Police said Murphy was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital-Miners Campus, Coaldale, by Ryan Township EMS for treatment of injuries she suffered in the crash.

Woman accused

in store theft

HOMETOWN — A Bloomsburg woman faces theft-related charges stemming from an incident that occurred at 5 p.m. Monday in Rush Township.

Township police charged Janette Aleksandrovic, 39, with retail theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy after she stole a television valued at $358 from Wal-Mart.

Police said later that day, about 10 p.m., the woman’s accomplice, Kristin Lanzot, 32, of Bloomsburg, returned items that she had just stolen from Wal-Mart in Hazle Township, Luzerne County. Lanzot told store personnel that she did not have a receipt and received a gift card in the amount of $179.70, police said.

Lanzot is facing charges of conspiracy from the first theft when she was with Aleksandrovic. The stolen television set was subsequently sold in Hazleton.

Police said Lanzot reported that she needed more money, which is why she stole the items from Hazle Township and returned them for a gift card.

Police said they also charged Aleksandrovic with retail theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy after an Aug. 24 incident where she stole a computer valued at $349 and an unidentified man stole a television set valued at $298.

In that same incident, police said they charged Billy J. Engel, 39, of Bloomsburg, with conspiracy for allegedly driving the vehicle in which the woman and man fled.

Engel, police said, is also facing charges of retail theft, conspiracy and receiving stolen property after he stole three computers valued at $1,061.96 from the store on Oct. 6.

Aleksandrovic faces charges of conspiracy after she helped Engel with that theft, police said.

All three will now have to answer to the charges before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua, police said.

Wallet stolen

from woman’s car

LYKENS — State police at Lykens are investigating a theft from a motor vehicle that occurred outside of Lykens Family Practice on North Street in this Dauphin County community between 1:15 and 1:50 p.m. Tuesday.

Police said Barbara Beck, Lykens, reported that someone stole her wallet from her vehicle that contained her driver’s license, bank card, checkbook and Social Security card.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 717-362-8700.

Dauphin man

charged in assault

WILLIAMSTOWN — A Williamstown man is free on bail after he was charged by state police at Lykens in connection with an assault at 118 Autumn Drive, Apt. 12, in Williams Township, Dauphin County, that occurred at 3:05 a.m. Dec. 17.

Police said Heriberto Devarie, 30, was arraigned on assault charges and released on $1,000 unsecured bail.

Police said Devarie became involved in an argument with a 29-year-old woman, who police did not identify, in their apartment and sprayed her with pepper spray. Devarie was discovered hiding in a closet and taken into custody, police said.

Bullets fired at

house window

ELIZABETHVILLE — State police at Lykens are investigating a criminal mischief incident that occurred between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday on Lenker Drive in Washington Township, Dauphin County.

Police said Jill and Jason Underkoffler reported that someone fired a bullet through a double pane window on the south wall of their home and fled the area.

It appears the bullet was fired from a distance south of the home, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call troopers at 717-362-8700.

Fence damaged

in Girardville

GIRARDVILLE — Borough police are investigating a criminal mischief incident that was reported to their department on Dec. 24.

Police said a resident said a fence to the rear of his property at 119 A St., off of Oak Street, was damaged.

Anyone with information is asked to call police through the Schuylkill County Communications Center at 570-462-1991.

MAHANOY CITY — During a rare Saturday meeting, on Dec. 27, 2014, the borough council formally adopted its 2015 operating budget that holds the line on taxes.

The borough council voted 5-0, with President Thom Maziekas, Vice President Raymond Cavenas, and council members Francis Burke, Patti Schnitzius and Scott Kline voting in favor at the 9 a.m. meeting. Absent were Robert Lewis and Thomas Flamini.

Borough Manager Daniel Lynch read the tax millage breakdown for the various funds before a motion to adopt was made by Cavenas, seconded by Kline.

The balanced operating budget of $1,240,172.69 keeps real estate taxes at 32.529 mills. The assessed value of each mill is $24,644.01, with the collection value of one mill at $19,715.21. The total assessed valuation of property in the borough is $24,644,010.

The proposed budget is above the 2014 budget of $1,147,029.94.

The real estate millage for the new year is divided into the following funds:

• General fund — 21.77 mills

• Sinking fund — 1 mill

• Street lighting fund — 3.35 mills

• Debt reduction fund — 3.935 mills

• Library fund — 0.474 mills

• Blight fund — 2 mills

In other business, the borough council approved resolutions dealing with various issues, as explained by Lynch.

“These are a number of resolutions that we have probably passed at some point in time, but DCED (state Department of Community & Economic Development) has everything up to date, and so, just to be on the safe side, we should repass them,” Lynch said. “I looked in the resolution book and couldn’t find some that went back to the early 1970s.”

VALLEY VIEW — Shirtless men and superheroes were among the people who braved the cold Thursday to jump into Pine Creek for the sixth annual Polar Bear Plunge.

The water temperature was 34 degrees but ice that formed during the night had to be broken before the event. The plunge benefited the Pine Creek Trout Nursery, a cooperative of the Fish and Boat Commission and Valley View Gun Club.

Among the 100 people waiting to splash into the creek was Heidi Steinhart, 40, of Coal Township, Northumberland County, and her daughter, Camry Steinhart, 10, who were both dressed as Supergirl. They were part of a superhero team consisting of Steinhart’s husband, Gary, 41, who was dressed as Spider-Man; her son, Colin, 6, dressed as Captain America; and their friend, Scott Wormald, 41, of Coal Township, Northumberland County, dressed as Batman.

“You don’t even think about it. You just do it,” Heidi Steinhart said, adding the group was participating because it’s a good event and they are “nuts.”

Heidi Steinhart said after the plunge that the water was not that cold, but Camry disagreed, saying it was “freezing.”

Gary Steinhart said the plunge was “numbing.” The water was so cold that he and Colin could not make it across the creek.

“The feet are the worst,” Gary Steinhart said.

Mike Billman, 23, of Klingerstown, Allen Koppenhaver, 24, of Fort Drum, New York and a native of Hegins, and Ben Blazer, 25, of Loyalton, Dauphin County, made the plunge together only wearing shorts, New Year’s glasses and other party attire. They had made the plunge previously and returned to support the cause.

Liberty Clark, 25, of Lancaster, and her friend, Ashley Hartlieb, 24, of Lykens, Dauphin County, tried their best to keep warm before taking the plunge. Clark had a beach towel around her shoulders and wore a sweatshirt and sweatpants with a bathing suit underneath. Hartlieb wore a coat and a onesie on top of her bikini.

“I’m freezing,” Hartlieb said.

The event’s mascot Pine Creek Pete paddled a raft across Pine Creek to announce the start of the plunge.

Tori Dziedziak, 20, of Shenandoah, was the first plunger to complete the trek across the creek. It was her third year participating in the event.

“You would think it keeps getting easier, but it doesn’t,” Dziedziak said.

She said the event is a tradition for her.

“It’s just a good time, something to celebrate,” she said.

Chris O’Larry, 26, of Wilburton, Columbia County, agreed.

“There’s nothing else I would rather do on my New Year’s,” he said.

For $20, participants received a T-shirt and a pork and sauerkraut dinner. Remy St. Martin of Parrotbeach, a Jimmy Buffet tribute band, provided free entertainment at the Valley View Gun Club after the event.

Jim Reed, event organizer, said the event raised a little more than $5,000, its highest total.

The Third Brigade Band returned to its new venue Thursday at Pine View Acres as the band celebrated 2015.

This is the second year for the 45-member band playing at the Mill Creek site following the closure of the Pottsville Club in 2013. The band was invited again to play for New Year’s Day by owner Robert “Sonny” Davis.

Members of the Rutecky family play in the band and enjoy the music from the sidelines.

“It’s a tradition. Instead of going to the Pottsville Club, we’re coming here,” Tina Rutecky, Palo Alto, said.

Her husband, William Rutecky Sr., and her son, William Rutecky, 35, of Manville, New Jersey, both play the tuba in the band. When asked how long they have been playing, she said, “Forever.”

Lisa Rutecky, Manville, was there with her son, Liam, 3, and her mother, Mary Beth Harvey, Pottsville, to enjoy the music. Lisa Rutecky said they enjoy traveling to the area to visit family and friends for the holiday and to see her husband and father-in-law play in the band.

Rutecky Sr. said he has been playing in the band for at least 45 years. His son didn’t know how long he has been playing but said it has been years.

“I enjoy the challenge,” William Rutecky, also a Pottsville native, said.

He added that he enjoys talking to people he only gets to see occasionally.

Harvey said sitting in the relaxing environment and listening to the music is “a good way to start the new year.”

They were not alone, as about 65 people gathered to listen to the band play.

Director Richard Fries said the band enjoys playing all kinds of music for the audience. The national anthem was the first selection played for the crowd, followed by selections such as “America the Beautiful” and Gustav Holst’s Second Suite in F.

Stephen Horvath, president of the Third Brigade Band, said the band tries to choose different music at every event; however, some songs are more frequently played, like the national anthem.

People view the band as something familiar and cultural at the same time, he said. Visitors should attend “to have a different cultural experience.”

n Coaldale: St. Luke’s University Health Network sponsors a diabetes support group that meets monthly at the Miner’s Cafe in St. Luke’s Hospital-Miners Campus. Each month, a different diabetes topic is explored. Topics are based on ways to improve blood sugar control and quality of life. Meetings are generally 45 minutes long and include a question-and-answer period. For more information, call 570-645-8107.

n Gordon: The Gordon Area Seniors held their annual Christmas party at Green’s. The group sang Christmas carols and exchanged gifts. Sue Hoffman was chosen as Senior of the Year. The next meeting will be held Wednesday. Dues for 2015 are now being collected, according to Grace M. Long, acting secretary.

n Pottsville: Schuylkill Rehabilitation Center, 300 Schuylkill Medical Plaza, Pottsville, hosts several support groups that are free and open to all on a monthly basis. The Parkinson’s Support Group meets at 1 p.m. the first Friday of the month; the Amputee Support Group meets at 1 p.m. the second Friday; the Multiple Sclerosis group meets at 1 p.m. the last Friday; the Traumatic Brain Injury & Stroke group meets at 12:30 p.m. the third Friday. The Fibromyalgia/Chronic Pain support group meets at 6 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month.

n Saint Clair: The Family Project, a 12-week series that explores theological, philosophical and cultural underpinnings of the traditional family through film and discussion, will start at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Community Mission Christian Center, 254 N. Mill St. The event is free. Call Pastor Bob Alonge at 570-573-8089 or visit www.thecommunitymission.webs.com for more information.

n Shenandoah: Columbia Hose Company No. 1, 742 W. Centre St., will sponsor a spaghetti dinner beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday at the firehouse. Meals are $8 for adults and $6 for children and include spaghetti, meatballs, bread, salad and dessert. Patrons may eat at the firehouse or take meals out. The company holds spaghetti dinners on the first Sunday of each month, October through April.

n Tamaqua: The John E. Morgan Foundation has bestowed a $500,000 gift on the Kutztown University Foundation & Alumni Relations office, which will use these funds for scholarships through the John E. Morgan Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund II, according to Diane L. Gaw, director of grant writing and communications at the university. The original John E. Morgan Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund was established by a similar gift received in 2011-12. This fund’s provisions differ from the first in that, while the original provides scholarships to graduates of Tamaqua Area High School to attend Kutztown, the newer fund supports: first, Tamaqua Area graduates who transfer to Kutztown from a community college; second, other Tamaqua Area graduates who enroll at Kutztown; and, third, Kutztown students who graduated from other Schuylkill County high schools. The two funds will each generate an annual amount of about $16,000 for scholarships, which could benefit as many as 16 students a year, for a minimum award of $1,000. Last year, the original John E. Morgan Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund awarded $16,860 in scholarships to three students, ranging from $4,935 to $6,930 per student.

n Tremont: The Tremont Area Free Public Library will sponsor a cold soup sale beginning at 11 a.m. Jan. 14 at the library, 19 N. Pine St. The cost is $6 per quart. Varieties include stuffed pepper, potato, ham vegetable, ham and bean, minestrone, beef vegetable, sausage, chicken noodle, cream of broccoli and crab. Other cold soup sales will held on Feb. 11 and March 11. For more information, call 570-695-3325.

Happy New Year from the Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau!

We wish you a year filled with possibilities, prosperity, partnership, good health and happiness. The new year has barely begun with all of its untapped potential lying in wait for us.

We hope to serve both our members and the community while marketing Schuylkill County as a beautiful outdoor recreation tourism destination.

Although I dislike the cold, I must admit there is beauty in the dormancy and stillness of winter. So far this season, we’ve been blessed with relatively mild temperatures, which lends itself to all types of outdoor activity.

Why not take a hike? Or even a bike ride in these mild temps? If you go to www.schuylkill.org or stop by the visitors center, you’ll find the Schuylkill Trail Directory, the Schuylkill County Outdoor Recreation Map, Appalachian Trail Map, Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area Map, Schuylkill River Trail Map and State Parks brochure.

These resources will help you with your plans to get out and enjoy our plentiful outdoor recreation opportunities that may include anything from hiking to late season fishing.

There are also opportunities for archery and flintlock deer hunting and hunting squirrels, ruffled grouse, rabbit and pheasant.

Please keep in mind I’m no expert on hunting matters so go to www.portal.state.pa.us for specific information. Should winter temperatures become low enough, we’ll have ice fishing, too.

The important thing is to get outside and combat the cabin fever that is so common in Pennsylvania this time of year!

Our partners at Schuylkill on the Move have a Stonehedge Gardens Tour and Lehigh-New England Rail Trail hike with Porcupine Pat scheduled on Jan. 25. The good folks at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park, Pine Grove, have put together a fly tying course for beginners on Jan. 18. Registration is a must so please call 717-979-0235.

They’ve also got winter fun for everyone at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park on Jan. 25 with the Fire & Ice Winter Fest. If you go, you can fire up hotdogs and marshmallows over an open fire, sing campfire songs, play mini ice golf, visit the hot chocolate booth, compete in the fire-hot chili cook-off and participate in homemade ice-cream demonstrations and samplings!

Admission is free and there is a small donation for some of the activities. Advance registration is required to participate in the chili competition by calling Susan at 570-624-3018.

Speaking of chili cook-offs, our friends at Galen Glen Winery in Andreas have a great one planned on Jan. 17. The hippie vintners at Longtrout Winery in Auburn are serving up wine and an awesome Ice-Bowl Disc Golf Tournament on Jan. 10. The Tamaqua Community Arts Center will host the Blue Mountain Buccaneer Band in concert on Jan. 18. Lori’s Angels in Schuylkill Haven brings us the annual Souper Saturday Soup Cooking Competition on Jan. 31.

The Schuylkill Mall has plenty planned for us in January with a bridal expo on Jan. 10, The Republican-Herald Used Book Sale on Jan. 16 and 17 and the first round of this year’s Junior Idol on Jan. 20.

The Cressona Mall will host a Hat Day contest for children under 12 on Jan. 17. You’ll also want to leave room in your schedule this month and next as the Greater Pottsville Winter Carnival kicks into gear with their full roster of events.

On a final note, the Schuylkill County 2015 Visitors Guide hits the shelves locally over the next two weeks. Be sure to keep an eye out for it and grab one.

Inside you’ll find attractions, outdoor recreation, dining, lodging, retail, arts, entertainment, wineries, events and so much more.

To find out more about the benefits of membership, the 2015 Visitors Guide, the Schuylkill County Outdoor Recreation Map and our many other resources, go to www.schuylkill.org or give us a call at 570-622-7700.

(Gargano is executive director of Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau)

Gov. Tom Corbett awarded a City Revitalization and Improvement Zone program Pilot Zone designation to Tamaqua on Wednesday.

The program is designed to spur job growth, Corbett said.

Through innovative financing, CRIZ provides designated municipalities an opportunity to leverage state tax dollars to spur private investment in under-utilized properties. State and local taxes collected within the CRIZ will be used to repay debt service to spur economic development projects within the zone.

Local officials in Tamaqua were recently informed of the Pilot Zone designation. The borough will work closely with the state Department of Community & Economic Development and the state Department of Revenue to identify priority projects within their applications.

Tamaqua council President Micah Gursky said it is good news for the borough.

“Tamaqua is ready to work with local and new developers and businesses to help them take advantage of this opportunity. We are grateful to be selected as Pennsylvania’s pilot CRIZ and hope to demonstrate how this tool can improve a small rural community,” Gursky said Wednesday. “The CRIZ could tip the scale making possible otherwise impossible developments.”

Applications were reviewed by the DCED, the Department of Revenue and the Office of the Budget, which awarded the Pilot Zone designation based on eligibility requirements identified in program guidelines.

In July 2013, Corbett signed the CRIZ program into law in conjunction with the 2013-14 state budget to spur new growth in eligible cities to attract development, revive downtowns and create jobs for residents in the regions. In October 2014, the state legislature approved a technical amendment to the legislation enabling a borough or township with a population of 7,000 or more to create a contracting authority which can then be used to apply for a Pilot Zone.

The legislation permitted up to two CRIZ designations and one Pilot Zone approval before 2016, then up to two additional CRIZ designations each year beginning in 2016. In December 2013, Corbett awarded the initial two CRIZ program designations to Bethlehem and Lancaster.

For more information on CRIZ, visit DCED’s website at www.newPA.com.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Perhaps the second time will be the charm for the Schuylkill Haven Area School District in its quest for bids to repair its natatorium.

The building, which houses an indoor pool, was built in 1970, and tiles of the pool are cracked and missing.

The district first accepted bids for repairs during the summer and decided to rebid after receiving only one offer.

“The bids came in higher than we expected,” Ken Albitz, building and grounds supervisor for the district, said Wednesday.

Superintendent Lorraine Felker said previously the district was looking to spend “in the neighborhood of $50,000,” according to The Republican-Herald archives.

Felker did not return a call for comment Wednesday. The school district was closed and will reopen Monday.

School board meeting minutes from Aug. 20, 2014, show only one bid was received for the work. The name of the company for that bid was not provided.

Albitz said the lack of competing bids may have been due to companies being busy with other work.

Bids are expected to be approved this month, with work starting in late March. Completion of the natatorium repairs is possible by early May.

A legal ad in The Republican-Herald said a pre-bid conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday in the district administration board room. Bids will be accepted until 1 p.m. Jan. 9.

Documents for the work may be examined at AEM Architects Inc., 3700 Perkiomen Ave., Reading or Mid Atlantic BX, 2501 N. Front St., Harrisburg.

Albitz said the pre-bid conference will involve contractors walking to the pool and looking at the needed work first-hand. They will have a chance to ask questions, he said.

The school plant committee could discuss the issue at its Jan. 14 meeting, although he didn’t know the time. The school board could also vote on the issue at its 7 p.m. Jan. 21 meeting, Albitz said.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Penn State Schuylkill was included in the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the second straight year.

The Corporation for National and Community Service announced the 2014 honor roll Dec. 8.

Each of the past two years, campus students have completed more than 10,000 hours of service throughout the surrounding communities and benefited local organizations, including Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 Special Olympics, the Salvation Army, Schuylkill Women in Crisis, Tuscarora State Park, Rest Haven nursing home, Hillside SPCA, the Schuylkill Haven Recreation Center and Servants To All.

“As the coordinator of community service, I plan and implement a variety of activities throughout the area and local organizations reach out to me on a continuous basis asking for student volunteers or to collaborate on events,” Tina Rose, coordinator of student leadership, career development and community service at Penn State Schuylkill, said. “I can plan these events, however, I don’t make students attend. They do it on their own. So, honestly, all the accolades go to our students, many who are not even from this area.”

Students continue to increase annual contributions to THON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. THON, the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, raises money for the Four Diamonds Fund at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, to help children who are being treated for pediatric cancer.

Last year, Penn State Schuylkill’s THON raised more than $56,000, ranking the campus fifth amongst commonwealth campuses. The Schuylkill THON committee has raised more than $80,000 from the local community over the past three years.

In November, students stayed outdoors in boxes without technology for 14 hours to raise awareness about homelessness in Schuylkill County. Students intended to stay outdoors for 18 hours, but the event had to be cut short due to the severe cold.

“I mentioned this event to our students in October because they were very passionate about bringing awareness to our homeless population and they made it happen,” Rose said.

The event raised nearly $1,000 that will be donated to Servants To All, a nonprofit organization in Pottsville assisting the homeless throughout the county.

“The students have lots of ideas for other local nonprofits and I look forward to seeing these events come to fruition in the spring,” Rose said.

“In addition to a great sense of pride and accomplishment, students experience many opportunities for leadership development as they participate in community service projects,” Kelly M. Austin, chancellor of Penn State Schuylkill, said in a press release. “We know that these students will someday become great leaders in whatever path they choose.”

Inspired by the thousands of college students who traveled across the country to support relief efforts along the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll highlights the colleges and universities solving community challenges.

CNCS, the federal agency for volunteering and service, has administered the award since 2006 in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as the American Council on Education, Campus Compact and the Interfaith Youth Core.

According to the most recent Volunteering and Civic Life in America report, 3.1 million college students dedicated more than 118 million hours of service across the country in 2012 — a contribution valued at $2.5 billion. More information on eligibility and the full list of Honor Roll awards is available online at www.nationalservice.gov.

Both hospitals of the Schuylkill Medical Center reported expected outcomes for most medical and surgical procedures, according to a state report earlier this month.

The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council released a report Dec. 17 that evaluates hospitals on 17 medical conditions and surgical procedures. The report contains information about the volume of cases, mortality, readmissions and charges for patients admitted to all general acute care and most specialty general acute care hospitals in Pennsylvania.

“Hospitals are always looking at these kinds of things to look at the kind of care they provide and the cost of services being provided for,” Michael Peckman, Schuylkill Medical Center marketing and public relations director, said Friday. “The bigger question that any facility looks at is ‘What is that statistic telling you? What drove that statistic?’ ”

At East Norwegian Street, the mortality rate was higher than expected based on patient risk or random variation for six conditions: abnormal heartbeat, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart attack, aspiration pneumonia, septicemia and kidney failure.

While the report tries to account for high-risk patients, age and coexisting conditions can still affect the statistics.

“The northeast in general, not just Schuylkill County, definitely has a higher concentration of elderly patients,” Peckman said. “Add to that, we have a lot of ambulance patient activity coming from nursing homes.”

The East Norwegian Street hospital is a Medicare-dependent facility, meaning at least 60 percent of its patients rely on the federal health insurance program for seniors, Peckman said.

The report also does not account for advanced directives from patients, such as do-not-resuscitate orders.

“That is something really important to note,” Peckman said.

Readmissions were worse than expected for congestive heart failure at East Norwegian Street.

Meanwhile, readmissions were worse than expected at South Jackson Street for diabetes, but better than expected for kidney and urinary tract infections.

Statewide, in-hospital mortality rates decreased significantly between 2008 and 2013 for eight of the 16 illnesses for which a mortality was reported. None of the conditions or medical procedures studied showed a significant increase.

The sharpest decline was in septicemia, a serious and life-threatening infection in the blood stream also known as blood poisoning. It decreased from 18.8 to 12.2 percent.

“The decrease in mortality rates in 2013 correlates to the quality of care hospitals, physicians and nurses in the commonwealth provide,” Joe Martin, executive director of PHC4, said in a statement released with the report.

Patient readmission rates statewide significantly decreased in eight of 13 conditions in the report. The largest decrease was for congestive heart failure. It decreased from 27.2 percent to 23.5 percent.

“Reduced rates of readmission can point to an improved quality of care and suggest hospitals in the commonwealth are working to help lower overall health care costs,” Martin said.

Only one condition studied showed a significant increase in readmissions. Chest pain increased from 11.6 to 13.5 percent.

Septicemia also had the largest percentage increase in volume of hospital admissions, rising 74.5 percent from 26,832 discharges in 2008 to 46,813 discharges in 2013. Nationally, there are about 750,000 cases of Septicemia, which affects between 1 to 2 percent of all hospitalizations, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Medicare fee-for-service was the primary payer for 39.7 percent of the statewide admissions in 2012, totaling more than $1.01 billion. Medicaid fee-for-service was the primary payer for 3.0 percent of the statewide admissions, totaling more than $97 million. Medicaid managed care was the primary payer for 4.8 percent of the statewide admissions and procedures, totaling nearly $133 million.

For more information on the report, visit the PHC4 wesbite at www.phc4.org.

(Staff writer Kent Jackson contributed to this story)

An Ashland couple became parents of the first baby born in Schuylkill County in 2015 on Friday.

William Michael Loftus was born at 12:16 p.m. at Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street. His parents are Kimberly McIntyre, 23, and Tony Loftus, 31. He is their first child.

The name was chosen because William is the name of Loftus’ great-great-grandfather and Michael is the name of McIntyre’s father.

The couple met at American Hose Company in Ashland while volunteering as firefighters. Both attended North Schuylkill School District.

McIntyre went into labor New Year’s Day. Her due date was Jan. 11.

“At 11:30 a.m., my labor started and we came down here about 5:30 p.m. Thursday,” she said.

McIntyre was in labor for a couple hours and pushed for two hours before medical staff determined the baby was too big and a Caesarean section was needed. William weighed 10 pounds and was 22 inches long.

The size of the baby didn’t surprise McIntyre because she thought her bundle of joy would weigh a lot.

“She used to say he was going to be 10 pounds,” Loftus said.

“I was just kidding back in June,” McIntyre said.

Amy Nettles, registered nurse, said everybody present for William’s birth was amazed at his size.

“Everybody was excited at the size of the baby as he was being delivered. She worked really hard for that baby,” she said.

Loftus said William was a quiet baby before the boy let out a soft cry. McIntyre rubbed his cheek to calm him. She said she did that the first time he cried when she held him and it worked.

McIntyre does not know the color of his eyes.

“He hasn’t really opened them yet,” she said.

The proud couple guessed which parent William looked like the most.

“I think he looks a little like his mom,” Loftus said.

For McIntyre, the reality of being a mother has not really set in. She said once she starts to get in the routine of life with William it will become more real.

Loftus and McIntyre said they are excited to start their new life with their son. They have no immediate plans for their son’s future, but said he can be a firefighter when he grows up if he wants to.

“It’s possible if he likes it. We’re not going to force him into it,” McIntyre said.