Pedestrian hurt

in I-78 wreck

HAMBURG — State police at Hamburg investigated a crash involving a pedestrian and three vehicles that occurred about 8:10 p.m. Saturday on Interstate 78, at mile marker 28.4 in Tilden Township, Berks County.

Police said Felix A. Vasquez, 39, of East Elmhurst, N.Y., was driving a 2004 Peterbilt truck west when he was unable to stop on the snow-covered road for a previous crash. The man was able to take his truck onto the side of the road where it hit an embankment, causing the tractor and trailer to overturn onto a pedestrian and two parked vehicles.

Police said the pedestrian, William S. Holt, 41, of Pine Grove, suffered minor injuries since the roof of his 2012 Chevrolet Impala stopped the falling trailer.

Vasquez and his passenger, Sonia Castillo-Vasquez, 34, also of East Elmhurst, N.Y., along with the driver of the Holt vehicle, Kristine Holt, and two other passengers, Tyler Holt, 11, and Sophia Holt, 5, all of Pine Grove, escaped injury.

Police also said that Brittany D. Fisher, 24, of Reading, the driver of a 2003 Ford Taurus, and her passenger, Michael A. Putnam II, 28, of Hamburg, suffered minor injuries and were taken to a Reading hospital by Hamburg EMS for treatment.

The Fisher car became disabled as the woman was driving west, lost control on the snow and struck the concrete median before coming to a stop across both lanes of travel.

All three vehicles were towed from the scene and police said Vasquez will be cited for driving too fast for conditions.

MaryD man takes

electronics twice

HOMETOWN — A MaryD man is facing charges of two counts each of retail theft and receiving stolen property after incidents at Wal-Mart on Feb. 3 and 4.

On Feb. 3, Rush Township police said, Zachary Pisanchyn, 22, stole a Beats speaker valued at $199.95 and on Feb. 4, he stole a Go Pro camera valued at $129.

Police said Pisanchyn will now have to answer to the charges before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua.

Man texts, crashes

truck into tree

HOMETOWN — Rush Township police investigated a crash that occurred about 4:35 p.m. Thursday on Fairview Street.

Police said James Kolbush, 18, of McAdoo, was driving a Dodge truck on Fairview Street and texting while driving.

The man went off of the road, through a guide wire and down an embankment where he struck hit a tree before coming to a stop.

Police did not say if Kolbush was injured or if he will be cited for the crash.

Coaldale man falls

asleep at wheel

HOMETOWN — A Coaldale man escaped injury when the 2006 Dodge Caravan he was driving crashed about 7:25 a.m. Saturday on Claremont Avenue.

Rush Township police said Brandon Bennyhoff, 24, was driving north on the Hometown Hill when he apparently fell asleep, crossed over both north and southbound lanes and hit a stone wall.

The truck bounced off of the wall and continued back over the north and southbound lanes before going off the road again and hitting a rock embankment.

The man’s vehicle was towed from the scene, police said.

Tremont man

wanted after theft

ELIZABETHVILLE — A man whose last known address was 257 Main St. in Tremont is facing multiple counts of retail theft by state police at Lykens after incidents in December at Wal-Mart in Washington Township, Dauphin County.

Police said Christopher Lee Madenford, 35, removed security features and stole two Samsung Galaxy tablets valued $315.80 and fled the scene.

Police said Madenford has several active warrants for theft and retail theft and may currently be residing in the Tremont or Hegins areas.

The man is described as being about 5-feet 8-inches tall, weighing about 155 pounds with blond hair, blue eyes and possible piercings on his face and tattoos on both arms.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Madenford is asked to call state police at Lykens at 717-362-8700.

3 injured in 1-car

Dauphin crash

MILLERSBURG — Three people were injured in a one-vehicle crash that occurred about 2 a.m. Sunday at Route 209 and Romberger Road in Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County.

State police at Lykens said Charles L. Gates Jr., 24, of Lykens, was driving a 2006 Ford Fusion north on Route 209 when the car went off of the road and hit a utility pole.

Gates and two of his passengers, Jasmine N. Hawk, 21, of Gratz, and Michael W. Lekernec, 22, of Lykens, were taken to area hospitals for treatment of injuries they suffered while another passenger, Brandon L. Hess, 21, of Elizabethville, refused medical treatment.

Police said Gates will be cited for careless driving as a result of the crash and that Millersburg firefighters and Life Team and Medic 6 assisted at the scene.

Charges pending

against city man

CRESSONA — Charges of DUI are pending against a Pottsville man after the vehicle he was driving was stopped for a traffic violation by state police at Schuylkill Haven about 1:35 a.m. Sunday.

Police said Melvin Fishburn, 31, was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado when he was stopped for a violation after exiting Beckville Road and traveling west on Route 901.

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

Charges of DUI are pending the results of the test and will be filed with Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, police said.

SHENANDOAH — School districts in Schuylkill County started the day later Monday because of early sub-zero temperatures while Shenandoah borough council had to cancel its regular monthly meeting at night due to the forecast.

The council meeting was rescheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 23.

The National Weather Service at State College called for 1 to 1 1/2 inches of snow in the northern part of the county and 2 1/2 to 3 inches for the southern half Monday night and today.

“It’s going to be a fluffy snow,” David Martin, NWS metrologist, said Monday. “It is going to be a real light snow you can push with a broom or your feet.”

Martin said the overnight low temperatures will be between 5 to 10 degrees.

Temperatures dropped as low as minus-9 degrees overnight Sunday in Schuylkill County. Martin said Frackville and Pottsville recorded lows of minus-6 degrees while it was minus-8 degrees in Pine Grove and minus-9 degrees in Mahanoy City.

“It was pretty cold across the entire state,” Martin said. “It does not get that cold that often. Some years, we hardly get below zero up this way.”

Martin said low temperatures are forecasted to be in the lower teens tonight and drop to about zero degrees again Wednesday night. The forecast for Thursday is for low temperatures about 5 or 6 degrees and temperatures will be between 0 and minus-2 Friday, Martin said.

“The temperature will return closer to normal over the second half of the weekend,” Martin said.

DETURKSVILLE — The Washington Township supervisors made few changes during their reorganization meeting.

Leon Lutz will continue to serve as chairman and the board’s newest member, Lynn Brown, will be vice chairman. Dawn Koch was re-appointed as the township’s secretary-treasurer.

The board made a change to its Uniform Construction Code and its driveway, building and sewage enforcement officer. Alfred Benesch & Co., Pottsville, was appointed the sole inspector, except for sewage.

Other appointments include the law firm of Williamson, Friedberg and Jones, Pottsville, as the board’s legal counsel; Mike Stalnecker as fire marshal, assisted by Kevin Otto, and Carl Stump as emergency management coordinator.

Wendell Gainer will represent the township at the Schuylkill County Tax Collection Committee meetings.

The supervisor meet at 7 p.m. the third Monday of the month in the municipal building, Jones Road.

ORWIGSBURG — Four new flavors of Yuengling’s Ice Cream will hit store shelves as early as next week.

Original Sea Salt Caramel Swirl, Caramel Popcorn, Orange Cream and Peanut Butter Cup will join the company’s roster of 10 year-round flavors and two seasonal ice creams.

Original Sea Salt Caramel Swirl was the most requested new flavor, according to a company press release. It combines the company’s creamy sea-salt caramel ice cream, which is in its signature Black & Tan flavor, with caramel swirls.

Peanut Butter Cup includes Belgian chocolate and peanut butter ice creams swirled together with peanut butter and chunks of peanut butter cup.

Caramel Popcorn combines sweet caramel swirls with a creamy buttered popcorn ice cream, company officials said in the release.

Orange Cream is sweet Madagascar vanilla ice cream swirled with orange cream.

“We loved coming up with these four new flavors and we’re really excited to have our customers try them,” David Yuengling, president of Yuengling’s Ice Cream, said the release issued Monday. “The ideas came from a mix of our imaginations, popular trends in the food industry and customer requests. And, of course, our taste-testing panel comprised of 19 fans helped us choose which new flavors would be sold this year.”

The four new flavors will be available in grocery stores and will complement Yuengling’s Ice Cream’s current line of 10 premium ice cream flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate, Vanilla Fudge Chunk with Pretzels, Root Beer Float, Chocolate Chip, Espresso Chocolate Chip, Mint Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Chocolate Marshmallow and Black & Tan. Its two seasonal flavors, Spiced Pumpkin Roll and Peppermint Crunch, make appearances during the holidays.

Yuengling’s Ice Cream, based in northeastern Pennsylvania, is a family-owned business dating back to 1920. The 16 flavors of its premium ice cream are kosher, PA Preferred and adhere to the highest standards, according to the release, which also revealed the company donates at least three percent of its profits to charitable organizations.

For more information about Yuengling’s Ice Cream and for a store locator, visit www.yuenglingsicecream.com.

Of two jackpot-winning Cash 5 lottery tickets, one worth $225,000 for Sunday’s drawing was sold in New Philadelphia.

“Actually, my wife received a phone call from the lottery this morning that we had sold a winning lottery ticket,” Bill McMullen, owner of McMullen’s Market, 165 Valley St., New Philadelphia, said Tuesday.

The winning Sunday Cash 5 ticket correctly matched all five balls, 3-7-12-26-27, to win a jackpot of $225,000, less 25 percent federal withholding. McMullen’s Market will receive a $500 selling bonus.

“We were delighted, and we told a few of our employees here and we put a sign up telling our customers to make sure they check their tickets,” he said.

This is not the first time McMullen’s has sold a winning Cash 5 ticket.

“We sold a winning Cash 5 ticket a few years ago. It was somewhere around over $400,000,” McMullen said.

Nobody has come forward to claim Sunday’s Cash 5 prize as of Tuesday.

The other winning Cash 5 ticket, worth $450,000, was drawn on Friday and sold at Walnut Hill Beer Warehouse, 150 Walnut Hill Road, Uniontown. It correctly matched all five balls, 2-5-8-15-26, to win a jackpot of $450,000, less 25 percent federal withholding. The retailer will also receive a $500 selling bonus.

The prize must be claimed and the tickets validated before the winners can be identified. Cash 5 winners have one year from the drawing date to claim prizes.

The Pennsylvania Lottery encourages each holder of a jackpot-winning ticket to sign the back of the ticket, call the state lottery at 717-702-8146 or file a claim at any of the lottery’s seven area offices or Middletown headquarters.

Claims may be filed from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at area offices and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the headquarters.

Gov. Tom Wolf has named Schuylkill County native and former U.S. Congressman Tim Holden as chairman of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

Holden has been a member of the PLCB since 2013. Former Governor Tom Corbett nominated him to the board June 14, 2013. He was confirmed by the state senate Nov. 13, 2013, for a four-year term.

Holden said Tuesday he appreciated the confidence placed in him by Wolf.

“It’s a great honor to have been named chairman of the PLCB by Gov. Tom Wolf,” he said.

He was notified last Thursday by a member of the governors staff, he said. Holden is one of three members of the PLCB, the other two being Joseph E. “Skip” Brion and Michael Negra.

“I am confident in Chairman Holden’s ability to continue to make the LCB more transparent and ensure that taxpayers receive the most benefit and the highest standard of customer service,” Wolf said. “I thank and commend Skip Brion for his dutiful and diligent service as chairman.”

Holden said the board will continue to work and make things as “convenient as possible for the consumers of Pennsylvania.”

He is among several men from Schuylkill County who have had the honor to serve as chairman of the PLCB.

James A. Goodman and John E. Jones III are former chairmen of the PLCB. Also, John D.W. Reiley served as PLCB secretary for many years

Holden, 57, of Saint Clair, served as Schuylkill County sheriff from 1986 until 1992, when he was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the 6th District, which then included Berks and Schuylkill counties. He defeated Pottsville lawyer John E. Jones III, who also served as chairman of the PLCB before being appointed U.S. district judge in 2002.

He served 20 years in Congress, moving with Schuylkill County to the 17th District in 2002, when he defeated fellow incumbent George W. Gekas of Dauphin County in one of the most hotly contested congressional races of the year.

In 2012, however, Holden, then the dean of the state’s congressional delegation, lost the Democratic primary election to Matt Cartwright, a Scranton lawyer. The 17th District had been redrawn after the 2010 Census to contain far more Democrats, and included all of Schuylkill County. However, most of the district’s population was in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, neither of which Holden had represented.

Cartwright remains the district’s congressman, having defeated Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David J. Moylan III in the 2014 General Election.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — The Democrats are looking to take back the Schuylkill County courthouse with municipal government experience at the top of the party ticket.

County Commissioner Gary Hess, former borough mayor, announced Tuesday that he is seeking a second term and introduced his running mate, Pottsville councilman Joe Devine, at the Walk In Art Center.

“I am asking you, the citizens of Schuylkill County, for your support once more and to give me the opportunity to serve you for another four years,” Hess said Tuesday. “By re-electing me as your county commissioner, I promise that I will work hard and be determined to make things happen. I will put all my census to work for the best of all Schuylkill County. Through hard work and determination, I have the sight to see and work for a bright future, the ear to listen to your concerns, the voice to speak up for all the people, to continue touching and helping those that need the help and the heart to care and make a difference because united we can make a difference.”

Hess, 57, was elected in 2011 after Democratic commissioners Chairwoman Mantura M. Gallagher and Frank McAndrew decided not to seek another term. He currently serves on the board with Frank J. Staudenmeier and George F. Halcovage Jr., both Republicans.

Before starting his four-year term in 2012, Hess was elected to two-consecutive terms as mayor of Schuylkill Haven since 2006. He is also president of Hess Catering Inc., Schuylkill Haven.

“For 200 years, a strong foundation has been built,” Hess said. “We have a great history and a long, rich heritage with hard-working and caring citizens. We can not change what has happened in the past, but we can use it as a valuable resource to continue moving us forward.”

Hess said that one of his proudest accomplishments in office was spearheading the Schuylkill County Youth Summit in 2013. The annual event provides a forum for students to discuss with community leaders how they can work together to make the county a better place to live, work and raise families. The goal of the annual youth summit meeting is to address both the assets available and those needed to encourage the youth in the county to work, play and raise families in Schuylkill County.

“We wanted to engage them, equip them and support them, our next generation and our next leaders,” Hess said. “As President John F. Kennedy said, ‘Our youth are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.’ ”

Hess is a lifetime resident of Schuylkill County and was born and raised in Saint Clair. He is a 1975 graduate of Saint Clair Area High School and the Schuylkill Technology Center. Hess moved to Schuylkill Haven in 1980 with his wife and together, they started Hess Catering Inc., which is now in its 35th year and has about 40 employees.

Hess said that Devine is also no stranger to hard work and dedication.

“Ladies and gentleman, I could not ask for a better person to run alongside me,” Hess said.

Born and raised in Pottsville, Devine is a graduate of Nativity BVM High School, Pottsville, and Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in administration and justice. Devine, 59, served with the Air Force during the Vietnam War from 1973-77 and with the Navy Reserves during Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2005-06.

Retired from the U.S. Postal Service, Devine was elected as a city councilman in 2013 and started his term in 2014. He is also a past chairman of the Pottsville Zoning Hearing board.

In 2009, Devine ran for sheriff in the Democratic primary election but lost to current Sheriff Joseph G. Groody.

“It is my opinion that leaders of the community have the important role of connecting people to government and to each other,” Devine said. “The elected officials that will be successful have the ability to be connectors, facilitators and most importantly, good listeners.”

Devine said that he will be working with Hess over the next several months to develop a strategic plan and agenda as the Democratic party continues to “fill the ranks” in running for the other county offices up for election.

“You can be assured that we will take a commonsense approach with Gary being the former mayor of this fine town of Schuylkill Haven, the little town that could, and I, as a councilman in the county seat of Pottsville, where we are making strides every day to make sure Pottsville is a vibrant, safe and good place to live,” Devine said. “I think with both of us having a background in municipal government, that is a big plus for running a county the size of Schuylkill County.”

The following are among those scheduled to plead not guilty Thursday during arraignments in Schuylkill County Court. The defendants and the charges against them include:

Edward Androsko, 59, of 507 W. Savory St., Pottsville — possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and unlawful activities.

Robert M. Pastucha Jr., 30, of 27 Shady Lane, Barnesville — false alarms to agencies of public safety.

Neal E. Burgos-Lawson, 46, of 202 N. Second St., Apt. 1, Pottsville — delivery of a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Brian Abrachinsky, 48, of 35 School St., Barnesville — retail theft and receiving stolen property.

Nicolai J. Varga, 26, of 16 S. White St., Shenandoah — delivery of a controlled substance, criminal use of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

David R. Chuplis, 32, of 14 N. Line St., Girardville — theft by deception and retail theft.

Sean P. O’Donnell, 46, of 701 Altamont Blvd., Frackville — delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Brandon J. Hoffman, 19, of 214 Centre Ave., Schuylkill Haven — possession of a controlled substance.

Randy E. Hillibish, 45, of 624 Claremont Ave., Schuylkill Haven — theft, theft by deception and theft of property lost, mislaid or delivered by mistake.

Frederick D. King, 43, of 516 W. Market St., Mahanoy City — delivery of a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jessee J. Price, 29, of 521 W. Washington St., Frackville — conspiracy.

Robert F. Seigel, 50, of 128 N. Lehigh St., Shenandoah — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Brian M. Oliver, 26, of 120 S. Jardin St., Shenandoah — theft of leased property.

Christopher L. George, 40, of 93 Main Blvd., Ringtown — theft and receiving stolen property.

Ronell L. Leary, 32, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — robbery, conspiracy, aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possessing instruments of crime and recklessly endangering another person.

John Dove, 57, of 416 E. Centre St., Shenandoah — insurance fraud, theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

Alisha J. Yoder, 24, of 158 State Road, Box 35, Branchdale — hindering apprehension or prosecution.

Michael S. Romberger, 35, of 17 Union St., Pine Grove — resisting arrest.

William T. Whittaker, 24, of 2 E. Green St., McAdoo — receiving stolen property and theft of leased property.

Glenna S. Cross, 60, of 128 Mahanoy Ave., Tamaqua — possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to be licensed.

Mary M. Reber, 55, of 417 Orchard Ave., Schuylkill Haven — forgery and acquiring or obtaining a controlled substance by forgery.

Jonas A. Kreitzer, 19, of 23 Miller Road, New Ringgold — possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and general lighting requirements violation.

Allison Kiessling, 21, of 1834 Long Run Road, Schuylkill Haven — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Scott D. Petrie, 40, of 48 S. St. Peter St., Schuylkill Haven — receiving stolen property.

Jeremy C. Hess, 28, of 413 W. Market St., Orwigsburg — criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and harassment.

James A. Polusky, 24, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jason J. Zulkowski, 39, of 325 W. Columbus St., Shenandoah — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Crystal J. Miller, 28, no known address — receiving stolen property, retail theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Christopher L. Hill, 27, of 47 Mushdahl Road, New Ringgold — aggravated assault on police, flight to avoid apprehension or prosecution, resisting arrest, escape, possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct.

Martinita Vrolijk, 39, of 85 N. Kennedy Drive, McAdoo — theft of services.

Sara Rimmer, 19, of Box 193, 232 Hazle St., Nuremberg — prohibited offensive weapons and purchase or consumption of alcohol.

Luis Polanco, 42, of 85 N. Kennedy Drive, McAdoo — theft of services.

Jesus M. Machado, 42, of 621 N. Front St., Minersville — corruption of minors and indecent exposure.

Robert F. Seigel, 50, of 128 N. Lehigh St., Shenandoah — fleeing or attempting to elude police, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, failure to be licensed, driving a vehicle without an inspection certificate, disorderly conduct, flight to avoid apprehension or prosecution, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving without insurance and unauthorized use or transfer of registration.

Robert L. Tabourn, 23, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — conspiracy, unlawful restraint, aggravated assault, terroristic threats, false imprisonment, simple assault and harassment.

John A. Riddick, 35, of 318 W. Lloyd St., Floor 1, Shenandoah — conspiracy, unlawful restraint, aggravated assault, terroristic threats, false imprisonment, simple assault and harassment.

Benjamin Twardzik, 24, of 10 Murray Meadows Lane, Ringtown — conspiracy, unlawful restraint, aggravated assault, terroristic threats, false imprisonment, simple assault and harassment.

Brandon L. Fritz, 28, of 233 Catawissa St., Tamaqua — possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, failure to be licensed and restrictions on alcoholic beverages.

Hugo Selenski is a cold-blooded killer who values money over all else, a man who tortured and strangled two people with flex ties because human lives got in the way of his greed, a prosecutor argued Tuesday during the penalty phase of his capital murder trial.

But Selenski, 41, is also a family man — a father, grandfather, a brother and a son, Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Jarrett Ferentino said. The prosecutor said it “confounds” him that Selenski turned out as he did after coming from an obviously supportive network.

“He is a wolf dressed as a sheep, and they are the most dangerous kind,” Ferentino said told jurors during the first day of the penalty phase.

The phase itself came under question early in the day when Selenski’s defense filed a motion seeking to have the death penalty taken off the table or the hearing postponed indefinitely because of an announcement just four days earlier that Gov. Tom Wolf was imposing a moratorium on the death penalty amid concerns about its fairness.

“Given the timing of this unprecedented action in relation to this case, the moratorium remaining in effect indefinitely until the completion of the legislative report studying the broken death penalty system in Pennsylvania, the viability of the death penalty in Pennsylvania and the fact that death is different, irremediable, and final, in the interests of justice the court should grant the motion to preclude the death penalty as a sentencing option or alternatively stay the penalty phase,” Selenski’s lawyers wrote.

But Luzerne County Judge Fred A. Pierantoni III ruled the penalty phase will proceed as scheduled and that jurors can still choose life in prison or death as Selenski’s fate.

During opening arguments, Ferentino told the jury that Selenski’s life hangs in the balance because of the choices he made.

Those choices amount to a death warrant, he said.

A jury a week ago convicted Selenski of two counts of first-degree murder, robbery and other charges in the deaths of pharmacist Michael Kerkowski and his girlfriend Tammy Fassett, both 37. Prosecutors said he and accomplice Paul Weakley, 45, conspired to rob and kill Kerkowski for money he made illegally selling prescription painkillers.

Fassett wasn’t part of the plan, but she too was bound and strangled with flex ties after the pair arrived at Kerkowski’s house in Hunlock Creek on May 3, 2002, according to prosecutors.

Their bodies were discovered buried in the backyard of Selenski’s Kingston Township house on June 5, 2003.

Weakley has already pleaded guilty to murder and is serving life in prison. He was a key prosecution witness, putting Selenski at the scene of the crime.

Ferentino told the jury that the torture and murder was not the result of a “clumsy improvisation,” but rather a calculated effort by Selenski and Weakley to torture Kerkowski to extract information about where he had hidden his drug money.

The men stockpiled flex ties, wire cutters and duct tape and used a rolling pin to beat Kerkowski to make him talk, according to Weakley’s testimony.

“Michael Kerkowski was the victim of a progressive and cruel killing. He was beaten. He was blinded. He was bound. He was interrogated,” Ferentino said. “Money took precedent over life.”

With his eyes covered by duct tape to “disorient” him, Kerkowski was subjected to repeated flex ties being cinched around his neck, loose enough in the beginning for him to gasp an answer about where his money was hidden, Ferentino said.

“We’re not talking about fear. We’re not talking about fright. We’re talking about terror,” Ferentino said.

For the first time, jurors heard that Selenski has been convicted in the kidnapping and robbery of a Monroe County jewelry store owner, and that he has been convicted of a bank robbery in which he pointed a gun at a teller’s face.

“He prefers cash and money over life,” Ferentino said. “That’s the theme, ladies and gentlemen.”

Ferentino argued that several aggravating factors in the case — including Selenski’s violent past, that two people were killed and that he tortured Kerkowski — elevate the case to warrant a death sentence.

Three brief witnesses, all related to the bank robbery, took the stand Tuesday afternoon as prosecutors made their case for the death penalty.

Retired FBI agent Vincent McGraw testified that Selenski was responsible for robbing a Mellon Bank in Plains Township in June 1994, a heist that netted just under $10,000. Selenski and an accomplice had stolen a get-away car, then cruised around looking for a target before picking the bank for a gunpoint hold-up, he said.

Investigators later recovered $4,100 in dye-stained money at an apartment as well as a burned dye pack at Selenski’s mother’s house, he said.

Teller Anna Mae Sakowski told jurors that a man with a mask and a gun, later identified as Selenski, came up to her “pointing it at my face” from a few feet away. Another teller, Christine Silinskie testified that she stood up when she saw the gun, prompting the gunman to turn his aim toward her, telling her not to move.

“He pulled back on the barrel of the gun,” Silinskie said. “The first thought in my mind was that I didn’t have children at that time.”

The robbery was over in minutes, but it has stayed with her, she said.

“It’s a fear that will be with me forever,” Silinskie said, concluding the prosecution’s case.

The short presentation by prosecutors surprised many courtroom spectators, including family members of the victims, some of whom expected to be called upon to testify.

Earlier in the day, Kerkowski’s son, Connor Kerkowski, tweeted: “I’m ready. Here we go, dad. I’ll be on the stand today fighting for you. I love you.”

During the defense opening statement, attorney Edward Rymsza told jurors he was disappointed in the verdict but that the defense had accepted it.

In coming days, the jury will hear from Selenski’s family and friends, people who still love and support him, he said. Jurors will also hear about the acts of goodness Selenski has done and some of the forces that “pulled Mr. Selenski in a certain direction and certain choices that he made,” he said.

“We’re not here to talk about excuses. There are no excuses,” Rymsza said. “We’re simply discussing whether Mr. Selenski should get a severe punishment.”

Either way, Selenski will die in prison, he said.

As deputies escorted Selenski out of the courthouse at the end of the day, a reporter asked if Selenski expects to testify during the penalty phase.

“I would highly doubt it,” Selenski said.

The hearing is set to resume at 9:30 a.m. today, when the defense will put on its case for Selenski’s life.

A Frackville funeral director announced Tuesday that he is running for Schuylkill County treasurer.

Albert L. Gricoski, funeral director at Albert L. Gricoski Funeral Home, Frackville, and businessman for more than 24 years is seeking the Republican nomination.

“I want to congratulate Mrs. (Jacqueline V.) McGovern for her years of service to the county and wish her well in her retirement,” Gricoski said in a prepared statement.

“I look forward to the opportunity to serve in county government as treasurer,” Gricoski said. “I bring years of experience in fiscal responsibility, administration, budgeting and staff coordination. I work with several financial institutions, assisting with personal financial planning, trusts, savings and annuities, as well as insurance companies. I believe my experience will benefit and enhance the services offered by the treasurer office.

Gricoski is a member of St. Joseph Parish, Frackville, the Frackville Business and Professional Association, past Exalted Ruler and Elk of the Year of the Frackville BPO Elks No. 1533, past Grand Knight of the Rev. James A. Hogan, Knights of Columbus Council No. 2580, Frackville, member of the Friendship Fire Company, Englewood, Frackville Rotary, Loyal Christian Benefit Association and AAA of Pottsville. He is also active in various civic, charitable and fraternal organizations.

A graduate of North Schuylkill High School, Gricoski attended Penn State Schuylkill and Bloomsburg University before graduating from the Simmons School of Mortuary Science, Syracuse, New York. He completes his required continuing education credits biannually for his profession.

Gricoski was a past Republican candidate for county coroner. He was a member of the former Republican executive committee, past treasurer of the former Frackville republican committee, past treasurer of the Schuylkill/Lebanon County Funeral Directors Association and was past co-chairman of the Avenues Annual Golf Tournament.

He resides in Frackville with his wife of 28 years, Denise, and their son, Andrew.

McGovern, current treasurer, announced earlier this month that she will not seek re-election when her term expires at the end of the year.

Linda Gallo Marchalk, a Tamaqua business woman, announced earlier this month that she is also seeking the Republican nomination for the office.

FRACKVILLE — Kmart at the Schuylkill Mall in Frackville will close later this year.

Howard Riefs, director of corporate communications for Sears Holdings, said in an email today Kmart store at the mall will close. Employees were notified Tuesday morning of the closure, he said.

“We did not renew the lease for the Kmart store in the Schuylkill Mall and the store will close to the public in mid-October. Until then, the store will remain open for customers. The store will begin its liquidation sale on July 19. ...These actions will better enable us to focus our investments on serving our customers and members through integrated retail — at the store, online and in the home. Our investments in Shop Your Way and Integrated Retail enable us to migrate the shopping activity of highly engaged members who previously shopped these closed stores to alternative channels. As a result, we hope to retain a portion of the sales previously associated with these stores by nurturing and maintaining our relationships with the members that shopped these locations,” Reifs said.

The store, which opened in October 1980, has approximately 80 employees. Those associates that are eligible will receive severance and have the opportunity to apply for open positions at area Sears or Kmart stores. Most of the associates are part time or hourly, Riefs said in an email.

Elaine Maneval, mall manager, said she was notified Tuesday of the closure. She said the lease for the 90,213-square-foot space expires in October. With the closure of Kmart, all the original anchor stores will have left the mall, Maneval said. Sears and Hess were the other two original anchor stores, she said.

“We have valued Kmart as a tenant at the Schuylkill Mall for many years, and are obviously disappointed that they will not be extending their lease at the end of its current term. Candidly, this is not a big surprise, as Kmart and Sears have been realigning their corporate strategy, and as a company, now operates fewer than half the stores that existed (3,500) when the companies merged, with approximately 200 stores closing in 2014. In anticipation of this potential closure, the landlord engaged CBRE/FAMECO to pursue replacement tenant (or tenants) in the event Kmart did not extend their lease, effectively trying to get in front of the decision proactively, rather than reacting to the official notice provided today. This is also our first notice that Kmart has formally decided to close their store at the Schuylkill Mall,” Maneval said.

Some of the shoppers at the mall were surprised by the news.

Debra Stravinsky, Zion Grove, was in the mall Tuesday and said she will miss Kmart, which she did not know was closing.

“Here, make a wish that Kmart changes their mind,” she said as she gave change to her grandson, Tanner Quinn, 5, to toss into the fountain outside of the store.

Stravinsky visits the store about three times a week with her grandsons, Tanner and Evan Quinn, both of Ringtown.

The store is always full of shoppers, she said.

“I’m going to miss Kmart a lot,” she said, adding the convenience the store provides by buying a lot of every day items there.

When asked what she would like to move into the space, she said, “a mini Target.”

Dawn Collins, Saint Clair, also said she will miss the store that she visits “probably once a week.”

She said the employees did not say anything to her when she purchased summer clothing for her children at the store, but she found out later from someone at Deb Shops. Collins said she would like the space to be used as a clothing store.

Betty Guziewicz, 73, of Frackville, purchased some dog treats at Kmart and a DVD for her great-granddaughter. She no longer shops at the store often but did when her three children were younger.

“People are going to miss this store, especially if you have kids,” she said.

Michael Treshock, 58, of Lost Creek, did not know the store was closing and said it is a “shame.”

“It’s sad for any region when places close,” he said.

Sears store and Sears auto center also closed at the mall Jan. 18. The company announced in October 2014 it would close as part of an effort to “reduce expenses, adjust our asset base and accelerate the transformation of our business model,” Riefs said in an email.

The Schuylkill Conservation District is hoping to one day make a historical railroad bed near its Pottsville headquarters into an educational trail.

“We’d like the explore the idea of applying for funds to do a feasibility study,” Patrick M. “Porcupine Pat” McKinney, the conservation district’s environmental education coordinator, told the district’s board of directors Tuesday at its February meeting.

Called “The Blackwood Trail,” it’s a 7-mile stretch that runs west of the conservation district’s offices at 1206 Ag Centre Drive just off Route 901, the Gordon Nagle Trail. The land is owned by the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority, William “Bill” Reichert, president of the Schuylkill Headwaters Association, said.

“We’d like to pursue a grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to do a feasibility study for The Blackwood Trail. To do that, we’d first require an agreement between the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority and the conservation district. And we’d like to know if the conservation district board would like to pursue this,” McKinney said to the conservation district board Tuesday.

Reichert said it would be a matching grant. At the meeting he estimated DCNR could provide between $25,000 and $30,000, but said Tuesday night he was not sure of the exact amount.

And that amount would be matched by contributions by groups including the Schuylkill County Conservancy and the Friends of Schuylkill Parks and Recreation, Robert “Bob” Evanchalk, the conservation district’s parks and recreation supervisor, said.

“What’s the deadline for the grant application?” Elizabeth Hinkel, the conservation district’s manager, asked.

“It’s April 15,” McKinney said.

McKinney, Reichert and Evanchalk asked the conservation district board to vote to allow them to pursue the grant at its meeting Tuesday, to give them time to discuss the matter with SCMA before that deadline.

“Who would administer the grant?” Hinkel said.

Evanchalk said his department would.

“But it would be under the authority of the conservation district,” Hinkel said.

“Does that bring about any liability if we administer it?” Glenn Luckenbill, chairman of the conservation district’s board of directors, asked.

“It would be no different than any other grant source that we deal with, like Growing Greener,” Hinkel said.

“And we’re on board as long as the water authority is good with it,” Schuylkill County Commissioner Gary Hess, who was at the board’s meeting Tuesday, said.

In a vote, the conservation district board gave McKinney, Reichert and Evanchalk permission to pursue the project, with a motion by Stanley Fidler, the treasurer of the district’s board of directors, which was seconded by Scott Graver, the board’s vice chairman.

“Of course, the project is contingent on the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority signing a memorandum of understanding,” McKinney said.

And the conservation district agreed to oversee the feasibility study if the state grant is received.

“How far does it go? Does it go all the way down to Pine Grove Reservoir?” Stanley Fidler, the treasurer of the district’s board of directors, asked.

“It’s only on the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority property,” Reichert said.

“So, it’s almost to the tunnel then,” Fidler said.

“Almost,” Reichert said.

“It’s 7 miles,” McKinney said.

“It’s a beautiful place. It’s remote. There’s no homes. It wouldn’t impact anybody,” Reichert said.

“We’re looking at this as a feather in the cap for recreation,” McKinney said.

Hess recalled how Schuylkill County was supportive of the development of a section of the Schuylkill River Trail, a rail trail from Landingville to the Berks County line, called the John Bartram Trail.

“Like the Bartram Trail, I know the county was very instrumental in that whole development and we feel the same way about moving forward with this one,” Hess said.

In other matters at the conservation district board’s meeting, Hinkel asked the board to consider putting Wi-Fi Internet capability at its offices.

“This is important because we have a lot of meetings where clients and guests need Internet access for their laptops,” Hinkel said in her district manager’s report.

There would be a one-time hook-up fee in the neighborhood of $60, she said.

“It’s something that we’re looking into. It’s definitely not something we’d look at as a option if it was costly. But if it’s a one time fee, I think it’s a good thing to have,” she said.

“Financial policy guidelines do not require board approval for an amount of money that small, so they would allow Liz to simply do that. I think we’ll just let it go at that,” Luckenbill said.

HARRISBURG — Former state Treasurer Rob McCord pleaded guilty Tuesday to two federal counts of attempted extortion, becoming the latest Pennsylvania politician to end his career standing before a sentencing judge.

McCord’s guilty plea came less than a month after he stood with other statewide elected officials watching Gov. Tom Wolf take the oath of office to succeed Tom Corbett. McCord resigned from office suddenly last month and announced his intention to plead guilty to extortion charges tied to fundraising for his unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign.

McCord becomes the fourth statewide elected row officer to find his tenure marred by federal corruption convictions in the past several decades.

During a 50-minute hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Consiglio read aloud the plea agreement containing details about McCord’s repeated attempts last spring to strong arm an unnamed Philadelphia law firm and unnamed property management company in western Pennsylvania to contribute money to his campaign for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Mr. McCord threatened to use his position as treasurer to jeopardize business that both firms had with state government, prosecutors said.

In one exchange, McCord told an attorney in the targeted law firm that “At the very least, I’m still going to be the freaking treasurer,” a pointed reference to his ability to affect state contract work after the gubernatorial campaign was over, Consiglio said.

U.S. Middle District Judge John E. Jones III plans to sentence the former treasurer potentially to a federal prison term sometime after a pre-sentencing conference scheduled for June. 29.

The maximum penalty for each count is 20 years in prison.

Other elected row officers with federal corruption convictions include: former Treasurer R. Budd Dwyer, who killed himself at a press conference in 1987, before his sentencing on a bribery conviction; former Auditor General Al Benedict, who went to prison after pleading guilty in 1988 to tax evasion and racketeering while acknowledging participation in a job-selling scheme; and former Attorney General Ernie Preate Jr., Scranton, who went to prison after pleading guilty in 1995 to mail fraud in a campaign finance scandal.

Although the corruption cases of Mr. McCord and the three other row officers are different, there are common threads leading to their downfall.

Each was elected to statewide offices with a low public profile and a lot of political autonomy, said Christopher Borick, Ph.D, a Throop native who is director of Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion. In the end, a combination of hubris and ambition for higher office led them into trouble, he said.

The campaign spending to win a row office is much less than needed if one wants to run for governor or U.S. senator, Terry Madonna, Ph.D., director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College, said.

“They are trying to raise an enormous amount of money in a short period of time,” he said.

McCord declined comment to reporters about his plea. He read a novel by author William Kennedy about statehouse politics in Albany, New York, while waiting for court to convene.

The FBI, Internal Revenue Service and Pennsylvania State Police investigated the case.

“The abuse of power by elected officials tears at the fabric of society, undermines the rule of law and weakens public confidence in government,” Major Andrew Ashmar, of the state police Bureau of Criminal Investigations, said.

Wolf has yet to nominate a successor to fill the remaining two years of McCord’s term. The Senate will need to confirm that nominee.

Marriage licenses

Albert G. Troutman, Cressona, and Ashley N. Fry, Cressona.

Anthony C. Houser, Tamaqua, and Alicia R. Whah, Tamaqua.

Norman C. Manuel, LaBelle, and Tiffany L. Pitts, Monroeville.

Zachary A. Spickler, Hegins, and Kera N. Klinger, Hegins.

Susan A. Vespi, Mount Carmel, and Mary Capille, Mount Carmel.

Tyler A. Brake, Pottsville, and Megan L. Walters, Pottsville.

Robert A. Darosh, Pottsville, and Jennifer L. Weikel, Pottsville.

Pedro L. Carmenate, Pottsville, and Illems Sandoval-Vasquez, Pottsville.

Ronald W. Umphrey, Schuylkill Haven, and Margaret S. San Souci, Schuylkill Haven.

Divorces granted

Rebecca L. Deamer, Pine Grove, from Ronald L. Deamer, Lititz.

Sandra D. Breiner, Tamaqua, from Kevin D. Breiner, Nesquehoning.

n Frackville: The Frackville Elks Lodge will sponsor an Ash Wednesday supper from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the lodge, 307 S. Third St. Meals are $9 each and include crab cakes or battered fish. Patrons may eat at the lodge or take meals out. For more information, call 570-590-05015

n Gordon: Gordon Fire Company No. 1 will stage a homemade soup and bake sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Gordon Borough Hall, Plane and Otto streets. Soup is $7 per quart and varieties will include homemade bean, chicken noodle, pot pie, beef barley and macaroni and cheese. For more information, call 570-590-9004. The company also is sponsoring the sale of unbaked pizza pies from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday. The cost is $7 per pie with toppings $1 extra each. The sale of unbaked pizza pies will continue every Friday during Lent.

n Mahanoy City: The borough will continue snow removal from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. today on both sides of Pine Street from Catawissa Street to Second Street. No parking is effect. On Thursday, the borough will continue east on Pine Street from Second to Sixth streets, with no parking in effect again.

n Minersville: St. Matthew the Evangelist Catholic Parish, 139 Spruce St., will have a women’s Lenten morning of prayer on Feb. 28, with confessions at 8:30 a.m. and Mass at 9 a.m. followed by breakfast and reflection in the parish center. Freewill offerings will be accepted. Sister Natalya Stoczanyn, SSMI, of St. Nicholas Convent, will be the guest speaker, whose topic will be “The Value of the Charism of Consecrated Life in Today’s Church.” She will also provide insights into the season of Lent from the Eastern Church perspective. Those planning to attend are asked to call 570-544-2211 so organizers can adequately plan for the breakfast.

n Pine Grove: The Pine Grove Temple Association will sponsor a meal from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Pine Grove Masonic Lodge, 23 Oak Grove Road. Meals are $11 each and include deep-fried beer-battered fish, steak or grilled ham with baked potato or fries, green beans or corn, coffee or tea and dessert. For more information or takeouts, call 570-345-0165.

n Pottsville: The Pottsville Kiwanis Club, led by Vice President Denny Hardock with Ann Beaver and Henry Beaver on hiatus, heard recently from Pottsville Mayor Jim Muldowney regarding happenings in the city and his plans for a successful Pottsville, according to the Kiwanis Bulletin. Kiwanians also heard a presentation by attorney Bill Kirwan regarding changes in the tax laws and other information about preparing tax returns. The club’s schedule also includes a Lager Jogger Pancake Breakfast on April 11. The club meets at 12:15 p.m. Tuesdays at The Pottsville Zone.

n Pottsville: St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, 913 Mahantongo St., will sponsor dinners featuring baked haddock, salmon or crab cakes from 4 to 7 p.m. every Friday during the Lenten season in the Russell Building, Ninth Street and Schuylkill Avenue. Meals will also include New England clam chowder, salad bar, choice of vegetables, homemade dessert and beverage. The cost of adults is $13 ($16 with selection of two crab cakes); adult special of crab cakes and choice of fish, $16, and $8 for children under 12. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-622-5470.

n Saint Clair: The Saint Clair Elementary/Middle School will have kindergarten registration for the 2015-16 school year on March 23, 24, 25 and 26. To arrange for an appointment, people should call the school secretary at 570-429-2716, ext. 1. Kindergarten registration is for resident children who will be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1.

n Shenandoah: In line with a borough ordinance, residents must clear their sidewalks, providing at least a 30-inch-wide path, within 24 hours of an accumulating snow or ice event. Also, residents should not throw snow onto streets, a practice that is prohibited by the ordinance. People who do not adhere to the requirements can face penalties.

n William Penn: Orders are due by Monday for an unbaked pizza sale sponsored by the William Penn Fire Company. Orders can be picked up at the firehouse, Route 54, from 3 to 8 p.m. Feb. 27. The cost is $10 for plain and $12 for pepperoni. Hot sauce is 75 cents per cup. To order, call 570-462-0338.

Woman arrested

for retail theft

MAHANOY CITY — A woman was arrested by Mahanoy City police after a theft about 2 p.m. Jan. 9 at Dollar General, 701 W. Centre St.

Police said Pauline H. Pytak, 54, whose address was not available, was charged with felony retail theft, misdemeanor receiving stolen property and summary one-way roadways and rotary traffic islands.

Police said Pytak was confronted by two employees after she was seen placing two bags of beef jerky in her purse. The woman exited the store and drove the wrong way on West Railroad Street, fleeing the scene.

The woman returned to the store and police said officers did not find any of the stolen items in her purse. However, police said store security cameras showed the woman placing aspirins inside her purse prior to leaving.

Police said the charges against Pytak were filed with Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

Woman found

with bath salts

MAHANOY CITY — A Tamaqua woman was charged by Mahanoy City police with possession of drug paraphernalia after an incident about 3:25 a.m. Jan. 20 at Fourth Street and East Mahanoy Avenue.

Police said Amber Lynn Hall, 25, of 175 Marion Ave., will have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

Police said the woman was confronted by officers after she agreed to meet a confidential informant and provide bath salts.

The woman, a passenger inside a vehicle, appeared to be under the influence, said she did not have any of the drugs in her possession and agreed to a search, police said.

That search revealed Hall had a small silver container with powder residue that field tested positive for bath salts, as well as materials commonly used for packaging controlled substances, police said.

Mahanoy man

faces drug charges

MAHANOY CITY — A borough man was arrested by Mahanoy City police on drug charges after an incident about 12:10 a.m. Jan. 31 at Cocoa Hut, 101 E. Centre St.

Police said Joshua J. Mooney, 28, of 420 E. Railroad St., was charged with misdemeanor offenses of possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police said officers stopped a vehicle on the store parking lot and found Mooney, a passenger, making unusual movements in his seat.

A subsequent search for the man determined he had a packet that contained a substance that field tested positive of synthetic marijuana, police said.

Woman admits

to heroin use

MAHANOY CITY — Mahanoy City police arrested a borough woman and charged her with possession of drug paraphernalia after an incident about 3 p.m. Feb. 10 at her 331 E. Pine St. home.

Police said Melanie D. Delowery, 26, will have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

Police said officers were called to the home to assist Schuylkill County Adult Probation officers, who said that while they were at the home at least one person came looking to purchase drugs.

Delowery admitted to probation officers that she was using heroin and marijuana in violation of her parole, and police said they found 39 wax baggies commonly used for packaging heroin, three hypodermic needles and a foil pipe used to smoke marijuana inside the home.

School bus flees

hit-and-run crash

FRACKVILLE — Frackville police are investigating a hit-and-run crash that occurred about 3:40 p.m. Feb. 10 in the 100 block of South Lehigh Avenue.

Police said Mark Lutzkanin of Lutzkanin Plumbing and Heating, Saint Clair, reported he was exiting the basement of a building at 127 S. Lehigh Ave., heard a bang and noticed a school bus just passed his legally parked 2007 Chevrolet 3500 work truck.

Police said a hydraulic pump and motor that was on the left side rear of the vehicle was moved and damaged.

Lutzkanin was unable to describe markings on the bus and only able to report the vehicle was traveling north toward Shenandoah, police said.

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

Woman attempts

adult shop theft

CRESSONA — A borough woman faces theft charges after attempting to steal merchandise at 12:45 p.m. Monday from Adult Shop 61, 1426 Route 61, Pottsville.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Jasmine Ferron was seen by store personnel hiding an item and attempted to leave the store without paying.

Charges were filed with Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg.

Woman charged

after horse dies

PINE GROVE — A borough woman faces cruelty to animal and disorderly conduct charges Feb. 9 after the 20-year-old horse she was boarding died at 189 Fisher Ave., Union Township, Lebanon County.

State police at Jonestown said Michelle Melcher, 39, did not provide adequate food, water, veterinary care and shelter for her horse and that the Humane Society received several complaints regarding the condition of the animal and his shelter.

Police said Melcher failed to comply with the Humane Society’s requests, and the horse became extremely emaciated and eventually died due to lack of care.

Police filed cruelty to animals and disorderly conduct charges against Melcher through Magisterial District Judge Michael D. Smith, Cleona.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane announced Tuesday that her office has charged a Pottsville woman with stealing more than $11,000 from her grandmother in 2013 and 2014.

Kelly A. McAlonis, 41, of 1225 W. Market St., faces charges of theft, theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

“This act allowed Kelly McAlonis to intentionally receive and retain money that was not legally allowed to be hers,” according to the Affidavit of Probable Cause supporting the complaint against the defendant.

Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi, Tremont, preliminarily arraigned McAlonis on Friday on those charges and allowed her to remain free on $5,000 unsecured bail. Rossi did not set a date for McAlonis’ preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville.

Agents from Kane’s office alleged that from November 2013 to June 2014, McAlonis made unauthorized withdrawals totaling $11,400 from the bank account of her grandmother, Elizabeth McAlonis, 99, a resident of ManorCare Health Services-Pottsville. Elizabeth McAlonis has been diagnosed with dementia, in addition to other ailments.

According to the agents, Kelly McAlonis made the withdrawals from her grandmother’s account at Susquehanna Bank. The money was to have gone to ManorCare in order to pay Elizabeth McAlonis’ bill, according to the agents.

“Kelly withdrew large amounts of money each month and held control over the funds, therefore depriving payment to (ManorCare) for the services rendered to Elizabeth,” according to the criminal complaint against the defendant.

Agents alleged that while Kelly said Elizabeth gave the money to Cassandra Graeff, the defendants’ daughter, Graeff denied that.

Deputy Attorney General Michelle Laucella will prosecute the case against McAlonis.

To report possible crimes against Pennsylvania senior citizens or for information on elder abuse, call the Attorney General’s Elder Abuse Hotline at 866-623-2137 or visit www.attorneygeneral.gov.

Defendant: Kelly A. McAlonis

Age: 41

Residence: Pottsville

Charges: Theft, theft by deception and receiving stolen property

HAMBURG — State police at Hamburg are looking for a man wanted for a kidnapping and robbery about 4:45 p.m. Monday in Albany Township, Berks County.

State police Trooper David Beohm of Troop L, Reading, said Marshall Glenn McGinty, 43, entered a home in the 1300 block of Hawk Mountain Road and was inside when a man, who was house-sitting, returned.

When the man entered the house, McGinty pointed an AK-47 assault rifle at him and ordered him to lie on the floor face down.

McGinty tied the man’s wrists together and took his wallet and keys, Beohm said. Then, about 6 p.m., McGinty drove the victim in the victim’s car to Santander Bank, 120 S. Centre St., Pottsville, and withdrew $60 from the man’s account.

After going to the bank, McGinty drove back to the Hamburg Reservoir where he cut the victim’s hands free, released him and fled in his car.

Beohm said the AK-47 used by McGinty is the property of the homeowner and was not located after the kidnapping.

McGinty, who has no known address, is charged with kidnapping, unlawful restraint, robbery, criminal trespass, theft, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

He should be considered armed and dangerous.

Beohm said the victim’s missing car is described as a dark blue 2012 Honda Fit with a Pennsylvania license of GTD-7635.

The trooper also said there are currently two outstanding arrest warrants for McGinty in Berks County and that he has parole violations in both Lehigh and Schuylkill counties.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of McGinty is asked to call state police at Hamburg at 610-562-6885 and refer to incident L04-1353715.

In addition, anyone who should come in contact with McGinty is urged to call 911 immediately.

PATRIOTIC HILL — The driver of a large coal hauler was flown to a trauma center after the vehicle overturned Tuesday morning in Mahanoy Township.

The crash occurred about 11:15 a.m. on Schuylkill Energy Resources property, a cogeneration operation.

Mahanoy Township police Chief Brandon Alexander said John Lutsky, 29, of Pottsville, was operating a Caterpillar 785b when the vehicle rolled over as it was being unloaded.

Alexander said that Lutsky was able to free himself from the overturned machine without assistance from rescue personnel.

He was treated at the scene by Mahanoy City EMS and Shenandoah ALS and then taken to the Shenandoah helipad where he was placed aboard a helicopter and flown to a trauma center.

The man’s injuries did not appear to be life threatening, firefighters at the scene said.

Mahanoy City firefighters assisted at the scene and Shenandoah firefighters assisted at the helicopter landing site.

Emergency vehicles had to travel more than a mile on stripping roads in order to reach the site where the large vehicle overturned.

Deeds

Branch Township — Nancy Homa, administratrix of the Estate of Helen Bush, to Joseph and Lauren Lapoint; 1080 Bunting St., Llewellyn; $39,000.

Hubley Township — Henry W. Rutecki to Michael Wolfgang; 2677 W. Main St., Spring Glen; $50,000.

Mahanoy City — Nathan Henne to Anthony Edward Jannuzzi; property on West Spruce Street; $1,000.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Borough of Mahanoy City; 27 N. Main St.; $20.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Borough of Mahanoy City; 23 N. Main St.; $20.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Borough of Mahanoy City; 21 N. Main St.; $20.

Orwigsburg — Blue Mountain School District to Borough of Orwigsburg; easement on 685 Reddale Road; $100.

Caryn E. Reeser to Borough of Orwigsburg; easement on 531 E. Mifflin St.; $500.

Borough of Orwigsburg to Borough of Orwigsburg; easement on 531 E. Mifflin St.; $1.

Blue Mountain School District to Borough of Orwigsburg; easement on property on Lawrence Street; $300.

Wilbur D. and Susan J. Miller to Borough of Orwigsburg; easement on two properties; $2,100.

Pine Grove — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Wells Fargo Bank NA; 301 Second St.; $1,077.16.

Porter Township — Raymond H. and Julie Reibsane to Raymond H. and Julie Reibsane; 1716 E. Grand Ave., Reinerton; $1.

Pottsville — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Wells Fargo Bank NA; 1957 Howard Ave.; $1,207.05.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to MTGLQ Investors LP; 773 N. Centre St.; $1,097.55.

Claudia Franzelin to Robert J. and Pamela D. Panchari; 700-702-704-706 W. Norwegian St. and 5-7 N. Seventh St.; $22,000.

Washington Township — Laura M. Hoepstine to Vernon R. Leid and Rose Ann Garman; 3.72971-acre property; $174,000.

West Brunswick Township — Linda Herb to CTP Realty Inc.; property on Summit Lane; $1.

CTP Realty Inc. to Linda Herb; property on Summit Lane; $1.

Kathleen Riley to Doug Naftzinger Inc.; property on Route 895; $35,000.