Schuylkill County’s most notorious fugitive returned to court Thursday, asking the judge who sent him to prison for sexually molesting three children to grant him a new trial.

“I was basically found guilty because I ran,” Russell R. Rehrig, 58, of Allentown, testified during a 30-minute hearing before President Judge William E. Baldwin. “I was scared. I agree I made a mistake.”

Rehrig, who did not attend his trial or sentencing and was the subject of a nationwide manhunt before his capture in Atlantic City, New Jersey, is alleging both his trial and appellate lawyers did not represent him properly.

“I had no representation from the time I was arrested, none,” Rehrig, who wore leg shackles, handcuffs and a prison jumpsuit while testifying, said.

However, his appellate lawyer, Thomas J. “Tim” Pellish, Pottsville, said there was nothing he could do for Rehrig, particularly since the defendant did not show up for trial.

“It was my opinion ... I saw no grounds for appeal because he was in absentia,” Pellish testified. “I did not see any errors at the trial.”

Baldwin took some testimony but continued the matter to allow Michael J. Fiorillo, Pottsville, Rehrig’s new lawyer, a chance to have the defendant’s wife, Janice Horvath, testify about her alleged talks with Pellish.

After a two-day trial over which Baldwin presided, jurors convicted Rehrig on Sept. 5, 2007, of five counts of rape of a child, 10 counts of rape, six counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, 13 counts of statutory sexual assault, two counts of aggravated indecent assault, two counts of indecent assault, 14 counts of corruption of minors and three counts of terroristic threats.

Baldwin sentenced Rehrig on Jan. 2, 2008, to served 42 to 84 years in a state correctional institution, plus lifetime Megan’s Law sanctions should he ever leave prison. Rehrig is serving his sentence at SCI/Albion in Erie County.

Tamaqua police charged Rehrig with committing the crimes between Aug. 25, 2004, and Aug. 25, 2005, in the borough as well as both his home and workplace in Allentown.

However, Rehrig had been missing since August 2007, when he appeared for jury selection but not for either his trial or his sentencing. The case was featured on the March 8, 2008, broadcast of the FOX television show “America’s Most Wanted.”

The case also caused a local political controversy after questions were raised about the propriety of having allowed Rehrig to post a bond instead of cash for bail before trial.

Atlantic County Sheriff’s Department personnel arrested him Sept. 5, 2008, in front of the Bare Exposure nude dancing club at Mississippi and Pacific avenues in Atlantic City, one block off the boardwalk.

Rehrig’s right to appeal his conviction and sentence directly to state appellate courts expired 30 days after his sentencing, so his only chance for a new trial is to prove he received ineffective representation.

Furthermore, since more than one year has passed since Rehrig’s conviction and sentence became final, which was on the date his right to file a direct appeal ended, he must show he acted within 60 days of learning Pellish had not filed an appeal for him.

Rehrig said Pellish did nothing for him, even after he asked him to challenge the work Assistant Public Defender Christopher M. Riedlinger had done at the trial.

“I wrote to him for over five years. I got no responses,” Rehrig testified. “I had no contact from day one.”

He said Pellish finally wrote to tell him he had become an assistant district attorney and could no longer represent him. He said Pellish never told him there were no issues to appeal.

However, he also said he could not give the exact date he filed his latest petition, just that it was in December 2013.

“I can’t remember that far back,” he said.

Furthermore, while he said he was not guilty, he appeared to contradict himself later.

“I’m not 100 percent innocent,” Rehrig said.

Pellish said he told Rehrig directly that there were no issues to appeal.

“He wanted me to keep checking. He never told me directly to go file an appeal,” Pellish said of his client.

Pellish said he could not file a direct appeal because of time limits and nothing Riedlinger did merited a challenge.

“Chris asked the appropriate questions. He challenged evidence,” Pellish said.

Furthermore, Pellish denied not having talked with Rehrig.

“I spoke with him personally here,” he said. “I never closed his file until I became a member of the (district attorney’s) office (in February 2013).”

Also, Pellish said he reviewed the transcript of the trial immediately after he obtained a copy of it. He also said he sent a copy of the transcript to Rehrig.

Defendant: Russell R. Rehrig

Age: 58

Residence: Allentown

Crimes committed: Five counts of rape of a child, 10 counts of rape, six counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, 13 counts of statutory sexual assault, two counts of aggravated indecent assault, two counts of indecent assault, 14 counts of corruption of minors and three counts of terroristic threats

Prison sentence: 42 to 84 years in a state correctional institution, plus lifetime Megan’s Law sanctions

MAHANOY CITY — Water was restored to borough residents Thursday after an issue with a water line the previous day in the area of Main and Pine streets.

Mahanoy Township Authority officials said a cap on an old water line blew off about 6 p.m. Wednesday, causing water to leak and reducing water pressure to residents of the community.

Authority crews worked for several hours Wednesday night into Thursday morning to replace the cap.

As part of the project, water for the entire community had to be shut off about 11 p.m., leaving more than 4,000 residents without water for several hours.

Mahanoy City police said water was turned back on about 3:30 a.m., but a boil advisory remains in effect until further notice.

The water problems caused Mahanoy Area School District to be placed on a two-hour delay Thursday and the Child Development pre-school center on North Main Street to close for the day.

Mahanoy City fire Chief Randy Kalce placed emergency plans in effect, readying tanker trucks to be called immediately in the event of a fire.

Mahanoy City Fire Department safety officer Anthony Blackwell Sr. said Thursday that it is taking the water authority longer than anticipated to refill the entire water system and that the tanker task force dispatch will remain effective until further notice.

Joseph Fegley, authority manager, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Police blocked off Main Street, between Market Street and Mahanoy Avenue, while crews excavated the street and repaired the leak.

Police catch cop

impersonator

An Allenwood man was cited by Pottsville police after officers saw him driving a vehicle fitting the description of one being sought by Lansford police in neighboring Carbon County.

Police said a radio broadcast was issued March 4 indicating Lansford police were investigating an incident involving a man impersonating a police officer who was driving a white Ford Crown Victoria with a black push bar on the front.

The man was said to be armed with a gun and carrying a baton, police said.

On Friday about 9:15 p.m., Pottsville police stopped a vehicle fitting the description being driven by Salvatore Forte, 47.

Forte was found wearing a belt similar to standard law enforcement gear that was equipped with various pouches and holders similar to that of what a police officer would wear. Police said officers confirmed that Forte did not have a firearm but that his vehicle was equipped with multiple blue and red lights, headlight and taillight flashers and an audible siren. All of the lights were concealed as if the vehicle was being used for undercover police work, officers said.

All of the information pertaining to the vehicle and Forte were forwarded to Lansford police for their investigation since Pottsville police did not receive reports associated with the vehicle in the city.

However, police said Forte was cited for violating state Vehicle Code pertaining to vehicles prohibited from being equipped with visual and audible emergency signals.

3 face charges in

separate incidents

HOMETOWN — Rush Township police reported charging three people stemming from the same number of incidents in their coverage area.

Police said James Schafer, 28, of Jim Thorpe, is facing charges of DUI after a traffic stop about 2:15 a.m. Feb. 22 on Claremont Avenue.

Police said a subsequent blood test at Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street determined Schafer had a blood alcohol level of 0.171-percent.

Police said Ronald Hartung, 60, of New Ringgold, is facing charges of DUI and other offenses after a recent traffic stop on Lafayette Avenue.

Police said a subsequent blood test determined Hartung had an alcohol level of 0.246-percent.

Finally, police said Carol Kunyz, 61, of Coaldale, is facing a charge of retail theft for stealing items valued at $97.53 from Wal-Mart about 12:30 p.m. March 3.

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

MAHANOY CITY — Residents questioned the borough council about the choice of streets that were cleaned of snow during Tuesday’s meeting.

Resident Peg Tiboni was the first to ask about the snow removal effort.

“My first question is why Mahanoy Street was not done before Pine Street for snow removal?” Tiboni asked the council. “There are signs on that street as a snow emergency route. It’s a two-way street. As long as I’ve lived in this town, that street was always done first.”

Sections of Mahanoy Street were cleaned after Pine Street, but Tiboni said there was no notice when the snow removal was scheduled.

“If it wasn’t for my neighbor who knocked on my door to move my car, I would never have known,” Tiboni said.

Street foreman Scott M. King replied, “We did up to Catawissa Street (on Mahanoy Street), but it wasn’t scheduled.”

“I live on the 300 block of West Mahanoy Street and my side of the street was not done,” Councilwoman Patti A. Schnitzius said to King.

“Most of it was, except where cars that weren’t moved,” King said.

“Pine Street has notifications on the computer that it was being cleared,” Tiboni said. “It said what block every day. When it came to Mahanoy, nothing was done.”

The Mahanoy City Police Department uses a notification service called Nixle that sends text and voice message to cellphones and other phones and by email to inform anyone registered for the free service to receive notices, such as snow parking bans and alerts about snow removal.

“I came to the borough office and talked to the manager about it, but he said the borough is busy picking up the snow at the corners left by private parties that are plowing for people who are paying to have it plowed,” Tiboni said. “Don’t you think that there should be an ordinance that people who are plowing be required to haul the snow away?”

“Actually, we are working on an ordinance for that for next year,” King said. “The reason Pine and Spruce streets were done first was because of the width of the streets. Because of the snow, there were places you couldn’t get fire equipment through.”

Tiboni said she understood about those streets since they are one-way, but Mahanoy Street is a busy street that also needed to be cleared.

“Well, we made the decision and that was our decision,” council President Thom Maziekas said. “Mahanoy Street didn’t need the attention that the smaller streets needed.”

Resident Daniel Cunningham, who also lives on Mahanoy Street, also addressed how busy the street is, especially in the morning.

“On one morning, I counted 34 cars going down to the school in 30 minutes,” Cunningham said. “That’s a highway in the morning. There were people who were pulling over to let another car through. If you would clean it, I could see cleaning it from Catawissa down to the school, or from Main Street down to the school.”

Hollywood glamour will descend on the Gourmet Gala this year as the annual fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House of Scranton moves to a new home.

Marking its 28th year with a “Welcome to Hollywood” theme, the benefit will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. March 22 in the recently opened convention space at Mohegan Sun Pocono, Plains Township. Fifty restaurants, including several additions from Luzerne County, will serve dishes at stations set up throughout the room.

“I think sometimes people don’t take time for themselves to experience all the culinary things that we have in our area,” said Michele Margotta Neary, co-chairwoman of this year’s gala along with Elaine Shepard. “They might think, ‘Oh, I can’t afford to go to that restaurant,’ but they’d really like to try it. It is a nice way to sample the different culinary things.”

Added beneficiary

After holding the gala at Genetti Manor in Dickson City for many years, organizers moved the gala to the casino because the event will benefit not only the Ronald McDonald House in Scranton but also the related family rooms in Moses Taylor Hospital, Scranton, and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door, and “everything goes right to the house or to the rooms, whatever they need,” Margotta Neary said.

Ronald McDonald House of Scranton provides housing and support for families while their children receive treatment in hospitals, while the family rooms inside local hospitals give families space where they can rest while visiting their patients.

“The restaurants do this for free,” Margotta Neary said. “They pay for the food and everything for close to 500 people, and it’s just remarkable to see what we can do with the money. The house in Scranton is absolutely gorgeous, (and) the family rooms are ... a place for (patients’ families) to go and get some relief and not be far away.”

More pizazz

The night also will include music by the band Picture Perfect and decorations by designer John Mackey. Organizers selected the Hollywood theme for this year because they “wanted something that was kind of going to be flashy for the new location,” Margotta Neary said.

“Really every year John Mackey outdoes himself, and it’s just spectacular how he kind of throws the theme together,” she said.

In addition, guests can try to win more than 30 baskets in a raffle whose prizes include resort trips and catering packages for private parties.

“From electronics to experiences, we have a really nice selection this year,” Margotta Neary said.

MAHANOY CITY — About 10 residents of the Pines Development in Deer Lake spoke directly to state Department of Transportation officials Thursday to voice concerns dealing with the Route 61 Deer Lake North project.

The meeting was hosted by state Sen. David Argall, R-29, at his Mahanoy City office. Leading the PennDOT representatives was district executive Michael W. Rebert, P.E., of the PennDOT Engineering District 5-0, a six-county district that includes Schuylkill County.

Also attending the meeting were state Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, and elected officials from Deer Lake Borough and West Brunswick Township, where the Route 61-Deer Lake North project is occurring.

The major complaint from residents of the development, which has more than 80 homes, is the installation of a center median barrier along Route 61 that prevents access to the northbound lane directly from the development. By preventing a left-hand turn onto the highway, they must go south along Route 61 to the Molino jug handle in order to go north on Route 61.

According to the PennDOT website, the $38.43 million project involves safety and capacity improvements on Route 61 (Centre Turnpike), including roadway widening, center median barrier, existing roadway reconstruction, a new split pair bypass between Route 895 and Municipal Road, new structures including replacement of the bridge carrying Route 61 over Pine Creek, constructing a new bridge for the Brick Hill Road jug handle over Pine Creek and replacing the existing municipal owned bridge carrying Municipal Road over Pine Creek. It also includes new traffic signals at intersections of Routes 61 and 895, Municipal Road and Brick Hill Road.

The highway project is expected to be complete in September.

After introductions were made, the first comment came from development resident Ken Knittle.

“Our major concerns are the loss of natural wooded area, which served two purposes of hiding the road and also served as a barrier for noise, and the access that we don’t have now northbound and we have to travel a little over three miles to get to a starting point to go north,” he said.

Knittle continued, “A main concern is the decrease of property values. We’ve seen foreclosures in our development, which is a very beautiful area. We’re really concerned about our neighborhood.”

Rebert said that public hearings were held on the project beginning about 20 years ago and ending in 2000.

“For the project, alternatives were selected and, really, the big driver for this project was safety,” Rebert said. “In our three northern counties of Schuylkill, Carbon and Monroe, that section of Route 61 had by far the highest accident rate of any location we had in those counties. Obviously, a project of this nature doesn’t come to be without having major issues. A lot of the accidents that we saw were cross-traffic issues. After we analyzed all of the accident data, we realized we needed to eliminate those types of movements (left turns onto the highway).”

Resident Eugene Huegel commented that 90 percent of the homes in the development did not exist in 2000, so the input from the development homeowners was minimal.

“That’s a voice that wasn’t heard,” Huegel said.

“I looked at the permit that was issued in 1999, and I sat down with our permits unit today. If the permit request like this came in today, you (development) would never have been given full access (on Route 61),” Rebert said.

Other residents who spoke at the meeting were Toni Yourshaw, Jeff Gross and Frank and Melissa Varaso.

The meeting lasted about 90 minutes, with an agreement that the situation will be reviewed and if there are alternatives, such as the construction of an access road to connect with Route 895 to gain access to the northbound Route 61 lane at another point.

After the meeting, Huegel said, “Overall, I think we made a little headway, but I don’t know if we’re going to see anything good come out of it. It sounds like they’re willing to work with us a little bit. We’ll have to see where it goes from here.”

Huegel said that when the project was being conceived, there were about 12 homes in the development and nobody knew that it would grow to its current size.

Jeff Stump, a local businessman who owns It’s Just Barbecue, also spoke up about how the highway changes have hurt his business.

“The business dropped after the construction started because people would avoid the area,” Stump said. “We do a lot of catering so the summers aren’t that bad. Winter is tough because the catering we do is mostly outdoor functions, so in the winter we rely more on the restaurant. They moved the southbound traffic right before Thanksgiving and that was about a 30 percent drop overnight.”

Rebert said after the meeting that it did provide information to the residents about the project.

“I think at least the homeowners have a better feel for how the project developed into what it is and the restrictions that we have when we’re building a project like this,” Rebert said. “It’s not like we want to go out of our way to inconvenience anybody, but first and foremost, we need to provide the safest Route 61 possible and that’s really the gist of the project. It’s a safety project.”

Rebert added, “Everyone along that portion of Route 61 is going to have what we call ‘right in, right out’ access. You’re not going to be able to make a left-hand turn onto Route 61 along the corridor, and that’s why we built the jug handles.”

“It’s consistent with most of the other sections of Route 61 in Schuylkill County where we have jug handles and a center barrier to eliminate cross traffic and T-bone-type wrecks and head-on crashes,” district press officer Ronald J. Young said.

Gross and Knittle were glad to have had the opportunity to directly address the issues during the meeting, but they were not hopeful for a successful outcome for the development’s residents.

“I believe points were made that they will look at,” Gross said. “How much they will address it remains to be seen. The number one issue from everyone who resides there is not having the access north. I’m glad that gentleman was here to say how bad his business was hurt. I’m sure it’s everybody up there.”

Knittle said, “I think right now it’s a David and Goliath battle. I never had my hopes up coming into this, but you can’t not say anything. That’s the worst you can do. At least you can come and voice your pain and get something going. I’m not getting my hopes up about it, but we did raise the issue about safety, which they (PennDOT) overlooked a lot concerning 350 people. Then, there are logistical issues with FedEx, with the bus system, the mail routes and how those add on to the cost analysis. I’m sure all that had to be rerouted.”

The suggested alternative access road in the area is something that Argall hopes will be a viable option.

“I’m going to be very interested to learn if PennDOT can provide me with a reasonable alternative access road to Route 895,” Argall said in his office. “That seems to me to be the best if the dollars are available.”

Argall said the suggested access road would allow residents to get on Route 895 and go to a traffic light and go north on Route 61 instead of having to drive south about three miles to access Route 61 North.

“That would give them north-south access. The good news is that it’s only 200 yards. The bad news, it’s a floodplain,” Argall said.

After reviewing a 177-page study regarding the feasibility of a merger between Pottsville Area School District and Saint Clair Area School District, the Pottsville Area school board Wednesday said it wants to contact the authors for some additional information regarding one of the possible scenarios.

Board member Karen E. Rismiller made the request for more information at the school board’s March work session Wednesday at the Howard S. Fernsler Academic Center.

Authored by Civic Research Alliance, Mechanicsburg, the feasibility study was posted Feb. 20 on the district’s website at www.pottsville.k12.pa.us.

Rismiller said she would like more information on “Option 2,” in which Saint Clair Area would lease its school building to Pottsville Area and pay tuition to have Pottsville Area educate its 590 students.

“Under the CRA study, there are two pages that are devoted to what’s called ‘Viable Option #2,’ which is the tuitioning of not only 9 through 12 but K through 8. Can we expect to receive more information from CRA with respect to Option 2?” Rismiller asked.

In particular, she said she’d like to see a proposed “tuition schedule.”

“That would be something we’d have to consider, as the report suggests a substantial savings to the Saint Clair school district should they also consider that,” Rismiller said.

“There have been a number of people that have also expressed that concern, and I think it’s well within our rights to go back to Civic Research Alliance to ask for more information concerning that option. That option was not as likely as the others,” board President John F. Boran said.

“Thank you,” Rismiller said.

“So, we will contact Civic Research,” Boran said.

On Monday night, more than 400 people came to the auditorium at D.H.H. Lengel Middle School to hear officials from Pottsville Area and Saint Clair Area talk about a feasibility study considering the possible merger of both school districts.

On Wednesday night, no one from the public addressed the Pottsville Area school board on the matter. But board members had a few comments about Monday’s event and the study itself.

“On Monday, March 9 we did have our public meeting to discuss the options that were given to us by Civic Research Alliance. There were four options on the table,” Boran said Wednesday.

The study offered two merging options. The other was:

• Option 1: Pottsville Area would take over the operations of Saint Clair Area’s only school building, the Saint Clair Area Elementary/Middle School, and Saint Clair Area School District would cease to exist.

But at Monday’s public meeting, the districts offered four:

• Physical combining of school districts (merge): One district. One board. One tax base for 12 municipalities.

• Shared services and programs: Combine kindergarten, elementary/middle school, music or business office.

• Saint Clair Area School District expands its tuition program with Pottsville Area School District beyond grades 9 to 12: Currently in place at the high school level. Expand to include all grade levels.

• Maintain the status quo, with separate boards, administrations and tax base.

“Both boards are currently looking for input. We cannot forget the most important thing in this whole decision-making process, which are the students that are involved. We thank the public for coming out. There were some passionate remarks concerning the study that was presented to us,” Boran said.

Pottsville Area Superintendent Jeffrey S. Zwiebel said the schools are still encouraging the public to send them comments about the study.

“Are we continuing to receive comments through the website?” school board member Patrick F. Moran asked.

“Yes,” Zwiebel said.

Moran asked how many have been received to date.

“I don’t have a current count, but we’re receiving about one or two a day now since the meeting Monday,” Zwiebel said.

“And we’ll be able to see those responses?” school board member Linda Grube asked.

“Yes. I’m compiling them and I’ll give you the updates as we get them,” Zwiebel said.

“And we will begin to review those four options that are on the table,” Boran said.

At Monday’s public meeting, the school district encouraged the public to come to its regular meetings if they had questions about the study. The Pottsville Area school board’s next one is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. March 18.

In other matters Wednesday, the school board approved a series of adjustments to the 2014-15 school calendar. They include:

• April 6 will be changed from a regular school day to an Act 80 Day.

• Additional snow make-up days will be June 1 to 5.

• Baccalaureate will be May 31.

• The last day of school and commencement has been moved from May 29 to June 5.

“If additional school cancellation days are incurred, the school calendar will be extended for each additional day,” Zwiebel said.

n Cressona: Bethany Christian Fellowship will sponsor a pork and sauerkraut dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. March 21 at its site, 102 Front St. The cost is $7.50 for adults and $4 for children under 12. Meals also include mashed potatoes, applesauce, roll, dessert and beverage. For more information, call 570-628-4350.

n Frackville: Puff’s Fest 2015, sponsored by Puff’s Promotions, will be held from 2 to 11 p.m. June 25 at Frackville Elks Lodge, 307 S. Third St. According to a release, the “spring spectacular” will include 22 local and national bands on two stages. Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door the day of the event. For more information, call 570-573-1989.

n Girardville: Rangers Hose Company will sponsor a wing night from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the firehouse, 6 E. Ogden St. Wings are $8 a dozen, fries are $3 per order and $4 with any wing sauce. Flavors include hot, mild, honey mustard, house, ranch, spicy ranch, hot garlic, barbecue, garlic parm and teriyaki. Patrons may eat at the firehouse or take wings out. For more information, call 570-276-1406.

n Port Carbon: The Port Carbon Library will stage a Chinese auction Sunday at First United Methodist Church, Pike Street, across from the senior citizens center. Doors will open at noon and the auction will begin at 2 p.m. A shop-and-drop will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday. People should use the side-door entrance.

n Pottsville: The Schuylkill County Historical Society will hold a genealogy class from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday in the society building, 305 N. Centre St. The cost is $20 for nonmembers and $18 for members. The class will emphasize military records “so if you have a soldier in your lineage, this is the class for you,” organizers said in a release. There will be individual research time from noon to 2 p.m. For more information, call 570-622-7540.

n Pottsville: Educational scholarships are available for students in the Pottsville area, according to Jim Humphrey, president of the Pottsville Lions Club, and Eileen Kuperavage, executive director for the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation. Kuperavage was the guest speaker at a recent Lions Club meeting and she stressed the need for area students to complete the application process for the available scholarships, thanks to the Pottsville Lions Charity Endowment Fund, which is a part of the foundation’s ongoing commitment to the various groups that have joined with it to enhance the future. Kuperavage said the Lions Club has two major investments with the foundation, one the scholarship fund and the other the community endowment fund. The scholarship fund has $25,000 invested while the other fund has more than $40,000, according to the Lions Bulletin. Kuperavage and Humphrey said applications are available online at www.sacfoundation.com. The Schuylkill Area Community Foundation has more than $17.4 million invested for 162 funds that benefit the county. Kuperavage said the foundation’s financial planning and commitment have kept the local Lions and SACF money secure and growing even in the face of the 2008 recession. Humphrey said that in 2014, the Lions Club distributed more than $6,000 to local charities and community groups thanks to the continued support of the annual Pottsville Cruise, as chaired by Lion 12-Volt Dave Clews. For more information, call Jerry at 570-622-9519.

n Pottsville: The next meeting of the Police Chiefs’ Association is set for noon Wednesday in the lawyers’ room on the fourth floor of the Schuylkill County Courthouse, according to a release from Bradley Gotshall, executive assistant in the county district attorney’s office. During the session, Dr. David Moylan, country coroner, will speak about the storage and dispensing of Narcan. For more information, call 570-628-1354.

n Schuylkill Haven: The borough will host a seminar on grant and loan opportunities for local businesses, presented by the United States Department of Agriculture and its rural development unit, at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Senior Community Center, 340 Haven St. All are welcome.

n Shenandoah: The Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society will sponsor a Chinese auction March 22 at its history center, 201 S. Main St. Doors open at noon and the auction begins at 1:30 p.m. Shop and drop is 2 to 4 p.m. March 21. Refreshments will be available.

n Cressona: Alvernia University Schuylkill Center will host a children’s spring art fest from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at its Cressona Mall site, 1544 Route 61 South Suite 6190. Admission is free. For more information, call 570-385-2382.

n Cressona: Alvernia University Schuylkill Center will have an information night from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at its Cressona Mall site.

n Frackville: The deadline to order Easter paska bread in a sale sponsored by Holy Ascension Orthodox Church, 209 S. Lehigh Ave., is Thursday. People may order plain or raisin by calling 570-874-0732.

n Llewellyn: The Good Intent Hose Company will sponsor a meat bingo from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the firehouse, 12 Silverton Road. Doors will open at noon. Tickets are $20 each. For more information, call 570-617-6005.

n Mahanoy City: First United Methodist Church, 400 E. Mahanoy Ave., will host a roast beef dinner from 1 to 4 p.m. March 22 at the church. The cost is $8 and meals will include roast beef, mashed potatoes, green beans and homemade desserts. Tickets are on sale now, walk-ins are also welcome. For more information, call 570-773-2734. The church will also hold a yard and bake sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 18.

n Mahanoy City: The Mahanoy Area High School Theater Arts Club will present “Mary Poppins” at 7 p.m. Friday and March 21 in the education complex auditorium. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. For more information, call 570-233-5890.

n Orwigsburg: The Schuylkill County Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association is holding its annual Gourmet Dinner and Wine Pairing event at 5 p.m. March 22 at the Oak Hill Inn. A four-course dinner will be paired with wine selections from the Mount Nittany Winery. Personnel from the winery will be present to discuss their wine selections. Reservation deadline is Tuesday, call Ellen Hildreth at 570-622-2053 or Barbara Krupa at 570-622-8376. More information is available at www.psaaschuylkill.org.

n Orwigsburg: The Orwigsburg Memorial Task Force will stage a trivia night from 7 to 10 p.m. March 21 at the memorial, Grove Street. Tickets are $20 and the event will benefit the task force. “Gather your team,” organizers said in a press release. For more information, call Kathy at 570-943-2672.

n Pottsville: The Pottsville Area High School Drama Club will present “Les Miserables” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and March 21 and 2 p.m. March 22 in the school district’s Wachter Auditorium, 16th Street and Elk Avenue. The cost is $8 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. All tickets at the door will be $10. Tickets in advance are available from 3 to 7 p.m. in the lobby. For more information, call 570-691-4602.

n Pottsville: An all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner is set for 3 to 6 p.m. March 21 at the Masonic Lodge, fifth floor, Second and West Norwegian streets. The cost is $7 per meal. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-622-8944.

n Pottsville: A Chinese auction and home party vendor show is set for 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Fairlane Village mall. Tickets are $5 a sheet. The auction will have more than 200 baskets and prizes will include a freezer, tablet, TV and Keurig. More than 20 home party vendors will be on hand. The auction will begin at 3 p.m. For more information, call 570-622-4390.

n Ringtown: A free session on identity theft awareness sponsored by Thrivent will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 100 E. Main St. It will feature instruction, discussion and role playing regarding ways thieves go about getting personal information, how they use it and ways to prevent it from happening. For more information, call 570-889-3755.

As the investigation into whether state Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane illegally released grand jury information continues, documents suggest her actions were rooted in a desire to seek political payback.

Kane has acknowledged she authorized the release of a memorandum that contained information from a 2014 interview a staff member had with Michael Miletto, a special agent who criticized the handling of a 2009 grand jury investigation headed by Frank Fina, a prosecutor under her predecessor. That probe, which did not result in charges, dealt with allegations of wrongdoing by J. Whyatt Mondesire, the former head of the NAACP of Philadelphia.

In court documents, Kane’s attorneys maintain she released the information “in the interest of public transparency.” They contend her action did not violate grand jury secrecy rules as the memorandum contained no confidential information.

The grand jury disagreed.

The Philadelphia Inquirer, citing sources familiar with the grand jury probe investigating the leak, reported grand jurors think Kane was actually motivated by her dislike of Fina because he had criticized her decision not to pursue charges in another case he investigated. That case involved several Philadelphia politicians accused of accepting cash and other gifts from a lobbyist.

The timing of events supports that conclusion.

Consider: The Philadelphia Inquirer first reported about Kane’s failure to pursue the lobbyist case on March 16, 2014. One week later, David Peifer, a high level official in her office, interviewed Miletto about the 2009 grand jury probe of Mondesire.

A transcript of that interview, in which Miletto claimed Fina ignored evidence, was later given to the Philadelphia Daily News by one of Kane’s staffers. The newspaper revealed the details in a story published June 6, 2014, that said Kane was “reviewing” the 2009 investigation of Mondesire. The story also included information from a 2009 email, which Kane denies releasing, that detailed other information from the Mondesire grand jury probe.

The story was the basis of the grand jury investigation into Kane that was ordered by Montgomery County Judge William Carpenter, the supervising judge of the existing statewide grand jury.

Documents released by the state Supreme Court show the investigation was initiated by Fina and E. Marc Costanzo, who worked on the Mondesire case with Fina. The men wrote to Carpenter on May 8, 2014, advising them they believed someone had violated grand jury secrecy rules by providing documents to the Daily News.

The grand jury in December recommended Kane, who testified before the panel in September, be charged with perjury and other offenses. The case was referred to the Montgomery County District Attorney, who must decide whether to file charges. That decision has been stayed pending resolution of a challenge Kane has filed to the appointment of the special prosecutor who handled the probe.

Attempts to reach Amil Minora and Lanny Davis, two of Kane’s attorneys, for comment Friday were unsuccessful.

Several legal experts contacted Friday said Kane’s release of the Miletto interview raises ethical questions, but they differed on whether her actions rose to the level of a crime for violating grand jury secrecy rules.

Attorneys Michael Engle, George Newman and Peter Vaira, all of Philadelphia, each said the release of Miletto’s comments would only violate grand jury secrecy rules if the document contained information that was presented to the grand jury.

“The grand jury secrecy protects what happens inside the grand jury room. It does not protect (the release of) the fact there was a grand jury investigation,” Engle, a former president of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, said.

Vaira, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Newman, a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, explained there are instances where investigators uncover information, but it is not presented to the grand jury. If that is case in this situation, the information would not be considered confidential and thus there would be no secrecy violation, they said.

James Cohen, a law professor at Fordham University in New York, and attorney Sam Stretton, West Chester, said they believe any information obtained by investigators is subject to secrecy rules. Kane had an obligation to thoroughly investigate that issue before she released Miletto’s interview, Cohen said.

“The information came from someone intimately familiar with the evidence presented to the grand jury,” Cohen said. “She is the attorney general of the state of Pennsylvania. She has a duty of care before she goes about releasing information.”

Whether or not Kane will be charged remains to be seen. Engle said regardless of the outcome, the revelation of the “nasty and ugly” political infighting associated with case the has damaged confidence in the judicial system.

“It’s unfortunate what’s going on. It doesn’t lead to good investigations and it doesn’t lead to the court system working the way its supposed to,” he said.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Plain & Fancy Donut Shop celebrated 50 years of business Friday.

“I can’t believe 50 years went by,” Jim McKeone, owner, said.

The shop at 120 St. Charles St. is giving away a free cupcake or doughnut this weekend to mark the anniversary.

Ella Barkley, 61, of Williamsport, stopped at the shop Friday to get glazed doughnuts.

“I get them at the Bloomsburg Fair,” Barkley said, adding she likes Plain & Fancy’s doughnuts because they are fresh.

“You can taste they are homemade,” Barkley said.

McKeone thinks that homemade taste is one of the reasons for his success.

“I still do everything the same way I did 50 years ago,” he said, adding they make almost everything from scratch. McKeone said they order the filling for the jelly doughnuts because they don’t grow their own fruit.

The shop has 19 varieties of doughnuts as well as sticky buns, cookies, turnovers, muffins and cupcakes.

Born in Pottsville, McKeone, 73, said he knew at a young age that he wanted to open his own business. He chose to open a doughnut shop because it was something the town needed. At the time, McKeone said, there were two bakeries in town but neither sold doughnuts.

McKeone said he found a small space to open his shop at 18 W. Union St. for $40 a month. He was going to open on his birthday — March 6 — but something came up that delayed the plan. So, he pushed the opening to March 13, 1965, which was a Saturday.

“Everybody said don’t open up on the 13th. It’s bad luck, but I did it anyway,” he said.

The business proved to be a success and about 2 1/2 years later, he moved to the current site. Eventually, he opened other shops but they closed for a variety of reasons, McKeone said.

As for the name of his shop, McKeone said the state Department of Agriculture required a name and he chose Plain & Fancy. At first, McKeone said, he didn’t think it was a good name.

“I didn’t know if it was going to work,” he said, adding he learned to love it.

McKeone admitted that times got tough financially. Sometimes he didn’t know if he could afford gas. When he found himself questioning his decision, McKeone told himself that he would continue.

“I’m going to make it. No matter what. You just have to stick with it,” he said.

As a business owner, he had to make sacrifices, as well.

“Everything in life has a price. I gave up all of my young life to be where I am today,” McKeone said.

For example, McKeone said he didn’t go to Woodstock because he was too focused on work.

“I wish I would have been there,” he said.

McKeone said he does not miss working the 18-hour days he put in when he opened the business at 23 years old. Back then, the shop was open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Now, it is open every day except Monday. Hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.

He said he spends probably five hours a day at the shop. He has five employees who do the work for him.

Now, he spends a lot of time with his dog, Rocket, a dachshund and schnauzer mix who is the mascot for the Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA, Pine Grove. McKeone is the president of the shelter’s board of directors.

McKeone said he has no plans to make that last batch of doughnuts and close up shop. He continues to go to fairs in nearby counties to sell his doughnuts. He is proud of where he is at today, saying the long hours and dedication to the business have paid dividends.

“It all depends what you want to get out of life,” he said.

As Barkley left with a half-dozen doughnuts and a vanilla cupcake, she offered congratulations.

“Good luck for another 50 (years),” she said.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — The puzzle pieces are coming together.

That is how Schuylkill County Commissioner Gary J. Hess described the progress of the countywide drivers’ education program that students are working to establish as part of the annual Youth Summit.

“The most important part of the puzzle is you,” Hess told the students. “You made the summit a success.”

The third annual Schuylkill Youth Summit was held Friday in the Health & Wellness Building at Penn State Schuylkill.

“In this short time, we have made excellent progress,” Hess told the students. “You did not sit idle, just talking about the solutions. You dug in and worked hard to find the solution to solve it. Our future lies in your hands. Together, we can make Schuylkill County your home to be successful.”

At last year’s event, the students made it their priority to implement a countywide driver’s education program. The annual event brings students from all the different school districts and technical institutions in the county to discuss with local business, community and legislative leaders how they can make Schuylkill County a better place to work, live and raise families.

Hess spearheaded the project along with his fellow commissioners George F. Halcovage Jr. and Chairman Frank J. Staudenmeier, Kay Jones, executive director of Schuylkill County’s VISION, and other community organizations, legislative offices and business associations. Jones hosted the Youth Summit.

“When Gary and I came in as commissioners, first thing that we had talked about was that you are our most import asset,” Halcovage said. “ ... You are the heart of the community.”

The previous Youth Summits have been held in Courtroom No. 1 in the county courthouse. Hess said that Penn State Schuylkill had some advantages over the previous venue, including multiple projector screens, Wi-Fi access and space to divide the students into groups. Hess said the event allowed all the potential stakeholders in the program to be in the same room.

“That’s priceless,” Hess said.

Before students gave a presentation on drivers’ education, state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale stopped by the Youth Summit and encouraged them to stay involved.

“Right now, the possibilities for your generation are endless,” DePasquale said.

They gave their presentations to different parts of the county at three town hall meetings in October 2014 at Sweet Arrow Lake, Tamaqua Area High School and the Schuylkill Mall, Frackville.

Of the 16 schools that participate in the annual summit, students said seven offered classroom courses in drivers’ education. Williams Valley is the only school district with a course that has students getting behind the wheel. According to their research, car crashes are the number one killer of American teens, with one in every three teen deaths being the result a car crash.

Students then discussed their ideas for a drivers’ education program with an expect panel, which included Bob Carl Jr., executive director of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce; Robert W. Wachter, chief executive officer of AAA Schuylkill County; Lorraine Felker, Schuylkill Haven Area superintendent; Charles “Chaz” Hepler, North Schuylkill school board president; Carol Alonge, Pennsylvania Traffic Safety Network regional coordinator; Maureen Donovan, assistant director of Workforce and Community Development at Lehigh Carbon Community College; Clyde C. “Champ” Holman, deputy secretary for the state Department of Community & Economic Development Office of Community Affairs and Development; and Schuylkill Haven police Chief Jeff Walcott.

Felker said Schuylkill Haven offers a voluntary behind-the-wheel course after school. Last school year, she said, 101 students took the classroom course and 24 took the behind-the-wheel course. That’s about 15 to 25 percent of the students eligible for the course, she said.

“We encourage people to take it, but there is a cost,” she said.

Felker told the students that the cost of a teacher’s salary and other needs for a drivers’ education program can total about $10,000. She said the school receives some grant money for the program, but most of it is paid for by students.

“On average, it is about $300 to $310 per student to do a behind-the-wheel program for us,” she said.

Teachers need to be certified to have drivers’ education classes.

The main issue for schools is the cost.

“It is always a balancing act and there are always choices and priorities that come into play,” Felker said. “It is not easy.”

However, she recommended students present their ideas to their school boards.

“Our board puts a lot of stock in feedback from you,” she said. “They want to hear from the students, parents faculty about what is and isn’t working and what can be done better.”

Hepler told students to be prepare their research before presenting their ideas to the board.

“Nobody thinks this is a bad idea,” he said. “When it comes to how to pay for it, that’s when the rubber meets the road.”

Holman told students to formulate the program and then choose representatives to give the presentation. He recommended they approach insurance companies or other businesses for donations.

“If they save money on not paying out for accidents, they are making money,” he said.

Students suggested making up the cost with student dues.

“That’s an excellent idea,” Felker said. “That’s absolutely doable.”

Students also said that they will be working on putting together a presentation packet for each school for a consistent pitch to school boards.

Following the discussion panel, each of the 10 groups of students put together a storyboard for a video they could use to raise awareness about car crashes being the leading killer of teenagers. Each student then voted on their favorite video.

The storyboard with the most votes was one about common sense. The ideas was that people would not go skydiving without a parachute or outside in the winter without a coat, so they should not drive without a seat belt.

In addition to the countywide drivers’ education program, each school district had its own community projects. Students will come up with new projects that they will be working on until the next summit. Their proposals are due May 1.

All the projects are eligible for grants up to $500 from the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Students have to match the grant amount.

A former student involved with the Youth Summit had the chance the address the students. Mike Zangari graduated from North Schuylkill last year and is attending Harrisburg Area Community College.

“Just remember, you have the power to make the change,” he said. “You have more power than you think.”

Before the students were dismissed, they each voted on the issue they would like to tackle next. They decided on blight.

The students were pleased with this year’s Youth Summit.

“I feel there was more interaction,” Adam Stoppie, a student at Minersville Area, said about this year’s event.

“It was more student-based and we were able to focus on one issue,” Lindsey Snyder, also a Minersville student, said.

“We were able to get into more detail,” Jon McBreen, their classmate, said.

It was their second or third time attending the summit for some of the Minersville Area students. They said they are closer to achieving their goal of establishing a countywide drivers’ education program.

“It will be a challenge,” McBreen said. “We came up with a lot more ideas for funding.”

They are also looking forward to their next goal of fighting blight.

“It’s a good thing that while we are finishing up our first goal that we will be able to start something new,” McBreen said.

NEW PHILADELPHIA — Vandals stole a stainless steel sink and copper piping from outside the bathroom of the James S. Clark Little League Field in New Philadelphia.

The field is located off Route 209 in the borough.

The theft likely took place on Monday night or Tuesday morning, borough officials and an employee said. The sink was still there during the day Monday, officials said.

Dennis Faust, borough maintenance worker, said he went down to the field Tuesday morning to unlock a gate, which he does during the week so vehicles can access the field to drop off recycling, and noticed the missing sink and copper piping. Police lock the gate at night, he said. The field is still accessible by walking.

Faust said he was not surprised it occurred because other acts of vandalism have taken place on site, including when someone turned the water on in the sinks inside the men’s and women’s bathrooms.

He wrote up the vandalism and theft in his report and left a message for the borough police. A press release from police was not available as of Friday evening.

Mimi Shanoskie, a borough council member and head of the recreation committee, said Friday she was “freaked out” when she received the call from Faust about 7:10 a.m. Tuesday. She became upset because “that’s the Little League field. We don’t have a lot in New Philadelphia,” she said.

She told Faust to call the police. She then called Christine Carey, the borough council president. Shanoskie and Carey went down to the field Friday to see the damage. Those who removed the sink and piping must be “desperate for money,” Shanoskie said, adding the sink was very old.

Shanoskie said someone had also tried to kick in the door to the bathrooms because there were footprints on the door, which are locked for the winter. Those responsible should be arrested, she said.

The issue will be discussed at the 7:30 p.m. April 7 monthly council meeting, she said.

“It’s just a shame,” she said of the theft.

Carey said the borough is going to remain vigilant.

“We are going to keep our eyes open,” Carey said.

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

William D. Allen Jr., 19, address not known; theft; 12 months probation, $50 payment to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $560 restitution. Prosecutors withdrew charges of receiving stolen property and theft from a motor vehicle.

Shannon Arndt, 28, of Minersville; two counts of theft and one of criminal mischief; 12 months probation, $50 CJEA payment and $1,042 restitution.

Abdoulaye Barry, 20, of Philadelphia; possession of a small amount of marijuana; $50 fine, $100 payment to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $50 CJEA payment and $50 bench warrant fee. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ivan L. Carrington, 39, of Pottsville; two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; one to two years in a state correctional institution, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew two additional counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, one of possession of a controlled substance and a charge of simple assault.

Jolena A. Deeter, 28, of Tremont; retail theft and possession of drug paraphernalia; 18 months probation, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment, $26 restitution and 10 hours community service.

Eric R. Dito, 19, of Mahanoy City; two counts of defiant trespass and one of disorderly conduct; 12 months probation, $100 fine and $100 in CJEA payments. Prosecutors withdrew charges of harassment and criminal trespass.

Michael A. Eckert, 23, of Minersville; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance; sentencing deferred until 2 p.m. April 15 pending preparation of a presentence investigation. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession of a controlled substance.

Bryan T. Evans, 28, of Pottsville; disorderly conduct; $75 fine. Prosecutors withdrew a second count of disorderly conduct.

Lynn A. Fekette, 40, of Minersville; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; 23 months probation, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

Jerome R. Frie, 31, of Pottsville; driving under the influence and failure to drive at a safe speed; five years in the intermediate punishment program, $2,525 in fines, $300 SAEF payment, $60 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street and 40 hours community service.

Ernest L. Graham Jr., 51, of Pottsville; unsworn falsification to authorities and false statement under penalty; six to 12 months on house arrest with electronic monitoring and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of materially false written statement.

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

SHENANDOAH — The Shenandoah Valley school board accepted a report from a state fact finder involving the continued negotiations between the school district and the teachers union at last week’s meeting.

The school board voted 6-0 on the recommendations presented by Debra K. Wallet, Esq., a fact finder with the state Labor Relations Board who presided at a hearing Feb. 19 between the Shenandoah Valley School District and the Shenandoah Valley Education Association in the district’s community room.

“The gist of it is that the board accepted the fact finder’s report and directed the solicitor to notify the state Labor Relations Board,” district Superintendent Stanley G. Rakowsky said.

The SVEA rank-and-file has been working under the former contract that expired at the end of the 2011-12 school year. That five-year contract was ratified to begin in the 2007-08 school year.

During the March 5 meeting, the school board held a 49-minute executive session to discuss Wallet’s report. After returning to open session, district solicitor Michael A. O’Pake read the following resolution as a motion:

“That the Shenandoah Valley School District Board of Directors accept the fact-finding report of Debra Wallet, Esq., with regard to the ongoing negotiations between SVSD and SVEA, and authorize the solicitor to advise the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.”

Voting in favor were William Grutza, Daniel Salvadore, Karen Kayes, Helene Creasy, Thomas Twardzik and Richard Zimmerman. Absent were Joseph Alshefski, Joseph Buchanan and Margaret Shustack.

“I have not been notified of anything from the union as of today,” Rakowsky said Tuesday. The report was released to both parties on March 1. SVEA President Richard Werner could not be reached for comment.

The fact-finding hearing on Feb. 19 began at 10 a.m., according to information provided by Rakowsky. O’Pake represented the school district. Others in attendance for the district were Rakowsky, Business Manager Anthony P. Demalis Jr. and school board President William Grutza.

The SVEA delegation was led by attorney Molly Mirobito, who was supported by two Pennsylvania State Education Association staff persons. Several SVEA members were also in attendance.

The hearing was adjourned by Wallet at 2:45 p.m.

Rakowsky said no details of the report can be released at this time. He explained what could happen if the teachers union accepts or rejects the fact finder’s conclusions in her report.

“My understanding is that if both sides accept it, then it is binding and it becomes a contract,” Rakowsky said. “If either side rejects it, then the report goes back to Labor Relations and the report becomes public record.”

McADOO — The Clean Water Act has finally caught up to Kline Township.

The state Department of Environmental Protection wants the township to move forward with engineering plans to separate stormwater from sewer systems in municipalities and to make sure municipalities are conforming with the Chesapeake Bay Pollutant Reduction Plan obligations. The plan is to stop polluting the Chesapeake Bay downstream.

Kline Township was able to get waivers applied for by engineers to delay the plans due to the size of the township, but supervisors Chairman Dale Wesner said waivers will not be allowed anymore. In fact, the township engineer had an application for a waiver and it was denied by DEP because township size doesn’t matter anymore for waivers.

Engineering firm Arro, Orwigsburg, will do the startup engineering work fees for $11,000 as low bidder for the project, according to Wesner and supervisor Carmen Cara.

Kline Township drains toward Quakake Creek and the majority of water is drained from natural wooded areas.

The township must submit an application for a permit to address the stormwater plan along with a check for $5,000 to DEP. The application must note the path of each water stream, according to supervisor Nick Sanko.

“We must find all locations on the map of the township that have water entering into streams that lead to the Chesapeake Bay,” Sanko said. “I went out with the engineer and other township officials and pointed to all of the areas on the map where the drainage begins and flows to take a GPS reading on each location and make a report on it.”

The board voted at Monday’s meeting in favor of doing the mandatory work required by DEP.

In other business, the township:

• Sold two old police department handguns for $200 each and turned the $400 over to the township.

• Hired Joseph David, currently with the Coaldale Police Department, effective immediately after police Chief John Petrilla requested the action to be able to complete his duty roster.

Hometown Heroes in Kline Township, Banks Township and the Borough of McAdoo is going to participate with Southside Community Partnership to place veterans on the banners in time for Memorial Day.

Call Marion DeBalko of Southside Community Partnership at 570-929-1628 for an application and other details about the program to honor veterans in these three communities.

Police charge boy

who cried wolf

WILLIAMSTOWN — State police at Lykens have filed charges of false reports to law enforcement and obstructing the law against a Williamstown teen after an incident about 4 p.m. Feb. 22 in the 7800 block of Route 209 in Williams Township, Dauphin County.

Police said the 17-year-old reported that he received death threats from another person at Boyer’s Supermarket in Lykens but a follow-up investigation with numerous witnesses corroborated with video from the market determined the allegations were false.

Charges against the teen were filed with Dauphin County juvenile authorities.

Lykens man flees

cops, crashes car

LYKENS — An incident about 12:45 a.m. Sunday on Irish Road, near Chestnut Street in this Dauphin County community, led to charges against a Lykens man.

State police at Lykens said Jeremiah J. Trefny, 30, was charged with fleeing or attempting to elude police, recklessly endangering another person, DUI and several traffic offenses and will have to appear before Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum, Elizabethville.

Police said they tried to stop a vehicle driven by Trefny for a violation, but he fled and eventually crashed into a metal pole.

The safety of Flossie Graham, 51, of Lykens, a front seat passenger in the vehicle at the time of the crash, was endangered, police said.

Police arrest man

following chase

FRACKVILLE — A 50-year-old Pottsville man was jailed after being arrested by state police at Frackville in connection with a chase about 3:30 p.m. Saturday on Route 61 in Blythe Township, New Castle Township, Frackville, West Mahanoy Township and Cass Township.

Police said David Flynn was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, on charges of fleeing or attempting to elude police, DUI-controlled substance, recklessly endangering another person and traffic related offenses. Flynn was then committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $20,000 bail.

Police said they tried to stop a 2002 Ford Explorer driven by Flynn after he was allegedly involved in a retail theft incident at the Saint Clair Wal-Mart.

Flynn fled at high rates of speed through several municipalities but eventually crashed his sport utility vehicle in the area of St. Nicholas breaker on Darkwater Road.

He was treated at Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street and released into police custody.

Police said Saint Clair, Frackville, Palo Alto and Minersville assisted.

Mahanoy Plane

man may face DUI

GIRARDVILLE — Charges are pending against a Mahanoy Plane man after a traffic stop by Girardville police about 10:30 p.m. Feb. 5.

Police said they stopped a vehicle driven by Edward Martofel, 2207 Water St., and found him to be under the influence. They also found a glass smoking pipe with residue inside.

The man was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street for a blood alcohol test.

Charges are pending the outcome of the blood test, police said.

Woman reports

slashed tires

GIRARDVILLE — Borough police are investigating a criminal mischief incident that occurred at 221 A St. and was reported about 8:45 a.m. Feb. 20.

Police said Amy McClintock said someone slashed a tire on her vehicle days prior, on Feb. 16.

Police ask that anyone with information call the Schuylkill County Communications Center at 570-462-1991.

St. Patrick’s Day brings to mind shamrocks, leprechauns, a pot of gold and good luck.

But no amount of luck can save a person from a drunk-driving crash.

Unfortunately, March 17 has become a deadly day in the United States with a dramatic spike in drunk-driving fatalities, David R. Everly, regional coordinator of the North Central Regional DUI Enforcement Program, said.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, during St. Patrick’s Day weekend in 2013, more than a third — or 40 percent — of all crash fatalities involved drunk drivers, Everly said.

The night of St. Patrick’s Day was especially bad.

Everly said statistics showed that in the post-celebration hours between midnight and 5:59 a.m. March 18, half of all crash fatalities involved drunk drivers.

“And we’re not just talking about a little bit too much to drink here. From 2009 to 2013, almost three-fourths of the drunk-driving fatalities on St. Patrick’s Day involved drivers who were twice the legal limit,” Everly said, adding that whether you’re buzzed or drunk on St. Patrick’s Day, it doesn’t matter. Authorities stressed that buzzed driving is drunk driving.

On St. Patrick’s Day 2013, there were 31 people killed in drunk-driving crashes. On the same holiday between 2009 and 2013, there were 276 drunk-driving fatalities nationwide.

“Every one of those lives was lost because of bad decisions,” Everly said.

He offered advice to partygoers.

“Get ahead of the decision this year, if you know you’re going to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with alcohol, then figure out a plan ahead of time for how you’ll get home ... don’t wait until you’re too buzzed to decide, and don’t let your friends drive drunk,” he said.

“Buzzed driving is drunk driving so if you have anything to drink, count on a sober friend, taxi or public transportation to drive you home safely,” Everly said. “Not drinking, maybe this St. Patrick’s Day you’ll be the saint who drives your friends.”

The coordinator stressed that the bottom line is that too many Americans fail to designate sober drivers. He said NHTSA is working hard to make sure every driver knows the dangers of getting behind the wheel after drinking.

NHTSA figures from 2013 show that, on average, one person was killed every 52 minutes in a drunk-driving crash in the U.S., totaling 10,076 drunk-driving fatalities that year.

“Let’s make 2015 different,” Everly said. “Use this party-planning checklist to stay safe this St. Patrick’s Day.”

Everly offered the following recommendations to make St. Patrick’s Day 2015 a safe celebration.

• Now: Even if you don’t have plans yet, plan to drive sober or designate someone else. Save the number of a taxi company in your phone so you always have a backup plan.

• When you make plans: A sober driver is an essential part of any party plan. Once you know where you’ll celebrate, decide whether you’re drinking or driving. You can only choose one.

• On St. Patrick’s Day: Before you take your first sip of green beer, leave your keys at home or give them to a friend. If you’re the designated driver, don’t drink. Enjoy non-alcoholic beverages and brag about your VIP (very important party goer) status online using #designateddriver. Only drive sober or ride with a sober driver.

• Every day: If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation to get home safely. If available, use your community’s free ride program. If you know people who are about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

“Drunk driving has fatal consequences,” Everly said. “If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local police immediately ... you could save a life.”

For the third time since the Ancient Order of Hibernians John F. Kennedy Div. 2, Pottsville, started its St. Patrick’s Day parade in the city in 1976, the organization had to cancel the event due to the weather.

“After careful review of the forecast for this Saturday, the decision was made to cancel the 2015 Pottsville St. Patrick’s Day parade. Unfortunately, there is no rain date,” Leo F. Haley, division president, said Friday.

But the services, feasts and parties the Pottsville AOH scheduled to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Pottsville will still go on, Haley said.

• 8 a.m., a Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, 319 Mahantongo St.

• 9 a.m., the Grand Marshal’s Breakfast will be held at Trippin’ Billie at 114 N. Centre St. to honor the 2015 Grand Marshal, Lydia Laughlin, Branch Township.

• Noon, the Grand Irish Party at the Humane Fire Company will begin. It will feature live music by Celtheart. Tickets at the door are $25.

The parade would have started at 11 a.m. at 12th and West Market streets and marched through the city’s downtown area to Humane Fire Company.

City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said he was sorry the weather wasn’t in the group’s favor.

“They really did a nice job putting the parade together last year,” Palamar said Friday.

“We have many participants that come long distances to take part in our parade, some with floats, some in traditional costume and many with musical instruments. With the forecast as dismal as it is and with the amount of rain projected around parade time, we felt it prudent to cancel the parade at this time. We would encourage our paradegoers and participants to support the numerous other parades in our region, including the Girardville parade next Saturday,” Haley said.

The Pottsville AOH spends “between $4,000 and $5,000” annually to produce the parade.

The bands which were scheduled for the parade this year included Pottsville Area High School Band, Nativity BVM High School Band, the Hawk Mountain Highlanders, area fire companies and the Northeast Variety Band. The parade would have also included AOH divisions from the area.

Since rain was in the forecast, the Pottsville AOH decided to cancel the parade Thursday night.

“Trying to postpone it becomes impossible to get the bands again because they’re all committed to so many things,” Haley said.

Haley said the Pottsville AOH does not lose any money by canceling the parade, “as long as we cancel it in time and prevent any of the bands from coming to town.”

The Pottsville AOH canceled its annual parade twice before. Haley couldn’t recall the years, but said “once before, it was because of rain. And once, it was because of snow.”

On the calendar, St. Patrick’s Day is Tuesday, March 17.

A Democrat has entered the race for Schuylkill County recorder of deeds.

Gina Warhola, 55, of Branchdale, is running unopposed as a Democrat and will challenge Recorder of Deeds Ann Dudish in the General Election. Dudish is seeking her first full term.

Warhola is a team member at Realty World, Schuylkill Haven.

“I feel like the position found me,” Warhola said. “It is a perfect fit with my real estate profession.”

The responsibility of the county recorder of deeds office is to maintain permanent records of all documents related to real estate, such as deeds, mortgages and subdivision plans, and another documents such as veterans’ discharges and notary public commissions.

Dudish took control of the office last year, succeeding her husband, A. Matthew Dudish, who died on June 26, 2014, after a long battle against idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Working in real estate, Warhola said she knew Matthew Dudish for years and she has the qualifications needed for the position.

“He did a phenomenal job and I would like to pick up where he left off,” Warhola said.

Warhola said that includes continuing to bring the office into the 21st century with new technology and bolstering a relationship with the veterans affairs office.

“I would like to focus on keeping discharge documents easily accessible for veterans,” she said.

After graduating from Old Mill High School in Millersville, Maryland, Warhola became licensed in cosmetology in 1990 and now owns and operates The Village Hair Salon from her home. In 1999, she obtained certification from the National Association of Realtors and Pennsylvania Association of Realtors.

She was also a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives compliance administrative assistant in the firearms department at Cabela’s, Hamburg, and worked with the state police Firearms Division and the PA Instant Check System on a part-time basis.

Warhola has been bonded while working for several financial institutions throughout her career.

She has served as secretary/treasurer for Reilly Township and as a member of the Branchdale Ladies Booster Club. She is also a supporter of the Ruth Steinhart Memorial SPCA, Pottsville, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the American Cancer Society. She is a survivor of thyroid cancer.

Warhola has won several awards during her real estate career, including multi-million dollar producer, accredited buyer representative and certified military residential specialist.

Warhola and her husband of 34 years, Dave, have a daughter, Christina.