Soon, hundreds — or perhaps thousands — of people from Schuylkill County who work and volunteer for youth service organizations will have to comply with Pennsylvania Act 153 of 2014, according to Michelle Halabura, director of community relations at Schuylkill United Way.

Halabura wasn’t certain how many volunteers the new law would impact.

“I immediately started thinking about libraries and fire departments and other organizations that wouldn’t have had to go to this level for clearances before. I started to wonder about what volunteer activities may be on the line. My mind went to the extreme, just to make sure everyone is doing it correctly,” Halabura said Monday.

On October 22, 2014, House Bill 435 was signed into law becoming Act 153 of 2014.

The state enacted the more vigorous background checks as part of a package of legislation passed in response to the Jerry Sandusky and cleric child abuse scandals, according to the AP.

Starting July 1, it will require prospective employees and volunteers to obtain the following background checks:

• Criminal history record information

• Child abuse clearance

• Federal criminal history record information, which includes fingerprinting

Halabura is not the only one with questions about Act 153.

“I’m hoping we do get that clarification. The information that has been put out there to date is kind of overwhelming. And the more I read the more confused I become in terms of definitions,” Nancy J. Smink, director of the Pottsville Free Public Library, said Monday.

“And interpretations,” Mary Ann Devlin, executive director of Child Development Inc., Minersville, said Monday.

Meanwhile, state lawmakers are also questioning the law. On Monday, the state House Children and Youth Committee voted 24-2 in favor of a proposal designed to make the background checks less of a burden so organizations don’t end up having to cut programs for children because of fewer volunteers, according to The Associated Press.

In an effort to address questions in Schuylkill County about Act 153 before everyone is expected to be in compliance by July 1, Schuylkill United Way and the office of Sen. David Argall, R-29, have set up a free training session with expert advice.

Changes in Mandatory Reporting and Child Abuse: Free Act 153 Information Session & Act 31 Certification will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 24 at the Health and Wellness Center at Penn State Schuylkill campus, Schuylkill Haven.

Speakers at the June 24 event will include Mandy Mundy, director of education and training at Network of Victim Assistance, Jamison, Bucks County, and Cathleen Palm, founder of The Center for Children’s Justice, Bernville, Berks County.

The June 24 event will have a morning session that will include an overview of the state’s recent child protection reforms, particularly those impacting volunteers related to mandatory reporting of child abuse and complying with comprehensive background checks, Halabura said.

That afternoon, there will be breakout sessions.

“Participants must attend the morning session to attend the afternoon session,” Halabura said.

A free lunch will be provided, she said.

Halabura encourages people to register for the event by contacting the United Way at 570-622-6421 or by visiting its website at http://ow.ly/MXqbp.

Registration is required because the organizers want to make sure to have enough space to accommodate the people who are planning to attend.

“Priority will be given to Schuylkill County-based individuals and organizations. Only two attendees per organization allowed, unless the organization is a partner agency of the Schuylkill United Way,” Halabura said.

For more information on the new legislation, including clearance fact sheets for employees, public school code employees, non-public school code employees and volunteers, visit Argall’s website at http://ow.ly/NvNEh.

These clearances come at a cost. And while some organizations can afford to pay to have them done for their employees, like Child Development Inc., others, like the Pottsville Free Public Library, cannot, according to Devlin and Smink. On average, clearances cost between $45 and $50, Devlin said.

Organizations in Schuylkill County that have the facilities to do the necessary clearances and fingerprinting include Child Development Inc., 2880 Pottsville Minersville Highway. Devlin said people interested can call 570-544-8959 to set up an appointment.

“Recovery is remembering who you are and using your strengths to become all that you are meant to be.”

Those were the words written on the board Tuesday during peer specialist training in the conference room at M&T Bank, 1 S. Centre St., Pottsville.

A peer specialist is someone who has gone through the mental health system and is now able to help others recover, Keith Semerod, deputy county administrator for the Schuylkill County Mental Health & Developmental Services, said Tuesday. The county already utilizes certified peer specialists through contracted local service providers, he said. Agencies then assign peer specialists to specific cases.

Semerod said they are able to provide support that therapists or psychiatrists may not be able to.

“While they have a lot of experience, they (therapists) have not gone through the mental health system as a consumer,” Semerod said. “They (peer specialists) know the ins and outs better than anyone else would.”

Several agencies collaborated to bring the two-week peer specialist training to Schuylkill County for the first time. The Berks County Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, which also covers Schuylkill County, in conjunction with Schuylkill County Mental Health and Developmental Services, AHEDD, a private nonprofit group that finds employment for people with disabilities, Community Service Group, Northwestern Human Services and ReDCo, organized the training provided by the Recovery Opportunity Center, which is headquartered in Arizona.

Nineteen people, 10 from Schuylkill County and nine from surrounding counties, started the training course on June 1. It will end with a graduation ceremony at 1 p.m. Friday in the Majestic Theater, 209 N. Centre St. The Berks Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and Schuylkill County Mental Health paid the tuition of some of the county residents.

“I think we are looking at doing this on an annual basis,” Semerod said.

Markov Manalo, recovery services administrator, is teaching the program. He said the program participants are a mix of individuals already working as or will soon be employed as peer specialists. Peer specialists know what works, what doesn’t and the best approach to take, he said.

“They are examples that recovery is possible not only to people recovering but to the people they work along side,” Manalo said.

Manalo, who works out of the San Diego office, said local agencies and the community have been really supportive of having the program. Gordon Foods, the All American Cafe, Mama Millie’s Bakery and Ruby’s Kitchen also helped with the training, Semerod said.

Linda Diamond, Pottsville, said she is becoming a peer specialist because she loves people. She said she has attended various training programs after going through the mental health system herself.

“You learn so much and I feel like I have something to offer,” she said.

Alexandra Warcholak, Lehighton, said she received a bachelor’s degree in social and behavioral health at Penn State University and has worked in the field for about 15 years. Warcholak said some of the positions that she held did not want her to share personal experiences with clients.

“Here it is the exact opposite,” Warcholak said. “That was definitely the allure.”

Warcholak said there are many employment opportunities out there for peer specialists, whether it is visiting clients at their home or taking them to doctor appointments.

“There is a more human, personal level of compassion,” she said.

Bill Dougherty, McAdoo, said he wants to empower other people wanting to recover and let them know that help is available.

“By taking training like this, it’s helping me build my confidence and passion to help others,” Dougherty said. “I’m a recovering addict so helping people in the field helps with my own recovery. Them thanking me is the reward.”

Information incorrect

Dr. Susan Breon, a NASA engineering manager, spoke Friday to Schuylkill Haven Area High School graduates about the James Webb Space Telescope. The name of the instrument was incorrect in Saturday’s edition.

HEGINS — A self-described “small town girl,” Shannon Melideo prompted Tri-Valley graduates to get out of town. Melideo, associate dean of the School of Education and Human Services at Marymount University, Arlington, Virginia, delivered the keynote address during the 60th annual commencement Tuesday in the high school gymnasium.

Three themes Melideo offered graduates were:

1. “There are times in your life when you have to press the re-set button and that’s okay.”

2. “Help, because you can.”

3. “Get out of here.”

Superintendent Mark D. Snyder introduced Melideo, a 1986 Tri-Valley graduate.

Melideo shared experiences she witnessed while traveling the world. She said she was brought to tears at a concentration camp in Dachau, Germany; she ran from monkeys in Malaysia; stretched her neck to view the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City; danced the Samba in Rio de Janeiro; and saw the prison where Nelson Mandela had been incarcerated in South Africa.

She said her family and teachers had sent her out to explore the world and encouraged her to learn as much as she could.

She relayed problems needing attention around the world and close to home, including that 11 percent of the adults living in Hegins Township currently live below the poverty level. Melideo urged students to help in any manner they could. “The personal rewards (for helping others) far outweigh any hardships,” she said.

She also said that students should never stop learning, and that, on average, it takes most people at least 11 times in 11 different ways to learn something new.

Melideo drew laughs from the crowd while sharing the story about her elementary school aspirations. When she was 7, she said she thought she wanted to be “Miss America”, but then one of her closest friends pointed out that you only have the job for a year, and then you get replaced.

“It’s okay to set and re-set your goals,” she told graduates.

Melideo is a daughter of Jack and Yvonne Specht, Hegins. She earned a bachelor of science degree in elementary education grades Pre-k-8 from Lock Haven University; a master’s in education reading specialist grades K-12 from Kutztown University; a principal licensure from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. in education leadership and management from American University, Washington, D.C.

During her tenure at MU, Melideo has traveled the world, presenting at international conferences on literacy and peer coaching in the professoriate. She is the contributing writer for Parenting Special Needs Magazine.

Class of 2015 President Caitlin E. Chiaretti welcomed guests to the commencement ceremony.

High School Principal Charles W. Hall presented 57 students to receive their diplomas and read the class roll. School board President Daniel Wagner, Vice President Diane Dietrich and Assistant High School Principal Robert Felty Jr. assisted with diploma distribution.

Valedictorian Kathryn S. Dietrich said her address focused on “determining what was important in life and taking the right path”.

“Every teacher and coach taught us something that we can take with us,” Dietrich said, as she named district educators, coaches, clergy and even a well-known Tri-Valley sports fan, the late Joseph Ellinger, who encouraged her and her classmates.

Dietrich, the daughter of Mark and Diane Dietrich, Hegins, plans to attend Penn State University Park Campus to study Food Science.

Benjamin Hinkel was named Salutatorian. Hinkel will attend York College of Pennsylvania to study International Relations. He hopes to pursue a career in national security. He is the son of Jeffrey and Christal Hinkel, Ashland.

Secretaries of the Class of 2015, Jada L. Unruh and Jacob L. Hylton, read a poem written by a fellow graduate, Kaitlin Neumeister. The piece offered humorous insight into characteristics of each class member. Unruh and Hylton directed their classmates to accept their diplomas and to turn their tassels.

The Tri-Valley Wind Ensemble offered “Olympic Spirit” as graduates exited the gymnasium during the recessional.

n Cressona: The June meeting of the Schuylkill County Fair Association will be held at 7 p.m. June 18 at Hoss’ Steak and Sea House. All fair members are encouraged attend. Information about the fair is available online at www.schuylkillfair.com.

n Frackville: The Frackville Museum, located in the Frackville Municipal & Community Center, 42 S. Center St., will hold an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Donald Bricker will give an address titled “Bring Back the Flag” at 2 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 570-874-3531.

n Lansford: The Panther Valley Public Library, 117 E. Bertsch St., will have a summer reading program titled “Every Hero Has a Story.” Children will explore heroes in the community, animal heroes, heroes in storybooks and learn how they too can become heroes. The program is open to children 3 to 8 for storytime, special programs, prizes and other activities. Registration is under way. For more information or to register, call the library at 645-3780. The program is free.

n Pottsville: The 2015 Adult Men’s Basketball League will begin Tuesday at the Barefield Outdoor Recreation Complex, 823 Terry Reiley Way. League games will be played Tuesday and Thursday nights. The number of games depends on the number of teams, plus playoffs, according to a Barefield press release. The cost is $500 per team. For more information, call the BORC office at 570-628-5079 or 570-269-5695.

n Schuylkill Haven: The first Youth and Community Breakfast chaired by state Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, will be a “social and business networking event” at the Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation Marlin Miller Conference Center from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Thursday. The center is at 402 Blue Mountain Road. According to a Hawk Mountain Council press release, Albert L. Evans Jr. and Timothy and Carol Twardzik will be honored with Distinguished Service to Youth and Community awards. Honorees “manifest, in his or her life and deeds, the selfless concern and care for their community, which constitutes the essence of our area’s proud spirit,” organizers said in the release. The event will provide individuals and businesses the chance to learn more about Scouting in Schuylkill and Carbon counties. Tours of the reservation will be given following the program for anyone who wishes to see the facility that services more than 12,500 youths annually, according to the release. To register or for more information, call Joshua Potts at 610-926-3406 or email him at Joshua.potts@scouting.org.

n Schuylkill Haven: The community recreation department will collect donations on Parkway from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 13 and 27. All proceeds will benefit Family Fun Night and fireworks slated for 4 to 9 p.m. July 11 at Island Park, according to a department press release. The fireworks display will begin about 9:30 p.m. The rain date is July 12.

n Shenandoah: The Polish American Fire Company is selling advertising for this year’s 61st annual Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association Convention commemorative book. The convention will be held from Aug. 9 to 15 in Shenandoah and is sponsored by the fire company, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The book will include the history of the fire company. The deadline for ad submission is July 10. Additional information and submission form is available on the fire company’s website at www.polishamericanfireco.org. For more information, call Al Bronk at 570-449-3267.

n Shenandoah: The Jerry Wolman Sports Hall of Fame will sponsor “Lunch with Gary Collins,” a Cleveland Browns NFL great, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 27 in the Shenandoah Valley High School cafeteria. The cost is $5 for adults and $2 for students. Pizza and light beverages will be served. For more information, email Robert C. Yudinsky, Shenandoah Valley public relations coordinator, at bobyudin@hotmail.com.

n Tamaqua: The Tamaqua Area Community Theatre will hold open auditions from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Tamaqua Community Art Center, 125 Pine St., for its upcoming production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” Actors 12 and older are needed. A one-minute monologue and a 30-second song are needed for the audition. The production company is able to provide sample material. For more information, call or text 570-590-7621 or email to tamaquaareacommunitytheatre@gmail.com.

n Tremont: The Tremont Fire Company will sponsor a jumbo wings event from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the firehall, 21 Middlecreek Road. Flavors include mild, hot, inferno, creamy hot, ranch, honey mustard, barbecue, spicy barbecue and naked. Wings include celery and dressing. French fries and chicken tenders will also be available. For more information or to place an order for takeout, call 570-695-3915.

RINGTOWN — Stormwater drainage problems near two streets that meet with Center Street in Ringtown could be alleviated if the borough is able to get county grant funds.

The subject was discussed at Monday’s borough council meeting during the engineer’s report of Alfred Benesch & Co. project manager Jacqueline Peleschak.

“Scott (Schuetrum, borough foreman) and I met with Mr. (Alfred) Cicioni on May 29 and we reviewed what his concerns are for the drainage issues on Vine and Center streets and Apple and Center streets,” Peleschak said. “If anyone took notice coming to the meeting, there are some water ponding issues.”

After reviewing the situation, Peleschak said a potential solution would be to install four inlets and about 200 feet of pipe to get water from Vine Street to Apple Street, and over to a nearby area where the borough did drainage improvements a few years ago.

“The estimate cost is just under $30,000,” Peleschak said. “At the last meeting, we had received correspondence from the courthouse regarding the CDBG program. If the council wants to move forward and apply for a CDBG grant, I would have to call Gary Bender (county director of community development) and meet with him and explain the project in detail.”

Peleschak said an income survey would need to be conducted in the area in order to determine if the project would be eligible for Community Development Block Grant funds. She added that the county is looking to fund projects under $60,000 so that the money can fund more projects.

Council President Julian Milewski put the matter to council to proceed with the application process. Peleschak said the cost to complete and file the application would be a few hundred dollars, though she said if the grant is awarded, the cost could be paid through the grant.

“Let’s face it that we have several areas with drainage problems, and if we can get one fixed this year and then another down the road, at least we’re moving forward,” Milewski said.

A motion was made by Councilman James Compton Sr., seconded by council Vice President Peg Forgotch, that included a $1,000 limit on application costs. The council approved the motion to proceed with the application.

Milewski welcomed David Seresky as the new council member. Seresky was appointed at the May meeting to fill the unfinished term of the late Burton Hetherington, who passed away in May. Seresky is on the General Election ballot for the council, and currently serves on the Ringtown Borough Municipal Authority board.

During the public portion, resident Dennis Bauer asked the council about considering the idea of increasing the frequency of hydrant flushing.

“The fire company did a wonderful job of flushing the hydrants,” Bauer said. “Being up at the end (of Main Street), it took three days for the water to clear. It was like soup and there is a reason for it. Thankfully, the fire company doesn’t have to use the hydrant system in town much, therefore it should be flushed multiple times during the summer so it keeps the water clear. That would be my suggestion. Flushing the hydrants is a good thing, and I’m not complaining, but maybe do it more often to get that muck out of there.”

Bauer also asked about a section of Line Street, which he said does not show on GPS. The road section is unpaved. Bauer recommended that the borough should consider abandoning the section, turn over the land to the neighboring property owners so the land would go on the tax rolls.

Borough solicitor S. John Price said the borough would need to go through extensive proceedings to abandon the road and adopt an ordinance. Price said the cost to abandon that street section will be much more than what the borough would receive in taxes.

Milewski added that there are borough water lines that run under the street. Price said it is not in the borough’s best interest to abandon the area that has property easements for utilities, to which Peleschak agreed.

Milewski acknowledged the receipt of a thank you card from Louise Hetherington for the borough officials “love and concern” on the death of her husband, Burton.

Mayor Albert Breznik Jr. reminded residents and runners that the annual Ringtown Recreation Committee 5K Run and Walk will be held June 20. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the recreation pavilion on Center Street, with race starting at 9 a.m. It will be followed by a one-mile youth fun run.

Race participants can also preregister be obtaining applications at Ringtown Farm Equipment or Apple Street Deli. The Facebook page is “Ringtown 5K Loop.”

Breznik said there will be no parking from 7 to 11 a.m. on both sides of North Center Street and West Main Street.

Milewski will be the borough’s delegate to the North Schuylkill Landfill Association. Hetherington was the previous delegate.

Rebecca Margerum

ELIZABETHVILLE — A Millersburg man is headed to Dauphin County Court after a preliminary hearing on four charges resulting from an incident in May near Elizabethville.

Kyle E. Lewis, 19, of 517 E. Center St. Apt. L, faces charges of robbery, robbery of a motor vehicle, theft and simple assault. Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum ordered all charges held for court after Tuesday’s hearing.

State police at Lykens alleged Lewis committed the robbery on May 19 in Washington Township.

Lewis remains in prison on $100,000 straight cash bail pending further court proceedings. His formal arraignment is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. July 13 in Harrisburg.

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

Kristine A. Betz, 37, of 227 East St., Williamstown; fleeing or eluding police, driving under the influence, disregarding traffic lanes, improper signaling and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

John C. Cade, 41, of 341 Church St., Millersburg; simple assault, disorderly conduct, open lewdness, public drunkenness and two counts of harassment; one count of harassment dismissed, other charges held for court after preliminary hearing.

Natasha B. Harner, 22, of 217 Greenfield Estate, Elizabethville; disorderly conduct; defendant found guilty. Margerum sentenced him to pay costs and a $50 fine.

James E. Mundorf III, 52, of 304 Market St. Apt. 2, Millersburg; possession of a controlled substance and disorderly conduct; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Dennis L. Paul, 54, of 2449 White Oak Road, Halifax; DUI and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, DUI charge bound over for court, careless driving charge dismissed.

Jarid P. Romberger, 25, of 223 W. Main St., Elizabethville; disorderly conduct and criminal mischief; defendant pleaded guilty to both. Margerum sentenced him to pay costs and $100 in fines.

Cortney L. Shomper, 28, of 109 Fourth St., Millersburg; DUI, failure to keep right, careless driving and seat belt violation; right to preliminary hearing waived, careless driving charge dismissed, other charges bound over for court.

Jonathan D. Solomon, 23, of 825 Hummel Ave., Apt. 2, Lemoyne; harassment and disorderly conduct; harassment charge dismissed, defendant pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. Margerum sentenced him to pay costs and a $50 fine.

Warren C. Weaver Jr., 18, of 384 N. Crossroads Road, Lykens; terroristic threats and disorderly conduct; charges held for court after preliminary hearing.

Woman charged

in phone theft

MOUNT CARBON — State police at Schuylkill Haven charged a New Ringgold woman with theft by unlawful taking for removing a cell phone from a home in the borough June 1, police said Monday.

The incident occurred between noon and 1:38 p.m. June 1 at the home of the victim, Jennifer Stabinsky, 57 Main St., Mount Carbon. Charged was Karissa Lynne Shumgart, police said.

Charges were filed in the office of Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, police said.

Pottsville man

charged for threat

A city man was jailed after being arrested by Pottsville police and charged with threatening his wife with a handgun early Saturday morning.

Police said Akintoye Medugbon, 28, of 524 Harrison St., was charged with felony criminal trespass and felony possessing a weapon or instrument of crime. He was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $25,000 straight cash bail.

Police said officers were called about 4:55 a.m. to 575 Laurel Terrace for a report of an armed person who entered the apartment.

Two men in the courtyard reported Medugbon forced his way into the apartment through a window in order to confront his estranged wife.

Police said the 35-year-old woman living in the apartment ordered Medugbon to leave three times but he refused to do so without his wife.

The two men who witnessed the incident also told police that Medugbon was armed with a handgun and threatened to shoot his estranged wife if she did not leave with him, police said.

Medugbon fled the area when the female resident of the apartment called 911, police said.

Police said officers conducted a search that led them to the Medugbon home on Harrison Street where they found him hiding in the bathroom with a loaded handgun.

Medugbon was taken into custody without incident and the weapon recovered, police said.

In addition to the felony charges, police said Medugbon face charges of burglary, simple assault, harassment and terroristic threats that will be added to the complaint prior to his preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville.

Police arrest 2

for drug charges

Pottsville police arrested two people Tuesday for dealing controlled substances in the city.

Police said Michaela Hasehauer, 31, of Deer Lake, was arraigned on charges stemming from an incident where she delivered suboxone to an undercover officer in the 200 block of North 12th Street.

Hasenhauer was taken before Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, on felony delivery of a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.

She was committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post 10 percent of $15,000 bail, police said.

In addition, police said, Katelynn Kauffman, 22, of Pottsville, was arraigned on charges stemming from two separate deliveries of heroin in the city.

In the first incident, Kauffman delivered heroin to a confidential informant in the area of Second Street and Howard Avenue while under police surveillance. In the second incident, Kauffman delivered heroin to an undercover officer in the unit block of South Third Street.

She was taken before Reiley on charges of two felony counts of delivery of a controlled substance, felony criminal use of a communications facility and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.

Reiley set bail at 10 percent of $10,000 for each incident and remanded Kauffman to prison after she was unable to post a total of 10 percent of $20,000 bail.

Ringtown woman

steals checkbook

RINGTOWN — A 35-year-old woman is facing charges of theft by state police at Frackville after an incident about 2:10 a.m. Monday at 267 Reservoir Road in Union Township.

Police said Candice Nicholas, who had no address listed, removed a checkbook containing credit cards, a driver’s license and $200 in cash owned by Tracy Lynn Lex, 46, from her wheelchair on a back porch of the home.

Nicholas fled the area and police said charges against her will be filed in district court.

Driver not cited

for avoiding deer

SAINT CLAIR — A Barnesville woman escaped injury when the 2007 Ford Escape she was driving crashed about 10:10 a.m. Monday on the Burma Road in Blythe Township.

State police at Frackville said Marcella F. Jones, 23, was driving south when she swerved to the right to miss a deer on the eastern berm of the road causing her to go off of the road and hit a guide rail along the west berm.

The impact caused the woman’s SUV to spin clockwise and come to a stop in the southbound lane facing northwest, police said.

Jones will be charged with not driving on roadways laned for traffic as a result of the crash.

Police investigate

keying incident

WILLIAMSTOWN — State police at Lykens are investigating a criminal mischief incident that occurred between 10 p.m. Friday and 10:30 a.m. Saturday at 435 W. Broad St. in this Dauphin County community.

Police said the suspect scratched vehicles driven by Clarence A. Heberling and Scott E. Deibler, both of Williamstown, then fled the scene.

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

jusalis@republicanherald.com

MAHANOY CITY — The Mahanoy Area School District has a two-year agreement with local police departments to provide police protection to the school district.

The school board approved the “Memorandum of Understanding” with the Mahanoy City and Mahanoy Township police departments at its regular May meeting. The agreement is with both police departments because the school district property in located in both municipalities — the eastern section in the borough, the western portion in the township.

The school district is required to have an MOU as directed by the state Department of Education’s Office of Safe Schools. The office coordinates school safety and security programs, collection of the annual school violence statistics, coordination of anti-violence efforts and development of policies and strategies to combat school violence. The office supports and provides technical assistance and professional development programs in the following areas and security-related activities to support school safety: crisis intervention, school police training, violence prevention and social/emotional wellness and safely provides services to all local school entities.

The agreement states that each chief school administrator will execute and update, on a biennial basis, a memorandum of understanding with each local police department having jurisdiction over school property of the school entity.

In developing an MOU to execute with a local police department, the school district will consult and consider a model MOU provided through the office and make changes as needed.

On a biennial basis, a school entity will file with the Office for Safe Schools a memorandum of understanding with each local police department having jurisdiction over property of the school entity. As part of its filing with PDE, the school entity will identify substantive differences between the memorandum of understanding adopted by the school entity and the model memorandum of understanding and provide a statement of reasons for the differences.

In other business, the school board hired Jason Burke, Morea, as the district’s new director of transportation, effective immediately, at $35,000 per year.

Burke, 36, has been a bus driver for the district for five years. He will fill the position opened by the retirement of Bette Gunoskey, who was a district employee for 31 years. Her retirement was accepted by the school board in April and was effective at the end of the school year.

In other business, the school board acted on the following agenda items:

• Approved the following depositories for the 2015-16 school year: M&T Bank, Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust, Santander Bank, KNBT, Northwest Savings, Commerce Bank, PA Invest Trust, PA School District Liquid Asset Fund and First National Bank.

• Approved the Homestead/Farmstead resolution for the 2015-16 school year. Each approved property will see a reduction of real estate taxes of $186.22.

• Approved the 2015-16 fee schedule with Highmark Blue Shield for administration serves related to the high-deductible health insurance plan. The fees will be: Medical at $47 per contract per month, and prescription drug will see a reduction of $4.50 per contract per month due to fixed rebate.

• Approved the purchase of six Zoll AED Plus (automated external defibrillator) units from School Health Corporation, Hanover, Illinois, at $6,992.70, and are being purchased through the state’s COSTARS program and paid from the district Capital Reserve Fund. District Business Administrator John J. Hurst said the current AEDs need to be replaced due to age.

• Approved purchase of a John Deere Gator HPX utility vehicle and accessories from Valley Ag and Turf LLC, Halifax, for $18,232.55. The unit is being purchased from the Pennsylvania State Power Equipment contract and will be paid from the Capital Reserve Fund. Hurst said the vehicle will replace the golf cart that is in worn and poor condition.

• Accepted the resignation of Tiffany Yeager, Pottsville, as special education teaching assistant, effective July 1.

• Approved the use of the athletic building locker room and shower facilities for volunteers from Jesus the Divine Word Roman Catholic Church, Huntingtown, Maryland, from July 25 through July 30. There is no charge for the use of the facilities. The volunteers come to Mahanoy City each summer though Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church in Mahanoy City to do work around people’s homes at no charge. Most of the volunteers are teens.

• Approved the purchase of a variety of new textbooks for the high school and middle school.

KEYLARES — The Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office is investigating missing funds within the Kline Township Municipal Authority.

It appears the investigation has been ongoing since an accounting firm, Patton & Lettich, Pottsville, found the shortage during an audit.

A letter dated April 28, 2014, from Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine A. Holman to the authority regarding a potential theft, states that the investigation will continue based on the audit performed by Patton & Lettich.

The audit shows there is a cash shortage of $309,718.50.

Francis Patton, former supervisor in Kline Township and longtime authority board chairman, said the authority has been up front about the alleged shortage and he doesn’t believe that amount of money is missing from the authority’s bank account.

Patton, no relation to the Patton responsible for the audit, also pointed out that it was the authority’s solicitor, Paul Datte, who was asked by the authority board to contact the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s office concerning the matter.

Kline Township board Chairman Dale Wesner said at Monday’s meeting that he placed on display at the township office a copy of two documents regarding the investigation in an effort to allow the public to inspect them, with hopes of dispelling rampant rumors regarding the investigation.

Authority Chairman Patton believes that problems with a computer dating back to 2008 and covering five years through 2012 is the reason the audit is showing more than $300,000 missing, He said there were problems with computer software used at the time.

In one of the documents received by the township, Holman’s office suggests that to clear up the potential theft and embezzlement allegations, it will probably require a forensic audit. Her office, however, lacks the resources to conduct a forensic audit.

Holman said that this has been ongoing for several years and needs to be resolved but her office can’t do it. She added that her office has six full-time detectives, two who are assigned specifically to the county’s drug task force and the others who investigate homicides, felonies and misdemeanors. None of the staff is versed in the accounting or auditing required in this investigation, according to a June 12, 2014, document.

Patton said if someone stole that amount of money it would show and he doesn’t know anyone living well beyond their means.

He believes the township is up front about their spending habits and that a proper audit for the five years in question with the current software in place will prove the money can be accounted for.

Representatives of the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office were not available after the meeting late Monday night.

A Schuylkill County jury split its verdict Tuesday, finding a Pottsville man guilty of two of five charges stemming from an incident in August 2013 in the city.

Ronald J. Schweikert, 55, who left the courtroom before the jury announced its verdict, is guilty of receiving stolen property and criminal mischief, but not guilty of burglary, theft and loitering and prowling at nighttime, the jury ruled.

The jury of seven men and five women deliberated about one hour before reaching its verdict.

Judge James P. Goodman, who presided over the one-day trial, ordered preparation of a presentence investigation but did not immediately schedule sentencing for Schweikert.

Pottsville police had charged Schweikert with breaking into the 343 Nichols St. home of Kate Blatt and Lindsay Nowak on Aug. 18, 2013, while the two women were vacationing in the Thousand Islands on the New York-Ontario border.

“There was glass everywhere” when they returned, Blatt testified.

Blatt also said they noticed several thousand dollars worth of jewelry was gone, as well as a few valuable coins.

She said they suspected Schweikert because their security cameras showed nothing and he knew where they were. Schweikert had done work for them in their business of buying and renovating homes as well as at their residence, Blatt said.

“We had told him not to come back months before that,” Blatt said of the defendant.

Nowak also said they got rid of Schweikert.

“He was charging us for things he didn’t do,” Nowak said.

Pottsville police Patrolman Brian J. Reno testified Schweikert gave a written statement in which he said he took the items because he was mad about being paid by Blatt and Nowak in prescription pills instead of cash. Blatt and Nowak each denied that allegation, and they have never been charged with any crime.

Reno said Schweikert turned over to him Blatt and Nowak’s missing items, which were hidden in a plastic bag in the ceiling of the defendant’s apartment.

Schweikert testified Nowak gave him Percocet pills and then gave him permission to enter the house in order to take things in partial payment of what she and Blatt owed him.

“I didn’t try to break into the house,” Schweikert said, although he admitted breaking a window on one of the doors.

Furthermore, he said, Blatt said they did not have the money to pay him.

Assistant Public Defender Andrea L. Thompson, Schweikert’s lawyer, said in her closing argument that her client had no intention of entering the house in order to commit a crime.

“I think ... he was owed money. He was being fed drugs,” Thompson said. “He didn’t think he really committed the burglary.”

Assistant District Attorney Robert I. Lipkin said in his closing argument that there was no legal excuse, including drug use, for Schweikert’s behavior.

He emphasized that Schweikert never mentioned in his statement that anyone had given him permission to be in the house, and a person in his position would have put that in a statement.

“He committed a burglary. The testimony supports that,” Lipkin said.

TUSCARORA — Flames destroyed a mobile home in Walker Township on Tuesday night, leaving three people homeless, fire officials said.

Firefighters were called about 7:45 p.m. to 977 Catawissa Road and found a house trailer completely engulfed in flames.

“It looked like an oil rig on fire,” Thomas Slane Sr., who drove the Tuscarora Fire Department engine to the scene, said.

Slane said the trailer was ablaze and there was nothing firefighters could do to save the structure.

Chad Felty, assistant chief of the Walker Township/New England fire companies, said he believed three people lived in the home and that all managed to escape safely.

There was no work on what caused the fire but the mobile home was completely destroyed by fire as was an SUV that was parked outside.

Firefighters from New England, Tamaqua, Tuscarora, New Ringgold and Pottsville responded to the scene along with the Tamaqua Rescue Squad, Tamaqua EMS and Tamaqua fire police.

No injuries were reported and the fire remains under investigation, officials said.

HARRISBURG — Municipal pension benefits would be curbed for future paid police and firefighters under legislation approved Tuesday by a House committee, a milestone hailed by Carbondale’s mayor.

By a party-line vote, the Republican-controlled State Government Committee passed the bill to put future police and fire employees into a cash-balance pension plan, combining elements of the traditional defined benefit plan and the defined contribution plan, similar to 401(k) investments.

Under the bill, current police and firefighters would keep existing benefits, but they would be frozen at those levels. This bill is a top priority of the Pennsylvania Municipal League.

Carbondale Mayor Justin Taylor was at the Capitol to see the advance of a bill he supports.

The measure would help Carbondale reverse a decline in the number of full-time police officers, Taylor said. The city has relied more on part-time officers as the number of full-time officers dropped from 15 in 2004 to nine now, he said.

“If the costs were able to come down, we could hire more full time,” Taylor said.

The committee action marks the furthest advancement yet for a municipal pension bill in the Legislature. House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-28, Pittsburgh, assigned the bill this session to the state government panel rather than the Local Government Committee where it stalled last session.

Curbing public pension costs for state government and school district employees has gotten more attention during the past several years, but the municipal pension issue is reaching the front burner, too.

State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale will soon provide recommendations to Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf on reining in $7 billion in municipal pension debt and aiding hundreds of fiscally distressed municipal pension plans.

DePasquale has warned repeatedly that Scranton will go bankrupt in two years if its pension debt is not addressed.

Sen. John Eichelberger, R-30, Hollidaysburg, said he expects a vote soon on a bill he recently introduced to put all new municipal employees under a defined contribution pension plan. Eichelberger heads the Senate Finance Committee.

The Fraternal Order of Police, Pennsylvania Lodge and Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association have voiced strong opposition to the municipal pension bills. Democratic lawmakers voted against the bills because of concerns about retirement security for public safety officers, said Bill Patton, spokesman for House Minority Leader Frank Dermody, D-33, Allegheny County.

“They have a special burden due to the type of employment they have,“ he said.

The shrinking of police and fire departments should concern those still holding jobs, Rep. Seth Grove, R-196, York, a House bill cosponsor, said.

“They are having to put their lives on the line with less backup,” he said.

FRACKVILLE — Trends from the ’50s and ’60s tend to come and go, but The Pearl Theatre Stadium 8 drive-in plans to continue its growth of Movies on the Mountain.

“If we do good this year, we hope to get the second movie screen up and running again. If business does even better, we could show movies deeper into the season and do more special events,” Zach Gilbert, Pearl 8 Theater manager, said Monday

The theater is also looking to do a music festival movie marathon this summer with “Metallica Through the Never” and “Pink Floyd — The Wall,” a viewing of the “Sharknado” series during Discovery Channel’s Shark Week and a horror movie marathon from dusk until dawn through October if the turnout looks promising.

Business has dwindled for the drive-in, but Gilbert is hoping they can continue to make changes if attendance picks up.

“We originally started out the first year with just one or two tents that we served out of and would wheel out drinks and popcorn. The second year we realized we could actually mean some business and got a ticket booth and full concession stand and handicap accessible port-a-potty. We grill on the weekends, like cheeseburgers and hot dogs, but if we start getting more promising business, we can grill anything,” Gilbert said Monday.

The drive-in used to be available seven days a week between May and September, weather permitting, but was reduced to only weekends due to business.

“The drive-in hit its peak in the second and third year. The second year we did a big $5,000 fireworks show for free. We had cars lined up past Cracker Barrel. The third year it started to dwindle, but last year and this year business is doing better so hopefully it picks back up,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert is hoping that children’s movies premiering this summer, like “Minions,” will bring in a larger crowd along with special events they have planned.

The drive-in is a unique way to spend time in an area like Schuylkill County.

“You get to be outside. It’s cheap fun. You get to watch two movies. You can get the kids out of your hair. It’s almost like camping with a movie for a while,” Gilbert said.

All vehicles are welcome, including tractor-trailers, cars and trucks. Attendees can choose to sit in their vehicles, sit in the beds of trucks or trunks or bring folding chairs.

Gates for the drive-in open at 8 p.m. and once dusk arrives about 9 or 9:30 p.m., the movie will start. Movies are shown both inside and outside the theater.

Drive-in tickets are $7 per adult and $5 per child Friday and Saturday, Gilbert said. On Sunday nights, a car load is $14.

Movie-goers can attend a double feature for the flat rate but are not required to watch both movies. Those who only want to see the second movie may arrive at its start.

One screen can fit about 150 cars, but if people are willing to bring lawn chairs and borrow sound from neighboring cars, the lot can fit 300 to 400 people, Gilbert said.

For information on the drive-in, call 570-874-2503. For an automated list of movies playing, 570-874-2505.

Deeds

Pottsville — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Federal National Mortgage Association; 320 Spring Garden St.; $1,139.91.

Gino Ricigliano, individually and as administrator of the Estate of Patrick Ricigliano, and Gina McDonald to Gino Ricigliano; three properties on West Arch Street; $1.

Rush Township — Matthew R. Follmer to Adam T. and Brianna M. Boyce; 36 Meadow Ave., Hometown; $118,350.

Shenandoah — Harry and Hope Hause to Marco E. Paniagua-Jimenez; 115 S. West St.; $5,000.

Eridania Perez to Cesar Mejia Nunez; 317 S. Jardin St.; $7,700.

South Manheim Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to LSF8 Master Participation Trust; 141 W. Deerview Drive; $1,152.16.

MAHANOY CITY — On the 20th anniversary of his death, Mahanoy City native and city of Glendora police Officer Louis A. “Louie” Pompei was honored in a Service of Remembrance on Tuesday morning in recognition of sacrificing his life to save others during a robbery on June 9, 1995.

The term “hero” was applied to Pompei many times during the service, which was a fitting tribute to a man who impressed many during his 30 years through his dedication, caring, courage, athletic abilities, friendliness, determination and much more.

The tearful remembrance was made even harder on the family due to the death on Sunday of Carlo Pompei, Louie’s older brother. The family also lost Dorothy M. Pompei, mother of Louie and Carlo, in March.

While somber at times, the service also had presenters telling stories about Pompei that had people laughing about those good times.

The service was held in Sacred Heart Cemetery near Mahanoy City where Pompei is buried and included family and friends, former coaches and others. Police Chief Timothy Staab and other members of the Glendora Police Department, for which Pompei had been employed, flew in from California to participate in the service. Pennsylvania State Police troopers and Mahanoy City Police Department officers also attended and provided an honor guard.

Staab became friends with Pompei after they entered the Glendora police force within a few years of each other. Staab came to Mahanoy City in 1995 for Pompei’s funeral, and this was his first time back to the borough.

“Every year we have a memorial service remembering Louie on June 9 for the past 19 years,” Staab said. “We need to do something different and honor Louie in his hometown and say thank you to your native son.”

On June 9, 1995, Pompei, 30, an eight-year member of the police department in California, was shot and killed while attempting to stop an armed robbery at a Von’s Market in Via Verde. He was off-duty at the time as the two teenagers, 16- and 17-year-old boys, held up the store and were pistol-whipping an autistic store employee and threatening his life. Pompei wounded both suspects in a firefight that also critically wounded him, sustaining five gunshot wounds — one to the chest that hit his heart, three others in his abdomen and one in his thigh. The suspects fled the store. Despite his wounds, Pompei was able to get to a payphone outside and call for help. He collapsed at the phone and died in the hospital.

The two shooting suspects were arrested, tried and convicted of first-degree murder of a policeman and assaulting the Von’s employee. They were given life sentences with no chance of parole. A 19-year-old male involved who drove the getaway vehicle was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 26 years in prison.

Staab opened the service and spoke of Pompei and remembered the loss of brother Carlo and mother Dorothy. The invocation was presented by the Rev. Kevin P. Gallagher, pastor of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church, Mahanoy City. The national anthem was sung by James Oslar.

Mayor Nancy Petritsch spoke briefly, followed by Staab telling about his time in Mahanoy City on Monday and meeting borough residents who knew Pompei from his school years into his later years as a police officer.

Glendora Cpl. Jason Tibbetts read Pompei’s biography. Two Mahanoy Area employees, Christine Evancho and Lisa Broomell, spoke of his legacy at the school. Evancho told of Pompei painting “Bear Pride,” along with his football jersey number 27, on the slate wall of the mountain near the high school while dangling from a rope held by Tony and Jimmy Fazio.

“What may seem as a risky stunt, it was the first heroic act of Louie,” Evancho said. “His words inspired so many of our students who hold on to that ‛Bear Pride.’ ”

Broomell and Evancho presented the Glendora police chief different Mahanoy Area tributes from the elementary, middle and high schools.

Additional stories were told by a former football coach Paul Peca and retired district Superintendent John Murtin.

The first family member to speak was Pompei’s niece and goddaughter Maria Krieg, who said her father, Carlo Pompei, was planning to speak, and she decided to speak in the stead of her late father.

“I was just 10 when he (Louie) passed, and I remember his smile, his charm, his wit,” Krieg said. “He had the biggest calves that I had ever seen in my life, and there was a big bodybuilder tattoo that had a barbell, and the only way he got away with that with my grandmother was he explained it was in the shape of a cross. And she bought that.”

Christine Pompei was Louie’s sister, and she told funny stories about her brother that had people laughing.

“As I can speak about my brothers and my sister, we always gave and we always give,” she said. “When Louie was in college he was an RA (residence advisor) and there was a young girl who couldn’t make her tuition. Louie was such a bodybuilder, so he went to one of the local bars with Chippendales. Louie made more money that night that the girl had enough money for her tuition and books and then some. These are the things that Louie would do just because someone needed it.”

She added, “Please don’t ever forget my Louie. And as that saying goes, ‛Always pay it forward,’ please pay it forward. We all learned unfortunately on Sunday how quick life changes. Thank you all again for everything you have done on behalf of my family.”

After the many personal tributes to Pompei, Staab presented a plaque from his police department with the 2015 Medal of Valor to Pompei’s sister, Christine Pompei, Dillsburg; his niece, Maria Krieg, Middletown; and nephews Carlo Pompei Jr., Pine Grove, and Mario Pompei, Mahanoy City.

“Because Louie died as he lived, proudly and bravely, serving others, I would like to present to you today the highest honor our department bestows,” Staab said, holding the plaque. “In 1995, the department did not have at the time a ‛Medal of Valor.’ It was created three to four years ago. The award does not fill the void left by Louie, but it’s a small token of gratitude from a grateful department and community for Louie’s service and sacrifice. Due to Louie’s selfless action and extreme courage, it is my honor and privilege to present to you the Medal of Valor posthumously in the memory of Officer Louie Pompei.”

The plaque reads, “2015 Medal of Valor presented to Agent Louis A. Pompei in honor of your ultimate sacrifice and act of heroism on June 9, 1995.” The plaque includes the medal and “We will never forget — 1995-2015.”

The family also received pewter tiles commemorating Pompei’s service and sacrifice, and a two-sided “Challenge” commemorative coin with “Detective Louis Anthony Pompei” and his years of service.

A proclamation from the Glendora city council and Mayor Karen Davis was read by Glendora police Sgt. Marty Barrett.

“On the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C., are the words ‛In valor, there is hope.’ ” Staab said. “These words signify that as long as people show valor in their actions to protect others, there is hope for our society. We thank Louie for giving us this hope.”

Staab stopped for a few seconds as emotions caused his voice to break, then continued, “Thank you for sharing Louie with us. Thank you for allowing us to share this time with you today as we remember and give thanks for our hero and our friend. We shall never forget. God bless you and God bless Louie.”

The service concluded with James Sweeney playing “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes, which brought family members to tears, the benediction offered by Gallagher, and Sweeney playing “Going Home.”

MAHANOY CITY — The borough has beefed up its collection of delinquent trash collection accounts in the past two months and may soon use an outside collection agency to continue the work.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the borough council approved retaining Creditech Collection Solutions Inc. to collect the delinquencies. Since borough solicitor Michael A. O’Pake did not have the chance to review the contract, the approval through resolution (2015-5) was conditional on that review.

“It is my understanding that there will be no fee charged to the borough for the services of Creditech,” O’Pake said. “Any fees incurred by Creditech will be charged back to the customer.”

Before the vote, Councilwoman Patti A. Schnitzius thanked Code Enforcement Officer William F. Killian III and police Chief John Kaczmarczyk for their efforts.

“Because they have been putting notices on people’s doors, we have collected a tremendous amount of money utilizing the resources we currently have and keeping relations good with the public,” Schnitzius said.

Killian said $24,602 has been collected in delinquencies in two months. Kaczmarczyk added that 56 payment plans are in effect.

“We contacted a total of 195 residents,” Killian said.

“I think that’s a job well done,” Schnitzius said.

The efforts by both borough officials were applauded by the residents in attendance.

Voting in favor for retaining Creditech contingent on O’Pake’s review were council President Thom Maziekas and members Scott Kline, Thomas R. Flamini and Francis Burke. Voting against was Schnitzius.

The borough council also approved Resolution 2015-6 to submit a grant application through the state Department of Transportation’s Automated Red Light Enforcement program, which will provide funds to add crosswalk and other signage at the end of North Main Street near the Child Development Inc. facility.

In other business, the borough council approved the following:

• A request from the Citizens Fire Company to attend the following parade: June 13 at Stroudsburg; June 26 at Port Carbon, and June 27 at Nanticoke. All fuel costs will be the responsibility of the fire company.

• The leasing of a Toshiba e3055c printer/copier for the office at a rate of $99 per month for 60 months.

• The release of 2014 EMS Tax funds to the fire companies and fire police. The allotments are $500 for the fire police and $3,152.36 for each fire company.

• The borough’s application for the 2015 COPS grant program. The focus of the application will be to apply for a school resource office in conjunction with the Mahanoy Area School District. The program requires a 25 percent match that the borough and school district split based on hours worked for each entity.

• Entering into an agreement for administration and application of Community Development Block Grant funds through the county.

• Zion Baptist Church’s request for permission to close Fourth Street from Market to Pine streets for the week of June 29 to July 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. to hold its vacation Bible school. The church also requested the use of the streets from 5 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday from June 10 until the end of August for the Wacky Wednesday program to give youth a fun and safe alternative for activities.

• The purchase of a vehicle for code enforcement not to exceed $5,000. The borough is searching for a vehicle through the state’s COSTARS program and municipal bidding sites.

Schnitzius said in her recreation report the Community Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 11 in the downtown. Any organization interested in participating should contact Schnitzius at borough hall. That same day the annual fireworks program will be held.

Lynch said Mahanoy Downtown Inc. will hold a townwide yard sale beginning at 8 a.m. June 27. Cost is $5 to register, which includes having the location of the yard sale placed on a map. Registration is available at borough hall.

SHENANDOAH — Two people were jailed after being arrested by Shenandoah police Wednesday afternoon, one on drug charges and the other on a parole violation.

Luis E. Ramos, 37, of 109 Pioneer Road, was charged with felony possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and misdemeanor offenses of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post $25,000 straight cash bail.

In addition, Shenandoah police Patrolman Travis Bowman, the arresting officer, said Chevronne Martinson, Shenandoah, was committed to prison on a parole violation and will face the same charges as Ramos.

Bowman said the charges are the result of an incident where he and Patrolman Joseph Mozdy assisted Schuylkill County Adult Probation officers who were looking for Martinson at the 109 Pioneer Road address.

At the home, officers spoke to the renter, Beverly Jordan, who said Martinson and her boyfriend, Ramos, were on the second floor. After being let into the home by Jordan, officers located Ramos and Martinson in an upstairs bedroom, searched them for weapons and placed the two in handcuffs.

On the floor next to a chair, Bowman said, he saw a clear, plastic baggie that had white powdery residue and other officers located a large pink storage container in a closet that contained numerous bags of synthetic marijuana known as “Spice.” Also found was a black grocery bag that contained additional bags of synthetic marijuana and in a garbage bag were several empty bags of the drug. Two rolled cigarettes that contained synthetic marijuana were also found in the garbage bag, Bowman said.

Altogether, Bowman said, there were a total of 121 bags of synthetic cannabinoids and one of the open bags of “Spice” was tested and gave a positive indication for synthetic marijuana.

PINE GROVE — While visiting a vineyard in Pine Grove on Wednesday, the chief editor of a newspaper from Poland dedicated to agriculture asked the farmer questions ranging from the regional climate to sugar content in locally-bottled Marquette wine.

“Is this a good climate to grow your wine here?” Karol Bujoczek, chief editor of Top Agrar Polska, asked Ralph Heffner, owner of Jersey Acres Farms.

“For certain varieties it is,” Heffner said.

Bujoczek was one of 40 people from Poland on a bus tour of the northeastern part of the United States which rolled into Schuylkill County on Wednesday. He’s planning to write articles about their journey, which included a stop at Jersey Acres Farm Fresh Quality Fruit & Produce and Stone Mountain Wine Cellars in Wayne Township.

“We heard in this part of the U.S. you have quite a strong winter. In Poland, for example, we have a lot of short summers,” Bujoczek said as he sampled some Merlot 2013.

“You need to try the Minnesota series of grapes, like Marquette or LaCrescent. There’s several of them and they’re short-season. And they can withstand the temperatures in the winter, 20 or 30 below. I grow Marquettes,” Heffner said.

“This is very good. Very smooth,” Bujoczek said of the Merlot.

Bujoczek and the tour group arrived in the United States on June 3, flying into Chicago. Their bus tour included stops in Kosciusko County, Indiana, and Cleveland, Ohio.

“In Iowa, we saw an ethanol plant, just to see how it’s organized, biofuel production in the United States. I was really impressed by agribusiness in Iowa. On this trip, so far, that was the most impressive thing for me. And we didn’t imagine that there would be so many hog producers that are integrated producers and they’re not owning the pigs. In Iowa more than half the pigs are raised by contractors. That impressed us. All of our farmers are private farmers,” Bujoczek said.

On Tuesday, the group visited Niagara Falls. On Wednesday afternoon they drove into Schuylkill County to visit the Heffners and their farm.

Ralph Heffner, his wife, Annie, and their sons, Kent and Karl, run Jersey Acres and Stone Mountain Wine Cellars. The family has been in the orchard business since 1911.

Since 1999, the farm has been growing wine grapes and selling them to other wineries. As the grape production increased, the farm decided to establish its own winery. The family completed the licensing process in late summer of 2004 and fermentation at Stone Mountain began in October 2004.

The Heffners started selling wine in 2005. Now they have more than 30 varieties, Ralph Heffner said.

“So this is our 10th year,” Heffner told Bujoczek.

He offered the tour group samples of the wines in his collection. And one tasting session led to a discussion about sugar.

“I have some Marquette here that we’re learning how to work with,” Heffner said.

“Is it pure or blended Marquette?” Bujoczek asked.

“I’ve been working with it,” Heffner said.

“Can I have just a bit of this Marquette?” Bujoczek said, pointing to a bottle of “Marquette 2013,” a red wine described in Stone Mountain’s pamphlet as being “slightly sweet, nice tannins.”

“It has some sweetness to it. This does have 4 percent residual sugar in it,” Heffner said.

“You added sugar? Is that allowed?” Bujoczek asked.

“Yes,” Heffner said.

“In Europe, it’s not allowed. To be authorized as a wine producer in Europe, you are not allowed to add sugar. Otherwise, it’s not wine as a wine. But, of course, when you do it at home you can do anything you want,” Bujoczek said.

“If you want to add sugar to it, you have to stop the fermentation before it’s complete, before all the sugar is fermented,” Heffner said.

“I’m going to write a few articles about our trip, since we saw different kinds of farming,” Bujoczek said.

Hess Catering Inc., Schuylkill Haven, owned by Schuylkill County Commissioner Gary J. Hess, prepared a meal for the tourists which included the Eastern European dish halupki, Hess said.

Today, Bujoczek and the group are planning to stop in Washington, D.C.

“In Washington, we’re going to have a meeting at the USDA. I organized that through CropLife International. We want to touch the most important agriculture office in the world. And we’re hoping to talk about biotechnology there,” he said.

He said the group will wrap up their trip this weekend with a stop in New York and they will fly back home on Monday.

MINERSVILLE — The borough council acknowledged upcoming additions to the Minersville skate park at their meeting Tuesday.

The additions will begin on June 22 to fulfill the requests of more experienced skaters.

“We’ve had so much great feedback about the skate park but some of the more experienced skaters have expressed that they’d like something more,” Bobbie Domlesky, Minersville Area Skate Park Association secretary, said Tuesday over the phone.

The additions include the expansion of a five-foot-long hubba, or a ledge on a decline, that skaters grind on to be 12 feet long. On the other side of the skate park, a half pipe will also be expanded horizontally to have more of a curve, Domlesky said.

The project will cost the association $3,000 and be completed by Matt Arment, Arment Concrete, Millersville, the same man who built the skate park.

Of the $3,000, $1,000 was donated by Dave Dutcavich, Dutcavich Funeral Home, Minersville.

“I said to him, ‘You can’t imagine how this changes everything.’ He’s always supported the skate park like a lot of people,” Domlesky said.

In similar business, the borough voted to donate a maximum of $4,000 to the COURTS restoration project.

“A full restoration of the basketball courts ... would come to $3,864.60 and that’s requesting for the borough as far as the borough’s involvement in this project if they borough so chooses to work in conjunction to get this project going,” Mark J. Mahal, owner of Mahal-Ritzel Funeral Home and chairman of the project, said Tuesday at the meeting.

About $10,000 was already raised by Mahal and the community for the project. Mahal hopes the project will be completed this summer.

In other business, the borough will have 12 windows replaced at borough hall from Renewal by Anderson, at $19,399. At their April meeting, they had an estimate of $20,206, but any offer of more than $19,400 must be put up for bid.

In blight business, demolition on 46-48 Westwood St. began and should be completed by July 31, Bob Mahalchick, borough manager, said.