Shenandoah’s Knights of Columbus council asked Schuylkill County Court on Wednesday to reinstate the tax exemption for its office in the borough.

In a two-page petition, the Home Association of Knights of Columbus Council 618 said it is a charitable organization that should have such an exemption for 201 W. Cherry St., and that no reason existed for the county to take it away.

“The property is used solely for the religious, charitable and other educational purposes of the owner,” according to the petition.

The association asked the court to reverse the May 18 decision of the county Board of Assessment Appeals and reinstate the exemption, which would bar the county, borough and Shenandoah Valley School District from collecting property taxes on it.

In the petition, the association alleged the board granted it an exemption on Sept. 25, 1992, but apparently withdrew it “without notice or explanation” of why.

Furthermore, no reason exists not to grant the exemption, since the property is used exclusively for charitable purposes and for the good of the community, according to the petition.

“The site is used to prepare and distribute food for the poor and needy,” the petition reads in part. “The site is designed to establish fellowship among various religious communities and council members and occasional food preparation for the organization to raise funds that enable it to conduct its various religious, charitable, educational and nonprofit activities.”

SHENANDOAH — Downtown Shenandoah Inc. has received its designation for a second time as a Keystone Communities Main Street program by the state Department of Community and Economic Development.

The designation announcement was made at Tuesday’s monthly meeting by DSI board President Karen Kenderdine, who said she was “very, very pleased and proud to announce” the designation. She read a letter to DSI Executive Director and Main Street Manager Mary Luscavage from DCED Community Affairs and Development Deputy Secretary Joseph Meade that provided some details.

“Congratulations! The Department of Community and Economic Development reviewed and accepted your Keystone Main Street designation application. I am pleased to inform you that the department designated the area in your application as the Downtown Shenandoah Main Street Designation. Downtown Shenandoah Inc. will be the administering agency responsible for implementing the revitalization effort in Shenandoah. The designation will begin immediately and end five years later on June 30, 2020.”

The letter continues that businesses located within the boundaries of the Main Street program are eligible to apply for Neighborhood Assistance Program Enterprise Zone tax credits, which is administered by DCED.

“Your community will also receive funding priority when applying for Keystone Communities funding,” Meade wrote.

“We are only one of two organizations approved,” Kenderdine said, the other being the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership in Union County.

DSI members applauded the designation announcement. Luscavage said there was much work involved in applying and meeting the requirements for the latest designation. Shenandoah was designated as a Main Street community in 2006 and began its five-year term in 2007.

While the current designation does not include funding for administrative and other costs, there is an advantage to DSI in seeking grants for revitalization projects in being given priority as opposed to other communities that are not designated Main Street programs.

Main Street is part of DCED’s Keystone Communities, which is a program that assists Pennsylvania’s core communities in achieving revitalization, according to the DCED website. This program supports physical improvements to both designated and other communities that are undertaking revitalization to restore deteriorated downtowns, residential neighborhoods and industrial/manufacturing sites. Keystone Communities also provides funding for accessible modifications for the homes of persons with physical disabilities.

Bob Kane presented the Promotions Committee report. The Kielbasi Festival was very successful, Kane said, but since some receipts are still outstanding, the final totals on income and expenses are not available yet. He said the lottery calendars are still available for June. Kane said 258 calendars have been sold for a total of $1,290, and there have been four winners for the first half of June.

Kane reminded everyone about the upcoming Pierogy/Kielbasi Golf Tournament at Mountain Valley Golf Course on Friday with a shotgun start at 1 p.m., with lunch provided by Shenandoah’s “Kielbasi Kings” and Mrs. T’s “Pierogy Queen.” There are 148 golfers registered, so the tournament is filled. Non-golfers can attend the dinner about 6 p.m. for $25.

Continuing with his report, Kane said the annual Heritage Day and Parade of Nations will be held Aug. 22.

“We had our Parade of Nations meeting and the grand marshal is the Knights of Columbus,” Kane said. “They do a lot for the town.”

A meeting will be held at 6 p.m. June 25 at DSI headquarters to discuss plans for the 150th anniversary celebration of the incorporation of the borough of Shenandoah. At this time, the date has not been set, with some discussion on tying it in with Heritage Day in 2016 or making both events separate on different dates.

“Any groups that want to be part of the parade and the event should attend the meeting,” Kane said.

During the Design Committee report, Joseph Anczarski said work on the mini-park planned in Main Street near Burger King should begin soon. DSI plans to create a small park on land owned by Anczarski and the borough. The small greenspace will contain benches, grass and trees.

Shirl M. Mumie is headed to state prison after admitting Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court that she killed a Shenandoah man in a March 2014 car accident in Mahanoy Township.

Mumie, 38, of Sheppton, appeared to be near tears as she acknowledged causing the accident that killed James Hossler, 62.

Any remorse Mumie has, however, means little to Kendalle DiFilippo, one of Hossler’s relatives, who told Mumie and President Judge William E. Baldwin of the devastation the incident has caused the family.

“We’ll never get to see our loved one,” DiFilippo said. “You chose to do drugs.”

Mumie pleaded guilty to accident involving death or personal injury, involuntary manslaughter, driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, disregarding traffic lanes, reckless driving and careless driving.

Prosecutors withdrew charges of homicide by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, seat belt violation and failure to stop and give information and one additional count each of reckless driving and careless driving.

Baldwin accepted the plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced Mumie to serve two years and three days to 4 1/2 years in a state correctional institution, plus 12 additional months on probation, pay costs, $1,300 in fines, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $12,761 restitution, and perform 30 hours community service.

State police at Frackville alleged Mumie was driving under the influence of drugs at 12:31 a.m. March 29, 2014, when her eastbound pickup truck crossed the center line of Route 54 just west of Mahanoy City and struck a car driven west by Hossler. Hossler died at the scene, police said.

Mumie had heroin, baggies and a smoking pipe in her possession at the time of the accident, police said.

Assistant Public Defender Kent D. Watkins, Mumie’s lawyer, declined to comment on the case after Wednesdays’ sentencing.

First Assistant District Attorney Maria T. Casey said she hopes Mumie realizes how wrong she was in what she did.

“The defendant has to acknowledge the devastating effects to the victim and his family,” Casey said. “Hopefully, she’ll have time to do that in state prison.”

There may soon be some relief for the overcrowding at the Schuylkill County Prison.

The average inmate population has increased every month this year. The average has gone from 271 in January to 310 in May, according to Warden Gene Berdanier’s report Wednesday. The census peaked at 322 for the month. On Wednesday, Berdanier said there were 63 inmates tripled in cells.

President Judge William E. Baldwin said the adult probation office is starting its bail supervision program that will use electronic monitoring. The program will start with 30 participants on Monday, he said.

“We are hoping to cut the triple celling in half,” Baldwin said.

A corrections officer and a lieutenant have resigned at the prison, creating two vacancies. Meanwhile, eight new corrections officers will begin basic training next week at the Berks County Prison Training Academy. The training is expected to end on Sept. 8.

Twenty inmates participated in the work release program and nine in the vocational rehabilitation program. The vocational rehabilitation program completed 19 jobs in 18 days in the month.

Ten offenders were placed on the pre-release program in May. A total of 47 offenders participated in the program saving 1,117 total jail days at the Schuylkill County Prison. Six were removed for violations. About 3,351 alcohol tests were administered and 118 drug tests were taken.

The Pottsville Area school board approved its 2015-16 budget without a tax increase Wednesday night, and gave the district’s administrators a pay raise.

It was part of an updated Act 93 Agreement the board unanimously gave a thumbs up to at its June meeting at the Howard S. Fernsler Academic Center.

Scott R. Thomas, a former school board member who will be on the November ballot for a four-year school board seat, criticized the move after the meeting: “A 3 percent increase across the board with a $6 million deficit is not fiscally responsible. I agree with rewarding administrators for their hard work, but we as a district need to begin to make fiscal decisions that will allow our district to thrive into the future.”

The previous Act 93 plan — a 36-month agreement initially slated to expire June 30, 2016 — offered the administrators raises based on a formula: “The salary of each member of the agreement will be added together, and multiplied by 3 percent to obtain a total available salary increase available. This amount will be distributed to all members of the agreement, equally, by dividing the total amount available by the number of participants.”

“With this model, the percent raises vary greatly person to person, for example mine last year was roughly 2.5 percent, not 3,” Stephen C. Curran, the district business manager, said.

The new Act 93 plan — a 36-month agreement slated to expire June 30, 2018 — gives each of them a flat 3 percent raise every year of the agreement, Curran said.

“Changes in the agreement are that there will be a 3 percent increase, and under the health care they will go to PPOs as the teachers association has done, with also a premium share,” Scott D. Krater, board vice-president and head of the board’s negotiations committee, said before the vote.

According to a list provided by Curran on Tuesday, the following administrators’ salaries are included: Kerry Ansbach, director of facilities and transportation; Tiffany L. Reedy, principal, Pottsville Area High School; Jeffrey J. Godin, assistant principal, Pottsville Area High School; Michael J. Maley, principal of D.H.H. Lengel Middle School; Caitlin Repp Mohl, assistant principal of D.H.H. Lengel Middle School; Jared A. Gerace, principal, John S. Clarke Elementary Center; Richard C. Boris, assistant principal, John S. Clarke Elementary Center; Deneen L. Reese, director of elementary special education; Kelly A. Brennan, director of middle school special education, district special education program director; Eleanor L. Sanayka, director of high school special education; Eric R. Rismiller, athletic director; Patricia A. Lombel, assistant business manager; Stephanie R. Ziegmont, director of curriculum and instruction; Diane Dougherty, technology director; and Lisa Eckley, director of food services.

Curran and Superintendent Jeffrey S. Zwiebel will also be receiving 3 percent raises.

“The board has decided our fringe benefits will be the same as the Act 93 people. Just to clarify, under the school code, the superintendent and business manager are prohibited from being Act 93 employees, which is why we have independent contracts,” Curran said.

Curran did not have the calculations of the 2015-16 salaries for those employees at the Wednesday’s meeting. Now that the board has taken action to approve this new plan, he said he’ll make those calculations and release them in the near future.

This is an example of one of the new salary increases. In the 2014-15 school year, Ansbach’s salary was $108,770.55. With the 3 percent increase, it will be $112,033.66 in school year 2015-16, according to a calculation by this reporter.

Board Member Gary A. Cortese made the motion to accept the new Act 93 plan. It was seconded by board Member Karen E. Rismiller and carried in a voice vote by the other board members in attendance: Krater, Charles R. Wagner, Christina M. DiCello, Patrick F. Moran and Linda Grube.

Board President John F. Boran and board Member Cindy Petchulis were absent from Wednesday’s meeting. So was Zwiebel.

With a motion by Wagner which was seconded by Rismiller and carried unanimously in a roll call vote, the board members present approved the district’s 2015-16 budget, a $43,972,595 spending plan.

“Total local, state and federal revenue is projected at $37,778,635. This is an increase of $1,433,602 from the current year budget,” Curran said in a press release on the budget.

“That leaves a projected deficit of $6,193,960,” Thomas said.

Following are other “significant points” Curran made about the budget in his release:

• “The total amount of the proposed 2015-16 budget is $43,972,595. This is an increase in expenditures of $1,028,164 or 2.39 percent more than the current budget year primarily due to the increase in the employer contribution to PSERS (the Public School Employees’ Retirement System) from 21.40 percent to 25.84 percent in the amount of $854,329.”

• “The current millage rate is 34.00 mills. The 2014 average in Schuylkill County is 38.0464. Our millage rate is 89.36 percent of the average.”

• “Our total assessed values decreased slightly from last year to $296,772,720 from $297,332,020.”

The Schuylkill Conservation District on Tuesday approved a few updates to its financial policy, improving in-house practices for managing funds.

“These are just a few minor updates. We’re just keeping it up to date,” Elizabeth A. Hinkel, district manager, said at the board of directors meeting Tuesday at its offices in Pottsville just off Gordon Nagle Trail.

But in the past year the board has been giving some thought to improving office practices, since a series of irregularities in accounting and internal controls discovered in May 2014 led to a police investigation and an arrest.

In July 2014, the district’s fiscal technician, Virginia G. Kunigonis, was fired for misconduct. And in January, state police at Schuylkill Haven filed charges alleging Kunigonis stole $449,064.07 between September 2007 and May 2014. In March, Schuylkill County prosecutors withdrew the charges, as federal prosecutors took over the case, according to Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine A. Holman.

In July 2014, the Schuylkill County commissioners appointed Melissa M. “Missy” Seigfried, North Manheim Township, as the conservation district’s fiscal technician.

On May 12, the conservation district board of directors held an executive session to discuss financial management issues which were brought to light by a forensic audit. Schuylkill County Controller Christy Joy and county assistant solicitor Glenn Roth attended that session, according to the board’s May 12 board meeting minutes.

Joy made financial procedure recommendations that were reviewed by Scott Graver, vice chairman of the conservation district’s board of directors and chairman of its financial committee, according to the minutes.

The board took action on those recommendations at its June meeting Tuesday.

“The first one is under our cash receipts. Currently it states that all cash receipts will be taken to the bank for deposit by the district manager or by the program assistant in the district manager’s absence, and the bank deposit slip will be kept in the packet with monthly bank statements and documentation. I would like to propose a change,” Hinkel said.

“Cash receipts will be taken to the bank for deposit by the district manager or another employee designated by the district manager, not the conservation district’s fiscal technician, in the district manager’s absence. The rest remains the same. This is mainly just to try to give another option. If the people who are in here are out we obviously don’t want to go against the policy. And if the people who are listed aren’t available, we don’t want to hold up being able to make deposits. I’m also looking ahead. The fact is that I’m going to be off for three months. So there needs to be some ability to designate other people to that duty. It specifically says ‘not the fiscal technician’ to keep in line with internal controls. But other than that, it would be whoever I would designate,” Hinkel said.

Hinkel will be taking maternity leave later this year.

“With that change, we’re redoing the financial policy so that we have checks and balances among four or five different people. It cannot be the fiscal technician. We need this broad spectrum of different people in the checks and balances,” board Chairman Glenn Luckenbill said.

“Right,” Hinkel said. “The other one is under check authorization. It currently says that upon receipt of invoices the district manager will review, sign and stamp as ‘district’ or ‘county,’ check for mathematical accuracy, validity, conformity to the budget, et cetera. I would like to update that to say that upon receipt of invoices the district manager will review, sign and stamp as ‘district’ or ‘county,’ check for accuracy and the district manager would also assign account and/or grant numbers to the invoice. With the updated stamper I have, not only do I check ‘county’ and ‘district’ but I also assign the account numbers. So I wanted to note that in the policy,” Hinkel said.

“That is done by both of us?” Luckenbill asked.

“No. The bank statements are done by both of us,” Hinkel said.

“Just the bank statements? OK.” Luckenbill said.

“These are the invoices that go through me. We’re already doing this. We’re going above and beyond. But because we’re doing it, I would just like to note it in the policy,” Hinkel said.

This will have to be done in Hinkel’s absence. Luckenbill said a temporary district manager will be appointed when the time comes and that person will take on that responsibility.

“The other part I wanted to update involves payroll. Payroll is not handled by the district. Payroll, because we’re county employees, is handled by the county. So we get the time sheets here and everything is submitted and reviewed and checked by the county. We’re limited as far as what we have to do with payroll, but we still have some balances in place,” Hinkel said.

“The policy, the way it currently reads, states that completed time sheets will be dated and signed by employee, time cards will be stapled to the back and both will be submitted to the fiscal technician at the end of the last working day. We don’t have time cards. We have time sheets. We looked at having employees sign and date them every two weeks before payroll but in all honesty it’s really not feasible. Employees are in and out of the field. Payroll has to be submitted by a certain time. So, the way we wanted to word it is completed time sheets would be submitted to the conservation fiscal technician at the end of the last working day of each pay period. Then we would add that the district manager will discuss any discrepancies or questions with the employee upon review. Myself and the fiscal technician do review the time sheets every two weeks,” Hinkel said.

“Are there any directors who would like more time to study this? You want it tabled? Or are you ready to make a motion now?” Luckenbill asked the board.

Stanley Fidler, the board’s treasurer, made the motion to approve the changes. It was seconded by board member Glenn Hetherington and, in a voice vote, it was carried unanimously by those in attendance: Luckenbill, Dottie Sterner, Gary J. Hess, Helen Masser, F. Diane Wolfgang, Glenn Hetherington and Eric Leiby.

Graver was absent from Tuesday’s meeting, according to Lorie Reichert, the conservation district’s program technician.

n Barnesville: 63 members of the Rush, Ryan and Delano Senior Citizens organization attended the group’s anniversary dinner May 26 at the Ryan Township Fire Company. They enjoyed a meal provided by A&C Catering. The RR&D group meets at 1 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at the Ryan firehouse. People 55 or older are welcome to join.

n Orwigsburg: An American Red Cross blood drive is set for 1 to 6 p.m. Monday at the Masonic Lodge, 1000 E. Market St. at noon. People 17 and older, weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health are urged to donate blood. To make an appointment to donate blood, call 800-733-2767 or download the American Red Cross donor app. The website is at www.redcrossblood.org.

n Pottsville: Gillingham Charter School’s 2015-16 school year budget is available to view on the school’s website at www.gillinghamcharterschool.org/:parentportal or in the school’s administration building during normal business hours 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

n Pottsville: Diakon Community Services/Prime Time Health will sponsor a free program called Healthy Eating for Successful Living from 12:30 to 3 p.m. July 13 in the Pottsville Senior Community Center, 201 N. Centre St. The six-week program will run from July 13 to Aug. 17 and focus on sharpening skills and making healthier choices without forgoing all the things people love, according to a Diakon release. “Learn to plan menus, learn more about labels, brainstorm healthy choices, participate in some physical activity, go grocery shopping and prepare a healthy, delicious meal,” organizers said in the release.

n Primrose: The 80th annual St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Parish Picnic will be held from 4 to 11 p.m. July 4 and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 5 at the parish picnic grove, Route 901. The event will include ethnic food, refreshments, games, theme baskets and live entertainment featuring the Pennsylvania Villagers and the New Individuals on July 4. Sapphire will provide entertainment July 5. Admission is free and all are welcome.

n Saint Clair: During a recent meeting, Saint Clair Community and Historical Society President Dawn Bicht told members the June 12 bus trip to New York was a sellout and even had a waiting list. She said the July 16 bus trip to Atlantic City is filling up fast. Members who will help at Saturday’s townwide yard sale should be at the Quirin building on Second Street by 6 a.m. The sale will begin at 8 a.m. Those willing to help should call Carol at 570-429-0789 or Darlene at 570-429-2129. The society will canvass the community for donations for the July 16 fireworks display. Anyone wishing to help should call Bonnie Baker at 570-429-2272. People do not have to be society members to help, Bicht said.

n Schuylkill Haven: Diakon Community Services will sponsor Walk With Ease from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Monday at the Schuylkill Haven Senior Community Center, 340 Haven St. According to a release, the program is free and the Arthritis Foundation’s Walk With Ease program “can teach you how to safely make physical activity a part of your life.” The program, according to the release, will help participants reduce the pain and discomfort of arthritis, increase balance, strength and walking pace, build confidence in the ability to be physically active and improve overall health.

n Schuylkill Haven: Schuylkill United Way will host a free Act 153 information session and Act 31 certification from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at Penn State Schuylkill campus. According to a release, the Pennsylvania General Assembly has enacted comprehensive child protection reforms, which are having an impact on adult volunteers in schools and community-based organizations. The free information session is being held in coordination with the office of state Sen. David Argall, R-29. For more information on the new legislation, including clearance fact sheets for employees, public school code employees, nonpublic school code employees and volunteers, visit Argall’s website at http://ow.ly/NvNEh. To register for the information session, call Michelle Halabura, director of community relations, at 570-622-6421 or register at http://ow.ly/MXqbp.

Kevin M. Poletti, who possessed child pornography on his computer in July 2014, will not have to spend time in prison for his crime following his guilty plea Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court.

Poletti, 39, of Hegins, will spend five years on probation, pay costs and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities under the terms of President Judge William E. Baldwin’s sentence.

However, his sentencing will not be Poletti’s final contact with the court.

“The (state) Sexual Offenders Assessment Board will do an evaluation” to determine whether Poletti should be classified as a sexually violent predator, Baldwin said. Baldwin, in turn, will hold a hearing and then make that determination, which could affect the duration of the Megan’s Law sanctions that will be imposed on Poletti.

Poletti pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of children-child pornography, with prosecutors withdrawing seven additional counts of the same crime. He said little during the hearing except to indicate that he understood the terms of his plea and was making it knowingly and voluntarily.

The state police Bureau of Criminal Investigation charged Poletti with having the child pornography on his computer on July 10, 2014. First Assistant District Attorney Maria T. Casey said Wednesday that Poletti had the pornography on a DVD on his computer.

“This was a bad one,” Casey said of the case.

Thomas J. “Tim” Pellish, Pottsville, Poletti’s lawyer, declined to comment Wednesday on the case.

Defendant: Kevin M. Poletti

Age: 39

Residence

Crime committed: Sexual abuse of children-child pornography

Sentence: Five years probation

TAMAQUA — The borough council on Tuesday hired a part-time police officer, a part-time general maintenance workers and lifeguards for the swimming pool.

Police Chief Rick Weaver recommended that the borough council hire Rachael Lenar as a part-time officer after interviewing her and having a background investigation completed.

The council agreed and hired Lenar on a 5-0 vote, with two members absent.

By the same vote, the council hired six part-time general maintenance workers: Bernie Gigli, Tyler Hollenbach, Dylan Houser, Ernest Shilko, Dylan Woods and Scott Zelonis.

The council also set the pay rate for part-time maintenance workers at $8 per hour with a 25-cent-per-hour increase for each year of service, and agreed to adjust returning employees’ wages accordingly. Also hired were seven lifeguards for the summer pool season pending completion of their certification and approved an authorized provider agreement with the American Red Cross for lifeguard training at the pool. All votes were 5-0.

Lifeguards hired by the council are Gabrielle Markiewicz, Christopher Miller, Hannah Perla, Kaitlyn Shlanta, Kaitlyn Stauffenberg, Sierra Szabo and Michael Witczak.

In other business, the council also:

•Approved retaining Michael G. Wester Jr. as a full-time water treatment plant operator and Jordan D. Fegley as a full-time water distribution worker upon completion of their probation periods.

•Granted permission to close the following downtown streets for the 24th annual Tamaqua Summerfest from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday: Railroad Street, from West Broad to Spruce; Hegarty Avenue, from Berwick to Lafayette streets; Nescopec Street, from Broad Street to Hegarty Avenue. In addition there will be no parking signs posted on West Broad Street from South Railroad to Nescopec streets, South Railroad Street from West Broad to Spruce streets, Berwick Street from West Broad to Rowe streets, Nescopec Street from Hegarty Avenue to Cottage Avenue.

•Gave permission to hold the annual fireman’s festival from Aug. 7 to 9 and to close Pine Street, from Broad to Mauch Chunk streets, from 8 a.m. Aug. 6 to 11:30 p.m. Aug. 9 for the event.

•Approved a request from the Owl Creek Reservoir Commission to place a cabin on the property. A Pocono church that has closed donated a 16-foot-by-16-foot cabin with a porch to the commission. The cabin has been in storage.

Northeast Pennsylvania has taken a while to thaw out from a blustery winter and mild spring, but the start of summer finally has arrived.

On the first day of the sunny season — Sunday — alternative radio station Fuzz 92.1 will present its annual music festival, Fuzz Fest, featuring live music by Walk the Moon, Bleachers, Matt and Kim, the Griswolds, the Mowglis and Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness. The concert starts at 5 p.m., and tickets are $19.21 to $35, plus fees, available at the box office, livenation.com and 800-745-3000.

During a recent phone interview from Indianapolis, bassist Kevin Ray of Walk the Moon, the Cincinnati-based band behind the infectious anthem “Shut Up and Dance,” said he looks forward to sharing the stage with contemporaries he calls pals.

“It’s like summer camp for us,” Ray said. “Every single band on that bill are friends of ours, and we can’t wait to see them. It’s a great time to hang back and watch our friends play music.”

For fans and concertgoers, meanwhile, he added, the benefit of attending a festival is the opportunity to hear numerous groups and hit songs for the price of one ticket.

“They get a chance to see more music than they would at any other show,” Ray said.

Jack Antonoff of Bleachers, who phoned in from Charlotte, North Carolina, agreed it’s a deal that can’t be beat. The lead singer and songwriter for the indie group, who also plays with the Grammy Award-winning band Fun., said smaller summer music festivals like Fuzz Fest service fans even better than large-scale ones.

“Everyone sees every band,” Antonoff explained. “The bigger they get, the more issues you have in terms of artists playing at the same time. That’s the best part of a smaller music festival.”

Back in NEPA

Both musicians hinted at the chance that members from the six-band bill might join each other for their respective sets, though they have not made any specific plans for collaborations just yet.

Fuzz Fest 2015 marks a return to the Scranton area for Walk the Moon, who appeared in the Fuzz 92.1 radio theater in 2013 before its singles “Shut Up and Dance” and “Anna Sun” became top 10 hits. Life is a lot different for the band now, Ray said, thanks to nonstop radio appearances, shows and meet-and-greets with a legion of newfound fans.

“It sounds a little exhausting, but it’s a lot of fun, and we’re always down for whatever,” Ray said. “We’re experiencing it along with the fans. We’re definitely not jaded yet.”

Having audiences know the words to his album is an accomplishment Ray is proud to take note of at each show.

“We never expected this kind of intense response from the new record,” he said.

For Walk the Moon’s live shows, the band’s fans have been known to paint their faces in neon colors, mimicking the band’s early days and a creative choice made for the “Anna Sun” music video.

“We had this idea to paint our faces and get this Lost Boys/Peter Pan/Hook vibe,” Ray said. “We realized it’s a great way to connect with people before a show. Since then it’s become a tradition. It becomes a communal event. The more the merrier.”

This tribal mentality plays well off the band’s need for interaction with audiences, too.

“I think people can expect to be really involved,” Ray said. “We feed off of their energy so much. We don’t like to think of ourselves just up on stage. We like to get down in the audience and run around and get crazy.

“Just come prepared to meet new people and have a brand new, fun experience,” he added with a laugh. “You’re gonna leave with some new friends.”

While Bleachers also played a small artist showcase in the downtown radio theater for Fuzz 92.1 last year, Fuzz Fest will be the band’s first time in a large Scranton venue performing before thousands. Antonoff said he looks forward to working off the mountain’s natural setting to offer audiences an intimate set.

“You need everyone to feel included, but you want it to feel massive,” he said. “There’s an interplay, and you do need both. The vibe of the space you’re in is huge.

“For me, with Bleachers, it’s all about the fans, the audience and the band coming together to create. It’s amazing when that works. The more you include the crowd, the more vital it feels, and the more specific to the night.”

Tailored to crowd

Lately, Antonoff has stripped down the elaborate stage shows to focus more on the players on stage and present the music in an honest, straightforward way. In Scranton, fans can expect an experience tailored to the city and the energy of the crowd.

“There’s a joy and a celebration to a Bleachers (show), but also a dark element as well,” Antonoff said. “I feel when we play it’s extremely powerful. The fact that it’s the first show we’re doing in Scranton (means) it’s really going to be the one to see.”

John A. Pino must remain in state prison for leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase in August 2013 that ended with disabling injuries to a local police chief, a state Superior Court panel decided Wednesday.

In a nine-page opinion, the three-judge panel ruled the evidence showed Pino, 72, of Shenandoah, had the intent to injure Michael P. Carey and other police officers during the chase, thereby justifying his conviction for aggravated assault.

“It is not for us to decide what the mind of (Pino) was at the time,” President Judge Emeritus John T. Bender wrote in the opinion.

As a result, Pino must serve the sentence of seven to 18 years in a state correctional institution imposed on him on Aug. 5, 2014, by Schuylkill County President Judge William E. Baldwin. Pino is serving his sentence at State Correctional Institution/Houtzdale in Clearfield County.

After a two-day trial over which Baldwin presided, a jury of six men and six women deliberated about five hours before convicting Pino on June 3, 2014, of three counts of aggravated assault, five of simple assault, six of recklessly endangering another person and one each of resisting arrest, fleeing or eluding police and retail theft, and acquitting him of two additional counts of aggravated assault.

Saint Clair police alleged Pino stole about $276 worth of meat and seafood from Wal-Mart Supercenter, 500 Terry Rich Blvd.

State police at Frackville alleged that after the theft, Pino led officers on a chase on Route 61, Interstate 81 and Route 54, ending on White Owl Road in Mahanoy Township, just outside Mahanoy City. Police shot Pino twice and Tasered him to end the incident.

During the chase, according to prosecutors, Saint Clair police Chief Michael P. Carey suffered back, ankle and other injuries when Pino rammed his white Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle into Carey’s police car. Carey testified during the trial that he has not returned to work.

In the panel’s opinion, Bender wrote that although Pino alleged he did not have the intent to commit aggravated assault, the fact indicated otherwise.

“When viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict winner, we find that the commonwealth presented sufficient evidence” to prove Pino intended to cause injury to the officers, Bender wrote.

Since the jury, which saw and heard the witnesses testify, convicted Pino, the only question the panel can consider is whether a reasonable jury could have done so, according to Bender.

“The jury could reasonably infer ... that (Pino) acted with the specific intent to cause bodily injury to the police,” he wrote.

Bender also dismissed Pino’s claim that he should have been convicted of aggravated assault by vehicle instead of the less specific charge of aggravated assault. He ruled state law allows a conviction under any relevant provision of the law regardless of whether a more specific provision might also apply.

Pino did not raise any other issues in his appeal.

Judge Patricia H. Jenkins and Senior Judge Eugene B. Strassburger III, the other panel members, joined in Bender’s opinion.

Defendant: John A. Pino

Age: 72

Residence: Shenandoah

Crimes committed: Three counts of aggravated assault, five of simple assault, six of recklessly endangering another person and one each of resisting arrest, fleeing or eluding police and retail theft

Prison sentence: Seven to 18 years in a state correctional institution

The chairman of the Libertarian Party of Schuylkill County has been elected to lead the state party.

Cressona borough Councilman Shawn Felty was elected to the position at the 2015 Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania convention June 6 in Bridgeport.

“The LPPA works to make sure that every citizen of the commonwealth can live his or her life as he or she sees fit, as long as they don’t hurt anyone in doing so,” Felty said Thursday. “We believe in a government that is as small as possible, which means one that does its essential duties and nothing more, taxes only as much as is needed to enable those limited functions and provides maximum freedom to Pennsylvanians. As the newly-elected chair of the LPPA, I hope to both grow our ranks and to assist our county organizations to grow theirs and, of course, we hope to run an effective campaign for statewide office in 2016.”

The Libertarian Party was started in 1971 by a small group in Colorado and has become the third largest political party in the United States with more than 250,000 registered voters, according to the Libertarian National Committee website at www.lp.org. There are nearly 500 registered Libertarians in the county.

In general, Libertarians advocate smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom, according to the national committee website.

Felty is the first known Libertarian to hold office in Schuylkill County when he was elected to Cressona borough council in 2013. That was the same year that the local party was organized. He is only one of 38 total Libertarians serving various elected positions, some partisan, in Pennsylvania. The local party recently endorsed 10 candidates in the upcoming General Election.

Felty’s wife, Karla, will serve as the state party secretary. Bill Sloane, Cumberland County, will serve as the western vice chairman, Ed Regan, Northampton County, as the eastern vice chairman, and Richard Schwarz, Philadelphia County, will serve as treasurer.

As chairman, Felty said the LPPA will continue to push for passage of the Voter’s Choice Act.

“Current ballot access laws in Pennsylvania require third-party candidates to obtain more than 10 times the number of signatures as the old parties to appear on the statewide ballot, and the old parties will stop at nothing to prevent that from happening,” Felty said. “The Voter’s Choice Act would reduce the outrageous ballot access requirements that make it difficult for third-party candidates to appear on the statewide ballot each Election Day. Pennsylvanians deserve the opportunity to elect officials who will advance their interests and protect their wallets. This levels the playing field.”

In addition to the Voter’s Choice Act, Felty said he hopes to bring more attention to the Libertarian Party.

“The old parties have well-oiled PR machines and, with voters told by much of the media that they must either take the blue pill or the red pill, it can be a challenge to reach them,” Felty said. “With that said, we believe that the message of liberty and personal accountability is infectious and that the appetite for a third party has never been stronger. The LPPA is working to capitalize on the interest we’re seeing across all demographics through more aggressive media engagement as well as outreach on social media.”

For more information on the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania and a list of party candidates in the General Election, visit www.lp.org/state/pennsylvania.

Marriage licenses

Walmer P. Riegel Jr., Pottsville, and Margaret A. Frederick.

Brandon M. Zimmerman, Pine Grove, and Abby M. Skripko, Pine Grove.

Richard J. Heim, Pottsville, and Desiree Blum, Port Carbon.

Thomas M. McClusky, Orwigsburg, and Kristen E. Dulkowski, Orwigsburg.

Adam L. Klyvert, Mahanoy City, and Heather M, Leininger, Mahanoy City.

David L. Hanley, Huntingdon, and Michele L. Sterner, Rockwood.

Clement Wilson, Huntingdon, and Keisha M. Hill, York.

Richard Hunsinger, McAdoo, and Toni M. Kline, McAdoo.

Daniel Jenkins Jr., Saint Clair, and Jodi A. Mosley, Tamaqua.

Jeffrey C. Hill, Orwigsburg, and Marcia Weidner-Sutphen, Temple.

Michael J. Leone Jr., Aberdeen, Maryland, and Deborah A. Golden, Aberdeen, Maryland.

Dale A. Zimmerman, Pine Grove, and Karen J. Bohr, Pine Grove.

Adam D. Rhody, Tower City, and Smantha L. Finefrock, Tower City.

WEST HAZLETON — A man and a woman from Nuremberg were killed Thursday afternoon in Luzerne County when they drove a stolen all-terrain vehicle into the path of a tractor-trailer, state police at Hazleton said Thursday.

State police released the names of the deceased, Amber Judge, 31, and Eric Baker, 23, and said both were from Nuremberg, which stretches across both Schuylkill and Luzerne counties.

Judge was driving a black 1994 Honda 450cc ATV, police said. On Thursday morning, the vehicle was reported stolen from a residence in Black Creek Township, Luzerne County.

At 1:22 p.m. Thursday, Judge and Baker were traveling north on Route 924 in Hazle Township, Luzerne County. Meanwhile, Rhodell Carter, 76, of Windsor Mill, Maryland, was driving a 2011 Freightliner truck and trailer, exiting the off-ramp of Interstate 81 north to turn left onto Route 924.

Judge drove at a high rate of speed through a steady red signal at Route 924 and the I-81 northbound off-ramp and collided with the driver’s side of the tractor-trailer. Judge and Baker were killed on impact, police said.

Route 924 was closed in both directions during the police investigation. Hazle Township Fire/Rescue and West Hazleton police assisted on scene.

n Ashland: The Schuylkill Area Community Foundation manages the Eureka Park Fund, which is aimed at supporting summer recreation at the park, the foundation’s Eileen Kuperavage said in a press release. The recreation program is free and registration is not required. Lunch, however, is not provided. The four-week program will run July 12 to Aug. 12 with activities scheduled Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon for students in grades 1 through 8 and 1 to 3 p.m. for grades 9 through 12. For more information, call Kuperavage at 570-624-7223.

n Fountain Springs: During its May 17 meeting, the North Schuylkill school board approved: A field trip request from the NSE PTO to Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg for sixth-grade students, teachers and chaperones on May 28; the Athletic Code of Conduct for the 2015-16 school year; the 2016 junior-senior high school prom at Capriotti’s Palazzo, McAdoo, on May 14, 2016, and the 2017 junior-senior high school prom on May 13, 2017; attendance by the varsity and junior high wrestling teams at an overnight camp July 9 to 12 at Penn State University, State College, at no cost to the district; attendance by the varsity and junior varsity football cheerleaders at an overnight camp from June 13 to 16 at Pine Forest Camp, Greeley, at no cost to the district; Barry Gilbert as an assistant boys’ soccer coach for the 2015 fall season at a salary of $1,550; Brian Gilbert and Paul Caputo as volunteer assistant boys’ soccer coaches for the 2015 fall season; Nick Brayford as a weightroom coach for the 2015-16 school year at a salary of $3,000; Tyler Laudeman as a volunteer assistant football coach for the 2015 fall season; a trip for two district debate team students and chaperone Megan Evans to attend the Grand National Forensics Competition, Fort Lauderdale, Florida from Monday to Thursday.

n Minersville: The New Minersville Firehouse Bikers will sponsor the Harlen Hippo Zimmerman Memorial Poker Run on Sunday at New Minersville Fire Company, 500 Line St. The cost is $20 per rider and $10 per passenger, which will include door prizes and refreshments at the end of the ride. Registration will be from 9 to 11 a.m. and “Kick Stands Up” will be at 11:30 a.m. Proceeds from the 100-mile poker run will benefit St. Joseph Center for Special Learning, Pottsville. For more information, call 570-527-6168.

n Pine Grove: Diakon Community Services will sponsor a free community harvest potluck from 6 to 8 p.m. June 27 in the clubhouse at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park. The event, according to a Diakon press release, will be about “food, fun and fellowship.” Participants may bring a main dish, side dish, dessert or beverage to share made with an ingredient from your summer garden. People should “feel free to bring along your overabundance of produce to share.” For more information, call 570-624-3018.

n Pottsville: Diakon Community Services will present An Evening with Dino from 7 to 9 p.m. June 27 at the Majestic Theater, 209 N. Centre St. Admission is $10 and tickets are available by calling 570-628-4647.

n Summit Hill: The Panther Valley Golden Agers’ annual Memorial Mass was held recently at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church. The Rev. James Burdess, Golden Agers’ spiritual adviser, was the celebrant. The liturgy remembered 11 past members. After the Mass, there was a social at St. John’s Slovak Lutheran Church. Norma Lee Burke and Ruth Ann Feane comprise the hospitality committee for June.

n Summit Station: The Schuylkill County Fair will run July 27 through Aug. 4 at the fairgrounds, 2270 Fair Road. This year’s theme is “Harvest the Fun.” The fair will open at 11 a.m. Tuesday and Saturday and 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The gate admission is $5 but free for children under 12. There will be food, beverages, rides, games, exhibits, contests and entertainment. For more information, call 570-739-2627. Additional information also is available at the fair’s website at www.schuylkillfair.com or by emailing to schuylkillfair@gmail.com.

Last year, the Pottsville Positive Committee restructured the city’s Independence Day celebration by bringing the festivities downtown, adding a parade and moving the fireworks launch pad from the Pottsville Area School District campus to the top of Lawton’s Hill.

This year, the committee has managed to bring another attraction to the schedule that might encourage more people to put the event on their calendar: train rides.

“Last year this was one of the biggest and most inclusive Independence Day celebrations in Schuylkill County. And now the addition of train rides really takes it to a whole new level,” City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said Thursday.

Pottsville Area Development Corp. and the city of Pottsville helped organize the train event, Amy S. Burkhart, PADCO executive director, said Thursday.

A passenger train, “about three or four cars,” owned by the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad, Port Clinton, will roll into the city’s Union Station Intermodal Transit Center at 300 S. Centre St. the afternoon of June 27, according to Matt Fisher, passenger marketing administrator with the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway Inc., Jim Thorpe.

Departure times will be at 2, 4 and 6 p.m.

Fisher wasn’t certain exactly which engine would be used.

“We won’t know until that morning. But the trips will leave Pottsville from Union Station and go down to the Port Clinton/Kernsville Dam area and come back, on the same line going down and coming back. It’s about 70 minutes round trip,” Fisher said Thursday, when tickets went on sale.

Ticket prices are $13 for adults and $9 for children ages 3 to 12. Rides are free for children 2 or younger, but they still need tickets to ride, according to a promotional poster Rebecca P. Trefsger, the assistant to the city administrator, assembled Thursday.

Tickets will also be available at Union Station the afternoon of the event, Palamar said.

There will be more than 200 seats available on each trip, according to Fisher.

For information and sales, call PADCO at 570-628-4647 or city hall at 570-622-1234, Palamar said.

While the fireworks display is slated for June 27 with a rain date of June 26, the train excursions are locked in for the afternoon of June 27, Palamar said.

The city’s Union Station opened in 2011 and since then city officials have talked about starting a train excursion program. In 2014, Mayor James T. Muldowney talked about the possibilities with Andrew M. Muller Jr., the owner of the railroad. And the inaugural trip was held Sept. 21.

Since then, there have been train events at Union Station Nov. 29, Dec. 21 and April 4, according to Palamar.

On May 27, city Councilman Joseph J. Devine Jr. sent a letter to Muller, asking if the trains could return to Pottsville for the Independence Day Fireworks and Celebration at the Station.

“The excursions you have brought to our area have generated such excitement and interest within our community and beyond. The city of Pottsville would be pleased to have you and/or any of your staff as our guests that day and any available train cars or equipment which would highlight and promote future excursions in Pottsville and surrounding areas,” Devine said in the letter.

“We’d welcome them to Pottsville every weekend if it was viable,” Merideth Hannan, secretary to the mayor, said Thursday.

Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway is a “sister company” of the railroad, Fisher said.

Thirty-four people received a second chance from the judicial system Thursday in Schuylkill County Court by entering a program that will allow them to clean their records if they complete it successfully.

The Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program resembles probation, but is served without any determination or admission of guilt.

Anyone in the program must comply with directives from the county Adult Probation and Parole Office, perform community service and pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account.

Those who complete the program successfully have charges against them dismissed. They also can petition the court to have their record expunged.

However, anyone who does not complete the program successfully will be removed from it and have their case returned to the trial list.

The 34 people admitted into the program by Judge John E. Domalakes, and the crimes they were charged with committing, included:

Brian Abrachinsky, 49, of Barnesville; retail theft and receiving stolen property.

Amanda L. Addvensky, Pottsville; conspiracy, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct.

Danj M. Andrews, 18, of Pottsville; retail theft.

Bruce A. Blankenhorn Jr., 21, of Orwigsburg; driving under the influence.

Joel V. Carduff, 40, of Shenandoah; five counts of possession of a controlled substance and one each of conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Shannon E. Carduff, 36, of Shenandoah; five counts of possession of a controlled substance and one each of conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Janelle Chikotas, 28, of Frackville; DUI.

Amie J. Corby, 23, of Pottsville; DUI.

Gregory J. Didyoung, 27, of Temple; DUI.

Lori Ann E. Fesig, 50, of Port Carbon; possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Helen M. Fulmer, 54, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; conspiracy and receiving stolen property.

Timothy A. Heizenroth, 27, of Ashland; DUI.

Kenneth A. Hertzog, 55, of McAdoo; DUI.

Susan G. Jones, 46, of Hazleton; DUI.

Joshua D. Joseph, 29, of Mahanoy City; three counts of prohibited possession of offensive weapon and one each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kevin J. Kennedy, 59, of Port Carbon; DUI.

James H. LaRochelle, 43, of Tresckow; DUI.

Sabrina M. Leach, 42, of Frackville; possession of marijuana.

Lisa M. Lewis, 47, of Pottsville; DUI.

Kelly A. McAlonis, 41, of Schuylkill Haven; theft, theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

Michael J. Metchock, 61, of Frackville; indecent assault.

Steven T. Middleton, 18, of Mahanoy City; tampering with evidence, retaliation for past official action and false reports to law enforcement.

Christine A. Mooney, 41, of Mahanoy City; possession of a controlled substance.

Torrey S. Mueller, 38, of Tamaqua; DUI.

April J. Polomski, 31, of Mount Carmel; retail theft.

Angie L. Porter, 18, of Pottsville; retail theft.

Mary M. Reber, 55, of Schuylkill Haven; five counts each of counterfeit or simulated mark or stamp and forgery.

Megan L. Redenski, 26, of Alexandria, Virginia; DUI.

Timothy A. Scanlan, 57, of Pottsville; DUI.

Benjamin Twardzik, 25, of Ringtown; two counts of simple assault and one each of conspiracy, aggravated assault, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment and harassment.

Justin R. Vereen, 21, of Tamaqua; receiving stolen property.

Amanda A. Walters, 28, of Tower City; criminal mischief, possessing instrument of crime, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.

William T. Whittaker, 25, of McAdoo; theft of leased property and receiving stolen property.

Danielle M. Wilson, 18, of Locustdale; theft, receiving stolen property and retail theft.

In other county court news, a Tamaqua man is headed to state prison after being sentenced Thursday in Schuylkill County Court in two cases.

Keith D. Neff, 32, must serve 15 to 30 months in a state correctional institution, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin ruled.

Dolbin, who made the sentence concurrent with one from Berks County that Neff already is serving, imposed it following Neff’s removal from the state intermediate punishment program.

Neff originally pleaded guilty on Feb. 20, 2013, to resisting arrest in one case and burglary, criminal trespass, theft and criminal mischief in the other. At that time, Dolbin placed him in the state intermediate punishment program, which combines imprisonment with substance abuse treatment, for two years, and also sentenced him to pay costs, $100 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $1,496 restitution, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Tamaqua police charged Neff with committing both sets of crimes.

They alleged he committed the burglary and related crimes on June 9, 2012, and resisted arrest on June 27, 2012. Both incidents occurred in the borough, police said.

Also on Thursday, Dolbin revoked the probation of Amie L. Wiscount, 34, of Pine Grove, and sentenced her to serve four to 23 months in prison.

Wiscount originally pleaded guilty on June 18, 2014, to theft and theft by deception. At that time, Dolbin placed her on probation for 12 months and also sentenced her to pay costs and a $50 CJEA payment, amounts she still must pay under the terms of Thursday’s sentence.

State police at Schuylkill Haven charged Wiscount with committing the theft on May 3, 2013.

Before being sentenced, Wiscount admitted violating her probation by failing to report to her supervising officer, moving without permission, committing a new crime, not making payments on her court costs, possessing drugs and leaving the county without permission.

This year, Mother Nature made way for the proliferation of gypsy moths in Schuylkill County, Frank Snyder, a service forester for the state Bureau of Forestry, said Tuesday.

“In past years we had lots of moisture early on in spring. It was killing caterpillars. This year, we had a very dry spring. And there was a number. I’m kind of eager to see how many of those caterpillars actually make it to adulthood and start laying eggs,” Snyder told the board of directors for the Schuylkill Conservation District at its June meeting.

“We had a lot of calls in the past two weeks or so about the gypsy moth. I know the county did, too,” Elizabeth A. Hinkel, manager of the Schuylkill Conservation District, said.

Snyder recommended Schuylkill County consider enrolling in the state’s Cooperative Gypsy Moth Suppression Project.

Schuylkill County hasn’t participated in the county and state cooperative program since 2001, according to the archives of The Republican-Herald.

“One of the issues that comes up is Schuylkill County has not been participating in that program,” Snyder said.

“We’ve been getting tons of calls. I’ve been feeling it and that’s what we want to look at. If it’s going to be really bad next year maybe we should look at the cost of it,” Schuylkill County Commissioner Gary J. Hess said.

Hess asked Snyder to put together a cost estimate of participation in that program.

Hinkel said cost is a factor, but there are other considerations.

“A lot of it is dependent on landowners, too. Notices have to go out. There are a lot of other issues when you start dealing with multiple private property owners and things like that. It can be pretty cumbersome,” Hinkel said.

“Around the 10th of May this year, the gypsy moth came on the scene and started defoliating. I just noticed yesterday the gypsy moth is starting to pupate. But there’s still feeding going on. You can see leaf clippings fall on the road here and there. It might go on for another week,” Snyder said.

Another insect invader damaging trees in Schuylkill County is the emerald ash borer, an exotic beetle.

“It’s been identified in Pottsville on Howard Avenue. There were two white ash trees there that have been attacked. And I’m sure if they’re in Pottsville, they can be anywhere in the county,” Snyder said.

In other matters at the conservation district’s meeting Tuesday, the board decided who most of the recipients of the 2015 Schuylkill Conservation District Awards will be.

The awards will be given out at a reception to be held Aug. 18 at the clubhouse at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park, Pine Grove. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the awards presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m., according to Glenn Luckenbill, district board chairman.

On Tuesday, the following 2015 Schuylkill Conservation District awards were approved:

• Volunteer of the Year: David Kruel, Pottsville. “David is being recommended by Robin Tracey and is an active volunteer with local state parks and Hawk Mountain plus the county conservancy. He serves as a mentor for the St. Ambrose Envirothon teams, too,” according to a description in the board’s agenda.

• Educator of the Year: Susan and Barry Long. “Susan develops programs for Diakon that serves county residents aged 50-plus. She creates many opportunities for people to connect with the environment especially at Sweet Arrow Lake. Her husband, Barry, is an able assistant in presenting programs and provides support,” according to the agenda.

• Professional of the Year: Janette Lesher of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. “Janette’s ‘can-do’ personality and pleasant manner is always evident as she provides valuable assistance with conservation district programs and projects such as the Envirothon and watershed quality program,” according to the agenda.

• Media Conservation Award: Schuylkill Living Magazine, published by Times-Shamrock.

• Organization of the Year: Schuylkill County Trout Unlimited.

• Conservation Service Award-Business: Weis Markets, Pottsville.

• Conservation Service Award-Public: Tom Reed of Penn State Master Gardeners.

• Youth Conservationist of the Year: Hannah Claire Winn, Pine Grove, a freshman at Penn State.

• Conservation Farm of the Year: Ronald and Daniel Troxell, West Penn Township.

Snyder is still working to determine the recipient of this year’s Forest Stewardship Award, Luckenbill said.

Since the 9th annual Block of Art festival in the city in April, local artists have turned the lobby at city hall into a gallery, and 10 watercolor paintings were on display this week.

“I love them all,” Diane Fiorillo, secretary for city code enforcement and health departments, said Tuesday.

It started with the Block of Art, which was held over a three-day weekend, April 10 to 12. The city wanted to be involved this year and invited artists represented by the Block of Art Committee to display their work in the decorative lobby, which includes the information desk.

“We had about nine or 10 pieces here for Block of Art. After that, we asked if we could feature artists and their work here on a regular basis. That’s how it came to be,” Kathy Connelly, Pottsville, one of the chairwomen of the Block of Art Committee, said.

On May 18, Connelly became the first featured artist and she started hanging her art there.

On Tuesday, there were nine of her framed original watercolor paintings on hooks protruding from the walls of the lobby. The 10th is a framed print she made copies of, her painting of the Garfield Diner.

There are price tags on the paintings. The city is not taking a percentage of the sales, but a portion will go to benefit the Block of Art Committee, according to Kay Jones, Orwigsburg, the other chairwoman of the Block of Art Committee.

“I think it’s really nice. People associate Block of Art with only being a few days a year,” Thomas Palamar, city administrator, said.

“The goal of the project is to extend the Block of Art throughout the year. We’re hoping to generate interest in it,” Connelly said.

“It’s a way to showcase local talent. Hopefully, it will bring people into city hall for something positive,” Palamar said.

Artists interested in displaying their work at the city hall lobby in the future must be approved by the Block of Art Committee, Jones, who is also executive director of Schuylkill County’s VISION, said.

Jones said they can call VISION at 570-622-6097.

People interested in buying artwork should contact the artist directly. Connelly has left her contact information at city hall.

Jones and Connelly are still in the process of developing a schedule for future displays.

“We’re starting with our featured artists, the ones that we’ve been using for the past couple years. Then we’ll bring other artists in. We don’t have a date for the next artist. I’m sure later this summer we’ll have another featured artist displaying their work here,” Jones said.

The only other display in the city hall is a collection of historical items in a glass case. The items currently on display there are owned by John and Debbie Edmonds, Pottsville.

In response to complaints Wayne Township residents made regarding organizations renting the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds and playing loud music late into the night, the fair board of directors decided Thursday to take some action.

One organization that rented the fairgrounds earlier this month won’t be given the opportunity to return next year, Paul Kennedy, president of the Schuylkill County Fair, said at a meeting of the Schuylkill County Fair Association at Hoss’s Steak and Sea House in Cressona.

“I’m making a motion as a director on the board that for 2016 we deny the request from the FreeForm Arts Festival to return to our facility because of breach of contract,” Kennedy said.

From June 4 to 8, the FreeForm 2015 Arts Festival was held at the fairgrounds in Summit Station, according to www.freeformarts.com.

Issues the fair board had with the group included playing music after midnight. In the contract with FreeForm, the outdoor music was supposed to stop at midnight, according to Kennedy.

“We have failed in not demanding the event schedule from our renters ahead of time. We failed on that. We as a board have failed on that. I feel that by demanding that ahead of time within 30 days before their event, we can make it so that nothing occurs after our curfew,” Kennedy said.

The motion was seconded by board member Darin Brensinger and carried in a voice vote.

In recent years, the fair association has been renting the fairgrounds to outside organizations in an effort to generate more revenue. But residents in the area, such as Susan Updegrove who lives a quarter-mile from the fairgrounds, had complaints about some of those groups.

“We will be the first to admit that we are in our infancy of doing this. By no means are we experts but we’re learning and taking our lumps as we go along. We also realize that we have a responsibility as stewards to our community to balance the financial need of this organization and the rights of our neighbors,” Kennedy said.

On Wednesday night, a group of citizens, including Updegrove, complained about the situation at a meeting of the Wayne Township supervisors.

“We have no issues with the fair, the 4-H, the Future Farmers or anybody else, the horse people that work that give our kids something to do that’s healthy. We’ve been having problems now for several years with the fair association renting out their property to people that are using it as campgrounds, music fests, and it’s turning into all-night-long music,” Updegrove said at the township supervisors meeting.

Updegrove said she had talked to fair officials, including Kennedy, about her concerns.

“He assured me that the noise would stop. It’s not stopping. It’s getting louder. They are doing it more often every year, and every time they do it, it is lasting longer,” Updegrove said Wednesday.

The supervisors said there is no noise ordinance in the township.

“We are in a rural area,” chairman Stanley Fidler said.

Updegrove contacted Sen. David Argall, R-29, about the issue. On June 10, Argall wrote a letter to Kennedy. It stated: “It is my hope that you will review their information and advise me of what assistance may be provided to the neighboring community and volunteers to help rectify these issues.”

On Thursday at the fair board’s meeting, Kennedy further discussed the matter.

“I’ve spoken to just about everyone on the board in some way or another regarding this. Number one, we are not falling on deaf ears. However, I understand from some other agencies which are partner agencies of ours that some residents feel that it has been falling on deaf ears. But that is certainly not the case,” Kennedy said.

“It’s been three years. And it’s getting worse,” Updegrove said.

“Understood. And thank you for that,” Kennedy said. “First and foremost as a board that operates that facility, we have a financial responsibility to bring revenues that will not only support our facility but all of our operations including the fair and our other educational activities. Those rentals that we’re utilizing the grounds for have filled a large deficit in our budget over the last several years and are helping us to get into a better financial status that we’ve been in in almost a decade. We lost a lot of our funding from the state association and from the state Department of Agriculture. Other funding sources have fallen off. So we utilize that, as many other fairgrounds throughout the state have done,” Kennedy said.

Between Wednesday and Thursday, Kennedy said he developed a list of suggestions on how to improve the situation. The fair board has to review them with an attorney before considering their adoption, he said.

• “We have failed in enforcing our own contract as well as we should have. An item for us to consider is moving our outdoor music quiet time from midnight, which it currently is, to 11 o’clock,” Kennedy said.

• “Currently our contract states sound won’t exceed 90 decibels outside a building. That’s what’s generally accepted in the entertainment industry. For outside of a building, I’m going to propose we lower that to 80 decibels,” Kennedy said.

• “We’re going to explore the idea of having a third party be on the ground at the renter’s expense with a sound-level monitoring meter and taking down documentation during that event, so that we have live feeding data coming back to us that is from a third party that is not connected to either the renter or the farm board,” Kennedy said.